The Chronicles of Gan: The Thorn by Daron Fraley Page A

eyes again, and
Jonathan’s own sorrow pulled his head low. He felt the strong
squeeze of Eli’s hand on his arm. He looked up, again wiping his
face with his hands. “Thank you, Eli. You did my father a great
service.”
    “I loved him too, Jonathan.”
    Eli paused, but then explained that after
their very emotional ceremony for Samuel, they split up to cover
the entire village to be sure there were no survivors within the
walls.
    “When we met back at the hall, we thought it
peculiar that we did not find any other bodies in the entire
village. There were evidences everywhere of intense fighting when
the village was overrun, but we did not find a single soul, living
or dead. We decided to patrol the outside wall, and did so,
starting at the garden gate. We circled the southern wall heading
west.”
    Eli cleared his throat. “We were surprised
to find a fresh mass grave to the west of the village, still being
filled by a group of Danielites and their captors. Not far off, a
group of about forty Gideonites were camped in the hollow there by
the vineyards. About ten of them rushed up to us as soon as we were
seen, and knowing we were outnumbered, we surrendered. We were
harshly questioned, and when they figured out that I was the leader
of my band of warriors, they separated us. My nine were added to
the main group of remaining Danielites and marched down the road
towards Saron. I had the pleasure of traveling the forest trails
toward Ain in company of the rogues you caught me with earlier this
evening. The captain told Pekah and the others it would be a faster
route.” Eli grinned and spat on the ground in defiance. “Once
again, you have gotten me out of a bad one,” he said with a
laugh.
    Jonathan didn’t laugh, but he did return the
smile. “It’s so good to see you, Eli. Thank you again for giving my
father a dignified burial. It was I who left him on the floor of
the Council Hall. I hated to do it, but I was in a hurry to
escape.”
    With hand gestures for emphasis, Jonathan
proceeded to tell Eli about hiding in the barn, hearing the
commotion in the village, and returning to the hall where he found
his father. He also mentioned the noise which had startled him, and
his retrieval of The Thorn. Jonathan patted his chest.
    “Eli, I got it, and then literally ran out
the door.”
    “I’m glad you did,” Eli said as he glanced
back toward the camp. Jonathan also leaned to see the dim outline
of Pekah sitting by the fire.
    Jonathan ended his account by describing the
long day in their secret cave. The two of them laughed a little as
they reminisced together about the many items they had hidden there
long ago as boys. But again their moods became somber, and they
both grew quiet as their gazes rested on the moons-lit ground.
    Eli lifted his head and pointed at the
campfire. “What are we going to do with him?”
    “I don’t know. He seems to have a good
heart. If we can convince him to join the side of peace, he may be
able to soften the hearts of others. What do you think?”
    “You may be right. Although we all expected
this war, I would very much prefer that it end quickly, and he may
be able to help.”
    Jonathan tapped his sword pommel with his
hand, anxious to do whatever was necessary to stop Gideon. Numerous
possible outcomes crossed his mind in mere seconds, but then he
threw a startled expression in Eli’s direction.
    “What has become of your sister?” Jonathan
asked. “Last I knew, Rachel had been in Saron. Did she make it home
safely?”
    Eli’s jaw stiffened with anger. He shook his
head, and Jonathan instantly felt ill.
    “But I don’t know for sure,” Eli added, his
tone grave. “To my knowledge, Rachel was still at market with the
family steward, selling our spring lambs, when Saron was surprised
by the Gideonites. If she left early enough, she might have made it
home to Ramathaim before they attacked. I just fear she did not.
When we left the city, we did not see anyone coming north