The Kingdom
“No, I tell you that you are deserving of such honor Susori. You have been faithful to both lead your people into righteousness and to instruct your daughter of the ways of El Elyon, and your prayers for the safety of your husband have never ceased to reach into the highest realms of Shamayim. You are blessed of women. The child you hold is a blessing from the Most High as all that is given birth to now in this dimension of time will even so go into eternity. Your child is destined for honor. Your way is sure and soon the journey will be completed. Have faith Susori. Kingdoms will fall and the rule of kings will be broken, but those who put their trust in El Elyon will put on new strength and be saved from the calamities about to befall all of Ayenathurim.”
Susori nodded as the words of promise washed over her as a comforting balm. Urtholan turned to the window and gazed for a moment before turning back and saying, “I must go, but the others remain. Soon this city will fall, but you will be saved from the calamity that is coming. Rest now and get your strength back for a long journey to the East is about to begin.”
He started to leave, but Susori reached out and grasped his robe, “Thank you for coming and for whatever you’re about to do!”
“Don’t thank me, but rather the One who sends me. To El Elyon be all the glory.” Urtholan was suddenly gone then and Susori was left to ponder on all that had been said. She wished Lavaya was here with her in bed, but she had sent her to her own bed hours before, after the birth of the baby in the late afternoon. Fear for her first child and the impending doom of the city that the Malachim had spoken of began to drive her to get to her feet and go to Lavaya.
The walls of her bedchamber suddenly shimmered and dimmed as if they were but a see-through curtain. It took her a moment to realize what she was seeing. She was seeing through all the walls of the palaces that separated her from her daughter’s bedroom.
She could plainly see her daughter laying peacefully asleep upon her bed, even as hooded figures whose presence only brought peace stood all about the room in silent guardianship of her daughter. Overcome with emotion, Susori would’ve slipped off the bed to her knees and worshiped her Creator and praised Him for His mercy, but a kindly force held her tired body at rest upon the bed.
Peace overcame her and she fell into a deep healing sleep even as the realm of Crona was invaded by dark forces bent on its destruction because of its people’s rebirth into observing the ways of El Elyon over any other former false beliefs that they had kept in times past.
*****
We were watched, but no move was made to hinder our approach to the town. The town and its occupants, who stood stock still in the streets gazing at us, echoed strongly of all things Yesathurim. Here was a traditionally minded culture set apart from the outside world.
The sense of hostility towards us was high, especially, I felt, in regards to myself. The others, after all, were of their blood but I was an outsider. Worse than that, I was a Kingdomer. Long had there been enmity between the first people of El Elyon’s choosing and the seven kingdoms that had come into the promise later.
In large part the Yesathurim had been persecuted within the seven kingdoms for their beliefs and for the most part had taken up residence outside of them over the years. I was very much trespassing here.
No one stopped us and slowly, so as not to alarm, we made our way toward the impressive colonnade of pillars that bedecked the temple at the head of the village.
The temple was located on a promontory above the town, over which it projected impressively. There was nothing overall evil in its appearance, but there was an undercurrent of darkness that ran deeper than the gorge I’d help slay the Gargons in years before.
At the base of the slope of the mounded hill that the temple was built on, the road stopped being straight and curved around the slope. At last we were stopped. Temple guards stepped forward to block our way threateningly.
One who looked to be in command approached us pompously. He pointed to me with abruptness and said, “Only you are permitted to go farther. The High Priestess Ayaya is expecting you.”
Mayrin made to object, but I held my hand up, forestalling any words from her as I said, “You and the others wait here. No, on second thought, I may be a while.”
Turning to the guard I asked, “Is it permissible for my fellow travelers to make camp outside the village?”
“Yes, as they by blood are welcome to our sanctuary away from the world, even as your kind are not.”
I nodded, taking no offense at the man’s insulting demeanor. Turning to Mayrin I said, “Take your group and make camp. If I’m not back after three days assume the worst and head back to the Holy Mountains.”
She started to object, but I had already begun to dismount. I handed her the reins for Phalon. I didn’t want him falling into enemy hands.
Reluctantly she took the reins from me. Turning to the guard I drew out my sword by the blade and extended it handle first to him. He took it and stood off to the side and motioned me onward.
“You’re sure about this Benaiah?” Mayrin asked, her voice a mixture of hesitation and alarm.
“I’m sure that we were supposed to come here, beyond that I do not know. Have faith Mayrin and say a few prayers for me.”
She looked as if she would say more, but I turned and started up the path. The time for words was over and the test of wills had begun.
*****
The road curved upward until it leveled out flat with a side entrance to the temple. The accompanying guard halted and I walked alone into the temple.
The outside of the temple, though impressive in size, had not impressed me overly in terms of detail, but not so here. Ornate was not the word to describe the vividness of color and tapestry within the room that I had entered. Gold and precious stones were everywhere.
The pillared halls all around the sanctuary of the temple were empty and I very much felt alone within the place. Just then a voice, ripe with seductive undertones, called out, “Well, if it isn’t the mighty hunter come at long last to slay the dragon! Oh my!” The sound of laughter rang out clearly and yet I could not tell where she was as the echo of her laughter made it hard to place her.
