The Chronicles of Gan: The Thorn (18 page)

Tavor still did not appear to believe what
he was hearing. He backed a few steps away from Jasher in distrust,
and looked to Eli for help. Eli nodded in affirmation and stated,
“It’s true. This is his sincere desire. I am joining with him
myself.”

The Uzzahite warrior studied his own
commanding officer with some suspicion, but when he saw the
sincerity in Eli’s face, a smile appeared. Tavor put forward his
hand, taking Jasher at his word. The two of them made their oath,
and then the Danielite captain did the same.

“You and your peoples are then free!” Jasher
declared. “Please gather your leaders and come to the central
plaza, where we will make plans for a very important journey.
Together, we will commit the rest of the Gideonite armies to our
cause!”

With that, General Jasher spun around on his
heel and left them all standing there in wonder. A small contingent
of soldiers followed Jasher as a bodyguard detail, but the rest
stayed behind, talking to Captain Amon.

Eli almost pounced on his friend. He gave
Tavor a great bear hug, just as he had Jonathan four days earlier.
Tavor choked and pushed him off, patting Eli on the arms.

“How has this happened?” Tavor begged of
him.

“I’ve made a new friend,” Eli said, pointing
to Pekah. “This man is responsible for your release. His brave
actions before Manasseh changed the heart of the general, who in
turn has convinced the entire Gideonite army here in Ain to unite
with Daniel and Uzzah!”

Pekah introduced himself.

“Thank you,” Tavor said, “for whatever it is
you have done. I’m grateful for it.”

Pekah blushed and looked away at first, but
then turned to say, “You’re welcome.”

Eli chided Tavor for leaving him at Hasor,
as if it was his fault. The three men laughed together until Eli’s
countenance turned from excitement to anxiety.

“Have you seen Rachel?” Eli asked, his
expression earnest.

Tavor held up a reassuring hand. “Yes. She
is here, and well. She cares for some of the wounded and sick.” He
then pointed, adding, “She’s near one of the other fountains of the
city.”

“Tavor, please take us to her!”

Interrupting, Amon stepped closer and said,
“We should go together. That will allow my men to spread the word
as we go, and therefore prevent conflict.”

“As you wish,” Eli agreed.

Following Amon, the entire body of soldiers
entered the holding area. As they tromped through the streets,
captains accompanied by their small bands peeled off to gather
prisoners around them, declaring their freedom. Their jubilant
message went through the crowds faster than they could walk, a cry
of “The Three Brothers are again united!” echoing down the city
streets before them. The profound declaration made Pekah’s skin
tingle with excitement.

Leaders from the tribes of Daniel and Uzzah
pressed close for news as the mob flowed farther into the
neighborhood. At first, this caused confusion among some of the
prisoners, but when they witnessed Eli, Tavor, and the Danielite
captain walking among the Gideonites, many of them realized
something extraordinary had taken place.

By the time the crowd reached the fountain,
over three hundred men, women, and children trailed behind in a
long procession. Captain Amon waved Pekah and Eli onward, then
turned away from the main group in order to take care of business
with other soldiers.

It did not take but a moment of searching
the area for Eli to spot Rachel, and he called out to her. The
woman stood from her work of checking the bandages of a wounded
Danielite soldier and pulled her straight auburn hair back into a
knot behind her. Recognizing Eli, she ran to fall into his
outstretched arms and burst into tears of relief. Eli cried openly
as he patted her back and whispered words of encouragement.

Made uncomfortable by their emotional
reunion, Pekah stepped back to give them privacy. When Eli released
her, Pekah stood closer but did not speak.

“Are you well?” Eli said tenderly.

“I’m very tired,” Rachel said as she put her
hands to her cheeks to stifle a yawn. “Because we have no bedding,
it has been hard to sleep.” She let her hands fall, then briefly
looked away. “And I’m hungry. The Gideonites have fed us, but the
rations have been small.”

Pekah could see her hair was visibly soiled
in parts, and there were minor tears in her brown, front-laced
dress. She had pulled the dress up to mid-calf, girding it about
her hips with a green sash. The hem of her garment was also riddled
with snags and mud, and her bare feet showed signs of recent
bleeding. Hints of deep sorrow softened her brown eyes. Although he
was not responsible for her discomfort, the pitiful sight tugged at
Pekah’s heart.

