THE THORN
Book One
The Chronicles of Gan
by
Daron Fraley
SMASHWORDS EDITION
* * * * *
PUBLISHED BY:
Daron Fraley on Smashwords
The Thorn
Copyright © 2010 by Daron Fraley
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction, and the views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author. Likewise, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.
Addendum for FREE ebooks: Please send your friends to Smashwords.com so they can download their own copy.
* * * * *
For Jennifer, my dear wife,
and Ashley, Deven, Isabelle,
Audrey, Emily, Aaron,
Abigail, and Jonathan.
I love you all.
* * * * *
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to offer my sincere appreciation for the tutoring and friendship of these publishing professionals, authors, writers, and bloggers. I could not have done this without you: Tristi Pinkston, BJ Rowley, Danyelle Ferguson, Abel Keogh, Gordon Ryan, Michele Ashman Bell, Marion Jensen, Kerry Blair, L.T. Elliot, James Dashner, Josi S. Kilpack, J. Scott Savage, Jaime Theler, Wendy Elliott, John Ferguson, David J. West, Jeff Olsen, Ali Cross, Graham Bradley, Heather Moore, and every other person who ever commented on my blog. Some of these folks may brush this acknowledgement off, saying, “I didn’t do anything.” Yes, you did—if nothing else, you were kind.
And to my friends and family who were my very first readers of The Thorn, I thank you: Jennifer Fraley, Ashley Bugger, Audrey Fraley, Stefanie and David Fresques, Christie Hardey, Caroline and Randy Booth, Eric Schroeder, Monty Thornock, Jessica McAdams, Sherrie Foist, and Jim Kinkade.
Daron D. Fraley
GLOSSARY
PLACES
“Definition”
Location
Ain
“Fountain”
Southwestern borders of lands of Daniel
Bethara
“House of Gathering”
Lands of Gideon
Bezek
“Lightning”
Lands of Gideon
Gan
“Garden”
The world or planet upon which the three tribes live
Geber
“Hill” or “Mount” or “Strong”
Between Saron and Ain
Gilad
“Hill of Testimony”
Lands of Gideon, southeast of Ain
Hara
“Hill” or “Showing Forth”
Mountains north of Saron, surrounding Ramathaim
Hasor
“Enclosed Village
In the hills south of Ramathaim
Karmel
“Vineyard”
In the plains north of the Hara Mountains
Maharai
“Hasting” or “From a Hill”
Lands of Gideon
Ramathaim
“Place of Hills” or “Mountains”
Nestled in the Hara Mountain borders
Saron
“Plain”
In the plains west of Hasor, north of Ain
TRIBES
DANIEL
“A judge (is) God”
Mark: A red snake in white circle, generally on a purple background (chosen because of its relationship with the Savior).
Representative colors: Purple and white.
GIDEON
“Warrior”
Mark: A black raven with sprig of berries in its beak (chosen because a raven once fed Gideon when starving, after his prayer).
UZZAH
“Strength”
Mark: A strong ox (chosen because of its symbol for hard work, and as a symbol of sacrifice).
Representative colors: Blue and white.
