Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette

Author:Connilyn Cossette [Cossette, Connilyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781493422623
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FOUR

There was such a crowd of curious people gathered around Liyam and the others that I decided my own welcome, and my many questions, would have to keep for later. I stood off to the side, content for now to take in the sight of him, unharmed.

However, Odeleya had no such restraint. Having just arrived with my two nieces, she called out his name and then plowed through the crowd and directly into him, her skinny arms wrapping about his waist.

“You are alive!” she said, pressing her face to his torso. “We were so worried!”

Liyam’s eyes went wide, both palms splayed to the side in shock at the girl’s exuberant greeting. They’d only interacted a few times in Shechem, so her reaction was a surprise to me as well, but as I’d discovered, it took little for Odeleya to latch herself to anyone who showed her even a sliver of kindness.

His body stiff, Liyam patted her shoulder while the men around him smirked at the sight of Odeleya’s welcome. Then his gaze lifted, moving over the crowd until he caught sight of me. Our eyes locked, then held for at least four breaths. Thrown by the flicker of something warm under my ribs and the surprising brush of envy that I could not receive him with the same abandon as Odeleya, I composed a tight smile and nodded my head before willfully severing the eye contact and surveying the rest of their group.

Liyam was no longer the only red-haired warrior in our camp. Five others stood nearby, all looking so similar that they had to be related in some way. Once Odeleya released her grip on him and flounced back to her new friends, a few nudging elbows and covert comments from the men around him confirmed my suspicions. Brothers, I decided, since their familiar and teasing way with each other was identical to Malakhi and Eitan’s. However, Liyam remained solemn as he endured the ribbing, as if he barely noticed their jests.

Malakhi was conversing with an older man whose bearing and composed expression immediately proved his authority. This must be the famed Othniel, the man undoubtedly chosen by Yahweh to lead this offensive against our oppressors. A sense of reverence came over me, for I had the distinct sense that the victories won by this seasoned warrior would be elaborated upon around fires for generations to come. And somehow Yahweh had allowed me to play a very small role in those stories.

Caught up in the sight of Othniel talking with my brothers and my father ten paces away, I nearly cried out when a large palm connected with my elbow. Heart racing, I looked up to find Liyam standing beside me, his eyes also on his leader.

“So,” he said, without turning his head my way, “you and the girl arrived safely.”

“We did. The Levites sent two of their men to escort us back. We came into Shiloh just after dawn.”

He nodded. “I’m glad to hear it.”

His manner was stilted

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