Sons Of The Flaming Throne – Ch. 17 | KT OLLA

ON the day that followed the Third One’s night of plotting, it was his closest adversary who woke up with a headache.

Joab rose up with the early morning sun in his house near the palace. It was some sudden concern about Absalom’s growing fame that stirred him.

The soldier’s sleep through the night had been quite a short one. He’d lost his sleep at the first crow of the cock at dawn. Even when he’d only gone to bed at midnight.

And so, when the man sought his lost sleep in vain, he was compelled to linger on the ongoing development in Absalom’s camp.

Within the four years that had quickly swept past, Joab told himself that the prince’s spreading fame was happening only because the young man craved attention.

That, when Absalom couldn’t catch his father’s eyes since he returned from exile, he decided to settle instead for the people’s acceptance.

Well, it was King David who first told the concerned soldier this line of thought, when the ruler’s son’s name started to blossom in Israel.

And that hasty thought had worked to lay Joab’s worried heart to rest.

But then, it was a brief rest that the man knew.

For this very day, Joab lost his quiet sleep and jolted up from bed. And he decided it was time to tell the king to wake up too.

He was suddenly afraid of something, yes. ‘Oh there’s fire on the mountain and we’re all sleeping!’ he sighed.

Thus, David’s general set out on foot that early morning, to warn the king. He went out at the hour when the royal courts would normally open.

The soldier intended to lay down his thoughts before the monarch, and seek permission to deal with the matter.

But when Joab arrived at the palace, it was a different move that knocked him out. For he wasn’t that armed for this brutal game, after all.

Well, the army general saw Absalom’s servant waiting on his master by his donkey. And on the animal’s back the prince had left his scarlet band seated as kingly as a ruler’s crown.

And when he saw this, he stopped and sighed. ‘Absalom is here!’

Now it dawned on Joab that his target was there within the palace already, meeting with the king before any courtier would arrive.

It dawned on him that day that their foe was born a faster foot.

Truly, while Joab lingered in bed to find sleep all night long, the young Prince Absalom didn’t even bat an eye.

This throne seeker had stayed awake through the long night masterminding the plans that would topple the stoutest war king to ever lead Israel.

Then he’d literally rode from his warroom to the throne room. And his early call was what forced open the palace gates.

But still, David’s general wouldn’t take an early defeat. He was prepared to counter the traitor’s move immediately.

So he crashed into the palace with the force of a windstorm.

And even the iron gates fled both ways.