Free Noah Primeval (Chronicles of the Nephilim) by Brian Godawa Page A

four officers in four swift moves. Then, with purposeful strides, he closed in on the prisoner convoy.
    Noah could hear the pandemonium, but still could see nothing. Dust obscured everything.
    T he fat guard could not see much either. He belted out, “What is going on?!”
    Someone yelped back, “It’s a fight! Prepare for battle!”
    The bird-men responded with military precision, lining up to receive the intruder. The stranger was almost upon them at a running gait .
    The fat guard complained, “It’s only one man! What could one man possibly do?”
    But it was not one man . Unfortunately, none of them knew that.
    The paladin hit the first guard and cut him down without losing stride. The next human screamed, “Enemy upon us!” But he was on the ground before he could finish his breath.
    The bird-men were another matter altogether. They were in battle mode and they were ready.
    They just were not ready for a superhuman warrior to slice through them like animal fat.
    T he stranger swiftly cut through to the middle of the last of the soldiers, surrounded on every side. They squeezed in for the kill. He held his sickle swords out to the sides. Then with a supernatural strangeness, he began to spin like a human cyclone. The blades became a twirling death trap that cut down every last bird-man in seconds. It was over before anyone knew it had begun.
    The paladin looked up at Noah on the cart .
    F or the first time, Noah could see the source of the commotion. His jaw dropped, and he finally grasped the situation. The stranger was here to rescue him – or kill him.
    The fat guard’s mind leapt to a keen sense of self-preservation. He drew his dagger and placed it at Noah’s throat. “Stop, or the prisoner dies!”
    The fat guard had calculated correctly. The stranger was here for rescue.
    The paladin did not take his eyes off the fat guard, though he would have liked to because the guard was rather ugly. Slowly, the rescuer set his blades down on the ground.
    The fat guard smiled smugly and began to calculate his next move. He relaxed his hold on Noah ever so slightly.
    It was just enough. His mind was no match for the stranger’s unearthly speed. The paladin grabbed two daggers from his belt, one in each hand, and threw them with perfect timing and accuracy. They hit their marks, one buried in each eye of the fat guard. Anu’s servant was dead before he hit the ground.
    Noah had been speechless the entire time, in awe of this creature. He could not believe his eyes as the paladin sheathed his strange weapons. Noah had never seen their like before. The rescuer hacked at Noah’s shackles. Noah’s mind raced. Who was this mysterious warrior that could do such things? he thought.
    “Who are you?” Noah asked, his voice quivering from fear. “ What are you?”
    The stranger answered him, “I am Uriel, your guardian.”
    “My guardian?”
    “Yes, your guardian. Elohim sent me to protect you and help you accomplish your calling.”
    In the chaos of the moment, Noah floundered. “What calling?”
    Uriel looked at him impatiently. “Have you forgotten already?”
    Indeed, Noah had forgotten.
    “The box?” Uriel reminded him. He shook his head, thinking, This one is just as obstinate as his grandfather.
    Noah’s sarcastic tongue returned like a flood tide at the ludicrous suggestion. “Right! The box! How could I forget the ridiculously large box?” he sputtered.
    Uriel frowned at his ward. “Sometimes I am vexed why Elohim chooses people like you.”
    The insult took Noah aback . He paused to reflect. He responded, “On that, you and I agree. Though I would think your attitude is not properly befitting a guardian sent by Elohim.”
    Uriel rolled his eyes.
    Noah caught a camel wandering near him and mounted it. “Well, Uriel, I thank you for your”–what should he call it?–guardianship. But I have more pressing concerns.”
    “You do not get off that easily,” Uriel said.
    Noah whipped his camel and