Princess Carmel; Chapter 1

 

Princess Carmel; Chapter 1

© 2022 by Amber Wright

A NOTE FROM CARMEL

I am Carmel, Princess of Tyre, and my father is King Hiram. I am thirteen years old and my hair is curly brown with little copper tints to it. Some days my nurse Zara tells me my hair looks like a brilliant fire—and that I need to put water on it (but then I wash it and no fire comes from my hair so all is good).

I live on the seacoast in a limestone palace with my parents, my brother Baal-Eser and all my other family (which are many). The gardens that surround our palace are filled with palm trees, big cedars (which our region of Lebanon is known for), beautiful flowers of all colors and a little thick grass in our sand (which there is no end of!).

We have trade with many countries and our royal color is our very own Tyrian Purple which I wear all the time. The purple dye is made from a special shell-fish called the murex. The dye makes very bright and very pretty cloth!

I have learned my letters (our Phoenician letters that originated within the century), I read and write unlike most girls. I also study the stars and enjoy helping my father plan his building projects (and he thinks my ideas are good!).

I am a very talkative girl and love to meet new people (especially the poor ones so I can give them something). My fingers are always stained with ink and my mother tells me I will not marry if I don’t keep my hands washed. But I think I might not marry; unless, of course, I need to be the “peace treaty” with an enemy nation. If so, I will meekly be the Token of Peace because I do love things to be peaceful and relaxing as the sea in summer.

My favorite color is purple; my favorite food is roasted lamb on flatbread; and my favorite sweet is honey cookies that are sprinkled with cinnamon. I love to explore the mountains just outside of our city—but I will not go without my guards or I may get chewed up by a lion!

PRINCESS CARMEL

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And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to

David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and

masons: and they built David an house.

2 Samuel 5:11

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