I understood completely. That didn’t mean I cared. Just as they wanted to look out for their family, I wanted to look out for mine. Staying in Denu Creek wasn’t an option for us.
I finally answered. “Yeah, I understand.”
Rezub noticeably relaxed. “Thank Molak. And thank you too, Tyrus. I’ll tell everyone the good news,” he said, taking my answer not as I intended it.
I decided quickly that was probably for the best.
Rezub went back to the group and informed them of what they couldn’t hear. Smiles and waves flashed my way from the others. They turned and left, walking lightly as if they had won some great victory.
Ira who had stood off to the side, uncharacteristically silent during the whole exchange, gave me a sidelong glance. As usual, he had snuck in close enough to the conversation where I didn’t doubt he heard everything.
“Change of plans?” he asked.
“No.”
“So you lied? Good for you.”
“I didn’t lie. I told him I understand their situation. Not that I agreed with their solution for solving it.”
“But you let him think that you did.”
“Yeah. We’re leaving tonight regardless of how ready the horses are. C’mon. I’ll help you unharness them. Then we need to go finalize things with the others.”
* * *
We made it back to the inn quickly. I let Ira fill in Dekar and Myra while I went to check on Ava and Zadok.
Ava was at the window, fully dressed in her black leathers and a gray shirt. I bought the shirt from Sivan the day before. Zadok stood next to her as they gazed in the direction of Hol. Neither turned as I entered the room.
I wondered what had them so engrossed. Ira was making a ton of noise in the common room, taking too much enjoyment from interrupting Dekar’s game of Crests.
I cleared my throat and finally got a response. They both jumped, wheeling.
“Gods, you could have said something,” said Ava.
“I didn’t think I needed to shout. What are you looking at?”
“The sky, Pa,” Zadok said. “It’s doing all sorts of crazy stuff.”
“Like what?” I asked, walking over. “I was just outside and didn’t notice anything.”
“It just started,” said Ava. “Come see for yourself.”
Thankful for a mostly overcast morning, I didn’t have to shield my eyes much from the glare. Staring out of town, past hills, forest, and distant low mountains, the sky flickered like a wind-blown candle, shifting in and out of oranges, reds, and purples. Other than the speed of each flicker not much had changed from minutes before. Or so I thought.
As the last deep purple ended, an almost lavender color pulsed, a white flash reminiscent of lightning followed, expanding and contracting before the color sequence started over again.
“What in the name of Molak was that?” I asked, stepping away.
“I told you the artifact wasn’t done. I assume it will keep on erupting until it does whatever it’s supposed to do.”
“I don’t understand why anyone would want to build something that would destroy so much,” Zadok said.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “Me either. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things in this world I don’t understand and that number seems to grow by the day.” Another white flash at the end of the color sequence occurred. “That one seemed brighter,” I said to Ava. “What does that mean?”
“I’d guess that with each white flash, the artifact is that much closer to releasing the next wave of power. I can feel something in the air. It’s not good.”
“Define not good.”
“I can’t. The sorcery is just different. Twisted almost.”
I tore my gaze from the foreboding sky to the street where many of the townsfolk congregated. They pointed and stared in the direction of Hol, exchanging worried and excited looks. Several looked back toward our room at the inn. I wondered how many thought we had the answers to the very questions I had running through my head.
I swore. “We might not be able to wait until tonight.”
“What?” Ava asked.
“I was coming to tell you that we are going to leave tonight. Things are happening in town and I thought it best if we snuck away.” I looked at the sky once again. “But now, I think that might not be soon enough.”
I recalled my conversation with Balak about the artifact from months ago. We had yet to see fire and brimstone raining down on us or the earthquakes.
“How much time do we have before the next eruption?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“We’ll just have to leave now and take our chances. Zadok, go tell the others to come in here? I’ll keep an eye on your Aunt Ava.”
“Sure Pa, but she really doesn’t need it anymore.”
I looked down, realizing that though Ava and Zadok had been standing next to each other, they had not been touching. My mouth opened, ready to yell at them.
Ava placed a hand on my arm. “I’m fine,” she said calmly. “It was my idea.”
Of course it was. I couldn’t see Zadok making that call on his own. “Are you crazy?”
“Calm down. I had to see how I would feel. You think I wanted to live the rest of my life with someone holding my hand like a child. Don’t worry, we did it a little at a time.”
“You still should have waited for me.”
“But I didn’t. And I’m still alive.”
I sighed.
“You aren’t upset with me, are you, Pa?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“All right. I’ll go get the others.”
“So, how are you feeling?” I asked Ava.
“A little dizzy if I move too fast, but otherwise good.”
“That’s a relief.”
“There is some bad news though.”
“I wouldn’t expect there not to be at this point. What is it?”
“I can’t perform sorcery.”
“You mean because you’re tired? That’s not that big of a deal. Granted, your sorcery could come in handy while on the road, but we’ll be fine until you get your strength back.”
Ava shook her head. “That’s not it. I wish it was. It’s like I can’t feel the power properly. Like I said, it’s twisted. The artifact has done something to my connection.”
