How does Daniel's relationship with Thacia develop in The Bronze Bow?

Thacia is Daniel's love interest; she is a young woman around his age, a pupil of Jesus, and a person with profound empathy for those around her. At first, Daniel doesn't understand his feelings, as he believes his life only has a single purpose: the pursuit of revenge. Slowly, though, he realizes that his love for Thacia and by extension his friends and family is more important and more worthwhile than his hatred of the Romans. Through knowing each other, they are both altered to stronger individuals.

He heard Thacia catch her breath, and turned and looked into her eyes. He knew he was not worthy of the gift he saw there, but he knew that at last he was free to offer her all that he had in return. In that one brief look they made a new vow together.
(Speare, The Bronze Bow, Google Books)

When they finally come to peace with their feelings, it is the culmination of their sometimes conflicted relationship. Thacia simply wants Daniel to accept love into his heart, for her and for Jesus, but really for anyone at all. Daniel wishes that Thacia shared his drive for revenge, but realizes that he wouldn't love her if she changed. In the end, Daniel's acceptence of love is what brings them together, not his actions, which more often drives them apart.

In The Bronze Bow, what three things make Daniel think Thacia is on his side?

For much of the story Daniel's never quite sure where he stands with Thacia. Sometimes, she can display incredible hostility towards him, as when she tells Daniel to his face to leave Joel alone. Joel could be a rabbi one day, she says; the last thing he needs is to fall in with a gang of thieving outlaws.

Later on, however, Thacia gets with the program and pledges herself to the cause of liberating Israel from Roman tyranny. It is she who devises the precise wording of the vow that she makes along with Daniel and Joel. Not only that, but she suggests the bronze bow, from the Song of David, as a symbol of their sacred oath. Thacia believes that this symbol is appropriate as it represents the strength that the love of God can inspire in his children. With God's love, you can do anything, even what appears to be the impossible, such as driving the Romans out of Israel.

In The Bronze Bow, what three things make Daniel think Thacia is on his side?

First, Thacia has insisted on being a part of the pact the two boys make to win the fight of the Jews to oust their Roman oppressors.

Secondly, it is Thacia who takes Daniel in when he is injured, despite her father's injunction that he never be allowed in their home again.

Thirdly, it is Thacia who comes up with the plan to dress as a boy and wander about town with Daniel. As she and her brother Joel are twins and look a good deal alike, she can "pass" as her brother, thus providing Joel an alibi when he goes on his quest for Rosh to discover which of the town's wealthy will be away from their homes to attend the banquet.

What makes Daniel suspect that Thacia is against him in The Bronze Bow?

First, she acts rather snottily when Daniel seeks her help when he arrives at her home wounded. She is a relatively rich girl, the daughter of a distinguished Pharisean priest. She lives in a lavish home, attended to by slaves. The appearance of the lower-class Daniel, dirty, bloody, and in rags temporarily makes Thacia feel superior.

The second reason is not so much that she is acting "against" him but that Daniel sees no reason why he should really trust her. Thacia wants to take the vow of revenge with Daniel and her brother. The mere fact that she is female sets Daniel on edge. Given the submissive nature of the women in his own life and the patriarchal society in which they all live, Daniel finds little reason to think that a woman would be more than a hinderance to his goals.

Why does Daniel send a message to Thacia in The Bronze Bow?

Daniel sends for Thacia because Leah is dying.  Even though "there (is) nothing that she could do for Leah now...he (knows) that she would care".

Leah had been doing so well before Daniel violently berated her when she revealed to him that a young Roman sentry had been talking to her over the garden wall.  Leah, who had lived in total seclusion since the trauma of seeing her parents die when she was a little girl, had begun to work joyfully and efficiently around the house and show curiosity about the world.  She had even begun to accept the bar Hezron children as visitors and friends, allowing Joel to come briefly into the house to address her, and Thacia to visit, and to laugh and share as young girls normally do.  All that ended when she told Daniel about the Roman soldier.  Although the relationship is completely innocent, Daniel, consumed by his lifelong hatred of the Romans, flies into a rage.  Leah, terrified, withdraws into herself once again. Her withdrawal is total, and she becomes ill, and is now near death.

