Waremasu’s back impacted the stairs hard. The immense force generated by Volam crushed the stone beneath Waremasu, and a spiderweb of cracks would have been seen radiating outward from the impact if enough light had been present.
Volam spun back around and left Waremasu at his moment of vulnerability, sensing his second adversary approaching. Volam rotated as he saw Zauvek’s fist launching toward him. He ducked below Zauvek’s attack and placed his right palm against Zauvek’s chest. He shoved with all his might and slammed Zauvek into the west wall. The immense force smashed into the wall and caused the structure to quake around them.
With Zauvek pinned against the wall, Volam felt a tight grip take hold of his wings. The chaotic angel looked back and saw Waremasu. Volam began wrestling against Waremasu’s hold but could not break free.
“Raahh!” Zauvek roared as his heavy fist flew at Volam’s face. It struck Volam across the jaw, and a flurry of punches followed the initial strike. Punch after punch landed, as Zauvek would not relent at this moment of opportunity. Blood began streaming down Volam’s face, and the burgeoning wounds multiplied. Waremasu’s observant eyes saw Volam’s arms slacken and fall.
Zauvek tired from the assault. He slowed and finally ceased his attacks.
A hesitation persisted.
Volam breathed deeply, lifted his head, and stood tall. He opened his eyes and revealed the flame-bathed orbs once again. His great white wing began to glow brightly, illuminating the room and half of his form, displaying his bloody and battered flesh.
Volam reached out and grabbed Zauvek’s neck.
Zauvek threw a fist at Volam’s face yet this time Volam absorbed the blow and did not recoil. His face was immovable, and Zauvek’s hand paid in full for the foolish attack. Zauvek winced from the pain in his hand.
Volam could feel Waremasu tugging on his wings. The second angel was attempting to throw him, but Volam glanced back over his shoulder with a dead stare.
Waremasu saw no emotion in those distantly dying eyes. Faolan was not present, and Volam barely held the reins. What drove the chaos within? Who controlled the shattered mind? The answers eluded Waremasu as his grip on the situation was slipping. Waremasu helplessly watched as Volam’s head swiveled forward.
Volam would not be stopped.
He slowly lifted his right leg, and his heavy foot pressed on Zauvek’s chest. Volam released Zauvek’s neck and thrust his right leg in a single swift movement. The force was misleading as Zauvek shot backward and disappeared through the cold stone wall.
Zauvek was gone.
Volam grabbed one of Waremasu’s wrists and peeled the tight grip off his wing.
“Waremasu . . . is that your name?” the fractured personas asked.
Waremasu’s eyes widened in shock at his remembering.
“That name sounds familiar, but I am unsure why.” Volam now looked straight into Waremasu’s eyes. “That is your name. Not my own.”
Waremasu remained silent.
“Who am I?” Volam asked.
Waremasu did not respond.
“Fine . . . hide behind your veil. It matters not.” A deep sigh rolled from between Volam’s lips. “I am tired, old one.”
Volam shoved Waremasu across the room and thrust him into the east wall. He punched Waremasu in the jaw and headbutted him with his bloody face.
Waremasu absorbed the blows and kicked Volam in the chest and spun him into another wall. Volam collided with the stone, cracking and cratering the stone.
Volam stepped forward and shook off the impact, racing back at Waremasu with a strong shoulder to his chest, knocking Waremasu off his feet and onto his back.
Before Volam could throw a punch in Waremasu’s vulnerable position, he shoved Volam with both hands, thrusting him high into the air, slamming his form into the ceiling before it fell to the floor again.
Waremasu rolled to the side and allowed Volam’s body to crash to the stone below. He rose to his feet and approached Volam again.
Volam stood up, jarred and dazed. His blurring vision glazed over Waremasu’s face as he approached. Waremasu reeled back a fist and thrust it toward Volam’s face.
Volam grabbed his wrist before contact, and the top of Waremasu’s breastplate then spun and hurled the angel up the stairs. The golden-armored angel collided with the throne room’s doors, imploding them as he faded into the throne room shadows.
