Ancient Writings

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I, Soclithese, witnessed the liberation of the Phineas capital and the Phineas people. It was in the fourth year of the reign of our mighty King, Demetrius II, supreme ruler of the Jaceans and all of God’s creations. 

The Phineas nation was ruled by a tyrant named Aldeais and his ruthless wife Monlucious. His cruelty was only surpassed by her insatiable desire for power and riches. King Aldeais delighted in the torture and maiming of anyone who dared to question his almightiness. Stories were told of how he would have slaves drawn and quartered only because he was bored and desired entertainment. Queen Monlucious was notorious for coveting anything another woman possessed. It could be land, money, or another’s husband. When she set her sights on what she wanted, no means were too dastardly for her to accomplish her will. Such reprehensible acts of the King and Queen brought great hardships on the Phineans as they did their best to endure such atrocities. 

King Aldeais kept the world at bay and hid the misery he was inflicting upon his people. When a dignitary from another country visited, he would present only the citizens who were loyal or too afraid to reveal the truth. He would have elaborate state dinners and parties. Food and wine flowed freely as all reveled in the praise of their King. Queen Monlucious would fascinate all with her pseudo charm and grace. After the foreign visitor had left, life would return to the status quo of persecution, desolation, and despair. 

So was the life of the Phineans for many years until a small band of brave men boldly left Phineas to seek the help of our King Demetrius II. It has been reported that when King Aldeais learned of the men’s treasonous acts, he immediately had their entire village burned to the ground. Anyone who tried to escape the burning homes and buildings were instantly slaughtered by soldiers loyal to the King. 

King Demetrius II, being upright and righteous, was appalled at the stories of horror and grief that the noble men from Phineas related to him. He immediately sent a delegation to King Aldeais demanding an explanation. The King refused to see the representatives and sent them back home with the terse warning to stay out of his land. Of course, this action bewildered and angered King Demetrius II, as his very own mother was of Phinean descent. Vowing to liberate the land of his ancestors, the King gathered an overpowering army and proceeded on a course to Phineas. 

While marching toward the city, King Demetrius II liberated village after village. He was greatly dismayed at the sight of the pitiable conditions of the residents. Especially was he distraught when children, starving and diseased, were brought before him. He ordered the Jacean soldiers to treat all Phineans with kindness and to give them all the food and clothing that could be spared. The appreciative villagers responded with songs of praise and vows of loyalty to King Demetrius II. From their meager belongings they gave gifts to the King and his soldiers. 

With little resistance, the King and his army eventually laid siege against the capital city of Phineas. The sight of the impressive Jacean military struck fear in the hearts of the Phinean soldiers and their King. In an effort to evade the impending doom, King Aldeais sent his beautiful and cunning wife, Queen Monlucious, to greet King Demetrius II. She approached the King in all her royal regalia and offered her loyalty to him. Not moved by her stunning beauty and craftiness, King Demetrius II shunned her advances. With the demand of unconditional surrender, the King sent her on her way back to King Aldeais. Upon her arrival at the castle, she informed Aldeais of her failure to influence Demetrius and the army of Jacean. In a fit of rage, the King had her beheaded and her body tied to a pole at the city’s square. 

When word reached King Demetrius II of the brutal slaughter of the Queen, he ordered his soldiers to break the walls of the city. As the Phinean army observed the routing of their capital, most laid down their arms and joined the conquerors in their quest to liberate the people from the evilness of King Aldeais. What slight resistance materialized was met with overpowering force and was quickly subdued. 

King Demetrius II himself triumphantly entered the castle to accept the surrender of King Aldeais. To his and everyone’s surprise, the King had taken his own life by falling on his sword. His impaled body was lying beside the throne with his royal robes draped over him.

The liberated Phineans celebrated for a week as the evil rule of King Aldeais had come to an end. King Demetrius II was kind and merciful to all. Under his leadership the land was restored to the beauty and order that his ancestors had known.

This, I, Soclithese, loyal subject of Jacean, write in my own hand as an eyewitness testimony of the liberation of the Phineans.

Long live King Demetrius II!!

############### 

I, Monwar, witnessed the destruction of the Phineas capital and the enslavement of the Phineas people. It was in the twenty-second year of the reign of our Lord King Aldeais when the Jacean army, under the direction of their ruthless King Demetrius II, invaded our land. 

