Chapter XLII

Soldiers poured into Aius and made preparations for the siege they believed was imminent. The Grand Duke led his forces there and the Arch-Bishop called for every paladin, every professor at Caelum, and every recruit about to graduate to come and protect Aius. The Grand Duke's soldiers had lost track of many of the Nihilite soldiers who'd fled Dead-River Pass, so they feared that they may have somehow found another way through.

. . .

Their fears were well-founded. Using many much smaller passes, Cory and his handful of followers got through the mountains, disguised as Arxian soldiers. With all of the soldiers coming in it wasn't too hard for them to slip in unnoticed. Cory was no master strategist, but he knew better than to attack the moment they were in the city, they'd wait for nightfall, when everyone was asleep, to “unleash the worst nightmare any of them will ever have!” in Cory's own words. But when he saw just how many paladins and paladin squires had come to the city he was forced to rethink this strategy. “We wait for an opportune time,” he said. “When the King is foolish enough to walk out into the open, or when the paladins have let their guard down. Then we strike!”

. . .

Lorna and her forces gathered in the high mountains, north of Dead-River Pass. The situation was grim, to say the least. Most of her soldiers had either abandoned the war effort out of fear or been killed in that last battle. They didn't have anywhere near enough soldiers to destroy the capital city, and if they tried to retreat back to Nihilus at this point they would likely meet heavy resistance on the way back. Really, what it came down to was that Lorna had to decide where her soldiers would die, not what she would do to keep them alive. She gathered all of them together and stood up high so that all could see and hear her.

“We have lost,” she began.

The soldiers all murmured, some in agreement, others in disbelief. One, in the back, was bold enough to shout, “NO SCHYTE!”

“We cannot win if we continue to the capital city at this point,” Lorna continued, ignoring the soldier who shouted at her. “There we would face more than soldiers and paladins, every able-bodied citizen of that sinful city would attack us. If we try to retreat back to Nihilus we will surely die before we see it, and even if we made it back we would return in shame. So, since neither option is...ideal I ask you this, do you wish to march forward, towards Aius, give these damned idolaters one last battle, die trying to free humanity from the clutches of the treacherous God, make ourselves heroes in the Void for our valiant deaths? Or do you want to try to go home, live out the rest of your lives with your families if you can make it, and bear the shame of defeat? What's it going to be? Who is for going home?” To Lorna's surprise not a single one of the soldiers there raised their hands or said anything. Already knowing the answer, Lorna asked the question, “Who wants to attack the Arxian capital?” She could not have been more proud of her soldiers as they all cheered loudly. They shook their fists in the air and shouted out their roars for glory so loudly that the daemons in the Void would be able to hear them. “Then that's what we'll do! March onward, everyone! Kill as many of the idolaters as you can!”

. . .

Back in the capital, Hadar pulled Milo aside to talk to him in private. “My friend, I need your help,” Hadar said.

“What is it, Hadar?”

“You remember the assignment we were working on, back at Caelum, the day that I found out Amasi died?”

“I...don't, actually.”

“We were to prepare speeches.”

“Ah, yes, I remember.”

“And I remember yours being particularly good, while I was never good at speeches,” Hadar said. “That's why I need your help. We don't know where the Nihilite army is now, but we can be damn sure they're coming here. If they have that 'Cory' warlock with them we've yet to see the worst of this war. I'll need to speak some words to inspire our people.”

“Oh, so you want me to help you write a speech?”

“And I want you to help me practice it!” Hadar said. “Tell me where to put inflection, what words to emphasize, and how! I was never intended to be a king, so I never really learned how to deliver good speeches.”

“Don't worry,” Milo said, patting Hadar on the shoulder. “We'll come up with something so inspiring that you'll make your brother proud.”

For the next several hours the two of them worked on Hadar's speech. They took small excerpts from the Sacred Scriptures, read old speeches made by generals or kings long ago for inspiration, and Milo added his own special touch.

“Are you sure about this part, Milo? It's kind of grim...”

“They'll prefer you to be straight with them. They'll feel terrible fear knowing what they're up against, if you acknowledge that these fears are wise before building up their courage they'll be all the more inspired.”

