Chapter IX:
The Punishment of the Gods
Dark God
When Agonistes was driven from the body of Volthamir, he fled from the Temple without delay, feeling in himself already the pangs of a death that would soon come upon him. He fled into the night, evading the eyes of both spirits and men, hoping to disappear from the land, 'For a time,' he encouraged himself. But as he entered the smoldering woods that lay to the north of the Temple, he felt upon his skin the eyes of another. He turned abruptly and saw naught but an old man, wearing a robe of brown with a rope belt.
'Walk with me a while, Agonas' he said, much to the surprise of the fierce devil, who was in no wise accustomed to being seen by any who was not likewise spirit, and he had never been in the presence of one who did not quake at the mention of his name.
'I shall not walk with you,' Agonistes laughed, 'Do you not know who I am?'
'I know who you are, indeed,' the man said. 'I knew your mother, and her mother before her. I knew your father, and I knew all the kings of your line. I know also how your line ended. Now, come along.' Having thus commanded him, the old man took the spirit by the hand and pulled him irresistibly into a clearing, where he was told to look at the stars above. 'Can you give me the number of these bright lights?' the old man demanded.
Agonistes pulled away, but found himself unable to escape the old man's grasp.
'How should I know their number?'
'And to what end do they burn in the veil of heaven? Can you tell me that?'
'Who can know?'
'Look now at the earth below, and tell me, is it a work of wisdom or a work of chaos?'
Agonistes just shook his head.
'You know not the purpose of the world, yet you have the courage to lay claim to it? Your own presumptuousness condemns you. All is power, you have long said, and now it shall be revealed to you the truth of those words.' The old man released his hand and stepped away from him, transforming in an instant to a great dragon, bathed in white starlight. Hundreds of drops of light, like beads of rain fell from above into the clearing, growing swiftly into immense creatures, such as Agonistes had not seen since the destruction of the Northern world.
'All is power, yet power is but a trifle for us.'
'What can I answer?' Agonistes said, with great fear in his voice.
'There is nothing to answer,' the great dragon answered. 'Your time has come, and your humiliation has in this hour begun.'
From the midst of the dragons stepped Mityai arrayed like a goddess in the armor of Paley, holding her spear aloft. Her eyes shone cold with the judgment of heaven, and she struck the foul demon in the throat with the invincible iron of her weapon.
A great light shot up from that clearing, reaching, it seemed, to the very heavens above, and from that hour not a rumor or a whisper concerning the fate of Agonistes has been heard. When an end of Agonistes had been made, Paley resumed his human form and said to Mityai, 'Now, quickly, go into the south; there is one more god to be judged.' Obeying immediately, she turned and rushed into the south over hill and stream.
Cheru and Oblis
There were three great gods who in ancient times served as the guardians of Lord Pelas, when he reigned over the northern world with his brother. These were named, in order of their might, Ginat, Oblis and lastly, Cheru. Now Ginat, who was known as the Gigas, had already met his end some time ago, when the dark god first reappeared in Amlaman. He had been charged with guarding the wastes of Razzun, which are called by men the 'Gates of Hell'. For in Razzun there is a valley into which even birds of the air fall upon entering, so strong is the influence of the swampy gases that rise from within.
By the time the events I have recounted had come to pass, Pelas had neglected his communication with his mightiest servant, believing Agonistes to have been swallowed up in the flames of hell never to return. But Pelas' hand was not strong enough to send his equal so deep, and in due course, the dark god returned. Finding his way obstructed by the Gigas, however, he took to the wilds of Razzun, and waited there among the crows, who alone among carrion inhabited that perilous land. There he waited, sending by means of the crows a summons to all those devils who had once served him faithfully. Ghestik he neglected entirely, knowing that he was too strong willed to once more submit himself to his lordship. By means of these crows, Lord Havoc, who by long experience had learned all such methods of communication, came to know of the return of Agonistes.
Fit to be the subject of a book itself, Lord Havoc's battle against the invisible giant of Razzun was one of the greatest feats of elven might, whatever his purposes might have been. In the end he struck the god down and trapped his power within his sword, which is something that only he and his father knew the method of doing. Imbued with the power of Ginat, Lord Havoc became a veritable god among warriors.
