The Book of Things to Come (Hand of Adonai Series 1)

by Aaron Gansky

  THE HAND OF ADONAI: THE BOOK OF THINGS TO COME BY AARON D. GANSKY

  Published by Brimstone Fiction

  1440 W. Taylor Street, Suite 449, Chicago, IL 60607

  ISBN: 978-1-946758-10-1

  Copyright © 2017 by Aaron D. Gansky

  Cover design by Goran Tomic

  Interior design by Karthick Srinivasan

  Available in print from your local bookstore, online, or from the publisher at: www.BrimstoneFiction.com

  For more information on this book and the author visit: www.aarongansky.com

  All rights reserved. Non-commercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Brimstone Fiction, provided the text does not exceed 500 words. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: “The Hand of Adonai: The Book of Things to Come by Aaron D. Gansky, published by Brimstone Fiction. Used by permission.”

  Commercial interests: No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by the United States of America copyright law.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination or are used for fictional purposes. Any mentioned brand names, places, and trade marks remain the property of their respective owners, bear no association with the author or the publisher, and are used for fictional purposes only. Brimstone Fiction may include ghosts, werewolves, witches, the undead, soothsayers, mythological creatures, theoretical science, fictional technology, and material which, though mentioned in Scripture, may be of a controversial nature within some religious circles.

  Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION r. NIVr Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

  Brought to you by the creative teams at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Brimstone Fiction: Bethany R. Kaczmarek, Rowena Kuo, Eddie Jones, Shonda Savage, Meaghan Burnett, and Brian Cross

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Gansky, Aaron D.

  The Hand of Adonai: The Book of Things to Come / Aaron D. Gansky 1st ed.

  Other books by Aaron D. Gansky

  Praise for THE HAND OF ADONAI: THE BOOK OF THINGS TO COME

  Aaron D. Gansky’s Hand of Adonai Series is an escape into the eternal reality of things that are, that were, and that are to come. His storytelling mesmerizes. His characters engage so that the reader finds new friends to love and new villains to revile. I wish his series had been around for my children growing up but, no matter, for they awaken the child in me now, so I’ll be giving Gansky’s stories as gifts to everyone I know who loves an epic, eternal story of both great excitement and lasting worth.

  ~Lori Stanley Roeleveld

  Author of Running from a Crazy Man

  No matter what I might say in praise of this book, it wouldn’t be enough. Wow, Aaron D. Gansky, what an imaginative and thought-provoking read! I have only one question for you: When will the next one be ready?

  ~Ann Tatlock

  Author of Christy Award-winner, Once Beyond a Time

  An underdog character fantasizes about leaving this world to magically transport into the Medieval-like digital game world she and her friend created? What’s not to love? And it just keeps getting more exciting and twisty-turny from there. Hand of Adonai: The Book of Things to Come has everything I look for in good fiction: characters with a compelling growth arc, strong writing, a gripping story, intriguing turns of events. I particularly liked the characters Oliver and Lauren and found myself rooting for them. I’d recommend this book (and this author!) for all ages, not just the YA market. It’s Christian fantasy at its best.

  ~DL Koontz

  Award-winning author of Crossing into the Mystic

  and Edging through the Darkness

  The Lord of the Rings and Tron collide in this equally epic journey. The Hand of Adonai tests the limits of your imagination as two worlds collide in a most unusual way, pulling four teens from one life and thrusting them into another. Using their unique gifts and talents they must overcome obstacles, complete their quest, and defeat the evil that rules the land.

  ~Caleb Lang

  Firefighter, Aspiring Author,

  Avid Reader, and Huge Fan

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  The Hand of Adonai series has been on my heart for a number of years. Seeing it come to fruition is a dream come true. But, as is the case with every book, this novel was not a solitary effort. It has undergone countless revisions, each better than the last. These revisions were made possible, thanks in large part, to two people: Steve McLain and Dennis Fulgoni.

