“Men of Gideon, my friends of Daniel and Uzzah,” Jasher thundered to the crowd once the noise died down, “we have just one more duty to perform, a duty to make right the wrongs that have been done by our people. We must travel to the other lands of Daniel and of Uzzah. We need to counsel with Rezon, in hopes that he will abandon his oath to wage this war. I am not the man to plead the cause for peace, yet there is now one among us to whom this right belongs.
“Pekah,” Jasher called, pointing. “Please bring your friend before us, that we may see him together.”
A hush went through the crowd, and all heads turned toward Pekah. Estimating those listening to be in the hundreds, perhaps even a thousand, he threw a nervous, silent plea to his companions, to which they responded with encouragement. Eli nudged him toward the steps. Tavor and Jonathan followed him for support, but Eli stayed below near Rachel.
As Pekah trudged toward Jasher, he surveyed the huge assemblage below him. There seemed to be a general attitude of anticipation from the soldiers around the platform, but there were many new faces gathered in the plaza that had not been present earlier in the day. He wondered if they had made the same covenant with Jasher. Because of the concern and distrust that darkened their faces, he doubted it.
Pekah could see many seasoned soldiers present-captains of ten and captains of fifty, and others who were surely from the late emperor’s personal guard. The expectation in their eyes made him nervous. Others before him appeared to be angry. He followed their disapproving glare toward Tavor and Jonathan. These soldiers would be the most difficult to convince to join Jasher’s cause.
Jasher motioned Pekah to take his place before the assemblage, which he did somewhat reluctantly. He cleared his throat, and addressed them with a traditional Gideonite greeting, “Prosperity and a safe haven for you all!” This prompted an echoed, “And to you!” from the crowd.
Pekah’s knees trembled. He cleared his throat again, and with a shaking, open hand, presented Jonathan to the soldiers below. “This is Jonathan, son of Samuel, and the heir of Daniel. He has come seeking peace, and desires your help so all may go home to their families and be comforted from the losses and pains suffered in past weeks-pains and losses that have caused all The Brothers to mourn. Will you join with Jasher and with Jonathan, so peace may be accomplished?” As the words came forth, he was surprised by their strength.
Apart from those who had already covenanted to join Jasher’s cause, there were a few more declarations of enlistment among the other soldiers. Most were younger men who shouldered little or no visible authority. Other soldiers in the crowd, many of them older, remained stolid, unaffected by Pekah’s announcement. One grizzled, battle-hardened individual even spat on the ground when Pekah paused for reaction. Pekah noticed, but his resolve strengthened, a well of power springing up within. His hands steadied, and his knees held firm. He even felt taller.
“Just two days ago, after a sleepless night, a son of Daniel and a son of Uzzah shared with me the story of the Raven of Gideon. I am now in my twenty-third year, and never before had I heard this tale, even from my own people. How long has it been,” Pekah demanded, “since Gideon has led any brother lost in foggy paths out into the bright light of day?”
Not a single voice rose from the crowd.
“When did Gideon forget the charge given to him by Father Noah, to care for all, and to bring them into safe havens?”
Again, there was no response.
Pekah felt his face redden with irritation. His voice almost cracked with frustration as he pressed them again: “ How long has it been? What has Daniel or Uzzah done to merit this aggression from one who should be their brother?”
The gray-bearded soldier stepped forward, and those around him parted like water. His boots stomped out echoes upon the stones of the courtyard, noises that seemed out of place as the rest of the soldiers stood in silence. He pulled at his beard, and then drew his belt dagger, pointing it in a most menacing fashion at Pekah. “ You, my young son,” the soldier snarled, “have misplaced your trust in Daniel and Uzzah. Your Gideonite brethren have been oppressed for many years by the Danielite and his family. Manasseh himself, a man blessed by visions from heaven, was directed to ask for the scepter of judgment.. and was denied. Daniel will not allow any other to hold or to possess it.”
