AGAINST THE TRUTH
By Zara RavenWood
zara_ravenwood@hotmail.com

CHARACTERS: Tessa
RATING: G-PG.
WARNING: Unbeta'd- SORRY
DISCLAIMER: the Queen of Swords belongs to Paramount and Fireworks. I'm just getting out and meet people. The Poetry belongs to Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra of blessed memory. It'd like to thank the Atlas of World Jewish History for my title. Please note I'm not a historian-and this era is hardly my strong point. I hope my readers will forgive a little ethnomina on my part. I like to think this story could have happen.

~~~~~

The early sunset had provided Tessa Alvarado just enough cover to escape in the borders of Dona Fernando's estate. It was far from her hacienda- there were a few adobe structures scattered across the landscape, and farms trotted quickly into them. One or two fat pigs were in the animal pens. Tessa wondered vaguely why they were not slathered yet- times being what they were.

The Queen of Swords groaned, here sides and legs heart. She had no idea where Chico had run off to, the last battle with Captain Grisham had not gone well. Three men were dead and the man she had tried to free would be back in the Colonel's custody by now.

Slowly she lifted herself off the ground, even the thought of walking hurt. Tessa was certain that she had broken her ribs once more. Slowly, she moved toward the nearest cottage. The Colonel's men might still be looking for her; she had to get out of sight. Perhaps she could hide in a storeroom or barn of one of the peasants' houses. It was risky for them she knew, but she could not think of another way.

Slowly she made her way toward the closest building. By the time she had reached the back steps of the barn she was half crawling. As she approached the door, she could hear the soft sound of women's voices singing- the language was unknown to her, but the tune sounded vaguely familiar. She thought she could remember her mother singing it to her when she was a child. Through the cracks in the door she could see fire light, not candle light- and a mother with two little children. "I had hope there would be no one in here at this time of night," she muttered to her self softly. " I couldn't get that lucky. If I were to take up shroud making, men would stop dying - if I sold candles, the sun would never set." She laughed to her self- that had been one
of her mothers favorite lines.

Unfortunately, she must have laughed to loudly- the singing stopped abruptly.

~~~~~

"Maria," Tessa heard the woman say slowly, "Open it." The Queen of Swords looked up at the doorway, a stout pitchfork looked back.

"Momma!" One of the children cried," It's the Queen!" Her mother nodded dumbly. "Um, may I help you your Majesty?" She asked awkwardly.

The two girls stood facing forward now, blocking her view of the light. "I'm very sorry to disturb you- I didn't mean interrupt your--what ever it is your doing." Tessa blinked. Barns were a bad place for lit candles. "What is it you're doing any way?" she asked in confusion.

"Mouse hunting," the woman said a little too quickly. At the same time her smallest daughter cried out, "Lighting Candles for Shabbat!"

The woman paled, Maria put her had over her sister's mouth, a moment too late. "It's okay, Momma. The Queen won't tell anyone!" said the little girl.

As for the Queen herself, Tessa could only lie there blinking. Shabbat? Who or what was Shabbat? Then it hit her Sabado. (Spanish: Saturday). In the days before Isabelle, the Jews of Spain used to celebrate their Sabbath on Saturdays. Starting the day of rest on Friday nights, with candles and clean linens.

"Your Conversos?" Tessa asked casually, unsure if she had stumble onto loyal supporters of the Queen, or into the company of the devil.

The woman laughed. "Me? I was baptized the day I was born. Mother wouldn't take the chance that the devil would claim me, even if she had to wake the Padre from his cell in the middle of the night!" Yet she did lift the pitchfork.

Somewhere in the background, Tessa heard the sound of horses. "Quickly! Hide me," she pleaded. The woman looked ambitious; but at she last dragged Tessa inside.

Maria and the other girl, meanwhile had each picked up one of the two large silver candle sticks that had been on a small table in the middle of the barn. They blew them out and hid them in the hay, along with the white table cloth. The mother eased Tessa into broken pig troth and covered her with hay. Her daughters picked up lanterns that had been hanging from the rafters. "Here mousy, mousy..." the older one called, peering into the darker corners of the room.

Tessa could hear foot steps approaching. Her heart raced. "Please let them have covered me all the way," she prayed.

"May I help you, Captain," Tessa heard the woman say.

"Is this your daughter," Grisham asked cheerfully. Tessa heard the sound of a child being lifted.

"Si, Captain- my daughter Isabelle," she answered nervously.

"Cute kid." Tessa could almost see his menacing smile. "What are you doing out here in the barn this late?" He asked.

