Battle of the Kingless – Ch. 20 | KT OLLA

 THE oncoming battle between Israel and Ammon would definitely be a different one, as Xarxus had a clear direction this time.

Yes, the king of Ammon had moved his battlefront from the border walls in Gilead into Israel’s mainland, while the Slayer of Giant was on exile.

The neighbouring king was bent on claiming the lands Israel called theirs.

But Jephthah was back now. And the intruder’s goal he now sought to address.

Having fought the giant once before, Jephthah could tell that Xarxus wouldn’t agree to a diplomatic settlement.

Yet the man chose to carry on with a conversation with that Tamer of Dragons, to at least discuss their bone of contention.

The champion had hopes, a little at least. He somehow hoped that this diplomacy with Xarxus would avert another round of slaughters.

But knowing his adversary’s nature too well, Jephthah didn’t fail in preparing a backup plan.

So before the talk with the enemy, Jephthah sent his dedicated four into the city of Ammon to spy out loops in her defenses.

This was to ensure that if the exchange of letters fail to quench the monster’s lingering fires and battle became inevitable, then Israel would still stand a chance of victory.

Well, during Jephthah’s few years of exile, Xarxus had trashed the weak defenders of Israel’s borders at Gilead; and then moved on to fight the entire nation in the core cities.

And during those hard times, the alien king camped with his army at the border side of Gilead – the ruined city of Jephthah and Elar.

So in those days, the people of Gilead fled from their infested city at the southern walls. They moved up to the Israelite city of Mizpah in the north.

But Xarxus had moved his ace fighters from Ammon to camp in Israel’s Gilead. This he did, unwittingly leaving his civilians barely guarded within the walls of the city.

So now, while Jephthah’s four were out there in Ammon as eyes for their fearless commander, the latter sent an urgent dispatch to the Ammon king in Gilead. It was by the hand of two messengers.

Thus, Jephthah’s sealed letter read:

Xarxus King of Ammon,

What is your quarrel with us that you have invaded our land? Why have you invaded Israel?

By the hand of Jephthah,

Lord over Gilead.

Now, Jephthah had ensured that those who carried his letter were no soldiers or combat men. They were, in fact, shepherds…

And anyone could tell from their look that they had no skill or knowledge in the way of swords and spears.

Jephthah did this so Xarxus’s men wouldn’t have an idea of the state of Israel’s army. He knew Xarxus must have known that the border soldiers were without a capable head in those years when he was away.

And that was why the monster could invade Israel, he knew.

So now, even though Jephthah was sure the Ammonites had heard he was back, he knew they would be curious to know how his army was doing.

So the soldier decided to deprive Xarxus and his men every bit of information that could benefit them.

Now when Xarxus received Jephthah’s letter, he laughed so hard that his ribs cracked a sound. He’d waited too long for that moment he’d have a worthy fight with the so-called Giant Slayer.

And here came that moment at last. But it was all jokes and play. For that man that Xarxus had esteemed as all forte and war, was simply here sending him letters.

The Tamer of Dragons laughed and just couldn’t stop himself. For when he gazed at Jephthah’s messengers, he was sure the famed Giant Slayer was but a dwarf.

But then Xarxus chose to enjoy the child play and amuse himself a little more. So he picked up a quill and inked down a reply.

To cap this with a little statement, the warrior sent two of his most decorated soldiers to carry the letter to Israel’s army base.

‘This way this boy will learn the way of a king!’ he gloated. ‘Riff raffs don’t carry a royal letter—valiant soldiers do!’

Then he pressed his seal on the letter and sent the men off to the camp of Israel’s army in Mizpah.’

But Jephthah wasn’t surprised when Xarxus’s soldiers came with the reply. He knew it already that Xarxus would want to show off his might.

Then the commander took the reply and read it out loud to Israel.

Jephthah Lord of Gilead,

I do not invade your land: I am here to take back what is mine.

When your nation came from Egypt to settle here, you took my land from river to river: indeed, from Arnon, to Jabbok, and to Jordan. I the king of Ammon am back to claim back what is mine.

So return my land, Israel! Or I kill everyone to take back everything! 

Xarxus Tamer of Dragons,

King of the Ammonites.

Every scribbled word in that letter were stones hauled with a slinger’s thrust. It sparked off flames as it struck the brazen chest of the listening people.

The elders were angry. Jephthah’s heart, too, knew the heat of a boiling rage.

Even so, Jephthah decided not to do anything in that moment of fury. He feared that the enemy hadn’t only come to kill like as before. He feared that Xarxus’s goal was greater this time.

So, the Israel commander hoped for his spies to return safely. To bring with them good reports of how they might crush the monster.

Yet in the meanwhile, the warrior knew he must reply Xarxus’s letter.

Now he chose to pay the intruder back in his own coin.