The Strategy
URIEL, AURO, AND I leave the others. I would worry about splitting the army were it not for the skill of Celles and Tinus who constructed an entire protective fortress around our sigil.
We fly west through the dark sky. The wind delivers a blood-curdling chill now and the Aurora now reflects its colored glow onto the tree tops below. The dark leaves now become a cascade of blues, yellows, and reds.
I notice a tree rustling below and I hush the others. Whoever caused it may very well see me. I point my hand toward the rustle and we dash down toward the top of the tree where the leaves move.
We stop now and stand upon one of the high branches. I don’t see anyone standing this high up. I look down at the ground. I don’t see anything. I don’t see any tracks which is not surprising as most likely they, like us, will fly so as not to leave a trail.
“Look,” Uriel points behind me.
Apophos stands just below us. He waves his mountainous arms as he speaks. Another, whose back is toward me, scrunches and hushes him.
“If Apophos is here,” Auro whispers. “Then that means Sal and the remainder of his team can’t be far off. “
I agree.
Uriel drops down a branch and draws his sword.
“What are you doing?” I whisper, grabbing his arm.
“I am going to take them out before they have a chance to regroup. Divide and conquer.”
“No, we need to find their location.”
Uriel looks displeased but he sheathes his sword. “How do you know that they’re together?”
Sure enough, Apophos rises into the air. His stone-like body casts a shadow blocking out the light of the moon. The second angel turns and follows him.
I get a good glimpse now of who it is.
“Baal” Auro says.
“But they are on different teams.” Uriel says.
“No,” I say. “They are both working for the Frosted. That’s why they were so intent on recruiting me. Sal has a spy in his camp.”
“Serves him right,” Uriel says.
I hush them both.
We fly above the top of the branches while Apophos and Baal fly below us, completely unaware that the three of us have found them.
They turn west. No surprise there. They lead us into a more densely wooded area where we slow our speeds.
Sal’s men crouch and hide behind trees. They have no structure. Their flag flies completely unattended on a branch behind Sal.
“Did they even plan?” I say. “Seriously Sal, there is no way this would have cut it.”
“What a waste,” Uriel says. “Could you imagine what we could have done with twenty-three troops? Yet this is all they have?”
“No kidding,” Auro says. “If we do this right, we could probably steal that flag without them even seeing us.”
One of Sal’s soldiers begins to yell, pointing towards us.
“They see us!” I say.
“No.” Auro points over head.
Suddenly, we see a group of the Frosted’s troops swarming behind the two traitors. We remain on the upper branches of the tree and watch as the Frosted’s regiment lays siege on Sal’s army. They approach from the same angle we did. They are orderly. No soldier fights alone. Rather they all fly together in pairs, descending on one soldier, attacking him, and then injuring him.
“They beat us to it,” Uriel says.
Flares from Sal’s soldiers light up all around the scene.
“We have to do something,” Uriel says. “Or else the Frosted will get Sal’s flag.”
“We wouldn’t stand a chance,” Auro says.
I spot the Frosted. He walks among the trees without even drawing his sword. He watches as his small group of forces dismantles Sal’s.
Sal lands down beside him.
“How about a little rematch?” the Frosted says. “And this time you don’t have your little protégé to come to your aid.”
“Michael is ten times the warrior you are,” Sal says.
I want nothing more than to drop down and help Sal but I hold myself back though. I promised my team that I would guide them. In the end, it is in the best interest of us all, including Sal.
“You know I asked the Prince not to allow you to ever be a captain,” Sal says. “I saw through you from the start.”
“But I am here all the same aren’t I?” The gleeful aggressor smiles. “And sure enough, you, the first among us shall go down, just as it should be: first.”
The Frosted swings his sword fiercely at Sal who steps backward to avoid the blade, but the force of the blow is too much. Sal falls onto his back helpless, looking up at the Frosted.
“Light your flare,” the Frosted orders.
“Never!” Sal swings his sword at the air.
The Frosted parries and jabs his blade right into Sal’s side. Sal lets out a blood-curdling scream.
I nearly fall off the branch at the sight of the blood squirting out of my dear friend’s side. It's as though his pain radiates through my own side. The Frosted reaches down and searches Sal’s bleeding body. The Frosted lights the flare and tosses it into the air just as one of the Frosted’s recruits approaches from behind.
“We have the sigil,” the soldier says.
Ceremonials dash in, grab Sal, and instantly they are gone.
Just then, I hear another scream. This time it comes from far away.
“What the blazes is that?” Uriel asks.
“It comes from our encampment,” Auro says.
“How?” Uriel says. “Both teams are in front of us.”
“The Frosted’s team is assaulting both camps at the same time,” I say. “We may have already lost.”
But I don’t wait to find out. I turn toward the south and soar into the darkness followed by two desperate soldiers.
The tree cover above prevents the Aurora or the moon from casting light down on us. We can barely see the trees as we rush through the forest, making the journey much more perilous. The darkness seems so black. It’s like we’re flying through the night’s shadow.
“Are you all still with me?” I shout.
