National Intelligence Agency (Farmer, Scholar, Prince): Hoshiyan Chronicles, #6

By Barry Dr. Nadel and Barry Nadel

Join an enthralling odyssey of the Hoshiyan Chronicles in 'The National Intelligence Agency: Farmer, Prince, Scholar.' In the Hoshiya saga, a rogue papal agent sparks a perilous chain of events, culminating in a high-stakes clash with Yoshua. Vengeance fuels a relentless mob, plunging the tale into suspenseful uncharted realms.

Within Hoshiya's intricate tapestry, Raphael Arieli grapples with a haunting prophecy shadowing his son Elisha's birth—greatness at an unthinkable cost. Can Raphael and Nina reshape their son's fate through repentance?

Amidst chaos, love blossoms between Gila and Chelon. In an unexpected twist, Raphael Arieli's ascent to the throne leaves him invalid. As regent, Elisha confronts treacherous betrayals, forcing gut-wrenching choices.

This extraordinary saga features an unconventional trio of spies—a farmer, prince, scholar. Amid a consulate siege, death casts its long shadow. 'The National Intelligence Agency' weaves loss, love, and unwavering determination into a gripping tale that captivates until the final page."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Agrosearch
• Release date: Dec 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9798781235940

Book preview

The Hoshiyan Chronicles

Book 6

NIA

Farmer, Scholar, Prince

Barry Nadel

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the

To my daughter,

Devorah,

Rabbi Elazar Ben Shammua said: Let the honor of your students be as dear to you as your own, and the honor of your colleague be like the reverence because of your teacher, and the reverence of your teacher like the reverence for Heaven., Perkie Avot 4:15

Request of the Author

This book has many references from holy sources.

Please do not read it in the bathroom.

Because of the story being on different levels, I have employed Times New Roman for the story of the archaeologists Centabel book for the parts of the story dealing with Hoshiya and Italics to signify people’s thoughts or non-English words.

ISBN: 9798781235940

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Dedication

Series Synopsis Books 1-5

Honoring the Dead

Farmer, Scholar, Prince,

Parallel Spies

Urgas

King Elisha

RAMAG II

Aviva & Simon in England

Aviva and Rivka Arieli

Simon and Yoshua

The Mikveh

Wedding

Ori Yavetz from 565

Rav Nachshon, Advocate

Court

The Queen’s Men I

Queen’s Men II

Chana’s Reforms

Under Siege

Characters by Chapter

About The Author

Please Leave a Review

Series Synopsis Books 1-5

Book 1:

The Light of Justice is a worldwide folklore hero famous for ruling a land based on faith, righteousness and justice. Yoshua Rosenberg’s archeological team is in pursuit of his identity. Yoshua discovers in the binding of an old book, the cover page of the Hoshiyan Chronicles by Aharon Dori. Under the author’s name, was printed a dedication to the King: the Light of Justice.

Yoshua posts the document on the internet. Vatican internet security picks up the publication since it was flagged red. The pope discovers, in a secret vault under the Vatican, a papal directive to destroy the Chronicles and any mention of Aharon Dori. This starts the secret war with the Vatican.

Yoshua is unaware that he is the central figure in an ancient Hoshiyan prophecy. His real name is Yoshua Aluz, hereditary crown prince of Aluz and prince of the Tribe of Asher. The cover page leads them to a 15th century converted synagogue to chapel in southern Spain. The excavation is secretly financed by Hoshiyans via Dr. Simon Jamerson (surgeon). There, they discover the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition. Falsely imprisoned for terrorism, from where will their salvation come?

Book 2

Yoshua, Aviva and Sasha receive the king’s pardon. Once home, they receive information to barter with the Spanish government to recover the chapel and artifacts.

Deputy Minister of the Interior, Ernesto Palmerio, secret leader of the Basque terrorists, lures Yoshua back to Spain to murder him. An ambush to murder Yoshua on the Spanish-Portuguese border is thwarted by an elderly couple of bow-wielding Hoshiyans. Yoshua captures Ernesto in a shootout. In the ensuing negotiations, Yoshua receives back the chapel and its artifacts.

The team returns to Spain too many surprises. Simon’s wife’s murderer has come to Spain to finish his revenge.

