- 90: One time Uriel took Lailah unto a park in the heart of the high capital of Adan, which marked the place where Adamu and Hava had first been brought forth from the Earth. And above the eastern gate thereof stood a statue of a cherub bearing a flaming sword, as though defying pilgrims entrance to the park. And Uriel showed unto Lailah the low ridge wherein the bridge to the Lone Mountain had once been set, and the field where Hebel in former times had grazed his bison. And he showed her also the glade where Kayin had committed the first murder in Kemen, where many paths now wound gently through the grass. Yet no Scourging Trees remained there any longer. And Lailah beheld the park and said unto Uriel, “Was this place always so beautiful?” And Uriel answered her, saying, “Unto mine eyes it was less fair in those days. For remember, in the beginning it was but a small farm in the midst of the wilds, and not this carefully tended city park as thou beholdest now.”
- 91: And Lailah said unto him, “Art thou familiar with the laws of this city, which govern the lives of men?” And Uriel answered her, saying, “I have given little heed to the manner whereby Emperor Rimmon ruleth his capital city.” And Lailah said, “For my own part, I have made myself thoroughly acquainted with his laws. And there is within them a certain logic which, I fear, our own city shall not forever resist. We possess greater freedom, it is true; yet by reason of this freedom we are oftentimes more careless in our ways.” And Uriel said unto her, “What then hast thou learned?” And Lailah answered him, saying, “Here in Adan, a boy remaineth under the authority of his father until the fifteenth year of his life. Then he entereth service in the army as one of the ishim. And if an ish attain unto eighteen years and hath not risen into the higher ranks, he is discharged from the army; and for all the remainder of his days he is bound to worship Azul, even as did his father before him.”
- 92: And Uriel said, “And thou hast already declared unto us in great detail the manner whereby the people of Adan perform that which Azul calleth worship, which thing is little more than the rendering up of temple taxes. Yet I confess there is a certain forthrightness in it. For the cults upon the Earth do oft become exceedingly elaborate in order to conceal this very matter.” But Sar Lailah said, “There is yet more besides. The hashmalim command the army in brigades, and are numbered among the Eyes of Azul. And when disputes arise among the common people, a hashmal is appointed arbiter over them, and none save the king himself may overturn his judgment. And the princes command the army in divisions, and rule in all disputes among the great lords which are brought before them. And lastly, the kings of the empire, even such as mine own father, lead the whole army in the field, and possess authority to overrule both the hashmalim and the princes.”
- 93: And Uriel said unto her, “Yet now are we confronted with a dispute between kings. Who then shall render judgment between them?” And Lailah answered him, saying, “Surely such a matter requireth that the seraphim take counsel together. Is this then thy purpose in coming unto this city?” But Uriel said unto her, “There is no such design, Lailah, save only that we should make known unto Rimmon that we are here. Even now do the Eyes of Azul move abroad to take me into custody.” And Lailah said unto him, “Then thy true design is to die! Hast thou forgotten that Sar Malphas pronounced thy doom?” And Uriel answered, “It shall not come unto that.” But Lailah said, “In the absence of any plan from thee, I say that we should proceed according unto mine own.” Then Uriel looked narrowly upon her and said, “Lailah, do nothing foolish. Better still, do nothing whatsoever.” And it came to pass that, even in that very moment, a company of ishim came round about them. And Lailah was known unto the erel who commanded them.
- 94: And the erel spake, saying, “Your pardon I beg, Your Highness, but by command of the Emperor we must separate thy companion from thee.” And while they led Uriel away, he cried out unto her, saying, “Lailah! Let this matter alone! Dost thou hear me?” And it came to pass that Uriel was brought before a tribunal. And the voice of Azul, even Sar Malphas, stood forth as accuser against him. But Uriel demanded that Lailah appear in his defense. And this was granted unto her by special dispensation, notwithstanding the laws of the city which forbade wen to speak in matters of judgment. And Rimmon himself sat in the place of judge, and jury, and executioner. And the charge laid against Uriel was insurrection; namely, that he had stirred up the people unto infidelity against Azul. For in every theocracy, to sin against a god is accounted the same as breaking the law. And the proceedings continued for many days, and Malphas sought continually to ensnare Uriel with subtle questions and with words of riddling intent.
