Unholy Empire: Chronicles of the Host, Vol 2: Chronicles of the Host, Book 2 (39 page)

Rameses stood proudly on his chariot, inspecting the divisions that had assembled in colorful array. The proudest and most powerful divisions of Egypt, Amon, Ptah, Ra, and Sutekh, veterans of the Battle of Kadesh, hailed Rameses as their lord. Pharaoh’s personal guard, the Rameses Division, stood nearest the king. Jannes and Jambres had been made honorary commanders of the Horus Division, and nervously took their places at the head of their troops. All eyes were on Rameses.

“Sons of Egypt! Today you shall avenge the blood that has been shed throughout our land. Many of you have lost sons, brothers, and friends because of the sorcery of Moses and these wicked slaves. As you kill today, remember your dead. As you butcher today, recall the tears of your wives and mothers. As you destroy the enemy on the shore, you shall avenge the honor of the gods who go with you! Hail Amen-Ra!”

“Hail Amen-Ra!” returned the soldiers enthusiastically.

“And hail Rameses!” said another whose words were taken up by all.

Rameses lifted his hands to silence the army.

“Go now. And may the gods of Egypt smile on you today as you are drenched with the blood of Hebrews!”

One by one the divisions pulled out in succession as a trumpet sounded each division’s signal. Rameses watched as the dust cloud rose high into the sky—a sign that was sure to strike terror into the hearts of the Israelites. Under his breath Rameses said, “Let not one of you come back alive if you do not bring back Moses!”

Michael was standing with Serus as Moses stood on some rocks near the sea. The people were pressing in, wondering where they were to go from here. Some of them even began complaining that perhaps this was a trap set by Rameses to have them backed up against the sea. The people, young and old, male and female, the heritage of Abraham, clinging to all of their belongings, looked to Moses for answers. And he had none to give.

“Michael, where shall the Lord take them?” asked Serus. “His cloud that separated them from the Egyptians is gone. They’ll be here soon.”

Michael looked to the west. A black cloud, thick with dust and demons, was beginning to bleed into the desert horizon.

“They are already here,” Michael said. The noise of raucous, hate-filled devils could be heard over the dull roar of horses and chariots. “I had better stand near Moses,” said Michael. “These people might turn on him.”

Michael moved down near Moses just as the Hebrews spotted the first elements of Pharaoh’s army. The women began screaming and rushing to the shore with their children. Panic began to fill the camp as Rugio and a troop of his commanders swept in and out of the crowd, spreading fear. Just as Michael had anticipated, many people began cursing Moses for his betrayal of them. Some were even organizing themselves as an embassy to beg Rameses’ forgiveness.

The divisions could be seen in a line all along the top of the slope that looked down upon the Israelites. Above them, swirling about in delight, were thousands of devils urging the slaughter on. The divisions stopped and looked down upon their prey, awaiting the trumpet for the final charge.

Suddenly, out of the midst of the raucous darkness, Lucifer and Kara flew out and appeared in front of Michael. With relish, they surveyed the panic and growing disorder within the Israelite camp. Lucifer looked at Michael and smiled an unkind smile at him.

“How quickly these people disintegrate into madness, Michael,” said Lucifer, as a woman screamed at Moses for endangering her child. “There will be much blood on the sand today!”

“Yes,” agreed Kara. “Beginning with Moses, if these people have their way!”

“You proud spirit!” replied Michael. “Do you believe that the Most High has delivered these people to die in the desert?”

“It is of no consequence what I believe about these creatures,” said Lucifer. “It is what he believes that matters!” He pointed toward Rameses’ chariot just arriving on the hillside overlooking the Israelites. “He believes that Moses killed his son. And now he will avenge himself upon Moses.”

Serus arrived and stood near Michael, eyeing Lucifer, Kara, and their aides with contempt. They returned his contempt with icy stares of their own. Serus told Michael that the buildup of enemy angels over the Egyptians was considerably larger than their own numbers.

“There is nothing more we can do here, Serus,” said Michael, watching the encroaching devils. “Our forces are hampered by the fear of these people. If only they would pray in faith!”

“Ah, faith,” sneered Lucifer. “Such a dilemma that you must play by such rules.” He glared at Michael. “This is why you shall ultimately lose this war, Michael. You are dependent upon the prayers and faith of people whose very nature is neither prayerful nor faithful!”

