Enmity

by Paul J Fowler

  “Holy One, remember your Remnant. Train our hands for war,” Seth prayed aloud.

  Seth leveled his spear, took a deep breath, and led his men into the thicket.

  Chapter Twelve

  Eve on the City Walls

  Eve enjoyed the breeze as she stood atop the city walls. The stone and timber of the battlements brought comfort to her. The city was a hive buzzing with activity. Workers were in the field finishing the harvest. Some would work the farms in the morning and train with their respective army units in the afternoon. Somehow Kenan kept everything on schedule. Jerod was growing under Enosh and Kenan’s tutelage, learning the priestly duties and management of the city in preparation for Enoch’s future ascension to the role of Melchizedek. Jerod was quiet but wise for his years, and capable.

  City guards or soldiers were generally the only persons allowed on the ramparts, but Eve had access to any place in the city. Exceptions to some rules were made for the wives of the patriarchs. In fact, the troops loved having Mother Eve on the walls, they respected her strength and wisdom. Stories of her ferocity in their people’s nomadic days were still repeated amongst the guard, though not in her presence.

  Eve stared over the walls into the broad fields below the high stone ramparts. An outdoor market would usually be situated five hundred paces from the main gates. Accommodating hundreds of visiting family members during harvest festivals would strain the city proper’s capacities. Homecoming was a festive atmosphere; trading textiles and wares from different regions, music, and plentiful food. In the plaza, Kenan would teach the men about God’s ways as well as practical instructions about managing harvest and ruling as elders over God’s people. Adam held audiences, displaying new inventions and taking endless questions. In the Armory training yard, Seth and Mahalalel trained war skills to the visitors and held good-natured contests of arms.

  And beautiful music! Mahalalel would gather musicians who shared new songs or psalms that had been composed. The evening would be filled with poetry, worship, and dancing. Kenan or Enosh would offer sacrifices and retell the stories of their faith.

  Eve felt the void in her soul as she looked at the empty field where her family should be camped, celebrating and enjoying their God and each other. Instead, she saw workers in the fields preparing the pits and tunnels that would soon be hidden by earth and grass, deadly traps for men of Cain and sons of fallen Watchers. The contrast weighed heavy on her soul until she heard Adam’s wisdom echo in her thoughts.

  Anger. Sometimes, anger was a gift. They had often been paralyzed by the pain of their mistakes. Angry at themselves, angry at God, angry at each other most of all. Finally, Adam decided that only the Serpent deserved his anger.

  “I will no longer be a slave to regret,” Eve remembered Adam finally say. “Our Covenant God, YHWH, has promised us redemption – that must be enough! We cannot grieve our mistakes forever. That’s what the Serpent wants, and never will I serve his purpose again.”

  Eve knew Adam was right. His revelation changed them both. Regret was an indulgence for which they had no provision. There was too much to be done. Their children needed their full attention and care.

  Volleys of stones were launched earlier in the day. Gargantuan slings, made of timber, creaked aloud as they propelled boulders over the city walls into ranged zones marked on the plains before their city. The projectiles would make a thunderous boom when they struck the earth. Much to Eve’s amusement, the sound of the impact was followed by shouts of cheering echoing all over the city. Eve was grateful the people were confident in their army. Kenan was quite satisfied with the results. Slings of various sizes were now deployed throughout the city to accommodate the defense plans.

  Following the test-firing of the slings, the fixed bow crews took their turn. Many of the weapons were located on the city battlements, but larger ones were also placed on the second and third levels of the city. The fixed bows were attached to a timber frame and launched massive arrows much the same way an archer would, only on a much larger scale. A gear system enabled two or three men to draw the enormous bow and lock it in place for firing. The fixed bows could be aimed, and when ready to fire, the tension would be released by a lever. The projectiles were called siege arrows, some of the largest exceeded the length of three fully grown men measured end to end. Arching high over the city and landing in the plains beyond, Eve loved the beauty of an arrow in flight.

