"They plan to kill us."

"We're trapped."

"They have no quarrel with you," he repeated. "You have none with them. Your quarrel is with Lord Michael, who sent them here. Your quarrel is with the council, who yesterday debated, in secret, a plan that will totally disrupt your lives. Disperse for now. We will meet this afternoon to consider these matters. I a.s.sure you your outrage will be heard in the halls of the palace. If you leave now no harm will come to you." He turned to glare at the guards' commander.

For a moment, no one moved. The students stood face to face with the guards, neither side yielding.

"Drop the knives. Drop the stones." The commander's eyes met Lucifer's, not flinching.

Another moment pa.s.sed.

The weapons clattered on the pavement.

The commander took a step back. "Allow them to enter the Inst.i.tute."

The guards who blocked access to the Inst.i.tute split into two lines, forming a narrow path through which the students could pa.s.s. They held their shields in front of their bodies and their swords ready. After a pause, the students began to move, glancing angrily from one side to the other as they filed between the lines, muttering to themselves.

Adryel heaved a sigh of relief. As the last student withdrew, and the guards marched away, leaving three at the gate as before, she and Lord Lucifer walked toward the school.

"I can't believe the guards' presence caused so much trouble," she mused.

"The Inst.i.tute is a place of intellectual inquiry. The presence of armed guards casts a chill over free debate of ideas. Of course they were angry."

"Still. . .they almost attacked those poor powers. They were just doing their jobs. They didn't choose their posts this morning."

Lucifer smiled slyly. "Well, the students may have heard a bit about the plan, and they may have believed the guards had been posted to force their acceptance."

Adryel stopped walking and looked into his eyes. "And how would they have heard about the plan? Who would have suggested the guards' motives?"

He shrugged a shoulder. "I may have mentioned something to a few of my a.s.sociates."

Adryel stared at him in disbelief. "Council business is private. No wonder Lord Michael believed you would cause trouble."

"Did he now?" Lucifer chuckled. "What else does Lord Michael believe?"

Adryel started to tell him of the comparison to Robiel, but she caught herself. She doubted that either Lord Michael or Ramael would want Lord Lucifer to hear that suspicion.

She shook her head and resumed walking. "If anyone had been harmed, it would have been your fault."

"There was no real danger."

She spun back to where he was still standing, his face a mask of innocence. He couldn't possibly believe that. . .

"You weren't in front of the gate," she said. "One of those stones struck a guard. There could easily have been students' blood on the ground."

Lucifer laughed again and began walking. "How would Michael have explained. . .?"

"A stone almost hit me in the face!" She scurried to catch up. "Had I been hit, Lord Michael would have been the least of your problems. Ramael would have cut your throat."

They reached the top of the stairs and she turned on her heel toward her cla.s.sroom.

"All means, Adryel," he called after her. "I'll use all means to oppose this plan. Our meeting this afternoon will be during the midday meal, in the Commons Hall. I'll see you there?" He snickered. "Or have you been ordered to not attend?"

She stopped and turned. "No one gives me orders, Lord Lucifer." She wheeled around and strode away. She could feel his eyes boring into her back, and sensed he was laughing at her.

Adryel made her way toward the Commons Hall. She had eaten before making her way across the quadrangle, planning to arrive late. She had truthfully told Lord Lucifer that she took orders from no one. He had been discussing Ramael, but she wanted it to be clear that no one included him as well.

As she crossed the quad, she glanced across the yard. Ramael and four of his guards stood at the gate. Ramael obviously had not been intimidated by the students. Adryel waved and hurried over to greet him.

"Ramael," she called. "I hadn't expected to see you here."

"Are you all right?" He ran to meet her. "I was told you were here this morning when Lord Lucifer's lackeys attacked my guards. I came by your office, but you were in cla.s.s."

"Lord Lucifer's lackeys? They were students. They heard about the plan and they believed the guards were here to force them to toe the line and accept it."

"And how would they have heard about the plan"

"Lord Lucifer told them. . ."

"I can imagine. An unbiased report, no doubt. Just in pa.s.sing. Not with any evil intent."

"I don't believe there's any evil intent. He is opposed to it though."

"Those students were throwing rocks. One guard was injured. If he didn't intend the confrontation, then he needs to be more careful."

"I'm on my way to his meeting now. I'll let you know how it goes." She gave him a quick kiss.

"Be careful, Adryel. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Not at this meeting." She laughed. "Academic discussions are seldom settled with fists."

She climbed the steps to the Commons Hall, turning to wave again as she reached the top. As she made her way along the gallery and through the arch that led into the large meeting room, she could hear Lord Lucifer's voice.

The hall was packed, primarily with students, although there were also a fair number of teachers present. The chairs were all taken, leaving students sitting on the floor and standing along the walls. Adryel found a spot in the very back where they were standing three deep. She slipped between two other teachers and leaned against the wall.

After a few minutes, she found herself yawning. It was a typical academic meeting. Lord Lucifer had read parts of the Plan of Creation aloud-a clear violation of council policy-and had elaborated at length on the dangers that were inherent in the plan. No one else spoke. There was no discussion, no interruption, no questions. The students stared at him with the same blank expressions she had seen this morning in her logic cla.s.s when she had tried to explain that even if it was true that all angels were good, it did not mean that all good creatures were necessarily angels.

She smiled. Lord Michael had nothing to fear from this meeting.

She began to think about Ramael. It had been nice to see him, even if for only a minute. It made her feel so good when he tried to protect her.

"Adryel." Lord Lucifer's voice cut into her thoughts. "You were at the council meeting. Were not the others disturbed by what they found in the plan?"

Adryel stood straight and stepped away from the wall so she could be heard, though, she wasn't sure how much she ought to say about the meeting.

