Joshua Blake Hargrove

Joshua’s Spiritual Warfare Novel – (Incomplete)

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Subject: my story — more passionate than the fires of a thousand suns HA!
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Still untitled
preface:

They looked toward the sun, feeling its warm radiance as condensation
formed on their brow, their weapons gripped firmly in already shaky fists.
Determined, strong, but anxious they waited. And then it came. They heard
them before they saw them. Like thunder in the rocks. The first of the Dark
Ones appeared over the hill side, running in their obscene way. Human- like
and fierce they ran, strength in their legs not of this world carried them
like horses. Skin like a shadow, and armor like diamond. Lies are their
knives, and slander are their arrows – swords of deception and the battle
axe of vengeance among them. The army of darkness. A thick cloud of
up-lifted sand was all that remained visible behind the demons of night.

“They’re almost here”, I remember our leader calmly stating in his soft yet
fierce raspy voice. The voice of an angry but compassionate man. “Be
prepared, for their darkness is only as powerful as your faith is weak”. We
all prayed that day. We had prayed every day up to that point…..every
hour… and when we didn’t pray it was only to escape the next swarm of the
Dark Ones. I readied my lance with a practice slash. All our weapons were
custom made for optimal performance during battle. My lance was bladed at
both ends of the metal construct, curved to ensure a clean, deep wound – and
blessed daily with holy water and ointment – to heighten it’s damage n the
spirits of the Dark Ones. Our leader, Auron, brandished the T-22 J.D. a
sword overall as long as he was tall, melted down and sharpened by Auron
himself. The blade clung to it’s hilt with a fierce half inch thickness.
Scales are a rarity in this day, but it must have weighed no less than 45
pounds, a monster he swung with the agility and quickness of one of the Dark
Ones themselves. The inscription on his sword, “T-22 J.D.” is still a
mystery to me – though I know J.D. is meant to stand for “Judgment Day”. To
further elaborate Auron’s physical gifts, years of battles against 100’s of
the Dark Ones left Auron’s right arm cripple, not physically useless – but
spiritually. A strike from a Phantom, leader of a swarm, left him blind in
his right eye and lame in his right arm. However, Auron’s faith is strong and
over time he began regaining use of his arm and sight in his eye – a feat
no one who has ever been struck by a Phantom has been able to accomplish.

Turkish, Auron’s right hand man and Guardian, is our “ace in the whole”
against the darkness. Turkish is our “Guardian Angel” as we jokingly call
him on slow days. An angeling, half man, half angel – a strange hybrid that
usually fall to the darkness for the sinful nature of mankind. The Dark Ones
both hate and fear Turkish, Turkish’s father was the Archangel Gabriel. His
mother died during child birth and Turkish was raised by a clan of priests
who fought the Dark Ones with Spiritual weaponry unknown to most men, for
most men lack the faith to use them. Turkish is a dark complected young man
whose age is unknown but looks around 20. His hair is completely silver, and
eyes are usually silver but often change color with extreme changes in
emotion. His unnerving eyes can pierce the thoughts of any man. His
spiritual strength is unsurpassable.

Then there’s me. No one really knows my purpose on their journey yet.
Everyone just seems to agree that my joining them was meant to be. I am the
youngest, most inexperienced of the group – but I love God and knowing his
faith in me allows me to fight the Dark Ones effectively. I’ve used every
weapon imaginable since I was old enough to hold one. My father always told
me he was training me… for a special day where darkness would be engulfed
by the light of God, and that that day would hold importance in my life,
just as much as I would hold importance in that day. My father strongly
believed that everything affected everything else, and that every action
made – caused a change in everything else, that everyone holds an affect on
everyone else – because our spirits are one in God. My father was the one
who taught me the evil of the Dark Ones, how to pray, and how to fight –
both man and the Darkness.
I’m not exactly sure where my story joins with Auron’s and Turkish – but it
was after my village was devastated by a swarm that they found me. They
didn’t fully trust me until several months after our joining, even after I
saved Sir Auron from an attack from a Dark One on his blind side. This is
our story, but it is also my story – I will apologize now, for I know there
may be glitches in the happenings of our journey. I am the only one who has
the stomach to write of our travels, but I sometimes suffer memory loss –
days have passed which to me may only seem an hour or two – Sir Auron and
Turkish look at me differently at times, like I’d done some….amazing
thing, yet they never tell me what happenings went on during my memory loss.
All Auron had said was, “Things better left unknown….will remain
unknown…until you let yourself see” – which still bugs the crap out of me,
cause he’s always Mr. Philosophy.