Volam stepped forward but quickly felt himself falling. He stumbled and reached for the banister. Both his knees collapsed, and his weight collided with the railing. A slight moan came from him as pain plagued his body and blood loss stole his strength. Volam gathered his willpower and lifted himself up once again. He held on tightly to the banister as he rose back to his feet and climbed the stairs.
Volam reached the top and removed his hold from the banister, strengthening his legs as he walked through the throne room’s threshold.
He noticed one of the tall windows had been shattered, the long marble table was missing, and the king’s throne had been tossed to the side.
Volam attempted to scan the darkened room as his vision blurred and his concentration waned. But he tried desperately to hone his mind and refocus his eyes.
Waremasu raced from the shadows and grabbed hold of Volam’s right arm, hurling him over his shoulder. Volam took flight toward the shattered window and landed a few feet before it.
Waremasu chased Volam’s tumbling form, closely watching his adversary’s movements as his black wing lay over his body and hid most of his form.
Waremasu lifted his black blade over his head and quickly brought the sword down toward his opponent, above the black wing.
There was a swift movement from below Waremasu’s descending sword, and lightning shot out in all directions. A short blade rose and met Waremasu’s attack. The blade blocking the angel’s attack was the royal dagger given to Faolan by the king.
The dagger’s jewel-encrusted hilt gleamed from the light radiating from the chaotic lightning strikes. Scraping metal loudly rang as the dagger in Volam’s right hand slid up the dark blade’s full length as he charged Waremasu under the dagger’s protection.
The dagger stopped at the dark sword’s hilt with a loud clang. Volam swatted Waremasu’s sword arm away with his free hand and slipped his dagger from the dark sword’s hold.
Holy fire burst down the dagger’s length, and Volam brought the dagger before his chest in a short rotational attack, then pierced Waremasu’s armor behind his right shoulder.
Volam released his dagger’s hilt and allowed it to snugly rest in Waremasu’s back through a gap in his armor. Waremasu absorbed the impact, unfazed, and used the attack’s momentum to spin around and thrust his left elbow square into Volam’s chest.
Volam stumbled backward, and at that very moment, his strength slipped away. His eyes failed him and would not refocus. His feet failed him and could not correct his balance. The world spun uncontrollably. The amount of blood he had lost was finally stealing his life from his control.
Waremasu took advantage of the opening. He stepped forward and sliced across Volam’s chest with his sword’s tip, from Volam’s left shoulder to his right waist. He quickly reversed his sword and sliced across Volam’s inner left thigh.
Volam’s left leg buckled, and he spun around and collapsed onto his knees. His back was fully exposed to Waremasu’s wrath.
Volam’s fire-bathed eyes refocused slightly as his chin rose just enough for him to see the full moon’s beauty through the shattered window overlooking Lesley’s garden district. The dark clouds had parted enough for the moon to shine through to the world below.
An overwhelming pain exploded through Volam’s chest as Waremasu’s dark blade pierced through him. The dark blade buried itself into the cold stone under Volam, and what little blood was left in that dying body dripped from Volam’s lips.
Volam slipped into a deep sleep as his battered body slumped forward, held up only by the dark sword. Volam’s white wi
ng dimmed until light no longer radiated from its white feathers. The holy fire enveloping his eyes extinguished.
Waremasu peered down at Volam, exhausted and in pain.
◆◆◆
Demons were still flooding through the destroyed western walls where the combined defense of giants, trolls, and orcs had buckled under the flanking assault. Their allied forces were unable to sustain their defense and were in full retreat, leaving the city to the demons’ free reign.
Caedmon and his allies fled down the main street of Lesley, away from Faolan as he became someone they were unfamiliar with and failed to comprehend.
“Caedmon, look!” Ehreion called over his shoulder as they raced toward the castle.
The old wolf looked to where Ehreion directed his attention. He saw them, Treasach and Leith. The two were up ahead and trying to flee for their lives. The prince swung his sword with precision and defended Leith from attacking demons, but exhaustion plagued his stance.
