Joshua Valiant (Chronicles of the Nephilim) Read Free Page B

razor sharp strong and unbreakable. It had been forged in angelic realms and used by his ancestor, Lamech ben Methuselah, the father of Noah.
    Lamech had named it “Rahab” because its serpentine nature reminded him of the sea dragon of chaos who went by the same name. And in the hands of Caleb, it was a very destructive sea dragon with extremely accurate aim.
    Gabriel the archangel had visited Caleb when he was young and taught him how to use the sword in the special angelic fighting style called “Way of the Karabu.” Now at the age of 40, he did not so much fight as he did dance, moving in and out of his opponents, snapping Rahab like a dancer waving a long twirling ribbon—of death.
    He cut off the head of a giant and the sword arm of another before they could even get within striking distance.
    Joshua, on the other hand was Caleb’s opposite in style. He was brute force and fury wrapped up inside rage. Once his instincts kicked into survival mode, Joshua was a non-stop flurry of rapid strikes, slashes, and stabs that few warriors could keep up with, let alone the slow giant he pummeled with ferocity, who succumbed to exhaustion.
    At age 20, Joshua had the strength and stamina of a giant wound tight into his six foot frame. Although tall for his own people, his deceptively small appearance to these giants was an added advantage of surprise.
    Unfortunately, Joshua was to receive the last surprise of the evening, as the one-armed Anakim, not yet bled out, knelt up to land a deathblow on Joshua be hind his back with his iron blade.
    Actually , it was the next to last surprise, because before he could land it, a blur flew through the air and knocked the giant sideways to the ground before his last gasp.
    It was the mercenary, who promptly cut off the monster’s head from his long muscular neck.
    “Whew,” said the mercenary. “That was close. I almost had a lot of explaining to do to Yahweh.”
    The two Israelites stood catching their breaths, looking at their benefactor with astonishment.
    “Are you —mal’akim?” asked Caleb. It meant, “angel,” one of Yahweh’s heavenly host, and he knew their presence ever since his visits from Gabriel years ago.
    “ I am Mikael the archangel, prince of Israel, sent to watch over and protect Yahweh’s people.”
    Joshua thought to himself that this must mean he was destined for a higher purpose in Yahweh’s plan if this guardian angel of Israel was watching over him. Joshua had hoped and prayed for such an honor. Being the assistant of Moses had fed that hope in his heart, handpicked by the ruler of Israel himself. And now that hope was growing stronger.
    He had no idea just how wrong he was.
    Mikael said, “You had better hurry and catch up with the other spies. They are almost back to the camp in the Negeb.”
    Joshua bent down and picked up a sword and scabbard from one of the smaller warriors. He smiled and wrapped it onto his horse.
    “What about these soldiers?” asked Caleb. “If those commanders, Seshai and Talmai, find them, they will know for sure that we are the ones whom they seek. They might chase us all the way back to our camp.”
    “ Do not worry,” said Mikael. “Be strong and courageous. I will bury them. You just get moving.”
    Joshua said, “What about you?”
    “Oh, do not worry about me,” said Mikael. “You will be seeing plenty of me in the future. Now, go.”
    They went.

Chapter 2
    Moses stood before the assembled congregation of Israel’s seventy elders at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He was well over eighty years old and was weary with the burden of this nation of ingrates. They had seen Yahweh crush the power of Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods beneath the might of his strong right arm. The ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the drowning of Pharaoh’s minions in the waters were still fresh in their memories. As was the thunder and lightning upon Mount Sinai. A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night