“I know, but just for today…” he replied.
“All right my love, all right.”
As they prepared, Arjun opened the message stone. As he’d hoped, it was from Kartam dra Argesh. The old man spoke of the furor that was following in the wake of the destruction of Bal-Shim, his house, and most of his key lieutenants. There had been some peculiar secrecy around the investigation of the scene. He, Kartam, was no longer an insider regarding the doings of the council, but he still had friends in key places, and knew that a manhunt was even now being readied. Thousands of guards, watchmen, and soldiers, backed by magi in city service were making ready to sweep the city and the sewers in search of Arjun. Kartam hoped Arjun himself had the sense to leave this time, though he regretted being unable to offer him further help once he did. However, he named certain persons in other cities that might, with the mention of a watchword he then provided. Kartam ended with black-humored speculation as to whether old age or the council would put an end to his life first, and wished Arjun a life free of such musings.
~
An hour or so later, Imu’dur came to their door and told them they could go the upper deck when they wished. It was mid-morning and a clear bright day. The sky was blue and the sea a brilliant turquoise. Here and there, far off in the distance, were sails of other ships, coming to or going from the great city on the horizon. Arjun watched the walls, the towers, the great lighthouse, and even the mighty Ziggurat of Ar-Galesh, gold on white, lowered into the distance. Zakran and its troubles, at least for now, receded into the distance.
Around him was the carved scented wood of the G’abudim ship, and above him were the painted sails. Sailors worked and Imu’dur stood nearby in silent reflection. Ahead of them, hundreds of miles away, were the spice isles and the secretive land of G’abud.
He was dressed in a kilt and cloak of red and golden-bronze, the colors of Zamisphar, and in part of weddings, and of life. He wore his old ornaments of bronze on arms, neck, ears, brow, and waist. Inina beside him was beautiful in a kilt and top of purple silk, made of the expensive purple dye of Kratis. It was the first time in her life she’d worn something so rich. She was bedecked in bronze and gems. Two days of magical healing had done away with most of the scars and wounds on her face and body. Those in her heart would remain, he thought. As would his. He pulled her close to him, tight in his arms.
A fresh breeze was blowing from the open sea.
END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I live in Denver, Colorado, at the feet of the Rocky Mountains, with my wife and family. The child of hippie adventurer parents, I lived on my father’s sailboat, an island off the coast of Costa Rica, a converted school bus, and a ramshackle house in Ft. Lauderdale with a leaky roof and a sand yard before settling down to something resembling a normal childhood. Something in all that made me decide to enlist in the United States Air Force, then earn a bachelor’s degree in History and an MBA. In a family like mine, perhaps inevitably there would be a black sheep. A lifelong voracious reader, including fantasy, science fiction, and adventure, my influences are wide-ranging, but include Isaac Asimov, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, C.S. Forester, and Ayn Rand. I’ve worked in accounting and finance for many years, but am greatly enjoying my dual life as a writer. My other works include:
ALIEN EMPIRE – When the aliens came, the world changed forever, but not even they imagined how. Haral Karden is wry, skeptical, and the longstanding leader of his field, the history of first contacts between cultures. When aliens arrive in a fleet of beautiful ships, with benevolent words, and bearing amazing technological gifts, he asks the simple question – what do they want in return?
JAMAICA RUM – Freedom, wealth, and power… or the hangman’s noose! Follow the merchant sailor turned buccaneer Diego Cargrave and the crew of the Sea Drake through wartime adventure. The 1670s were a wild time when pirates were as likely to end up rich as on the end of a noose, and Henry Morgan himself was an English admiral. A realistic pirate tale, there are no magic items or sea monsters here, but plenty of duels, battles, lusty wenches, and rum. Oh, and the rum here is NEVER gone, but with a crew of pirates, is that really a good thing?
BARRETT’S BAR STORIES – Most interesting man in the world? He’s got NOTHIN’ on Pappy Barrett, especially when measured by blood alcohol content! Vic Barrett, Pappy to his friends and for that matter, most of his enemies, is a two-fisted, hard-living sailor, traveler, soldier of fortune and veteran of countless close calls. He’s had a long career packed with more adventure than most people could pack into one lifetime. In fact, it isn’t too clear how he has packed it into HIS lifetime, but don’t bother him with questions, just pull up a stool and enjoy!
Many thanks for purchasing this book! For more information, visit
Anthonygillis.com
Blood on Bronze (Blood on Bronze Book 1) Page 19