"I don't think most of the members noticed the description of the humans, Lord Lucifer, not until you pointed it out. They were curious, certainly."

"They were curious enough to seek clarification, were they not?"

"As I recall, Lord Lucifer, after you left the meeting, they agreed to seek further information."

"What else took place after I left?"

Adryel hesitated. So far, she had simply confirmed what he already knew. The request for clarification had been circulated among the council members in the afternoon. "Nothing, really, Lord Lucifer." She offered him a smile. "What more could be done without you present?"

"What is your opinion of the plan?"

"I await clarification, Lord Lucifer."

"Bah!" Lucifer's voice blasted through the hall. "Don't give me the party line, Adryel. Give me your conclusion."

She did not reply.

Lucifer held his copy of the plan high, where everyone could see it. "This plan is dangerous. As I've ill.u.s.trated," his eyes flicked to Adryel, "the humans will inevitably choose evil." He paused. "What is that to us, you might ask. I'll tell you."

He paced side to side behind the podium, wagging a pointed finger-moves intended, no doubt, to add emphasis to his words. "Humans will procreate. That means they will have children, little humans. They won't have one or two children per pair, as we do. They will have four, five-whole tribes of children. A male human will be able to father one every day-potentially thousands, from just one male! The earth, the ball of rock on which they will live, will quickly fill. There will be no room for them all and they will look for other places to live. Where do you think they will look?"

He paused, arms stretched wide, glancing about as if searching for someone to answer his question. "They will look here." He aimed his wagging finger downward, as though the humans would choose the very spot in which Lucifer now stood. "They will look to the heavens, to our city. They will come in huge numbers, too many to repel. They will swarm across our walls like wild, unchecked beasts, kill us, and take our homes. No appeals to justice will sway them."

Murmurs ran through the hall, and Lucifer paused as though reveling in the response.

"Lord Michael will fight them off," an angel on the far side of the room shouted, and several others agreed.

"The army. To be sure. Why do you think we have an army? I believe Michael has known of this plan for eons and he built the wall and a.s.sembled an army just for this purpose. You are correct, his army will march out to confront the humans."

Adryel shivered. Was it true? Had Ramael known about this plan all along and kept it secret from her?

"Michael will fail," Lucifer p.r.o.nounced. "How will his army of thousands be able to defeat one of hundreds of thousands?"

Ramael would be in danger. Adryel began to panic.

"We must make certain this plan is not put into effect. We must protest. We must make our voices heard, and our voices must carry the day."

The audience was suddenly on its feet, cheering.

"Death to the plan," someone shouted.

"Lord Michael misled us. Death to Lord Michael."

"Seize the power."

Adryel looked to Lucifer, expecting him to appeal for calm, but he said nothing. He stepped away from the podium, a sly smile on his face.

"There were guards at the gate this morning," an angel called out. "There are four of them now. Let's start with them."

Adryel began to push angels out of her way as she headed toward the door. She had to warn Ramael. As she reached the door, she stopped and turned when she heard Lucifer.

"I share your outrage. Our leaders have deceived us. They have not protected us. They ought to go."

Cheers erupted across the hall and a loud crash echoed from somewhere in the back.

"I share your fear of the plan. It is dangerous. It is, dare I say, evil. We must oppose it at every turn."

He looked out over the students who were milling about the room, talking in loud, excited voices. Two of them had broken one of the chairs into pieces and held the legs like clubs, pointing toward the gate.

"But we must be calm. We must be peaceable. This is not the time for violence. Not now. Not yet."

Not yet? Adryel's eyes opened wide. Had he really said that? She stared at Lord Lucifer. His expression seemed to be that of one who had said more than he had intended. She pushed through the door and past the crowd outside, and soon found herself at the steps, looking out onto the quad. The four guards still stood at the entrance, but Ramael had gone. She let out a deep sigh, and walked slowly back toward her office.

Late in the afternoon, Adryel started home. She was thinking about what she and Ramael might eat for the evening meal when Lord Lucifer approached. She didn't see him until he was beside her and she startled when he spoke.

"You left early."

Adryel turned and looked into his eyes. "I'd heard quite enough, Lord Lucifer. I left when you said it was not yet the time for violence. Not yet? Lord Michael expects a violent response from you."

"Indeed?"

"And I defended you. I told Ramael you were not violent, that Lord Michael's fears were groundless. I see now I was mistaken. I shall apologize to Ramael."

She turned to leave, but Lord Lucifer gripped her shoulder and turned her back toward him. "Don't go."

"That hurts," Adryel snapped.

"I'm sorry." His hand dropped to his side. "I simply wanted to stop you."

"Well?"

"I'm not violent. I do not expect violence. I was simply acknowledging the possibility, that there may come a time. . ."

Adryel crossed her arms and stared at him.

"I don't want that any more than do you. I chased after you because I need your help in avoiding it."

Someone called Lucifer's name from across the quad, and he waved, but turned quickly back to Adryel. "After you left the meeting, it was proposed that a small group, a committee, be brought together to make concrete strategies, to map an approach for opposing the plan. I know some of the members will suggest an immediate, aggressive response. . .I want to ask you to be a member of this group. Your opinions are respected. Others will listen to what you say. You can help me avoid violence."

"You'll need my help for that?" Adryel doubted he would have trouble controlling a committee that he had, no doubt, appointed.

"True." He nodded. "I can bully the other members and force them to go along with what I want, at least publicly, but I need to win their minds, not just control their actions. They will know I am non-violent, but if you are there to support me, it will give me credibility. Will you do this for me. . .for us? Come to our first meeting. You'll be committing yourself to nothing, not even to a second meeting."

Adryel stared at the pavement. He was asking her help again. She smiled and looked up. "I will be there. Tell me where and when."