Page 76 of The Guardian's Promise

“You are correct, my brother.” Ari clasped him in a hug. “I will nonetheless rectify my conscience with a guilt offering.” He wrung out the veil and draped it around his neck, tucking it beneath his tunic. With all settled in his thoughts, he mounted his horse.

“You know, brother, perhaps God allowed all this to happen to purge the evil from Judah. You were one of many vessels to carry out His will, as was your Mira.”

“Perhaps you are right.” He flicked the reigns. “Nonetheless I will go back to Jerusalem and make my guilt offerings after I see Mira home.”

Jesse mounted his horse. “Offerings?”

“I’ll beg forgiveness of Caleb for deceiving him all these years.”

“Shall we find your bride?”

Ari smiled. He liked the sound of Mira being his bride. He prayed they found her before Elam harmed her.

They rode in silence for a few minutes. Only the click of their horses’ hooves and the light patter of rain sounded on the rocky desert.

“Did you see that, brother?”

Ari shook his head. “I see naught but the darkness of shadows.”

“Look to the east near the top of the hills. Do you see the flickering of a light?”

Ari peered toward the direction his brother indicated. A faint glow brightened, and then disappeared before brightening once again. “Mira,” he whispered.

Ari did not say another word not even when they dismounted and began the climb up the hill. Only then did he lift up a prayer that their feet would be silent, and most of all that they would find Mira and not a shepherd seeking refuge from the rain.

* * *

Elam’s loud snores shattered the silence, leaving her to consider her options. She could stay and see what he had planned for her, or she could take the opportunity and flee into the night. At least she knew the threat before her inside this cave, whereas she hadn’t a clue what might lie in wait for her out there in the dark.

Could she remain with Elam when the opportunity to escape had so easily presented itself? Mira scooted away from the wall and watched for any hint of movement from Elam. Certain he continued to sleep, she lifted her wrists and bit at the twine binding them together.

It was of no use.

She glanced around for something that might cut her binding. If she held her wrists above the flames she risked more than a simple loosening of the twine andshe didn’t relish the thought of having them burned. She pressed her face into the palms of her hands. With her hands bound she could not easily climb down the rocky outcrop. Even now, her hands were raw from the cuts and scrapes she had received when Elam had forced her up the rocky hill. If she could not brace herself when she fell, she’d more than likely tumble to her death.

At least she’d no longer be in Elam’s grasp. God, what will You have me do?

She heard a slight inhale of breath, which could not be one of Elam’s snores, and lifted her face from her hands. Silhouetted in the mouth of the cave stood her answer. Even in the glow of the firelight, she could see the ticking of Ari’s jaw as he ground his teeth. His gaze flicked to her eyes and his lips parted, relaxing, until his eyes roamed over the rest of her.

He glared and in one fluid motion, he bent at the waist, grasped Elam’s tunic and lifted him from his feet.

“What—what,” Elam sputtered, and then his eyes focused on his attacker. “Ariel, my nephew.”

“It is I, Uncle,” Ari growled, his anger evident in the way he shook.

“You would not hurt me. The law demands you honor your elders.”

“Honor is not for cowards,” Jesse said, pushing his way past Ari. “Hello, Sh’mira, I trust all is well with you.”

“All is well,” she responded, her eyes pleading with Ari not to do something he would later regret.

“Here, brother, allow me.” Jesse peeled Ari’s fingers from their uncle’s garment. “Unbind Mira.”

Ari rolled his shoulders as if to release the tension, and then stepped deeper into the cave. She curled her feet beneath her tunic lest he see their condition. He knelt beside her, and she prayed he would not see her wounds, for she feared Ari’s rage would ignite to an inferno.

“Never. Leave. My. Side. Again,” he spoke, his voice hard and raw with emotion.

Since she did not know what the future between them held, she refused to acknowledge his command. Instead, once he loosened the twine from her wrists, she wrapped her arms around his nape and hugged him close.

“What now?” Jesse asked.

Mira released Ari as he turned on his heel. She peered around his shoulder and saw that Elam was bound hand and foot and tied to Jesse’s belt.

“We wait until the sun rises. We’ll go south. You’ll take him,” Ari said with disgust, and then added, “to Jerusalem to the tribal elders for his judgment.”

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