Herald

by J Edwards Stone

  “Brothers,” he said in measured tones, “long have we had counsel here, in this room, and long have we conferred on various matters of great import. No doubt, this is the most pressing and serious issue of all.”

  All eyes were upon Michael, and he looked around at each of us, coming to rest on my eyes.

  “When has panic ever led us to reason?” he asked simply. The others looked around among each other, and I could see some of the anxiety leaving them. They trusted Michael and found his words to be reasonable now. To contain truth.

  “Brother,” said Raphael quietly. He walked towards Michael, his hands behind his back and his white wings poised in a position of casualness, some of his feathers drifting lazily along the side of the war table as he made his way to the front. “Tell us then, what would you have us do? There is great evil upon us all now. I believe Gideon. I believe the Guardians are dead. The next question then would be how to protect the Disc,” he finished.

  “We first must determine whether there is, in fact, truth to what Gideon said and whether he was given false information.” Michael flinched slightly at his own mention of Gideon’s name, and I knew the pain of his loss was weighing heavily on his heart. I sighed, knowing I could do nothing.

  “We had already decided to take Larin to the Guardians. The question now is whether we should stay that plan and see the course here. When an appropriate amount of time has passed, when we are assured we are not being watched, we seek them out. If Azrael already had the Disc, we would not be having this discussion.”

  There was silence for a moment, as the others considered.

  “This is true, brother. I believe we would have greater concerns if the Disc was in his hands. It still requires the seraphim to open the seal, and unless he’s found one, one who will betray their purpose – the Disc must still be safe,” Gabriel said thoughtfully, and the silence resumed as the others pondered the possibilities.

  “We know he does not have a Seraph,” said Uriel suddenly, “we would have sensed their awakening. Further, we know he has not found Lucifer, for if he had a Seraph, he would have our brother by now and the world would already have fallen.”

  There was a palpable shift in the room, a sliver of emotion so intense that even I could feel it in my chest, something my mind turned into black fear. I held my hand to my throat involuntarily. The others nodded in agreement. This would be a thing of tremendous significance. I wondered why, or what they meant. I wanted to ask, but I stayed silent.

  “Without the Guardians, how will we determine if Larin is truly the Herald?” asked Raphael, looking at me with a contemplative expression. I caught his eye, and he stopped, realizing my disconcertion. He winked and smiled as though to reassure me, despite the severity of the situation. I smiled back shortly, but gratefully.

  Nobody spoke for a time, and Michael took a deep breath, looking around the room at everyone before coming to rest again on my eyes. He smiled at me, peacefully, and I felt his body relax from across the room.

  “Brothers, the answer is simple,” he said. “We have faith.”

  * * * * *

  It felt as though hours had passed in the war room. I felt my fear muted under the weight of my exhaustion. It had been the longest day of my life, and my body ached from both my emotions and my physical exertions. My wings hung low to the ground, and I felt I lacked the strength to make it to my chambers. But I forced my eyes to stay open, listening to all that was being said. I was being included, accepted by the Council as the Herald. I had to take that stature seriously, whether I fully believed it in my heart to be the truth or not. I knew that they needed me to feel I was the Herald. I knew they needed it more than I could imagine.

  At one point, Michael turned and noticed me swaying slightly on my feet, my drooping wings and my struggle to stay at respectful attention. He concluded the meeting for the evening, and it was determined that the Council would send out parties to speak to the Order of Watchers in the interim, and to dispatch vessels to conduct surveillance near what they knew to be the entrance to Azrael’s lair. The path to Solomanta. It was dangerous to even attempt to go near the entrance, as heavily guarded as it was with Azrael’s minions. However, the necessity to gather information took precedence, and the decision was made.

  Michael walked to my side and waited until the others left before speaking with me. I turned to look at him, feeling I would collapse at any moment. When we were alone, he put an arm around me gently, leading me from the room. “You’re exhausted,” he said, stating the obvious. I nodded.

