by James Somers
For his own part Levi remained blood and guts and glory. He yelled at his enemies and gritted his teeth, using his anger to keep up with the ceaseless drain on his strength. He looked like someone who had just been keelhauled compared to his blind friend.
The other priests were doing fairly well. Some of them had fallen, but others had stayed behind, trying to keep a cushion between the frontrunners of Mordred's army and King Stephen. Devon and Kline, both expert archers, provided a good deal of in flight cover backing steadily away from the advance as they let arrows fly from their bows into the breasts of the enemy. When they and the other archers ran out of ammunition, they caught arrows from the air or grabbed them from the street as the enemy fired them astray.
After a mile or more of steady retreat and fighting, the king's entourage found a few undamaged wagons. They all piled into them and took off at a much greater pace for the palace. Seth deftly leaped into one of the wagons and called back for Levi as he screamed furiously cutting down another hybrid.
Levi smiled at his fallen foe and then looked up at the sound of distant, closing hoof-beats. Wraith Riders, five or six dozen at least, charged hard up the main road after them. Levi turned and ran for the wagon as it started away with the King and all of his surviving personal guard. "Wraith Riders!" Levi yelled as he leaped for the speeding wagon.
Seth caught Levi's arm with one hand, his belt with the other and hauled him onboard. He shouted back to the driver, warning him of the threat. The wagon lurched away even faster. But the palace remained another mile away. At the rate the Wraith Riders were closing on them, it would be close getting inside with the king before they were overtaken. The Anakims may have been big and the hybrids brutally vicious, but the Wraith Riders were both, with the sort of fighting skill found in the warrior-priests of Shaddai added in.
Their wagons passed through the palace gates. Levi leaped from the back of his wagon in order to close the gates upon the Wraith Riders and give the King and his men more time to fortify. Devon followed and together they pushed the sculpted iron gates into place. Levi found the lever which locked them together and pulled it down. With a heavy click, the deed was done and only just in time.
The Wraith Riders, wearing their leather masks with devilish faces painted upon them and midnight black armor, raced through the streets toward the gates. They looked like a wave of beetles coming to claim a carcass. Levi and Devon ran back through the main palace courtyard, following the trail of the wagons.
As the two men reached them again, the King's entourage of soldiers and warrior-priests escorted Stephen inside the palace. Levi found Seth and they followed. Heavy wooden doors were shut and great cedar beams laid into place across the frame to seal them.
"Come, men," Stephen said. "We must retreat to the armory. It is well fortified and we'll have all the weapons we need."
The men followed him through the palace, rising level by level. Seth stopped and grabbed Levi's arm. He listened with his more attuned hearing for a moment. "I hear the riders. They've stopped at the gate." A moment's pause. "They're cutting through."
"Through iron bars?" Levi asked, but he already knew it must be true. After all, they weren't dealing with natural things, but unnatural. After all that Levi had witnessed in this war, he found his own seeming surprise moot. A moment later, as they started after the king again, Levi heard the renewed sound of many horses galloping upon the cobblestones of the main courtyard.
He knew already that the doors they had shut after themselves throughout the palace would do nothing to keep these riders at bay. Soon they would find them. Then it would be a fight to the death. He would do his best, but he wasn't sure how long they would hold out. At the very least, he was fighting side by side with some of the finest warriors he'd ever known and that might make a difference.
Suddenly Levi wanted very much to have Ethan with him. The boy had become separated from them during the fight at the front gate. He dwelt on it for only a moment as he moved on.
By the time they had all reached the armory, and were about to shut up its solid iron doors, Seth grabbed Levi's arm again. "They're in the palace!"
Gideon reached the palace in time to see the King and his men shutting themselves up inside. The Wraith Riders had reached the courtyard gate and had sliced through solid iron bars with little difficulty. Two of the riders launched their black steeds at the gate and kicked it down with their front hooves. The lot of them, more than fifty as far as he could tell, stormed across the cobblestone courtyard toward the palace rising above it.
