[tab]The room was perfectly formed, identical grey tiles covered the floor and fluted columns were evenly spaced throughout the hall. Angels knelt or were seated according to their rank, which was also reflected in their dress, although the differences were often to slight for mortal eyes to recognize. In fact the perfection of the chamber, from the exact proportions to each fold in every angels robe, was so offsetting to mortal eyes that even the most precise couldn’t help feeling like he threw the room, or the entire heaven, out of balance by his existence.
[tab]Junil stood in the center of the chamber unwavering. Words and reports were unnecessary, there was no outward sign of stress or panic, yet every angels focus was on the same event, sacred ground was being desecrated. It was the Seven Firs, the place that the Compact was signed. It was sacred to many gods but Junil had committed to keeping the area safe before the gods had agreed to the Compact, to ensure that the Gods and their emissaries could meet there safely. And now that oath wasn’t being kept.
[tab]It was the Compact itself that caused the problem, it stated that the gods and angels couldn’t intervene directly with the affairs of men, instead they had to work through them in various limited and archaic means, none of which helped in this situation. Those loyal to Junil had been killed, struck down quickly from a form of stealth that obscured even the site of the angelic watchers.
[tab]In the Seven Firs there was a symbol for each of the gods that existed at the time of the Compact. The svartalfar were stealing the symbols, all those except the symbol of their own god Esus. Junil’s symbol was a sword and shield that hung from one of the trees in the glade. A svartalfar assassin went to claim the symbol as a personal trophy.
[tab]Sphener broke the perfection of the room and stood. The angel opposite him, who was supposed to mirror his movements in every ritualized action seemed confused. Was he supposed to follow, was this some ritual he had forgotten or was Sphener breaking the laws of the chamber? Other angels in the chamber, including Spheners own lord, allowed a brief crease of annoyance to cross their foreheads to show their extreme disapproval of Sphener’s action. Junil showed no reaction.
[tab]Sphener crossed the perfect floor and kneeled before the god of law. He spoke, following the tradition of the few mortals that had come here to petition Junil as an angel had never done it before.
[tab]"Great lord, allow me to keep your promise and protect the Seven Firs. Cast me from the vault, take from me the divine essence and have me reborn mortal such that my actions will not break the Compact and both oaths will remain fulfilled."
[tab]Junil turned his eyes to the prostrate lesser angel. His hesitation was not concern but a consideration of the possible outcomes, would Sphener be able to defend the Firs, was Sphener more useful in creation than he was in heaven, was there another way to maintain both oaths, what would keep the same event from occurring again? Junil turned his focus on the svartalfar attackers and decided that Sphener could defeat them, the laws were clear, if an angel wished to fall he could.
[tab]Junil responded with only one word, "Approved", and Sphener was gone from the chamber.
[tab]The svartalfar assassin smiled as he considered his own reflection in the swords gleaming blade. The sword was to heavy and long for him but it would sell for a lifetimes wages. Then the sword was yanked out of his hands, he spun expecting to see one of his companions and found himself staring into the breastplate of an 8 foot tall angel instead.
[tab]The sword was functional as well as ornamental and Sphener cut him down. Like a sythe through grain Sphener set on the rest, they were killed quickly but it took longer for Sphener to replace all of the artifacts and remove any trace that they had been there from the Firs. When it was finally complete he knelt and prayed.
[tab]When he ended his prayer the Firs were gone, Junil had removed it from creation to keep it safe, all that was left behind was the sword and shield. Sphener took them and headed into the woods, he had long been curious about creation and looked forward to serving Junil in this new role.
oh damn I need more time!
