White Angel

by R A Oakes

  “You switch sides with the ease of a man having no loyalty to anyone or anything.”

  “I was loyal for years to my master, Lord Stallington, until he got seriously ill and died.”

  “But you betrayed him in the end.”

  “When his health collapsed and he neared death, I was cut adrift. I was losing my mentor, the man who helped me keep my turbulent feelings under control, and the man I’d have given my life for without hesitation.”

  General Zarkahn stopped talking and put a fist to his mouth. Carplorthian could see the anguish in the general’s eyes and saw them tear up.

  “Okay, I’ll yield to you on one point. I’ll agree that you loved Lord Stallington, the Fighting Eagle.”

  “Wasn’t he something in his prime? The Fighting Eagle was the greatest man I’d ever known.”

  “He was a man of honor,” Carplorthian said looking at General Zarkahn with distain.

  “Meaning that I’m not?”

  “You’re nothing like Lord Stallington.”

  “But I obeyed him. Even near the end, after I returned from secretly meeting with Swarenth at Dominion Castle, I obeyed him. Somehow Lord Stallington had gotten out of his sickbed and was so angry with me for opposing his daughter, Genevieve, that he almost struck me down with his sword. But I made no attempt to defend myself. I yielded to my lord, kneeling before him, ready to accept the deathblow.”

  “Lord Stallington surprised a lot of people when he didn’t kill you,” Carplorthian said. “With anger filling his eyes, he’d gripped his sword with both hands raising it high over his head when, suddenly, his mood changed and his face took on a kinder more benevolent look. Lord Stallington lowered the sword very slowly, almost pensively, and smacked you on the back of the neck with the palm of his hand instead of the sharp edge of his sword.”

  “Yes, and at that moment, I felt whole again. The Fighting Eagle was once again my master.”

  “Giving you such a reprieve, even after everything you had done, proved that he loved you very much. But the strain of getting you back under control was too much for the old man, wasn’t it? Afterwards, he collapsed and died right in front of you, didn’t he?”

  “Lord Stallington was going to die anyway,” General Zarkahn said defensively, for he knew that most people at Skybrook Castle thought he had put the final nail in the elderly ruler’s coffin.

  “You’re probably right. But if it hadn’t been for you, he could have lasted another day, week or month. The reality is that he died when he did because of you. Just admit it. You killed him,” the Gray Fox said, the accusation slashing the general like a knife.

  “No, don’t say that! You’ve no right to say that!”

  Carplorthian looked hard at the general, showing no mercy.

  “He was like a father to me,” General Zarkahn said. “I would have done anything for him.”

  “Except for allowing Genevieve, a woman, to assume control of Skybrook Castle upon his death.”

  “Yes, except that. But you have to admit that people found it easier to accept her rule once King Tarlen surfaced and they became engaged. If I had known the king was going to suddenly appear, marry Genevieve, and seek to take back Dominion Castle, I would never have defected.”

  “And you would have accepted Genevieve as ruler of Skybrook Castle?”

  “Well, I have to admit I’d do so only because she’s married to King Tarlen. The whole kingdom is rightfully his. And not only Skybrook Castle, but Chen’s Crystal Castle and Lord Pensgraft’s castle, The Rock. In the end, they all owe him their allegiance.”

  “Even though Chen and Genevieve each have their own castles, you believe that, in the end, those castles are owned by a man?”

  “Yes.”

  “Chen and Genevieve are in firm control of their castles.”

  “Ask them who they feel the ultimate owner is. See if they’ll deny their king.”

  “I suppose they won’t.”

  “So, a man is in charge.”

  “If you hadn’t defected, you’d still have to take orders from Genevieve.”

  “For the good of the kingdom, I’d do so.”

  “But you wouldn’t do it for her, would you? You’d do it out of loyalty to a man.”

  “Yes. Genevieve is the king’s wife. She has authority over me. I would respect that and fight anyone who would oppose her rights as Tarlen’s queen.”