Gideon ducked around the palace, looking for another way in. He'd managed to find a grappling hook from one of the fallen soldiers along his way and spotted a terrace several stories up that looked like a good place to enter. He threw the four pronged steel head up and over the stone rail; pulled it to make sure he had good purchase and then steadily pulled himself up the wall.
Ethan rode up upon the sidewall closing in the palace courtyard. His black stallion whinnied loudly when it saw the other horses and their riders assembled before the palace entrance while three of the Wraith Riders bashed the wooden doors in. Many of the riders looked up to find him there and pointed only to be shocked when he disappeared from the saddle.
Ethan flew out of thin air into the midst of the riders with his sword drawn and ready for action. He felt alive like never before, the spirit of Shaddai filling him to the brim with confidence and strength. Mordred became visible to him, his horned mask standing out now while the riders were still.
Sword outstretched, Ethan launched himself at the warlord only to have a dozen Wraith Riders intercept him. He battled toward Mordred screaming the man's name as the palace doors were smashed in. Mordred immediately launched his horse toward the doors. Ethan fought and killed many of the soldiers despite their prowess, but there were always more to stand between him and Mordred.
Ethan decided to bypass them altogether and shifted into the spiritual realm. But there, waiting for him, was a horde of demons and Jericho standing among them the most prominent. As the physical world and its inhabitants became only a backdrop, Ethan and the demon lord surveyed one another.
"So," Jericho said, "you have come."
There was menace and perhaps even delight in Jericho's tone. And yet, Ethan felt no fear.
"Of course, I'm here," Ethan said. "The prophecy must be fulfilled. There is no avoiding it."
Jericho did not move. Something about that statement had rattled him. Ethan could sense it even if he didn't see it. He looked around him, trying to take in the sheer number of wicked spirits present-waiting to pounce upon him. "I guess I shouldn't expect a fair fight from you," Ethan said.
Jericho smiled and drew his massive ethereal blade. "Do you really believe it would matter?"
Before Ethan could answer, a furious howl arose from among the demons surrounding them. In an instant, Ethan found that each and every one of the demons, other than Jericho, was now guarded by an angel. He hadn't seen them approach. They had just appeared in place, many with their weapons drawn to the throats of their particular demon. One move and they would be dispatched to wherever it was their wounded fled.
Ethan turned back to Jericho. Confidence shone brightly from his eyes, while the demon lord looked far less than pleased.
"What is the meaning of this intrusion!" he bellowed. But not one of the angels bothered to respond to him. Jericho looked about him. No one was coming to his aid.
"So be it," he said, disgusted. Without further reservation, Jericho launched himself at Ethan. With hardly a thought, Ethan's blade appeared in his hand. He blocked the strike from the demon and parried.
Jericho whirled and met his blade as another appeared in Ethan's other hand. He tried to use some of the techniques Gideon had taught him, but the demon was simply too powerful. Tricks that had allowed him to vanquish other spirits fell short with Jericho.
None of the other demons dared to interfere. The angels remained on guard, but did no
t try to help him beyond their mandate. Ethan knew the fight was his. He was the Deliverer of Prophecy. He would have to struggle through by faith.
For several moments their battle raged on. Had they been perceptible by human eyes at all, they would simply have appeared as blurs of color amid the clash of almost constant lightning.
Ethan noticed that all of the surviving Wraith Riders had entered the palace by now. He hadn't been paying much attention to them since facing Jericho. What had happened to the King? By now they might have him. Mordred could already be in control. He had to hurry and get in there to fulfill the prophecy and stop this war.
Jericho seemed to sense his urgency and increased the ferocity of his attack. At the very least he would prevent the Deliverer from interfering with Mordred's plans. And then Ethan remembered the one advantage he'd always held over demons even from his earliest memory. He disappeared from Jericho's sight as the demon's blade drove through the air where Ethan had just been standing.
