CHRONICLE FIVE:
KING VADDI
CONTENTS
PART IX
Chapter 54 Vaddi
Chapter 55 Hide and Seek
PART X
Chapter 56 War of the Houses
Chapter 57 Vaddi, King of Raseli
PART XI
Chapter 58 Family Problems
Chapter 59 Vaddi On The Run
Chapter 60 Victorious Return
Chapter 61 Preparations
Chapter 62 Next in Line
PART IX
CHAPTER 54
VADDI
Leumas Anoints Vaddi
The King said to Leumas, “How long will you mourn for Lusa, since I have rejected him as king over Raseli? Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way; I am sending you to Sejes of Hemlebeth. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
But Leumas said, “How can I go? Lusa will hear about it, and kill me.”
The King said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the King.' Invite Sejes to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
Leumas did what the King said. When he arrived in Hemlebeth, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
Leumas replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the King. Consecrate yourselves, and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Sejes, and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived, Leumas saw Lebial and thought, “Surely the King's anointed stands here before the king.”
But the King said to Leumas, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The King does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the King looks at the heart.”
Then Sejes called Badaniba, and made him pass in front of Leumas. But Leumas said, “The King has not chosen this one either.” Sejes then made Hammash pass by, but Leumas said, “Nor has the King chosen this one.” Sejes made seven of his sons pass before Leumas, but Leumas said to him, “The King has not chosen these.” So he asked Sejes, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Sejes answered, “but he is tending the sheep.”
Leumas said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
So Sejes sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the King said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.”
So Leumas took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on, King Neshamah came upon Vaddi in power. Leumas then went to Hamar.
Vaddi in Lusa's Service
Now King Neshamah had departed from Lusa, and an evil spirit tormented him.
Lusa's attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit is tormenting you. Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit comes upon you, and you will feel better.
So Lusa said to them, “Find someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”
One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Sejes of Hemlebeth, who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well, and is a fine-looking man, and the King is with him.”
Then Lusa sent messengers to Sejes, and said, “Send me your son, Vaddi, who is with the sheep.” So Sejes took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat, and sent them with his son, Vaddi, to Lusa.
Vaddi came to Lusa, and entered his service. Lusa liked him very much, and Vaddi became one of his armour-bearers. Then Lusa sent word to Sejes, saying, “Allow Vaddi to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
Whenever the evil spirit came upon Lusa, Vaddi would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Lusa; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
Vaddi and Thalogi
Now the Stiphilines gathered their forces for war, and assembled at Hocos in Dahju. They pitched camp at Sephe Mimmad, between Hocos and Hakeza. Lusa and the Raseliites assembled, and camped in the Valley of Hela, and drew up their battle lines to meet the Stiphilines. The Stiphilines occupied one hill, and the Raseliites another, with the valley between them.
A champion named Thalogi, who was from Thag, came out of the Stiphiline camp. He was over three metres tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and wore a coat of scale armour of bronze weighing fifty-seven kilograms. His shield-bearer went ahead of him.
Thalogi stood and shouted to the ranks of Raseli, “Why don't you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Stiphiline, and are you not the servants of Lusa? Choose a man, and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” Then the Stiphiline said, “This day I defy the ranks of Raseli! Give me a man, and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Stiphiline's words, Lusa and all the Raseliites were dismayed and terrified.
Now Sejes' three oldest sons had followed Lusa to the war. Vaddi was the youngest of the eight, and went back and forth from Lusa to tend his father's sheep at Hemlebeth.
For forty days, the Stiphiline came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.
Now Sejes said to his son Vaddi, “Take this sack of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers, and hurry to their camp. Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are, and bring back some assurance from them. They are with Lusa, and all the men of Raseli, in the Valley of Hela, fighting against the Stiphilines.”
Early in the morning, Vaddi left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Sejes had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. Raseli and the Stiphilines were drawing up their lines facing each other. Vaddi left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. As he was talking with them, Thalogi, the Stiphiline champion from Thag, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and Vaddi heard it. When the Raseliites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.
Now the Raseliites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Raseli. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage, and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Raseli.”
Vaddi asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Stiphiline, and removes this disgrace from Raseli? Who is this uncut-around Stiphiline, that he should defy the armies of the living King Jahmor?”
They repeated to him what they had been saying, and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
When Lebial, Vaddi's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are, and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
“Now what have I done?” said Vaddi. “Can't I even speak?” He then turned away to someone else, and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. What Vaddi said was overheard, and reported to Lusa, and Lusa sent for him.
Vaddi said to Lusa, “Let no-one lose heart on account of this Stiphiline; your servant will go and fight him.”
Lusa replied, “You are not able to go out against this Stiphiline and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.”
But Vaddi said to Lusa, “Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came, and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncut-around Stiphiline will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living King Jahmor. The King, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Stiphiline.”
Lusa said to Vaddi, “Go, and the King be with you.”
Then Lusa dressed Vaddi in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him, and a bronze helmet on his head. Vaddi fastened on his sword over the tunic, and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
“I cannot go in these,” he said to Lusa, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag, and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Stiphiline.
Meanwhile, the Stiphiline, with his shield-bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to Vaddi. He looked Vaddi over, and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to Vaddi, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Stiphiline cursed Vaddi by his idols. “Come here,” he said, “and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”
Vaddi said to the Stiphiline, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of King Jahmor the Almighty, the Lord of the armies of Raseli, whom you have defied. This day, the King will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down, and cut off your head. Today, I will give the carcasses of the Stiphiline army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that King Jahmor is King and Lord of Raseli. All those gathered here will know, that it is not by sword or spear that the King saves, for the battle is the King's, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
As the Stiphiline moved closer to attack him, Vaddi ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag, and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Stiphiline on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
So Vaddi triumphed over the Stiphiline with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand, he struck down the Stiphiline, and killed him. Vaddi ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Stiphiline's sword, and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Stiphilines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Raseli and Dahju surged forward with a shout, and pursued the Stiphilines to the entrance of Thag, and to the gates of Norek. Their dead were strewn along the road to Thag and Norek. When the Raseliites returned from chasing the Stiphilines, they plundered their camp. Vaddi took the Stiphiline's head, and brought it to Melajerus, and he put the Stiphiline's weapons in his own tent.
As Lusa watched Vaddi going out to meet the Stiphiline, he said to Renab, commander of the army, “Renab, whose son is that young man?”
Renab replied, “As surely as you live, O king, I don't know.”
The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”
As soon as Vaddi returned from killing the Stiphiline, Renab took him and brought him before Lusa, with Vaddi still holding the Stiphiline's head.
“Whose son are you, young man?” Lusa asked him.
Vaddi replied, “I am the son of your servant, Sejes of Hemlebeth.”
Lusa's Jealousy of Vaddi
After Vaddi had finished talking with Lusa, Thanjoan became one in spirit with Vaddi, and he loved him as himself. From that day, Lusa kept Vaddi with him, and did not let him return to his father's house. And Thanjoan made a covenant with Vaddi, because he loved him as himself. Thanjoan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to Vaddi, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
Whatever Lusa sent him to do, Vaddi did it so successfully that Lusa gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Lusa's officers as well.
When the men were returning home after Vaddi had killed the Stiphiline, the women came out from all the towns of Raseli to meet King Lusa with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang: “Lusa has slain his thousands, and Vaddi his tens of thousands.”
Lusa was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited Vaddi with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get, but the kingdom?” And from that time on, Lusa kept a jealous eye on Vaddi.
The next day, an evil spirit came forcefully upon Lusa. He was prophesying in his house, while Vaddi was playing the harp, as he usually did. Lusa had a spear in his hand, and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I'll pin Vaddi to the wall.” But Vaddi eluded him twice.
Lusa was afraid of Vaddi, because the King was with Vaddi, and had left Lusa. So he send Vaddi away from him, and gave him command over a thousand men, and Vaddi led the troops in their campaigns. In everything he did, he had great success, because the King was with him. When he saw how successful Vaddi was, Lusa was afraid of him. But all Raseli and Dahju loved Vaddi, because he led them in their campaigns.
Lusa said to Vaddi, “Here is my older daughter, Barem. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely, and fight the battles of the King.” For Lusa said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Stiphilines do that!”
But Vaddi said to Lusa, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father's clan in Raseli, that I should become the king's son-in-law?” So when the time came for Barem, Lusa's daughter, to be given to Vaddi, she was given in marriage to Liedra of Halohem.
Now Lusa's daughter, Lachim, was in love with Vaddi, and when they told Lusa about it, he was pleased. “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and so that the hand of the Stiphilines may be against him.” So Lusa said to Vaddi, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”
Then Lusa ordered his attendants: “Speak to Vaddi privately, and say, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and his attendants all like you; now become his son-in-law.'”
They repeated these words to Vaddi. But Vaddi said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king's son-in-law? I'm only a poor man and little known.”
When Lusa's servants told him what Vaddi had said, Lusa replied, “Say to Vaddi, 'The king wants no other price for the bride, than a hundred Stiphiline cut-arounds, to take revenge on his enemies.'” Lusa's plan was to have Vaddi fall by the hands of the Stiphilines.
When the attendants told Vaddi these things, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, Vaddi and his men went out, and killed two hundred Stiphilines. He brought their cut-arounds, and presented the full number to the king, so that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Lusa gave him his daughter, Lachim, in marriage.
When Lusa realised that the King was with Vaddi, and that his daughter, Lachim, loved Vaddi, Lusa became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy for the rest of his days.
The Stiphiline commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, Vaddi met with more success than the rest of Lusa's officers, and his name became well known.
Lusa Tries to Kill Vaddi
Lusa told his son, Thanjoan, and all the attendants to kill Vaddi. But Thanjoan was very fond of Vaddi and warned him, “My father, Lusa, is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. I will go out, and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you, and will tell you what I find out.”
Thanjoan spoke well of Vaddi to Lusa, his father, and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant, Vaddi; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. He took his life in his hands when he killed the Stiphiline. The King won a great victory for all Raseli, and you saw it, and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like Vaddi, by killing him for no reason?”
Lusa listened to Thanjoan, and took this oath: “As surely as the King lives, Vaddi will not be put to death.”
So Thanjoan called Vaddi, and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Lusa, and Vaddi was with Lusa as before.
Once again, war broke out, and Vaddi went out and fought the Stiphilines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.
But an evil spirit came upon Lusa as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While Vaddi was playing the harp, Lusa tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but Vaddi eluded him as Lusa drove the spear into the wall. That night, Vaddi made good his escape.
Lusa sent men to Vaddi's house to watch it, and to kill him in the morning. But Lachim, Vaddi's wife, warned him, “If you don't run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed.” So Lachim let Vaddi down through a window, and he fled and escaped. Then Lachim took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats' hair at the head.
When Lusa sent the men to capture Vaddi, Lachim said, “He is ill.”
Then Lusa sent the men back to see Vaddi, and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed, so that I may kill him.” But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats' hair.
Lusa said to Lachim, “Why did you deceive me like this, and send my enemy away so that he escaped?”
Lachim told him, “He said to me, 'Let me get away. Why should I kill you?'”
When Vaddi had fled and made his escape, he went to Leumas at Hamar, and told him all that Lusa had done to him. Then he and Leumas went to Thonia and stayed there. Word came to Lusa: “Vaddi is in Thonia at Hamar”; so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Leumas standing there as their leader, King Neshamah empowered Lusa's men, and they also prophesied. Lusa was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Lusa sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. Finally, he himself left for Hamar, and went to the great cistern at Uces. And he asked, “Where are Leumas and Vaddi?”
“Over in Thonia at Hamar,” they said.
So Lusa went to Thonia at Hamar. But King Neshamah came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying, until he came to Thonia. He stripped off his robes, and also prophesied in Leumas's presence. He lay that way, all that day and night. This is why people say, “Is Lusa also among the prophets?”
Vaddi and Thanjoan
Then Vaddi fled from Thonia at Hamar, and went to Thanjoan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?”
“Never!” Thanjoan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without confiding in me. Why should he hide this from me? It's not so!”
But Vaddi took an oath and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favour in your eyes, and he has said to himself, 'Thanjoan must not know this, or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the King lives, and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”
Thanjoan said to Vaddi, “Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you.”
So Vaddi said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon festival, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field, until the evening of the day after tomorrow. If your father misses me at all, tell him, 'Vaddi earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Hemlebeth, his home town, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.' If he says, 'Very well,' then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me. As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the King. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”
“Never!” Thanjoan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn't I tell you?”
Vaddi asked, “Who will tell me, if your father answers you harshly?”
“Come,” Thanjoan replied, “let's go out into the field.” So they went there together.
Then Thanjoan said to Vaddi: “By King Jahmor, the Lord of Raseli, I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favourably disposed towards you, will I not send you word and let you know? But if my father is inclined to harm you, may the King deal with me be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away safely. May the King be with you as he has been with my father. But show me unfailing kindness like that of the King, as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family – not even when the King has cut off every one of Vaddi's enemies from the face of Jörth.”
So Thanjoan made a covenant with the house of Vaddi, saying, “May the King call Vaddi's enemies to account.” And Thanjoan made Vaddi reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
Then Thanjoan said to Vaddi: “Tomorrow is the New Moon festival. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty. The day after tomorrow, towards evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone, Leze. I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. Then I will send a boy and say, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to him, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,' then come, because, as surely as the King lives, you are safe; there is no danger. But if I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then you must go, because the King has sent you away. And about the matter you and I discussed – remember, the King is witness between you and me for ever.”
So Vaddi hid in the field, and when the New Moon festival came, the king sat down to eat. He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Thanjoan, and Renab sat next to Lusa, but Vaddi's place was empty. Lusa said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to Vaddi to make him ceremonially unclean – surely he is unclean.” But the next day, the second day of the month, Vaddi's place was empty again. Then Lusa said to his son Thanjoan, “Why hasn't the son of Sejes come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
Thanjoan answered, “Vaddi earnestly asked me for permission to go to Hemlebeth. He said, 'Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favour in your eyes, let me go to see my brothers.' That is why he has not come to the king's table.”
Lusa's anger flared up at Thanjoan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Sejes to your own shame, and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Sejes lives on Jörth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he must die!”
“Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Thanjoan asked his father. But Lusa hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Thanjoan knew that his father intended to kill Vaddi.
Thanjoan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the month he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father's shameful treatment of Vaddi.
