Except for Grace and Mercy

Chapter 5

"Be-eri and Jo-nas. Ple-ase lis-ten to your sis-ter. I too do not li-ke you joi-ning the re-sis-tance. Allow Yah fi-ght this ba-ttl-e like he did for our an-ces-tors". Bilhah their mother was addressing them after their supper; she seemed much stronger today.
"Mother, how can we proof our worth as men to defend our nation of Israel and to protect you both?"
"Jo-nas as I lay dow-n dai-ly on th-is woo-den quil-ted bed, I pray for y-you-r pro-tec-tion. Re-mem-ber how o-ur gre-at king Da-vid said 'un-les-s t-the L-lord bu-ilds the hou-se, the bui-lders la-bour in vain". She takes another gulp of water from Adah before continuing "un-less the L-lord wat-ches o-ver the ci-ty, the gua-rds sta-nd wat-ch in vain... Mig-da-l-Oz is our tower ".
"Where was he when father got killed by the Roman sword; why did he not defend Israel from the Roman invasion and heal you despite spending a lot on physicians?"
"Be quiet Beeri! You can't talk like that!" Adah smacks him on his left arm.
The heavy pounding on their door and the sounds of horses neighing a little distance away, jostles everyone.
"Beeri secure the windows, Adah stay by mother's side..."
"Jonas quickly open the door!!"
Jonas opens and draws in Gideon before shutting the door.
"It's the Romans, Gaius sited them by the village well. They're a kilometer from here".
Gideon is the leader of Kana village since most of the aged men were weak. Adah never really understood him nor his constant attachment for her brothers despite not being in their age cadre.
"Those infidels, what do they want in Nazareth this time?" Jonas was sneering.
A loud knock startles us all as Jonas opens the door and in walks about five Roman soldiers, pushing Gideon and Jonas to one side, making a path for one other Roman soldier. He steps inside so gallantly all the while, taking in the room before his gaze falls on Gideon.
"You must be the village leader".
The way he speaks with a demeanor of authority and not rude either.
"Yes Tribune"
"Good. My men require lodgings for the night"
"Tribune, most of our rooms are occupied and..."
"You a-re wel-come to sta-y he-re"
My mother struggles to speak using her last ounce of strength. He hadn't noticed our presence, as we are tugged by the corner with an oil lamp over our heads burning dimly. I am on my wooden stool just by my mother's wooden quilt bed. Maybe it's just my imagination, but as his eyes search mine, I see a subtility and yearning. He quickly takes off his helmet, waves his fingers through his silky dark hair before bringing it down on the Crista of his helmet as he makes his way to my mother's bed.
"I believe, this is our first encounter. What ailes you?"
"She has been battling with dropsy". Beeri replies rather harshly while handing me the water bag to give mother Bilhah to drink.
He is quiet, just looking at her quivering lips and closed eyes: I know she's praying, I raise my head just in time to see our eyes lock again.
"Your name?"
My tongue got caught up tight until I felt my mother's hands squeeze mine, to let it loosened -"A-Adah"
"Adah". He calls it like a whisper afraid if he screamed it, it would disappear.
"What does it mean?"
Again, I observe his voice sounds too nostalgic and almost melancholic, again, maybe it's just my imagination.
"Ad-adornment or ornament"
"Tribune, the quarters are ready"
A young soldier has come by his side to give the news without either of us aware of when he came. I turn towards the door and notice Gaius, Gideon's brother has arrived probably to take the Romans to sleep over at their house. Gideon is staring daggers at the Tribune, while my brothers go to our upper floor to prepare their room for the Tribune.
"Opimius". He says as he rises to his feet to follow his men outside, shutting the door behind him.