Intro:

The village of Alahalahagad, near the coast of former Europe. The village
lay on an isolated semi- continent – broken off from Europe after the Great
Separation that shattered most continents into these semi- continents.
Little of the world is known to those who live the lives of an “islander”,
the nickname of these semi- continent peoples. Islanders live and share with
everyone across the semi-continent, some holding only four or five villages.
This way of life sometimes forms dreams of adventure in the minds of youth.
Dreams of a long forgotten way of things.

Chapter1:

Alahalahagad hummed with the electricity of excitement and cheer as
everyone prepared for the Festival of the Green. It had been a long drought,
and the treelings had begun to sprout again – which meant less travel for
fruit and water soon. This is a joyful time of year for every village.
However one family lies in an anxious joy. A family a long the slums of
Alahalahagad.

Jean gritted his teeth nervously as his wife screamed. “You’re doing fine”,
the mid-wife assured her, “we’re almost done – push!”. Jean ran to her side
at the sound of her wail – filled with so many emotions. He took her hand
with tears in his eyes and felt her squeeze with pain. At her touch he
remembered the first time they met and the memory called his words, “I love
you so much”, he choked – “One more push” the mid-wife urged. Then time
slowed…. Jean felt it…words, feelings, and thoughts became one. After
his son was born, he swears in spite of himself that an angel of
deliverance, and an angel of light were briefly visible to him. Jean swears
they smiled on his newborn son – looked at him – and nodded. Time regained
its normal tempo – words, feelings, and thoughts re-separated – and his wife
glowed with excited laughter as she looked on their baby. “I want to call
him Titus”, she said – “A name of old”. Jean smiled, “Then let it be… and
may he be a glory to God”. Jean glanced where the angels had appeared –
returning the nod they had given him to the now empty corner, that still
glowed slightly from their presence.

The first years of my life were filled with happiness and joy. My father
read to me stories of how things were before the great separation – the
stories of the swarms, the Dark Ones, very carefully teaching me compassion,
mercy, kindness, and how to pray. I grew up fast – but not without love and
compassion in my heart. I new times were hard – I missed my mother –
remembering her pendant and how much the cross inside had meant so much to
her. My father taught me how to be strong, and grow stronger spiritually, as
well as physically – and we were happy. My skills improved quickly, to where
I actually gave my father trouble when we sparred – he always took my
challenges playfully – but serious enough not to hurt my feelings. He was a
soldier who hated war and never wanted me to have to fight. But then
something happened. My father became serious more often. Sad more often. He
taught me the way of the sword- fist combat, how to take weapons from
adversaries bear handed – to fight with a lance, even taught me the bow
among other weaponry. Every day was spent praying – or training. Finally he
told me why. And it was then I knew what really happened to my mother.

I awoke, smelling something rotten, life half burnt meat left in the sun.
there was silence other than a slight breeze and the crackling of flames.
The crackling made me somewhat anxious. I felt like I?d been slammed against
a brick wall and it was a struggle to breathe. I opened my eyes to find my
struggle was against a wooden beam, fallen against my chest. “Oomph”, came
as a struggled exhale – the beam fell away from me. The smell was worse as I
scratched my head, and saw that my forearm had suffered fairly severe burns,
and the skin needed ointment. Now I looked around me. Rubble like confetti,
collapsed huts and houses, the fires still burning in various places of the
village. I winced as I subcontiously rubbed my charred arm. I would have to
mend it before infection set in. ?”What happened here??” I asked – more of a
plea and statement of anger than a question. There was no sign of people,
no one, no bodies – living or dead. Alahalahagad had fallen.

I found the ashes of my home, and rummaged through cinders to find
something precious. Heart pounding like so many base drums in my chest – I
found my mothers pendant and secured it around my neck like a shield. I
breathed – felt the tears and continued on to the church. Along the way, I
found that trees for several yards off the path to the village had also been
burned and charred, some fallen, some still standing. “Strange happenings
went on here” I thought to myself. The profound doors of the church still
stood – charred around the edges, but still as sturdy as the day the church
was built. My eyes caught a message scribbled hastily on the door – like a
man trying to outrun death itself had written it along his way.
“Alahalahagad swarmed….Dark Ones come…..getting closer…..if you
survive…..make it to mainland”, the message was unsigned. I looked around
again trying to figure out how the swarm made it out to a semi – continent
so far out. Something took the breathe from me and I went to my knees, pain
shooting through my arm and ribs from the jolt. “Augh!” I gasped. Prayers
went through my head, and escaped my lips – I made my words, thoughts, and
feelings one – like my father had taught me. I stayed in that meditative
state for an hour or more – praising and thanking God for my safety – asking
for guidance – asking for the safety of my friends and my family…..my
father.

