The earth lifts its glass to the sun
     And light -- Light is poured...
     They will one day say -- if they do not say so already -- that when Brilliance comes all the skies of all the worlds are lit by a life-giving sun. Heaven now has a sunrise of its own! Over the skies upon the outer rim of Heaven, turning formerly violet nebula to electric magenta, an angel arches in flight. A malakim whose wings are made of extraordinary light, whose dark and shadowy features could be said to... gleam.
     Yes. Gleam.
     Urfiel lands, his wings of light -- no feathers, not even shadowy ones, can be seen now -- fanning the airy region before him as he slows. His light is white. Pure -- as suits him Then. Bright -- as suits him Now.
     He stands upon an empty plain, and empty plain that formerly was...simply space waiting for a Purpose. One day a Citadel to Brilliance will stand. That day is not so distant now. This is becoming Your Space, Brilliance. The outer rim of Heaven -- not in banishment or anything of the like. No indeed. This is heaven's horizon. You have given Heaven a sun. And we all have to start Somewhere...

     Soldekai sits at the edge of Everywhere, looking across towards Blandine's Tower while looking behind to the far reaches of missing Janus' Savannah. He often sits along, save the handful of soldiers, like you, who gather to him quietly. He can be found here in the last spate of time -- only a few weeks since you first came to him, Urfiel -- wondering what is next.
     "Greetings," comes his angelic tongue, a small smile on his lips. It's a good thing that he does not have to report his activities. Soldekai contemplates his Word, and, as Yves says, what else is more important to an Archangel? "Nice, hmm? It's..." and he can't find another word, "...brilliant." No mention of flaming, colors, light. Those concepts are all taken. Brilliance can exist without an element. It is as much a state of matter as anything else. Soldekai snickers, still uneasy with such self-referencing. A self greater, in some ways, than before. But he knows...he has not changed. At least not yet. They say that can happen, when you become an Angelic Abstract, a direct, absolute, singular manifestation of the Almighty. He's no longer a soldier, working for others, doing the physical work on behalf of an Abstract. He's One of Them Now.
     "How are you?" Soldekai smiles, his dark Malakim form almost unable to be seen these days. Something else is more apparent around him, causing his darker self to be but an inner shadow. Some rumors say that soon, Soldekai the Archangel of Brilliance, will not be looked upon. Angelic eyes will avert, and the Malakim's form will be forever hidden.
     "You look well. How's...." Soldekai twists to see you, "...where have you been?" he grins, unable to remember what human city.

     Yet You will echo upon Them All, those who gather to you quietly. You will be in their countenance, you will stream from their banners and standards, you will shine from their eyes. You will be seen in each and every one of them.
     Though the Inevitable has not yet occurred, still your Brilliance is Wondrous. Amazing. The deep eyes of the malakim do lower, and the echo of your brilliance moves against the shadow of Urfiel's face. Suddenly, he has features, angular in God's precision, geometric perfection. The Form that is Good, Just, Beautiful...
      "And also to you, Great Friend," Urfiel pronounces, for malakim do not merely speak or converse, do they? "I have been to the festival of lights in Rio di Janeiro. I lit all the votives at the feet of the Lady of Our Hope Undying and I have moved among the men and women and children of the world in search of the many faces of the Word I serve." Urfiel lifts his head and lifts his eyes, the glimmer of a mouth's quirk visible. "Oh, and I went to Paris. I had never been there. I rode the little boats to Notre Dame."
     Brilliant. Urfiel has a sense of humor!
     He looks upon the plain, his head inclining, robes and armor in layers of Your Element. "It is Brilliant. How could it now be otherwise? And look, you have a plain. And nebulae. And one comet." That must be him.

     Soldekai must have blushed, for the heavens take a rosy tinge. "I can't believe it. This...appeared. This space...." he murmurs, looking around. This view of All. He sighs, unnecessarily, still amazed at what is going on around him, through him, and in his Word. "And nebulae in the universe. Comets," he smiles, looking to you finally.
      "You're wondering why I asked you to come here...no, it was not to see all of this," he waves off, amused by the thought.

     "I do not wonder," Urfiel smiles, "...for shall it not be Revealed to me? I wait but for Your Word." Spoken like a true -- and tried and true -- servitor. "In the same way, Great Friend, that I do not ask Our Creator why the daisy is like to the spiral galaxy that contains it. I marvel, merely."
     "...I do, however, wish to hear what you have to say, so..." Urfiel bows his head, "... no more rhetoric from me," he finishes in an angelic hush. His eyes and his countenance are thereafter turned upward to you. You have his unwavering attention.

