by Jarod Meyer
Brock stood next to William, his large hand resting comfortably on his shoulder, lending him a bit of strength. They watched Samuel and Juarez set torches into the high pile of wood, before floating down to join them. Meredox appeared out of the crowd and stood beside William.
“How was he able to create a portal between worlds?” William asked solemnly. There was a pause before Meredox responded.
“The twin heart,” he said.
William didn’t know what that meant, but didn’t trust his voice to ask. The flames spread over the pyre, engulfing Ulifrig’s body.
“Twins share a soul,” Meredox continued, sparing William the effort of asking. “It is often why they appear identical, but it is also why they share deeper, stronger bonds. As long as we each live, we share each other’s power.”
“Then he will return,” William said.
“Yes, he will return,” Meredox responded, sighing.
“Unless he is stopped,” William said, his eyes narrowing.
Meredox didn’t respond, his silence all the acknowledgment William needed. They stood together and watched as a fellow warrior made the journey to the next life. The flames danced into the night sky, eventually William’s thoughts settling on only one thing. After the ceremony he headed towards the Garden of Medina.
The aftermath of the battle was visible even there. Many of the beautiful things, columns, flowers, and vines created by his fellow Archonians were gone, leaving empty patches in the elegant designs. They, like those that projected them, were gone forever.
I…we, will rebuild it, little by little, he thought to himself. Everyone would.
He burst forward, driven by what he wanted for once, and not what he needed. As if his wish had been answered he saw Angelica. He floated up behind her, stopping a few feet away. She wore a beautiful blue gown, embroidered with silver that shimmered in the starlight. She turned to him.
They looked into each other’s eyes, and then as if drawn together, embraced. William took her chin in his hand and pressed his lips against hers. They kissed, William feeling as if the stars were exploding around them.
“I didn’t think I would ever get to see you again,” he said softly when they finally pulled apart.
“You still don’t believe in yourself, do you, William?” she said, smiling, her arms around his neck. “From the very first moment I saw you, I knew there was more to you than people realized.”
“Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for everything, Angelica,” he said, kissing her softly, again and again. They sat together for a long time, with the light of the cosmos, and the strange plants in the garden, watching over them.
“What will happen now?” she asked.
William didn’t know how to answer, so he simply shook his head.
“Are we safe?”
He didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth, nor was he entirely sure he was allowed to, so he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He would protect her from whatever was coming…somehow.
Epilogue
“My lords, the commander has not been seen since the battle, and no remains have been found,” a man with dark skin said.
He watched the Synod members, who besides himself were the only ones in the chamber.
“Where was he last seen, Mikael?” Ibrahim asked, adjusting the sash on his black mourning robes.
“He and a group of his finest Sentinels broke off from the main force near the end of the conflict. They sought out a group of rogue demons that had strayed from the battlefield. He suspected their target may have been the obelisk at Iona,” Mikael said.
“And who commands the Sentinels now?” Isaiah asked, his freshly shaved head gleaming in the light.
“Commander of the Guardians has assumed control during this transitional period,” Mikael said, slowly and carefully. “I am ready to take command of them, should this great council wish it.” He bowed, keeping his eyes upon the group.
The Synod members looked to each other briefly, whispering back and forth, and then the man in the center seat spoke.
“You will take command of the Sentinels, Mikael, but be warned. The council has not forgotten your past.”
Mikael bowed so low his face almost touched his knees, and promptly took his leave.
* * *
“Do we think it wise to promote Mikael once more?” Athena asked the other Synod members, once the man had left.
“We have little choice. He is a strong leader, and one who has the most military experience. He will train, and lead our forces well in the coming days,” Socrates said, from the head of the table.
“Do we know who might have been behind Commander Zeus’ disappearance?” Ibrahim inquired.
No one spoke.
“The loss of the commander is devastating, but we must deal with the real problem…the tainted Adjudicator, Meredox. Due to his actions, or lack thereof, Archonia’s borders have been opened to the atrocities of war. We should make an example of him,” Anubis said, fiercely.
Socrates held up his hands, and the others fell silent.
“Dark hours approach. It is important that we not fight amongst ourselves. We must provide our people with hope, or they will falter,” he said.
“What hope?” Athena asked
“One soul saved our world from total destruction. Once again, Gabriel has led us to salvation. We must stand behind this tainted soul. His courage will be our beacon of hope,” Socrates finished.
“And when he is destroyed?” Lar asked.
“We must weather this storm, my brethren. For now he will suffice.”
Coming Soon
William of Archonia
Retaliation
Glossary
Archonian Calendar
Days of the week: Archonian clock:
1. Sunday day of the sun 50 seconds – 1 minute
2. Moonday day of the moon 50 minutes – 1 hour
3. Archday day of the Archonia 100 hours – 1 day
4. Dichday day of Dichonia 10 days – 1 week
5. Earthday day of earth 10 weeks – 1 month
6. Windday day of wind 10 months - year
7. Waterday day of water
8. Fireday day of fire
9. Sabbaday Sabbath day
10. Mediday day of rest
Months of the year
1. Benetoch Brahma
2. Militoch Othin
3. Sedetoch Gaia
4. Antioch Ammun
5. Protioch Prometheus
6. Valetoch Allah
7. Lucetoch Lucifer
8. Gabioch Gabriel
9. Kronioch Kronos
10. Helitoch Creators
The Guardian Corps:
Commander: 1
Generals: 10
Lieutenants: 100
Captains: 1000
Warriors: 100,000
Recruits: as many as needed
The Adjudicator Corps:
Grand Justicars: 10
Justicars: 100
Judges: 1000
Arbitrators: 10,000
The Purge: as many as selected
The Sentinel Corps:
Commander: 1
Chiefs: 100
Officers: 10,000
Captains: 1,000,000
Peacekeepers: 1,000,000,000+
Locations:
Earth: The mortal plane of existence bearing physical boundaries of a massive universe.
Limbo: The spirit world between the mortal and immortal worlds. Archonian essences that have not been chosen to live in Archonia linger here until they are either taken to Dichonia by demons known as reapers or are destroyed.
Archonia: The immortal world outside of the physical boundaries of the universe. It was created by the Archons as a place for mankind’s souls to dwell after their mortal life.
Helios: The city of light where the majority of untainted Archonian souls dwell in peace. It is the home of the great Synod and the location of Valhalla the center of mi
litary forces of Archonia.
Ionia: Another city that dwells within the light. It is the location of one of the obelisks of protection created by the life force of the Archon Brahma.
Ovaria: Another city that dwells within the light. It is the location of another obelisk of protection created by the life force of the Archon Ammun.
Dichonia: The immortal world that was created by the Archon’s Kronos and Othin on the same plane of existence as Archonia, made as a prison for their Brother Lucifer who betrayed them all.
Greige forge: Where Archonian warriors go to create their armor. Found at the peak of Mt. Olympus. This is the final trial to become an Archonian soldier.
Scione: pronounced (zion); a great city that houses the soldiers that guard the white ward, a great wall of stone separating the light and shadow. Enchanted with the power of the two obelisks of protection it is the barrier that keeps the evil of Dichonia at bay.
Oblivion: beyond the great mountains surrounding Archonia there lays an endless fog. Space where time has no meaning and even the immortal souls of Archonia can’t exist. Perhaps a way to contain the power of the Archons set down by the creators. Little is understood about this place.
The Garden of Medina: a place of life, and great beauty in Archonia. Every plant in it was created by an Archonian’s projections.