  “You’d give your life to defend her?”

  “Without hesitation.”

  “I believe you.”

  “What?” General Zarkahn said taken by surprise.

  “I believe you.”

  “Thank you,” General Zarkahn said meaning it.

  “So, how’s life at Dominion Castle?” the Gray Fox asked changing the subject. “Do you enjoy being loyal to Swarenth? I hear he calls you his champion.”

  General Zarkahn became despondent. “Rather than allowing me to live, I wish Lord Stallington had killed me before he died.”

  “So do I.”

  “Had he lived, the Fighting Eagle would have taken me back.”

  “But mostly because you can fight. He admired your skill as a warrior.”

  “Yes.”

  “You don’t have much fight in you now. What’s wrong? Don’t you have the heart to oppose King Tarlen? Not long ago, you let Swarenth’s troops attack his ranch. They could have killed him.”

  “Lord Stallington died on the same day I heard about King Tarlen’s emergence. Shifting my allegiance from the Fighting Eagle to Tarlen Kardimont so quickly wasn’t easy. It took me a while to come to my senses.”

  “So, living with gargoyles has helped clear your mind?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, that’s good, but sorry, it’s too late.”

  “I know.”

  “So what do you want?”

  “To give my life in service to my king.”

  “He’ll never accept you into his service. You kidnapped his wife, not to mention kidnapping the child of one of his greatest warriors.”

  “Chen’s crazier than I am.”

  “Maybe, but she’s loyal to King Tarlen. And as you know from personal experience, rulers can forgive a lot if a warrior’s loyalty is unquestioned. While Lord Stallington was alive, and in full control of his faculties, you’d never have even thought of opposing him.”

  “I killed those who did.”

  “And did it well, from what I understand.”

  “Yes.”

  “When Lord Stallington got older and his own sword arm weakened, he took you as his right arm, didn’t he?”

  “I suppose he did.”

  “And you were eager for his approval?”

  “Yes, always,” General Zarkahn said.

  “He thought for you? He made key decisions for you?”

  “I didn’t trust my own judgment. But I felt I could trust his.”

  “General Zarkahn, no one ever accomplishes anything great in this life if he’s only seeking the approval of others. A person has to freely choose what to believe and then act because it’s something the person feels must be done.”

  “Well, I believed in Lord Stallington and freely chose to serve him, and that one decision guided my whole adult The Fighting Eagle decided everything else for me. Maybe not verbally, but my loyalty to him guided everything I did.”

  “When he died, you died with him?”

  “I guess that’s what happened. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

  “But still, you failed your lord. When he needed you most, you turned your back on him. You knew that Rathlor, his son, wasn’t fit to rule. You knew Lord Stallington wanted to make Genevieve the ruler of Skybrook Castle.”

  General Zarkahn felt his face flushing. He felt a lone tear running down the length of one cheek, and he knew other tears weren’t far behind.

  “You haven’t cried over your master’s death, have you?”

  “No,” General Zarkahn said as his throat became sore, his nose began to
run, and another tear spilled onto a cheek. “I didn’t know how.”

  “Just let it out,” Carplorthian said. “Just let it out.”

  General Zarkahn looked around and saw King Tarlen’s warriors looking at him like he had grown two heads. The last thing they’d ever expected was to see this mountain of a man with tears in his eyes. Embarrassed, the general tried to get control of his emotions, but he had reached the point of no return. His chest ached and his eyes were flooded.

  “Go ahead, let it out,” Carplorthian said gently.

  “My master’s dead,” General Zarkahn said in an anguished voice.

  “It’s okay. Let it all come out.”

  General Zarkahn leaned forward in his saddle. His muscular body began to shake. Tears flowed down his face. “He’s dead.”

  “I’m sorry. He was a good man,” Carplorthian said almost in a whisper.

  Then the dam broke and the general was reduced to a boy crying over the death of a man who’d been like a father to him. He was beyond shame, beyond caring that others were watching him. His grief spilled out of him. He cried like he had never cried before.

