Read Online Michal by Jill Eileen Smith - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jill Eileen Smith
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The spear flew from his experienced hands, aiming straight for David’s heart.
The spear imbedded into the wooden frame. Saul stared in disbelief and let out his breath. The boy had evaded the weapon and slipped back through the door into the night.
Saul’s body began to tremble, and he rubbed his arms and hugged them to his chest, trying to still the shaking. Sinking to the floor in a heap, he buried his face in his hands. He hunkered down, succumbed to his body’s violent shudders, and wept.
7
Despite the usually cool predawn hour, the breezes wafting across the palace roof promised oppressive heat later in the day. Dressed in her finest multicolored robe and white tunic, her braided hair hanging beneath a soft veil, Michal found her favorite viewing spot.
A thousand soldiers lined up in regiments of one hundred each outside the barracks, stretching almost to the gates of Gibeah. Michal lifted one hand to shade her eyes and squinted, searching for David. If only Father hadn’t gotten so insanely jealous of the man. Sending him away was no solution. She wanted him here, with her.
But she’d heard the shouts and bitter curses, the pottery shattering and the wood splintering. No one was safe when her father got like this. He acted as though a demon were nipping at his heels.
Michal sighed and looked closer at the barracks. There he stood, the wind whipping his tunic, revealing muscular arms and a tall, strong body. His dark, nearly shoulder-length brown hair skipped across his ruddy complexion and poked out from under his tan turban. Jonathan’s belt girded his waist, and his sword hung from his side. What a specimen of manhood! Michal’s breath caught, imagining what it would be like to be held in his arms.
Her mind drifted to the moment in the palace hall when she’d warned him to be careful. She would never forget the scent of him or the startled way he’d stepped back, as though her presence had unnerved him.
“Watching our young hero head out to battle the Philistines?” Merab’s voice came from behind her.
Michal jumped, a storm of anger suddenly bursting in her chest.
“I thought I’d find you here hiding from the madness.” Merab strode to the parapet and stood an arm’s length from Michal. “Isn’t it sweet of David to go so soon to battle to prove himself? Once he wins this one, Father will surely seal our betrothal.”
Michal focused again on finding David, who had walked away from where he’d been standing. Leave it to Merab to ruin her favorite sanctuary. Maybe if she ignored her sister, she would go away.
She found David moving swiftly through each regiment, conferring with each captain, until at last he took his place at the head of the troop.
“He’ll make a great commander,” Merab said, squeezing between Michal and one of the twin towers. “I just hope he lives to prove it.”
“He’ll live.” Michal spoke the words with a certainty she did not feel. David had to live. Please, God, let him live. She couldn’t bear to lose him after just discovering she loved him.
She stole a glance at her sister. What if Merab loved him too?
“Well, let’s hope so. If he dies, Father will have to start all over again finding a husband for me.” Merab’s slender fingers lifted long, smooth brown braids to cascade past her shoulders almost to her waist. She looked beyond Michal to the men below.
“Is there someone else you’d recommend?” Michal kept her eyes trained on David, not wanting to see Merab’s reaction.
Merab stepped away from the parapet. “If there was, little sister, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.”
Of course you wouldn’t, you arrogant little . . . The desire to turn and scratch Merab’s perfectly sculpted makeup off her face nearly choked Michal.
“Why not, older sister? Afraid you’ll never find a man willing to take you? Or are you worried I’ll try to steal him too?”
“Why, you little beast!” Merab stepped forward and yanked a handful of
The spear imbedded into the wooden frame. Saul stared in disbelief and let out his breath. The boy had evaded the weapon and slipped back through the door into the night.
Saul’s body began to tremble, and he rubbed his arms and hugged them to his chest, trying to still the shaking. Sinking to the floor in a heap, he buried his face in his hands. He hunkered down, succumbed to his body’s violent shudders, and wept.
7
Despite the usually cool predawn hour, the breezes wafting across the palace roof promised oppressive heat later in the day. Dressed in her finest multicolored robe and white tunic, her braided hair hanging beneath a soft veil, Michal found her favorite viewing spot.
A thousand soldiers lined up in regiments of one hundred each outside the barracks, stretching almost to the gates of Gibeah. Michal lifted one hand to shade her eyes and squinted, searching for David. If only Father hadn’t gotten so insanely jealous of the man. Sending him away was no solution. She wanted him here, with her.
But she’d heard the shouts and bitter curses, the pottery shattering and the wood splintering. No one was safe when her father got like this. He acted as though a demon were nipping at his heels.
Michal sighed and looked closer at the barracks. There he stood, the wind whipping his tunic, revealing muscular arms and a tall, strong body. His dark, nearly shoulder-length brown hair skipped across his ruddy complexion and poked out from under his tan turban. Jonathan’s belt girded his waist, and his sword hung from his side. What a specimen of manhood! Michal’s breath caught, imagining what it would be like to be held in his arms.
Her mind drifted to the moment in the palace hall when she’d warned him to be careful. She would never forget the scent of him or the startled way he’d stepped back, as though her presence had unnerved him.
“Watching our young hero head out to battle the Philistines?” Merab’s voice came from behind her.
Michal jumped, a storm of anger suddenly bursting in her chest.
“I thought I’d find you here hiding from the madness.” Merab strode to the parapet and stood an arm’s length from Michal. “Isn’t it sweet of David to go so soon to battle to prove himself? Once he wins this one, Father will surely seal our betrothal.”
Michal focused again on finding David, who had walked away from where he’d been standing. Leave it to Merab to ruin her favorite sanctuary. Maybe if she ignored her sister, she would go away.
She found David moving swiftly through each regiment, conferring with each captain, until at last he took his place at the head of the troop.
“He’ll make a great commander,” Merab said, squeezing between Michal and one of the twin towers. “I just hope he lives to prove it.”
“He’ll live.” Michal spoke the words with a certainty she did not feel. David had to live. Please, God, let him live. She couldn’t bear to lose him after just discovering she loved him.
She stole a glance at her sister. What if Merab loved him too?
“Well, let’s hope so. If he dies, Father will have to start all over again finding a husband for me.” Merab’s slender fingers lifted long, smooth brown braids to cascade past her shoulders almost to her waist. She looked beyond Michal to the men below.
“Is there someone else you’d recommend?” Michal kept her eyes trained on David, not wanting to see Merab’s reaction.
Merab stepped away from the parapet. “If there was, little sister, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.”
Of course you wouldn’t, you arrogant little . . . The desire to turn and scratch Merab’s perfectly sculpted makeup off her face nearly choked Michal.
“Why not, older sister? Afraid you’ll never find a man willing to take you? Or are you worried I’ll try to steal him too?”
“Why, you little beast!” Merab stepped forward and yanked a handful of
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