Adi gasped. “Oh, no.”
“Right now, the king plans to get what information he can out of them … and then probably kill them. But if he finds out that they know nothing, or who Arisha is—that she escaped, or is connected to Kamose—he won’t wait even that long. ”
Zadok’s stomach roiled. This couldn’t be happening. He had to do something, anything.
“But, there is a plan.” Abba smiled. “Danel, the boy who helped Kamose escape, is now the wazir, and worships Yahweh. The commander of the army also worships Yahweh—”
“But who is this?” Eliel yanked the stranger’s bicep.
“Ah, this is Banno. Danel and the commander sent him to us to tell us of their plans. They sent this”—he held up the dagger—“as proof of his identity. You can let him go, Eliel.”
“What is that?” asked Zadok.
“This is Kamose’s dagger.” Abba’s voice was thick. “He lost it in Arad forty years ago. Rather, someone stole it from him. Aqhat, the new commander, found it and has kept it safe. Until now. Now, I finally have it back.”
“How do we know it’s his?” Eliel still wasn’t convinced. “This could all be a trick.”
“I know. He carried it … Trust me, I know it. Bezalel made it, just like he made this.” He slipped a finger under the chain around Imma’s neck and lifted the pendant.
“All right, so then what’s the plan?” Eliel pointed to the papyrus.
“I assume they didn’t want to put too much in writing, in case this fell into the wrong hands. All it tells us is to ready an attack force and get them there three days from now. They’ll take care of the rest.”
Eliel huffed. “That’s asking an awful lot. Send men there with no idea of what comes next?”
“Wait and see what Yahweh will do.” Zadok’s voice was soft.
Eliel turned to him. “What?”
He lifted a shoulder. “That’s what Moses told me. Wait and see what Yahweh will do. It sounds like good advice here, too.”
Abba wrapped an arm around Zadok’s shoulder. “That’s excellent advice, habibi. We’d be fools not to take it. Eliel, go to your sabba. We have only tomorrow to ready attackers. Then we must get some rest, so we will be ready for whatever it is Yahweh has in store for us.”
Zadok had no idea what Yahweh had in mind, but as far as he was concerned, he’d had enough waiting.
The time had come for action.
Danel and Aqhat waited outside the throne room. The heavy double door was pulled open from inside. Two burly servants stepped aside and the pair stood on the threshold.
Aqhat leaned near. “I do not wish to lie to him, but we’ll have to tell him something. It’s been two whole days.”
“Do what you have to do.”
“Enter.” The king’s voice was gruff. “What have you learned from our … guests?”
Danel cleared his throat. “As young men, not old enough to be part of Israel’s army, they know little, but we believe they know more than they think they do. In conversation they have told us they are headed south, have no plans in place to attack, and are not in training.”
“They lie!” Keret rapped the floor with the foot of his scepter.
Danel winced. “I do not believe the men are lying, my king. Whether or not they are informed of their leaders’ confidential discussions is another matter.”
The king leaned forward in his gilded throne. “They are coming, and soon. Of this I am certain. Commander Aqhat, prepare for imminent attack.”
Aqhat dipped his head. “Yes, my king. I shall make all necessary arrangements, though I do not expect any movement for a few days. An experienced army would wait for a full moon to attack. Israel may not be good enough to defeat us, but surely they know that, and since they believe they have the element of surprise, they will wait until there is enough light at night to help, not hinder, which would be at the end of next week’s festival of Ra’shu Yeni.”
Keret paused, exhaled. “If you say so, Commander. Still, I want our city protected.”
“Of course, my king.”
The pair backed away and exited the throne room. Once safely in Aqhat’s office, Danel let out a loud breath.
Aqhat chuckled. “Nervous?”
“Aren’t you?”
He shrugged. “A bit.”
“Just a bit? ‘An experienced army would wait for a full moon to attack,’” he mocked. “What was that all about?”
“I told you we had to stall him.”
“That was a complete lie!” Danel threw his arms in the air.
“No, it wasn’t. I said an army. Not all armies. Surely there’s an experienced commander somewhere who would wait for a full moon to attack. I’ve done it myself, in the right circumstances.”
“What is your plan, then?”
Aqhat pulled rolls of papyrus from the shelves on his wall. “I need spiced wine. Lots of it. Delivered to the barracks the first night of the festival. Can you do that?” He searched through the rolls until he found one, then unrolled it, scanning it.
“Easily. Why?”
“I’m going to reward some people for their faithful service.” He flashed that grin that often made Danel nervous.
“I have no idea what that means.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just make sure the wine gets to the barracks in three days.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing. Because one way or another, this will all be over by the time the moon is full.”
The commander tossed the parchment on his desk and ran his hand through his hair. “I know. We’ve known this was coming most of our lives. And I’ve been preparing for it. You need to trust me. And you need to trust Yahweh. I have no idea what will happen. Who will win. If we will live or die. But I intend to do everything I can to try to ensure that we are on the winning side, that we do live. I’m a soldier. It’s all I know to do.”