Cheru and Oblis, though the mightiest of Pelas' servants, were considerably weaker in strength, though both of them were wiser in council. Of these two, Cheru proved the more patient and thoughtful, almost to the point of slothfulness. Oblis was stronger, but could not be relied upon for long tasks.
Cheru had acquired for himself a reputation for courage and strength in the old world, for having slain the wicked Amro, who at one time threatened to bring war against Pelas and his comrades. I say wicked because that is how he was described by those few who recorded such distant events. But wickedness as well as beauty, is all too often affected by the viewer more than by anything else. The deeds of Oblis were no less remarkable, though they are utterly lost to legend and myth.
It was between these two spirits that Pelas now strode, approaching the Temple of his rival, thinking that he would now have the occasion to do what he had long desired to do; to take upon himself the lordship of east and west. But as he entered the Temple, he saw the King of Amlaman fall, and the devil Agonistes flee in terror from the sting of that blade Aevangelu, which the son of Biron bore in the stead of Pelas' own sword, which had perished in Dadron.
Saying not a word, he turned to leave, perceiving that his plans had come to naught. But ere he left, a little thought entered his mind, whispered by Folly, who stood close to his brother Death. Pelas was now so caught up in his own plans that he did not even notice those three siblings who rule over spirit and man alike. Thinking it to be his own thought, he turned round again and said, 'No, the stars have decreed it, and none shall prevent it: It is time for Pelas to return to his lordship.'
Cheru and Oblis nodded and followed their master down the center isle of the Temple and up the stairway to the Altar on which stood Daryas and his beloved. 'In days of old I inhabited such a house of flesh, and in those days I was revered by all. For all these years I have shunned the flesh, knowing that in due course a man should arise worthy of my wisdom and glory.'
He turned to Daryas, who could see nothing of him. He spoke in a commanding voice, saying, 'Hear o spirits, and hear o men of Amlaman, is it not clear now to all that it is Pelas who reigns in Weldera? Now it shall be made undeniable, for in the son of Galvahir is a blood worthy of the divine, and in the daughter of Joplis is the perfect vessel to bear this blood. I shall be made new.' With that he stepped into the body of the Galvahirne as if to possess it. But in so doing, he cut his finger upon the keen edge of Daryas' sword. In all the ages of his ascendancy among the immortals, he had not so much as sensed pain or fear. But in that moment all the pangs of the flesh returned to his memory and he looked upon all the mortal men with disdain and disgust. He looked back at his servants, who were as surprised as he to see his godly finger dripping with invisible blood. 'How can such a blade, the work of forest beggars, cut the gods?'
In great anger he looked about, 'Have I not always maintained justice and mercy? Am I not the god of light? For what cause then do you withstand me?' He rushed from the Temple and fled into the south, to make his way back to his own abode in Dadron. Cheru and Oblis, without comment, followed suit, not knowing what had happened to make him behave
himself so.
'Where, o master, have you seen such a blade before?' Oblis asked, 'And for what cause did you fear it so?'
'I fear nothing!' he shouted. 'Those fools are altogether unworthy to see the power of god among them.'
'But you just said that they were worthy, o god of Weldera,' a voice came out to him in the darkness. They had now come to a wooded place that lay some distance from Sten Agoni. He was so vexed that he had not noticed until that moment, that they were being followed by a pair of glowing red eyes.
'Come to gloat over the failure of the Noras?' Pelas retorted, still unwilling to acknowledge that it was his own will that had been thwarted.
'You were a laughing stock in the ancient days as well,' the voice said, 'and forever you will remain such.'
'What would you know of the old days?' Pelas asked with frustration.
'I remember the cell in which I was bound some four hundred years; and I remember the cruelty of your jailors. Indeed, I can recall the names of your wardens. Cheru, mighty slayer of Amro, and Oblis, the god of torment and horror.'
'Ghastin?' Pelas said, now noticing for the first time the baying of wolves and the scent of their fur in the wind. The great wolf appeared from the shadows and approached them boldly.
'It is time at last for your deeds to be brought to justice, or, at least to an end.'
'Who shall judge the deeds of a god?' Pelas scoffed.
