His name is Kepha, a Damascene prince and the only man Maakah had ever loved.
I received my sub-edit (substantive–big concept to help with plot pacing, characters, and overall story content) in the fall of 2024. Both my editors felt there was something missing in Maakah’s character arc. I agreed and went to the Lord to find out what it was. That’s when I added Prince Kepha, Maakah’s first love, to the cast of characters.
In Noble: The Story of Maakah, we meet Princess Maakah when she’s twenty years old. She’s the very sheltered only child of Geshur’s King Talmai (a true biblical character) and Queen Raziah (a fictional name).
Geshur is one of five Aramean nations and is always trying to gain the upper hand among their sister nations and rival countries through wise trade treaties and political marriages.
From Princess Maakah when she was only twelve harvests old:
I’d become infatuated with Prince Kepha of Damascus when he was declared a Damascene great warrior at only sixteen harvests old. For the next two annual festivals, I’d watched for him among the other princes. Now, at eighteen harvests old, he was broad-shouldered and wearing a golden jeweled crown. And I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.
That’s when he caught me staring.
Rather than the snide squint I expected from this god among men, his mouth curved into an appreciative smile.
I’d quickly looked away, hoping none of the royalty in the crowded hall had noticed our exchange. Likely, everyone else was too busy enjoying Baal’s priests and Asherah’s priestesses sacrificing their first fruits of harvest. Why did I suddenly feel embarrassed by the intimacy of their worship?
A life changed
I stole another glance at the handsome prince. This time, he was whispering something to his abba and mine. The men laughed together, and after all three gave a curt nod, both kings turned toward the crowd and clapped their hands, halting the celebration.
The Damascene king announced, “My son, Prince Kepha, has asked to begin betrothal negotiations with King Talmai in order to marry his daughter, Princess Maakah. We hope that such a union will strengthen the bonds of Damascus and Geshur, thereby increasing the power of our entire Aramean empire.”
The gathering erupted in applause while I stared at Kepha, who was walking straight to the low-lying table where I sat. Ima sat to my right, and we were surrounded by other royal women of Aramean nations.
With three long strides, he bounded from the floor to the platform—skipping the three steps—and knelt before me while cradling my right hand between his. “If you agree to begin negotiations,” he whispered to me only, “then I will visit you regularly in Geshur so we won’t feel like strangers on our wedding night.” His lips brushed the back of my hand, which calmed many fears yet made my heart race. I emphatically nodded approval but no words came. Words wouldn’t have mattered since the celebration grew louder–even louder than my heart’s thrumming.
