The JUDGES CHRONICLES: A NIGHT’S JOURNEY (BOOK 2)
Introduction: The Fall, the Fallen, and the World of Night
Once before the time of the judges and long before Shavron’s rebirth, there was a creature known as the Fallen. This creature was not always known by this name, for it was given to him as an eternal mark of malice for reasons as you will soon read. He hated his Creator and everything that he made, for everything God made reminded the Fallen of God. However before hatred had consumed his heart, the Fallen was created for a noble purpose. Ivornel was commanded by the Holy One to love the new creations with all his being; and since his nature was that of the elegant unicorn, the fallen should have easily carried out the edict given to him. His skin was snowy white. His mane, which flowed like water over his neck, was a radiance of light, and he had large feathery wings to fly among the clouds.
The unicorn knew of his beauty, in fact, he reveled in it. He was a blessing to the creations around him from the land walkers to the sea dwellers. Ivornel was highly respected, but to the unicorn something was amiss. His heart craved more than smiles of courtesy and gestures of friendship. He wanted to be worshiped too, just like God. The Holy One would receive praises through songs, poetry, and other forms of righteous deeds; all of these things, Ivronel relished for. As far as he was concerned, it was he who was the blessing.
“Is it not I who walks among this fertile ground?,” he thought, “ When I step, is it not I who makes the world at peace? Am I not beautiful-- the greatest of all creation? Why shouldn’t I,” he thought to himself, “receive praise, to climb the heights of heaven, to have my place on the throne of God.”
So he tried to get it, but he was met with futile responses to his call. The more he saw the creatures worshiping the Creator, the more he despised it. It came a day when sin was born in his heart and with such an ugly birth there is the result of death. Ivornel made haste to care out his wickedness: instead of using his gift to bless, he chose to destroy.
“If they will not bow down to me as they do God, then I will separate them from Him. If none worship me; then none shall worship Him.”
With that, the vice of pride began to seep into his heart like venom. The crafty beast devised a plan to accomplish what he wanted. Ivornel knew of many things in the new world. He knew of a pool residing far away in the regions of the world. It was a large pool surrounded by massive trees. Each tree was bent over in such a way that it created a canopy so that nothing could disturb it. The Holy One gave one command:
“Of all the waters in the world you may drink, but do not drink from the glowing pool.”
Every creature knew this.
The unicorn knew that he had to be careful with his trickery. So in order to make his plan a success, he changed himself into an old stallion. His horn and wings disappeared, his radiant mane was now a shaggy mess, hanging along his neck and face; and his white skin was now a combination of muddy brown dappled with a few spots of white. Walking through the land, he first came upon a sparrow; and birds, as the unicorn had learned, were of easy persuasion.
The sparrow was washing up in a stream of water as the ruse took place.
“Good day, sparrow," said the stallion, " What are you doing?”
“Oh hello," said the sparrow, surprised by the greeting, " I’m just washing up. A bird can’t keep too clean.”
“Certainly,” the stallion said with little concern, “But why wash from water that is unclean in itself? There are better places you know.”
The sparrow hopped out of the water as if it had been washing up in dirt. With such an action the stallion could hardly retain a grin: for if it was that simple to get the bird to jump from the water, then causing him and the others to sin would be effortless.
“Do not fret, my dear friend," replied the stallion, " I know of water that is pure. Just follow me and I will show you.”
The sparrow did so and within a few hours they were at the pool surrounded by the bowing trees. The old stallion and the sparrow passed in between the trees and there was the pool. From the pool came a slight radiance of light. It would pulsate after a few seconds to reveal another luminous flare. The sight of it flabbergasted the bird. The sparrow was hesitant to move; for he knew that the Holy One commanded than no one should taste or touch the glowing pool.
“I don’t think I should be here,” he said nervously, “God has told all to stay clear. If I touch the water, God will surely be angry?”
“Will He?” asked the stallion, “ Do you know that to worship God one must know what it is to be God? That water will make you as gods: knowing what is good and knowing what is evil.”
Letting the temptation take root, the sparrow flew over and waded in the water. The water was cool and refreshing over the sparrow’s feathers. The old stallion ,seeing the first phase of the plan complete, went to finish it all.
“Taste.” commanded the stallion.
