* * *
Camael called Sherkanim to him and spoke. "Are the Elohim packed and settled to return under the mountain?"
"Aye, my king. They are prepared to be escorted to the edge of the Mist Gate."
"Good. To show my benevolence, you will give them this token. Place it in the sack's mouth of Gabriel."
Camael handed his lieutenant a long box wrapped in ancient Issi cloth, and within it, unbeknownst to Sherkanim, was one of the seven trumpets of judgment from Camael's inner chamber. Sherkanim received the box and awaited further instructions.
"Now go to and fill their sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and give them fire from thy hand for it will keep the Zoa at bay."
And Sherkanim bowed to his lord and did as instructed. As soon as the morning was light, the angels were sent away and when had gone a half day's journey out of the city, and not yet far off, Camael said unto his steward, "Go up. Follow after the Elohim, and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Why hast thou taken the token of El's covenant between me and thee? And whereby El had given to settle dispute between our peoples? Ye have done a great evil in so doing."
And the steward overtook them, and spake unto them these same words, and they said unto him, "Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing. Behold, that which is in our sacks' mouths. We brought nothing into the realm other than what was ours, and we take only that which we have by permission. How then should we steal out of thy lord's house, and especially the token of covenant between our people?" And Gabriel said unto Camael's steward, "With whomsoever of thy servants it is found, let him die, and the other be my lord's bondmen."
The steward replied, "Let it be according to thy words; and may ye be found blameless,"
Then Metatron and Gabriel speedily took down their sacks to the ground and opened them. And the steward searched, beginning with Metatron, and when nothing was found he searched the belongings of Gabriel, and the box, covered in Issi cloth, was discovered and Camael's servant opened the box and a trumpet of judgment was found therein.
Then the two angels rent their clothes and wondered aloud how such a thing could be, and Sherkanim noted that the box was the gift from the king and he spoke on this wise: "Surely there must be some mistake, for these men hath been honorable and true in their dealings."
The king's steward replied, "My orders are clear. My king requires the return of these to face judgment, and as first in the king's guard, thy duty is also clear."
Sherkanim was troubled by the words, and could not argue his duty. He turned and took Metatron and Gabriel into custody, and escorted them back to the city. Gabriel and his brother came to Camael's house, for he was yet there, and they fell before him on the ground, and Camael said unto them, "What deed is this that ye have done? Know ye not that such as I can certainly divine?"
And Gabriel said, "What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak or how shall we make our innocence known? The Lord God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants, and behold, we are my lord's servants,"
And Camael said, "God forbid that I should do so, but he in whose hand the cup was found shall surely die, and the other shall be my servant for such a grave trespass as to incite war between our peoples and to dishonor the name of El by robbing El's token to our folk."
And when Metatron heard those words, he became wroth, for without cause were they accused and he knew in his heart that they were innocent. The head of house Draco unsheathed his sword in the presence of the King of the Seraphim, and immediately Sherkanim and the king's guard subdued him, and Gabriel pleaded with him to stand down, saying on this wise:
"Wouldst thou unleash the trumpet's powers against us, that our people be ground to dust? We must bear this thing, for it is thankworthy if we for conscience sake towards God endure grief and suffer wrongfully. We shall take this patiently for this would be acceptable to God. El sees all and He will vindicate us."
And Camael was wroth that weapons were raised in his presence and rose to his feet. "Behold what thou hast done, and still I show my restraint in destroying thy people. You, who have trespassed into the forbidden realm. You who were received kindly and even sent on thy way unharmed. And now what is this, that even as the Burning hath shown us, that Elohim have lowered themselves once more to steal and raise false indignations, thou darest to raise arms in mine own house? Verily, I say unto you that for this, you will at three days hence be set afire with the same flames that ignited the Kiln and thou shalt surely die. Take them away!"
And Sherkanim obeyed with lowered eyes, saddened that all hope seemed lost and that his people would yet stay concealed behind the mountain. Saddened that he must personally see to the death of two honorable angels, and he slowly began to suspect the actions of his own king.
* * *
Azaziel and his band of angels watched as the guards led Yeshua to the house of Annas, one of two high priests recognized by the people.
"This is a travesty!" an angelic soldier said. "Are we just supposed to stand here and do nothing? It is an outrage!"
"Hold your tongue!" said Azaziel. "Annas is speaking."
Annas paced before Yeshua, then encircled Him, eying Him up and down. A smugness came over his face.
"Dost thou you understand why you are here?" said the high priest said.
Yeshua spoke not a word.