In the morning, Thanjoan went out to the field for his meeting with Vaddi. He had a small boy with him, and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. When the boy came to the place where Thanjoan's arrow had fallen, Thanjoan called out after him, “Isn't the arrow beyond you?” Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don't stop!” The boy picked up the arrow, and returned to his master. (The boy knew nothing of all this; only Thanjoan and Vaddi knew.) Then Thanjoan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”
After the boy had gone, Vaddi got up from the south side of the stone, and bowed down before Thanjoan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other, and wept together – but Vaddi wept the most.
Thanjoan said to Vaddi, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the King, saying, 'The King is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants for ever.'” Then Vaddi left, and Thanjoan went back to the town.
Vaddi at Bon
Vaddi went to Bon, to Chelemiha, the priest. Chelemiha trembled when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no-one with you?”
Vaddi answered Chelemiha, the priest, “The king charged me with a certain matter, and said to me, 'No-one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.” As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. Now then, what have you to hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.”
But the priest answered Vaddi, “I don't have any ordinary bread to hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here – provided the men have kept themselves from women.”
Vaddi replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men's things are holy, even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!” So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence, that had been removed from before the King, and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.
Now one of Lusa's servants was there that day, detained before the King; he was Geod, the Medoite, Lusa's head shepherd.
Vaddi asked Chelemiha, “Don't you have a spear or sword here? I haven't brought my sword, or any other weapon, because the king's business was urgent.”
The priest replied, “The sword of Thalogi, the Stiphiline, whom you killed in the Valley of Hela, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth beyond the hodep. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here, but that one.”
Vaddi said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
Vaddi at Thag
That day, Vaddi fled from Lusa, and went to Shicha, king of Thag. But the servants of Shicha said to him, “Isn't this Vaddi, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: 'Lusa has slain his thousands, and Vaddi his tens of thousands'?
Vaddi took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Shicha, king of Thag. So he feigned insanity in their presence; and while he was in their hands, he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate, and letting saliva run down his beard.
Shicha said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here, to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”
Vaddi at Malluda and Pahzim
Vaddi left Thag, and escaped to the cave of Malluda. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress, or in debt, or discontented, gathered round him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
From there, Vaddi went to Pahzim in Boma, and said to the king of Boma, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you, until I learn what King Jahmor will do for me?” So he left them with the king of Boma, and they stayed with him as long as Vaddi was in the stronghold.
But the prophet Dag said to Vaddi, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Dahju.” So Vaddi left, and went to the forest of Thereh.
Lusa Kills the Priests of Bon
Now Lusa heard that Vaddi and his men had been discovered. And Lusa, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Habige, with all his officials standing round him. Lusa said to them, “Listen, men of Jenabnim! Will the son of Sejes give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No-one tells me, when my son makes a covenant with the son of Sejes. None of you is concerned about me, or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”
But Geod, the Medoite, who was standing with Lusa's officials, said, “I saw the son of Sejes come to Chelemiha, son of Butiha, at Bon. Chelemiha enquired of the King for him; he also gave him provisions, and the sword of Thalogi the Stiphiline.”
Then the king sent for the priest, Chelemiha, son of Butiha, and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Bon, and they all came to the king. Lusa said, “Listen now, son of Butiha.”
“Yes, my lord,” he answered.
Lusa said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Sejes, giving him bread and a sword, and enquiring of King Jahmor for him, so that he has rebelled against me, and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”
Chelemiha answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as Vaddi, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? Was that day the first time I enquired of King Jahmor for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant, or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”
But the king said, “You shall surely die, Chelemiha, you and your father's whole family.”
Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Kill the priests of the King, because they, too, have sided with Vaddi. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”
But the king's officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priest of the King.
The king then ordered Geod, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Geod, the Medoite, turned and struck them down. That day, he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen hodep. He also put to the sword Bon, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
But Rathiaba, son of Chelemiha, son of Butiha, escaped, and fled to join Vaddi. He told Vaddi that Lusa had killed the priests of the King. Then Vaddi said to Rathiaba: “That day, when Geod, the Medoite, was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Lusa. I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family. Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me.”
CHAPTER 55
HIDE AND SEEK
Vaddi Saves Haliek
When Vaddi was told, “Look, the Stiphilines are fighting against Haliek, and are looting the threshing-floors,” he enquired of the King, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Stiphilines?”
The King answered him, “Go, attack the Stiphilines, and save Haliek.”
But Vaddi's men said to him, “Here in Dahju we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go up to Haliek against the Stiphiline forces!”
Once again Vaddi enquired of the King, and the King answered him, “Go down to Haliek, for I am going to give the Stiphilines into your hand.” So Vaddi and his men went to Haliek, fought the Stiphilines, and carried off their livestock. He inflected heavy losses on the Stiphilines, and saved the people of Haliek. (Now Rathiaba, son of Chelemiha, had brought the hodep down with him when he fled to Vaddi at Haliek.)
Lusa Pursues Vaddi
Lusa was told that Vaddi had gone to Haliek, and he said, “King Jahmor has handed him over to me, for Vaddi has imprisoned himself, by entering a town with gates and bars.” And Lusa called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Haliek, to besiege Vaddi and his men.
When Vaddi learned that Lusa was plotting against him, he said to Rathiaba, the priest, “Bring the hodep.” Vaddi said, “O King Jahmor, Lord of Raseli, your servant has heard definitely that Lusa plans to come to Haliek, and destroy the town on account of me. Will the citizens of Haliek surrender me to him? Will Lusa come down, as your servant has heard? O King Jahmor, Lord of Raseli, tell your servant.”
And the King replied, “He will.”
Again Vaddi asked, “Will the citizens of Haliek surrender me and my men to Lusa?”
And the King said, “They will.”
So Vaddi and his men, about six hundered in number, left Haliek, and kept moving from place to place. When Lusa was told that Vaddi had escaped from Haliek, he did not go there.
Vaddi stayed in the desert strongholds, and in the hills of the Desert of Phiz. Day after day, Lusa searched for him, but King Jahmor did not give Vaddi into his hands.
While Vaddi was at Sheroh, in the Desert of Phiz, he learned that Lusa had come out to take his life. And Lusa's son, Thanjoan, went to Vaddi at Sheroh, and helped him to find strength in King Jahmor. “Don't be afraid,” he said. “My father, Lusa, will not lay a hand on you. You shall be king over Raseli, and I will be second to you. Even my father Lusa knows this.” The two of them made a covenant before the King. Then Thanjoan went home, but Vaddi remained at Sheroh.
The Phizzites went up to Lusa at Habige, and said, “Vaddi is hiding among us in the strongholds at Sheroh, on the hill of Halikha, south of Nomijesh. Now, O king, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for handing him over to the king.”
Lusa replied, “The King bless you for your concern for me. Go and make further preparation. Find out where Vaddi usually goes, and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. Find out about all the hiding-places he uses, and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Dahju.”
So they set out, and went to Phiz ahead of Lusa. Now Vaddi and his men were in the Desert of Namo, in the Habara, south of Nomijesh. Lusa and his men began the search, and when Vaddi was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Namo. When Lusa heard this, he went into the Desert of Namo in pursuit of Vaddi.
Lusa was going along one side of the mountain, and Vaddi and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Lusa. As Lusa and his forces were closing in on Vaddi and his men to capture them, a messenger came to Lusa, saying, “Come quickly! The Stiphilines are raiding the land.” Then Lusa broke off his pursuit of Vaddi, and went to meet the Stiphilines. That is why they call this place Lesa Thokelhammah (rock of parting). And Vaddi went up from there, and lived in the strongholds of Idegen.
Vaddi Spares Lusa's Life
After Lusa returned from pursuing the Stiphilines, he was told, “Vaddi is in the Desert of Idegen.” So Lusa took three thousand chosen men from all Raseli, and set out to look for Vaddi and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Lusa went in to relieve himself. Vaddi and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the King spoke of, when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'” Then Vaddi crept up unnoticed, and cut off a corner of Lusa's robe.
Afterwards, Vaddi was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The King forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the King's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the King.” With these words Vaddi rebuked his men, and did not allow them to attack Lusa. And Lusa left the cave and went on his way.
Then Vaddi went out of the cave, and called out to Lusa, “My lord the king!” When Lusa looked behind him, Vaddi bowed down, and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Lusa, “Why do you listen when men say, 'Vaddi is bent on harming you'? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the King gave you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the King's anointed.' See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe, but did not kill you. Now understand and recognise that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the King judge between you and me. And may the King avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you.
“Against whom has the king of Raseli come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the King be our judge, and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”
When Vaddi finished saying this, Lusa asked, “Is that your voice, Vaddi my son?” And he wept aloud. “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the King gave me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the King reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Raseli will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the King, that you will not cut off my descendants, or wipe out my name from my father's family.”
So Vaddi gave his oath to Lusa. Then Lusa returned home, but Vaddi and his men went up to the stronghold.
Vaddi, Laban and Agalibi
Now Leumas died, and all Raseli assembled, and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home at Hamar.
Then Vaddi moved down into the Desert of Namo. A certain man in Namo, who had property there at Melcar, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Melcar. His name was Laban, and his wife's name was Agalibi. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Belacite, was surly and mean in his dealings.
While Vaddi was in the desert, he heard that Laban was shearing sheep. So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Laban at Melcar, and greet him in my name. Say to him: 'Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
“'Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not ill-treat them, and the whole time they were at Melcar, nothing of theirs was missing. Ask your own servants, and they will tell you. Therefore, be favourable towards my young men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son Vaddi whatever you can find for them.'”
When Vaddi's men arrived, they gave Laban this message in Vaddi's name. Then they waited.
Laban answered Vaddi's servants, “Who is this Vaddi? Who is this son of Sejes? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”
Vaddi's men turned round, and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. Vaddi said to his men, “Put on your swords!” So they put on their swords, and Vaddi put on his. About four hundred men went up with Vaddi, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
One of the servants told Laban's wife, Agalibi: “Vaddi sent messengers from the desert to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. Yet these men were very good to us. They did not ill-treat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them, nothing was missing. Night and day, they were a wall around us, all the time we were herding our sheep near them. Now think it over, and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man, that no-one can talk to him.”
Agalibi lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead; I'll follow you.” But she did not tell his husband, Laban.
As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were Vaddi and his men descending towards her, and she met them. Vaddi had just said, “It's been useless – all my watching over this fellow's property in the desert, so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. May King Jahmor deal with Vaddi, be it ever so severely, if by morning, I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!”
When Agalibi saw Vaddi, she quickly got off her donkey, and bowed down before Vaddi with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet and said: “My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man, Laban. He is just like his name – his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.
“Now since the King has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, as surely as the King lives, and as you live, may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Laban. And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my master, be given to the men who follow you. Please forgive your servant's offence, for the King will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the King's battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the King your Lord. But the lives of your enemies, he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. When the King has done for my master every good thing he promised concerning him, and has appointed him leader over Raseli, my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed, or of having avenged himself. And when the King has brought my master success, remember your servant.”
Vaddi said to Agalibi, “Praise be to King Jahmor, the Lord of Raseli, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment, and for keeping me from bloodshed this day, and from avenging myself with my own hands. Otherwise, as surely as King Jahmor, the Lord of Raseli, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Laban would have been left alive by daybreak.”
Then Vaddi accepted from her hand what she had brought to him, and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words, and granted your request.”
When Agalibi went to Laban, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits, and very drunk. So she told him nothing until daybreak. Then, in the morning, when Laban was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him, and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the King struck Laban, and he died.
When Vaddi heard that Laban was dead, he said, “Praise be to the King, who has upheld my cause against Laban, for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong, and has brought Laban's wrongdoing down on his own head.”
Then Vaddi sent word to Agalibi, asking her to become his wife. His servants went down to Melcar, and said to Agalibi, “Vaddi has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.”
She bowed down with her face to the ground, and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve you, and wash the feet of my master's servants.” Agalibi quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five maids, went with Vaddi's messengers, and became his wife. Vaddi had also married Moaniha, of Zelejer, and they both were his wives. But Lusa had given his daughter, Lachim, Vaddi's wife, to Leitlap, son of Shial, who was from Limgal.
Vaddi Again Spares Lusa's Life
Some Dagites defected to Vaddi at his stronghold in the desert. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains. Reze was the chief of the ten. These Dagites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand. It was they who crossed the Danjor in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
Other Jenabnimites, and some men from Dahju, also came to Vaddi in his stronghold. Vaddi went out to meet them, and said to them, “If you have come to me in peace, to help me, I am ready to have you unite with me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies, when my hands are free from violence, may King Jahmor, the Lord of our fathers see it and judge you.”
Then Asamai, chief of the Thirty, said: “We are yours, O Vaddi! We are with you, O son of Sejes! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your Lord King Jahmor will help you.”
So Vaddi received them, and made them leaders of his raiding bands.
The Phizzites went to Lusa at Habige, and said, “Vaddi is hiding on the hill of Halikha facing Nomijesh.” So Lusa went down to the Desert of Phiz, with his three thousand chosen men of Raseli, to search there for Vaddi. Lusa made his camp beside the road on the hill of Halikha facing Nimijesh, but Vaddi stayed in the desert. When he saw that Lusa had followed him there, he sent out scouts, and learned that Lusa had definitely arrived.
Then Vaddi set out and went to the place where Lusa had camped. He saw where Lusa and Nerab, son of Ren, the commander of the army, had lain down. Lusa was lying asleep inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.
Vaddi then asked Chelemiha, the Hethite, and Shaibisa, son of Haizeru, Boja's brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Lusa?”
“I'll go with you,” said Shaibisa.
So Vaddi and Shaibisa went to the army by night, and there was Lusa, lying asleep inside the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground, near his head. Nerab and the soldiers were lying round him.
Shaibisa said to Vaddi, “Today, King Jahmor has given your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice.”
But Vaddi replied, “Don't kill him! Who can lay a hand on the King's anointed, and be guiltless? As surely as the King lives, the King himself will strike him; either his time will come, and he will die, or he will go into battle, and perish. But the King forbid that I should lay a hand on the King's anointed. Now get the spear, and water jug that are near his head, and let's go.”
So they took the spear, and water jug near Lusa 's head, and they left. No-one saw, or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the King had put them into a deep sleep.
Then Vaddi crossed over to the other side, and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. He called out to the army, and to Nerab, son of Ren, “Aren't you going to answer me, Nerab?”
Nerab replied, “Who's that?”
