The Complete 8-Book Guardians Adventure Saga

by Summer Lee

  A bright golden hue came from it. She instantly lost interest in the figures. She backed away from the object, staring. Anthea and Sam joined in her shock.

  It was a box that was 52 inches long and 31 inches wide by 31 inches deep. It had four feet to elevate it off of the ground by about three inches. There was a gold ring attached to each foot. The box itself was covered in gold. There was a seat placed on top of it, adorned with cherubim, also in gold.

  The figures seemed confused at the hesitation of the intruders.

  A tear rolled down Achava’s face as she beamed brightly. She looked around at everyone else in the room, to see what their reaction was. She felt like a young child marveling at all of the presents under the tree on Christmas morning. “It’s... the Ark of the Covenant.”

  The four figures stood between Achava and the ark. One stepped forward. “You have no business here.” The voice was female. She pulled her hood down. She looked familiar to Achava. She had long black hair and bronzed skin. She also had golden eyes.

  Sam and Anthea approached the figure with their mouths open. Achava looked deep into the woman’s eyes. She couldn’t have been more than 20 years old.

  “Why is the Ark of the Covenant here?” Achava asked, while trying to figure out from where she knew the robed woman.

  The woman then peered with a puzzled look into Achava’s eyes. “You are not supposed to be here. No one can touch the ark!” She then looked at Sam. “Except him!”

  “Him?”

  Sam looked around, as if she was talking about someone else. “Who? Me? I can touch it?”

  The woman walked up to Sam and smiled. “Yes, but not now. Now is not the time for the ark. Everything must be done in the order by which the Heavenly Father decrees.”

  Sam sighed. “Well, at least they’re on our side.”

  The woman turned toward Achava again. “I am called Al-Achsah. I am the protector of the ark... and many more items.”

  Achava, Anthea, and Sam froze. Achava must have turned pale, when she heard her ancestor’s name, because her husband and sister glared at her.

  “You are a descendent of Achsah?” Achava almost choked on her words.

  Al-Achsah nodded. “Yes. That is no matter now. I cannot tell you much, but I can say that your road will be harsh. You are on the End Quest now. That which is old, will be new again.”

  Achava smiled in her excitement. “We are sisters then? You and I!” She pointed to Anthea. “This is our other sister, Anthea! I am Achava of the Twelve Tribes of Israel! We are of the true blood!”

  The woman dropped her staff in shock, as she backed away from Achava. “No! You are Achava?” She then turned toward Sam and walked up to him slowly. She ran the back of her hand gently down his cheek. “You are Samuel Godfrey? And you possess the Sling of David?” A tear of joy ran down her cheek.

  Sam looked at Achava for some kind of assistance, but she was as confused as he was. “Yes. I have the sling. I guess it bonded with me. How come you know so much about us and we know nothing about you?”

  Al-Achsah laughed. “You are not supposed to be here. Not yet, anyway. Did you go through the Temple of the Dead, or the Valley of the Shadow of Death to get here?”

  “Wait a minute!” Anthea interrupted. “You don’t know where the cave entrance is located?”

  Al-Achsah paused as she appeared to search for the right words. “Yes. Of course. It is a more complicated matter than just where the entrance is.” She turned back toward Sam. “Have you fought the giant yet? And if so, is this the first or second time?”

  Sam’s thoughts roamed through his brain searching for an answer that he didn’t even know had a question. “Uh... the second time? I haven’t fought any giant yet. I mean... I only today heard that I’m supposed to fight him at all.” He didn’t want to give away too much information, even though she already knew more about their journey, than he did. He wasn’t sure if she knew about the Nephilim coming back in time with them from Noah’s age. He decided to keep that secret a little while longer.

  Al-Achsah raised her eyebrows. She looked like she might have said too much. “Do not worry. I cannot tell you much, but the way to beat the giant, is not the way you might think.”

  The other three robed figures disappeared, as quickly as they appeared.

  “It is alright,” she continued. “They left, because they know that you are no threat. Your journey is almost over. You must fight as you never have before.”

