Fool's Errand Read Free Page A

soldiers only over the destruction of my form, and I can promise I will not be the only Malakim to die that day.”
    Azadriel turned to leave with the other repentant Malakimbeside him. His head was hung low as he said to Achiram, “With only the nine of us returning, surely His heart will not be swayed. We must counsel. If we do decide that Lucifer’s destruction is worth the fallen we may lead with us, we would find ourselves pitted not only against Lucifer and his loyalists but also against Mutazz and the Ayabim. Despite their lack of ideas, they would contend bitterly for the forces to carry out whatever schemes they decide on.”
    Glancing back over his shoulder to see if Mutazz was leading his forces away or if he perhaps had a change of heart and was moving to reconcile with Lucifer, a bright light suddenly surrounded Azadriel and his companions. When their eyes cleared, they found they were no longer standing in Lucifer’s throne room. They, as well as Mutazz and his Ayabim, were all standing before the throne of the One Lord. They had not seen this place since the council of Job. Immediately, all pride and rebellious thoughts fled for the moment, and all eighteen fallen archangels, Malakim and Ayabim, fell to their knees before the throne.
    The same questions riveted them all. Was it the time? Was judgment finally here? If so, where were Lucifer and his allies? Their racing thoughts did not have long to seek answers. The Voice was suddenly in all their minds.
    “Fear not, My fallen children. Your time of judgment is not yet come. I have heard your hearts and have summoned you for the answers you seek. You know I have written in My word, given to Moses, that I am rachaum and channun —merciful and gracious. You, Azadriel, and the Malakim who stand with you have repentance in your hearts. This repentance surprises you, and you question whether it is genuine.
    “Mutazz, you and those with you, deigning to call yourselves Ayabim , have finally seen you cannot win this struggle against Me. Yet your hearts do not share the repentance of your brother Azadriel and the others. You still seek to struggle and rebel but no longer wish to do it in league with Lucifer and his madness.
    “I have decided to create a new world—far on the other side of the universe. I will send you eighteen there and will allow you much more liberal use of your powers than you have been allowed on Earth. You will have the battle you and your fellow Ayabim seek, Mutazz.
    “Azadriel, you and the Malakimwho stand with you will have the chance to contend for the souls of men once again, in My service. You will serve as undershepherds leading men to follow Me while Mutazz and his Ayabim pursue their rebellion. This new world will be free from original sin since I will make new men there not descended from Adam. Men and the offspring of men will choose whom they serve. They will not be held to the perfection required on earth, but because I am giving you allmuch greater powers and latitude here, men will be held accountable and judged by how they respond to the light they have been given.
    “Lucifer, his loyalists, and the lesser fallen will remain on Earth to continue their futile struggle until the Day of Judgment, but you all will have a set time to work as well. When the Day of Judgment comes for the Earth, your time will be up in this new world. Whoever has accumulated the most followers from among the race of men granted eternal souls, living or dead, will be declared the victor. I shall call this world Chadash, ‘new’, because there I will have done something new. The mainland on this new world the men will name Ya-Erets, Yahweh’s’ land ,so that you shall never forget that the land you battle for is Mine and that all you have been given is from Me.
    “Mutazz, if you and the Ayabim, espousing greed, lust, hatred, and rebellion prove to be more alluring than the enticements of goodness, then I will allow you nine to escape the Lake of