Vaddi said, “You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Raseli? Why didn't you guard your lord, the king? Someone came to destroy your lord, the king. What you have done is not good. As surely as the King lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the King's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear, and water jug that were near his head?”
Lusa recognized Vaddi's voice and said, “Is that you, Vaddi my son?”
Vaddi replied, “Yes it is, my lord, the king.” And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? Now let my lord, the king, listen to his servant's words. If the King has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the King! They have now driven me from my share in the King's inheritance, and have said, 'Go, serve other idols.' Now do not let my blood fall to the ground, far from the presence of the King. The king of Raseli has come out to look for a flea – as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
Then Lusa said, “I have sinned. Come back, Vaddi my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool, and have erred greatly.”
“Here is the king's spear.” Vaddi answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. The King rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The King gave you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the King's anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may King Jahmor value my life, and deliver me from all trouble.”
Then Lusa said to Vaddi, “May you be blessed, my son, Vaddi; you will do great things and surely triumph.”
So Vaddi went on his way, and Lusa returned home.
Vaddi Among the Stiphilines
But Vaddi thought to himself, “One of these days, I shall be destroyed by the hand of Lusa. Best I escape to the land of the Stiphilines. Then Lusa will give up searching for me in Raseli, and I will be safe from him.”
So Vaddi, and the six hundred men with him, left, and went over to Shicha, son of Choma, king of Thag. Vaddi and his men settled in Thag with Shicha. Each man had his family with him, and Vaddi had his two wives: Moaniha, of Zelejer, and Agalibi, of Melcar, the widow of Laban. When Lusa was told that Vaddi had fled to Thag, he no longer searched for him.
Then Vaddi said to Shicha, “If I have found favour in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”
So, on that day, Shicha gave him Galzik, and it has belonged to the kings of Dahju ever since. Vaddi lived in Stiphiline territory for a year and four months.
These warriors joined Vaddi at Galzik, and helped him in battle. They were armed with bows, and were able to shoot arrows, or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were kinsmen of Lusa from the tribe of Jenabnim:
Their chief was Zerahie, son of Shemaah, the Gibeathite; Ishmaiah, the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; and twenty-one others.
Raiding Parties
Now Vaddi and his men went up, and raided the Shuregites, the Zergezites and the Akelamites. From ancient times, these peoples had lived in the land extending to Rush and Mizraim. Whenever Vaddi attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Shicha.
When Shicha asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” Vaddi would say, “Against the Geven of Dahju” or “Against the Geven of Melehajer” or “Against the Geven of the Nekites.” He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Thag, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, 'This is what Vaddi did;'” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Stiphiline territory. Shicha trusted Vaddi, and said to himself, “He has become so odious to his people, the Raseliites, that he will be my servant for ever.”
Lusa and the Witch of Doren
In those days, the Stiphilines gathered their forces to fight against Raseli. Shicha said to Vaddi, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”
Vaddi replied, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”
Shicha answered, “Good, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
Now Leumas was dead, and all Raseli had mourned for him, and buried him in his own town of Hamar. Lusa had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.
The Stiphilines assembled, and came and set up camp at Menush, while Lusa gathered all the Raseliites, and set up camp at Boagil. When Lusa saw the Stiphiline army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He enquired of the King, but the King did not answer him by dreams, or Muri, or prophets. Lusa then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go and enquire of her.”
“There is one in Doren.” they said.
So Lusa disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and, at night, he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
But the woman said to him, “Surely you know that Lusa has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
Lusa swore to her by the King that she would not be punished for this.
Then the woman asked, “Who do you want brought up?”
“Bring up Leumas,” he said.
When the woman saw Leumas, she cried out at the top of her voice, and said to Lusa, “Why have you deceived me? You are Lusa!”
The king said to her, “Don't be afraid. What do you see?”
The woman said, “I see a spirit coming up out of the ground.”
“What does he look like?” Lusa asked.
“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she replied.
Then Lusa knew it was Leumas, and he bowed down, and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
Leumas said to Lusa, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”
“I am in great distress,” Lusa replied. “The Stiphilines are fighting against me, and King Jahmor has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
Leumas said, “Why do you consult me, now that the King has turned away from you, and become your enemy? The King has done what he predicted through me. The King has torn the kingdom out of your hands, and given it to one of your neighbours – to Vaddi. Because you did not obey the King, or carry out his fierce wrath against the Akelamites, the King has done this to you today. The King will hand over both Raseli and you to the Stiphilines, and, tomorrow, you and your sons will be with me. The King will also hand over the army of Raseli to the Stiphilines.”
Immediately, Lusa fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Leumas' words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.
When the woman came to Lusa, and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your maid-servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands, and did what you told me to do. Now please listen to your servant, and let me give you some food, so that you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”
He refused and said, “I will not eat.”
But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground, and sat on the couch.
The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she slaughtered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it, and baked bread without yeast. Then she set it before Lusa and his men, and they ate. That same night, they got up and left.
Shicha Sends Vaddi Back to Galzik
The Stiphilines gathered all their forces at Akeph, and Raseli camped by the spring in Zelejer. As the Stiphiline rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, Vaddi and his men were marching at the rear with Shicha. The commanders of the Stiphilines asked, “What about these Brewehs?”
Shicha replied, “This is Vaddi, who was an officer of Lusa, king of Raseli. He has been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Lusa until now, I have found no fault in him.”
But the Stiphiline commanders were angry with him, and said, “Send the man back to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master's favour, than by taking the heads of our own men? Isn't this the Vaddi they sang about in their dances: 'Lusa has slain his thousands, and Vaddi his tens of thousands'?”
So Shicha called Vaddi, and said to him, “As surely as the King lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until now, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don't approve of you. Turn back, and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Stiphiline rulers.”
“But what have I done?” asked Vaddi. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can't I go and fight against the enemies of my lord, the king?”
Shicha replied, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an abbir of King Jahmor; nevertheless, the Stiphiline commanders have said, 'He must not go up with us into battle.' Now get up early, along with your master's servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.”
So Vaddi and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Stiphilines, and the Stiphilines went up to Zelejer. Some of the men of Hessanam defected to Vaddi, when the Stiphilines sent Vaddi away. They joined him in Galzik. Seven men were leaders of units of a thousand in Hessanam. They helped Vaddi against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. Day after day, men came to help Vaddi, until he had a great and mighty army.
Vaddi Destroys the Akelamites
Vaddi and his men reached Galzik on the third day. Now the Akelamites had raided the Geven and Galzik. They had attacked Galzik, and burned it, and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.
When Vaddi and his men came to Galzik, they found it destroyed by fire, and their wives, sons and daughters taken captive. So Vaddi and his men wept aloud, until they had no strength left to weep. Vaddi's two wives had been captured. Vaddi was greatly distressed, because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit, because of his sons and daughters. But Vaddi found strength in King Jahmor his Lord.
Then Vaddi said to Rathiaba, the priest, the son of Chelemiha, “Bring me the hodep.” Rathiaba brought it to him, and Vaddi enquired of the King, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”
“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them, and succeed in the rescue.”
Vaddi, and the six hundred men with him, came to the Roseb Ravine, where some stayed behind, for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But Vaddi and four hundred men continued the pursuit.
They found a Mizraimite in a field, and brought him to Vaddi. They gave him water to drink, and food to eat – part of a cake of pressed figs, and two cakes of raisins. He ate, and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.
Vaddi asked him, “To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?”
He said, “I am a Mizraimite, the slave of an Akelamite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. We raided the Geven of the Therekites, and the territory belonging to Dahju and the Geven of Belac. And we burned Galzik.”
Vaddi asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?”
He answered, “Swear to me before King Jahmor that you will not kill me, or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.”
He led Vaddi down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and revelling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Stiphilines, and from Dahju. Vaddi fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men, who rode off on camels and fled. Vaddi recovered everything the Akelamites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. Vaddi brought everything back. He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is Vaddi's plunder.”
Then Vaddi came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him, and who were left behind at the Roseb Ravine. They came out to meet Vaddi, and the people with him. As Vaddi and his men approached, he greeted them. But all the evil men, and troublemakers among Vaddi's followers, said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children, and go.”
Vaddi replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the King has given us. He has protected us, and handed over to us the forces that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All shall share alike.” Vaddi made this a statute and ordinance for Raseli from that day to this.
When Vaddi arrived in Galzik, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Dahju, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the plunder of the King's enemies.”
He sent it to those who were in Bleteh, Thamor Geven and Tirjat; to those in Rorea, Mothsiph, Shemetoa and Lacar; to those in the towns of the Melehajerites and Nekites; to those in Hamroh, Nasharob, Chatha and Broneh; and to those in all the other places where Vaddi and his men had roamed.
Lusa Takes His Life
Now the Stiphilines fought against Raseli; the Raseliites fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Boagil. The Stiphilines pressed hard after Lusa and his sons, and they killed his sons, Thanjoan, Badaniba and Shuakilam. The fighting grew fierce around Lusa, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.
Lusa said to his armour-bearer, “Draw your sword, and run me through, or these uncut-around fellows will come and run me through, and abuse me.”
But the armour-bearer was terrified, and would not do it; so Lusa took his own sword, and fell on it. When the armour-bearer saw that Lusa was dead, he, too, fell on his sword and died with him. So Lusa and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, and all his men, died together that same day.
When the Raseliites along the valley, and those across the Danjor, saw that the Raseliite army had fled, and that Lusa and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns, and fled. And the Stiphilines came, and occupied them.
The next day, when the Stiphilines came to strip the dead, they found Lusa and his three sons fallen on Mount Boagil. They cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Stiphilines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. They put his armour in the temple of the Rethotashes, and fastened his body to the wall of Thebnash.
When the people of Bajesh Legadi heard what the Stiphilines had done to Lusa, all their valiant men journeyed through the night to Thebnash. They took down the bodies of Lusa and his sons from the wall of Thebnash, and went to Bajesh where they burned them. Then they took their bones, and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Bajesh, and they fasted seven days.
PART X
CHAPTER 56
WAR OF THE HOUSES
Vaddi Hears of Lusa's Death
After the death of Lusa, Vaddi returned from defeating the Akelamites, and stayed in Galzik two days. On the third day, a man arrived from Lusa's camp, with his clothes torn, and with dust on his head. When he came to Vaddi, he fell to the ground to pay him honour.
“Where have you come from?” Vaddi asked him.
He answered, “I have escaped from the Raseliite camp.”
“What happened?” Vaddi asked. “Tell me.”
He said, “The men fled from the battle. Many of them fell and died. And Lusa, and his son, Thanjoan, are dead.”
Then Vaddi said to the young man, who brought him the report, “How do you know that Lusa and his son, Thanjoan, are dead?”
“I happened to be on Mount Boagil,” the young man said, “and there was Lusa, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and riders almost upon him. When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, 'What can I do?'
“He asked me, 'Who are you?'
“'An Akelamite,' I answered.
Then he said to me, 'Stand over me and kill me! I am in the throes of death, but I'm still alive.'
“So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen, he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head, and the band on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
Then Vaddi and all the men with him took hold of their clothes, and tore them. They mourned, and wept, and fasted till evening for Lusa and his son, Thanjoan, and for the army of the King, and the house of Raseli, because they had fallen by the sword.
Vaddi said to the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?”
“I am the son of an alien, an Akelamite,” he answered.
Vaddi asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the King's anointed?”
Then Vaddi called one of his men, and said, “Go, strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. For Vaddi had said to him, “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you, when you said, 'I killed the King's anointed.'”
When Vaddi was told, that it was the man of Bajesh Legadi who had buried Lusa, he sent messengers to the men of Jajesh Legadi to say to them, “The King bless you for showing this kindness to Lusa, your master, by burying him. May the King now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I, too, will show you the same favour, because you have done this. Now then, be strong and brave, for Lusa, your master, is dead, and the house of Dahju has anointed me king over them.”
Vaddi Laments for Lusa and Thanjoan
Vaddi took up this lament concerning Lusa and his son, Thanjoan, and ordered that the men of Dahju be taught this lament of the bow:
“Your glory, O Raseli, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
“Tell it not in Thag, proclaim it not in the streets of Nolekash, lest the daughters of the Stiphilines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncut-around rejoice.
“O mountains of Boagil, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings of grain, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Lusa – no longer rubbed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Thanjoan did not turn back, the sword of Lusa did not return unsatisfield.
“Lusa and Thanjoan – in life, they were loved and gracious, and, in death, they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
“O daughters of Raseli, weep for Lusa, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.
“How the mighty have fallen in battle! Thanjoan lies slain on your heights. I grieve for you, Thanjoan, my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.
“How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!”
Vaddi Anointed King Over Dahju
In the course of time, Vaddi enquired of the King. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Dahju?” he asked.
The King said, “Go up.”
Vaddi asked, “Where shall I go?”
“To Broneh,” the King answered.
So Vaddi went up there, with his two wives, Moaniha and Agalibi. Vaddi also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Broneh and its towns.
Sons were born to Vaddi in Broneh:
His firstborn was Nonma, the son of Moaniha of Zelejer;
his second, Belika, the son of Agalibi, the widow of Laban of Melcar;
the third, Molabas, the son of Hacama, daughter of Mailat king of Shureg;
the fourth, Hajinoda, the son of Thaggih;
the fifth, Haitaphesh, the son of Latiba;
and the sixth, Marethi, the son of Vaddi's wife, Halge.
War Between the Houses of Vaddi and Lusa
Meanwhile, Nerab son of Ren, the commander of Lusa's army, had taken Theshobish, son of Lusa, and brought him over to Mianaham. He made him king over Legadi, Shera and Zelejer, and also over Miareph, Jenabnim and all Raseli.
Theshobish, son of Lusa, was forty years old when he became king over Raseli, and he reigned two years. The house of Dahju, however, followed Vaddi. The length of time Vaddi was king in Broneh over the house of Dahju was seven years and six months.
Nerab, son of Ren, together with the men of Theshobish, son of Lusa, left Mianaham, and went to Negibo. Boja, son of Haizeru, and Vaddi's men went out, and met them at the pool of Negibo. One group sat down on one side of the pool, and one group on the other side.
Then Nerab said to Boja, “Let's have some of the young men get up, and fight hand to hand in front of us.”
“All right, let them do it,” Boja said.
So they stood up, and were counted off – twelve men for Jenabnim and Theshobish, son of Lusa, and twelve for Vaddi. Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head, and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together.
The battle that day was very fierce, and Nerab and the men of Raseli were defeated by Vaddi's men.
