The Bronze Bow - Elizabeth George Speare [1]
Now that Joel and his sister were no longer shouting, the wind hid their voices. He stared at them, disappointed and baffled. He had to hear them. More than that, he was fighting back a longing to speak to them. His own people—after five years! He looked down at his bare calloused feet, at the goatskin tunic bound with a thong around his waist. What would they think of him, those two in their clean robes and leather sandals? Suppose he should risk his freedom for nothing? But he could not help himself. Like an animal lured out of hiding, he edged slowly from behind the rock.
Instantly the boy was on his feet, the girl swiftly up beside him. He might have known they would be off at the sight of him. To his astonishment, they stood still. He saw Joel's hands clench; the boy was no coward. Daniel stood on the trail, his heart pounding. If they ran from him now he could not bear it. He fumbled for the remembered greeting.
"Peace be with you," he said.
Joel did not relax his guard. "Peace," he said shortly; then, "What do you want?"
"No harm, Joel bar Hezron," said Daniel.
"How do you know me?"
"I heard your sister call you. I am Daniel bar Jamin."
Joel stared, remembrance suddenly livening his face. "The apprentice who ran away from the blacksmith?"
Daniel scowled.
"No one blamed you," said Joel quickly. "Everyone knows how Amalek treats his boys."
"I care nothing for Amalek," Daniel said. "Can you tell me about my grandmother and my sister?"
Joel frowned and shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't. Do you know them, Thace?"
The girl had been frightened, and her breath was still uneven, but she spoke with a frankness like Joel's.
"There is an old woman who comes to the well in the morning," she said. "She lives in a house behind the Street of the Cheesemakers."
"Yes," Daniel said hungrily.
The girl hesitated. "They say she has a little girl who never goes out of the house."
Still? He had thought perhaps in all this time—"That is my sister Leah," he said. He wished he had not asked. It had been better not knowing.
"No one has ever seen her," the girl went on. "But I know that she's there. I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you more."
Daniel hesitated, embarrassed, but unwilling to give up.
"There was a boy named Simon," he said. "Six or seven years older. He was bound to Amalek too."
"You must mean Simon the Zealot," said Joel.
"You know him?"
"I've heard of him. He has his own shop now. They say he gets more business than Amalek."
"He used to help me," said Daniel.
"He has a reputation for being a good man—and a good patriot."
"Would you give him a message for me? Would you tell him I'm up here? I'd like him to know."
Joel looked surprised. "You mean you live up here?"
"Yes."
"Alone? Is it safe? I mean—they say the mountain is full of robbers."
Daniel said nothing.
"Aren't you lonely?"
"I don't live alone," said Daniel.
"Oh." Joel was baffled. "Don't you ever come back to the village?"
"I'd just get dragged back to Amalek's shop."
"I suppose so. Yes, I'll tell Simon, of course. How long since you ran away?"
"Five years, about. Simon will remember me, though."
The girl spoke, in a straightforward voice that matched the look in her eyes. "Five years! Do you mean your grandmother hasn't known where you were in all this time?"
Daniel looked at the ground, his lips tightening.
"Tomorrow, when she comes to the well, can I tell her I've seen you?"
Daniel looked back at her with resentment. He had long since managed to quiet his conscience, and he did not like having it stirred up again. "If you like," he said. He felt angry at himself now, and disappointed. Why had he given himself away after all these years? What had he expected? There was nothing more to stay for.
"You'd better go back," he said, turning away. "You shouldn't have come up here."
"Why not?" asked Joel, looking not at all alarmed.
"I'm warning you. After this, stay in the village." He walked away from them.
"Wait," called Joel. He looked at his sister