Donovan Nevil's last post

You read correctly, Chapter 1 is done. And so are the posts here, as far as Donovan's story goes. Sorry, for the unresolved questions, but that's how it goes, I can't put the whole thing on here. So, from now to completion it goes to a private proofreader. Enjoy, and post a comment. Look foreward to whatever I find to put up on here next.

Kansas

Ice burnt their skin like an unquenchable fire, clinging to and stabbing every nerve. Even above the overpowering screech of the wind Donovan's trained ear could hear the muffled groans of pain from Lydia and her brother, the poor wretches. Not often in his 28 years of semi-solitude had any of the struggling travelers woken such compassion in him, and to Donovan it was an odd feeling, one that disturbed him slightly, and unseated his ideas about who he was.

 The wind grew stiff, like a solid punch, and ever the snow fell harder. There was naught to be seen but a thick white haze.

 "Mr. Nevil!" cried the girl, "How much farther?"

 "The vines, Lydia." He roared over the wind, "We need to be at least a mile away, even more in this weather."

 Donovan could hear the exhaustion in her voice, the girl wasn't built for this, but to cut short their journey could be fatal.

 "I can't…" she struggled from beneath the makeshift cloak, the burden of her brother becoming more than what she could bear.

 The beast of a man sighed, this was more than he would do for most. All the same, he slung the now frozen carcass over his shoulders and scooped up the children in his arms and continued trudging away from the death sentence of the vines.

 Shadows darted through his sight, in the sky, or at least what he thought was the sky, and on what seemed to be the ground. Donovan's face numbed, and his eyes squinted, struggling to see in the failing light. Night fell, though it's only distinction was the lessening whiteness and gathering gray, sliding towards utter darkness.

 Lost without sight, a terrible position, Donovan struggled, his many burdens weighed him down, and the wind held him off. Hope and heart were failing, he knew full well there no way they could survive any longer, but they had barely attained ¾ of a mile. The bundle in his arms shivered, uncontrollably, and his mind set on the only option, shelter.

 Shuffling through the snow Donovan found a mailbox post, with a sigh of relief. They weren't far enough, but could go no further, the only alternative was this.

 The heavy front door trembled under Donovan's heavy boots. Another blast of his monstrous leg burst the door inward. Sweeping into the house he laid the brother and sister down, pulling from his shoulder the inhumanly sized gun.

 Unfeeling cheek to the stock he moved through the house, room to room, making a check of the dusty abode, ensuring their solitary inhabitation of the place. Satisfied at the results he returned to the children. 

 Donovan bolted the door back shut, and pulled the young travelers into the front room. Ice coated to the blanket he pulled from around them, Lydia's golden hair fell over her thawing face as she was laid back beside her brother. Both fell to sleep as Donovan brought another blanket from a bedroom of the house.

 Once stripped of his snow crusted coat Donovan pulled a large container from the bottom of his pack, and poured it out on the kitchen floor. Forming the mound of dirt on the cracked and faded linoleum he piled tinder atop and set his flint to it. Flame leapt up the sticks, and took to the logs he added as time went by.

 The fire burning, Donovan turned his attention to the frozen deer he had killed but a few hours before. The hide, osteodermic, was of great value to a sometimes fighter as Donovan, and so he generally would remove it, but now he could not, frozen as it was to the carcass.

 The beast of a man struggled to pry the skin up, even so much as to put the blade of his knife between. With an exasperated gasp he gave up, let go the hide. He was beyond his limits, unable to process his kill. So he did what he could, procuring food for the two travelers sleeping in the front room.

 Lifting up one of the hind legs he managed to cut three frozen strips of meat from the exposed inner part of the quarter. Donovan laid them with care beside the fire before he stood up and seized the carcass again.

 Pulling his hood up, Donovan pulled the deer to the back door, and out into the stabbing blizzard. In an instant his thawed beard refroze, solid as ever. The icy wind tore at his fingers, clawed at his face.

 Blinded, Donovan dropped the corpse in the snow, and went about covering it and filling it with the loose sheets of ice. He stumbled back to the door, the utter darkness lending itself only to his confusion.

 Finding the door at last, Donovan let himself in, and shook the snow from his coat. He sat at the fire and turned the strips over it, watching them thaw and cook.

 Resting his head in his hands he let out a sorrowful sigh, and ran his fingers through his unkempt hair. The twining flames calmed him, took down his guard, and his despair settled on his heart.
 

Flames played out scenes from his mind, unbidden they recalled from the depths of his mind shadows of his memories. And to these memories he fell asleep, dreaming of pain, and of old love.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance
All rights reserved

Donovan Nevil, Chapter 1 part 2

I didn't finish chapter one, and I'm still not done with it.... I've been sidetracked over the last week or two, and I have been writing sparsley through the busyness and stress, and here we go, part 2 of chapter 1, there's no set amount of parts, but please, comment, and read part 1 of chapter 1 first.

Rexpennae

*                                             *                                 *

Donovan struggled elbow deep in a pool of blood, he couldn't see what he was reaching for, but he could feel it. The venous surface met his fingertips in the dark cavern, and he breathed a sigh of relief. It had been more than three months since he had successfully recovered the heart of any of his deer, and he was now glad that the deer had attacked him so.

 He wrapped his ironbound fingers around the unbeating heart and pulled. Connective tissues gave way inch by inch, until at last Donovan Nevil pulled forth the heart of his foe.

 Donovan turned to the pond beside him and dipped the heart in, sliding it back and forth beneath the waters, cleaning the blood from it. Satisfied with his work he removed his massive hand from the water and raised the heart to eye level, this was always the hardest part, but the part that he needed to do.

 He shut his eyes, and took a large bite of the raw heart, chewing thoroughly before taking another. He tried not to taste, but as the rare nutrients in the heart began to work he didn't bother. They invigorated him, coursing extra strength through his massive body almost within an instant.

 Donovan knew he could live without them, but in his world, it was best to have as much endurance as possible. 

 He wiped his mouth clear of the bloody water that had gathered on his half-trimmed beard, and slung his gun over his shoulder. Donovan stooped to the ground and took a hold on the back leg of his kill, the coarse hair stabbing into every inch of his calloused hands. 

 Pocketing the empty shell larger than his knife handle he began dragging the disemboweled carcass to his current residence. He left a stripe of blood across both lanes the old 96 highway, empty as could ever be, and walked through a decrepit neighborhood development.

 Dozens of old duplexes barely stood against the biting wind. The overcast sky menaced what little it could, casting a pall over the late afternoon sun. The poor lighting served only as a damper to Donovan's already poor perception of this neighborhood, and it's sheer venerability. He would never stay there, he thought, not even if the rest of the homes in the small town were destroyed.

 At the next major road, only half a mile from the highway, he knelt down, and seized his kill by all four limbs, and heaved the body over this shoulders. He had to get the animal off the ground, it's blood trail would only lead other, more foul creatures to his door.

 He jogged the next quarter mile back to the house he was staying at. Long, thick vines covered the surface of the building, and Donovan let out a sigh, he could not stay here tonight. He laid the carcass on the street and took double strides to the front door.

 He threw open the door, startling the young woman sitting on the worn couch in the corner. She came to her feet in a heartbeat, and the book she had been reading fell to the carpeted floor.

 "Mr. Nevil," she cried, shuddering as his steely eyes fell on her, "Did you get food?"

 Donovan almost smiled at her delusion of simplicity, "Yes," his out of use voice growled, "It's outside, we cannot stay here tonight, gather your things, and your brother."

 She opened her mouth, Donovan presumed so that she could ask why, but a look of fear came over her face and she nodded. Donovan watched her walk into a room at the back of the hall before he went to the closet of his own room. Nothing hung on the racks, nothing lay on the shelves.

 He scooped up the hiker's pack on the floor, one could only guess at the contents of the bulging faded fabric stretched over a frequently repaired frame. With a cursory glance over the room Donovan left it as it was.

 He walked back into the living room, and stared out the broad picture window. Weeds grew out of what he remembered as a well kept lawn, the street was cracked wild flowers grew in the pits. He let a sigh from his mouth, and ran his calloused fingers through his less than kempt hair. Eyes closed he envisioned the world of old… but yet again his musings cut short.