Book 3

Spain returns the artifacts, but, with a chaperon, Dr. Miguel Sarmiento. The Spaniard’s lust for treasure and the beautiful Dr. Berger brings strife to the excavation. The first book, opened, is the Community Ledger. It provides a wealth of information from which they discover hidden treasures. The second book introduces Aharon Dori and the Hoshiyan Chronicles. Aharon details how they came to Hoshiya. The Hoshiyans create a new society with their Oath of Peace. Terrorists strike again. They try to blow up the chapel with the team inside. Everyone is wounded. How will Dr. Jamerson choose to save between the woman he loves (Aviva) and his duty to the prophecy (Yoshua)?

Book 4

The Spanish give the chapel area consulate status. The locals believe a miracle occurred during the bombing because of its selective damage. Continued readings reveal the moral legacy of the Arieli family. In a disrupted mission, Benyamin Arieli and David Rosenberg are separated from their unit. They are alone in Syria. Dr. Arieli approves of a secret Hoshiyan rescue mission to save the young princes. Can an attack helicopter and a squad of archers fulfill the mission? For the first time, Hoshiyan officers in the IDF face a problem of dual loyalty. Are they willing to pay the price?

Book 5

A rogue papal agent hires a mobster hit man, who gets killed by Yoshua. The mob wants revenge. In the continuing saga of Hoshiya, Raphael Arieli has a prophecy at his son’s birth. He sees the future. A descendant will become the greatest king of Hoshiya, but at what cost? Raphael sees his son’s death. Can Raphael and Nina save their son, Elisha, by repentance?

Gila and Chelon begin a relationship. Raphael Arieli is elected king, but in a tragic accident becomes an invalid. While regent, Elisha faces two acts of treason by the Duke of Randar and his granddaughter. Will he execute a duke?

The mob besieges the consulate. Death brings heartache to the consulate and the Hoshiyan people.

Honoring the Dead

A n attack on a consulate is a declaration of war, the Israeli Foreign Ministry hissed at his Spanish counterpart.

Mr. Minister, the Spanish government had nothing to do with the attack. The Galician Clan, our local mafia, attacked your consulate. Their attack was in revenge for Professor Yoshua Rosenberg killing one of their assassins, the Spanish foreign minister explained.

Yes, in response to the killer's hit-and-run attack against two Israeli citizens. Who hired the hitman to kill Israelis?

"The CNI (Centro Nacional de Inteligencia) is investigating, but we have no leads," Minister Ortiz replied.

I have a full report on what has happened in Nido de Aguila since Professor Rosenberg started to work there. The town had an economic, agricultural, and cultural revolution.

Everything you say is true. But Prof. Rosenberg is a magnet for violence. The number of murders in the short period your people have worked there can only be equaled to the times of the Reconquista over five hundred years ago.

Are you saying the victims are responsible for the attacks?

No, but the number of dead is in the tens. We want Prof. Rosenberg to wrap up his work and leave. The government has decided if you have the funds, we will allow you to dismantle the building and move it to Israel.

I’ll pass the information on to Prof. Rosenberg. I want a report on who hired the original hitman.

As soon as we have something concrete from our investigators.

THE DEPUTY FOREIGN minister waited on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport. He was accompanied by an honor guard to receive Chelon Zamir’s coffin. Standing next to him was HaRav (Prince) Shimshon Tzurel, who supported Chelon’s father. Next to his father, standing on shaking legs, was Chelon’s mother, supported by Princess Herut (Arieli) Tzurel. The Tzurel’s message was to Chelon’s parents was of great sadness.

Dr. Arieli can’t be here because of the political situation. He is waiting for us at the cemetery. At the other end of the airplane, medics, nurses and doctors received the wounded from the attack in Nido de Aguila.

Michal Ben Yosef stood there waiting for them. One of the wounded was her nephew, Ami Ben Yosef. Ami had been a sniper on the roof of the chapel. An incendiary bomb inflicted third-degree burns over thirty percent of his body.

Next to Michal stood her husband, Arnon.

Honey, the situation in Spain is out of control. You need to speak with Rav Elisha. He needs to convince Yoshua to come home.

Everyone is talking about our one dead and many wounded. No one is talking about how Hoshiyans fought our enemies and defeated them.

Michal, how are we going to protect Yoshua?

Michal smirked.

Maybe you should be asking how the Galician Clan is going to protect themselves from the Prince of the Tribe of Asher.

Arnon shook his head.

Honey, make the call.

Michal nodded at her husband and took out her phone.

Sir, Michal Ben Yosef, speaking.

