The Deal

XVIII
The Deal

1. PREPARATIONS FOR A GRAND THEFT

THE RELATIVES weren't the only ones grumbling about the appointments, but the 21, who were ordered to accompany David II, fumed over their fate.
"What will he do?" asked Akonhel, the youth leader. "For we have to leave our country and our birthplace and our kinsfolk and the people of our city. Now, come let us establish a covenant between us only and our kinsfolk will know nothing of this that we will love each other in that country; none will hasten or tarry here and we will neither fear nor have any doubt. For God is here and God is there and may God's will be done.
Azariah, the High Priest stepped forward. A man of commanding presence, he said: "It doesn't matter if our kinsfolk hate us, what matters is that we should be sad because we'll have to leave the Ark of the Covenant. It's because of her we should weep."
"You're right, Azariah," said Awsteran. "She is our hope and the object of our boasting and we've grown up under our blessedness. And how is it possible for us to forsake Zion our mistress?
"And what will we do? If we resist his command the king will king us and we're unable to trangress the word of our fathers or the king's command. But what will be do concerning Zion our Lady?"
"I'll counsel you on what we should do," replied Azariah. "I want you to swear an oath that you'll never repeat. I mean they might torture you with your life on the line and you'll still keep our secret."
After taking the oath, Azariah said, "Come now, let us take our Lady Zion with us to Ethiopia."
The group couldn't comprehend what the High Priest was saying.
"That's what I said. Let's take the Ark with us and I'll show you how if you all listen to my plan. Even if they learn what we're doing and kill us, that shouldn't trouble us because we're all willing to die for our Lady Zion. If we die it will not cause us sorrow and if we live, the will of God be done."
Zechariah, the son of army commander Benaiah and a confidante of Azariah, looked at his close friend. He shook his head and exclaimed, "What you're saying is wonderful, but you know, Azariah, you can't go into the Temple in the place of your father, Zadok, because he keeps the keys with him at all times."