“Go, we must help them!” Caedmon said.
The prince protected the healer with his remaining strength, bloody and filthy with deep claw marks littering his armor and shield. Treasach pushed a demon away with his shield and sliced through another with his sword. As the prince’s blade exited his opponent’s body, the prince saw that is sword had melted away, leaving only a partially glowing stump.
Ehreion shot a fireball at Treasach’s direct enemy as the beast began healing its molten wound. The blazing projectile collided with the demon and launched it off its hooves.
Treasach watched the flailing form fly off and then turned to his first opponent, whom he had deflected with his shield and then buried the remainder of his sword into the demon’s skull. The beast collapsed lifeless, leaving Treasach swordless but alive.
“Are you OK?” Treasach asked Leith.
“I am fine.”
The prince then looked at their fast-approaching allies. “I am happy to see you all!”
“We have no time! We must get to a boat!” Ireli shouted.
Treasach nodded. “Follow me!”
He sprinted through the castle gates, and the others followed. They moved westward through the courtyard’s maze of hedges and weaved through numerous turns as they rounded the massive castle. They heard several loud collisions behind them and felt the ground shake. Each time they stumbled and listened in wonder, before returning to their escape route. They turned a final corner and saw a dock with a lone boat sitting on a small lake within the castle wall.
“Quickly, go! Board the boat!” Caedmon shouted.
The exhausted group sprinted for their escape.
“No!” Aili cried at the top of her lungs. “I cannot leave him. Let me go back. I can save him!”
She wept a steady stream of tears as both Ireli and Ehreion struggled to carry her wiggling body toward the small boat docked behind the castle.
Leith ran ahead to untie the boat and ready it for a quick departure.
Treasach held up the rear defense with Caedmon.
“Hurry!” Treasach shouted at Leith as he slammed an attacker with his shield.
Caedmon felt the ground shake slightly and believed the quake resulted from an incoming tunneler. “Treasach, take Gavina and run!”
Though in truth, the shaking was from Volam crashing into the castle stairs.
Treasach hooked his shield on his back, then Caedmon threw Gavina into Treasach’s arms. He caught her and then stabilized from the impact of the dead weight. He turned and quickly moved toward the boat with Gavina cradled in his arms.
Caedmon killed several more demons before spinning around and racing toward the boat as well.
“Faster! They are all over the place!” Leith shouted from far ahead on the pier.
Ireli and Ehreion made it to the pier’s first boards. They were exhausted from the long run as well as from carrying a very distraught Aili.
Ehreion glanced around in curiosity and easily counted a dozen demons racing along the shoreline to the west. His short legs quickly doubled their pace, and he urged Ireli to do the same.
“Put me down! Let me go! Please!” Aili cried.
She beat on Ehreion’s back with clenched fists.
Ehreion and Ireli jumped into the small boat and lowered Aili onto a seat. They held her in place by force.
Caedmon shouted at Treasach, “Go! Faster!”
Treasach raced onto the pier’s first boards as fast as he could with Gavina held firmly.
Caedmon hesitated on the shore immediately before the pier. He glanced around and took in the sorrowful sight. Smoke rose over the castle walls as buildings burned in the city, the ground was charred black anywhere a demon had stepped, and not a mortal soul remained in the city, except for theirs. He shuddered at the sight. He counted nearly three dozen demons scattered throughout the surrounding area, and most were charging toward them, screaming as they advanced.
“Caedmon!” Treasach shouted at him from halfway down the pier. “Come on!”
Caedmon spun and sprinted down the pier.
Treasach handed Gavina over to Ireli and leaped into the boat.
Caedmon heard claws raking the wooden boards behind him.
Leith saw what was coming, and his nerves would not allow him to wait. He finished untying the boat and jumped in. The boat began to slowly float down the side of the pier.
Caedmon brought up a hand, and a small vine grew out of the water and tied the boat’s bow to the pier’s end.
