Page 63 of The Guardian's Promise

“My son, may God go with you,” Ishiah said.

“And with you, too, Abba.” Leather creaked as Jesse mounted his horse. They stood there until she could no longer hear the clopping of hooves.

Ari twisted her in his arms. Sensing his gaze, her face warmed. “You must go with my father and enter the city through the gates. I will come to you as soon as I can.”

“Ari,” she whispered, placing her hand on his chest. All the words she wanted to stay clung to her tongue like honey. There they would have to stay, left unsaid. “Be careful.”

He swept in, his lips firm against hers. Before it began it was over and he was gone.

Two things bombarded her thoughts: she hadn’t hugged Joash, and Ari had not said his goodbyes.

* * *

He hated leaving her, but the choice had not belonged to him.

“Joash,” he said, tearing off a piece of his tunic. “I must bind your eyes before we go any farther.”

“I understand. There are some secrets that must be kept,” the child responded.

Ari smiled as he knelt by the boy. “How did you gain such wisdom?” He wrapped the cloth around the boy’s head and tied it in a knot.

“I have had an excellent teacher, Ariel. Even if you, too, are stubborn as a mule.”

Ari straightened, his eyes narrowed, he glared at the boy even if the child could not see it. “What makes you say such things?”

“You should have told Sh’mira of your love.”

“I will in due time, Joash.” He ruffled the boy’s locks. “The way of love is not always an easy road to travel. You will see. Come, let us go and find Jehoiada.”

They skirted along the outer walls of the city until he was a hundred paces from the main gate, and then they walked out into the wilderness for another two hundred paces where a large fig tree stood. There they traveled east until he found a bit of bramble.

“Beware. You’ll receive a few scratches,” Ari told him as he moved apart the thorn bushes and ducked between them into a tunnel. They entered the hollowed-out tunnel and followed it back to the city walls. Beneath the rocky desert the air was moist and thick, but the tunnels had been kept well, which set his mind at ease.

After many minutes, Ari came to a locked gate. He reached beneath his tunic and pulled out a leather strap with a key. He unlocked it. The hinges made not a sound, although he did not fool himself that Jehoiada was not aware of his presence. The man seemed to know all sorts of things.

They slipped through the gate. Their footsteps and the occasional dripping of water were the only sounds as they moved through the tunnels until they came to a lit corridor. The once decorated room with mosaic floor tiles, now lay in a deserted shambles. The tiles shattered, left where they crumbled. He’d known the temple had been damaged by Athaliah’s cruelty, he hadn’t realized how much.

“Come.” He guided Joash to another room much the same condition as the previous. The scent of myrrh teased his senses reminding him of a time long ago passed. He breathed deeply seeking to brand it firm into his memory lest he never experience it again.

A torch beckoned him from a small alcove. He peered inside. This small area seemed untouched by the cruelty. Ari stood outside and untied his sandals. He then knelt beside Joash and removed his sandals. Ari dipped a cloth into a basin of water and cleansed the boy’s feet. Then he anointed them with fragrant oil. “I am honored to call you friend, Joash.”

The child held out his hand, Ari furrowed his brow. “What is it you wish?”

“I will wash your feet, Ariel,” Joash said with compassionate authority.

Ari closed his eyes against the kindness in this child. “You humble me, but it is not necessary,” Ari argued.

“Am I your friend?”

“Of course.” Ari bowed his head even though the child could not see him. If the child knew who he was would he still seek to wash Ari’s feet? Of course he would. It was a part of who he was.

Ari placed a dry cloth in the boy’s hand. Joash dropped to his knees and felt around for the basin of water. He took care with each swipe of the cloth.

“The oil?” Joash asked.

Ari complied, knowing any argument would be for naught.

“It is I who am humbled.” Joash poured oil into the palm of his hand. He rubbed his hands together and smoothed the oil over Ari’s feet. “Ari, I will never forget the service you have offered our great God and Judah. I, my friend, will ever be in your debt for you have loved deeply enough to give your life for God, your country and your future king.”

Ari sucked in a sharp breath and glanced at the child. “You know?”

“Of course, Ariel. I’ve known for a while that I was set apart for a purpose. When Sh’mira fell to my feet, I wondered why. It did not take long to discover why your people treated me with such reverence.” The corners of his mouth slid upward in a mischievous grin. “Besides, there is nothing wrong with my hearing.”

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