 "Mr. Nevil." The girl's soft voice cut through his thoughts as a razor, "We're all ready to go."

 Donovan opened his eyes, and turned to the young woman. He brother, little older than 4 years, clung to her, laying his head on her shoulder. She carried their possessions in a small tattered pack on her opposite shoulder. 

 Donovan sighed looking upon the 2 so ill prepared. He silently walked past them and pulled a heavy woolen blanket from a closet in the hall. Taking extra care to cover the child completely, Donovan wrapped the traveler in the folds of the blanket.

 Her expression was halfway quizzical as Donovan finished his task.

 "It's cold," he said, answering her question before she asked, "Keep it wrapped tight, Lydia, now, let's go."

 Having let down the shade over the picture window he opened the door, to be hit by a blast of biting cold wind.

Tiny bits of ice were falling from the sky, driving themselves against exposed skin. Donovan had seen worse, but the situation was deteriorating faster than he expected. Although it was barely October sheets of ice and snow blocked everything from sight.

But Donovan continued, the scared Lydia closely in tow.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance
All rights reserved

The Tale of Donovan Nevil

OK, so, the title sucks, yes I know... I'll fix that sooner or later...

I haven't posted in quite some time, remedied here. This is my latest concept, and one of my very favorites. Please comment and answer my questions at the end.

Chapter 1

Sweat dripped from his furrowed brow, running a course into his clenched right eye. The wooden stock of his gun stood resolute under the vise grip of this beast of a man.

His heart quickened as the light brown fur of his prey slipped into sight from the very corner of his ever watching eye. He turned ever so slowly to the edge of the tree row where the deer had just appeared, and bore down his sights upon the animal's breast.

Oh, how they had changed from the elder days, he thought, when a .30-06 could pierce their hides. When they were still creatures of beauty, in the long forgotten days of his youth, when his long dead father had taught him to hunt. In the days when the deer had eaten…

His thoughts were interrupted by the solitary sound of a twig snapping on the wet ground behind him. It was a fearful sound to any who knew what it meant, and this man knew. No human was large enough to snap a twig, not into the soft ground, something large, swift, and silent had stalked him here.

All this ran through his mind in half a second, there could be but one creature behind him, and he was in a bad position. He tensed, and drew in a deep breath that could be one of the very few remaining to him. His knife was affixed to the end of his gun, as a bayonet, little use to him now, as he could almost feel the hot breath of his stalker on his back.

And with a half prayer to a god he wasn't sure existed anymore Donovan Nevil spun on his heels, standing as he turned, to face the foe. The suddenness of his move saved him, but only for a moment, the deer jumped back, unsure at the reaction of its prey, but only for a moment. It recovered, and snarled at Donovan, beginning to circled the man, it's teeth dripping with a toxic saliva, the very least, however, of Donovan's worries.

It's antlers gleamed in the rising sun, they were broken in several places, only adding to the dastardly demeanor of the hulking brute. Its eyes glowed with the burning desire for the meal that Donovan presented, its fur seemed ripe with mange, and its legs were bent with the power of a hundred forgotten steam trains.

The deer glanced at Donovan's gun with a sort of sentient understanding of its purpose. Donovan held it slack in his hands, he knew well that the deer would be on him in half an instant should he try to raise it.

The deer bolted, charging across the 20 or 30 yards between it and the man, unable to deny its hunger any longer. The damp grass gave way before the juggernaut, but not the man, he planted his feet squarely, and stabbed his gun at the wall of mangy fur headed in his direction.

Both man and fearsome beast crashed together and fell aside, turned by each other's attack. Donovan gave a bestial growl as he came to his feet, aching across the spread of his back. His knife had turned on the iron like hide of the deer, which was back on its feet just as fast as the man.

Donovan raised his gun and, with a forest shattering boom, let loose one round. The massive slug tore at the left shoulder of the raging beast, pulling away pounds of flesh as it passed. However, nothing short of death would stop the monster, now fully in the throes of bloodlust.

Shreds of bloody muscle hanging from the craterous remains of its left shoulder the deer lowered its head and came in again. Donovan's hand flew to the bolt of his gun as he realized his shot had missed its deadly mark, but not even he could be fast enough. He only just managed to catch the spreading tree of bone with his gun, inches before it would have spitted him.

Man and feral brute held each other for a moment, at arms length, matching each other sinew for sinew, but Donovan's boot held not the traction of the iron shod hooves of the deer, and he fell on his back. The deer was upon him in an instant, and it was all the strength he could muster to hold back the gnashing teeth.

The deer bore all its weight down on Donovan, his arms buckled, and the venomous teeth began to snap at the buttons on his shirt. In another instant he would be dead, but Donovan had one more subconscious effort to employ. He lashed out with his heavy boots, and caught the deer precisely in the gut, producing the effect he needed.

The deer rolled to the side at the sudden concussion of its vital organs, and struggled to clamber to its feet. But it was that short period of time that Donovan needed. He picked up his gun from the ground beside him, and with every sinew in his body bristling he pummeled the deer's skull with the brass-plated butt of his gun. Again and again the brass rose and fell, collapsing the skull upon itself.

Heaving for breath Donovan Nevil stood up straight, throbbing pain coursing through his body. He had won this fight, and come up with more meat than he had expected. The travelers would eat well for a while.

In a Bygone age his fruitless heroics and stalwart stubbornness would have been unknown and needless. The great misfortune of Donovan Nevil, however, was having lived through the bygones which were now but memories, and into what the few remaining even hesitated to dub, "The Reconstruction". A grave misnomer, Donovan knew deep in his heart, because no living man possessed the knowledge, much less the will, to rebuild, not even he.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance
All rights reserved

_____________________________________

Questions, please answer in your comment.

1. What can you tell about the setting?
2. What can you tell about Donovan?
3. Where would you like to see the story head?
4. What Questions would you like answered?

Rexpennae

The Sanctity of Death

OK,
My writing is undergoing some serious revisions and drastic changes in style, thanks to Jeff Gerke and the others at the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference. So many thanks to them if anyone of them comes on here.
And so, I have not been working on stories as fast as I used to, and I have paused my work on The Keyschnect in favor of a more focused approach to writing.
Here is the sum of my time since coming back from Colorado, The Sanctity of Death, please read, and answer the questions at the end. And I know that it cuts off abruptly, but that will be amended here in week or two.

