[ she tosses him a wry look, but picks up immediately ] As Lucifer says: I was angered by his punishment, hurt by God's actions, and I rushed to defend him, hoping it would soothe God's rage.
God said 'Wait!' So I found myself stopped at the gates of Heaven, along with all my companions, the angels who generally went and did what we did, and Michael and Gabriel and Uriel, though not among our companions, were there too.
'Azrael,' said God, and the words were spoken with the characteristic gentleness and a great effulgence of light. 'Before you come into Heaven, and you begin your diatribe, go back down to this Earthly prison and study all you have seen thoroughly and with respect - by this I mean humankind - so that when you come to me, to defend Lucifer's actions, you have given yourself every chance to understand and to behold all I have done. I tell you now that Humankind is part of Nature, and subject to the Laws of Nature which you have seen unfold all along. No one should understand better than you and Lucifer, save I. But go, see for yourself. Then, and only then, will I call together a convocation in Heaven, of all angels, of all ranks, and all endowments, and I will listen to what you have to say. Take with you those who seek the same answers you seek and leave me those angels who have never cared, nor take notice, nor thought of anything but to live in My Light.'
[ Azrael pauses, as they walk slowly along the bank of the narrow sea until they come to a place where several boulders make a natural place to sit and to rest. She sits beside Des, turns to him slightly on her left, and her wings once again fade. But first they rise, and stretch out, the left far above his head and the whole wingspan startling. But then they disappear. There simply isn't room for them when Azrael is seated, at least not for them to be folded behind her, so they are gone. ]
Immediately following these words, there was a great commotion in Heaven over who wanted to go down and examine the Creation with me and who did not. Now understand, angels were all over Creation as it was, as we've told you, and many had already been years on Earth, and fallen in love with creeks, and valleys, and even the deserts which had begun to appear. But this was a special message the Lord had given me - Go and Learn All You Can About Mankind - and there was some question as to who was as interested or as passionate about the mysteries of the human race as was I.
Now, Lucifer jumped over this, but let me explain about the ranks and endowments of angels. Surely you've heard some of the truth from the lore, and guessed at more of it from those you have met. God created us first - the archangels - Lucifer, Azrael, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, and Jophiel.
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God said 'Wait!' So I found myself stopped at the gates of Heaven, along with all my companions, the angels who generally went and did what we did, and Michael and Gabriel and Uriel, though not among our companions, were there too.
'Azrael,' said God, and the words were spoken with the characteristic gentleness and a great effulgence of light. 'Before you come into Heaven, and you begin your diatribe, go back down to this Earthly prison and study all you have seen thoroughly and with respect - by this I mean humankind - so that when you come to me, to defend Lucifer's actions, you have given yourself every chance to understand and to behold all I have done. I tell you now that Humankind is part of Nature, and subject to the Laws of Nature which you have seen unfold all along. No one should understand better than you and Lucifer, save I. But go, see for yourself. Then, and only then, will I call together a convocation in Heaven, of all angels, of all ranks, and all endowments, and I will listen to what you have to say. Take with you those who seek the same answers you seek and leave me those angels who have never cared, nor take notice, nor thought of anything but to live in My Light.'
[ Azrael pauses, as they walk slowly along the bank of the narrow sea until they come to a place where several boulders make a natural place to sit and to rest. She sits beside Des, turns to him slightly on her left, and her wings once again fade. But first they rise, and stretch out, the left far above his head and the whole wingspan startling. But then they disappear. There simply isn't room for them when Azrael is seated, at least not for them to be folded behind her, so they are gone. ]
Immediately following these words, there was a great commotion in Heaven over who wanted to go down and examine the Creation with me and who did not. Now understand, angels were all over Creation as it was, as we've told you, and many had already been years on Earth, and fallen in love with creeks, and valleys, and even the deserts which had begun to appear. But this was a special message the Lord had given me - Go and Learn All You Can About Mankind - and there was some question as to who was as interested or as passionate about the mysteries of the human race as was I.
Now, Lucifer jumped over this, but let me explain about the ranks and endowments of angels. Surely you've heard some of the truth from the lore, and guessed at more of it from those you have met. God created us first - the archangels - Lucifer, Azrael, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, and Jophiel.