Author Description

In the ancient city of Ur, 2029 BCE, two teens fall in love. Sarai, daughter of High Priestess Eanna from distant Harran, studies to become a priestess or, if not that, to marry a high born lord as her mother has planned, but she was born willful. Abi-ram, whose family roots are the tribal people people roaming the desert, detests being his father's donkey in their leather works. He dreams of travel, trading, becoming rich, and marrying a priestess. The gods and both families conspire to keep these lovers apart. The secret that Sarai must never be told is that Abi-ram is her half brother. Sarai longs for a normal life of wife and mother, away from the restrictions of the religious vows she has taken. Her mother promises half heartedly to release Sarai from these vows if only she will perform one last duty. Sarai must celebrate the Sacred Marriage with King Tun-fa of Egypt. The pharaoh's daughter, Hagar, is entranced with the glamorous foreign priestess, who agrees to have her trained in distant Harran. Tun-fa's love for Sarai turns to rage when he learns that Abi-ram is Sarai's husband. He had plans of his own. He sends the entire retinue, including his own daughter, out into the desert to make their way on land, rather than on the sea. The wretched group of slaves, priests, soldiers, and tenders stumble into an oasis and can go no further. Sarai takes upon herself the mantle of leadership to care for these people. The people change from slave to refugee to settler as they make Hebron their home. Conflicting rituals and religious customs challenge Sarai at every turn as families form and babies are born. Having Sarai's spiritual line continue is foremost in the minds of her own priests. Two babies are born. Each can claim the title of holy child: Ishmael born of Hagar, and Izak born of Sarai from another Sacred Marriage. The Spirits of all who accompanied Sarai on this spiritual journey join Sarai in telling her story. They do not always agree.