"Looking for rats," Isabelle chimed exactly.

"Aren't we all," he mumbled. "Ma'am, this estate been haunted by bandits this afternoon. Have you seen or heard anything suspicious?

"No Capitan."

"Good. In that case I suggest you go inside for the evening. It's safe that way. Oh, and ladies be careful with those lanterns. This barn could catch fire like that!" Gresham snapped his fingers.

Tessa heard him mount his horse and ride off. It took several minutes for the peasants to uncover her. When she could see at last, the barn looked strangely cold. "Thank you," she said turning to the mother. The other woman made no answer, and to Tessa's horror - her face showed fear.

"What was that you were singing before?" The queen asked.

"That? Nothing, only old song my mother use to sing to me."

Tessa sighed inwardly. This was a puzzle she would not solve today. "Did you see which way Grisham went?" She asked finally.

"To the east toward Dona Fernando's hacienda," The woman answered slowly, her eyes never leaving Tessa's face.

"Good Sabbath," the Queen replied softly as she left the barn.

Vocabulary: Marrono(Sp)- converso's who practice Judaism in secret; their descendants.

Note: This story doesn't lead where this installment looks like it's going. It also make passing mention of the Blood Liable Myth- the false accusations of ritual sacrifice.

~~~~~

Tessa moaned as her servant tightened the linen bands around her waist. Marta watched her mistress with concern. Broken ribs were the least of the wounds the Queen had taken last night.

"You can't even be certain they are Maronos," Marta sighed, as she tided that last knot.

"It's not the woman I'm worried about." Tessa sighed, her eyes distant.

Marta looked her square in the eye, "Your mother."

"She knew that song they were singing, what ever it was? She knew it."

"So?" Marta herself knew many Jewish songs. Her people were so often the musicians and dancers at their weddings and festivals. She had retained the song of their employers, even 327 years after their departure. "It means nothing."

"Oh, Marta!" Tessa cried," I knew my mother. She was a good Catholic!"

"Of course she was," Marta said comfortingly.

"So how did she know those songs?" The servant had no answer for that. "Marta, one way or another, I have to learn the truth."

"Why?" She had a bad feeling about this. "Your destiny lies elsewhere. Your part is to establish justice, not start another inquisition."

Tessa shuttered and Marta knew she was thinking of Spain. Only four years ago, a religious fever had struck the country, bringing out memories and bitterness not heard of in generations. "If they really are Jews, Marta, if they really stand they in church every Sunday and…"

"And what? Pray to G'd? Remember the Sabbath? Sacrifice children?"

"Marta!"

"Some people will believe anything. Some people do anything to make other believe as they do. But the Queen of Swords must be above all that hatred and lies. After all, they did save your life."

"I suppose so. I just have to know."

"This is foolishness. You keep your secrets and let them keep theirs."

"And my mother?"

"I saw her at church. She love her faith. There was no way she was a marrono."

It took a several weeks for Tessa Alverado to recover, from her "fall from the ladder in the library." It was an embarrassing ruse but it was the first one she could think of. She was relieved to find, however, that Chico had found his way back to her hacienda without her. Rather then ride him, she donned her "working dress."

"Come Marta," she said as she eased her self into the passenger side of the carriage.

"I still say this is to risky. What if they recognize you?"

"Nobody ever recognizes me!"

"Ands for what reason are we trespassing on Dona Fernando's estate?"

"We're not trespassing. I'm going to invite her to tea."

"You can't send her a letter like every one else?"

"I can't visit Isabelle and her mother if I write a letter."

"This is ridiculous," Marta mummered as she climbed in.

~~~~~

It was nearing noon as they reached Dona Fernando's hacienda. In the distance, Tessa could see Maria and her mother working. Marta slowed as she approached the house. "Buenos Noches Senorita. Alvarado," the girl sang out as she approached.

"Buenos Noches. How do you know my name?" The Lady replied bending down to reach the child.

"My uncle Ignosio works on your estate, Senorita," she replied thoughtfully.

"Can I help you Senorita?" The mother curtseying a little as she came out of the barn.

"Yes, I was looking at your fine pigs," Tessa motioned to the pen. "Are they for sale?"

The woman blinked, " I haven't though about it, to be honest. We were fatten them up for Christmas."

"Christmas ? It's nearly Easter."

"I hadn't the heart to eat them with out my Noah." Other people besides Jews name the Children Noah, she reminded herself.

"My condolences on your husband. I'm sorry, I haven't heard your name?"

