Dagger & Deception
Page 30
“Me?” Emerond said, surprised, although he thought that he knew where this was going.
“Your empire does not know how to fight. I bested your greatest warrior in strength, speed and magic. What was supposed to be the greatest empire, the Jenaldej Empire, could not defeat me. You have forgotten how to wage war. You only know how to amass wealth, all so that others, who are stronger, can steal it from you in your weakness,” Lavakara said.
“We are not an empire built on spirit magic,” Emerond said.
“Perhaps you should be,” Lavakara said.
“Evil use of spirit magic endangers the soul in the most terrible ways,” Lady Ismene said.
“Your self-imposed limitations weaken you. How do you expect to defeat the Ahitan woman when she has the tiara in all its terrible power and you refuse to use the magic that is available to you? You cannot even find her when she is weak. This is the very time to find her and strike,” Lavakara said.
“We do not need you. We have vast fleets of powerful ships, beyond your knowing,” Admiral Gavin said.
“When the Ahitan woman commands the oceans with that tiara, your ships will sink in numbers beyond your belief, Admiral,” Lavakara said. He knew what rank this man was by his military uniform markings. He knew how pathetic this man was by his conventional response. Lavakara was well aware that more than ordinary ships would be needed for the unavoidable conflict.
Then, Lavakara went on, being sure to address everyone: “You will need a strong and quick warrior to fight her. I have the strength and the speed: I am that warrior. You will need a powerful wizard to overcome the tiara. I have the power: I am that wizard. You will need a wise leader to direct your forces and turn your wealth into victory. I have that wisdom: I am that leader. Follow me!"
CHAPTER 31: Revival and Leadership
Romana did not sit idly by in the face of the threat that Lavakara presented to the world. By his words and the ruby dagger he held, which Lady Ismene identified as being a demonic item, Romana knew that this man was pure wickedness. Duke Hagan’s earlier warning only supported this. Romana drank of the waters of the Gradaken Ocean that she kept in a vial she wore on a chain around her neck. She was energized and ready. So, too, were the frightened animals of the island that were not already under the curse of the ruby dagger. Two (2) hawks were in their nests nearby, in trees that had not yet been touched by the fire, although they probably would be burned soon. Romana was connected to nature, both plants and animals, because of the Gradaken waters. She gestured with a hand motion to the hawks, and they responded to her, as she was their master because of the waters. The hawks alighted on her extended arms and she sent them out, and they flew wildly, surprising Lavakara. He used his powers to jump into the spirit world, but he was delayed by surprise, and one of the hawks knocked the ruby dagger from his hand before his entry into the spirit world. The other hawk caught the ruby dagger, and flew to Emerond, dropping it in his hands.
Romana made a breaking gesture with her hands, and Emerond saw it. He drank the waters of the Kazofen Ocean which he kept in a vial that he wore on a chain around his neck. He was energized and they gave him the power to bend crystal like it was clay. He altered the ruby dagger and melted it down to liquid ruby crystal. Drops of blood were mixed in with the liquid crystal, and the mixture spilled onto the ground, ending the dagger and its ability to bring the powerful curse.
Lavakara watched this from the spirit world, slightly disappointed in himself – not so much for the loss of the ruby dagger, which he did not need, but for his lack of awareness and readiness against the animals. He rarely gave much credit to the powers of animals, but he would from this point onward. He also rarely gave much credit to the powers of women, but he would now, although he was still only willing to possess the body of a male. He waited in the spirit world to see what would be next, as he still had the advantage of having subdued the armies of both empires with the ruby dagger while he had it. Despite the dagger’s destruction, those placed under its curse remained under its curse. Without the ruby dagger, he would not be able to direct the cursed armies in battle, but they could not be used against him, either.
Ovid and Judith, observant as they were, saw all of these things, including Romana summoning the animals even when Lavakara did not see this. They could not warn him – not that they wanted to warn him – as that would be interference, in violation of the Chronicler’s Oath. Besides, Judith thought, it would be quite fitting for such a vicious warrior to be defeated by a bird of prey mightier than he. They also saw Lavakara disappear from sight and watched as Emerond liquefied the ruby dagger. The pair of Chroniclers recorded these events into their books.
Seeing the opportunity, Lady Onora left the ship and went to shore, although Caroline and Captain Guillermo remained on the ship. There, Onora drank the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean that she kept in a vial that she wore on a chain around her neck. She was energized and she focused her mind on the spiritual meaning of the situation, and her understanding of God’s Plan for the world. All people had sin, which was a rejection of the Supreme Authority and Wisdom of God and His Laws. Thus, sin separated people from God’s Perfection, and made them subject to suffering and death. Lady Onora was not perfect and did not see herself as being without sin. However, she could seek forgiveness on their behalf, praying to God for them to be healed and forgiven, and released from the curse of the ruby dagger. They would not have been subject to its demonic power if they had walked more uprightly in life and had a stronger belief in God and a more pious way about them. Still, God’s Love for his people contains forgiveness and healing as components, and she would ask for these. The powers of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean were one of the many forms of God’s Gifts, and the one which Onora was adept at utilizing. She began to sing:
Love creates, Love renews.