The joining of my heart soul and mind – along with my faith healed my arm
to mere singes on the top of the skin – I felt energized and I could breathe
freely. I bowed my face to the ground and grasped the earth thanking God 3
times. I stood and blessed Gods name, what I was moved to do since I was
very small. A scream as if of battle broke the silence and my thoughts.
Shouts in the forest shook the trees – and had the feel of something
spiritual as well as physical. I ran to meet the powerful voices – pushing
my way through shrubbery and vines. Nearly a mile or more before I stopped,
my eyes falling on that which had not been seen since the times of old.

The battle between an Angel and a Phantom. My eyes hurt with the sight –
watching as they fought – their weapons shattered and unusable after long
battle, they relied now on light against darkness. Murmuring softly the
Angel asked for the power of God’s wrath to vanquish the evil of this Dark
One. The Phantom’s fiercer language was of anger, his own wrath – not of
God, and the wrath of God is unmatched. The vicious demon lashed out with
claws at the angel’s wings – the angels hands and impossible grip were too
fast, and left the Dark One’s arms broken at the elbow – “Father Now!” cried
the Angel – and a lightening bolt more ferocious, more destructive than any
I’ve ever seen crashed from the sky – my hair stood on end from the
electricity in the air as the voice of God was heard – “BE GONE!” and the
Dark Phantom was struck in an explosion of electricity that blinded me – and
when sight returned the Phantom was gone. The Angel praised and blessed Gods
name and also disappeared. I was left with a pounding heart gasping for
breathe – I sat there for a while before continuing. After my heart slowed –
I found my way to the pier – rushing over fallen branches – hearing battles
wound me between more Phantoms and Angels, the amazement of it all
overwhelming but I kept myself running – hoping a ship or boat or anything
would be at the pier for me to get to mainland. The pier insight, I was
lucky enough to see that a shop was still parked at the pier and that two
figures were loading and prepping it to leave. My only chance off that semi
– continent was through them.

“Hey, wait!” I yelled a little more frantically than I wanted to sound. A
man with an eye patch turned, startled – dropping his crate. The other man,
a softer, gentler looking man leaned over the rail of the upper deck of the
ship. “Who goes there Auron?” the man on the ship asked. The brow above his
eye patch furrowed, “I don’t know… What’s your name boy? Are you of spirit
or flesh?”. The odd question didn’t phase me after the days happenings. “I’m
of flesh and bone and whatever else is in this body kind sir! – please I ask
only that you take me to mainland – my home has been destroyed by the swarm
– and I believe my father awaits me – for their was a message on the door of
the -” I started to go on but the one called Auron interupted. “To what name
are you called young man?”, “Titus sir”, I answered, “I am called Titus”.
Auron looked pleased, “ahhhh a name from times of old, perhaps we can find
some spirit in you after all then”, he said with a strange smile.
“….come…join us, we will talk more later. Do not touch anything if you
wish to remain among us.” Relieved and thankful I climbed aboard with them,
“Oh thank you sir – and blessed is God who lead me to you before you set
out.” This also seemed to please him – he picked up his fallen crate and
continued on deck. The man leaning on the rail had gone below deck- so I
followed him, wishing to find out more on their next destination, and his
new companions.