"Yasmen Abenhazar"

"Widow Abenhazar, I'm throwing a celebration two weeks from tomorrow evening. If you can bring one of your fine animals to my hacienda that morning, I'll pay you a fair price."

"Si, Senorita." The woman turned around. "Isabelle stop ticking your cousin! Pardon me Senorita," she nodded as she went chasing after the youngster.

"What was that all about ?"Marta asked as Yasmen left.

"They're definitely Catholic"

"With a name like Abenhazar?"

"Well, if the eat the pig or work on Saturday, they're not Jews, right?"

"So if they haven't eaten the swine yet but are selling animals on your estate two weeks from now, what are they? Tessa, if they are maranos, then they have 300 years of experience covering their tracks."

"I guess you're right. I'll have to find out some other way."

Marta sighed, "In the meantime, you better come up with a good reason to throw a party!"

Note : I forgot to mention the Acadmy of St. Garil in my notes for part 4. Their web site provided me with a good list of Spinsh sir names used by Jews.

~~~~~

LATER THAT EVENING

The Queen of Swords slipped silently down the path past the pig pen. She tiptoed quietly around the back of the barn. It was cold and empty. Creeping towards the hoses, she heard soft sweet singing. That song her mother use to sing her to sleep with. She ducked under the window and listened. "Le ca do de Le Cad Ca La Pen nae Shabbat le cha or blah" it sounded like.

After a time the song ended, and Isabelle--Tessa was sure it was her--lead a new one. A fast and lively rhythm in contrast to the one before. "Ve Sham Ru pena Yisrail eeet ha Shabbat….." or something. She tried to look threw the window but the shutter was drawn. The singing stopped abruptly. The shutter flew open. Yasmen Albenhzar stared down at her in terror.

"Mama? Can The Queen stay for Shabbat?" asked Isabelle, excitedly.

"I would like that very much," Tessa replied with out thinking. Well, whatever they were doing, it didn't sound evil.

"I'd be honored, Your Majesty," the Widow said at last. Her eyes uncertain but she shut the blinds and opened the door. "Please share our meal with us."

The Queen of Swords entered the building. In the center was a low table with the white tablecloth she had seen a few weeks earlier. The half melted white candles (the family must have to starve to be able to afford those every week) cast a warm glow all about the room.

Yasmen ushered Tessa to a seat of honor, and served her a large helping some fish stew and honey bread. Maria picked put an apple and handed it to Tessa, shyly. The Queen smile as she took the apple. It may not have been much to Maria Tressa Alvarado, but the Queen blushed at such hospitality. The poor could not afford such pleasantries easily.

"Please tell me, what was that song you were singing? The one I heard last time I was here." She hummed a few notes.

"Le Ca Do De" Maria answered.

"Do you like it?" asked Isabelle

"Yes. What does it mean?"

"It welcomes the Sabbath Bride," answered Maria once more.

"Bride?" Said Tessa looking around.

"Poets called them our bride," replied the Widow thoughtfully, "They also refer to the day as the Shabbat Queen." Her voice sounded strange for some reason. Tessa felt rather awkward, and Yasmen seemed to sense it.

"May I inquire, your majesty, why you ask?" The widow's tone more conversational.

"My mother use to sing it to me when I couldn't sleep. No words, just the tune."

Isabelle started giggling; "It's not a lullaby!" But her sister silenced her.

"But your mother, she was Catholic, no?"

Tessa nodded.

"Most Noble houses had a convert generations back, even the king. Hundreds of thousands were forced to convert, and some did it for personal gain--from rich to the poorest of the poor. Many were like ourselves. We were fortunate enough to keep our faith, practicing in secret. But often the meaning of the practices became obscure and forgotten, a lit candle before sundown of Friday evening, a fast in early fall, a half forgotten melody past from mother to daughter."

The night passed quickly as the Queen and her companions talked pleasantly. They talked of the Sabbath and of the fields, of taxes and Jerusalem. She, unable to resist the children's pleading, awkwardly told of her many escapes, sword fights, fist fights, and of falling off cliffs."

"Promise my you won't try that," she insisted looking Maria and Isabelle right in the eye.

"Si, your Majesty," they replied gravely.

Tessa turned to Yasmen. "I'm grateful for your hospitality, but I really must go now." The Children moaned disappointedly. "I'm off to defend truth and justice from the forces of evil," The Queen replied in mock seriousness.

The Widow stared at her for a moment. "We have a saying, 'Against the Truth evil does not prevail,' "

THE END


"With G'd's help it is done."