What can I do for you, Michal? Dr. Arieli replied.

We need to get Yoshua more protection. I’ll send seven new volunteers with combat experience to Nido. It will help our stated goal.

I’ll take care of it after the funeral.

You don’t sound well, sir.

Michal, I delivered three generations of Zamirs. Chelon’s grandfather was one of the first babies I delivered. This funeral is going to be difficult.

WHILE HER HUSBAND SPOKE with Michal, Rebbetzin Rivka Arieli spoke with Gila in Spain.

"I have no words that can express our shock and feeling of loss. Chelon’s parents came to me when the match was proposed. They left so happy. Gila, do you know about the shiur that Queen Hadassah gave on why bad things happen to good people?"

No.

The shiur was long. It involved HaGaon Yosef Drori and the king, Daniel Arieli. Rebbetzin Rivka opened a book about the Mother of the Nation, Queen Hadassah Arieli.

These are things with which you are familiar, Rebbetzin Rivka began. She read from the book written in Queen Hadassah’s memory.

To cope with why bad things which happen to good people, we need to delve into our belief in Holy One Blessed be He. First, we must accept that HaKodosh Baruchu created heaven and the earth. Second, God only creates situations that are for our ultimate benefit. As we say in the blessing after eating, ‘You bestow favors on us continuously, you are forever doing us kindness, mercy, relief, deliverance, prosperity, blessings, life, peace and goodness.’

Third, everything that comes into our lives comes to teach us how to increase harmony in the world. We are required to learn from everything that comes into our lives. Every experience comes to strengthen us, to increase our awareness of God, to make us smarter and better people. The question is, are we capable of understanding this pathway?

There are two directions to asking the question, WHY, Queen Hadassah informed them.

The first comes from our stomachs or our emotions. There is a feeling that something is lacking and a need to fill the void. Loved ones died, homes destroyed, we suffered torture, starvation, beating and constant humiliations. This aspect of why, I am not capable of answering.

Acting as if with one mind, everyone just sat still, waiting to hear what the Queen said. They thought collectively, what are we doing here if even the Queen can't help us? The crowd stirred, so the Queen quickly continued,

"I don’t believe anyone can give an answer that makes sense under the circumstances that we were forced to live. This why is based on our emotions and pain. It is natural for people who suffer to scream out in pain. 

Nevertheless, can we investigate the emotional side of this question with logic? the Queen explained

NO, she answered her own question.

Can we understand how each one of us suffered individually? The answer again is NO, the Queen answered her own question again. She did not wait for the crowd's reaction, but plunged forward.

What was horrible for one person, was manageable for another. What was degrading and humiliating for one individual might have been easy for you to have overcome. One cannot qualify how another feels. The matter is completely subjective. Their emotions are their individual reality, Queen Hadassah explained to them. Many in the audience nodded their heads, agreeing with the Queen.

The Queen didn’t wait for questions, but carried on speaking.

When the question ‘why’ comes from our minds, from our intelligence, we can cope with it. With an intellectual approach, we can calmly ask in the same seriousness as the ‘why’ that comes from our emotions. We face several qualifying points that must be addressed first before we can continue to discuss the intellectual approach to why, the Queen informed them.

The Queen took two deep breaths, arranged her thoughts and continued.

The first step is that we must believe in God. This statement caught those gathered completely off guard.

That the Holy One Blessed be He created the entire Universe. We are his chosen people to be a light upon the nations. I understand this statement creates a difficulty for many of you after what you have suffered throughout the years of the occupation. If we have no place to address our question of why, the Queen asked them, Then why are we asking the question?

Your majesty, I understand the point you are making. My job is to learn why Chelon came into my life and how I can improve myself by knowing him.

Remember, everyone is here to help you through your time of pain. Lean on your sister. Use Hadassah as your anchor.

Thank you for your phone call. It has helped me.

The nation thanks you. We never intended that you should be in a firefight. The court approved of your decision. It fulfilled your primary goal, keeping Ruth safe.

Two days later, seven new young strong volunteers arrived at the consulate. With their help, the repairs were completed in three days.

The people of Nido de Aguila have stopped being friendly. The surrounding atmosphere is antagonistic. We are no longer greeted with smiles whenever we shop, Amitai mentioned to Simon when he came back from the hardware store, disgruntled.

What’s wrong? Simon inquired.

The owner of the hardware store suggested we leave soon. We aren’t welcomed. He said we bring too much violence and death to their town. The two men walked over to Itamar’s office to report.

