I've arrived at the first Wednesday in a while when I'm ready, willing and able to flash. So here it is, the latest installment of In the Arms of An Angel.
I've taken a picture prompt, of course, I like pictures :) and also a written one. "I'd promise you....if I could."
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The Angelic Host was something to behold. Row after row of
shining angels in silver armour mounted on snow white horses. Their hair
streamed out behind them as did their banners of blue and silver. It would have
taken Pasha’s breath away if he hadn’t been focussed elsewhere. Gabri’el had
taken three hours to gather the Host and Pasha was about ready to hit him. Now,
all he could think of was getting underway, finding the bastards who’d taken
Uzzy and making them pay. It didn’t help that for the last hour his head had
been full of screaming.
He couldn’t say for sure the screams were Uzzy’s because
they were distant, searing the edges of his consciousness, and didn’t seem to
have any connection with their bond, but it didn’t matter. Screams were screams
and they were driving him insane.
Gabri’el pulled his horse next to Pasha’s. Pasha was riding
one of the enormous white horses of the Host and, although he’d never admit it,
he had to use all his wits to stay in the saddle.
“We’re ready to go. How are you doing?”
“Going out of my mind and a hair’s breadth away from going
back. I can’t bear that we left him there alone.”
“Hardly alone. My guards will guard him well.”
“And what if he dies? If I leave him to die alone? I should
never have left him.”
“If you don’t leave him, he will die.”
“What do you mean?”
“That’s what they want; what they’ve always wanted; to
separate you. Don’t you see? Once you get there you can connect with Uzzy
again. It’s our only chance.”
Pasha thought about it and realised he was right.
“I’m sorry. I’m just….”
“I know. So am I. Trust me, Pasha, I’d promise you to go in
and get him back to you this afternoon if I could, but I don’t think anyone but
you can. I don’t think even you can alone. You have to join again.”
“Will he be able to?”
“I don’t know, but if he can’t we’re screwed.” Gabri’el
grinned and it struck Pasha that he was very beautiful. “Don’t worry; if we go
down, we go down fighting – together.” He reached out his hand and after a moment
hesitation Pasha took it. Rearing his horse, Gabri’el drew his sword and gave a
strange yodelling cry that was taken up by the rest of the Host. The sound
raised the hairs on Pasha’s neck and made him shiver. Quite suddenly he was
filled with a wild exhilaration and he reared his horse before galloping after
Gabri’el.
They galloped along the wide thoroughfare, which was
thronged with people, cheering at the parade even though they had no idea what
its purpose was. When the city fell away
they found themselves on a wide plain. On the far side of the plain the sun was
setting, an enormous ball of orange fire slung low in the sky. Gabri’el pulled up his horse and the whole
Host came to a dead stop.
“Ready?” Gabri’el called to Pasha, his voice full of excitement.
Pasha was mystified. “Ready for what?”
“To ride out with the Host.”
“I thought that’s what we were doing.”
“Oh no, my dear, not even close. My only advice is hold on
for dear life and whatever you do, don’t fall off the horse.”
“I’m not going to fall off the horse,” Pasha said
indignantly. “I’m a good rider.”
“Not of these horses you aren’t,” Gabri’el said with
amusement. He raised his sword and gave that strange yodelling cry and suddenly
they were flying. The Host streamed across the plain like a river of mercury.
Right into the heart of the sun they rode, with Pasha and Gabri’el at their
head.
Standing in his saddle, his body throbbing with a deep
thrill of excitement, Pasha glanced over his shoulder at the wonder that was
the Angelic Host in full flow. It was almost his undoing.
“Pasha,” Gabri’el cried and he turned in time to see a
swirling vortex open in front of them. Gabri’el rode into what Pasha could only
consider to be a doorway, without stopping and winked out of existence, or so
it seemed. Holding on for dear life, Pasha crouched low over his horse’s neck
and closed his eyes.
The temperature dropped suddenly and Pasha shivered. It felt
as if slivers of ice were slicing his skin and he couldn’t help but cry out.
However, as soon as he became aware of the biting cold and pain, it was gone
and there was sun warm on his skin again. He opened his eyes to see he was
still galloping across a plain, but it was a different plain.
Glancing over his shoulder, Pasha watched the Host stream
from the doorway and spread out, ranging across the plain behind him. When he
turned back Gabri’el was holding his sword up, calling the Host to a halt.
Still gasping from the thrill, Pasha looked around and
immediately recognised the purple flowers that blanketed the surrounding area.
“This way,” Gabri’el said and led the way, trotting towards
the still setting sun.
“In a short while they arrived at the banks of a river that
was so crystal clear it appeared metallic in the fading
light.
They followed the river for a while until it plunged into a
thick wood. Almost as soon as they entered the wood the ground began to rise
and they broke, now and again, into clearings that revealed they were climbing
a steep mountain.
It was getting dark when they broke out of the woods once
again onto a wide plateau where the river flowed into a wide, mirrored lake. On
the far side of the lake a thunderous waterfall tumbled over high cliffs into
the pool. It was just possible to see the spray rising from the froth into
which that part of the lake was being churned.
“That’s where he is,” Gabri’el said. “Behind the waterfall.”
Now go check out the rest of the amazing bloggers. There are some fanstastic stories this week
Now go check out the rest of the amazing bloggers. There are some fanstastic stories this week
