“How true, Son,” Adam said and breathed a heavy sigh. “Now, my son, my last question, why is he willing to lay down his life in intercession?”
“Greater love, Father!” instinctively Jathan, Mica, and Dinak had all spoken in unison.
Adam laughed aloud. A broad grin broke his face.
“You have a fine teacher, all of you!” Adam was pleased as he spoke. Adam’s eyes were suddenly drawn to Seth at work ahead of them.
“You worry about Seth, don’t you?” Jathan ventured aloud carefully.
“You are perceptive, like Eve, your mother,” Adam said, smiling. His face then grew more serious, “Seth is not wearied in the body, but I fear the weight of his duties has cost him. He has faced this evil so many times, Seth fears he may be tainted by what he has fought against. Long has he had enmity with the Fallen.”
“What happened to Seth to fuel his purpose so?” Jathan asked. “He is a man of few words. He once told me God revealed his path to him but said little else.”
“Your mother would say it was his love for a woman!” Adam stated, now smiling again. “I suspect both God and Ahavva inspired his determination. When he was about twenty, he was watching the fields at night when the sheep were attacked by a shapeshifter. When his brothers fled, Seth faced the Earthbound alone and had a revelation. Seth realized he was not afraid, and then he realized he was angry. And further, he knew God did not condemn him for his anger.”
Jathan noted that some of the first patriarchs married within their immediate family, but the custom had only continued among Cain’s descendants. Adam explained that he had been instructed by God that should the practice continue into the future, there would be unhealthy consequences. Thus only Seth, Enosh, and Kenan had married sisters. Cain, when exiled, took his sister Awan as his wife. Adam knew the physical purity of his immediate bloodline and also reasoned God uniquely blessed these early unions out of simple necessity - sons and daughters needed spouses. Further, Adam viewed the fixation with the practice among Cain’s descendants as the Serpent perversely emulating the unions of Adam’s first sons in a twisted fashion.
Long ago, Seth trained or hunted for months, and sometimes years, away from anyone except Adam. This period was later called the First Purge by their people. Ahavva became a woman during his absence, and it was clear to Adam and Eve that their feelings for each other had matured. Adam explained that Seth wished to marry his sister, Ahavva, but felt conflicted by the threats they faced from the Fallen.
Seth believed that if the One God had predicted a child from our line would crush the Serpent’s head, surely it must be him. Where Cain had failed us, Seth had no choice but to succeed. Seth separated himself from us, to dedicate himself to that purpose.
“Seth became obsessed with the Fallen’s destruction. In the beginning, I would only fight back when threatened. In a way, I felt I deserved their harassment, punishment for my own failures concerning the Serpent,” Adam continued speaking as his eyes sought Seth’s form in the plains. “I was wrong. Seth convinced me that we must war against them, that we should make them fear us. Simply defending ourselves was no longer an option in Seth’s mind. He woke me from my guilty slumber. The truth is I did not fear them – but I feared becoming like them. But like Seth, I had a revelation; I remembered the words of an angel I knew long ago. He never wanted war against his own kind – but when it had to be done, he embraced the duty and followed the example of his commander.”
“What was his name, this angel?” Jathan inquired, curiosity growing.
“Gabriel,” Adam said. “He was a friend to me once. His name means hero.”
“His commander was Michael, wasn’t it? The Chief Prince among the angels?” Jathan said, his interest rising.
“Yes, an impressive one he is, Michael. Michael’s name means ‘who is like unto God’. Yet Gabriel is a prince among them too. Curious creatures, the angels are...” Adam said as he stared distantly away.
Jathan was stunned. He had never known his father had beheld the chief among God’s angels.
“Conflict was thrust upon the angels by the Serpent. Their response was powerful, not simply a defense. They waged a great war. Michael himself threw the Dragon from the outer heavens to the earth. The Serpent’s followers, perhaps a third of the Heavenly court, were also cast down. My Sons, the One God himself is a warrior, it’s part of his image born in both angels and humans. I repented of my short-sightedness. I began to consider the angel’s example, I started to study and understand the ways of war,” Adam concluded.
