Boyce then quickly stood up while still holding Orren's head tightly in his arms. He made a very quick jerking motion and spun around simultaneously. By the time Boyce was fully on his feet Orren's neck was snapped. The act was painless and quick, and merciful, and Orren did not struggle while it happened. Boyce gently lowered Orren's limp body to the ground by his feet. He bowed his head to look at his dead opponent and he preyed to the true Living God to forgive both him and Orren for their transgressions in life. He then looked up at their two helmets and at the three birds that picked at the flesh that he threw to the ground beside them. Suddenly, Boyce heard a muffled whistling sound and a cold stabbing pain penetrated him from the back. The high cardinals were carrying through with Orren's final wish, to destroy the city and all those who lived therein. One of the archers shot Boyce through the back with an arrow, from a cross bow. Tucker led a charge of the cathedral forcing the guards to withdraw into the chapel itself. Empal ran to Boyce's limp body and pulled the arrow out, breaking off the point. Cavander soon came along after seeing, from the blue Mansion, that the fight between his master and the Cardinal Orren was over. He helped Empal take Boyce back to the blue Mansion, leaving behind the two warriors' battle helmets and swords, and the three birds that picked at the flesh that was once part of the living Orren's arm. EPILOGUE: THE REVELATION Lilith had been summoned immediately on that day when Boyce was severely injured. Without hesitation she came to the Blue Mansion with Sister Rhonta and together they patched Boyce's critically wounded body. For a fortnight Lilith stayed by her beloved husband's bedside caring for him and praying to the great and true Living God to spare his life. Rhonta had spent her time also praying, but her prayers weren't all taken up with requests for Boyce's recovery. Her prayers begged for forgiveness, for feeling close to a man such as Lloyd, and for feeling a deep personal loss with his death. She prayed for guidance and strength to forget him and soon she only prayed for Boyce to heal and be as he was when he was at Gothal. All of Pomperaque prayed, as did Gothal and the Northern United Alignment. Even Jessuum Benitar, atop his great mountain, kept himself from food and sleep for the fortnight, while he prayed to God that Boyce would recover from the wicked hardship that he had experienced since his birth. Then, one morning, Jessuum saw a great white dove glowing brightly as it emerged from the sun, and the beautiful bird was being ridden by a small boy. The little boy on the dove circled Pomperaque three times and an array of trumpets were heard echoing throughout the land. Jessuum sighed with relief and threw himself off of the mountain and turned himself into a dove. He circled the great dove, with the boy on its back, and he heard the boy call to him.