- 95: And Malphas turned his attention unto the words of Uriel’s famous Eventide Discourse, which had been preserved by scribes. And he fixed his inquiry upon a matter which even Melchizedek had questioned in former days, and had brought before Uriel. And Malphas said, “I find it curious that thou continually sayest, ‘she who embraceth Ayat,’ thereby speaking always of wen, and seeming to exclude men altogether. Dost thou then teach that only wen may become thy disciples, and that no man may do likewise?” And Uriel answered him, saying, “Sadly, nay. For the disposition which I condemn is not confined unto one sex alone. By these signs shall ye know that a wan is not my disciple: she is carried about by every passing fashion, and affirmeth not her own uniqueness. She groweth vexed at what is beyond her power to change, and therefore remaineth in continual anger. And controversies which divide the people are pleasing unto her. Assuredly, no wan who doeth such things may rightly call herself a student of Ayat.”
- 96: “And likewise, any man who refraineth from such things may already stand upon the road that leadeth unto becoming a follower of Ayat.” Then Malphas answered and said, “And yet, contrary unto the Code of Azul, thou employest thy disciples in labor, and even callest them Fallen Angels, which many say is in truth an army. An army of wen! Surely such a contradiction hath never before existed in all the history of our world.” And Uriel answered and said, “An army of men gathereth wealth and scattereth the people. But the Fallen Angels scatter wealth and gather together the people.” And Malphas said unto him, “Then dost thou teach that wealth should be distributed unto those who had no part in creating it?” But Uriel answered, saying, “I teach that wen should be given labor which draweth them together in service one unto another. And in these things there is no overlap with the labor appointed unto men.” And Malphas answered him, saying, “Where then do men find their place within thy designs, Uriel?”
- 97: And Uriel said unto him, “In like manner as men and wen were separated from the lower beasts, that they might enjoy a nearer relationship unto the Elohim, even so hath Ayat set apart her disciples from among wen, that they might dwell together in unity and nourish one another.” Then Malphas said, “If we pursue thy reasoning, we arrive at a thing too shameful even to be named, a thing accounted utterly unnatural by all our ancient traditions.” But Uriel answered him, saying, “It is natural for the body to possess an odor. Verily, our frequent bathing is itself an unnatural thing. Yet no man counseleth we should return unto the condition of beasts in matters of personal cleanliness. And I speak of these things because this is the manner wherein the Fallen Angels regard that which men call unnatural.” And Malphas continued on in like manner, yet he contended against one who was both eloh and man, even an advanced composite being. And Ser Uriel possessed an answer suitable unto every challenge set before him.
- 98: Indeed, even before his union with Ayat, Uriel alone would have been sufficient to contend with the prince in matters of intellect. But Malphas perceived not that he was being thoroughly overcome by the rhetoric of Uriel. Nevertheless, Uriel suspected within himself that none of these things would matter in the end. For surely the judgment of the trial had been determined beforehand. And it came to pass after a time that Sar Malphas altogether exhausted his arguments. And he declared unto his father that he had no further questions to put before Uriel. Then Emperor Rimmon commanded that there should be a brief pause before the defense might begin to present its arguments. And during this interval Lailah came unto Uriel, that they might speak together privately for a moment. And Lailah said unto him, “I believe I can contend with this Malphas well enough; nevertheless, why must I do so at all? For at times thou hast summoned a halo and sent me forth across Kemen in the twinkling of an eye.”
- 99: “Why then dost thou not summon another halo and depart from this place?” But Uriel answered her, saying, “This matter is a game, and every game possesseth rules. The working of the bubble requireth cooperation between male and female among the Elohim. And there are certain things which Azul and I perform together in Kemen in a spirit of unity. But concerning this tribunal, we are most certainly not united. Nevertheless, be not afraid, Lailah. I am confident that thou shalt acquit thyself well.” Now Lailah had never been instructed in the art of advocacy in such matters; nevertheless, she had been a faithful disciple of Uriel. And the vigor of her defense would have been sufficient to secure his release in nearly any other court, whether upon the Earth or elsewhere in Kemen. And at the first, Lailah directed her defense toward the fact that the Code of Azul had come into existence only after Uriel began to teach in Shalem, and after his doctrines had spread abroad beyond the borders of that city.