  “I really need to sleep. I’m. . . I’m so sorry about Gideon,” I said, looking into his face as we walked slowly down the hall. Michael remained stoic, though I noticed a glimmer of sadness cross his eyes.

  “Gideon was very brave. His sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

  I could only nod, having nothing left to say.

  We arrived at my chambers somehow, though I barely noticed our arrival. I could only look lustfully at my bed, the linen appearing cool and inviting.

  Michael didn’t ask for permission to enter, instead leading me straight to the bed. I dropped down, not bothering to pull the blankets around me. Michael pulled the covers around me, a lingering hand resting on my shoulder. I turned and looked up, seeing him staring at me with a bemused expression. There was a tenderness there I hadn’t noticed before, and if I hadn’t been so exhausted, I would have had questions for him. As it was, I was just too drained.

  “Larin. . .” he started, quietly.

  “Yes,” I whispered, my eyes closing from a will of their own. I don’t remember what, if anything, he said after that, and I fell into a deep sleep.

  I woke up the next morning and made my way down the long staircase. There wasn’t the usual air of activity, and I remembered everything that had happened the evening before. The mood in the Citadel was subdued, with hints of anxiety here and there as people tried to make sense of what happened with Gideon, and the rumor that the Guardians may be no more. I could hear instructions being given, vessels being ordered to continue about the business of the day.

  I walked out of the entrance, trying to ignore the eyes of the guards as I passed. I could feel their uncertainty and fear. I could do nothing for them or anyone at the moment, so I just kept walking.

  I remembered something, and turned, thinking. I wondered if Michael would be in the war room, and I realized I had no idea where else he would be when he wasn’t there, or somewhere with me. There was still so much about Michael I didn’t know, and the thought bothered me. We had an intimacy in our interactions I didn’t understand. It was as though we had known each other for a very long time, even though we had only just recently met.

  I didn’t need to wonder about him long, as word of my wandering had clearly made its way back to the subject of my thoughts.

  Michael landed beside me, and I looked up at him, blinking as the light from the morning sun struck me suddenly square in the eyes. I peered upward at the sky, gentle wisps of clouds lazily making their way along their course. It was certainly shaping up to be another beautiful day, despite the darkness of the events of late.

  “Hey,” I said, squinting at him.

  “How did you rest?” he asked formally, his voice somewhat tempered from his usual light tones when he spoke to me.

  “Fine,” I replied, suddenly feeling somewhat guilty in just how well I had slept given recent events. I shuffled uncomfortably, looking down. “I guess I can’t say the same for you?” I asked, realizing I didn’t know where exactly he slept.

  “I require little rest,” he said, managing a small smile. I wasn’t surprised.

  “Do you actually sleep?” I asked, curious.

  “Yes,” he said now grinning. I don’t know why I felt the need to blush, but somehow my body managed it anyway. I felt embarrassed for reasons I didn’t understand, so I changed the subject.

  “I meant to talk to you yesterday about Iris, but I forgot with everything that was goin
g on,” I said quickly. Michael stiffened, looking away sharply.

  “What she did was unforgivable,” he said angrily.

  “Was it though?” I asked, and he looked at me in surprise.

  “Do you not think so? You could have died!” he said, shaking his head at me. “Do you think so little of your life?”

  “Of course not,” I retorted angrily. “And I didn’t die. I just think. . .she had been through a lot, and she said herself she would have come to my rescue. She may have been out of line – okay, way out of line, but it turned out alright. Better than alright, if you’ll recall.” Michael huffed angrily himself, turning and walking down the path ahead. I ran to keep up.

  “It may not have gone that way,” he said, signifying an end to the conversation. But I didn’t let it go.

  “But it did,” I insisted in annoyance. “Would you slow down?” I nearly yelled, and vaguely noticed the curious gazes of several vessels as we rushed down the mountainside.

  “You must take better care for your life, and so must others. You are too important!” he yelled now, and I stopped short.