“And what about this part? Do I really need to claim the courtiers advised me to say thus? They said no such thing.”

“That's not important. What's important is the emotions it will stir.”

“I call them brothers and sisters here...are you sure they wouldn't rather have a strong authority figure leading them?”

“An authority figure strong enough not to talk down to them is best. You doubt I know how commoners think? Now, let's work on delivery.”

For the next few hours after that Milo coached Hadar in the best way to deliver the speech, going over it with him again and again, also making sure that he memorized it so that he wouldn't simply be reading it aloud. One of the worst things you could do with an inspirational speech was read it. It ruined the inflection, invariably, and speeches read aloud never sounded like they came straight from the heart.

. . .

At that same time Grigori met in secret with Sarahi. “Your Highness, I have a favor to ask of you.”

By now she had learned everything about Grigori. That he was truly trustworthy. That he had turned his back on the Inquisition, almost at the cost of his life, and that he and Hadar were lovers. In a sense this made him almost part of their little pseudo-family. “How can I help you?”

“I need you to gather as many of the weapons the city guard will be using as you can in one place. There's an old spell the inquisitors know that can make these weapons capable of slaying demons. I'm going to cast this spell on every sword and spear.”

“You turned your back on Sandalphon...can you still use this spell?”

“I thought I wouldn't be able to use any of those spells any more either, but...because I felt there'd be a need for that kind of magic I experimented just a few hours ago and found that I can. It seems Sandalphon taught the Inquisition a form of magic that came not from him but was, in fact, very old, and they conformed it to meet their needs. The power to cast such spells is not in their faith, but in themselves, as it is in me, even still.”

“Considering how few people can wield diamond weapons this will be very helpful,” Sarahi said. “Have you tried bringing this up to the Grand Duke?”

“Eyal still does not trust me,” Grigori said. “But at least I can help the city guard.”

“Alright, I'll see to it that as many of their weapons as possible are brought to you.”

No sooner had Grigori finished enchanting the weapons of the city guard and Milo and Hadar finished rehearsing the speech than scouts reported seeing the remainder of the Nihilite army marching towards the city. They reported that the force was small, but Hadar knew that with “Cory” in their midst they barely even needed their human soldiers anymore. He'd rip the Firmament apart like it was nothing more than paper and bring the demons pouring in. The people of the city knew it too, enough stories had spread about what had transpired at Dead-River Pass that the people knew not to find any comfort in the fact that the Nihilites had only a few soldiers. When Cory and his followers, still hiding out in the capital city, heard about the force advancing towards the capital, he felt that this could not have turned out better. While everyone was trying to fight off Lorna and her army he'd call upon daemonic legions within the city.

Captain Gedon gathered as many of the city-guardsmen on the battlements of the city's walls as he could, all armed with bows and the weapons Grigori had blessed. At the gates he placed his footmen, swords and shields at the ready. The paladins of Caelum soon joined them at the walls of the city, and the Grand Duke's men stood near the gates, readying for the attack. The peasant militia had grown, many times over, as the people of Aius volunteered to protect their homes. Golems joined them at the walls too, the remainder of the Arch-Bishop's stone army.

Hadar and Milo both marched out to the battlements before all of the soldiers gathered there, and Hadar stood at the highest point he could find to deliver the speech that he and Milo had prepared for this occasion. With the eyes of the city guards, the paladins, the Grand Duke's soldiers, and the peasant militia on him, King Hadar delivered the speech that he would be remembered for. The speech that would give these men and women the strength they'd need to face the horrible crisis before them.