Maps lined the walls of the lower deck, thoroughly gone over with red,
blue, and in some places a splotch of black. I was still following the
gentler seeming man – took notice of the slender but extremely well toned
muscles underneath his tunic. They didn’t seem like the muscles of man who
had spent his days in the field. They were the muscles of a warrior –
muscles toned by battle experience. There was still something strange about
them… “It’s like his muscles connect to his bones differently”, I thought
to myself. The gentle one stopped walking and opened a door to the right –
gesturing for me to go through. Smiling, he said “Luckily, we won’t have to
clear a room for you, this one has been empty since we’ve used the ship”. He
observed my movements briefly before introducing himself, “Titus is it?, I
am called Turkish”. He shook my hand, “Auron and I will give you more
details of our story after we start for mainland – do you know your
weapons?”, he asked indicating a room across the way from my quarters,
designated “Armory” by a wooden sign. “Well yes, I am skilled with various
weapons, but I prefer the lance”. Turkish smiled, “Well, perhaps you will
partake in our training as well – Auron would especially enjoy the company
of a new face with the strength of youth. We train daily on deck level, you
are welcome to join us whenever you like – we would be very interested to
test the strength of today’s youth”. His words seemed playful, but their was
seriousness that lay in his tone. “You may rest for now, we will summon you
after we finish loading, then we will talk more, at dinner.” Turkish left,
closing the door behind him. Feeling drained from stress and adrenaline, I
collapsed on the bed – happy on the softness – feeling the dreams come as my
eyes closed.

Fire surrounded him. Fire on darkness. Shadow in flame. Cries of pain, and
sorrow. A brave and gallant knight raising his blade against darkness. The
darkness engulfs him as he struggles against its intensity. He falls to his
knees, but in a frantic cry of anger and determination bursts back to his
feet his blade slicing the darkness. He stands injured – his arm seemingly
lifeless at his side, his other still grasping the blade like a lifeline.
The darkness retreats remembering the smell of the man whose spirit
overcame.

“Titus, awaken”. I rose with a jolt, sweating from the intensity of the
dream. “Goodness boy, a nightmare?” Auron asked. “Sorry Sir Auron, it is a
dream I’ve had since I was old enough to dream”, was my reply, unsure why I
had apologized. “Ha!” he erupted, seemingly amused with my politeness.
“You’re a chivalrous young one….after talking to Turkish I should like to
see if your blade is as strong as your heart.” “Come”, he invited in good
cheer, “Let us eat”. I followed him to a large part of the ship – feeling
the swaying motion of the water. Smells filled my lungs with flavor – and I
realized how hungry I was. The dining area was a medium sized room – more
than enough space for three people. A round table centered in the room, with
wooden crates, open side down, for seats. On the table were beautiful sights
of steak, corn, mashed potatoes with a side of gravy, various fruits – all
which looked better than any feast prepared at Alahalahagad?s Festival of
the Green. “Oh wow” I though as my mouth watered. “It’s not a massive lot of
food” Turkish said, “But it’s quality, not quantity right?” After a warm
praiseful grace, where Turkish blessed the day for my joining them, and for
my safe deliverance from danger, we ate heartily.

I felt like I hadn’t eaten for days. It was just yesterday that my belly
was filled with the delights of a successful Festival of the Green feast.
But after three plates, each loaded with a steak, corn, mashed potatoes, and
perfect light green pears, I finally sat back satisfied. I gulped freshly
poured wine that Auron offered me. They had finished their meal a plate ago
and sat making humorous cracks about how much I’d eaten. “Thank you so for
the meal sirs”, I said with a groan of satisfaction. “My apologies for my
hunger, I’ve never eatin so”. “No worries young Titus, rest a while – then
we’ll exercise your body and spirit before your stomach out grows you.”
His half smile was visible as he left the table, “I’ll be on deck training-
join us if you wish – I should like to test your skill”, his attention
shifted to Turkish, “Come up when your ready”. Turkish nodded and he too
left the table giving me a wink of laughter as he did so. I sat a while
before returning down the hall toward my quarters, and stopped before
opening the door. My eyes swept across the hall toward the Armory, and a
smile crossed my face. Auron’s shouts of effort could be heard above.

“Huaah!” Auron’s raspy, strong voice released from his lungs as he loosed
his blade on Turkish testingly. I decided to observe them before joining
their training. I was a level above them (ten feet or so). I was impressed
that Turkish had chosen no weapon to confront weapon, who had a large katana
he seemed to be highly skilled with. With amazing speed and agility Turkish
dodged and evaded Auron’s slashes and lunges. Seeming to use some strange
hand to hand combat as his only offense, Turkish would strike when Auron was
open, holding back his punches.

