He jogged over in his light, sandy colored garments, sweat rolling off of his arms and forehead. 'Master Isaiah, I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting a visit today.'
'I'm sorry that I must make one, James,' he said.
James' reaction was immediate. His smile dropped to a tense frown, his eyebrows knitted together in anticipation of what he was about to hear.
'Are your lion's well-fed and strong today?' Isaiah asked.
James nodded. 'Of course, Master. They are always ready for whatever service you require. Is there trouble of some kind?'
Isaiah nodded. 'Unfortunately, yes. An army is making its way beyond Broken Pass toward the Pine Forest.'
James tensed. 'An army? Mordred's men?'
Isaiah nodded again. 'Yes, but they are not normal men. Mordred has managed to somehow transform these soldiers into brutes-as much animals as men. They will not be easy, even for the pride.'
James stood confidently and smiled. 'My lions are up to the task any time Mordred's soldiers are involved, Master. I was about to feed them their supper, but they'll feast in the forest instead.'
Isaiah didn't appear as confident as James. He looked weary-he felt weary-as though he'd managed all his long years to hold time at bay and maintain his youthful vitality. But now, he withered more and more by the moment after hearing of Gideon's betrayal. 'James, I'm sorry to have to tell you that Gideon-our Gideon-is leading this army-leading the enemy to our door.'
James appeared as jolted by the news as Peter and the others had been. Isaiah pressed on, saying, 'More than any of Mordred's soldiers, Gideon must not be allowed to leave the forest. Mordred's army will not be able to find the tunnel without him.'
James nodded slowly. He looked back into Isaiah's tired eyes. 'The pride will move at once to intercept these invaders.'
He turned and sped across the hill toward the place where his lions usually congregated around a central reservoir which was fed by one of the mountain streams flowing through the valley. Isaiah turned back to Jason. 'That is all we can do, besides pray and hope that it is not Shaddai's will to surrender this place to the enemy.'
Sparse trees and brush yielded to a vast forest of pines. So many copper colored needles lay upon the ground, that it became impossible to discern how the trail wound its way through. Grimwald rode forward and came alongside Gideon sitting upon his horse gazing into the trees.
'How far does this forest stretch? How long before we come to the Temple?' Grimwald asked.
Gideon did not look at the General. He seemed to be summing up the way ahead. 'The forest is several miles across and we must pass through in order to reach the tunnel and access the Temple.'
'Anymore surprises I should be aware of before we proceed?' Grimwald said sarcastically.
'It's hard to say. There are many wild beasts that roam this forest, but most wouldn't bother an army marching through.'
'Humph. Let's hope so for your child's sake,' Grimwald said. He turned back toward the army of demonic hybrids and motioned them on. 'Stay within sight of others. We'll need everyone to come through safely so we can take the Temple beyond!'
This news of the Temple's nearness seemed to rouse the beastly men. They were ready for blood, ready to come against the bastion of truth and its ministers in order to see it razed to the ground. No man would stand before them.
Grimwald motioned to Gideon. 'Lead the way, priest…and no tricks.'
Gideon leered at the General but said nothing. He goaded his animal forward into the trees. There was a definite way to go through the forest and many ways to become hopelessly lost. But Gideon knew what signs to look for-the landmarks set to guide the priests of Shaddai safely through. More than that, he also knew where traps had been laid in order to snare unsuspecting enemies.
Gideon considered what he should do. He could simply keep silent and hope a few of these monsters were destroyed, or he might inform Grimwald. If he were very fortunate, perhaps Grimwald would be one of the first to encounter one of the traps and be killed. Still, none of that really mattered. He was still a traitor despite anything that happened now.
Grimwald's demons fanned out behind him. They formed lines proceeding through the trees never more than an arm's length apart. A cool fog hung suspended in the air. Sound seemed to be stifled. No animals appeared to be moving anywhere.
The complete void of activity did not go unnoticed by Gideon. He perked to the silence, his ears seeking and finding nothing but a warning in it. This was wrong. Something was coming. Every living thing in the forest, except this army, knew it.
Gideon's horse grew nervous beneath him. Grimwald's seemed to grow anxious as well, but the General only barked at the animal, forcing it onward through the trees. Behind them, the demonic hybrids trudged on, some of them sniffing the air now.
'Something's coming!' shouted one. All along the front line, the soldiers drew weapons to the ready. The sound of scraping metal, as weapons were loosed, crossed the forest behind Gideon like dominos falling.
Gideon could think of only one thing that would cause all of this. He turned to Grimwald as the General watched the hybrids prepare for whatever lay ahead of them. 'Follow me, Grimwald, if you want to live!'
Gideon kicked into his horse's haunches, 'Hiya,' sending the animal forward with a burst of speed. Grimwald waited only a moment, considering, before doing the same. He shot away from the bewildered hybrids in pursuit of Gideon.
The trees passed quickly on either side. Grimwald had nearly caught up, calling to Gideon in anger. 'What are you doing, priest? There's nothing here!'
No sooner had he said it, before huge brown blurs shot away from the trees, roaring furiously. The beasts lunged and missed. 'Lions!' Grimwald shrieked. Gideon pulled his body down over the right side of his horse as one of the beasts passed over his stallion's haunches and fell away.
Grimwald blanched as a lioness closed the distance. He pulled his sword from the sheath upon his saddle and made ready to strike. The lioness leaped as another appeared flanking her. General Grimwald, startled by the second lion, misjudged and swung too early. The lioness hit his arm after the blade passed before her face and caught him in her teeth.
The lioness wrenched Grimwald from his saddle back over the rear of his black stallion. He crashed into the ground, his arm torn and bleeding profusely. 'Gideon!' he cried in panic.
Gideon pulled up to a stop as lions flooded into the area around them. Behind, the hybrids had surged forward in a roaring wave, flying into the lions, even as others were taken down and mauled upon the forest floor. Gideon looked back, searching for Grimwald and found him on the ground trying to fend off the lioness with a long dagger held in his good hand.
Gideon considered the matter. He could save Grimwald and be sure of his child's safety, or let him die and probably have one of the hybrids inform Mordred. The lioness circled, her muzzle pulled back, exposing her bloodstained teeth. She would charge in seconds.
Gideon spotted three carnivores closing on him. He bolted toward Grimwald's position and loosed his sword. He charged at the lioness slashing wildly. She backed away, but the other three on his trail joined her, surrounding the two men. 'What do we do?' Grimwald said as he gained his feet again. He stood back to back with Gideon watching the lions. Gideon thrust his sword in every direction, while the lions looked for a way through.
'You're going to have to help, Grimwald!' Gideon shouted above the din. At least one hundred lions had scattered their army among the trees. Demonic hybrids lay dead everywhere mingled with the carcasses of slain lions.
Grimwald threw down his dagger and picked his sword back up with his good hand. 'There are too many. We'll never get out of here!' Grimwald grew furious. 'You've led us into a trap, and you can be sure our spiritual allies will get this news back to Mordred.'
Gideon gritted his teeth.
'If I die, priest, then so will your son!'