“My countrymen, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of Arx and of God, in spite of the advice of my courtiers and advisers I cannot lie to you. The threat we face today is not a mortal one. Yes, a mortal army marches towards our fair city, but it is small, easy to overcome. The true threat is the weapon it carries with it, an arrogant young man wearing a ring capable of summoning forth a demon army, one greater than this world has ever seen before! I have heard the rumors spoken in these streets, in the back alleyways, and in the marketplaces, and I tell you the rumors are true. I see the fear in your hearts, hearing such terrible news, and I admit that I too am afraid. The man who would not fear such an army would be a fool. But there is something far stronger than fear, and it is not courage, it is love. Look around at your countrymen, brothers and sisters, and know that among us all is a love far stronger than anything that the demons of the Void can bring against us! The Nihilites wish to bring their demon armies into this world to fight us? Then strike back with such passion that God himself shall manifest in the love of your hearts and the strength of your arms! Those of you who stand and fight this day shall either in your old age tell your grandchildren stories of your heroic feats, or in Heaven, for all eternity, tell the angels and saints of your great deeds. This is our home, a home given to us by God himself, and we have been obedient in following his Law to the best of our ability. In the ancient days he made a covenant with mankind that those who kept his Laws may count him among their allies. If he is with us, tell me, who can stand against us? I tell you, in spite of the overwhelming force we face we shall see victory, such a victory that the demons of the Void will fear all of your names for all time!”

For a few moments after the speech the soldiers all merely stood in stunned silence and stared at Hadar. Every one of them knew, before that, that this young man never should have been King. He was trained for a very different path, and that he was simply better than many of the alternatives. Only when the choice was between either making him King or suffering a civil war they would rather have him as their king. And yet, as he spoke those words to them, they couldn't help but feel that their king was almost superhuman. He may not be a strong king, but he was a kind king, and when they realized that they all realized that here was a king they could lay down their lives for. Here was a king that they could follow into battle, not because he commanded them to, but because they wanted to. They didn't know how much he had sacrificed for Arx, but they knew that he had sacrificed much, and would be willing to sacrifice much more, beside them.

Gedon turned to his guards, “Gentlemen, it's been an honor serving with you. Now, let's show these blaggards what true courage is!”

The Arxian strategy was simple. Yes, they knew that the demon army would outnumber them, but they also knew that the demons needed the warlock who summoned them both alive and nearby, so ultimately the plan was “kill the warlocks.” The paladins and those armed with the weapons Grigori had enchanted would protect everyone else from the demons that appeared. It was clear that unlike in normal sieges they could not simply stay behind their gates and fight to make sure the enemy didn't come in, they'd have to send warriors out to meet their enemies on the battlefield, outside of the city walls, otherwise the warlocks could continuously attack the city from a distance.

Just as Lorna's soldiers drew close she was surprised to see the big gates of the city open wide and cavaliers riding out, followed by infantrymen. “Warlocks!” she called out. The warlocks in her small army knew what to do and summoned daemons directly in front of Lorna's front lines. The paladins watching the ensuing battle over the city's battlements began to chant in unison, exorcisms to banish the demons from the field, but they were not fast enough to save all of the cavaliers. It was too difficult for them to slow their horses in time and when they got close enough demons leaped up and took them down off of their horses. The foot-soldiers ran past their fallen comrades, knowing that the best thing they could do for them was kill the conjurers.

“Archers!” Lorna cried out. On the way there her archers had spent a lot of time making arrows with Blackstar Talismans where arrowheads should be. Yes, the shape of the talismans ruined the aerodynamic nature of the arrows somewhat, but these arrows didn't need to be accurate, they just needed to get behind the city walls. The archers fired over the ranks in front of them, and the Arxians on the other side of the walls all took cover as the volley of arrows came crashing down. When not one of them was struck they dared to think for a moment that they were safe, until they realized the arrows' true purpose. Demons appeared, mostly seekers and the locust demons. The paladins and city-guardsmen immediately turned their attention to the demons inside of the walls.

Cory thought this the perfect opportunity to act, to take advantage of the chaos. With so many soldiers out in the fields in front of the city it would be much harder for them to defend the people. Because of Cory's pride he had almost considered going straight to the front lines of the battle to flank the Arxians who defended the front gates, but a far more practical and more sinister idea came to mind. Therion had talked about his desire to destroy the Obelisk of the Law, the primary symbol of the Agalmite faith, their “proof” of the God who created the world. Agalmites from all over the world could come to this city and see the unchanging Law for themselves, and their faith would be bolstered. Without it, any religion that spread that far was bound to have schisms, people who misinterpreted the principles of the religion, or twisted it to suit their own needs. The Scriptures, as often as they were copied, could be mistranslated, added to, or changed, but the Law was the constant, unchanging stone on which the entire faith was built. That was why, Cory thought, it needed to be destroyed.

