Isa reached out and hugged Jesse. “When Ari discovered you had not returned to Jerusalem he became worried Elam had somehow brought you harm. Where were you? It is not like you to shirk your duty. Even we became worried.”
Jesse looked at his brothers, relieved he didn’t need to tell them of Elam’s betrayal. “Athaliah’s former captain has gathered forces. He came upon me and Elam. The captain promised Elam he could be the high priest if he allowed me to be used in exchange for our new king.”
“What did he intend to do with King Joash? Rule through him?”
Ianatos cleared his throat. “Turns out Queen Athaliah had a daughter.”
Jesse told them of all that had happened and how Abigail had rescued him from further torture.
“And now you feel indebted to her,” Melchiah said, more of a statement than a question.
Jesse furrowed his brow. Was that what drew him to her—he felt indebted to her? “Perhaps. It does not matter. She is not like her mother, nor her father. Somehow she has been shielded from their evil ways. I would hate to see her innocence destroyed by Suph. I do not need to tell you what will happen to her if she chooses to defy him after he forces a marriage upon her. He needs her to rule, at least until she bears his children.”
“What will you have us do, Jesse?”
“Abigail needs sanctuary until Suph and his men can be dealt with.”
“We will take her to Manna, then. He will never find her there and she will be well guarded.”
“No.” Jesse could not take her from one prison fortress to another. Besides, those who lived at Manna had pledged their lives to God, something Abigail had not done and seemed set on not doing. “She has people who are loyal to her with her. A healer, the healer’s two sons, who seem capable enough at guarding their mistress, a small boy of ten or eleven and her cousin.”
“Her cousin? Was not all the royal family killed?”
“It seems Bilhah was given a fate much worse than death.” His brothers furrowed their brows.
“You have the shrine priestess with you, Jesse?” Seth asked.
Jesse firmed his lips together and nodded. “Aye,” he added, knowing his uncle was blind.
His brothers gasped. “We cannot—”
“No, we cannot,” Isa added. “Our wives would not understand.”
Jesse stared at his brothers, dumbfounded. “Forgive me if I am wrong, as I did not pay as close attention to our studies as you two did, is it not written in the scriptures that to any who call upon the Lord that he draws nigh?”
“And these people, they have called upon the Lord in truth?”
Heat flamed Jesse’s cheeks and he bowed his head. “No. Although I have hope. They willingly left behind their idols without hesitation to save me from further torture and my eventual death.”
“Until they place their lives in the hands of our God, we cannot entrust them with the secret of Manna,” Seth said as he continued to bask in the sun.
“I know, Uncle.” Jesse did not like it, for he wanted nothing more than to share the home he loved with Abigail, to see it through her eyes.
“Then what is your plan?”
“Jerusalem,” Ianatos said from behind him.
“It is the obvious choice,” Melchiah agreed.
“Abigail wishes to speak with Jehoiada. She is under the belief that he killed her brothers and cousins.”
Isa’s brow rose to his hairline. “Why would she believe such a thing of her sister’s husband?”
“Seems that is what her mother told her.” Jesse swiped the beads of perspiration from his brow. “And I am not certain she knows Jehosheba is her sister.”
“Are you certain she does not wish the king harm?”
“No. However, I do believe that she will listen to what he has to say. She already has doubts about her family.”
“So Jerusalem it is, then. Do you not think Suph will have the gates watched?” Isa asked.
“Yes, of course,” Ianatos answered. “But as you can see, Jesse can hardly stand. He will not be able to battle Suph’s men, even with Nathan and Jonathan’s help.”
“Nathan and Jonathan?”
“They are twins.”
“Well, then, brother,” Melchiah said, gripping Jesse’s shoulder, “why don’t you sit and rest beside our uncle? I will go down to the camp and explain to them why there are Philistines crawling all over and Ianatos will return and fetch Abigail. We will help you get to Jerusalem.”
The spinning in Jesse’s head worsened, and he swayed on his feet.
“On second thought, why don’t I take you to camp, where you can be taken care of.”