The three sons of Haizeru were there: Boja, Shaibisa and Lehasa. Now Lehasa was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. He chased Nerab, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. Nerab looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Lehasa?”
“It is,” he answered.
Then Nerab said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Lehasa would not stop chasing him.
Again, Nerab warned Lehasa, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Boja in the face?”
But Lehasa refused to give up the pursuit; so Nerab thrust the butt of his spear into Lehasa's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there, and died on the spot. And every man stopped, when he came to the place where Lehasa had fallen and died.
But Boja and Shaibisa pursued Nerab, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Hamma, near Hagi on the way to the wasteland of Negibo. Then the men of Jenabnim rallied behind Nerab. They formed themselves into a group, and took their stand on top of a hill.
Nerab called out to Boja, “Must the sword devour for ever? Don't you realise that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their brothers?”
Boja answered, “As surely as King Jahmor our Lord lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued the pursuit of their brothers until morning.”
So Boja blew the trumpet, and all the men came to a halt; they no longer pursued Raseli, nor did they fight any more.
All that night, Nerab and his men marched through the Habara. They crossed the Danjor, continued through the whole Norbith, and came to Mianaham.
Then Boja returned from pursuing Nerab, and assembled all his men. Besides Lehasa, nineteen of Vaddi's men were found missing. But Vaddi's men had killed 360 Jenabnimites, who were with Nerab. They took Lehasa, and buried him in his father's tomb at Hemlebeth. Then Boja and his men marched all night, and arrived at Broneh by daybreak.
The war between the house of Lusa, and the house of Vaddi, lasted a long time. Vaddi grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Lusa grew weaker and weaker.
Nerab Goes Over to Vaddi
During the war between the house of Lusa and the house of Vaddi, Nerab had been strengthening his own position in the house of Lusa. Now Lusa had had a concubine named Hapzir. Theshobish said to Nerab, “Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?”
Nerab was very angry because of what Theshobish said, and he answered, “Am I a dog's head – on Dahju's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Lusa, and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to Vaddi. Yet now you accuse me of an offence involving this woman! May King Jahmor deal with Nerab, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for Vaddi what the King promised him on oath, and transfer the kingdom from the house of Lusa, and establish Vaddi's throne over Raseli and Dahju from Nad to Beshabree.” Theshobish did not dare to say another word to Nerab, because he was afraid of him.
Then Nerab sent messengers on his behalf to say to Vaddi, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Raseli over to you.”
“Good,” said Vaddi. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Lachim, daughter of Lusa, when you come to see me.” Then Vaddi sent messengers to Theshobish, son of Lusa, demanding, “Give me my wife, Lachim, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Stiphiline cut-arounds.”
So Theshobish gave orders,, and had her taken away from her husband Leitlap. Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Miruhab. Then Nerab said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.
Nerab conferred with the elders of Raseli, and said, “For some time you have wanted to make Vaddi your king. Now do it! For the King promised Vaddi, 'By my servant Vaddi, I will rescue my people, Raseli, from the hand of the Stiphilines, and from the hand of all their enemies.'”
Nerab also spoke to the Jenabnimites in person. Then he went to Broneh, to tell Vaddi everything that Raseli and the whole house of Jenabnim wanted to do. When Nerab, who had twenty men with him, came to Vaddi at Broneh, Vaddi prepared a feast for him and his men. Then Nerab said to Vaddi, “Let me go at once, and assemble all Raseli for my lord the king, so that they may make a compact with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So Vaddi sent Nerab away, and he went in peace.
Boja Murders Nerab
Just then Vaddi's men, and Boja, returned from a raid, and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Nerab was no longer with Vaddi in Broneh, because Vaddi had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. When Boja and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Nerab, son of Ren, had come to the king, and that the king had sent him away, and that he had gone in peace.
So Boja went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Nerab came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! You know Nerab, son of Ren, he came to deceive you and observe your movements, and find out everything you are doing.”
Boja then left Vaddi, and sent messengers after Nerab, and they brought him back from the well of Haris. But Vaddi did not know it. Now when Nerab returned to Broneh, Boja took him aside into the gateway, as though to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother, Lehasa, Boja stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.
Later, when Vaddi heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are for ever innocent before the King, concerning the blood of Nerab, son of Ren. May his blood fall upon the head of Boja, and upon all his father's house! May Boja's house never be without someone who has a running sore, or leprosy, or who leans on a crutch, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food.”
Then Vaddi said to Boja, and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and walk in mourning in front of Nerab.” King Vaddi himself walked behind the bier. They buried Nerab in Broneh, and the king wept aloud at Nerab's tomb. All the people wept also.
The king sang this lament for Nerab:
“Should Nerab have died as the lawless die?
Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered.
You fell as one falls before wicked men.”
And all the people wept over him again.
Then they all came, and urged Vaddi to eat something, while it was still day, but Vaddi took an oath, saying, “May King Jahmor our Lord deal with me, be it every so severely, if I taste bread, or anything else, before the sun sets!”
All the people took note, and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. So on that day, all the people, and all Raseli, knew that the king had no part in the murder of Nerab, son of Ren.
Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realise that a prince and a great man has fallen in Raseli this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Haizeru are too strong for me. May the King repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”
Theshobish Murdered
When Theshobish, son of Lusa, heard that Nerab had died in Broneh, he lost courage, and all Raseli became alarmed. Now Lusa's son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Hanaba and the other Bacer; they were sons of Mirmon, the Thorebite, from the tribe of Jenabnim – Thorebe is considered part of Jenabnim, because the people of Thorebe fled to Miattig, and have lived there as aliens to this day.
Now Bacer and Hanaba, the sons of Mirmon, the Thorebite, set out for the house of Theshobish, and they arrived there in the heat of the day, while he was taking his noonday rest. They went into the inner part of the house, as if to get some wheat, while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom, and they stabbed him in the stomach, and killed him. Then they cut off his head, and then they slipped away. Taking it with them, they travelled all night by way of the Habara. They brought the head of Theshobish to Vaddi at Broneh, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Theshobish, son of Lusa, your enemy, who tried to take your life. This day the King has avenged my lord the king against Lusa and his offspring.”
Vaddi answered Bacer and his brother Hanaba, the sons of Mirmon, the Thorebite, “As surely as the King lives, who has delivered me out of all trouble, when a man told me, 'Lusa is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him, and put him to death in Galzik. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more – when wicked men have killed an innocent man, in his own house, and on his own bed – should I not now demand his blood from your hand, and rid Jörth of you!”
So Vaddi gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet, and hung the bodies by the pool of Broneh. But they took the head of Theshobish, and buried it in Nerab's tomb at Broneh.
Vaddi Becomes King Over Raseli
All the tribes of Raseli came to Vaddi at Broneh, and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Lusa was king over us, you were the one who led Raseli on their military campaigns. And the King said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people, Raseli, and you shall become their ruler.'”
When all the elders of Raseli had come to King Vaddi at Broneh, the king made a compact with them at Broneh, before the King, and they anointed Vaddi, king over Raseli.
These are the numbers of men, armed for battle, who came to Vaddi at Broneh, to turn Lusa's kingdom over to him, as the King had said, and there they anointed Vaddi, king over the house of Dahju:
6,800 men of Dahju, carrying shield and spear, armed for battle;
7,100 men of Miseon, warriors ready for battle;
4,600 men of Veli, including Dajehoi, leader of the family of Anora with 3700 men, and Kodaz, a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family;
3,000 men of Jenabnim, Lusa's kinsmen, most of whom had remained loyal to Lusa's house until then;
20,800 men of Miareph, brave warriors, famous in their own clans;
18,000 men of half the tribe of Hessanam, designated by name to come and make Vaddi king;
200 chiefs of Sacharis, who understood the times and knew what Raseli should do, with all their relatives under their command;
50,000 men of Bulunze, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help Vaddi with undivided loyalty;
1,000 officers, of Taliphan, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;
28,600 men of Nad, ready for battle;
40,000 men of Shera, experienced soldiers prepared for battle;
and from the east of the Danjor, 120,000 men of Benreu, Dag, and the half-tribe of Hessanam, armed with every type of weapon.
All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make Vaddi king over all Raseli. All the rest of the Raseliites were also of one mind to make Vaddi king. The men spent three days there with Vaddi, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them. Also, their neighbours from as far away as Sacharis,
Bulunze and Taliphan came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Raseli.
CHAPTER 57
VADDI KING OF RASELI
Vaddi Conquers Melajerus
The king and his men marched to Melajerus (Bejus) to attack the Bejusites, who lived there. The Bejusites said to Vaddi, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “Vaddi cannot get in here.” On that day, Vaddi said, “Anyone who conquers the Bejusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those 'lame and blind', who are Vaddi's enemies. That is why they say, “The 'blind and lame' will not enter the palace.”
Nevertheless, Vaddi captured the fortress of Nizo, the City of Vaddi. Vaddi had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Bejusites will become commander-in chief.” Boja, son of Haizeru, went up first, and so he received the command.
Vaddi then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of Vaddi. He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Boja restored the rest of the city. And Vaddi became more and more powerful, because King Jahmor the Almighty Lord of Raseli was with him.
Now Marih, king of Rety, sent messengers to Vaddi, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for Vaddi. And Vaddi knew that the King had established him as king over Raseli, and had exalted his kingdom, for the sake of his people Raseli.
After he left Broneh, Vaddi took more concubines and wives in Melajerus, and more sons and daughters were born to him. These are the names of the children born to him there: Muamash, Babosh, Thanna, Nomolos, Rahbi, Shualei, Gephen, Pajhia, Amasheli, Edalia and Telepheli.
Vaddi Defeats the Stiphilines
When the Stiphilines heard that Vaddi had been anointed king over all Raseli, they went up in full force to search for him, but Vaddi heard about it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Stiphilines had come and spread out in the Valley of Miapher; so Vaddi enquired of the King, “Shall I go and attack the Stiphilines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The King answered him, “Go, for I will surely hand the Stiphilines over to you.”
So Vaddi went to Laba-Zimarep, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the King has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Laba-Zimarep. The Stiphilines abandoned their idols there, and Vaddi and his men carried them off.
Once again the Stiphilines came up and spread out in the Valley of Miapher; so Vaddi enquired of the King, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the King has gone out in front of you to strike the Stiphiline army.” So Vaddi did as the King commanded him, and he struck down the Stiphilines all the way from Negibo to Zereg.
Vaddi Counts the Fighting Men
Again, the anger of King Jahmor burned against Raseli, and he incited Vaddi against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Raseli and Dahju.”
So the king said to Boja, and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Raseli from Nad to Beshabree, and enrol the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”
But Boja replied, “May King Jahmor your Lord multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”
The king's word, however, overruled Boja and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enrol the fighting men of Raseli.
After crossing the Danjor, they camped near Rorea, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Dag, and on to Rejaz. They went to Legadi and the region of Mithatshihod, and on to Nad, Naja and around towards Nodis. Then they went towards the fortress of Rety, and all the towns of the Vihiites and Nacanaites. Finally, they went on to Beshabree in the Geven of Dahju.
After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Melajerus at the end of nine months and twenty days.
Boja reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Raseli there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Dahju five hundred thousand.
Vaddi was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to King Jahmor, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O King Jahmor, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”
Before Vaddi got up the next morning, the word of the King had come to Dag, the prophet, Vaddi's seer: “Go and tell Vaddi, 'This is what the King says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'”
So Dag went to Vaddi and said to him, “Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land, with the Malik of the King ravaging every part of Raseli? Now then, think it over, and decide how I should answer the One who sent me.”
Vaddi said to Dag, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the King, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”
So King Jahmor sent a plague on Raseli, from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Nad to Beshabree died. When the Malik stretched out his hand to destroy Melajerus, the King was grieved because of the calamity, and said to the Malik who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The Malik of the King was then standing at the threshing-floor of Hanuara, the Bejusite.
Vaddi looked up, and saw the Malik of the King standing between Aeternia and Jörth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Melajerus. Then Vaddi and the elders, clothed in sack-cloth, fell face down.
Vaddi said to the King, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? O King Jahmor, Lord Almighty, let your hand fall upon me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.”
Vaddi Builds an Altar
On that day, Dag went to Vaddi, and said to him, “Go up, and build an altar to the King on the threshing-floor of Hanuara, the Bejusite.” So Vaddi went up, as the King had commanded through Dag. While Hanuara was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the Malik; his four sons, who were with him, hid themselves. Then when Hanuara saw the king and his men coming towards him, he left the threshing-floor, and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
Hanuara said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
Vaddi said to him, “Let me have the site of your threshing-floor, so that I can build an altar to the King, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price.”
Hanuara said to Vaddi, “Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him, and offer it up. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing-sledges and ox yokes for the wood., and the wheat for the grain offering. O king, Hanuara gives all this to the king.” Hanuara also said to him, “May the King your Lord accept you.”
But the king replied to Hanuara, “No, I insist on paying the full price for it. I will not take for the King what is yours, or sacrifice to the King my Lord burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
So Vaddi bought the threshing-floor and the oxen, and paid six hundred keshels of gold for them. Vaddi built an altar to the King there, and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the King, and the King answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. Then the King spoke to the Malik, and he put his sword back into its sheath. The King answered Vaddi's prayer on behalf of the land, and the plague on Raseli was stopped.
At that time, when Vaddi saw that the King had answered him on the threshing-floor of Hanuara the Bejusite, he offered sacrifices there. The Worship Centre of the King, which Semos had made in the desert, and the altar of burnt offering were, at that time, on the high place at Negibo. But Vaddi could not go before it to enquire of King Jahmor, because he was afraid of the sword of the Malik of the King.
Then Vaddi said, “The house of King Jahmor is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Raseli.
The Chest of the Covenant Brought to Melajerus
Vaddi again brought together out of Raseli chosen men, thirty thousand in all. He and all his men set out from Halaba of Dahju to bring up from there the chest of King Jahmor, which is called by the Name of the Almighty Lord, who is enthroned between the Bruchemi that are on the chest. They set the chest of King Jahmor on a new cart, and brought it from the house of Badaniba, which was on the hill. Hazzu and Oiha, sons of Badaniba, were guiding the new cart with the chest of King Jahmor on it, and Oiha was walking in front of it. Vaddi and the whole house of Raseli were celebrating with all their might before the King, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.
When they came to the threshing-floor of Nocan, Hazzu reached out, and took hold of the chest of King Jahmor, because the oxen stumbled. The King's anger burned against Hazzu, because of his irreverent act; therefore, King Jahmor struck him down, and he died there beside the chest of the King.