PEOPLE
“Definition”
Tribe
Occupation/Notes
Abigail
“Her Father is Joyful”
Gideon
Wife of Jasher
Abram
“High Father”
Uzzah
Uzzahite Warrior
Amon
“Faithful” or “True”
Gideon
Gideonite Captain
Asah
“Physician”
Daniel-Uzzah
Uzziel’s Steward
Azmaveth
“Strength in Death”
Gideon
Gideonite Captain
Benjamin
“Son of the Right Hand”
Daniel-Uzzah
Danielite Soldier
Boaz
“In Strength”
Daniel-Uzzah
Temple Priest
Daniel
“Judgment of God” or “God is my Judge”
Daniel
Father of the Tribe
Daniel
“Judgment of God” or “God is my Judge”
Uzzah
Boy Soldier
Deborah
“Word, thing” or “A Bee”
Uzzah
Sister of Miriam
Dinah
“Judgment”
Gideon
Mother of Jasher
Eder
“A Flock, or Herd”
Gideon
Goat Herder
Eli
“My God” or “Lifted Up” or “Offering”
Uzzah
Temple Priest, Warrior
Esther
“Secret, hidden”
Uzzah
Wife of Abram
Ezra
“Help, court”
Daniel
Danielite Captain
Gad
“A Band, Troop”
Gideon
Gideonite Captain
Gideon
“He that Bruises” or “Destroyer, Warrior”
Gideon
Father of the Tribe
Ilan
“Tree”
Gideon
Gideonite Soldier
Izri
“Fasting” or “Tribulation”
Gideon
Gideonite Soldier
Jael
“He that Ascends” or “A Kid”
Gideon-Uzzah
Gideonite Captain
Jasher
“Righteous” or “Upright”
Gideon
Gideonite General
Jeremy
“God will Uplift” or “Loosen Bonds”
Uzzah
Uzzahite Warrior/Captain
Jonathan
“Given of God” or “Jeh
ovah has Given”
Daniel
Heir of Daniel
Josiah
“Fire of the Lord”
Uzzah
Uzzahite Warrior
Kalev
“Heart, Brave”
Gideon
Gideonite Soldier
Levi
“Associated/Joined” or “My Heart”
Daniel
Inventor, Counselor
Manasseh
“To Forget” or “He that is Forgotten”
Gideon
Gideonite Emperor
Mehida
“A Riddle” or “Sharpness of Wit”
Gideon
Gideonite Captain
Miriam
“Rebellion” or “Sea of Bitterness/Sorrow”
Uzzah
Wife of Uzziel
Noah
“Rest, Quiet, Peace”
Father of Tribes
First Man of Gan
Pekah
“One Whose Eyes are Opened”
Gideon
Gideonite Soldier
Rachel
“Ewe, Lamb, Sheep”
Uzzah
Daughter of Uzziel
Rachel
“Ewe, lamb, sheep”
Daniel
Late wife of Samuel
Rezon
“Prince” or “Lean, Small” or “Secret”
Gideon-Daniel
Gideonite General
Sachar
“Price” or “Reward” or “Recompense”
Gideon
Gideonite Captain
Samuel
“Heard of God” or “Asked of God”
Daniel
Danielite Judge/King
Sarah
“Lady or Princess of the Multitude”
Mother of Tribes
Wife of Noah
Sarah
“Lady or Princess of the Multitude”
Daniel-Uzzah
Wife of Tavor
Saul
“Demanded” or “Asked for”
Daniel
Danielite
Serug
“Branch, Layer”
Gideon
Gideonite Physician
Simeon
“That Hears” or “Obeys, That Obeys”
Daniel
Danielite Soldier
Sodi
“My Secret”
Gideon
Gideonite Soldier
Tavor
“Break, Fracture, Misfortune” or “Choice”
Uzzah
Uzzahite Warrior
Uzzah
“Strength”
Uzzah
Father of the Tribe
Uzzah
“Strength”
Uzzah
Lost son of Uzziel
Uzziel
“Strength of God”
Uzzah
Uzzahite High Priest
Zev
“Wolf”
Gideon
Gideonite Soldier
* * * * *
THE THORN
* * * * *
“Again, I did prophesy to my sons, saying: And in that day when the three brothers make war with one another, and a great evil arises in the land which threatens to destroy all peoples, the Holy One shall be born upon the footstool of his creations, and the sign of his coming shall be given in the heavens. But upon Gan, he shall not be born, for upon the footstool of his creations he shall perform his great work to save all his peoples, and then shall he visit his kingdoms, which are many, each one in its hour, and in its time, and in its season, beginning at the first and so on unto the last, until every servant beholds the joy of the King’s countenance. And when he comes, a rod shall be his scepter, and light shall be his sword. And the King shall rule in righteousness.”
— Writings of Noah, First Man of Gan, Father of Nations
“I have searched the writings of my fathers. I am now convinced. Even though it appears that the span of our time has been much shorter, at least three thousand years less, this I still know: Gan was created first. And Gan was a garden, long before it was peopled. Noah wrote it.