  “Oh right, because I’m the Herald!” I said in a petulant tone. “Tell me something I don’t know!”

  “Not just because you may be the Herald, Larin,” Michael said, turning on me angrily.

  “Because. . .” and he looked at me, searching for the words. I felt my annoyance dissipate and looked at him curiously.

  “Because of what?” I looked at him expectantly. He made a sound of frustration and turned around, resuming his stride, though not as quickly this time.

  “I will take your request under advisement, but we cannot allow that type of behavior from one of our lieutenants, or from anyone for that matter. The safety of all of our wards is just as paramount as the safety of those we seek to protect in the human world,” he said, and this time I knew the conversation was really over. I sighed in defeat and followed him, knowing enough to let it be for the moment. I knew Greyson wouldn’t be happy, but he would have to know that I tried, at least. The truth was, I understood Michael’s position, and I knew he still had a duty to everyone at the Citadel to ensure their safety.

  “Where are you going?” I asked him, still rushing beside him though he had considerably slowed his stride now. He took a breath, looking at me over his shoulder.

  “I think it best we waste no further time with your training. You must learn to defend yourself.”

  “What, now?” I gasped, imagining the scene of Iris and Josef fighting before. I was definitely not ready for that.

  “Yes, now.” He turned and gave me a small grin, acknowledging the last time I had witnessed a training event in progress with his smile. “You needn’t fear, nobody expects you to be able to hold back an army yet.”

  “Yet?!” I whimpered, stopping completely now.

  “I jest,” he said. “Not for another week at least.” At first, I thought he was serious, then I realized he had actually made a joke. I was so surprised, I couldn’t help but laugh in response.

  “A joke!” I said. “Good for you.” He turned and laughed in response, and I felt my heart suddenly leap at the sight of his face transformed in good humor. If ever he could have been more perfect, more beautiful, it was when he smiled. It reached his eyes, and I imagined myself swooning like a young school girl. Then I remembered it wasn’t so long ago that I was a young school girl, and I felt my face fall.

  Michael reached back, taking my hand in a familiar fashion and giving it a reassuring squeeze. The action gave me a warm feeling, but he quickly withdrew it again. I tried not to sigh, instead choosing to act aloof. We arrived at the training grounds, the other vessels already in various stages of practice. Michael walked up to a group of young vessels standing in a row, and I recognized Josef among them. I put my hands behind my back self-consciously and tried not to feel the stares of the vessels, the whispering as word spread that the Herald was about to engage in swordplay.

  “Tell me something,” I said, a thought suddenly occurring. “Why is everyone using swords when there are guns and other weapons out there? A lot has been invented in warfare since the dawn of time, I’m betting, but I think guns are the most popular. . .”

  Michael grinned at me, nodding his head. “It would be much more convenient to shoot at Azrael’s troops from a distance, I accept,” he said. Then his smile faded. “The tragedy of this life is the necessity of violence. The irony of creating death and chaos in order to let life have a chance. In terms of weapons, we use swords for one reason. Angels, by design, cannot be killed by weapons of man.”

  I shot Michael a look of shock, frowning. “I thought you said we could be killed,” I whispered nervously, “what difference does it make if it’s a gun or a sword that does the deed?”

  “It was embedded in our makeup since before the Fall by the Father himself. He knew man would grow, he knew some would be capable of darkness. It was our failsafe against those who would seek to harm us. Angels could only die at the hands of other angels. The seraphim, though, could only die at the end of Lucifer’s blade.”

  I shook my head, trying again to come to terms with the strange, supernatural world I was now a part of. We had arrived at the training ground, and Michael had returned to business mode.

  “Michael. . .” I said, feeling nervous. I stood close to him, but he was occupied.

  “Josef,” he nodded, and Josef bowed his head respectfully.

  “My lord Michael. How may I be of assistance?” he asked, looking at me curiously. He smiled at me affably as he met my eyes, and I managed a smile in response.

