The shield remains hit the giant in the face, and while it did no real damage, it knocked his helmet awry obstructing his vision. The giant could only see out of one eye. He saw the warrior below him and longed to club him but could not move his weapon, which was now suddenly heavy and awkward, to strike a blow. Confused, the giant stepped backward.
Seth scrambled forward, rolling underneath and between the giant’s legs. When Seth took his feet behind the giant, he leaped upward, gripping the thick leather harness that went over the giant’s shoulder. Grip by grip, he scaled the giant, reaching almost the top of his height.
The giant was now fearful. He had flung his own helmet off in frustration, dropping his shield to free his hand to do so. He saw a human riding the shaft of his club, and to his left saw his brother in flames. He longed to crush his back against something substantial to rid himself of the warrior that had climbed upon him. Looking about, the giant realized he was too far away from any tree or wall. He bellowed in rage, dropped his club with the younger human attached, and moved forward to stomp the life out of him.
Meanwhile, Dinak had pulled his mentor to his feet, picked up Seth’s sword, and placed it in Lethan’s grip. Dinak dropped his shield and bolted forward with a javelin, driving it into the burning Nephilim’s thigh. Drawing his sword, Dinak attacked stomping legs and grasping hands. He successfully diverted the giant’s attention away from Lethan, circling to the Nephilim’s left. His sword was quickly wet with Nephilim blood. Dinak delivered cut after cut. Even as he executed a savage slash to the Nephilim’s monstrous hand, Dinak was amazed the burning Nephilim was still standing. A frantic kick from the Nephilim sent Dinak to the earth, but the warrior skillfully rolled away from stomping boots and regained his feet.
Though in flames from the waist up, even as he burned, the giant longed to kill.
As Lethan gripped the sword, his pain subsided, and seeing his father and Jathan alive and moving, charged the flaming giant in front of him. Lethan took full advantage of Dinak’s distraction. Purpose renewed, Lethan attacked the back of the giant’s leg, determined to get the monster off its feet and unable to cause any more harm. In seconds, Mica and Loran appeared, also driving a spear and javelin into the Nephilim’s legs.
Lethan proficiently avoided the stomping feet, and finally delivered two deep cuts behind the ankle. Tendon severed, the Nephilim lost control of his leg. The burning giant looked like a tower falling as it crashed into the earth. War cries from the hunters echoed in the valley as the Sethite warriors finally ended the monster’s forcible hold on its life, spears, and swords plunging again and again into the burning hulk. Lethan, overcome with pain and struggling to breathe, stumbled back a few steps and collapsed.
When the central giant knocked his helmet off in frustration, Seth sensed his opportunity. He pulled his war club off his shoulder with one hand and deftly looped its leather sling over the giant’s head. Seth pulled back quickly, fixing the leather sling underneath the giant’s chin and tight against his throat. Seth set his feet on the giant’s waist belt and pulled the leather strap tight on the giant’s neck. He spun the war club, twisting the leather bands tighter against the giant’s airway. Convinced the loop was constricted enough; he slid the club out of its placements and pulled back with both hands on the leather knot.
Seth’s club landed on the ground in front of the giant. Jathan, seeing the giant in distress, stumbled forward to retrieve it.
The giant gasped and wheezed, clawing at his back and head desperately, but Seth was out of his reach. Seth pulled his knees higher on the giants back, gaining leverage as he pulled back even harder, now aided by the strength of his legs. The giant’s fingers clawed his own neck, searching for the cord that was strangling him, hopeful he could break it.
But Seth had confidence in the craftsmen of his city. He reset his grip and pulled back even harder on the leather sling. The giant was now fading, stumbling slower.
Jathan was now clubbing the giant’s knee joint, one blow after another until he heard something break. The giant dropped to one knee while Seth, still riding his back, retained his hold on the leather strap around the Nephilim’s neck.
Seth dare not let the monster get a moment of air. He retained his chokehold until the giant finally fell to both knees, stubbornly clinging to life.
“Side of the head...” Seth gasped, winded.
