“He is your family.”
“Yes, that he is. However, as much as I dislike it, his lack of repentance will force me to ashes and sackcloth.” Even in the pale moonlight she could see sorrow in his eyes at the prospect of mourning a loved one. His brow furrowed and she imagined his nostrils flared much as they had when she and Dara had treated his wounds. “You of all people should know, Abigail, family can turn against each other.”
* * *
Her jaw dropped and she looked toward her cousin. He didn’t wait for her response. It was obvious Abigail had led a sheltered life. Sheltered enough to be ignorant of the atrocities her parents had committed against their own flesh and blood, no different from his own, but he wasn’t in the mood to smooth her ruffled feathers. He wouldn’t take back his words even if they did unlock mysteries better left alone. However, with the questions flitting through her eyes, he wasn’t about to hang around and wait for them. He wasn’t in the mood to tell her the truth. Besides, it wasn’t his responsibility.
He tapped a heel to the horse’s flank and rode toward the high trees. The jarring movement rewarded him with a slice to his innards. He bit down on his cheek to keep from crying out. He would not give anyone the satisfaction of knowing how difficult it was for him to remain seated on Papyrus.
Jesse tilted his head toward the sky. The bright star in the handle remained high and to his right. By his calculations they’d reach the grove before too long.
The heavy clopping of hooves closed in upon him. He looked over his shoulder. Dara’s arms clung to her son’s waist, as did Bilhah’s to Abigail. Nathan moved beside him. “I fear we’ve been discovered.”
Jesse twisted around. The movement stressed the stitches of his cuts. He squinted into the dark. Although difficult to discern from the distance and the dark, Jesse knew several horses rode toward them. Given they were horsed men could only mean one thing. Suph had woken sooner than expected and had discovered their absence.
“Come.” He pulled the reins to the right and rode hard toward the hills for several long minutes before halting. “Head straight. Hide in the shadows of the cliffs. There is a path on the far east, just wide enough for the horses. Go slow as it is narrow. Follow it up thirty paces. Look for a cave. It is large enough for the horses. There are caverns to hide in, as well. I’ll fall back. Micah,” he said, twisting around, “you must go with them and help protect the women.”
“You cannot think to fight Suph and his men alone. Not in your condition.”
Nathan looked hesitant at Abigail’s words even as he lifted Micah up in front of Dara.
“Go. Protect them well.”
Nathan nodded and handed Jesse a dagger. Abigail’s chin took on a stubborn tilt. This was no time to argue. He glanced at Nathan, who acknowledged the silent command. Nathan kicked his heels into the horse’s sides as Jesse smacked the rear of Abigail’s horse.
It was not where he wanted to take them, but he had no choice. Not with Suph closing in.
Jesse rode hard toward the trees. At the quick pace it didn’t take long for them to shelter him. He dismounted, his legs wobbling beneath him. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he leaned against Papyrus until he gathered his strength. He tugged the horse deeper into the grove and, unclipping the hooks from one side of the bit, tossed the reins over a low-hanging branch before making his way back to the outer edge. He crouched behind a bush and peered into the dark as he watched for the riders. He prayed the men had followed him and not seen Abigail escape.
A dark shadow bobbed up and down, then another, followed by several others. He exhaled a shaky breath. His pulse pounded in his ears. He lost sight of the riders, blinked his eyes and found them again.
He leaned left, then right. Nausea smacked him in the gut. He choked back the bile and tried breathing through his nose. This was not the time for his body to succumb to his injuries, not when Abigail needed him and Ianatos had no idea where to find her now.
The roaring in his head took on a thundering sound. The muscles in his legs began to shake. He blinked his eyes against the sting of perspiration. “Lord, I need strength for a few moments more.”
The riders halted just outside the tree line and Jesse released a slow breath of air. One rider dismounted, crouching to the ground. His fingers danced over the desert as if to search for tracks.
A horse snorted. Jesse prayed Papyrus to silence, but an answering snort echoed through the pounding in his head.
