Four days since Azazel broke the siege of Brook Hold, the castle’s walls were nearly restored.

With the angel’s help, the warriors and residents of the castle had replaced those bricks blown apart during the siege. Lady Calimei’s magic assisted in the rebuilding process; forming new bricks out of mud from the dry riverbed. The bodies of the demons who’d taken the castle were cast into the dry creek and burned, their charred bones left behind as a warning.

On the fifth morning, Azazel awoke from his bed in one of the castle’s guest rooms, and upon exiting the room discovered Father Jasper waiting for him in the hall. The undead priest of Rakos wore a dark brown, hooded robe. In his skeletal fingers he held a staff shaped like a harvester’s scythe. In his belt sat a tightly-bound scroll. A slight silver glow from the scroll told Azazel of the enchantments inherent in it, though not what that magic might be. From around Jasper’s neck hung a medallion in the shape of a triangle pointing upward.

“Master,” said Father Jasper with a bow of his head. “You have worked hard to restore this place to its former glory, far beyond what your duties require of you.”

Azazel shrugged and closed his bedroom door behind him. “I do what I can to help.”

Jasper nodded. “But, clearly, your mission was not merely to rid us of the demons.” The priest raised a skeletal hand and tapped his mandible with his bony fingers. “I wonder, is there something more you want?”

“There is,” said Azazel. He adjusted his belt, reminding himself of the sword Law had given him. “I have been sent to become king of Tir Shazelle.”

“Oh ho!” Jasper clasped his fingers together. Azazel braced himself for ridicule. “At long last!” Jasper said, to Azazel’s surprise. “A king to unite this land against the foul forces who threaten it!”

Azazel grinned and straightened his shoulders. “Yes, that’s what I’m here for. To be your courageous king.”

“It’s been hundreds of years since Tir Shazelle last had a king,” said Jasper. “Last time, the king was crowned by the high priestess of Nyx. But… he was only half angel. I imagine you won’t need the clergy to give you your crown.”

“No, but my mentors always taught me to respect human traditions while I’m here.” Azazel patted Father Jasper on the shoulder. “My friend, would you consider coronating me?”

“I’m no high priest…” Jasper adjusted his hood forward just an inch, so the shadow obscured most of his bony face. “But after what you’ve done here, I’d be honored.”

. . .

By that afternoon, all the denizens of Brook Hold had gathered in the castle’s chapel.

Azazel entered through the arched double doors, and into the sanctuary. The ceiling was a dome, on which he saw painted the grand tales of the gods. Sygin’s murder of Enlil decorated the ceiling above the doorway, and at the other end of the room he saw the pictures depicting Nebo creating humanity on Ymir.

A mirror covered the floor, and light of every color shone upon it through the stained-glass windows. On the opposite wall from the windows stood dozens of candelabras, and each candle burned brightly, causing shadows to dance behind them.

The people of Brook Hold sat in the pews lining the center aisle. Lady Calimei and Zale turned their heads from the front row to watch as Azazel strode between the seats.

At the other end of the room, behind the pulpit, stood Father Jasper, and the symbols of the gods sat in a circle on the wall behind him. Azazel recognized Seth’s scales of justice first. Next to the scales, he saw the sandglass of Chronos, a carving of the beautiful face of Ashtoreth, the triangle representing Rakos, the sword representing Montu, the lightning bolt for Anu, and the hammer of Shun. Further along the circle he saw a tree with a human face for Kernun, an open book for Liita, a flame to represent Nebo, and, in the center, a symbol which looked like Chronos’ sandglass, but it was turned on its side, and a single line extended down from the middle.

Out of Eternity came Nyx, god of light and truth. First-born son of Enlil.

As Azazel passed Lady Calimei, he turned to her and gave a friendly smile. The young woman raised her chin and tilted her head back, her eyes never leaving his. Though her lips did not part, she gave Azazel a faint smirk.

When the angel reached the pulpit, Father Jasper spoke, and his voice echoed throughout the sanctuary. “Dear friends, you all know why I gathered you here today.” He chuckled. “I’d intended for it to be a secret, but some people just can’t help but gossip.” He looked to the crowd, and appeared to be looking at someone in particular, but without eyes in those black sockets it was hard to tell just who he was playfully accusing. “Don’t worry. I’m smiling right now.” He pointed to his snow-white teeth, ever on display. “This is my smiling face. Can’t you tell?”

A few small laughs and nervous titters escaped the lips of those in attendance.

After a moment, Jasper raised a hand to silence the crowd. “This angel,” he pointed to Azazel, “came here because the gods have charged him with a most sacred mission; to unite Tir Shazelle under his crown.” Jasper pointed his skeletal index finger upward. “But, the moment he arrived here, he hatched a plan to rescue our lady, Calimei. He could have led you all in a fierce siege of the castle and hoped to get through the demons’ defenses before they could harm her.” Jasper clamped a hand down on the pulpit. “Or, he could have decided rescuing her was not an option. After all, if the demons had slain her you all would be searching for a new leader. What better way to make himself king? But, no… he gave himself over to the demons as a prisoner, knowing full well they could have killed him at any time. He surrendered himself in Lady Calimei’s place, with only the slightest chance of survival.”

