Chapter Seventeen
Armored Faith
I stared into the flames of the campfire pondering on what would happen on the morrow.
“You have changed.”
I glanced upward from the fire to Mayrin and said, “I could say the same of you.”
She blushed profusely before smiling and nodding, “Yes, I have come a long way since you and Kuri held me down to cut off my bug infested hair.” She shivered involuntarily then and smiling I went back to staring into the flames.
“What bothers you? Are you concerned about confronting the Witch?” Mayrin asked.
“Are you?” I asked knowingly.
She looked down, suddenly pensive, before nodding her confirmation of my question.
“Why?”
“She is very powerful. None have ever overcome her.”
I stared at the flames for a moment before I posed a question to her, “If you had to choose a winner in a battle of the spirit between Kuri and the Witch, who would it be?”
“Kuri,” she said, not hesitating in the slightest.
Nodding I said, “Then why fear since he was the one who sent you on this mission?”
“Because he’s not here,” she replied honestly enough.
“Perhaps not in body, but in spirit I would say, yes, he is.”
“I don’t understand.”
I tried to explain it to her, “People have come to look at me as a man of importance, a hero if you will. They think I can accomplish anything that I set my hand to do. That there is no enemy that I cannot vanquish, but I tell you now that they are all wrong. I am but a man. There is nothing greater in me than any other man, save for one thing, and that is obedience. When Kuri found me, I was a boy on the verge of manhood with no purpose in life. He gave me purpose. He showed me the hidden aspects of the spirit realm that takes place all around us. He trained my body for combat, my mind he sharpened with wisdom, but his greatest gift of all was that he showed me that my spirit is the only aspect of me that will continue past any deeds I accomplish in this life. From there the decision has been a simple one and yet a hard one. I pledged my allegiance to the Creator of my spirit in that I have purposely done that which I knew to please Him and obey His will in my life. He is the force behind all my greatest successes and the gracious giver of all my greatest joys in this life. To Him I deny nothing. I forsake all in place of my obedience to Him. Whether I live or die in this coming confrontation is of no concern as I know it is El Elyon’s pre-destined will for my life to be here in this moment. I tell you a truth that many are yet unaware of, Mayrin, and that is that El Elyon and Kuri are one and the same!
She stared at me in shock. “I…… I…… I always wondered,” she breathed out at last.
Nodding I added, “Now you see why going to face this Witch under the direct guidance of Kuri is the same as if he was right here beside us. All these years away from Kuri I have never truly been apart from him, because I have never stepped out of the Father’s will for my life.”
“Then what gives you the sadness I see in your eyes?”
I dropped my eyes from hers to stare once more into the flames in brokenness of spirit, “Despite all I have done I am at heart a man of emotions like any other. I miss my family and more and more I fear that I may never see them again. I do not deny El Elyon anything He asks of me, but the cost of doing so can be great. The thought of dying does not bother me as I do not fear the life to come after this one, but dying and being without the ability to protect my family gives me great distress. So you see, I am a man of faith and yet one who is faithless.”
In disgust at my lack of trust in El Elyon to provide for my family, I buried my head in my hands and asked for forgiveness of this continued weakness of mine.
Mayrin stared at the man across the fire from her.
How he had changed since she had first met him as a girl and yet he was the same in many ways. Perhaps it was only her that had changed.
Drawing her sword free, she brought out a honing stone and began to pass it down the already sharp blade. She doubted how much a sword would be of use against a powerful witch, but it was something to do to pass the time.
She did feel better about the coming confrontation though. Her mind ran full of what might happen, but such musings were worse than useless. She would just have to trust in El Elyon that the impossible could be accomplished.
*****
I had come close to Vella years before when I had rescued the children of Crona, but never had I passed over its borders. Vella was its own kingdom, but in actuality it was more of a system of clans than any united leadership under one banner.
