Cursing King - King of the Forest Chapters 17 - 18 (Arrant Avenger Book 9)

Tripoli, Lebanon
Qayin sat in splendor at the right hand of King Baja at the royal table. They were celebrating his majesty's birthday party at his seaside palace of white ivory. His second wife Queen Jezreel was too busy with her private affairs to entertain his guests. The wicked king's stepdaughter Athaliah was dancing before the king's table. Her eyes and body were for the handsome rogue from France. They exchanged several lewd looks and motions to each other during the party. But the conceited king thought that the girl was infatuated with him. The naughty girl pleased King Baja so much that he motioned for her to sit on his left hand. Then he offered her half of his kingdom so that she could please him every day. Qayin knew that what the two-faced king was really offering the girl was his current wife's half of the kingdom. But Queen Jezreel would have to be out of the way for her to receive his promised offer.
Caesarea, Israel
The fifteen year old son of Duke Le Mason was temporarily living in a garbage scow near the beach resort of Caesarea, Israel. Cassidy's quest was not going as well or as fast as he would have hoped. He had suffered many things in the name of God. Now he was sorely missing his down-filled bed, Parisian bread and his sense of smell. After several days, his sinuses had given up the ghost from the constant barrage of atrocious odors. He stepped lively down the warped gangplank to the scum-covered shore. The tidal pools had rainbow hues on the surface most likely caused by the leaky bilge. The derelict boat was where he was living while he searched for his big brother in the huge royal resort town. The place had been named after the ruler of the world in the distant past. The natives obviously didn’t think anything special of it. Cass wandered to the well at the center of town. It was a common attraction for all of the tourists and locals. He waited patiently with his bucket for his turn at the rope. There were a dozen people ahead of him. A work crew of rowdy Ishmaelites kept drawing water as if the public well belonged to them. The most pleasurable to look at were four teenage girls.
One of the sweaty buggers turned and said to the eldest, "How much for you, summer's sister? You are for sale, I have no doubt. Tell your father, I will pay two drachma's, no more." His ugly brother thumbed his long knife as he said, "You are a blind donkey's foul. She and her sisters have no family. Her scanty clothing proves that. They are street urchins. Take her if you want her. No one will interfere, I assure you of that."
The youngest girl got riled up beyond her tolerance, so she said, "You keep your filthy hands off of my big sister." The eldest sister casually motioned for her sisters to step back as she said, "You and your brothers have been drinking. Perhaps you do not know who you are talking to. We are the daughters of Philip the Evangelist. Your punishment will be swift and extreme if you dare touch us."