The Sword of Gideon rs-3 Page 16

  "But you still didn't say what happened to Ethan," I insisted.

  The old man gave me a sly smirk as he considered his answer. "He stayed on with Gideon for many years, doing what he could in the service of the King. One day, late in his life, he disappeared, and his friends never saw him again. Rumors circulated for a while, but none of them knew where he had gone for sure. Soon enough, he passed from their thoughts altogether…so it's difficult to say, isn't it?"

  Satisfied with this last bit of information, the other children scampered away as dusk silently descended upon the day. They leaped and ran through the streets on their way to their homes, their tables and their beds. I alone remained, standing there watching the old man as he gathered his satchel and his walking stick and turned to leave.

  As his story had neared its end, the streets had gradually grown more and more quiet. Traffickers retired to their homes and places of business closed down for the evening until the new day brought them all out again to haggle for the best prices on their goods.

  I watched as his staff began to click on the stones, making his way down the street. "You're him, aren't you?" I called.

  He stopped, his back still turned to me.

  "You're Ethan."

  He turned then with a weary smile upon his face. He said nothing until he'd walked back to me. "What makes you say that, Phineas?"

  I wasn't sure what to say. I reached down and pulled back my sleeve to reveal my right forearm. "You described a mark, like a star, on Ethan's arm when he was a small child," I said, so nervous I almost stuttered.

  There, revealed upon my own right forearm, was the same mark in the semblance of a star. The old man grabbed it so fast I didn't even see his hand move. He examined it, eyes wide with wonder. Then he smiled and closed his eyes, nodding.

  "Of course," he said, "I should have known. Praise our God who never allows evil to go unchallenged."

  I pulled him back from his wandering thoughts, my eyes pleading. "You are him…aren't you?"

  The old man switched his staff from his right hand to his left. He raised his arm so that the sleeve of his robe slid away. There, on his right forearm, the same mark stared back at me.

  "I knew it," I whispered. A smile creased my face. Now I would have answers to my questions. What this mark meant. Why I had begun to experience strange phenomena in my life.

  My questions began to bubble and the old man saw what was coming. He raised his hand as I began to garble out one upon the other.

  "Phineas, my young friend, I cannot stay here any longer," he said.

  "But, but…" I stalled. "Please don't go, Ethan." Pleading had returned to my tone.

  He smiled at me and placed his hand on my sleeve, rolling it down over my birthmark. Ethan patted my shoulder. "Please understand, Phineas. Nod has once again descended into wickedness. Shaddai has a purpose for you that you don't understand now, but you will. Only trust him and never waver from your faith in him. He is always with you."

  I turned, disgruntled, still desiring answers to my questions. "Please," I said with my back to him. I turned. "I only want to-"

  But the old man had disappeared.

  Nightfall brought protection from the King's guards who might still be searching for him. Ethan sat down in a deserted alley behind the marketplace. The piles of refuse made for odorous accommodations, but it would do until he was ready to leave for the wilderness tomorrow morning.

  He sat down and leaned his staff against the wall. Ethan pulled an apple from his bag and took a bite. As he ate, he noticed the mark upon his arm. The same mark now found upon another young man.

  Ethan considered the fact that Shaddai had allowed him to see a new Deliverer identified. He'd wondered how the present wickedness would be dealt with in Nod. Phineas was a king's son, the heir in Wayland. He would do well once Shaddai set him on the path of Deliverer. Perhaps, he wondered, that had been set in motion over the past few days listening to his story.

  He smiled. One thing he was sure was that it was not his place to interfere. He had done what he was supposed to do. Long years he'd spent as Shaddai's servant. Still, they had been amazing times.

  After Mordred's defeat, the other Wraith Riders had surrendered with little resistance. The giants had been more difficult to contend with, but with all the demons gone, upon Jericho's defeat, the giants had been eventually destroyed.

  The years following had been more wonderful than he might have ever imagined they could be. His life had been so filled with violence from the time of his youth. Peace had been a wonderful gift.

  Seeing Elspeth freed from the Wraith Riders had been one of his greatest days. But in the end he understood her capture and his quest to save her as all parts of Shaddai's intricate plan to bring about Mordred's defeat. Even Gideon's capture and the death of his wife, Sarah, though tragic, had all worked toward a greater good. And in the end, both his best friend and his sister had found happiness together.

  In the years that followed, Levi had restored the Nodian Navy while Seth helped Isaiah to restore The Order of Shaddai in Nod. Eventually, he had even been named the successor to the High Priest. Everyone had found contentment. Everyone had found a place.

  Everyone but him. Ethan had never found a way to fit into this new era of peace. For long years, during Gideon's rule, Ethan had been a famous hero-the Deliverer of Shaddai. But he never found love in a woman. Never had a family of his own.

  Always in the back of his mind, he had felt as though he were waiting for the enemy to return. Ethan had never felt that he could entirely rest or settle down because of it. Eventually, Shaddai had called him into the wilderness. He had departed without even saying goodbye, as Shaddai had led him.

  He had been right.

  Evil had returned. But now he was too old to fight. Now, that task would fall to another. And finally, with that knowledge, Ethan felt he could rest.

  He lifted his eyes to the night sky, smiling. "Lord Shaddai, it has been a long journey. You have allowed me the great privilege of serving you these many years. Thank you for that." Ethan paused, considering what had been revealed to him today. "I'm sure the boy will do well, my Lord. Please bless him and use him for your glory. Cleanse the land and let the people dwell in peace again. As for me, I'll wait for the way to be revealed, the place you would have me go next."

  Ethan looked to the wall opposite him. A man who made soup had his shop there. The soup never had been that good. A beggar was sleeping there against the wall only a few feet away.

  Ethan's eyes felt very heavy, his body so weary-so tired. A light shone then, and he squinted a bit to see. Two angels stood in the alley now. Everything else was obscured by their radiance. It had been so many years since he had seen any angels, any spirits at all, now that he reflected on it. They had always been dressed for battle in those days, but not now.

  They smiled at him, and one of the angels reached out his hand. Ethan smiled back. Fatigue had all but overcome him. But when he took the angel's hand, he felt more alive than he ever had.

  The apple dropped from his hand and rolled across the ground, bumping the beggar on his big toe.

  The beggar awoke and found an apple sitting next to his foot. He picked it up and examined it. A single bite had been taken, but otherwise it appeared to be fresh. He looked around for the owner, but there was no one in the alley with him-only a walking stick leaning against the opposite wall.

  The beggar hunched his shoulders, finished the apple, then fell asleep again.

  About the Author:

  James Somers first novel, The Chronicles of Soone: Heir to the King was published by Variance Publishing in 2006. Since that time, Mr. Somers has published many novels including: • Hallowed Be Thy Name • Hallowed Ground • The Chronicles of Soone: Rise of Lucin • The Realm Shift (trilogy) • A World Within • Percival Strange and the Lonely Manor • Perdition's Gate **If you enjoyed the Smashwords Edition The Sword of Gideon, and the rest of The Realm Shift novels, then visit me at j
amessremos(at)yahoo.com and be sure to leave a review. Also look for Percival Strange: The Lonely Manor!

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