The Sanctity of Death

Chapter 1

Alaric hated flying, at least, flying in this manner. His seat felt as if it had been woven of barbed wire, he could never quite allow it his full weight, nor his full trust. His eyes fixed themselves, unceasing and coldly similar to death, out the window at the white flecked and glittering darkness.
He thought it must seem, to the bodyguard beside him at least, that Alaric had died, but he knew that even the bodyguard knew that statuesque pose that Alaric took in uncomfortable situations. Without warning Alaric broke the almost molded feeling of the chamber by rising with a purpose befitting his rank, and striding with a king like air of confidence out of the passenger cabin.
Without breaking his stride for a moment, Alaric threw open the flight deck double doors and continued on to where the captain was standing.
"Yes, my liege," said the captain, without turning "What are you needing?"
Alaric said nothing in reply, opting instead to place his hand on the captain's shoulder with care, and moving him aside with a gentle firmness.
"I will be piloting." He said, taking the controls from the captain.
"But, my lord," the captain protested, "I don't think protocol allows for that."
"Protocol is not important now, captain, I will be flying. I am not used to riding while others fly me around."
The captain bowed out, "Yes of course, I apologize."
Alaric watched as the captain left the deck, and motioned for his bodyguard to do the same. Much better, he thought to himself, moving his scarred right hand to the well worn throttle. Slow, but with deliberate intent he pushed it from cruising speed, until the transport cruiser was hurtling through space at just below hyper drive.
Alaric lost all sense of time, and place, he liked it better that way. Often he described flying in transit between the Juzian outpost on the barren Earth, and the Yichnelevanian empire on Craznia as his escape from the cares of his office.
Alaric was far gone, too far, in fact, to pay any notice to the young man who walked into the flight deck. The young man had an air of foreign upbringing, evidenced by the long flowing robes, adorned with angular lines and many patterns resembling leaves, he wore. His soft pointed shoes made almost no sound on the cold, black metal floor as he advanced, coming to a halt just behind Alaric.
"Sir," said he, "Hawkeye gave me into your keeping to learn, it is rather hard to learn propriety in leadership from you if you do not exercise it yourself."
"In all his years among us I should think that Hawkeye would have learnt by now that Yichnelevanians have never been a people taken to propriety, nor to conformity." Alaric answered.
The young man seemed taken aback at the bluntness of the Yichnelevanian, "Yes, Hawkeye did say that your people are rarely orthodox, but I would expect more than petty regulation violations from the king, especially one of whom Hawkeye speaks so highly."
Alaric turned aside, back to the controls, even he wasn't quite sure why Hawkeye had made Talonbrand his apprentice, aside from the fact it was a tradition.
Alaric's musings cut off, the roar of sublight engines deafened him as he stood at the helm. They weren't his engines, so another ship must have been moving in dangerous proximity to his own ship, and there was only one group of people who would risk something so monumentally dangerous.
"Pirates?" Talonbrand asked.
"Yes." Alaric answered, "But they won't harm us."
"What do you mean?"
"There's a sort of uneasy truce between pirates and Yichnelevanians, they use our ports without fear, and in exchange our ships roam free without fear of them."
A sudden lurch of the floor threw the two to the hard metal floor, the sound of twisting metal was prominent in the steely silence of space. Alaric picked himself up off the floor, blood was running down the side of his face, Talonbrand, however, was already on his feet, almost animal like.
"They fired," Alaric said, "What's going on here?" he roared into the intercom.
"They're boarding, sir," said the voice on the other end, "We've got about twenty of us on board, and their ship looks big enough for at least fifty."
"Thank you, captain." Alaric responded, and turned away from the control panel.
Talonbrand looked ready to go help the fighters below, his sword drawn, But Alaric locked the door with the push of a button before the Juzian could move.
"We need to go help them, sir." Talonbrand stressed.
"We cannot, that is their job, and ours is to remain here."
"Coward." Talonbrand muttered as he sat down.
"You think that I am a coward?" Alaric asked, "You yourself asked for propriety, if we were down there it would be just a distraction to the men, trying to protect us as well as defeat the pirates."
Talonbrand didn't answer, it was obvious he was dissatisfied with Alaric's answer.
Gunfire erupted, Alaric could hear the popping sound of the guns, and much to his discomfort, the muffled roar of grenades, his men didn't have those, he thought.
For seven torturous minutes the fight below continued, anxiety was visibly graven on Talonbrand's face, and Alaric knew his visage was very much similar. All fell to silence, Alaric stood with a silent fleetness and sidled his way to the door, drawing the Sword of Turner as he went.
Talonbrand let out a sigh of awe at the sight of the sword, but gathered himself and crouched behind the control panel. Voices were speaking on the other side of the door, in a foreign tongue.

.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

.

Questions:

1. What can you tell about the setting?

2. What can you tell about Alaric?

3. Would you read on?

Thank you.

The Keyschnect: The Hunt for Bondahar FINAL CHAPTER

Hello All,
This is the final chapter of The Keyschnect: The Hunt for Bondahar. I ask that you read the others in the series of posts that comprise the book, and comment for the story as a whole. Many thanks for reading, and I ask you to spread the word. I'm posting early this week, so you all can read it, the first chapters were posted in January.

Rexpennae Kansas

Chapter 14

Krethos severed the bar on the door to the rest of the castle and started in. The Princess' men were clearing the halls of the dead, and Krethos passed by unnoticed.
He passed through the gates into the courtyard, where the survivors of the battle were gathering. The wounded awaited attention near the wall gate, and the bodies of the dead were sorted by side and piled for burial.
Wagon trains rolled in to carry away the prisoners and wounded, and Krethos went to help load them up. He could see the uncertainty on the faces of the prisoners, and the pain on the faces of the badly wounded.
As the first wave of wagons left the Princess reemerged from the castle, dragging a man by his hair. She threw him to the ground in front of Krethos, "Krethos," she said, "I would like you to meet my cousin, Eravar."
Krethos smiled, "So he never left?"
"No," she answered, "My riders caught his decoy early this morning, and I received word during the battle. I found him in the dungeon, the only living thing down there."
"You fared well here." Krethos said.
The Princess lifted Eravar to his feet by his neck and started walking to her personal guard near the out wall, "That I did." She replied, "How did you fare?"
Krethos ran to catch up, "Not so well, he didn't have the Keys."
"Why would he say he did, then?"
"Because he had them at one point, but he said they were stolen."
The Princess threw her cousin to the ground in front of guards, "Watch him." She said, before turning back to Krethos, "Who took them?"

"He didn't say, only that they were put in the Razon Mountains."
"I see. This is troubling, I wish we knew more about this. Something feels wrong."
"That it may," Krethos answered, "But, nevertheless, I must press on."
"Did you not hear me? You're going into this without any plan, or foreknowledge of the risks or lay of the obstacles. There are seeming holes in Von Bondahar's story, and you would do well to investigate them."
"Princess Rose," Krethos said, "I have no time to waste, I must be in the race, lest I lose sorely. I understand your concerns, but I cannot now heed them."
The Princess sat down, "What will you need?"
"A horse for myself, and one for Meir, to get us back to the port."
"And beyond that?"
"I'll find what we need when we get there."
The Princess called for two horses, and Meir from the rear command. When they arrived the Horses were saddled, and Meir was told what he was to do.
All the preparations were completed within half an hour, and, although Glaxon was coming from the camp, Krethos mounted up on the horse, and Meir followed suit.
"Take care, Krethos," Princess Helen Rose bid him, "May the good fortune that has been yours continue to be so. Godspeed."
Krethos nodded to her, "Fare thee well, Princess."
His horse leaped forward, and he was gone.

THE END OF PART I
THE HUNT FOR BONDAHAR

PART II COMMENCES

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

Chapter 13

Here is Chapter 13, only one more left until this book is finished. Enjoy, comment, and continue coming back. And read the rest of the posts first, or else this one will make no sense.