  “What about me?” Anthea asked, impatiently.

  Al-Achsah tilted her head, as she looked at Anthea. It was as if she was trying to decide whether to tell her what she knew or not. She touched Anthea’s ribs. “You must always fight as hard as you can. Some sacrifices will not be in vain.”

  Anthea flinched in pain. Her ribs were still tender from when the Nephilim broke three of them on the Noah trip. “How do you...?”

  “I’ve said too much,” Al-Achsah said, as she pulled the hood back over her head. “It is not the time for the golden ark, Samuel Godfrey. One word of advice. When it is time, do not come looking for the ark in the valley. It will not be here. We must always keep the ark moving. There are forces that want the ark for sinister purposes. It is the only way to protect it.”

  “How will we know when it’s time for the ark?” Sam added.

  Her smile was the only thing visible under the hood. “You will just know.”

  “How do we know that you are who you say you are?” Anthea asked in a huff. “For that matter, how do we know you’re telling us the truth?”

  “You don’t and you can’t,” she responded, calmly. “As your path unfolds, you will see the truth in my words.”

  “I want to ask one question. If you answer correctly, I will believe you,” said Achava.

  “Ask on.”

  “Where was the ark of the covenant for millennial years?”

  Al-Achsah leaned in and whispered, “Ethiopia.”

  Achava radiated. “Yes.”

  “So now you move to locations all over the world to keep the ark safe?” Sam asked, while staring at the ark. “Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Locations are not limited to places within the same eras,” she said. “We move where and when we need to. You were not meant to find us now, but since you have, I told you what I did. Take it as you choose. I cannot control how you prefer to perceive the truth. You have been around more than enough people in your time, whose perception is clouded by their own illusions of how things should be.”

  “You choose your words wisely, Al-Achsah,” Achava said, with dignity.

  “I have to,” she replied. “We will meet again Achava. I guarantee it.” She turned. “Trust your hearts fellow travelers and stay true to the path you are on. God bless you all.”

  That being said, Al-Achsah took the cloth from Achava and placed it on the ark. In an instant, Al-Achsah and the ark disappeared.

  Chapter the Tenth

  SAM WAS THE LAST ONE OUT OF THE CAVE. He couldn’t help but think that the way Al-Achsah disappeared with the ark was reminiscent of the Soul Merge. He reasoned it away, by realizing that Anthea and Achava quite possibly had a new relative.

  He turned to see the cave entrance one more time, but it was no longer there. He noticed that Anthea and Achava didn’t look back. He shrugged and walked on.

  “We are no longer in the Valley of the Shadow of Death,” Achava announced, with no surprise in her tone.

  Sam looked around. She was right. There were mountains surrounding them now, where moments earlier, dry hills stood. It was considerably colder. Sam put the pack down and dug through it, until he pulled out his winter gloves.

  “Ants!”

  A booming voice came from behind them.

  They all turned to see the Nephilim standing there. The same one who time traveled with them from the time of Noah. He held a large wooden club and something else. Sam recognized what it was. The giant had a sling of his own.

  Achava sai
d, “What the dickens?”

  Sam’s eyes widened, as he turned and looked at his wife. “I believe it’s show time,” he said, feigning confidence.

  Achava nodded, and then she and Anthea stepped back and out of the way.

  “Hah!” the giant roared. “Why do you not hide behind your wenches?”

  “Watch your mouth!” Sam rebutted. “That’s my wife... and sister-in-law, you’re talking about!”

  “The otherworldly ones.”

  “Yes, they have supernatural gifts that humans don’t have.”

  “I understand more than you think.”

  Sam frowned. “I guess someone’s been teaching you English!”

  “I have been taught many things since coming to this world!” he replied. “You have no chance against me!”

  “We’ll see.” Sam grinned, as he looked around on the ground. He saw several right sized rocks that he could load into the sling.

  Anthea and Achava had backed up and now were out of the way. They had previously discussed that this had to be Sam’s fight, even though Achava had expressed great concern for his well-being.