“We do not know the name of the world where the Holy One will be born, but his world is not far away. Or at least it does not feel far away. Perhaps mine eyes have even seen the place where it rolls upon its wings in the heavens. But no matter where it lies among the stars, I am amazed at both the similarities and the differences between our two worlds. I have seen his time. He stands under a single yellow sun which is close to his world, hot and bright. And yet that sun does not overshadow him. He shines brighter than all creation. I have seen his face. I yearn for the day when I can look upon his countenance. Here, upon Gan. As he rules as my King.”
— Journal of Samuel, Chief Judge and King of Daniel
* * * * *
Chapter 1
Clamor
Another rumble of thunder, this one closer than the last, caused the final bird near the garden fountain to take flight. Without rustling a single leaf, the bird skimmed past a pruned olive tree and glided across the wheatfield to disappear in the direction of the forest beyond. The warm afternoon rain fell more steadily. Each head of wheat, laden with moisture, drooped closer to the ground. A gentle and constant breeze made the stalks sway back and forth. From the olive garden, the grain had the appearance of misty, swirling water. Other than the sound of rain and the damp rustle of wheat, the field was very still.
A Danielite soldier watched from atop the southwest garden tower. He noticed the birds leaving and sensed the unnatural quiet that settled around him. With one hand on the pommel of his sword, he scanned the field for any sign of movement. He reached up to brush a trickle of sweat from his brow.
Where did all the birds go?
He opened the brown leather case of his spyglass and placed the sight to his eye. Seeing nothing in the field, he trained his eye on the edge of the trees. With intense scrutiny, he searched the wooded border, running his sight from right to left and left to right. He waited for even a single branch to be disturbed.
Must be the thunder. He collapsed the spyglass. The flap on the leather case snapped when he shut it. In his peripheral vision, he noticed a bush straighten.
Did that branch just move? He again yanked the spyglass from its case and zoomed in on the suspicious vegetation. A sharp, fast whistle from the direction of the bush was all the guard heard. Clutching an arrow in his chest, he fell across the tower bench with a thud.
From the far side of the garden, another guard noticed that the southwestern tower was unmanned. Startled, he scanned the fields beyond the garden, where he saw a line of fifty archers step out from the edge of the trees and onto the dirt path which led to the walled village. With shaking hands, the guard clutched a mallet and struck the tower bell as hard as he could. The bell rang out loud and uneven as it quivered from the force of the blow. Even above the sound of the nearby bell, the guard could hear the advancing army in the wheatfield respond to the alarm with a deafening war cry. He turned to see them joined by more than three hundred men armed with swords. Each wore a breastplate emblazoned with a black raven.
“Gideonites!” he breathed, almost as if it were a curse.
A standard-bearer whipped a flag back and forth in the air. It bore an image of the twin blue suns Aqua and Azure. This signal drew another large group of soldiers from the trees, carrying a massive, capped pole, fitted with rope handles.
The guard jerked around. Below him in the village courtyard, he witnessed the panic of women who grabbed children and raced for the nearest protected doorway. Almost falling in his haste, he slid down a ladder to join other men who poured out of every conceivable location. Together they rallied at the fortified garden gate and broke open a weapons stash. As reaching hands clamored for a blade to defend the fair village of Hasor, the tower guard helped the other soldiers provide every man with a weapon. Troop captains nearby ye
lled for more support.
The Danielite guard shuddered when the heavy, crushing sound of a ram against the tall wooden gate echoed through the village streets. In dismay, he cast his eyes in the direction of the Council Hall.
Chapter 2
Murder
Jonathan, you must leave now,” the old judge pleaded. “If you don’t, the Gideonites may suspect The Thorn is here!”
“Father, how can I go?” Jonathan retorted as he rested a tense hand on the pommel of his sword. “You and I both know they’re not here just for the scepter. My absence will only prolong this conflict.”
Samuel took a long breath. “Jonathan, I understand, but The Thorn must be kept safe. If found, the Gideonites will use it to demand the allegiance of all Three Brothers. Then they will replace the judgment seat with a throne, whereon will sit their wicked, self-proclaimed emperor. Manasseh wants to hold the scepter in his own fat hand. Ruling in Gideon does not satisfy the man. Like a drunk offered only water, he will never be satisfied. He wants to rule Gideon, Daniel, and Uzzah.”