Christina Rich - The Guardian's Promise

Two small black boxes sat on top with leather straps draping down the side. She drew her finger along the beautiful script. The box tumbled and slipped to the bottom of the chest. She reached in to retrieve it. Her fingers brushed against a lumpy leather bag. She removed it from the chest and held it up.

Her heart pounded against her breast bone as she untied the cord. The leather bag opened like a flower. Several stones appeared against royal silk. One of the stones caught her eye and she picked it up with her gnarled fingers. She held it up to the oil lamp nestled into a nook in the wall. The stone lit like fire, flaming to life in her hand.

She glanced down at the other stones. The rushing sound of the falls seemed to grow louder and she swayed. She knew each tribe had their own signet. Her father wore a similar one around his neck. Why would Ari have all of these?

The flaming stone began to warm in the palm of her hand. She laid the pouch down to better examine the fiery stone. She held it closer to the lamp.

“You must be mistaken,” she repeated, her voice louder.

“No. It was Ari.”

With the stone flickering in the palm of her hand, she knew the boy spoke the truth, a truth she did not have time to question. For the next breath had her looking into the eyes of one of the men who hunted them.

Chapter Eight

Mira didn’t think about what she was doing, she only acted. She grabbed one of the weapons lying on one of the benches and jumped in front of Joash. The weight of the weapon wavered in her hands. She braced her feet, lest she fall over. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her breaths were short and quick.

Lord, I am but a woman, and this man is a giant.

Water cascaded over the contours of the giant’s bulging shoulders as he scanned the cavern with an assessing eye. His hands hung loose at his sides. He seemed relaxed, which caused fear to pound a little harder in her head.

His right eye twitched as the corner of his mouth curled. His chest expanded and she thought he might charge at her. Instead he nodded, turned around and left.

The sword began to drop from her hands but she stilled the muscles in her arms. She released a breath of air, and sucked another in. Laying the sword back in its place, she picked up a small dagger and looked at Joash. “Stay here.”

Mira peered over the edge of the rock just as the warrior dove beneath the falls. She climbed down and slipped into the water. She edged around the rocks until she found an opening in the falls to where she could spy the man.

The warrior rose out of the water. Waves sloshed against his shins, rocking him back and forth with the motion. He swiped his hand across his eyes.

“Praise be to the gods you are alive, Ianatos.” A queen’s soldier sat with his legs crossed a good distance from the shore.

Mira’s footing slipped and she sucked in a sharp breath of air as she grabbed hold of a rock. The warrior tossed a glance toward her before jamming his hands on his hips. He glared at her, rolled his shoulders as if to ease the tension. “Your gods have naught to do with my swimming capabilities, Roab.”

Roab’s eyes widened. His lips stilled, but his hands fluttered like a griffin ruffling its feathers.

“Your superstitions are no more than a child’s imagination.”

“The creatures...” Roab crawled forward on his hands and peered into the waters.

Mira dropped her gaze to the water lapping around her waist.

“There are no dangerous creatures in these shallow waters.” Ianatos bent down and snatched a small fish in midswim. “Unless of course, you fear this.” He held the fish eye level and watched as it puckered its mouth. He glanced at his companion. “Hungry?”

Roab’s mouth moved much like their meal, but no sound emitted. Ianatos stepped onto the jagged bank and tucked the flapping fish between the rocks. “Hand me a linen.”

His companion stood to his feet, pulled a piece of cloth from one of the sacks and handed it to him. His gaze scanned the pool of water. Mira pressed back into the shadows. “What did you see, my friend? Did you find the rebels?”

Ianatos wiped the droplets of water from his head and then over his shoulders before drying his chest. Mira held her breath. What would this giant warrior tell the Hebrew? Long moments of silence caused her heart to pound in her ears.

“You were under the water a long while. Longer than any man can hold his breath in a bath.”

True. However, if the Hebrew discovered the warrior hadn’t been in the water the whole time, the queen’s guard would descend upon them. She waited, wondering if she’d have to defend Joash against these trained soldiers.

“You forget my upbringing.”

“Yes, you Philistines have a way with the deep. It’s as if the gods have granted you gills.”

Ianatos laid the cloth over a rock. He eased to the ground and reclined in the sun. “Might I ask you a question, Roab?”

Roab squinted. “I’m curious, Ianatos. You are a man of few words.”

“Few words are needed for a soldier.” He picked up a small stone, glanced toward where Mira stood and tossed it into the water.

“Then ask, my friend,” Roab said as he formed a ring of stones for a fire.

Ianatos crossed his arms. Deep lines furrowed his brow. Mira bit down on her tongue. What question would this man ask his companion?

“Why is it you Hebrews have turned away from your God?”

Mira clamped her hand over her mouth. How often had she wondered the same thing but dared not ask even those men she knew remained faithful.

A stone tumbled from Roab’s hand and rolled down the embankment. “You speak treason. What is it you found in the waters?”

Water lapped around her waist. A chill crept over her arms. She closed her eyes and prayed.

“Nothing.”

She snapped her eyes open. “Thank you, Lord.”

“I saw nothing.” Ianatos sat forward. “I’m only curious as to why you praise bronze idols instead of your true God.”

Glancing up at the sky, Roab rocked back on his heels and sat. “Our God has abandoned us. We worship idols because our queen requires it of her people. If she were to demand we bow to the one true God, we would.”

Roab’s reasoning held no foundation. Mira could tell he was fickle. As were most of the Hebrews who’d turned from God.

Mira began to climb back onto the ledge when Ianatos’s voice halted her.

“It grows late. You should build a fire atop that ledge so we might send a message to Suph that all is clear while I finish preparing our meal.” Ianatos pointed to a high place above the waterfall.

She watched a few moments as Ianatos cleaned the fish. His gaze darted toward her as his companion left the area. Mira didn’t know why this Philistine had chosen to keep her and Joash a secret, but she was thankful for the blessing.

Chapter Nine

“Adon, adon!”

Ari jumped to his feet and peered down the path. Matthias, one of Caleb’s servants, ran wild-eyed looking to and fro. Air whooshed out of Ari’s lungs as if he’d been punched. He sucked in hard and forced his muscles to relax when his mind screamed at him to run back to the village.

“Matthias, here!” Ari waved.

Matthias glanced at him, his eyes haggard, bruised. He looked like a man bedeviled. Ari was not alone in his discernment.

“Shalom, Matthias,” Caleb called. “What is wrong?”

The man bent over, hands on knees. In between heaving gulps of air, he tossed weary glances over his shoulder as if he expected a great cat to appear. Or worse.

A rock settled in the pit of Ari’s stomach. “Matthias, you have naught to fear,” Ari offered as he handed him a jug of water.

Matthias uncorked the bottle and sipped from the opening. Tears clung to the rim of his eyelids. He tried to speak. “They have come.”