5P

5P

Remiel and Gabriel gently rolled Belphegor until he was face up, then helped him to sit up. "Forgive the touch, Lord," said Gabriel. "It pains B'nei Elohim to see a seraph in such straits, no matter what unfortunate disagreements might temporarily exist between we and you."

Remiel dropped to his knees to put his eyes on something of a level with those of Belphegor. he said, "Your mistake, if you will forgive the presumption, Lord, is that you do not think Elyon to be warlike. But the B'nei Elohim are Elyon's answer to the ones you call the Eyes of Elyon."

When Elam was free of his bonds he gave a shout of rage at Belphegor and pawed at the blade sticking out of the corpse of Malphas to no avail. "I'll kill him! Look at my hands! I've been maimed for life!"

"He is of the seraphim," said Gabriel. "You will get on your knees even as you see we have done."

Elam saw Rosh with a bow and said, "You swore to obey me as though I were our father. String an arrow, therefore, and finish this one named Belphegor."

"Your brother agreed to follow me", said Gabriel, "and I forbid it! Killing captives of war is hateful to the B'nei Elohim."

Rosh paused as he weighed his obligations for a time, then threw down his bow and sank to his knees before the seated Belphegor even as Gabriel and Remiel had done.

Disgusted, Elam turned to Jemuel and said, "Brother, as you love me, kill this angel who put me to torment."

Jemuel made his choice with less hesitation than Rosh and extended his blade. Gabriel and Remiel rose to their feet between him and Belphegor. Remiel said, "Jemuel! How fortunate our God has charged that none of the Remnant shall die, or you would be dying now."

"Listen to none of their lies," Elam told him. "They have not the Ark. The will of God is unknown to them."

"For one day in every year the high priest among you hears the oracles of God," said Gabriel. "How much more so do we who dwell ever in the very presence of God know his mind!"

Elam hissed "Do it!"