Jathan nodded and swung Seth’s war club against the giant’s temple, now within his reach.
Jathan struck once, twice then a third time, something cracked, and the giant fell face-forwards with a crash into the earth. Only then did Seth release his grip and stood next to the Nephilim. Only the faintest wheezing could be heard.
“Your thorn,” Seth called to Jathan.
Jathan drew the Nephilim thorn at his waist next to his dagger, the weapon Mica had given it to him in the armory the morning they left Har Shalem. Adam’s final son gripped the Nephilim thorn securely, walked to the giant’s head, and drove the point through his temple.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The Stronghold
Adam suddenly appeared, his commanding frame moving quickly as he rejoined the group of hunters. Seepha followed behind her master, eyes alert, and her hackles upright along her spine. Adam’s eyes were full of concern as he scanned the group for injuries. His war hammer was baptized with blood, but Adam himself showed no signs of harm.
“My brave sons...” Adam said solemnly. Adam’s interest quickly settled upon Lethan and Jathan. “Mica, my healing bag!”
Mica dutifully returned to the horse, tethered away from the conflict. Mica smiled, knowing his master had inspected him, knew he was whole, and deemed him uninjured and capable of serving.
“Apologies, Seth. I smelled the giant’s musk at Adan’s farm. I longed to avenge the injustice against Adan’s family,” Adam stated. “I was moved by anger and left the group, I am sorry.”
“I am glad for Adan’s sake, we fared well, Father,” Seth replied.
“Father and Dinak saved me from the jaws of a Nephilim,” Lethan stated, through a grimace of pain. “He would have consumed me!”
“One taste and he would have spit you out,” Loran said with a grin.
Adam was now inspecting Lethan’s ribs, which produced a pained response from his grandson.
“Seth kept me from being stomped upon...” Jathan explained while holding his left arm.
Loran was rearmed with his bow, scanning about, shepherding the hunters as they recovered from the battle.
“These giants were different, more refined, and better equipped than those we have faced before,” Adam mused aloud as he examined Lethan.
“We were fortunate today,” Loran stated to Adam. “Every man excelled in his duty.”
“Well spoken, Son,” Seth voiced in agreement. Then to Adam, he added, “We honor you, Father – the first to kill Azazel’s children long ago. It was you that showed us the Nephilim could be cast down.”
Adam stopped when he heard Seth’s words, for a moment, he stared into the distance, his thoughts traveling back in time. Then he smiled.
“Damn the Watchers, indeed! Yet, I long for the wings of an angel, Shining or Fallen. I cannot scale that wall,” Adam said, glancing towards the stronghold, then returning to his work.
Dinak removed Lethan’s armor. Adam applied an oil mixed with aromatics and menthol to the muscles around Lethan’s left ribcage. Then Adam unraveled a length of gauze and began binding Lethan’s chest tightly with the cloth. Adam selected a glass vial from his bag and poured the desired amount into a spoon. Dinak opened a package of folded, waxed paper, and emptied a small amount of salt and sugar crystals into Lethan’s palm.
Lethan was no stranger to the mixture. He closed his eyes and emptied the contents of his palm into his mouth. Adam’s spoon quickly entered Lethan’s mouth, delivering the medicinal. Loran laughed slightly a
t his twin’s pained expression while Lethan obediently held the bittersweet mixture in his mouth until Adam told him to swallow. Only seconds passed when Lethan’s countenance quickly softened, Adam’s pain tonic was fast and effective. Lethan smiled in gratitude to his grandfather Adam who smoothed back his hair affectionately.
Seth’s attention had returned to the fortress, reflecting on Adam’s longing for wings to scale the high walls. Loran was guarding their position, and injuries were being mended. Without conscious thought, Seth began stretching his limbs and breathing deeply, preparing his body for the next potential conflict. His eyes never left the fortress as he did so. After the brief meditation was over, he replaced his sword and had Mica procure two more new javelins.