- 9A: And Lailah contended that this new written law had been established solely for the purpose of opposing the teachings of Uriel. And Lailah said before the tribunal, “Never in history hath a man been condemned for deeds made unlawful only after the deed was done. And even if such a thing should now be permitted in this instance, there yet remaineth the matter of jurisdiction. “For Uriel was apprehended just beyond the walls of Shalem, in lands ruled absolutely by my father, Kar Melchizedek. And he hath declared that the scepter is given without repentance, save only in the event of war, of which there hath been none. Therefore the very legality of this tribunal standeth in question.” But the objections of Lailah were permitted only for a short space. For Rimmon wearied quickly of each argument, and bade her pass unto another matter, and then unto another still. And the injustice of the proceedings began greatly to weigh upon Lailah; nevertheless, Uriel accepted all these things with calmness.
- 9B: For unto him the chief matter was not the outcome itself, seeing it had surely been determined beforehand, but rather that the people of the city who attended within the court should behold with their own eyes the injustice of the proceeding. And Lailah said, “Ser Uriel, notwithstanding all the evidence which hath been brought forth concerning the charge of impiety toward Azul, thou still maintainest thine innocence. How can this thing be?” And Uriel answered her, saying, “For most wives in Kemen, the decision to remain within marriage is no great exercise of will, seeing that the only alternative before them is starvation. And in like manner, it cannot be a meaningful choice to worship Azul within Adan, where the alternative is a tribunal and execution, even as this proceeding now unfoldeth before us.” And Lailah said unto him, “Then dost thou contend that any piety compelled by force of law is invalid?” And Uriel answered, “Precisely so.
- 9C: “Such piety is as counterfeit as the love found in many, yea, perhaps even in most marriages among the people of Adan, even as I have already declared. How much more precious is the love shared between two souls wholly free either to remain together or to depart, yet who nevertheless choose to abide with one another! And if this seemeth perilous unto thee, know this: to live dangerously is the very thing which lendeth excitement and meaning unto our lives. For only through conflict do we burn with the desire to create a new destiny.” And after these things, Lailah turned and signaled unto Malphas that he might begin his own examination of the defendant. Then Malphas said unto Sar Uriel, “A new destiny? Doth not such a teaching stand contrary to all that we have received concerning the inexorable workings of fate?” And Uriel answered him, saying, “I tell you with full knowledge that Azul once declared unto Ayat that to take fate into one’s own hands is to rise beyond good and evil.
- 9D: “But in truth, a rock and a tree are likewise beyond good and evil, and so also are all those who are wholly suborned unto the laws of cause and chance. For rocks, and trees, and those who are not permitted or else refuse to make choice, are amoral. Not immoral, mark thou well, but amoral. For unto such beings ethics hath no application.” And Malphas said unto him, “Then dost thou deny that Emperor Rimmon possesseth authority to make decrees concerning morality?” But Uriel answered, “It is not merely that he ought not decree morality, but rather that he in truth cannot do so. For such a thing is a profound confusion of kinds, even as though one should speak of a triangle having four sides.” And the prince shrugged, and stood down from further questioning, being content to leave all these matters hanging unresolved before the tribunal. Then Sar Lailah pondered things a short span, and declared unto Rimmon, “The defense resteth.”
- 9E: And it came to pass that the trial concluded with judgment wholly against Uriel, to the surprise of none save perhaps Sar Lailah herself. Uriel was led through a veritable house of torments unto the lowest chambers beneath the palace of Rimmon, and there was he cast into a wet cell, wherein he shivered because of the cold. And Lailah was permitted to pay one final visit unto him within the dungeons beneath the Temple of Azul before the sentence should be carried out. And during the first moments they embraced one another in silence, though iron bars stood between them. Then Lailah looked round about carefully, assuring herself that their brief right of private counsel yet remained inviolate. And Lailah said unto him, “Guilty! And sentenced unto death. I can scarcely believe it, Uriel. Tell me then, what is thy plan?” But Uriel answered, “Plan? There is no plan. Look about thee, Lailah! Behold this security.”