The man glanced toward the shrubs. He tilted his head as if to affirm what it was he heard. He rose and draped the reins over the horse’s neck and then walked toward Jesse’s hiding place. Jesse prayed he’d turn right or left—anywhere but straight—but the man’s feet never wavered.
Jesse swallowed. He wanted to shrink into the bushes, but if he dared move his muscles would give out and he’d be good as dead. At least Abigail was safe.
Lord, what am I to do? He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. If anything happens to me, please see to Abigail’s safety. Help her find the truth she is looking for. And protect Joash from Suph’s evil intentions.
A sense of peace settled over Jesse’s shoulders and he hoped the man would turn around and leave, but as he approached, his steps held their course, never veering. Jesse slipped the dagger from his belt, never taking his eyes from the man, not even when the man stood with hands on his hips staring down at Jesse.
Jesse sucked in a breath and released it out slowly. The thundering in his temple worsened. He clenched his fingers around the hilt and prepared to strike out. The man leaned over the bush. Jesse tilted his head back. His vision grew dark. His muscles gave in to their exhaustion and Jesse fell over onto the ground.
Chapter Nine
With her arms crossed over her stomach, Abigail paced the small cavern while Bilhah and Dara huddled against a wall, flax blankets wrapped around their shoulders. A lone firebrand flickered in the small cave. The incident when the horse’s hooves had stumbled still left her shaken. When Nathan had realized how narrow the path was he’d helped them to dismount, commanding them to stay close to the face of the mountain. Reluctant to relinquish her perch on the back of the horse Abigail had chosen to remain seated.
What if Jesse had fallen and was in need of their help? What if Suph had captured him? “I do not like this.”
Nathan’s broad shoulders tensed at her words. He stood at the mouth of the cave, watching. “The blankets are the best I could do.”
“I do not speak of our comforts, Nathan. Jesse is out there alone, defenseless.” She would not mention her fears about Jesse falling from the ledge. It’d only cause her friend’s anger to resurface.
“He has a dagger,” Nathan growled.
“Ach, he can barely hold his head straight and you think he can hold your knife.”
Surprised at Dara’s defense of Jesse, Abigail glanced at her. The old woman smiled a toothless grin. “I did not waste my time tending his wounds to see him dead, child.”
“He will not die, Mother.”
“How do you know this?” Bilhah asked.
Micah tucked his knees into his chest, Abigail was certain, to ward off the chill. “Jesse is a warrior.”
“I do not see how that makes a difference in this case. He’s wounded, helpless as a wingless bird.”
“And you chatter as such.” Nathan turned around and crossed his arms over his chest. “If you will all be quiet I can stay attuned to what is going on out there. We would not want anyone to catch us unaware.” He swiveled back around, his back stiff as one of the marble-and-bronze pillars at the palace.
“If you would only leave us and find him, I’d rest easier.”
Nathan tossed a dark glance over his shoulder. “Would you rest easy without my protection here? In a dark cave where creature and man could happen about?”
Ab
igail bit down on her lip to keep from arguing. As much as she disliked it, Nathan was right. She couldn’t send him out to help Jesse. She couldn’t risk Dara, Micah and Bilhah’s lives any more than she already had.
She dropped her hands to her sides and paced.
“Child, you are making me nervous,” Dara whispered. “Come.” She stretched out her arm, holding the edge of her blanket. “Sit and rest. We’ll need our strength.”
Abigail glanced toward Nathan, who had yet to move, and then toward his mother and Bilhah. Releasing a resigned sigh, she took four steps and dropped beside Dara. The old woman wrapped her arm over Abigail’s shoulders and tucked her head onto her shoulder.
“I do not like this waiting.”
“I know, child. We have no choice.”
“What if something has happened to him? What if Suph... What if he’s dead?”
“We will know soon enough,” Bilhah said.
“Your cousin is right. We will know soon enough if anything has happened to your Jesse.”
Her Jesse? Jesse did not belong to her. He did not like her, nor she him. Did she? He was a Levite. A man who could tell her the truth about those things everyone else hid from her. He also knew this God Shema had spoken of and she wanted to hear more about, but Jesse did not belong to her. Even if she were to become queen she could not force his loyalty or his friendship, no matter how much she wished it.
