Sunlight trickled down through a cluster of clouds that scattered the brilliant blue skies over Byblos. The morning dew was lifting off the crops and Uriah could smell the moisture in the air. He tried to move, but his beaten body would barely reply, and even if it could, the restraints would not have allowed it. It had been twenty-nine hours since the soldiers lashed him to the pole on the boundaries of his wheat field. The road into the village would have been only a few steps away if he were free to walk. Soon the farmers and traders would be making their way by him on their way to market. Uriah feared the looks in their eyes and the thoughts of what vial deeds he must have committed to be treated as such. However in truth, it mattered little what he did to deserve this, recently the King and his Army had been quick to enact such punishment for even the most minor of indiscretions. Over the next hour, a few farmers had passed by, and most pretended not to notice him. He wondered how much longer his body could endure the immense pain, the endless thirst in his mouth and the empty gnawing of his stomach. A few moments later Uriah heard a bull drawn cart trotting toward him.

He turned his eyes up from the dirt and saw a cart full of various items. The cart was that of a trader from Sidon and she had traveled many days to reach Byblos. Her cart was filled with products from all across the lands of Euraki. Among many other items, she had vases from the west, textiles from the east, furs from the north and fine salt from the south. The bull grunted in the rising heat having been walking for many miles already this morning. The trader grabbed a pale from the cart and paused the bull. Placing the pale on the ground, the bull eagerly lapped up the water. Having noticed the cart's motion had halted a young boy asleep amongst the textiles stirred. He sat up blinking in the sun and noticed first the endless rows of wheat in either direction. The sound of the bull quenching his thirst turned his attention forward.

His mother was not near the pale keeping a watchful eye to monitor the precious commodity. He leapt from the rear of the cart moving toward the edge of the road. Uriah's arms were limp with exhaustion as she cut the blood soaked ropes holding him confined. She shifted his body from the pole and gently laid him down on the dry ground. As she turned to return to the cart to fetch some water and fruit, the boy startled her. He smiled and held out a ladle of water and two pomegranates. The woman took them and told him to return to the road and wait for her there.

Abaddon recalled the memories of that distant day as he stood on the road almost twenty years later. He had been walking for the past three days and was looking forward to gazing upon the lush fields of wheat, but to his despair he saw nothing but waste in either direction. The last two decades had been pummeled by a vicious drought that had led to a famine and thousands dead.

The King of the Euraki had been on his deathbed for nearly eight years, but no one dared to take his thrown. Rumors that the King had magical powers kept anyone from crossing him except for the King's only son, Elohim. He had been biding his time for years waiting for his father to grow weak and die. He was growing quite tired of the waiting game and concluded he must slay his father. At the very moment, Abaddon was remembering the kindness and grace of his mother, over a thousand miles away Elohim brutally murdered his father as he slept.

Elohim crowed himself king of Euraki and was reclined on his father's thrown by dawn's light. Word of the change of power swept through Euraki like a virus in a weak child, spreading uncertainty and unrest. By the end of his second day in power the new King had all of this father's former advisors put to death for fear they might not transfer their loyalty fully. He filled the vacant posts with his friends who quickly let the power seep into and rot their already feeble brains.

A few months after Abaddon's mother had saved Uriah from dead she lost to it and died of a common disease; leaving Abaddon alone in a bitter and unjust world. Faced with having to fend for himself Abaddon could have easily disregarded his mother's teaching and turned to villainy. However, he stuck by the many lessons taught by his mother and managed to skimp by. Abaddon saw the world through the eyes of his mother and did not fully understand the bleakness of existence for most of the population.

He had been in Byblos for almost a week before he felt the full vigor of how twisted fate could be. As night fell on Abaddon's sixth day in Byblos, he made his way to the market to try to broker some last minute deals before his early morning departure. Upon finishing a transaction with a local spice dealer, the calm of the market was disturbed when a group of soldiers seized a middle-aged man in the center of the courtyard.

The man lurched backwards on the ground retreating from spear point. Although time had been harsh on the man's features Abaddon recognized the man. The event of his mother that day on the road was vivid in his memory and the man cowering on the dirt was Uriah. Abaddon made his way to the front of the gathering crowd and caught the man's attention. Uriah did not see the boy from the road, but an unfamiliar face new to town.

By new decree of the King, all crimes, no matter the severity, would be punished by execution. Uriah could not allow the soldiers to drag him off to his death. A particularly large soldier grabbed his shoulder as Uriah yelled, "Wait!"

Uriah pleaded with them, "It was not me who stole the parcels, I promise you."

The large soldier leaned down and boomed, "If it was not you, then who?"

Uriah searched his mind for an answer, but could not find one. He again noticed the foreign face in the crowd and figured he was of no consequence. Without a word, Uriah moved his filthy finger up from the dirt and firmly pointed at Abaddon. Immediately another soldier plucked Abaddon from the crowd. He tried to resist, but it was of no use. He fruitlessly beseeched the soldiers as they drug him out away from the market.

