Between Heaven And Hell Part 6

She caught up and found them standing at one of the public entrances, preparing to nail the challenge on a door that was already covered with posts.

"No one will see it if you post it there," she said as she walked up behind them. "They will think it's simply another notice of pairing. They'll see your name, Lord Lucifer, and-"

"And what?" he snapped. "Conclude I've taken a pair?"

"Well, the guards are watching. They see you and Ami here together. . ."

Adryel knew she shouldn't tease him, but the look of shock and horror on Lord Lucifer's face made any anger that might follow completely worthwhile.

He glared at her. "I am not-"

Adryel began to laugh. "I'm teasing, Lord Lucifer. I should know better. . .The challenge will be lost, though, if you nail it there. Other posts may even be placed over it."

"The other door is covered too." He gestured farther down the wall. "Tell your pair he needs to clean the door so important information can be posted."

"I will certainly give him your request." She smiled. "Although, I don't think he's responsible for the doors. . .Meanwhile, we need to find a place for your challenge. I was thinking we could nail it on that door." She pointed up.

"The Great Gates? No, we can't. . ."

"Certainly we can. No rule forbids it. The council posts notices there on occasion. Surely this debate is as important as the minutes of their meetings."

"But no one will see it."

"Everyone will see it. Up there. On those doors. Alone. They will climb the steps to read something so important. They will talk about what they read. Your challenge will be common knowledge by this time tomorrow, and the entire city will be speculating about who-which archangel-will accept your challenge."

"What a foolish idea," Ami mumbled.

"No. No. Adryel is right." Lucifer handed a now sulking Ami the parchment. "You two post it. I'll wait for you here."

Ami made a small huffing sound and took the notice. Then, leaving Lord Lucifer at the foot of the Grand Stairway, Adryel and Ami quickly mounted the steps. Even though it was already dark, the ten ma.s.sive torches that lined the stairs cast a light almost as bright as that at midday. Reaching the gates, Adryel held the parchment while Ami drove a nail in each corner, the sound of the hammer echoing off the buildings surrounding the square.

"What are you doing?"

The guard shouted from the square below, and Ami jumped, her hammer slamming against Adryel's finger, rather than the head of the nail.

"Ow," Adryel yelped. "Ow." She grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly to stop the pain. Tears stung her eyes. "That really hurt."

Ami started to apologize, but she was interrupted when the guard called again.

"Did you hear me? What are you doing?"

Adryel wiped her eyes and looked down the stairway, spying two guards standing on the bottom step. Lord Lucifer was nowhere to be seen.

"You can't post doc.u.ments on the Great Gates."

"What do we do?" Ami's voice shook.

"We wait."

The guards began to climb the stairs. Halfway up, one of them was gasping for air, and Adryel shook her head. If he was a typical guard, perhaps Lord Michael's army would not be able to repel a horde of humans.

As they reached the top, Adryel stepped forward. "My name is Adryel. I'm a professor at the Inst.i.tute. Lord Lucifer has issued a challenge to debate the Plan of Creation. We've posted the challenge."

"I'm the watch commander. You need my permission to even be on the Grand Stairway after dark, and you certainly need it before nailing an announcement on the Great Gates." He grasped her arm. "You'll have to come with me."

Adryel jerked away. "Permission is not required. Anyone may post an announcement."

The guard laughed. "Not on the Great Gates." He turned to the other guard. "Tear it down." As the other guard reached out his hand, Adryel moved between him and the door. "On any door of the palace or any wall. . .The council decreed it."

"Did they indeed? Just anyone can post any notice here? In the s.p.a.ce where the council posts notices of its actions?"

"Ask Lord Uriel if you doubt me. Or Lord Michael."

"You know Lord Michael, do you?" The guard smirked, raising one eyebrow.

"Yes, I know Lord Michael. I am paired with Ramael." Adryel noted the confused expression on the guard's face. "Your commander. . ." She smiled as the guard swallowed hard.

"Ramael's pair? I. . ."

"He might be surprised to know his watch commander does not know his job."

"Well, I was only saying. . .I mean. . ."

"And, I'm secretary to the council. I know the rule. 'Once posted, a notice shall be undisturbed for a period of five days.' If anyone removes Lord Lucifer's challenge before that time," she crossed her arms, "I'll complain to your commander."

Without waiting for a reply, she reached out and took Ami's arm. "Come on, Ami, let's go."

As they descended the steps, she glanced back over her shoulder to see the guards studying the challenge. The two reached the square, and Lucifer appeared, gliding out of the shadows.

"Everything is all right? The guards. . ."

Adryel began to laugh. "You hid when the guards approached."

"I did not hide," Lucifer snapped. "I simply stepped away. It would have been inappropriate for me to be involved in. . .to be detained. . .that is, I. . ."

"Oh. Of course," Ami exclaimed. "You did exactly the right thing."

Adryel smirked. "Most inappropriate." She looked up at the gates. The small square of parchment glistened in the torches' light, contrasting with the dark wood. As she spoke, the two guards hurried down the steps. A group of angels were talking nearby and one waved to attract the guards' attention.

"What is the notice? What has the council done?"

"It's a debate. Lord Lucifer wants to debate the Plan of Creation," one guard exclaimed.

The angel turned to the others. "Did you hear? It's a debate about the Plan of Creation."

Then they all began talking at once.

"What is that? The Plan of Creation?"

"When will it be?"

"Who will he debate?"

