Skip to main content

Battle of the Kingless – Ch. 2 | KT OLLA

XARXUS surveyed the plains from the hill where he stood. And that king of battle was shaken down to his roots.

For all the while that the Gileadites fled the battlefield and the Ammonites gave them a shooting chase, one of Gilead’s warriors had stood the ground at the foot of the hill.

And that warlord, with his four captains, kept slaying the stoutest of Xarxus’s men in their scores.

It was a gory massacre.

So that moment when fear struck Xarxus’s chest, he beat himself for chickening out at the sight of that warlord.

Then he informed his deputy beside him, Manoh, that he’d go down and face the fighter alone.

Right there Xarxus’s deputy begged him not to. He cautioned him with many pleas so much the warrior became more curious.

The Ammonite king enquired: ‘Who’s that fearless fighter? And who are those men with him?’

Manoh looked up at him and chose to answer his second question first. His voice was a little shaky when he replied.

‘My lord…! Those four fighting with that brave warrior are the fiercest of Israel’s captains! Their names are a dread to all enemies they call aliens.

‘Those men, they call them Baddok, Simone, Gilkar and Sham…

‘They are to be avoided, my lord!’

Xarxus became a little anxious. And furious, too.

He intercepted his deputy right there. ‘I asked who’s that daredevil leading them! That is what I’m asking you!’

Manoh bowed and raised his head again.

‘I’m sorry, my lord,’ he said. ‘But he is Jephthah the son of Gilead himself. Second in command to the leader of Gilead’s army. His acclaim goes before him, my lord!’

And that moment, at the foot of that hill below, Jephthah raised his gaze. Then the man saw two huge generals of Ammon charge towards him in a crushing advance.

So he sheathed his hefty sword onto his left thigh; then reached his hand backwards and yanked off a javelin from one of his men with his right arm.

At that self-same time Jephthah drew out a battle axe from his right hip. Then he thrust each weapon forward with both hands, yelling out a maddening cry.

So, off flew the axe and the spear in their calculated tumbles and flight. And the warrior’s spear flew past the first man’s left shoulder as he dodged.

Then as the man ducked, the rolling axe cut him down right on his nape behind. And out poured clots of blood from the mouth as he fell and died.

In that instant the man behind him tripped over the falling soldier; but this second didn’t die by mere stumbling.

For right about then Jephthah’s brazen spear found its way through that man’s throat. And its thrusting force hauled him down backwards.

Now those fallen two. They were the last of Xarxus’s standing men… right there.

Thus done with slaughtering all, Jephthah raised his head to the hilltop and looked at the king of Ammon.

Xarxus staggered back in his chariot at that instant. Then he asked his deputy something more, without turning his gaze from Jephthah downhill.

He enquired: ‘What do talkers say about this man? You said his acclaim goes before him.’

Manoh had the answer ready. ‘They said he was born to slaughter giants!’

Then he sighed. ‘But I fear we’ve got that proof in front of us now… my lord!’

Xarxus’s legs trembled beneath him that moment. And then he picked himself up and backed off by another way down.

Thus, down the slope and all the way down to his camp, the king of Ammon kept chanting the dreadful names he heard today.

‘Jephthah Slayer of Giants…

‘Baddok, Simone, Gilkar and Sham…

‘Jephthah Slayer of Giants…’

Copyright © April 2022 by Kayode & Tola Olla

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MUSTARD I – Ch. 7 | KT OLLA

NOW it had rained all morning this day. And the sun was finally tearing through clouds to take the day’s glory. It was a brief break for the villages of Ede’s farmlands. As they rested from taking turns in harvesting yams. The town’s harvest season of yam and cassava tubers were in the rains... So they worked double to get them stored in barns and sold in markets – to avoid early rot in the wet weather. Yes, the crops were sources of flours and flakes for main foods. And several kinds of yam – like the ewùrà, ebòlò and the white yam, were also prepared as meals. So, everyone was out going about their own business those rest days... The farmers would go for a routine check on their farm every morning. And return earlier than the time to gather for talks by evening. Every evening, the men would sit under the shade of trees, and play board games amid talk and drinks. They’d talk about everything. From the ruler to their people. And to their wives and children. The young Moro chose to go a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Knighted Again – Ch.13 | KT OLLA

MAQWELA caught the smile on Nile’s face as he turned back to him. He knew why the boy smiled, yet he liked him more. Those were some things of innocence that he missed. The king liked people who wouldn’t cower when he used power. Unlike how he’d tremble as a boy when his late father abused the right. Yes, he liked folks who still retained their peace as they grew. Like those cute youngsters listening to him. So the monarch resumed, but he preferred to go the earnest way. ‘Now like I said earlier, that nobody enters here except Maqwela passes them – you must also know that nobody hears the things I’ll be speaking now unless we tell them! ‘Now I know you’re smart enough to know what I said – and what I left unsaid!’ The duo braced up and gestured with a nod. They knew the weight of that sentence and were ready to keep the monarch’s secret. They knew they were about to hear a blast. And so they braced up for it. Right then the middle-aged heaved a deep breath, crossed his arms over his ch...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sons of the Flaming Throne 2 – Ch. 9 | KT OLLA

ABISHUM wasn’t done speaking. So she picked up on the matter as things were bound to change. She spoke: ‘See, it was a bedroom cry for Aleph. But not until the day things were shoved in her face… ‘And that day she gave up on hoping! ‘Well, what Aleph thought was the reason why Beth couldn’t marry, was different from what it was with people. ‘She used to think it was because there was no man in her house to ask the daughter from. As is our customary practice in Israel.  ‘But when a drunken man shoved it in her face one night, it hurt her too much what people say. ‘“No one will marry your daughter, woman! Why will anyone do? When death hides in her bosom like it hid in yours. Or why did your husband die? ‘“Look, if you don’t know it – your family is cursed! You only have one child in a nation of plenty. ‘“God has prospered Israel with many children like the sea sand. But what do your family bear? Only one! ‘“So, who will want your cursed daughter for his son to love? You really don’t...
Post a Comment
Read more