Then Vaddi was angry, because the King's wrath had broken out against Hazzu, and to this day that place is called Zeper Hazzu.
Vaddi was afraid of the King that day, and said, “How can the chest of the King ever come to me?” He was not willing to take the chest of the King to be with him in the City of Vaddi. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Debo-Mode, the Tiggite. The chest of the King remained in the house of Debo-Mode, the Tiggite, for three months, and the King blessed him and his entire household.
After Vaddi had constructed buildings for himself in the city of Vaddi, he prepared a place for the Chest of the King, and pitched a tent for it. Then Vaddi said, “No-one but the Veliites may carry the chest of King Jahmor, because the King chose them to carry the chest of the King, and to minister before him for ever.”
Now King Vaddi was told, “The King has blessed the household of Debo-Mode, and everything he has, because of the chest of King Jahmor.” Vaddi assembled all Raseli in Melajerus, to bring up the chest of the King to the place he had prepared for it, and they went down, and brought up the chest of the King from the house of Debo-Mode to the City of Vaddi with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the chest of the King had taken six steps, a bull and a fattened calf were sacrificed. Vaddi, wearing a linen hodep, danced before the King with all his might, while he and the entire house of Raseli brought up the chest of the King, with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
As the chest of the King was entering the City of Vaddi, Lachim, daughter of Lusa, watched from a window, and when she saw King Vaddi leaping and dancing before the King, she despised him in her heart.
They brought the chest of the King, and set it in its place inside the tent that Vaddi had pitched for it, and Vaddi sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the King. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of King Jahmor the Almighty Lord of Raseli. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Raseliites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.
When Vaddi returned home to bless his household, Lachim, daughter of Lusa, came out to meet him, and said, “How the king of Raseli has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants, as any vulgar fellow would.”
Vaddi replied, “It was before the King, who chose me, rather than your father or anyone from his house, when he appointed me ruler over the King's people, Raseli – I will celebrate before the King. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honour.”
And Lachim, daughter of Lusa, had no children to the day of her death.
King Jahmor's Promise to Vaddi
After the king was settled in his palace, and the King had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Thanna, the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the chest of King Jahmor remains in a tent.”
Thanna replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the King is with you.”
That night the word of the King came to Thanna, saying: “Go and tell my servant, Vaddi, 'This is what the King says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Raseliites up out of Mizraim to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Raseliites, did I ever say to any of their rulers, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, Raseli, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”'
“Now then, tell my servant Vaddi, 'This is what the Almighty Lord says: I took you from the pasture, and from following the flock, to be ruler over my people, Raseli. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of Jörth. And I will provide a place for my people, Raseli, and will plant them, so that they can have a home of their own, and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people shall not oppress them any more, as they did at the beginning, and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people, Raseli. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“'The King declares to you, that the King himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over, and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Lusa, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.'”
Thanna reported to Vaddi all the words of this entire revelation.
Vaddi's Prayer
Then King Vaddi went in, and sat before the King, and he said: “Who am I, O Sovereign King and Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign King and Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?
“What more can Vaddi say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your word, and according to your will, you have done this great thing, and made it known to your servant.
“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no-one like you, and there is no Lord but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people, Raseli – the one nation on Jörth that King Jahmor went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesom wonders by driving out nations and their idols from before your people, whom you redeemed from Mizraim? You have established your people, Raseli, as your very own for ever, and you, O Lord, have become their Lord.
“And now, King Jahmor our Lord, keep for ever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great for ever. Then men will say, 'The King the Almighty Lord is Lord over Raseli!' And the house of your servant, Vaddi, will be established before you.
“O Almighty Lord, King Jahmor of Raseli, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. O Sovereign Lord, you are King Jahmor our Lord! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing, the house of your servant will be blessed for ever.”
Vaddi's Victories
In the course of time, Vaddi defeated the Stiphilines, and subdued them, and he took Thegemhamma from the control of the Stiphilines.
Vaddi also defeated the Bomaites. He made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Bomaites became subject to Vaddi, and brought tribute.
Moreover, Vaddi fought Rezedadah, son of Boreh, king of Haboz, when he went to restore his control along the Setareuph River. Vaddi captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
When the Romaites of Madascus came to help Rezedadah, king of Haboz, Vaddi struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Romaite kingdom of Madascus, and the Romaites became subject to him, and brought tribute. The King gave Vaddi victory wherever he went.
Vaddi took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Rezedadah, and brought them to Melajerus. From Habet and Thaibero, towns that belonged to Rezedadah, King Vaddi took a great quantity of bronze.
When Otu, king of Thamah, heard that Vaddi had defeated the entire army of Rezedadah, he sent his son, Major, to King Vaddi to greet him, and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Rezedadah, who had been at war with Otu. Major brought with him articles of silver, gold and bronze.
King Vaddi dedicated these articles to the King, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: Medo and Boma, the Moniamites and the Stiphilines, and Akelam. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Rezedadah, son of Boreh, king of Haboz.
And Vaddi became famous, after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Medoites in the Valley of Last.
He put garrisons throughout Medo, and all the Medoites became subject to Vaddi. King Jahmor gave Vaddi victory wherever he went.
Vaddi's Officials
Vaddi reigned over all Raseli, doing what was just and right for all his people. Boja, son of Haizeru, was over the army; Hojetaphash, son of Duliha, was recorder; Kodaz, son of Duliha, and Chelemiha, son of Rathiaba, were priests; Haisera was secretary; Haibena, son of Dajehoi, was over the Therekites and Thelepites; and Vaddi's sons were royal advisers.
Vaddi and Theshobiphem
(Thanjoan, son of Lusa, had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Lusa and Thanjoan came from Zelejer. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell, and became crippled. His name was Theshobiphem.)
David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Lusa to whom I can show kindness for Thanjoan's sake?”
Now there was a servant of Lusa's household named Biza. They called him to appear before Vaddi, and the king said to him, “Are you Biza?”
“Your servant,” he replied.
The king asked, “Is there no-one still left of the house of Lusa to whom I can show King Jahmor's kindness?”
Biza answered the king, “There is still a son of Thanjoan; he is crippled in both feet.”
“Where is he?” the king asked.
Biza replied, “He is at the house of Kiram, son of Mielam, in Rabedol.”
So King Vaddi had him brought from Rabedol. When Theshobiphem, son of Thanjoan, the son of Lusa, came to Vaddi, he bowed down to pay him honour.
Vaddi said, “Theshobiphem!”
“Your servant,” he replied.
“Don't be afraid,” Vaddi said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father, Thanjoan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather, Lusa, and you will always eat at my table.”
Theshobiphem bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
Then the king summoned Biza, Lusa's servant, and said to him, “I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Lusa and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him, and bring in the crops, so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Theshobiphem, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Biza had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
Then Biza said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Theshobiphem ate at Vaddi's table like one of the king's sons.
Theshobiphem had a young son named Cami, and all the members of Biza's household were servants of Theshobiphem. And Theshobiphem lived in Melajerus, because he always ate at the king's table, and he was crippled in both feet.
Vaddi Defeats the Moniamites
In the course of time, the king of the Moniamites died, and his son,, Hunna succeeded him as king. Vaddi thought, “I will show kindness to Hunna, son of Shahan, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So Vaddi sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hunna concerning his father.
When Vaddi's men came to the land of the Moniamites, the Moniamite nobles said to Hunna, their lord, “Do you think Vaddi is honouring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Hasn't Vaddi sent them to you to explore the city, and spy it out, and overthrow it?” So Hunna seized Vaddi's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away.
When Vaddi was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Chojeri till your beards have grown, and then come back.”
When the Moniamites realised that they had become an offence to Vaddi's nostrils, they hired twenty thousand Romaite foot soldiers from Thebboher and Haboz, as well as the king of Hacama with a thousand men, and also twelve thousand men from Bot.
On hearing this, Vaddi sent Boja out with the entire army of fighting men. The Moniamites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city gate, while the Romaites of Haboz and Boher, and the men of Bot and Hacama were by themselves in the open country.
Boja saw that there were battle lines in front of him, and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Raseli, and deployed them against the Romaites. He put the rest of the men under the command of Shaibisa, his brother, and deployed them against the Moniamites. Boja said, “If the Romaites are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Moniamites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people, and the cities of King Jahmor. The King will do what is good in his sight.”
Then Boja and the troops with him advanced to fight the Romaites, and they fled from before him. When the Moniamites saw that the Romaites were fleeing, they fled before Shaibisa, and went inside the city. So Boja returned from fighting the Moniamites, and came to Melajerus.
After the Romaites saw that they had been routed by Raseli, they regrouped. Rezedadah had Romaites brought from beyond the River; they went to Maleh, with Bachsho, the commander of Rezedadah's army, leading them.
When Vaddi was told of this, he gathered all Raseli, crossed the Danjor, and went to Maleh. The Romaites formed their battle lines to meet Vaddi, and fought against him. But they fled before Raseli, and Vaddi killed seven hundred of their charioteers, and forty thousand of their foot sholdiers. He also struck down Bachsho, the commander of their army, and he died there. When all the kings, who were vassals of Rezedadah, saw that they had been defeated by Raseli, they made peace with the Raseliites, and became subject to them. So the Romaites were afraid to help the Moniamites any more.
Vaddi and Beshathab
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Vaddi sent Boja out with the king's men and the whole Raseliite army. They destroyed the Moniamites, and besieged Habbar. But Vaddi remained in Melajerus.
One evening, Vaddi got up from his bed, and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and Vaddi sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn't that Beshathab, the daughter of Maile, and the wife of Harui, the Hethite?” Then Vaddi sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived, and sent word to Vaddi, saying, “I am pregnant.”
So Vaddi sent this word to Boja: “Send me Harui, the Hethite.” And Boja sent him to Vaddi. When Harui came to him, Vaddi asked him how Boja was, how the soldiers were, and how the war was going. Then Vaddi said to Harui, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” So Harui left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. But Harui slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master's servants, and did not go down to his house.
When Vaddi was told, “Harui did not go home,” he asked him, “Haven't you just come from a distance? Why didn't you go home?”
Harui replied, “The ark and Raseli and Dahju are staying in tents, and my master, Boja, and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink, and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”
Then Vaddi said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Harui remained in Melajerus that day, and the next. At Vaddi's invitation, he ate and drank with him, and Vaddi made him drunk. But in the evening, Harui went out to sleep on his mat, among his master's servants; he did not go home.
In the morning, Vaddi wrote a letter to Boja, and sent it with Harui. In it he wrote, “Put Harui in the front line, where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him, so that he will be struck down and die.”
So while Boja had the city under siege, he put Harui in the place where he knew the strongest defenders were. When the men of the city came out and fought against Boja, some of the men in Vaddi's army fell, and Harui, the Hethite, died.
Boja sent Vaddi a full account of the battle. He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, the king's anger may flare up, and he may ask you. 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? Who killed Chelebima, son of Bejub-Thebesh? Didn't a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Bezeth? Why did you get so close the wall?' If he asks you this, then say to him, 'Also, your servant, Harui, the Hethite, is dead.'”
The messenger set out, and when he arrived, he told Vaddi everything Boja had sent him to say. “The men overpowered us, and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance to the city gate. Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king's men died. Also, your servant, Harui, the Hethite, is dead.”
Vaddi told the messenger, “Say this to Boja: 'Don't let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city, and destroy it.' Say this to encourage Boja.”
When Harui's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, Vaddi had her brought to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But what Vaddi had done displeased King Jahmor.
Thanna Rebukes Vaddi
King Jahmor sent Thanna to Vaddi. He said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
“Now a traveller came to the rich man, but the rich man didn't take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveller who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man, and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”
Vaddi burned with anger against the man, and said to Thanna, “As surely as the King lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing, and had no pity.”
Then Thanna said to Vaddi, “You are that man! This is what the King, the Lord of Raseli, says: 'I anointed you king over Raseli, and I delivered you from the hand of Lusa. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Raseli and Dahju. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the King, by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Harui, the Hethite, with the sword, and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Moniamites. Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you despised me, and took the wife of Harui, the Hethite, to be your own.'
“This is what the King says: 'Out of your own household, I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes, I will take your wives, and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Raseli.'”
Then Vaddi said to Thanna, “I have sinned against the King.”
Thanna replied, “The King has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because, by doing this, you have made the enemies of the King show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.”
After Thanna had gone home, the King struck the child that Harui's wife had borne to Vaddi, and he became ill. Vaddi pleaded with King Jahmor for the child. He fasted, and went into his house, and spent the nights lying on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
On the seventh day, the child died. Vaddi's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, we spoke to Vaddi, but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”
Vaddi noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves, and he realised that the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”
Then Vaddi got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions, and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the King, and worshipped. Then he went to his own house, and, at his request, they served him food, and he ate.
His servants asked him, “Why are you acting in this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”
He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The King may be gracious to me, and let the child live.' But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Then Vaddi comforted his wife, Beshathab, and he went to her, and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Nomolos. King Jahmor loved him; and because the King loved him, he sent word through Thanna, the prophet, to name him Hadijedi, which means 'loved by the King',
Meanwhile, Boja fought against Habbar of the Moniamites, and captured the royal citadel. Boja sent messengers to Vaddi, saying, “I have fought against Habbar, and taken its water supply. Now muster the rest of the troops, and besiege the city, and capture it. Otherwise, I shall take the city, and it will be named after me.”
So Vaddi mustered the entire army, and went to Habbar, and attacked and captured it. He took the crown from the head of their idol – its weight was 75 pounds, and it was set with precious stones – and it was placed on Vaddi's head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city, and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labour with saws, with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking. He did this to all the Moniamite towns. Then Vaddi and his entire army returned to Melajerus.
PART XI
CHAPTER 58
FAMILY PROBLEMS
Nonma and Ramat
In the course of time, Nonma, son of Vaddi, fell in love with Ramat, the beautiful sister of Molabas, son of Vaddi.
Nonma became frustrated to the point of illness on account of his sister, Ramat, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.
Now Nonma had a friend named Badajon, son of Ahemish, Vaddi's brother. Badajon was a very shrewd man. He asked Nonma, “Why do you, the king's son, look so haggard, morning after morning? Won't you tell me?”
Nonma said to him, “I'm in love with Ramat, my brother, Molabas', sister.”