Under the leadership of King Aldeais our nation was blessed with peace and prosperity. The love of his subjects was only surpassed by their adoration of his beautiful Queen Monlucious. Our King and Queen always held the best interests of the people close to their hearts. Stories abound of the mercy he would show toward families who had become destitute. On many occasions Queen Monlucious could be found working at preparing meals for the less fortunate. All were amazed at the kindness of one so beautiful and of royal blood. She was constantly showered with gifts from all parts of the kingdom as men regaled in her beauty and women basked in her charm. A smile from her would lighten anyone’s face, and especially that of King Aldeais. The undying love our King and Queen had for each other was mirrored as the whole kingdom imitated their actions and lived in tranquility and harmony. 

King Aldeais’ reputation for goodness was known throughout the civilized world. Nations from afar would send their representatives to observe our King in all his majesty. All were astounded at his grace and wisdom. Queen Monlucious would prepare lavish dinners and invite the common man and woman to join in the feast. Most delegates were reluctant to leave our fair country and more than one emissary, after observing our way of life, expressed their desire to abandon their home country and become part of the Phinean Empire. Even the celebrations would continue after the delegates had left and returned to their home countries. Our King and Queen loved their subjects and the people loved them. 

So was our way of life for many years until the wicked nephew of King Aldeais became jealous of the love our Queen had for her King. Linacisis was a scoundrel and evil man. He would make advances toward Queen Monlucious behind the King’s back and then would become enraged when she rejected him. It was later revealed that his interest was more in usurping the Kingship away from Aldeais than it was for any love he might have toward the Queen. She was just a vehicle he was trying to use to his advantage. He was determined to drive a wedge between the two and then, at their weakest moment, snatch the kingdom away from their control. When his vile plot was exposed, he and a small band of misguided loyalists fled the kingdom and sought refuge in Jacea. Even after all this, King Aldeais was willing to forgive him if he would return home and forsake his evil ways. Linacisis rebuked the King’s mercy and became a traitor who helped bring the destruction of Phineas and its beloved King. 

The villainous Linacisis gave vital and strategic information to King Demetrius II on the weaknesses of the Phinean army and even helped draw up the plans for the invasion of our homeland. He and his band of misfits were rewarded for their traitorous acts with gold coins and fine linen. On their way out of the capital city of Jacea they were met by a group of robbers and were looted and killed. This was a just and righteous ending for one who has caused the misery of thousands of innocent souls. 

Within the month, King Demetrius II invaded and spread death and destruction throughout our land. Village after village fell to his army as it marched with evil precision toward our capital city and the awaiting King Aldeais. Very little mercy was shown to the villagers by Demetrius’ army. All valuables were looted, food was taken, and the women of the land were brutally raped. Even the few villages that surrendered and did not resist were razed to the ground. King Aldeais sent as much of the army he could spare to help the villagers fight against the invading forces. They were ambushed and defeated, in large part, due to the information that Linacisis had given to King Demetrius II. 

It was not many days before the Jacean army had surrounded our capital city. In an effort to avoid any more loss of life, King Aldeais sent envoys to pursue peace with Demetrius. They were met with ridicule and mockery. One group did not return alive as their bodies were sawn asunder and strewn at the city’s gates. In the history of Phineas there had never been such a display of cruelty and pure animalistic behavior as was seen with the invasion of King Demetrius II and the Jacean army. 

In a final attempt to ward off the inevitable, King Aldeais bravely offered himself as slave to Demetrius if he would spare the Phinean people. This was met with an all-out assault on the walls of the capital city. In an act of desperation, Queen Monlucious, under the darkness of night, came to the tent of King Demetrius II and pleaded for the life of her husband and the people of her land. When the morning light appeared the inhabitants of the city were shaken to their very souls when they peered beyond the city’s gates to see the headless body of the Queen tied to a pole. King Aldeais was struck with uncontrollable grief. All able bodied men in the city took up arms and the fighting between them and the Jacean army became intense. The slaughter was great but the skilled army of Demetrius II finally broke through the city walls and plundered everything in sight. 

When the Jacean army came to the castle of the king, Demetrius was afraid to lead the charge inside. He sent one of his top generals to storm the throne. Seeking personal revenge, King Aldeais hid until Demetrius himself came into the castle. At the right moment he lunged at Demetrius and struck a blow to his side that would torture him with pain for the rest of his life. Although being greatly outnumbered, the King fought valiantly until he was exhausted and received a fatal blow from one of Demetrius’ military lugs. Thus, our king died a hero’s death in battle, but not before he had personally wounded and killed seventeen Jacean soldiers. 

