“I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made.”

― Franklin D. Roosevelt

Archbishop Nasir Gabriel stepped out of the room followed by Bishop General Xander Zachery. They had just finished interviewing Priest Albedo Zaan, the man had just told them of the events of last night. Passing the guards in the hallway, the two men discussed what they had just learned.

“Well, what do you think?”

Nasir asked.

“He was not lying; I used the truth seeker spell to verify his words.”

Xander’s voice had no doubt in them, and Nasir cursed.

“Then we have six denizens of the Nether Realm in our world. One of them a she-devil of great power.”

“One who destroyed the realm gate after using it? Whoever she is, she is no friend of Eldest. But why has she come to our world?”

Xander’s question was a good one. Nasir did not like the situation, dealing with demons from the Nether Realm never sat well with him. But he was commanded by his god Romanto to use the evil creatures for the greater good. Many worshippers of the Holy Church of Romanto would not understand, that is why the dealings with demons has been kept secret for centuries. Anyone who has found out over the years has been dealt with, Romanto has plans and they involve the demons and devils of the Nether Realm.

“Bishop General Zachery, summon the Fist of Romanto and send them after the she-devil and her servants.”

“Yes Archbishop Gabriel, it shall be done.”

But before Xander could leave to carry out his orders, Nasir gave him one more order.

“Bring Sandra and her Arcadians with you. They will be of great assistance; this will be the fight of your life General.”

Xander stiffened at Nasir’s words, he turned around saying.

“Those heathens are not fit to serve with the Fist of Romanto. They refuse to bow down to our Lord even though we have conquered the Arcadians centuries ago. Sandra is a foul mouth undisciplined bitch of an Arcadian.”

Nasir nodded and held up a placating hand.

“Yes, yes my friend. You have valid points, but even though the Arcadians are heathens they shall serve the will of Romanto. They will fight and die in our Lord’s service, they know the price of refusal. We have taught it to them many times, we have power over them. Use Sandra and her Arcadians, sacrifice them to our god. Let the enemies of Romanto fall!”

“Let Romanto’s will be done!”

Xander finished the ancient saying and bowed to Nasir.

“What shall you do Archbishop?”

He asked.

“I shall pray to the Archangel Jordin, inform him of last night’s events. I have no doubt Eldest the Demon Lord of Lust will receive a divine visitation.”

………………………………..

TWO DAYS LATER

The orc was a big brute, and he wielded a massive double-bladed axe with ease. He swung it wide, but Sandra dance underneath the axe and slashed at the orc’s huge thick muscled leg. Flesh parted and blood ran down the thigh of the orc. The orc roared in both pain and fury and brought his axe down in an overhead chop. But Sandra was nimble on her feet and danced away, putting distance between her and the orc. The orc was breathing heavily, but not from fatigue. His arms and legs were covered in wounds, sword slashes from Sandra’s efforts. The orc was the leader of the roaming band, for the past month the orc band has been attacking village after village. Sandra and her Arcadians were ordered by the church to deal with them.

After days of tracking the band, Sandra and her Arcadians managed to ambush the orcs just four miles from the nearest village. Their next target. The orc roared his battle cry and charged, but his movements were slower than before. The blood loss was taking its toll, Sandra struck. Before the orc leader could bring down his axe to cut her in half. The Arcadian female darted forward and thrust her sword into the throat of the orc. The orc stopped in mid-strike, his brown eyes going wide with surprise and shock. The sword had severed the orc’s spine, the blade protruding out the back of his neck. Sandra twisted the sword and cut left, slicing half the orc’s neck.

The orc fell clutching at his open throat, blood escaping through his fingers. By the time his head struck the ground, he was no longer among the living. Sandra twisted her head around seeking a new opponent, the leader of the orc band was one of five claimed by her sword. Sandra did not have to worry about opponents, because the fight was over. All of the orcs were either dead or dying.

“Cato! How many did we lose?”

An Arcadian man in black and brown leather armor and chainmail saluted Sandra and said.

“No one, the ambush was a success. We have a few injuries, but no one died in battle. It is a complete victory.”

Sandra nodded in satisfaction; she surveyed the carnage. The band of orcs were defeated, not one of them surrendered. That was to be expected of orcs, they are vicious brutal fighters who would not stop until they kill you or you kill them. Tearing off a piece of fabric from the dead orc leader, Sandra cleaned off the blood from her gladius and sheathed her sword. She walked across the killing ground; her warriors greeted her with a wave or a nod. She returned the gestures, Cato by her side saying.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“We’ve accomplished our mission, but I bet those Romantian church bastards won’t be pleased that we didn’t lose anyone.”

“You’re probably right I suppose. But our people have been conquered and enslaved to the Romantians for 300 years. The facts are they outnumber us and control our lands. We have no choice but to serve them…for now.”

Sandra stated what Cato already knew. He sighed in frustration.

“If only we had the strength to free our people and take back what the Romantians have stolen from us.”

“Our ancestors have tried over the centuries, but ever since the fall of our Lady. The Romantians have had the power from their false god to subjugate us. If we rebel again, this might mean the end for all of us.”

Sandra’s words rang true. Cato saluted saying.

“War Leader, we shall follow you. No matter where you go or who you face. We are yours and you are ours. We fight to live…”

“…we live for each other.”

Sandra finished the ancient Arcadian saying between warrior brothers and sisters. Before the sun sets over the mountains, the bodies of the slain orcs were gathered in a pile and set a light. As night fell, the bonfire of the orcs blazed illuminating the night sky. The Arcadians stood some distance from the inferno, not wanting to endure the stench of dead burning orcs.

“War Leader, a messenger from the Holy Church of Romanto has just arrived.”