“Close your eyes and rest, Abigail. Nathan will stand guard and wake us when Jesse arrives.”
Abigail raised her head from Dara’s bony shoulder. “What—”
“Shh, child.” Dara patted Abigail’s head and then stroked her hair. It was something Shema had done often, whenever Abigail was agitated.
Abigail blew out a frustrated breath. Dim light flickered off the walls from the firebrand. The light seemed to dance with the shadows. At times one would overtake the other, causing the weaker to disappear, only for it to reappear once again.
Was that how good and evil worked? Had Jesse’s uncle always been evil or had it been like the dark shadows overtaking the light? She could not imagine him always being evil or else Jesse’s family would have known much sooner. So what happened to cause the man to change?
An image of her mother pressed into her thoughts. She’d always glided from place to place. Her beauty seemed good, but Abigail knew the viperous tongue that lashed out. She had witnessed her mother’s cruelty. Her mother had been like the firebrand, beautiful, illuminating and dangerous.
Abigail drew in a shaky breath. If she were to believe all she’d heard, both her parents had been evil. Her father for having Shema killed, her mother... Abigail didn’t need rumors to tell her of her mother’s deeds. She’d seen them for herself—did that make her evil, too?
She shuddered.
“Are you cold, child?”
No, she wasn’t, but how could she explain to Dara her fears? She snuggled closer to the warmth and comfort offered by this grandmotherly figure. The thought of causing pain to anyone left her with great sadness, but what if she were to change like Jesse’s uncle? What if she became obsessed with an idea or a goal and allowed it to take over her actions? Obviously, evil ran thick in her veins.
A tear perched on the edge of her lashes and she closed her eyes against the wayward emotion. She would not allow her parents’ lives to dictate her future. And if aught happened to Jesse and she somehow ended up in Suph’s grasp, she’d make sure he did not dictate her future, either.
Dara’s hand, stroking through her hair, lulled her into relaxation. Her breathing grew heavy and she knew sleep would soon follow if she did not get up and resume her pacing, but she could not force her aching body to move. She had never traveled before. The past few days were making her muscles ache and her body exhausted. And although she didn’t fear the horse, she’d never ridden one outside her dreams. If she was aching, how was Jesse holding up? He was still out there.
Whoever You are, Jesse’s God, I do not know if You hear me, or care to, but if so, if You are the Creator of heaven and earth, if You care for Jesse as he believes, please protect him from our enemies. And Jesse’s God, if You are real, will You reveal Yourself to me? I do not want to live as my mother did, bowing to man-made idols.
Dara’s soft snores, along with Bilhah’s louder ones, intruded into Abigail’s prayers, but she nevertheless felt that lightness enter her heart. It was as if it was easier to breathe, as if she knew without a doubt all would be well.
* * *
Jesse swatted at the annoying hand shaking his shoulder. It’d been ages since his brothers had bothered him. Why did they choose now to interrupt his dreams? He wanted to stay right where he was, reclining on furs and purple pillows, basking in Abigail’s smile and her jasmine-scented domain, although he could do without that rock poking him in the back and the knife piercing his side. Why was Abigail holding a blade to his ribs? Had he said something to irritate her?
He peeled a lid back. A stony-faced man stared back at him. He was not Abigail. Jesse covered his eyes with the crook of his elbow. His skin tugged and burned. “Would you mind removing your knife from my ribs?”
“You think I’ve come to kill you?” The shocked disbelief in the man’s tone filled Jesse with guilt.
“Why else are you poking me with your blade?”
“There is no blade against your ribs, Jesse.”
Jesse lifted his arm away from his eyes. Ianatos set his jaw, and not a wrinkle furrowed his stony brow. Jesse tried to ease up onto his elbows. The sharp pain sucked the breath from his lungs. He collapsed back to the ground. It was then he recalled his encounter with Suph.
“Where is Abigail?”
