晩襲撃
Log 7: Evening Raid
"Prince of the Eagles...."
Kathryn stammered the angel's words, dumbfounded. In all her eighteen years, she had never seen angels - only the statue of Aldebaran, the Angelic Regent, in the temple gave her knowledge of the immortal creatures. And now their very ruler, the Prince of the Eagles himself, was before her in her antechambers.
And he was to be her guardian! What a privelege!
"Keythedrian, your Excellency, I am priveleged to have you in my presence. Your services will be well received. Is there anything you wish?"
"I only ask to be called by a human name," the angel replied. "You may call me Keith." He looked briefly out the window. "It is dusk now. Do you have a task for me?"
"No. The evening meal is in a few minutes, though. You need something to wear."
"There will be no evening meal," the voice in Keith's head whispered. "There are wraiths surrounding this palace. Kathryn's general is arriving with the news--"
"Sultana! Attack on the palace!"
Derrik, garbed in his white uniform, bowed behind Kathryn in the doorway. A sword of silver-colored iron was in his hands, dripping with ebony blood. Sweat fell from his balding head to the ground.
"An attack?" Kathryn gasped. "What army? How many?"
"I don't know!" Derrik rose to his feet. "They're grayish, with warthog's heads and feet! I've never seen the like!"
"I have." Keith faced the general, his kind face hardening to sternness. "You speak of the Dark Army. Their scavengers are what you described. Astralægia called them wraiths." He turned to the window. "Your forces have killed most of them; there are five more in the parlor."
A grunting sound filled the hall outside the room. Derrik turned to look outside; the hybrid monsters had broken down the suite's doorway, and now they swarmed to positions in the parlor. Each was armed with a pike.
"There are five of them outside," Derrik breathed. "Kathryn, your orders."
Kathryn turned to the angel. "You will help me to the main chamber of the suite down the hall. Derrik, take the rear. If it comes to worse, I will use the sword."
Okay ... that was probably my worst chapter to date. I hope the fight scene in the next one makes you forget this one....