“So, who is this young lady? Can I look?” Ittai’s cousin grabbed my arm.
“She’s mine. A vagabond and no one important. I found her on one of my expeditions.” Ittai jerked me to his side and peeled his cousin’s paws off me.
“You’re supposed to be looking for the bear woman, not gallivanting around with pretty gazelles.” The cousin huffed. “All the better, I’ll get the reward. What did you say she looked like, this daughter of Saul?”
Ittai choked back laughter. “Her husband, who’s very happy he escaped, says she’s got a huge bump on her nose, her teeth are yellow and jagged, and she’s cross-eyed. Oh, there’s also a mole at the base of her jaw and hair grows out of it. Thick, black hair.”
“Ugh…” The men laughed raucously and walked off making gagging motions.
“Don’t forget the mole,” Ittai yelled after them. “It’s important. Make sure to check under the veil.”
As soon as the men turned the corner, I punched Ittai, who leaned against a low wall, doubled up with laughter. I stomped my foot and waited for him to catch his breath. “I’ll draw a mole on your insolent face, you.”
“Did I upset you?” He chuckled and took my hand, swinging it in a wide arc. “Come, my bride, I’ll take you to David now. But beware. His two wives may not look kindly on your intrusion.”
I shook my fist. “I don’t take kindly to their existence.”
* * *
My heart raced and plummeted as we descended the higher parts of the city and made our way through the poorer section of town. Miserable, wretched beggars, eyes devoid of hope, sprawled in the doorways. Harlots, painted and jangling, beckoned at their windows. The street clamored with the barking of dogs and the cries of hungry children.
We left the town and crossed a meadow to a field of ruins. Broken houses, foundations, and piles of rubble obscured our path. Clusters of bedraggled people squatted around tattered tents.
“Hebrews,” Ittai said. “Do you recognize anyone?”
“Who goes there?” A menacing-looking man with dirty red hair and an unkempt beard blocked our path.
“Tell your leader, David, that Ittai, son of Achish, has someone for him.”
“He is out inspecting the flock.” The man gestured toward a cloud of dust. “And who is this young lady?”
“She’s my sister.”
“You would bring your sister? You Philistines are unbelievable.” The man leered at me. “I’ll show you to his tent. You may wait outside.”
After winding through ruins, rubble and flapping tents, we came to a large one that stood toward the periphery, backed up against a ruined wall under a large palm tree. I took a swig of water to clear my dusty throat.
The man departed, and Ittai opened the flap. “Why don’t you sit in the tent, and I’ll wait here.”
“Wouldn’t David be angry?” I hesitated. My nerves jumped, and my heart skipped. The big moment was finally here. “What if someone’s in there?”
Ittai took a peek. “No one’s here. Now’s your chance. He’ll be overjoyed to see you. Trust me.”
I almost hugged the dear boy, but I clamped my hands under my arms and stepped through the opening. The dusty, acrid smell of unwashed clothing greeted me. Two sleeping areas lay on the packed floor. The area in the back had two pillows and two cloaks on top of goatskins. Unfinished needlework lay on one of the cloaks, and a small brass mirror was propped on the other pillow. I stepped back quickly, wishing I could light a fire to their things.
He’d get rid of them. I had only to ask. I crawled to the front area consisting of a leather pad topped with sheepskins and a goat-hair pillow. A harp lay near the pillow. I plucked the strings. They were out of tune.
I crawled into his bed and held his blankets to my face, inhaling the warm, male scent of his musky sweat. Minutes crept by. Two large flies buzzed while my pulse thumped in my ears.
The chattering of female voices knocked me out of my trance.
“Ho there, wives of David.” Ittai’s shadow blocked the entrance.
The women fell silent, and heavy footsteps approached.
“Wives, why aren’t you getting my dinner ready?” David’s voice grated. My heartbeat sped, and I wiped my moist palms on my robe. “And what are you doing here?”
