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“And you’re still sure this is the right way?” Andromeda asked.
“Yes. Swords and magic fire balls won’t solve our problems. They won’t win this war. What we need is to get all of us to march in the same direction. We need to be united by a common goal, something each and every one of us is determined to make a reality. We are spending our time answering the pleas of the Earth’s people because when we help them, when we set this example of selfishness, they will feel compelled to follow us. Not because of magic or some trick, but because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Good speech, Pandora,” said Octavian, who was standing guard outside the Court Chamber’s closed doors.
I took a bow. “Thanks.”
He pinched his thumb and index finger together. “A bit over the top.”
I smirked at him. “That means a lot coming from you.”
Octavian laughed. His outfit, a set of bright red battle leather, was particularly ostentatious today. And his hair was redder than ever before. Weapons covered him like a full armament of ornaments on a Christmas tree. He was sporting a new tattoo, a pair of wings on his neck. I wondered who he’d gotten to create that for him.
I addressed Cadence, Alice, and Andromeda. “The point of our Angels’ Court is to put a face to the Legion and, specifically, to the angels. Most people will never see an angel in their entire life. Angels aren’t real to them; they’re just untouchable, far-off objects with wings, sitting on thrones. This Court will make angels more approachable, more human. It’s all about how you frame the Legion to people. This will help us get those recruitment numbers up. I know it. And that’s what the world needs: more people who are all fighting for the common good.”
Cadence set her hand on my arm. “It’s a good idea, Leda.”
It had better be. We’d only spent every waking moment over the past week trying to set up this never-before-seen event. Tessa had helped too. She was good at marketing.
“It’s time.” Cadence turned toward the closed doors. “Let’s go change the world.”
Stash and Alec, standing on either side of the double doors, opened them for us. Cadence and I entered the Court Chamber, side-by-side. Andromeda and Alice followed behind us.
The room was, in one word, heavenly. Here on the airship, we were high up in the sky. I could see that through the rounded glass dome, which covered most of the room’s perimeter. Bright blue skies shone beyond the glass, so surreal, so like a painting. Puffy white clouds floated all around the ship like fat marshmallows. Yum, marshmallows. Gods, I was getting hungry again. I should have had a bigger breakfast this morning.
There were four chairs set out for us, on a platform raised three steps high. Two of the chairs were at the front, then two additional chairs at the wings. Cadence and I, the angels, took the front seats. Alice and Andromeda sat in the other two.
Standing to the side of the platform, a sergeant with a big, booming voice introduced us. His voice filled the room so effectively, he didn’t even need a microphone.
He started with me. “This Angels’ Court is presided, firstly, by Colonel Leda Pandora, the Angel of Purgatory, the Angel of the Plains of Monsters, the Angel of Chaos…”
Do you think you have enough titles?Cadence asked me, telepathically.
I struggled to keep a straight face as the sergeant continued with my lengthy introduction.
“…the Angel of the People, the Angel of the Earth, and the Angel of Hope.”
The sergeant drew in another breath, then started again.
“The angelic daughter of our great and powerful god Faris, the King of the Gods, the God of Heaven’s Army, the King of Sirens, and the Slayer of Demons.”
He skipped mention of my demon mother. Though the gods and the demons had now formed a tentative alliance against the Guardians, demons still weren’t very popular around here.
“The angelic wife of the archangel General Nero Windstriker, the Chief Marshal and the Executive Officer of the Legion of Angels. The Slayer of Traitors, the Victor of the Crimson Coast, and the Destroyer of Darkness. The former Angel of New York and the former Angel of the East Coast of North America.”
The sergeant moved on to Cadence. “This Angels’ Court is presided, secondly, by Colonel Cadence Lightbringer, the Angel of Light and the Angel of the Immortals. Formerly, the Sea Dragon, the Angel of Storm Castle, and the Angel of the Elemental Expanse.”
Do you think you have enough titles?I quipped.
Oh, he’s not done yet,Cadence told me.
“The angelic daughter of the archangel General Rhydian Silverstar, the Angel of North Europe, the Angel of the North Star…”
He went on for a while longer. Cadence’s father was one of the Earth’s oldest angels. He had lived through a lot of history—and had accumulated a lot of titles.
“The angelic wife of the archangel General Damiel Dragonsire.” The sergeant had finally come to Cadence’s association with Damiel. “The Archangel of the Whispering Winds, the Tamer of Dragons…” He went on longer. Damiel had been around a long time too. “The Founder of the Interrogators and former Master Interrogator. The former Angel of New York and the former Angel of the East Coast of North America.”
The sergeant was forced to break for another quick breath.