Rexpennae

Chapter 13

The dust settled as rain began to fall. Krethos clambered up onto the pile of stone that had, until just then, been the formidable walls of El Intrivo. He stood blinking as the water rolled down his face, looking across the courtyard.
There was no one to be seen in the wasted yard, a fact that troubled him as the rest of his men and the Princess' came to his side. Slowly several men made their way down the rubble, and as they met no resistance several more followed, unto their ruin. For as men poured into the courtyard there came a sudden shout, and many areas on the ground burst upward. Up from the trenches came the main force of El Intrivo, and they clashed with the disordered Northerners, Citizens, and the Princess' guard.
Krethos watched from the pinnacle of his mound, his unease only grew, however, seeing the trap laid so early, what other devilry was in store as they moved farther in, he asked himself. He surveyed the area for a moment before joining in to the fight, quickly turning in his favor.
Swords clove flesh and bone, doing simply their duties. The hands that wielded them were skillful, and slowly the defenders fell before the onslaught.
The courtyard was cleared, the bodies were sorted by side and piled for burial, but there was the castle to deal with. The castle stood on a plain near the river Salas, and had been, prior to that morning, encircled by a high and strong wall. The castle itself was square and rose three stories in the main building, in the center another story rose up, and a tower keep 3 more stories.
The Princess came forward and stood in the stone ring, shielded from the aerial attacks that still came from the ramparts high above by broad shields born by strong men.
"We made short work of the out walls, did we not, Krethos." She said.
"That we did, but the main toil is yet to begin, have the Northerners lay their ram to the gates."
"They already have started." She replied.
Krethos held his shield high and made his way to the fore gate. The Northerners had brought in their iron capped battering ram, and with every stroke they made the gates buckled more. They had set a pavilion over themselves to deflect the arrows, and they were glad of it, for it was upon them that greatest part of the defense was brought down.
It was not only the incessant hail of black fletched shafts, but great pots of boiling water, stones, and whatever else could be found to cast. Krethos watched from afar as the gates buckled and splintered in. And all at once the doors were shivered, and the ram cast down. Swords were drawn and men poured into the main castle, where the fighting would be close, and more deadly than before.
Krethos nodded to the Princess as he slowly strode forward into the castle. The dank halls were near lightless and it took a moment before Krethos could see his way forward.
His men had moved further into the building, and the front passages were cleared. Krethos trod down the way to his left alone, all the way passing by dead bodies and blood stained walls. He mounted a curving stairway to the second floor, and found himself in the fray once more. In the narrow halls his sword would be more a hindrance to him, so he set it in its sheath and drew out a knife, long and shard, it would keep its edge well through the use ahead.
Stabbing and slicing he made his way through the skirmish, and set about his remaining enemies from their rear. Before long he stood facing his men alone, and set off once more. He was unsure of his way, only that he should make it to the open air of the top level. And so he did, finding again two more stairways he mounted to the open air. He found a garden, by the labor of may slaves soil enough was brought to the top, and a lush garden encompassed the entirety of the top of the castle.
Silently stealing aside he slew an archer and used the bow to strike down the other archers on the ramparts, one by one. Krethos went to the edge of the wall and looked out, he could see the princess below, and her guard accepting a rider. He watched as the rider spoke to the Princess, and she stormed into the building, not fully understanding what he had seen, Krethos turned around to descend and talk to the Princess.
Jack Von Bondahar filled Krethos' vision.
"Well done, boy." Von Bondahar said, as he took Krethos by the arm and flung him away from the parapet.
"You, are the Assassin?" Krethos asked as he rose to his feet.
"Astute observation, I must say."
"I will have the keys from you."
"Hasty, you are much too hasty for your own good."
"You should be quick, there are hundreds coming up from below."
"I would not worry about your friends, they are occupied below, and cannot reach us here, I have sealed off the few entrances to the garden here."
Krethos moved his hand to his sword, "I will have the keys." He said steadily, his eyes burning with anger. Anger gathered along the way, at his own incompetence, and his failures, bottled and held.
Von Bondahar drew his own sword from his fine belt, "If you will not hear me out, then so be it, your blood is upon your own head."
Despite this last warning Krethos struck out at the assassin, his blade was met halfway, and he was thrown back.
"Did the captain teach you nothing?" Von Bondahar said, "Vengeance doesn't suit you, anger blinds you, clear your mind if do not wish your life to end in a moment."
Krethos stood up tall, and let go his anger, he was not to be guided by it any longer. He swung hard at the assassin's neck, caught off guard the assassin had only time to duck, but it was sufficient, as he stabbed out at Krethos' chest. Krethos moved back, only just in in time to save himself, and he brought another hard strike down, and Von Bondahar matched it, and they pushed against each other. Von Bondahar smiled, and with a flick of his wrist sent Krethos' sword flying across the garden, where it was driven deep into the ground.
Krethos kicked Von Bondahar's wrist, and caused his opponent to drop his sword. While the assassin stooped to pick it up Krethos ran around the one story projection from the garden.
He clambered up onto a narrow ledge, just large enough to hold him out of sight, but if he moved but a little it would cast stones upon the head of anyone below. Von Bondahar rounded the corner to find nothing but Krethos' sword in the ground. He walked around to below where Krethos was hiding and kneeled, observing something in the grass.
He stood again and walked around the other side of the projection. Krethos sighed in relief, and was moving to come back down, when Von Bondahar appeared along side the ledge, a bow drawn overly taught. He released the shaft, as Krethos leapt from the ledge.
The arrow passed by Krethos' head, and sliced his ear. Krethos fell to the ground, and the air was pulled from his lungs. He stood, struggling to refill his deflated lungs, bent over, looking at the assassin.
Krethos pulled his sword out of the ground beside him and, still gasping for air, made a series of well placed and calculated blows. Von Bondahar was taken aback, and soon he in turn fled, but not far. He came to the exposed stair of the tower keep, and leapt up onto it.
Krethos followed, and defended himself well as Von Bondahar retreated up the stair, until they came at last to the ruined throne room. The walls of the circular chamber had been cast down, but the floor remained, and here Von Bondahar determined to make his final stand.
Krethos entered the room and blocked expertly the onslaught of the assassin, until his opportunity arose, and he cast Von Bondahar's sword from the tower, much as Von Bondahar had done earlier.
Krethos stood over his opponent, and held his sword to the defeated assassin's neck, "Surrender the keys." He commanded.
To which Von Bondahar answered with a cackle, "I don't have them."
"What do you mean!"
"I had them once, and then they were taken from me, hidden."
Krethos stepped back, he had labored so long to hear this?
"Where are they?" He asked.
"Hidden, deep in the Razon mountains." The assassin cackled, "and there you must go to get what you seek, and you must go on alone, with no more help from me."
And with that he cast himself from the tower, by some feat of skill or magic he landed safe in the garden and cast himself from there. Krethos watched as his long target ran into the distance, and only watched.
No longer would he hunt, now he would race. Von Bondahar, was alive, but he had a head start, and it was clear he wanted the keys.
A new mission lay ahead, and time grew thin, Krethos sheathed his sword, and started down the curving stair.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

Chapter 12

Welcome back, here is this week's chapter, Please read the others if you have not already, and leave comments.
Thank you,
Rexpennae Kansas

Chapter 12

A single horse issued from the gates of El Intrivo, one horse, and it swiftly bore its rider south.
"Fool," Jack muttered to himself, "Unless they attack our score is not settled."
He swept from the throne room and descended the long curving stair that encircled the keep tower. When the keep tower met the main building of four stories Jack burst through the first door he passed. The soldiers in the barrack room jumped to their feet, and fell across the floor.
"Get up you lazy swine!" Jack roared, "To the walls, all of you, do you wish to hand your fortress to the rebels?"
The troops scrambled out of the room and ran to the wall top, fairly satisfied, Jack descended another floor and burst into the barracks, much to the same effect as last time.
"You all, Ready your weapons, throw the gates open, and dig trenches in the courtyard!" he ordered.
"You are not our king. You dare command his troops." Said the captain as he walked up to challenge Jack.
He received a ringed hand across his face, he picked himself up from the floor, bleeding from a long gash across his cheek, only to be knocked down again.
"In the absence of your king, you will obey my command." Jack glared at the captain, who quietly rose and ordered his men to do as Jack instructed.
**************************************************************************************
Clouds veiled the sun's rising that day, and the wind bit deep, cutting through the bodies of the standing troops at the outlet of the Salas River. They were waiting for their captains, and leaders, who were in a debate that could have cleared the sky.
The Rebels of the north had arrived in Salas, with their many machines of war, ballistae, catapults, towers, and the like. They were ready for war, but had long owed fealty to Princess Rose, and would not go without her consent. And consent was just what she was withholding.
"A rider left the castle last night, this rider matched well the description of Eravar, from what my scouts could see, and he bore away hard and fast. If Eravar has left the castle then there is no reason to attack." She said to the council of 6.
"And why not, Princess? Seize his throne, and put an end to him." Said Krethos.
"Because, Krethos, I cannot allow him to walk abroad. I cannot allow him to move and gather more support." She replied, and Krethos could see clearly her concern, and anger.
"And you, Commander of the northerners, will you not come?" Krethos asked.
"Lacking the Princess' consent I will do nothing, and were it not so, I see much better her view than yours. Eravar is a master orator, and to let him free would be a grave error on our part." Replied the commander.
"Supposing we forgo the castle, and capture the mystery rider, will you feel yourself a fool to find your cousin in his tower, Princess?"
"No." She answered, "And if we attack the castle to find the rider was my cursed cousin, will you feel yourself a fool?"
"My business is not with Eravar, but his guest, Princess, and You would do well to remember that."
The princess leaned back in her chair, her admiration for this man was great, near boundless. But she could not risk a victory, only to find herself in a trap, and finally defeated.
"Krethos," she said, " I cannot risk it, there are too many variables. I will bend all my forces to take the rider, and guard the cities he could be aiming for, from his arrival."
Krethos' mind turned, furiously his mind worked, gears turned and pieces were brought together. He was angry, angry at the withdrawal of promised aid, no matter the sanity and reason behind it. Princess Rose could see him thinking, she knew he was disappointed, but she didn't know to what extent.
"You break a promise, do you expect me to believe you will return to keep it?" Krethos asked, holding, just barely, his anger back.
"I will return to aid you, dear Krethos, I promise you that, and I cannot expect you to trust me." She answered.
"Then, how would an alternative arrangement sound to you?" Krethos asked.
Princess Rose tread lightly from then on, warily she had to proceed, Krethos was a good man, but dangerous.
"What do you propose, Krethos?"
"Send out riders, a dozen or so, leave them to catch your mystery rider, while the rest of us, take the castle." Krethos said.
"Krethos' idea has merit." Glaxon said.
His comment was met with agreement by the northern commander and the Princess' personal commander. The Princess thought hard for a moment, anxiousness could be seen in her eyes.
"Your idea does indeed hold merit, Krethos," she said, thoughtfully, "And I will agree to it, holding you responsible if we must fight again to out Eravar."
Krethos smiled, "Yes indeed, Princess."
**************************************************************************************
Stones flew at the first light of dawn, thick in the air. As they fell they laid waste to the walls of El Intrivo. But the men inside were not asleep, Jack Von Bondahar had roused them, and they returned fire.
Arrows rained down from the heavens, the dark fletched shafts buried themselves in the ground, and a few in their targets. Stones rose from the courtyard and flew high into the sky, rolling over men as they struck the ground. One caught a northerner trebuchet and the splinters flew far.
Krethos watched from a distance, as the walls crumbled. The tower keep's walls fell away, leaving the curving stair exposed, and the throne room at the pinnacle was laid open by a chance shot.
The Northern commander ordered his troops forward, and they obeyed swiftly. Sheilds held high they advanced, moving closer to the wall. They guarded ballistae of great strength, and when effective range was reached several deep cutting steel bolts were fired, and they sunk into the wall, and the Northerners pulled on the ropes attached to the bolts. The walls came crashing down.
At once a great cry went up from Krethos' allies, and they rushed forward, headlong into the castle, and Krethos was at their lead.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