“David, my brother,” Ittai said. “Please tell your wives to fetch water or wash pots at the stream. Send them away until sundown.”
David grunted. “I don’t have time for jokes. My wives are tired. My feet ache, and I’m starving.”
“Tell them to go away for a bit. It’s important. Please.”
“Ahi, Abi, go to Rebekah and borrow some lentils.” David’s voice held displeasure.
They scuttled away without protest.
Sounds of shuffling and pushing came through the tent flap. “I’m not in a good mood,” David said. “What’s going on?”
“Do you ever think about your real wife?” Ittai said.
“Of course I do. I told you all about her.”
“Yes, and you told me that if I found her, you’d give me a reward.”
“I was humoring you,” David said. “Seems like you never tired of hearing about her. If I didn’t know how young you were, I’d think you were in love with her yourself.”
“I’m eighteen, and I was dead serious about finding her.”
“What are you saying?” David’s voice took on a guarded tone.
“You owe me a reward, that’s all.”
“Don’t play with me,” David said. “Don’t even try. Son of Achish or not, don’t you toy with me.” An ache vibrated deep in the core of his voice, and I held his pillow tightly.
“I dare you to step into your tent,” Ittai said.
David flew through the tent flap and stumbled. “Michal, what are you doing here?”
“David.” I jumped into his arms.
“Let me look at you.” He pulled off my veil. “Oh, my Michal.”
I faltered under his concerned gaze. All the sweet words I had rehearsed were forgotten. I tasted his lips, honey pouring into mine, so heavenly, so divine. His kisses dissolved all my fears and misgivings.
He held me to his possessive chest and rubbed my shoulders and back. “I’ve missed you so much. I thought you forgot about me, that you no longer cared.”
His words and anguished tone roused me from my cloud of serenity. “Didn’t you get my notes? You were supposed to come for me, remember?”
“You sent me notes? Didn’t Jonathan give you my messages?” His voice sharpened.
“No, he didn’t. But why?”
“He always says you were doing well, so I thought you stopped caring. I didn’t dream you’d find me.” He brushed his hand across my forehead. “How did you know I was here?”
“You mean you didn’t send Ittai?”
He gaped. “No, what are you talking about?”
Jealousy twisted itself like a snake through my heart. “Of course, you married again, twice.”
“You also remarried.”
“A ploy, to get away from my father so you could come for me.”
“Look, I didn’t marry. I just took them in.” His voice hardened.
“Well, I never slept with him.”
David stiffened, and I pushed away.
“David? Did you?”
His lips pursed in a firm line. He glowered and turned his face. “I’m a man.”
I punched him in the gut. “Did you forget me so easily? You told me you were mine.”
“I still am.”
“Then send them away.”
“Hold your voice down.” His gaze shifted to the tent entrance.
“You liar. Liar.”
“Where are you staying?” He grabbed my shoulders.
“Nowhere. I came to stay with you.”
“You can’t stay here. Look around. Is there room for you?”
“If they left, there would be.”
“Look carefully,” he said. “Is this how you’d liv
e? You’re a princess. You’re used to better things. Listen to me. You can’t stay here.”
“I’m your rightful wife, not them.”
“You can’t stay. It’s too dangerous.”
“Then why is it safe for those two?” Large teardrops burned a trail down my face.
“They’re not princesses. They’re unknown women. Do you know what you are? A political pawn, a possible hostage. Jonathan arranged a hiding place for you. Why won’t you wait there until I come to fetch you?”
“I’m tired of waiting.” I tugged at his sleeve. “I love you so much it hurts. Why can’t we run away together?”
He exhaled harshly. “I’m tired of running. Ahi and Abi are tired. They haven’t had a day’s rest for years. They’ve suffered too much already.”
I pushed him and almost slapped him, except he caught my wrist. “So, that’s it? You care more about them than about me. Maybe I shouldn’t have come. Maybe I should have remembered how little you love me.”
