by Fiona Tarr
‘You do not make offers on my behalf woman! What were you thinking? We have barely enough food to feed our own people, we cannot spare anymore.’
'These men have protected our people, our stock and our lands. We would not have any food if not for them. All they ask of us is that we share some with them. What kind of man are you?' she said, scowling at him.
'You go too far woman. You have forgotten your place.' He dismissed her with a wave of his hand and an evil look in his eye. 'We have nothing to give you. It is the way of war I am afraid.'
Narayana stepped forward then, he was not angry or upset, he just spoke in his usual wise tone. 'We have an old custom where I come from, we call it Karma. What you reap, you will sow. Every action has an opposing reaction my friend.’
‘Can we just kill him now?’ whispered Katzu, his hand on his sword hilt. David placed his hand on the self-appointed bodyguard’s arm, shaking his head.
‘No, you are right, too many witnesses. Tonight, I will slit his throat.’ He smiled.
‘Not this time Kat, maybe another time.’
Narayana was still speaking. ‘You cannot do this and expect to profit in the long run. You treat your wife without honour; you do not listen to her counsel. You are a very stupid man I think.' He smiled to the surrounding group.
The man rose up as if to take action. He looked at Katzu, hand still on his sword and then thought better of it. 'Leave here. Do not come back again. We have nothing to give you.' He pointed to the opening of the big tent as he spoke, directing his words at Narayana. 'Return and you, little man will be the first to die.'
David walked past Abigail as they left the tent. She did not look up until he spoke, 'When you need my help, I will be back.' She nodded but dared not reply.
****
It was only a matter of days before word reached them. The tribal leader was dead. No one understood how, he was fine one minute and dead the next. His wife was fighting to keep control of the tribe; her lack of authority or right to ownership of property was already causing feuds amongst the men. It would not take long for someone to either kill her or force her to marry them. David and his men were not far from the village. They mounted up and headed there immediately. David needed to act quickly. Abigail was older than him; her husband had owned one of the largest land holdings in the area. He told himself it was for her benefit and believed it. They were married within days and the lands with all they contained became David’s.
****
David was sitting with his new wife, Narayana and Katzu when Francesca rode up. She dismounted and David stood to welcome her.
'It has been a long time Francesca, how are Martinez and Jonathan?' he asked, smiling like the boy she remembered. There was something different about him. She scanned the assembled group.
'I have been many months on the road David. I left shortly after you did. I have not seen Martinez since then. Well not in the flesh, she thought. He was well when I left, as was Jonathan.'
David introduced her to Narayana, his wife Abigail and his new men including Katzu and some of his new tribesmen. Francesca and Narayana broke off from the group quite quickly, kindred spirits of sorts.
'Where are you from Narayana?' Francesca asked with genuine curiosity.
'From a very long way away,' Narayana answered, without expanding. Her curiosity was peaked now. She pushed on.
'I had assumed as much. You have travelled far to be with David, yet how is it you did it so quickly? The journey from your homeland would have taken many months. How is it you have made the journey and why?' She heard herself add the last and realised the holy man had no obligation to share the answer with her.
The little man just smiled. He was enjoying Francesca’s curiosity and found her a marvellous woman, strong yet vulnerable, having travelled all the way from the palace on her own and unassisted, full of her faith, yet still with many questions unanswered.
'I have a special trail I use for just such occasions. Regarding why, well I have no idea really,' he shrugged his bony shoulders. 'The Universe called and I answered. When I discovered the sword was involved, I knew I had to help.' Francesca was frowning now.
'What do you mean the sword? What has it got to do with you? Do you seek to possess the sword? Do you know who David is, what he will become?' She was unsure how much to tell the little wise-man, yet she felt she needed to explore what he knew. To do that she would have to explain herself a little more. A sudden thought came to her then. ‘Why are you interested in the Israeli nation? Surely we are too far away from you for you to have any political interest?'
Narayana could see the look of mistrust on her face, yet he was laughing now, 'Also arrogant,' Francesca puffed up her chest ready to respond, but he raised his hand to settle her. 'Do not misunderstand me; it is just that there is more to the Universe and its harmony than what you could ever understand. David will help restore balance, at least for a time. The Universe likes balance. Faith has been around for many, many years, more years than you could imagine. I am an old man, older than you would expect, like your prophet Samuel was. We have seen leaders come and go. The world changes all the time. It will be here long after we have passed from it. Man has a way of overstating his importance, that is all I meant when I said arrogant.'
Francesca settled down, admonishing herself for her quick temper. 'I understand. I cannot seem to do anything about it. Not even in my own life, so how can I hope to bring about change in this world?' Her shoulders slumped then, like the weight of the world had just settled on them. She looked tired, Narayana thought.
'Do not despair child, every day is a new day and every person you meet will present a different understanding of the world. You cannot hope or expect to bring everyone to the same place in their spirit. You simply take on too much responsibility. You need to accept that much of the world is outside your control.'