The Keyschnect: Chasing Bondahar chapter 11

Hello again, and welcome back to the Center for the Exhibition of Rexpennae Kansas' writing. We have scheduled posts to be put up every Wednesday, although we cannot promise what time, so check back on Thursday if you don't see something on Wednesday. Rexpennae envies your comments and welcomes your opinions, so feel free to leave them. And without further ado we shall present the next instalment in Chasing Bondahar.



Rexpennae Kansas

Chapter 11

He loosed the arrow…
Krethos sat up, the wind turbulence in his wake extinguished the candle and he stumbled around the small side cavern. The darkness was bound tighter around him than a blindfold, and he feared he would never escape from the black pit. He made his way slowly to the stone walls and felt his way around the room until he felt wood beneath his fingers.
Relieved, Krethos swung the door open and walked into the hall. He splashed some cold water on his face from a basin outside his door and smoothed his hair out before proceeding down the hall to the Princess' courtroom.
He had spent the last day and a half in the cavernous palace of Princess Rose and her followers. They were preparing for war, and he was growing impatient.
He entered the court, which he had left the night before full of weapons and armor, to find it cleared.
"Good morning, Krethos." The Princess said as she walked up to him, "I trust you slept well."
"Tolerably, through no fault of yours or your people." Krethos answered, and bowed.
The Princess lead Krethos to a wagon full of armaments, "We cleared the stocks while you slept, we are nearly ready, and will leave within the morning."
"Very good," Krethos answered, "We will meet with my men at Port Salas, where we will proceed to move on the castle of El Intrivo."
"And King Eravar the usurper." The Princess added.
"I am looking for Jack Von Bondahar, the king is of your concern." Krethos replied.
The Princess paid him no heed, but continued walking beside the last wagon. The emerged from a secret opening in the side of a hill and descended to the valley below, where rested the other hundred wagons of weapons.
The Princess stood up on the hillside, dressed in the blue of the river and her shining tiara on her head, every eye turned to her and held, transfixed by her beauty.
"My friends, and family," she called out, "This man, Krethos, has come to lead us forward, to victory, we will retake the kingdom from the usurper. Our friends in the North will join us with their machines, and we will be the tool of vengeance."
The crowd erupted into cheers, but Krethos was oblivious to the celebration, he was ready to go, and took up the head of the column when the horns were sounded. They would meet Meir in little over 8 hours.
**************************************************************************************
He leaned on his cane, trying to keep as much weight off his leg as possible, it caused obvious pain to walk, and even more to stand.
"They're late." He said to the dock worker.
"That they are." The dock worker replied.
"They were to be here yesterday."
"I would not begrudge them that, my friend, this is a radical thing they do, I would not be surprised if they are detained."
The strange man turned to look at the dock worker, "I must let my leg rest, please call me should they appear."
"I will do that."
The strange man hobbled back into the warehouse where he had been sleeping and lay down.
The dock worker went about his business and loaded boxes for just over 3 hours before he was startled by a voice behind him.
"Do you wish to join the Keyschnect in his fight to get the keys?"
"I cannot, but there is a man here wants to." Said the dock worker as he stepped into the warehouse and roused the stranger.
"Are you with Krethos?" Asked the man as he hobbled out.
"Yes sir, I am." answered Meir.
"Where can I find him?"
"He will be along soon, he went on a trip alone to get more fighters. Who are you, anyway?"
"My name is Glaxon, I would like to speak to Krethos when he returns."
"Mr. Glaxon, when he arrives you may speak to Krethos."
Meir walked away, to supervise the rest of the recruitment in the last stop before pressing to the castle. The people of this nation were desperate for deliverance from the oppression of the king, and many joined believing that the Keyschnect was to overthrow the king. Krethos didn't care about what they thought, only that they could fight, and would.
Port Salas was a large town on the Salas River, had Krethos' voyage gone smoothly he would have landed there. The populace of the town was reluctant to leave their homes for the battle so unprepared. Until the wagon train of Princess Rose rode to the army camp.
Citizens flocked from the town to see the Princess, she was their standard of freedom, exiled she fled and vowed to return when the time was right for revolution. It was then that every man who could hold a sword emptied from the city and stood behind the Princess, who stood behind Krethos.
As they were armed, Krethos entered the city, told by Meir that Glaxon wanted to speak with him, Krethos was in search of an old friend. He found Glaxon, waiting on a crate left in the exodus, his cane at his side. Glaxon stood and limped to his old friend, and they embraced as long separated brothers.
"Your leg, what happened?" Krethos asked.
"Unfortunately getting you to the keep was a hard feat, I am lucky to have escaped the courtyard with no more problems than the leg."
"So the others, they have died."
"I watched each of them fall."
Krethos sat down on the crate beside Glaxon's, so much to take in. All the people he had once cared for were gone, everything from his old life, save for Glaxon, was turning to dust as he spoke.
"Krethos, they died in pursuit of life, to find the keys, and bring back what was once dear to them. All is not lost if you are still whole and ready to fight for what they perished for."
"Did you know who I was?"
"No." Glaxon answered, "But it doesn't surprise me in the least, if there were a reason you lived, a reason that you sought the keys, it would be that."
" I have done much since I left you all."
"And I have seen it, this very day you were able to empty this town, you have raised up a country. On the far side of the seas your messengers have spread the word far and wide, people are listening, rising, looking for you. You are not alone, there is the whole of the world behind you. And they are ready to come to your aid."
Krethos could see the sun setting down one street.
"What's going to happen? Back at home you were a very wise man, what is to come of this?"
"Krethos, I cannot see, we are entering a dark and troubling new age, one in which the world will be irreversibly changed, that much is certain, but beyond that nothing can be discerned."
"I'm afraid."
"As am I."
**************************************************************************************
"…And what would you have me do, Jack?" Asked Eravar, concerned and irritated.
"Whatever you want." Jack answered watching from the throne as Eravar paced up and down the room.
"That doesn't help!" Eravar yelled, "Helen wouldn't attack unless she was sure I was here, but now that she's entered into the equation I do not dare stay here."
"And why not?"
"She is bent upon vengeance, when it was just your puppet I could do whatever I wished, and end my debt to you, but now, now my life is forfeit if I stay.
"Then go, save yourself."
"If I go they will not attack."
"Then stay."
"JACK!" Eravar shouted in frustration, "What do you want?"
"To speak to the boy, and you will do whatever it is that will get me that."
Eravar slumped into a chair, feeling as though he had just signed his own execution order.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance
All rights reserved

The Keyschnect: Chasing Bondahar chapter 10

Hello all, do I have to say it, this will make no sense at all if you have not read the others, so please go back and read them, and please leave comments for me.