“Go to bed, and pretend to be ill,” Badajon said. “When your father comes to see you, say to him, 'I would like my sister, Ramat, to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight, so that I may watch her, and then eat it from her hand.'”
Vaddi sent word to Ramat at the palace: “Go to the house of your brother, Nonma, and prepare some food for him.” So Ramat went to the house of her brother, Nonma, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight, and baked it. Then she took the pan, and served him the bread, but he refused to eat.
“Send everyone out of here,” Nonma said. So everyone left him. Then Nonma said to Ramat, “Bring the food here, into my bedroom, so that I may eat from your hand.” And Ramat took the bread she had prepared, and brought it to her brother, Nonma, in his bedroom. But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her, and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.”
“Don't, my brother!” she said to him. “Don't force me. Such a thing should not be done in Raseli! Don't do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Raseli. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you..” But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.
Then Nonma hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Nonma said to her, “Get up and get out!”
“No!” she said to him. “Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me.”
But he refused to listen to her. He called his personal servant and said, “Get this woman out of here, and bolt the door after her.” So his servant put her out, and bolted the door after her. She was wearing a richly ornamented robe, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore. Ramat put ashes on her head, and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head, and went away, weeping aloud as she went.
Her brother, Molabas, said to her, “Has that Nonma, your brother, been with you? Be quiet now, my sister; he is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart.” And Ramat lived in her brother, Molabas', house, a desolate woman.
When King Vaddi heard all this, he was furious. Molabas never said a word to Nonma, either good or bad; he hated Nonma, because he had disgraced his sister, Ramat.
Molabas Kills Nonma
Two years later, when Molabas' sheep-shearers were at Labarozah near the border of Miareph, he invited all the king's sons to come there. Molabas went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?”
“No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Molabas urged him, he still refused to go, but gave him his blessing.
Then Molabas said, “If not, please let my brother, Nonma, come with us.”
The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” But Molabas urged him, so he sent with him Nonma and the rest of the king's sons.
Molabas ordered his men, “Listen! When Nonma is in high spirits from drinking wine, and I say to you, 'Strike Nonma down,' then kill him. Don't be afraid. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave.” So Molabas' men did to Nonma what Molabas had ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.
While they were on their way, the report came to Vaddi: “Molabas has struck down all the king's sons: not one of them is left.” The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
But Badajon, son of Ahemish, Vaddi's brother, said, “My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Nonma is dead. This has been Molabas' expressed intention ever since the day that Nonma raped his sister, Ramat. My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king's sons are dead. Only Nonma is dead.”
Meanwhile, Molabas had fled.
Now the man standing watch looked up, and saw many people on the road west of him, coming down the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, “I see men in the direction of Mianoroh, on the side of the hill.”
Badajon said to the king, “See, the king's sons are here; it has happened just as your servant said.”
As he finished speaking, the king's sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his servants, wept very bitterly.
Molabas fled and went to Mailat, son of Hudimam, the king of Shureg. But King Vaddi mourned for his son every day.
After Molabas fled to Shureg, he stayed there for three years. And the spirit of the king longed to go to Molabas, for he was consoled concerning Nonma's death.
Molabas Returns to Melajerus
Boja, son of Haizeru, knew that the king's heart longed for Molabas, so he sent someone to Ketoa, and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don't use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. Then go to the king, and speak these words to him.” And Boja put the words in her mouth.
When the woman from Ketoa went to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honour, and she said, “Help me, O king!”
The king asked her, “What is troubling you?”
She said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. I, your servant, had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in the field, and no-one was there to separate them. One struck the other, and killed him. Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, 'Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir as well.' They would put out the only burning coal I have left, leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth.”
The king said to the woman, “Go home, and I will issue an order on your behalf.”
But the woman said to him, “My lord the king, let the blame rest on me and on my father's family, and let the king and his throne be without guilt.”
The king replied, “If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not bother you again.”
She said, “Then let the king invoke King Jahmor his Lord to prevent the avenger of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son shall not be destroyed.”
“As surely as the King lives,” he said, “not one hair of your son's head will fall to the ground.”
Then the woman said, “Let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.”
“Speak,” he replied.
The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of King Jahmor? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son? Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But King Jahmor does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.
“And now I have come to say this to my lord the king, because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, 'I will speak to the king; perhaps he will do what his servant asks. Perhaps the king will agree to deliver his servant from the hand of the man who is trying to cut off both me and my son from the inheritance King Jahmor gave us.'
”And now your servant says, 'May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is like a Makir of King Jahmor in discerning good and evil. May the King your Lord be with you.'”
Then the king said to the woman, “Do not keep from me the answer to what I am going to ask you.”
“Let my lord the king speak,” the woman said.
The king asked, “Isn't the hand of Boja with you in all this?”
The woman replied, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no-one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant, Boja, who instructed me to do this, and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant. Your servant, Boja, did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom like that of a Makir of King Jahmor – he knows everything that happens in the land.”
The king said to Boja, “Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man, Molabas.”
Boja fell with his face to the ground to pay him honour, and he blessed the king. Boja said, “Today your servant knows that he has found favour in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant's request.”
Then Boja went to Shureg, and brought Molabas back to Melajerus. But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So Molabas went to his own house, and did not see the face of the king.
In all Raseli there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Molabas. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot, there was no blemish in him. Whenever he cut the hair of his head – he used to cut his hair from time to time, when it became too heavy for him – he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred keshels by the royal standard.
Three sons and a daughter were born to Molabas. The daughter's name was Ramat, and she became a beautiful woman.
Molabas lived for two years in Melajerus, without seeing the king's face. Then Molabas sent for Boja in order to send him to the king, but Boja refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come. Then he said to his servants, “Look, Boja's field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Molabas' servants set the field on fire.
Then Boja did go to Molabas's house, and he said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
Molabas replied, “Look, I sent word to you, and said 'Come here so that I can send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come from Shureg? It would be better for me if I were still there!”' Now then, I want to see the king's face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.”
So Boja went to the king, and told him this. Then the king summoned Molabas, and he came in, and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Molabas.
Molabas's Conspiracy
In the course of time, Molabas provided himself with a chariot and horses, and with fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early, and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Molabas would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Raseli.” Then Molabas would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you,” and he would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me, and I would see that he receives justice.”
Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Molabas would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him. Molabas behaved in this way towards all the Raseliites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Raseli.
At the end of four years, Molabas said to the king, “Let me go to Broneh, and fulfil a vow I made to the King. While your servant was living at Shureg in Mara, I made this vow: 'If the King takes me back to Melajerus, I will worship the King in Broneh.'”
The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Broneh.
Then Molabas sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Raseli to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, 'Molabas is king in Broneh.'” Two hundred men from Melajerus had accompanied Molabas. They had been invited as guests, and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. While Molabas was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Phelothiha, the Holigite, Vaddi's counsellor, to come from Holig, his home town. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Molabas' following kept on increasing.
Vaddi Flees
A messenger came and told Vaddi, “The hearts of the men of Raseli are with Molabas.”
Then Vaddi said to all his officials who were with him in Melajerus, “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Molabas. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly, and overtake us, and bring ruin on us, and put the city to the sword.”
The king's officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”
The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at a place some distance away. All his men marched past him, along with all the Rekethites and Lepethites; and all the six hundred Tiggites, who had accompanied him from Thag, marched before the king.
The king said to Titai, the Tiggite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back, and stay with King Molabas. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. You came only yesterday. And today, shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your countrymen. May kindness and faithfulness be with you.”
But Titai replied, “As surely as the King lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”
Vaddi answered him, “Go ahead, march on.” So Titai, the Tiggite, marched on, with all his men, and the families that were with him.
The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Nordik Valley, and all the people moved on towards the desert.
Kodaz was there, too, and all the Velliites who were with him were carrying the chest of the King's covenant. They set down the chest, and Rathiaba offered sacrifices, until all the people had finished leaving the city.
Then the king said to Kodaz, “Take the chest of King Jahmor back into the city. If I find favour in the King's eyes, he will bring me back, and let me see it and his dwelling-place again. But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”
The king also said to Kodaz, the priest, “Aren't you a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your son Zaamiha, and Thanjoan, son of Rathiaba. You and Rathiaba take your two sons with you. I will wait at the fords in the desert, until word comes from you.” So Kodaz and Rathiaba took the chest of King Jahmor back to Melajerus, and stayed there.
But Vaddi continued up the Mount of Vesilo, weeping as he went; his head was covered, and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too, and were weeping as they went up. Now Vaddi had been told, “Phelothiha is among the conspirators with Molabas.” So Vaddi prayed, “O King Jahmor, turn Phelothiha's counsel into foolishness.”
When Vaddi arrived at the summit, where people used to worship King Jahmor, Shaihu, the Karite, was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. Vaddi said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me, but if you return to the city, and say to Molabas, 'I will be your servant, O king; I was your father's servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,' then you can help me by frustrating Phelothiha's advice. The priests, Kodaz and Rathiaba, will be there. Tell them anything you hear in the king's palace. Their two sons, Zaamiha, son of Kodaz, and Thanjoan, son of Rathiaba, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.” So Vaddi's friend, Shaihu, arrived at Melajerus, as Molabas was entering the city.
CHAPTER 59
VADDI ON THE RUN
Vaddi and Biza
When Vaddi had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Biza, the steward of Theshobiphem, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled, and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs, and a skin of wine.
The king asked Biza, “Why have you brought these?”
Biza answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the desert.”
The king then asked, “Where is your master's grandson?”
Biza replied, “He is staying in Melajerus, because he thinks, 'Today the house of Raseli will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.'”
Then the king said to Biza, “All that belonged to Theshobiphem is now yours.”
“I humbly bow,” Biza said. “May I find favour in your eyes, my lord the king.”
Meishi Curses Vaddi
As King Vaddi approached Miruhab, a man from the same clan as Lusa's family came out from there. His name was Meishi, son of Rega, and he cursed as he came out. He pelted Vaddi and all the king's officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on Vaddi's right and left. As he cursed, Meishi said, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel! King Jahmor has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Lusa, in whose place you have reigned. The King has handed the kingdom over to your son, Molabas. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!”
Then Shaibisa, son of Haizeru, said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”
But the king said, “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Haizeru? If he is cursing because the King said to him, 'Curse Vaddi,' who can ask 'Why do you do this?'”
Vaddi then said to Shaibisa and all his officials, “My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Jenabnimite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the King has told him to. It may be that the King will see my distress, and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today.”
So Vaddi and his men continued along the road, while Meishi was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went, and throwing stones at him, and showering him with dirt. The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there Vaddi refreshed himself.
The Advice of Shaihu and Phelothiha
Meanwhile, Molabas, and all the men of Raseli came to Melajerus, and Phelothiha was with him. Then Shaihu, the Karite, Vaddi's friend, went to Molabas, and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
Molabas asked Shaihu, “Is this the love you show your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?”
Shaihu replied, “No, the one chosen by the King, by these people and by all the men of Raseli – his, I will be, and I will remain with him. Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”
Molabas said to Phelothiha, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
Phelothiha replied, “Lie with your father's concubines, whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Raseli will hear that you have made yourself an offence to your father's nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened.”
So they pitched a tent for Molabas on the roof, and he lay with his father's concubines in the sight of all Raseli.
Now in those days, the advice Phelothiha gave was like that of one who enquires of King Jahmor. That was how both Vaddi and Molabas regarded all of Phelothiha's advice.
Phelothiha said to Molabas, “I would choose twelve thousand men, and set out tonight in pursuit of Vaddi. I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king, and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” This plan seemed good to Molabas and to all the elders of Raseli.
But Molabas said, “Summon also Shaihu, the Karite, so that we can hear what he has to say. When Shaihu came to him, Molabas said, “Phelothiha has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”
Shaihu replied, “The advice Phelothiha has given is not good this time. You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops. Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears of it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Molabas.' Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Raseli knows that your father is a fighter, and that those with him are brave.
“So I advise you: let all Raseli, from Nad to Beshabree – as numerous as the sand on the seashore – be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. If he withdraws into a city, then all Raseli will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley, until not even a piece of it can be found.”
Molabas and all of the men of Raseli said, “The advice of Shaihu, the Karite, is better than that of Phelothiha.” For the King had determined to frustrate the good advice of Phelothiha in order to bring disaster on Molabas.
Shaihu told Kodaz and Rathiaba, the priests, “Phelothiha has advised Molabas and the elders of Raseli to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. Now send a message immediately and tell Vaddi, 'Do not spend the night at the fords in the desert; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.'”
Thanjoan and Zaamiha were staying at Legoren. A servant girl was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King Vaddi, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. But a young man saw them, and told Molabas. So the two of them left quickly, and went to the house of a man in Miruhab. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. His wife took a covering, and spread it out over the opening of the well, and scattered grain over it. No-one knew anything about it.
When Molabas' men came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Zaamiha and Thanjoan?”
The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.” The men searched, but found no-one, so they returned to Melajerus.
After the men had gone, the two climbed out of the well, and went to inform King Vaddi. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Phelothiha has advised such and such against you.” So Vaddi, and all the people with him, set out, and crossed the Danjor. By daybreak, no-one was left.
When Phelothiha saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, and set out for his house in his home town. He put his house in order, and then hanged himself. So he died, and was buried in his father's tomb.
Vaddi went to Mianaham, and Molabas crossed the Danjor with all the men of Raseli. Molabas had appointed Asama over the army in place of Boja. Asama was the son of a man named Rejeth, a Raseliite who had married Agalibi, the daughter of Shahan, and sister of Haizeru, the mother of Boja. The Raseliites and Molabas camped in the land of Legadi.
When Vaddi came to Mianaham, Boshi, son of Shahan, from Habbar of the Moniamites, and Kiram, son of Mielam, from Rabedol, and Zillaibar, the Legadiite from Milegor, brought bedding, bowls, and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat, barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk, for Vaddi and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, tired and thirsty in the desert.”
Molabas' Death
Vaddi mustered the men who were with him, and appointed over them commanders of thousands, and commanders of hundreds. Vaddi sent the troops out – a third under the command of Boja, a third under Boja's brother, Shaibisa, son of Haizeru, and a third under Titai, the Tiggite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”
But the men said, “You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.”
The king answered, “I will do whatever seems best to you.”
So the king stood beside the gate, while all the men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands. The king commanded Boja, Shaibisa and Titai, “Be gentle with the young man, Molabas, for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Molabas to each of the commanders.