'You truly refuse to remember, old man, how frail your mind had become ere we were all of us transformed. Great power you had, and prudence too, but your mind is so full of delusion that only the very foolish spirits follow you. You say that you witnessed the failure of the Noras this night, but it is truly you that is unworthy to be their god. How many ages have the Noras blindly worshipped you, yet you could not spare the Galvahirne their losses upon the mountain, nor could you, except by the work of devils, reveal your will to that sorry son of Galvahir who suffered so much on account of your lies. How much easier would his fate have been had he been free of your meddling? In the end, what was fated to be has come to pass, and Pelas had naught to do with it. You have tried to make yourself a god, all these long years, not remembering that this life is our punishment, and we are doomed to vex mortals, not to rule them. Such was the case with your sorry servitude to Lord Falruvis.'
'Servitude!?' Pelas shrieked, 'What foolishness! Falruvis worshipped me upon the holy hill of Dadron!'
'You mean to say, of course, that the people were led to worship you upon that hill.'
'It was prophesied from the beginning that I should rule over mankind.'
'In making yourself the subject of prophecy you acknowledge one higher than yourself. But leave that aside for now, and consider this, fool, how it was said that you would ever wrestle with the powers of this world, not that you would triumph over them!'
These cruel words stung Pelas like salt rubbed on a fresh wound. He shook his head, as if he might prevent his memory from conjuring up images of the past in confirmation of the wolf's words.
'Master,' Oblis said, when he could no longer bear his master's humiliation, 'shall I punish this devil, even as I did in the ancient days?'
Indeed,' Cheru said with a laugh, 'Since the demon wishes us to recall things of old, perhaps he will not mind if we remind him of our power, even as he reminds us of our doom.'
Ghastin laughed, perceiving that the hour of his revenge was at hand. The three gods leaped upon him at once, with their invisible weapons held aloft. Cheru bore his mighty sword, the girth of which was greater than a man's, and Oblis bore a long spear, that seemed to tower above the trees. Pelas drew from his side a regal sword, shining like the stars of heaven. Ghastin showed his teeth and leaped upon them, tearing at them with his claws and biting at them with his teeth.
After a great struggle the wolf caught Cheru by the throat and cast him to the ground with a shattered neck. 'Amro calls out from the dead to you, Cheru,' Ghastin laughed in the ecstasy of revenge, 'But what he says I shall not repeat, for you will hear it soon enough in that dark realm.' The mighty hero of old writhed in pain and agony such as only the gods can imagine. At last he vanished away.
Oblis, in great wrath, struck off the wolf's tail, and Pelas gouged out one of his eyes. In response, Ghastin knocked Pelas to the ground and sunk his teeth deep into Oblis' ankle.
Pelas arose, and seeing his comrade in anguish he sent out a loud cry, summoning to his side all those who yet remained loyal to him. From every corner it seemed, spirits began to appear. They surrounded the wolf and rushed in upon him, tearing at his back and clawing at his flesh. He let out a howl and whirled about in great wrath and pain. 'Coward, Pelas! Fight me alone, and see what manner of god you be!'
But Pelas put his sword away and nodded to the wolf as he passed, leaving his servants to finish his work. At that moment, Mityai appeared, riding it seemed upon the winds of the air. She struck down Oblis with her spear and cast his lifeless body to the earth, where it sunk into the grave of its own weight. Pelas, looking back, saw her casting his servants to their dooms with such speed and ease, that he took her to be one of the Dragons of the north. He fled into the wilderness, forsaking all roads and concealing his majesty under the shadow of the trees.
Pelas
In this way lord Pelas left the battle, fleeing into the wild alone, or so he believed. When Mityai came into the fray, she rescued the old wolf from the servants of Pelas and said to him, 'It is a rare thing, o master of wolves, that the decree of heaven be in so perfect accord with your own will. Go now, and make an end at last of that fell pretender!'
Ghastin, bowed low, and darted off in pursuit of his prey. 'Do not forget, however,' she said ere he was beyond hearing, 'your own life is in as precarious a state as that of your enemy. All men must at some time be brought under the hand of Lord Death, who has a claim upon all that walks and breaths, be they invisible or not. Have a thought for your own soul, Lord Ghastin.'
The wolf paused for a moment, taking her words to heart, then he darted off to chase down his foe.