'Wise words from a wise man Narayana. I believe I should probably have stayed in the temple, yet my spirit was restless and I could not simply stand by and watch. I really wish I could. However, my inner voice would not let me.' She looked up to see him smiling once again, not unlike the way Samuel used to smile at her.
'That would make two of us then child.' With that he stood and returned to the group. She followed shortly behind him, walking towards David. It was time to speak with him, to see how he was and what he was planning. Would he be any different from Saul, could one King really be any different from another? A question she had pondered often along her journey.
Chapter 24
Word had reached Jerusalem of the Philistine army massing once more. Martinez, Jonathan and the King were on the march to meet them on the battlefield. So much had changed since Francesca and David had gone, Martinez thought as he rode. The King had been withdrawn until just recently when the council had insisted he take action against the enemy. Jezebel had been left behind at the palace, and for that Martinez was thankful. The King’s mood seemed to be lifting each day that they travelled. Was it being away from Jezebel or was it the thought of the battle? Either way Martinez welcomed the change. The real Saul, his brother, was returning. They joked and told old stories along the way. They ate together, drank together and it was the best time they had shared in a long time.
****
Saul felt lighter than he could remember. The last few years had been painful for him. Much of his time was a dim dark memory, as though he had been wrapped in a shroud all that time. He was heading to war, yet he was the happiest he had been in longer than he could remember. Jonathan and Martinez were with him, and even though they were planning war, the time they were spending together was enjoyable. Slight feelings of guilt swept over him at times; the way he had treated David, the loss of Derai, his immoral behaviour with Jezebel. However in the most part, he was free of his dark mood—ready to embrace the future—whatever it held. He did not need to wait very long.
He rode with his general and son, at the head of the column of soldiers marching to
the battle. They crested the top of the ridge, overlooking the valley below Mount Gilboa, to see the Philistine horde before them. There were thousands and thousands, far too many to count. Saul stopped before the view; he could feel the apprehension of the men around him. He drank in the scene, held his head high. Slowly he walked his horse in a wide arc, so all his men could see. He pushed his warhorse into a prancing trot. With the horses tail held high, ears alert and feet flicking out in front as he moved, he continued his slow arc making a show of calmly assessing his enemy, while his army looked on.
There would be no fighting today! Both sides would need time to decide on the killing ground, send out scouts to gauge each other’s true size and capacity. Not for the first time, Saul wondered how two nations had come to this. It was said that his God had deserted. So why did he feel it necessary to punish and reprimand the Philistines over matters of faith? Yet here he was, leading his army to kill as many Philistines as he could. The Council had insisted, he laughed to himself. They were politicians and religious leaders with little or no tolerance for anyone different. He had believed in his God in the beginning. He had been so sure that the One True God was the only truth and it was his job as the King to make all the other nations believe in His God, by force if necessary. Yet he was now abandoned, fighting a fight he did not believe in, for a nation which no longer loved him, a nation which now loved what was once a young shepherd boy, who was raising his own army from thieves, mercenaries and the enemy. David’s army had been razing the Philistines indirectly. He was amassing men to him daily, gaining reputation, creating allies from nations who had fallen from the fold many years ago. Clever, Saul thought. In another time, they could have remained friends! He wished they had. He still admired the boy, he chuckled; well the man he was now.
****
David was training with his men when Francesca approached him. Narayana sat quietly watching.
'The King marches into battle again, I think it is time we talked David.' Narayana jumped up to his feet to join them as David dismissed the men. He took a cloth from a nearby rock and began wiping the sweat from his face. Francesca realised again just how much older he looked now. They had been training soldiers, protecting villages and amassing support for many months. She was tired now; it had been too long since she had seen Martinez. She missed him intensely. David was becoming a strong leader. Her time with him would soon be at an end. Thoughts of retiring from her duties played at the edges of her mind.
'We need to get David on his way to Jerusalem. Regardless of the outcome of this battle, Saul’s reign is nearly over.’ Francesca and Narayana had spent time with David over the last months explaining Samuel’s prophecy. David was not convinced of his destiny, yet he was willing to go along for the ride.
'Ah, we take the shortcut,' said Narayana. David and Francesca turned to him, a look of confusion on their faces. 'You remember, I have a shortcut; you asked me how I caught up to David so quickly. We take the shortcut, while David’s soldiers go the long way.' It was obvious Narayana had been preparing for this event.
'So where is this shortcut,' asked David, joining the conversation with an excited smile.
'We will travel the in-between, the Void, the place between the worlds of life and death. It is dangerous but very quick,' he smiled.
'When do we leave?' David returned the smile.
Chapter 25
Preparations had been quick. David’s army, led by Kat had set off to Jerusalem some days ago. There had been much debate. Katzu was not happy for David to travel without him. He had appointed himself David’s personal bodyguard from that very first day. A more loyal soldier David could not have hoped for. There was still much to learn about the little Hittite warrior. He was ferocious in a fight, quick to anger yet loyal to the bone.