  Sam picked up a stone, remembering David had gathered five stones. Sam loaded the rock into the sling. He knew he would be using it soon and made sure to keep it handy.

  Although nervous, he wanted the battle to end quickly, so he swung the sling round and round with all of his might. He heard the whooshing, as it circled faster and faster over his head.

  The giant looked clumsily around to find a rock big enough for his huge sling. Staggering, he uprooted small trees and turned over rocks.

  Sam’s confidence increased, as he tried to time his throw perfectly. He thought that he probably should have practiced with it more than once. At least once is better than nothing. He thought to himself that he would get a stern talking to later by his wife.

  As the sling buzzed over his head, something didn’t feel right. He had to do something soon, or the giant would find a Sam-sized rock for his sling. He assumed the giant was more proficient with his weapon than he was.

  Sam gritted his teeth and looked over at his new bride. He saw Achava smiling weakly with her fingers interlocked, in what he assumed was prayer.

  He nodded and turned his attention back to the giant. He spun the sling faster, until he was sure when to let go. He saw the giant find an over-sized rock. Without waiting any longer, Sam released the rock from the sling. The rock rocketed toward the giant.

  As soon as the giant stood up straight to load his rock into his sling, Sam’s stone hit him square in the chest. “Yes!” Sam cried out in what he thought was a victorious blow.

  Sam’s excited smile slowly faded as he saw his rock connect with the giant’s chest with a thud and then fall straight to the ground.

  The giant seemed amused, but was definitely not hurt. “Hah! Is that the best you can do? Of course it is! You’re a pathetic human!”

  Sam did not want to panic, but he could think of nothing else to do. Was not the shot supposed to hit the giant in the head? Was a bigger rock needed?

  Sam could see Anthea holding Achava back from helping. He knew he had to finish the fight and no one could help him. It would not be good if Achava saw him get killed on their supposed honeymoon.

  The giant reared back and began to swing his sling with the huge rock in it. Sam didn’t want to call it a boulder, but it sure looked like one.

  While the giant was gaining speed, Sam noticed several small trees being ripped out by the root in the vortex. He decided to keep looking for another stone, while keeping his peripheral vision on the giant.

  Sam smiled, as he spotted the perfect stone just about ten feet away. It had jagged edges, which would cause the giant several problems, no matter where it hit him.

  If Sam had not seen the giant with the sling, he would have thought that the sound, emitted from the direction of the Nephilim, was a passing airplane or a possible tornado. The sound was deafening.

  He then remembered what Al-Achsah told him. The way to beat the giant was not the way he might think. He lowered his head and sighed, as he wished he would have remembered it sooner.

  The obvious way to beat the giant would have been with the Sling of David. That made sense. David did it. Sam should have been able to do it as well.

  As soon as Sam snapped himself out of his lamentations, he heard a sharp whistling sound and saw nature’s missile flying straight for him.

  His eyes widened. He didn’t have time to think or he would be dead. He had to let his martial arts training take over. He spied a group of small trees and bushes off to the left. He grimaced nervously, as he took a flying leap into the outcropping.

  His heart raced as he realized he scarcely made it to the trees in time. With his last burst of energy, Sam dove under the bushes just as the rock connected with the ground beyond him.

  Everything seemed like it was in slow motion as he landed in the shrubbery. He could see the rocket overhead, slicing through the air, as the booming laughter of an overconfident giant filled the atmosphere.

  “Ha ha. Gotcha!”

  Chapter the Eleventh

  “SAM!” ACHAVA SCREAMED OUT, as she saw her husband disappear into the flora, underneath a barrage of uprooted trees. Chunks of the dirt clods were flying up into the air. As soon as the massive rock hit the ground, the earth trembled, which almost knocked the women off their feet.

  When the dust cleared, Sam huddled alone on the ground, covered with debris. There were piles of rubble where the bushes that Sam found refuge used to be.

  Achava felt rage as she saw the giant raise his hands in triumph. “I was taught well. Wasn’t I, warrior?” he growled.

