Page 23 of The Guardian's Promise

Mira climbed back into the hidden cave and waited for Joash. After a few minutes he entered, back stiff, his head held high. He wore a tunic trimmed with a humble weave and a simple turban wrapped around his unruly locks, but one would have thought he was covered in gold.

He bowed to her as he entered. “My apologies, Mira. The wait is long and difficult, but I fear...” His bottom lip began to quiver and for the first time she saw the child he should be.

She stepped to him and enfolded him in her arms. “All will be well, my brother. You’ll see.” She rubbed circles upon his back with the tips of her fingers. “God is with us.”

He pulled back and looked her in the eye. “You are correct. And soon Ari will come for us, I know it.”

“And you know this how, Joash?” It’d been hours and Ari had yet to come.

“Ari promised. If aught happened he would come for me.” The child spoke with complete faith.

His faith tore at her heart, made her want to fall to her knees and cry. She had trusted Ari, too. Had trusted him completely, even when she’d been angry with him. But now she knew him for the liar he was. And for all she knew her family had perished because of his lies. How could she tell this child that his faith had been misplaced?

What if Ari never came? What if he broke his promise to Joash? What if he lay injured, or worse, dead?

She pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “We will wait one night. If he does not show, we must return home.”

“But what if the guard...what if they are still there?”

She saw the fear and something else she could not ascertain. “I cannot leave you here alone.”

“Come,” he said, grasping her hand. He led her deep into the cave where natural light filled the entire room. She glanced around and noticed cut windows. Mira gaped in awe. They were slanted in such a way that if any were to come upon them from the outside they would not be seen from above.

“Here,” Joash said, unrolling a parchment.

She squinted at the drawing. A picture of a waterfall showed their position, and the large body of water depicted the Sea of Salt. “What is this?” she asked pointing at what looked to be a box on a pyre.

“This is where we must go.”

She’d lived in this valley her entire life and had never heard of such a place. But then she’d never known of this cave, either. It looked as if they would have to leave the cave after all in order to get Joash to his destination, but she’d heard the terrain was unfriendly. And even if Athaliah’s guards were not lying in wait for them there were many other dangers. “I do not understand.”

“Ari always said it was a place of safety. If he did not come for me, then I am to follow the signs to make it there.” He pointed to the place on the map. “And I am to give them this.”

He unfolded his fist. In the palm of his hand he held a gold ring. She touched it with the tip of her finger and turned it over. She inhaled a sharp breath, and looked the child in the eyes. This child was not meant to be a priest at all. Before she could stop herself, she fell to the floor on her knees and bowed at his feet.

* * *

He waited long, tense moments for the pair of soldiers to leave. He could only pray and trust that the Lord had seen to Mira and Joash’s protection, and that any foolishness on his part would be hidden from his enemies.

Wrapping the cloth satchel high on his shoulder, he slipped into the cool spring and waded to the edge of the falls. Ari closed his eyes and breathed deeply. There was no time to waste, but he lifted up another beseeching prayer.

Then with one last look around, ensuring that no one watched, he dove into the water and swam beneath the falls. His gaze gradually followed the stone pathway to the entrance. No evident sign of what he sought.

A boulder slammed against his heart. He chastised his lack of faith in the Lord. Finding an empty cave was near impossible to grasp, yet his feet refused to carry him to the landing. He feared the unknown too much.

“Forgive me, Lord, for my lack of trust.” He bowed his head, his wet hair falling over his shoulders. Ari waded to the edge and pulled himself onto the rock. The faint scent of cinnamon wafted in the air, a scent unfamiliar to this place. Hibiscus, rose, lilies, even henna, but never cinnamon. Mira had been here.

He lifted up a prayer of gratitude. His heart much lighter than moments before, he climbed the steps and entered the cavern. He untied the satchel from his shoulders and allowed it to slip to the rocky floor. He slipped off his sandals.

Ari blinked his eyes and fought to clear his vision. Her warmth and scent infused every orifice of the cave. She had to be here, somewhere. He blinked again. His eyes focused on the rumpled makeshift mat. Then he scanned the corners and hollows.

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