Azazel hung his head. Not the most cunning plan when you put it that way…

Jasper rapped the pulpit, and everyone in the chapel jumped. “THAT! That is what makes a good king! A righteous king understands that his role is as a servant to the people on behalf of the gods, and because he is willing to give himself up for the people, they are willing to die for him!”

Azazel cringed, remembering the last time humans had put their lives in his hands.

I’m so sorry…

“THE GODS HAVE SPOKEN!” Jasper shouted and raised both of his hands into the air. The sleeves slid down his bony arms and fell around his shoulders. “Azazel! I hereby declare you King of Tir Shazelle! I will follow you until your last day, or mine.” The priest pointed his bony finger at the humans in the chapel. “And I charge all of you with this mission. I can declare my liege king all I want, but it doesn’t make it true. You shall each work to make my words a reality! Spread the word throughout Tir Shazelle, all of the local lords must swear fealty to their new king!”

Azazel’s hair stood on end and his body warmed when the crowd behind him erupted into applause. When he turned to face them, they stood from their pews with rapturous shouts.

Zale leaned in closer to Lady Calimei, who whispered something in her ear. Zale nodded, then, as the noise died down, said, “My lady would like to suggest that King Azazel may use Brook Hold as the seat of his power, until such time as he finds one more suited to his needs.” Calimei stood from the pew, then knelt before Azazel. “She hereby swears an oath of fealty to his majesty.”

Azazel chuckled. “With all due respect, Zale, I would prefer to hear Lady Calimei speak for herself.”

The crowd fell into instant silence, and those present looked away. Azazel glanced back at Father Jasper, who might have been avoiding his gaze.

Zale shook her head. “I’m sorry… it seems you haven’t heard.” Lady Calimei stood as her attendant spoke and folded her hands in front of her lap. “On the day Lady Calimei became a woman, Ashtoreth, goddess of love and beauty, bequeathed to her a most precious blessing. Any man who hears Lady Calimei’s voice will fall desperately in love with her. This is why I speak on her behalf.”

“Well, I’m ready to embrace that fate,” said Azazel.

“Master…” Jasper muttered.

Azazel dropped to one knee in front of Lady Calimei. The lady’s eyes flew wide in shock, and she pursed her lips together tight. Gasps resounded through the crowd as everyone present recognized what their new king was about to do.

“Lady Calimei,” said Azazel. The young noblewoman quivered as she stared into his eyes. Her chest heaved with each breath through her nose. The young angel found himself growing more and more captivated by her beautiful face. Blessed by Ashtoreth indeed. He took one of her hands in his own, and her cheeks burned red. “I am ready to fall in love with you, because I wish to make you my wife. As a king, I need a queen, and I can think of no one better to fill that role than the woman these people already serve.”

For just a moment, an annoyed look flashed in Lady Calimei’s eyes. But she gave a closed-lipped grin again and leaned over to whisper in Zale’s ear. Azazel leaned in, hoping to catch some small hint of her melodious voice.

Zale looked at Lady Calimei with confusion in her eyes. “Are you sure?”

Calimei nodded her head.

Zale turned to Azazel. “My lady is most grateful that you would offer her a throne by your side, but before she accepts, she wishes to speak with you privately.”

“Absolutely!” Azazel smiled and rose to his feet again. He offered out his hand to Calimei. “My lady, let us take a moment to get to know one another, certainly. I am ready to give you my heart!”

More murmuring from the crowd. Azazel could feel all eyes on him as the mortals whispered to each other. When he looked back at Father Jasper, he saw the priest’s hand upon his own brow, and his head hung low.

Is such a quick proposal really so rare? With how brief mortal lives are, one would think they’d have the shortest courtships imaginable, just to be married to the ones they love longer…

. . .

Azazel, Calimei, and Zale all met in the castle’s library.

Once all three were inside, Zale spoke to the guards in the hall, “Make sure no one enters or listens in,” then closed and locked the library’s door.

Azazel looked between Calimei and Zale. “I thought…” he turned his eyes to his lady, “you wanted to meet privately?”

“This is as private as it gets until you’re wed,” said Zale in a gruff voice. “Maybe as private as it ever gets.” The old woman sighed and crossed the room to Calimei. She joined hands with the young woman and whispered to her. “Be brave.”

Azazel stared at them both in confusion. “What’s going on? Is it truly so terrifying that an angel is ready to love you for the rest of your life?”

Zale smirked. “Yes. Yes, it’s absolutely terrifying. Not just because you’re an angel, but because you have no fear at all of commitment.”