Seemingly anxious to share all her burdens,
Rachel volunteered the events of the past week in quick succession.
She explained that the Gideonite army attacked Saron just as she
left the market, and all the goods and money she had obtained by
the sale of the spring lambs were lost.

“Eli, Asah is dead.” Rachel sniffed.

Eli shook his head, horror in his eyes.
“What happened?”

“Our caravan had just started along the road
to Hasor when we were attacked. Asah told me to run, and he tried
to fight off a soldier who saw me trying to escape. But it was too
late. We were surrounded. I ran back to our cart to find Asah
dead.” Tears welled in Rachel’s eyes.

Eli held her again, his eyes misty. Looking
over Rachel’s shoulder at Pekah, he said, “Asah is my father’s
steward. Since Father is the High Priest of Uzzah, Asah has always
taken care of the family property. He is a good friend.”

Pekah acknowledged Eli with a nod. He could
find no words of comfort, and he sighed, wishing he knew what to
say.

Still holding his sister, Eli asked about
her arrival in Ain. Rachel wiped her eyes and pulled away. She then
told of their march from Saron, through the Geber Pass, and finally
into the city of fountains. She explained that the new leather
boots she had purchased at market had caused her feet to blister.
To ease the pain, she had removed them and wrapped her feet in
shreds of cloth. A lack of shoes caused them to bleed, but now that
she had been in the camp for three days, her feet were starting to
heal.

“Rachel,” Eli said softly, holding her by
the shoulders, “I was very worried when I heard Saron had been
attacked. When Jonathan and I discussed where you might be, we only
suspected you might be in Ain. Thanks be to the Holy One that you
are here, safe.”

Rachel’s eyes twinkled with delight at the
mention of Jonathan’s name. Her face glowed with joy as she looked
from right to left in the crowd, searching for her betrothed.

“He’s not in the city, my sister,” Eli said
as he put his hand on her arm. “Before coming into Ain, Jonathan
secreted himself in the hills—he awaits my return with news.
Jonathan is not aware that General Jasher of Gideon has declared an
end to the Gideonite aggressions, or that Jasher wishes to join
Daniel and Uzzah in ending the conflict.”

Eli’s declaration startled her. “How can
this be?” Rachel asked.

“This is Pekah . . .”

Pekah bowed at the introduction, his eyes
holding hers as he did. Rachel politely nodded.

“He brought a message to the emperor—a
message inspired by the Holy One. Manasseh rejected it. A great
sign was given from the heavens, and General Jasher witnessed the
demise of his leader. Jasher’s heart has been turned, and he has
made an oath to join in the protection of Daniel and Uzzah. Our
peoples have been freed!”

Tears flowed again down Rachel’s face, and
Eli stepped closer to wipe them away. Eli kissed Rachel on the
forehead, then held her close.

“How are your feet? Can you travel?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I want to leave right away and go to
Jonathan. Do you wish to come with me?”

Rachel put a hand on her mouth, then she
looked away. “Where is he?” she whispered as she brushed hair from
her eyes.

“I’ll take you to him.”

Her eyes bright, she pulled herself up and
kissed Eli hard on the cheek. “Thank you for coming for me.”

“Jonathan made me.”

Her mouth fell open, then she punched Eli on
the arm, making him laugh. “I need my boots!” Rachel said as she
ran off to find them.

Pekah tugged at Eli’s sleeve.

“Hmm?”

“She . . . she’s beautiful,” Pekah
stammered.

Eli grinned, with arms crossed. “Yes. Yes,
she is.”

Chapter 15

Rezon

T
wo days earlier, just after dusk the same night on which
Pekah dreamed of his encounter with the emperor, Rezon’s army
camped outside the city walls of Ramathaim. A rich, green aurora
billowed near the southern horizon. Embers glowed bright in the
campfire next to General Rezon’s tent, where four Gideonite guards
stood at attention, one at each side of the lodging. The flickering
of a torch within danced upon the thin canvas walls. In the cool,
still air, Gideonite soldiers in the camp huddled in small groups
around steaming pots of dinner, ignoring the watchman fires upon
the high city walls behind them.

