“I really don’t think they could. But they reacted to the words. When they talked among themselves, their talk was about the same things the demons were saying-how they should not continue with the king’s fleet to Emmanuel, or how the money wasn’t worth losing their lives.”
Captain Bonifast stopped short of taking another drink from his glass. He concentrated on a point on the wall, deep in thought.
“Do you suppose we should cancel the attack, Captain?” Gideon asked.
Bonifast turned to the warrior-priest with a thoughtful look on his face. “I’m afraid that would be devastating to the land army King Stephen is already leading toward Emmanuel,” he explained. “They’ll be waiting for our signal to attack. And we are meant to break through and weaken the palace walls in order to divert some of their strength from defending the outer walls against Stephen’s attack.”
An uncomfortable silence hung in the room for a few moments. Finally, Bonifast looked at each of them and smiled. “Men are not meant to have all of the answers in these situations, lads. But we can speak to the one who holds all things in his hand.”
Gideon’s smiled. “Prayer.”
Captain Bonifast nodded. “Yes, we must call upon Shaddai whose war this actually is. He will lead us according to his will.”
Ethan had not actually thought about the war against Mordred as being Shaddai’s war. King Stephen was the one leading the campaign. He was the one financing the war effort and sending out emissaries to the various villages and towns looking for those willing to join in the fight. But, in truth, this was a spiritual conflict, and all of them, including King Stephen, were fighting on the side of Shaddai.
“There’s no time like the present, gentlemen. We’ll have privacy in here,” Bonifast said.
They bowed their heads, and the captain began to lead them in prayer. Ethan remembered the days when he had prayed with his sister, Elspeth. They had prayed together the night of their exodus from the village of Salem. They had prayed while traveling the dangerous roads winding through Nod as they sought a place where they might find food and shelter. They had even prayed together before Elspeth accepted Mr. Howinger’s proposal, allowing them to remain in his employ so many years.
As Captain Bonifast prayed for the will of the Lord in this war, and the plans they were preparing to execute, Ethan remembered the nights his father and mother had prayed with him at his bedside. It had been a nightly ritual, and one he could not go to sleep without. His parents had brought him up in the knowledge of the truth-Shaddai watches over, providing for and protecting those who put their faith in him.
Ethan prayed silently as the captain continued making his supplications for the fleet and King Stephen’s army soon to arrive outside Emmanuel’s white walls. Ethan even noticed the captain mentioning him and Gideon in his prayer-that they might be used by the Lord to do mighty things for his name’s sake.
When they started praying, it was close to the ninth hour bell. When they finished, it was almost time for the tenth hour bell to sound. The men did not finish what was left of the meal. It became a solemn time as they considered whether their prayers would be answered in the way they hoped.
Ethan excused himself, getting up from the table. He was tired after the long day of realm shifting, but at least his belly was full. He walked out of the captain’s cabin, leaving Bonifast and Gideon to their conversation. He just wanted to get some fresh air and think.
The weather remained warm with a steady breeze blowing. There were hardly any clouds out, and the stars shone brightly-an endless sea in the heavens above. For the most part, the crew had retired down below in their bunks, rocked to sleep by the undulating Azure Sea.
Ethan turned toward the bow and noticed a strange light. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. He walked briskly across the deck, making his way to the front of the ship. The light never moved. Ethan felt drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
When he finally came to the source of the light, Ethan was astonished to find a man-or at least someone man-like in appearance. He quickly realized this was no mortal at all. This being was tall and powerful in appearance, yet peaceful and calm in his demeanor.
The man looked directly at Ethan, regarding him. Ethan froze where he stood. The man’s countenance was like lightning. Ethan trembled to look upon him. He tried to speak to the stranger, but his voice failed him. No words would come.
Ethan knew this was no demon. He had not felt the tingling sensation he always felt when demons were near. Instead, he felt warmth, peace, and contentment.
The stranger was dressed in white robes with a golden breastplate girded upon his upper body. A sword, much larger than the one Ethan used in the spiritual realm, hovered at his side. Ethan suddenly realized he must be in the presence of an angel sent from Shaddai.
Though Ethan could not speak, the angel smiled at him, nodding slightly. Ethan smiled in return and simply let the warm, peaceful feeling wash over him. Though he had seen demons many times by now, this was the first time Ethan had ever seen an angel.
Though the angel never spoke a word to him, Ethan understood that Shaddai was with them, had heard their prayers, and would lead them in the way they should go.
Ethan turned his head to see if the helmsman or the night watchman had noticed the angel. When he turned back to look upon the heavenly being again, he had gone. Ethan felt a moment of disappointment, but the sense of peace from Shaddai remained.
He walked back toward the captain’s quarters. There, to the left of the captain’s dining room, was an anteroom, housing two bunks. This room had been allotted to Ethan and Gideon as the captain’s guests. Ethan took his newfound peace and went to bed. Not a worry of harm disturbed him that night.
THE STAGE IS SET
Captain Bonifast awoke well before dawn and stood upon the deck of the Maelstrom, waiting. He wanted to see how many ships of his ragtag fleet had abandoned him during the night when they would not be seen. Ethan walked up to the captain as he stood looking out over the Azure Sea in the early morning sun.
To both of their surprise, all of the ships were still with them as near as they could count. “Well, lad, how bout that!” said the captain, greatly relieved. “I suppose our prayers got through last night after all.” Bonifast grinned from ear to ear as he watched the fleet, intact, bobbing upon the gentle waves of the Azure.
Ethan recalled the angel he had seen the night before, following their time in prayer. He nodded in agreement. “I think you must be right, Captain,” he said, smiling. Ethan had rested well in the peace he had received at the angel’s appearing.
“Where’s Gideon?” Ethan asked as he searched for his friend.
“He’s up there on the bowsprit,” Bonifast said. “I think I may have actually found someone crazier than myself.”
Ethan followed the captain’s extended index finger as he pointed out Gideon. He stood on a beam extending off the front of the ship. Rigging from the foremast ran down to it. Below the bowsprit lay nothing but water. Gideon stood there perfectly balanced upon it.
He performed a system of fighting maneuvers with an imagined sparring opponent. As Ethan watched him, he noticed also that Gideon had blindfolded himself. The bowsprit bobbed up and down with the rhythm of the sea, yet Gideon never faltered as he sparred with the wind.
Ethan thought for a moment he might call out to his friend, but the thought of startling the priest, and him losing his balance, falling into the water, and being instantly crushed by the speeding bow of the ship, stopped him.
“You’d better get dressed,” Bonifast said. “And get something to eat from Cook. We’ll attack the harbor at Emmanuel within three hours time.
A question popped into Ethan’s mind. It was an odd question to ask an ex-pirate and a captain under the command of a king, but Ethan asked it anyway. “Are you afraid?”