“He can hardly walk,” Isa said.
“That is fine. I will carry him if need be.” Melchiah turned to their uncle. “Seth, are you staying here or coming with us?”
“I believe I will stay right here. I want to meet this daughter of the queen and the shrine priestess.”
“And I will wait with you, Uncle.” Isa sat beside Seth. “I do not care what Jesse says. I want to see these people with my own eyes, too.”
“Aye, and you can tell me if they have horns growing out the side of their heads.” Seth chuckled.
“That I will do, Uncle, that I will do.”
“Uncle Seth?”
“Yes, Jesse?”
“Try not to frighten her. Up until a few days ago she’d never been outside the palace and then rarely out of her chambers.”
“Would you have me cover my eyes?”
“No, Uncle.” Jesse laughed. “Never. Perhaps Ianatos would prepare her beforehand.” Jesse glanced at the Philistine.
Ianatos grinned. “And why would I do that?”
“I believe I like you, Philistine.” Melchiah laughed.
Melchiah grabbed hold of Jesse’s tunic and guided him forward. Jesse did not dare glance over his shoulder to see if Ianatos went after Abigail. He would have to trust the Philistine. Of course, he knew the risks as much as Jesse did and if it had not been for his diligence in protecting Joash and helping save Ari’s betrothed, Mira, Jesse would not trust him, but the man had proven himself.
“I cannot believe you allowed yourself to get caught.”
“Do not think I have not beaten myself over the head, Melchiah.” He paused. “I have. However, I’m coming to see God’s plan is much greater than my own, even if I did let my guard down.”
“Do not be so hard on yourself, Jesse.” Melchiah kept a firm palm on Jesse’s shoulder. “We all did, even with Ari’s warnings. What of Elam?”
Jesse twisted his lips. “Unfortunately, as I mentioned, he has become friends with Suph.”
“Why did you come this way?”
“There was a risk, I know. However, I prayed our people would soon return home. There is safety in numbers, is there not?”
Melchiah grumbled.
“You do not have to worry over Bilhah much. She has kept her head covered since we left, and, Melchiah, she helped rescue me. Of course it was at her cousin’s insistence, but even so, I owe her my gratitude.”
“Then for that I will give her my thanks, as well. Mother would not be too happy if her youngest son had not been found.”
“By the way, why was it just you, Isa and Seth coming up the pass? Why not the entire camp?”
“Some of our people went with Ari. Abba did not want to risk losing him when we could not find you. As for the others, well, Seth could smell the Philistines at a good distance.” Melchiah laughed.
Jesse joined him. “The truth?”
“Seth and Isa went out to the Philistine camp. They explained to us why they were there and that they were waiting for Ianatos to return. After a few questions we discerned the numbers in your party. We did not know if they were friend or
foe. So we pretended to be travelers.”
“So you knew where I was?”
“Aye, of course, we just did not expect your pretty face to be so ugly.”
Jesse winced. “Is it that bad?”
“It is not pretty, Jesse, although, your cuts seem to be healing without infection. You must have a capable healer.”
Jesse laughed. “Capable, aye. I’m quite certain she was around when Noah built the ark. She is a grumpy crone, but there is a big heart behind all of her crassness.”
A slight breeze blew across his skin, causing him to shiver.
“Brother, are you well?”
Jesse fell to his knees. Small rocks pricked his skin.
“Jesse?”
Jesse touched his fingers to the pounding in his head. A burst of light flashed into his eyes.
Melchiah hefted him to his feet. “Come, little brother. Let’s get you home.”
Home. Jesse couldn’t go home. He needed to see to Abigail.
“Aye, Abigail will follow shortly.” Melchiah bent down and pressed his shoulder into Jesse’s stomach. Jesse howled in pain as his ribs sliced his innards.
Chapter Thirteen
Abigail steadied her hand against the face of the rock, her feet rooted. Jesse’s pain reverberated through her heart and straight to her toes. She held her breath, waiting for another sound. Another cry of pain, his laughter, Jesse’s body hitting the rocks below. Anything.