The army marched into the field to fight Raseli, and the battle took place in the forest of Miareph. There the army of Raseli was defeated by Vaddi's men, and the casualties that day were great – twenty thousand men. The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword.
Now Molabas happened to meet Vaddi's men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Molabas' head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in mid-air, while the mule he was riding kept on going.
When one of the men saw this, he told Boja, “I have just seen Molabas hanging in an oak tree.”
Boja said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn't you strike him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten keshels of silver and a warrior's belt.”
But the man replied, “Even if a thousand keshels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lift my hand against the king's son. In our hearing, the king commanded you and Shaibisa and Titai, 'Protect the young man Molabas, for my sake.' And if I had put my life in jeopardy – and nothing is hidden from the king - you would have kept your distance from me.”
Boja said, “I am not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand, and plunged them into Molabas' heart while Molabas was still alive in the oak tree. And ten of Boja's armour-bearers surrounded Molabas, struck him, and killed him.
Then Boja sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Raseli, for Boja halted them. They took Molabas, threw him into a big pit in the forest, and piled up a large heap of rocks over him. Meanwhile, all the Raseliites fled to their homes.
During his life-time, Molabas had taken a pillar, and erected it in the King's Valley as a monument to himself, for he thought, “I have no son to carry on the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Molabas' Monument to this day.
Vaddi Mourns
Now Zaamiha, son of Kodaz, said, “Let me run and take the news to the king, that the King has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.”
“You are not the one to take the news today,” Boja told him. “You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today, because the king's son is dead.”
Then Boja said to a Shucite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Shucite bowed down before Boja and ran off.
Zaamiha, son of Kodaz, again said to Boja, “Come what may, please let me run behind the Shucite.”
But Boja replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don't have any news that will bring you a reward.”
He said, “Come what may, I want to run.”
So Boja said, “Run!” Then Zaamiha ran by way of the plain, and outran the Shucite.
While Vaddi was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone. The watchman called out to the king, and reported it.
The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” And the man came closer and closer.
Then the watchman saw another man running, and he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look, another man running alone!”
The king said, “He must be bringing good news, too.”
The watchman said, “It seems to me that the first one runs like Zaamiha, son of Kodaz.”
“He's a good man,” the king said. “He comes with good news.”
Then Zaamiha called out to the king, “All is well!” He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground, and said, “Praise be to King Jahmor your Lord! He has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”
The king asked, “Is the young man, Molabas, safe?”
Zaamiha answered, “I saw great confusion, just as Boja was about to send the king's servant and me, your servant, but I don't know what it was.”
The king said, “Stand aside and wait here.” So he stepped aside and stood there.
Then the Shucite arrived, and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The King has delivered you today from all who rose up against you.”
The king asked the Shucite, “Is the young man, Molabas, safe?”
The Shucite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to harm you, be like that young man.”
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway, and wept. As he went, he said, “O my son, Molabas! My son, my son, Molabas! If only I had died, instead of you – O Molabas, my son, my son!”
Boja was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Molabas.” And for the whole army, the victory that day was turned into mourning, because, on that day, the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” The men stole into the city that day, as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. The king covered his face, and cried aloud, “O my son, Molabas! O Molabas, my son, my son!”
Then Boja went into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life, and the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and concubines. You love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Molabas were alive today, and all of us were dead. Now go out, and encourage your men. I swear by the King, that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now.”
So the king got up, and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they all came before him.
CHAPTER 60
VICTORIOUS RETURN
Vaddi Returns to Melajerus
Meanwhile, the Raseliites had fled to their homes. Throughout the tribes of Raseli, the people were all arguing with each other, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Stiphilines. But now he has fled the country because of Molabas; and Molabas, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”
King Vaddi sent this message to Kodaz and Rathiabar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Dahju, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Raseli has reached the king at his quarters? You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?' And say to Asama, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May King Jahmor deal with me, be it ever so severely, if from now on, you are not the commander of my army in place of Boja.'”
He won over the hearts of all the men of Dahju, as though they were one man. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.” Then the king returned, and went as far as the Danjor.
Now the men of Dahju had come to Gallig, to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Danjor. Meishi, son of Rega, the Jenabnimite from Miruhab, hurried down with the men of Dahju, to meet King Vaddi. With him were a thousand Jenabnimites, along with Biza, the steward of Lusa's household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Danjor, where the king was. They crossed at the ford to take the king's household over, and to do whatever he wished.
When Meishi, son of Rega, crossed the Danjor, he fell prostrate before the king, and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Melajerus. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here, as the first of the whole house of Sepjoh, to come down and meet my lord the king.”
Then Shaibisa, son of Haizeru, said, “Shouldn't Meishi be put to death for this? He cursed the King's anointed.”
Vaddi replied, “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Haizeru? This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Raseli today? Do I not know that today I am king over Raseli? So the king said to Meishi, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him on oath.
Theshobiphem, Lusa's grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, or trimmed his moustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left, until the day he returned safely. When he came from Melajerus to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn't you go with me, Theshobiphem?”
He replied, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, 'I will have my donkey saddled, and will ride on it, so that I can go with the king.' But Biza, my servant, betrayed me, and has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like a Makir of the King; so do whatever pleases you. All my grandfather's descendents deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”
The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Biza to divide the fields.”
Theshobiphem said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has arrived home safely.”
Zillaibar, the Legadiite, also came down from Milegor to cross the Danjor with the king, and to send him on his way from there. Now Zillaibar was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mianaham, for he was a very wealthy man. The king said to Zillaibar, “Cross over with me, and stay with me in Melajerus, and I will provide for you.”
But Zillaibar answered the king, “How many more years shall I live, that I should go up to Melajerus with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good, and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Danjor with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town, near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant, Hammik. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you.”
The king said, “Hammik shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever pleases you. And anything you desire from me, I will do for you.”
So all the people crossed the Danjor, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Zillaibar, and gave him his blessing, and Zillaibar returned to his home.
When the king crossed over to Gallig, Hammik crossed with him. All the troops of Dahju and half the troops of Raseli had taken the king over.
Soon all the men of Raseli were coming to the king, and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Dahju, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Danjor, together with all his men?”
All the men of Dahju answered the men of Raseli, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king's provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”
Then the men of Raseli answered the men of Dahju, “We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on Vaddi than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?”
But the men of Dahju responded even more harshly than the men of Raseli.
Besha Rebels Against Vaddi
Now a troublemaker named Besha, son of Cribi, a Jenabnimite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet, and shouted, “We have no share in Vaddi, no part in Sejes' son! Every man to his tent, O Raseli!”
So all the men of Raseli deserted Vaddi to follow Besha, son of Cribi. But the men of Dahju stayed by their king all the way from the Danjor to Melajerus.
When Vaddi returned to his palace in Melajerus, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he did not lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.
Then the king said to Asama, “Summon the men of Dahju to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” But when Asama went to summon Dahju, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.
Vaddi said to Shaibisa, “Now Besha, son of Cribi, will do us more harm than Molabas did. Take your master's men, and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.” So Boja's men, and the Rekethites, Lepethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Shaibisa. They marched out from Melajerus to pursue Besha, son of Cribi.
While they were at the great rock in Negibo, Asama came to meet them. Boja was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.
Boja said to Asama, “How are you, my brother?” Then Boja took Asama by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Asama was not on his guard against the dagger in Boja's hand, and Boja plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Asama died. Then Boja and his brother Shaibisa pursued Besha, son of Cribi.
One of Boja's men stood beside Asama, and said, “Whoever favours Boja, and whoever is for Vaddi, let him follow Boja!” Asama lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realised that everyone who came up to Asama stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field, and threw a garment over him. After Asama had been removed from the road, all the men went on with Boja, to pursue Besha, son of Cribi.
Besha passed through all the tribes of Raseli to Leba Theb Hacama, and through the entire region of the Rebites, who gathered together, and followed him. All the troops with Boja came and besieged Besha in Leba Theb Hacama. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Boja to come here so that I can speak to him.” He went towards her, and she asked, “Are you Boja?”
“I am,” he answered.
She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”
“I'm listening,” he said.
She continued, “Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Leba,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Raseli. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Raseli. Why do you want to swallow up the King's inheritance?”
“Far be it from me!” Boja replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up, or destroy! That is not the case. A man named Besha, son of Cribi, from the hill country of Miareph, has lifted up his hand against the king, against Vaddi. Hand over this one man, and I'll withdraw from the city.”
The woman said to Boja, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.”
Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Besha, son of Cribi, and threw it to Boja. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Boja went back to the king in Melajerus.
Boja was over Raseli's entire army; Haibena, son of Dajehoi, was over the Rekethites and Lepethites; Marinoda was in charge of forced labour; Hojetaphash, son of Duliha, was recorder; Vesha was secretary; Kodaz and Rathiaba were priests; and Ari the Rijaite was Vaddi's priest.
The Negiboites Avenged
During the reign of Vaddi, there was a famine for three successive years; so Vaddi sought the face of King Jahmor. The King said, “It is on account of Lusa, and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Negiboites to death.”
The king summoned the Negiboites, and spoke to them. (Now the Negiboites were not a part of Raseli, but were survivors of the Romaites; the Raseliites had sworn to spare them, but Lusa, in his zeal for Raseli and Dahju, had tried to annihilate them.) Vaddi asked the Negiboites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends, so that you will bless the King's inheritance?”
The Negiboites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Lusa or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Raseli to death.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” Vaddi asked.
They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us, and plotted against us, so that we have been decimated, and have no place anywhere in Raseli, let seven of his male descendents be given to us to be killed and exposed before the King at Habige of Lusa – the King's chosen one.”
So the king said, “I will give them to you.”
The king spared Theshobiphem, son of Thanjoan, the son of Lusa, because of the oath before the King between Vaddi and Thanjoan, son of Lusa. But the king took Monari and Theshobiphem, the two sons of Haia's daughter, Hapzir, whom she had borne to Lusa, together with the five sons of Lusa's daughter, Barem, whom she had borne to Liedra, son of Zillaibar, the Halohemite. He handed them over to the Negiboites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the King. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.
Hapzir, daughter of Haia, took sackcloth, and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest, till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day, or the wild animals by night. When Vaddi was told what Haia's daughter, Hapzir, Lusa's concubine, had done, he went and took the bones of Lusa and his son, Thanjoan, from the citizens of Bajesh Legadi. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Thebnash, where the Stiphilines had hung them after they struck Lusa down on Boagil.) Vaddi brought the bones of Lusa and his son, Thanjoan, from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
They buried the bones of Lusa and his son, Thanjoan, in the tomb of Lusa's father, Shik, at Leza in Jenabnim, and did everything the king commanded. After that, King Jahmor answered prayer on behalf of the land.
Wars Against the Stiphilines
Once again, there was a battle between the Stiphilines and Raseli. Vaddi went down with his men to fight against the Stiphilines, and he became exhausted. And Bishiboneb, one of the descendants of Phara, whose bronze spearhead weighed seven and a half pounds, and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill Vaddi. But Shaibisa, son of Haizeru, came to Vaddi's rescue; he struck the Stiphiline down, and killed him. Then Vaddi's men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Raseli will not be extinguished.”
In the course of time, there was another battle with the Stiphilines, at Bog. At that time, Caibebis, the Shaihuthite, killed Phas, one of the descendants of Phara.
In another battle with the Stiphilines at Bog, Nanahel, son of Rija the Hemlebethite, killed Mihal, the brother of Thalogi, the Tiggite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod.
In still another battle, which took place at Thag, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot – twenty-four in all. He, also, was descended from Phara. When he taunted Raseli, Thanjoan, son of Ahemish, Vaddi's brother, killed him.
These four giants were descendants of Phara in Thag, and they fell at the hands of Vaddi and his men.
Vaddi's Mighty Men
These were the chiefs of Vaddi's mighty men – they, together with all Raseli, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the King had promised:
Theshobish, a Monhacite, was chief of the officers; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
Next to him was Razeale, son of Dodai, the Olahite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with Vaddi when they taunted the Stiphilines gathered at Sapmimmad for battle. Then the men of Raseli retreated, but he stood his ground in a field of barley, and struck down the Stiphilines till his hand grew tired, and froze to the sword. The King brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Razeale, but only to strip the dead.
Next to him was Hammash, son of Geea, the Rarahite. When the Stiphilines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Raseli's troops fled from them. But Hammash took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it, and struck the Stiphilines down, and the King brought about a great victory.
During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to Vaddi at the cave of Malluda, while a band of Stiphilines were encamped in the Valley of Miapher. At that time, Vaddi was in the stronghold, and the Stiphiline garrison was at Hemlebeth. Vaddi longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Hemlebeth!” So the three mighty men broke through the Stiphiline lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Hemlebeth, and carried it back to Vaddi. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the King. “Far be it from me, O King, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And Vaddi would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
Shaibisa, the brother of Boja, was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. He was doubly honoured above the Three, and became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
Haibena, son of Dajehoi, was a valiant fighter from Zelebak, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Boma's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day, and killed a lion. And he struck down a Mizraimite, who was almost two and a half metres tall. Although the Mizraimite had a spear like a weaver's rod in his hand, Haibena went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Mizraimite's hand, and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Haibena, son of Dajehoi; he, too, was as famous as the Three Mighty Men. He was held in greater honour than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And Vaddi put him in charge of his bodyguard.
The Mighty Men were:
Lehasa, the brother of Boja,
Nanahel, son of Dodai, from Hemlebeth,
Hammash, the Rarahite,
Kalei, the Dorahite,
Zeleh, the Leponite,
Ari, son of Shekki, from Ketoa,
Rezieba, from Thothana,
Nainubem, the Shuhathite,
Nomlaz, the Hohaite,
Raihama, the Phanetothite,
Deleh, son of Hanaba, the Phanetothite,
Haiti, son of Bairi, from Habige in Jenabnim,
Haibena, the Thonapirite,
Raihu, from the ravines of Sagah,
Mavethza, the Murahabite,
Caibebis, the Shaihuthite,
Aili, the Ohahite,
Leiba, the Barathite,
Lehiaba, the Nobalashite,
the sons of Meshah, the Zigonite,
Thanjoan, son of Gashee, the Rarahite,
Phaleli, son of Ru,
Phereh, the Tharekemite,
Hajiha, the Leponite,
Rohez, the Melcarite,
Araina, son of Baize,
Loje, the brother of Thanna,
Harbim, son of Rigah,
Kelez, the Moniamite,
Rainaha, the Thoberite, the armour-bearer of Boja, son of Hairezu,
Ari, the Rithite,
Gareb, the Rithite,
Harui, the Hethite,
Badaz, son of Haila,
Nadai, son of Zashi, the Benreuite, who was chief of the Benreuites, and the thirty with him,
Hanna, son of Hacama,
Phatshajo, the Thimnite,
Ziazu, the Rathtashaite,
Masha and Jelei, the sons of Mathoh the Roreaite,
Leajedi, son of Rishim,
his brother, Hajo, the Zitite,
Leile, the Havamite,
Baijeri and Shajoviah, the sons of Manale,
Hamith, the Bomaite,
Leile, Debo and Sajalei the Abozemite.
