Grimwald continued to speak to the assembled group. "As you all know, the priest is here only by force." Then to Gideon, "Understand this at the outset, Gideon. We don't need your help. It pleases our master, but as far as I and these generals are concerned, we will find the Deliverer with, or without your help. But seeing that this is the way things are, you will provide us with every bit of information we require. Should we enter battle with enemy forces, including the boy, you will do your best to kill him and any others opposing us." Gideon sat rigid as Grimwald continued. "If for one moment I feel you are holding back information, or your arm, in this matter, I will immediately have your child tortured to death-no pity, no remorse."
Gideon ground his teeth behind taut lips, his face flushing scarlet. The noose had been tightened. Had they merely been threatening his own life, Gideon would have fought them bravely to his death, but he could not do it to their child-not after he had caused her death already. Sarah's tortured expression, longing after the baby when Mordred had taken him from her arms and her groping for him as the lifeblood ebbed from her body, replayed in Gideon's mind. He forced himself to nod in agreement with Grimwald's terms.
"Very good," Grimwald said. The other Wraith Generals observed the priest intently, impressed with Grimwald's control over the man reputed to be so dangerous. "Now, Gideon, where do you suppose the boy is right now? Perhaps he is coming to rescue his old friend and mentor?"
Gideon hesitated a fraction of a second. "I suppose, General, that it's possible Ethan would attempt a rescue, though I'd honestly be surprised if he did."
Grimwald's eyes narrowed. "And why is that?"
Gideon spread his arms to the chamber. "Look at this place." And the men did briefly look around. "I don't mean this room, but this palace, the city. It's fortified beyond anything I've ever seen. There are giants ten feet tall pummeling each other in the courtyard. Guards prowl everywhere within Emmanuel City not to mention demonic hordes that fight for Mordred."
Gideon paused for effect. "It would be suicide for Ethan to try and get to me in here. He has a prophecy to fulfill."
The other Wraith Generals seemed pleased by the priest's acquiescence to the power and might of the Wraith Riders and their demon allies. Grimwald appeared unconvinced. Gideon headed off the next question quickly. "I know you think he's just a reckless boy, but Ethan has been trained by The Order of Shaddai. According to our protocols, the fulfillment of the prophecy must take precedent."
Grimwald smiled. "So, you believe he will come here in order to attack Lord Mordred rather than rescue you?"
Gideon had failed to see where Grimwald might take his assumptions, but he didn't attempt a feeble backtrack. "General, Ethan knows that he must remain alive and wait upon Shaddai in order to fulfill the prophecy." Gideon remembered Ethan's initial mistake and drove his point home. "Ethan learned his lesson all too painfully the first time, when he broke into the throne room alone, finding Mordred in hiding and the demon Jericho there in his place. Those wounds may never heal, and they are a constant reminder not to act impetuously."
Grimwald did not immediately counter. He appeared to consider Gideon's sound logic in the hopes of finding its flaw, but could not. He simply said, "Perhaps."
Gideon sighed with relief within himself. His mind raced for a way to provide convincing information without giving away some crucial fact that might allow them to find or kill Ethan. All the while, images of Sarah and his child marched through his mind, reminding him of the razor's edge he now walked.
"Tell us about the boy's power," General Cinderfall said from across the table.
"Yes," Grimwald added, "and be very specific-strengths, weaknesses-anything that will help us to kill him."
Gideon looked around the table at the Wraith Generals. They sat transfixed upon him, waiting with baited breath for this information. If he refused to be honest, Grimwald might know things about Ethan already. He would then perceive the lie and give the death order.
Gideon choked down the lump in his throat. "Ethan has the power to shift from the physical world to the realm where spirits dwell. While in the spirit world, he has the use of weapons that only manifest there. Ethan can not only do battle with demons while in this form, but he also has the ability to penetrate the physical world as I've also seen demons do."
Gideon supposed they must already know these things. He actually wondered what he might know that they didn't. He had some comfort in the thought that, of all that he had seen Ethan do, none of it was really secret knowledge.
Demons could have told them any of these things and more. And as far as the extent of his power, Gideon wondered if Ethan even understood it.
"Yes, yes," Grimwald interrupted. "We know those things already. Get on with it, Gideon."
Gideon paused. "I'm telling you all I know, General. I can't help the fact that you already know all of these things. I'm not privy to any sort of secret knowledge just by being his friend. The truth is that even Ethan doesn't fully understand the power he has."
Grimwald grinned maniacally and Gideon wondered if he'd just made some crucial error by telling them Ethan's novice understanding of his gifts.
If Grimwald possessed an advantage now, he did not press it. "Tell me why you and the boy were on the Island of Macedon."
"You should know perfectly well," Gideon laughed. "You people are the ones who lured us there with a call for the Word of Shaddai."
Grimwald switched gears again. "If you don't believe the boy would come here to the city, then where do you suppose he might go?"
"I'm sure I don't know," Gideon said. "I'm not him, after all. Any guess I could make would only be rudimentary." He knew what might be coming and Gideon did not want to guess. The answer, as to where Ethan might go other than here to rescue him, seemed obvious.
Grimwald did not ask, but forged ahead with his own assumptions instead. "I think any priest of The Order would naturally return to The Order," he said. Gideon didn't answer.
The other generals voiced the same opinion across the table to one another. Gideon became as still as stone in his oversized chair-willing Grimwald not to pursue his obvious course.
Grimwald smiled at Gideon as though relishing his next words. "Gideon, I want you to tell us where the Temple of Shaddai is located."
He knew it had been coming, but Gideon's heart still skipped a beat. He answered reflexively, if not a little evasively. "It's located in the Thornhill Mountains."
Grimwald's smile turned wan. "Allow me to clarify. You will direct our army to the Temple's location and then you will lead my men through the secret entrance into the Temple itself. Then, you will kill the High Priest, Isaiah, personally."
The generals jeered around the table, very pleased with Grimwald's plan and Gideon's role in it. Gideon swallowed against a lump caught in his throat. He thought of Isaiah-shock on his face, watching Gideon lead Mordred's soldiers into the inner sanctum of their Order. He imagined the bewilderment and rage of his fellow priests when they realized who had betrayed them, but never knowing why. He tried to close his mind to the images, but like his sorrow they would not go away.
DIVERSIONS
Mordred descended the stone stairway into the dank odor of the dungeons. Two soldiers, acting as personal escorts, followed him down into the depths of the white palace. Lichen clung to the stones while rats skittered along the walls, hoping to find something edible. Torches, mounted every ten feet, provided ample light.
When he reached the bottom landing, Mordred strode down the long corridor toward the barred cell at the end. There, four guards stood at attention. He gave them all a cursory glance and then went to the bars of the prison cell.