“Ach, child, what are you waiting for? Me to perish in this hot sun?”
Abigail looked over her shoulder at Dara. Had the cry of pain only been her imagination? She glanced to Ianatos, who continued in his trek down the pass. He showed no signs of distress.
She inhaled a ragged breath, thankful she was not riding a horse on this narrow slope. “It is sorry I am, Dara. I fear the treacherous travel is wearing on my nerves.”
“As it is on mine. If you do not mind me reminding you, the sooner we get back down there—” she pointed toward the valley rising before them “—the sooner we can rest.”
Dara was right. More importantly, the sooner they made camp, the sooner she could see for herself that Jesse was fine. Ianatos had tried to reassure her that Jesse was well enough now that he was with his family. Abigail had her doubts. She did not know this Philistine whose fealty belonged to the child believed to be her brother’s son. However, Jesse seemed to trust him. But what did Abigail know about trust? Had not Bilhah suggested she was too naive to know who to place her faith in and who not to?
All of a sudden Ianatos stopped, then Micah, and then Bilhah. Abigail craned her neck to see around them, but detected nothing other than sky, rock and the sea.
“What is happening?” Abigail climbed on her tiptoes.
“I do not know.” Bilhah craned her neck.
Oh, God, please let Jesse be well.
She clapped her hand over her mouth. Had she just prayed to God? Really prayed to Jesse’s God as if He were her own God, too? It seemed strange that it came naturally, as if God had been there all the time. A sense of inner joy filled her heart at this revelation. She dropped her hand to her side and smiled to herself.
Somehow she knew Jesse was fine. Whatever halted their travels had nothing to do with his well-being. Micah mumbled to Bilhah, and then her cousin turned to Abigail. “It is Jesse’s brother and an uncle.”
Abigail stiffened, thinking Elam had found them, but then Bilhah said something she never expected. “A blind uncle, one who wants to meet the shrine priestess?”
Abigail thought her cousin might be hurt by the name, but laughter danced in her eyes as she said, “I shall not disappoint him.”
Bilhah scooted between Micah and the rock wall, until she stood beside Ianatos. She bowed her head as she dropped to her knees. What kind of man was Jesse’s uncle to command such respect from her cousin?
Bilhah waved Abigail forward. “Come.”
She ignored Jonathan’s and Nathan’s protests and patted Micah’s head as she passed him, then she glanced at Ianatos, still unsure if she could trust the Philistine. She relaxed a little when the corner of his mouth curved upward, not in the same sinister way that Suph usually did, but in a reassuring manner.
She lifted her eyes. Two men stood before her. Both tall, one with a graying beard, his eyelids scarred and sealed shut. The other was not as tall as Jesse, but his eyes had the same look. She wondered how much Jesse looked like this man when he was not so badly bruised.
“Abigail, this is Isa, Jesse’s brother.” Bilhah pointed toward the younger man, and then smiled as she gazed upon the older one. “And this is Seth, Jesse’s uncle.”
Seth reached out his hands, indicating Abigail should place hers in his. He wrapped his warm fingers around hers. “It is my gratitude I give you for helping my Jesse.”
“As is mine.” Isa bowed his head. “My mother would be none too happy if we did not have good news of her youngest son.” He lifted his head and winked, easing some of the tension building in her chest.
“Then it is glad I am to have helped.” She looked around, hoping to catch sight of him.
“Our brother Melchiah has carried him to camp.”
Her lips parted. Fear thumped in her heart. “Is he well?”
“Aye, Jesse’s received much worse training for battle. He will be back to his duties in no time.”
“Duties?”
Isa glanced at Ianatos, who shrugged his shoulders. “Jesse is a temple guard. Once Jehoiada begins rebuilding, Jesse will need to see that all goes well.”