Love never hates and never lets go.
When it's true, when it's complete,
When it's from God, then you will know.
(Refrain)
Everything I lost, He will completely restore.
Everything I ever was, He will make me even more.
Do not mourn, do not give in,
Live not in sorrow, yield not to sin.
Pray for truth: pray to hear His Voice.
Pray for joy: pray to Him and rejoice.
(Refrain)
Call out His Great Name,
Look for Guidance you can trust.
Pray for His Wisdom,
Pray to know which ways are just.
(Refrain)
In your pain, do not lose your belief.
He remembers and will bring you near.
Follow His Laws and you will find relief.
Trust His Ways and you will not fear.
(Refrain)
In His Strength, you will have might,
In His Speed, you will run far and fast.
In His Knowledge, you will know right.
In His Eternity, you will live and last.
(Refrain)
The undead armies – both those of the Ihalik Empire and those of the Jenaldej Empire, as well as the peasants and the animals – awakened from their curse. They had been healed, by the power of the prayerful song of Lady Onora. Even General Joshua regained consciousness, despite having been brought down by a physical attack and not the curse of the ruby dagger.
Judith understood this better know, and believed that it was the power of this musical prayer – to the God in whom she also believed – that brought healing from God. She recorded these events as she observed them, as did Ovid, in keeping with the Chronicler’s Oath. She could not write down something she believed, yet did not observe, no matter how much she believed it. This was not a contradiction of God or her belief in God, but the Oath demanded a precise statement of the observed truth, not its interpretation.
As the armies awoke, Lavakara reappeared from the spirit world, at a distance from the others, observing everyone carefully.
La
vakara then spoke, looking to Lady Onora: “Most helpful you are, holy woman. Thank you for rousing my troops from their slumber.”
Then, Lavakara turned and spoke to everyone: “Now, they can respond, of their own free will, to my offer. In one way or another, I defeated each of you. Yet, you live. This is because I value your lives and your service. I am no monster or destroyer of worlds. I am a great warrior, yet I wish for dominion, not obliteration. If there is nothing to rule, I cannot be the ruler. If there is no kingdom, I cannot be king. Hence, you were each spared. Since when has a single opponent defeated you so? You know it is true. You know I am the one to lead you against the Ahitan woman, Victoria, before she devastates this world. I do not need the ruby dagger to fight you or lead you. In fact, I would rather not have it, so that you can choose your allegiance for yourselves. You may choose to be my daggers against the tyranny that she represents. I can turn anything and anyone into a weapon against her. I am the leader you need.”
“You would lead us into the Maelstrom of Vengeance. You are diseased in your soul, using the worst powers of the spirit world to impose your unjust will. Repent of this and seek mercy from God,” Lady Onora said.
“She is correct. You must change your ways from evil to good. The Ahitan woman is wicked, but to follow you would be no better,” Lady Ismene said.
“I will not follow you,” General Joshua said. He saw the Spirit Sword still on the ground and picked it up. “Nor will I lay this weapon down again. It awaits you,” Joshua then said.
The Jenaldej troops – nearly twenty-four thousand (24000) of them, minus those few who fell in this latest battle before the remainder were subdued by the ruby dagger – said nothing, only deferring to General Joshua’s leadership.
“I will follow you, Lavakara. I respect your power, and you have proven yourself a great warrior, capable of defeating all of us, and thus ruling all of us. You are a mighty warlord, and I trust in your leadership,” General Serafina said.
Serafina then knelt down on one knee and bowed her head, saying: “Supreme Commander Lavakara.”
The Ihalik troops – the nine thousand four (9004) of them who remained from the ten thousand (10000) who came to this island – followed her example, kneeling and bowing, calling out: “Supreme Commander Lavakara!”
“Excellent. The wise ones show their wisdom for the world to see,” Lavakara said.
“You’re choosing death by following this murderous egomaniac. He will never tire of killing, long after you have tired of it. He won’t bring you wealth or comfort or prosperity,” Emerond said.
“This is not a time to gather riches, Jenaldej prince. Wealth is of no value when the world is about to be torn apart. You must learn to fight. Unless a treasure has a blade, it is of no worth in the war against the Ahitan Empire. This will be even truer when the full strength of the tiara of power is at their service,” Lavakara said.
“You speak half-truths. The danger of the Ahitan Empire and the power of the tiara have been made clear to the world, true enough. But your intentions are not to lead the world to peace. You just want to lead us into a different war,” Emerond said.
Judith and Ovid also recorded this exchange into their books.
Then, suddenly, yellow flames filled the sky, and a single yellow flame appeared in the center of the leaders, the armies, the peasants, the animals, the Chroniclers and everyone else who stood there on the shore of Udovedaj-Pren Island. The yellow flame took on the appearance of a burning man, who then began to speak.
“Let him who would lead others, lead me to the girl known as Taesa, who has the voice that reaches the kingdom of the sky! Otherwise, I will burn all the kingdoms of the land to ash! I am Prince Kirdothet, and even the flames of the suns obey me,” the burning man, Kirdothet, said to all of them.
END