Dragon Guardians: Disciples
Chapter One
Sychar 31 A.D.
Tatsu’s stomach rumbled as he spied the lone goat. It had been days since the draco had eaten. Satan had ordered him to stay hidden until the right time. Disobeying his master, was out of the question even if it limited his ability to hunt. He roared and a blast of white-hot flame shot from his mouth, obliterating the thatched roof of a shed; the goat cooked to perfection. He swooped down and devoured it in one large bite. His stomach rumbled, having only satisfied his hunger a little. He flew toward the caves in the mountains above Galilee. The need to find more food grew as the hatching of Dryas’s eggs approached the dracos would be hungry.
After Dryas botched the job back home on Ramajadin, and he took the blame to protect his mate, Satan punished him with this assignment on Earth. From what the dragon observed, the people of this planet displayed tendencies even more primitive than the races from his home. He shook his head and roared. This backward planet with its dry desert and scraggly foliage did little to ease his desire to return to his home. Compared to the beings of his world, these people had a long way to go before they could ever challenge him. Only chosen few could communicate with dracos, and even they seemed willfully in denial of the draco’s existence. Evidence of their feeble minds. Enslaving Earth for Satan would be much easier than enslaving Ramajadin. He roared again as he flew in front of the sun. The humans looked to the sky and ran into their small houses like mice scurrying for cover.
The sky over Sychar darkened and thunder shook the air. Chana fell to her knees, hands to her head. Pain coursed through her mind. Voices echoed, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. She forced her gaze to the sky trying to locate the source. A large bird cleared the sun and the nagging pain ceased. She squinted at the bright sunlight, before standing and resuming her journey to Jacob’s Well.
A slight tremble remained in her hand, as she neared the well. She struggled to overcome her fear and the pain and finish her chore. Understanding as to what just happened hid from her. Was she losing her mind, or was another one of her migraines coming on? Was the Satan trying to possess her? She had heard stories of people possessed by demons; they had been sent away, much like the lepers. People wanted nothing to do with them.
One of the girls from the village, Sarah, called out, “Chana why are you so late?”
Chana groaned and took a deep breath before she stepped forward to draw water. “Shalom, Sarah.”
“Shalom.” Sarah smirked as she lowered the bucket into the well.
Another woman approached.
“Oh no, it’s Photini. We need to finish before she gets closer. Hurry get your water,” Sarah said.
Chana sighed and cranked the bucket into the well. Sarah grasped the sleeve on Chana’s robe. “Hurry up! We can’t talk to her or be touched by her.” Sarah paced as Chana raised the bucket and Photini got closer. “What are you doing here, with decent people. You should have waited until later, so you don’t soil us.”
Chana glared at Sarah. “You shouldn’t have said that. She’s allowed to draw water whenever she wishes.” Chana turned to Photini. “Shalom.”
Sarah scowled and grabbed the bucket to dump the water into Chana’s pitcher. “Did you hear? Abel’s third wife died yesterday. I feel sorry for the man. The women he marries must be cursed. I wonder who his next wife will be?” Sarah mused.
Chana shook her head. “No, I hadn’t heard. How can you say those things of the dead? I don’t think he is even considering another wife right now?”
“Why would you imply that the woman was at fault?” Photini interrupted. “I think Abel may be the one responsible for the death of his three wives. And if I were any woman in this village, I would not take the chance on marrying him.”
“I agree. I don’t think those poor women were cursed. I think it is probably Abel,” Chana said as she lifted her pitcher.
Sarah laughed and picked up her pitcher. “You are foolish Why would you agree with her? What do either of you know about anything.”
Photini shook her head and dropped the bucket into the well. “Maybe you are the one being foolish.”
Sarah stomped her foot. “How dare you say that. You are nothing more than the town prostitute. Chana, are you coming?”
Chana set her pitcher down. “No, I think I will stay and help Photini.”
“Fine, stay with her. But what will your Abba say? Oh, wait he encouraged you to read and write and rebel against our laws about women. Maybe you ARE more like her. I’m not sure what Isaac sees in you. You will never make a good wife. It would be wrong for me to be seen with either of you.” Sarah stomped away from the well heading toward town.