  “It’s all right,” Carplorthian said softly. “It’s all right.”

  General Zarkahn bent over putting his face against the mane of his warhorse. He cried like the lost soul he was.

  Carplorthian had just defeated one of King Tarlen’s greatest enemies without so much as lifting a sword. Stepping over to the general, the portly gentleman patted him on the back reassuringly. General Zarkahn had found his way home once more. But he would never be trusted. Not after what he had done.

  “You’re in the service of the king now,” Carplorthian said once the general’s tears had ebbed a bit. “But no one, not even King Tarlen, can stop Chen from coming after you.”

  “Then she’ll die if I see her first.”

  “One hundred warrior women of her own, plus another 100 that ride with General Tark, are fanatically loyal to her. Do you think you can kill them all?”

  “Chen’s the key. If I can kill her, the others will scatter.”

  “If you kill Chen, her second-in-command, Gwendylln, will make hunting you down her life’s work and 200 women from hell will be riding with her. I can guarantee that. If I were you, I’d keep in mind that Gwendylln is Chen’s enforcer. I hear she makes Chen look civilized.”

  “My kidnapping Dylancia was a mistake. Don’t you think I know that? But the baby was returned unharmed. Why won’t Chen let it rest?”

  “General Zarkahn, you understand men but know precious little about women. Chen carried that baby in her belly for nine months. Plus, I hear the delivery was difficult. Chen screamed her lungs out.”

  “Chen screamed out in pain?” the general asked. “I’m amazed that she would show such weakness.”

  Carplorthian just shook his head sadly.

  “General, during childbirth a mother endures pain the likes of which a man can never imagine. An eight-pound baby is trying to make its way through an opening the size of an apple. Open your mouth wide. What would it feel like if a baby tried to rip through that small hole? What if that went on for hours?”

  “It’s a form of torture.”

  “One that a mother goes through voluntarily.”

  “So, Chen’s a mother bent on vengeance.”

  “Now you’re catching on.”

  “This isn’t good.”

  “Not for you.”

  “So, I’m dead no matter what I do?”

  “Correct. All you can do is pick the manner in which you die.”

  “I’d like death with honor.”

  “Avoid Chen, while sacrificing your life in the service of King Tarlen, and you’ll achieve an honorable death.”

  “And if I meet up with Chen?”

  “Kneel before her and accept your fate. She’ll make your death a quick one, if you show repentance by freely giving up your life to her. You might even achieve a measure of respect that way as well.”

  “I’d prefer not to die like that, but I will if it comes down to it.”

  “For now, go back to Dominion Castle and await your king’s orders. If all goes well, you won’t be waiting long. Just be sure to leave Swarenth for the king.”

  “Tarlen’s thinking about entering Dominion Castle personally?”

  “He’s been thinking about it all of his life.”

  “There are 10,000 gargoyles guarding that fortress. How does he expect to get in?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Just be ready.”

  Chapter 13

  Deep underground, far below Dominion Castle.

  Chen plunged headfirst into a river of red-hot lava reveling in the sensation of molten magma flowing over her skin and warming her like never before. Looking over her shoulder, the warrior woman saw the White Angels, as well as Zorya, Baelfire, Marcheto and Jewel following close behind.

  Chen swam down through the lava while brilliant yellow, orange and red colors flowed all around her. Looking below, she saw Flame, who was on point and lying on her back, arcing through the molten magma like it was home to her, which it was. Flame switched to her side cutting through the inferno with effortless ease, totally relaxed.

  Jewel made her way down to Chen, then surged ahead reaching Flame, wrapping her arms around her friend’s neck, the two now flying downward together as one. Chen, looking back over her shoulder once more, saw the White Angels surging downward in a “V” formation, White Angel 19, Zorya and Baelfire in the lead with Marcheto taking up a position next to his girlfriend.