Abigail knew Isa spoke of the temple to God, not the ones her mother had erected to her false gods. She just never imagined Jesse a warrior, even though Suph had said as much. He was big enough and fit enough, but his character was honorable and kind. She swallowed past the knot in her throat; it twisted in her stomach. No wonder she had angered him when she tried to force him to hide. It was not in his nature.
“I see. I am certain your temple will be set to rights in no time, then.”
Seth, Isa and Ianatos laughed. Abigail’s cheeks burned.
“Why do you laugh?”
“Have you not seen the temple?”
Bilhah wrapped her arm around Abigail’s shoulders. “Forgive my cousin. She has been sheltered from much of what Jerusalem has endured.”
Abigail shrugged her away. “I am not a child. It is true I have not seen God’s temple, but I have heard stories from the servants. I just could not imagine...”
“Neither could we, child.” Seth reached out his hand and drew her alongside him before turning his feet down the path. “Even now I cannot fathom the damage that was done, but Isa told me.” He lowered his voice. “I made him tell me every detail. However, I think he exaggerates. I would discover for myself, but alas, the boys will not allow me near the temple for fear I’ll injure myself.”
Abigail’s jaw dropped, but she had the feeling Jesse’s uncle was testing her mettle. “You navigate this pass better than those of us with sight.”
He burst out into laughter and patted her hand. If he had eyes Abigail was certain they’d be filled with merriment.
“Jesse will have his hands full with you.” Seth released her arm, stepped around a rock and then helped her to maneuver it. “Tell me, Abigail, how bad are Jesse’s wounds?”
“No—”
“The truth, if you will. My brothers and nephews seem to think it best to shield me. Why? I ask. It is not as if I will become further distressed. I have learned to listen to what it is they do not say.”
Abigail drew breath in and then out. How many times had she felt the same? How many times had she only wanted the truth? Did those around her not realize that being kept in the dark only caused her more anxiety? God, forgive me. Here I am complaining of the dark when this g
entle, courageous man beside me is truly in the dark.
“Jesse has many cuts. Some deep, some not so much. My healer bound his ribs for fear they were broken.”
“Aye, broken ribs can make a man wish for death, but they heal easily enough. What else?”
“His face has been beaten. It is almost hard to discern he is a man and not a leper.”
“Ha, there have been times when Jesse has wished for such a curse.”
“Why would anyone wish a thing? From what I have heard, it is horrible. Those who suffer do so alone for no one will go near them.”
“You are correct, Abigail. And such was Jesse’s wish. Mothers and their daughters often plagued Jesse’s footsteps. No matter. What else is wrong with my nephew?”
“He’s a bump on his head. It seems to cause him to grow faint.”
“Hmm, now that is bothersome. No matter, you and your healer will see to him shortly while I’ll pray.”
Abigail nodded.
“I’m glad you agree.”
She glanced at the man, intrigued by his wisdom. “How...how did you know?”
The corners of his mouth curved upward. “As I said, I hear what is not spoken. The brush of your hair against my shoulder told me you bobbed your head. You did not shake.” He firmed his lips together much as she’d seen Jesse do. “The way Isa paced waiting for you to arrive, I could tell Jesse was not good. Isa was anxious to see to his brother.”
“I will not lie. His wounds worry me. They are not pretty. If they fester...”
“Let us pray they will not.”
They walked in silence for a while before Seth halted. He raised his face to the sun and then dropped it as if he could see the valley below. “We are almost there, Abigail. Whatever happens, stay close to Jesse. He will gain his strength from the need to protect you. I fear he will need it for the battle to come.”
“Battle? What battle?”
Seth did not say another word as he led her into the valley.
* * *
A breeze brushed over him. The sound of linen buckling beneath the desert wind met his ears. The distinct scent of jasmine teased his senses. He groaned as he sought to open his swollen lids. Discomfort kept them closed. He turned his head and tried to make note of his surroundings. The last he recalled, Melchiah had hoisted him onto his shoulder. Familiar sounds from many years of traveling to and from Manna with his people kindled a fire within his chest. The pestle grinding into the mortar. The sharpening of swords. The deep rumble of chatter.
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