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Sons of the Flaming Throne 2 – Ch. 3 | KT OLLA

THAT night that the prince stole the scroll and burned the trace, even things changed in the house of power.

A shifting season changed the times, too.

It was the onset of winter in Israel. And before that night had dawned into day, the lingering summer had turned to winter. So Adonijah stayed in to study the scroll.

This was the time in ancient Israel, when proud hills used to be covered in snow. Those chilly times that called for a cloth of wool for cover.

So in those days, everyone braved the weather with the usual and moved on. Yet there was this man who wouldn’t be warmed up by anything. Be it cloth. Or fire. Or a hot sauce.

It was David of Israel. It was the King in his old age.

King David was well advanced in age, and the weathers took a toll on him. The warrior lay in bed, all limp and frail. And not a thing could liven him.

Now the ministers of his court couldn’t bear to see him down. So they decided to rejuvenate their king. And they held a council for opinions.

Yes, it was clear to that council of elders, that if they didn’t do something about this, they could lose their king before they were ready to.

The man was stricken with age indeed. But those elders were not ready to lose him yet. Especially to a winter that would come and go.

So they brainstormed and pondered myriads of thoughts. Suggestions also poured in from all angles. But none of their suggestions was a cure for old age.

But at last, a man spoke a different thing. And his idea nailed it for everyone.

That man was a David supporter. His name was Benaiah.

Benaiah was a prominent minister in council. He was someone who had earned the trust of the king. So much that he’d placed him as governor over two outpost stations.

Those stations were the strongholds where a fraction of David’s soldiers who were foreigners by birth, lived their lives.

It was Benaiah that the king entrusted them with.

So now, the elder spoke up and addressed the conference.

‘Let the council listen,’ he called, ‘and I will speak a word.’

The people quieted and looked on him.

He began: ‘What can douse a burning heat like the cool pour of water? What more can wake a cold man than the warmth of a damsel?’

The council sat back, nodded and hummed.

‘Elders of Israel, we need not light more fires lest we raze down the court ourselves.

‘Neither do we need more blankets to guard the King from the weather. Even cloths of wool will fail a man when it comes to age.’

The listeners breathed a sigh.

‘But like God in Eden gave Eve to Adam, to keep him company, comfort him and be his help…

‘So, let us get our King a young blood, a young soul, a young beauty. Let her soft flesh and beauty warm him in bed.

‘Let her revitalize his flesh with her young soul. And be his love, and warmth, and wife until his last breath.’

He finished. ‘With this, we might keep the King for a little more time. Maybe one more, or two, or ten seasons!’

Everyone nodded thoughtfully at those words. As the idea seemed to be the most progressive of all they’d heard that day.

The council adopted Benaiah’s proposal. Then a search was instantly commissioned.

It was the search for a beauteous maiden that would keep the king company.

A feminine cuddle that would keep him warm.


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