Blood Moon Chronicles Book 4 Many Faces of the MoonChapter 22
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For the next two months of travel, extraordinarily little happened in the way of threats. Lillian and Kayla ran into a Tora two weeks into the journey. Lillian froze as fear from her last encounter with a tora flashed in her mind. We stopped the wagon nearby as the others raced to her. It took four of them to dispatch the beast and we ate well, though we were disappointed we did not have the means to preserve the rest of the meat. We did remove the hide and wrapped it to sell when we got to the capital.
The Tora attack had given the platoon some much needed experience working together to take down a larger and more powerful foe. Their abilities would allow the scales to be balanced when dealing with the more powerful Voguel. I had no doubt that we had yet to see the full strength of an Old One and I hoped that we would be ready to deal with that threat when the time came.
I could feel the nervousness of the group grow as we got closer to our destination. I did what I could to ease their tensions, but I knew there was only so much I could do. It would not really change until we had met with the Dran and heard his decision. Thankfully, Janet had sent carrier birds to get her plans in motion just before our departure, should the Dran act unfavorably. Still, this was a gamble that might or might not pay off. We could only hope that he would listen to reason, but I feared we would not be so lucky.
As we crested the top of a large hill, the capital came into view in the valley below and I marveled at the sheer size If it. I had never been to the capital of my own province, but my father had mentioned it a time or two. This town put Retvan to shame by the sheer size of it. The large city sat beside a river that ran from the northern mountains to the southernmost regions of the province. A large stone wall surrounded the core of the city, while farms and other populated areas were outside. Those were surrounded by a wall of large logs, not unlike what Cartha employed.
We headed towards the main road and I watched the various sights as we went deeper into the city. Janet had opted to drive the wagon as she knew our destination and it would allow me to absorb what was around me better. We passed through the first checkpoint with barely a glance from the guards. The people were hesitant when the wagon approached, and I could see suspicious looks as we passed by. I put it out of my mind as we approached the inner walls.
As we approached this next checkpoint, one of the three soldiers who were stationed there gestured us to stop. Behind them was a large portcullis which was closed at the moment. The soldier that had stopped us walked forward and approached Janet. He looked irritated and I expected he was going to be in for a rude awakening.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing? Commoners stay out of the central area, so turn your wagon around before you get hurt.”
In a flash of movement, Janet had her sword drawn and the tip under the man’s throat. Given her skill, she had not even needed to use her abilities and I watched a flicker of fear cross the man’s face.
Janet leaned forward and growled, “Listen here, you pompous little shit. I am Janet, commander of the Torgal. You can see that by the symbol on my cross guard. You will open the way for us to enter and you will apologize, or I will see to it you are shoveling horse shit for the rest of your life!”
He glanced down and his eyes widened when he noticed the image on her cross guard.
“I am sorry, ma’am,” he said quickly. “We were given orders not to let anyone in unless they were part of the Dran’s court or council. All others were evacuated from the town and forced to live outside the walls. We were given orders to turn all attempts to enter the center back and arrest or kill those who resist.”
Janet and I looked at one another and knew that our plan was going to have to go through as we had discussed.
“Very well. My companion and I will be heading in to speak with the Dran. The rest of my platoon will be meeting with some people who will be assisting us. Since I expect they will be outside the walls, they will be leaving the wagon.”
He nodded and Kayla, Faye, Ingrid, Irenia, Elsie and Cherish stepped out of the wagon. They each nodded to Janet and I before walking off in groups of two to their destinations. The guard nodded and called for the gate to be raised. We went through and I felt a sense of unease as it lowered back down. That sense of unease grew as we made our way to the center of the city. What should have been streets filled with people, were instead empty and devoid of life.
We did not see a single soldier until we arrived near the center, where the richest of the citizens lived. There we saw groups of three or four soldiers patrolling every street and walkway. And we were stopped three times before we reached our destination. Each time Janet had to get in their face and remind them who outranked whom. When we arrived in front of the Dran’s palace, I looked in disgust at the pretentious nature of the building and knew that my estimation of the man was right.
He, like Brant, believed in money and power above all else. He coveted both and used them to lord it over those he should be helping and protecting. Instead, he chose to protect himself and those loyal to him and use the rest of his people as sacrifices.
