The Dove (30 page)

Chapter Eleven
of Sixteen

and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit

“What do you think?”  Lemarik looked back at Lucio from the perch he had made on the rocky overhang that gave them a clear view of the valley below.

“I think we are totally… fatally outnumbered.”  Lucio raised his head again and peered out at the circular encampment below them.  The forces of the Fox contingent were spread in an almost perfect circle around the base of a low mound of rocks and boulders.  “What is that hill in the middle?  It would be the perfect place for the command post, if you ask me.  I wonder why they did not use it.  Won’t you go up and take a look?”

“That is an ancient mound.”  Lemarik told him.  “There is something there… underground.  I believe that these forces are concentrating their attention on that hill.  That would leave one to surmise that there is something of great interest there.  This is not an encampment, my friend, what lies before us is a siege.  I would go into the mound myself, but there are crystalline structures there of immense power and I may find myself trapped.  I think I would better serve to remain with you.  Would that I could simply go and defeat this monster.”

Lucio jumped as the sound of distant gunfire drifted to them and a small cloud of dust arose near the crest of the hill in question.

“They are firing on it.”  He said after a moment.  “You’re right.”

“Ahhh.  Then we must have found our objective.”  Lemarik pushed himself back to join the Golden Eagle.

“We can’t attack them with the King’s forces!  It would be a disaster.”  Lucio sat up behind the sheltering boulder and ran his hands through his hair.  “If I know my Brother’s little offshoot, he will want to do just that,” he added under his breath as Il Dolce Mio came climbing nimbly up the rocks to join them.

“We have heard the explosions of your magnificent weapons of war.”  The small son of Mark Andrew sat down in front of them.  “What have you learned, my father?”

“I have learned nothing in all these years,” Lucio answered and the elf frowned.

“Jozsef’s army is camped on the plain beyond these mountains.”  Lemarik told him.  “It is a great force.  Too great for us.”

The King climbed over the precipice and leaned out at a dangerous angle to take a look at the valley for himself.  He returned momentarily.

“They must have pinned down someone there on the hill.”  Il Dolce Mio looked disgusted.  “We are too late to effectively save them.  By the time we can get to them, it may be too late.  We must get our forces in order immediately.”  Il Dolce Mio started back past them and Lucio grabbed the hem of his tunic, pulling him back abruptly.  The diminutive King almost fell sitting in front of them and glared at Lucio in disbelief.

“What can
we
do for them?”  Lucio asked him.  “They would destroy your army without even breaking camp.”

“We must act before they take the hill.  They will either destroy whoever is there or take them prisoner.  If our friends are not in the hill, but are prisoners among the enemy, they may perish in the next battle.  At the moment, we know who is who and where is where.  My soldiers are valiant.  They may be able to breach the line.  And even if we fail, we will fail bravely and with good cause.  The Creator will smile upon our efforts and we will be rewarded either in this life or the next.  I fail to see the cause of your reticence, my father; for I know that it is not cowardice that flows in your veins.”

“They may be able to breach the line, but they would never come back through.  Those are big guns down there.  Your soldiers have only bows and lances.  It would be suicide.”  Lucio objected.  “Where are Luke and Vanni?”

“They rode off to the south to scout the terrain.”  The King looked away to the southern horizon.  “What of your great beast?  Would big guns be useful against him?”

“I don’t know.”  Lucio shook his head.  “I don’t anything about him as a matter of fact.  It would not be wise to assume that he would be impervious to rockets and missiles and artillery fire. I cannot condone the destruction of your people.  If you and the elves were destroyed, I don’t think I would want to live with that burden on my head and not even death could erase my part in allowing such folly.  I would simply request, my King, that you take counsel among your captains, wait for the report from Luke and Vanni and then we may make plans.  This is a siege that we see before us.  We have the advantage of position already on our side.  Whoever is in the hill is apparently dug in and safe for the moment or else the enemy would simply charge up and take them.  We may have a bit of time.”

The elf looked up at the slate blue sky.  The comet was waning.  It was not nearly as bright today as it had been.  It had passed by very close and given every one a great fright, but now it was on its way back to oblivion.

