“Have you said goodbye to your new-found family?” Seth inquired. The twins and Mica nodded affirmatively. “Stay within eyesight, we will follow soon.”
Seth turned and began walking to the small caravan that had assembled in the last few hours. The little pony Adam had liberated yesterday was now in good spirits, saddled with provisions, and a great-grandson of Adan riding on top. Adam had just hugged the boy and placed him on his perch atop the supplies. The horse dropped its head in affection, rubbing its snout against Adam’s chest. After stroking the horse warmly, Adam handed the bridle to an attendant. Seth marveled as he watched Adan embrace their father with genuine affection. In addition to sharing a headstrong nature, Adan’s features were nearly identical to his father’s. Adam kissed Adan’s cheeks and spoke gently to him. Their contact ended as Seth approached.
“Give Mother my love,” Seth said as he approached Adan. “And Ahavva.”
“We called her Azura when we were young,” Adan replied with a smile. “Ahavva - what a beautiful name. It’s been so long, I look forward to seeing her.”
The brothers embraced. Both men clearly making an effort to keep their emotions in check.
“Father had a vision, Adan,” Seth said into Adan’s ear as they held a close bond. “I would not have led us this way. I did not even recognize the area as we drew closer.”
“Father never ceases to surprise. I thank my God, though I have neglected Him, He brought you both to me,” Adan said as they broke their embrace. “You saved my life, Seth, still my protector. I felt like a boy again last night, falling asleep knowing you and Father were near.”
Adan had been injured from conflict with the king’s soldiers. He also suffered burns while extinguishing fires in his fields. After their reunion the previous day, Adam’s sons left the charred farmlands and traveled a short distance to a substantial estate. Adan’s walled compound was surrounded by fields and orchards. Evidently, it had been a prosperous, beautiful farm before the soldiers and their Nephilim enforcer destroyed it. As Adam tended his son’s wounds, the rest of the hunters’ gathered as many of Adan’s people as they could find. Seth remained with Adam and Adan, together they learned the complete story of Adan’s losses. Finally, Seth had to insist Adan get some sleep as it was apparent he had not rested in days.
“Always your eldest, Adan, always your keeper,” Seth rejoined with a warm smile. “Your family awaits, you will be loved in Har Shalem. All your people will be welcome.”
“I always loved you, Seth, admired you...” Adan said, his gaze suddenly dropping. “I’ve lost so much – but my soul has been lifted, it’s been so good to see you and Father. He’s been so kind...”
Seth clasped Adan’s hand and dropped his forehead against his brother’s forehead. There was much to be said and little time for it.
“The days have grown dark, Brother,” Adan said with emotion. “Be careful – know that I will pray for you.”
Seth nodded in reply. Knowing his brother had prayed little in recent years made the promise that much more prized in Seth’s heart.
Adan took one last sweeping look at his farm. The charred fields and fresh graves weighed heavily on his face. Seth gave Adan a final embrace, without words conveying his understanding of loss. Adan forced a smile and took his place at the head of the caravan.
The convoy was composed of Adan’s family, hired hands and neighbors. There were twenty-six in all. The twins, Dinak, and Jathan had searched the area for Adan’s people and any resources that would aid them on their journey. Seth’s party gathered weapons from the dead brigands, as many of Adan’s arms had been destroyed or confiscated by the king’s soldiers. They had few weapons to spare from their own supply, but adding two spears, a bundle of javelins, and a sword gave the group enough to adequately defend themselves. Mica provided as many food provisions as he could spare, hopeful he could buy more for Seth’s group in the city. The group should arrive at Har Shalem in two days unless difficulty arose.
Adam was warm and kind, clearly enjoying the presence of new family members. Jathan, gifted with children, was playful and engaging with the young ones and finally extricated himself from their clinging hands. As the parties finished their goodbyes, Jathan and Adan were the last to embrace, each heartened by the discovery of a new brother. Finally, Seth raised his hand to speak and impart a blessing.
“The One God is good; His love endures forever. May He bless you and keep you,” Seth spoke over them. “May His mighty angels walk beside you and keep you in His peace.”
Adan’s people acknowledged the prayer with raised hands and began their journey south. They would follow the Great River downstream, then they would ford the river and continue their journey on its western bank. Adam’s people had settled many places along the river valley. Some would already be returning to Har Shalem for harvest celebrations. Seth and Adam were concerned the abductions or attacks may have also happened among them. Adan resolved to check on as many of their relatives as possible while he traveled southward.
Seth watched as Adam’s eyes followed the caravan. As Seth expected, Adam’s smile quickly faded, replaced with a grim visage Seth had not seen in many years. Jathan spoke to Adam, making a small inquiry. Adam simply continued to stare at the group, utterly oblivious to his young son’s question. Seth gestured for Jathan to join him, indicating Adam was best left alone. Seth watched as Adam snapped his fingers at Seepha, who obediently trotted to him. Adam, saying nothing, gathered the reins of one of the horses and began walking towards the city.
Dinak took the other horse and fell in behind Adam. Mica and the twins were still in eyesight. Seth let the horses and their handlers get a few paces ahead before he and Jathan began walking.