“After our conflict with the Serpent, our interaction with the angels became less frequent,” Adam stated. “Though I spoke with them at the entrance to Eden many times, seeking God’s wisdom from them.”
Adam further detailed that after he and Eve left the Holy Mountain, Eden, the Serpent gave them no peace. Though God had pronounced judgment against the Serpent, the conflict had only begun. His Fallen children longed to corrupt or remove all humanity from the earth.
“The Serpent believes the prophecy spoken by God against him can be broken if he eliminates the Seed of Woman,” Adam explained. “No intercessor can arise if all the bloodlines of Adam and Eve are defiled by the Watchers hybrid races mixing with humanity. The Watchers will not rest until all of our children tainted, enslaved, or killed.”
“Yet God has kept a remnant for himself,” Dinak interjected. “A righteous bloodline – those who call upon the Lord’s name. Is this not so, Father Adam?”
“The Seed of Woman will crush the head of the Serpent,” Adam agreed. “Perhaps the one who will deliver us is among us, perhaps he is not yet born. But God will keep his word, this is our declaration.”
“My King is Righteous!” Dinak replied, asserting the expression of faith often misunderstood outside their people. Jathan and Mica nodded in agreement.
“Mahalalel and Dinah have taught you well, Dinak,” Adam said warmly. “You have hidden truth in your heart.”
“When did you first encounter a Nephilim, Father?” Jathan asked.
“You have been taught that the Watchers gathered on Ardis around the time Father Jerod was born,” Adam said in response.
Jathan, Mica, and Dinak all nodded in agreement.
“But there was one angel who came before them, who first sinned by taking a human wife. His name was Azazel. His children were the first Nephilim.”
“Have you ever seen Azazel, Father?” Jathan asked.
“No, but I have killed many of his children,” Adam replied matter of factly.
The last disclosure by Adam left his companions at a loss for words. They walked for a few minutes silently. All observed the changing terrain; the grassy plains were giving way again to rocky hills and mountains. The four men watched Seth and Seepha at work ahead of them. Loran and Lethan were scanning their flanks, bows ready. Dinak was dutifully looking behind occasionally to ensure any dangers were recognized. Finally, Jathan broke the silence.
“Father, what is this for?” Jathan asked, offering Adam the stout version of the thorn that Mica had equipped him with.
“That thorn is for Nephilim,” Adam stated. “There are many tribes of giants; the Naphil, the Elioud, the Zim, and other tribes were spawned by Watchers or descended from the giants themselves. Nephilim were the first, so that name is more commonly used. We have observed that most giants have elongated craniums. A weakness we can exploit is the thin bone structure in the temples. A single, precise sling stone or arrow can fell one. The central forehead, however, is usually thickened and more resistant to attack. Thus...” Adam demonstrated the short, heavy weapon piercing the temple. “Of course, positioning for that strike is not easy. They also fear fire.”
“Which is why we brought these,” Mica interjected. He pulled open one of the packs on the horses. A wooden framework concealed several globes of blown glass, reinforced with thin bands of steel, c
arefully padded within cloth and straw.
“Hellfire Globes. Father Kenan invented them,” Mica explained proudly.
A siege defense weapon had been invented that propelled a thick, flammable liquid through a bellows system. An igniter flame would be present at the end of the nozzle. The result was a stream of liquid fire that could repel enemies at the city walls. Adam had named them Hellfire Bellows. Kenan and Enosh had learned to refine the highly flammable liquid. The thick, black liquid was sourced from the ground. The base ingredient was commonly used among men to make pitch, a substance employed to waterproof wooden ships. Pine resin and sulfur were also part of the formula. Adam’s people had yet to see anyone who had refined it to their level of efficacy.
The Hellfire Globes were a portable incendiary weapon, should the need arise. The spheres, filled with the flammable liquids, could be thrown or slung and would shatter on impact. They could be propelled with an attached fuse, a strip of burning cloth or after soaking a target, ignited with a flaming arrow.