  The angels look like a winged armada, Chen thought, admiring the aura of power surrounding them. The black leather panther, now more like a panther of flames, clenched her jaw, flexed her muscles and shot downward towards Jewel and Flame closing the gap between herself and her self-proclaimed bodyguards.

  After a few thousand feet, Flame broke away from the mainstream of lava, veering to the right along a small tributary that first led downward, then upward, taking them towards the surface of the lake of fire.

  While still a few feet below the surface, Flame came to a stop and signaled for all the others to do the same. After pointing at one side of the lake, she swam towards a small, recessed lagoon adjoining the main body of lava. Once there, Flame and Jewel climbed out of the lava onto a wide, flat ledge, the others quickly following them.

  “Why are we stopping here?” White Angel 19 asked Flame. “Where is the crack in the wall you mentioned?”

  “Oh, it’s not far away,” Flame reassured her. “It’s just that we might want to see how many of them are still protecting the lake before we allow ourselves to be seen.”

  “How many of whom?” Chen asked. “You didn’t say anything about the lake being inhabited.”

  “I’m not sure that it is,” Flame said. “It’s just that when I was here before, I thought I saw something traveling on the surface of the lava.”

  “You weren’t able to get a good look at them?” Chen asked.

  “I don’t think you could get a good look at them no matter how close you got,” Flame said.

  “And why is that?” Chen asked, bracing herself for the bad news.

  “They look like ghosts.”

  “Ghosts?”

  “Ghosts riding chariots of fire.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us this before?”

  “I was afraid that none of you would come down if you knew you’d be facing more than just a lake of fire.”

  “As if a massive lake of lava brimming with demonic evil wouldn’t be enough to frighten us away from making this little journey?” Marcheto asked.

  “I was worried no one would come if I told the complete truth.”

  “So you manipulated us?” Chen asked.

  “Yes, I’m sorry.”

  “You put us in grave danger without giving us sufficient warning?”

  “Yes,” Flame said beginning to weep at the thought of Chen’s explosive temper.

  “You’re sc
aring her,” Jewel said, putting a reassuring hand on her friend’s shoulder.

  “Scaring her? I should be thanking her. This is great!”

  Flame and Jewel, weak with relief, looked at each other and smiled.

  “However, these are more than just ghosts,” Flame added, still a bit apprehensive over how Chen’s hairpin-turn emotions might react to further bad news.

  “Meaning?”

  “I think they’re warrior ghosts. They’ve got swords and spears with them on their chariots, and some are carrying bows and arrows.”

  “If that’s true, we’re dead,” Chen said, this new input changing her mind about the nature of their situation.

  “That might not be such a disadvantage down here, since they already are dead and it doesn’t seem to be much of a handicap for them.”

  Ignoring Flame, Chen was hit hard by the realization that their mission might fail. Yet even though faced with almost certain death, Chen felt a peace come over her. All the anguish she’d experienced at the hands of her besotted uncle while growing up seemed to recede from her consciousness. That her father had been kidnapped, taken from her and imprisoned didn’t haunt her like it did on some days. Life was a clean slate. On it nothing was written. The black leather panther felt cleansed and reborn.

  Chen jumped off the ledge and, much to her surprise, found she could walk along the surface of the lava. “You didn’t tell me I’d be able to do this,” Chen said to Flame.

  “It’s one of the benefits of being made of fire,” Flame shrugged. “At times you can be lighter than air.”

  “Where are you going?” White Angel 19 asked while the rest of the Council of Aeryllns, the other 10 versions of herself ranging in age from 20 to 29, looked on with concern.

  “I think I’ll go out and greet our hosts,” Chen said.

  Baelfire realized that Chen was seduced by a desire to be free of the endless burden of being alive. But the Sword of Light remained silent thinking, I don’t have any better ideas.

  However, Zorya spoke up saying, “You know, provoking a confrontation isn’t always the best answer.”

  “Yes, it is,” Chen laughed. “If you want to be disruptive, there’s nothing better than getting your opponent really upset because that’s when they make mistakes.”