After my eyes familiarized themselves with both their styles and skill, I
waited for a break between them. I saw it, and leapt – my lance out
stretched parallel to the ground – ready for the momentum it would gain as
we landed. My left foot hit first – well controlled leg muscles took over
from experience as I completed a half turn, bringing my right foot around –
following through with a cross sweep lunge from my lance toward Auron.
Startled but not off guard he defensively raised his katana against the
blow, the impact knocking him a step or two back, regaining his stance
quickly. Without hesitating – feeling the momentum gone from the lance – I
compensated with a roundhouse side kick toward Turkish who I saw out of the
corner of my eye. With quickness he caught my attack – blocking most of the
force against his stomach but still letting loose a “whoomf” from the
impact. With power and technique he twisted my leg and ankle and pushed –
sending me into an uncontrolled backflip spin. Adrenaline flushed my brain
but I forced myself to concentrate – I kept my eyes open, saw the ground –
stopped my spin using my right hand against the ground and let myself hit –
rolling, with enough momentum to complete the roll – back to my feet –
executing a circle slash of the lance and allowing is to rest on my shoulder
behind my back, an old intimidation technique my father had taught me.

Turkish smiled “Not bad at all”, he said with a glance to Auron. I bent down
to rub my shin from the twist it endured. “I didn’t know your training was
so rough”, I said half jokingly, and with the same humor Turkish replied
“Well you did give us quite a surprise attack”, smiling, ‘Though next time
we may not hold back.” Thinking he was joking I said nothing. – then Auron
spoke. “Let me test you if I may young Titus”, a strange sort of amazement
– or curiosity in his tone. “Come when you’re ready”, I said meaning to accept
the challenge, but sounding somewhat cocky. Auron set his sword along the
ground and seemed to take a meditative look- his un-patched eye closed – his
limp arm seemed to get feeling as I saw his fingers twitch. His hair moved
as if in a breeze, but their was no wind – and he was taking deep controlled
breathes saying something inaudible every breathe or so. Then his hair
stilled. He removed his eye patch – both eyes blinking. He tested the grip
of his slinged arm – and removed it – rotating his shoulder – bending his
elbow and wrist. I watched him go through a form I was familiar with that
strengthens the body and mind. Finally he was ready – he looked at me as I
stood totally amazed at how quickly he had healed – how strong he must be.
“True strength needs no weapon – battle me with your spirit and flesh”. A
little worried but still confident, I tossed my lance to Turkish who caught
it seeming to be anxious of how our spar would end. Auron approached, and I
met him. We stood a foot apart. A foot away from battle. In a spar, more
than training is involved. Auron took his stance, I recognized it as a
mixture of martial arts and boxing. In a spar you simulate a battle with a
Dark One – there are not many who are able to spar due to the intensity of
the battle. In a spar – ones spirit is his only weapon – as it is in battle
with the Dark Ones. Men are of flesh, but through God are also of Spirit.
When we call upon the powers of our spirit – our inner strength – it is only
as powerful, as strong as our faith. It is the same for the Dark Ones – they
are only strong against us whenever our faith is weak. Fear overwhelms.
Sparring helps strengthen the spirit. I took my stance, a combination of the
style my father had used, and my own. I am a defensive fighter using mainly
blocks and holds, however, my father was not, he used an unknown martial art
and taught me everything he knows. To spar is to awaken something that was
always there, without your knowledge. To awaken one’s true power….one’s true
self. Auron exploded forward with a forward strike technique, closed fist.
Both forearms were used to deflect the impact. I stepped into him with a
half turn, my elbow thrust into his neck, I followed through with a hold –
my arm coiled around his throat. “Energy, focus on inner strength – you’re
using too much physical strength!”, my hold held no affect on him while he
was charged by his spirit. I was cast aside effortlessly – “Faith boy, let
your spirit fight for you”, I wasnt sure – I wasn’t afraid because I knew I
could use my spirit…. I was afraid of what would happen if I did. My
father’s warning still nestled in my head, I spoke, “I…I can’t”. Determined
Auron defied the remark, “You will”. Auron’s movement became both slow, and
quick. Too fast… I don’t remember the impact of his fist – he was just all
around me…. and then darkness.

I awoke in pain – a bandage thickly wrapped around my midsection. Bruised
ribs made breathing an irritation. Turkish stood over me, his hand on my
chest, praying. Hearing the sounds of my conciousness he spoke, “Welcome
back, your wound has almost healed. How do you feel?”. Trying to sit up I
gasped. “Ohhh, like I was hit by lightening” I half whimpered but with a
reassuring smile. Turkish laughed slightly, “Well what you did to Auron was
pretty impressive as well – he was in a little worse shape than you!”. This
was a confusing statement. “But I didn”t strike Auron….”. Then I wasn’t
sure, “Did I?…”. “My hold had no affect on him – but then the last thing I
remember is Auron rushing at me”. Turkish wasn’t surprised, “Well he gave
you quite a hit, but you retaliated very skillfully – I couldn’t believe
your technique!”. I was too confused, and a little afraid to ask exactly
what it was I had done – or how I had hurt Auron doing it – but I did ask,
“Is he ok?”. Turkish in a gentle but firm voice answered reassuringly for
his old friend, “Oh, he’ll be fine, he is strong – the strongest man I’ve
ever known”, then with a cocked head and slight smile added, “until you….”
with that he left me in my quarters, totally confused – wondering what
amazing thing I had done that I’d so easily forgotten.