We got out and I signaled to Lillian to come out of the wagon. The reaction of the guards was as expected. The second she jumped out of the back, pandemonium ensued, and the soldiers rushed to attack her.
Janet commanded them to stop but three pushed their attack anyway. Those three found themselves on the ground with either a blade to their throats or a wolf on them ready to rip their throat out.
“The wolf is with me,” Janet bellowed so all could hear her. “Attacking her is equal to attacking a member of the Torgal. If you fail to respect that, I will kill you myself. Am I clear?”
A few muttered a response, so she yelled out the question again. This time they all responded with an affirmative and she demanded they make sure to tell all others the same. We let the fools go and sheathed our weapons. Lillian walked over to my right side and we entered the palace.
A snooty man in frilly clothing demanded to know why we were there and when he learned who we were, he sputtered and ran off. A few minutes later he ushered us into a throne room and my opinion of the Dran lessened even more. There was not supposed to be a throne room, as there were no kings or kingdoms. It appeared that this Dran did not care and was taking measures to become a king in his own right.
I realized now that he had never intended to defeat the Voguel, not until he consolidated his power. To the left and right were fat, aristocratic men and women who oozed arrogant self-importance. They looked on us, especially me and Lillian with disdain, but we ignored it as we approached the Dran.
As we drew closer, I took a look at the man. He looked to be a little bit shorter than me, no more than one hundred and eighty centimeters tall. He looked to be between two and three hundred pounds, with greasy skin. He leered at Janet with lust that he did not bother to hide, and I fought to find myself hiding a smile.
“Ah, my dear Janet,” he said in a nasal tone. “I am happy to see you have returned. I got your correspondence that you sent when you arrived. I am sorry to hear of your losses but pleased to hear of your victory against the threat in Bardack. Who is the man you have brought with you and why is there a filthy wolf in my presence?”
She bowed slightly and replied, “This is Davik. He was instrumental in defeating the Voguel that attacked his province and, due to our lost numbers, agreed to come here to help us deal with our Voguel once and for all. The wolf is his companion and has been able to assist in weeding out those who are a threat.”
The Dran sighed and said, “That is nice and all, but I want that creature killed immediately!”
As two guards approached Lillian, I drew my sword and said, “That is not going to happen, so unless you want your men to die, you will tell them to stand down.”
We stared at each other for a moment before he gestured for his men to stop, for the moment.
The Dran got a smug look and asked, “Do you realize who you are talking to, boy?”
I nodded. “Yes I do. I am looking at the man who sent Janet and her people to Bardack to assist in killing Voguel. The man who told her to kill anyone who might have been infected with the curse, DESPITE the fact there was and is a cure.”
The Dran laughed and said, “There is no cure, you foolish boy.”
I smiled and said, “Yes, there is. In fact, the cure is so powerful the person can never be cursed again. If someone takes the cure and has never been bitten, they can never be cursed. This cure will systematically remove the possibility of the Voguel turning any more people. Administered to every citizen in Vishant, as well as any entering or leaving the province, you will ensure the extinction of the Voguel.”
We woke a few hours later at the same time, which was not surprising. We had slipped into our dreamscape and we had noticed that we would all come out of it at the same time. This occurred every time, and we emerged rested, despite what had occurred. While they had acquiesced to my request for resting, they decided to try and pull us all into their dreamscape. They had succeeded and we were pulled into an accurate facsimile of my bedroom back in Cartha. There were some differences, since the...
I awoke sometime later with Lillian and Janet still in my arms. I looked down to see that their hands were still intertwined. I wished we were done with all this, allowing me to bask in the love and tenderness of the women in my life. I was growing tired of all the darkness and death that seemed to permeate my life, despite my attempts to prevent it. Still, they are the light that has come out of that darkness and I do not think I would do anything that would have kept that from...
We arrived at the western encampment a few minutes later. I had been surprised to find the people of the capital forced to live outside the fortified area of the city. What genuinely surprised me was the number of soldiers that were camped outside the core of the city. Based on the Dran’s vanity, I would have assumed he would keep as many soldiers he could between him and any Voguel. My gut told me that these were ones he could not confirm as totally loyal to him. So, under the guise of...