Ethan raced into the palace on foot. He wasn't entirely sure if he could remain hidden from Jericho. Something about the enormous amount of power exuded by this particular demon had always thrown off his gifts. Even as he had raced after the Wraith Riders, the demons had become less visible to him while he remained in the physical world. Only when he'd shifted before the palace had he realized the full extent of the demonic presence around him.
Ethan shifted again, entering the ethereal plane, rocketing through the palace. He found the Wraith Riders with Mordred inside a large chamber filled with weapons. The iron doors had been blasted open by what looked like a small charge of gunpowder.
Inside, Mordred stood with King Stephen kneeling before him. One of the Wraith Riders held a dagger to his throat. The other soldiers surrounded a small group of Wayland priests. Levi and Seth stood among them. The tips of many swords were held waiting at their throats. For once, even Levi had been left speechless.
Mordred had won. He had taken the king. Wayland would be his if Ethan did not stop him now. There were no demons in the room. No doubt they were all still being held at bay outside the palace by Shaddai's angels. Only Jericho was loose and he would be here in moments.
Mordred laughed, realizing his victory. He looked at the prisoners being held at sword point. "Kill them all. They are of no use to me now."
"Wait!" Ethan appeared in the middle of the chamber. The walls were lined with racks of armor and weapons. This must be the King's armory, he thought. But all these weapons had not been able to stop Mordred and his Wraith Riders. No wonder all of Nod was held by them. And now, Wayland dangled by a mere thread of hope.
Mordred looked upon him evidently not sure how exactly to proceed. Fear danced in his eyes. Ethan saw it there. He feared the prophecy. Facing the Deliverer might still undo his victory after all. "Stop!" he commanded his soldiers.
"Kill him, Ethan!" Levi said. The tip of a sword pushed tighter against his Adam's apple.
Mordred smiled. "I have your friends, boy. Don't do anything foolish. If you are trying to fulfill that useless prophecy, you'll only succeed in getting them killed."
Ethan looked around the room. He wasn't sure what to do. Mordred was right. He couldn't attack him and save his friends. How could he live with himself if he got them all killed?
And then Gideon ran into the room behind him and stopped cold with two swords in his hand. He looked at everyone in the room, appearing shocked at the situation he'd found.
"Well, well, well…if it isn't my personal assassin," Mordred crowed. "Could this have turned out better?"
Ethan suddenly felt darkness enter the room unseen. Jericho had come. His presence filled the chamber with a sense of impending doom. Mordred shuddered at that moment and Ethan saw that the demon had entered him.
There they stood together in one body, more powerful than ever. Mordred bellowed out his laughter. "My plans have all come together now!"
Ethan couldn't tell if it was the demon or Mordred speaking now. Who was actually in control at this point? He had no way of knowing, though he sensed it was probably Jericho-the more dangerous of the two by far.
"Do you remember your sweet, precious child, Gideon?" Mordred asked, a devilish grin playing happily upon his lips. "The child is still in my control."
Ethan stood between Mordred and his friend. He looked at Gideon, the shock plain on his face. So that was the missing piece of the puzzle-the reason why Gideon had allowed Mordred to control him. But how could he have a child?
Then he realized. Ethan mouthed the word Sarah? Gideon blinked slowly and swallowed, but he didn't move. His eyes remained hard, then locked back onto Mordred still enjoying his advantage over everyone in the room.
"The time has finally come, Gideon," Mordred said. Menace made his voice like ice. "Kill Shaddai's Deliverer as you were commissioned to do. If you fail, Jericho will not hesitate to return immediately to Nod and destroy the child as we did his mother."
Ethan looked over his shoulder at Mordred. So, he had already killed Sarah. No wonder Gideon feared for his son. At some point, Mordred had found out what others may only have suspected about Gideon's relationship with the girl. Knowing Mordred, he may have even kept her alive so that Gideon could see her death.
He felt pity for his friend as he turned back to him. But Gideon's expression had turned to stone. What have they done to you my friend? Ethan wondered.
