Copyright © 2013 by P.A. Lackey
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Chapter Eleven: Stories Told of History's Day
Night had encroached upon them, and the five found
themselves a few meters from the Gray Tower. A starry sky seemed to move above
the trees as the planet continued its rotation, and the moon had for a short
time been up. No fire stirred before them, as they wished to avoid attention.
Thus they ignored the cold which impinged their bodies.
Naturally the tower would have provided ideal shelter for
the five, but it would have left them cornered if the enemy were to come upon
them. Therefor Thorim thought it wise to keep a distance, though no one felt
comfortable by it. There was a killer among them, and Arius knew that the
others distrusted him. Even Thorim who was reluctant to accuse him, remained
suspicious. Arius could tell by the way he behaved. Wary glances, and
uncomfortable silence were a giveaway.
Gruegon and Brockumus kept watch for the night, though no
one slumbered. Camus was the fifth mercenary among them, and even more than
Arius, was probably the quieter of the bunch. He had over the trip developed a
bond with Gruegon just as Rie with Grem, and Jayvolni with Dueson and Ruekrow.
Arius supposed that Brockumus was his new friend during the trip which left
Thorim as the loner. He didn’t seem to have any one friend among the
mercenaries, but acted as their leader alone. Arius could only wonder what
their commander was thinking.
A sharp clicking sounded in the camp, and they all reached
for their wheel. A palm sized device that clicked off an encrypted message. The
shape of it was a wheel, and engraved symbols ran around the rim. The top part
of the wheel turned to press upon the bottom part, and a message was dialed
from Jayvolni. It was their method of communications, as they had no radio or
com. The wheel operated by a type of magnetism which only the corresponding
devices were linked to, thus they were able to communicate no matter what their
distance from each other.
“He has found a boat by the docks,” Thorim spoke aloud. “but
it’s condition is in need of repair.”
“If he succeeds in repairing it,” said Camus. “Will we leave
with him?”
“Our priority is the mission, but he is right to say that
staying is dangerous,” replied Thorim. “We will go if we must.”
Another message clicked through the wheels, and Arius noted
it as from Grem. The two had nearly made it back to the crash site, but there
were many leathered savages there. It would be dangerous, but they dared to
proceed in hopes of finding the ships transmitter.
Thorim replied with a warning, but they refused to take heed
from their old commander. They were on their own now, and only communicated to
remain informed. All became silent as soon as communication was over.
The insects upon the world had taken to their chirping for
the night, and now Arius’ mind began to wonder. He thought of his future wife,
and despaired for the great distance between them. Could he ever get back to
her, or was his destiny there among men who did not trust him. Was all this
really a ploy of his future father in law of riding him forever? Heat flashed
through his body as he looked back upon his gullibility. Yawen Waid, the father
of his future wife, had tricked him. Arius had trusted the man, and at one time
considered him as a father he never had, but now he realized the usury.
Arius’ thoughts soon turned to the mission which Thorim
thought so highly of. It was true, they were there to make history, but perhaps
it was their demise they would find instead. They were hunting a man of legend,
long thought dead. What would his business be there, and what was he planning?
Arius recalled the stories taught to him as a child. A
plague that devoured worlds, turning brother against brother, son against
father. The great Plaigeanic Wars led by the Lord of Plagues, as the adversary
called himself. Worlds were in peril
against his corrupting hand, and plague like armies, but a deliverer came to
free them from the Lord of Plagues. Archaies was his name, and by his hand the
adversary was put to death, the plague done away, and peace restored. Now here
they were several hundred years later, hunting the man they once adored. The
man Archaies, the one they once called deliverer.
Thanks for stopping by, and sorry for the late post. Be sure to check out my book, Ground of Oam which is available for both Kindle and Paperback on amazon.
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