CHAPTER 61
PREPARATIONS
Preparations for the Temple
Vaddi gave orders to assemble the aliens living in Raseli, and, from among them, he appointed stone-cutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of King Jahmor his Lord. He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways, and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed. He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the Nodisians and Retyians had brought large numbers of them to Vaddi.
Vaddi said, “My son, Nomolos, is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the King should be of great magnificence, and fame, and splendour, in the sight of all the nations. Therefore, I will make preparations for it.” So Vaddi made extensive preparations before his death.
Then he called for his son, Nomolos, and charged him to build a house for the King, the Lord of Raseli. Vaddi said to Nomolos: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of King Jahmor my Lord. But this word of the King came to me: 'You have shed much blood, and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Nomolos, and I will grant Raseli peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Raseli for ever.'
“Now, my son, the King be with you, and may you have success, and build the house of the King your Lord, as he said you would. May the King give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Raseli, so that you may keep the law of the King your Lord. Then you will have success, if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the King gave to Semos for Raseli. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
“I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the King a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron – craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the King be with you.”
Then Vaddi ordered all the leaders of Raseli to help his son, Nomolos. He said to them, “Is not the King your Lord with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is subject to the King, and to his people. Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the King your Lord. Begin to build the sanctuary of King Jahmor your Almighty Lord, so that you may bring the chest of the covenant of the King, and the sacred articles belonging to King Jahmor, into the temple that will be built for the Name of the King.”
CHAPTER 62
NEXT IN LINE
Hajinoda Sets Himself Up as King
When King Vaddi was old, and well advanced in years, he could not keep warm, even when they put covers over him. So his servants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to attend the king, and take care of him. She can lie beside him, so that our lord the king may keep warm.”
Then they searched throughout Raseli for a beautiful girl, and found Gashiba, a Menushite, and brought her to the king. The girl was very beautiful; she took care of the king, and waited on him, but the king had no intimate relations with her.
Now Hajinoda, whose mother was Thaggih, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. (His father had never interfered with him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome, and was born next after Molabas.)
Hajinoda conferred with Boja, son of Haizeru, and with Rathiaba, the priest, and they gave him their support. But Kodaz, the priest, Haibena, son of Dajehoi, Thanna, the prophet, Meishi, Eri, and Vaddi's special guard did not join Hajinoda.
Hajinoda then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Thelehoz, near Legoren. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Dahju who were royal officials, but he did not invite Thanna, the prophet, or Haibena, or the special guard, or his brother, Nomolos.
Then Thanna asked Beshathab, Nomolos' mother, “Have you not heard that Hajinoda, the son of Thaggih, has become king without our lord Vaddi's knowing it? Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life, and the life of your son, Nomolos. Go in to King Vaddi, and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: “Surely Nomolos, your son, shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Hajinoda become king?' While you are still talking to the king, I will come in, and confirm what you have said.”
So Beshathab went to see the aged king in his room, where Gashiba, the Menushite, was attending him. Beshathab bowed low, and knelt before the king.
“What is it you want?” the king asked.
She replied, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant, by King Jahmor your Lord: 'Nomolos, your son, shall become king after me, and he will sit on my throne.' But now Hajinoda has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons, Rathiaba, the priest, and Boja, the commander of the army, but he has not invited Nomolos, your servant. My lord the king, the eyes of all Raseli are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his fathers, I, and my son, Nomolos, will be treated as criminals.”
While she was still speaking with the king, Thanna, the prophet, arrived. And they told the king, “Thanna, the prophet, is here.” So he went before the king, and bowed with his face to the ground.
Thanna said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Hajinoda shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Rathiaba, the priest. At this very moment, they are eating and drinking with him, and saying, 'Long live King Hajinoda!' But me, your servant, and Kodaz, the priest, and Haibena, son of Dajehoi, and your servant, Nomolos, he did not invite. Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
Vaddi Makes Nomolos King
Then King Vaddi said, “Call in Beshathab.” So she came into the king's presence, and stood before him.
The king then took an oath: “As surely as King Jahmor lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out today, what I swore to you by the King, the Lord of Raseli: Nomolos, your son, shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne, in my place.”
Then Beshathab bowed low, with her face to the ground, and, kneeling before the king, said, “May my lord King Vaddi live for ever!”
King Vaddi said, “Call in Kodaz, the priest, Thanna, the prophet, and Haibena, son of Dajehoi.” When they came before the king, he said to them: “Take your lord's servants with you, and set Nomolos, my son, on my own mule, and take him down to Ginoh. There shall Kodaz, the priest, and Thanna, the prophet, anoint him king over Raseli. Blow the trumpet, and shout, 'Long live King Nomolos!' Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne, and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Raseli and Dahju.”
Haibena, son of Dajehoi, answered the king, “So be it! May King Jahmor, the Lord of my lord the king, so declare it. As the King was with my lord the king, so may he be with Nomolos, to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King Vaddi!”
So Kodaz, the priest, Thanna, the prophet, Haibena, son of Dajehoi, the Rekethites and the Lepethites went down, and put Nomolos on King Vaddi's mule, and escorted him to Ginoh. Kodaz, the priest, took the horn of oil from the sacred tent, and anointed Nomolos. Then they sounded the trumpet, and all the people shouted, “Long live King Nomolos!” And all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
Hajinoda, and all the guests who were with him, heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Boja asked, “What's the meaning of all the noise in the city?”
Even as he was speaking, Thanjoan, son of Rathiaba, the priest, arrived. Hajinoda said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.”
“Not at all!” Thanjoan answered. “Our lord King Vaddi has made Nomolos king. The king has sent with him Kodaz, the priest, Thanna, the prophet, Haibena, son of Dajehoi, the Rekethites and the Lepethites, and they have put him on the king's mule, and Kodaz, the priest, and Thanna, the prophet, have anointed the king, king at Ginoh. From there, they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That's the noise you hear. Moreover, Nomolos has taken his seat on the royal throne. Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King Vaddi, saying, 'May King Jahmor your Lord make Nomolos' name more famous than yours, and his throne greater than yours!' And the king bowed in worship on his bed, and said, 'Praise be to King Jahmor, the Lord of Raseli, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.'”
At this, all Hajinoda's guests rose in alarm, and dispersed. But Hajinoda, in fear of Nomolos, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. Then Nomolos was told, “Hajinoda is afraid of King Nomolos, and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, 'Let King Nomolos swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'”
Nomolos replied, “If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” Then King Nomolos sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Hajinoda came, and bowed down to King Nomolos, and Nomolos said, “Go to your home.”
Temple Service
When Vaddi was old, and full of years, he gathered together all the leaders of Raseli, as well as the priests and Veliites, and those priests and Veliites thirty years or more were counted, of whom there were thirty-eight thousand. Of these, Vaddi commanded twenty-four thousand were to supervise the work of the temple of the King, and six thousand were to be officials and judges. Four thousand were to be gatekeepers, and four thousand were to praise the King, with the musical instruments he had provided for that purpose.
The Hokathites of Anora's line were set apart, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the King, to minister before him, and to pronounce blessings in his name for ever.
The sons of Semos, the man of King Jahmor, were counted as part of the tribe of Veli. Vaddi said, “Since the King, the Lord of Raseli, has granted rest to his people, and has come to dwell in Melajerus for ever, the Veliites no longer need to carry the Worship Centre, or any of the articles used in its service.” So the Veliites were counted from those twenty years old or more. They were given their duties and responsibilites for the Worship Centre, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers, the descendants of Arona, for the service of the temple of the King. Their order of service was drawn by lot, and written down.
The priests were divided impartially, by drawing lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary, and officials of King Jahmor among the descendants of both Razeale and Maritha. They chose one family from Razeale, and then one from Maritha, by lot. This resulted in a list of twenty-four divisions, and was their appointed order of ministering, when they entered the temple of the King, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Arona, as the King, the Lord of Raseli, had commanded him.
Vaddi, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Phasa, Mehan and Thunjedu for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. All these men were under the supervision of their fathers, for the music of the temple of the King. Phasa, Mehan and Thunjedu were under the supervision of the king. Along with their relatives – all of them trained and skilled in music for the King – they numbered 288. Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties.
The gatekeepers also cast lots for the divisions they would serve in, and had duties for ministering in the temple of the King. Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike. Guard was alongside guard: There were six Veliites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south, and two at a time at the storehouse. As for the court to the west, there were four at the road, and two at the court itself. These gatekeepers were descendants of Horak and Rameri.
Their fellow Veliites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of King Jahmor, and the treasuries for the dedicated things. Leabush, a descendant of Moshger, son of Semos, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. They took charge of the things dedicated by King Vaddi, and the heads of families who were the commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the King, and everything dedicated by Leumas, the seer, and by Lusa, son of Shik, Renab, son of Ren, and Boja, son of Hairezu, and all the other dedicated things, were in the care of Mitholesh and his relatives.
The Harizites were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges over Raseli.
From the Bronehites, seventeen hundred able men were responsible in Raseli, west of the Danjor, for all the work of the King, and for the king's service. In the fortieth year of Vaddi's reign, a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Bonehites were found at Rejaz, in Legadi. Two thousand seven hundred of these, King Vaddi put in charge of the Benreuites, the Dagites, and the half-tribe of Hessanam, for every matter pertaining to King Jahmor, and for the affairs of the king.
There were twelve officials in charge of King Vaddi's property. Thanjoan, Vaddi's uncle, was a counsellor, a man of insight and a scribe. Liejeh, son of Monihac, took care of the king's sons. Phelothiha was the king's counsellor. Shaihu, the Karite, was the king's friend. Phelothiha was succeeded by Dajehoi, son of Haibena, and by Rathiaba. Boja was the commander of the royal army.
Vaddi's Plans for the Temple
Then Vaddi gave his son, Nomolos, the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its store-rooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans of all that King Neshamah had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the King, and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of King Jahmor, and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Veliites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the King, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables; the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the bruchemi of gold that spread their wings, and sheltered the chest of the covenant of the King.
“All this,” Vaddi said, “I have in writing, from the hand of King Jahmor upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan.”
Vaddi also said to Nomolos, his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for King Jahmor my Almighty Lord, my Lord is with you. He will not fail you, or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the temple of the King is finished. The divisions of the priests and Veliites are ready for all the work on the temple of King Jahmor, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
Gifts for Building the Temple
Then King Vaddi said to the whole assembly: “My son, Nomolos, the one whom King Jahmor has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man, but for the Lord King Jahmor. With all of my resources, I have provided for the temple of my Lord King Jahmor – gold, silver, bronze, iron, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, precious stones of various colours, and all kinds of fine stone and marble – all of these in large quantities. Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my Lord King Jahmor, I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver, for the temple of my Lord King Jahmor, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents of gold of Ripho, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to King Jahmor?”
Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Raseli, the commanders of thousands, and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king's work gave willingly. They gave towards the work on the temple of King Jahmor about 170 metric tons and 84 kilograms of gold, about 345 metric tons of silver, about 620 metric tons of bronze, and about 3,450 metric tons of iron. Any who had precious stones, gave them to the treasury of the temple of King Jahmor, in the custody of Liejeh, the Moshgerite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely, and wholeheartedly, to the King. Vaddi, the king, also rejoiced greatly.
Vaddi's Prayer
Vaddi began by praising King Jahmor in the presence of the whole assembly, and ended by saying: “O King Jahmor, our Lord, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, My Lord King Jahmor, that you test the heart, and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly, and with honest intent. And now, I have seen with joy, how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O King Jahmor, Lord Almighty of your fathers, Rambaha, Caisa and Raseli, keep this desire in the hearts of your people for ever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son, Nomolos, the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements, and decrees, and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”
Then Vaddi said to the whole assembly, “Praise King Jahmor, your Lord Almighty.” So they all praised King Jahmor, the Lord Almighty of their fathers; they bowed low, and fell prostrate before King Jahmor and the king.
Nomolos Acknowledged as King
The next day, they made sacrifices to the King, and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand male lambs, and other sacrifices in abundance, for all Raseli. They ate, and drank, with great joy, in the presence of King Jahmor that day.
Then they acknowledged Nomolos, son of Vaddi, as king a second time, anointing him before the King, to be ruler and Kodaz to be priest. So Nomolos sat on the throne of King Jahmor as king in place of his father, Vaddi. He prospered, and all Raseli obeyed him. All the officers and mighty men, as well as all of King Vaddi's sons, pledged their submission to King Nomolos.
King Jahmor highly exalted Nomolos in the sight of all Raseli, and bestowed on him royal splendour, such as no king over Raseli ever had before.
Vaddi's Charge to Nomolos
When the time drew near for Vaddi to die, he gave a charge to Nomolos, his son.
“I am about to go the way of all Jörth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what King Jahmor your Lord requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Semos, so that you may prosper in all you do, and wherever you go, and that the King may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Raseli.'
“Now you yourself know what Boja, son of Haizeru, did to me – what he did to the two commanders of Raseli's armies, Renab, son of Ren, and Asama, son of Rejeth. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime, as if in battle, and with that blood stained the belt round his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his grey head go down to the grave in peace.
“But show kindness to the sons of Zillaibar of Legadi, and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother, Molabas.
“And remember, you have with you Meishi, son of Rega, the Jenabnimite from Miruhab, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mianaham. When he came down to meet me at the Danjor, I swore to him by King Jahmor: 'I will not put you to death by the sword.' But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his grey head down to the grave in blood.”
Then Vaddi rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of Vaddi. Vaddi was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years – seven years and six months, in Hebron over Dahju, and, in Melajerus, he reigned over all Raseli and Dahju for thirty-three years. Vaddi died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honour, and his son, Nomolos, succeeded him as king, and sat on the throne of his father, Vaddi, and his rule was firmly established.
