Rise of the Fallen (34 page)

“True enough,” Ral replied. “Why hasn’t Michael assigned the entire continental force to this mission?”

Tren looked at Validus and then at Ral.
“He’s
here.” He motioned with his head toward Validus.

Ral smiled, but Validus heard none of it—he was drawing his sword.

“It’s fight time, men. Ready yourselves.” Validus motioned to the apartment building.

Carter had entered through the southern door, and a moment later three of the Fallen came in from the north. One was Durgank.

“I want Durgank,” Validus said. “I’ll draw him away from the apartment, and you two make sure Carter gets out safely.”

Validus sprinted to the opposite side of the building from where the Fallen had entered and materialized through the wall of the first floor into an apartment. An older couple was watching television. The volume was so loud it was distracting.

Berg’s apartment was on the third floor at the opposite end of the building. He planned to come down on top of Durgank from above. That way he would have high ground and surprise working for him.

Validus jumped up through each floor until he was on the fifth floor. When he stepped through into the hallway, however, all mayhem broke loose. Four Fallen warriors were waiting, and two more dropped in from above behind the first three. The odds weren’t good, and in cramped hallways, a Fallen could materialize right behind him without him knowing. He needed space, and quick.

Validus launched himself upward to the sixth floor and then to the flat roof above. Five of the Fallen followed. As soon as they appeared on the roof, he took the fight to them, very aware that more could come from anywhere at any time.

He berated himself for being too eager to take the fight to Durgank. He should have realized the Fallen commander would have more than two warriors with him. He worried for Tren and Ral, wondering if they were facing similar odds.

Validus’s sword flew like lightning as he maneuvered to the edge of the building, hoping to minimize the angles of the attack from the enemy. He put down two Fallen quickly, but the others were more cautious and more strategic. The advantage was theirs, and he would not be able to hold them off forever. All he could do was hope that Tren and Ral had avoided Durgank’s warriors in their effort to protect Carter. He needed to buy them time and keep as many warriors distracted and away from Berg’s apartment as possible so they could get Carter out of there. But where was Durgank?

Two more Fallen materialized up through the roof.

“Tell Durgank we have Validus,” one of the Fallen yelled over his shoulder to the two approaching warriors. One of the newcomers disappeared back through the floor.

Validus could imagine more Fallen below him, waiting for him to materialize through to the floor below. The four on the roof closed in inch by inch, pushing Validus closer to the south edge of the roof.

Options: morph wings—too slow, too vulnerable. Jump—too far.

When he was at his end, hope appeared as Tren materialized through the roof at the far end of the building. He gave Validus the signal—Carter was out. He looked as if he would join the fight, but Validus shook his head. It was time to run. He didn’t want to lose Tren or Ral in a fight that wasn’t winnable.

Validus made a wide arcing slice to set the four approaching Fallen back on their heels, then jumped into a backflip over the edge of the building. As he careened down the side of the building, he thrust his sword into the brick and translated fragments of the wall to slow his fall. At twenty feet he withdrew his sword and free fell to the ground.

He dashed around to the back of the building, taking a moment to glance upward to see if any Fallen had followed. They had not.

A second later, Tren appeared through the back wall. Validus caught just a glimpse of Carter moving down the alley back toward Sydney’s car.

“Where’s Ral?” Validus asked.

“He should be out. We’re supposed to meet at the auto shop.”

Validus shook his head in frustration. This had gone bad fast. They flew down the alley opposite the way Carter had gone, then flashed across the street and back into the auto shop—but no Ral.

“He’s supposed to be here!” Tren clenched his teeth.

Validus readied himself and ran to the storefront window, but Tren grabbed his arm.

“You can’t. There are Fallen on every floor. Maybe he went out a diff—”

“No!”
Validus screamed.

Ral fell backward out from the wall of Ben’s apartment. Durgank burst through the wall after him, a two-handed grip on the handle of his sword, which was raised above his head, its razor-edged tip plummeting down toward Ral. The next few microseconds froze in Validus’s mind as he watched Ral
smash into the pavement below. Just fractions of a second later, Durgank’s blade, with all of his weight and the force of a three-story fall, pierced him through, clear to the hilt.

Durgank landed on one foot and one knee beside Ral’s body. He seemed to relish the few seconds of agonizing pain Ral felt before his body dissolved into a vapor and floated upward.

Ten Fallen warriors jumped down from the second and third stories of the apartment building to land next to Durgank, eager for more death.

Tren tried to hold Validus back as he screamed through clenched teeth at the foul demon who had just killed his friend.

“Remember why we’re here!” Tren shouted as he pulled Validus back into the shadows of the shop, away from the line of sight of the Fallen. “Do this now and our mission is over … and Ral’s death will count for nothing!”

Validus fought to get control of his emotions.

“Commanders are not afforded the luxury of mourning … at least not in battle.”
General Danick’s words echoed from his past. There were times when Validus consoled himself with the fact that he would one day rejoice with his fellow warriors who had fallen in battle, but this was worse than even the humans endured. Their separation was a mere eighty years or so; his was thousands. It hurt, and his anger stirred deep in his soul.

He quit fighting against Tren. The guardian slowly relaxed his grip.

“I’m sorry, Validus. I should have stayed with him. We had a plan … I …”

Validus clenched his teeth and his fists. In that moment, he swore an oath to destroy Durgank before his mission with Carter was over. He tried to let loose his rage so he could think.

“It’s not your fault. Ral chose to stay and fight. He was trying to buy Carter time. Let’s get out of here before they discover us.”