     "It is important, I think, so I have asked for you," Soldekai says. "I'd go myself, but..." he grins your direction. Wings stretch further; the space is perhaps one of the few that will accommodate him easily.
      "There is a girl," her image appearing in your mind, "...who has the ability to..." Soldekai hates to think upon it, "...do things that perhaps beyond her capability of understanding. I have read her name in Yves' book, Urfiel..." meaning there is a destiny there, but yet unwritten. Soldekai sighs, "She has magical ability. She...is capable of not only touching the ethereral, but...finding celestials as well," Soldekai explains, head tilting your direction. You can imagine what it means.
     "Unfortunately, I do not think she is the smallest bit aware or afraid of her own potential talent and how others may use it against her, against others."
     "I need you to watch her, Urfiel. See who is around her. She..." Soldekai shakes his head, "...well, I do not know what to think of her. I don't. But I think of her ability to generate magics that..." that just upset him. Greatly. "I hate to even think about it," Soldekai confesses, sighing again at the brilliant haze ahead of him.
     "And you'll need to be subtle, Urfiel. I'd hate for our watching to generate other eyes," Soldekai notes in addition.

     He soaks this in. He accepts it with his face, his eyes, his Being. More than this, he Considers it. She is not aware or afraid of her own potential talent. To be both Ignorant and Fearless? How many would-be conquerors have we seen, on how many worlds now. To have such power and yet to act with the foresight found only in instinct?
     Urfiel's expression smoothens, your light rolling over features formed by the Hands of God Himself. "Magical ability without an inner sense of awe. I can see why you are worried." His finger lifts and makes a motion. Back a few words. "You spoke of this magical ability to touch the ethereal... and celestial. What sort of power was this? What was this ... girl.... able to do?"
     That he will watch her is a foregone conclusion. As you speak again, Urfiel nods. Absolutely. "Where is she located. I have a ... flexible vessel. She," haha, "...is able to move swiftly, locate easily. Both in the East and in the West."

     "She summoned...an angel of considerable rank. A Throne," Soldekai explains. "Along with others. I don't know how or why...though I understand it may have been an..." and he hates to use the word, "...accident. Unexpected and unwitting. But either way, I do not like it."
     "Here is her name," Soldekai flashes, pages opening, a book from the Library. An image of eyes scrolling. Arundel. Fiona. London.
     Soldekai's gaze is given to you fully now, the information transferred. "You can see her pages in the Book...I can arrange for you to visit the Library, if you so desire."

     The concern and the... disapproval? Is it that? It is not so simple, but it ripples through Urfiel as well. A Throne. That is too close to home. And is a power too easily to corrupt. Especially in London. "No, she could not be in Timbuktu or in the Amazon." She had to be there.
     Arundel. Fiona. London. His mouth moves, brilliance and shadow comingling, His eyes on You, they do not move until You release them. "I would like to, yes. Magic can be hereditary," so speaketh the former Almost-Archangel of Purity. One of Those Who Cast Out and Killed the creatures of fantasy and myth. And Magic. Had you remembered that?
     "Her history may provide us with greater assurance, or greater concern. I will establish my vessel in London, Yisun Inkhe," the image of the tall, Mongolian woman (beauty that Michael had to stop and admire once) is given to you. Mongolian from Genghis Khan and mixed with tsars of Russia. "Woman to woman," a little smile, "... I expect little difficulty in getting close to her."
     Urfiel's wings, those streams of brilliance, move forward and back slightly. "Quite an accident, summoning a Throne," he murmurs angelic. "I am curious to see this girl. I will, with Your permission, get my matters set up in London, make initial contact and then return to the Library."

     "Please," Soldekai murmurs, eyes sliding easy over you. He nods. "They will expect you at the Library," he says, as if telling someone right now. "I had not thought the magic might be heriditary." Wonderful. "She needs to be convinced that she should be on our team. That her magic should be a benefit to humanity, to others. I will...see about getting you a bit more ethereal assistance." A dreamer might work well. "That is...if she is hard to reach corporeally."

     You know the vow is stirring. The malakite vow, embedded in Uriel's right-hand malakim. If she does not join our team...
     Ah, Urfiel. That was Then. Now, things are different. You are different. And will be. He makes a sound like a man clearing his throat and his wings give a little shake of light. "Magic that strong in one who is... young?" girl seemed to indicate that, "... and unaware... it speaks of something older on the blood. Something inherited. There were once many such families." The Burnings of the Middle Ages and Renaissance (let alone the later burnings of the 17th century) did much to destroy those family lines. But not all. Apparently not all.
     Urfiel nods again, "I will get to London. I will set myself in place and find her. I will then return to the Library. I will research her bloodline and the destinies of her ancestors. She may even be on a path that is not her own. Perhaps that, too, is inherited. I will be sure to keep you informed of every finding. You will know as soon as I do." A pause. "And the Throne that was summoned. This entity was not harmed, has It returned to duty?"

     Another good point. Maybe someone is already involved.
     It's enough to make Soldekai groan.
     He looks up only at the last question. "Oh," brows furrowing, "...yes. Unharmed, thank the Almighty. She was unable to keep him there. No one was injured." For such things can happen. "He is at his work once more..."