Pekah stood dumbfounded at the audacity of the man. Young and inexperienced as he was, he knew full well Manasseh had no right to the scepter, and had certainly never “asked” for it. His plan was to take it forcibly. Captain Sachar himself had proven that fact as he murdered the rightful owner of the relic.
“You are misinformed,” Pekah fumed.
The old man bristled at the accusation, and stepped closer to the podium where Pekah stood.
Searching for support, Pekah saw he was now flanked on the left by Jonathan and Tavor, and on the other side by the general. Jasher’s teeth showed, his smile wide. The general’s expression startled Pekah, and he almost didn’t hear the response of the old soldier.
“General Rezon is the emperor’s servant,” the Gideonite soldier continued. “I was with Rezon personally when he asked the old Danielite judge for the scepter. Manasseh sent us to request it, and we were denied.”
“It’s true!” yelled another soldier. “I was with Kalev on that day.”
Recognition lit up Jonathan’s face. He pulled on Pekah’s sleeve, and he stepped back so they could talk privately. The crowd murmured.
“Pekah,” Jonathan whispered. “I remember this particular soldier. He rode into Hasor as part of the escort with General Rezon, many months previous. Word came to my father that the Gideonite emperor had sent a small band north for some unexplained reason. I hid in the palace gardens and watched them as they approached my father, who was pruning and grafting trees. The Gideonite men did request the scepter, but not in a diplomatic manner. From my place of hiding, I had an arrow trained on the general’s chest. Rezon threatened my father, saying that if we did not comply, he would return with a greater force to take it.”
“General Rezon demanded that it be given to him?”
“Yes, but my father replied that the scepter was not his to give.”
Pekah thanked Jonathan and stepped back toward the noisy crowd, mulling over the new information. He was annoyed by the half-truths spoken by the stubborn Gideonite. An idea formed in his mind. He pulled the pouch from around his neck, having nearly forgotten it still hung there. Carefully loosening the drawstrings of the bag, he removed the purple cloth within. After unrolling the rod, he lifted it high. It glittered in the late afternoon suns.
“Kalev, is this the scepter you were seeking?”
Gasps and whispers floated above the crowd like hovering bees.
Pekah stood with his arm outstretched. He moved the glass rod back and forth, causing reflections to spill in every direction. With a wry smile, Pekah stared at Kalev.
“I seem to have accomplished the very thing you claim could not be done, and I did not even ask for it! This scepter was placed in my hands by Jonathan, Daniel’s heir. I shall never forget his words. He said, ‘I am giving this to you, in hopes that it may be an instrument in convincing Manasseh to end his aggression toward our peoples.’ Jonathan told me I was to use it in trade for prisoners, if need be.”
Pekah now glared at the old soldier. “As you can see, Daniel does not have the scepter. Gideon does.”
Murmurs became arguments, and Pekah wondered if they were sounds of surprise or disdain. He peered over to get the general’s reaction. Jasher glowed with pride, almost as if Pekah were his son. Embarrassed, Pekah looked at the ground. He lowered the rod and returned it to its protective cover. With some degree of regained composure, Pekah threw one last barb.
“Even though the Danielite next to me has not asked for it to be returned, I do not claim The Thorn to be mine. It is certainly not yours.”
With that bold statement, the crowd erupted, unintelligible yells coming from some areas and cheers from others.
Kalev was furious. He fiddled with the pommel of the sword at his side, his gaze fixed on Jonathan. Pekah did not flinch. General Jasher moved up to the edge of the platform with hands raised, challenging the crowd.
“You have now seen what I have seen. Daniel is no aggressor. The emperor deceived us all. It is our duty to end this conflict. Pekah has joined with Daniel and Uzzah, as have I. Will you also join me?”
This time, there were far more Gideonite soldiers raising their arms in token than there had been a few minutes before. Still, in addition to Kalev, there were several other soldiers who gathered into a tighter group, refusing to accept Jasher’s challenge. Defiant, they stood in the midst, some with weapons drawn.
