Blood Moon Chronicles Book 4 Many Faces of the MoonChapter 22
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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 but she assured me they had not made it yet. She decided to house me in a spare room of her house until the others arrived.
That night I was pulled into a dreamscape one last time. It was Phaltina, making sure I was okay. When I asked her why I had been sent back, she simply smiled.
“I made this mistake a long time ago and too many have paid the price. I would not allow you to suffer the same fate, so I made a deal with the other gods. I would be allowed to return you to life, but I would never again be allowed to walk amongst you.”
I thanked her and she told me not to waste this second chance I had been given. When the door opened and I saw Janet there, it was nearly more than I could handle. I decided to say something cheeky, hoping to dissolve the tension. Instead, Janet and the others burst into tears and rushed over to me. All the while, the bundles of joy in each of their arms were uncertain as to what was going on.
When the kisses and tears were concluded, I was introduced to each of my children. Every single one of them was beautiful and my heart swelled at the choices of names. I spent the rest of the day playing with them, until the time for the ceremony. I had heard through Aphronia that they would conduct a welcoming ceremony for Celka’s ashes. It was a quiet and somber affair, with many tears by all. I, of course, said a few words about the woman who helped me become whole again and helped us defeat the Voguel once and for all.
With the event behind us, we spent a few days together relaxing as a family before we would have to start our travels yet again. This time however, we would be going a different route. We were nearly seven months of travel away from the port that we had arrived at, then there would be nearly another three months travel to get to Cartha. However, there was another port town west of Kart’laga. It would only take three months to reach it and then a week or so of travel by boat to arrive at Dru’tirk.
We thanked Aphronia for her assistance and wished her well on her future. We promised to keep in touch and made our way out of town to return home. We took our time, enjoying the scenery as we went. We stopped every so often to let the children spend time out of their wagons. When we arrived in Kart’laga, my presence was a surprise to everyone. I explained that I did not know what happened, only that I awoke to find myself near Int’samba.
Many treated it like some kind of divine revelation, that the gods were once again looking down on Vishant with favor. While I did not deny it, I assured them I was nothing special and figured it was a reward for my sacrifice to end the curse. We spent two days in town, resting and resupplying, before we headed for Lorsh’tava. As we left, we were surprised to find that there were six soldiers waiting for us. Apparently the Dran had learned of my return and decided that we needed to rest. Two pairs of soldiers would drive the wagons while the other soldiers would ride ahead and behind us.
Eritor would not budge, saying that he and the Dran agreed on the matter. They had secured a boat that would take us to ?? and that the Dran would pay for all of it. He also handed us a letter that the Dran sent me. He thanked me for my sacrifice and was happy to hear that the gods felt I deserved a second chance. The nine of us would always be welcome in Vishant and would go down in their history books as the saviors of the province. I did not know how to process that, but I figured it was a high honor.
The travel back to Bardack was uneventful. The days were spent moving between the wagons to spend time with my children. Enjoying meals together and spending quality time with my loves. The night before we were to arrive at Lorsh’tava, I asked all eight of them to marry me. Tears and kisses were shared by all. I did not need a magical bond with them to know how happy they were.
We were welcomed with cheers when we arrived in Dru’tirk harbor. Apparently, they were made aware of our arrival and had prepared a welcoming committee of sorts. Supplies were already prepared and by the end of the day we were ready to set off again for home. With a good night’s rest at the inn, and after celebrating the birthdays of all the children, we left in high spirits. While only Trent was near his actual birthday, the rest would turn a year old during our journey to Cartha. We had already decided to share all their birthdays in one big party, due to how close together they were.
As we made our way home, there was a buildup in excitement we all felt. The children did not know what it was about, but they felt it as well. When we got near enough, I diverted the wagon and saw a smile form on Janet’s lips. Ingrid turned to follow us, as we moved down an old path towards the lagoon. This place was filled with good and bad memories, but I figured that, to help tip the balance, I would make some more. We had lunch there while the children splashed around. In a few hours we would be home, and a new round of excitement would begin.
Everyone agreed that we would make visiting the lagoon a regular occurrence. I wondered if it would be prudent to talk to Edgar about purchasing the land around it, making the lagoon a daily event. We packed everyone up one last time and returned to the main road home. Not long after, we came out of the woods to gaze upon the walls of Cartha. I looked on in amazement, taking in all the changes that had occurred. It looked as if the town had almost doubled in size in the two years we had been away. The high log walls that had been built to protect from Voguel attacks were no longer there.
Though a wall of thick logs surrounded the town, they were a third of their former height. It was almost as if the logs had been cut off at the required height, then the tops were used to fill in the larger perimeter of the town. The large gate that once was the only way in was also gone, with two soldiers stationed at the entrance. From what I could see, it seemed as though the area of my house had been expanded upon a bit as well and I turned the wagon to go towards the special entrance to my land.
I was not surprised to find a soldier stationed at that entrance. He politely stopped us and asked us our business.
“Well, my name is Davik,” I said with a smile. “I have been away for a while with a group of warriors and have finally returned home. If Clive, Trina, Liza, Brandon, or Carl are around they could confirm my identity. So could Ruben, the town’s carpenter or Edgar the Patron himself.”
The soldier’s eyes went wide, and he merely nodded before running off towards what I would assume was now the direction of the workshop. A few minutes later the soldier arrived with Carl in tow and I watched my young friend and former apprentice look at me and smile. He confirmed our identities and guided us to the new stable they had built in my absence. He had decided that they needed a proper town stable, especially given all the horses they needed for the deliveries. Edgar happily obliged and in turn for giving them the space they needed for their project at my behest, he discussed expanding and changing the village a bit.
With the threat gone and the cure out there, the high walls were no longer needed. He wanted to give the town a bit of protection, mostly from wandering animals, but making it a warmer and more inviting place. It took a year to get the changes made to the Patron’s liking. Carl had to contact the forester guild from Fardun to help with the logs. Once it was done the Patron awarded them all the land that was added to the inside of the borders as payment. That gave them enough room to build a comprehensive stable and expand the workshop a fair bit. They were having trouble finding places to live for the various workers they had, but for now, they were making do.
I grasped my friend’s shoulder and said, “I plan to talk to Edgar and get his help to secure the land around the lagoon. If it is successful, you can convert the house into a dwelling for our workers.”
Carl smiled and said, “We were hoping we could do that. When we heard you had died in the fight with the Voguel, we knew we would have to wait for the others to come back. We are happy to see that your death was a mere exaggeration.”
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...
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...
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...
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...