Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette

Author:Connilyn Cossette
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biblical Fiction;Christian Fiction;FIC042030;FIC042040;FIC027140
ISBN: 9781493416035
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2018-07-15T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

Sofea

Prezi and I approached the spring outside Kedesh where a crowd of women waited to collect fresh water in preparation for Shabbat. Other than brushing aside my concerns about whether she’d be able to carry a full skin-bag while hobbling back into the city on her crutch, she had not said much since she’d found me on the rooftop with Eitan, but her mischievous expression made it clear that she had much to say.

Grateful for the privacy our shared language offered as we awaited our own turn at the spring, I turned to face my cousin, gripping my empty water jar close to my body. “I know you are practically boiling over with questions.”

“Perhaps now is not the time.” Her eyes flitted to the women around us who were watching our conversation, undoubtedly wondering what the two foreign girls were babbling about.

“They can’t understand us, Prez.” I fluttered a hand. “Say what you need to say.”

Her brown eyes danced in amusement. “You were with Eitan.”

I grinned. “I was.”

“And he had his hands on your waist!” Her tone squeaked upward.

“You saw that?”

“I stood on the stairs for a few moments, too stunned to speak.” Her admission was paired with a little shake of her head. “What were you doing?”

Diving into the deep. I could still feel the way his strong arms had surrounded me . . . his breath on my cheek . . . his lips at my ear . . . I restrained a shiver but fixed an innocent smile on my lips. “He was teaching me how to use a sling.”

Her arched brows displayed obvious disbelief. “You are fully aware I won’t accept that paltry explanation,” she said, folding her arms. “The sun, moon, and stars are sparkling in those big blue eyes. Tell me.”

I explained to Prezi about Eitan’s childhood, his ear, and then the vow he’d made not to cut his hair until Moriyah was free, but I kept his part in the boys’ death, and the heavy grief he carried, to myself. The way he’d clung to me as if he were reliving that night all over again had convinced me that no matter how much I trusted Prezi, it was not my story to tell.

“He is very devoted to his God,” she said.

“It seems so.” The passion with which he’d spoken of Yahweh as the Most High God had caused an unsettling lift within my spirit. For all the talk of the gods back in our village, I’d never heard anyone, let alone my father the high priest, speak of a god or goddess who claimed power over every living thing and every part of creation. As if he were not only the most powerful of all the gods, but the only one worthy of worship.

As if she’d heard my internal musings, Prezi said, “This God the Hebrews revere is very different from our gods, Sofi. Moriyah has explained much to me while we work around the inn.”

A twinge of jealousy tugged at me. Prezi had become as much Moriyah’s shadow over the past few months as Abra was to me.

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