Page 75 of The Guardian's Promise

Mira nodded even though Elam had not expected an answer.

“I knew then without a doubt Jehoiada had hidden them away in your village or nearby. I went to the queen. She promised if I delivered the child into her hands, she would see to it Jehoiada was killed for his treason and I would become the high priest. I would take from the man all he’d stolen from me and my Ariel.”

Lord God, how can a man be so blind?

Had Ari ever wanted to remain in Jerusalem, or had he only wanted to please his uncle? Would Ari have been satisfied serving God no matter where?

Resting her head against the rock wall, she closed her eyes. One man’s jealousy and ambitions had marred so many lives. Children had been killed for what he called the greater good. How could he be so deceived? Even her own mother had suffered abuse at the hands of this man.

She blew out a gentle sigh. What was done was done. Praise God that His will superseded Elam’s twisted mind. Just as God’s will would be victorious when Ari came for her.

Chapter Thirty-Two

“It should not take us long to catch up with them,” Jesse said from beside him. The good humor in his voice grated on Ari’s nerves.

“If you had not noticed, brother, it is raining.”

“A blessed thing it is, too,” Jesse replied.

Rain poured and his beloved wandered the desert with a madman. No doubt she was soaked, if his own clothing was any indication. And his brother thought the rain a blessing? Every drop erased any trace of where they might have gone.

“Look, what is that?” Jesse pointed, catching Ari’s immediate attention.

He turned his glare from the horse’s ears to a piece of fabric pooled in the mud. Ari jumped to the ground. He crouched beside the blue cloth and lifted it. It was heavy with rain, matching the heaviness in his heart. He buried his face in the sodden, soiled cloth and breathed in her scent.

“I wish I could kill him.” Even to his own ears his voice sounded not as his own, but the anger throbbing through his blood was very real.

“Do not say such things, Ariel. You have never been one to act brashly. That is I, if you remember.”

Ari rose. Turning on his heels he stared at his brother. “What did you say?”

“I said you have never behaved as such, why begin now? It is not in your character.”

He scrubbed his hand over his face as the fullness of the revelation smacked him in the chest. “Oh, God,” he cried, lifting his eyes heavenward. Raindrops splattered on his cheeks mixing with the salt of his tears. “What have I done? How will You ever forgive Thy servant for his sins?”

The skies closed, leaving not another drop to fall. Before he knew it, Jesse’s hand was on his shoulder. “Of what do you speak, Ari? What have you done?”

He squeezed the veil in his fist. “All of this,” he said, holding the fabric for his brother to see. “All of it is because I have acted rashly.”

Jesse’s brow furrowed. “I do not understand. You have always been an example of how your brothers should live.”

Ari laughed. “It is all an illusion, I tell you. For if it had not been for my rashness we would not now be standing in the muddied desert looking for a woman whose heart is purer than any I have ever known.”

“Enough with the riddles. Tell me if you will, but do not waste our time. Mira’s life remains in danger.”

He shook the self-pity from his head. “You are correct. There is naught I can do about my past sins other than offer up sacrifice to the Lord.”

“What will we do?”

“We will rescue Mira, and then I’ll take her to her father.” Ari said with a heavy heart.

“You intend to leave her there? I do not understand. If you love her—”

“The sins of a foolish man have brought this upon her and her family. Her neighbors’ sons were killed. I should have taken Joash from the village when I realized the danger.” He shook his head. “How could she ever forgive that of me? I should have listened to my instincts and not remained planted by fear.”

“Ari, if she is as pure as you say, as pure as I have witnessed with my own eyes, she’ll forgive you. How could she not?”

He pondered his brother’s words of wisdom, knowing he was correct but unable to accept the truth of it in his heart. She would forgive him, there was no doubt in his mind, yet could he forgive himself for the pain he had caused her? Could he move beyond his sins without letting his guilt interfere with their future?

Obviously sensing his indecision, Jesse said, “Besides, the queen’s men did not need an excuse for their terror. They thrived on causing fear. The only sin is believing you are guilty and in control of such matters.”

---