The two remaining women finished getting water and began their journey back to Chana’s house. “Did you hear the thunder on your way to the well?” Chana asked as they neared the spot where the road divided. She shivered as she remembered the voices and the chill she felt. Was it demons? She set her buckets down and sat on a rock while rubbing her forehead trying to ease the remaining pain.
“Chana what is it? Are you not well?” Photini set her buckets down and put a hand on Chana’s shoulder.
“I’m fine, just a little overheated,” Chana answered as she rose, and a dizzy spell overtook her.
Photini helped her sit back down. “I think it is more than overheating. You look as if you have seen someone dead.”
Chana shook her head. “It’s nothing. Did you hear the thunder, or am I going crazy?”
“I did. It was odd, since there were no clouds in the sky and no signs of a storm. And then the darkness hiding the sun, all very strange,” Photini said as she looked to the sky. Chana’s gaze followed Photini’s.
“Did you see the large bird? Maybe it had something to do with the darkness.”
“That would have been a pretty large bird to cause that darkness. And it still doesn’t explain the thunder. The only thing I can think of that would cause that kind of darkness is just a myth that is told to children. Dracos.”
“Yes, I remember hearing those stories, but they were just tales. They couldn’t be real, could they?” Chana asked as tremors ran down her spine.
“Did anything else happen?” Photini asked as a look of concern crossed her face.
Chana nodded. “I heard voices, screaming in my head, and the pain, the pain in my head. I couldn’t’ bear it. But as the sun reappeared the voices went away. Please don’t tell anyone else.”
“Part of the myth says that the dracos were once messengers from HaShem, but as the years went by more and more of the people became afraid of the dragons and drove them into hiding or killed them. Some people communicated with the dragons, and they were shunned by their communities. Soon no dragons remained.”
“But it’s just a myth, isn’t it? And if it’s true, why couldn’t I understand? Why was it so painful? Wouldn’t a message from HaShem be pleasant?”
“There were also evil dragons in the legends. They were part of the reason people started to hate dragons. To those who weren’t as susceptible to the evil message of Satan, the message from one of them would be painful.”
Chana shuddered again. “I hope the dragons are just legends. I’m not sure I want to encounter any of them, evil or not.”
Photini laughed. “As I said, just legends. And even if they aren’t legends there are no signs of it now”
Chana looked toward her house. “It’s getting late. I better get this water home. Thank you. Shalom.” Chana bustled toward the house while Photini followed the road to town.
“Shalom,” Photini said.
Chapter 2
Sychar 31 A.D.
Several days later Chana sat at the small wooden table next to the bread oven. She scratched a stylus across the parchment as she tried to remember the scriptures Naftili quoted her last night. She glanced at the gate and watched a crowd of men walking past the house toward Jacob’s Well. Chana quickly rolled up the parchment and raced to the sleeping room to hide her writing tools under her thin mattress. She didn’t need anyone to catch her writing, as it was frowned upon for women to read and write. Her abba approved of her writing, but Imma thought it wasteful for a girl to learn.
She stepped through the gate and spied Photini in the street behind the men. “Photini, what is all the fuss? Where is everyone going?”
Photini stopped. “They are going to Jacob’s Well.”
Chana shook her head in disbelief. “Men are going to the well! Why are they going to the well?”
Photini stopped. “They are going to Jacob’s Well.”
Chana shook her head in disbelief. “Men going to the well! Why are they going to the well?”
“There was a man, a Jew, His name was Yeshua, and He asked me for a drink of water,” Photini answered.
Chana stepped back, her hands flying to her chest. “Are you telling me that a Jew asked a Samaritan woman for water?”
Photini nodded. “And that’s not all. He told me the water from the well would not quench my thirst and if I drank of His water, I would never thirst again.”
Chana tilted her head to the side and pursed her lips. “What does that mean? I’ve drank the water from that well all my life.”
“I’m not completely sure what He meant either. But He told me so much more. He knew who I was, about all of my husbands.” She grasped Chana’s hands and leaned forward. “There was so much more. I think this Yeshua is the long-awaited Messiah.”
Chana looked at Photini’s hand resting on hers. At first she wanted to pull away,
“The Messiah! How do you know? What did He say?”
“When I questioned Him, He told me so.”