The last thing Pelas knew, was the light of a single red eye, peering at him from the darkness. In a moment, all became agony and he was rent limb from limb by one mightier than himself. Then his eyes were shut by the hand of Death, who snuffs out light and darkness alike.
Old Man Sleep
It was not until the last of the servants of Pelas had either been destroyed or had fled away that Mityai realized that she had come to the end of her mission. Until then she had always some future task to fulfill, something more that she must accomplish. But beyond this last battle she knew not what to do. She lowered her weapon and began to walk again toward the Temple of Agonistes. The Spear she carried became cumbersome, and she perceived that her great strength had endured only for as long as she had needed it. She lay it down respectfully upon the ground and continued northward. Soon she found her shield too heavy as well, and let it fall to the ground. Soon to follow was her helmet, which she was greatly relieved to discard. Her hair poured out from beneath it like the water of a fountain, and fell upon her shoulders like a gentle fall of rain. Her breastplate and greaves, and bracers as well she heaped upon the grass. The western sky began to lighten, heralding the rising of a new day, and, to Weldera at least, a new era. But her own heart sunk to think of the long years that lay before her, and the loneliness of her exile. While she was serving Paley, she had that sense of purpose which alone makes life livable. But now that all was accomplished, she began again to despair. As she drew near the southern slope of Daufina, she saw, seated upon a stone, Old Man Sleep.
She bowed before him and sat herself down near his feet. He looked upon her face with a weary, but kind smile. 'The sun rises, and my dominion is at an end in this land,' he said sadly. He laughed and said, 'Is it not ironic, how Sleep rules the night, and Folly the day? When men are in possession of their senses they err most dreadfully. In sleep at least they are safe from the horrors of their iniquity.' He then rose
from his seat and took Mityai's hand in his, raising her to her feet as well. 'Is it not amazing,' he laughed, 'what a little rebellion will do?'
She smiled, remembering the advice he gave to her long ago upon Mount Coronis.
'And look at you,' he smiled, 'full of light, like a newborn star! You have done well, and shown how virtue in weakness is better than great strength and valor. This world we inhabit, it is not ours to do with as we please.' He chuckled, 'Do you know how many people there are who believe that they ought to make themselves happy? As though man's happiness is that for which the heavens and the earth were established! What evils they will not perform for the sake of pleasure, for the sake of mirth, or for the sake of love! He who sets his own will against the power that moves the world, be he however so mighty and strong, will find himself trampled underfoot. But he who does what he ought, be he ever so weak, will find in so doing, that he has become mighty, insofar as he has become a part of that power.'
'But what shall become of such creatures, when their usefulness has been exhausted? Are we but tools, discarded when the job is completed?'
Old Man Sleep put his arm about her shoulder and said, 'Look above you, child.' She turned her eyes up toward the eastern sky. 'Do you see the dawning of a new day?'
'Yes, I do,' she answered.
'But what do I mean by day? Is it a mere repetition of what has formerly been called a day? Nay, each day is its own work and with the rising sun comes new tasks to be performed. So it is with our lives. When night closes at last our eyes in death, then begins the new day, in which, if we are not altogether useless, we shall share in new and better works.'
He then beckoned her to follow him. They walked a few paces to the north and then he stretched out his arm and made an opening, as it were, in the very air they breathed, large enough that a man might pass through. When this portal was fully opened, she saw such things as one can neither imagine nor describe, for they lie beyond what eye can see or ear can hear, and beyond what the imagination can create. At the entrance stood that creature Paley, though his robes were now white and his belt of golden thread. He reached his hand out toward her, beckoning her to follow. Her eyes grew wide and her heart leapt with anticipation as she stepped out of this world and into the abode of the Dragons and gods of old. As her thin hand passed through the door flesh burst upon it, encompassing her weary soul with life anew. When at last she had wholly passed through the portal, her body was restored to what it had been all those thousands of years ago, when the anger of the Dragons was unleashed against the immortals. Her cheeks became red with life and her hair golden once again, and her dress shone brighter than the stars themselves. The blood that now flowed through her felt like fire as it quickened her dying soul to an imperishable life.
'Come child,' Paley said, taking her hand into his.