32
 

AD 300

All twelve primus commanders and their executives were present for the command meeting at headquarters in Ephesus. Since the destruction of the temple and the siege at Jerusalem, command meetings now happened more often in Ephesus. One of its wealthy citizens had converted to Christianity, and his home was an ideal location for the northern command post for Brandt.

After the status reports were given, Danick asked if any of his commanders had any questions. Eleven of the commanders looked at Brandt.

“General Danick, I need more legions.” Brandt was at one end of the long table and Danick at the other. “The churches are expanding, and the saints are spreading faster than we can provide protection.”

Danick looked weary. Validus saw his shoulders sink just a little as he prepared his response. “I understand that, Commander Brandt, but so are the people of Israel. They are being dispersed as quickly as the saints. We must still track and protect them as well.” Danick shook his head. “You have over half of the legions already, and I can’t spare any more.”

Brandt glared across the table as tension filled the room. Validus could see the great commander trying hard to quell his mounting anger. His neck and jaw were taut with restraint. “I must protest! Now is the time to retake the world. As the power of Elohim goes forth with the saints, we must go with them. The people of Israel are rejecting Ben Elohim as the Son of God—this is the age of the Gentiles. Apollyon has had his way with humanity far too long, and if the world is going to be retaken, it will be through the testimony and the work of the saints, not the Jewish people!”

Validus swallowed hard and dared not even look at the general. Brandt’s words were too strong, too true, and yet felt disloyal. Silence hung like a cloud.
No one moved. Validus could feel the angst in General Danick standing beside him.

“You are all dismissed.” Danick’s voice was thick with frustration. He turned immediately about and walked toward the doorway. “Reconvene tomorrow at the same time.” Then he disappeared.

Validus was torn. He looked at the sober faces of the commanders. They were torn too—torn between their allegiance to honor General Danick and their own opinions about what was best.

Validus turned and left the room to find Danick. As was always the case before, he would want to talk with Validus, his confidant, but Validus could not find him.

After searching for thirty minutes, Validus found himself looking for his own confidant. He found Persimus near the Library of Celsus, sitting on the stones beneath its beautiful columned architecture. Validus sat opposite his friend and leaned against one of the columns.

“Reminds me of home,” Persimus said with a gentle smile.

Validus nodded as he looked up at the towering structure above them. “How are you doing, my old friend?”

Persimus looked at Validus with eyes that yearned for another place. “Do you remember that feeling you had when you looked down through the portals and watched the warriors fight for humanity on earth?”

Validus remembered. He also knew that Persimus had felt the ache for heaven the first day they passed through the Fringe and came to the Middle Realm.

“You’ve done well, Persimus. Our day to return is coming, and what a day that will be.”

Persimus flashed a quick smile, acknowledging Validus’s attempt to cheer him. “I hear there is tension among the commanders. How are you doing?”

Validus translated a small stone that was lying next to him. He picked up the stone and threw it. It flew a few feet, then dissolved away and reappeared in the earthly stone next to him, tethered once more to the original.

“I’m not sure what to think. General Danick’s strategy protected the lineage of the Messiah for over twenty-six hundred years. When no one else believed him, it was his strategy that guided us, and in the end he was right.”

Persimus listened carefully. “But …”

Validus hung his head. “But now that there is a new covenant and the outspreading of the saints … I just don’t know. We are still tracking and protecting lineages, but I’m just not sure how important it is.”

Persimus nodded. “There is much to say about the Jewish people in the prophecies yet unfulfilled.”

“Yes, but with Ruach Elohim now working in the hearts of anyone who accepts Him, even the meekest of humans could become the next Daniel, Isaiah, or David.”

Persimus smiled at Validus. “Or Validus?”

Validus furrowed his brow and shook his head.

Persimus reached over and grabbed Validus’s arm. “You are one of the finest warriors the Middle Realm has ever seen. General Danick saw that right away. He needs you just to continue to be that for him.”

Validus stared back at Persimus, a friend filled with wisdom. “You are a great friend, Persimus. Thank you for helping me see clearly once again.”

Encouraged, Validus left Persimus and searched for Danick, but his efforts were fruitless.

The next day, Validus entered the command room at the appointed time. All the primus commanders were there, including Brandt, who looked as determined as he did the day before, perhaps more so. They all hushed to silence, fully expecting General Danick, since Validus always accompanied him at every meeting.

“Where is the general?” Brandt asked.

“I don’t know, sir. I haven’t seen him since we adjourned yesterday.”

Brandt frowned. “Validus, you have influence with him. Surely you can see the need for a different strategy.”

Validus looked at the faces of the twelve commanders—mighty men of renown, and yet they were looking to him for support. It was an awkward position. “My support has been and always will be for any decision General Danick makes.”

Some of the other commanders looked frustrated, even angry.

Brandt’s eyes narrowed, then softened. “I should expect nothing less from you.”

“Nor would I,” Danick said as he materialized through the doorway of the chamber. “Rallying the troops for a defection, Commander Brandt?” He
glared at his ancient fellow warrior. The tension from the day before immediately returned as if there had been no recess from proceedings.

“Of course not, General.” Brandt’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“Good, for I would expect nothing less from
you
as well.”

Brandt opened his mouth to reply, but Danick held up his hand to stop him. He took a moment to look into the eyes of every one of his commanders. Then he lowered his head. “I have carefully considered the petition of Commander Brandt, and I know that most of you are in agreement with him. Let me make one thing perfectly clear to each of you: What I am about to do has nothing to do with a majority vote. That is not how command works. And should any of you be tempted to circumnavigate any of my orders whether you agree with them or not, you would be immediately relieved of your command. Is that clear?”