Daniel is horrified at what he has done, but cannot overcome the demons of hate which drive him.  He knows that if Leah dies, she will have "perished by the sword he had meant for Rome...(and) she would not leave a single person on earth save himself who would know or care".  Then, suddenly, he remembers that this (is) not true.  Daniel remembers that Thacia and Leah have been friends, and "he be(comes) convinced that Thacia should know".  He finds a bit of broken pottery and scratches a message to her that Leah is dying, and sends young Joktan to Capernaum to deliver the message (Chapter 24).

In "The Bronze Bow," what convinces Daniel that Thacia is not his enemy?

In Chapter 7, Daniel is unsure whether Thacia is for or against him.  She helps him when he is wounded and brings him food, but she also pleads with him not to lure her brother Joel away from his life as a promising scholar.  Then, Daniel tells Joel and Thacia the harrowing story of how the Romans killed his family, and Thacia is moved with sympathy and understanding.  When Joel resolves to help Daniel fulfill his vow to take vengeance on the Romans and bring freedom to the Jews, Thacia insists on being included too, and the three of them swear on the Book of Enoch to "fight for Israel...for God's Victory".  Thacia's commitment is total, and it is she who correctly interprets the verse from the Song of David about the bronze bow which they will use as their sign.  Daniel knows then, by these actions, that she is not against him.

Why does Daniel in The Bronze Bow believe Thacia is both for and against him?

When Daniel first goes to their house in Caparnum, Thacia is cool to him, speaking shortly and "turn(ing) on her embroidered sandal and walk(ing) away".  Joel is annoyed at his sister's attitude, and tells Daniel she is just "putting on city airs" (Chapter 5).

Later, she tells Daniel directly why she disapproves of him, saying, "If you cared anything about Joel, you would leave him alone.  He can be a famous rabbi someday...he's not going to risk his whole future for a band of outlaws".  Thacia is afraid that Daniel will lure Joel into following Rosh with him, and if that happens, Joel will lose a future that is lucrative and secure (Chapter 6).

David is totally devoted to Rosh, but Thacia is very much against him, and she tells her brother and Daniel in no uncertain terms, "this Rosh is an outlaw...surely God would not choose a man like that to bring in His kingdom!" (Chapter 7).

Daniel is puzzled as to whether Thacia is for or against him because despite her negativity at times, she is completely supportive of him at others.  When Daniel is injured and returns to their house because he has nowhere else to go, she cares for him tenderly and efficiently, bathing his wound and bringing him food and drink until he is well.  When he tells her and Joel what happened to his parents, she listens sympathetically and "her eyes (glisten) with tears", and when Daniel and Joel vow to fight to free the country from the Romans, she passionately asks to be included.  Once she has made her decision, Thacia clearly demonstrates that she is indeed on Daniel's side.  It is she who creates the wording of their vow, citing "the watchword of the Maccabees...for God's Victory", and correctly interpreting the passage in the Song of David from which they draw their identifying signal, the "bow of bronze" (Chapter 7).

What news does Thacia bring to Daniel in The Bronze Bow?

In chapter 18, Thacia comes to Daniel's blacksmith shop with the news that Joel was arrested the day before by the centurions. This is a blow to Daniel, who loves the loyal, warm, and forthright Joel.

Because of his concern, Daniel makes arrangements to leave the shop and seek out Rosh on the mountain to see what they can do about Joel. However, Rosh is indifferent to Joel's fate, showing no interest in helping him. This is an important moment because Daniel sees for the first time the depth of Rosh's callousness and disregard of others. He angrily challenges Rosh's attitude, only to be told he is too "soft" in his regard for people. Daniel, at this point, realizes he is finished with Rosh and leaves his rebel band.

The news of Joel's arrest and Rosh's indifference leaves Daniel with a decision. Does he continue to follow a criminal leader who doesn't care about anyone but himself for the sake of the cause of expelling the Romans, or does he follow Jesus's path of caring for others? Daniel, unable to discount the importance of human relationships, makes the pivotal choice to put the fate of the people he loves ahead of his quest for vengeance.