“I’m sure that I shouldn’t do that.”
“God has not hurt you, taste it.”
The bird took a moment to look down into the water, wondering if it was right to drink.
The horse continued to tempt him, and finding the water pleasing to his flesh and his eye, the bird took a sip. Quickly he took a deeper gulp and looked at the stallion with glee.
“Are you pleased as I am.” said the stallion.
“Yes!" said the sparrow, flapping his wings, “This is the best water I’ve tasted. Will you try some.”
“I had some before I met you,” he said lying, " We should tell others, should we not?”
The bird concurred.
“Go, tell you friends. Tell the eagles, the robins, the hawks, and the others. Tell them and send them to the other creatures so they can taste the glowing pool.”
The bird did exactly as the old stallion commanded. It took time, but eventually every creature from the largest beast to the smallest was there. The animals crowded around the pool, ascertaining if it was right to be there. The old stallion emerged, proud of his deceptive accomplishment, to speak.
“You have heard from the birds that this water is sweet, that it has power to my you gods"
said the stallion, " Tell me great cats, what have you heard?”
A jaguar stepped forward. He stood tall and walked closer to the pool, mesmerized the
“I’ve heard that we will know all things.”
“Much more than you know,” the stallion said under his breath, so no one could hear.
“Now taste it, all of you. Taste the sweetness that you all have come for.”
Immediately every creature rushed forward lapping the water into their mouths without conviction or care. The stallion watched joyfully as his lie took effect. There was bickering and hatred aborning in each creature as the glowing pool, now tainted, lost its distinction . The old stallion was oblivious to the others as he slipped away from the scene. Suddenly, every creature felt a sense of worry come over them as a strong wind began to blow.
Most of the creatures tried to hide; for they knew that the Holy One has made his presence known. There was a chilling silence, and then the Holy One spoke.
“The evil that was done, who will take ownership?”
Presently, the jaguar came forward pointing the blame to the leopard; the leopard in turn made haste to place the blame to the bear who had told him. This continued until the small sparrow was confronted.
“Why have you drunk from the pool, which I commanded you not to?” said the Holy One.
Every creature’s hair stood on end. There was a long pause, and then the sparrow spoke up in a shaky voice.
“It- it was the stallions fault," the sparrow said, "He told me that it was good.”
“Good for what?” replied the Holy One, “to disobey me is never good.”
“God if you had place the pool here we would not have sin,” said the sparrow
♦
The foolish remark engendered the Holy One’s judgment against his creations.
“ Was there not other water holes for you to drink from? The curse of sin is yours; for you have chosen it unto your children’s children. Your fur that was once a grand covering will be your nakedness; the sky will no longer please you, but burden you with its rain, heat, and snow. You shall work to earn your life; you have chosen what you thought was good, but now is evil to you.”
The Holy One took the pool, and made it a vacuous ditch.
“Just like this pool,” replied God, “ your hearts are dry to me, and you will follow your master—but only for a time. Your children will stand against me in that day and in that day there will be mourning and weeping beyond any heard in the world before. In the night they will become chattel until the coming time of my mercy.”
Now during this time, Ivornel turned himself back into his true form. He pranced proudly along the wide open plains with the energy of a young foal, and yet even he could not escape the Lord’s judgment.
“I will crush what you have done. You’re beauty is no more and all that you had is forever lost.”
As time passed their was murder, hatred, strife, jealously, and all manner of evil thoughts. For Ivronel it was a breeding ground for sin, and he made it his duty to take
advantage. He deceived many countries to hate God; to stand against him on a appointed day, yet the Holy One separated a land Himself. That land is known as Shavron.
Ivronel compelled the world to fight against the Holy One. A great multitude of warriors, large and small gathered, around the wicked behemoth in all his arrogance. The Holy One looked down upon the myriad of nations and said,
“Depart from me workers of sin into the Night.”
Behind the unicorn and the multitude, came a sound as if someone was tearing a cloth.
The scenery flapped in the breeze as if revealed a different world. Suddenly that was a potent vacuum that began to pull the multitude into this different world. The judgment of God was sealed and swift; and yet, even in His anger, the Holy One would show mercy to the posterity of that sinful multitude. It is here that we begin the Night’s Journey.