“They obey me without a word,” he said. “Maybe it’s time you obey me as your husband and lord. Go with Ittai.”
“But where?” I reached for him desperately. “You need to help me.”
He loosened my hold, none too gently, and walked out of the tent.
Ittai beckoned from the entrance. “Come on. David wants you out of here.”
The curtain came down on my courage. “David!” I tried to run after him, but Ittai stopped me. “Oh, David.” Pain shot through my stomach, and I doubled over. “Don’t leave me.”
“He cares about you,” Ittai said. “He’s embarrassed. He wants you as a queen, not here in the dust.”
“But I love him so much,” I wailed as tears streamed down my face. The ache in my gut spread to my chest and throbbed in my head. I couldn’t have felt worse if a mule trod on my skull.
Ittai hugged me tenderly, my face in his chest. “He loves you, Michal. But he can’t bear to see you suffer. He wants you safe in Israel, even if it means being away from you. It’s because he cares too much for you.”
“Then why didn’t he tell me himself?”
“He has too much pride. Put on your veil, and come with me.”
I donned the veil and crawled out of the tent. David turned his back, intent on consoling his wives, no doubt assuring them that I would be gone. Why didn’t he care? The man who used to look at me with tender love had turned into a cold, hard monster.
Ittai grabbed my bag, put his arm around me, and led me back the way we came. The sun dipped low on the horizon. Purple clouds streaked with crimson heralded the end of the day—the day that had dawned with much hope ended in the dusk of confusion and despair.
Chapter 13
Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
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Waking late the next morning, I pulled my clothing together and walked to the back courtyard to breathe some fresh air and think about my predicament. I should have told David about my father’s deal with Achish. He would have helped me. He always wanted to do good, and he had a kind heart. I shouldn’t have bothered him about the two wives. That had set him off. Mother had said never to show jealousy, that it was a weakness and drove men away. I wiped my hands on my robe and sighed.
Maybe, if I charmed Ittai, he’d take me back to David instead of turning me over to his father. I needed another chance to make David care, a more opportune moment. David, you haven’t seen the last of me.
I stepped through the courtyard and found Ittai at the forge near the end of the yard. The sound of blowing air drew me to investigate. Ittai stood shirtless in front of the oven. The muscles on his glistening back rippled as he pumped air into the fire. I inhaled sharply and clutched the opening of my robe.
He picked up a pair of tongs, drew a red hot piece of metal and laid it on a shiny block. Taking a hammer, he pounded on the metal, his muscles tight and corded. Trickles of sweat dribbled between his shoulder blades, and moved, oh, so slowly down the hollow of his back to the line behind his low hanging kilt.
I eased as close as I dared. The heat of the oven repelled me, yet the alluring vision drew me. So, this was what my father’s kingdom lacked, the secret of forging iron weapons. Weapons so superior to our bronze, that the Philistines were, in truth, our overlords, and controlled all production and sharpening of iron farm tools in our land.
His face in total concentration, Ittai dropped the worked blade into a tub of water, enveloping the shack with a hissing mist. He raised the blade and studied it, turning it in the sunlight. My gaze swept his smooth chest, crawled down the ridges of his abdomen before dragging back to his face.
“Michal.” He came toward me, the gleaming blade in front of him. Cool, dark, unsmiling eyes pinned me to the stone wall. “Touch it.”
My breath latched in the back of my throat.
He took my hand and stroked it over the blunt side of the blade, smooth, hard, threatening. Cold tingles lifted the hair on my scalp and prickled my skin. He moved my hand to his bare chest, wet, hot, and alive, the pounding sensation of his heartbeat weakening my legs.
“So, you’ve discovered our secret. With iron, we forge swords and spearheads, construct chariots with spiked wheels and shoes for our horses. With iron, we dominate you Hebrews and control our destiny. So, Princess, what would you give for iron?
