By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,42
that she was in a different place and time, where she could live the way she wanted to.
Like that enemy female knight that saved me from Naeshi.
Suddenly, a sharp cackle from just outside startled her out of the daydream. A blackbird had landed on the ledge of Chrissa’s window. Once she moved, the bird flew away and disappeared into the trees.
A free soul.
With a sigh, Chrissa turned away from her window and walked toward the door. She was getting married today and here she was fantasizing of things that would never happen for her.
Then, her heart raced as an idea formed in her mind.
*****
An impossibly tall young man stood several feet away from Talya. He looked to be around her age. He had probably been watching her from up high in a tree before jumping down.
He has to be at least twelve feet tall.
The giant glared down at her.
Talya realized that even with her sword she would not be able to take on a giant by herself. She decided it would be best to initiate the conversation before he crushed her.
“I apologize for intruding,” she said as politely as she could, “but I come to you in peace.”
The giant scoffed.
Talya swallowed nervously. What a ridiculous thing for her to say.
“I’ve been sent to speak with you.”
The large young man just frowned at her. The thick bushes behind him rustled, and he was joined by another equally tall, but much older man. He had long white hair with a matching beard.
Talya’s heart drummed against her ribcage.
“What is it that you want, child?” he asked.
“I just want to speak with you before the Malinorians do.”
The two giants exchanged glances.
“Malinorians? Here?” asked the young one.
“We have not dealt with your kind for many years,” said the oldest one.
“It was very foolish of you to come here,” said the younger one.
“I didn’t come of my own accord. God sent me here.”
“God?” spat the younger giant. “He doesn’t live in this part of the world.”
There was more pain in that statement than anger.
Talya bit her lower lip.
And to think that I nearly said no to this mission. Who else would have told these people about God?
“You need to go,” said another giant from behind her.
Talya turned to see an even larger giant with a long, black beard. He held a long spear in his left hand. Talya watched it carefully as he toyed with it.
The Pegasus pawed the earth nervously. Talya hoped that the mare wouldn’t fly away without her.
“Easy, girl,” Talya cooed.
The mare snorted and nibbled on a patch of grass.
Good, at least she is occupied for the time being.
“God wants you to know that He has not forgotten you,” said Talya.
“These are pretty big claims,” said the bearded giant. “What makes you so special that God would choose you to come here?”
“Um…”
“Wait,” said the younger one after a moment. “We might as well hear the small one out since she came all this way to deliver this divine message.”
All three of them laughed.
The conversation was not going well.
“Please, I’ll just say my peace, and then I will leave you be,” she said.
“Speak it and be gone,” the old one said.
“Our nation, Sanctus, the last God-serving nation on the continent, is going to war with the Malinorian Empire. They have defeated Cardamon – our last ally. I wanted to go with my country and fight for our freedom, but I was sent here instead.”
“So you want to use us to fight these monsters. Is that it?” asked the youngest one.
“First they ostracize us. Then they expect us to risk our lives for them,” sneered the largest one.
Talya didn’t know what to say. Diplomatic discussions were not her thing.
“Tell them about Me, Talya. Show them the scroll. Show them Jesus.”
Talya shut her eyes, cringing at how much of a fool she was. God showed her an image. It was of Jesus, the Christ. He was hanging on the cross. He was humiliated, battered, and alone, yet He loved His enemies so much that He had begged God for their forgiveness. That was Love.
Talya’s heart had been so consumed with violence and hate that she had forgotten about the most important reason why everyone was on the earth – including her. God wanted a relationship with every person He had created.
She opened her eyes. Instead of imposingly large men, she saw torn, shattered hearts needing the same Savior that she had so selfishly kept to herself for many years.
Swallowing, she pulled out the scroll, whose Scriptures