“Your woman?” Ianatos rocked back on his heels, revealing a watchful, scowling Jonathan, whose fists were jammed on his hips. His fingers twitched near the hilt of his sword.
“She is not my woman, Ianatos.”
Jonathan dropped his hands to his sides, his shoulders relaxed. Jesse inhaled relief.
“Jonathan, have you seen your brother?”
“I would ask you the same.” Tension rolled back into his shoulders as he puffed out his chest.
“We saw riders fast approaching. I did not wish to take a chance with Abigail’s life. I sent Nathan and Micah with the women to safety.”
“Aye, there were signs of patrols as we trailed you. We could not tell if they are ahead of you or behind you, but it seems as if Suph is in the area. Can you ride?” Ianatos asked.
Jesse laughed. “I do not even know if I can sit. Suph thought to use me as practice for tossing his dagger. Fortunately for me, he missed more times than he hit his mark. Unfortunately, his poor aim angered him even more.”
Ianatos pulled back the edge of Jesse’s sleeve. “It seeps blood, but looks clean. How many more?”
Jesse twisted his lips. “I did not take count.”
“He’s at least one broken rib. Mother bound them, but he still moves like a snail.” Jonathan stepped from Jesse’s sight but then quickly reappeared with an earthenware flask the size of a goblet. He crouched beside Jesse and lifted his shoulders off the ground. “Here, drink this. It is water from the spring.”
Jesse sipped from the opening. “My thanks. How did you find Ianatos so quickly?”
Jonathan grinned. “As I said, my brother and I know many things. I signaled to a friend and they signaled to Jerusalem using a firebrand. Ianatos met me halfway.”
“My men and I were with Jonathan’s friend and not in the city, so we weren’t far,” Ianatos explained.
“Come.” A warrior almost as large as Ianatos stood behind Jonathan’s shoulder. Jesse did not recognize him. “The sun is nearing the horizon. We must be going.”
“You brought company?”
Ianatos nodded. “Friends. They will not harm you or y
our woman.” He glanced over his shoulder at Jonathan. “As long as she is not a threat to King Joash.”
“She is no threat.” Even as Jesse said the words, he could not be sure. After all, she was the daughter of Athaliah. However, he did not think Abigail had cruelty running through her blood. She was too innocent, too pure. For some reason, Athaliah had shielded her child from her evil.
“Come, let us get you on your horse.” Ianatos grabbed hold of Jesse’s arms and lifted him to his feet.
Jesse could not help the groan escaping his throat. The men around him spun. Black spots danced before his eyes. He squeezed them closed. For a moment he felt as if he was tumbling, but a firm hand steadied him.
“We must get him to Mother. She’ll treat his wounds.”
Jesse opened his eyes. “She’s done well, my friend. It’s the ache in my ribs and the pounding in my head.”
Jonathan stepped closer. His fingers probed through Jesse’s hair.
“Ow!”
Ianatos scowled but moved closer to inspect the area in question. His fingers skimmed over the bump. Jesse winced.
“Did Mother see this?”
Jesse thought back to the wounds she and Abigail tended. “Not that I recall.”
Ianatos pulled back, his scowl deeper. “You have a nasty bump on your head. Suph must have clouted you good.”
“Aye, with the hilt of his sword.” He recalled that moment with clarity. Suph’s men had held his arms behind his back. He’d already been stabbed with the dagger multiple times, already had his face beaten. He could barely stand when Suph wrapped his hands around the blade of his sword, arced it upward and brought it down on Jesse’s skull. He didn’t recall anything afterward. Everything had gone dark. Next thing he knew he was standing before Abigail.
He hadn’t known what Suph’s plans were for him until that moment. It was obvious the captain intended to marry her and rule through her. Not if Jesse had anything to do with it. She was too good for the likes of Suph. He’d use her and then destroy her, locking her away in a cold chamber in the palace. If he didn’t kill her. Some of the questions she’d asked led him to believe she’d never before left the palace until a few days ago. He wondered, by the way she asked about the night sky, if she’d ever seen stars before.
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