Hammer of the Gods

Chapter 20

One of the little attackers fell over an invisible Atungitok where he had been hiding, thus saving Angelica from an unseen assailant. The gnome warrior reappeared after he fell as his concentration had been broken. Before the little soldier could get back up Atungitok struck his kinsman with his sword hilt knocking the short warrior unconscious.

Jonah held the staff of Moses in both hands, which now shined with white light. He made an awkward attempt at heroism by stepping in front of his sister. Whilst using the heavenly rod, he could see faint, wraith like images of the invisible gnomes as they charged towards him. He clubbed the nearest assailant whose sword was too short to reach its target before its master was knocked unconscious by the glowing staff.

As the rush of gnomes was about to overwhelm them, Angelica remembered the amulet that Gabriel had given her days before with the image of the All Seeing Eye.

Quickly pulling the necklace out from beneath her t-shirt she squeezed it tightly thinking of Gabriel and their perilous straits.

The battle scene around her slowed. She was able to dodge a spear that had been thrown at her as it seemed to move in slow motion. Staring amazed her vision was focused upon the great polar bear who lunged towards the gnome chief. The bloodied gnome king simultaneously stabbed towards the underbelly of the creature. Nanuk made to swipe his paw at the attacker. Angelica cringed fearing the shape-shifter would be too slow to stop the assault.

Just before the enchanted sword made contact with the bear, a lightning bolt shot through the roof of the cavern, striking the bridge next to Nanuk with a loud boom. The impact caused the thick ice on and under the bridge to shatter and fly in all directions. The giant icicles fell into the ravine as white light filled the chamber. Seconds after the chunks of frozen water hit the lava below, jets of hot steam shot up from the deep which was accompanied by a strong rush of wind and a loud hiss. The hot mist shot past the overpass further obstructing the combatant’s view of one another.

Gabriel stood where the lighting had struck the ground, but now he was clothed in his glory. His heavenly sword blocked that of the Gnome Chief with mingling of sparks and flame which emanated from the enchanted weapons. The force of the archangel’s swing was so great that it knocked Aternerk Sangliak backwards into the arms of his men.

Nanuk’s paw struck not but air. The bear appeared startled and took a cautious step away from the heavenly being which stood beside him.

Gabriel’s countenance was like lighting. A golden luminescent halo hovered above his head. Large, feathered, wings which had stretched from his back now folded behind him as he stood to his full height. His armor appeared as pearl and diamond. While transfigured, his hair was like the clean snows upon the mountains above. He wore a filigree helm upon his head that was carved in heavenly patterns. The archangel towered above the gnome chief, who in turn stood taller than all of his soldiers. The small attackers shielded their eyes from the glory of the warrior who stood before them.

A resounding boom sounded from above the far side of the bridge as a second lightning bolt shot down through the cavern roof. Flying in the air was another archangel with his glorious, white, aura illuminating the far side of the chamber. Encased in armor of silver he wore a helm that had sharp points in several directions tipped with diamonds. Curly hair like that of the fairest lamb flowed from beneath the headguard down to his shoulders. Just above his helm floated a crown of golden light. Like Gabriel, he was handsome and youthful.

Rather than a sword, he carried a short staff topped with a pair of metal wings, which were sharp along the edges and at the tips. The wand could be used like an axe, and the upper end had a metal spike. The weapon also had a pair of snakes whose bodies were black like onyx, while the handle and wings appeared silver.

Jonah pointed to the second archangel. “Look! He carries The Caduceus wand, so that must be the archangel Raphael!”

Raphael raised the septer, causing steam to shoot up from the rift which swirled into a tornado blocking the dwarven side of the bridge. The closest soldiers were burned by the hot steam and quickly backed away as they cried out in pain and fear. They ran down the stairs where they fell to the hard stone floor writhing upon the ground.

Meanwhile, Lorne snarled over the gnome guard who had been struck by Atungitok. The warrior had begun to awaken. The Dire wolf’s snout pulled back, revealing her large, sharp, fangs. Dark hair bristled atop her neck and back as her feral eyes filled with rage. A deep guttural growl emanated from her throat. Wolf ears laid low across her head, as she focused on the small soldier.

The helpless little man cowered under the gaze of the creature that loomed over him with his arms crossed in front of his face as he grimaced and closed his eyes, turning away from the terror.

Atungitok reappeared beside the frightened soldier before begging Lorne to let his kinsman live.

Angelica noted that the wolf seemed to be struggling to fully comprehend Atungitok’s cries as her expression changed first in recognition of their friend and then back to barely controlled rage as if her animal instincts fought to overcome the human in her. The shouts from their newfound ally finally pierced through the primal thoughts of the wolf. Her eyes widened, and her lips lowered, covering her teeth. Prickly fur laid flat on her back once more as she stepped away from the frightened gnome soldier. The monstrous creature looked at Atungitok with sad, brown eyes before turning to face the dwarves.

