James Somers - The Sword of Gideon

Ethan wondered if his presence with Levi might change the King's expression, but though Stephen looked thoughtful when he saw him, he continued to smile. "Captain Bonifast, once again you prove to me that your loyalties are as solid as ever," Stephen said.

He shook Levi's hand vigorously. "I couldn't have done it without Ethan, Your Majesty," Levi said, indicating him with a pointed finger resting on the boy's chest.

King Stephen looked at Ethan, even bowing his head slightly. "Yes, of course. My apologies, young man. I realize now that my earlier fears were far too hasty on your behalf."

Ethan wasn't quite sure how to take the drastic change in the king, but was glad for it nonetheless. "Not a problem, Your Majesty," Ethan said. "I only hope our efforts were enough."

"Aye, I saw a massive dust cloud to the north as the attack began," Levi said. "Despite this victory, I fear we've only seen a glimpse of what awaits us when Mordred arrives."

"And it can't be far off now," Ethan said. "Those Man-o-wars have given Mordred's army time if nothing else."

The king nodded solemnly. "Well, I suppose all we can do now is do our best and hope for the same. Come with me gentlemen and we'll go over our planned defense."

Levi and Ethan, with Kline and Devon strode after King Stephen and his entourage heading inside the palace. For the most part, the palace remained in good order. The Man-o-wars had hardly made it so far into the city before the counter attack had begun. The city of Evelah smoldered as buildings continued to burn and lives lay broken in the streets. And the worst was still yet to come.

Gideon rode his horse as hard as the animal would go, trying to remain ahead of Mordred's army on the way to Evelah. He had diverted from the main road almost a mile away so that he could round the wall through the bordering forest and come into the city through The Order's secret tunnel. Coming back into the city, he couldn't believe the damage he found.

Before him, in the street, lay one of the huge Man-o-war battleships he had witnessed rising out of the Azure Sea earlier in the day. The massive balloons which had been rigged from their sail cloth appeared to have been burned away somehow.

As Gideon scanned the city before him, he saw multiple fires with plumes of gray smoke rising into the approaching twilight. He could see more airships in similar states of destruction lying throughout the area where he was. Some had landed in the streets, while others had fallen upon houses and other buildings in Evelah, collapsing them under their weight.

He wasn't sure how, but King Stephen had evidently been ready with some plan when the strange ships arrived. The only activity he could spot at the moment was families trying to search the rubble for loved ones and the wounded crying in the street.

The army would begin their assault upon the wall in less than an hour. He had to find some way to fight without being recognized. Gideon realized he was still wearing the armor of Wayland's King. Now all he needed was a helmet to match, then no one would know who he was. As night began to fall, he went through the debris filled streets in search of a fallen soldier from whom he might borrow a piece of anonymity.

After a briefing by King Stephen and his War Master, Ethan and Levi found themselves marching to the wall. This would be the inevitable first line of defense for the city. Every man able to wield a weapon had been conscripted into action. What remained of Evelah would have to fight for their lives tonight.

There was a full moon shining down brightly upon the city. Evelah still smoldered behind them all the way to the palace's outer perimeter. In the event the wall was breached, the King would be escorted back to the palace by his special guard comprised of the priests in The Order here in Wayland. Now, they stood upon the wall, ready to fight along with the King himself.

Ethan had wondered about Stephen's change in attitude before. By now he felt sure that the demonic oppression which had settled upon the monarch for so long had finally given way to his better nature. Stephen was outfitted in gleaming silver armor, a silver diadem and his sword. He would fight alongside his men for as long as possible.

Of what little he knew about the King of Wayland, this happened to be one of his greater qualities and one for which the people had loved him for so long. As rumors went, this one happened to be true. Just as he had fought so hard at Emmanuel City a year ago, tonight he would fight again.

When they had realized where the King wanted him and Levi to be stationed, they had sent back word to the Temple, hoping to persuade Seth to remain there with Isaiah while the other priests from the Nodian Order came to fight. Seth had decided the frontline was his place and stood nearby, trying to echolocate through the dense fog lying at the perimeter of the forest.

Many of the soldiers upon the wall, civilians only inducted into the service this day, shook visibly with fright as their king called out across the wall for them to show no fear in the face of the enemy. Already they had been privy to the drumming cadence of the enemy's march. Out in the foggy night, it sounded like thousands approaching to seal Evelah's doom.

Slowly the marching thrum grew closer. Ethan waited among those upon the wall. He wondered when it would be the right time to shift into the spiritual realm and attack. But a horde of demons had been among those with Mordred on his ships and there was no reason to suppose they hadn't come with him now. His own tingling flesh told him it was true. They were great in number and despite the power Shaddai had given unto him, he remained only one.

Ethan whispered a prayer for the protection of these people and for personal guidance during the battle. He wanted to be led by the Lord completely. Otherwise this battle would not go well. It might end badly at any rate, but if he followed Shaddai's leadership he would come through closer to the fulfillment of the prophecy.

Ethan kept that one thought at the forefront of his mind. A prophecy had been made and a prophecy must be fulfilled. He had no idea how it might come about, only that it would, in some way, be completed as it should. That one thought comforted him now as the drumming of feet in the dark grew louder and closer.

Mordred might indeed sack Wayland's capital today. He might kill the King. He might manage, even, to take all of Wayland, but the time would come when destruction would come down upon him from on high. A smile spread across his face, until he thought about those he might lose in the process.

His friends might be killed tonight. And what about Gideon? Where was he in all of this? His mind wandered back to the night before when he had faced the man upon the palace wall. Gideon had spared him despite his threats to the contrary. Where was he at this moment and what was he doing? Had he run from the city, back to Mordred to receive new instructions, or was he lurking among Evelah's ruins waiting for another opportunity to strike at him?

There was one thing Ethan was certain of. This was no time to ponder the possibilities. A great battle lay before them all now. Whatever the future held for any of them Shaddai was still in control.

Gideon stood upon the wall surrounding Evelah. He stood anonymous among several thousand of the King's soldiers spread out along the northern portion of the great wall. It was broad enough at the top so that two wagons could drive its length side by side. Now, with so many men atop it, the wall seemed crowded and stiflingly so.

He had found a helmet, as expected, lying in the street near a fallen soldier of Wayland. It wasn't exactly a match for the uniform he'd taken from the guard outpost, but considering the cobble of uniforms he saw on the newly conscripted citizens here on the wall, he doubted that it mattered. No one was looking for him. All that anyone in Evelah cared about at the moment was the steady march of the approaching army.