On their way to the general’s tent, three
soldiers hastened past some troops who slurped on thin stew. Nearly
tripping over each other as they went, the tallest of the three
fumbled with the straps of his breastplate, while another held his
sword and shield. Once they arrived at the general’s pavilion
within a tight cluster of tents, the three men approached the
guards and stated their business. One of the guards disappeared
through the tent flaps and then returned, motioning them inside.
They stooped through in single file and found themselves standing
before the seated general.

Rezon looked up from a map spread over the
table in front of him. He studied the three visitors through
strands of sandy brown hair that had fallen out of a thin leather
band about his head. He brushed his hair to the side as he stood,
then stepped toward the men as two of them saluted him in unison,
raising their hands high. The third soldier gawked at the general,
staring at his unusual hair color. He did not salute.

Almost amused by the staring Gideonite, a
smirk crossed Rezon’s lips. Embarrassed, the soldier’s gaze fell to
the ground.

Rezon scratched the stubble on his unshaven
face, and then said with indignation, “I’m sorry the color of my
hair causes you such . . . concern. My mother was a Danielite.” He
returned to his seat and grabbed for a goblet. The soldier still
did not look up. Rezon sipped a mouthful, swished the liquid
around, and swallowed. He pointed at the soldier who had stared.
“You are excused! As you leave, tell the guard at the entrance to
see me at once.”

The man finally did salute as he left, his
expression dejected. The posted guard appeared through the tent
flaps, saluted, and waited for orders.

“Have that man arrested immediately,” Rezon
barked. “Take him to the center of camp and flog him. Do not kill
him, however. I want him—and those who witness his punishment—to
remember it.”

The guard raised his hand and ducked out.
The other two soldiers remained at attention before the seated
general. The face of the tallest remained expressionless, even
stolid, yet the other wore a crooked smile.

After a thoughtful exhale, Rezon addressed
them again, using his goblet to motion in their direction. “Which
one of you is Ilan and which is Zev?”

The tall soldier blurted, “I am Ilan, and
this is Zev.”

“I like the name
Zev,
” Rezon replied as
he set his goblet down and crossed his arms. “I
need
a wolf right now. In fact, I
need an entire pack of wolves. Do you know why my chief captain
chose you?”

Both Ilan and Zev said, “No, sir.”

Rezon regarded the two soldiers, inspecting
their uniforms. Both were outfitted in the characteristic fashion
of other Gideonite captains, and even had a remarkably similar
appearance. They were of pure Gideonite descent, with
short-trimmed, wavy hair almost as black as night, complemented by
clean-shaven faces. Both were battle-hardened, about thirty years
of age, and their darkened eyes showed the signs of many years of
indulgence in various vices. This pleased Rezon.

He stood, drew the dagger from his belt, and
placed it on the table in front of him, deliberately pointing the
blade at the two soldiers. Recognition lit Ilan’s and Zev’s faces,
and they stiffened. The general moved to stand next to his table
and placed his fists at his side. He then spoke in soft tones
intended to keep the outside guards from overhearing their
conversation.

“You were chosen because Jael trusts you.
You are trustworthy, are you not?”

Both men enthusiastically answered,
“Yes.”

Rezon paced to the edge of the tent. “How
very unfortunate the other man proved to be less than
qualified.”

Returning to the table, he pointed at each
of the men in turn. “You are here to help me. I have been given the
delightful task of bringing Daniel and Uzzah into subjection. This
task will be complete within a few days from now. Once I’m done, I
am to return to Ain. If they can be found, I will present either
the scepter of Daniel, or the head of the heir himself, to the
emperor. I am confident the Danielite escaped here, to the great
Uzzahite holy city. He surely has the scepter.”

Rezon paused and reached for his goblet
again, draining all that remained. He looked at the wineskin
hanging from the center pole of the tent, but did not retrieve it.
Instead, he set the goblet down, and then almost shouted, “I do not
want to bring them to Manasseh!” He stopped, wanting his statement
to have some shock effect on the two men. They only stood
straighter.