Joining Francesca, David followed Narayana into the hills. The walk was only short, leading to a rocky outcrop where they now stopped and were waiting. There were no distinguishing markings, no ancient symbols, simply a clearing of the trees and a collection of stones, leading up to an escarpment high above. Narayana sat down on a flat rock and began chanting softly. The wall of rocks before them began to shimmer; rippling like the surface of a pond after a skipping stone had struck. Slowly the shimmer became a solid black, revealing a cave mouth before them. David wondered if it had been there all along and only masked by an illusion or had Narayana truly broken the solid wall of rock to make the entrance?
'Follow me and do not wander from the path. David, draw the sword of power. It will light the way.' With that short explanation, he nimbly jumped to his feet and started forward.
****
Jezebel was running out of options. Saul had gone to war, if he did not die fighting, she would ensure he never returned to take over his Kingdom again. Her father had come to her, in her dreams during the night. David was once again of great concern. His army had grown in number and strength. If the King were to die, he would certainly be the priest’s first choice to take Saul’s place. The politicians would not want David. They would seek to place someone who was weak in power; most probably one of Saul’s many sons but not Jonathan. He was too strong and wilful she thought. All her plans would unravel if David returned, or if Jonathan was to become King. Israel would remain a strong and defiant nation. All her time away from her family would amount to a waste, something she could not allow.
She gazed into the bronze mirror before her, running her hands over her shapely hips, adjusting her top, she lifted her breasts so that the nipples were almost exposed with her flesh bulging above the fabric. Smiling at her reflection she nodded her satisfaction. A number of sacrifices would be needed, by her and her father for this to work. She set off on the prowl for just the right ones.
****
The Void was cold, damp and dark, all except for the light of the sword which cast an eerie glow over the three travellers. Noises could be heard from deep in the darkness. David had been experiencing visions, fighting, death and the beautiful woman with the red, gold hair and pale skin had returned. He mentioned the visions, leaving out the woman, to no one in particular. It was Narayana who explained.
'The Void is unfinished business. It is where the dead come on their way to the other side, where the dreams of men and women dwell. The visions are pieces of the future or the past.’
'Just be on guard David, out of context, walking the futures or the past can be misunderstood,' said Francesca, her tone conveying her personal experience.
Time was unknown in this place, and David had no idea how long they had been in the darkness. He did not feel fatigued and with no sun or moon, he had no idea which direction they were heading. ‘How do you know which way to go?’ he asked Narayana.
‘It is like an internal attraction, I visualise where I want to go and inside of me knows the path.’
‘There is only one path though,’ David was confused. ‘Surely if there are many paths, why can we only see one before us?’
‘So many questions.’ Narayana smiled unseen in the dull glow from the sword. ‘I see where we are going, so there is only one path, my path. If you were the guide, the path might be different, but to wander in here without a set path would be to lose yourself forever, neither crossing over to eternity nor back into the world of now’.
David shivered, the darkness feeling deeper and more foreboding around him now.
****
Jezebel had made all the preparations for the sacrificial ceremony which would provide the power she needed to succeed in killing David as he walked the Underworld. Finding him had been most difficult. It was her father who had assumed that as neither of them could find him on this plane, he must have been walking another.
The event was going beautifully and a sense of euphoria had settled on the gathering. She had persuaded both men and women to join her in an orgy, the likes of which she had never experienced. She had her own pleasures to occupy her time, yet she could not resist the chance to blend with each participant, soaki
ng up the adrenalin each was feeling. It was amazing to see each couple’s copulation from the vantage point of both the men and women. She had orchestrated the mass sacrifice perfectly! Her father would be so proud.
Now there was an unheard rhythm beating, which everyone could feel. The drugs were working—the minds of all were malleable—ready for her final melding. The timing had to be exact, to generate the power needed. Each couple were reaching their climax as she took a hold of all the participants. The final thrust of passion came, accompanied by a deadly blow to each heart. All eyes were wide with fear; all held a bloodstained knife they did not recall using. Jezebel left them to their realisation. The fear and lust feeding the power she needed.
****
The sword of power began to glow more brightly; no one understood why yet the reaction from the all was the same.
'Move faster,' said Narayana, voicing what everyone was thinking. 'Quickly!’ He was always fast and nimble, yet he moved with extraordinary speed now.
The hairs on the back of David’s neck stood on end. 'Move where?' he almost yelled. 'It feels like we are standing still. The path is unchanging.’ The sword was now as bright as the sun. David could not look directly at it for fear it would blind him. The creatures came from nowhere, appearing from a shimmering haze in the darkness. The sword of power had been their only warning. Narayana and Francesca both began to chant, while David swung his sword at everything which came into sight.