  The captain of the Fourth Gate, Elkah, indicated to Eve that they were ready to test the wall defenses. Eve’s thoughts returned to the present as she nodded in return. Eve then looked downward, peering over the edge of the walls and surveying the gate below. A chime was rung seven times; it was a warning to anyone in the area to leave. The gate captain then confirmed the area was clear.

  Eve was positioned on the ramparts between the Third and Fourth Gates. The Second and Third Gates were in the central courtyard. This was the final defense weapon to be tested today. The Hell Fire was deployed when the enemy was at the gates. A massive volume of pressurized air was followed by a crackling whoosh as the accelerants were ignited. Jets of fire poured out of nozzles in the city walls, engulfing the landing in front of the massive timber gates. The air pressure ended quickly, but the gelatinous fuel residue remained burning on the ground. As the flames died down, workers appeared with shovels and dirt to return the Third Gate grounds to their typical condition.

  Elkah watched with satisfaction before turning to the bellows crew in the courtyard and raising his fist in approval. A few cries of praise and defiance then echoed across the city walls.

  Eve smiled, enjoying Elkah’s enthusiasm. The bellows were indeed deadly. Then Eve had another thought, concerning one for whom she had no affection.

  Send your children to our door Azazel, see what they find waiting!

  Eve was satisfied with the demonstration of the city defenses. She resolved to leave the city walls and go to the fields and assist the harvest crews. As she did, the handsome young captain took her arm to escort her to the stairs.

  “Your presence honors us, Mother,” Elkah said formally, bowing slightly.

  “Your duty honors your people, my Son,” Eve returned. She kissed his cheek warmly. “Your great-great-grandfather, my son Aram, fell in battle against the Nephilim many years ago. A hero...I still miss him.”

  Elkah blushed and dropped his head sheepishly, but he promptly resumed his soldier’s bearing. He was honored, albeit a bit nervous, to attend the First Mother of their people.

  “Take me to the ladders, the stairs will take too long. I’ll exit the city from the Fourth Gate courtyard,” Eve stated.

  Elkah escorted Eve through the Fourth Gate tower. His soldiers bowing slightly to Eve, who smiled warmly as she passed. Soon they reached a long wooden ladder that descended over two stories into the courtyard below.

  “My King is Righteous!” Eve said in parting. “Be strong, Captain.”

  “My King is Righteous!” Elkah returned. “Shalom, Mother Eve.”

  Eve pulled up her skirt slightly and tucked the extra cloth within the sash at her waist. In a flash, she leaped over the wall and quickly descended the ladder. Her rapid movement caught Elkah unaware and startled him. Elkah was further amazed as Eve, smiling, gripped the sides of the ladder and swiftly slid down the final steps in the manner the young soldiers were fond of. Elkah shook his head in admiration and began walking back to his tower.

  As Eve passed through the courtyard, a small press of children formed and hailed her.

  “Come now, children,” Eve said warmly after several hugs and greetings were exchanged. “No bread without grain first! Let us go to the fields – your fathers and mothers need our help. Everyone takes a hand!”

  Eve, with a regal bearing, strolled through the gate leading a procession of energetic children into the fields north of the city.

  Chapter Thirteen

  A Golden C
rown

  The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

  Proverbs 20:2 KJV

  Seth looked back at his group, anxiously. He had motioned for the group to stop. Again, he had arrested their progress and put his fingers over his mouth, demanding silence. They were less than an hour into the brush and movement had been difficult. Now the animals were agitated. Both horses were restless and threatening to bolt. Even Dinak was having trouble with his horse, and Mica barely contained his. Seepha was growling low and pulling against Jathan as he held her lead.

  Seth and Adam were at the front of the group. Lethan was beside them, bow ready. Loran was the last man in line and had abandoned bow in favor of spear. He was walking backward and low, ready to set his spear into the ground at a moment’s notice. Seth was listening intently.

  “We’re being hunted,” Seth whispered. “Stay alert.”