- 9F: And Uriel reached forth through the bars once more, and touched the face of his first and dearest disciple. And he said unto her, “They have prepared this matter for years. This whole tribunal beareth the stench of Azul moving behind the veil. He desireth something from me; of this I am certain. It remaineth only for him to set the matter openly before me. And though he hath other and far easier means whereby he might communicate with me, yet refuseth he to employ them.” But Lailah answered and said, “Uriel, what if thou art mistaken? True it is that thou art seldom wrong; nevertheless, if thou art wrong in this matter, I still say we should return unto my plan.” And Uriel prepared once more to rehearse in the ears of Lailah his many objections unto her plan; but they were interrupted by the guard appointed to escort her, an honorable man, though unwavering in his loyalty. And the guard spake, saying, “Forgive me, Your Highness, but I may grant you no further time.”
- 9G: And the guard did not lay hold upon Lailah by the arm, out of respect unto her station; yet by word and gesture did he gently, though firmly, guide her forth from the chamber. Then Uriel cried after her, saying, “Lailah! Let this matter alone, dost thou hear me?” But afterward Uriel sighed deeply in resignation, for he knew her resolve all too well. And on the following day Sar Malphas came unto Uriel. And he drew near unto the iron bars, that he might look directly into the eyes of Uriel. And Malphas regarded him in silence for a time. Then Malphas spake, saying, “Lord Azul sendeth his greetings unto Ayat.” And Uriel answered him, “I made no secret of my union with her; yet thou camest all the way unto Shalem to deny it.” And Malphas said, “Lord Azul knoweth that thou didst perform a kind of working with light, to overawe the people. For only an eloh joined in union with the flesh of a world-dweller is able to summon images in the air after the manner which thou hast done.”
- 9H: And Uriel answered and said, “Excellent, Malphas! Now that thy master believeth the very thing for which thou didst condemn me to die, why then do I yet remain within this cell?” And Malphas answered, “There are certain actions, and likewise certain abstentions, which are required of thee.” But Uriel said unto him, “Azul knoweth well that I may choose to end my life at any moment. Therefore the instruments of pain which thou hast set about me are of no consequence.” And Malphas answered, saying, “A martyr is the very last thing we desire, Uriel. But Sar Lailah hath fully set her heart upon thy deliverance. Thinkest thou truly that the Eyes of Azul are ignorant of the preparations she hath made to rescue thee? Thou shalt marvel when thou beholdest
- it: hidden cells of conspirators, guards struck down in silence, secret disguises, false doubles, and houses of refuge stretching from hence even unto the outermost edge of the city. Yet all these things are already accounted for, and shall not prevail.”
- 9I: “For we shall seize Sar Lailah and her companions in the very act, and gather up the chief among the Fallen Angels, and in a single night shall thy whole movement be brought utterly to naught.” And Uriel answered and said, “Thou greatly underestimatest Lailah and her Fallen Angels if thou thinkest they may be so easily gathered and destroyed.” But Malphas said, “Lord Azul proposeth a better course. If thou wilt consent to be borne in a cage from this city even unto Shalem, that the people may behold the humiliation of their would-be god, then shall Lailah and her companions have no cause to carry out their covenant of death.” And Uriel answered him, “At any moment may I cause mine own heart to cease from beating. Know therefore that in the instant thou attemptest to display me within a cage, I shall die.” And Malphas said, “Thou must not refuse, Uriel, for the alternative is Lailah herself. Hast thou forgotten her suicidal plan?”
- 9J: But Uriel answered and said, “This requireth some measure of retreat upon thy part, Sar Malphas. Hast thou forgotten that thou didst pronounce death upon me for presuming to teach that I am the living avatar of Ayat? Yet now wouldst thou have all men know that I spake the truth after all.” Then Malphas curled his lips and said, “The rabble possess short memories.” And Uriel answered, saying, “Very well. I agree that I shall not will myself unto death while I remain in captivity. Nevertheless, this covenant is made void if ever I am subjected unto torment. And beyond this, there remaineth yet another matter.” For Uriel, being in perfect union with a living star, possessed power to summon forth light and heat from the heart thereof. And in demonstration of this thing, he caused the iron bars before him to glow red as burning coals; and had he continued but a little longer, they would surely have melted into pools upon the floor.
