Chapter 21:

If they were to die that day, at least the Dark Lord would gain no cocks and balls.  Not one among them had any. 

Still, if they died that day, who would be left to oppose the Dark Lord? 

They had gained momentum.  Men and boys now came to them, asking to sacrifice their male parts so they could join. 

People had come to believe in the God and the message of hope that Dylan carried.  They had come to realize that sex -- their genitals -- separated them from the God. 

If they were to die that day, not only would they die, but the movement along with them.  The God would be forever chained.  Nysrogh would rule the world.

Dylan knew he couldn't fight them, not with his untrained army, the golems would mow through them like a scythe through wheat. 

He had Braith, whose magic had become stronger with each castration, but Heddwynn had Cadell.  As strong as Braith might have become, Dylan doubted he could stand up against Cadell.

Heddwynn's army was close enough that Dylan could see the dust they raised.  Frightened, his men milled around.  Those that had not seen a golem had been told about them by those that had. 

The only easy way to kill a golem was to kill his shell, and they had access to none of those.  They were probably kept a hundred miles away.

He went looking for Braith, finding him looking out across the water.  "Can you do anything?" Dylan asked. 

Braith had led them to this place.  Had he not followed Braith's guidance, he and his army wouldn't be trapped against the sea.

"The God led me here," said Braith.  "This is were we're to cross over to Anglesey.  The God has promised us that land.  There we'll be safe until ..."  His voice faded and a distant look came over his eyes, as if he were looking far into the distance -- or far into the future.

"Until what?" asked Dylan.

"Until the God comes," said Braith.  If we go to Anglesey and remain true to the God, he will join us there."

"But how do we cross over to Anglesey? said Dylan, "We have no boats."

"We won't need them," said Braith, "I'll part the sea.  We'll walk across."

"You'll part the sea?" said Dylan, "You can do that?"

"With the God's aid, I can," said Braith.  "He has become stronger with each male we've cut."

"Do it then," said Dylan, scarcely believing it possible.  He'd never seen such magic, not even by Megan's father.

Standing, arms outstretched toward the sea, Braith said, "Aid us, oh God, in our time of need.  Save us from thine enemies."

A strong east wind began to blow.  It blew the sea out, revealing a sandy bottom.  Foot by foot, then yard by yard, the sea's bottom was revealed.  Braith stood, his eyes closed, strain evident on his face. 

"Hurry," he said, "I can't hold it for long.  Hurry the army across."

Dylan swept Braith up in his arms, carrying him.  With his eyes closed, concentrating as he was, he wouldn't have been able to walk.

He led his army onto the beach, into the rift Braith had created.  Water, roiling on either side of the gap, held back by an invisible force, struggled to regain its equilibrium. If frightened even Dylan to walk into that rift. 

If Braith waivered -- lost his concentration for an instant -- the water would rush back, covering them.  Then, hundreds of feet below the surface, they would all drown.

Still, he led them forward.  He had no other choice.  The golems would be upon them at any moment.

It was like walking into a deep canyon between two cliffs, but cliffs of water, not of rock, a deep cleft cut into the sea, instead of the earth.  Hold on, Braith, Dylan thought, but didn't say.  He dared not disturb his concentration.

Dylan glanced back.  His army followed.  He could have done nothing had they not.  He could have done or said nothing that might disturb Braith.

They were almost to the other side when Dylan heard shouts of, "The golems are upon us."

Now, it was all up to Islwyn and his nobles.  Since they were the only ones with military training, Dylan had placed them at the rear of the column. 

They would have to hold off the golems until the rest had reached dry land.  Of course, they would be overwhelmed.  Less than four hundred boys couldn't hold off three thousand golems.

Still, they wouldn't have to stop them; they just needed to delay them until the rest were on dry land.

Dylan walked onto the beach, then onto the bluff overlooking it.  From his viewpoint, he could see a wave of golems wash onto the the rock blocking their advance, Islwyn's soldiers. 

It washed against them, breaking at first, then surged over them.  They disappeared in its wake.

They had only delayed the golem's advance by scant moments.  Pray that it was long enough.