“Loran and Lethan can sling them very accurately,” Adam said with a grin. “Those twins were giddy with excitement when Kenan invented them.”
Mica repacked the globes, and Adam continued his instruction.
“The mixing of the angel and human species is a sin against nature. The offspring are gifted in one aspect, size or great strength, for example, yet often flawed in other ways. Not all Nephilim are giants, but most are.” Adam explained. “I believe they wanted children who look as men do but with angelic strength and powers. Even they could not foresee what monstrosities their unions would produce.”
Adam saw the apprehension on Jathan and Dinak’s face. He knew that the young men had never seen a giant before.
“Let me pose a simple question, answer it in the simplest possible way. If a tree obstructs a path that you must travel, what do you do?” Adam asked, directing the question to Jathan and Dinak.
“Climb over it,” replied Jathan.
“Cut it down,” said Dinak.
“Burn it!” Mica interjected.
Adam laughed in response to Mica’s suggestion.
“All responses are correct. True, you have never faced a giant,” Adam said to Dinak and Jathan. “Before this week, you had never faced a Fallen, Jathan. Remember what you have been trained, when that moment arrives, you will do what is asked of you.”
They continued in silence for a few minutes, slowing while Seth stopped the group to inspect a potential landing spot. Seepha showed agitation, indicating a scent was near.
“You!” Adam said abruptly to no one.
Jathan watched as his father suddenly veered left and started taking several steps before stumbling awkwardly. Adam pointed westward then fell to his knees. Jathan moved towards his father as Adam dropped his staff and took his head in both hands. Jathan extended his left arm to catch Adam as his body suddenly went limp and fell face forward. Jathan dropped his spear and used both arms to bring Adam to the earth.
“Seth!” Jathan called out. “To us, quickly!
Chapter Seventeen
To the West
Adam lay motionless, his breathing shallow. Jathan was closest to him. Mica had taken his cloak, rolled it into a cushion, and placed it under his leader’s head. Mica spoke encouragingly to Jathan, assuring him Adam was well and would regain himself soon. Jathan had rarely seen Adam taken by a vision, and none that affected him this radically.
Seth stood resolute, quietly watching his father. Seth was impatient but knew there was nothing to be done until Adam returned to consciousness. He instructed his sons to establish a perimeter watch over the hunting party. The twins took position twenty paces to the north and south of the group, each scanning the terrain. Seth wondered what his father had beheld in his vision. Did it portend more hardship? Perhaps the One God had spoken about something unrelated to their current trial, but Seth doubted it.
The blood trail was consistent. Seepha had proved her worth today. The Fallen was headed to Bashan. The region around Hermon was also called ‘The Land of the Giants’ by men. In fact, Nephilim tribes had settled several places in a rough circle around Ardis, some settling as far as the salt sea to the west. There were a handful of high places Seth suspected this Fallen was connected to. Their lairs would always be situated close to the high place from which they received worship. Seth and his father had destroyed several high places in southern Bashan decades ago. But high places were often rebuilt, a fact Seth recalled with anger. The Chieftain of Adam’s Mighty Men gripped his spear, a nervous urgency rising within him. He walked forward to Loran, unable to keep still.
“Nothing astir, Father,” Loran reported as Seth came close to him. The young man looked south to his twin. Lethan signaled that no threats were evident.
Seth was proud of his twins. His sons had grown into excellent warriors, revered by their people. They were so different from their scholarly, older brother Enosh. Seth knew that despite their differences, the twins deeply admired Enosh. He was much older than them, wise and learned. Enosh also blushed with pride at the mention of his younger brothers, who were becoming famous among their people for their exploits at arms. Seth breathed deeply as he thought of home, comforted as he knew Enosh was there, shepherding their people with Kenan. Seth looked at his twins, relieved they were with him. Thoughts of his family took the edge off his angry tension. Ahavva’s image lingered in his mind, thoughts of her filled him with both longing and comfort.