- 9K: And Malphas was taken aback; nevertheless, he soon recovered himself and said, “Then let the second condition of thy captivity be this: that thou remain captive notwithstanding thy power to escape.” And Uriel inquired, “Doth thy lord require no more?” And Malphas answered, “Thou must reveal unto Lord Azul the secret whereby an eloh may be joined unto living flesh, even as thou thyself hast plainly already done.” And Uriel answered him, saying, “If thy lord will aid me in sending Lailah safely unto her home, then shall I willingly comply.” But Malphas said unto him, “Thou art in no position to make demands of thine own.” And Uriel answered, “Then how unfortunate for thee, Malphas. For now is the whole covenant rendered void, and I shall cast off this vessel of flesh. And when Azul, appearing as the Red Dragon, maketh inquiry concerning these matters, surely he shall be dismayed to learn how near he came unto possessing a living avatar of his own, before thy stubbornness brought the matter unto ruin.”
- 9L: Then Sar Malphas cried out, saying, “Hold! I shall bring thy request before the Lord himself!” And it came to pass that at a great cataract in the foothills eastward of Shalem, Lailah and a company of her Fallen Angels refreshed themselves before returning again unto their patrol. And the sound and trembling of the rushing waterfall wholly concealed the approach of horsemen, insomuch that riders from Adan came upon them unawares. Neither did the mare of Lailah, though exceedingly sensitive, give warning of the men who galloped swiftly up behind them. And at the very last moment, by some strange instinct, Lailah drew forth her blade and lifted it up, and it crashed mightily against a rod of iron. And the force of the blow smote her from her horse unto the ground. And while she yet lay stunned, Lailah beheld another rider of Adan strike off the head of Bodea with a single blow, she who for a long season had been chief among her lieutenants.
- 9M: Nevertheless, the horse of Lailah possessed sufficient discipline that it fled not away. And Lailah, shaking clear her thoughts and suppressing her grief, mounted once more upon the beast. And four Fallen Angels who yet survived gathered themselves round about her. And they pursued after the attackers at a full gallop. And while standing within their stirrups they loosed many arrows against them. And they slew the man who wielded the iron rod. But two other horsemen, weaving to and fro, received within their own bodies the arrows intended for the slayer of Bodea. And the surviving attacker fled into a forest glade wherein stood a great encampment of armed men from Adan. And contrary to every desire within her, Lailah drew hard upon the reins of her horse and brought it unto a halt. And the other Fallen Angels reined in their horses likewise.. Then the soldier whom they had pursued turned about and faced them.
- 9N: And when the princess beheld the identity of the man who had slain Bodea, she spoke his name with bitterness and wrath: “Malphas!” Now the burning of villages round about Shalem had caused Lailah to believe that Malphas remained many leagues unto the north. Therefore she reasoned within herself that he must have driven his host unto this place by a forced march through the night. Yet this caused her greatly to wonder by what means he had known to come unto that very place, for she had taken much care to conceal her own movements from all men. And as though in answer unto her thoughts, the red dragon Demonstroke soared above the trees. And Lailah was astonished, seeing that the last dragon in all Kemen had been brought unto the battle. Nevertheless, the beast climbed high above the clearing and made no attempt to descend against them. And at a signal from the princess, the Fallen Angels drew close about her in disciplined array.
- 9O: And Lailah said unto them, “Malphas shall pay for Bodea: life for life. Yet ye are not bound to follow after me. For Uriel hath declared unto me that my death shall not be a true death; but no such promise hath he spoken concerning you.” Nevertheless, the Fallen Angels were united in one mind. And one among them, whose name was Jael, answered in behalf of them all, saying, “Lead us, Your Royal Highness. For Bodea!” And so they turned themselves toward the enemy, and pressed forward unto the attack, and not one among them held back. But Malphas commanded that the canvas which covered a cage should be taken away. And when it was removed, behold, Ser Uriel was revealed therein, even as Lailah entered within range of the enemy archers. And she brought her horse unto a sudden halt. And Malphas said, “Thou mayest strike me down from where thou standest, Lailah; but Uriel would die together with me.” And Lailah rode yet a little nearer.
- 9P: And the pikemen set themselves in a ring about them, and lifted their forest of spears unto the horizontal. Yet they pointed them not toward Sar Lailah, but inward toward Uriel. And Lailah said, “Do not descend unto this, Malphas. For I had expected such things from Rimmon by now, but not from the unpossessed noblemen of Adan.” Yet she knew that her words would not move him. For Ser Uriel, made into a living shield, constrained her every motion most effectively. And Malphas seemed to perceive her very thoughts, and he said unto her, “Uriel is become a noose about thy neck, O princess. And the nearer thou comest unto him, the tighter that noose shall be drawn. How easily art thou made to dance by a simple threat against his life!” And Uriel cried out unto her, saying, “Lailah! Forget me!” And tears filled the eyes of Lailah, and she shook her head with a sorrowful smile. And she said unto him, “Didst thou not know, Uriel? This is the one thing I could never do.”