“But…”
“Come on, come and meet Him. There is something about Him, something that draws you to Him. He’s not like Torah teacher Jacob. When Yeshua talks, I want to hear more.” She started to run, dragging Chana with her. “You have to come meet Him.”
Chana glanced at the women staring at her as she ran past them. The disgusted looks on their faces made her lift her shoulders as she strode past.
As they neared the well the men were returning to the village. “What are you women doing here?” Chana hesitated, but Photini pulled her towards Yeshua, who still stood at the well. He smiled at the women as they approached.
“You came back.”
Photini nodded. “I wanted to hear more, and I brought a friend. This is Chana. She lives a little way out of town. She stopped me when I was passing so I brought her along.”
“Welcome, Chana. I am so happy you came,” Yeshua said.
Chana stared at the man. His medium height and build resembled her own and His olive skin was similar to the other men from the village. Dark brown hair and short beard framed His oval face. Despite his normal appearance, Chana felt drawn to the man, mesmerized by the comforting, peaceful luminosity that surrounded Him as He talked to her.
A voice in the back of her mind screamed, “He is a Jew! Stay away from Him.” She took a step away from Him and looked around for the source of the voices. Only the three of them stood there. Several other men stood off in the distance and appeared to be waiting for Yeshua, but they were talking amongst themselves. None of them even glanced in her direction.
A roar bellowed from the hills. Chana quaked as she looked for the source. She clutched her head and fell to her knees. Tears streamed from her eyes as pain assaulted her body.
She felt a hand on her head. The pain receded and the voices stilled. A soft hand grasped hers and helped her to stand. Photini stood beside her rubbing her shoulders. Yeshua held her hands.
“Chana, what is it? What happened?” Photini said.
“It was the voices again. And this time I understood them. They screamed, ‘He is a Jew! Stay away from Him!’ Why would they tell me to stay away?”
“They are messengers from Satan, and they warn you about Me. I am from HaShem and these messengers know one day He will destroy them,” Yeshua answered.
“The voices and the pain. They screamed ‘Stay away.’” She looked at Yeshua and pulled her hands from His. “You are a Jew. Why are you speaking to us? We are Samaritans and women. Your Torah teachers say that we will make you unclean.”
Yeshua dropped His hands to His side. He looked at Chana and Photini. “My sisters, you are all the same in HaShem’s eyes. My Abba loves all equally no matter who you are.”
Chana grasped her head again as the voice screamed, “He lies.” The sky darkened and the pain increased. Her whole body shook.
Yeshua stepped closer and relief from the pain washed over her. She wiped her tears with her veil and sighed. “Who is it? Why does he keep invading my thoughts?”
“It is one working for the Evil One. He wails and tries to find slaves to serve his evil purposes,” Yeshua said.
A calming warmth flowed through her veins. She gazed into His hazel-colored eyes. She only saw love and trust emanating from them, not the anger she felt from the people in the village. For a moment she thought of Isaac and what they shared. But what she saw and felt from Yeshua was so much more. She relaxed and let waves of love and grace flow over her.
“Trust Him. Love Him.” Another voice, gentler, softer flowed with the love and grace from Yeshua. She looked at Yeshua. He smiled a quieter, calmer smile. “My messengers are with you now. You need not fear the Evil One.”
Chana nodded.
“Master you need to eat. Come we must find food,” one of Yeshua’s followers said as he came to stand beside Yeshua.
One of the men from the village rushed up the road towards them. “Teacher, you must come to my home. My wife has prepared a fine meal for you and your followers.”
Yeshua nodded and looked at Photini and Chana. “I must go now, but I will see you soon. Remember I am always with you.”
As He walked away Chana sighed as the waves of Yeshua’s power flowed over her.
Naftili ran through the gate, excitement seeping off him and filling the courtyard. Chana set down her sewing as Abba followed Naftili at a more sedate pace.
“Good you are here. Isaac will be here soon and dinner is almost ready,” Chana said as she rose from the stool.
“Chana you won’t believe what happened,” a breathless Naftili answered.
Chana scooped a cup of water from the bucket. “Sit and catch your breath.”
It was so like her brother to get excited about something and not be able to calm himself. As soon as his breathing slowed, Chana took the cup and said, “Now tell me what has you so excited.”