When word spread of the death of King Aldeais the will of the people of the city was broken. With no more desire to fight they surrendered and threw themselves upon the mercy of Demetrius II. But there would be no leniency shown by this ruthless man. Everyone, including the children, became slaves of the Jaceans. More than half of our population was shipped back to the Jacean capital to become servants of our dreaded enemy. After pillaging and plundering our land, King Demetrius II withdrew his army, leaving a hated and reviled governor to ransack anything of value that was left. With heavy hearts and tormented souls this condition of the Phinean people continues to this day. 

This I, Monwar, subject of the Jacean Empire, but forever loyal to the Phinean people, write in my own hand as an eyewitness testimony of the invasion and occupation of my homeland.

Long live the hope of freedom from the oppression of the Jaceans!!

############### 

Dr. Howard Clifford studied the fragment for the hundredth time. There was no mistaking the writing. It had finally proven his hypothesis of what had happened centuries ago. His thoughts were interrupted by the approach of a stranger and one of his students. 

“Excuse me, Professor,” yelled the student. “Here’s the reporter you’ve been waiting for.”

Dr. Clifford straighten and greeted the outstretched hand of the approaching journalist. “Good to see you again, Ralph.”

“Likewise, Doctor,” replied the smiling reporter. “I hear you’ve found some exciting items.”

“Yes, indeed,” agreed the Doctor. “Look at this fragment! Just look at that word right there!”

“OK, Doc, but to this layman’s eyes all I see is some ancient writing,” declared the reporter. “You’ll have to lay it out for me.”

“That word right there shows we’re at the right site,” continued an excited Professor. “That word is ‘Aldeais’!”

“Aldeais?” asked the wondering reporter.

“Yes, the King of the Phineans,” explained the Doctor. “Don’t you remember me telling you about what was found in the Hittite archives at Bogazkoy?”

“Oh, yeah, now I do remember something,” pondered the reporter. “There was that one sentence that you got all excited about.”

“Exactly!” exclaimed the Doctor. “That one sentence tells of the battle between two great kings, Demetrius II of the Jacean Empire and Aldeais, king of the Phineans.”

“Yeah, now I remember,” offered the reporter. “And wasn’t there something about a queen?”

“Yes, Ralph, there was,” continued an exuberant Doctor. “It mentioned Aldeais wife, Queen Monlucious.”

“But if I remember right, Professor,” declared the reporter as he scratched his chin. “No one has ever been able to verify the authenticity of that writing.”

“Until now!” declared the Doctor. “The finding of this one word at this site is strong evidence that there really was a King Demetrius and Aldeais. It’s further testimony to their existence.”

“Well, if this is true, Doc, then you’re gonna be famous,” laughed the reporter.

“Oh, the main thing is finding out the truth,” smiled the Professor. “My work has always been my reward.”

“Doc, let me take a few notes here,” offered the reporter. “So, there really was a Jacean and Phinean Empire.”

“And all we know is that there was a great war between the two,” explained the Professor. “But I believe that this excavation is one of the capital cities. I don’t know which one, but I’m becoming more convinced each day that the answers lie in these ruins.”

“You’re that certain?”

“I’m staking my reputation on it,” declared the Professor. 

“Professor!!” came the yell from across the site. “Come quickly!!”

Doctor Clifford and the reporter hurried to the location. Several students were gathered around chattering excitedly about what had been found.

“What is it?” asked the Doctor as he tried to catch his breath.

“A tablet,” explained the student as he continued to gently brush dirt and debris from the face of the writing.

“It doesn’t look Hittite,” offered the Professor as he studied the now exposed relic.

“It’s not written in Akkadian,” declared the student.

“And it’s definitely not Hurrian,” continued the Professor.

“Wait a minute, Doc, slow down please,” said the reporter as he continued writing furiously on his notepad. “What’s an Akkadian and a Hurrian?”

“They’re ancient languages,” explained the Professor. “Akkadian was the international language used in 1300 B.C.”

“And Hurrian was another popular language used in this region,” offered the student. “But this tablet is not written in either one.”

“But look!” yelled the Professor louder than he meant. “That word is definitely ‘Aldeais!’”

“It is, Professor! It is,” agreed the excited student. “Look! That’s got to be ‘Demetrius!’”

“Are you sure, Doc?” asked the reporter. “That’s a pretty big tablet.”

“I’m positive,” declared the Professor.

“Me, too,” agreed the student. After a few more moments of intense study the Professor declared, “And there’s ‘Monlucious!’”

“Look, Professor,” said the student as he pointed. “There’s ‘Phinean’ and ‘Jacean!’” 