“All this time,” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “All these years and it had been you all along. Janet considered you a friend! Her worst enemy and her ultimate target was hiding in plain sight the whole time.” He laughed, “Hiding in plain sight is the best way to do it, boy. I made sure after I killed my cousin to ensure I was in the shadows. Then I appointed that fool to act in my stead, using a link to send messages through. I would be able to relay information and orders for Feror to...
I felt odd in a way I could not place and tangled in a darkness I could not fully perceive. As I opened my eyes, I found myself once again within a dreamscape that was not my own. The one I shared with my ladies felt different than the one I currently found myself in. I stretched out with my senses, hoping that they would work here and what I found was peculiar. The environment was strange, with no form other than the dense forest and storm clouds above. It only seemed to stretch out for a...
We cut our way through another dozen Voguel before we reached the end of the scent trail. We turned right down a fork corridor and found an open door. My senses told me there was at least one person inside. But there could have been more. Lillian, however, confirmed that there was only one and her demeanor meant that it was our former captive. I slowly walked into the room and saw multiple cells, one of which was open. I approached the open door to find her in chains. There was a dead body on...
Aphronia walked quickly as she made her way through the dark corridors. Her cloak glided through the air as she moved quickly and purposefully through the lair, the swish of her dress caressing her legs as she made long quick strides. Her plan had not gone at all the way she hoped, but she had been able to escape with the knife and had been able to poison those bitches. She had been unsure if their threats had been genuine, but she hoped they enjoyed having their so-called cure fed to them....
With the meeting concluded, we said our goodbyes to Vestra and planned our next steps. “Well, I am not sure that went very well, but I guess that we will soon see,” I said with a sigh. Janet nodded, “It is done, the next step is figuring out where the Voguel are hiding and launching their attacks from.” “It was easier in Bardack due to the smaller number of Voguel attacks,” I said as I pondered the problem. “You have centuries of such attacks and they keep coming back. We would need to...
I felt drained as I sat on the bed and, though they were only pricks of the skin, the experience was enough to make me lightheaded. However, it was the mixing of the blood that had left me feeling drained. Lillian had said that I would feel better with some rest and left with the others to help Janet. The plan was to complete the rest of the procedure with the ladies in their respective rooms. That way they would be able to rest on their beds as the change occurred. The biggest issue would...
As I entered the back of the wagon, I fought to clear my head of the feelings her appearance was dredging up from the recesses of my mind. She looked so much like my mother had when I was young, and if felt the yearning a child has to be embraced by their mother. I had thought that she had made herself resemble my mother through manipulation, a way of adjusting my dreamscape to benefit her agenda. Now I believed that she merely used it, knowing through the dreamscapes connection that she...
“If you do not mind, Davik,” A familiar voice from behind me said, “I would not mind a plate of that delicious smelling food.” I jumped in surprise and turned to see who had just said that. To say I was shocked would have been an understatement. “What in the seven hells is going on, Lillian? You’re a Voguel?! How can you change into a wolf without a blood moon? Why have you been helping me all this time?” She laughed at the rapid succession of my questions and it was only then I realized,...
Ingrid and Cherish looked at one another and broke out laughing. That only served to anger Enton, who neither expected to see again and cause looks of confusion on the faces of the soldiers accompanying him. “Wow, this is got to be the second time, now,” Ingrid said to Cherish. “Just how stupid can these people be? First Kayla, now us, but then ... they are being led by that dolt and they do not have the abilities we have, either.” “What?!” Enton yelled in frustration. “There is no way you...
“How long has it been?” The woman before me asked softly. “You have grown into a fine young man, Davik.” My eyes narrowed, “It has been ten years, but this is not possible. You were not Voguel, nor should this be able to occur like this. I have dreamt of my mother often over the years, but you are nothing like her. So, end your mindless tricks and show me who you really are.“ The woman’s eyes twinkled, a small amount of pride appeared in her eyes and she shook her finger at me. “Ahh, ahh,...
Once we had secured our belongings and the ladies had removed their armor, we made our way downstairs. I had some trepidation as to the reactions people would have to Lillian, but I was not going to leave her alone. We assumed that we were relatively close to the lair of the Voguel, so we wanted to limit the risks. As we approached the dining hall, we could hear the murmurs of conversation emanating from the room. All conversation stopped when we entered. All of the patrons and even some of...