All the clans were hostile to outside intervention and had little to do with the neighboring countries. For the most part Vella had been left alone through the years and little was known of it. Over the years I had managed to learn that the principal population center was gathered around a temple in the northern foothills of the country and it was to this temple that I headed.
The men and women accompanying Mayrin were of the formidable sort and I didn’t doubt that they would hold their own in a fight. They talked often among themselves, but rarely to me. They were Yesathurim, the chosen people, and to them I was but an outsider. An outsider picked by El Elyon to confront a witch of their own national identity. El Elyon must have a sense of humor.
I was glad to at least have Mayrin to talk with. Turning to her I asked, “This wall protecting the city in the Holy Mountains, tell me about it.”
Without hesitation she began to tell me all the important points of its structure and purpose. “It fans out across the valley where it opens up to the desert. The very place that you vanquished the Saber Cats.”
I smiled, “Kuri told you of that.”
“Oh yes! Kuri speaks often of you and your exploits.”
I nodded, “It seems as if all that happened a lifetime ago.”
Time went by and I asked something I was curious about, “Kuri was the one behind building this wall?”
Mayrin’s face darkened, “No, he was not. In fact he has been against it from the start. He says that it is better for the people to put their trust in the Most High than to rely on the wall and a strategically placed mountain range to save them from the evil that is coming upon the land.”
I nodded as I confirmed my suspicions. “So Kuri’s plan is to gather the Yesathurim from Vella into the valley beyond the wall with all the rest, even though he opposes this wall?”
Mayrin hesitated a moment before saying, “That was the plan, but the people have rejected Kuri’s leadership over them.”
I stared at her in disbelief as I exclaimed, “Then where’s Kuri and why did he send you on this mission?”
“Kuri left the Holy Mountains over a year ago, when the people would not hearken to his command to stop building on the wall. He said that the wall would not stand. He went so far as to say that there would not be one block of it left upon another. The people do not know who he is to us. Like you, I have often wondered as to who Kuri really was, but now, since our conversation of several days ago, I am sure of it. Kuri is he who was written of in the Holy Scrolls from the time before. It is him on whom the faith of the Kingdomer Nations was first founded after we the Yesathurim, El Elyon’s chosen people, denied and even slew him. He has been at work all these years in the spirit and in body and yet my people still deny him!” Her fist smacked down hard on her saddle horn for emphasis.
I patted her shoulder consolingly and asked, “Where has he gone?”
“He went to the East, past the Wastelands, and into the Forests of Darkor. He told me he was going to prepare a place for us. A place that could never be lost to a siege of any proposed length. He made it sound so wondrous to me that I’m not sure whether he spoke of this world or the next.”
“The Kingdom. He spoke of the Kingdom of Shamayim.”
“Yes, I think so,” Mayrin affirmed.
“Tell me then, what purpose is there for confronting the Witch if Kuri no longer remains in the valley?”
“He told me to wait until specific changes in Ayenathurim and in the skies above occurred. When I saw the signs I was to know that the end had begun and that I was to leave the Holy Mountains and find you.”
“What purpose do I serve other than reconciling this last tribe of your people to the valley?”
"Kuri told me that you would be tasked to gather all those who believe in the Holy Scrolls and the promise of the new covenant recorded down in them and take them to the East.”
“Take them where?”
“I do not know, but if I had to say, it would be self-evident in that you now possess a kingdom of your own. A kingdom that lies to the east.”
I regarded her closely for a long moment before nodding, “It could be.”
“Kuri told me that he would return when it was time, but other than that I do not know what else to do but to be in readiness for that day.”
I nodded and asked her nothing more on the matter. The day after next would see us at the Temple. It was time to set all fears aside as there was work to be done and prophecy to be fulfilled.
*****
Susori leaned back against the pillows of the bed in weariness from the day’s travails. Her heart was burdened from some unknown source that seemed to steal the joy she should be feeling in this moment. She glanced down to where her newborn son had fallen fast asleep against the warm comforting contours of her chest.