  Steve McLain’s fingerprints are all over this manuscript. He helped me form ideas, wrangle unruly plot points, capture character voices, and solidify the end-game of the series. I cannot thank him enough.

  Dennis Fulgoni and I got our Masters degrees together at Antioch University of Los Angeles in 2009. Since then, we’ve religiously traded work for reading. He keeps my prose clean and honest and never lets me rest with lazy language or tired clichés. He challenges me every step of the way, and my work is better for it.

  I also had the incredible honor of working with Bethany Kaczmarek for the first (but hopefully not last) time on this book. Her editing skills are superb. I looked forward to each e-mail from her with comments on the manuscript. The process was not only enjoyable, but fruitful. Her keen eye and probing questions held my feet to the fire and forced me to make tough choices for which the book is better. I’m indebted to her and hope to work with her through the remainder of the series.

  I’d also like to acknowledge Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. I’ve had the privilege to know Eddie Jones for years, and I strongly believe in his vision. I’m humbled he’s asked me to be a part of it as an author. And to Rowena Kuo, who runs Brimstone Fiction. Her management of the imprint is excellent, and she’s always a pleasure to work with.

  Lastly, I’d like to recognize the role my family has played in the publication of this novel. My father, even from my childhood, has encouraged me to write. He also suggested, one fine day, that I try my hand at YA fiction. Of course, I scoffed. But the idea stayed in my mind for some time, and this is the culmination of that suggestion. Thanks, Pops.

  And to my wife and children who have tirelessly supported me and encouraged me, thank you.

  Blessings of Adonai,

  Aaron D. Gansky

  Dedication

  To Bailey Renee Gray

  August 19, 2010

  Save us a seat

  At the feet of Jesus.

  Prologue

  Because of their wickedness, Adonai deposed the elves from the throne of Alrujah and again established humans as rulers of the land. He appointed King Solous to bear the weight of the crown. Through his bloodline shall Alrujah find salvation.

  —The Book of the Ancients

  King Solous set every pair of free hands in Alrujah scrubbing the blood from the streets. His general, Galdarin Korodeth, already had his troops remove the bodies of the men and the elves. Entire families, moving in from outlying areas, spent hours on hands and knees with buckets of soapy water and stiff-bristled cleaning brushes. The cobblestone streets would be stained red for years to come.

  King Solous walked among the people, touching shoulders, whispering words of encouragement and thanks. Often, he’d find masses of children huddl
ed together as they scrubbed, their parents looking on from down the way.

  His heart broke. The children should be playing, should not have to see such grotesquerie. He knelt beside a group of young ones, took a brush from their bucket, and scrubbed the streets alongside them. Their conversation lulled, so he told jokes to lighten the mood. Uneasy laughter was better than no laughter at all. They’d lost enough of their childhood to the War of the Suns. Now, in victory, was the time to be jovial and lighthearted. This is why they’d fought in the first place—for freedom from the oppressive hands of the elves, for the right to rule themselves, for the right to enjoy life.

  He’d earned the respect of the people in battle; now he sought to earn their respect in peace.

  Behind him, the clang of armor brought Solous to his feet fast. But the soldiers had not engaged an enemy. Instead, they’d snapped to attention at the approach of General Korodeth.

  Solous smiled. “Old friend. Have you come to help clean?”

  “I wish I might, but matters of state demand our attention. The angels have again assembled in the throne room.”

  Solous touched the shoulders of the children nearest him. “Your work will be rewarded in the prosperity of Alrujah.” As they walked toward the castle, Solous put his arm around Korodeth. “Did you ever imagine we’d be here? We used to dream of great battles, of commanding armies, but those were the dreams of oppressed children, born into the hand of slavery.”

  “We were fishermen,” Korodeth said with a grim smile. “I’d hoped only to captain a boat.”

  “How old were we then?”

  “Fourteen,” Korodeth said.

  “And now, the entire kingdom looks to us. Angels heed our call and follow our commands.”

