The Divine Defender VIII

Paliurus Squadron (I)

The Seraphim (and one Cherubim) formed a line in front of the Mothers, who appraised the whole group. Kaleen stood in the center, Andante and Shanti on opposite ends and the two strange women directly beside her. Though wind blew enough to upset their gowns, there was a tense silence nonetheless. Their every movement would be scrutinized.

To Kaleen’s immediate left stood a dark-skinned Damakran woman, a head taller than Kaleen with her hair down to the jaw in a bob, dyed a light red. She was not as large as Mother Nall, but Kaleen could trace the rough shape of her biceps under the fabric of her sleeves, as well as her broad shoulders and the solid definition of her abdomen through her gown. The fin-shaped protrusion on the peak of her head, characteristic of the Damakran, was subdued, rising only three inches and tapering off the back of her head.

A ghost of a woman with wolf-like ears pointing backwards and a gray tail stood to Kaleen’s right hand. Around her neck she wore a small, ornate iron band bearing magic runes. Everything about her was frighteningly pale, from her wavy locks of hair to the near-transparent skin on her hands and neck, assuming a semblance of color only on her face. One of her eyes was covered in a black patch, while the other was red as the Sargassan sunset. She was shorter than Kaleen but not nearly as small as Shanti, and very light of build, almost dainty. Perfectly straight and unshaken and with a countenance that betrayed no emotion, the woman seemed almost like an apparition.

For several minutes these figures remained solid as statues until Mother Leyka stood before the squadron again, turned to the two mothers, and presented them.

“This is the new five-point squadron that I proposed to bring together.” Mother Leyka said. “It is my belief that we can use our limited resources better creating point squadrons than leaving competent Seraphim in patrol groups.”

“What about the child?” Mother Nall said, her voice deep and resonating.

“Shanti is very near to achieving her armor.” Mother Leyka said, “She will prove herself in short order, and I believe she is very qualified.”

Throughout, Mother Auris had been making her scorn quite plain to each girl. Kaleen could not deny that, were she not perpetually scowling, Mother Auris would’ve been as beautiful and preserved beyond her years as any of the Seraphim. But her sharp gaze made the spine tremble and the heart quake. These were eyes that peeled back flesh to censure bone as unworthy. When she spoke, it was with a harsh cawing voice.

“The child might be the only one well qualified. Andante Hemispherous should be stripped of her armor and sent back to redo Cherubim discipline. Kaleen Yweh has never done anything worth taking notice of and little deserves distinction. Pernille Kavo on the other hand has the worst distinction, having wounded ten Seraphim in the course of six months. And if I had my way,” She stopped to glare at the pale-haired, one-eyed woman with particular zeal, “You wouldn’t have been out of prison until you became transparently pale, you treacherous monster. I assure you, I will have my way someday.”

Kaleen’s whole body quivered with anger and shame. She had thought herself prepared for the barrage, but never had she felt such sickening emotion as she did then. Even Mother Leyka held a moment’s pause and covered her mouth with her hand. “I can,” Mother Leyka paused again, hand closing into a fist, “I can assure you that Senka Scurrious has paid her debt to society, and her good conduct is well documented.”

After that defense, Kaleen’s morale was well beyond rallying and she struggled to hold back tears. Never in her life had her service been so demeaned.

Mother Nall turned entirely around to face Auris. She was two heads taller than the gray Mother and was close enough to her to breathe on her. Had she not known better, Kaleen would have thought them about to brawl. Kaleen had never met Mother Nall before, but she knew that certain Seraphim trained their bodies to the extremes of physical power. They became broad and strong in order to wield the largest and most punishing weaponry they had – the Stormlance and Wavelance firearms. She had seen women like this Mother and like Pernille but only briefly, as though a separate sect from her own. The imposing Mother Nall looked down upon Auris, but the gray Mother stood her ground

“You are being too severe, as usual.” Mother Nall said, and she locked eyes with Mother Auris. “You allow the world’s agonies to cloud your objective judgment. We’ve been in need of a new squadron since our Seraphiel joined the royal guard. Do you intend to stand in the way of our convent out of your mere caprice and misanthropy?”

“Don’t misunderstand me!” Mother Auris said, raising one hand before herself as a makeshift defense. She sounded cut by Mother Nall’s words, like a child having been told her foolishness. “I will give my vote of approval to this squadron. But their eventual collapse will be Mother Leyka’s responsibility, not yours or mine. I can speak of Andante and Pernille right now as abject failures, and it is my belief that they aren’t ready. And I can certainly object to a criminal being allowed freedom, but I will not anymore.” Auris turned her head over her shoulder to face Leyka, “I will approve for my fellow’s sake.”

Mother Leyka grew paler and less capable of speech. Kaleen had never seen the woman so mortified. Mother Leyka had always been a pillar of strength. She had seen this woman bodily rip apart monsters, witnessed her charge into raging flames, beheld and been enraptured by the beauty and power of her magic hymns. To see her so discomfited before her peers was a shock. Kaleen feared making the smallest sounds and did not dare defend herself or Andante (whom she momentarily believed she could speak for).

The two mothers remained with eyes locked for a minute more. Mother Nall turned around anew and raised her hand to Leyka. “Continue with your appeal, Mother.”