“I think we should wait a while and a bit, Your Eminence.”  Lemarik put in his own advice and got up to brush off his purple robe.  “I can summon my own troops here within half a day.  That would even the odds a bit.”

“I thought the angels would be here.”  Lucio frowned.  “What happened to Lucifer and his little band of merry makers?”

“They are running a strike and retreat campaign against the Fox.”  Lemarik said as he crawled back to his former position.  “They are wary of the Ancient Evil’s power.  They do not want to be entrapped by his magick.”

“Strike and retreat.”  Il Dolce Mio narrowed his deep blue eyes.  “Perhaps we could employ the same method.  Draw them off?”

“Create a diversion.”  Lucio agreed.  “That could be arranged.  It would be safer after dark.  We could perhaps draw some of them away.  Trim them up a bit.  It was a very successful tactic employed by the Saracens against the crusaders.  We could use Brother Philip’s advice about now.”  He glanced up at the sun.  It was making its way down the western horizon.  “They could not see us so well.”

“Yes. Yes.  A good idea.  Do you think they can hold out that long?” 

“Hard to say.  Whoever is at the top of the hill remains well hidden.  There are caves up there, subterranean passages.”  Lucio said and folded his binoculars.  “Luke said that the Master was heading south to London and then going on to Italy to raise an army to come here... somewhere here.  Persia, Egypt, Israel, I’m not sure.  They should be coming soon.  If we could whittle these forces down a bit while we wait, we could do some good if the besieged party can hold out.”

Lemarik came back again and started down the hill, speaking over his shoulder.

“Let us return to camp and see what my brother has found.  We will make a plan and prepare for sundown.  If they do not bring the rocks down on our friends’ heads we may divert their attention for a while.”

Lucio and Il Dolce Mio followed the Djinni back down the rugged hillside to the protected wadi where the elves waited with their ponies.  They were surprised to see Lucifer, himself, lounging on a smooth boulder, waiting for them.

“Greetings, Golden One!”  Lucifer said as he slid from the rock gracefully and his crimson mantle swirled about him.  He touched his third eye, his mouth and his chin in salute.  His golden crown and shoulder clasps sparkled in the sun. A bronze buckler attached to a leather strap rattled against the hilt of his sword as he walked. His tone was unmistakably condescending.  Lucio could fully understand why this arrogant creature had come to have the unsavory reputation that he held.  In spite of Mark Andrew’s defense of the angel, Lucio could not dispel the notion that he was just a bit on the evil side of nature.  He wore the golden crown as easily as one would wear a baseball cap. His golden-red hair hung down his back, perfectly groomed in this wilderness place.  The beard was gone, but had been replaced by an intricately braided mustache that reached his chest.  His looks were obviously a grave concern to him.

“Your Excellency!”  Lucio smiled and bowed his head slightly.  “A pleasure to see you.  Where are your companions? Is my son well?” 

“They are about.”  Lucifer waved one hand absently.  Lucio glanced about and was surprised to see the chieftain’s cronies perched in the rocks.  The elves were gathered in a loose group further along the wadi in front of the milling ponies.  They were watching these creatures with curious gazes, though they displayed no fear.

“Uncle Lucio!”  Michael’s voice startled them, and they turned to embrace Michael Ian and Galen Zachary as they skidded down the dry banks of the old river.

“Father!”  Galen rushed around Michael and threw himself into his father’s arms.

Lucio forgot about Lucifer and his attitude long enough to embrace his son and the son of Luke Matthew.  Lemarik walked about the red-clad figure cautiously, openly scrutinizing him with a dark, calculating eye, sniffing the air deeply. 

Lucifer turned slowly and followed the Djinni’s movements with an air of amusement.  Two very worthy opponents appraising one another.

“Ahhh.  Ohhhh.”  Lemarik moved his head in a bird-like motion as he took in the imposing figure of the angelic warrior and the scarlet mantel he wore.  “A fine work.  Very fine.  Most impressive.  Might I touch your mantle, Fair One?”

Lucifer’s expression changed slightly in surprise and then nodded.  Lemarik picked up the hem of the mantle and examined it closely.

