by Unknown
If it was still the will of Shaddai for Grimwald to live, then certainly there must be a reason for it. Gideon gulped down a lump in his throat as he turned his animal back down the trail leading out of the valley. He felt so cold inside, so far from the place of close fellowship with Shaddai he used to enjoy—perhaps even taken for granted. Now that he had turned down this path of treachery, with Mordred and his demon allies, Gideon felt utterly alone.
He pushed forward, down the path, not caring now if the entire mountain gave way and buried him alive beneath the rock. At least he wouldn’t have to look his former priestly brothers in the eyes as he led these demons straight into the Temple—wouldn’t have to bear the pained looks of betrayal most certainly waiting for him there.
General Grimwald and the endless line of soldiers behind him reorganized and began the slow trek around these fresh boulders. Grimwald was dusty and a bit battered, but he rode proudly again. Some of the demons looked longingly at the corpses left behind—a few licking their lips hungrily.
Wide eyes stared down into the valley as a black spyglass lowered. The priest, watching the horrid army winding its way through Broken Pass, couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed. More startling than the army itself or the few deaths caused by the slide was the presence of one of their own among the enemy.
The priest, Gideon, rode at the head of these invaders, leading them through the Thornhills toward the Temple of Shaddai. He didn’t want to believe it. But Gideon was not bound in any way and he was leading them. Worse still was the black and crimson armor that he wore—the uniform of Mordred himself. Betrayal—utter, black betrayal—could be the only answer to what he had seen. And that could mean only one thing for the other priests. Gideon, their long time mentor and brother, was now dead to them.
THE PRIDE
Isaiah forced himself to breathe again. The young priest, Jason, had brought back the most disturbing news Isaiah had ever received. An army marched toward the Temple—Mordred’s army, but not men exactly. Some sort of hybrid between man and beast, as near as Jason could discern. But there had been more.
Gideon, Isaiah’s closest friend in the world, his protégé of many years, and the one man he’d assumed would succeed him as High Priest to The Order in Nod, had betrayed them into Mordred’s hands. It did not make any sense. Isaiah tried, but he couldn’t get his mind to accept it.
Gideon had always been the most loyal of friends, the most faithful of the priests in The Order. What could have turned him from the path of righteousness to utter corruption in the service of Mordred and his demons?
Peter, the captain of Isaiah’s elite guard, stood forth. “Master, what are we to do?� Nearly everyone had heard the news by now. And all of them had been stunned with unbelief.
Isaiah looked Peter in the eyes. He could see the pain there. Gideon had been a close friend to all of them. To Peter, he had been a mentor. Isaiah hated to place the burden of this matter on him, but their course of action was unfortunately clear. He swallowed, then said, “We will do what we must to preserve the Word of the Shaddai, just as we always have. Peter, I want you to organize our most capable warriors for battle. I must go to James, the Lion Keeper. The pride will finally go forth into battle for Shaddai. If this army breaks through their ranks, our warriors will be ready to face them in the courtyard. Set the archers to the balconies. The older priests and I will take the parchments from the vaults and go to the Temple in Wayland. Peter, I want you to lead our men here, but if the battle appears lost, then evacuate the Temple and take the catacombs into Wayland.�
Peter bowed respectfully. “It will be done, Master.� He started to go at once, but Isaiah caught him by the shoulder.
“Peter,� he said, nearly choking on what he was about to say. “Gideon has betrayed The Order of Shaddai.� Tears welled upon Isaiah’s lower eyelids. “He has led the enemy here to us. He must not be allowed to live.�
Peter paused, blinking. He clearly had never thought to here such words said of his friend and mentor. Isaiah’s expression showed understanding of the conflict within his captain’s heart. It was the same conflict he also felt. Peter gave a stunted nod and proceeded on with his duties.
Isaiah turned to Jason. “Let us go to the pride and hope they are feeling strong today.�
After passing through one of the long, torch-lit, underground corridors, Isaiah and Jason emerged into a grassy meadow. The High Priest immediately spotted the man he was looking for out among several lion cubs who were chasing him through the knee high grass. He could hear the man laughing as he rolled two of the cubs along the ground, while a third and fourth pounced upon his back playfully growling with all the ferocity of kittens.
Isaiah called to the man and immediately saw him rise up. The cubs slid off of him as he stood and covered his eyes from the sunlight in order to see who was visiting him. When he saw the robes of the High Priest, the lion keeper ran to meet them.
He jogged over in his light, sandy colored garments, sweat rolling off of his arms and forehead. “Master Isaiah, I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting a visit today.�
“I’m sorry that I must make one, James,� he said.
James’ reaction was immediate. His smile dropped to a tense frown, his eyebrows knitted together in anticipation of what he was about to hear.
“Are your lion’s well-fed and strong today?� Isaiah asked.