Angelica noticed a tear from one of the bloodshot eyes run down the fur of the wolf’s face.

For a moment, all was still and quiet, except the sound of the rolling river of lava far below. Like the blood running through the veins of a stone giant, its destination unknown.

Gabriel, in a loud, deep, melodious voice called out to the Gnome Chief, “Aternerk Sangliak, you have failed in your charge. You have sinned in your desire to keep the Rod of God for your own use. You were not ordained to use the staff. Your family was only asked to keep it safe until I sent for it. You shall not harm these who are under my protection. Repent now and worship the one true God and you shall be forgiven in the Lord’s due time. Continue down this path, and your kingdom shall be taken from you, and your people will serve the Dwarf King. You have been warned!”

“The staff is mine! The oath for its return was made by my father, not by me. Not even you shall keep me from what is mine!” The half-dwarf, half-gnome chief bellowed as he started forward.

Gabriel grasped his sword; with his right hand on the hilt and his left hand on the blade, and raised his weapon horizontally. As he did so, a thick, tall, wall of ice came between the gnome chief and himself. On the far side of the barrier, Aternerk Sangliak bellowed his rage as he struck in futile blows against the frozen dam. Although pieces of ice flew in all directions, it would take some time to breach the thick wall. The frozen water seemed to counter the fiery nature of Crimsonfell.

Gabriel turned and looked upon the great bear and commented, “Hail Nanuk, one of the Nephilim. Follow me.”

Gabriel continued down the bridge before stopping briefly before Angelica and Atungitok. The little gnome was now visible, staring wide-eyed and opened-mouthed at the angel as he approached. He had sword raised, but he lowered it as the mythical warrior drew near.

As Gabriel began to speak, Jonah walked forward until he stood near his sister. “Jonah and Angelica, you have done well and have suffered through many trials. These were necessary to prepare you for what is to come. Now that you have the staff and have summoned me to this place, Raphael and I shall accompany you for the next part of your quest.”

“Where are we going from here?” Angelica asked.

“Now we must find Asgard, and Odin, my brother. Legends say that they fled into the Inner Earth long ago.”

Jonah and Angelica exchanged looks of disbelief. “Odin, Asgard, they exist?” Jonah asked in wonder.

“Odin is my older brother. He is one of the twelve Archangels, a Son of the Morning. He was called Odin by his mortal followers, but his heavenly name is Sandalphon. Asgard, his kingdom, lies deep within the bowels of the earth.”

“How will we get past the dwarves?” Jonah asked.

“Atungitok brought the Gnome King’s Heart with him from Aternerk Sangliak’s vault. I am sure that King Grumblemace would grant us passage through Svartalfheim in exchange for the gem.”

Gabriel turned to look at the little man as Atungitok began to yell in disbelief.

“What!? You want me to turn over the heirloom of my forefathers to a miserable, smelly, obnoxious dwarf!?” Stomping around the shining warrior, he muttered curses under his breath. Clenching his little fists he shook them in the air. He kicked a gnome helmet across the stone until it clanged down the stairs, coming to rest before the litter of the Dwarf King and his guard.

Gabriel seemed amused at the halfling and stood patiently waiting as Atungitok finished his rant.

Atungitok finally stopped his tirade and stood in front of the archangel once more. He looked up squinting at the bright light.

Finally, he removed his small backpack and held it tightly before him as he glared at the dwarves. He then looked back up at the heavenly being and asked, “Do I have to?”

Gabriel replied, “Atungitok, the spirit tells me that the Heart will be held in your hands again one day, but if we do not turn it over to the Dwarf King now, there will be much bloodshed, and I cannot guarantee your safety, or the safety of those who accompany you, should we try to force our way through his army. Although gnomes and dwarves have been enemies for hundreds of years both will face a common adversary soon, for Satan is gathering his forces, the trumpets will soon sound, and the seals shall be broken. The dragons will awake once more and Armageddon will come soon after. All that cling to goodness and charity must join together in the light or be swept away in darkness.”

Atungitok looked at the bear, the Dire wolf, Jonah and finally Angelica, took a deep breath and let out a groan, “Alright, alright; if you say I will get it back one day, then I guess the miserable, hairy, Dwarf King can borrow it! I suppose I could clean the smelly, slimy, dwarf filth off of it before I touch it again.” He continued to grumble under his breath shaking his head. His forehead wrinkled as he frowned before stomping towards the other archangel.

The small group joined Raphael on the far side of the bridge. The second angel descended down the stairs as he waived the caduceus wand before him, causing the steam tornado to fade away. He approached the dwarves, who were writhing in pain from their burns. There were soldiers who had been trying to help those that were injured who now stood up and backed away with their weapons held at the ready.

Raphael smiled at them kindly before placing his wand in his belt. He looked compassionately at the wounded warriors before kneeling beside each in turn. As he placed his hands on them he closed his eyes as if praying. Angelica and the other mortals stood amazed as the red burns faded away and the bearded warriors went calm.