Tail of the Dragon

by Timothy Reihm

  Chapter 34

  Azazel and Helel stood looking over the growing assembly from the grassy knoll that roofed the underground complex where Azazel's private reserves of yayin were produced and stored. They talked quietly together, waiting for the appointed time of the meeting commencement.

  Gadreel stood with his group, all wearing the green sash of Aralim. Their team was smaller than most of the others, having just twenty arella, including two angels. The Malakim group, replete with yellow sashes, was the biggest with over sixty members, but today, he thought, that would change.

  The unevenness of the choir distribution had begun to make it difficult for group exercises to be held with any semblance of fairness. Gadreel suggested that perhaps they should change the way they were grouped. He believed Helel would implement his suggestion today. His reasoning was simple. Having group competitions would be easier if there were an even number of groupings. Seven might be a perfect number, but it made direct competition impossible. He proposed that six worked much better. Further, he argued mixing up the teams would force the members to form bonds outside of their choirs. It would also rid them of the issue of numerical differences between the groups.

  Helel enthusiastically accepted the suggestion and promised to implement it as soon as possible. Gadreel expected him to say he would need to get Azazel's approval, but he didn't. He suspected little of what had changed was presented to Azazel these days. Although they met on the grounds of Azazel's estate and he still presided over the meetings, it was increasingly clear he was no longer the driving force behind them.

  Helel held up his hands and waited for the expected silence. Quickly he had it.

  'I am thrilled to see so many new faces here with us today. Our numbers have grown dramatically in recent weeks and that is due, in no small part, to the efforts of many of you. You have seen the need to protect the will of our Kings and have been aggressive in recruiting new members. And we managed to grow while simultaneously ridding ourselves of those who were attempting to undermine our mission.'

  He paused as a sporadic round of applause came from one edge of the group and swept unevenly across the throng. He held up his hand for quiet before continuing.

  'As I do each week, I would ask anyone who is not completely invested in our cause to leave. We want only those who are committed to protecting what was given to us. Azazel continues to receive pressure from those who wish to stop us and some of those reports suggest we still have arella in our midst who are not loyal to our cause.'

  He looked around the audience, peering challengingly in all directions. When he seemed satisfied, he went on.

  'Remove your sashes, please.'

  He said nothing more, just looked at them all expectantly. At first, many looked around with confused expressions, but eventually everyone figured out what was expected and complied with the request.

  'Given the imbalance in our numbers, it is no longer possible to group you by choir. We decided, therefore, to change the groups beginning today. Please gather up the sashes and bring them forward.'

  After a bit of commotion and time, seven piles of sashes laid at the foot of the hill. Helel began reciting names. Gadreel was surprised when he was called as one of a group of six. They were asked to come forward and select a pile of sashes. Since green was still available, Gadreel selected his old choir identifiers and cut them all neatly in two, as instructed. He was then given a list of names and told to assemble his group.

  At first he didn't understand, but after a number of others had their questions answered, he realized he was in charge of the thirty-five arella on his list, which included several trainers at the academy. He was both excited and nervous at the prospect of having authority over a group, but reasoned it was quite similar to the role he now played as captain of his choir bocket team.

  He assembled his group and handed out the sashes, which each member wrapped around their left bicep. He and the other leaders were called back to receive orders regarding the day's exercises. As he stood listening to the details of their practice regimen, he looked out over the vast crowd. It was astonishing how this once disorganized group had transformed in such a short period of time. Previously, these arella milled around engaging in idle conversation or debate. Now, they stood, patiently awaiting their instructions.

  Although he was close to Helel, he still did not quite understand how any of this had happened. Helel seemed completely impervious to doubt, despite the fact that Azazel had received several visits from faculty members expressing concern about his activities. Every meeting brought a change of faces, as new recruits replaced those who left or were asked to leave. Helel had become something of a legend on campus and was followed by a small retinue wherever he went. Even with his newfound fame, he continued to seek out Gadreel for friendly council or to vent his frustrations.

  He had known Helel from their origin day, had lived with him and seen him mature. And yet, now, he wasn't totally sure who he had become. To those who didn't know him, he gave the appearance of someone who had always led, not a fourth year student presiding over his elders and fellow students alike. It was uncanny and made him wonder if Helel were somehow different from everyone else. Perhaps he had been created for some special purpose.

  Gadreel studied the instructions he received carefully before returning to his team. Over the last several weeks his group had been grossly outnumbered and this resulted in a series of defeats. Even though he understood that the odds were stacked against him and his teammates, the losses stung. Now that they had a full contingent, he planned to win.

  He looked around and picked out the blue armbands of the group they would be pitted against. Baal was the group's leader. He wondered a little at the choice, but was happy they would be matched against someone he knew and, hopefully, understood.

  Although he had never personally competed against Baal, he had studied him. Baal was aggressive, choosing force over subtlety. He would compete here as he did in bocket. He remembered Baal accusing Ariel of cheating and believed this telmid would not shy away from using any means at his disposal to win. He wanted desperately to beat Baal.

  The teams were positioned two kilocubits apart on wooded hills separated by a wide depression. Knee-high grasses, sporadic rock outcroppings and scrub trees covered the valley. The small creek that cut through the north end of the lowland had very little water flowing through it presently, although the deep banks on either side seemed to argue this was not normal for the tributary.

  As the horn sounded, Gadreel's team moved quickly into action. He had separated his group into two different squads. The first, and far bigger troop took off at a low run toward the gorge carved by the stream. Their job was to advance down the creek bed and break out once they reached the cover of the far woods. The second group were positioned strategically along the tree line to organize defense of their position should their opponents be spotted.

  Safe within the trees, the defending group sent out a steady stream of distraction. Some utilized the wind to create mini tornadoes that chewed through the valley. Others caused eruptions of fire to burst in the gnarled branches of the small trees littering the plain. Still others created mirages that appeared and disappeared, in attempts to confuse and distract.