Fortunately, for Abaddon the cogs of the execution only sentencing were not well informed and he was locked in a bleak cell in the recesses of the King's castle at Chaldees. There he sat watching the sunrise and set through a small crevasse in the stonewall above his head. Days blurred into weeks and then into months. Any hope had long since drained from his body when he was graced with a visitor.

Kezia was the only daughter born to a wealthy family who owned much land in the southern plains of Euraki. When Elohim was younger, he and many of his friends had vacationed as guests of Kezia's family. Kezia was a few years younger than Elohim, but he was immediately taken by her. He pursued her unremittingly with promise of riches far beyond her families and temptation of power beyond that of man. Aside from a few summer trysts, Kezia's thoughts for Elohim were not particularly favorable.

Once Elohim was King Kezia's father insisted she relocate to Chaldees and try to advance the family lineage. Upon her arrival, Kezia was met by an offer to wed, which she immediately declined. Elohim would not accept her response as final and invited her to live in the adjacent chamber to his own. She accepted and began to take note of all the vial acts committed by Elohim and his new advisors.

She took special interest in the accused prisoners now all burdened with death sentences. Sadly, there was little she could do for most of them, but she tried to pick the least guilty and by the exchange of favors, persuaded Elohim to release a few of the condemned. Elohim was growing tired of Kezia's nagging so when it came to the proposed release of a young man accused of stealing from the Byblos' market she would have to go well beyond favors.

Upon entering the dank cell, Kezia looked into Abaddon's eyes and knew in her heart that he was innocent. Abaddon saw in her the hope he had lost and the promise that the world his mother saw was not all lost. On the day Kezia planned to throw herself at Elohim to secure Abaddon's release her meeting with him was interrupted by General Mikha. Mikha was appointed General of the Euraki army some weeks after Elohim slit the throat of the former General over an argument.

Over the months that followed Elohim's rule unrest was ever growing amongst the common people. Crime was rising even with the imposed blanket punishment. Thousands were sick and dying in the streets across the whole of the land. Soldiers were met by riots and mobs wherever they tread. The brutal grip the army had on many of the towns and villages had frayed and chaos ran rampant.

The frantic Mikha informed Elohim that an ill-organized mob was marching toward the castle. Elohim ordered Mikha to slaughter the peasants with no mercy. Before Mikha left the thrown chamber to follow the order Kezia stopped him. She stood between the large armored man and the door with a fierce look in her eyes.

"Before you murder the few strong men and women left in Euraki you might think of the consequences," Kezia yelled at both Mikha and Elohim. Part of her expected Mikha to slay her in one swing of his sword, but to her surprise, he turned and looked at Elohim.

Elohim stood and spoke, "What are you waiting for? I gave you a simple order."

Kezia spoke quickly before Mikha could do anything, "What are you going to do when the entire population is dead in the streets."

"Celebrate the silence," Elohim crossed the room toward them anger rising within him.

"Who will grow you wheat? Who will graze your cattle? Prepare your food, clean your clothes or dance for your pleasure? If you slaughter those coming to oppose you they will be followed by more. Until you and your advisors are the only ones left. You cannot see it, but those you wish to condemn, you need."

Elohim stopped an arms length from Kezia, "Perhaps you are right. However, how would you suggest we control the fools?"

"By appointing one of them to your advisory," Kezia smiled to herself.

Elohim was silent for a long moment and then spoke, "Do you have a candidate?"

Four soldiers walked down the road from the castle toward the growing mob. Between them, shackled in heavy chains, Abaddon attempted to keep pace. They stopped within eyesight of the brim of the mob. A soldier shoved Abaddon to the ground. Another solider moved a heavy axe from resting on his shoulder into the air. He took a firm stance in front of Abaddon and raised the axe above his head. With a force that could cut a man in half the blade hit the dirt road splitting Aboddon's chains. The soldiers turned and began to return to the castle.

Abaddon stood on the road as the mob slowly advanced. Once he felt they could begin to hear his weak voice he shouted, "Stop! I implore you, this is not the way." The mob collectively looked at the broken man in the road. Abaddon continued, "You stand no chance of victory today. You all march to your deaths if you continue."

A man shouted from the mob, "We are dead either way."

"No. There is a way. It may seem that there is no hope in a future here, but I promise you there is. The King may have power and a mighty army. He has many thing we do not, however those things will be his thorn. Paramount among them is fear. Alone many of us are too weak to carry on, but together we are all strong. We will blaze a new path for all who dwell in Euraki."

Many of the crowd was willing to postpone suicide for a chance to hear Abaddon's sketch of a future. Still some insisted their current path was the only option. Convincing the remaining mob to give him until sundown to speak with the King Abaddon returned the castle. By nightfall, Abaddon and Kezia bartered a deal with Elohim to release all the prisoners except for the sadistic of them. With families reunited and friends found, the crowds dispersed and made their respective journeys home with hope in their minds.

With Kezia at the King's ear and Abaddon in the courtyards and squares, life in Euraki flourished and grew. Kezia and Abaddon relationship did much the same. Unfortunately, they had to keep their love a secret to maintain in the King's good graces. It was a sacrifice they each made in the cause of a better world. It seemed that prosperity would remain in Euraki's favor forever, but fate had other campaigns.

