“You placed on his head, O Lord, a crown of precious stones. He asked life of You, and You gave it to him.” PSALMS 21:3-4

AS the creature continued to advance, suddenly another counterspell came to Kelson’s mind. Stepping back a few paces, he began to recite it, his voice becoming stronger as a feeling of confidence began to replace the panic.

Lord of Light, in shining splendor
Aid me now, if Thou dost hear
The supplication of Thy servant,
Battling for his people here.

Lend me strength to smite this Demon.
Send it to the depths of Hell.
Cleanse this circle of the Evil
Which Charissa doth compel!

As he completed the verse, Kelson lifted both arms high in entreaty, then pointed decisively to a point but a few feet in front of him, not two strides from where the monster advanced.

Just at that moment, the sun burst from behind the clouds to stream through the high stained-glass windows of the cathedral, casting a brilliant, multi-colored pattern on the floor where Kelson pointed.

As Kelson stood his ground, the monster lurched into the pool of light—and began writhing and exuding streamers of flame and smoke. It shrieked and screamed its rage and pain, thrashed in the color at Kelson’s feet, but could not seem to leave the patch of light to get at the young king.

Presently its thrashing stopped, its shape melted away, until only wisps of pungent blue smoke and flickerings of gold and crimson light played on the floor where the thing had been.

Kelson lowered his hand, the Ring of Fire glittering, and the sun chose that moment to go back behind the clouds. As a low sigh of wonder and relief rippled through the cathedral, Kelson raised his eyes to meet Charissa’s. He stepped forward a few paces to address her, noted ironically that the spot where the monster had died, where he now stood, was the Saint Camber seal.

He breathed a silent thank-you to who- or whatever had aided him, his eyes bright with confidence as he spoke.

And now, Charissa, this must end.
I shall no more my powers lend
To please thy fancy. I defend
My people, and thy power rend.

I swear by every Holy Name
That I shall thwart thine evil aim.
And further, I refute thy claim
That Good and Evil are the same.

Therefore, gird ye for the fray.
This is the final duel, I say.
For while I live, the light of day
Shall cease till thou art done away!

As he finished this incantation, the light-level in the cathedral suddenly seemed to drop. And outside the open doors at the end of the aisle, he could see that the skies, too, had darkened, even though it was not yet noon.

Charissa swallowed visibly, a look of apprehension crossing her face for the first time. She feared this test, but she had no choice. Her fingers began once more to move in the pattern of the acceptance spell.