Janet It has been nearly seven months since we lost Davik and I still have not gotten over it. The others feel the same deep loss, though I think that Lillian has been hit the hardest. She had known him, cared for him longer than any of us. Still, the pain was as raw and deep as it had been the night he died. The love of my life gave his life to restore peace to my homeland. Each day, as we get closer to Int’samba, I wonder if that sacrifice was worth what was lost to me, the others and to...
The group made our way upstairs and encountered Lillian and Kayla sitting in the hallway. Lillian, despite her comments to the contrary, had indeed been hungry and eaten the steak she was given. Kayla was sitting in a chair nearby between the doors to my room and the neighboring one. By the looks of it, she was just finishing her own plate of food. Kayla greeted us with a warm smile and Lillian greeted us with the wolf equivalent. “I hope you enjoyed your meal, everyone,” Janet said with a...
“You actually expect me to hand over my command to you?” Verias asked incredulously. “You have lost your mind. It no doubt explains why you have resorted to copulating with this hick.” Janet scowled, “He is no hick, Verias. He has killed more Voguel in a single encounter than even I have. I get it, Verias. You are scared. You know that he will win, and you will look weak. You can have him fight you and as many of your best men as you wish. Plus, if you win you get me, as you requested, so...
Our two-month journey back to the Vishant Capital city was uneventful. There were no attacks or distractions, but the looming threat of our enemy still hung in the air. We worked hard to prepare ourselves for what would occur in the coming days. Endless fighting drills and sparring matches. Some one on one, but now almost all were an eight-person free for all. Lillian would watch and keep track of the hits and wins. Her practice came on our hunts and she reveled in our time together then. I...
I awoke to the sensation of a naked form pressed up against me on either side. I looked and found Lillian on my left and Janet on my right. I was not sure how long I had been asleep but based on the sounds coming from the forest around us, it was close to dawn. I tried to remove myself from their embrace, but that only served to awaken both as a result. I watched as both women stretched their aching muscles and enjoyed the delightful way their breasts jiggled with each movement. I saw the...
“Do you know who it is, Lillian?” I asked as I started to put my pants on. “Could it be the innkeeper or possibly the dock master looking for us?” > I nodded to Janet and she quickly took up her nearby sword, placing it near her and out of the line of sight from the door. She then quickly put on a sleeping gown, though I never remembered her having one. Perhaps it was something that she had...
It had been nearly two months since we had left the port town of Iltha’tal and thankfully we had not run into any trouble. We had maintained the schedule of who would travel the forests and who would travel in the wagon. Of those who did travel in the wagon, the driver on duty rotated between everyone and at least one other sat to keep them company. They also kept their eyes on the forest just in case something slipped by the others. Training their skills and accessing their combat awareness...
When I had been told by Phaltina that I was going to my paradise, I did not think that she would mean being sent back to life. I awoke to find myself naked on a rocky crag not that far from the village. Just after I appeared there, Aphronia, of all people, found me. She had heard of my death, so she was shocked to find me there. She had a blanket in her pack and gave me that to allow for some semblance of modesty on our trek back to Int’samba. I asked if Janet and the others had come and gone...
I picked Lillian up and carried her out of the wagon, just as the others arrived. From the feel of her in my arms, I could feel she was breathing, but it was very shallow. They all had looks of dismay at her state and I could feel their worry that she was not showing up in our bond. Janet came over and ran her hand along the top of Lillian’s head, as a small tear fell along her cheek. She looked up at me with pain and anger in her eyes. “Janet, please have the others go locate the Voguel...
Janet and Kayla headed off to get the documents ready and sent off to the various towns, villages, and cities. The rest of us went in search of food and lodgings. Ingrid had found a possible place while we had been dealing with the Dran, so we followed her lead and soon found ourselves in front of a nice sized inn. We went inside and met with the Innkeeper who was a nice lady in her mid-thirties or forties. “Ah, Ingrid, welcome back,” the woman said with a warm smile. “I take it that this is...
“Please. Join me, Davik, I have been waiting for some time, knowing that you would eventually find your way to Retvan. We have a lot to discuss.” I turned to find Ruben’s eyes staring at me, signs of care and weariness in them, but a cold resolve behind them. He looked a bit thinner and a bit more haggard in appearance since the last time I had seen him, though he had been falling into a chasm when I saw him last. The beard, as well as the used and torn clothing, would not let anyone except...