Seth was pensive as his gaze returned to the stronghold. The ramparts of the fortress were empty. The winged Fallen was nowhere to be seen. Smoke trickled into the air from inside the courtyard. A small rumble was heard within the compound and occasionally the sound of falling stone. The white stone walls were smooth and high, difficult to scale. The broken carcass of the black-haired giant lay near the stronghold’s gate.
Father has avenged Adan’s losses, and how I wish I could have seen him at work.
The Host has been here. Perhaps they expelled any Fallen Prince who resides there...
But where is the winged Fallen who attacked us in Har Shalem? I saw him on the ramparts...And where is the crown Enoch saw in his vision?
Seth’s thoughts were interrupted by Adam’s approach. Both men stared at the fortress walls in silence.
“Jathan’s arm and shoulder are deeply bruised,” Adam surmised aloud. “Perhaps a slight fracture in his upper left arm, the shoulder joint is intact. It’s going to hurt him more tomorrow, but he will mend. Lethan’s ribs are bruised, possibly splintered, but not broken. He will be in considerable pain tomorrow.”
Seth nodded in recognition. After a moment, he spoke.
“Jathan disobeyed me,” Seth stated flatly. “and saved my life. He was brave, clever, and unorthodox. He has an instinct for battle, something that cannot be taught.”
Adam smiled, his pride in Jathan obvious.
“My Jathan disobeyed his Chieftain...” Adam mused aloud with an approving grin. “And yet wisdom is proven by the fruit it bears.”
Seth smiled in return, proud and grateful for his younger brother’s heroism.
The winged Fallen was no longer on the ramparts. Both Seth and Adam pondered what to do next when a mysterious figure appeared again.
Standing next to the gate of the stronghold stood the angelic warrior. He was clad in dark gray metal armor over a white tunic, bearing a spear. A shield was slung on his back, a sword was also sheathed there. Though helmeted, Seth discerned a grim smile on his handsome face. This was the same angel who beckoned to Seth when they viewed the stronghold from afar.
“A Shining One, he returns...” Seth muttered suddenly transfixed. Slowly, Seth began walking towards the fortress some fifty paces away. “Do you see him?” Seth asked Adam without looking away from the figure.
“No,” Adam replied, perplexed. “Mica, my hammer!”
Adam was not one to question the ways of angels, but he found it curious that Seth could see this angel while he could not. Mica caught up with the pair and handed Adam his weapon.
“Stay here. Do not follow unless called,” Adam commanded.
Mica nodded in reply and returned to the group. He had retrieved the horse, tethered near the men. Dinak, now armed with a bow, stood opposite Loran. The men had formed a watch, guarding those who were wounded, scanning the area for threats. Seepha voiced her displeasure at seeing Adam leave the group without her. Hearing her whimper, Jathan called Seepha to himself and put a lead on her neck, stroking her fur as she sat next to him, her eyes fixed on Adam. The men were silent as they watched their leaders slowly move towards the fortress.
When Adam and Seth came within twenty-five paces of the stronghold, the angel halted Seth with an open hand. Adam caught up to Seth and stood beside him, scanning intently. The angelic warrior shifted his spear from his right hand to his left and approached the gate. Still facing Seth, the angel lifted his right hand with two fingers raised, pointing upwards. Reaching to his side, the angel placed both of his fingers on the stronghold door.
Boom!
The gate imploded, blasting inwardly into the compound. The timber beams disintegrated into small pieces which were scattered across the entrance of the courtyard.
The angel was gone.
Seth and Adam cautiously walked through the gate of the stronghold. While there were many curious sights in the courtyard, both men’s eyes were drawn to a ring of tall stone columns located within the spacious open yard. The winged Fallen floated in the center of the columns, arms raised as if in prayer and its wings moving slowly behind him.