Thank you all,

Rexpennae Kansas

Chapter 10

"Who is this?"
"His name is Krethos."
"Is he the one you've been waiting for?"
"Yes, my friend, I have been waiting for his for many years."
"What is your plan?"
"Ahh, I would be saying too much, at this point there are too many variables."
"What do you want me to do, Jack?"
Jack leaned back against the wall and looked out the window, "He'll be raising an army, thanks to my instruction. I care not what you do with your subjects, but I need him, I need to meet him."
"You shall have him, Jack, my subjects should know better than to rise up in such a manner, I shall wreak such death on them that they will think twice before letting their heart beat without my permission."
"Easy Eravar, the allure of a savior is much more than some can stand against, pray do not be so hard on them, as it is that I need them."
Eravar stepped away from his throne, his old friend could be so difficult at times, but Eravar owed the assassin for his life. Von Bondahar had saved the boy from a grim fate at the hands of an angry sow bear 24 years before, and had never asked anything in return, until now.
"So, Eravar, how long do you think it'll be until they attack?"
"I'd think a good three days, they're not armed yet."
"Then arm your troops, while I need you to let your guard down, there is always a danger to you."
Eravar nodded, and sent out orders, Ready all troops, an attack is eminent.
**************************************************************************************
Esmerelda stepped onto the deck, there was no one around, not a single soul. She ran to Krethos, and wrapped her arms around him, and he returned the gesture. In the peace of the moment a sharp, deep, and terrible pain erupted in Krethos' back, he cried out in a mix of pain and rage, Esmerelda stepped back.
"I love you, Krethos…" she said, her hand upon a bloody dagger.
She raised it high above her head and came forward, all the while muttering her love to Krethos. She continued coming closer, and every step she advanced was matched by a step in retreat by Krethos, until he met the rail of the ship. There, there lay a bow, and a single arrow, on the deck beside Krethos, and in desperation he raised it, "Hold there, Esmerelda, do not step farther."
As much as he wished her to stop, she continued forward, and in a motion more painful than anything he could have experienced, he loosed the arrow…
Krethos awoke with a start, Meir was pounding on the door, "Get up Krethos, we're leaving in an hour." Meir said.
Krethos grunted in reply, and lay back down, his dreams had been plagued by the recurring dream he had just woken from, since his escape from the pirates. He got up and dressed himself in the darkness of the shrouded room. They would be moving on today, he already had a force of 500, and he would gain more as the next few days ground on.
Krethos pulled his last boot on as he stumbled out the door. The sun was bright in the cloudless sky, and he could see the castle from where he stood, the towering pinnacle in the distance. However, his concern was not there, not yet.
Krethos strode through the little village, his disheveled hair and unkempt face drew some stares, but most dared not look at him. He made his way to Meir, who was standing with an older man who, it seemed, had been a military person at some point in his life.
"Ah, Krethos," Meir exclaimed as he saw Krethos, "This gentleman says that there is a weapons cache just west of here, and a large group of rebel fighters guards it."
"Thank you Meir, tell me, would these fighters be open to helping us?
"This man believes they would, but you would need to not go to them with an army, or an assembly such as this."
Krethos cogitated for a moment, "Then I will go alone," he said, which way, and where?"
The older man gestured off into the west, and explained some of the landmarks around the cave where the weapons cache was kept. So, without anyone at his side, Krethos departed. Meir led the rest on, their work could not stop simply because their master was gone.
Krethos stole silently across the plains, not a soul was in sight. The gentle waving of the hip-high grasses mesmerized the traveling Krethos, he had not seen anything like it before. And yet he plodded on, watching for the river he was to cross.
Before long he came to the river, and crossed easily enough, and he continued on. At length he came upon a large, circular outcropping of stone, the cave lay on the other side of the hill on which the outcropping sat, but Krethos never got to go and see for himself the entrance. For he was ensnared by three men who had appeared out of the ground behind him.
"Why are you here?" the leader growled.
"I am here to enlist the aid of the rebels." Krethos answered.
"What for?"
"I am trying to get into the castle, I have an army, but I need arms, and good fighters."
The leader thought for a moment, "I cannot give you what you ask for," he said, "I have not the authority, but the Princess can. If you are serious about enlisting us, then I will take you below to see the Princess."
"I am serious, take me to the Princess." Krethos answered.
The men stood him up, and bound his hands tight, blindfolding him at the same time. When they were sure that Krethos was secure, the three led him to the mouth of the cave, and in.
The cave was damp, and cool. Refreshing from the long walk to get there, Krethos thought. He was led down for several minutes before the guards took his blindfold off.
He stood in a vast cavern, lit by torches, and as ornately furnished as any palace, but the centerpiece, and crown jewel, of the room, was the young lady sitting on a carved stone throne at the far end of the hall. Krethos walked slowly forwad and knelt before the throne.
"Who are you?" asked the Princess.
"My name is Krethos." He answered, still kneeling.
"What do you wish, Krethos?"
"Help, at the very least my men need weapons, and at the very most you could give us men."
"Stand up, Krethos, you shall tell me why I should give these things to you."
"I shall be more than happy to do so, but what, may I ask, should I address you as?"
"I am Princess Helen Rose, you may call me Princess, or Princess Rose."
Krethos stepped back a pace and said, "Me and my men are going to storm the castle El Intrivo, and rid the world of the king Eravar, who has caused such suffering upon his own people. We are many, and we are strong, but we cannot hope to overcome without tools of war.
"It seems, if I am correct, that the king has forced you here, to hide, would it not be grand to see you outside this cavern?"
The Princess sat back in her throne, and thought about what she had just been told. Her face broke into a wide smile, "Krethos, my dear, is that all? Or have you omitted something? Pray take care, My decision can be influenced by what you do not tell me."
Krethos lowered his head and ran his fingers through his long black hair, before looking full into the Princess' glittering eyes, "I am the Keyschnect. Eravar's friend, Jack Von Bondahar, has the keys, and is at the castle."
"So you wish to enlist my help, to take over the castle so you can take the keys from Von Bondahar?" asked the Princess
"Yes, Princess, that is my request."
"Krethos, my dear, are you sure of everything you've said to me? Are you sure that Von Bondahar has the keys, that he resides at the castle? And what proof of this do you have?"
"I am sure, I have no doubts, my proof is what I have seen, and what I have heard."
The Princess looked at Krethos with intent, he seemed to be telling the truth, or what he belived to be the truth. She removed her tiara and set it on the arm of her throne, before standing.
"Gentlemen, ready yourselves," she said, "We follow this man, the Keyschnect, to battle, and to our freedom."
**************************************************************************************
The ship came to the docks, and let the plank down. A middle aged man walked off, carrying a pack and a cane, for it was seen that he had a great limp.
He approached a dock worker, "I am looking for a man called Krethos, have you heard of him?"

"Ya, I hiv 'eard of such a men."
"Where can I find him?"
"Hees follers 'll come 'round on the morrah, 'tis they're last stop."
"I'll be waiting."

