James Somers - The Order of Shaddai

Isaiah stepped inside the room with Ethan and Gideon following. This was a storage room filled with ten steel chests. “Each of these chests contains a complete copy of Shaddai’s Word, Ethan. You and Gideon will bear one of them to the Isle of Macedon. You are responsible for locating someone who can aid you with its safekeeping. The Isle of Macedon has been under occupation by Mordred’s forces in times past. We are unsure whether that occupation continues presently, but the call has been issued, and we are duty bound to respond. I charge you to protect the Word with your life, Ethan, for through it the souls of men are saved.”

Ethan tried to swallow the lump mounting in his throat as the High Priest continued. “The Isle of Macedon is a heathen territory and very dangerous even without Mordred’s presence there. This is what you have been trained for and that training is important, but never forget, without the Lord we can do nothing.”

Ethan nodded, glancing at the steel chests containing the Word of God.

“Ethan, do you pledge yourself to this task to the best of your given ability?”

Ethan looked the High Priest straight in the eye and confidently said, “I do.”

The ride down the river from the intersection point, high atop the gorge, was much less dramatic than they had experienced coming in. The steel chest holding the copies of the Word of Shaddai made the shorter trip with two priests in one boat, while Ethan and Gideon floated in another with their personal supplies and weaponry.

The boats stopped at a different place than the cave where Gideon had led Ethan and Levi Bonifast through to get into the Temple. Here they were still higher up in the mountains, but the way was more open to get off and be able to unload cargo. In fact, it seemed like such an obvious opening to the Temple complex that Ethan could not help but ask why.

“Gideon isn’t this a bit conspicuous? I mean someone could float the river from this point and come to the cave we entered by originally and then take the flume of doom ride right into the Temple gardens.”

Gideon smiled as he unloaded gear. “You would think so, wouldn’t you? But if you actually tried it, you would encounter a horrible truth too late to do anything about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Another quarter mile down the river from here it drops over five hundred feet in a waterfall,” Gideon said.

“Oh.” Ethan tried to imagine the surprising terror such an experience would invoke. Then he wondered how many people had actually found out the hard way over the years the Temple had been in existence here.

The two priests accompanying Gideon and Ethan loaded the steel chest onto a plain wagon. “I still don’t understand why we have to split up,” Ethan said.

“It will be safer this way, Ethan. If the enemy is looking for us, then we don’t want to give them only one target. I might be able to divert attention, in case we’re being tracked.”

“But why are you going back to Millertown? That’s got to be at least a day’s travel around the mountain.”

“I know some shortcuts. I can do a bit of surveillance and see if Mordred’s forces are there looking for us. Once I know, I’ll pick up a horse in town and then make my way to the rendezvous with you at Hopple.”

It just didn’t add up for Ethan. This plan seemed to take some unnecessary risks with their operation. “Is that the only reason you want to go back to Millertown?”

Gideon tensed under the scrutiny. “Why else?”

“I don’t know,” Ethan said cautiously. “You have friends in Millertown-especially Arness’ family. This risky move wouldn’t have anything to do with them would it?”

Gideon’s face hardened to stone. “Ethan, I realize you are new to The Order, but it is not acceptable for you to question the tactical judgment of your mentor. You will follow my counsel in this matter without further question. Is that clear?”

The words hurt Ethan. So it’s to be like that, is it? He glared at Gideon, then slowly, rigidly bowed a little at the waist in submission to his mentor’s authority. Ethan did not say a word-his teeth fastened together as he made his best effort to hold back his anger.

Gideon sighed. “Now, go with Joseph and Micah and take the Word to Hopple. Stay hidden, and I will meet you there in a few weeks.”

Ethan listened, but he purposely averted his eyes, too angry and hurt to look at his friend for the moment. Gideon regarded his fellow priests, Joseph and Micah, with a wave as they loaded the wagon, then he mounted the lone horse which had been left saddled for him next to the wagon.

Both the wagon and horses had been supplied from a farm owned by a friend to The Order. The priests paid the man money to keep horses and various supplies for them in order to simplify these missionary journeys.

Gideon looked back at Ethan. The boy met his gaze, but quickly averted his eyes to the ground.

Gideon sighed.

He snapped the reins and the horse sped him away toward one of the secret passes through the Thornhill Mountains which would bring him out close to Millertown.

Ethan watched him go, trying to ignore his wounded pride. Gideon was still his friend, but this odd behavior had him worried. Ethan helped Joseph and Micah finish loading the wagon, praying silently for Gideon’s safe arrival in Hopple as planned.

Sarah watched from the side of a nearby building as the Royal Emissary from Macedon entered his private coach, preparing to leave Millertown. The falcon had returned with a message from the Temple. The Order intended to send the Word out to Macedon within the next several months. There had been no indication, whatsoever, that priests from Shaddai were already en route.

Nightfall approached as the ranks of soldiers, accompanying the Emissary, prepared to escort the man home. Strange that they would leave at night, she thought.

A hand clasped around Sarah’s mouth, pulling her behind the building. She tried to scream as the dark figure in a cloak and hood pulled her close. However, as soon as the hood fell down, she almost screamed in exultation.

“Gideon!”

He shushed her with his finger as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve missed you so much. What are you doing back so soon?”

“I’m on a mission to take the Word of the Shaddai to the Isle of Macedon.”

Sarah cast her gaze mournfully toward the ground. “What’s wrong?” Gideon asked.

“Gideon, you’ll be gone for months, trying to get to Macedon and back…if you make it back at all.” Tears began to stream down her face.

Gideon tipped her chin upward. “I’ve always come back. And after this mission, I’m sure Ethan will be capable of going on without me.”

“You mean you’ll leave The Order?”

Gideon smiled and took a deep breath. “Yes, I will leave The Order after this mission.”

Sarah had wanted to hear those words for so long. And she had hoped to hear them from Gideon before she shared her own news. “My love, I have something to tell you.”

Gideon looked into the eyes of his young bride, trying to discern what it was she might be about to tell him. Nothing could have prepared him for the actuality.

“I’m with child, Gideon.”

Gideon tried to breathe, but no air moved in or out of his body. “Did you say?”

Sarah stared into his eyes, watching him stammer for the first time since she’d come to know him. It’s quite enjoyable, seeing him this way, she thought.

“Yes, my love, you and I are going to have a baby.”

So many things happened to Gideon at that moment. His breathing labored, his palms became clammy, perspiration gathered on his upper lip and brow, his knees felt weak and his heart rate ran rapid. Not knowing what to say, he simply held his bride tightly. She returned the embrace, shedding joyous tears. Everything was going to be all right, finally.