- 9Q: Yet there remained nothing more that Sar Lailah could accomplish upon the field that day. And turning her horse about, she led the Fallen Angels back toward the city. And it came to pass that when the First Battle of Shalem commenced, the army of Kar Melchiyahu served as the main strength of war, while the Fallen Angels became throwers of knives, cutters of throats, and kindlers of fire. And there were indeed some few men numbered among the Fallen Angels; nevertheless, the soldiers of Malphas chiefly perceived themselves as being assailed by fierce wen clad in leather armor. Now upon the greater scale, it was the army of Kar Melchizedek which obtained the victory in that first battle. Yet Malphas remembered chiefly the manner whereby Lailah passed behind his left wing and fell upon his supply trains. And his flank was turned, and he was driven downward into a narrowing ravine whose walls rose ever higher upon either side. And there his greater numbers profited him nothing.
- 9R: Then Malphas perceived that his army stood in danger of being defeated in detail. Therefore was a flag of truce lifted up. And Lailah rode into the lines of the enemy, that she might learn whether Malphas had at last attained unto greater wisdom. And while Uriel watched from his cage but a few paces distant, Malphas spake unto Lailah, saying: “Before this day, Princess, I never believed that thou and thy Fallen Angels possessed such valor. But now would I have thee labor for me rather than against me. Thou art able to destroy my army where we now stand; nevertheless, I fear that some unfortunate thing might befall Uriel amidst the confusion of battle. Therefore, if thou desirest to preserve his life, thou must dissolve thy band of warriors, and ride instead at the head of mine own army, going forth wherever men hold Azul, Lord of Kemen, in contempt.” And Lailah answered him, saying, “Wouldst thou truly appoint me as thy general while holding hostage a peaceful man whom I love?”
- 9S: And Malphas took great delight in hearing the princess openly declare her love for the prisoner. And he said unto her, “Then are the wild rumors flying about true, Princess? Uriel must never pass beyond the watchful gaze of the Eyes of Azul; nevertheless, he need not remain confined within this cage. At but a single word from my father Emperor Rimmon, thou couldst go unto him this very night.” But Sar Lailah answered him, saying, “And at but a single word from my father the king of Shalem, every soul in his city would be drawn forth unto war. Yea, all the tradesmen, the old, and the infirm, and the wen; even our young boys and our children would be taken up for battle. And this conflict would become so bloody that the whole face of the land would stink on account of the unburied dead, yet there would remain none alive to bury them. This thing, Sar Malphas, must never come to pass.” And after speaking these words, she turned upon her heel and withdrew from the parley.
- 9T: And never had Uriel been more proud of his student than in that hour. For Lailah had required no urging from him to choose rightly. And when Malphas perceived that he would not die that day, he returned unto the cage of Uriel, that he might boast before him. And Malphas said, “She knoweth now, Uriel. The things which thou lovest shall always be used against thee. She knoweth it well!” But Uriel answered him, saying, “Lailah indeed knoweth this. Yet woe unto those who make a weapon of love, and dare to wield it against those from whom that love first sprang forth. Take heed, Malphas. Thy doom draweth near.” And Malphas said mockingly, “Dost thou now speak as mine oracle, Uriel?” But Uriel answered, “It requireth no divine foresight to perceive that this war shall end ill for thee.” And it came to pass that long before the war in Shalem, old Kar Gordiel, the grandfather of Lailah, had fastened a wagon unto a nearby tree with a knot so intricate that no man could readily begin to untie it.