“We are with you, Father,” Loran spoke, sensing his father’s tension. “God willing, we will close with the Fallen soon. I long to send their spirit to whatever hell the One God has ordained for them.”
Seth nodded in reply. As the twins had become men, they proved to be very perceptive to his mood relating to matters of war. Father and sons were suddenly diverted from their thoughts as it appeared Adam was now regaining himself.
Adam had motioned to Jathan and began to tell him he was well. Seepha, dutifully standing in place nearby, interpreted his motion as an instruction to come to her master. Whimpering with curiosity and concern, she closed the distance and inspected Adam meticulously. After sniffing curiously, Seepha put her nose in Adam’s face. Adam grinned and laughed aloud as she licked his face affectionately.
“Be at peace, Girl. My sweet, fierce girl – Adam is fine!” Adam said as he stroked Seepha’s head and shoulders. Presently he extended a hand to Jathan, who helped him rise to his knees. Adam looked joyful and purposed, taking a deep breath and rising to his feet unassisted.
Adam looked at the landscape, scanning in all directions for a full minute. Adam, seeming satisfied with what he had seen, addressed the curious faces waiting for him to speak.
“You were right, Seth,” Adam expressed confidently. “The Fallen goes to the heights in Bashan. There were springs of water coming from the cliff itself, many miles north of Kinnereth, a High Place was there. We destroyed it years ago. We lost so many there...I almost lost you in that battle. It has been rebuilt, and it must be destroyed.”
Seth instantly knew the place. But it was a location further north than he had hoped. Deeper into the mountains meant more Nephilim encampments. Closer to Ardis than the High Places in southern Bashan practically ensured the involvement of a Watcher Prince, as Adam suspected. Several hunters were with Adam when they fought the Earthbound and Nephilim monsters at the springs, but only Adam and Seth came home from that hunt. Adam lost sons, and Seth lost brothers that day. Adam and Seth both fought like lions, each saving the other’s life numerous times. When the bloodshed was over, Seth lay gravely wounded while Adam set fire to the unholy altar. Then Adam made a litter, dragging Seth nearly the entire way home. The journey took several days.
Adam stared at Seth, who returned his gaze with a deep sigh. Each recalling memories neither could adequately describe to their young companions. Some memories were too unpleasant to be recalled.
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“Then let us make haste, Father,” Seth suddenly replied. “We will end the Fallen soon or make for Har Shalem if the threat is too great.”
“There is a stronghold I was shown, where I believe the Watcher Prince resides, a place I have not seen before,” Adam said cryptically. “Seth, I saw him, my old friend,” Adam paused then added. “But we must first go west, towards the sea.”
Seth had trouble containing his frustration. While his Father’s visions were usually reliable, he longed to travel directly to the high place.
Seth scanned the sky and terrain. He deduced that traveling due west would take them to the many villages and cities of men around the sea of Kinnereth. The sea was actually a large freshwater lake. The great river flowed south from the mountains, into Kinnereth, and southward from it. The people in the region were a mixed lot; some of them were family, relatives still in fellowship with Har Shalem. Other groups there were independent, a mix of Cain’s people and Adam’s lines.
“To go west will cost us time,” Seth protested. “The blood trail will be harder to follow, if not gone when we return to it. Are you sure the Fallen will be at the springs? Perhaps we should go west after we find the Fallen’s lair?”
Seth expected Adam to argue with him. Instead, Adam said nothing. Jathan shifted nervously as his pragmatic brother Seth was now in opposition to his father, who was directed by a revelation only Adam had seen. There was awkward silence as the hunting party waited for a decision to be made. Lethan was about to speak on Seth’s behalf when Loran shook his head, encouraging his twin’s silence. Dinak and Mica took a step back, needlessly adjusting the supplies and tending the horses while they listened for the next order. Even Seepha whimpered slightly, cocking her head to one side, trying to understand the curious behavior of her masters.
“I know it is more sensible to follow the blood trail...,” Adam stated softly, looking downward. “I cannot say with certainty the Fallen we track today will be at the places I have seen.”
Enmity Page 14