James nodded. “Of course, Master. They are always ready for whatever service you require. Is there trouble of some kind?�
Isaiah nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. An army is making its way beyond Broken Pass toward the Pine Forest.�
James tensed. “An army? Mordred’s men?�
Isaiah nodded again. “Yes, but they are not normal men. Mordred has managed to somehow transform these soldiers into brutes—as much animals as men. They will not be easy, even for the pride.�
James stood confidently and smiled. “My lions are up to the task any time Mordred’s soldiers are involved, Master. I was about to feed them their supper, but they’ll feast in the forest instead.�
Isaiah didn’t appear as confident as James. He looked weary—he felt weary—as though he’d managed all his long years to hold time at bay and maintain his youthful vitality. But now, he withered more and more by the moment after hearing of Gideon’s betrayal. “James, I’m sorry to have to tell you that Gideon—our Gideon—is leading this army—leading the enemy to our door.�
James appeared as jolted by the news as Peter and the others had been. Isaiah pressed on, saying, “More than any of Mordred’s soldiers, Gideon must not be allowed to leave the forest. Mordred’s army will not be able to find the tunnel without him.�
James nodded slowly. He looked back into Isaiah’s tired eyes. “The pride will move at once to intercept these invaders.�
He turned and sped across the hill toward the place where his lions usually congregated around a central reservoir which was fed by one of the mountain streams flowing through the valley. Isaiah turned back to Jason. “That is all we can do, besides pray and hope that it is not Shaddai’s will to surrender this place to the enemy.�
Sparse trees and brush yielded to a vast forest of pines. So many copper colored needles lay upon the ground, that it became impossible to discern how the trail wound its way through. Grimwald rode forward and came alongside Gideon sitting upon his horse gazing into the trees.
“How far does this forest stretch? How long before we come to the Temple?� Grimwald asked.
Gideon did not look at the General. He seemed to be summing up the way ahead. “The forest is several miles across and we must pass
through in order to reach the tunnel and access the Temple.�
“Anymore surprises I should be aware of before we proceed?� Grimwald said sarcastically.
“It’s hard to say. There are many wild beasts that roam this forest, but most wouldn’t bother an army marching through.�
“Humph. Let’s hope so for your child’s sake,� Grimwald said. He turned back toward the army of demonic hybrids and motioned them on. “Stay within sight of others. We’ll need everyone to come through safely so we can take the Temple beyond!�
This news of the Temple’s nearness seemed to rouse the beastly men. They were ready for blood, ready to come against the bastion of truth and its ministers in order to see it razed to the ground. No man would stand before them.
Grimwald motioned to Gideon. “Lead the way, priest…and no tricks.�
Gideon leered at the General but said nothing. He goaded his animal forward into the trees. There was a definite way to go through the forest and many ways to become hopelessly lost. But Gideon knew what signs to look for—the landmarks set to guide the priests of Shaddai safely through. More than that, he also knew where traps had been laid in order to snare unsuspecting enemies.
Gideon considered what he should do. He could simply keep silent and hope a few of these monsters were destroyed, or he might inform Grimwald. If he were very fortunate, perhaps Grimwald would be one of the first to encounter one of the traps and be killed. Still, none of that really mattered. He was still a traitor despite anything that happened now.
Grimwald’s demons fanned out behind him. They formed lines proceeding through the trees never more than an arm’s length apart. A cool fog hung suspended in the air. Sound seemed to be stifled. No animals appeared to be moving anywhere.
The complete void of activity did not go unnoticed by Gideon. He perked to the silence, his ears seeking and finding nothing but a warning in it. This was wrong. Something was coming. Every living thing in the forest, except this army, knew it.
Gideon’s horse grew nervous beneath him. Grimwald’s seemed to grow anxious as well, but the General only barked at the animal, forcing it onward through the trees. Behind them, the demonic hybrids trudged on, some of them sniffing the air now.
“Something’s coming!� shouted one. All along the front line, the soldiers drew weapons to the ready. The sound of scraping metal, as weapons were loosed, crossed the forest behind Gideon like dominos falling.
Gideon could think of only one thing that would cause all of this. He turned to Grimwald as the General watched the hybrids prepare for whatever lay ahead of them. “Follow me, Grimwald, if you want to live!�
Gideon kicked into his horse’s haunches, “Hiya,� sending the animal forward with a burst of speed. Grimwald waited only a moment, considering, before doing the same. He shot away from the bewildered hybrids in pursuit of Gideon.
The trees passed quickly on either side. Grimwald had nearly caught up, calling to Gideon in anger. “What are you doing, priest? There’s nothing here!�
No sooner had he said it, before huge brown blurs shot away from the trees, roaring furiously. The beasts lunged and missed. “Lions!� Grimwald shrieked. Gideon pulled his body down over the right side of his horse as one of the beasts passed over his stallion’s haunches and fell away.
Grimwald blanched as a lioness closed the distance. He pulled his sword from the sheath upon his saddle and made ready to strike. The lioness leaped as another appeared flanking her. General Grimwald, startled by the second lion, misjudged and swung too early. The lioness hit his arm after the blade passed before her face and caught him in her teeth.
The lioness wrenched Grimwald from his saddle back over the rear of his black stallion. He crashed into the ground, his arm torn and bleeding profusely. “Gideon!� he cried in panic.
