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that he was known as the Light Bearer. He was one of the firstborn sons of Elyon, and he was the beloved of all. That he stepped from heaven to save Earth was the most noble of acts, a sacrifice. He risked everything for the sake of his father’s children, that none would be lost, that not a single soul would fail to return to their father. His fall left a brilliant, fiery streak across the sky so magnificent that many called him the Son of the Morning. Some say that he rules still, there in Etlantis, the city he created, but that he dwells now in secret places. Many believe he is a savior—our savior. What do you think, Captain? Does it spark belief in you?”
    â€œIt seems to me a savior would be out hunting raiders instead of hiding among the Etlantians.”
    She turned more pages, her fingers skillfully skimming the words. “Here it speaks of the others who stepped from heaven to join the Light Bearer: ‘Three was the number of their lords, and seven were their prefects, and two hundred was the number of the Watchers of heaven who joined them, and they were the Auphanim, the wheels, for they held the spheres of the firmament of the fixed stars.'”
    She paused to use both hands to steady the stones from where they had begun to slip off her nose. “You cannot do it, Captain,” she said, taking him off guard.
    â€œDo what?”
    â€œThat which you are thinking.” “And what am I thinking?”
    â€œThat you can trick him—find a way to kill the angel Satariel.”
    â€œWhy should I want to kill him? He has yet to cross me.”
    â€œIt is useless to attempt to fool me, Captain. I know what you are planning. Just understand something: they cannot be killed. He would destroy you with but a word uttered. He is a living creature of the Elohim. As clever as you are, as quick as you are, he will slay you without a second’s thought.”
    â€œIs he mentioned in there?”
    â€œYes, but I must speak the names of others before his.”
    â€œHyacinth, I have been at sea for nearly half a year; I have no time to read through all the damned divine orders of whirling creatures.”
    â€œPatience, Captain. I will be brief.” She took a breath and read on. “'This is the name of the second to step from the sky, the first to follow the Light Bearer: Azazel, the lord of the holy choir of the Auphanim. Once upon the Earth, Azazel looked about and saw the Earth was covered with humans. It was overrun with them, for in those days humans did not die. Thus, by his word, he named the years of men one hundred and twenty, after which they would become dust of the Earth from whence they came. Because of this, men would thenceforth live on only through women and the bearing of children. Therefore, men named him Ahriman, the Angel of Death.
    â€œ'He then taught men the making of swords and shields and all manner of weapons. He taught the crafting of tombs, crypts, and sepulchers, as well as the embalming of flesh, the draining of blood.'”
    â€œSo he named death, then provided the tools for tidying up.”
    â€œYou jest, Captain. Have I not asked for reverence?”
    â€œSorry—just slipped out.”
    â€œIt is good it is not Azazel you intend to challenge. He is the cruelest of all angels. No aging would you have found in him, no weakness, and neither would he have summoned a simple mortal to do his bidding.”
    â€œSo in a way you are admitting Satariel—who summoned a
simple
mortal, me, to do his bidding—does have a weakness.”
    â€œYou cannot kill him, Captain. He may be aged, he may be cursed of Enoch, but make no mistake: he is powerful beyond your dreams.”
    â€œKeep reading, Little Flower.”
    â€œ'The third and final high lord to follow was named Arakiel, Earth of God. It was he who taught women the painting of their faces and the fashioning of bracelets and rings and all manner of adornment.'”
    She