Chapter  19

Paradise Regained

Hundreds died on both sides during the siege of the Crystal Palace.  The Noelmians and humans now focused their attack on the steel gates.  Despite being hit by intense laser fire, the gates had not collapsed.  The gates had buckled, but not broken.

Donovan was among those who stood directly in front of the gates.  He had used his laser rifle to blast the hinges. His efforts had only produced minimal results, though. Donovan speculated that the damaged gates were held together by the black magic of the witch-captain.

Rugert's shuttlecraft appeared in the sky above the palace at the same time that the Tragadomian cruisers carrying reinforcements arrived.  Two of the battle cruisers were in the process of landing.  Rugert destroyed them as his shuttlecraft passed overhead.

The other battle cruisers immediately took off in pursuit of Rugert, who had no intention of engaging them in combat.  He would not be distracted from what he had come to do.

Rugert was the second-best pilot on Noelm. Only Donovan possessed greater skill than he.

As his shuttlecraft descended toward its target, Rugert blasted many of the Tragadomian guards on the walls, knocking them from their positions on the battlements.

Rugert gritted his teeth when the gates came looming up in front of his viewing screen.  His shuttlecraft smashed through the gates, tearing the gates off their hinges.

With a jarring impact, the shuttlecraft slammed into the ground next to the fallen gates.  Everyone was thrown from their seats.  One engineer was killed when his head struck a control panel after he was hurled across the craft.

Tragadomians swarmed down onto the shuttle.  They shot open the door and rushed into the craft.  The men inside, though, had quickly recovered from the crash landing.  They were waiting for the intruders.

Rugert and his engineers shot each Tragadomian who came into the shuttle.  The fight lasted less than a minute, though.  Tragadomian soldiers lobbed grenades through the open doorway.  The exploding grenades killed Rugert and all of the engineers.    

While the Tragadomians had been preoccupied with capturing the shuttlecraft, the twenty men hidden in the cargo compartment had slipped out the small door near the bottom of the craft.  They came up behind the Tragadomian unit positioned at the gates and slew the guards.

Donovan and his Noelmian allies passed through a narrow opening on the right side of Rugert's shuttlecraft.  It was the only gap created by the destruction of the gates.  In making the crash landing, Rugert had perfectly positioned the shuttlecraft.  

Tragadomian guards on the other walls came to the aid of their besieged comrades at the gates.  However, enemy troops were pouring through the opening.

Within fifteen minutes, the grounds outside of the palace had fallen to the attackers.  Noelmians and humans took up positions on the steel walls.  The gap was closed off in order to keep out the Tragadomian reinforcements.  Rugert's plan had worked.

The witch-captain hurried into the inner sanctum.  After giving a battlefield report to Haden, Baalson asked, "Shall I release the Guardians of the Palace against them?"

"No," Haden said.  "I don't want to destroy the last of their people, especially those who are laying siege against us because those warriors are among the bravest and finest Noelmians who were ever born."

"But the Tragadomians are being defeated," Baalson objected. "Unless we take some countermeasure, the Noelmians will soon have control of the palace."

"Don't release the locusts," Haden said.  "I already regret the harm that I caused the Noelmians.  I wish that I had never laid my curse against their forefather, Bokins, and now I want to remove that doom from his descendants."

"Immediate action is required, Lord Haden.  What do you want me to do?"

"Go to the Noelmian leaders and arrange a truce.  Tell them that I want to negotiate.  Promise their leaders safe passage into this main hall.  They will come because they think that we have been defeated."

"Will we kill them when they come?" Baalson asked. "That would be a good plan.  Their troops would become disorganized once their leaders were removed.  Then the Tragadomians could defeat the leaderless troops."

Haden shook his head.  "Oh, Adrian, you have fallen farther than I.  Although I was foolish enough to leave the Blessed Realm, I would not harm someone to whom I had promised safe passage." 

"But what will you say to their leaders when they come?" Baalson demanded to know.

"I do not have to explain my plans to you.  I command. You serve.  Do not forget your place, human."

"We cannot surrender," Baalson said angrily.  "We would be fools to surrender when we have the strength to vanquish them."  

"We are not going to surrender," Haden stated.  "Obey my command."

"As Haden bids," the witch-captain said, backing out of the inner sanctum.

He stormed down the hallway to his chambers.  Miriam, who had been watching the battle from a window, turned to look at her husband.  She immediately perceived that he was distressed.     "What's wrong?" she asked.

