By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,86

have been a dream.

Jalarn watched in awe as hellish winged forms loomed above the Malinorians. They were demons, like the one that had tried to drag him through hell’s gate. It unnerved him that he had been on the demons’ side all of that time without even knowing what his decision really meant. How could God ever forgive him after all of that time? He had become one with a demon. He had been possessed.

A puce-skinned demon with rotting flesh and mad yellow eyes was staring at Jalarn from across the field. Its body contorted grotesquely as it laughed. Then, it made its way toward Jalarn.

Watching the demon closely, Jalarn unsheathed his sword. Then, he remembered that there was no way that he could defeat the evil spirit with his own power. He was no match for it on his own.

“I am here, Jalarn. I died for you. I love you. Let Me in.”

Jalarn sank to his knees and stared at the sky.

“Would You forgive me, Jesus?”

His heart was screaming to be filled with the Savior, to be restored. To be set free.

The grotesque demon clawed at the earth as he inched closer to Jalarn on all fours. Its blackened teeth gnashed.

“You are coming with me. Back where you belong,” the demon hissed.

Jalarn wept.

“Forgive me, Jesus. Please, forgive me for all of the evil I have done! For all of the lives I have taken. I will never serve the devil again. Come into my heart. I believe in You.”

Immediately, peace filled Jalarn’s soul. Jesus had forgiven him. As Talya and Edandir had said He would.

The demon stopped in his tracks, opening his mouth into a blood-curdling scream. He cowered and took off into the air with his spindly wings.

Jalarn stood, feeling as though the weight of a mountain had been lifted from his soul.

“Thank you, Jesus. You have saved me.”

Jalarn drifted back into unconsciousness. But this time, he knew that he was not alone. He would never be alone again.

*****

Three Malinorians encircled Tanel, driving him further away from Endil. He tried to ignore the pain in his overused arm muscles. He managed to block three of their blows, but barely.

“Die, runt!” shouted the largest of his enemies.

Tanel deflected the forceful blow.

A high-pitched war cry came from behind the three men. They all turned to face Talya.

She regarded them with that wild glare she normally wore when she was ready to attack.

While she went for the largest of the three, Tanel drove his sword through another one’s back. He finished off the third by slashing his throat and brought his attention back to Talya.

She had stabbed the Malinorian in the shoulder. Weakened, he now lay at her feet, but she backed away.

Tanel ran over to Talya, and they embraced for a moment.

“Thank God you’re all right,” he said.

Talya just clung to him for a moment and then looked at him with watery eyes. Tanel didn’t know what she had been through on her mission, but she was different.

“I was so afraid that I would never see you again,” she said. “Look, I’m sorry for what I did back in Malinor City. We all could have died because of me.”

“Don’t think about that anymore, Talya. I should be sorry. It was never your fault. You are my best friend. I should have never treated you like that. I missed you very much.”

“I am happy we are back to normal.”

Tanel nodded, but he had a feeling that nothing would be as it had been. So many things had changed. They had changed.

Talya looked over to the field of battling soldiers.

“Have you seen Jalarn?” she asked.

“What?”

“He saved my life. He has changed so much.”

“Wow. That must be why Ittonifer wanted to kill him.”

“What happened?” cried Talya.

Her eyes and countenance told of how she felt for Jalarn. Tanel had never seen her like that before. He wanted to ask her what happened, but they did not have the time.

“Ittonifer was going to kill Jalarn in front of everyone… along with your father. But then the warlocks defied the devil, and I haven’t seen him since. I am sorry.”

Wide-eyed, Talya searched the battlefield.

“I have to find him.”

Tanel unsheathed his sword.

“I will help you. I owe him that much.”

Talya eyed Tanel’s newfound sword.

“Surprised?” asked Tanel with a grin.

“Yes. It looks like we have much to catch up on,” said Talya.

“That is an understatement. I noticed you didn’t kill that Malinorian.”

Talya looked down at the ground for a moment.

“Long story. We should go.”

Then, Talya stopped in her