You aren’t the only one getting complaints. The mayor called, saying he gets five to ten complaints every day about us being here, Itamar informed them.

Farmer, Scholar, Prince,

The mood in the consulate had changed. The light banter had changed to a more somber temperament. To rekindle the former friendship, Itamar, Yoshua, and Amitai appeared before the town council. Before they could speak, many of the council members shouted at them to leave Nido immediately.

The council members didn’t give Itamar a chance to speak. Amitai grabbed Itamar and dragged him out of the council meeting.

Yoshua we aren’t welcomed here. Come now! Amitai urged him.

I’ll be there soon.

Now everyone directed their ire at the professor. He waited for three minutes, while the council members shouted at him.

Yoshua stood, lifted the glass filled with water in front of him. He hauled back and threw it against the wall. That got everyone’s attention and silence.

Now we can speak like civilized humans. Yoshua waited for the snide comment to sink into their consciousness.

When I came to this town, your economic situation was dire. People were leaving to find jobs elsewhere. You were suffering from thirty-five percent unemployment.

The violence directed against us was never in response to something violent we had done. Every incident was a matter of self-defense.

How many times did Dr. Jamerson, help you, even though he isn’t your doctor? He did it out the goodness of his heart. How much have we helped you? Today your unemployment is half of that of the national average. Property valves have risen. Your merchants enjoy a lot of business from the consulate. Your workers had jobs to build the consulate.

I won’t deny that powerful international forces who want to stop us. I knew Commander Moreno better than any of you. He was my friend. We fought criminals, shoulder to shoulder. His death hurts to this day.

Yoshua wanted to scream at them that the Pope was behind most of the violence that occurred in Nido. He understood they won’t believe him.

Let me remind you that an attack on the consulate is an act of war. If you want to have peaceful protests in front, we can’t stop you. You have seen what happens to those who raise their arms against us. We are skilled warriors. If you want to try something, we are ready, Yoshua threatened them.

Yoshua returned to their rented house. He found Juanita crying on the sofa between Aviva and Ruth.

What happened? Yoshua asked.

Someone decapitated Juanita’s cat and left it on our doorstep!

Professor, I have lived in the town my entire life. I am the tenth generation to live here. Someone did this because I am friends with you, Juanita told Yoshua, while she wiped away tears.

If you want to stop working for us, we will understand, Yoshua told her.

If I quit, then they will win. Those cowards will understand they can intimidate me. I won’t be intimidated, by low-lives that kill cats.

The situation here is out of hand. We need to put together a schedule of wrapping up our work here, Yoshua proposed.

"Professor, what about the tombstones in the gully? Are we going to leave them here? It is a chilul Hashem (desecration of God’s name)," Hadassah stated.

Yoshua smiled at the angry bodyguard.

"I am happy you feel that way, but it’s a question of pekuach nefesh. People’s lives are more important."

If we leave the job unfinished, profane hands will excavate them. Afterwards, they will ransom them to us, Miguel wanted to do, Gila added.

Girls, we are too exposed in the gully. We would have to put guards on both sides of the gully, Sasha replied.

That’s how you talk? You went to prison for those mummies and the chronicles, Gila said, pointing her right index finger at him.

It will become like the mob selling protection. Each tombstone will cost us more money. Every time we pay them, it will encourage their evilness, Simon added.

Hadassah leaped to feet to reply, but Ruth was on her feet fast as a mongoose.

Hadassah, control yourself. Everyone has strong feelings about the gravestones, Ruth said, staring into her eyes. Ruth shook her head slightly.

To everyone’s surprise, Gefen made a comment.

Everyone is suffering from anger and frustration. How far will the town’s people go?

Aviva wrapped her left arm around Gefen’s shoulder.

Honey, it’s not the locals we have to worry about. It’s the pope and his henchmen.

I need to clear my head. I’m going for a walk, Yoshua announced.

That could be dangerous, Ruth replied.

I agree, for someone who bothers me. Yoshua grabbed his hunting knife and a bottle of water. He went out the back door.

Yoshua slipped into the house at 1:20 am. He found his wife sleeping on the sofa. She had tried to stay awake until he came home. He lifted her in his arms and took her to their room.

The next morning, everyone was ready ten minutes early.

Sasha and I will ride bikes to the consulate this morning. The rest of you follow in the van. Leave four minutes after us. Everyone reached the consulate without incident.