"We're losing the battle.  This predicament is entirely Haden's fault.  He made his first mistake years ago when he stopped interfering with the Noelmian reproductive cycle.  In recent years, Noelmians have been producing too many children.  Our enemies have become too numerous."

"The carnage outside is terrible," Miriam said. "Isn't there some way to stop this battle?"

"Haden plans to bring this battle to a rapid end.  He has summoned Landen and the other leaders to the palace under the pretense of peace negotiations.  Haden intends to kill them when they enter the inner sanctum."

"Oh, no!"  Miriam was shocked.  "I didn't think that Haden was so treacherous!"

"His desperation has driven him to treachery.  Haden has done so many foolish things recently that he has lost control of this planet.  He sees this move as the only way to regain control."

"I suppose that you approve of this plan to kill the leaders," Miriam said bitterly.

"On the contrary.  You misjudge me, my dear.  While I would like to kill Landen and Morley, I want to do so in a fair fight, not by lying to them and breaking a promise of a safe passage."

"Can't you dissuade Haden from carrying out his treacherous plan?"

"No.  His mind is unswayable.  However, I have a plan of my own that will prevent the murders and enable us to retain control of Tragadom.  This plan is dangerous, and I will require your assistance if we are to have any chance of success."

"What is your plan?"

"I want you to enter the inner sanctum and approach Haden.  Using all of your powers of enchantment, you will cause Haden to focus all of his attention on you.  While Haden is thus distracted, I will come into the room from the other door.  Of course, I'll conceal myself in a cloak of invisibility, but invisibility alone would not prevent Haden from detecting my presence."

The witch-captain opened his trunk and pulled out his prized saber.  "This sword has been blessed by many demons. Their power is within it.  I shall slay Haden with this sword."

Miriam was surprised.  "Can Haden be killed by that saber?"     "I'm not sure," Baalson admitted.  "We're taking a gamble, but I don't see any other option for us.   Will you help me?"

"Yes.  Haden's plot against the leaders is intolerable. We cannot allow such treachery to continue."

Unfortunately, he thought, most of the treachery has been mine.  I disliked lying to her, but it was the only way to gain her help.  I did not have time to argue with her, and I doubt that I could have persuaded her to help me if I had been truthful.

Anyway, she won't know that I lied to her.  If we succeed, Haden will be gone and won't be able to tell Miriam the truth.  If we fail, Haden will immediately kill both of us.

They left their chambers together, then separated in the hallway.  Miriam proceeded directly to the inner sanctum, while her husband took a circuitous route leading to a little-used entrance to the room.

When Miriam entered the inner sanctum, Haden was standing near his throne, looking at the doorway.  It seemed to her that he had been waiting for her to arrive.

"Greetings, Haden," she said.

"Good day, Miriam.  Where is your husband?"

"He has gone to escort Landen and the other leaders into the palace, Haden.  My husband does as you command."

"Your husband is obedient to his master."

Miriam hesitated.  She could tell that Haden's statement was not a straightforward compliment to her husband, but she did not have time to think about it; she could see Baalson entering the room through the other door. She had to captivate Haden. 

Miriam started to tell Haden about what she had seen from her window as she watched the battle.  While she spoke, she slowly moved forward toward him.  Miriam tried to use her beauty and magic to enchant Haden.

Although her magic would have hypnotized a human, she saw no sign that Haden was being affected by it.  Miriam increased her efforts, trying to weave magic into the texture of her voice.  She recalled the Sirens of Greek legend, who were able to lure mariners to destruction by the bewitching sweetness of their song.  I can use my voice like a Siren, she resolved.

However, she remembered, Odysseus escaped the Sirens by  sealing his companions ears with wax and having himself bound  to his ship's mast.  Haden is many times more powerful than Odysseus.  Do I stand a chance of bewitching a being such as  Haden?

Cloaked in invisibility, her husband had been stealthily moving across the inner sanctum.  He walked slowly in order to avoid making any sound.  The witch-captain understood, though, that he could not move too slowly because Miriam might not be able to occupy Haden's attention for a prolonged period of time.  If Haden's attention wavered for even an instant, he would notice the sorcerer.

It was insignificant that Haden's back was turned to the witch-captain.  Baalson understood that Haden had means of perception other than his eyes.  Once Baalson was within a dozen feet of Haden, the sorcerer decided to spring at Haden if Haden showed the slightest indication of being aware of his presence.