Doctor Clifford slowly removed his glasses and slumped to the ground beside the student and the tablet. He pondered the import of this find. Now, through what was written on this tablet, the story of the Phineans and the Jaceans could finally be unraveled.

“What does it say?” asked the impatient reporter.

“We don’t know,” explained the Professor. “It’ll have to be translated.”

“And how long will that take?”

“A few weeks, maybe,” sighed the Professor. “Or it could take months.”

“So, Doc, you’re gonna have to spell this out for me,” declared the reporter. “What does all this mean?”

“What it means is that we have before us the only known record of the Phineans and Jaceans,” explained the Professor. “This tablet will explain to us what happened over three thousand years ago between these two warring kingdoms.”

“Are you certain?” asked the reporter.

“I feel I’m correct in that assertion,” continued the Professor. “I hope it will tell their story. Why was there a war between the two? Who was good and who was evil? Which king was victorious and how did this affect the people of each land? That’s what this tablet will tell us!”

“So, this is going to set the record straight?” pondered the reporter.

“Yes, it will,” declared the student. “This will be the only record we have. Whatever’s written there will be what is taught on the subject in every major university in the world!”

“You’re gonna be famous, Professor!” shouted a nearby student. “There’s an archaeology prize waiting on you!” yelled another one.

“Well, Doc, it looks like this tablet of ancient writings is gonna be your ticket to fame and fortune,” laughed the reporter. “After all, this find could be as significant as any ever unearthed. Shall I dare say, as important as the Dead Sea scrolls?”

“Oh, stop that,” smiled the Professor. “That’s not why we’re here. What’s really important is that now we will finally know the truth. The truth about the Jaceans and the Phineans!” 

As the Professor and the students continued preparing the tablet, the reporter walked to another area of the site. Having little else to do, he started brushing dirt back from a rock buried in the ground. Much to his surprise he uncovered an ancient jar. Opening the lid he peered inside and found a manuscript made of papyrus leaves.

“Hey, Doc!” yelled the reporter as he pulled the leaf from the jar. “Here’s some more writings.”

“Don’t touch that!!” shouted the Professor and students as they watched in horror as the fragile leaf crumbled into dust from exposure to air and the touch of the reporter’s hand.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Doc! I’m sorry!” cried the reporter. “I didn’t know.”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now,” declared the Professor as he joined the reporter. “All we can do is hope that it wasn’t anything important.”

“I am deeply sorry,” offered the reporter.

“I know,” agreed the Professor. “In the future, please be careful.”

“I will,” replied the distraught reporter. “I’ll not touch anything else without your permission.”

“OK, then,” offered the Professor. “Well, at least we have the tablet. I’m sure it’ll tell us what happened all those years ago.” 

The two men turned and walked back to the students and the new found tablet. In the dust lay the remains of the crumbled papyrus leaf with ancient writings that no modern man would ever have the chance to read:   

I, Linacisis, declare to all the misdeeds brought upon my dear friend, Soclithese, by that dastardly imbecile, Monwar. It comes as no surprise to anyone who knows of this imposter, how he has never had an original thought or idea in his entire life. But his latest endeavor to deceive is as appalling as any that has been brought upon creation. 

Soclithese, the most famous and forthright storyteller of our land, wrote a brilliant account of a war waged against two mythical kingdoms, the Jaceans and the Phineans. The dazzling story of King Demetrius II and his battle against the wicked King Aldeais and his cunning Queen Monlucious is known by all. Old and young alike have delighted in the telling of this story of good versus evil. Everyone recognizes this account has come from the fertile mind and imagination of my friend, Soclithese. He continues to be the best there is at spinning a yarn of moral virtue.

On the other hand, Monwar, lacking any decency that would be found in a normal man, has decided to take the story Soclithese so carefully crafted and try to present it as his own. He changed it to where the good lies in King Aldeais and Queen Monlucious, whereas, the evil is in the heart of Demetrius II. With the conscience of a rodent he even named the traitor of his story, Linacisis. I take that as a direct reference to me and my family. Monwar knows I have been an outspoken critic of his notorious ways and now he is trying to ruin my good name and reputation. He will not prevail. 

I, Linacisis, write this to declare that Monwar is a thief and a liar. Some may feel this is much to do about only a story invented by Soclithese. But it is much more than that. This is about integrity, which is something Monwar has shown he knows nothing about. 

Let the record speak for itself: Soclithese wrote the story of Demetrius, Aldeais, and Monlucious. Monwar stole the story. May the gods show no mercy on his soul. 

THE END

Copyright ©2006 by Jerry W. Crews