Gefen prepared herself for the reading by gargling with warm salt water for two minutes. Once more, tens of thousands of ears waited anxiously to hear her sweet voice.

CROWN PRINCE ELISHA and his wife Chana work relentlessly to implement the changes started by King Raphael.

Chaggi Baruchi has sent a letter asking to retire from his position as the director of the NIA, Elisha informed his wife.

How long has he been there?

Father appointed him the head of the MIU in 548. He oversaw the transfer of the MIU into the NIA. He’s been there five years. General Baruchi has been in the army since 513.

He writes that he is a military man and not proficient enough in diplomacy to head the NIA which is responsible for every aspect of intelligence.

Who do we have that is qualified? Chana asked.

General Rechavam Aluz.

Crown Prince Eliahu’s younger brother?

Yes, he served as commander of the Royal Aluzian Regiment for five years. Afterwards, he worked for the foreign ministry as a negotiator. He speaks seven languages.

What’s he doing now? Chana inquired.

General Aluz is in charge of the foreign ministry for Aluzian affairs. He would be perfect for the job. Besides giving Eliahu’s brother such an important job will link him politically to us, Elisha pointed out.

"I BEEN AMISS ABOUT Nachshon HaCohen. Nachshon wasn’t secretive about his private life, but he also talked little about his family. His parents arranged for him to meet Shira Kahane with her parents. Shira’s father was a career military man. Shira and Nachshon had grown up together in the same youth movement. They had known each other since the age of ten.

The tall, knife wheedling, budding scholar intimidated Shira’s father.

Nachshon, I will be straight with you. We are simple folk. We don’t hobnob with royalty like you. I’ve spent the last twenty years as a sergeant major in the army’s technology department. You are already an officer and a friend of Prince David Aluz.

Mr. Kahane, my other best friend is the son of a poor dirt farmer from the south. My parents taught me not to look at someone’s titles, but what they do. Actions speak louder than words. Shira’s father’s face softened when he heard this.

Sir, I have discussed with Shira what it would mean to be a career officer’s wife. She spoke extensively with Mrs. Kahane about being a soldier’s wife. I’ve watched her grow into a serious woman with a mind of her own. We are compatible because of our similar backgrounds.

That’s true. You both grew up in the same neighborhood.

Sir, I have been away to yeshiva and the army. During that time, we kept in contact by writing to each other. I am no stranger to you home. I visit every time I come home.

True.

I didn’t realize how important she was to me until I almost died in combat. I am here with my parents out of respect to you and your wife. I hope this shows you how serious I am about your daughter. I have been saving my money for a dowry.

This money will be for Shira to buy a trousseau and things we will need for a home, Nachshon said as he handed Mr. Kahane a bank draft.

This amount of money will barely cover her wedding expenses, Mr. Kahane said as he showed his wife the bank draft.

There was a loud pounding on the door.

"Shira, please see who is pounding on our door. Shira opened the door. Her jaw dropped to see who stood there. Standing there was General Rechavam Aluz, David’s uncle. The general walked in wearing his dress uniform

In he marched into the living room where everyone one seated.

Mr. and Mrs. Kahane, I am Rechavam Aluz. Nachshon is in our ancestral home often. I have had the pleasure of becoming familiar with this unusual young man. My nephew David asked me to stop by and say hello.

Rechavam saw the bank draft and lifted it. He shook his head.

You want to marry this lovely girl with that amount of money?

Lucky for you, David is your best friend, and I liked you as well. I love how you play with those knives, Rechavam said, winking at Mr. Kahane. While talking he tore the bank draft to tiny pieces. Everyone stared at him, dumbfounded.

"Still naïve in the ways of the world, Nachshon. He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Nachshon’s parents.

Their eyes flew open when they saw the amount. Nachshon’s father handed it to Mr. Kahane.

Wow, there is enough money there for us to live on for two years, without his salary.

Let’s call it a prenuptial gift from the Aluz family.

Come on. Get out a bottle of wine and let’s write the marriage conditions.

Nachshon and Shira were married in a huge wedding held at Sde Rachamim yeshiva in 556. Crown Prince Eliahu and Princess Chava came with David to the wedding. The RAMAG officiated the wedding. Rechavam held one of the poles of the chupah.