  “Adonai has called us, old friend,” Korodeth said. “He promised us the keys to the kingdom.”

  “I know, but I didn’t anticipate this. Children scrubbing blood from the streets?”

  “Not all streets are so stained. There are places where blood does not run,” Korodeth said. He nodded toward the gates of the castle gardens. The silver-clad guards posted there snapped to attention, straightened their backs and pressed fists to hearts.

  Within the castle garden, no blood stained the leaves of the trees, the grassy knolls, the crocuses and callas, or the violets and vincasor. Solous had taken great care to ensure no blood be shed within the castle walls. He could do little about the elven soldiers outside the walls, but Pacha el Nai, angel of Adonai, had personally walked Solous to the throne of Alrujah and negotiated the transfer of the throne from elves to men. That done, the men turned their attention to rebuilding.

  “You’ve posted sentries?” Solous asked.

  “At each entrance, both secret and public. Our most trusted soldiers guard your quarters and the throne room.”

  “Your talents stretch far beyond the battlefield, Galdarin.”

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  Solous stopped him just shy of the throne room doors. He lowered his voice to keep it from echoing down the stone halls. “Without you, we could not have won, even with the seven angels.”

  “Thank you, Solous. But Adonai’s calling rests on your shoulders. Even without me, He would have enabled your victory.”

  Solous clasped the man’s shoulder. “He sent you to me. Even before we were soldiers, even before we commanded armies. We fished beside each other. The miracle He’s worked in my life is only matched by those He’s worked in yours.”

  Korodeth smiled. “Come now. You must take the throne and act the king.”

  Solous nodded, then opened the doors to the white marble throne room. He passed the massive columns supporting the roof to the front where seven massive beings stood before him. He and Korodeth fell to their knees, pressed their foreheads to the marble floor. “You honor us with your presence, servants of Adonai.”

  Pacha el Nai, a massive angel three and a half spans tall with white wings stretching near to fifteen spans, led six other angels, all equally colossal. Still wearing his burnished steel armor from the final battle the day before, he slipped his helmet off and tucked it under his arm. A sword hung at each hip, one beside each leg. Even sheathed, they hummed with power. “Rise,” Pacha el Nai said in the voice of two men. “Adonai alone is worthy of your honor.”

  Solous and Korodeth stood, ascended the dais to the golden, purple-upholstered throne. Solous sat, but Korodeth stood beside him. “You honor me by heeding my petition for an audience,” Solous said.

  Behind Pacha el Nai, Belphegor stepped forward. His head sprouted two horns a hand’s length each. Armored in silver and gold, his legs bent at awkward angles. Unlike Pacha’s white wings, his sprouted tawny feathers tipped with gold. While Pacha looked human, Belphegor had a faunish look. “Adonai wishes us to speak with you. But first, speak what you will. Why did you summon us?”

  Solous gestured toward his old friend standing beside him. “Before your assembly, I wish to honor Galdarin Korodeth. Under the watchful eye of Adonai’s servants, and with his blessing, I bestow upon him the title of Archduke of Alrujah. His honor exceeds that of all other men. Indeed, if I did not wear the crown, he would. Let it be known among those esteemed angels assembled today, and in the presence of almighty Adonai, that if ever my bloodline were severed, Korodeth, being chosen among men by Adonai as being noble and true, shall ascend the throne.”

  Korodeth immediately knelt, a paragon of humility and honor. He spoke with a reverence and formality worthy of a loyal subject. “May it never be, my king. Adonai preserve you and your line. May the calling of the line of Korodeth be to stand beside that of Solous from now until eternity.”

  Pacha el Nai said, “Adonai has heard your decision and honors your wish. May it be as you say.”

  Korodeth stood, his head still inclined to Solous. “I am unworthy of this honor, my lord.”

  “If you are unworthy, Korodeth, none in Alrujah will ever be esteemed worthy.” Solous turned to the angels, put a fist over his heart. “Esteemed servants of Adonai. Give us his words.”