"Silence? It matters not. Because you see, Nazarene I happen to remember you. Oh yes, for it was during my time as high priest prior to my son-in-law, Caiaphas that you drove out the money changers from the temple. I must admit you created quite a stir that day and caused me many a problem. And now – now, here you stand before me. How befitting." The former high priest smiled as he continued his wolfish pace around Yeshua, examining him.
"I have heard thou doth raise men who would defy the laws of our people, and that you teach others to no more honor the faith of our fathers. Moreover, that we ought not to even keep the laws of our fathers! Some say thou dost set thyself even above Moses. Is this true?"
Yeshua sighed, "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? Ask them which heard me what I have said unto them."
And when He had spoken, one of the officers which stood by the Lord struck Yeshua with the palm of his hand, saying, "Answerest thou the high priest so?"
A hundred angels winced, drew swords and raised their weapons to unleash death on those who participated in the travesty, but Azaziel raised an arm and shouted, "Stand down this moment! The Lord's words were clear...we do not interfere." The angel guard gruffed in frustration.
Yeshua recovered from the blow and lifted His head to speak. "If I have spoken evil, then bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?"
Annas grew frustrated, "I have heard enough! I see He holds no regard to the office before Him. Very well. Take Him to Caiaphas and tell him our concerns are warranted. The Sanhedrin will, by this time no doubt, be assembled and prepared to try Him." Annas then had Him bound and delivered unto his son-in-law, Caiaphas the high priest.
The guards marched Yeshua to Caiaphas as directed, and thirty members of the Sanhedrin assembled with him – the highest religious authority in the land.
Khorset spoke to Azaziel, "Grigori scouts state that there are but twenty-three members needed. Why so many?"
Azaziel looked at the assembly. "No doubt, these are they who already oppose the Lord, and the seated must be extra members now stacked against Him. This is but a formality." Azaziel pointed at the entrances to the building and round about. "Take up positions to the north and south wing. Make a perimeter so the Horde knows we will destroy them if they breach it."
Khorset bowed. "As you command, Lumazi."
Azaziel eyed the men and listened as they began their deliberations. Yeshua stood before them with hands tied behind His back, resigned, somber, steadily gazing upon those who would sit in judgment over God. Next to Yeshua stood the Chief temple guard and he proceeded to announce the court.
"Before you, High Priest stands Yeshua of Nazareth. He hath stood before thy father-in-law, and wast sent here for judgment. These are gathered to bring testimony of His guilt, and we submit this man's innocence to your wisdom."
"Call your witnesses," the Chief Priest said.
The temple priest then paraded witness after witness who spoke. One after another was brought in and spoke about how Yeshua declared this or was seen doing that. But with each witness, others countered or even denied what previous witnesses had said. Caiaphas wrung his hands and paced while members of the council grumbled that perhaps this was not a good idea, while others whispered concerns that the Pharisees would object to their desire to simply condemn Him and be done with it. After a parade of false witnesses that lacked sufficient testimony to condemn Him, a frustrated and tired Caiaphas spoke.
"Have you no other witnesses to bring before this counsel?" he quipped.
The temple guards led two men into the assembly and the place was astir. Caiaphas called for order. "What testimony dost thou bring?" he said to the trembling man.
He straightened and spoke with authority, pointing at Yeshua. "This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days."
A ripple of murmurs stirred the congregation.
"Order! Order!" Caiaphas said.
The other fellow nodded in agreement. "It is true. I also heard Him say He is able to destroy the temple."
The council erupted in gasps and whispers.
"Does He think to upturn the fathers?" one said.
"He is a Roman sympathizer!" said another. "This place is the dwelling place of God. How dare He!"
But Yeshua stood mute before them all and stared at Azaziel, who stood next to the High Priest with a hand on his sword, ready to cut him down if the Son of God gave the smallest nod.
Azaziel fidgeted as he watched and thought to himself. The fools had no concept of who stands before them. The crowd stirred to further agitation.
"This is not good Lord...not good at all," Azaziel said to the Lord.
Yeshua stood silent.
The High Priest silenced the raucous crowd, and peered into the Son of God's eyes and spoke. "Answerest thou nothing against which these witnesses speak against thee?"
Yeshua continued to hold his peace. And the High Priest answered and said unto him, "I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God."
When the High Priest invoked God, Yeshua looked up and met the mortal's eyes. "Thou hast said. Nevertheless, I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven."
Caiaphas's eyes grew wide with rage as scarlet crept up his neck and over his face. The veins in his temple bulged as he rent his clothes in a frenzy, shouting, "He hath spoken blasphemy! Out of His own mouth hath He condemned Himself. What further need have we of witnesses?"