This proved to be unnecessary, though; Haden never turned from Miriam.  Standing directly behind Haden, the witch-captain held his breath as he prepared to strike.  He raised the sword, whose blade gleamed with the yellowish light of the autumn moon that had shone on the night that the blade had been kissed by demons.

With all his strength, Baalson slammed the blade against Haden's neck.  The saber broke in half.

"You have found an unique way to express your loyalty to me, Adrian," Haden said without turning.  He had not been harmed at all by the saber strike.

Baalson realized that it would be useless to run.  I never had a chance of killing Haden, he thought.  If I were a Christian, this is the moment when I would say an Act of Contrition.

Haden spun around, grabbed Baalson by the throat, and lifted him three feet off the floor.  Baalson tried to change his form, but his magic did not work.  Haden was too awesome an opponent.     "I can still be useful to you, Lord Haden," the witch-captain said in a last, desperate attempt at survival.  "You don't have to trust me or like me in order to make use of me."

The effort of speaking while his throat was locked in Haden's unbreakable grip caused the sorcerer to choke.

Miriam slapped and punched Haden.  "Let go of him!  You're killing him!"

Haden released the witch-captain, who staggered backward several feet.  Perhaps there is chance that I can escape Haden's wrath,  Baalson thought as he rubbed his throat.

Haden looked at Miriam.  "Return to your chambers, woman.  I do not want to destroy you; like me, you have been lied to by this sorcerer."

Miriam ran to her husband and clasped him in her arms. "I will not leave him!  His fate shall be mine!"

"So be it," Haden said.  "You arrived on this planet together, and you shall leave it together."

Haden raised his left hand.  A wave of flame flowed through the room, burning the witch-captain and Miriam into ashes.

As their physical bodies were destroyed, the witch-captain felt himself falling into the black pit.  Miriam was near him.  Even in death, he reached out for her.  However, her spirit was snatched away from him and taken to a different place.

From the doorway to the inner sanctum, the Emerald Warrior delegation witnessed the final mortal moments of the two witches.  Haden turned to the delegation, which consisted of six persons: Francis, Landen, Susan, Morley, Roarke, and Donovan.  

"Enter without fear," Haden greeted them.

The delegation came forward.  Haden called each of the six by name as he welcomed them.  Donovan was startled that Haden knew his name.  In fact, Donovan was surprised to find himself in the inner sanctum.  After the soldiers had secured the gates, he had waited there for the arrival of the five-member delegation.  Landen had then invited Donovan to come with them into the Crystal Palace, and Donovan eagerly accepted the invitation.  So, now, he stood with the others in front of  Haden.

"Captain Morley, you have come to negotiate with me, but that is unnecessary; I want nothing from you," Haden said. "I have already taken too much.  I will return what I can, but it is not within my power to return all.  The Emerald Warrior is yours again.  You and your crew may leave this planet whenever you wish."

Morley was startled by this concession.  "Thank you, Haden, but we will not leave until we have completed our mission.  We have come to secure the freedom of the Noelmians."

"Then your mission is a success," Haden said.  "The Noelmians are now free.  I shall return the Tragadomians to their natural condition."

Landen stepped forward.  "Haden, I don't understand why you wanted to use the Tragadomians as your instruments for seizing control of earth.  Why did you want the earth?"

"My idea was that, if I could wrest control of earth away from the one whom Francis calls the 'Evil One', I could return to favor in the Blessed Realm and taste the fruits of Paradise.

"Perhaps I was foolish to challenge the Evil One; his strength is still great despite the irreversible defeat that he suffered two millennium ago.

"I intruded into the Evil One's territory before he could seize mine from me.  I understand him well.  His appetites are insatiable.  He will want this planet soon enough.  However, he is so blinded by his greed to possess everything that he can't fully appreciate that he is doomed to fail in the end.

"When Lucifer began his revolt and sides were irreversibly chosen, I made no choice.  I never joined the revolt, but I did not oppose it.  I could not decide which side to support.

"When Michael gathered his legions against Lucifer, I refused to join in the battle.  My sword remained within its scabbard.

"I was the only one who made no decision.  Because of my indecision, I could not live in the Blessed Realm.  However, I was not damned because I had not supported Lucifer.

"Although eons of time have passed, I have finally made a decision.  I have drawn my sword, and I fight for the Word and on the side of the forces of Light."

Francis approached Haden.  "Haden, your salvation cannot be achieved through conquest.  Every unjustified act of violence moves you further from the place to which you wish to return.  The Word does not need your assistance in taking earth away from the Evil One."