“Tread lightly with Father,” Seth instructed Jathan. “You will see an anger in him, never seen in Har Shalem.”
“True, his countenance is one unknown to my memory,” Jathan replied, puzzled and concerned. “I have seen him angry before, but not like this.”
Seth informed Jathan about the actions of the king’s soldiers concerning Adan and his family. Adan had paid burdensome tribute and taxes as commanded to by the soldiers. The breaking point came when soldiers came to conscript Adan’s sons for the king’s army. Nearby villages had already supplied sons and daughters to the army or palace staff, but Adan would have none of it. Adan and his men fought the soldiers, killing a few of them. Adan’s wife, Yiska, was inadvertently struck by a sword in the confusion as she tried to pull a younger grandson away from the conflict. The soldiers, shocked by the resistance, retreated with their dead and wounded. But Adan’s people suffered their losses too. Adan’s wife of almost two hundred years, an exiled daughter of Cain, died that afternoon. Others died as well.
The giant came the next day. Twice the height of an ordinary man, he was armored and carried a massive club. Most wisely fled its path of destruction. The monster killed anything in its way, man or animal. Bellowing in anger, it seemed to take delight in its tasks, pausing only to laugh hideously at the chaos he caused. He destroyed everything of value, demolishing stone walls and wooden structures with malicious ease.
The Nephilim was followed by soldiers with torches. Adan had watched from a distance as they collected some of his harvest, workers from the city carrying it away. Other produce and goods, they burned. Even fields ripe with grains waiting to be collected were not spared the flame.
The soldiers had intended for the giant to return to their garrison after destroying Adan’s property. The giant laughed at their demands, killed the soldier who attempted to command him. The hulking brute spent the rest of the day destroying several more farms.
Adan’s first mention of the Nephilim caused Adam to become silent. Seth watched as his father’s mood grew darker. Long ago, Adam would have struggled to contain his rage. Despite the anger kindled by the Nephilim, Seth watched his father tend Adan and his people with gentlen
ess and compassion. Adam checked the fury for a time, but Seth knew it was still smoldering deep within. As soon as the caravan left, Seth watched Adam’s anger fan into flame again, a churning heat deep within Adam’s soul.
Never had Adam’s people seen giants and men allied with each other. Seth was troubled by this development. He was sure Adam was contemplating this fact too. Adam’s suspicions of a ranking Prince among the Fallen plotting against them was becoming more apparent.
Jathan broke the silence with a question.
“Did you kill a Nephilim first?” Jathan inquired. “Or was it Father?”
“It was Father,” Seth answered. “I was terrified when I first saw one. Kenan was young when we first encountered him.”
“Father said an angel named Azazel was the first to beget children,” Jathan offered.
“Correct, Azazel was a prince among the Watchers. They were a gifted class of angels sent by God to serve mankind,” Seth replied. “Instead, he left his assignment to create his own kingdom. The other Watchers observed his activities for some years and resolved to do likewise, it was then the Watchers made their pact on Mount Hermon.”
Seth relayed the story of his people’s first encounter with a Nephilim. The giant approached their makeshift village, in days before Har Shalem was built, and bellowed in rage. Almost twice the height of an average man, it had killed several of their people working in the fields near their home. Seth had slain many Earthbound Fallen by this time but admitted to being initially terrified of this new monstrosity. After a few moments, Seth found his courage and began preparing a defense when the giant spoke to the village. He promised Adam’s people the killing would stop if they would surrender virgins as prizes for his father, Azazel. Adam told Seth to stay with their people and left the village to face the giant alone.
“It must have been a terrific battle!” Jathan said, amazed.
“No. It was over in seconds. Father killed him with his bare hands,” Seth replied simply. “The giant tried to run but could not escape him.”
Jathan listened in stunned silence. No words could be formed as he considered both the horror and desperation of the event. He looked ahead and watched his father, observing his vacant expression.
“But the aftermath was worse than the deed itself,” Seth detailed. “Our enemy cast down, Father turned and began walking back to us - his hands, face, even his teeth stained with blood. Some of our young screamed at the sight of Father and hid from him...”
Seth finished the story for Jathan. Upon seeing the terror Adam produced within his own children, he screamed like a madman. He looked at the blood on his hands and began stumbling about, yelling Azazel’s name aloud as he suddenly left their village and ran into the wilderness.
Seth then armed himself, left Enosh in command, and began to track his Father to bring him home. It took two days, but Seth eventually found Adam and restored him. Confident Adam’s rage had passed, Seth took him back home. Adam entered the compound, fearful, ashamed of what his children had seen him become. Mortified by the fear he had seen in his children’s eyes, Adam felt stained by what he had done to protect them. Adam vacantly eyed the ground as Seth guided him into the courtyard. Eve slowly approached Adam and gently embraced him in front of their people. Though Adam longed to seclude himself in his tent, Eve held him in her arms and insisted he remain in the congregation. Adam went limp in her affections, weeping quietly as she kissed him and spoke tenderly to him. Gradually their people overcame their fears, and drawing close, embraced Adam and grieved with him.
“Our mother....is a strong, wise woman,” Seth finished with a deep sigh. “Absent her love and example, we might have lost Father then.”