Dozens nodded, and the crowd roared. Caiaphas continued. "Thou who doth stand as wisdom and guide for our people, behold, ye have heard His blasphemy with thine own ears. What think ye?"
"He is guilty of death! Death! Death! Death!" they chanted while pumping their arms.
Azaziel and his angels unsheathed their swords, churning in rage toward the humans, but Yeshua lifted His head and inhaled hard, signaling them to stand down. All looked to Azaziel and stood round about in anxious tension, churning in rage towards the humans. Yeshua then smiled, and when He did so, members of the lower council of the Sanhedrin came down from their seated places and one by one walked past Yeshua. Some spit in His face, others buffeted Him; and those angered the most smote Him with the palms of their hands, mocking Him. "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ. Who was it that smote thee?"
Azaziel and his comrades cringed, but stood silently as the guards led Yeshua away until the whole of the Sanhedrin could assemble. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led Him into their council.
"Art thou the Christ? Tell us," Caiaphas said.
And Yeshua said unto them, "If I tell thee, ye will not believe. And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of Man sit on the right hand of the power of God."
Startled reactions echoed throughout the room, and gasps of amazement escaped the mouths of those assembled, and then said they all, "Art thou then the Son of God?"
Yeshua's answer was succinct. "Ye say that I am."
Incensed, one of the elders said, "What need we any further witness? For we ourselves have heard from His own mouth," and the multitude paraded Yeshua to see Pilate that they might have Him executed.
Azaziel lowered his head, shaking it in disbelief, watching as his King was once more bound, and taken by the humans to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of the region.
The Prince of Issi and his angelic warriors witnessed in silence the travesty of justice that played out before them. Both he and a thousand angels held fast to Yeshua's side, agonizing over man's mistreatment of his creator.
Azaziel and his soldiers watched in growing irritation and resentment as the throng dragged Yeshua before Pilate, who then sent Him to Herod. And Herod displeased over Yeshua's failure to entertain him, sent him back to Pilate. All proceedings held illegally, all fallacious, and all unfair. And the more the angels watched what the Son of God allowed to befall Him, the more angered they became.
When the morning was come, the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Yeshua to put Him to death and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Yeshua was condemned, he repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood," they replied, "What is that to us? See thou to that." And Judas cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself.
Disheveled, weary, and abused, Yeshua stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying, "Art thou the King of the Jews?"
And Yeshua said unto him, "Thou sayest." And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
Then said Pilate unto Him, "Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?" And He answered him never a word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. Now at that feast, the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, "Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Yeshua which is called Christ?" For he knew that for envy they had delivered Him.
And when Pilate set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him".
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Yeshua.
The governor answered and said unto them, "Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?"
They said, "Barabbas!"
Pilate saith unto them, "What shall I do then with Yeshua, which is called Christ?" They all say unto him, "Let Him be crucified," And the governor said, "Why, what evil hath He done?"
But they cried out the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it."
Then answered all the people, and said, "His blood be on us, and on our children."
Pilate then released Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Yeshua, he delivered Him to be crucified. The soldiers of the governor took Yeshua into the common hall and gathered unto Him the whole band of soldiers, and they stripped Him and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head, and after that, they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him, and put His own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: whom they compelled to bear His cross.
Grigoric scouts hovered in sorrow and relayed the news back to the Kingdom, and Argoth watched with increasing realization that El's vision, a vision He had given His servant Michael so many eons ago, was now coming painfully to pass before his very eyes.
Crucifixion
Iblis rushed headlong flaming tendrils that hung from the roof of Hell's gums. Burning acidic bile slid down the creature's walls and dropped as mucus from her ceiling. The darkness grew greater until nothing could be seen. No fire...no lava...just the pitch black and the stifling humidity hung about him, and nothing but the echoes of screams and groans and the sounds of his own beating wings could be heard. What little light available to him was given off by the fires that crackled off Hell's lanky coils as he flew deeper into her intestinal tract, and away from Jerahmeel's party.
Panting in exhaustion his mind reeled with self-loathing and contempt.
You are a lecherous traitor...a traitor to God, to Lucifer and to yourself. Your cause, only to see to your self-preservation. How thou art fallen from the being you once were!
The Issi's mind toyed with him, waylaying him with condemnation, deprecation, and guilt.
Thou hast abandoned God...again...to save thyself.
Iblis flew through tendrils, pushing them aside, careful not to touch the floors or walls to alert Hell. Pressing forward, ever onward, no longer certain of his destination. Awash in self-pity his heart's abundance moved him to speak his woe aloud.