“First they cried for Moses’ help,” said Kara. “Now they call for his head!”

Michael ignored Kara and moved in support of Moses, who was making his way to a large rock. He intended to say something to the people. Michael deflected a rock thrown at Moses by an angry father who wanted to return to Egypt with his family. The rock fell harmlessly to the ground—much to the surprise of the man who threw it.

“One last speech by the deliverer,” said Kara. “This should be amusing.”

“Perhaps,” said Lucifer, who noticed the wind picking up. “Perhaps…”

Moses stood upon the rock, Michael on one side of him and Serus on the other. He raised his hands to get the people to be quiet. Aaron swallowed hard and prayed to the Lord that Moses would be able to get through to them—and that he had an answer as to what they were to do.

“Rugio!” cried Lucifer. “Get some legions in here at once!”

“Yes, my lord,” said Rugio, who immediately organized some warriors to agitate the people further.

Lucifer had decided to continue enraging the people so that they might tear Moses to pieces. Rugio’s angels were met with great resistance by holy angels under Sangius, who held them at bay, keeping them from diving into the mass of people gathering around Moses.

Rugio brought his sword down hard across the chest of Sangius, who was buffeted, but held his place.

“Give way, traitor!” said Rugio.

“The Lord resists you, rebel,” said Sangius, who recovered his balance and swung hard with his own sword, just missing Rugio. Beside them one of Rugio’s demons yelped in pain and disappeared as an angel’s weapon found its mark.

“They cannot get through,” said Kara. “They are being resisted by the Host!”

“Something greater than the Host is here,” said Lucifer. “We were able only a short time ago to penetrate these lines with ease. Now even Rugio cannot get through! I suggest we move back to Rameses.”

“Agreed,” said Kara, looking about nervously.

“Brothers! Do not be afraid!”

The wind made it difficult for Moses to speak. Sand was being kicked up in great clouds over the camp. He squinted through the dusty air at the sea of faces looking to him for some word of hope, some sort of consolation.

“Stand with me! I promise you that these Egyptians who harass today will never harass us again. They will be no more after today!”

“How are we to fight Pharaoh’s army?” said a man. “Our wives and children are here with us and we have no weapons!”

“Listen to me,” said Moses. “The Lord Himself shall fight for you!”

Rugio and his warriors had tried everything they could to penetrate the line of holy angels, but they were unable to break the ranks. This was indeed something extraordinary. But no matter—General On had given the order to sound the trumpet. Lucifer and Kara joined Rugio above the Egyptians.

“Bit of trouble getting through the enemy?” Lucifer asked Rugio.

“Yes, lord,” admitted Rugio. “They fought with a force that was not their own.”

“The Lord fights for them,” said Lucifer grimly. “Even as Moses has said!”

“He had better begin then,” said Kara. “For there goes Rameses’ guard!”

The angels turned to see Rameses’ crack shock troops—his personal guard, charging the Hebrew lines. The sound of chariots and horses caused the Hebrews to race toward the beach in a panic. Moses stood firm on the rock, encouraging the people to have faith in their Lord.

“Looks like Moses will stand between Rameses and the people,” said Kara.

“He won’t need to,” said Lucifer, looking at a great, billowing cloud rising up behind the Israelites.

The holy angels bowed their heads low as the cloud of God’s presence moved over the Hebrews and stationed itself between the people and the Egyptians. The horses reared and revolted, stopping their charge. The charioteers tried to regain control of their ranks.

The cloud, resembling a gigantic, twisting column, planted itself like a tree firmly rooted in the sand of Egypt, daring any trespassers to engage it. Rameses was beside himself, enraged that once more Moses had trumped his efforts. He called for Maret-men to assemble the gods on behalf of Egypt to best this desert god once and for all. Maret-men conferred with Jannes and Jambres, and the three of them began to call upon the great gods of Egypt to avenge the honor of Pharaoh.

General On, dumbfounded, called back his troops. One charioteer, enraged by the death of his son and tired of the tricks of Moses, charged the cloud in a violent dash. Rameses and the other Egyptians watched as he entered the cloud and vanished with a brilliant flash of light—man, horse, and chariot—never to be seen again.