Rise of the Fallen Read Online Free PDF Page B

replied one of the guards.
    Validus nodded, then quickly proceeded through the corridors of the castle and down one of the stone stairways. He slipped through a door and into a large chamber that caused his mind to sweep through a hundred memories of the medieval days.
    Brandt was discussing tactics with another warrior angel. Validus approached them.
    “General Brandt, I’ve just received orders. There must be some mistake.” Validus stood with his shoulders square as he addressed the single highestangelic authority on earth. Already he regretted his words, for he realized how foolish they sounded. Validus cringed inwardly, being once more reminded why he was never chosen as a messenger.
    Brandt slowly looked up from the map he was studying and stared sternly at one of his best commanders. Validus considered trying to recover his words but decided to let them stand.
    Brandt motioned for his executive to leave and waited until the officer’s form disappeared through the heavy stone wall.
    “What are you doing here, Validus?” Brandt asked, his countenance easing slightly.
    Validus slipped through the crack in professional airs between ancient combatant comrades. He stepped forward and flipped the orders onto the desk before Brandt.
    “Why, Brandt? This makes no sense.”
    Brandt looked away from Validus’s hard stare.
    “You’ve assigned me to be”—Validus struggled to even say it—“an
assistant
to a guardian?” He leaned over and put both massive hands on the desk. “What is going on?”
    Brandt looked back at Validus quite fiercely. “The Guardian Order is an esteemed order. There is no calling higher than the protection of a believer or a child.”
    “Of course, but I’m to be an assistant? That’s not even full guardian status. Even if I were assigned as a guardian, you and I both know that I am not guardian material.”
    Brandt rubbed a powerful hand across the back of his neck. “Assigning you as an assistant was the only leeway I was given from the messenger. If I had assigned you to the Guardian Order, you could never come back under my command, Validus.” He let that sink in for a moment. “You would never be a warrior again. Is that what you want?”
    Validus had no reply. He stared at his commander for a moment, then straightened and walked away from the desk. He paused and then turned back to Brandt. “Did the messenger say why?”
    “No, and I didn’t ask,” Brandt replied. “I don’t like it either. This assignment will weaken our forces in America significantly. I have no one who cancommand our northern continental forces like you.” Brandt sighed. “But we both know there is a reason.”
    “How long ago did the messenger leave?” Validus asked, allowing his frustration to seep through in his tone.
    “Just a few moments ago.”
    Validus nodded as his wings morphed once more into full spread. He readied to launch up through the ceiling after the signature silver streak of a messenger returning to heaven.
    “What are you doing?” Brandt stood and glared at his subordinate, stepping back behind the curtain of professional military formalities.
    “I intend to catch up with the messenger and get an explanation.”
    “Are you trying to offend me on purpose?” Brandt’s sharp reply put Validus on his heels.
    “No sir,” Validus replied respectfully, yet he remained determined.
    “You would never catch him anyway,” Brandt said.
    “Today I will,” Validus said flatly.
    “No, you won’t, and if you did, I don’t think he would take kindly to your questions.”
    Validus cocked his head. Messengers were held in the highest regard, for they carried the commands of Michael and, at times, the very words of Elohim.
    Brandt walked around his desk and came to stand eye to eye with Validus. He crossed his arms. “It was Gabriel.”
    Validus’s expression went blank. “Gabriel?” he said quietly.
    Validus could remember only three other times when Gabriel himself had delivered