The morning sun reflected off the sand north of camp as Zadok paced. What was Arisha doing right now? Had she slept? Had she eaten? Was she injured? Was Jonah looking out for her? Thoughts of her in a cell—or worse—tormented him.
How could Yahweh let this happen?
Zadok was ready to fight. Like every other male, Zadok had been prepared for that since birth. Give his own life for Israel? Absolutely. He had learned to handle a dagger, a sword, even a sling. He knew how to defend himself and how to advance on an enemy. He knew how to take orders and how to lead.
But give up his wife?
That, he was not prepared for.
They weren’t even fighting yet. Their battles with Canaan weren’t supposed to start for over half a year.
He dropped to his knees.
Yahweh, help me. Give me strength. Help me concentrate.
Keep her safe.
He’d told no one what she’d shared with him about being selected as the king’s consort. She’d asked him not to. But now her life was in danger, even more than the others.
How could Yahweh take her, when He had given her to him only months ago?
His throat burned, his vision blurred. He laid his arms on the sand, his head on his arms.
Yahweh, keep her safe. Don’t let them kill her. Please.
“Zadok.”
Abba’s soft voice startled him.
He rose from the sand, brushing the sand off his cloak and the tears from his cheeks.
“I wanted to give you this to take with you.” Abba reached into the folds of his belt, and withdrew the carnelian-studded dagger.
“No, you should keep that. That was your uncle’s. What if I lose it?”
Abba unsheathed the weapon. “And it was your great-uncle’s. I don’t believe objects carry luck, or power, but I want you to wear this as a reminder. You come from Hur, and Bezalel, and Kamose. Each of them fought bravely for Israel. You have their passion, their courage, even though you have not had a chance—or a need—to show it yet. Their fire is in you. You need only to release it.”
Abba fingered the
double-edged blade. “I remember this well. Kamose wore this every day until … ” He slid the dagger back into its holder. “Remember when Moses told you your time to fight was coming?”
Zadok nodded.
“This is it. This is your time.”
Zadok reached for the weapon, pulled the gleaming blade from its sheath. Longer than most daggers, it was heavy but well-balanced. It would be a formidable asset.
Was he equipped for this? Could he do this?
Could he not?
His great-uncle wouldn’t have hesitated. Or his sabba. Or his abba, for that matter.
Neither would he.
The time for that was over.
Now it was time to fight.
For his reputation, for his wife, for Israel.
Danel walked among the fruit trees outside the walls of Arad. The late morning sun and the scent of ripe apples, pears and peaches floating on the breeze belied the heaviness in his heart.
Three days, that’s all he had. Three days until the start of the Ra’shu Yeni, the Harvest Festival. Three days to convince Mika that Yahweh was the only true God. He’d spent most of the night praying—praying for Mika and praying for guidance. He was no closer to an answer today than he was yesterday.
He could tell Mika Israel was coming. There would be a battle, and Danel would be on Israel’s side. If Israel, a group of children of former slaves who haven’t fought anyone in forty years, as Mika called them, prevailed against mighty Arad, it would prove Yahweh was the Living God.
But if Mika’s heart was hardened, he would simply run to the king and tell him of Danel and Aqhat’s treason, and all would be lost.
What should he do?
He had to try. Somehow he had to try to change Mika’s mind about Yahweh. He couldn’t let him fight against Israel, against Yahweh, and risk death if he didn’t have to.
He changed course, headed inside the gates.
But he couldn’t risk the rest of the believers, either. Mika didn’t know them all, only the ones who met at Danel’s house. But along with Aqhat’s family and his own, that was still a large number.
He had to know where Mika’s heart was.
Danel waited outside the barracks trying to gather the courage to knock. He raised his hand, dropped it. Raised it again and rapped on the enormous cedar door.
A young soldier—younger than Mika—answered. Behind him an entire company of recruits seemed to be easing the effects of a hard day’s training with a jug of spiced wine and a several women.
“Is Mika in?”
The man only grunted and slammed the door.
Danel flinched. Ordinarily he would say something about such disrespect, make certain it was punished, but in another day or two, it wouldn’t matter. One or the other of them—or both—would no longer be in Arad.…
Moments later Mika appeared. He’d gained some weight, all of it muscle. It looked good on him. “Papa. I wasn’t expecting you.” His voice cold, he stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
“Should we take a walk?”
Mika shrugged, but started along the worn path that led from the barracks to the training field. “I hope you’re not here to talk me out of marrying Demna. You will not change my mind.”
The words hit hard. “All right. Maybe I just want to talk to my grandson.”
“Why? We have nothing in common anymore. I do not worship your God. I will never worship your God.”
That tells me about his heart.
Mika halted, crossed his arms. “Demna is expecting our baby.”
Danel felt like he’d been thrown into a stone wall. A baby?
“So you see, I have to marry her.”
Danel could only nod.
“But my training will be completed in a few weeks, and I will have my commission. We’ll be fine.”
Danel tried three times before words actually came out of his mouth. “All right.”
Mika stood even taller. “I am the best in my class. I’ll command fifty immediately. I’ll command a company within a year.”
All of which was probably true. Danel’s stomach twisted into knots. “Then I guess I should let you get back to your training.”