“Do you remember the man that came to the village yesterday and spoke in the synagogue.”
Chana nodded.? “How could I forget Yeshua? Photini and I…”
Abba scowled. “Don’t mention that harlot in this house.”
“Yes, Abba,” Chana said as she bowed her head. “Naftili, please continue.”
Naftili stood and paced around the courtyard, hands waving as he talked. “That man, Yeshua came to the sheep cave this morning. The other shepherds wanted Him to leave.”
“Why?” Chana asked. “Last evening the people welcomed Him and listened with rapt attention. Jacob even invited Him and His followers to share a meal.”
“Because He is a Jew,” Abba answered.
“What changed from last night?”
“Forget that!” Naftili yelled. “It’s not important. What is important is that He helped us—well He helped our ewe.”
“How did he help the ewe?” Chana asked.
“Let me finish.” Naftili took another sip of water and resumed his pacing. “The ewe was giving birth and having a hard time of it. Yeshua helped deliver the lambs. After all three were delivered and trying to nurse, the ewe kept pushing the smallest one away. Somehow Yeshua convinced the ewe to care for all three.”
“But that never happens,” Chana said.
Abba shook his head. “In all my years, I’ve never seen the third lamb live.”
“But why would he help? We aren’t Jews.”
“I don’t know. All I do know is that when I needed help, he was there, and he helped,” Abba said as he got a drink of water.
Naftili stopped his pacing and put his hands on his hips. “Can I finish the story now?”
Abba nodded and Naftili resumed his tale. “As we walked home, we saw a crowd gathering by the lake. Yeshua was speaking. I asked Abba if we could listen for a little while.
“Abba said we could, but that we shouldn’t say anything to Jacob.” Naftili stopped and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Chana said.
“Abba had just finished warning me when I pointed out that Torah Teacher Jacob stood at the edge of the crowd. Right in front of us.”
“Was he really there, listening to Yeshua?”
Abba nodded. “We didn’t need to keep anything from Jacob. So, we joined him and listened to the Jewish teacher.”
“Yes, and Jacob didn’t mind that we were there, either.”
“What did Yeshua say?” Chana asked, hardly able to contain her excitement. She remembered the peace and calm she of yesterday as she talked to Yeshua and wondered if Abba, Naftili, and Jacob felt the same.
“He talked about sharing and finishing our work. He said a lot about the harvest and the sower and the reaper and how they should harvest and rejoice together. And then there was talk about loving your neighbor no matter who they were. That surprised me after the way the shepherds wanted him to leave the cave this morning. Everything my teachers have taught me says that Samaritans were the only people of HaShem. Jews and Romans were to be avoided.”
“But how did you feel.”
“Chana, it was so exciting and confusing. The things he said didn’t agree with the things I’m learning in Torah school. I wanted to stay and hear more, but Abba said we had to come home for dinner. I hope I can find him tomorrow to hear more and ask him about the things he said,” Naftili said.
Abba finished washing his hands. “Naftili there will be no time tomorrow, besides I heard one of His followers saying that they were moving on tomorrow.”
“I need to go after Him. He needs to answer my questions.” Naftili pushed the door open.
Abba set a hand on his arm. “Naftili, you can’t go. He is probably long gone now. He is a Jew so you probably should not be trying to talk with Him.”
“But Abba, Jacob was there, and he wanted to question Yeshua,” Naftili said. “I think we should at least consider what Yeshua had to say.”
“We don’t have time for this, Imma has dinner ready. Tomorrow, I have to go into the city to work on the palace building project. I will be gone for a few days so you will have to take our turn tending the flocks.”
“I can help Abba,” Chana said as she set a bowl of grapes on the table.
“Yes, that would be good, as long as Imma doesn’t need you,” Abba said. “Now let’s pray and eat.”
“We will eat as soon as Isaac arrives. I invited him to eat with us tonight,” Imma said as she poured Abba a glass of wine.
Chana and Isaac grew up together, living in neighboring houses and helping tend their family’s flocks. He was her best friend, almost like one of the family since his father passed away.
A knock at the door interrupted them and Chana raced to the door and opened it to let Isaac in. “Shalom.”
“Shalom,” Isaac answered, greeting the family.