This had been a day of blessing and yet a sense of deep sorrow threatened to overwhelm her in the moment. Quickly she brushed her tears away before they could fall on the baby, which she held a little tighter to her.
She glanced to the window where the last rays of daylight were disappearing from the land. Fear rose up to clench around her heart and something of her inner turmoil transported to the sleeping infant in her arms, causing him to stir fitfully.
“Shhhh, my young Prince. It’s okay. Daddy will be all right. I promise,” she whispered and the baby’s restlessness stopped, but Susori’s tears did not.
A soft white rag suddenly appeared and gently wiped at the flow of open grief caused by the soon expected death of her husband. Startled, Susori pulled back from the tall figure standing beside the bed.
“Who are you?” she quivered out as she held the baby protectively away from the tall figure.
The figure in robes knelt down and put his hood back, “My name is Urtholan. I believe your husband has spoken of me to you?”
She nodded, as she felt peace come back into the room. Then, in sudden paralyzing fear, she asked, “If you’re here, then who is protecting my husband?”
“Be at peace Susori, for the Spirit of my Lord is even now with your mate. He is in no danger.”
Her breathing calmed, but then in a whisper she said, “I’m in danger aren’t I?”
“Yes, and for that reason I have been sent to you as well as others of my order." More hooded beings briefly lit up about the room, which somehow had the resemblance of fire to them even though they were dressed as Urtholan. They were visible for only a moment and then they were gone from view.
Susori had never seen the like of such warriors before and she had no doubt that one could slay 10,000 or more on his own. Urtholan remained beside her, still visible. Looking to him she asked, “I am far from such an honor as this!”
“No, I tell you that you are deserving of such honor Susori. You have been faithful to both lead your people into righteousness and to instruct your daughter of the ways of El Elyon, and your prayers for the safety of your husband have never ceased to reach into the highest realms of Shamayim. You are blessed of women. The child you hold is a blessing from the Most High as all that is given birth to now in this dimension of time will even so go into eternity. Your child is destined for honor. Your way is sure and soon the journey will be completed. Have faith Susori. Kingdoms will fall and the rule of kings will be broken, but those who put their trust in El Elyon will put on new strength and be saved from the calamities about to befall all of Ayenathurim.”
Susori nodded as the words of promise washed over her as a comforting balm. Urtholan turned to the window and gazed for a moment before turning back and saying, “I must go, but the others remain. Soon this city will fall, but you will be saved from the calamity that is coming. Rest now and get your strength back for a long journey to the East is about to begin.”
He started to leave, but Susori reached out and grasped his robe, “Thank you for coming and for whatever you’re about to do!”
“Don’t thank me, but rather the One who sends me. To El Elyon be all the glory.” Urtholan was suddenly gone then and Susori was left to ponder on all that had been said. She wished Lavaya was here with her in bed, but she had sent her to her own bed hours before, after the birth of the baby in the late afternoon. Fear for her first child and the impending doom of the city that the Malachim had spoken of began to drive her to get to her feet and go to Lavaya.
The walls of her bedchamber suddenly shimmered and dimmed as if they were but a see-through curtain. It took her a moment to realize what she was seeing. She was seeing through all the walls of the palaces that separated her from her daughter’s bedroom.
She could plainly see her daughter laying peacefully asleep upon her bed, even as hooded figures whose presence only brought peace stood all about the room in silent guardianship of her daughter. Overcome with emotion, Susori would’ve slipped off the bed to her knees and worshiped her Creator and praised Him for His mercy, but a kindly force held her tired body at rest upon the bed.
Peace overcame her and she fell into a deep healing sleep even as the realm of Crona was invaded by dark forces bent on its destruction because of its people’s rebirth into observing the ways of El Elyon over any other former false beliefs that they had kept in times past.
*****
We were watched, but no move was made to hinder our approach to the town. The town and its occupants, who stood stock still in the streets gazing at us, echoed strongly of all things Yesathurim. Here was a traditionally minded culture set apart from the outside world.
