“The creatures...” Roab crawled forward on his hands and peered into the waters.
Mira dropped her gaze to the water lapping around her waist.
“There are no dangerous creatures in these shallow waters.” Ianatos bent down and snatched a small fish in midswim. “Unless of course, you fear this.” He held the fish eye level and watched as it puckered its mouth. He glanced at his companion. “Hungry?”
Roab’s mouth moved much like their meal, but no sound emitted. Ianatos stepped onto the jagged bank and tucked the flapping fish between the rocks. “Hand me a linen.”
His companion stood to his feet, pulled a piece of cloth from one of the sacks and handed it to him. His gaze scanned the pool of water. Mira pressed back into the shadows. “What did you see, my friend? Did you find the rebels?”
Ianatos wiped the droplets of water from his head and then over his shoulders before drying his chest. Mira held her breath. What would this giant warrior tell the Hebrew? Long moments of silence caused her heart to pound in her ears.
“You were under the water a long while. Longer than any man can hold his breath in a bath.”
True. However, if the Hebrew discovered the warrior hadn’t been in the water the whole time, the queen’s guard would descend upon them. She waited, wondering if she’d have to defend Joash against these trained soldiers.
“You forget my upbringing.”
“Yes, you Philistines have a way with the deep. It’s as if the gods have granted you gills.”
Ianatos laid the cloth over a rock. He eased to the ground and reclined in the sun. “Might I ask you a question, Roab?”
Roab squinted. “I’m curious, Ianatos. You are a man of few words.”
“Few words are needed for a soldier.” He picked up a small stone, glanced toward where Mira stood and tossed it into the water.
“Then ask, my friend,” Roab said as he formed a ring of stones for a fire.
Ianatos crossed his arms. Deep lines furrowed his brow. Mira bit down on her tongue. What question would this man ask his companion?
“Why is it you Hebrews have turned away from your God?”
Mira clamped her hand over her mouth. How often had she wondered the same thing but dared not ask even those men she knew remained faithful.
A stone tumbled from Roab’s hand and rolled down the embankment. “You speak treason. What is it you found in the waters?”
Water lapped around her waist. A chill crept over her arms. She closed her eyes and prayed.
“Nothing.”
She snapped her eyes open. “Thank you, Lord.”
“I saw nothing.” Ianatos sat forward. “I’m only curious as to why you praise bronze idols instead of your true God.”
Glancing up at the sky, Roab rocked back on his heels and sat. “Our God has abandoned us. We worship idols because our queen requires it of her people. If she were to demand we bow to the one true God, we would.”
Roab’s reasoning held no foundation. Mira could tell he was fickle. As were most of the Hebrews who’d turned from God.
Mira began to climb back onto the ledge when Ianatos’s voice halted her.
“It grows late. You should build a fire atop that ledge so we might send a message to Suph that all is clear while I finish preparing our meal.” Ianatos pointed to a high place above the waterfall.
She watched a few moments as Ianatos cleaned the fish. His gaze darted toward her as his companion left the area. Mira didn’t know why this Philistine had chosen to keep her and Joash a secret, but she was thankful for the blessing.
Chapter Nine
“Adon, adon!”
Ari jumped to his feet and peered down the path. Matthias, one of Caleb’s servants, ran wild-eyed looking to and fro. Air whooshed out of Ari’s lungs as if he’d been punched. He sucked in hard and forced his muscles to relax when his mind screamed at him to run back to the village.
“Matthias, here!” Ari waved.
Matthias glanced at him, his eyes haggard, bruised. He looked like a man bedeviled. Ari was not alone in his discernment.
“Shalom, Matthias,” Caleb called. “What is wrong?”
The man bent over, hands on knees. In between heaving gulps of air, he tossed weary glances over his shoulder as if he expected a great cat to appear. Or worse.
A rock settled in the pit of Ari’s stomach. “Matthias, you have naught to fear,” Ari offered as he handed him a jug of water.
Matthias uncorked the bottle and sipped from the opening. Tears clung to the rim of his eyelids. He tried to speak. “They have come.”
“Who came?” Caleb asked.
But Matthias continued as if Caleb had not spoken. It was not like the man to show disrespect, which could only mean he had been given a great shock.
“I knew they would come and bring fear to this land. And they did.”
“Who, Matthias? Who?” Caleb shook his head. His hands trembled.
“Men of war. They came and, do you not smell the burning?”
Ari lifted his nose and caught a faint whiff of charred wood.
“The queen’s guard is scouring the village. They were—were asking about the children.”
“The children?” Caleb’s brow furrowed deep.
Ari bit back the curses on his tongue. Had Athaliah discovered Joash’s existence? Ari glanced at Caleb, whose eyes filled with tears. He could tell by the movement of the older man’s lips that he lifted up a prayer.
“We—we should return,” Caleb choked. “Matthias, if you would carry word to the next village—”
“Of course, adon.” Matthias bowed and raced away on nothing but his sandaled feet.
Ari bowed his head. “Caleb, I do not wish to leave you, however, I feel helpless. I should have been there.” Ari’s conscience weighed heavy upon his heart. What evil had he brought on these good people?
“We will go together, pray this beast will make haste and hope the Lord has spared our family.”
Our family. Ari’s heart swelled even as it broke. He wished for Caleb’s confidence, but he could not stop the urgency pushing at his feet and the fear gnawing in his chest.
“If only we had grain to offer up to the Lord,” Ari mused aloud thinking it would please the Lord to have a burnt offering.
“Do