Imma needed spices for the Shabbat tomorrow. As Chana rushed through the streets of Sychar she looked for the spice vendor and Isaac. She knew he and Abba would soon be leaving the synagogue and she wanted to be there to greet them.
Isaac stepped out of the synagogue surrounded by a couple of other men including the baker and torah teacher Jacob. Chana stood beside a column, waiting for the men to disperse.
“There’s Chana. I’ll see you tomorrow at Shabbat service,” Isaac said. He patted one of the men on the shoulder and strode toward her.
“Stay away from that one,” the baker said. “She will only bring you trouble.”
Isaac stopped and turned back to the men. “Tell me you have no sins before you cast stones at Chana or her family,” Isaac replied.
“Go home to your sheep, boy. You will soon learn the ways of the world,” the baker said as the other men laughed.
Isaac turned and resumed his trek to Chana’s side. When he reached her a small group of Roman centurions marched through the streets with Legate Acanthus leading them on his black stallion. “Out of the way!” one of the soldiers yelled as he and the others pushed people out of the way.
Isaac pulled Chana to the side of the road just before the legate’s horse trampled her. The tax collector, Matthew ran behind the soldiers. Chana, Isaac and the other people lining the streets turned away from him. Matthew stopped at the small house of the widow Elisheba. He pounded on her door. The heavy wood door slowly creaked open to reveal Elisheba with her young son, Aaron hiding behind her. “Shalom.”
“I’ve come to collect your taxes, since you couldn’t be bothered to come to the booth in Capernaum,” Matthew said as he pushed her aside and entered the house with one of the centurions following him.
“Wait here,” Isaac said as he ran toward Elisheba’s house.
“No. I’m not going to let you go by yourself.”
When they reached the door, another soldier blocked our way. Elisheba knelt on the floor. Matthew and the centurion stood over her.
“Now Elisheba, the tax money?” Matthew said.
“Eli has passed. He was sick for so long. I spent all the money to find a way to heal him. There is no money left, even for us to eat,” Elisheba said.
“That is no concern of mine. Either give me the money or I will find another way to exact payment.”
“But I have nothing,” she cried and wrung her hands before grasping Matthew’s hand.
He pulled his hand away and wiped it on his cloak. He lifted a scarf to his nose and said, “You lie. You have a young strapping youth. He can work of your debt.”
Elisheba jumped to her feet as the soldier grabbed Aaron, lifting him of the floor. Aaron screamed and kicked as the centurion carried him from the house.
Elisheba grabbed the centurion’s free arm. “Please, he’s all I have left. You can’t take him.”
Matthew pulled her off the centurion and pushed her into the table. After a final warning Matthew and the centurion carried the screaming boy from the house.
Chana looked around the street. A crowd had gathered to watch, but no one stepped forward to help. The legate guided his horse through the crowd and stroked the hilt of his sword as if he were daring anyone to try and intercede.
As they finished tying the boy and marched out of the village, Isaac and Chana raced to Elisheba. She sat on the floor blood and tears staining her face.
Chana knelt on the floor beside Elisheba and used her veil to dry the woman’s tears. Elisheba pushed her hand away. “What am I going to do?”
Chana looked to Isaac pleading for an answer. Isaac bent and helped the two women stand. Elisheba quivered as she leaned on Chana.
“Yes, you can stay in my house. I am rarely there,” Isaac said. “Gather your things.”
“But what if Aaron comes back? How will he find me?”
“We will leave word with Jacob,” Isaac said as he stared at Chana and shook his head. They both knew she would probably never see Aaron again.
Abba bustled through the door as Elisheba finished gathering her few items of clothing. Chana ran to his embrace. “The tax collector, the legate they took…” Abba released her and looking into her eyes, hands still resting on her arms he said, “I heard as I came out of the synagogue.”
“Abba, we should do something, get Aaron back,” Chana cried.
“Chana there is little we can do, except help Elisheba get on with her life.”
“I’m a widow, any family I had is gone. I don’t have a life without Aaron,” Elisheba said as she sat on a lone wooden stool. “They will be back and I will still have nothing. They should have just put a sword through my heart.”
Chana took Elisheba’s hands. “No, don’t talk like that. We will take care of you, help you. We’ll figure out a way to get Aaron back,” Chana said as she led Elisheba out the door.