Those citizens of the capital who had not volunteered to fight had been ordered to stay as far away from the front lines as possible. Had Cory attempted to approach the front lines it would have been highly suspicious, and Hadar or Milo might have recognized him. But in such a crisis it was not even a little uncommon for the people to go to the Grand Cathedral to pray. The Arch-Bishop had even asked for as many believers as possible to come to the sanctuary, believing that their prayers would help turn the tide of the battle. The thought of dashing their hopes in such a sacred place seemed so delicious to Cory.

He and his followers approached the Grand Cathedral. Cory's followers all wore commoners' clothes, but Cory himself would not disguise himself as such. He wore the finest nobleman's garments he could steal from a tailor's window, in shades of black, dark purple, and red. And he wore the crown, the same one he'd taken off of King Sulaiman's body back in the old ruin. Needless to say this drew some attention.

With so many heads turning to see him and prayers stopped so that the faithful could attempt to figure out who this man was Cory spoke into the ring, “This is your chance, Malkira. Let's give it everything we've got. Make this the blow that utterly shatters the Agalmite faith!”

The shrieking, roaring, and screeching that filled the air as what seemed to be millions and millions of daemons of every kind and breed began to appear was deafening. The windows of the Grand Cathedral shattered. Malkira himself, along with three other daemons of similar size, stood by the Obelisk of the Law. They all grasped it hard with their hands and pulled upward as hard as they could, groaning and growling. Slowly, they yanked the stone monument out of the ground, and once it was out Malkira threw it at the Grand Cathedral. The obelisk smashed the cathedral's roof and collapsed the ceiling of the sanctuary down upon those inside. Priests scrambled to banish the demons, chanting their prayers, but they were overwhelmed. Demons rushed in and tore them apart, sending them to meet the God they'd spent their whole lives serving.

Cory's followers joined in the fun. They stabbed and beat the Agalmites, or threw them to the daemons. The few warlocks who had accompanied Cory felt almost useless considering the number of daemons already present, but under his orders they summoned more, adding but a few drops of water to the ocean. Most of Cory's followers scattered into the city, to help cause as much mayhem as they could.

The noise of the destruction and the “battle,” if one could call it that, drew the attention of those defending the gate. As Milo and Hadar turned to see what was causing the noise they knew in an instant what the sight before them meant. “Cory...”

With the Grand Cathedral and the Law destroyed, Malkira's legions began to spread out through the city. The screams of the innocent people caught in the wave of destruction and death emanating from the holiest site of the Agalmite faith was chilling.

Hadar turned to Captain Gedon, “Stay here! Keep defending the wall! Paladins of Caelum, I need all of your help! We must do what we can!” Without waiting for a response, Hadar ran off towards the demonic legions attacking his city. Milo followed closely behind. As Hadar and Milo ran towards the legions of demons before them they thought about what they were doing. Both realized that there was little they could do against an army that size. Even if all of the Agalmite believers in all the world were paladins they feared they'd not stand a chance against an army like that. What did the two of them, and whatever paladins had chosen to follow, truly hope to accomplish by rushing into this battle?

Well, nothing. Nothing except to be able to stand before God and say that they gave it their all. Nothing except to try to give a handful of citizens a slim chance to escape the onslaught. Nothing except to show the demons and their loyal worshipers their worth. Without a miracle, one far more powerful than anything that any paladin, priest, or geomancer could conjure, they knew they were running off to die. It was something every paladin knew he'd have to face some day, the possibility that they might end up fighting a battle they could not win. They knew they might be forced to give their lives some day, but this day they chose to do so. Everyone had to face death eventually, just as surely as they lived. All that mattered was making sure that one's life and death both made a difference.