“A most amazing weave.”  He commented and then dropped the cloth.  “I shall have to employ it in my own cloak.  I am Adalune Kadif, Son of the Moon and the Sun.  My father is Adar, the mighty Hunter and my mother is Semiramis, the Queen of the Hesperides.  It is a great honor and pleasure to meet you, Great One.  I have heard many tales of your… exploits.”

“And I have heard of you as well.”  Lucifer nodded briefly.

“We were only just discussing your activities in these parts.”  Lemarik waved one slender hand toward the rocks.  “The enemy is great and his power is strong.  Have you learned much of him?”

“I know enough.”  Lucifer answered shortly.  “He carries two of my brothers about his neck, and he has gained possession of a valuable treasure belonging to your family.”  Lucifer glanced at Il Dolce Mio.  “Stolen from your little brother.”

“Ahhh. Yes.  My brother’s relic.  A most unfortunate development.  We have come to take it back.”  Lemarik told him.  “But watch your tongue concerning my brother, the King; his reputation will not be impugned here.  Two of my brothers are kings.  One of men and another of Elves and neither are to be scoffed, for I will take up their cause for honor most readily.  You are an old acquaintance of my father and I will respect you for that, but do not underestimate me, Shining One.  I am, after all, my father’s son.”

“So it would seem!”  Lucifer laughed and then seemed to relax.  “But what you propose might be more difficult than you imagine, my friend.”  Lucifer was suddenly in front of the elf King, looking into his face.  Lemarik blinked rapidly and then frowned.

“My little King.”  Lucifer leaned close to Il Dolce Mio’s face.  “From whence did this treasure come?  It has tremendous power.  How came you to be in possession of it and how did you lose it?”

“The dark angel came and took it.”  Il Dolce Mio did not flinch from the intense gaze.  “I thought it would be safe on my father’s land, but my father’s power was waning as his absence lengthened.  I take full responsibility for its loss, and that is why I and my warriors are here now.  We will recover the relic or die in the attempt.”

“Abaddon!”  Lucifer stood up.  “Nothing is safe from that one.  He comes and goes as a thief in the night.  He is a coward and a deceiver of men.  What is it that you have come from your kingdom with these gentle little creatures expecting to accomplish?  They cannot stand against the evil power that lies beyond the veil.  You would do well to take your men and women home to safety.”

Il Dolce Mio drew himself up fiercely and faced the angel, obviously insulted by his words.

“I have come to do my part.  My people have come with me to show they are a part of this world as much as anyone else.  We may not live in this dimension in the normal sense, but it is important to us.  If this world does not exist, then neither does our world.  My mother would have expected no less of me and my father would not be ashamed of his son.”  He said evenly.  “We will not run and hide and allow my father to fight this battle alone.  If my mother were alive, she would be here fighting for her King.”

“He is not alone.  Many men come to his aid.”  Lucifer laughed softly, further infuriating the elf.  “You and your people are special creations of God’s great wisdom of whom He would be most proud, if He were capable of such a thing. Your job is to make the world a beautiful place in spite of men. He would not want you to place yourself in danger.  Leave the fighting of men to men.”

“But
you
are here.”  The King objected.  “You are not a man!  If this is a battle of men, why is it being led by creatures of darkness?  Is it not the responsibility of all the world to fight this darkness?  I will perish along with my people if there is a chance to stop the Ancient Evil.  We are here and here we will stay.”

“As you wish.”  Lucifer whirled about and faced Lucio.  “My friend!”  He smiled at the Golden Eagle who had finally shed the embraces of his son, though he still stood close to Galen.  Lucio’s son looked older than his father.  His face was sun-burned and weathered with many crinkles at the eyes and around the mouth.  His blond hair was bleached and shot with white, but he looked very well, very healthy.  Michael, on the other hand, was as fair as a spring day, not looking a day over thirty if that old. “Your son is a great warrior and of a true heart though he quakes from time to time as men are wont to do.  He will soon make his way from this mortal plane and join with the Aeons in the same manner as his forebears have done.  A great honor for you.”