“Owwww! Don’t touch me Turkish! I can get my own water!” Auron shouted –
heading toward the kitchen lightly pushing Turkish out of the way, who was
trying not to laugh. He had seen me walk in still holding my quickly healing
chest and explained Auron’s behavior. “He’s never liked being babied – he
knows he”s wounded – but refuses to be taken care of – it’s his leader
thing, he just refuses to appear weak”. He paused looking at the wall – and
continued with feeling, looking back at me, “It’s his strength that’s gotten
us this far.” I looked back to the maps lining the walls down the main hall.
“Where exactly have you come from? – And where have you been?”, I asked.
Turkish started to speak but waited for shouting and crashing in the kitchen
to stop before continuing. “Everywhere they have been. We are missionaries
that travel of our own accord – we fight the Darkness and all who fall to it
who become one with it”. He stopped to look at me, as if expecting to see
confusion on my face. I answered an unasked question, “My father taught me
of the darkness – he trained me daily to pray, and showed me the ways to
fight the Dark Ones”. It was his turn to be confused, “How did an islander
know so much of the Dark Ones?”. I explained my father being a soldier – the
darkness he had faced during war – how he hated fighting, but trained me to
defend and protect the old ways from the Darkness. Still looking unsure but
accepting my story his response was, “Interesting”, before he continued.
“Auron and myself have traveled for almost 2 years now – our journey taking
us to semi – continents like where we found you – the outskirts of mainland
– and ancient cities from old times, where people say the darkness comes
from.” He looked at his hands reflectively and seemed to think of how to
start his next few sentences. I was more than interested and eager to hear
more of their travels. Turkish, still looking thoughtful, continued, “Auron
and I weren’t always on this mission. We both had separate paths before our
meeting. Around the time the Darkness became worse, we were still in the
prime of our youth. We weren’t around during the Great Separation – but did
not escape the Darkness”, Again a pause, “You sense something different
about me, I can feel it….my…muscles?” He seemed to strain with
concentration as he said it, but this still shocked me, for my thoughts when
I first boarded the ship had reached him. “How do you know this?” I was more
than a little surprised. Turkish, with a calming gesture from his hands told
me to calm myself, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have reached into your mind –
it’s just that you were the only person we found on that semi – continent,
and I had to be certain your nature was not of thievery”. Still very confused
I asked again, “But….how- “, he interrupted me, “I’m only half- human. My
mother died during my birth – and my father…. my father is the Archangel
Gabriel. I am one of the few Guardian Angelings that has not fallen to
darkness and become…..one of the Dark Ones.” Staring off in space
reflectively he seemed detached for a moment but didn’t lose his place in
the story, “Auron was a knight when I found him, profoundly strong in
spirit – and also in flesh- however he had been struck by a Phantom in a
great battle. Auron was strong enough to survive, but without the use of his
right eye, and a lifeless right arm. I healed him with my prayers, and his
faith. I trained him in every way of the spirit he was capable, and -.”
Auron came back into the room, finishing the sentence, “-and we made a pact
to fight the darkness together… to rid the world of it’s evil so that
God’s people can glorify him without fear.” Auron grunted as he sat down
painfully holding his head, an identical bandage wrapped around his
mid-section. “Now”, he started – “tell me where you learned such advanced
techniques!…” his question summoned only one answer, “….I don’t know, I
don’t remember anything but you rushing me”. Then it was my turn to ask him
a question, “How were you suddenly able to use your arm and eye” – How did
you so quickly regain their use?”. Turkish answered this question for me,
“When one’s faith is strong enough – one can overcome any obstacle – and you
would do well to remember that”. I was becoming very impressed with the
goodness that seemed to surround these two warriors. “You really don’t
remember… do you?” Auron asked. I looked down – looking within for answers
that seemed beyond my grasp, “No sir…..I dont”.

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