As the paladins drew close to Cory and his followers the demons came down to greet them, standing in their way, or attacking them from above. Milo swung his diamond claymore over-head, chopping through the demons coming in from above. Hadar slammed into the demons in front of them with his shield. The force scattered them, and he stabbed them with his long-sword as they staggered. Other paladins soon rushed into the fight. Those with spears stabbed the demons attacking from above. Those with swords or maces smashed through the enemy lines in front. The demons struck back, scratching at them with their knife-like claws, or snapping at them with their hundreds of snake-like heads. Horned demons plowed them out of the way or trampled them underfoot. One demon, with massive fists as hard as rock, struck Hadar's shield and knocked him onto the ground. The demon stood over him and raised its fists again to beat him, but Milo swung his great sword and beheaded the demon before it could harm his friend and king any further.

When they felt safe enough, the paladins in the middle would cast healing spells over the others, or even say prayers for strength and protection, but they could not fight out in the open like this for too long, not against such overwhelming numbers. All of them split into many small units and fell back into the houses nearby. A few paladins were not in such a hurry to retreat, though, and pushed their way through the demons in their way, rushing at Cory. As they drew close Cory watched them with a twisted grin on his face. Demons appeared in front of him and attacked them before they could reach, dragging them onto the ground and tearing them asunder.

“That's right,” Cory shouted to the paladins hiding in the houses nearby. “Hide, cowards! There's nothing you can do against this army! So wait in those little houses, you can die with the rest of the Arxians!”

“He sure loves to talk,” Milo said, holding the door shut behind him as demons tried to break through.

“Well, he does have a point, we can't fight an army this large,” said Hadar.

“Then we just have to kill Cory.”

“Oh? Is that all? Why didn't I think of that?”

There was the sound of wood snapping and stone crumbling as the roof of the house was completely torn off by several very large, flying demons. Milo threw several large pieces of furniture in front of the door and stood in front of Hadar, his sword pointed up at the demons. Milo and Hadar slew the demons as they came down upon them, alongside the other paladins standing with them. As demons broke through the door Hadar and a few of the other paladins turned their attention towards fighting them off.

. . .

Elsewhere, in the same neighborhood, Grigori sneaked from house to house. He was searching for any survivors who were fighting for their lives and enchanting anything they could use as weapons. He'd been told to stay in the castle, for his own protection, but, just like when Enoch attacked the people of the city to get to him, he couldn't let his fear get the better of him. Sarahi, in the meantime, had been far more responsible, protecting herself and Arx's only hope for a future by staying in the castle, like she had been asked. All the while, as she stared out the window and saw the battle going on outside, she cursed about having to think of the child and not just herself. She felt that as a paladin she should be out with the others, fighting to save the city, not sitting comfortably in her room.

Cory shouted up at Malkira, “The King of Arx! He's in that house!” He pointed at the house he'd seen Hadar run into. Hadar and Milo heard Cory shouting and forced their way out the house's back door, just as Malkira stepped over and stabbed inside with his great sword. The two of them cut their way through the swarms of demons in the streets, and took refuge again in another empty house, away from the rest of the paladins.

“The prisoner said Cory was arrogant...” Hadar said.

“I'd have never guessed...”

“No, I'm thinking of a plan here...Cory wants to be known as the greatest hero Nihilus ever had, what better way for him to do that than to kill the King of Arx himself?”

“Hadar...what are you thinking?”

“I can distract him...offer myself to him as a sacrifice. While he's busy with me you can attack him by surprise! The demons rise to his defense whenever anyone draws close, but in order for demons still in the Void to be able to see that he's in danger...he needs to see it first! Like all warlocks he's allowing demons in the Void to see the world through his eyes.”

“If he sees you approaching he'll have the demons kill you instantly. He's not a fool.”

“I think he is a fool,” Hadar said. “Such a fool that if he saw something so unusual as say...me approaching him without any weapons...”

“That's suicide!”

“Not if he's as proud as the prisoner suggested, as proud as we've seen. He wants the stories told of him to be grand...epic! What better way to achieve that then to kill the King of Arx himself, with his own hands?”

“...Just to be clear, you're talking about being a decoy, right? Not just surrendering?”

“Of course! I'd never surrender my kingdom to him!”

“What about your life?”

