Chapter 11(Adonai's Advice)

Well, I'd better move on with my story, I guess...

Chapter 11

Ben stared up at the hatch that led to the outside world. Somewhere out there is Mahal, and Daran. I wonder what's it's like up there. Come to think of it, I haven't been above ground since the day Kaela and I tumbled through the dwelling roof.

"Have you been up there?" Nolan was asking the men.

"No," one of them reported. "Other than what was necessary for installing the trap-door; we didn't want to risk it. Will you be going up, soon?"

"I must," answered the leader. "If I can get a look at Mahal, I might be able to figure out what we'll do to attack it." Nolan looked at Ben, Kaela, and Learka. "I hope you'll accompany me?"

Learka, Kaela and Ben nodded.

Nolan turned to look at Yev and Klii. "If you would like you can come up too, but..." he hesitated.

"Don't worry, I understand." Klii assured him. "Yes, it would be a little unwise for us to go up with you, though Yev is still spry and strong."

"Very well then, Learka, Ben, Kaela, and I will go up and take a look at what we will be attacking. Come on,"

The four of them climbed up the wall (in which was a built in ladder), opened the hatch, and then cautiously crawled outside. Ben looked around at his surroundings. They were just past the edge of a dense woods, all the trees as twisted and dead as the one above the dwelling. The sky was an icy gray, and a bitter wind blew. In the middle of a grass-less plain, a huge castle loomed up, looking cold, dark, and generally uninviting. It was Mahal. Ben could see that coming from the small windows and space between the doors was an eerie red light. It gave him the shivers.

They stared at it for a second, still crouching low, and then Learka said, "So this is what we're up against."

Another silence, then Nolan said, "No one can read the mind of Adonai, and his plans are beyond understanding, but this...is absolutely baffling. We will need all the help we can get." He looked over at Learka. "Adonai tells things to Klii many times, am I right?"

"Yes, he does, but not all the time. Do you think Adonai will reveal what we will do next through him?"

"I certainly hope so," Nolan's eyes scanned Mahal, looking for some weakness in it's structure. "This will be a formidable foe, I am sure."

Just then there was an all too familiar noise, and an instant later an arrow landed in the soil by the little group. Learka raised his eyebrow. "They have struck, Nolan."

"Aye," he agreed as he tugged the arrow out of the soil. The flights, or feathers, were black with one dark red streak down the center of each one. "They have started the war, ending all complications. Now we can fire at them. As soon as we are able to get organized we shall begin to siege Mahal."

Three more arrows streaked down from the walls of Mahal, all thankfully missing. Still clutching the first arrow, Nolan signaled everyone to go down into the tunnels, he himself going in last and closing the hatch behind them. When they were down he addressed all the troops in a ringing voice. "We are officially at war with Daran and his forces, they themselves having declared it by firing this--" here he held up the arrow for all to see, "--at some officers and myself just recently. I now call a meeting for all of my captains, lieutenants, and otherwise commanding officers right here and now. The rest of you, disperse and prepare for a battle."

Ben, Learka, Kaela, and the captains and lieutenants all gathered around Nolan as he outlined what they were going to do. "We'll put the city of Mahal under siege. Have all your fighting men come above grounds when I order. We will establish a temporary encampment there. Have builders ready to construct catapults, and we'll also need archers. And most importantly, spend time in prayer to Adonai. Without him we are defeated."

The officers left to carry out their instructions, and Ben, Learka, and Kaela found Klii and Yev. They had made up a little make-shift dwelling in one of the side-rooms coming out of the main tunnel.

Yev greeted them as the three came inside. "Hello there. What's going on?"

Learka explained the situation to his sister and his father. Klii nodded when his son had finished. "We must certainly devote time to prayer. Why not we do so now, silently."

They all bowed their heads. Adonai, if it's your will, please, please guide us in what we are to do. Please let us to act wisely. And, do you remember that time when you gave me and Kaela instructions? Well, of course you do, but anyway, please help us in those. I have a feeling those will be coming up soon. Ben thought back to the time when Klii had said that prayer was the powerfulest weapon of all. Then this is the real way to fight, what I'm doing now. Amen.

Then, all of a sudden, everything went brilliant white for a moment. Even though it was a short time, Ben was blinded by the light. When he could see again, he looked around. He was in the same room, and still with his sister and the rest. They were all blinking and looking around too. We must have all seen that flash.

Then Ben's heart leapt. In the center of the room stood Adonai. He was smiling happily. "You asked me to tell you what to do?"

"Adonai!" Ben yelped.

Klii looked stunned. "In all my years I have longed to see you. Am I dreaming?"

"In a way, yes, in another way, no." Adonai answered him, sounding both clear and confusing at the same time. "Now I will tell you what to do. Klii and Yev, you once again will fight with prayer in the up-coming battles. Learka, you will fight with your sword again. Ben and Kaela?"

"Yes, Adonai?"

"You two will be sent on a mission. A very dangerous, yet important mission. You are to go into the very heart of Mahal itself. But I will not tell you what you are to do when you are there...yet. For now all that you need to know is go into the side-tunnel that your sword points too. Tell Nolan all that I have told you, and remember," Adonai began to fade away, yet his voice still was strong, "...think on the advice I gave you, Ben and Kaela." Then all was silent.

Ben's head jerked up and he stared at the others, and then at the rest of the room, in shock. Nothing was there to indicate that Adonai had been there. Nothing except memory.

"Well, that was...unusual." commented Learka.

"Yes, it was. But something Adonai said makes me wonder. You know how he said both Kaela and me were to go on a mission?" Ben asked. "Well, last time he only said that Kaela was to go on a mission. Could he have changed his mind?"

Klii cocked his head to one side. "But who's to say that Adonai only mentioned Kaela's mission. Or that she'll go on a mission within a mission, if you know what I mean. Even if he talked about one, it would be true, because you cannot have two without one."

Ben nodded in aknowledgement, understanding Klii perfectly.

"Well, it is clear what we are supposed to do, now." said Yev, standing up. "We must tell Nolan of Adonai's plans immediately!"

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There. I spent a week thinking up that chapter. Enjoy!

Izori