I frowned. “Do you think being in contact with me, Zadok, and Myra had anything to do with that? Like we dulled your senses?”
“At first I thought that might be the case, but I’ve changed my mind. It’s like the artifact is changing all the sorcery in the world to use for itself.” She paused. “Ao be damned, I just hate feeling so helpless. So . . . normal.”
I put my arm around her and gave her shoulder a quick squeeze. I could tell she was hiding just how much this bothered her. Like many mages, sorcery and the ability to perform it had meant the world to Ava. In fact, I often wondered but never had the guts to ask where I ranked in comparison.
“Give it time,” I said. “Unless Molak gets tired of his wife and kills Ao herself, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You’ll figure out a way to use sorcery again.”
She managed a nod.
“It’s strange that my resistance still works though. You’d think that would have changed to some degree as well. I wonder why it hasn’t.”
“I don’t know. I get a feeling it’s going to be hard to explain a lot of things in the coming weeks.”
In the silence I realized that Zadok had begun raising his voice at Ira in an attempt to bring him into the bedroom. Ira was telling him he needed to relieve himself first.
“With Ira, you know this will keep up until we go in there,” Ava said.
I sighed. “You’re right. Let’s just go to them.”
I took the first step when Ava’s hand shot out and latched around my arm. “I think it’s happening!”
I followed her gaze. The sky’s color sequence had ended. It shone white in the distance and did not
change except to brighten and expand.
“What’s going on?” Ira asked as everyone finally clamored into the room, having heard Ava yell.
“The artifact,” said Ava, voice low in wonder.
Ira swore.
“What do we do, Pa?” Zadok asked, voice edged with fear.
Myra put an arm on him for comfort. Her hand trembled as she caught a glimpse of the pulsing sky. It flashed quicker with each breath.
“I think all we can do is pick up the pieces when it’s over. In the meantime, you and your sister stay near Ira and Dekar. They’ll likely need your resistance. I’ll stay near Ava.” I finally said.
Outside, the townspeople ran around pointing and screaming while snatching up loved ones and making their way indoors. They looked over their shoulders in horror at the blinking light.
As a father, I’ve always wanted to be able to tell my children that I had everything under control. That everything will be all right. However, as a father, I never wanted to lie to my children either. But I had no idea what to do. This wasn’t knocking out a communications outpost, or rushing the enemy from a poor position, or defending an undermanned ridge. This was prophecy of the worst kind coming to fruition and I didn’t have the tools, people, or know how to do anything about it.
Ira swore again.
Dekar craned his neck around and caught his first glimpse of the horizon. “Should we even be looking at that? I mean it’s getting brighter all the time.”
Ava blinked. “He’s right. Get away from the window.” She pulled the curtains together and turned away, frantic.
“Everyone. Up against the back wall,” I added, coming out of my stupor.
I couldn’t stop this thing from happening, but I could at least try to keep us safe.
I had everyone sit on the floor against the wall while Ira and Dekar quickly flipped the bed over and threw it against the window. Then they came over and we all huddled together like a bunch of newborn puppies fighting for a spot at their mother’s teat. I made sure everyone held hands. One of mine remained tightly around Ava’s. The last thing I wanted was for her to be out for several days again.
Or worse.
Even with the curtains pulled, the room continually brightened as light pushed its way in through the cracks in the walls nobody ever sees. It could have been my imagination, but it felt as though thunder rumbled beneath the inn. The floorboards shook. We would not be able to pretend none of this was happening.
The artifact would get its due.
The air grew thick and it became harder to breath, like working in the fields on a sweltering summer day. Sweat poured off my skin. Ava’s hand grew slick in mine.
The rising voices of panicked people sounded outside.
“I wish we could do something to help them,” said Zadok.
“We can’t even help ourselves,” said Myra. Her voice edging on the hysterical.
I tried to remain calm. “We’ll help when this is all over. Same as last time.” I paused. “Only we won’t wait as long as before.”
He nodded, reassured.
A faint hum I wasn’t sure if I was imagining tickled the inside of my ears.
“Xank be damned. All this waiting makes me feel like I’m back in the army,” swore Ira.
I knew exactly what he meant.
My stomach rolled in that familiar way before leaving on a mission. The anticipation before any battle was often worse than the battle itself simply because that was when there was time to think and dwell on what may or may not happen.
I felt it pretty safe to say that no one wanted to think about what would happen next.
The dull hum grew, just as a howling wind blew. The inn shuddered. Things fell from shelves and chairs tumbled over. The dresser gyrated across the room like an uneven wagon wheel.
Ava yelled something, but I couldn’t hear a thing because the blasted hum had grown so loud. The window of our room shattered, the force behind it knocking the mattress down. Glass showered inside like a spring rain, whipping the curtains away from the opening. The sound of other windows breaking followed. More light poured inside.
“We can’t stay here! Everyone to the cellar,” I yelled.
Dekar led the way out with me bringing up the rear half-blinded by light pouring inside. The wind gusted back and forth through our suite, following us into the hallway, howling like a banshee as it flung loose debris about.
