Laurence was wracked with discord. Dominic had seen to that. For the time being he was passed out safe with us, but if he awoke would anyone be safe? We had to find someone that can repair the damage. We needed the help of an Archangel, but available superiors were not easy to come by these days, what with the first horn of Armageddon sounding. Jean had locked himself in the Halls of Technology with a dying Marc. Michael was battling David in the Groves. Eli made a surprise appearance to battle Dominic. Raphael... well he comes and goes. Janus was nowhere to be found. Yves remained detached and unhelpful. Little was known about Jordi's activities.
After ascending to the heart room of the grand cathedral Malcolm, Daimon, and I bought Laurence to the Glade in hopes of finding Novalis. Alas, she to was involved, in New Jersey fending off Baal's attack against New York and Saminga's plague. We were joined in the Glade by Dana, Star, and Dylan - all together again. We pondered where we could bring Laurence for assistance before he woke up. Malcolm and Dana came to the conclusion that we should bring Laurence to Gabriel. This plan concerned me greatly. Gabriel was acting more erratically than ever and had never been Laurence's biggest supporter. Never-the-less Malcolm did outrank me. He had acted wisely as long as I'd known him and we were quickly running out of options. I agreed with reserve. Malcolm flew ahead with Dana as the rest of us walked to the Volcano. When we reach the Volcano Star flew up to look for an entrance. She reported seeing an ofanite speeding off to Blandine's Tower. We guessed this was Malcolm. We were met at the base of the Volcano by a pair of malakim who were aware of our situation. They brought us to a cherub of fire named Soldekai. The servitors of fire were impressed by Laurence's presence. Gabriel was not around and no one had the song of Harmony we needed. They told us that Malcolm had rushed off to see if Blandine could help us. Indeed she could. Malcolm took Laurence to Blandine's tower. The rest of us followed, or so I thought. Somewhere along the line Dana slipped away.
Marches dead ahead. Land of dreams.
When we arrived we were escorted through the Tower to where Blandine
was attending to Laurence's discords. She pulled at the tightly
strung strands of his being - twisted, knotted ropes of cancer
intertwined. Discords and Chords. She was slowly removing the
discord. It burnt and withered in her grasp. Malcolm was fascinated
by it. He asked Dylan and Star if they could tell how Blandine was
removing the discord. I don't know if they understood, but I knew it
was beyond me - pure heavenly magic. When Laurence began to stir I
held my breath. His eyes opened with a fire. He clenched his jaw
tightly and in a barely controlled voice
"Young one," he said to Star "you have the power of Novalis'
Seraphim?" Star nodded. "Then stand near me." He stood up as a
malakite entered.
"Milady, they are approaching." the malakite announced.
We went to the window to see for ourselves. There was some swarm of
black specks. I asked what it was, but no one answered. Malcolm flew
out the window to engage the swarm. I hesitated. The marches worried
me.
It's hard for me to remember most of my dreams, but maybe that's forgivable since they were almost a millennium ago. The one I remember most clearly was my last
A light snowfall on the hills, the light of a full moon, my back
resting against cool granite - It was quiet and peaceful. I needed
rest. I felt a little sad. There's something missing. I don't know
what I was doing there, but I remember a visitor. She was a rabbit, a
talking rabbit. She spoke softly and sweetly but condescended like I
was a child. She said I shouldn't be in the Dreamland, the Marches,
not now that I was an angel.
"There's nothing here for you, devoted one. You're too easy to find
and too easy to destroy here. Go back to the real world where you
belong. Everything you need is there."
The words were harsh to my ears. At first I was angry that a rabbit
would speak to me so, in my own dream no less. I reached forward to
grab the impudent animal, but she darted out of my reach. She pierced
me with a glare that implored me not to be such a fool and then ran
off.
Laurence was talking about his armies. I told him that precious few remained. There were stragglers in the Groves and The Cathedral was nearly empty, but Laurence wasn't talking just about servitors of the Sword. He was talking about God's armies. He said he yearned to lead them himself, but he dared not enter battle with his remaining discord or he might not stop fighting when the battle ended. It was then that he made me a Vassal of the Sword and ordered me to lead the servitors of Dreams into battle. Me? I was way out of my element. Never-the-less, it was an order. This was war. I wouldn't let Laurence down. Blandine told her Malakite to bring me to the assembled troops. Dylan joined me. Star and Daimon stayed in the Tower.
I was led to a long mythic dining hall. Suits of armor stood silently
along the walls and angels, dream soldiers, over a hundred of them,
most of them malakim, were gathered informally about a wondrously long
oak table.
"Dream soldiers I am Maxwell, Vassal of the Sword." I walked along the
ranks shaking the hands of those I passed. I was a little self
conscious of my odd
polar bear
form. It did not convey a sense of
authority, but Blandine's angels seemed to accepted it without second
thoughts. "Laurence has given us the task of defending the Tower from
the oncoming swarm. The Tower is our top priority. If we can break
up the swarm or force its retreat the battle will be won. Protecting
the Tower, but allowing the swarm to pass on towards Heaven is also
acceptable. If it comes to that the armies of Heaven will regroup and
meet the swarm again at the Volcano." I gave it all the false
confidence I could muster.
I asked the angels if any of them had encountered the swarm before. A
few of them provided bits and pieces of information around which we
decided on a basic strategy. The opponent would fight an almost
all-out offensive battle with little regard for losses. They did not
function as a hive mind, so it was doubtful they would learn from
their mistakes. What worked early on would continue to work
throughout the battle. Fighting techniques were discussed, but we
were short of time. Soon we took the field.
We formed a half cylinder shield between the Tower and the swarm. The swarm was more like a wall now than a cloud. I sure wished that I knew better what I was fighting. The rabbit's words kept ringing in my head. "You're too easy to find and too easy to destroy here." I tried not to let my doubts show as I issued a few last minute commands.
Then they were on us. They were evil insectile creatures. I threw up an ethereal song of shields to shelter my untrained mind and drew my sword. Fighting them was completely unreal, but my skills and my sword did not fail me. They were no match for Soulpiercer. I slaughtered them furiously. Those around me took heart. Their leader could fight. Our position held, but the swarm seemed endless. The ground was thick with carcasses. I was so wrapped up in individual combat that I found it difficult to issue instructions. Once when I looked up to a malakite who had been relaying my commands I saw a wedge of flaming ofanim. Malcolm had brought reinforcements! Moral surged and our jobs became easier as the bugs were being drawn to the light of the servitors of Fire. The battle raged. The swarm was halted, but showed no sign of defeat. Then the ofanim began lighting the very Tower ablaze. I worried that the move was a great disaster, but the Tower withstood the flames much better than the swarm. Malcolm urged us to pull back. Our forces withdrew to the Tower's entrance and seal it behind us. The Tower burned like a flare, killing almost all of the nearby swarm. The battle had been won.
I congratulated the troops, took a rough survey of our casualties, and went up to report to Laurence and Blandine. Malcolm joined me. He had done a wonderful job in defense of Heaven once again.
We told Laurence not only about the battle, but all we knew about Dominic, David, Eli, Marc, Gabriel, and various occurrences on earth. Laurence also had some concerns about Dana, which struck me as strange and minor by comparison. I was disappointed when Malcolm told Laurence that Raphael was Kobal. I had given Raphael my word that I would not speak about it, and somehow felt like I wasn't living up to my deal when Malcolm shared the secret. Of course, he had made no such agreement with Raphael. Malcolm was merely acting in Heaven's best interests. When the subject of Michael came up Malcolm took of the ring Michael had given us to contact him and handed it to Laurence.