I sent a signal through our link for the others to enter the cave, save for Irenia’s group and select soldiers from each group. They were selected to create a hidden perimeter in case of some response during our attack. Irenia would remain with her soldiers to ensure no enemy escaped our grasp. It would not do well for even one to escape, for it could be centuries or millennia before they became active again. Lillian and I took the lead followed by Faye’s group, then Ingrid’s, followed by...
I awoke with a start, the last residual emotions of the dream leaching out of me. I felt disgusted with my body each time the dreams happened, but I knew more, now. I knew the monster’s voice, as well as a bit of what he looked like. Still, to see him help murder his father while I watched through his own eyes was unsettling. The feelings of superiority, glee and even arousal were disgusting, and I felt tainted by them. I looked over and saw that Lillian was still resting, so I went and got...
I watched as dawn broke over the village. Lillian was sleeping soundly next to me, a slight snore emanating from her narrow snout. Janet and the others were soundly asleep in their beds. I had silently watched the village from the window, taking in the movement and life that pervaded it. I did not see any hint of the cloaked figure, but I had a feeling I would run into it again, in one form or another. I was worried about the struggles to come and thoughts of impending loss filled my mind....
I awoke slowly. A light throbbing of my head caused a bit of discomfort. I looked around to find myself alone in bed, daylight shining through the window. I could hear the faint sounds of birds through the glass. It was very auspicious, given the nature of events that had transpired last night. As memories filled my mind of everything that had happened, tears began to fall freely down my face. My friends, my love and her family all gone. Taken by that black monstrosity in a binge of carnage...
I woke up with a start, my hand darting to my chest, to look for the hole where the sword had pierced me. Content that there was nothing there, I tried to get up and only then did I realize that I was not alone in bed. Janet had laid down next to me and, I guess, fell asleep on my shoulder, though my jerking up in bed had roused her from her nap. “Davik?” she asked, a note of concern in her voice. “Are you okay? Was it another of those dreams again?” “Yes it was, Janet, but your suggestion...
I panicked again when I woke up from the dream, as both my arms had gone numb. When I looked at both, I saw tuffs of red hair on either shoulder or it dawned on me what had happened. The only thing I wondered was ... why? While I had been shocked at the surprise of Lillian and Janet sleeping on me, I had not realized how much I had missed the sensation. It had been nearly a year since someone was sharing my bed to fight off the tremors and, during my time away, as well as during the trip...
When I awoke, I was sometime in the evening, the sounds of the insects out on their nighttime hunts filled the air. The gentle breeze from the open window carried their sounds into my room. Hopefully, I hadn’t slept past evening meal. As I moved to get up, I realized there was a soft arm draped across my chest and a leg resting on my thighs. I looked down to see dark locks of hair draped across my chest and felt the soft rise and fall of my companion’s chest. The scent that filled my senses...
They were a few feet in front of me and both had their blades drawn. Based on their stance I could tell that they had experience with them, but they were overconfident. They lacked the discipline to treat each encounter seriously and that would ultimately prove their downfall. I drew both my sword and knife and got in a defensive stance. I had the knife facing towards the ground in my left hand and had my sword drawn in my right. Through the link, I could tell that Janet was pissed and, on...
I woke up feeling sore and dehydrated after the events of the previous evening. had continued through most of the next day and we decided that, after the attack, we would take another day before heading out to complete our trip to the capital. I wanted to stretch, but both of my arms were pinned by two beautiful women. Surprisingly it was not Janet and Lillian who were molded to my sides, but Irenia and Faye. Both were gloriously naked and pressed as deeply into my body as possible. Part of...
Lillian I left everyone in the room and made my way to the cellar of the, opening the door to find Violet, on the floor. The chains of the shackles were looped around a metal bracket on the floor, even Davik’s unique strength would not be able to pull it up. I looked down at her, memories of her sleeping after our love making filling my head and alerting me to her ruse. I walked up and planted a hard kick to her abdomen, causing her to scream in pain, as well as curse me for hitting...