  Hunted by what? The Fallen, the great cat, a blood-reptile, or something worse? Jathan was afraid. No one spoke. And nearly everyone had heard movement in the brush. As Jathan looked at his fellow hunters, he was alarmed upon seeing that even Loran and Lethan were pale and nervous. The brush was dense, visibility was limited, and the increasing agitation of the animals was now impossible to contain. Mica’s horse was now nearly taking him off his feet as the animal nervously thrashed about.

  Then they heard it. The Roar.

  A predator cry, loud and thunderous, echoed forcefully throughout the valley. Mica and Dinak struggled as their horses wheeled about looking for a break in the thicket in which to flee. Seepha ignored all of Jathan’s efforts to restrain her. Barking aloud, she rushed forward teeth bared and hackles on full display, dragging Jathan with her. She stopped only when she got to Adam. Seepha then yelped in anxious fear and then barked again in rage, scanning the brush for the predator. Adam produced a leather muzzle from his bag and gave it to Jathan, who struggled unsuccessfully to fasten the device on Seepha’s snout.

  They inched forward for what seemed like hours, but only minutes had passed. Suddenly Seth disappeared, then moments later, he returned, holding his spear and moving silently.

  “I can see the peak again,” Seth said in a whisper. “Water ahead. Stay ready. Slow.”

  They moved forward. A clearing in the dense brush opened before the hunters. At least the peak could be seen again. Jathan was relieved to stand once more. Still apprehensive, everyone began to breathe easier. Mica and Dinak cautiously moved toward the stream to refresh the horses.

  Seth halted everyone. He motioned for silence again. To their left from the center of the forest, they heard brush breaking. Then another deafening roar. Now they could see the trees and sections of dense grass shaking as the still unseen creature moved through vegetation towards the hunters.

  Adam retrieved his weighty staff from Mica, relinquishing his spear. He began to move away from the group, across the clearing, towards the sounds.

  Seth moved towards his father, but Adam halted him.

  “Seth, trust me. Jathan, muzzle Seepha. Move everyone away slowly,” Adam voiced, motioning them away, his voice calm. “Lower weapons. No one is to approach me except Seth.” Adam then walked about fifteen paces away from Seth toward the edge of the clearing.

  Seth slowly moved everyone away from Adam and in the direction of the mountain peak. Then Lethan and Seth crouched within some brush. The horses were moved farther away from the clearing into the thicket, as was Seepha. She was now muzzled, after a significant effort by Jathan.

  “Did he say trust me?” Lethan asked quietly.

  “He said trust me,” Seth replied.

  “Prepare to see something unusual. Or terrifying,” Lethan replied, a mischievous grin forming on his handsome face.

  “Where are you?” Adam called into the thicket

  Another great roar was offered in response. The brush and trees shook. Birds left trees, and the ground itself seemed to quake.

  “Come to me!” Adam called out again.

  Only Seth, Lethan, and Jathan could see what happened next. An immense lion burst into the clearing, a massive golden blur; a predatory force of nature both beautiful and frightening. The beast offered another great roar and closed the distance between itself and Adam in one leap, teeth bared and growling in anger.

  “Stop!” Adam said furiously. “We don’t have time for this. You are a king – behave like one!”

  Bared fangs and growls gave way to another roar. Seth could see Adam’s hair and tunic blown back by the sheer force of his breath. The lion was easily twice the size of any great cat Seth or Lethan had ever seen. His golden mane blended into a rich brown color where it joined his powerful body.

  Adam leaned forward, now face to face with the beast!

  “The fault was mine!” Adam roared back, pointing at the lion angrily with his index finger. “We have to end this. It’s been too long. I am to blame!”

  The lion now stared at Adam. He lifted a paw with enormous claws and batted at Adam. Adam deflected the massive clawed paw with his hand and then grabbed the lion’s billowing mane and pushed the impressive beast backward.

  “No!” Adam insisted now face to face again with the great cat.

  The great lion roared! His immense golden mane shook as his head moved upward in his kingly cry. Eyes of rage still fixed on Adam, but strangely no attack came.

