Ethan rode up upon the sidewall closing in the palace courtyard. His black stallion whinnied loudly when it saw the other horses and their riders assembled before the palace entrance while three of the Wraith Riders bashed the wooden doors in. Many of the riders looked up to find him there and pointed only to be shocked when he disappeared from the saddle.
Ethan flew out of thin air into the midst of the riders with his sword drawn and ready for action. He felt alive like never before, the spirit of Shaddai filling him to the brim with confidence and strength. Mordred became visible to him, his horned mask standing out now while the riders were still.
Sword outstretched, Ethan launched himself at the warlord only to have a dozen Wraith Riders intercept him. He battled toward Mordred screaming the man's name as the palace doors were smashed in. Mordred immediately launched his horse toward the doors. Ethan fought and killed many of the soldiers despite their prowess, but there were always more to stand between him and Mordred.
Ethan decided to bypass them altogether and shifted into the spiritual realm. But there, waiting for him, was a horde of demons and Jericho standing among them the most prominent. As the physical world and its inhabitants became only a backdrop, Ethan and the demon lord surveyed one another.
"So," Jericho said, "you have come."
There was menace and perhaps even delight in Jericho's tone. And yet, Ethan felt no fear.
"Of course, I'm here," Ethan said. "The prophecy must be fulfilled. There is no avoiding it."
Jericho did not move. Something about that statement had rattled him. Ethan could sense it even if he didn't see it. He looked around him, trying to take in the sheer number of wicked spirits present-waiting to pounce upon him. "I guess I shouldn't expect a fair fight from you," Ethan said.
Jericho smiled and drew his massive ethereal blade. "Do you really believe it would matter?"
Before Ethan could answer, a furious howl arose from among the demons surrounding them. In an instant, Ethan found that each and every one of the demons, other than Jericho, was now guarded by an angel. He hadn't seen them approach. They had just appeared in place, many with their weapons drawn to the throats of their particular demon. One move and they would be dispatched to wherever it was their wounded fled.
Ethan turned back to Jericho. Confidence shone brightly from his eyes, while the demon lord looked far less than pleased.
"What is the meaning of this intrusion!" he bellowed. But not one of the angels bothered to respond to him. Jericho looked about him. No one was coming to his aid.
"So be it," he said, disgusted. Without further reservation, Jericho launched himself at Ethan. With hardly a thought, Ethan's blade appeared in his hand. He blocked the strike from the demon and parried.
Jericho whirled and met his blade as another appeared in Ethan's other hand. He tried to use some of the techniques Gideon had taught him, but the demon was simply too powerful. Tricks that had allowed him to vanquish other spirits fell short with Jericho.
None of the other demons dared to interfere. The angels remained on guard, but did not try to help him beyond their mandate. Ethan knew the fight was his. He was the Deliverer of Prophecy. He would have to struggle through by faith.
For several moments their battle raged on. Had they been perceptible by human eyes at all, they would simply have appeared as blurs of color amid the clash of almost constant lightning.
Ethan noticed that all of the surviving Wraith Riders had entered the palace by now. He hadn't been paying much attention to them since facing Jericho. What had happened to the King? By now they might have him. Mordred could already be in control. He had to hurry and get in there to fulfill the prophecy and stop this war.
Jericho seemed to sense his urgency and increased the ferocity of his attack. At the very least he would prevent the Deliverer from interfering with Mordred's plans. And then Ethan remembered the one advantage he'd always held over demons even from his earliest memory. He disappeared from Jericho's sight as the demon's blade drove through the air where Ethan had just been standing.
Ethan raced into the palace on foot. He wasn't entirely sure if he could remain hidden from Jericho. Something about the enormous amount of power exuded by this particular demon had always thrown off his gifts. Even as he had raced after the Wraith Riders, the demons had become less visible to him while he remained in the physical world. Only when he'd shifted before the palace had he realized the full extent of the demonic presence around him.
Ethan shifted again, entering the ethereal plane, rocketing through the palace. He found the Wraith Riders with Mordred inside a large chamber filled with weapons. The iron doors had been blasted open by what looked like a small charge of gunpowder.
Inside, Mordred stood with King Stephen kneeling before him. One of the Wraith Riders held a dagger to his throat. The other soldiers surrounded a small group of Wayland priests. Levi and Seth stood among them. The tips of many swords were held waiting at their throats. For once, even Levi had been left speechless.
Mordred had won. He had taken the king. Wayland would be his if Ethan did not stop him now. There were no demons in the room. No doubt they were all still being held at bay outside the palace by Shaddai's angels. Only Jericho was loose and he would be here in moments.
Mordred laughed, realizing his victory. He looked at the prisoners being held at sword point. "Kill them all. They are of no use to me now."
"Wait!" Ethan appeared in the middle of the chamber. The walls were lined with racks of armor and weapons. This must be the King's armory, he thought. But all these weapons had not been able to stop Mordred and his Wraith Riders. No wonder all of Nod was held by them. And now, Wayland dangled by a mere thread of hope.
Mordred looked upon him evidently not sure how exactly to proceed. Fear danced in his eyes. Ethan saw it there. He feared the prophecy. Facing the Deliverer might still undo his victory after all. "Stop!" he commanded his soldiers.
"Kill him, Ethan!" Levi said. The tip of a sword pushed tighter against his Adam's apple.
Mordred smiled. "I have your friends, boy. Don't do anything foolish. If you are trying to fulfill that useless prophecy, you'll only succeed in getting them killed."
Ethan looked around the room. He wasn't sure what to do. Mordred was right. He couldn't attack him and save his friends. How could he live with himself if he got them all killed?
And then Gideon ran into the room behind him and stopped cold with two swords in his hand. He looked at everyone in the room, appearing shocked at the situation he'd found.
"Well, well, well…if it isn't my personal assassin," Mordred crowed. "Could this have turned out better?"
Ethan suddenly felt darkness enter the room unseen. Jericho had come. His presence filled the chamber with a sense of impending doom. Mordred shuddered at that moment and Ethan saw that the demon had entered him.
There they stood together in one body, more powerful than ever. Mordred bellowed out his laughter. "My plans have all come together now!"
Ethan couldn't tell if it was the demon or Mordred speaking now. Who was actually in control at this point? He had no way of knowing, though he sensed it was probably Jericho-the more dangerous of the two by far.
"Do you remember your sweet, precious child, Gideon?" Mordred asked, a devilish grin playing happily upon his lips. "The child is still in my control."
Ethan stood between Mordred and his friend. He looked at Gideon, the shock plain on his face. So that was the missing piece of the puzzle-the reason why Gideon had allowed Mordred to control him. But how could he have a child?