     There is a wash of Relief and Joy. "That is Good. And so shall this be." Or, as you know, it will cease to exist. That, too, can be a destiny. Urfiel bows his head. "It will be Done, Great Friend. If You would permit it, perhaps the Throne might have information that could be useful. He has seen her, he encountered the power..."
     Urfiel is not really curious about who it was who was summoned. It's now neither Here nor There. He is only interested in the details that might help him in his mission. You know his kind. For You are one of him.

     The very flutter at your essence makes Soldekai narrow his gaze at you. "She needs to choose, dear friend." A smile grows. "She needs space," he thinks, "...to figure this out. Without interference from undue forces." But influence from us is alright. "And if you wish to talk to the Summoned, by all means do...you will find his name in the Book in her story. Well, you may be able to figure out who it was..." Soldekai smiles. Well, of course.

     Urfiel is oblivious. His very first thought would never be of Galadriel. Though by now your story has truly rippled over the Celestial Realm, has it made it to the far corners of a tiny blue planet? He was still in Clearwater, manning Lawrence's tether and staring into the flames of a forge, when there was news of a traitor. And he just really didn't want to know at the time.
     So, you receive a blank look. Do You want me to guess? Urfiel nods again, "I will make note of it then when I am at Library. His impressions should prove quite valuable, I should think. And..." he smiles, bowing his head again, "... I understand. About space. It will be interesting, I think, to see ...whom else have taken notice of her. For one cannot summon a Throne to earth, to London, and have it go unnoticed."

     "One would think not," Soldekai says dryly, done now with his work. He is quiet a moment, before asking, "And you? Things are well? Your travels are good? Settling into..." his hands open to the space, "...all this?"

     "I am at a place of peace I have not known for a millennium," he replies easily. "My heart... my heart is at ease. For the first time since His depature, I feel... Welcomed." You will hear this again, Soldekai. "My journeys were good. Tether to tether," he smiles. "I had never done the tour, until then. I found that there are several places that may resonate especially so. I found... Venice to be such a place. There is much of Brilliance there." If he only knew!
     "The biggest lesson I am learning is to... open myself. Open myself to Possibility and to the Understanding that will be revealed in time. It takes... great effort to exist so simply."

     Soldekai blinks. Existing simply. His head quirks a little as his eyes pan across the brilliantly-lit space you both sit in. Well.
     "I wish I had some wise things to say," Soldekai grins, just sitting there. "I guess opening to change is new for us. Maybe light is supposed to shine through." He shrugs, still literal-minded sometimes.

     "We will find It and It will find Us, most assuredly. As her story is being written, so is Ours. We may have to read it to understand it." Urfiel smiles with you. Had you ever known him to smile so much in the two thousand years of your acquaintance (however loose)? That makes the fourth time in one conversation. Somewhere bets are being lost and records are being broken.
     "I think your Citadel should be... like glass, all the way around..." Urfiel remarks softly. "I was looking at the glass in Murano, there is glass everywhere in Venice. I think it suits Us." Spoken ...well... spoken like Galadriel, to be honest. Galadriel (and Kit!) would have to agree.
     "You do not have to have wise things to say. That is the benefit of being You. Everything You utter is Brilliant. Do not worry, Soldekai," Urfiel says quietly to you, he looks to you, there is adoration there already.

     Now that's disturbing. "I doubt everything I say is brilliant," Soldekai reassures. But he gets your doubled-point. "I'd appreciate it though...that if you think I ever say things...wrong...that you would tell me so."

     "Of course. Wrong or right, it will still be Brilliant." He laughs then. There is Delight. There is no way out of this Logic! You are the answer to Your own question, Soldekai. "You have my solemn, very solemn, oath," Urfiel mentions quietly, and seriously. "If I think You are misjudging a thing, or perhaps if I have not shown it to you well enough that you could judge it, that I will tell you. I am no seraph, but they do not have the monopoly on truth."

     "Indeed," Soldekai nods in full-agreement, but with his trademarked smile.
      "Alright then," Soldekai says, giving you the freedom to go now. "You'll keep me informed, yes? Do not be surprised when the Menunim...are present." The dreamers that work in silence. "And, if you need me," Soldekai says, expecting you know the rest. There isn't too much backup yet, so he must make himself available.

     "I will keep daily reports, as far as earth marks the time. I will make certain you receive these reports reguarly," he's used to being regimented. Urfiel bows, his wings lowing in a brilliant wave on either side of you. He straightens. "I will try to not be shocked. I will admit that they unnerve me. But I expect that I will be walking in on them, and not the other way around."
     He can fill in the rest, you see it in his expression. "Great Friend, be well." There is a pause. "And think about the glass thing..."

     And here, Soldekai was just thinking how simple the space is right now.

Posted by rowan at September 06, 2003 07:48 PM