The sense of hostility towards us was high, especially, I felt, in regards to myself. The others, after all, were of their blood but I was an outsider. Worse than that, I was a Kingdomer. Long had there been enmity between the first people of El Elyon’s choosing and the seven kingdoms that had come into the promise later.
In large part the Yesathurim had been persecuted within the seven kingdoms for their beliefs and for the most part had taken up residence outside of them over the years. I was very much trespassing here.
No one stopped us and slowly, so as not to alarm, we made our way toward the impressive colonnade of pillars that bedecked the temple at the head of the village.
The temple was located on a promontory above the town, over which it projected impressively. There was nothing overall evil in its appearance, but there was an undercurrent of darkness that ran deeper than the gorge I’d help slay the Gargons in years before.
At the base of the slope of the mounded hill that the temple was built on, the road stopped being straight and curved around the slope. At last we were stopped. Temple guards stepped forward to block our way threateningly.
One who looked to be in command approached us pompously. He pointed to me with abruptness and said, “Only you are permitted to go farther. The High Priestess Ayaya is expecting you.”
Mayrin made to object, but I held my hand up, forestalling any words from her as I said, “You and the others wait here. No, on second thought, I may be a while.”
Turning to the guard I asked, “Is it permissible for my fellow travelers to make camp outside the village?”
“Yes, as they by blood are welcome to our sanctuary away from the world, even as your kind are not.”
I nodded, taking no offense at the man’s insulting demeanor. Turning to Mayrin I said, “Take your group and make camp. If I’m not back after three days assume the worst and head back to the Holy Mountains.”
She started to object, but I had already begun to dismount. I handed her the reins for Phalon. I didn’t want him falling into enemy hands.
Reluctantly she took the reins from me. Turning to the guard I drew out my sword by the blade and extended it handle first to him. He took it and stood off to the side and motioned me onward.
“You’re sure about this Benaiah?” Mayrin asked, her voice a mixture of hesitation and alarm.
“I’m sure that we were supposed to come here, beyond that I do not know. Have faith Mayrin and say a few prayers for me.”
She looked as if she would say more, but I turned and started up the path. The time for words was over and the test of wills had begun.
*****
The road curved upward until it leveled out flat with a side entrance to the temple. The accompanying guard halted and I walked alone into the temple.
The outside of the temple, though impressive in size, had not impressed me overly in terms of detail, but not so here. Ornate was not the word to describe the vividness of color and tapestry within the room that I had entered. Gold and precious stones were everywhere.
The pillared halls all around the sanctuary of the temple were empty and I very much felt alone within the place. Just then a voice, ripe with seductive undertones, called out, “Well, if it isn’t the mighty hunter come at long last to slay the dragon! Oh my!” The sound of laughter rang out clearly and yet I could not tell where she was as the echo of her laughter made it hard to place her.
The voice seemed to sigh then before continuing on, “To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from the hero of Sapan? Congratulations on yet another of your many victories over these past few years.”
The Priestess came into view then. In fact she materialized right before my eyes not 10 feet away.
It was hard to stay cool in the presence of this sort of power, but I tried. I inclined my head forward in a slight bow before saying, “The rumors are true my lady. You are very beautiful and you know how to make an entrance, but I wonder………” I let my words draw out as I then glanced up to her and said, “are you also as wise as I have heard?”
Her seducing gaze on me turned to one of calculation, even as a sardonic smile played about her full lips. Slowly she nodded her head approvingly, “He certainly taught you well, I see. Tell me, how is Kuri these days and why did he send you here?”
“I’ve heard he is the same, both in purpose and in authority.”
She smiled fully at me then, but I didn’t trust it as a sign of anything. I didn’t trust anything about her other than that she would be out to deceive me at every turn.
“You play the game well, Benaiah. Now answer my first question or be gone from here.”
