by Hugh B. Long
The woman began to sob almost uncontrollably.
“Please, do not weep. Come to me and I will take you to Haldor,” Devrim offered a hand to her.
Siobhan looked at the hand but hesitated, afraid to yield to the offer.
“You will be fine. We will get you cleaned, clothed and on a ship back to see Haldor,” Devrim said gently.
Siobhan looked at her son, Ailan, who she was shielding from them. “Do you want to see Daddy?”
Ailan nodded vigorously.
She smiled at Ailan and took his hand, standing. She tried to cover her nakedness with the other hand, but there was little point. She walked hesitantly to the entrance of the cell, and toward Devrim.
“There,” Devrim said, “I apologize for the harsh treatment, but it is over now.” Devrim nodded to one of his guards who seized Siobhan roughly. The other guard held Ailan firmly.
“Take her. Get her cleaned up and ready to work.”
Siobhan screamed and kicked, trying to claw at the guard’s eyes, but to no avail. The guard was at least twice her size and just carried her off over his shoulder.
“Ailan! Ailan! Noooo!” she screamed, over and over, the volume diminishing as she was taken farther away.
Ailan stood before Devrim, sobbing. The other guard held onto Ailan’s shoulder.
“Ailan, there is no need to cry. Your mother will be fine. We all have to work to earn contribute to our society here. She has to go to work.”
“Do I have to work?” Ailan said between sniffles and sobs.
“No, not you. You are very special, Ailan. Your father and I were very good friends, and he asked me to take good care of you if anything happened to him.”
“Did something happen to my Daddy?”
Devrim lowered his gaze, and nodded slightly. “Yes, Ailan, I am afraid so. Your father was killed in a battle.”
Ailan began sobbing again.
“I know it is painful, I lost my father recently too, so I know what you must be feeling. But I can fix things for you.”
Ailan stopped sobbing, and between sniffs asked, “How- can you fix things?”
“I will be your father. Here on Niflheim, you call your father, sire. Do you think you can do that?”
Ailan nodded, still choking back tears and wiping his nose.
“Then I want you to say, yes, sire. Try that.”
“Yes, sire,” Ailan whispered.
Devrim clapped his hands and wore a manic smile. “Perfect! I always wanted a son, Ailan. But first we need to do something.”
Ailan looked up at him. “What?”
“We need to give you a noble Hrymar name. I cannot continue to call you Ailan while you live here. I will call you … Kadir. What do you say to that?”
“Yes, sire,” Kadir responded.
“Excellent! You are a quick learner, Kadir. My son.”
Epilogue
Thousands of light years from Earth, toward the center of the galactic core, a massive ship, the Adhipatram, sailed the void between the stars. Effortlessly and swiftly, she made her way spinward toward the Orion arm of the galaxy, and ultimately toward the cradle of humanity.
Kalashtrii sat patiently on her throne under the pointed arches of a vaulted ceiling, rising up fifty-meters above her, and spreading out one-hundred and fifty meters before her. The flattened surface of the vaulted ceiling was supported by a multitude of decorative ribs. A human being might think they were in a great Gothic church, but this was no holy edifice.
Her councilors, the twelve adjudicators, were having a heated discussion at the table in front of Kalashtrii’s throne; some matter of protocol was the kernel of their argument, but Kalashtrii had loftier matters coursing through her mind. As Mother Inquisitor, and head of the Crusade, their entire mission was her responsibility, and her glory; of billions of her brothers and sisters, she and three more had been chosen, elevated above all others to lead the holy crusade across the four quadrants of the galaxy.
Kalashtrii’s ash grey skin was almost indistinguishable from her ornately carved slate throne, and framed in long, pearl-white hair. But it was her eyes that fascinated most—luminescent red orbs radiating out into the darkness, glowing bloody gems in a shadowy face as beautiful as few woman that have ever lived.
She sat patiently and continued listening to her adjudicators as they planned their next invasion; the matter of protocol now settled, they moved on to more urgent aspects of the campaign. System by system, planet by planet, they brought purity to trillions of denizens. It was a great honor to touch the lives of so many; Kalashtrii reveled in it. But the sweetest victory over the tainted was yet to be had. The Ljossalfar, her long lost cousins, from whom they departed millennia ago.
There would be a homecoming soon. Kalashtrii would bring them the gift of purity. They might embrace it willingly, she thought, but not likely. No matter. Either way she would be victorious; her fleet had yet to meet any challenge of note.
Outside the Adhipatram, the Orion arm beckoned, but it would be a long journey still; yet she was not alone. With her, was the greatest fleet ever assembled by the Illar. Hundreds upon hundreds of her sisters sailed beside her. They were a host beyond resistance. Titans in the deep. And they were coming.
Read on for a three-Chapter preview of Star Fury - The Tribes of Yggdrasil Book 2
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Also by Hugh B. Long
The Yggdrasil Codex: Book 0
Star Wolves - The Tribes of Yggdrasil: Book 1
Star Fury - The Tribes of Yggdrasil: Book 2
Star Viking - The Tribes of Yggdrasil: Book 3
About the Author
Hugh B. Long is an Award Winning Canadian Journalist and Best Selling Author. He writes full time, and is passionate about Science Fiction and Fantasy rooted in Viking Mythology. He also writes Norse and Viking themed non-fiction under the pen name – Eoghan Odinsson.
Graduating from the University of Aberdeen‘s School of Engineering in Scotland with his Masters of Science degree, he subsequently taught for the University, and was a dissertation advisor for graduate students.
In addition to his academic background, Hugh also holds a Black Belt in Shito-Ryu Karate, a Brown Belt in Budoshin Ju-Jitsu, and was study group leader in D.C. for the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts. (Historical European Martial Arts). Hugh has taught Martial Arts in Canada and the USA.
Hugh recently returned from a 10 year stretch working in the Washington D.C. area, and is now back in his native Ottawa Valley where he lives with his wife, son and two dogs.
For more information:
@hughblong
HughBLong.Author
www.hughblong.com
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