away. His eyes were hard and his jaw square.
Validus could see pain in his eyes, the pain of tens of thousands of angels who had dissolved in battle under his command. Did he feel accused? Did he feel a failure? Validus shuddered at the thought that Michael might feel judged by the last and the least of the angels. He lowered his eyes and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry, sir, if I’ve offended. I … we … are concerned for our brothers.” His voice lowered, but he dared to lift his gaze to Michael’s eyes for a moment.
The corners of the archangel’s eyes softened ever so slightly, then hardened again.
Gabriel returned and hovered above them. He looked down at Michael and nodded. Michael spread his massive wings and lifted himself up. He pointed up at the face of Tarsis spanning the entire dome of the hall.
“Remember the face of evil, my brothers, and never forget the price the righteous will pay because of it!” His voice boomed throughout the hall.
He looked at Validus, and his subtle nod brought no small relief. Validus took a deep breath as he watched both mighty angels exit the hall.
He turned back to the portal just as six trumpets from the guardian towers of Mount Simcha sounded. Validus’s heart sank, for he knew there would be more … many more.
6
THE BATTLE FOR KISH
2468 BC
Validus slid his fingers across the marble of the portal, and the image of Tarsis raising his hand to signal the charge of the Fallen dissolved to a broad view of the land surrounding the city. The warriors of Elohim stood shoulder to shoulder to defend the last bastion of good in the Middle Realm. The ancient city of Kish had been founded by two sons of Enoch nearly eight hundred years earlier with a decree establishing a government to follow the ways of God.
For fifteen hundred years the descendants of Adam had multiplied and filled the earth. Mighty men of God gave much hope at first, for the Spirit of Elohim was strong in their hearts, but slowly the tide of sin pounded away at the foundations of the righteous. The angel warriors found their battle with the Fallen difficult as man’s heart turned to darkness.
Region by region, city by city, family by family, the Fallen conquered and screamed their victories with raised fists toward heaven. Many times Validus had to turn away, unable to share what he had seen with his brothers.
His hope fell on Commander Danick and the city of Kish. Danick had defended this noble city for hundreds of years. But now with only one final fortress of righteousness to conquer, General Tarsis would not hold anything back.
Just as this thought occurred to Validus, Tarsis dropped his hand and the assault began.
Validus swept out across the charging forces of vile demons while the angels of heaven held their breath. Hundreds of thousands of the Fallen crashed down on the valiant warriors of the Upper Realm. Swords flashed and warriors screamed as forces collided in an endless concussion of steel on steel.
Some of the demons took to the air in an attempt to gain an advantage over the warrior angels, but they did not last long. Validus had learned early while watching the battles between Warrior Orders that wings did little to help and were in fact usually a disadvantage. An airborne warrior could not maneuver fast enough nor push against the solid form of earth to accelerate his attack. It took energy and precious seconds to morph wings and minutes to retract them. Without them, a warrior was quicker and moved faster across the ground. Wings were usually reserved for carrying orders from one command to another, but that was all.
Validus maneuvered the portal to a higher vantage point, for the battlefields of Kish were immersed in a continual sea of green and blue vapor as thousands upon thousands of demons and angels fell to the sword, dissolving to their prisons as decreed by the Genesis Accord. The holy warriors of Elohim stood strong, enduring wave after wave of demon attack, but
Validus could see pain in his eyes, the pain of tens of thousands of angels who had dissolved in battle under his command. Did he feel accused? Did he feel a failure? Validus shuddered at the thought that Michael might feel judged by the last and the least of the angels. He lowered his eyes and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry, sir, if I’ve offended. I … we … are concerned for our brothers.” His voice lowered, but he dared to lift his gaze to Michael’s eyes for a moment.
The corners of the archangel’s eyes softened ever so slightly, then hardened again.
Gabriel returned and hovered above them. He looked down at Michael and nodded. Michael spread his massive wings and lifted himself up. He pointed up at the face of Tarsis spanning the entire dome of the hall.
“Remember the face of evil, my brothers, and never forget the price the righteous will pay because of it!” His voice boomed throughout the hall.
He looked at Validus, and his subtle nod brought no small relief. Validus took a deep breath as he watched both mighty angels exit the hall.
He turned back to the portal just as six trumpets from the guardian towers of Mount Simcha sounded. Validus’s heart sank, for he knew there would be more … many more.
6
THE BATTLE FOR KISH
2468 BC
Validus slid his fingers across the marble of the portal, and the image of Tarsis raising his hand to signal the charge of the Fallen dissolved to a broad view of the land surrounding the city. The warriors of Elohim stood shoulder to shoulder to defend the last bastion of good in the Middle Realm. The ancient city of Kish had been founded by two sons of Enoch nearly eight hundred years earlier with a decree establishing a government to follow the ways of God.
For fifteen hundred years the descendants of Adam had multiplied and filled the earth. Mighty men of God gave much hope at first, for the Spirit of Elohim was strong in their hearts, but slowly the tide of sin pounded away at the foundations of the righteous. The angel warriors found their battle with the Fallen difficult as man’s heart turned to darkness.
Region by region, city by city, family by family, the Fallen conquered and screamed their victories with raised fists toward heaven. Many times Validus had to turn away, unable to share what he had seen with his brothers.
His hope fell on Commander Danick and the city of Kish. Danick had defended this noble city for hundreds of years. But now with only one final fortress of righteousness to conquer, General Tarsis would not hold anything back.
Just as this thought occurred to Validus, Tarsis dropped his hand and the assault began.
Validus swept out across the charging forces of vile demons while the angels of heaven held their breath. Hundreds of thousands of the Fallen crashed down on the valiant warriors of the Upper Realm. Swords flashed and warriors screamed as forces collided in an endless concussion of steel on steel.
Some of the demons took to the air in an attempt to gain an advantage over the warrior angels, but they did not last long. Validus had learned early while watching the battles between Warrior Orders that wings did little to help and were in fact usually a disadvantage. An airborne warrior could not maneuver fast enough nor push against the solid form of earth to accelerate his attack. It took energy and precious seconds to morph wings and minutes to retract them. Without them, a warrior was quicker and moved faster across the ground. Wings were usually reserved for carrying orders from one command to another, but that was all.
Validus maneuvered the portal to a higher vantage point, for the battlefields of Kish were immersed in a continual sea of green and blue vapor as thousands upon thousands of demons and angels fell to the sword, dissolving to their prisons as decreed by the Genesis Accord. The holy warriors of Elohim stood strong, enduring wave after wave of demon attack, but
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