The Chronicles of Gan: The Thorn Read online

  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).

  Representative colors: Green and white.

  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.”