“Oh, that’s all right. You guys ready to make a break for it?”
Chris and Sarah nodded.
The three of them shot out across the field toward a small decrepit wooden shack. Driving rain pelted them as they sprinted directly into the wind. Flashes overhead made Jake cringe while he ran.
“On your right,” Chris shouted over the storm.
Jake drew his sword from a scabbard on his belt and decapitated an approaching zombie.
Chris kept his head up and his wand out in case he needed to bolt a zombie for himself or his friends.
They made it to the shack, soaked but unharmed. After doing the secret knock, the door cracked open.
Chris rushed in behind Jake’s big frame.
Several faces looked up at the newcomers.
Jake embraced his wife, Silvia, while Chris locked the door behind them.
Marian Campbell stood at the head of a rusty metal table. “Welcome,” she said.
Chris hurried to his girlfriend, Ana, and gave her a peck on the lips. She embraced him, grabbing a handful of his ass in the process.
Harris tossed the news pamphlet he had been reading on the table with a tinge of sadness in his eyes.
Xop hovered over the table with a red bandana of sorts tied around his head à la Gizmo à la Rambo.
“It’s been way too long,” Harris said as he stood and hugged Jake. “Look at you with that beard, you look like Thor!”
“You got a beard going too,” Jake said. “It’s . . . coming along?”
Harris’s beard was patchy at best.
“I know it’s been a while,” Marian said with authority, “but we need to get this meeting started.”
Everyone found seats and looked to her expectantly.
“As you may have heard, I have recently secured a position high up in the Avarex Administration. I was able to infiltrate after years of dangerous work by many dedicated people, some of whom aren’t with us anymore.”
Everyone in the room gave solemn nods in remembrance of Patrick Nash.
“I intend to use my position to strike as soon as humanly possible. I will facilitate this group in getting close to the dragon. Many of us may share the same fate as Patrick. If you are unable to accept that risk, I understand.”
Everyone in the room remained stoic.
“Okay. First off, we have a plan that involves taking a piece out of the Venerable Sword and making an arrowhead out of it.”
“Who can do something like that?” Jake asked.
“I’ve recruited a dwarven blacksmith from Valorous who will do it for us,” Ana said.
“Why, though?” Jake said. “I mean, who’s gonna shoot it?”
The door of the shack crashed open, revealing a dark figure standing in the rain.
“What is this,” the figure said, “the prologue of a dystopian Young Adult novel or something?”
A bolt of lightning flooded the night sky with an eerie purple glow, and Eddie Wilson stepped into the shack holding a golden crossbow.
“What’s up, guys?” He pushed back his sopping mad-scientist hair from his face. “I’m back.”
“Really?” Marian said. “You just broke the frickin’ lock. There are zombies out there, you know?”
“Sorry.” Eddie’s face turned a deep red.
He closed the door and propped up a folding chair against the doorknob. He drew in a long breath, let it out, and turned to the other freedom fighters in the shack, his face almost entirely serious.
“I don’t usually do this, but I think I’m going to give a speech right now.” He seemed to have both shocked and empowered himself with the idea. Twirling one end of his mustache, he took a moment to compose his thoughts.
“There are literal zombies, now, but there have been zombies sleepwalking through our world for longer than I care to remember.” He paused. “So what can we do about that? Well, I don’t know. Probably not much.” He looked in solidarity at Marian. “Some of us know all too well the futility of trying to change things at the Site, much less the world. All I can tell you is this. We gotta keep trying, with everything we have, to keep magic alive. I know that sounds sentimental coming from me, but it’s true. Places like the Site work toward the unmagicification of magic, just like aspects of modern society work toward the unmagicification of life. And this fucking dragon overlord is controlling magic in order to control all of us, for his benefit, alone. We have got to fight against such things, and keep fighting, as long and hard as we can!”
Jake suppressed a chuckle. Eddie seemed to suppress a sudden smile.
“I am honored to fight this fight alongside every one of you in this room. So…who’s with me?”
Harris stood, fists clenched, wearing a confident grin.
Eddie pounded the table. “Who’s ready to keep trying?”
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Alicia, for supporting me throughout this little adventure, for being a wonderful wife and mother, and for having a cute butt.
To my sons, for keeping my sense of wonder and silliness alive.
To Kip, for the continued encouragement and support.
To Rob, for being the best stepfather a kid could hope for.
To Jed, for reading my shit and being a truly great friend.
To Claire Allen, for your patience and insight, and for always making my writing better.
To Alan Baker, for the fantastic cover art.
To Colin Elgie, for the awesome propaganda posters.
To Sir Terry Pratchett, whose works of genius have inspired this story.
To all the great books, movies, shows, etc. I have referenced in this story.
To everyone who has helped me along this path.
Thank you!
Go Hawks!
About the Author
K.R.R. (Kyle Robert Redundant) Lockhaven lives with his wife, Alicia, and two sons in Washington state. Together, they conjured a bearded dragon named Sandy who rules over a hoard of sand and devours crickets by the dozens. When not writing or raising kids, Kyle works as a firefighter/paramedic.
If you enjoyed this book, PLEASE write up a quick review. Five stars would be greatly appreciated!
Check out KRRLockhaven.com, featuring guest blogger Zoth-Avarex.
Also, follow Zoth-Avarex on Twitter @AvarexZoth (He made me add this on pain of death)
Thank you so much!
The Conjuring of Zoth-Avarex Page 21