“Is that such a bad thing?” Azazel asked.

Zale bobbed her head from one side to the other indecisively. “I don’t know what angelic courtship is like, but we weigh carefully how we wish to spend our few years of life.”

“Oh, this is about me?” Azazel’s brow furrowed in sympathy. “Oh, my lady! I swear, I will do all I can to be the best husband you could ever ask for! I will always be kind to you. I will protect you and provide for you. Most of all, I will always put you first.”

Lady Calimei opened her mouth to speak, and as she did so Azazel gasped. The young woman’s top, front teeth extended far past her bottom teeth. Her lower jaw shrunk back against her neck. “Aaaalw-w-ways?”

Azazel tilted his head to one side. “My lady… your voice…”

“As y-y-y-you c-c-c-can now…” Lady Calimei leaned her head forward and closed one eye as she tried to force the words out. Azazel stared at her, his look slowly turning to pity. “…S-s-see, m-my v-v-voice… Oh, sod it! I stammer!”

Azazel stood stunned. When he’d heard Zale claim that Calimei was blessed with a voice that made all men fall in love with her, this was the last thing he might have expected. Yet, as jarring as this was, there was something endearing about the way she formed every word. She struggled, and Azazel felt an instinctual need to help her with her struggles.

Zale spoke from across the room in a hushed voice. “I’m sorry, master, but the story about Ashtoreth’s blessing was a lie. Now that you know the real reason Lady Calimei hides her voice, I ask that you keep it a secret, please.”

Azazel gave Zale a sad look. “I can see how such a secret might… well, I can see why you’d want to hide it. But, why tell me if it’s so important it remain hidden?”

Zale rolled her eyes. “Because you proposed marriage! Married people typically talk to each other, don’t they? Or did you want that kind of marriage? All tit and no tat?”

A shocked, unintelligible noise fled from Azazel’s throat.

Calimei opened her mouth to speak again. Once more, her lower jaw pressed against her neck, and her skin folded under her chin. “I r-r-release you. Aaaask ssssomeone else to b-be your q-q-q-quee…” she shook with frustration, “…your queeeeee… your bride.”

“Release me?” Azazel arched his eyebrow. “What makes you think I want to be released?”

Zale touched Azazel’s shoulder. “Look, it’s all right. You professed your intentions before you knew…”

“And my intentions haven’t changed a bit!” Azazel clasped Calimei’s hand in his own. The young lady’s eyes widened, and she blushed as she had in the chapel. “No, you told the truth about Ashtoreth’s blessing. Lady Calimei, from the moment you spoke I knew I’d hold you in my heart! Your voice is every bit as beautiful as Zale told me it would be! My lady…”

“Oh, gods…” muttered Zale, “…don’t say it… don’t say it…”

“I love you!” Azazel kissed the back of Lady Calimei’s hand, but the moment his lips touched her soft skin she jerked her fingers away from him.

“D-d-d-don’t m-m-mock me!” she hissed. “M-m-master, please! That’s ssso cruel!”

Zale shook her head. “I think he’s being sincere, my lady.”

Azazel dropped to one knee before Lady Calimei again. “My lady, now more than ever I want to marry you! Everything about you is beautiful to me! What you may call a stammer or a stutter, I call… choosing your words carefully.”

Calimei snorted and stepped back from Azazel. “Liar…” The word came out in barely more than a breath.

“My lady.” Azazel reached for her hand again. She took a step further away and looked at him as if he were a serpent poised to strike. “Please, I’m not mocking you and I’m not lying! I want you, and only you, for my queen! I ask you now, will you marry me?”

Calimei’s lip quivered. She looked up at Zale for guidance, but the old woman’s confused expression offered none. With renewed determination on her face, she looked down at Azazel, took a deep breath, and said, “No!”

Azazel hung his head in defeat. “Oh, my lady…”

“If you l-l-luh… if you luh… Sod it!” She stamped her foot in frustration and shouted, “Propose better next time!” Calimei folded her arms and turned her back to him.

The three of them waited in silence for a moment.

Zale approached Azazel and rested a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, my liege.”

“Next time?” Azazel raised his head, a hopeful smile on his lips. “Then, you’ll allow me to propose again?”

Calimei did not turn around. “Maybe.”

“Very well.” Azazel rose to his feet. “I have given you my heart, and now shall strive to earn yours. No… not to earn, but to be worthy. For your heart is not a prize to be won, but a precious treasure only you can give. I vow here and now to know no other woman’s touch. I vow to become the king… no, the husband you deserve! I only ask one thing in return.”

Calimei turned to face him again. Her brow was furrowed in frustration. “Aaaaaand that is?”

“I want to meet with you privately like this as often as we are able,” said Azazel. “And I want to hear your voice again and again. I want to learn all there is to know about you.”