The voice seemed to sigh then before continuing on, “To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from the hero of Sapan? Congratulations on yet another of your many victories over these past few years.”
The Priestess came into view then. In fact she materialized right before my eyes not 10 feet away.
It was hard to stay cool in the presence of this sort of power, but I tried. I inclined my head forward in a slight bow before saying, “The rumors are true my lady. You are very beautiful and you know how to make an entrance, but I wonder………” I let my words draw out as I then glanced up to her and said, “are you also as wise as I have heard?”
Her seducing gaze on me turned to one of calculation, even as a sardonic smile played about her full lips. Slowly she nodded her head approvingly, “He certainly taught you well, I see. Tell me, how is Kuri these days and why did he send you here?”
“I’ve heard he is the same, both in purpose and in authority.”
She smiled fully at me then, but I didn’t trust it as a sign of anything. I didn’t trust anything about her other than that she would be out to deceive me at every turn.
“You play the game well, Benaiah. Now answer my first question or be gone from here.”
Her face had instantly turned cold in the wake of her statement. It was a hard look to see on a woman so beautiful. As beautiful as she was though, I felt no attraction for her other than the simple fact that I could acknowledge that any man would be proud to have her and yet I doubted very much that any man had ever really had her. More likely it had been the other way around.
I chose to be completely honest in my address to her, “You are aware of the lateness of the hour my lady?”
“I am,” she responded affirmatively.
“Kuri has never quite told me what to tell you, only that
one day this day was to happen. I believe, though, that if Kuri could be here he would say that it is still not too late. The door is still open for you to walk through to reclaim his love for you. He does still very much love you.”
She had turned away from me as I had talked and I was unsure of any of the effect that my words had upon her.
“Tell me, Benaiah, do you really think it’s as simple as that?” she asked harshly, as she turned to glare at me in a complete changeover of mood from that of playful dominatrix to that of hostility and extreme hatred.
I felt sure in my spirit that I wasn’t talking with the same woman anymore. “I wish to speak with Ayaya,” I said, addressing the dark entity that had taken over the Priestess.
The Priestess’s body drew up in supreme indignation of spirit and flung back at me in challenge, “You presume too much impudent boy, to tell me so within the confines of my own temple!”
I stepped forward aggressively and with matching resolve I said, “I am not here of my own doing. I am here on the word of my Master who walks in the blessing of El Elyon and whose spirit is a part of Him. Now be gone and trouble the work of El Elyon no further for I fear you have angered Him grievously already with your interference!”
The Priestess’s body shook for a moment and then her eyes opened, blinking as if rising from sleep.
“Ayaya?” I asked, but she turned away abruptly and began walking. Surely this wasn’t how this encounter was supposed to end? Did I go after her?
“Hold your ground.”
I looked to the right to behold Urtholan standing there.
I did as he said and within moments the Priestess was back. She stalked towards me with rage coloring every step of her stride. There was nothing at all repressed about her now. I fully expected her to attempt to kill me and I was right.
An invisible force slammed into me with a flick of her wrist. I would have been knocked flat from the force if I hadn’t already been partially braced against an attack. Even so I was about to go down, but I was getting angry.
“I have authority to be here! Now I demand that this unnatural force from you be removed as you assault not my flesh and blood, but rather He who sent me!”
I had no sooner spoken the words than I was watching the Priestess flying backwards to smash against a pillar. The force against me was gone and I breathed with heavy exertion as I tried to make up for the heavy strain I had just been under.
Not knowing what to do now, I watched as the Priestess slowly rose up from the ground. She didn’t look at me as she said, with head cast low, “Even as you have said, the hour is late. Even so, go and leave me, for I can’t change. My path is agreed upon. Tell Kuri I am promised to another. I grant you safe passage from these lands. Now go!” She pointed to the door of the temple, still not looking at me.
“I will not go my lady,” I responded confidently and then I added, “Not until I have all that I have asked for.”
“For the third time I ask, what is it that you want?” she cried out in anger, turning to face me.
“Kuri wants you back. You and all those who follow your commands.”
She shook her head at me, “You do not know what you ask Kingdomer. Now go before it is too late!”
The temple began to shake and I felt as if caught within the confines of an earthquake. The priestess’s eyes widened in alarm and she stepped toward me with the look in her eyes genuine for perhaps the first time, “You must go……… now!” The priestess’s words had trailed off to a choked whimper as a hand materialized out of nothingness to close about her throat.
She barely struggled for her own breath as she was held off the ground by the hand at her throat. She was turned to face the visage of the dark cloaked figure that had materialized into being, visible along with the hand that gripped her throat. Whatever it was that Ayaya saw within the fallen Malachim’s eyes, it was enough to turn her features into a scene of stark horror.
The fallen Malachim spoke, “My orders were for you to kill him! Not to let him go!!!”
I’d seen enough. I stepped forward towards the pair, “let her go! Now!”
Laughter echoed out of the fallen Malachim that seemed to issue forth straight from the pit of Sheol, “Let her go? You impudent fool! She’s mine!!!”
