Jeph's Daughter

By Dave Raines

A father's power, a daughter's life, a world at stake: Hana's life is slowly draining away... because her father is desperate to smash his enemies. An alternate-future story of a man whose holy vow puts his daughter in terrible danger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dave Raines
• Release date: Dec 2, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465730671

Book preview

Jeph's Daughter

by

Dave Raines

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 Dave Raines

Jeph’s Daughter

Jeph held Sihon’s lifeless body in the grip of his mind. Then he raised it high and shook it, an emblem of his victory. For emphasis, he crumpled the chest and drove a rib through Sihon’s heart.

Flying cameras circled for close-ups, and the roar of the crowd redoubled. Some roared in approval: Emergents, whose seats on the council were temporarily safe. Some booed: Traditionalists, who were threatened.

Jeph caught Ammon’s eye. Ammon would be his next and final foe, the last hope of the Traditionalist party. Jeph shook Sihon one last time and dropped him. With a wet thud and the cracking of bones, Sihon’s body hit the granite floor of the Temple.

Then Jeph clambered down the raised platform and strode away. Before him, the robed crowd parted, some in respect, some in fear. One young man reached to touch his garments, his breastplate of judgment, his fringed overcoat. He glared at him and the man withdrew.

Perhaps I have made another enemy, Jeph thought. But he had no choice. I must sit down. I am exhausted, but I dare not show it. Let me through!

The presence of the crowd touched him, but only as background: their stink disappearing into the salt smell of his blood and Sihon’s, and his sweat, and the vague ozone of power expended, and linen burned where Sihon’s spear of fire almost got through. The pounding of his pulse in his ears dwarfed the susurrus of conversation as he approached. The dust of granite chips, cast at him by Sihon, settled from him with every step, and his tunic stuck to his back--from sweat, or blood? His neck hurt from Sihon’s invisible choke hold, the one that almost killed him.

Where did Sihon get his power? By reputation, Sihon was not in Jeph’s league as a miracle worker, yet he came within inches and moments of killing Jeph, instead of the other way around.

The Temple was huge, hundreds of meters across, the entirety of it crowded with onlookers. Jeph’s progress became a stately processional as his entourage fell in behind him: other Disputants of the Emergent party, slaves and heathens to tend to his needs, priests and theologians. Now the musicians struck up a psalm, and his people began to sing: In God we shall do valiantly...

Jeph’s pace was measured and slow until he entered his private chambers. His dresser accompanied him, but he shut the door on all the rest.

Then he collapsed.

Asa cursed and caught him under the arm, manhandled him into a straight chair. Reverently, Asa removed the Breastplate of Judgment from him, smoothing it, maybe praying also, maybe blessing.

The breastpiece reflected the beauty of right judgment: fine linen woven with blue, purple, and crimson thread; gold leaf hammered fine and sliced, the resulting gold thread woven into the cloth, like mercy.

Asa loosened the rest of Jeph’s clothes, fetched a cool tea, wiped his face. And talked all the while: "What the hell happened out there? I swear I wanted to jump up and kick you in the ass.