Eva woke the third day in a different room. Charity had mentioned that Christiana wished to sleep in the room where her husband had stayed, and Eva had been more than happy to oblige.
Discretion had told her about the armor Christian had donned in his victory over Apollyon and promised to show it to her today.
She remembered the broken, burdened man who had left the City of Destruction, and couldn’t quite picture him as the brave warrior that Discretion had described.
Discretion was as good as her word. She led Eva and Perry to the armory, where the King had furnished pilgrims with swords and shields, helmets and breastplates.
On display were the instruments with which the heroes of old had wrought mighty deeds.
There was Moses’s rod, used to call down plagues upon Egypt and part the Red Sea.
“It’s cut from the same tree as mine,” Perry said. “Lignum Vitae.”
Beside it lay another staff in full bloom, with tender leaves and pink petals.
“A sign from the King that He had chosen Aaron for His holy priesthood,” Discretion explained.
There was the hammer and spike Jael had driven through the temple of Sisera. There were the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps Gideon had given to his three hundred men to rout the armies of Midian. Nearby stood the ox-goad with which Shamgar slew six hundred men, the jawbone of an ass Samson used to fight the Philistines, and the sling and smooth stone with which David had brought low Goliath of Gath.
Suspended in midair above a pedestal floated a blade of terrible beauty, glistening like crystal.
“It is the Prince’s own sword. One day He will return to take it and wield it in the Last Battle,” Discretion explained.
The Prince’s own sword! Eva couldn’t take her eyes from it. No other blade could compare to it—save perhaps Excalibur of legend.
“Take upon you the whole armor of God,” Discretion said. “That you might be able to resist the evil day.”
“This is Truth,” Discretion said, handing Eva a slim steel belt with curved, riveted edge flanges. Eva fastened it around her hips and adjusted the leather straps.
“Righteousness.” A young man handed her a padded under-layer, then brought out a breastplate of steel inlaid with intricate silver swirls and lilies.
“The narrow part goes around your waist,” he said. “The weight should rest on your hips.” He demonstrated how to hold the breastplate against her chest with her left hand, lean to the right, reach behind her back for the cross strap, and buckle it beneath her arm.
She practiced several times, etching the movements into her memory until she was sure she could do it by heart. The metal was surprisingly light, and it fit her as though it had been custom-smithed for her.
Next, Discretion passed her a matching helmet of steel inlaid with silver, crowned with a flowing white feather.
Eva placed it on her head, lowered the visor, then raised it again. She shot Perry a satisfied look.
“Peace,” Discretion said, handing Eva a pair of supple leather boots with silver greaves. “They will keep you from slipping, give you strength when you are weary, and protect you from all manner of treacherous ground.”
“Most importantly, Faith.” She handed Eva a large round shield of steel. “This will stop even Apollyon’s fiery darts.”
Eva nodded in satisfaction.
Another young man entered, bowed low to Discretion, then turned to Eva and presented her with a sword. It was exquisitely crafted.
“It was specially forged for you, my Lady,” he said.
“Wisdom,” Discretion added. “It brings light to the darkest depths. It can pierce the strongest defenses. It severs joints and marrow. If you are quiet, you will hear my voice—and the words of my sisters. It will guide your hand, if you let it.”
Eva turned it over in her hands. Never had she seen a weapon so beautiful, so elegant. It caught the golden light of the Prince’s blade and reflected it in a luminous silver glow, the two mingling in a dazzling aurora.
***
“My queen!” James squealed when he saw Eva. “You are prepared for battle.”
Eva reached down and tousled his hair. “You recognized me,” she said.
Great-Heart approached from behind James, sweat glistening on his brow.
“Wow,” he said. “Now there’s a sight you don’t see every day.” He crossed to Perry, punched him lightly on the shoulder, leaned in and said something Eva couldn’t hear.
Perry nodded, a grin spreading across his face.
“Come, my Lady. My Lord has given me leave to escort Christiana and her family to Beulah. But today, we train!” He turned to James. “Run along, lad. We have many sessions ahead.”
“Don’t forget me, my Lady,” said James. “I will train hard, and one day be worthy of your service!”
“How could I forget my brave knight? We will meet again one day in Beulah. But for now, our paths lie apart.”
***
“Keep your shield up!” barked Great-Heart. He swung his sword at her. She barely got her shield up in time to catch the blow.
He lowered his sword and drew a deep breath. “What is the purpose of your shield?” he asked, as if in idle conversation.
“To protect?”
“No.” Without warning, he swung again. Once again, she had lowered her guard. “To stand,” he said.
She staggered backward as Great-Heart’s sword struck her squarely. “Never let down your guard,” he said.
They circled one another. She could feel the space the shield gave her. It let her control the tempo of the… dance?
“Good,” he said. “No. Too close. Use the length of your sword.”
He swung. She blocked. He swung again. This time she parried and counterattacked.
“Very good, my Lady!”
On and on they sparred as the sun climbed higher in the sky. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught that rascal James watching in rapt attention. And somewhere beyond him, she could feel Perry’s quiet approval.
Great-Heart swung, and she blocked. Her shield fell to the ground, and she charged him.
“Too reckless, Eva,” he said, his sword resting at her throat.
She glanced down and grinned. She held her dagger just shy of his groin.
“It’d be a shame to lose that deep voice of yours.”
“I concede, my Lady,” he said, chuckling.
“She’s a natural,” said Great-Heart, turning to Perry and wiping the sweat from his brow. “I wouldn’t make her angry,” he said with a laugh. “You don’t stand a chance.” Then he added hastily, “My Lord.”
***
The next day, Perry and Eva watched the Virgins lead Christiana, Mercy, and Christiana’s four sons down the side of the mountain.
They sat beneath a tree with Eva’s armor leaning against its trunk, eating the meal Charity had prepared for them. Before they departed, she had embraced Eva and given her blessing.
“You are ready for the road ahead,” Charity said. “And remember, I will always be with you.”
They sat in silence, enjoying the birdsong and the cool breeze. At last, Perry turned to her. “It’s time for us to continue our journey, dearest.”
Eva nodded solemnly and strapped on the breastplate the way the young man had shown her. She fastened the scabbard to her belt and slung the shield across her back.
She took one last look at the Palace. Then she turned to Perry.
“From now on, I will be your knight. I will keep you safe. Where you go, I will go, my Lord!”
Perry smiled warmly at her. “Never has a man had such a beautiful knight!”
Her heart fluttered. She was ready to face whatever lay ahead.
