Chapter 11
Obed’s Code ~ continued from Chapter 11 | A War Horse
Obed was brought back to reality quickly as the day grew dark and heavy clouds blew in that seemed to close in on him. The wind picked up along the road and the air became cool.
“Have I done something?” he asked out loud.
“By the Duranki,” he said out loud. “Earth and sky.”
He quickly glanced over his shoulder but saw nothing except a dark cloud.
“Midday but dark as night,” he whispered while galloping onward.
He looked behind him on the darkened road and for an instant he peered into another world; the trees and high plains bushes came together and formed a rounded opening, a gnarled tunnel of branches and thorns from which came a brilliant light.
“David,” came the voice.
Bavryoon’s eyes were wide with fright as he smashed down the trail.
“David, David.”
Obed turned back again as the words floated over the horse trails and high plains. There on the dark road she appeared; The Rose came full of mercy and dark judgment. Her wings spread over earth and sky and a great cloak covered her except for her arms that were bound in black leather. A brilliant light
followed her and burned away the gathering dusk.
“David,” the voice called along the trails.
Obed did not look back again but instead pushed forward through the gray mist that had formed along the ribbon of road.
“Ride, boy, ride,” he whispered in Bavryoon’s ear. “Ride,” he said as the two crashed on.
Years later Obed kept in touch with his comrades from his wild youth and so he had access across the vast Syrian empire. Balto and Hadad often found their way off Harrumbra’s paved roads to the dusty plains and highlands of Bethlehem and supped with their old friend while telling tales of growing new powers in the region.
On one such evening, a war horse galloped from Bethlehem and pushed further into the Persian desert. The animal gath- ered speed through the camel routes along the Euphrates Valley that stood in the shadows of the Egyptian empire, which bathed in the great Nile as the Mesopotamian empire did in the Euphrates.
The stallion followed a northern path past fields of wheat and barley that swayed under an angry sun.
As the horse galloped, the Rider’s saddle bag flapped wildly. He held a letter from Nitzevet to her David:
I fear that shadows grow and cloud my vision like a pair of dark wings. These wings rise and let in only a sliver of light that lies on the land as a gray shroud, a shroud of war and death. Two thousand strong gather at Michmash and Gibeah behind Saul, ready with plowing shears and sharp instruments. We cannot bear any more hardship . Your father and your brothers have become a fighting unit and are at Gibeah now.
Oh, David, how I wish you were here but even I cannot protect you. War harms everybody.
Miriam, my friend, has secured you a station at Saul’s war camp. I do not know what awaits but I am full of foreboding. I have felt that jealousy, anger and even hatred await you and surround the war camp.
There is a sickness of some sort that clouds my vision. I feel a false love will lure you into a trap. Do not take what he gives to you or at least be very careful of strange gifts.
You and Shimea are expected in Gibeah.
All my love to you both.
Continue reading… Chapter 11 | The Weak Man
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