Seth dropped into a crouch, mindful of his steps, moving silently. Panther-like, he moved forward, stalking the winged interloper who had trespassed his homeland. The Fallen seemed oblivious to the world around him, deeply invested in his spiritual activity. Seth readied a javelin in his right hand. As he drew back his arm, he was taken, for a moment, by the craftsmanship of his weapon. The javelin was beautifully constructed, its pale wooden length polished smooth, a grip of leather with red silk wrapping, and the narrow-bladed tip was razor-sharp. Seth appreciated the balance of the weapon and the slight flex of the shaft as it rested in his hand. The unique craftsmanship of the lethal instrument reminded him of home. As he dropped his head to align his eyes along the length of the weapon, images of Har Shalem flashed through his mind; his grandson Kenan directing their craftsmen, his son Enosh teaching the city’s children, and finally, Ahavva and his young daughters cycled through Seth’s mind at that moment.
I must finish this so I can go home to you...
Adam crept quietly too, though he followed Seth with his peripheral vision while he surveyed the large courtyard and the other structures within the walls of the stronghold. The entire courtyard was a large semi-circle. The yard began at the south gate, followed the western perimeter of the outside walls, then northward, ending in another open area with a north gate. Ahead and to his right, the cliff wall shot straight upwards to a great height; at least three floors of construction was built into the hill and cliff face. A palace entrance was on the second level, and the ground-level buildings were more utilitarian. The higher structures would usually be reserved for rooftop gardens and palatial housing.
Adam’s curious eyes were drawn to a doorframe built into the cliff face at ground level to the right of the stone construction. It was a massive doorframe of cut stone, facing the south gate, but Adam could not determine from what the door itself was fashioned. Adam speculated there must be caves within the mount itself. Unknown writings were etched into the stone that formed the frame; twin sconces held lit torches on either side of the doorway. Some seventy paces away, Adam longed to inspect it more closely.
Adam watched as Seth slowly moved nearer to the ring of stone columns, weapon arm drawn back and ready to release. Inside the henge of stone, the winged Fallen still seemed absorbed in his meditative trance. Adam knew the six columns must have numerical significance, and their dressing and placement within the courtyard somehow served the Fallen’s dark purpose.
This must be Enoch’s final crown...
Adam remembered the gaudy crown Kinna, the lake King, had worn with its upright points.
But what of the prince behind this conspiracy against us? What of the Host who opened the door to this place?
Movement at the remote north end of the courtyard walls captured Adam’s attention. Though it was far away, Adam heard the clash of chains. He saw large, monstrous forms chained to the northern walls of the stronghold, frantic and labored as they pushed against their bonds.
What sins have the Watchers committed here? One God over all, help
us against those stronger than ourselves...
As if in response to Adam’s silent prayer, the winged Fallen’s eyes opened suddenly. The black orbs oozed hatred and condescension as they locked upon Adam some thirty paces away. The Fallen was floating still above the ground, suspended by some dark power without the aid of his wings.
Adam smiled.
Seth’s body snapped like a cobra striking a rat.
The razor-sharp point of Seth’s javelin left a silver blur on the way to its target.
The Fallen cried out in pain as the javelin entered his body. Whatever force held him in the air was interrupted, and the angel fell to the ground with a thud. Globs of black blood stained the polished marble floor of the Fallen circle as the angel wrenched the javelin out his abdomen. On his knees, he located his attacker and opened his mouth in a silent scream, directed his paralyzing demonic power towards him. But the son of Adam kept moving forward, unaffected, drawing his war club in addition to a remaining javelin.
Adam could see the fear growing in the Fallen as he and Seth drew nearer to the ring of stones. The ancient being, still on his knees, had staunched the flow of blood from his wound with his left hand. He now rubbed his right hand against the laceration, drenching it in his own blood, and began drawing symbols on the smooth white floor with the black liquid.
Adam and Seth both cried out in frustration and began running the final steps toward the stone columns. There was a crack of electricity. The evil smile which now appeared on the Fallen’s handsome face indicated that they were too late.
Adam placed his hand on one of the columns. Adam then tried to move his fingers past the column towards the Fallen, but the air resisted his hand as if pressing against an invisible stone wall. Seth had tapped the perimeter of another set of columns and found the same resistance. Adam grumbled, irritated but not frustrated.
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