Sons Of The Flaming Throne – Ch.43 | KT OLLA

IT had happened that the night Ahi and Jona fled the palace, Ahithophel the Sage had also hit the road on a thoughtful ride.

But that journey on his ass was one so different from the first. As the old one didn’t know that his ride would be an endless one.

The wise elder was anxious to know if the king would call for him, and ask to follow his advice. But there was no way he’d know as the night itself promised a long wait.

So when the old man couldn’t take it any longer, he decided to go out to the streets and check for himself how things were.

Ahithophel mounted his donkey and cantered through town. He’d done this before, waiting for King David. Like he was then waiting for his son.

In the case of David, the man always waited for weeks. Waiting for the former king to return and heed his advice.

Truly, the wise one did feel insulted that he always had to wait those times. But often times it was a sense of pride he felt, that David would in time heed him.

So the elder did not mind waiting this time. Like he’d always done when David shunned him. Or so were the man’s thoughts.

Now that gloomy night, the old man began combing through Jerusalem. He wanted to sniff out something about the state of things.

And as he cantered through, several laden thoughts followed. 

I tested the waters; I read him through. Why aren’t things working according to plan?

Or did he read me? Did he find me faltering? When exactly did I leave a clue?

Really, I must’ve been shaken this time. Really!

Yes, the more this elder thought about it, the more he feared he’d lose his grip on the matter. Then his confidence wore out every moment; and with every turn his donkey made.

Ahithophel knew he’d crossed every road. He’d made the son dispose his father and crowned the prince king. Now he saw that this son was the last hope he’d got. The last stop on this road.

So he gave it another thought.

What if this young man turns against me? What if he shuns me like his father did? What if Absalom turns his back, then where will I turn in Israel?

His worries broke out in words. ‘Oh no, what will I do? Could I deflect to David’s side? No. Or can Absalom be appeased? Definitely, no.

‘Then what will be my fate with the way things are going? Or where exactly do I turn?’

Now the old man desperately hoped the king would hear him. That Absalom would reconsider and choose his counsel.

But he didn’t have to go near to see what the king decide. For right there in some corners of town, he saw what he was looking for. He saw the answer he desperately sought.

But then what the man saw broke his heart. And his waiting came to a fatal end.

Ahithophel saw an army of Israelite soldiers match out in their thousands through the Way of the King, heading for the palace at the end of that way.

The old man knew what this meant. And he knew the king had trashed his plan to follow another’s. That he had chosen Hushai, David’s friend, to replace him.

At that moment, a torrent of sorrow poured on the elder. It was like the downpour of flood and hails.

Then the flow dampened and submerged him whole. So much that all life left him.

He couldn’t stop the growing fears nor could he help the tears that flowed. His muscles softened and his bones lost their strength.

And most of all he lost all pride and confidence.

That endless night, Ahithophel rode out of the capital city. Then all the way down to Gilo, his country home. So there he hung himself and died.

Now the news of the man’s death travelled far and wide by daybreak. And by the time it was almost dusk that day, it had caught up with Ahi and Jona on their way.

So they ran faster to bring the king news.