  Adam then roared back at the beast.

  The cat rose on his hind legs, towering over Adam.

  Seth’s heart leaped into his throat at the spectacle before him. There was no way to help now. And he knew Adam wanted no interference. After five hundred years together, he knew his father’s mind and words.

  As the lion reared up and fell forward with his front paws, Adam stepped forward and cuffed the lion’s large face with his open hand. Adam remained upright as he pushed away at the gigantic beast. The lion halted his half-hearted attack and stepped back, turning his frame away from Adam as if to leave.

  “Do not leave me!” Adam thundered, pointing at him authoritatively. “Stay now, old friend, please...” he now implored in a broken voice. “Please, forgive me...”

  The noble, golden face now bore an expression of bewilderment, not rage. The cat’s mouth opened, baring great teeth and crying out meekly in a muted roar. Adam closed the distance between them and put his left hand on the lion’s forehead. Then Adam placed his right forearm in the mouth of the beast. As he did, Adam dropped to one knee. The lion would not accept Adam’s arm within his teeth, gently he began to lick Adam’s hand and wrist.

  The lion then moved his large frame back and forth a bit, then suddenly fell with a thud at Adam’s feet. Adam stroked his mane. The great lion then whimpered and growled. Even many feet away, Seth and Lethan sensed the immense strength of the beast as it breathed, its enormous power now calmed by Adam.

  Seth’s blood was pounding in his temples like hammers on anvils. Again, Seth was given evidence of just how unusual his father was. He told himself to breathe and focused on the spectacle before him.

  “The fault was mine,” Adam said again. “It’s time we let this go.” The lion suddenly took to his feet. Agitated and angry, it backed away a step and started to roar. “No, quiet now...” Adam replied, still kneeling. “Sit down.”

  The lion demurred and dropped to the earth before Adam with a great crash. Adam put his arms around his neck, speaking into the great lion’s ear. Adam then kissed the lion’s forehead. The First Man placed his own forehead against the lion’s forehead and wept quietly. The kingly beast responded by pressing his head against Adam’s own affectionately, occasionally licking him.

  Seth watched, bewildered, as his father coaxed the great beast with words and scratched his face and ears. Adam sat down on the earth beside the lion. Soon the lion turned on his back and batted upwards at Adam’s hand like an
ordinary housecat at play. Occasionally it would whimper and moan. As they watched man and beast interact like children at play, Seth exchanged a sideways glance with Lethan. Both men shook their heads in amazement.

  Seth felt an unease within himself. Years of tracking and living in the open fields had taught Seth to trust his instincts. Sight, smell, or sound; Seth knew something was amiss. After breathing deeply and visually scanning the area, Adam’s third son listened carefully again. His keen ears cataloged every sound in the brush around him. Seth then systematically eliminated every noise he deemed normal. His ears returned Adam and his lion. It was then he heard the inconsistency...

  “He’s dying, the beast is dying,” Seth said softly to Lethan. “His breath is wrong. His lungs have a rattle, they are failing...”

  Seth and Lethan watched for a few minutes as Adam now cradled the great beasts head in his lap and spoke softly to him. There were overheard numerous “I’m sorry” and “please forgive me,” as well as “remember when,” in Adam’s words. Seth fought back the tears as he watched his father comfort his noble friend.

  A backward glance at the rocky peak behind them refocused Seth’s purpose. Seth’s thoughts now returned to the Fallen. He looked upwards to the position of the sun and felt anxious about the passing time.

  Seth rose slowly and cautiously moved towards Adam. His father motioned for him to come closer.

  “I had no idea he was still alive. He is a great king among his kind, the greatest among them,” Adam explained, albeit cryptically. “My Father remembers vows we made long ago when we were young kings, and the world was new...”

  Seth observed that his father’s eyes were full of tears. His tunic was wet with them. The great cat vacantly looked at Seth but did not move. Closer now, Seth could see the signs of age on this magnificent animal. Scars, teeth chipped, some parts of its hide thin with age, but without question, still a noble creature.