By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,63

weak,” said Ittonifer.

“I would never join them! I was working with your warlock to create a spell on their general, remember?” Jalarn shouted.

“You can start to regain my trust by burning that worthless piece of parchment, and maybe I will consider giving you back your old commander position in time for the war.”

Without hesitating, Jalarn walked over to his bed and grabbed the lethal document. The words telling of God’s love were still in red. They had nearly cost him the life that he had worked so hard to have. He had been a complete fool. Like Talya.

Jalarn rolled up the scroll and tossed it into the fire. The flames licked at Talya’s beloved story. There was no room in his life for idealistic musings. The only thing that they had done for Talya was cause her an unnecessary death.

*****

Talya paced back and forth, sword in hand, ignoring the dull aches and pains that throbbed all over her body. She had never felt so helpless in all her life. Jalarn had chosen the devil over Jesus, leaving her at the mercy of her enemy.

I have failed Jalarn. There must have been something else I could have said.

The thought of Jalarn dying and going into an eternity of sorrow and pain made her feel sick.

Talya collapsed onto the cold, hard floor and buried her face in her hands. She thought of the countless other men that she had sent to hell. Waltez was one of them. Her father had allowed him to go free. Maybe he would have changed his ways, but Talya had made sure that he died before he had a chance to.

Then there had been hundreds more. Her stomach knotted and she vomited.

Oh Lord, I can never make up for what I did. Never.

Footsteps walked slowly toward her cell. Talya gripped her sword as her pulse quickened. It wasn’t even worth fighting anymore. She would be dead soon anyway, and perhaps the guards who slew her would have a chance to one day come to know God if she spared their lives.

I really am beginning to think more like Mother. Like Jesus.

The prison door opened and Ittonifer walked in. A shriveled old man hobbled in behind him, leering at Talya.

Talya set her sword down. A stream of light came from the elderly man’s hand.

“We have not come just to kill you,” said Ittonifer. “You will suffer much for refusing to submit to me.”

“Do your worst then.”

Despite Talya’s brave façade, she thought her knees would buckle.

More pain is sure to come. Not more pain.

Her body was still very tender from the previous abuse. And she felt so tired.

Lord, please give me the strength to bear it!

Ittonifer glanced at Aterun.

“Cast the spell!” he barked.

Talya tried to think of what it would be like when she, at last, would behold her Redeemer. Jesus. She would know no more pain or sorrow caused by living in the world.

But what about Jalarn?

Talya choked back a sob.

The old man reached out. He opened the palms of his hands as he began a low, solemn chant.

Talya backed into the wall of her prison as unspeakable pain permeated through her entire body. It hit her with such force that she could barely breathe, much less scream.

“Submit to our lord and you will be spared!” shouted Ittonifer.

“N-nooo!” she cried.

Her entire body convulsed. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to hold in the cries that wanted to burst forth from her mouth. Every inch of her body felt like it was being burned with searing liquid fire.

It was too much.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

“Jesus, help me!”

*****

Naeshi grinned as he rode his winged mare to the front of Malinor’s army. Ittonifer had given him the honor of leading it. Thanks to Jalarn’s predictable immaturity. It took more than skill to lead soldiers and knights.

The God followers and the giants wouldn’t know what hit them when flaming boulders and thrashing monsters greeted their arrival. Naeshi could barely wait to lay his eyes on the beasts tearing apart thousands of his enemies. He wouldn’t let Ittonifer down like Jalarn had. Perhaps one day, his bravery would be recognized and Ittonifer would promote him to general. Regardless, he would prove to be a much better leader than that disillusioned whelp.

Naeshi still could not believe that the empire’s most powerful warrior had fallen prey to the