Aries Fire by Elaine Edelson

smiled.  Oddly, she felt more considerate of his duties. 
    She sat directly at his feet and leaned back on her slender arms.  He seemed unprepared for such a watchful audience. He turned and leaned his back against the gunwale and looked down at her, almost uncertain of her.  She reached her hand out and touched his sandal to break the awkward moment.
    “I’ve spent a few memorable nights in Jerusalem,” he said suddenly, moving his foot enough to be out of her reach. “It’s a holy city with temples and beautiful mosaics and colorful market places.  I’m surprised a girl of your background has never traveled there,” he said.
    “I had a lot of studying to do in Alexandria.  My mother and grandfather headed the Library there. We traveled little. I always wanted to be near them. I believe family, whether blood or allied ties, to be very high on the list of blessings.”  Seira shielded the sun from her eyes.  “A sacred thing.”
    Strange how I never thought this while with my family, though, she thought soberly.
    “To be sure,” he agreed. “Family is a sacred thing in my eyes as well.”  He stopped abruptly and nodded to a passing crewman. “In Jerusalem you’d find many sacred things, Ashkelon as well, as it’s a popular trade port with countless sights to suit the likes of many. That is, if you were going to remain there for more than a few hours.” 
    Discomfited panic split through her as she lifted herself from the boards.
    “I thought you were unloading and loading more stuff or whatever it is you do?” she asked, dusting off her clothes.
    “We’re only delivering the fabrics, shoes, and fish barrels.  We’ll be taking on more wares for Cyprus.  We won’t need more than four or five hours total.  I like to give my men an hour or two to get their land-legs back. Of course, you and your escort will remain on board.”
    “Oh, of course,” she replied.
    Damn him to Hades. 
    Seira was distracted while trying to create an escape route.
    “Do you have family there?” she suddenly blurted.
    He stared blankly at her.
    “Where?”  he asked, puzzled.
    “In Jerusalem.”
    Isn’t he listening? she thought impatiently.
    “No.  My family was from Syria, lost in the great earthquake.”  He turned to face the sun and was silent for a moment.
    She eyed him with greater curiosity than before. Seira felt the urge to suddenly grieve with him, but he showed no signs of sadness.  She admired him more and was comforted by his manner. He seemed so accepting of death.
    “I was brought to Egypt and raised by my uncle, an adept sailor in his day. He taught me all he knew of sailing and gave me his ships to man. Ishtar is my favored. You called her, Queen of Heaven, didn’t you?  Hazaad, she’s got Mercury at her bow, too, the Queen’s escort.  He entices her to move quickly,” he said, slapping the gunwale and caressing the wood the way a lover caresses his dearest.
    “Too bad we won’t see much of Ashkelon. Um… I’ve heard of a grand temple, where there is a tremendous mosaic of the stars.  It would aid my studies to see it,” she finally said.
    “Not in Ashkelon,” he was thoughtful for a moment.  “You must speak of Jerusalem.  There are others in Galilee and Naaran, as well.”
    “You know of them?”
    “I know what I know and not much more,” he shrugged.
    “You appear quite cultured, Alexander.  Not in style of dress, of course, but in manner and words.”
    “Thank you.  My uncle was a proponent of social dignities, too.”
    “Woo more trade with courtesies than with warm piss?” she cooed.
    He burst out laughing.
    She truly liked this captain of Ishtar.
    “I have, on more than one occasion, done business with the rabbis of the synagogues in Palestine, or rather with one in particular, Isaac of Jerusalem.  Tough businessmen, those Jews, but fair once the haggle is ended and a price reached. I’ve hauled stone slabs for one such temple.”
    “For the Rabbi