“Let’s fight already,” Uriel says. “I’m about to be killed by a tree before I get the chance to actually fight.”
Auro doesn’t respond but I can hear his heavy panting behind me.
We reach the glade where we left Raphael.
“I don’t see him,” Uriel says. “Where is that fat bugger?”
Auro hovers right beside me, “If experience tells us anything, he ran from their advance or even worse disclosed the location of the keep.”
We may have already lost the sigil because of his lazy mouth. “I should have left more of us to protect the keep. We won’t have enough defenses to hold it.”
“Christine!” Uriel shouts, darting off toward the keep.
We follow, flying out from under the tree cover. We need to fly fast or else it will be too late. Up, up, and even higher up. Perhaps if we reach a high enough altitude we may be even more hidden than if we flew beneath the trees.
My wings grow tired from the constant flying. It feels as though the muscles in my wings will give way at any moment and I will plummet from the sky. My eyes go in and out of focus searching for the large pond that borders our keep.
“That’s them,” Uriel shouts.
He bolts down before I have a moment to react.
Auro and I follow as closely as we can but Uriel seems to experience a burst of energy that neither Auro nor I enjoy.
I arrive at our fortress just in time to see the damage. There are several of the Frosted’s recruits. They completely encircle our camp, except for the pond behind it.
The sound of clashing metal is far less rhythmic than I would have imagined. Instead, the sporadic pulsating of sound reminds me of the motions of a dying animal kicking its legs spastically before it finally fades.
Christine stands at the entrance, warding off Baal. His arms flay around as the moon reflects off his sword.
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br /> Uriel lands behind Baal to assist his parallel.
“That’s my girl,” he says.
“What?” she says. “You don’t think I can hold my own?”
“Always bantering,” Baal shouts as he backs away from the two advancing parallels. “I’d rather be stabbed than hear any more of your incessant quarreling.”
I leave the job of protecting the entrance to the two of them, as the Frosted’s other recruits now crawl all over the keep. They mill about while their tongues lick their hungry lips.
I leap up into the air. My wings beat one time, just enough to carry me onto the roof of the keep. I join Tinus. He swings his ax wildly but misses his attacker. The attacker lunges toward him. Celles shoots an arrow from one of the tree branches overhead and hits the attacker. The wounded angel lights his flare.
Two Ceremonials, barely even perceptible to the eye, dash in, and dash out with his body. It’s as if he just disappeared from sight.
“Nice of you to join us,” Tinus says, wiping blood from his forehead.
“The Frosted has already eliminated Sal’s team.”
“He’s bloody aggressive I tell ya,” Tinus says.
Celles spits. “One down at least, huh?”
“Make that two,” I shout as I thrust my sword into yet another recruit’s side. He falls to the ground. I rip out his flare from his belt and swipe it along the rocks lighting it for him.
“Wow this chainmail is incredible,” Uriel shouts. “I’ve almost died three times now.”
“Not bad huh?” Tinus slashes at an attacker who now falls backward off the side of the keep and lights his own flare. “But it’s heavy and will slow you down.”
One of the Frosted’s recruits cries out into the darkness. “This isn’t working. Back to the forest to regroup!”
They retreat and for a moment everything goes completely still and quiet. We all stand, swords still drawn, panting in the darkness.
The coast is clear.
I jump down to Uriel and Christine who now lean against each other catching their breaths at the doorway of the keep.
“I miss designing reefs,” Uriel says.
“I never thought I’d miss those little swimmers,” Christine agrees.
“You once told me you were going to lead this army,” I punch him in his shoulder. “Can’t back out now.”
“You all got here just in time,” Christine says. “I don’t think we could have held them off much longer. I’m even shocked we were able to challenge them with you.”
“I have the strength of ten angels,” Uriel says. “How could you doubt us?”
Christine rolls her eyes.
“Where’s Raph?” I ask.
“He’s gone,” she says. “The coward led them right to us and then flared out without taking a single injury.”
“So we’ve only lost Raph and that’s really not a loss.”
“Yes but there are still a bunch of the Frosted’s soldiers out there.”
“We held them off once didn’t we?” Celles says dropping to the ground beside us.
Christine turns toward Tinus. “You were both amazing. Why didn’t the Prince choose you for warfare from the start?”
“Because we are even better Forgers!” Tinus says.
“We need to focus,” I tell them. “They won’t be gone long.”
I clinch my sword tightly. The time has come, I am about to kill my first Rogue.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The Frosted
I INSPECT A TINY SPOT OF BLOOD that has now hardened, browned and splotchy onto my skin. The circle is perfectly symmetrical like a dulling gemstone decorating my skin. I lift my hand to my mouth and taste the iron. Tart and salty, it almost burns the tongue.
I stand alone at the entrance to the keep. The Frosted’s recruits have not returned like I suspected they would. In fact, for the past few hours they have instead stayed completely silent behind the trees. If they are even there at all, I can’t really be sure. But then again, I just know that the Frosted’s aggressive nature must dictate that they continue to attack.
