By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,88
a spell that I cast over everyone that betrays the empire. I… I had wanted to please Ittonifer again after my failures. Everyone will die here. There is only one way to end it.”
By the horrified look on her face, it was clear that she knew what that was. He was going to miss her so much.
“There has to be some other way! We can pray together! Let’s do it now,” she cried.
Jalarn leaned close to her. Their lips met in one sweet, passionate moment. His sworn enemy had become the best friend he had ever known.
“I love you, Talya.”
Talya choked back a sob.
“And I love you! But don’t go. Let’s gather everyone together. We can all pray.”
He turned away from her then and ran, tearing himself away from the life that he would never live with her. Tears blurred his vision as he stared at the fatal cloud.
Jalarn had found someone far more valuable than power and wealth. And she was worth dying for.
Jalarn ran into the red cloud before Talya could even begin to pray. Instantly, it started to dissipate until all that remained was a light fog in its wake. But Jalarn was gone.
Talya dropped to her knees as she cried out. He was really gone. Jalarn had given his life for everyone – for her. Her body shook in uncontrollable sobs. It wasn’t fair.
“Oh, God!” she cried.
A hand rested gently on her shoulder. She looked up and saw that it was Tanel.
“He made a remarkable sacrifice,” said Tanel.
“He found God. Thank You, Jesus,” breathed Talya as she stared up at the sky.
“He is safe in the Savior’s arms now.”
“But I am going to miss him so much! I just got him back, and now…”
“I know.”
Beyond the battlefield, Ittonifer’s castle split down the middle with an ear-splitting crack. Everyone on the battlefield gasped. The earth shook from under its solid foundation and the entire structure fell down into a deep void. Everything that Ittonifer had ever owned was gone. It looked as though the empire had never existed.
A thick silence swept over the field. Everyone stood transfixed by what had just happened. The remaining Malinorian men dropped to their knees in surrender.
General Edandir shouted at the top of his lungs.
“The empire has ceased!”
There would be no more attacks from the wicked city, no more spells chanted to turn the hearts of men. But so many had fallen by the devil’s wicked hand. The difficult task of burying their dead was upon them. Victory had come at a high price. It was a cost that Talya had not been prepared for.
General Edandir approached General Kinar of Chira. They shook hands.
“I do not know how to thank you for coming to our aid. You have no idea how blessed we are to have you as an ally once again.”
The younger general grinned.
“It was an honor to fight by your side and see the fall of the empire.”
Queen Roselyn walked over to them.
“Your king and I will have some matters to discuss,” she said.
“Yes, he wishes to speak with you promptly,” said General Kinar.
General Edandir felt like he was having a dream. It still seemed unreal that Ittonifer’s empire had vanished from the earth.
“Look!” cried Roselyn, pointing ahead.
Edandir watched an exodus of city people emerge from the ruins of Malinor. He was grateful that they had been spared.
“What are we going to do with them?” asked Commander Sanere, who had just joined them.
“What Jesus would have done,” said Edandir. “Forgive them. Give them another chance.”
“It was Ittonifer and his men that had brought destruction to these lands and suppression to their own people,” said General Kinar.
Sanere nodded thoughtfully.
Edandir walked closer to the large crowd of people, each now without a home. Now that they were closer, he could see that a slender, well-dressed man led the way. He motioned for the others to stop. There were several elderly people, a few men, and a lot of women and children there. Edandir’s heart went out to them. They were completely homeless.
The richly dressed man approached Edandir. His posture was that of one who had led a very privileged life, but there was also humility in his countenance.
He suddenly dropped to his knees.
“I have come to beg you to at least spare our children, and if you could be so kind, please spare the women.”
“Get up. I am not going to kill anyone,” said Edandir.
The man stood again, appearing confused.
“Are you going to imprison us then?” he asked.
“No, because I know what