The fallen Malachim had turned to me and I saw all the hellish torment of his eyes that had paralyzed Ayaya with fear. Stepping closer I said, “She has a choice to make. Now let her go!”
The fallen Malachim leaned toward me with a sneer of triumph and said, “No!!!”
I heard the bones of Ayaya’s neck snap and I watched her eyes spark as the last rays of the light of life faded from them until she hung limp from the fallen Malachim’s grip, devoid of all life. Her body was then casually tossed to the side like a wilted flower.
I looked from Ayaya’s crumpled form on the floor to the fallen one's triumphant gaze. Sneering he said, “We’re done here. Now let’s see how it fares for you in your attempt to escape the city which will soon come to believe that you killed their beloved priestess of the stars.” The fallen one laughed once more and then turned his back on me dismissively as he started to fade from view.
At the last moment, when it looked as if he was about to fade into invisibility, his transformation abruptly stopped. In disbelief the fallen Malachim turned back to me and glanced down to where my hand gripped hold of his robe. His eyes rose to mine and in rage I demanded, “We’re not done yet!”
The fallen Malachim’s eyes blinked and then refocused as he said, “Indeed we are not. Very well, if it’s a fight you want then it’s a fight I will give you. Tell me though, what is it that we are fighting over brave, but foolish human?”
I smiled and gestured to myself as with sudden revelation I said, “As long as you’re here with me, then you’re not anywhere else.”
The fallen Malachim’s head tilted to the side in apparent confusion at my statement and then I watched as comprehension dawned within the fire of his eyes. He turned away again abruptly, with a shouted exclamation of fury, but was brought up short once more by my grip upon him.
He roared in utter fury and before me his form dissolved into a creation of fire and intense darkness, more fearsome to behold than any army of lion men. The robe that I’d held onto was no more, but it was as if this fallen being, once of the realm of Shamayim, whose power was far greater than my own had not been released.
He turned to me as fire snaked down his arms to the taloned points of his fingers even as wings of the darkest black sprung out from behind him. “I will make short work of you flesh man!” he said. His forked tongue flicked poisonously even as smoke issued forth as if from some internal fire.
I stood, beyond any capability of my own, as I continued to smile, “Flesh I am, but of the Spirit of El Elyon am I reborn. You face not me, but Him who sent me.” Even as I said that I felt as if transported from time and space into an airy realm of some other place.
It was just me and the being of fire in this place, only my perception of myself had changed. I was no longer defenseless against the fearsome monster that was arrayed in fire before me. Armor, that glowed as if from an inner source of strength, clad every part of me. My left arm bore the weight of a shield unlike any other, as it seemed to reflect all my journey through life to this point, reflected now into a prism of light that was impenetrable. I brought my right arm up to behold in wonder the sword it held. From a source higher than the imagination of any man the sword glowed with all the glory of Shamayim’s import, as if witness to the beginning of all. I recognized it for what it was, the words of the Holy Scrolls, which I had studied all these years and were even now inscribed in the plains of my heart.
The battle was not mine, but rather the Spirit of the Most High, “Ruach, enable me to complete the Father’s will for my life!” I said, bringing the sword up to my lips to kiss it.
With an insane howl fire was hurled upon me, but the shield held it back even as I lunged forward to the
attack. Where the finest of sword steels would’ve melted in contact with the heated flesh of my opponent, my sword of Ruach cleaved through with impunity.
My opponent was immortal, but fully capable of experiencing pain. While I, who was but human, excelled to my Shamayim appointed mission, which was to buy time. How much time I did not know, but I would give my all in the pursuit of it.
*****
Ayaya shrieked in the sorrow of her spirit even as torment was upon her from every side. The past and all that she’d done rose up as a choking hold about her throat, as if it were a replacement of the last moments of her life before death. She pitched forward to the ground under the weight of her past misdeeds.
The ground beneath her writhed as a solid mass of worms, even as snake heads flicked around her as if in parade to repeatedly bite her and infect her with the stinging quality of their venom, which she felt over and over in perpetual agony. This was Sheol.
Softly she cried out in forlorn agony the Name above all names. The Name she had rejected so many years before.
“I’m here.”
In disbelief Ayaya raised her head, only to be blinded by a light too bright to be gazed upon. Every recrimination of the past truly began to choke her then, but she knew that the source of the light, though blinding, was the source of all life.
She knew she was dead. She knew she deserved the torments of this place. She knew all that and that it was pointless to beg for a cessation of all that she had brought upon herself, but she wanted to make one thing right while the Light remained.
Reaching out, as if weighed down by a thousand tons, she grasped hold of Kuri’s foot. “I’m sorry!” she managed to croak out against the weight upon her.
It was over now. She lay with her face pressed to the cursed ground even as the worms consumed her, while fire burned her every memory.
The torment went on and on and she knew that forever it would, but she had at least some measure of peace now. Peace or not she sobbed brokenly as all that she had lost out on by her choices made in life rose to haunt her worse than any torment Sheol had to offer.
“Kuri!” she screamed out in helplessness.
“What is it you want of me Ayaya?”