be said, the old man was foolish to keep his black powder stores in such close proximity to his wood stove. Others would curse the day they placed their own businesses near the General Goods Store, even knowing the sort of volatile agents being sold there.
Mordecai slipped out the door to lay hold on the horse he had stolen along with the gear he had stolen from the store. The assassin-priest rode at a hard gallop, escaping Millertown completely by the time the flames bloomed from the lamp oil stain and leaped across the room to the black powder kegs. The General Goods Store blew apart in every direction at once, sending fiery debris onto the neighboring businesses located in the middle of town.
The explosion shook everyone staying at the Willow Tree Inn from their beds. The thunderous shockwave shattered every window in the Inn. The volunteer fire department of Millertown would later record it as the worst disaster they had ever faced in their eighty-year history. Moreover, the storage and sale of black powder would be prohibited in the Millertown for years to come.
The least realized effect, but perhaps the most important to the nefarious schemer who had caused the deed, was that no one knew a theft of mountain climbing equipment had taken place-equipment necessary for a deadly assassin to gain access to the Temple of Shaddai without its priests noticing. Mordecai ascended into the Thornhill Mountains. He still had a prophesied Deliverer to kill.
A DECEPTIVE CALL
Ethan stood among the target dummies at the end of the archery range, his body en guard in a traditional martial arts stance, watching his friend and mentor take aim. Almost four months of intense training had brought him to this point. Gideon refused to be specific, but he had at least been excited about the speed with which Ethan took to the training and ways of the priesthood.
Ethan had heard the other priestly mentors commenting about Gideon’s pupil being almost born to the tasks presented to him. He was glad for the attention surrounding his training, but Gideon had been especially clear to teach him to guard against pride. Ethan whispered a prayer of submission to the will of Shaddai, then heard the release of Gideon’s bowstring fifty yards away.
Ethan tracked two arrows-simultaneous-as Gideon was fond of doing. They were dead on target. In the blink of an eye, Ethan leaned to the side, snapping his right arm out and through both arrow shafts. These four months had trained speed into his body, nearly catching up with his unnatural speed of sight.
Gideon grinned at his able pupil, but did not let up the assault just yet. Six more shafts followed in lightning quick succession. Ethan snapped five in the same manner, then caught the last as he spun and came back to his original stance. Only this time, he curled his index finger at his mentor-ready for more. Gideon laughed and lowered his bow.
Just then, the cry of a falcon pierced the air. Both Gideon and Ethan looked up, as did priests all over the courtyard. They saw the large predatory bird pierce the cloud cover at the top of the chasm. “A message is coming in,” Gideon said.
The falcons had been trained to go directly to a perch residing in the walkway outside of Isaiah’s private quarters. By the time Gideon and Ethan ascended to the seventh level and ran around the circular walkway carved into the chasm wall, the High Priest was already reading the message. Joseph, another mentoring priest who kept the falcons and cared for them, stroked the bird, feeding it a plump, wriggling mouse as a treat.
Gideon stopped running when Isaiah’s eyes rose to meet his own. He could see it in the High Priest’s expression-Macedon had finally called for the Word. Gideon smiled, but Isaiah did not return it. Gideon became concerned. Were him and his star pupil not going to receive this assignment?
Gideon had honestly never considered the possibility. After all, Ethan needed the training, he was more than ready, and if he was going to accomplish the purposes of Shaddai, he could not stay here at the Temple forever. Isaiah’s expression beckoned Gideon to follow, but also betrayed his lack of enthusiasm for the argument about to come from his most valued priest and dearest friend.
When Gideon got to the chamber door, he turned, motioning for Ethan to remain outside. He smiled and closed the door behind him. Gideon walked into the dimly lit room where Isaiah stood beside the fireplace leaning upon the hearth on one hand. He looked tired.
“Are you all right?” Gideon asked.
Isaiah sighed. “I’ve not been sleeping well the past week. I see visions, disturbing images, and I have no explanation for them. If the Almighty desires to show me something, I have no idea what it means.”
“What sort of images?”
“Explosions, fire, and a man in black, but I could not discern the identity,” Isaiah said.
Gideon thought about it, but had no idea what any of it could mean. Isaiah had the gift of foresight. Often Shaddai showed him events that were going to happen. But usually the Almighty gave him discernment of the visions. The lack of understanding seemed to shake his mentor to the core.
Isaiah leveled his gaze on his brightest pupil. “I know you want to take the boy and carry the Word to Macedon.”
“Of course…I want to serve any way I can, Isaiah. The boy is ready for this and I truly feel he needs it.”
Isaiah smiled at his friend. “Gideon you are the finest priest I have ever trained and a trusted friend, but I do not share your optimism about sending the boy to this task. Something is waiting, even wanting us to make a move-the wrong move. And I’m mystified as to the correct path. I don’t want to send the boy out before the time.”
“Isaiah, the decision is yours, but please pray about it further before you decide. After all, if it is the will of Shaddai for this boy to destroy Mordred then how can we undo it?”
Isaiah placed a hand on Gideon’s shoulder. It seemed like a weight lifted with his words. “Your wisdom is a gift from the Almighty, Gideon. Of course, you’re right. No one can undo the will of Shaddai.” The High priest settled into his chair. “I watched you test him on the archery field. I’ve never seen a student progress so quickly.”
“Ethan is like a sponge soaking up everything I can throw at him,” Gideon reported. “I’m trying to push him to his limits, as you did me, but I don’t know if I can find his limits. That’s one of the reasons I believe we should not contain him here any longer than we must.”
Isaiah poured them both a cup of tea and handed one to Gideon. “Allow me to meditate and pray about it this evening. Hopefully the Lord will give us an answer by tomorrow.”
Mordecai waited nearly a quarter mile away from the lip of the chasm. Jericho had been very specific with his instructions-that he not venture any closer else he would risk being seen by the angels guarding the Temple. The evening grew dim as the sun descended toward the west and the clouds hanging around the mountain captured the light, casting a reddish-pink hue over the entire landscape around him.
“It is time,” a menacing voice said from behind.
Mordecai turned to find Jericho there perched on a short outcropping of bare rock.
“I’m ready,” Mordecai said. He was dressed completely in snug-fitting, black clothing along with a hood, which tied around his face so that only the bridge of his nose and his eyes were visible.
“The attack is beginning,” Jericho said. He stood upon the rock looking up into the air. “You must be quick to the chasm and use the cover of the terrain as best as you can.”
The last glimpses of red sunlight began to fade as a shroud of darkness fell across the land. Jericho pulled a massive blade from a scabbard on his back and held it aloft. The final rays glinted upon its surface casting it blood red. “It has been so long since I have engaged my former brothers in battle!”
Mordecai watched as the demon smiled and howled a war cry, leaping into the air. Massive wings, with soiled feathers, burst from his back as he took flight. The demon shot away, becoming invisible to Mordecai either by will or sheer speed. “Go now, Mordecai!” he called back.
The assassin launched out of his hiding place among the rock and bolted through the trees covering the face