  Gadreel smiled with satisfaction at the chaos his group created on the field. It was all for show, but it was an impressive show, nonetheless. Eruptions of fire and dirt exploded sporadically. The image of aura-less arella jumped over rocks and sprinted across open ground, only to disappear as defensive bolts from the far woods struck them. Flocks of birds swooped above darting rodents and wild alicorn. A large phoenix soared toward the opposite tree line before breaking into a million points of light illuminating the shadow beneath the hardwoods, where sentries for the opposition crouched, sending out attacks of their own.

  He could occasionally spot activity in the ditch, showing the progress of the larger part of his team. So far, the other side had failed to detect the incursion. He
spotted something coming over the tops of the trees at the north end of the grove that held their target. It was a shimmering vapor, only visible by the indigo aura surrounding it, and it was following the creek toward his main force.

  'I guess Baal failed to note that the use of flying by angels is not allowed according to the rules of engagement,' he mused to himself.

  His team in the trench spotted the masked form of the angel and hurled energy bolts and projectiles into its path. The masking vanished as the winged sentry was forced to use his powers for defense and evasion. The white wings of the arella bent sharply, swerving at a steep angle and quickly withdrew to the cover of the far wood.

  'It shouldn't be long now,' whispered Gadreel.

  He watched for several minutes before his saw it. A large group had assembled near the point where the creek entered the grove opposite. A huge wall of air shot out of the woods churning up an explosion of splintered wood, dirt and cascading rock in its wake. Behind it their opponents charged into the scoured earth behind the dissipating fury. One by one, they disappeared into the trench. Although he could not pick Baal out in the mass of auras, Gadreel knew he led the charge.

  He focused on the image of a raven, willing it to be and join the departing flock.

  The defending group was positioned in a curve around the blue banner that hung limply from the limb of a tree. They jumped in surprise as the formidable image of Baal emerged from the trees in front of them.

  'Didn't you hear the command?' the figure bellowed at them. 'They are on the run. We need everyone to finish them off.'

  The group hesitated, seeming unsure of what they should do.

  'Attack. They are in the creek bed. Go now!'

  The group scampered away, running quickly to join their comrades in the final assault.

  Baal vanished and the raven picked up the blue scroll of fabric in its sharp talons and took to the sky.

   

  Gadreel sat on a stone looking at the green flag hanging to his left. He could hear the sound of many feet approaching. Twigs snapped and voices called out excitedly. Two of his sentries burst through the dense foliage to his left.

  'The blue group has captured everyone, including all of our other lookouts. They are right behind us. We should take our banner and run,' one of them exclaimed breathlessly.

  The forest opened behind them and Baal strode forward with a hand full of green fabric.

  'I captured your entire team,' he thundered, waving the evidence before him triumphantly.

  Gadreel looked at him intently and smiled.

  'But you somehow lost this,' he replied, pulling the blue banner from a pocket in his robe.

  Laughter erupted from the trees to their left and Helel strode into the clearing, a big smile on his face.

  'I think we have a winner,' he said, striding up to slap Gadreel on his back.

   

  After all of the exercises ended, the group sat on the open ground before the hill as the projections played out in the air before them. Helel would occasionally stop the images to point out some of the best and worst tactics attempted.

  Gadreel watched with admiration at some of the successful strategies. Some were visually spectacular, like the blinding light the red team had produced, which allowed them to overwhelm their opponent quickly. Other teams had utilized waves of coordinated attacks that earned more gradual victories. He smiled as the image of Baal ordering his troops to abandon their position appeared before them.

  'This is my favorite,' Helel said enthusiastically as the black raven swooped over an intense battle, where green strips of cloth were being surrendered nearly en masse. In its talons, the blue banner flapped violently.

  'The best victories are those where your enemy doesn't even realize he has lost. Gadreel, you are to be commended. This was a brilliant bit of deceit. Baal, you need to remember this lesson. Brute force has its place, but subtlety is a thing of beauty. We are all here to learn. Today provided valuable lessons for us all. Azazel, do you wish to add anything?' he said, turning to the group's leader.

  The angel stood, but said nothing. He raised his glass instead, taking a long gulp of yayin, waving in dismissal to the group.

  Gadreel stood talking to the members of his group, expressing his approval for their performance. He was explaining the benefits of focusing on outcomes and working for the good of the team when Helel strode up and interrupted him.

  'Gadreel, can I have a moment?' he asked.

  The two walked up toward the mansion in the dimming light of day. Gadreel felt incredible. Still reeling from the sensation of victory and the praise of his team, he thought of Ariel and wished he could share this with him. He would love to tell his friend he had bested Baal. He recalled the satisfaction of guessing accurately that Baal wouldn't follow the rules and it would cause him to react so predictably. Helel's voice interrupted his thoughts.

  'You impressed me today, Gadreel. I suspected that you possessed greatness and I am glad to see my suspicions were accurate. I am going to need you in the times to come,' he said seriously.

  'And what is coming? I am amazed by what you have managed already, but what is the next step? What do you hope to accomplish?'

  'I have always known I was chosen for a special assignment. The Kings created a vast and beautiful universe, but there are those who wish to undermine that Kingdom. I am here to take it back from those who have forgotten. Our numbers are swelling. That is because many see what is happening, but don't know how to stop it. I am here to show them the way. We are free creatures, but some would place us in slavery. The Kings created me to break this bondage. And I am counting on you to help me accomplish this task.'

  Helel placed his arm around Gadreel's shoulder as they walked up onto the porch of the mansion. He smiled and returned the half embrace.

  'I think that it is time you met my mentor. He creates the most illuminating musical compositions,' Helel said and guided him inside.