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

The Keyschnect: Chasing Bondahar chapter 9

Hello all,
Here is Chapter 9, you won't understand it unless you go back and read the other posts in this series, and please, when you're done reading, post a comment for me.
Rexpennae

Chapter 9

Fog fell heavily on the sea. Krethos and Meir were enveloped in a shroud of gray, unable to see the bow of their longboat from the stern. They ran the sheet and tiller in shifts of three hours each, while the other slept in the bow.
The one blessing they seemed to have was a compass. Krethos found it tucked away in the sheet as he prepared it to raise. The land of El Intrivo was to the west of his starting point, but he had no idea where he was now, his days with the pirates had been unrecorded. So the only thing he could do was to go west and hope to strike land.
Neither Krethos nor Meir dared speak a word in the gathered darkness, for fear of pursuit. The silence was broken only by the wind or waves on the boat. Krethos' hand lay heavy on the tiller, staying the course they held. His other hand held the sheet taut and full, their pace in keeping with the wind, and he looked ahead and no where else.
Krethos' hands tired, as did his mind and body, and so he woke Meir with his foot and they traded places. Meir slid himself under the boom and took hold of the sheet line as Krethos slipped around the other side of the boat, handing the tiller to his friend. Krethos settled down in the bow of the boat upon extra canvas as Meir settled in for his turn at steering.
"Krethos," Meir said softly, "What's going to happen when we find land?"
"We'll continue the quest." Krethos answered, half asleep.
"Even at the cost?"
"They died doing what they felt was right, and what they believed in."
"But they're gone, they're all dead, and I daresay others will follow."
"Yes," Krethos answered, "But their loss can be amended if I succeed, if I take the keys."
"Are you sure that's what they do?"
"I have no reason to doubt it."
Meir sat back silent, he was despondant at the death of his friends, but Krethos, the Keyschnect, didn't seem to care. He didn't want to think about it that way, but he had his doubts, he had heard other stories of what lay in the Dark World. The nicest of which was the souls of the dead.
Krethos fell to sleep as Meir recalled the stories. Some said there was a cloud of death behind the hidden door, or a legion of demons to end the world. Meir stopped there, he would not go any farther, he could not think about those things, and so he turned his mind to keeping the sheets taut.
Meir began to doze at his post, only to wake moments later and adjust his course to be in line with their true course. But it could not last for long, Meir could not keep himself conscious, and fell asleep sitting at his post.
The two slept for hours, of fatigue and mental disparity. They drifted free on the surface of the deep, far off course, far to the south.
A sudden lurch woke the pair. After drowsily exclaiming their surprise they looked around. The fog was rolling back off of a stretching green landscape dotted by houses and cottages. Krethos took the last of his strength and jumped out of the boat onto the sandy beach as the waves licked the heels of his boots. Meir followed, handing Krethos the pirate's sword they walked off to the nearest seaside cottage, around a quarter mile off.
Pushing the sheep from their path, the two made their way to the door and knocked. A young, stout, man came to the door.
"Cin I h'lp ye?" he asked.
"Where are we?" Krethos asked in return,
"Yer een da lans o' King Eravar." The man answered.
"Have you heard of Castle El Intrivo?"
The man stepped back, "Da king rules frim dere." He said slowly.
"Which way is it?"
The man began to close the door, these strange men were looking for the castle, this could only be bad in his mind, "Ye seek da cistle, eet been to da sunset."
The man slammed his door shut, and Krethos could here him bolting it. Krethos turned around, the sun was setting to the west at that very moment.
"Krethos, that man feared the castle, How are two men going to storm it?" Meir asked.
Krethos thought for a moment, "Two men are not going to storm the castle." He said in a distant voice.
"What? What do you mean?" Meir asked.
"It will be closer to two thousand."
Krethos started walking into the setting sun, and Meir struggled to keep up with his friend's inhuman pace.
"What do you mean?" Meir asked, between breaths, "Where are we going to get all those people?"
"The same way I got you."
Krethos swept into a nearby village shortly before full dark. He sought out the center of the village and shouted, "I am the Keyschnect, come to save you all from death, but I require your services first."
The people turned to Krethos, some fell to their knees, and others stood, looking curiously at him.
"There can be no doubt!" Meir stepped up, "He is the Keyschnect!"
At this exclamation the whole village fell to the ground. One man stood up among his peers.
"What is it that You need, oh great man?" he asked.
"Jack Von Bondahar has the Keys."
"Jack Von Bondahar is in the castle." The man answered.
"Then I need to enter the castle."
"We are few, but willing to fight for you."
"Send out some of your own to your neighbors, spread the word, and you will have helped to save the world."
The man, who was now obviously the village mayor ordered three men to spread the word by night. And so Krethos began to ready himself for the battle of the castle El Intrivo, by first building an army.
Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

The Keyschnect: Chasing Bondahar chapter 8

Again, if you have not read the other Keyschnect chapters, go back and read them first, and please, post comments,
Rexpennae

Chapter 8

The pirates sailed over the misty deep for days, and for those days Krethos lay alone in the corner of the brig, refusing food, but not drink. Water slid across the floor of the brig with the rocking of the ship upon the swells, and the food was less than edible, but it was food, and they ate it anyway.
The pirates, it seemed, reserved their debauchery for the port, and remained quite sober and alert on the ship, but even this did not prevent them from dragging prisoners from the brig at all hours of the day or night, and beating, forcing them to work, or worse.
On a particularly calm evening, the breeze blew in the sails, and the prisoners could see the stars past the ropes and canvas through the hatch to deck, Esmerelda took some of the food given to them as their meal for the day to Krethos.
"Eat, my dear, you shall not die upon this voyage."
Krethos opened his eyes and looked into the pale, concerned face looking into his, "I, do not wish to eat, there is no reason for me to continue." He answered.
Esmerelda's green eyes flashed with a deep, but brief, anger, "How dare you!" she cried out in a whisper, "You, the Keyschnect, give up! Hope is not lost, Meir, Freidarae, and many others, they still believe in you, they still believe that you will save them."
"And you, what do you believe?" Krethos asked, in a low whisper.
"Look at Meir, he thinks you'll find a way out of this for us…"
"I didn't ask what Meir thinks," Krethos cut across, "I asked you what you think."
Esmerelda leaned back against the wall, and was quiet for a moment, "I… I have believed in you since the moment I laid eyes upon you, near dead at the bottom of the mountain." She said finally, " And I have loved you nearly as long."
Krethos was taken by surprise, he laid back down speechless, and Esmerelda stood, leaving the food and walked to her pallet on the other side of the brig. Krethos sat up and began eating, slowly, as the sound of heavy footfalls could be first heard on the stairs to below decks.
Three men entered the brig, looked around for a moment, and hauled Esmerelda to her feet and pulled her out of the brig. She went willingly, but it was no surprise to the other prisoners, seeing the difference in size between the smaller Esmerelda, and the massive pirate fighters.
Krethos stood for the first time all day, and went to the gate, watching as Esmerelda was hauled up the stairs to an unknown fate. He returned to his seat and finished his meal, his mind racing, puzzling, over a way for escape. There was no sound from the upper deck for well over two hours before Esmerelda was returned to the brig, nobody bothered to ask her what had happened, they did not really want to know, but after the guards left, Esmerelda produced a key to the brig.
"Be glad, it was not an easy thing to procure." She said of it.
"We'll use it in the morning, just at dawn." Krethos said to his companions, "Rest easy, for on the morrow we'll find hard."
They did just that, and rose at Krethos' bidding early the next morning. Krethos pushed the key into the lock and turned the prize, the gate slowly swung open at Krethos' direction, and the party of four crept from the prison and to the top deck.
The morning was cool and calm, the wind had died and several pirates slept on deck. Krethos slipped across the deck and started to untie a longboat, the others came to help, and they slowly lowered it into the water. Meir stepped first into the boat, and Freidarae followed, Krethos held out his hand for Esmerelda to take and swing below to the waiting longboat, but as she took his hand an arrow head appeared in her neck. She dropped to the deck and behind her was the pirate captain.
"Escaping? And what gived you the idea you'd be able to do that?" the captain called out as he knocked another arrow.
Krethos looked down at the choking body of Esmerelda, and back up in time to see the captain release his arrow, Krethos dropped to the deck as the arrow flew over him. He stood back up, and cut the long boat loose before taking up the sword of the sleeping pirate beside him.
Krethos moved across the deck like an arrow, swing hard at the captain, who pulled his sword out just in time to block it.
"Revenge does not seem to suit you, it blinds you." Said the captain as he threw Krethos off.
Krethos came again, and again, and every time he was parried and thrown off, he did not notice an archer on the rail, firing at his escaping party. Only after hearing Freidarae cry out in pain did he finally see the situation. He was alone on a deck of fast waking pirates, and his friends were leaving into the mist.
He took a step back, and ran for the rail, he sliced the bowstring and fingers of the archer, severing them all, as he ran, and dove from the ship. Krethos swam hard under intense fire, and he reached the longboat, only to find that Freidarae had perished.
They pushed her body into the sea and raised a sail they found in the bottom of the boat, the pirates did not persue, but nevertheless, Meir and Krethos were alone, on a sea they knew not, sailing to where they could only imagine, and still entertaining a sliver of hope under their mantle of grief.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

The Keyschnect: Chasing Bondahar chapter 7

Please, Read the previous post in the Keyschnect series first if you have not already.

