Free Miriam by Mesu Andrews

he could think of a veiled message for Putiel by then. After that, he would find Ithamar.
    He reached for his jug of beer, rinsed out his mouth, and spit into his waste pot. Lifting his arms overhead, he stretched high and then roared as he bent to touch his toes. He strapped on his cudgel and breast piece, then slipped his spear at an angle through the leather straps across his back. Upon opening his chamber door, he found his rations waiting as usual. Four small loaves of bread, two rounds of cheese, figs, dates, olives, and a variety of nuts. Hoshea’s rations were the same, and the same quantity would be delivered at midday. A third, smaller delivery would appear after sunset which included a steaming hot meat of some kind and usually a fine jug of beer, sometimes wine. He stuffed a few dates in his mouth and chewed on a loaf of bread, wrapping the rest of his rations and Hoshea’s in a cloth for Doda Miriam and the others. If he thought a god would listen, he’d pray that Taliah would eat something and maybe argue with him when he arrived this morning. He’d rather have her venom than her tears.
    The morning progressed unremarkably until he arrived at Doda Miriam’s. She was waiting outside, arms folded across her chest, a frown affixed firmly in place.
    “We need to discuss Taliah.” She kept her voice low, implying those inside were still sleeping.
    Eleazar was both disappointed and grateful he wouldn’t speak to Taliah this morning. “I know I failed to protect her, but Putiel will know what to do.” He handed Doda the rations and kissed her cheek. “I must get back.” He started back toward the palace, his mind already forming a message to Putiel.
    “Your brothers won’t marry her.”
    Eleazar stopped, turned, and tried to remain calm. He hadn’t known this was even a possibility. “Lucky for her.”
    “Putiel’s family won’t help her either.”
    Anger rising, Eleazar raised a brow. “You’ve been busy.”
    “You need to marry her.”
    “We’re not having this conversation again, Doda.”
    “Good. It’s settled then. Your saba Amram can pronounce the wedding blessing tonight.”
    “No!” Eleazar shouted, startling birds into flight from the roofs above them. He breathed deeply, calming himself. “I’m not getting married. To anyone. I’ve told you already. Pharaoh uses close family members to torture high-ranking slaves. I won’t put a woman’s life in danger by marrying her. Good-bye.”
    “Please, Eleazar,” she whispered. “I can’t hear El Shaddai. I don’t know what else to do.”
    A cold chill worked up his spine as he walked back toward Doda Miriam. Her head was bent, but he could tell she was crying. What could he say? He didn’t believe in her God anymore, and this was partly why. If El Shaddai did exist, He’d proven to be vengeful and capricious, uncaring and unreliable, but it wouldn’t help Doda to hear that now.
    Eleazar gathered her into his arms and laid his cheek atop her head. “If you could hear El Shaddai right now, believe me, He’d say I’m not the answer to Taliah’s problems. She doesn’t even like me.”
    But you will marry her.
    Eleazar heard the pronouncement from someplace deep within him, not audibly, but it might as well have echoed in Pharaoh’s throne hall. Surely, he was merely tired and imagined it.
    “I’ll send a message to Putiel today and ask what’s best for Taliah.” Putiel understood a soldier’s caution. He knew the atrocities against wives and children of military slaves when Pharaoh sought to punish a man beyond a beating. He would never let his daughter marry a soldier slave.
    Doda reached up to pat his cheek. “You’re a good boy, Eleazar. I know you’ll do the right thing.”
    He was trying to do the right thing, but she refused to see it. “I’ll see you tonight with more rations.” He walked away before she could say more.
    The sun was already well above the eastern hills. If Eleazar believed in the gods, he