Holding the Heavens — Nicholas S. Casale

Did knowing Deidra's latest prophecy truly give any sort of advantage? Given what incomprehensible nonsense it all seemed to be, Erelah could hardly see the value in it. Still, since her God had revealed it to her, she knew it had to be important. So, as she pushed herself to traverse the mountain pass, she repeated the soothsayer's words in her head. “The moon shall rise and join in sickness, but disease will be purged. A child shall lead them. A child who is old. Malice from the setting sun will consume those who ask, and sell their hatchlings. When the disease is purged, the moon shall wane, only to wax again with the painted army. The fortress and the gap will play a game of hiding paradise. The egg found within the fortress will hatch in another world. The vessel shall confront doubt. The wolf will confront a man weighed down by his shell. When the moon is full the wolf will howl and the blue shall shatter like glass, replaced by the daemon-script. For this end, we have long watched. For this end, we have long waited. Dancing violets and blackness shall conquer the idol's foolishness.” “Don't move!” came a woman's voice from the pine trees nearby. Erelah looked up to see a woman in her mid-thirties with dark hair sitting astride a tree branch. She had a bow trained on Erelah and the bowstring drawn back. “At ease, paladin,” said Erelah. “Hast thou already forgotten the Court of Accusations so much that thou canst threaten a child?” “You look like a child. That doesn't mean you are one,” said the dark-haired woman. “I can see your white eyes and white hair. Frankly, that would make anyone suspicious. Are you a demon? Or the avatar of some goddess of the West?” “Nay, I am neither,” said the little girl. “My name is Erelah, and God has sent me to thy aid.” “Sent you? Our aid? We're doing just fine on our own,” said the dark-haired woman. “Is that truly so? Should one who was born to be Queen of Arx truly be forced to hide in a tent in the mountains? Then the world has gone upside-down! Murderers and thieves are to be rewarded with crowns, while the good of spirit become fugitives.” “You're not making a good case for why I should not shoot you.” “I am accompanied by a troop of priests of thy faith.” Erelah gestured back to the clerics following her. They'd had a close call, nearly fallen into an ambush. Erelah had rescued them all from the clutches of a Nihilite general only a few minutes before the trap would have been sprung. “You are accompanied by people dressed as priests of my faith,” said the woman. “I recognize their Nihilite features. Do you take me for a fool?” “Nay, I take thee for a protective mother hen,” said Erelah. “Thou art Sarahi, mother of the rightful Queen of Arx, Aryn, and paladin of Caelum.” “Why do you talk that way?” “I come from a time long past. I'm surprised thou didst not deduce as much by my name and appearance. Know you not the name 'Erelah?' Have thy lessons of the scriptures been a waste?” “Wait...you're claiming to be THE Erelah? The prophetess from long ago?” “Verily.” “The prophetess who first taught us the Law?” “Verily. The same.” “Prove it! Show me some miracles.” “Signs and wonders are needed to gain thy faith? So, it shall be.” Erelah pointed her left hand at the base of the tree Sarahi sat in. The ground at the base turned from solid, packed dirt to loose sand instantly, and the tree sank until Sarahi was nearly eye-level with the child. “But a truly powerful geomancer can also do this, yes? So, thou wilst need more proof. Thou hast verily not told anyone this save your husband, Professor Zebedee, your daughter, and her personal guard. Recently thou didst face the Accuser in the Court of Accusations.