Ori found Shira and Nachshon a nice apartment only a fifteen-minute ride from the home base. As an officer, Nachshon could go home five nights a week. Ten months later Rachel HaCohen is born. I mention this because of her important influence on the Light of Justice.

DURING THE SUMMER OF 556, Prince Chogan, the youngest son, murdered his father and older brothers and seized the Marizian throne. He spoke to his sea captains in a meeting at the capital.

We have lived under the thumb of Empire for too long. We have turned into a nation of traders and merchants. Our greatest glory occurred when we were raiders, not merchants. Any town, ship, or island that isn’t Marizian is ripe for the plucking. The Empire is in the middle of a civil war, so they aren’t a threat to us, King Chogan told his officers. Everyone cheered.

Now strike fear into the hearts of the lesser beings. We will surpass the glory of our forefathers, King Chogan shouted wide eyed. Chogan negotiated a pact with the Kupelian border robber barons. The Marizians attacked along the coast, while their allies, the Kupelian barons, struck in coordination throughout the northern border.

Warfare broke out soon afterwards, when Marizian pirates broke their treaty with Hoshiya without warning. They raided out of the north.

The Marizians didn’t have the technology of the Hoshiyans. A coast guard cutter with a heliograph out at sea sent a warning that a fleet of over two hundred ships was sailing south. Messages flashed across the country.

Captain David Aluz commanded the Third Company of the Royal Aluzian Guards. Ori and Nachshon were assigned as intelligence officers to his unit. Under the command of the deputy company commander, Ori and Nachshon joined a third of the company to patrol to the northwest. Their aim was to gather intelligence on enemy strength and movements.

The third company’s area of responsibility took the blunt of the Kupelian assault. They had two days to reinforce their base camp. Two days after the warning, the company base came under attacked. The Kupelians assault coincided with half of the company on patrol further west.

David rotated his troops from one side to another. Their luck held as the Kupelians attacked only from one direction at a time. By having his troops in constant motion, David not only saved his men, but repelled over twelve separate attacks by shifting the placement of their single naphtha thrower. By evening, more than half the camp laid in flames.

Sir, we have run out of naphtha.

We’ll have to organized a breakout under the cover of darkness, David told his NCOs. David turned to his master sergeant Gil Ben-Ari.

Gil, pass the word among the men. We are breaking out, David informed him.

Sir, we can’t send out a patrol to find their weakest point. Which direction are we going to break out?

Gil, we will do the thing they least expect. We will try to catch them off guard. We will attack straight north into the enemy’s mouth.

Sir, if we put out the fires, the enemy will have a hard time seeing us as we break out, Gil suggested.

Good idea, master sergeant. If we are lucky, the enemy won’t detect us until we are upon them, David said.

MEANWHILE, TO THE WEST, the deputy company commander received a serious wound to his right shoulder. Ori raced to his side and helped the medic give first aid. The deputy company commander reached up with his left hand and grabbed Ori’s shirt.

Ori, take over command, he ordered. Ori left two men to watch over their commander.

Men, we have a job to complete. Under Ori’s command, they cut off a group of the Kupelian raiders. They killed four of them and captured eight others.

Nachshon and Ori interrogated the captives. They were stupid braggarts.

"Your entire unit will be dead by daybreak. We have over two thousand men attacking your base camp.

"Gag the prisoners. Have the prisoners carry the stretchers with the wounded back to the base. Ori led his men eastward through Kupelian territory, hoping to catch other Kupelian forces in the rear.

As night approached, the disappointed men in the field found no other Kupelian force. Ori and his men crossed back into Hoshiya.

Ten-minute break to eat and rest. Give food and water to the prisoners, Ori ordered.

Ori took out his map and compass and took his bearings.

We are only three km from the base if we march due south, Ori told Nachshon.

Nachshon, take two fast runners and scout the route back to the base. Let’s not get caught in any ambushes. Leave in three minutes. The medic needs more time to treat wounded, Ori ordered. Twenty minutes later, the three men met Ori and the Aluzians moving south. Ori called a halt to his small column.

You will not believe what we found, Nachshon said.

What is going on? Ori asked, afraid to hear the answer.

"There is a large enemy force blocking our way home. The base is on fire, filling the cool night air with yellow-orange flames and smoke. Ori realized that his small force, though having total surprise, could not defeat such a large force without some help from the rest of the company, which lay trapped in the base by the large Kupelian force.

Ori also needed a way of letting David know where he was.