The great blue wolf stopped and pivoted, turning toward the approaching shadow chasing him. The demon leaped with its razor-sharp claws extended, and Caedmon shifted Deraj out of the way, dodging one set of claws, but the demon’s right claws dug deep into Caedmon’s right shoulder. The wolf guardian reacted by raking his own claws across the demon’s neck, ripping the demon’s life away.
Caedmon pulled the demon’s claws out of his shoulder and leaped into the boat with Deraj held tight. He willed the small vine to let go of the boat, and they drifted away from the pier.
A series of thunderous booms sounded.
“Look!” Ireli shouted.
They all looked at where she was pointing.
“Faolan!” Aili screamed.
They could see the events unfolding through the shattered window of the king’s throne room. They watched as Faolan disappeared from view and then quickly reappeared. Their eyes were locked on the sight with elevated hope.
Faolan spun and dropped to his knees. Suddenly, a blade blacker than night extended out of his chest and pierced the ground under him.
“No!” Aili screamed.
Aili wrestled against Ehreion’s hold. She scratched and kicked. Sobs of immeasurable sorrow filled the silence between her screams.
“Faolan! No!” Aili screamed.
“Keep her in the boat!” Leith shouted as he moved to assist.
They continued to watch the king’s throne room in disbelief as their chests tightened. Their small boat drifted under the castle wall’s river archway. The river curved slightly toward the south, and the grave scene slipped from view.
Tears freely flowed from everyone, except Caedmon. The wolf guardian lowered his head in honor and remembrance of the innocent scout he once knew.
Chapter 25
Heaven’s Decree
A time will come when a messenger stands upon the world with a final decree.
The Ikalreev Prophecies 28:1
Waremasu’s pace was slow, but Zauvek’s was even slower. They were beaten, bruised, and bloodied.
Zauvek wheezed with every breath as he still reeled from Volam’s mighty kick. He was depending heavily on his staff as he stared at the luscious grass passing underfoot.
Waremasu gazed toward the horizon and soaked in the bright blue sky and vibrant green grass of the Lower Gashindran Plains. They walked toward the southwest with no destination in mind. They aimlessly continued onward; neither had energy to think, and their minds were numb.
Upon Waremas
u’s right shoulder lay Faolan—or whoever he might be. Faolan’s wings had disappeared once again. Waremasu had made sure to gather his swords before they left Lesley.
Waremasu breathed in deep and released a heavy sigh.
He could feel Faolan’s chest rising and falling. The red-thorned vines on Faolan’s uniform had disappeared.
“All that . . . and he still lives,” Zauvek said. “Impossible.”
Waremasu glanced up to the sky above. “The loss of blood was too great for any mortal to survive.”
“We should kill him,” Zauvek said.
“Foolish words from an old fool,” Waremasu’s seven voices echoed.
“What?” Zauvek’s legs wavered.
Waremasu glanced at his ally. “You wish for oblivion after all you have endured? A fool’s salvation.”
Zauvek said no more. They walked until the sun reached its peak in the sky, then Waremasu stopped. Zauvek continued for a couple of more steps before turning around to see what caused his companion to halt.
“Look.” Waremasu was staring into the sky.
Zauvek traced his gaze and saw what was coming.
A bright light streaked across the sky. The light curved and headed straight toward them. It raced through the air and came to a sudden stop a dozen yards before the exhausted angels. The light dimmed and revealed an awe-inspiring sight, though neither Waremasu nor Zauvek thought this as they readied their weapons in overwhelming fear.
“M . . . ! M-m . . . !” Zauvek tried but could not speak the being’s name. The Divine One had removed that ability after his previous rebellion and attempt at challenging an archangel. “Archangel, why do you stand before us?”
The archangel’s wings expanded far wider than either of theirs; his skin was flowing sheets of lightning. His wings glowed a brilliant white, and golden armor encased his magnificent fifteen-foot-tall form. A giant sword bathed in holy fire was effortlessly held in the archangel’s right hand, and a giant golden shield firmly held in his left hand.
The First Seal Page 32