Gideon raised his swords and then looked into Ethan's eyes. "Forgive me," he whispered. Then he leaped at Ethan, his blades criss-crossing before him.
Ethan dodge to the side as one of Gideon's swords cut the air near his cheek. Everything had turned upside down again. Ethan had thought, surely, that Gideon wouldn't actually kill him. He'd been spared on the wall that night Ethan had confronted him. Perhaps he had repented then, but now the threat to his child had taken precedence over everything else. Mordred had control again.
Anger filled Ethan as he realized what was happening. No matter what, he would have to see at least one of his friends die today, or die himself. He blocked Gideon's strikes again and again as they circled one another in the middle of the room, neither of them willing to give ground.
Mordred gazed upon them with unbridled bloodlust. His victory was complete. He had Nod and now Wayland conquered. The Order's greatest warrior priest was his slave to command. The Deliverer might soon be dead and the prophecy appeared to be defeated.
Ethan shifted in and out of the spiritual realm trying to get past Gideon. But his friend was still too attuned for that. Each time his ethereal blade cut the physical air, Gideon reacted, blocking him as though seeing Ethan's strike a moment before he made it.
And then, suddenly, Gideon screamed, "NOW!"
Ethan had no idea what he meant.
Gideon whirled around using his momentum to hurl one of his swords at Mordred. Ethan watched the blade travel, as though in slow motion. Mordred would have no time to react. But Jericho had seen it too and he did take action.
The demon pulled away, trying desperately to separate himself from Mordred's body. Ethan anticipated the demon's move and flung his own ethereal blade to intercept.
Gideon's sword smashed into Mordred's chest, splitting his sternum on the way through his heart. Ethan's ethereal blade caught Jericho just as he exited Mordred's body. Both demon and man cried out in agony.
Mordred stood only a moment before falling forward on Gideon's sword. His life spilled onto the pavement beneath him. Jericho's wounded form, dissolved away like leaves blown by the wind. He had tried to say something to Ethan in that last moment, but his dissolution stole it away.
THE END?
"So, the prophecy was fulfilled?" One of the children shouted.
The Old Storyteller smiled and winked his eye. "Yes, dear one, the prophecy of Shaddai was indeed fulfilled that day," he said. "Mordred was dead and the demons that had been allied to the Wraith Riders were gone."
"But how?" Another child asked.
"Though no o
ne is quite certain, it may have been because of their pact with Mordred. Perhaps they were only able to invade our realm because of their link to the Wraith Riders."
One of the young girls stood up. "What about the baby? Did the baby live? And Elspeth…what happened to her?"
The Old Storyteller chuckled, remembering. "The baby was perfectly safe with Elspeth. No one returned to harm them. In fact, Gideon eventually fell in love with Ethan's sister. They were married and had many more children of their own. And when the people desired a king they called upon Gideon once again. He ruled wisely and lived to a good old age with his queen. Before he died, Gideon even saw the birth of his second great grandchild."
I stood up then. "But what about Ethan, sir? What happened to him? I thought the prophecy said that he was to be the king."
"Ah, young Phineas, of course," he said. "I see you were paying attention. That's good."
"Yes, sir, and the prophecy stated that, Shaddai's priest would be a sword of judgment and a king to bring the hearts of the people back to their God."
"Yes it did, Phineas," he said, smiling. "But Gideon was also a priest of Shaddai's Order and it was his sword that brought judgment upon Mordred in the end."
I stood there stunned as the epiphany slowly sank into my mind.
Seeing the truth dawn on my face, the old man laughed. "And as far as the hearts of the people, Gideon, as king, cleansed our country of all its idols. He led by example in his devotion to Shaddai. A devotion that never wavered for a moment from that time on."
I nodded. Of course it all made sense now.
The Old Storyteller got up from his perch upon the fountains ledge. "Now, children, I'm afraid my story is concluded and it's time for you all to go and see about your supper. My apologies to you, if I've kept you too long from your parents."