Davik I could not tell how long I had been here, but my stomach was beginning to demand that I accept the food that the young girl had been bringing. True to her word, Brenson had stopped using blunt objects and began using a whip. I had to be careful as the pain of the strikes could have made me bite my tongue off, which would have been very painful, and I doubt I would have been able to grow it back. The whole time, he was asking how I was able to do the things I could, where I got my...
While I had seen Lillian change more than a few times now, the change happening to Violet seemed far more violent and painful. The transformation Lillian underwent happened in a matter of moments, one minute she was a human, the next she was a wolf. I had to wonder if this was what occurred during a Voguel’s first transformation as their body shifts and morphs under the manipulation of the curse. It sounded like her bones were breaking with every shift of her body, as her body repurposed...
“I have not heard that name in a very long time,” she said as the color drained from her face. “Brenson was the name of my older brother.” “Is that name common where you came from? I mean, it could have been a different Brenson that had come from your country.” “Names are a bit different back home,” she said shaking her head. “They are regional and very few are repeated outside of a family. Besides, the age fits and I will know from the books you collected, as he wrote one or more of...
I felt growing anticipation as the day grew on and we came closer to this evening’s event. It took two days to get everything prepared for what would occur tonight. After administering the cure to every one of the nobles present, as well as the acting Dran, we moved forward with our plan. The Dran planned to hold a great feast to announce Vishant’s great victory over the Voguel. The previous Dran would hold these feasts regularly during the campaign against them and everyone within the city...
“So, Davik, this is where you have been hiding? I must say it is a quaint little camp that you have here.” The voice jarred me, given that I had not seen anyone here during my quick search of the rooms. I turned to see who had said that, as the voice was familiar, but my shocked mind was having trouble figuring out who it was. I soon looked into the deep brown eyes of my love’s mother, Ilane. “I assume you are having trouble understanding my presence here,” she said, with a smile. “You are...
I awoke to the sound of a crackling fire, the smell of something cooking and the softness of a bed beneath me. I felt completely drained of energy and gingerly opened my eyes to see where I was, hoping that I had not been captured by an unseen enemy. I saw old grey stone above me and turning to look to my left, saw a form sitting in front of the fire. The person was humming a tune that I did not recognize, but it put me in a sense of ease and contentment, as it almost seemed familiar. I tried...
I did not get back to sleep right away, my mind reeling with the idea that there could be another like Brenson out there and worry of what that person could do. Lillian kept me company for as long as she could, but after an hour, she fell back into a deep sleep, her rhythmic breathing lulling me to join her. Thankfully, there were no other dreams that plagued me, not that I could remember, so I was thankful for that. When I next woke up, sunlight was creeping through the window and the...
The trip, over the next few weeks, was strained at the beginning, as the tensions were still high after what had happened with Gwen and Ethal. The other soldiers were giving me a wide berth, but they were cordial when we were around one another. They worked with Liza and Celka to see what their skill level was, what they might have an aptitude for and where they would need to improve. Given the unique nature of the beast we might face, Janet took it upon herself to train with me, though I...
“Excuse me gentlemen, is there a problem here?” We all turned to look at the source of the question, to find Jerreth standing behind the two men, arms crossed along his chest. His gaze was cool and passive as he looked from person to person. I then looked at each of the men more closely, they were holding pieces of wood, no doubt scraps laying around they felt would work as clubs. “It is none of your business darkie,” yelled one of the men, “our business is with this murderous piece of...
Janet and Lillian had been listening in on my comments through our link, so when I said I was not alone, Janet came crashing through the window that investigated the atrium. Lillian would make herself known when the time was right. We needed to keep him off guard if we were going to succeed. Seeing Janet nearby brought me a sense of relief, though I was worried about leaving Ingrid up on the second floor alone. ((Do not worry, Davik, I sent the two with me up to make sure she got to us okay...
It took me a while to return to the village, the blood moon had finally set, and the sun had already started cresting over the hillside. It had taken me a long time to get back because I had decided to bring the bodies of my kills with me. I did not want to start a panic with the villagers, so I had to make them look like more victims. It was hard to stomach, cutting into them like that, but it had to be done. If I brought them back with the injuries I gave them as wolves, there would be...