“That’s probably best.” Mika stared into the distance for a long moment. “Goodbye.” He turned and headed back to the barracks.
Danel stared at Mika’s retreating back. Somehow, he knew it would be the last time he would ever talk to his grandson.
Zadok sat at the fire pit of his parents’ tent, his arms wrapped around his knees, head on his arms. His own tent was far too empty.
When were they going to move? If it were up to him, he’d be halfway to Arad by now.
And dead before he saw the towers, for the city’s defenders would surely see him first.
No, all he could do was wait.
Wait and see what Yahweh will do.
The blast of the shofar split the air. Once. Twice. Three times. Zadok jumped to his feet. Abba exited the tent, and the pair silently made their way toward the sound. Imma, Zivah and the children followed.
Joshua, Caleb and Moses stood at the base of Mt Hor, the same place they’d told Israel of Aaron’s death. Zadok pushed those memories to the back of his mind.
Moses raised his hands, and when he had everyone’s attention, he spoke. “The king of Arad has attacked us without cause, and sent his soldiers to harm us.”
A loud cry went up from the people. Questions overlapped each other. “What?” “Who?” “We must go after them.”
“He has captured several of our men who were doing nothing more than tending our sheep.”
Caleb stepped to the front. “We plan to go after them. Arad is a very small city, but it is heavily fortified, with towered walls thicker than a man is tall. Double gates that are guarded day and night. Armed men patrol both the city and the country around it.”
Zadok’s heart beat double-time. Why was Caleb so doubtful? Was he suggesting they leave Arisha and the others there? He’d go alone if necessary.
A tall young man shoved his way to the front. “Yahweh will help us. He has helped us time and time again, whenever we have asked Him.” He climbed on a boulder, then turned to face the crowd. “I say we ask for Yahweh to lead the way! We go after this wicked king. And if Yahweh will return our men to us, we promise we will destroy this evil city!”
The Israelites cheered. Men all around Zadok pumped their fists in the air, yelling, shouting and roaring. Faces were red, voices became hoarse, shoulders were slapped. Had they not been calling for Arisha’s rescue, it would have frightened him.
Moses raised his hands for silence. “As we said, the city is small. Since it was men of Judah who were taken, Joshua will lead the men of Judah against Arad. The rest of you can return to your tents, and ask Yahweh for his blessing and protection. Caleb and his men will distribute arms and tell you what little we know, and some training will take place today before we leave tomorrow at dawn.”
Women, children and old men immediately returned to their tents. The younger men of Judah stayed. Joshua dispatched some to the weapons stores, divided the rest into their companies. Zadok set out to find Caleb. Finally he spotted him, at the front with Moses and Joshua, deep in conversation.
Zadok drew close enough to tap Joshua on the shoulder. The former spy turned and tried to include him in the conversation, but he declined and pulled him aside. “Joshua, why is Caleb so against rescuing Ar—, the men?”
“What do you mean? He’s not against it at all.” He glanced over his shoulder at Caleb.
“Didn’t you hear him? All he talked about was how hard it would be.”
“Zadok, he was only trying to get the people behind him. The passion, the enthusiasm for this, has to come from everyone, not only the few who know the ones abducted. This has to be about more than them. This has to be about Israel. By this action, Arad has attacked all of Israel.”
Zadok had not thought of it that way. It was true, of course, but all that matt
ered to him was Arisha.
“The shepherds. Were any of them old enough to begin drilling yet?”
“Some. But they were all big and strong and they can take care of themselves, or I wouldn’t have picked them to protect my sheep from leopards and hyenas. They’ll be able to wield a sword, trust me.”
“Good. Go to the weapons cache and make sure you take enough swords and daggers for them as well as yourself. Get some others to help you carry them over.”
Zadok nodded as he headed for the weapons. He’d only gone about twenty strides when he noticed Marah’s abba marching toward Joshua, his jaw set.
Not again.
Zadok reversed course. He was not going to let Malkiel interfere.
Malkiel stomped up to Joshua. “Surely you're not letting him go?” Pointing at Zadok, he spoke without waiting for Joshua to even acknowledge him.
Joshua turned around slowly. “Malkiel. Thank you for coming to offer your support. And yes, I am. He's one of my captains, actually.”
“He's the biggest coward in all of Judah!” He waved his arms, as if he could scoop up all Judah and put it at Joshua’s feet to prove his point.
“He's not. I've told you before, Aaron instructed him to spend his time growing the flock.”
“A convenient excuse.”
“Malkiel, I am the commander of Israel's army and I don't have to explain anything to you.” He stepped away. “Zadok? The weapons cache?”
Malkiel followed. “You cannot let him go! I have four sons going and he will put them all in danger!”
Joshua halted and faced the angry man. “Do you really believe that?”
Malkiel folded his arms over his chest. “I do.”
“Very well. Then your sons may stay home.”
Joshua left Malkiel fuming and muttering.
As Zadok picked out the weapons, all he could think about was bringing home Arisha, but Joshua was right. There was far more at stake here than some shepherds and his wife. Malkiel proved that.
The Walls of Arad Page 23