Chapter 3 – Reinforcements
Raziel watched from his balcony as Dumah and his child played in the courtyard of Razielim. She looked so happy and carefree as she ran around, trying in vain to catch the third born as he circled her with unmatched speed.
"Raziel?" Azrael called gently from the door, his voice was quivering with some emotion that Raziel could not distinguish. He turned from the happy scene he had been observing to his son. He raised his eyebrow as a prompt for his son to continue.
"A messenger from Melchium has arrived, lord Kain is with him now, they want to see you," Azrael told him. Raziel nodded and went immediately to his master.
Kain was in Raziel's receiving room with the Melchium messenger. The messenger looked up with a graven expression on his face. Kain gave half a smile as his son entered,
"Melchiah has run into some trouble," Kain told him, immediately, cutting the need for any introductory questions short, "The humans have apparently more courage and forces than we gave them credit for. They have launched a counter attack on Melchium." Raziel hesitated, there was but one reason why he would be told this,
"What do you want me to do?" Raziel asked, dutifully. Kain smiled affectionately at his son's willingness to help his youngest brother without being forced like some of his other sons would have to be.
"Take a small group of your finest warriors," Kain ordered, his tone taking that of a general, "You shall help to defend Melchiah's city and of course force them back," he paused for a moment and added in a sinister undertone, "Crush them if you can."
Raziel nodded and turning to the messenger informed him to go to his master and tell him to hold fast until his reinforcements arrived. The messenger bowed gratefully to the firstborn and left him with his sire.
The room was filled with a silence for a moment as Raziel contemplated what would become of his clan and in whose hands he should leave it while he was away. Then of course there was the question of who in Razielim was qualified enough to look after his beloved daughter.
Kain placed a hand on Raziel's shoulder, "I will be returning to the sanctuary, presently," he told him, "Dumah will also be returning to his own clan. Mioko will accompany me."
Raziel looked up quickly, "But my lord..." Kain held up his hand,
"No buts," he said sternly, "who else but me do you trust enough to leave her with?"
Raziel paused, knowing that his master was correct. Dumah was a possibility, but then his first born hated Mioko and the feeling was more than mutual. The only other possibility was Rahab, but time was not on his side, he couldn't get her to Rahab and make good time to Melchium at the same time. Instead he nodded and gave his deepest thanks to his master, who merely smiled his reply. If anything he was looking forward to having the child around again.
Raziel returned to his room where he summoned Azrael and Mioko to him. Azrael and Mioko both arrived, Azrael looking as though he expected to be summoned, Mioko looking innocently confused with a large grin on her face.
"Azrael," Raziel gestured, bringing his firstborn away from his daughter so she couldn't hear what they were going to discuss.
"I want you to go to the barracks, bring Maret and Thorne and their finest. We are going to defend Melchium." Azrael nodded, looking slightly pleased with himself. It had been too long since he had enjoyed the heat of battle. He swept past Mioko, who was waiting patiently, still smiling, oblivious up at her father.
"Mioko," he sighed, "Come here," he sat on the edge of the bed and lifted her up onto his knee.
"Have I been a naughty girl?" she asked, in barely more than a whisper, "I didn't mean to stab Dumah, it was an accident." Raziel was about to speak when he realized what she had said,
"You stabbed Dumah?" he asked, surprised. She nodded her head sadly,
"It was an accident, he was showing me how to fight...and I my knife fell in his leg, it wasn't my fault," she protested, "the knife fell..."
"I'm sure Dumah will heal," Raziel grumbled, trying to contain a snigger, that his brother should be wounded at the hands of a seven year old child was something Raziel could remind his siblings of again and again, "Mioko, I have to go away, for a while," he said, solemnly. Mioko looked up quickly,
"Daddy?" she asked, urgently, "You're leaving me?" she cried. Raziel rested his head against hers,
"I'm sorry my love, I have to go and help Uncle Melchiah."
"Melchiah," she corrected, swiftly, "Only Uncie Kain is my uncie."
"Oh," Raziel muttered, "Ok, well I have to help Melchiah, I don't know how long I will be," he said, sadly.
"Are you going to war?" she asked, her voice filled with child like innocence, refusing to get upset or angry. Raziel nodded,
"Yes, Melchiah needs help in his war."
"People die in wars," she said, calmly, "You won't die will you?" she asked, suddenly becoming urgent. Raziel shook his head,
"Of course I won't!" he said, indignant. Mioko hugged her father,
"I don't want you to die."
"I'm not going to die," he said, confidently, "I promise I won't die."
"And you'll come back before my next birthday?" she prompted, hopefully. Raziel nodded,
"I'll be back before that," he told her.
"And you won't forget," she said, "If you do Uncie Kain said he's going to 'cast you in,'" she paused, watching her father's suddenly terrified reaction, "What does 'cast him in,' mean?" she asked. Raziel shook off the thought of being thrown to the abyss at Mioko's command,
"Nothing," he said, firmly, "You don't need to know," he kissed her forehead. "I have to get ready, you have to get your things, you're going to stay with Uncie Kain."
Mioko's face burst into a wide grin, "Uncie Kain?" she asked, "Yay!" she turned to her father, "Take as long as you need daddy, but...don't die."
TBC