"But what else can I do so that I am allowed to return to the Blessed Realm?" Haden asked in exasperation.

    "Return with a humble and contrite heart," Francis said in a voice of quiet authority.  "You must go to our Great King and stand before His throne.  He awaits you."

"You make it sound so easy, Francis.  I can't return to the kingdom.  Its gates are guarded by the Mighty Ones such as Gabriel and Raphael and Michael.  I cannot get past them."   

"They will allow you to enter the kingdom if you come as a penitent."

"Then that I shall do," Haden said and vanished.

"Can we trust Haden?" Susan asked.  "Is he telling the truth?"  

Francis nodded.  "Haden enjoys playing games, but he is essentially a truthful being."

"I'd imagine that Haden will be gone for a long time," Susan said.

"No," Francis said.  "Immortal beings such as Haden are not constricted by the boundaries of time.  Haden will not keep us waiting.  He'll be returning any second."

As if on cue, Haden reappeared.  Now, though, in place of his regal attire, Haden wore a brown cotton tunic and cloth shoes.

"I have donned the garb of a penitent," Haden said.  "I shall remain thus attired until I have made restitution for my sins.  Our Great King has graciously received me back ."

"I am glad, Haden," Francis smiled.  "You have attained your goal.  I shall remain with you here until we have restored this planet to wholeness.  Then we can both return to the Blessed Realm."     "I eagerly await that day, Francis," Haden said.  "It should not be too distant.  The renewal of this planet has already begun.  Go outside and see."

The group left the inner sanctum and walked through the hallways leading out of the palace.  No Tragadomians were visible anywhere.  When the group reached the courtyard, they realized what was happening.

Haden had commanded Tragadomians throughout the planet to go outside.  A great weariness then came upon them, causing them to lay down in fields and doze in a long hibernation that would last until they were transformed into the type of beings that they were destined to be.

As each Tragadomian fell asleep, he was enveloped in a cocoon that would protect him from the elements during the years of his hibernation.  During their tenure as the good stewards of Noelm, Francis and Haden would later declare these cocoons to be sacred embryos which were not to be violated.

While the companions strode across the courtyard, two members of the Emerald Warrior's security personnel approached Morley.

"Captain Morley, our patrols have completed their search of the palace," a security guard said.  "In a dungeon, we found several officers from the Eastern Alliance battleship, including General Stelko.  They seem to be the only crew members who survived the Tragadomian raid on their battleship."

"Tell General Stelko that he and his officers are now my prisoners," Morley said.  "We will take them back to earth to stand trial as galactic pirates from outlaw nations.  We'll confiscate their battleship as partial reparation for the Continental, which they destroyed without provocation or a declaration of war."

When the two guards departed, the companions resumed their trek toward the crashed shuttlecraft.  Roarke approached several crew members who were standing near the entrance to the shuttle.

"Are there any survivors?" Roarke asked.

"I don't know, sir," a woman replied.  "The doctor is onboard right now."

All six companions went aboard the shuttlecraft.  They found the interior to be covered with the bodies of dead Tragadomians.  

  Landen stared at the limp bodies of Rugert and his engineers.  "Are all of them dead?" he asked the doctor.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," the doctor said.

While Francis anointed the dead men, Morley observed, "Life dwells in such fragile vessels."

"Only for a while," Francis said.  "Eventually, the perishable is replaced by the imperishable."

Landen nodded.  "Rather than mourn their deaths, we should celebrate the heroism of their lives.  As the new Loremaster of Noelm, I shall make sure that this tale of heroism is passed along to all generations."

When the group disembarked from the shuttlecraft, they were surprised to find another change occurring in the courtyard.  A large rose garden had sprung out of the ground near the Crystal Palace.

Francis!"  Landen said with delight.  "You have a rose garden by your cottage.  Did you also cause this garden to emerge from the soil?"

"No," Francis replied with a smile.  "This is Haden's doing.  Since I will be residing here for a while longer, he is making the environment pleasing to me.  In addition to being a truthful being, Haden is a grateful one."

"Look!" Donovan exclaimed and pointed at the highest tower of the Crystal Palace.  "A large replica of the small flag that I designed is being hoisted onto the flagpole over the palace.  How did the Noelmians know about my flag?"

Francis grinned.  "That is my doing."

Everyone laughed with joy as they looked up at the white flag on which was emblazoned a crown, a scepter, and a dove, encircled by bright roses, and inscribed with words of faith.

The End

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