Fall From Grace

Word Count: 1008

Fall From Grace

Sandir flew through the large arched doorway of the council chambers, landing gracefully on the marble floor. In the city of angels, there were no doors to bar entrance and no glass set into the windows. A brisk breeze flew through the airy chambers. Sounds of battle carried in the wind. Sandir knew he should be out beside his comrades, but he couldn’t ignore a summons from the Queen of Angels.

Sandir’s long strides carried him across the floor of the chamber to the dais at the other end of the room. The queen perched on the throne, watching him approach through slitted eyes.

Sandir was bare to the waist. He had a sword strapped to his hip and his long golden hair hung unbound about his shoulders. His loose flowing pants couldn’t hide the fact that he was barefoot as well.

The bare feet weren’t a problem as far as the queen was concerned. Many angels went about without footwear. More troubling was the fact that Sandir wasn’t wearing a shirt. He had been wearing one that morning, when she had last seen him. She took it as proof that her informant had been right. Sandir had been doing something forbidden.

Sandir glided to a stop in front of her and bowed low to hide the worry in his eyes. “My queen.”

“Where have you been, Sandir?”

He straightened, but kept his head lowered. “Out winning a war, Your Majesty. I came as soon as I got your summons.”

“What happened to your shirt?”
Sandir flinched before he could regain his composure. “It was shredded during the battle, so I discarded it.” He waited, wondering what the queen had heard. A light sweat had broken out on his body.

Nevinna finally stood so that she towered over him and spread her white feathered wings, giving them a good stretch. “I think not,” she said.

“Pardon me?”

“Draw your sword,” she ordered.

He knew better than to question. He lifted the blade clear of its scabbard and presented it to her. It gleamed with a holy light.

“Ah hah!” Nevinna exclaimed. “Unbloodied. I’d wager this weapon has yet to see today’s battle.” Nevinna’s anger was growing at Sandir’s disregard for the holy war being waged right on their very doorstep.

“I wiped it off before I came here,” Sandir explained smoothly. “A good soldier keeps his weapons clean.”

“A good soldier,” Nevinna hissed, “shows up at the battle.”

Sandir cocked his head to one side, meeting her gaze at last. “Is there something you’d like to tell me, Your Majesty?”

“Your commanding officer sent me a report that you had not shown up for the battle. Care to explain that?”

“With the chaos out there, Your Majesty, I can understand how he might have missed me.” Thinking that was all, Sandir turned, prepared to fly off.

“I haven’t dismissed you yet!” Nevinna declared.

Sandir stopped in mid-step, his wings spread wide. “I’m sorry, my lady. Was there something else?”

Nevinna gritted her teeth at his insolent tone. “One last thing, Sandir.”

Sandir turned back, folding his wings against his body. “Yes?”

She stepped closer. “I’d like to know how it feels to sneak off to a human lover while the Dragonriders kill our people.”

Sandir’s eyes widened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice stiff.

Nevinna could read his guilt on his face despite his words. She took a few steps back, hurt at the truth. “Sandir, you know human love is forbidden. How could you?” The backs of her knees hit her throne and she fell into it, her legs giving out. “Our magic is too much for the human world. Every time you go down there--oh God!” She covered her mouth with one hand, her blue eyes staring at him over it. Every time an angel entered the mortal world, the land started to die. An angel’s magic was too much for it.

“My queen--” Sandir stepped forward, to comfort her or to explain, but Nevinna shrank away.

“I didn’t want to believe this of you, Sandir,” she said, shaking her head. “When I was informed of this, I laughed! I found it unimaginable. Not you, Sandir! Anyone but you!”

Sandir took a shaky breath, ashamed at the hurt in her voice, in her sky-blue eyes.

“You know what I have to do now, Sandir?” she asked. She glanced away, her clenched jaw betraying her anger.

Sandir bowed his head. “I’m sorry, my queen.” He backed away from the throne to allow her room to regain her feet.

Her heart ached with what she must now do, but he had brought this on himself. She needed to make an example of him. She swallowed past a tightness in her throat. “Sandir, you have forsaken the Skyriders, the Angels of Light. You walk now in darkness from which there is no return. I will take your blade now.” She held her hand out, waiting.

Sandir unstrapped the scabbard from around his waist and handed the sheathed sword to her.

“You will be cast from the heavens,” Nevinna continued, “to walk among mortals. You will be stripped of your wings and your immortality. Do you understand?”

“Please don’t do this,” Sandir begged. He couldn’t stop the words from passing his lips, no matter how weak they sounded.

“Do you understand?” Nevinna repeated. She was implacable.

“Yes.” Sandir could barely get the word out. He sank to his knees, his head bowed.

Nevinna nodded. Tears shone in her eyes, some overspilling to glisten on her cheeks. She raised her arms and felt the magic beginning to work.

Sandir cried out in agony when his wings detached from his body and disappeared, but then it was over. He lay huddled on the floor before her, sobbing over what he had lost.

“I hope she was worth it, Sandir,” Nevinna said. The time for pity was over. He was dead to her now. She waved her hand over him and he was gone.