- 9U: In those days a prophecy spread abroad among the people, declaring that whosoever should loose that wagon, regardless of station, would rise up to rule over all Kemen. Now Malphas knew well concerning this prophecy, and publicly he dismissed it as mere superstition. Nevertheless, when he came within sight of Shalem he sought out that wagon, and for many hours, while the army pitched its camp, he labored upon the knot. And this thing Malphas continued to do until one of the Eyes of Azul came upon him there. And the priest regarded him with suspicion, supposing that the prince sought to usurp the authority of the Emperor. But Malphas took great offense at the suggestion, and said, “Am I to believe that the Eyes give credence unto the mutterings of local seers and self-appointed prophets?” And the Eye answered him, saying, “What thou believest, or what the Eyes themselves believe, mattereth not in the least, Sar Malphas. But that which the rabble collectively believeth is an altogether different matter.”
- 9V: Then Malphas answered and said, “Then thou mayest gladly report unto my father that I am fully persuaded this knot is secure, and that the wagon shall go nowhere. Now therefore command thy men to lash the cage of Uriel unto this wagon, and arrange the army upon the slopes round about on every side.” Now it came to pass that Lailah did temper the fullness of her form, and did affix false hair upon her face, that she might conceal the softness of those wenish features which belied her station as commander of the most fierce brigade in all Kemen. For after the change which had come upon her late in adolescence as a jan, she possessed the ability to speak at will in a deep and resonant voice like unto that of a man. And this gift, together with an unfailing memory and many other skills besides, belonged unto that set of abilities which Uriel had declared would in time become common among Lailah and many of her descendants, notwithstanding whatever other peculiar talents each might separately possess.
- 9W: And Lailah clothed herself in the likeness of one of the poor farmers dwelling near unto Shalem, who had been pressed into menial service beneath the lash, though they had not been numbered among the soldiers of the army. And she moved quietly among the camp, ladling forth water unto the soldiers, and enduring with patience much abuse from them. And in the very midst of the encampment she beheld the wooden cage which had become the drafty dwelling place of Uriel for far too long a season. Now the cage was covered with canvas, lest Uriel should perish from the cold. For Malphas understood well that it would not do to sever the single thread by which both he and his entire army yet remained alive. And the brilliant white radiance of the headband proceeded from the very body of Ayat, as Uriel had once declared unto Lailah, descending by an intangible thread finer than the silk of a spider. And by this same means had he fashioned the images shown forth at the Eventide Discourse.
- 9X: And the thick canvas covering the cage permitted no light to escape therefrom whereby the princess might be discovered. And Uriel was greatly pleased when he beheld her, and willingly overlooked the false beard. For the hearing of the guards, Lailah grunted roughly, saying, “Here’s thy filthy swill-water, thou clutty bastard!” Yet with gestures of her hands, by which she oft commanded the Fallen Angels on clandestine patrols, she framed another message altogether, saying: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵. And Uriel answered aloud, saying, “Hold the ladle still, thou bafty hoach!” For he also was well acquainted with the hand-speech of Lailah, and quickly entered into the spirit of her little game. In the sight of the princess he made his hands to say, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥, 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘯.
- 9Y: Again Lailah grunted aloud, saying, “Take the water or leave be, thou sputtering bone bag!” And indeed Uriel did take some of the water, for he was truly athirst. Then he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and for the hearing of the guards he hurled aloud, “Thou smelly half a loaf!” But without words he signed unto Lailah that she should hand over the lamp she bore upon her forehead. And this she promptly did, though not without a suddenly mystified countenance and a sharp gesture of inquiry, for never before had she known Uriel to repent of his giftgiving. Then Uriel made his hands to say: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘒𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯. 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘺 “𝘓𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦” 𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺. And thereupon the princess smiled with satisfaction, for now she knew the design of her master in full. But again, to allay the suspicions of the guards, she filled the silence, saying, “I told thee once before: keep thy stinking grabbers within the cage!”
- 9Z: And Lailah parted from Uriel with a long clasp of their hands, for the bars of the cage brooked no embrace, and for a season yet she moved among the camp, ladling forth water unto the soldiers, and bore patiently the scorn of men, until she had worked herself toward the fence of the encampment. And when she came unto the skirmish line she passed out from among them, and none perceived her going, for the night was thick and the watch was careless, and her dark raiment was such as belonged unto the least of servants. And she went forth across the night-concealed ground between the armies, and slipped behind the lines of her father’s host, yet no alarm was raised, neither did any cry follow after her. And all the while she strove mightily to keep her countenance, for there burned within her a mirth which she dared not give voice unto. For upon the morrow Malphas would come unto the cage of Uriel, and espy at once that she had been within his camp; and he would hollow out his strained lines all the more
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