  Pacha el Nai spoke again. “Adonai blesses you, Solous, King of Men, and you as well, honored Archduke Korodeth, who leads both men and angels into battle.”

  “Adonai has been faithful,” Tiamat said. “He has returned the throne of Alrujah to men. Rule under his name. Establish a kingdom marked by peace and prosperity.” While not as tall as the other angels, he had the largest wingspan by far. His blue and gold feathered wings glimmered as if scaled. He wore no armor on his chest or back, but both arms were sleeved in a scaled blue metal embedded with rubies. His eyes burned cobalt, and lightning danced from feather to feather. He commanded weather, used strong spells to counter those used by the elves. Seldom did a blade come close enough to strike him.

  Abaddon stepped forward. “Good king, Adonai has entrusted our service to your wisdom.” He spoke with a buzz and a rattle. His obsidian armor matched his black wings. Broad in shoulder and chest, Abaddon wielded a two-handed sword with awesome ferocity and cowed the armies of the elves.

  King Solous motioned to the guards posted near the entrance. “Bring stools for our guests to sit. This may take some time.”

  The guards vanished through the spotless white marble doors. Solous appreciated his decision to keep bloodshed from within the castle walls. His was a heart committed to peace, though the same could not be said for all the angels assembled before him.

  Legion wore full plate armor fashioned entirely from bronze. His white wings reflected its light and glowed gold. In one hand, he wielded an enormous spiked mace. It’d take five men to heft its weight. In the war, what magic the elves used against him dissipated across his shield and armor. Few could stand before his might, and the angel reveled in his strength, relished his charge to overthrow the armies of the elves. He was a being created for battle and war.

  Solous cleared his throat. “Your services?”

  “The corruption of the elves began with Shedoah’s hand. Adonai has thrown hi
m beneath the deep of the Alrujahn Sea,” Moloch said. He also had black wings. His cloak shimmered like onyx but flowed like fabric stitched with lightning. Thin in body and limb, he wielded the very power of life. To him alone, Adonai had entrusted this awesome authority. Solous’s troops had taken to calling him the Angel of Death, a term which instilled fear on both sides of the war. He spoke little, but his mere presence unnerved monarchs and warriors alike.

  Maewen, the only woman of the group, let her long golden hair spill over a circlet of bismuth. On her chest, she wore golden mail, and her legs were sheathed in scales of jasper. Emerald tipped both ends of her barbed spear. While smaller than the other angels, her battle prowess made her one of the most feared of the seven. “Seven seals bar his return.” She spoke with the voice of a crackling fire, and her lips shone red.

  The guards returned with the stools. Tiamat furled his wings and sat on the ornate red-upholstered stool. Back straight, his voice carried the weight and force of a tornado. “We have recorded our power in a book of magic.”

  Galdarin Korodeth said, “This book is already penned?”

  “Aye,” Maewen said, her voice an angry furnace. “Indeed, the very ink is imbued with our powers.”

  Archduke Korodeth folded his arms. “The book must be sealed, lest man or elf or dwarf find it and usurp it. Power like that could rend the world.”

  Of course. The wisdom of Korodeth became plain again. Mankind could not be trusted with such a force. Short of Adonai, only Solous had the ability to seal the book and the magic contained within it. He stood, moved to the glass case on which the tome was displayed. He whispered a few words over it, and the glass vanished. He took the book, felt the power surging through him. For a minute, he considered holding it, keeping it for himself. A book like this would virtually ensure immortality. Imagine what he could achieve if he reigned for centuries. What good might he accomplish?

  But if he ever lost it? Man was not meant to live for hundreds of years. Forgive my selfishness, my lust for power, Adonai, he thought. He pressed his hand to the leather cover, tapped into the power entrusted to him by almighty Adonai, and bound the magic in enchantments stronger than Alrujah had ever seen. “There is no power within Alrujah that may shatter these bonds.”