Her face had instantly turned cold in the wake of her statement. It was a hard look to see on a woman so beautiful. As beautiful as she was though, I felt no attraction for her other than the simple fact that I could acknowledge that any man would be proud to have her and yet I doubted very much that any man had ever really had her. More likely it had been the other way around.
I chose to be completely honest in my address to her, “You are aware of the lateness of the hour my lady?”
“I am,” she responded affirmatively.
“Kuri has never quite told me what to tell you, only that one day this day was to happen. I believe, though, that if Kuri could be here he would say that it is still not too late. The door is still open for you to walk through to reclaim his love for you. He does still very much love you.”
She had turned away from me as I had talked and I was unsure of any of the effect that my words had upon her.
“Tell me, Benaiah, do you really think it’s as simple as that?” she asked harshly, as she turned to glare at me in a complete changeover of mood from that of playful dominatrix to that of hostility and extreme hatred.
I felt sure in my spirit that I wasn’t talking with the same woman anymore. “I wish to speak with Ayaya,” I said, addressing the dark entity that had taken over the Priestess.
The Priestess’s body drew up in supreme indignation of spirit and flung back at me in challenge, “You presume too much impudent boy, to tell me so within the confines of my own temple!”
I stepped forward aggressively and with matching resolve I said, “I am not here of my own doing. I am here on the word of my Master who walks in the blessing of El Elyon and whose spirit is a part of Him. Now be gone and trouble the work of El Elyon no further for I fear you have angered Him grievously already with your interference!”
The Priestess’s body shook for a moment and then her eyes opened, blinking as if rising from sleep.
“Ayaya?” I asked, but she turned away abruptly and began walking. Surely this wasn’t how this encounter was supposed to end? Did I go after her?
“Hold your ground.”
I looked to the right to behold Urtholan standing there.
I did as he said and within moments the Priestess was back. She stalked towards me with rage coloring every step of her stride. There was nothing at all repressed about her now. I fully expected her to attempt to kill me and I was right.
An invisible force slammed into me with a flick of her wrist. I would have been knocked flat from the force if I hadn’t already been partially braced against an attack. Even so I was about to go down, but I was getting angry.
“I have authority to be here! Now I demand that this unnatural force from you be removed as you assault not my flesh and blood, but rather He who sent me!”
I had no sooner spoken the words than I was watching the Priestess flying backwards to smash against a pillar. The force against me was gone and I breathed with heavy exertion as I tried to make up for the heavy strain I had just been under.
Not knowing what to do now, I watched as the Priestess slowly rose up from the ground. She didn’t look at me as she said, with head cast low, “Even as you have said, the hour is late. Even so, go and leave me, for I can’t change. My path is agreed upon. Tell Kuri I am promised to another. I grant you safe passage from these lands. Now go!” She pointed to the door of the temple, still not looking at me.
“I will not go my lady,” I responded confidently and then I added, “Not until I have all that I have asked for.”
“For the third time I ask, what is it that you want?” she cried out in anger, turning to face me.
“Kuri wants you back. You and all those who follow your commands.”
She shook her head at me, “You do not know what you ask Kingdomer. Now go before it is too late!”
The temple began to shake and I felt as if caught within the confines of an earthquake. The priestess’s eyes widened in alarm and she stepped toward me with the look in her eyes genuine for perhaps the first time, “You must go……… now!” The priestess’s words had trailed off to a choked whimper as a hand materialized out of nothingness to close about her throat.
She barely struggled for her own breath as she was held off the ground by the hand at her throat. She was turned to face the visage of the dark cloaked figure that had materialized into being, visible along with the hand that gripped her throat. Whatever it was that Ayaya saw within the fallen Malachim’s eyes, it was enough to turn her features into a scene of stark horror.
The fallen Malachim spoke, “My orders were for you to kill him! Not to let him go!!!”
I’d seen enough. I stepped forward towards the pair, “let her go! Now!”