I reach down into my pocket and bring out the pine box again. I lift it to my mouth and kiss the now softening casing.
“The time is coming,” I whisper. “You will be avenged.”
I allow my mind to wander again to where she is. What is she doing now? Is she doing anything at all? It’s just so impossible for me to bear the idea that she now completely ceases to be. How is it that in an instant a life can fade?
I see him.
The Frosted walks out into the open clearing just beside the little pond. His shoulders thrown back, his sword still holstered in the sheath. His steps are slow but confident. His eyes stare directly into mine. They look as though they demand that I look away. I choose not to. Instead, I will meet his gaze with as much force as he sends toward me.
“So they leave you alone to protect your sigil,” he says. “Pursue mine all you want with your troops, but it is quite arrogant to think you can protect against us all; isn’t it? I give you the chance to surrender now or else we will be forced to cut you.”
“I’d rather join Terra in the grave,” I say, “than join you in surrender.”
“Terra?” he asks.
“My parallel. She was taken from me by the Rogues.”
“So you must know what it’s like to hate,” he says. “To look out at the sun and see nothing but darkness. To stand beside laughter and only hear weeping.”
“And to desire blood more than anything in this world.”
The Frosted shakes his head slowly. “For you this is personal isn’t it?”
“Of course it is. One of your kind attacked me in the woods and tried to kill my breed.”
“My kind?” he says.
I draw my sword. “You killed all those that I love and care about. You spit on the Prince. And I hold you personally responsible for her death. You are an animal!”
“Took your parallel from you?” The Frosted looks around sarcastically as if I am talking to someone else. He draws his sword as he grows closer. “What fantasy are you living in? I am a loyal member of the Prince’s army.”
“You miserable, lying Rogue,” I shout.
How dare he lie to me? I step forward and bite my lip. I want nothing more than to separate his neck from his shoulders.
The Frosted shakes his head and then shouts. “Now!”
He slices his sword forward and all of his remaining recruits charge toward me. I stand at the doorway holding my sword before me completely enraged. I was about to have my opportunity to reap my vengeance on this disgusting Rogue, but instead I have to waste my time battling these little peons.
Flames burst from my shoulders.
I swing at the first who advances and I instantly draw blood. And then the next and the next.
I feel as though I am swatting flies and less like I am battling warriors. The entire keep is now lit brightly with the red glow of flares being set one by one.
The Frosted looks completely unfazed as he approaches amidst the rushing of his soldiers.
I slash, slice, and fight. Snot spews out from my nose as I snort. “Get out of my way. Have your sigil but give me my battle.”
I exit the entrance to the keep and walk toward the Rogue, leaving it completely unguarded. The soldiers rush inside as I point my sword directly at the Frosted. His eyes dart about, looking at the other soldiers searching the area.
“Fine.” He directs the rest of his troops into the keep and he faces off against me. “You would give up on your team just for the sake of getting revenge against one who would fight alongside you.”
“You are my enemy,” I shout, jabbing my sword at him.
“Don’t you know who I am? I was hand chosen by the Prince just like you!”
“We can all be deceived. Even the Prince,” I say. “Like you once said, we all have free will.”
He swings his sword at me now. I feel it pierce my leg. I collapse to
the ground as he points the blade at my chest.
“Listen to me. I’m more like you than anyone else in this army.”
“Save your heresies for someone else.”
I lift to my feet. My leg radiates pain, but I feel more rage than I have ever felt at any other point in my whole life. It’s as if everything that has ever happened rises to this one very moment. I lunge at him with a fury.
“I have felt too much pain to be deceived by you.”
He falls back gasping.
I grab his neck with my flaming hand. His flesh crackles in my fingers, and crusts black. I jab my sword through his shoulder.
I see it. Red blood pours out from his wound. He grabs it with his hand stopping the blood. He looks down at it and then back at me.
“You aren’t the only one who feels pain,” he shouts.
I jump back toward him and now my sword pierces his arm. He drops his sword. I see he is helpless.
“What pain could you possibly feel?” I shout at him as I force him down onto the ground. My sword pointed directly at his throat. I am tempted to just thrust it forward and end this.
He stays silent only to spit blood into my face.
“Answer me!” I scream. “No matter what I will kill you but answer me. What do you know of pain?”
“Her name was Rebekah,” he says.
I pull backward.
“What are you talking about, Rogue?”
“That day you saw me at the Temple,” the Frosted says. “The Prince was recruiting me, just as he did you. Because I too was in pain.”
His muscles spasm up and down, contorting his face. The water wells up in his eyes. I am disarmed.
“You lost a parallel...” I say.
I ask myself if this is all some sort of ruse, but his eyes don’t betray him. Even in his final moments, he tells me the truth.
I feel cold, as if everything in my body is shutting down.
“He has the sigils on him!” Auro shouts.
Baal steps in to protect the sigil. My team makes quick work of Baal, whose flare is quickly lit.
Uriel rises, having searched the Frosted’s, bloody body. He holds up two sigils.
We have done it. My team of seven has defeated them all.
But even more importantly, I defeated the Frosted.
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