“Only if I thought it would save my people.”

“Which it won't.”

“I know that.”

Milo sighed. “You'll still need a way to get close enough to him to talk.”

“Indeed, so we'd better get moving.”

. . .

Cory's victory seemed imminent, the daemons tore through every house in the neighborhood and massacred every citizen who could not flee. The paladins were killing the daemons Cory summoned, but only in such small numbers that it didn't matter. It was like they were trying to empty the entire ocean one cup of water at a time. But then something happened, something that Cory didn't expect. First, dust began to fill the air, not the dust from the destruction the daemons were causing, mind you, but dust that sparkled and shimmered. Then the dust in the air collected together to form the bodies of hundreds of angels, each armed with two diamond swords. They began fighting the daemons, turning the tide of the battle. Each angel seemed to kill hundreds of daemons before falling.

“No! No! NO!” Cory screamed. “You will not deprive me of my victory! Malkira! Kill them! Kill them all!”

At the center of the battle Malkira fought off the dozens of angels attacking him at once. Though angels were far stronger than the average daemons, they apparently still couldn't compare to the strength and power of a daemon on Malkira's level. He was an arch-daemon, a daemon lord, after all. One angel came after Cory, but Ormond and several other daemons appeared and trampled the angel into dust in his defense.

“Damn it all! Damn it all! WHY?” Cory screamed and beat the ground with his fists in rage.

“Looks like you stand a chance of losing this battle,” Hadar said from behind Cory. Cory turned to see that the few followers he had standing nearby as bodyguards now were lying dead, cut to pieces, and Hadar held a blood-soaked diamond-blade, which he dropped on the ground.

Ormond looked like he was about to charge Hadar, but Cory said. “No, Ormond, stay...Only an idiot casts aside his blade in the middle of a battle,” Cory said, drawing his own sword and smiling at the foolish king.

“I don't want to fight, I want to talk.”

“Oh?”

“As you can see our God has stepped in on our behalf.”

“It is of no consequence. Malkira can still win this battle!”

“Maybe, but you don't actually believe that. That's why you were beating your fists on the ground a few seconds ago,” Hadar said.

Grigori crept up in one of the alleyways nearby and watched this conversation transpire with curiosity. Why had Hadar cast aside his sword? he wondered, and why was he holding up his hands like that? Was this a surrender?

“What do you propose?”

“You can't go home without some kind of victory, that's for sure, and I know that even if the angels do win this battle for us there may still be many more casualties. I'd rather see it end here and now.”

“You're proposing a duel?” Cory asked. He knew that if this was what the King was offering him that he stood no chance, not in a duel. Cory was a powerful daemon-conjurer, not a warrior.

“No, not a duel, a sacrifice. You kill me, with your own hands, and then call off your demon hoards. My people get to live, and you get to go home and tell your people that you killed the King of Arx. You don't need to destroy this whole city to make yourself a great war hero, you just need to kill one man. Me.”

“What do you get out of this?”

“I told you, more of my people get to live this way. I'm just trying to save as many lives as I can.”

The thought began to sink in, the stories they'd tell back home of Cory, the man who rose from a beggar in the streets, to the savior of Nihilus, to the very man who won the war for them. Yes, he'd destroyed the Law already, as was their goal, but killing the King of Arx was a far worthier goal, one that would surely destroy the kingdom. “I accept. Kneel.”

With his hands still in the air, Hadar knelt on the ground before Cory, hoping to see Milo coming around soon, but even the best-laid plans can fall apart.

Milo had been using the empty houses for cover as he made his way around, hoping to sneak up on Cory from behind and kill him. One of those houses, due to all of the chaos, had collapsed on top of him, and he was now stuck under all of the rubble. Strong as he was, he couldn't lift it all off of him on his own.

“I have your word? By your honor, you'll stop this battle once I'm dead?” Hadar said as Cory approached. Cory didn't seem trustworthy, really, but Hadar knew that making a man so proud swear by his honor was a good way to ensure that he would be truthful. Sometimes hubris bred honesty where morality could not.

