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Chapter Fifteen
Two more of Ari’s brothers and their wives, along with another uncle, a blind man by the name of Seth, joined them before the evening meal. Mira’s stomach rumbled as she dished lentils onto the remaining plates.
The sound of Ari’s deep chuckle startled her, but his tanned hands were there to take the pottery from her before she dropped it onto his lap. “How long since you have eaten, Mira?”
She swallowed past the invisible lump in her throat. “We are about to eat now.”
Ari wrapped his fingers around her wrist. Heat flooded her cheeks as his family watched their interaction. “You did not answer my question,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
“We broke bread last eve, remember?” Joash spoke. “There’s been no time today.”
The glare she sent the child’s way went unnoticed. How was it he, too, considered himself her keeper?
“Mira, come you must sit. Eat,” Anna said.
She bowed to Ari’s mother out of respect and tried to rise, but he did not remove his fingers from her wrist. Instead he scooted closer to his brother Jesse. “She will sit here with me, Mother,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. “I will feed her myself if need be.”
“You wouldn’t,” she said, tugging on her arm.
“I would.” He grinned, giving her unblemished arm a slight yank. She landed beside him. His shoulder brushed against hers. She sucked in a sharp breath and tried to scoot away.
How quickly his overbearing and unwanted kindness had turned to overbearing arrogance.
He released her and handed her his plate. The heat that had flooded her cheeks rose to the tips of her ears. She felt shamed, and in front of his family. Never had she seen him act this strong handed and arrogant as if he were her... He had no rights to her. He was not her father. He was not her husband, nor would he ever be.
She spooned a bite of lentils into her mouth knowing he’d carry out his threat if she dared defy him. After her third bite he seemed appeased, and accepted another plate from his sister. The men around the table resumed their conversation. Not much of which she understood. Mainly questions about the activities in the surrounding cities and the well-being of relatives.
She continued to eat, red faced, in silence knowing she should not be sitting with the men. Then as if a shofar sounded, silence hung in the air. An icy chill infused her limbs, she froze.
Ari tilted his head. She heard an odd sound coming from the tunnel. The brothers and uncles dropped their dishes, rose from their seats and drew their swords from their belts. Without being ordered, she snagged Joash’s hand and ran to the chamber where Ari’s mother had taken her earlier. Anna, Tama and the rest of the women followed.
The hiss of swords as they sliced through the air echoed throughout the cave. A clang rang out and she drew Joash close. Her sanity threatened to lose its tether as grunts filled her ears. Somewhere a piece of pottery clattered, a man cried out in pain. Her heart dropped to her feet.
Had Ari been injured? An image of his old wounds pressed into her mind. The blood, the infection, the fever, the endless days of not knowing if he would live or die.
She squeezed her eyes closed. “Lord, cloak us in Your wings. Protect us from our enemies.”
Although a battle continued to rage in the outer cavern, peace settled in her heart. She opened her eyes. Tama and Ari’s mother and sister encircled her and Joash. Each held a short sword in their hands. Even Lydia, the youngest amongst them.
Mira released a sigh. She was not alone in her desire to protect this young boy. This king child.
“Do not worry, my daughter,” Anna soothed. “This place is well fortified, and we are well prepared for the danger.”
She tried to hold on to the hope Ari’s mother offered, but the truth rang in her ears. Clang after clang struck through the air, reverberating off the rock walls. In her mind’s eye she envisioned Ari and his kin striking, defending their position. And then her mind saw Ari, injured, cut down. Fighting for his life. She’d watched him do so once before. Did she have the strength to do so this time? Now that he was more than a stranger? Now that she might be falling in love with him?
Fear sunk its sharp talons into her.
“Do not fret, Mira.” Joash patted her hand clenching his shoulder. “Ari will not let anyone hurt you.”
She offered him a tentative smile, wishing she had his faith. But in all her years, never had she encountered the likes of what had occurred in the past few days. Never had she seen the face of evil, not even during their trips to Hebron where all sorts of it paraded in the streets.
“Besides,” Joash continued, “if you fear our enemies, you place more trust in their abilities than God.”