  “Larin is ready to train, see to it she learns well,” Michael ordered. I felt myself beginning to object, walking forward. I felt the piercing stares of many eyes upon me as more vessels arrived in anticipation of a spectacle. I stopped, not wanting to give them more to gossip about.

  Josef nodded sharply, acknowledging his instructions.

  “Yes, my lord,” he said, and looked at me. I looked down, suddenly feeling afraid. I glanced at Michael, who nodded professionally, aware of the attention we were receiving. I shook my head, not wanting him to leave.

  “I’ll be yonder,” he said, pointing to the hilltop where we had stood the last time we were at the training grounds. He slipped me a small, reassuring smile.

  “But. . .” I started to object. Michael turned and leapt off the ground, just as Gabriel arrived with Tristan in the place he had been pointing to. I watched as they conferred, arms crossed, watching. A moment later, Uriel and Raphael arrived as well, likely curious to see what their ‘Herald’ was capable of. I let out a rough breath, frowning. This was going to be ugly.

  “Larin,” said Josef in a strange, but warm accent. I looked at him sharply and suspiciously. I remembered his demonstration with Iris, and resisted the urge to recoil, expecting him to leap at me with a sword. He smiled, approaching me carefully, as one would a wild animal. I stepped back.

  “Fear not, we are learning the basics today only,” Josef said, turning suddenly and walking up to a rack with several dangerous-looking implements. He took a simple wooden sword, something I imagined children play with, and handed it to me. I heard giggles, and looked at the young vessels around us, most wielding actual swords of sharp-looking steel. I gulped.

  “The first thing you must do is learn defence,” he said, coming to me and handing me the wooden sword. I took it reluctantly, holding it awkwardly in my hands.

  “Like this,” he said, taking my hands and placing them in the proper location on the hilt, pushing my elbows so they held the sword at the correct angle. I heard further giggling and felt my face flush in embarrassment.

  “Hush,” said Josef, looking meaningfully at the young ones. They continued to smile, trying to hide their mirth. “You do not mock any who seek to learn.” Josef squinted his eyes, staring at each face. “Never forget that you once knew not how to wield a sword and that you all have very much to learn, still.”

 
The faces stopped laughing, turning instead to stare at me. I felt my arms shake, still holding the sword. I turned and looked at the hill, seeing the white wings of the archangels among the black of the vessels that had gathered to watch. I felt incredibly self-conscious and somewhat stupid.

  I dropped the sword.

  “Forget this,” I said, turning around. A loud whoosh and a thump behind me made me sigh.

  “No way,” I said, knowing Michael stood behind me.

  “Larin, you must learn to defend yourself,” he said quietly over my shoulder.

  “Not with everyone watching me like this.” I turned around and eyed him uneasily. The chatter had recommenced in earnest, and I shifted uneasily. I started to leave and walked forward quickly. I felt a hand grasp the edge of my wing, and it splayed out behind me as I tried to escape. I gasped in outrage, feeling violated, and turned around furiously to face Michael.

  “What the?!” I shouted, yanking back my wing protectively. “How dare you!”

  He was grinning and threw the wooden sword back at me. Instinct kicked in, and I caught it at the hilt, looking at my arm in surprise. He picked up a wooden sword of his own that had been laying in the grass, and eyed it quickly, before giving me a look that reeked of mischief.

  “Defend yourself,” he said and lunged at me.

  I shrieked and jumped aside, dodging him somehow. There were gasps and cheers around us, and Michael came to a stop, turning to look at me with satisfaction. I gaped at him, holding out the sword and my other hand as though to stop him from making another attempt.

  “No, no, no!” I cried as he lunged again, and again I somehow dodged him, spinning around and using the momentum created by my wings to get out of the way just in time.

  He came to rest and laughed.

  “You see? Your body was built for this, Larin. Vessels are soldiers. It is who they are. It is who you are.”