Leviathan (Lost Civilizations: 2) by Vaughn Heppner

honor, like Herrek is.” He sighed wistfully. “There were more Seraphs then, and it was before the Great Sundering—although, the sundering was not far off even then. We knew the day of breaking would come, and we were sure it would be because of the prideful men of Ir.” Lord Uriah shook his head, his thoughts lost in the past.
    Joash knew about the Great Sundering. Zillith had taught him. When the Shining Ones had left the world with their prisoners, Caphtor, Ir, Larak and Iddo were united in a mighty Empire. Darkness had fallen upon much of the Earth. The Thousand Years War had brought misery, grief and a failing of knowledge. Those areas of the world longest under the Accursed yoke, were the most depraved, wretched and lacking in simple kindness. The Empire rulers had been charged by the Shining Ones to continue their work. The Seraphs and Elohim-fearing warriors were to hunt the Children of Darkness, who had fled the last battle. They were to put an end to the curse of the bene elohim , and they were to help humanity climb from the pit of savagery that the war had brought them to. For countless years, the Empire did as it was bidden.
    Slowly, the nearer regions of the world rose out of savagery and primitivism. The Imperial Seraphs often found Nephilim, and their fathers, deep in plots, or tyrannically ruling hidden valleys. There, cannibalism was practiced, or wretched slavery, or the ritual slaying of innocents. Each time these enclaves were discovered, the Empire waged relentless war, freeing the people and defeating the Nephilim.
    The Empire’s capital had always been Caphtor, but Glorious Ir was as large, and its armies as strong. By intrigue, and careful marriages, the kings of Ir, among the longest-lived men, grew mightier than ever. Their hearts hardened toward Caphtor, and toward the business left the Empire by the Shining Ones. First Born and Nephilim had always seemed to Ir’s monarchs as distant threats, and in the next-to-final King of Ir’s mind, not a threat at all. When he died, his eldest son accepted the crown, as tradition dictated. In the last King of Ir, the fear and love of Elohim vanished, as it had in most of his nobles’ hearts. What the Shining Ones had done, he was certain the armies of Glorious Ir could have done as well, or better. A thousand chariots were his to command. His spearmen were the bravest and the most ferocious on Earth.
    The people of Ir praised their king, and grew prideful in all that their glorious city had accomplished. They grew rich from trade, and powerful from stolen booty. Less and less did they send armies to wage war against the Nephilim, or help those in the outer regions regain civilization. Instead, the King of Ir concentrated his power in the Land of the Nine Cities.
    Then, the last King of Ir made his fateful move. The King of Larak, lord of the one of the Nine Cities, sent his beautiful daughter to Caphtor’s king to wed. Ir’s king lusted after her. A host was gathered, and Princess Hella of Larak was captured, and forced to marry Ir’s king.
    Caphtor’s king sent a wrathful message to Ir: “Return my bride, or there shall be strife between us.”
    Ir’s king refused, and thus began the thirty years War of Tears. The Empire was sundered, and many regions of the Earth were thrown back into primitive savagery. From that time, Seraphs had to wage their battles against the Accursed in secret, as much from the First Born and Nephilim hunting them with bitter ferocity, as to the now distrusting rulers of men.
    Joash finished his tea, pondering the fate of vain kings.
    “Look!” a herder screamed, shaking, pointing at the sky. High above, soared a monstrous beast with a red crest. Its wingspan seemed tremendous.
    “Do you see? Do you see?” Adah shouted, as she ran toward them. “A slith!”
    “A slith?” asked Lord Uriah.
    “Yorgash’s pets!” she shouted, drawing her bow, and letting an arrow fly. Arrow after arrow vainly flew at the distant