Adryel turned to Lucifer and swept her hand toward the chattering group. "See, you'll have your audience."

The house was dark when Adryel reached home, and she found no sign Ramael had been there. She went to the kitchen to prepare their evening meal. Ramael was always ravenous when he came in late, and she wanted to have food ready for him if possible.

As she put a pot of water on the fire and stirred meal into it to make a porridge, it occurred to her that since he was not at home, Ramael would not know she had arrived late, and there would be no need for her to mention where she had been and what she had been doing.

"I've done nothing wrong," she reminded herself. "It's not wrong to be concerned about the plan, not wrong to discuss what might happen should it be implemented, not wrong to stage a debate to discuss it."

Still, she felt uneasy.

Was it because she sensed the debate had been Lord Lucifer's idea all along. Or, deep down, did she wonder why, if his motives were pure, as she believed, he would arrange for Uzi to make the suggestion instead of simply stating it himself? Maybe it was because Lord Michael feared Lord Lucifer's opposition would, unintentionally, certainly, turn violent. Or because Lord Michael seemed to have few concerns of his own about the human creatures? Or was it simply because she and Ramael would find themselves on different sides at the debate?

She took a deep breath and forced herself to exhale slowly. As long as the issue remained an academic debate, it should not matter that they took different sides. If it went beyond a simple debate though. . .

She heard the door open, and Ramael called to her. "Adryel, are you home?"

"I'm here. I. . .came in late myself. I've started porridge."

Ramael smiled as he entered the kitchen, placing his arm around her, hugging her tightly and kissing her, as he did every evening.

"So, Lord Lucifer wants a debate."

Her head jerked up. "Why. . .yes. How did you know?"

"Notices posted on the Great Gates attract a lot of attention, even after dark. I'll have to post guards there tomorrow morning to control the crowds."

He sat down and took the goblet of wine that she offered him. "Thank you. Two of my guards tried to interfere with you, I hear."

"I was going to tell you I posted the challenge."

"I know." He sipped the wine. "They should have known the rules. I'm sorry they bothered you."

"Are you angry?"

"At my guards? A little. They should have known better."

"No, at me. For helping Lord Lucifer."

Ramael looked at her for a long moment. "Not at all. You should do what you believe is right. Remember, though, Lord Michael fears your protest will get out of your control. . .Be careful."

"I will." She kissed him. "It's just a debate. . .I didn't sign on for anything else."

The porridge thickened and Adryel ladled it into bowls, adding b.u.t.ter and sugar. She told Ramael about their meeting.

"Who attended?" he asked as he stirred his porridge to cool it.

"Maliel was there. He was with Lord Lucifer at the council meeting."

"I remember," Ramael sniffed.

"And Uzi, a professor at the Inst.i.tute, and Beliel, and Ami, one of Lord Lucifer's students."

"Interesting group. . .Beliel. . .I didn't know he was in the city. He was a student you know, a couple of years after we graduated. Managed to get himself expelled from the Inst.i.tute."

Adryel looked up in surprise.

"I know." Ramael nodded. "One of the few I've ever heard of. Not a very nice angel. He attacked a professor who didn't give him the grade he wanted."

"You must be joking."

Ramael shook his head. "Not at all. You know Iofiel, don't you? Literature professor? It took almost six months for her to recover. . .Anyway, he moved away. I've no idea what he's been up to. . .Who was the other one?"

"Ami. She's an academic groupie." Adryel laughed. "She hangs on every word that tumbles from Lord Lucifer's mouth. She got huffy when he asked me to go with him to post the challenge and insisted on tagging along. If Lord Lucifer were a power, I'd be certain something was going on."

Ramael laughed. "Who suggested the debate? Lord Lucifer?"

Adryel shook her head. "It was rather strange. Uzi actually made the suggestion, but I had the feeling it was really Lord Lucifer's idea." She added more sugar to her porridge and stirred. "Do you think anyone will accept the challenge?"

Ramael laughed. "Oh, you can count on it. Lord Michael and Lord Raphael were discussing that very question as I left the palace."

"Lord Michael, maybe?"

"I doubt it." Ramael shook his head. "He doesn't see himself as a great speaker. Lord Jophiel's name was suggested."

Adryel's eyes sparkled. "Now that would be a debate. Lord Jophiel is smart and he's funny, and easy to listen to. Lord Lucifer would have his work cut out for him."

"Wait now, you're on Lord Lucifer's side." Ramael laughed. "You want some tongue-tied twit to accept the challenge so Lord Lucifer will be the undoubted, indisputable victor."

Adryel could tell he was teasing and she popped his arm. "I want what is best for all concerned. I'd be quite pleased if Lord Jophiel could convince me there is no danger in the plan."

Later that night, Adryel lay beside Ramael, snuggling close against him, her arm across his chest. He was asleep, his breathing slow and so regular that she did not need a sandgla.s.s to mark the pa.s.sage of time. She smiled. He always slept like this after making love to her. She caressed his face and kissed his cheek before closing her eyes.

All of her worry had been for naught. He was not angry with her for helping Lord Lucifer, just concerned for her safety. His story about Beliel worried her though. She recalled he had been the one to suggest an armed attack on the palace as a way to deal with the plan. Why would Lord Lucifer have recruited someone like him to be a part of the group?

The Debate.

Adryel was pleased when Jophiel accepted Lucifer's challenge to debate. He was popular in Celestial City, he was known to be a fiery speaker, and his partic.i.p.ation would attract a large audience.