Golden wings

Chapter 20 - Yield

The clouds tangled with each other, like white fog. A huge black void flowed below, in the depths of the big abyss. The fog was falling down the edge, like a misty waterfall. One hundred armored figures stood at it, with a frozen and focused stance.

No angel was daring to leave its spot. A whole army of soldiers was guarding the abyss. All their swords were ready, at hand.

Another day...

It had not been like this before. The most guarded place had always been the palace, but not anymore. Now, the guard had to patrol the edge of the abyss, every day.

A new recruit was standing nervously in between two taller and older angels. He had just been sent here this morning, and he did not like the reports as to why he had to make duty here. He did not like either how the soldier at his right had a huge dent on his helmet, or that the one at his left only had a dagger, and not the mandatory sword.

Even then, he kept himself firm between the rest of soldiers. He jolted a little when another guard gave him a scolding glance, for having been looking sideways instead of ahead.

He could arrive at any moment...

No angel had ever opposed the law. Never. Not until the day one young angel had been honored to be sent down; a blacksmith, one who did not belong to the guard.

The young soldier tensed up, because the guards near him reached for their weapons. He was not as experienced as them, but he soon heard heavy thuds ahead as well. Some pained gasps echoed in the distance, between the dense foggy clouds. The sounds of metal colliding echoed through. All rumbled, but they couldn't see yet what caused it.

The hits ended. Silence fell.

There was another patrol ahead of them, a first line of defense. Again, it had not been enough.

"He is here."

All angels took out their swords, after they heard the general announce what they most dreaded.

Most of them had seen already what they were against. But not all. Every day, half of them had to be replaced by others. They could not keep fighting, they were beaten, defeated. They needed reinforcements, every day.

All stood weary and glared ahead, expecting to be attacked at any moment. They all dreaded the furious angel that tried to reach the abyss daily. He never surrendered in trying. He always managed to escape from the cell where they locked him in, for daring to try. He always defeated half of them, causing that they had to be replaced by others who guarded the temples or palace. His fury, strength and fast moves did not match his appearance. His terrifying shouts and curses rumbled out of his messy, braided, and big beard.

They had granted him the nickname of... the dwarf. It did not help that he was the best blacksmith in the citadel, and that he somehow always managed to steal back his trusty hammer, no matter how well they hid it. Sometimes, he appeared drunk, and that fact did not change anything, he was still a beast to deal with.

A guard stepped forward, trying to see better between the mist, which defined well the abyss. He narrowed his eyes, and raised his sword. His sword was ready, but not him. He was not ready when he saw something flash by; a fist was the last thing he saw before blacking out.

All the guards yelped when Angus leaped at them with a loud roar. His low height helped him hide in the mist, before jumping on them. His two big messy wings were stronger than they looked to be.

Angus laughed loudly and angrily. He hauled his hammer at the first idiot that tried to disarm him, with one of those pretty and useless swords.

The new recruit stood mouth agape, while all the guards bolted fast, to fight the rebellious angel.