It had been fifteen glorious years since Kezia persuade Elohim to release Abaddon. With prosperity comes desires beyond that of simple survival. With conditions improving many of the poor had been able to see they could have extra, something alien to most few years prior. They saw how the Euraki elite lived and they wanted a part of their pleasures. Unions were formed and higher prices were demanded for commodities such as grain and wheat. All across the land poverty was being eradicated and people saw hope in themselves and each other.

The King's advisors and other rich landowners began to complain to Elohim about theie circumstances. Elohim arranged a meeting with Abaddon and told him about the situation. They sat opposite a long wooden table. The years and travel had left an impression on Aboddon's face, but it was not a look of distress but of accomplishment. To the curiosity of Abaddon Elohim did not look much older than the day they met. Elohim spoke sternly about the complaints he had heard but Abaddon had no sympathy for the greedy men and women. Abaddon stood to leave the chamber and Elohim motioned for the soldier at the door to stop him. Abaddon turned a confident man, "If you lock me away or kill me you will have more trouble than you can contend with."

"I'm not a fool. I know how the peasants see you. I would not dare spark a cause." Elohim got up from the table and walked toward Abaddon.

Abaddon was firm, "I will not stop progress!"

"I have allowed you free reign for far too long and it is time Euraki returned to proper balance."

"We are too strong, they will not blindly listen to you any longer."

Elohim smirked and leaned close to Abaddon, "You are correct. However, they will listen to you."

"I would do no such thing."

"No, of course you would not. Not without motivation."

"I am free, you have nothing over me," Abaddon declared defiant.

"Arrogance is not becoming. If you do not do what I ask, I will ...," Elohim smiled wickedly, "... quietly and brutally murder Kezia." Abaddon stood silent starring into Elohim's intense eyes. Elohim turned away and began to exit the room, "You have one moon cycle to disband the unions and return prices to the original levels or she will die."

Upon hearing the threat via Abaddon Kezia became furious. She pounded the air and shouted, "He does not deserve to rule!" Abaddon agreed, but what could they do about it. Kezia calmed and took Abaddon by the hands and looked at him almost in awe. She spoke concisely, "This is your destiny. They will follow you."

"You must leave the castle, tonight," was Abaddon's response.

Word swiftly spread from shore to shore that Abaddon was building an army. All were welcome; their only requirement, a sense the cause was just. Abaddon recruited loyal men from the ranks of the King's army. Kezia's father had died several years earlier leaving his lands to her. They were quickly transformed from citrus fields to training camps. Thousands came from the far reaches of Euraki for the chance to fight. They trained hard, day in and out, until nightfall on the eve of the new moon. They would rest for one day and then they would march to Chaldees.

Through towns and villages, they marched and were met with cheers and optimism. By dusk, they reached the foothills of Chaldees and there they waited for the moonless night to inherit the sky from the day. By carriage, Kezia approached the gate and was allowed admission. She made her way to her chambers as two stowed defected soldiers took the gate by surprise. By torch light, the mass of revolution approached the high castle walls. The alarm was sounded and the barracks bleed solider after soldier into the night's countryside.

Just as the night's silence had settled, yells, fears, clangs, splinters, spears and arrows devastated it. Abaddon was not among the souls in peril on the fields below the castle. He led a group of thirteen men and women to the friendly guarded gate. The few soldiers occupying the castle walls feel easily and Abaddon found Mikha in the west tower reviewing his opportunities. Abaddon stood amongst several of his comrades and Mikha stood alone.

"Sound the retreat before more perish tonight," Abaddon demanded quietly.

Mikha looked over the battlefield and he saw many of his men dead and dying, with the rebels gaining quick ground. "Only the King can command such an order," Mikha explained.

Abaddon glanced around the empty tower and spoke almost in jest, "And where is your King?" Mikha was silent so Abaddon offered some suggestions, "Cowering in his chamber? Locked in the armory? Fleeing by secret tunnel?" Mikha still did not speak. "It is within your power to save lives," Abaddon put a kind hand on Mikha's shoulder and Mikha's eyes feel in defeat.

A rebel barged into the tower and explained he had seen the King take Kezia down into the dungeons. Abaddon told them to secure the castle and lock the soldiers in their barracks and spread the word, victory was theirs.

With a torch in one and a sword in the other Abaddon quickly leap down the stone stairs. The dungeon stairs wound downward into a damp darkness. He reached the bottom and was met by two passages. One he recognized from his incarceration and the other he did not. Down the familiar path, he found several dozen prisoners caged like animals. In the first cell, he was shocked to find a face he recognized starring back at him. The face was old and weathered, but there was no error, it was Uriah.

The stranger that had been so crucial in the formation of his life was pleading through the bars for release until Uriah too recognized Abaddon. Not as the boy from the road, but as the man, he had condemned to save himself. Uriah backed away from the bars in fear of retribution. Abaddon shifted the weight of the sword in his hand and in one motion shattered the lock. Abaddon looked at the aged man trembling in the dark and spoke, "All men are free today."

Abaddon returne