Jathan simply nodded in agreement. He had no words to add. The horrors his parents had endured over the centuries left him speechless. He could only stare ahead at his father, who walked silently forward.
“Father will return to himself, Jathan,” Seth said, sensing his brother’s concern. “His anger will be useful, soon enough, I fear. Though I hate seeing him carry it.”
The lake was to their left, now in full view, drawing closer as they trekked northward. Fishing boats and docks dotted the northernmost edge of the lake as well as a collection of tents and houses. A modest, walled city was situated on a hill northward of the lake. A small road connected the town to the lake residents. The Great River flowed both north and south of Lake Kinnereth. They crossed the river on a wooden and stone bridge and headed north towards the city.
Mica and the twins were seen in the distance. They avoided the southern entrance to the city and headed towards its eastern gate. Seth and his party continued northward to a hill on the northeast side of the town that would afford them a partial view into the city interior.
They tethered the horses in a small grove of trees, hopeful that Mica and the twins would return soon. Dinak and Jathan lay down to rest near the horses. While Seth was observing the city, Adam suddenly became agitated. Seth watched his father move about as if searching for something, cupping his ears and listening intently.
“I hear something,” Adam said aloud. “Seth, do you hear that noise? Earth and stone moving, it’s faint...and there’s a vibration, a humming.”
Seth heeded for a moment and shook his head negatively in response. Adam, frustrated, continued listening...
Chapter Twenty-One
What Loran Discovered
“Father, it’s worse than we believed,” Loran explained soberly.
Mica and the twins had emerged from the city about two hours after they had entered. Seth had observed the town as well. As best he could from a distance, Seth assessed its resources and gauged the strength of its fighting men. Adan’s story had indicated a military build-up, which was confirmed by Seth’s observation. The northern gates of the city were heavily fortified. Seth’s eyes could not help but travel northward into the mountains and hills known to many as the “Land of the Giants.” Hermon itself lay northward less than two days’ travel.
As the whole party gathered to hear what the twins had discovered, Seth knew it was not yet noon. He was hopeful they could find the high place Adam had seen in his vision. It had been a few years since Seth had traveled this region, but he believed the springs to be a full day’s travel away.
“Tell Father from whom you gained your critical information,” Lethan chided. “You should have seen Mica’s face.”
Mica shook his head slightly and displayed a pained expression as Lethan spoke.
“Peace, Lethan,” Seth replied. “It was I who taught Loran where to find the most accurate news in a large city. Your mother trusts me implicitly. You did not, however, have to bring Mica there.”
“While I paid for her professional services, rest assured I did not indulge in them,” Loran stated. “The streets were restless, and I did not want us to be separated. My apologies, Mica.”
“I am married, with children at home,” Mica replied with a pained expression. “Nevertheless, a brothel is...honestly, I have no words.”
The markets did provide some useful information. The local king was building an army. The townspeople evidenced a mixture of pride and fear of their new ruler, a warlord named Kinna. This city was called Khazin. The new King made alliances with two large cities that also had consolidated power within the lake region. Rasha was a city to the west of the lake, its rule encompassing the lake region westward. A king from a town named Ir ruled the eastern lake-lands.
Seth watched Adam shake his head in disgust as kings were mentioned.
“Any fool with a wall around their village gets to be a king these days!” Seth had heard Adam say many times.
The city had been granted a champion, the giant that destroyed Adan’s village. Their Nephilim warrior was a gift from the gods of the mountain. Mica then relayed another interesting fact. The kings of all three cities were currently in the town. Talk of war w
as being repeated within the market.
Adam and Seth immediately locked eyes, their concern evident. Adam spoke first.
“It’s a new moon in two nights,” Adam asked urgently. “Did they mention sacrifices?”
“Yes, Father Adam,” Loran replied. “The prostitute revealed even more to us.”
Loran shrewdly scouted the local brothel while Mica made some purchases within the market. He noticed a soldier of some rank leave the brothel. Loran made a note of which girl the soldier spoke with. After they were satisfied they had learned all they could in the market, Loran took the group to the brothel.
A small waiting area served drinks made from fermented grains and beyond it was a row of enclosures where the ladies entertained their customers. Being mid-morning, it was relatively quiet. After requesting the services of the girl he had observed earlier, Loran followed her to her room. Lethan stayed in the waiting room with a very uncomfortable Mica. Loran left the curtain of her space partially open and sat in the doorway where he could be seen by Lethan and Mica.
After explaining the nature of his request, the girl was initially suspicious. Loran stated that he was a merchant from afar and only wanted to know about local politics and events. He said he often sold weapons to garrisons and wanted to know what soldiers had been recently talking about. After placing a silver coin in her hand, she began speaking in earnest. The soldier who left minutes ago was a commander employed by one of the visiting kings. They were undoubtedly preparing for war; each lake kingdom was recently granted a Nephilim giant as their field champion. The soldier said tomorrow he would accompany his king to a high place to bring sacrifices to their Baal. All three kings, each with a detachment of soldiers, would offer blood and virgins during the new moon at the holy springs. The soldier also expressed his fear of a priest who served the mountain gods.
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