I staggered against the wall. He ran the flat side of the blade from my neck down between my breasts and over my abdomen, leaving a trail of tremors. My breath in shallow shudders, I raised my eyes, drawn to the simmering heat of his masculinity as a moth to a lamp. He cupped my face, stroking underneath my chin, the invigorating scent of fresh bay leaves and mint enticed me, seductive. Our noses touched. I inhaled the masculine aura and licked a bead of sweat from his upper lip. He turned his head and kissed my lips, passing his tongue to the corners of my mouth.
I twined my fingers into his hair and lost my breath. He probed deeper and drew my body hard against his. My hands traveled down the glistening shoulders, following the trails of sweat down the small of his back. Losing all conscious thought, I arched against his hardness, encouraging, entreating, emboldening.
With a lingering nip, he lifted his head. “You do love so hot. I’ve a tent, too…”
Guilt flushed my face, and I pushed away. “I’m a married woman.”
“Your husband didn’t seem to think so.” He licked his lips as they curved into a satisfied smirk. “Tell me, what happens now? Where will you go?”
I clutched my shawl and glanced across the yard in time to see his aunt regard us with her hands on her hips. “How long will she let me stay?”
He moved into my line of sight. “As long as you want, although most young women stay thirty days.”
“Why thirty days?”
“You mean you don’t know? The rule of war captives. Thirty days to ensure you’re free of a child, are properly purified, and then you go to the king.”
“The king? You told me you weren’t taking me to him.”
“And I didn’t, did I? I took you to your husband, but he has repudiated you.” He rubbed my hand in his warm calloused palm. “Does this mean you’re free?”
I pinched his knuckles and peeled my hand from his grip. “He’ll come around. I’ll try again.”
“You don’t give up, do you?”
“I’ll never give up on David.” I stared at his darkened eyes.
He exhaled with a hiss. Releasing me, he pulled on a tunic. “Perhaps you’re right. Let me wash the soot off, and I’ll take you back to him.”
He squeezed my hand before walking off.
Kyra called to me. “Tora will bring your meal. Are you hungry?”
A few minutes later, a maid entered and set a tray on the table. She clutched the shawl around her face.
“Shalom,” she said, before turning to the door.
She crept to the edge of the couch.
“Please, eat with me.” I gestured to the table. “I need some company.”
She hesitated before dropping her shawl. Ugly welts and scars traversed her face. Her nose, or what was left of it, gaped grotesquely, and her lip had been cut in half. One of her eyes stared unseeing, clouded over and blank. I blinked and tried hard to keep my face still. She looked to be in her late thirties.
“Have I made you lose your appetite?” Her mouth stretched over the scars in a crooked tilt.
“No, no… What happened to you? Are you a daughter of the Law?”
“Yes, with a name like Tora, what else would I be? I grew up in Gibeah.”
“Well, so did… I also grew up in Israel. Whose daughter are you?”
“Ribai, of the children of Benjamin,” she said.
I handed her a cluster of grapes. “Please, eat. How did you come to work for the purification inn?”
“The Philistines captured me on a raid while I visited my sister near Elon,” she said. “They killed everyone and saved the virgins for war captives.”
A chill clawed my back as I thought of how close to Gibeah they had come.
“They brought us to inns like this to be cleansed and purified,” she said. “King Achish chose first and distributed the rest of the captives among his men.”
“How did you end up here?”
She grimaced and popped a grape into her mouth. “King Achish favored me at first, especially when I bore him a son. But one day when my son was four years old, he told his father he was Moses, and he would free the slaves.”
She gulped and reached for a cup of water. Taking a deep breath, she looked down at her hands.
I put my hand on hers. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.”
“I want to tell you so you’ll escape my fate. Do you want to know who did this to me? Who cut my face?”
“King Achish?”
“Yes,” she said. “He cut me in front of my son and told him I was a disobedient slave, not his mother.”
She lowered her head to the table and let out a sob that tore my heart. “I can still hear his cries, begging his father to stop.”
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