Laughter echoed out of the fallen Malachim that seemed to issue forth straight from the pit of Sheol, “Let her go? You impudent fool! She’s mine!!!”
The fallen Malachim had turned to me and I saw all the hellish torment of his eyes that had paralyzed Ayaya with fear. Stepping closer I said, “She has a choice to make. Now let her go!”
The fallen Malachim leaned toward me with a sneer of triumph and said, “No!!!”
I heard the bones of Ayaya’s neck snap and I watched her eyes spark as the last rays of the light of life faded from them until she hung limp from the fallen Malachim’s grip, devoid of all life. Her body was then casually tossed to the side like a wilted flower.
I looked from Ayaya’s crumpled form on the floor to the fallen one's triumphant gaze. Sneering he said, “We’re done here. Now let’s see how it fares for you in your attempt to escape the city which will soon come to believe that you killed their beloved priestess of the stars.” The fallen one laughed once more and then turned his back on me dismissively as he started to fade from view.
At the last moment, when it looked as if he was about to fade into invisibility, his transformation abruptly stopped. In disbelief the fallen Malachim turned back to me and glanced down to where my hand gripped hold of his robe. His eyes rose to mine and in rage I demanded, “We’re not done yet!”
The fallen Malachim’s eyes blinked and then refocused as he said, “Indeed we are not. Very well, if it’s a fight you want then it’s a fight I will give you. Tell me though, what is it that we are fighting over brave, but foolish human?”
I smiled and gestured to myself as with sudden revelation I said, “As long as you’re here with me, then you’re not anywhere else.”
The fallen Malachim’s head tilted to the side in apparent confusion at my statement and then I watched as comprehension dawned within the fire of his eyes. He turned away again abruptly, with a shouted exclamation of fury, but was brought up short once more by my grip upon him.
He roared in utter fury and before me his form dissolved into a creation of fire and intense darkness, more fearsome to behold than any army of lion men. The robe that I’d held onto was no more, but it was as if this fallen being, once of the realm of Shamayim, whose power was far greater than my own had not been released.
He turned to me as fire snaked down his arms to the taloned points of his fingers even as wings of the darkest black sprung out from behind him. “I will make short work of you flesh man!” he said. His forked tongue flicked poisonously even as smoke issued forth as if from some internal fire.
I stood, beyond any capability of my own, as I continued to smile, “Flesh I am, but of the Spirit of El Elyon am I reborn. You face not me, but Him who sent me.” Even as I said that I felt as if transported from time and space into an airy realm of some other place.
It was just me and the being of fire in this place, only my perception of myself had changed. I was no longer defenseless against the fearsome monster that was arrayed in fire before me. Armor, that glowed as if from an inner source of strength, clad every part of me. My left arm bore the weight of a shield unlike any other, as it seemed to reflect all my journey through life to this point, reflected now into a prism of light that was impenetrable. I brought my right arm up to behold in wonder the sword it held. From a source higher than the imagination of any man the sword glowed with all the glory of Shamayim’s import, as if witness to the beginning of all. I recognized it for what it was, the words of the Holy Scrolls, which I had studied all these years and were even now inscribed in the plains of my heart.
The battle was not mine, but rather the Spirit of the Most High, “Ruach, enable me to complete the Father’s will for my life!” I said, bringing the sword up to my lips to kiss it.
With an insane howl fire was hurled upon me, but the shield held it back even as I lunged forward to the attack. Where the finest of sword steels would’ve melted in contact with the heated flesh of my opponent, my sword of Ruach cleaved through with impunity.
My opponent was immortal, but fully capable of experiencing pain. While I, who was but human, excelled to my Shamayim appointed mission, which was to buy time. How much time I did not know, but I would give my all in the pursuit of it.
*****
Ayaya shrieked in the sorrow of her spirit even as torment was upon her from every side. The past and all that she’d done rose up as a choking hold about her throat, as if it were a replacement of the last moments of her life before death. She pitched forward to the ground under the weight of her past misdeeds.