“Absolutely,” Cory said, fully intending to keep his word. Once he'd killed the King what more need was there to continue the battle? If the battle kept going like this he knew there was a chance that he could lose, even with Malkira's help, and the last thing he wanted to be remembered for was for being the fool who didn't know when to stop and lost the war when victory seemed so certain.

With all of the noise around them, and all of the demons and angels flying around, fighting their spectacular battle, light refracting through the angels' bodies, shining rainbows of colors down on the ground beneath them, all that Grigori could focus on was the sight before him. This is a trick! he thought. Hadar's never truly unarmed, he's a paladin! As soon as Cory gets close he'll get up and punch him to death or something!

But Hadar had no intentions of fighting back. He knew that unarmed as he was he was at a severe disadvantage, even with the strength of his fists and faith. If he attacked Cory here and failed to kill him then not only would he die, but the deal would be broken, and Cory would be furious at such a betrayal. Surely he'd take out his frustrations on the people. It didn't take long for Cory to close the distance between himself and Hadar, he walked swiftly but cautiously, and yet it seemed like those few moments were longer than the rest of Hadar's life had been. He kept stealing glances past Cory, hoping to see Milo coming up behind him, but he tried not to search for his friend too much. If Cory noticed him looking for something behind him he might realize that the whole thing was a trick.

Right until the last moment, Hadar had to be unflinching, he could show no sign that he expected to be rescued, no sign that he expected to live. As Cory was nearly in arms' reach a horrible thought occurred to Hadar, what if Milo didn't make it in time? Hadar wondered what he should do if Milo didn't arrive, like they'd planned. He knew that kneeling down as he was, and unarmed, he stood little chance of being able to kill Cory, especially since demons were at the ready to defend him. At the moment the demons were focused on defending themselves from the angels, if Cory felt betrayed he might re-direct them to kill as many commoners as they could before losing the battle while he fled the city. Hadar had to believe that Cory would keep his word, that Hadar's death would end the battle and stop the killing.

It was time for him to fully live up to the vows he made when he accepted the crown. He'd safeguard the people's needs, match the courage of his soldiers, who had given their lives for Arx, and protect all believers.

What Hadar would have given to hear his beloved brother's voice again. He'd thought of him every day since learning that he'd been murdered. How he missed him. Now, here, he knew that he'd soon see him again. As Cory brought his sword around to take off Hadar's head Hadar could still see no sign of Milo. He knew that at this point even if he wanted to there was nothing he could do to stop it, this was how his life would end, and he was alright with that. He closed his eyes and smiled, waiting to be brought into the sweet embrace of Heaven.

To Grigori it all happened so fast. He saw Hadar kneel and heard Hadar and Cory talk for a bit. All the while he expected that Hadar would do something, trick Cory and take him down. But in an instant Cory stepped forward and cut off Hadar's head.

The shock and horror of what he'd just seen overcame Grigori. His heart felt drained, not broken, as it would later be, but as if all of the deep emotions in it had been sucked out into a vacuum. He felt so empty, so cold, and then so burning hot with rage. The world around him disappeared, and all he could see was Cory, standing over the body of his dead lover. He drew his sword at ran at Cory. All the world turned blood red in his eyes.

Cory didn't even hear Grigori's fast-approaching footsteps with all the noise about, and as such the daemons who would normally have risen to his defense had no idea what was happening. He only even realized what was happening when he felt Grigori's sword slip through his ribs, through the back, and pierce his heart. Then he felt the blade slip out and back in again, a little lower this time, and again, and again. Grigori stabbed Cory in the back wildly. He was screaming with rage and undying hate for the one who murdered the man he loved. When Cory drew his last breath the daemon army disappeared, vanishing back into the Void, but long after Cory was dead Grigori continued to stab his body, his wrath unending and unrelenting.

That was how Gedon and the others found him, after the Nihilite soldiers at the gate had been defeated. When their numbers had dwindled down to fewer than twenty Lorna called a retreat, deciding that in the end it wasn't worth it for truly every last one of her soldiers to die for this hopeless cause. Grigori was still making weak stabs at Cory's body, now while kneeling on the ground, and sobbing uncontrollably.