Sandra was sitting down on a fallen tree trunk drinking from a canteen when two of her warriors came forward escorting a church messenger. Sandra looked at the Romantian, a young man, probably in his early twenties. Sandra herself was just twenty-five, she capped her canteen closed and stood up. The messenger’s eyes widen, not because of how beautiful she looked. With short blonde hair and green eyes with flakes of gold and silver. No, it was how tall she is. Arcadians are human but taller than any human alive, an Arcadian male or female can range from seven to eight feet in height. Sandra stood at seven and a half, with her cobalt blue armor, she was a sight to behold.

“What?”

Was all Sandra demanded of the messenger, who gathering his composure, cleared his throat and said.

“Archbishop Nasir Gabriel commands you to rendezvous three miles from the Dark Forest at the River Timber near the village of Spring Song with the Fist of Romanto. You will place yourself under the command of Bishop General Xander Zachery.”

“And does your message explain why we should travel a hundred miles after completing our mission?”

Sandra demanded in a bored tone; the messenger shook his head.

“No War Leader, I was told that you are to make haste. Everything will be explained to you once you report to Bishop General Zachery.”

“I see.”

Sandra said again with that bored tone. She waved her hand at the messenger nonchalantly.

“I have received the message and will obey the commands of the Archbishop. Now, eat, rest, and leave.”

Finished with the messenger, Sandra sat back down, uncapped her canteen, and drank. The messenger bowed and was escorted to a small tent.

“What do you think?”

Cato asked and the other Arcadians around her, men and women who have fought and bled for the Holy Church of Romanto. Only to be treated like scum waited for her answer.

“I think something incredible has happened, and it terrifies the Fist of Romanto so much that they are willing to demand that an Arcadian war band be placed under their command. Whatever it is, I believe we are about to be in the fight of our lives.”

………………………………..

THE NETHER REALM

THE PALACE OF LUST

The robed demon smashed into the wall with a thundering crack. The wall itself caving in on impact, multiple fissures appearing in a large area of the impact zone.

“What do you mean the realm gate is no longer functioning!?”

Eldest roared out his demand, the demon went to one knee even though is spine had not yet fully regenerated and said with head bowed.

“My Lord the realm gate on the other side is either damaged or destroy. Your realm gate is working but it has lost its connection to the mortal realm gate. Only those on the other side can repair their realm gate, there is nothing that we can do on this side of the gate.”

Eldest did not like that answer, he was about to order the magic user demon flayed alive when he received a sharp pain in his head. Controlling a wince, Eldest roared.

“Out! All of you get out now!”

All of the demons who were standing around did not hesitate, not even the demon Eldest had almost punched through a wall. They all left immediately. When everyone was gone a bright golden light appeared in the antechamber of the realm gate. Eldest shielded his eyes with a hand. The light disappeared just as soon as it had appeared, and standing before Eldest was an angel dressed in robes of white and gold. But he was not just any angel, he is an Archangel and not just any Archangel.

“Jordin, the Archangel of Justice and the Right Hand of Romanto. What do you want?”

Jordin’s silver eyes sparked at the lack of proper respect to his station from Eldest.

“I have been informed by a faithful son of Holy Romanto that a greater she-devil and her minions have entered the realm of Avalon using your realm gate. Do care to explain how a devil managed not only to use your realm gate in your stronghold but also to discover that you had a realm gate linking to a church in Avalon?”

Jordin paused and awaited Eldest’s reply. Eldest did not like being questioned, even though he allied himself with Romanto all those years ago he is still a Demon Lord of the Nether Realm.

“You do not demand anything from me, I rule here. Be careful Jordin, or you may not make it back to Romanhall.”

Eldest went on the offensive, seeking to intimidate the Archangel. This time Jordin’s eyes glowed bright with silver light, Eldest clutched his head in pain. Going down to his knees, the Demon Lord tried not to scream out in agony.

“You sit upon your throne in this palace because of Lord Romanto. You wear the mantle of the Demon Lord of Lust because of Lord Romanto. You were elevated from the lowest ranks in the Nether Realm to stand among your betters because of Lord Romanto. You serve the interests and wishes of Lord Romanto. The moment you stop being of use is the moment Lord Romanto no longer has any need of you. You were brought up out of the filth, do not be mistaken Eldest. You can be tossed back into the filth. Now, answer my questions.”

Jordin released his hold on Eldest’s mind, the Demon Lord of Lust slowly and painfully got back to his feet. Even though he was 20-feet tall, and Jordin was only 6-feet in height. Both Archangel and Demon Lord knew who holds the true power here. Finally, Eldest spoke.

“It was a she-devil I had my people capture out in the wilds. She was brought to the Palace of Lust, imprisoned with her powers contained. Or so I thought. Somehow, she managed to escape her confinement and escape through my realm gate taking two of my succubi and three she-demons. One of them a marilith according to the guards that survived the encounter.”

After Eldest’s explanation, Jordin did not reply for a good while. When he did, it was not pleasant.

“YOU FOOL!! Captured a she-devil! Devils do not get capture by demons such as you. She allowed herself to be captured.”

When Eldest gave Jordin a puzzled look, the Archangel closed his eyes in frustration.

“The she-devil knew about your realm gate.”

“That’s impossible. My realm gate was kept secret.”

Eldest protested.

“She had spies inside the palace, your two succubi. She must have been planning this for some time. Seeking access into Avalon for whatever reason. You will tell me everything you know about this she-devil, every single detail. Leave nothing out.”

Eldest nodded at Jordin’s words and began. Unbeknown to the Archangel and Demon Lord, there was an unforeseen force watching and listening to their discussion. The unforeseen being smiled, things were getting interesting and becoming much clearer.