The Chronicles of Gan: The Thorn by Daron Fraley Read Free Book Online

contrasted with the almost-new uniform he wore. Dressed in the
typical manner of Gideonite soldiers, he wore a tightly-woven green
wool tunic under his breastplate, which reached to just above the
knees, held to his waist by a wide leather belt. His pants were
black, and his brown boots wore the evidence of many long marches
in recent days. In particular, Jonathan noticed that the paint on
Pekah’s hardened leather breastplate shone in the evening light, an
indication he had not been serving in the army of the Gideonite
emperor for very long.
    As Jonathan surveyed the soldier’s
appearance, Pekah gaped at the sword in Jonathan’s hand as if
surprised not to have been struck down by it. Jonathan looked again
at Eli, and felt annoyed when Pekah cleared his throat to get his
full attention.
    “I seem to have a problem.”
    Jonathan’s eyebrows lifted as he scrutinized
the young Gideonite. “What kind of problem?”
    Pekah swallowed hard. “If I consent, and
give the oath which you have requested, my life will be in danger
of forfeit. Desertion from the emperor’s army is punishable by
death. From what I have heard, death for deserters is not a
pleasant experience. The emperor is fond of torture to induce
submission among the people.”
    “I see.”
    “And,” Pekah continued, “returning home will
take me nowhere. My mother passed away a few years ago. I never
knew my father. I only have one other choice.”
    Jonathan waited. Pekah’s dramatic pause
irritated him.
    “My only choice is to follow you.”
    Jonathan frowned, and he felt his brow
furrow. He stepped closer to the Gideonite and glared at him. “What
will you do for me?” he asked in a firm voice.
    Pekah did not hesitate. “I will serve you.
Yes, Nate—I will serve you until you release me, and even unto the
end of my life, if you desire. Will you take me as your servant?”
He stood unflinching and motionless.
    Jonathan did not relish
the thought of having a servant join him in battle, and yet
something intrigued him about the idea of keeping Pekah
close. This young man may be of
use , he thought. “Swear it. Swear it by
your honor.”
    “I swear it by my life and my honor.”
    Now satisfied, Jonathan switched his weapon
to his left, then stepped forward, offering the palm of his free
hand in acceptance, which Pekah instantly covered with his own
right hand. Jonathan held Pekah’s gaze momentarily, then both men
withdrew. An oath of honor such as this would be broken only by
death, even by a Gideonite. Jonathan relaxed with a deep
breath.
    Seeing that his own sword was still in hand,
Jonathan drove it deep into the soft grassy turf, all the way to
the hilt, to clean it. He pulled it from the ground and flashed the
perfect, sharp edges above him. Through the blade, he could see the
eastern sunset sky where the small dots of Azure and Aqua rested on
the horizon. He sheathed the sword, feigned a glare at Eli, then
grinned.
    “It’s good to see you. But you can’t seem to
stay out of trouble, can you?”
    Eli returned the grin. “It’s my lot in life.
Yours is to get me out of the trouble I’m in.”
    Jonathan nodded and laughed. Eli frequently
seemed to be into some kind of mischief when they were together as
young boys. Jonathan had often shouldered the blame for some of the
pranks so Eli would not be the one always in trouble.
    “I’m sorry,” Pekah said.
    Jonathan studied the Gideonite. Pekah
appeared as if he wanted to say something more, but instead blew
out a sigh. Jonathan followed the soldier’s eyes down to Eli’s
shackles.
    “Let me get the keys,” Pekah suggested as he
ran to the fallen captain’s body. Jonathan remained alert, and was
relieved to see that Pekah only retrieved keys from a pouch on the
belt of the captain. When Pekah returned, he knelt before Eli,
unlocked the fetters, and untied the ropes.
    Now free from his bonds, Eli stepped to the
side and gently kicked Pekah to make him lose his balance and fall.
Jonathan