Davik //Are you sure? \\ I asked Lillian, worry in my thoughts. // Maybe you need to find the inner fire that I did to trigger my abilities and I believe that Janet was able to pull from the same source.\\
We made our way through the town and arrived at the bank just as the girls and Jerreth, were leaving. Lillian had a satchel on her shoulder, which I assumed had the money they were supposed to take out. Based on their happy expressions, things must have gone well, and it looked like Jerreth had taken the opportunity to start talking to Liza. I was glad that Janet’s choice was to be in my wagon, as it helped them spend some time together on the trip other than at meals. “Jerreth, you and Liza...
I made my way from the inn to the market east of there, where Clive had said they had been ambushed. When I arrived, there was a bustle of activity, normal for a market of this size, as well as a grouping of soldiers on the far side. I suspected that was where the attack had transpired. I weaved my way through the crowd until I arrived at the other side, where three soldiers were investigating the area. “Good afternoon gentlemen, what exactly happened here? Do you have any idea who did...
We both stood there in shock, waiting for what Violet would do next. Her face was a mixture of emotions that, for the first time since I had known her, could not read. After a few minutes of silence, she walked up and slapped her mother in the face. The force of the blow made a loud smack and her mother’s head rocked back at the force. As soon as she smacked her mother, she turned to smack me, but my reflexes caught her arm mid-swing. She looked at me with unabashed hatred and as I searched...
Jethro, You are a man of great promise, but I can give you an even greater one. The power over those around you, fed by fear and control. Why settle for being a lone soldier, when you could be greater? All you need is the vision to see a great future for you and the will to do what it takes to bring it to fruition. Understand that despite this power, you will serve me and will do so for all time. If you fail to understand that, I will not hesitate to rip your throat out, after I kill every...
Violet looked at me for a few moments, her expression never changing and said, “Davik, we need to talk.” “What would you like to talk about?” I asked, gesturing for her to come inside. “You will need to be a bit more specific.” “No, not here,” she replied with a shake of her head. “Let’s talk somewhere more private. This needs to be a talk between you and me, with no one else interfering or trying to give their own input.” I shrugged my shoulders, though I took note of her lack of reply. I...
Davik He used the whip again, demanding to know how I had gotten my abilities and what had been used. I tuned him out, thinking of other things, when a strange tickle occurred in the back of my head. Not on the skin, but deep inside, not unlike when I found the fire that triggered my abilities that first time. The tickle appeared just after a strike of the whip and after two more, it became much stronger. Instead of a tickle, I began to feel emotion, but it seemed off as if it were not my...
When I opened my eyes the sun had gone down, and the moon had begun its rise. The attacks occurred when the moon was at its highest point in the sky. I had some time; I collected my gear, and headed downstairs. The others were sitting at the table; the tension could be cut with a knife. I could see the worry on their faces; Liza and Trina were in tears. Trent and Carl were trying to calm them down, while the rest sat with hard looks on their faces. I was shocked to hear that, but looking...
The arrow went right through his Adam’s apple, all he managed was a gurgle before falling forward. The sound he made must have reached his comrades, as I heard them increase the speed of their approach. When he had hit the ground, the arrow was pushed even further through his neck, causing a spurt of blood to escape the wound. I could see that the arrow had pierced his spine, near the base of his skull. Within moments, he stopped breathing; a large puddle of blood was oozing out around him....
Even though there had been eighteen years since he had left, the smell of what lay inside had remained. The smell of decaying flesh filled the building, and I tried to control myself. Lillian had to leave, as the sight and smell were too much for her. I heard her asking for the Patron and whoever took care of the village’s dead to come to the shop immediately. The door muffled what she said next and I tried to focus. I needed to see what had happened in that room. There were two beds on the...
The next week was much of the same routine each day. Wake up and spend roughly twenty-four hours cutting logs into boards, without any sleep. The boys came after the second day and began to work with me to deal with the logs. The tough weather had come through and I did my best to protect the inside of the house. With them working together on one and me working on another, we doubled the work that could be done. Violet would visit for breakfast and lunch, while Ruben would eat dinner and help...
I put the cover over the pot, preserving the food for later, and left it to the side of the fire. I put a log on the fire and adjusted the currently burning ones to surround the new log, ensuring that it would catch and keep going while I was gone. I grabbed my satchel from off the pack, my water flask and the rabbit hide. It would prove useful if I was lucky, I might not even need to make any drying racks. Confident I had everything I needed for my quick trip, I made my way out of the cave...