We moved quickly. Our feet pounded the floorboards and stairs while thunder crashed and my children cried out in fear.
We ran into Boaz and his family on their way to the cellar. We followed them inside and then barricaded the door. I had him and his family huddle near us, grabbing onto either me or one of my kids.
Staring at each other with blank expressions, the whole inn rocked as the ground shifted and groaned. For a moment, I questioned whether I had made the right call in getting everyone to go below ground. The entire building could collapse on top of us.
Then thunder boomed, shaking my insides. The sound of a furious hailstorm followed, pelting the inn like a snare drum keeping time for the pace kept in hell. Outside, animals cried out in fear. I thought I heard a woman scream.
The end of the world had truly begun.
I wondered if even hell could be this bad.
Zadok squeezed my hand. “I’m scared, Pa.”
I looked down. “Me too.” I squeezed his hand back. “But I promise we’ll be all right.”
Somehow.
END
Thank you for reading my story. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a rating or review at the site of purchase as well as other places such as Goodreads and Librarything. Like many other indie authors, I do not have a marketing team working for me and a positive review (even if only a couple of sentences long) can go a long way in enticing others to give my works a try.
I hope you’ll continue reading The Chronicle of Tyrus with Wayward Soldiers due to be released in early 2015. In the meantime, please consider checking out my other series listed below. If you’d like to know when new works will be made available, please consider signing up for my mailing list. It is used solely to announce new releases or other major announcements.
You can sign up here.
Thanks again for your support.
Joshua P. Simon
THE CHRONICLE OF TYRUS
Forgotten Soldiers
Wayward Soldiers *forthcoming*
Resurrected Soldiers *forthcoming*
Forever Soldiers *forthcoming*
THE EPIC OF ANDRASTA AND RONDEL
The Cult of Sutek, Vol. 1
The City of Pillars, Vol. 2
The Tower of Bashan, Vol. 3
BLOOD AND TEARS (COMPLETED SERIES)
Warleader: A Blood and Tears Prequel Short Story
Rise and Fall: Book One of the Blood and Tears Trilogy
Walk Through Fire: A Blood and Tears Prequel Novella
Steel and Sorrow: Book Two of the Blood and Tears Trilogy
Hero of Slaves: A Blood and Tears Novella
Trial and Glory: Book Three of the Blood and Tears Trilogy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joshua P. Simon is a Christian, husband, father, CPA, fantasy author, and heavy metal junkie. He currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and hopes that one day he can leave the life of a CPA behind and devote that time to writing more of the ideas bouncing around his ADD-addled brain.
EXCERPT OF RISE AND FALL - BOOK ONE OF THE BLOOD AND TEARS TRILOGY (COMPLETE SERIES NOW AVAILABLE)
“…This is the one that will break their back for sure, Commander. We’ll smash them to pieces. They will be talking about tomorrow for years to come…”
Aye, for years to come they’ll talk about tomorrow as one of the worst bloodbaths this continent has ever seen.
Jonrell stared across the open landscape below. The cliff gave him a full view of an expansive plain, littered with rows upon rows of tents from the opposing army’s encampment, more than dou
ble the size of their own forces. Two years after taking this job and I’ve regretted every minute of it. Shorting us on pay, ignoring advice, putting us in dangerous positions…why am I here again?
“...I won’t be able to sleep tonight in anticipation…”
Anticipation of what? Stuffing your face while others fix your mess? I haven’t seen you do anything besides that since I’ve known you. “I think the men are a little too eager,” said Jonrell.
Melchizan continued. “…Oh, yes. Naturally. They feel the significance of tomorrow as well…”
Jonrell cleared his throat and cut in, “I think we should withdraw to more favorable ground.”
“…yes, we will slaughter them, we will…” The would-be conqueror almost choked on his last words as he turned in the saddle of his mount. The short man’s demeanor suddenly turned from one of excitement to confusion, and then anger. “What do you mean withdraw? We have them right where we want them. This is what we’ve been waiting for…”
The setting sun bled across the land, reflecting dark purples and reds off the white canvases of the enemy’s camp. Reminiscent of a bruise. A bleak reminder of what awaits us tomorrow. No Melchizan, I haven’t waited for that.
“Commander! I’m speaking to you,” said Melchizan, his great jowls swaying.
“I hear you. And unlike you, I actually listen to the person I’m talking to.”
Melchizan’s face reddened. “It’s bad enough you and the rest of your tattered outfit of mercenaries fail to address me as your lord, but I will not be spoken to like some common soldier. Is that understood?”
“No. You are not our lord and definitely not a soldier, just an employer. The Hell Patrol will not bend a knee to you. If you want someone to kiss your rear, you’ll have to look to the rest of that motley army of yours.”
“Have you forgotten that motley army has conquered over a dozen cities and hundreds of miles of land? An army you command?”
Jonrell snorted a laugh. “Cities? Most of that land was filled with nothing more than small tribes and villages. Your army is not ready for this,” said Jonrell, pointing toward the encampment. “The men are going to face more than two to one odds against a better armed and better trained force.”
Forgotten Soldiers Page 27