Spread out in a semicircle around the enemy’s rear and for every man to look for branches, Ori said. What came to his mind was the story of Gideon and how three hundred men routed a much larger force. After conferring with his NCOs, Ori completed his plans.

We will fire four flaming arrows, two from the left flank and two from the right flank, so that their trajectories will cross at their peak over the center of the enemy forces. If we are lucky, someone in the base will realize that the Kupelians don’t fire on themselves and concluded that friendly forces awaited them outside, Ori explained.

Five minutes later, a messenger came to Ori. Sir, our troops are ready, the soldier whispered. Ori tapped the men next to him on the shoulder. The Aluzian guardsmen lit their pitch-soaked arrow from a small hooded lantern. In one smooth movement, they lifted their bows while they pulled back on it with all their strength. Ori nodded, and they released their arrows. The flaming arrows arched high in the air, crossing over the enemy position opposite the base. This was the signal also for the rest of the Aluzians to open fire with six volleys of arrows.

Panic erupted in the Kupelian formations by the time they had finished firing six volleys of arrows. Many of the deadly Aluzian arrows had found their mark. The frightened, confused Kupelians panicked.

Who is firing on us? the Kupelian officer asked.

Sir, we are being attacked on three sides, major, the soldier replied.

Five minutes prior, the Kupelians had launched their forward units in a flank attack on the Aluzian base, thus separating them from the rest of the force. They had got into position when they saw the flaming arrows sailing over their primary position. The respective commanders of each flank didn’t know what to make of this.

The signal for attack will be the drum rolls of the frontal assault, their commander had told them. Both officers restrained their forces and awaited the proper signal.

David had been waiting for nightfall. He had prepared his troops to launch their attack under the cover of darkness. The entire unit could see the spiraling arrows, and the trajectory and position of the darts aroused everyone’s curiosity. Two minds are better than one, and eighty is better than two. I took less than ninety seconds before they figured out the solution and passed on to their company commander. David put himself into Ori’s mind and thought what might Ori might do. One mark of David’s genius was his true instinct for warfare. He had a sixth sense, even before he had figured out what transgressed, he knew he should launch his attack immediately.

The deception worked perfectly. At first, the Kupelians thought it was their own troops and screamed to stop firing their arrows. It took the Kupelians another sixty seconds to figure out that enemy forces attacked them from the front and rear. The Kupelians panicked. They turned to see the numerous torches to their rear.

It’s the Hoshiyan army. Run for your lives before they massacre us, the scared Kupelians yelled. They threw their weapons to the ground and scattered to the four winds. Meanwhile, the enemy flank attacks heard the noise of battle and attacked the base. The base was empty. In the clear night air, they heard the screams of their fellow troops and escaped into the forest.

David and Ori met in the darkness.

Well played, Ori, David said.

Thank you for realizing friendly forces were outside, Ori replied.

Let’s get out of here, before the idiots realize their mistake.

DURING THE FOLLOWING week, with the Royal Aluzian Guards in the lead, they drove the marauders from within the borders of Hoshiya. They inflicted heavy casualties on the Kupelians.

King Elisha awarded and promoted David, Ori and Nachshon to the ranks of Majors and Captain, respectively.

I have a historical announcement to make. I have conducted extensive negotiations with Crown Prince Eliahu and the Aluzian nobility. They have agreed to accept Major Ori Yavetz and Captain Nachshon HaCohen as official officers of the Royal Aluzian Guard, the king announced.

The entire hall broke out in cheers and stamping of their feet. David and Ysrael approached their friends, holding uniforms of the Royal Aluzian Guard. Nachshon and Ori changed and returned to the hall. Once again, everyone cheered and stamped their feet.

After the ceremonies, they returned to the Crown Prince’s home, including Ori’s parents, whom had made the long journey to Aluz for the King’s presentation of honors. Because of the warfare. David and Ori had seen little of Simcha whom had matured from a young lady to a beautiful woman. When she made her appearance, it took Ori’s breath away. She was on his mind often during the past months while he was fighting along the border. Simcha’s mother, Avinoam, saw how Simcha looked at Ori and not the prince. The baroness walked over to Ori’s mother to congratulate her.

The entire nation is in debt to your son.

Thank you, Baroness, Yafeet answered.

I assume you saw how my daughter looked at your son, Avinoam said.

"Baroness, I would not be so presumptuous to say anything. You have an exquisite daughter. I understand from my son that your husband is negotiating with the crown prince