Gideon pulled up to a stop as lions flooded into the area around them. Behind, the hybrids had surged forward in a roaring wave, flying into the lions, even as others were taken down and mauled upon the forest floor. Gideon looked back, searching for Grimwald and found him on the ground trying to fend off the lioness with a long dagger held in his good hand.
Gideon considered the matter. He could save Grimwald and be sure of his child’s safety, or let him die and probably have one of the hybrids inform Mordred. The lioness circled, her muzzle pulled back, exposing her bloodstained teeth. She would charge in seconds.
Gideon spotted three carnivores closing on him. He bolted toward Grimwald’s position and loosed his sword. He charged at the lioness slashing wildly. She backed away, but the other three on his trail joined her, surrounding the two men. “What do we do?� Grimwald said as he gained his feet again. He stood back to back with Gideon watching the lions. Gideon thrust his sword in every direction, while the lions looked for a way through.
“You’re going to have to help, Grimwald!� Gideon shouted above the din. At least one hundred lions had scattered their army among the trees. Demonic hybrids lay dead everywhere mingled with the carcasses of slain lions.
Grimwald threw down his dagger and picked his sword back up with his good hand. “There are too many. We’ll never get out of here!� Grimwald grew furious. “You’ve led us into a trap, and you can be sure our spiritual allies will get this news back to Mordred.�
Gideon gritted his teeth.
“If I die, priest, then so will your son!�
Gideon screamed in fury, then lunged at the nearest lion. The beast tried to dodge away, but Gideon still landed a deadly blow. Another tried to lunge for Grimwald, his wounded arm still covered in blood. Gideon flung his sword back into the charging lion, striking it in the breast as it leaped toward the General.
He flew past Grimwald taking the General’s sword and charged into the other lions. Gideon killed the first, but the second hit him hard, knocking him to the ground. He reacted immediately—instinctively. Gideon thrust two fast knees into the lioness’ side to knock the wind out of her.
The lioness tried to maul him, but Gideon ducked his forearm below her jaw and thrust upward exposing her neck. He pulled a dagger strapped to his thigh and jammed it into the lion’s neck. The beast recoiled immediately, gasped, and then fell dead.
Gideon rolled out and got to his feet. The fighting was dying down already. The battle had taken its toll on Grimwald’s forces, but they weren’t down for the count by any reckoning. The General surveyed the damage.
Demonic hybrids, many of them battered and bloody, began to regroup as the last of the attacking lions were either killed, or retreated into the forest to lick their wounds. Grimwald and Gideon walked back toward the others, hoping to find their horses. Gideon had seen these lions before. He had known many of them since they were only cubs. The Order of Shaddai kept them as a contingency plan in case the Temple was attacked—more than a match for any normal army, but not this one.
Most of the hybrids had survived. These toughest among Grimwald’s host would be the same to take on whatever priests were undoubtedly preparing to meet them inside the Temple itself. Gideon surveyed the carnage regretfully. He couldn’t help but wonder if he should have allowed the lioness to take Grimwald while he had the chance.
“So…it really is you.�
Gideon turned to find a man mortally wounded—a broken spear protruding from his belly. “James?� He’d known the Lion Keeper well. It shouldn’t have surprised him to see the man here on the battlefield. James had never let his lions out of his sight. He had always treated them all as if they were his children.
Gideon couldn’t help wondering if having his lions scattered among the dead didn’t cause him more pain than his own wounds. James’ lifeblood seeped out onto a be
d of dead pine needles around him. Still, he struggled for a few final words. “I’ve never doubted Isaiah before, but somehow I just couldn’t picture you betraying us. I was wrong though, wasn’t I?�
Gideon found himself unable to speak, unable to even try and defend himself from the accusations. He deserved this, only a thousand times more. James leveled his gaze on the battlefield. His face slackened, and his eyes closed as though he would rest. Then he stopped breathing altogether.
Gideon could only stare at the man he had called friend for so many years. Will it be the same when we get to the Temple? How many of my friends will I have to watch die today?
General Grimwald rode up behind him on his recovered horse. “So, one of the priests unleashed the lions. Then they know we are coming. We must hurry before they all escape. Get your horse, and let’s keep moving. The priests must not get away.�
Gideon closed his eyes. Even closed he could still see James lying there against the pine. Grimwald rode on past him as one of the demon soldiers pulled another horse toward him. He looked on to the end of the forest toward the place where they would enter the Temple. “If only they would escape,� he sighed, “But that won’t be their plan.�
Gideon looked at the demon hybrid who released the horse’s rein. It snorted at him indifferently, then returned to the reorganized ranks. Gideon hoisted himself sluggishly into the saddle. He dreaded what lay ahead, what he would have to watch. He prayed silently, again, that Shaddai might stop this army before they arrived.
CONFLAGRATION
It had only taken another hour to get Grimwald’s hybrid army to the archway which led into the main Temple courtyard. Normally, Gideon would have expected a number of guard patrols to intercept intruders before they got this far. And he already understood what it meant that they had not.