  “Imbecile.” She gritted her teeth and ran for the giant. Before she could reach him, he disappeared into the trees.

  Anthea was already digging over by the pile of uprooted earth, looking for Sam.

  Achava joined her to help clear the area. She quickly moved rocks away, but found nothing. Anthea stepped back to give her room. She said, “He’s not here.”

  “He has to be.” Achava expected to see Sam’s bloody and broken body. What she saw instead, surprised her more than she was prepared for.

  No blood. No broken body. No Sam.

  “What?” she queried as she popped her head up and looked around. She looked all around for Sam’s body. “Did you Soul Merge him at the last minutes, Anthea?”

  “No!” Anthea looked as surprised as Achava. She shook her head. “I wish I could tell you that I did get him out in time, but unfortunately I didn’t. I’m at a loss for words.”

  “Maybe it’s because I wasn’t obliterated or whisked away,” the deep male voice behind her said.

  Achava turned quickly. “Sam! You’re alive.” She smiled with a single tear rolling down her cheek. There stood her husband very much alive. Sam was covered in dirt, but no injury. He looked humbled, but that was all.

  Achava ran over and embraced him. “Ow! That was a little too tight.” He gently pushed her away, “I landed pretty hard. If you squeeze me, you might break a few ribs.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

  “No worries. I know you care so much about me. I love you too, Achava,” he said with a pained expression.

  “Are you hurt badly?” she asked with desperation.

  He smiled, weakly. “I’m fine. Although, I appreciate your enthusiasm. I actually barely made it out alive. I guess the giant didn’t stick around to see if he killed me or not.” He looked around, but there was no sign of the giant.

  Anthea narrowed her eyes, as she glared at him. “I’m curious, Sam. How did you escape the giant’s attack?”

  “I’m not sure, actually,” he responded, somewhat confused by the entire ordeal. “I remember asking God for help, so that I would find out what to do next. I can only assume that my body went into automatic overdrive.”

  “So you got help from God?” Achava added. “That is great.”

  Sam smiled. “Yes. Probably
a lot of help from God. At least we know what Al-Achsah meant when she said I would face the giant twice.”

  “Oh no. You mean you’ll have to face him again.” Achava groaned.

  “Yes. Now all I have to do is figure out how to defeat him, by not using the Sling of David.”

  “There is someone else involved,” said Anthea. “I feel it in my bones.”

  “I agree. We must figure out who’s assisting him,” Achava said with a sigh.

  “I know. Right?” Anthea said, sarcastically. “I don’t know why these bad guys think that they can just get help from each other. I don’t remember seeing that in the rule book.”

  Achava’s eyes blazed as she responded to Anthea. “We need to regroup now.”

  “Exactly.”

  Achava turned to Sam. “Do you have any ideas about how to beat the giant since the last fight? What did you learn?”

  Sam shrugged. “Not much, really. I know what you know. He’s got a sling as well. I’m pretty sure that Goliath didn’t have one.”

  “No, he didn’t,” Achava answered, while deep in thought. “The sling that you had was the obvious choice, but for some reason that’s not the answer. I wonder why it bonded to you then.”

  “Sam had the sling when he saw our supposed relative,” Anthea added, as she focused on the conversation with Al-Achsah. “She said Sam could touch the Ark of the Covenant, because he had the sling. Maybe that’s what he needs it for.”

  “That’s it!” Sam shouted. “Anthea’s got it! That’s why I need the sling! Not to beat the giant, but to...” His face turned pale at the thought of what he was about to say. “We’re going to need the Ark of the Covenant?”

  Achava grimaced. “I believe so. We have to find a way to beat the giant first. One thing at a time.”

  “Yeah,” Sam added, with disappointment. “It’s not like he’s going to beat himself.”

  Achava’s eyes lit up. “Maybe he will, Sam. Maybe he will.”

  Chapter the Twelfth

  SAM SAT ON A NEARBY ROCK and thought long and hard about what Achava and Anthea had said. He needed to make some sort of sense out of it all and form a plan, based on not being able to use the Sling of David.