Rexpennae

Chapter 7

Krethos slowly awoke, quite refreshed, he could hear the captain working on the deck behind him, but no one else was awake in the lightening darkness. The sea slid like glass into the distance, and the air had a calm chill to it. But the gentle rocking of the deck told Krethos that the world was not so calm, and that he could not come to a rest quite yet.
"Captain," Krethos said as he moved across the deck, "Is it time to move out?"
"Jus' 'bout," the captain replied, "We've gotta catch the win' first."
"Should I rouse the others?"
"Nah, let 'em sleep, I'nt no need fer them ta spoil this time."
Krethos nodded, and set about tightening lines in the dawn calm, a light breeze picked up as the sun began to come over the crest of the world, and the captain roused the passengers before hauling in the anchor and setting canvas.
The ship passed out of the harbor, and out to the wide sea between lands. The trip was silent, none of the passengers much wanted to talk, and the crew was ever suspicious of newcomers, and so the passengers who were not working occupied themselves as best they could alone.
Krethos tied off ropes and tightened sheets, until the captain came to him.
"Krethos," he said, "Can yer men fight?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Thar may be trouble."
"What trouble?"
"Thar are pirates in this area."
"Pirates?"
"Yes, and I saw sails off ina distants."
"I can fight, Galarion is a stout man, but I'm not sure about the others, what chance do we have of meeting the ship you saw."
"If they're pirates, an' if they seen us, we got 'bouta fool's chance of 'scaping."
Krethos lowered his head, slowly nodding. He walked away from the Captain and spoke to Glarion and Meir. They set weapons in a place of easy reach, and went back to their activities.
Three tense hours later the situation became much tenser, the pirate ship had come up fast, lighter and faster than the merchant vessel Krethos sailed upon, it came up hard and breathed down the neck of the merchant ship. The captain threw the helm around, turning with the wind, hoping for better speed, but he was not granted such. The pirates gained space, and came with in bow range, Krethos stood upon a rail firing arrow after arrow with a strong arm and deadly aim, but the pirates fired back, with a heavier rain, one of fire.
As the flames took the sails Krethos and Galarion swept across the deck, as pirates swung over the water to the merchant ship. Swords rang and fell to the deck beside the lifeless bodies of their former wielders as the merchant crew and passengers defended their furnace of a ship. Wave after wave of pirates fell to the swords of the defenders, and many defenders fell to the swords of the attackers, all the while the merchant vessel burned and slowly fell to the waves.
Esmerelda and Freidarae stood on the prow of the ship, watching the fire advance, the ship sink, and the battle rage. Slowly the defenders all fell but Krethos and Meir, and he ran to the prow with the women. The pirates returned to their ship, and let the burning hulk sink below the waves, Krethos, Esmerelda, Meir, and Freidarae clung to a spar floating in the water, wholly at the mercy of their attackers, and now Captors.
They were taken aboard the ship, and one by one shackled and imprisoned, the bodies of the dead were left upon the water in the pirate fashion, and the cargo that could be salvaged was, before the pirates left the scene, loaded with plunder and new slaves.
Krethos sat in the corner of the brig, alone, depressed, he was a captive, he could not reach El Intrivo, or Von Bondahar.

The Keyschnect's quest was ended, it seemed, in failure.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

The Keyschnect: Chasing Bondahar chapter 6

Here is Chapter 6 if you have not read any of the other previous Keyschnect posts, Don't go on, go back and read them first, in order, if possible.

Rexpennae

Chapter 6

Krethos stepped back, the man began laughing.
"Ha! Scared, are we?" the man asked, "Bondahar, I saw him about two months ago." Krethos took on a look of disappointment, which the man immediately noticed, "Ah, you thought I meant recently." he continued, "He and his crew arrived by ship three months ago, I saw him then, and when I made my midnight rounds about a week ago, his ship was gone, by all reports he came around ten at night and boarded his ship, which then departed immediately."
"So he has gone, across the sea?" Krethos asked.
"Yes, he has. He has most likely gone to the Castle El Intrivo, it is the throne of a friend."
Krethos looked at the ground as he thought, he rose his head and thanked the harbor master before leading his party to a small hill outside of the city.
"I will go on ahead, I have enough money to barter passage for five. Three of you may accompany Esmerelda and myself to El Intrivo."
Immediate uproar met Krethos' statement, every one of the twenty wanting to be among the three. Krethos looked them over, Meir would go, first to join, and another two, Galarion, and Freidarae, were taken from the group. The others were none to happy about coming so far to be turned away.
"My friends." Krethos said to the remaining 17, "I have a job for you, spread the word, people need to know, death is coming to an end, and it will come as a shock to the rest of the world, unless they know. Go far, stride long, and tread none to lightly, men need to know you are there."
The 17 were emboldened at Krethos' words, they had not come in vain, and so, purposed again they prepared for a semi-joyous departure, from their leader, but on to better the world. Without wasting time the 17 attained provisions and shelter for the trip ahead, resolved to be better prepared than when they had come at first, without care for the dangers, and their own needs.
Krethos sent them off, and with his four companions made his way back to the dock. After bargaining for the better part of three hours Krethos managed to secure passage on a merchant freighter vessel, for a bit less than he had expecting to pay. They were to depart early the next morning, so he made himself of use by helping to load boxes and barrels the contents which he could only guess.
Meir, being a small man and not much inclined to physical labor, sat back and watched Krethos as he loaded the hold of the ship. Esmerelda and Freidarae did not help to load the ship, as the captain would not dream of requiring two young ladies as them do the work that he could very well do himself.
"Do you believe he is who they say he is?" Meir asked Esmerelda.
"Yes," Esmerelda said without missing a beat, "I believe the fate of us all rests with him."
"Do you think he believes he is who they say he is?"
"That I do not know, he seems to think it so, it would not be logical to lead 50 people into the wilderness unless you were sure of yourself."
"He hasn't slept for days, not since we left town, he just sits by the fire, deep in a sort of depression, it is evident in his tone and mood, it seems to emanate from him, a sense of uncertainty, but only when he is alone."
Esmerelda's mood changed at this, she was sort of agitated, suddenly almost ready to panic, "Really," she breathed, not looking at Meir any more, but staring absently at the deck, "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Meir answered apprehensively, and on edge continued, "Why?"
Esmerelda composed herself quickly, "I have no particular intrest in it." She lied, "It just worried me, that he would be like that."
Meir didn't quite believe Esmerelda, but he let the matter slide for now, perhaps he would tell Krethos, but probably not, "As it should." he continued.
Esmerelda turned away form Meir, after her lapse of composure she had no wish to speak again.
When Krethos and Galarion loaded up the ship they helped to prepare the first real meal they had eaten in several days. Having eaten they all laid down to sleep early, as they were to depart before morning light, Krethos lay down until he was sure all were asleep, before he crept from the middle deck. He climbed to the top deck and clambered up to the bowsprit to sit. Esmerelda watched him leave his bed, she was gravely concerned, but she resolved to leave her concerns for another time, the voyage would take weeks, if this behavior continued much longer she would talk to him.
Barely a single thought flitted through Krethos' mind, he just stared at the vast expanse of darkness before him, in the sky above the thinly overcastting clouds moved quickly, hiding and revealing the moon at moment long intervals. The wind felt slightly damp as it whipped his shoulder length hair across his bearded face. He was content, not wanting or disliking anything, just staring into the fore, forgetting everything around him, and for the first time since he woke last at the cabin of Esmerelda he closed his eyes and slept deep, dreamless, and peaceful.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

The Keyschnect: Chasing Bondahar chapter 5

Hello, here is Chapter 5 of Chasing Bondahar, the first book in the Keyschnect Trilogy, If you have not read the previous three posts, STOP HERE, do not go on, you will not understand this post, go back and read the others, and leave comments as you go,
Thank you all,
Rexpennae

Chapter 5

With Krethos at the head of the column the party of fifty set out across the open plains North of the town. Silent and somber did Krethos' disciples leave their homes and families, but they left for the best reason in all of creation, they were following after their savior.
A fire had swept through the area recently, smoldering grass mounds dotted the blackened landscape, and the smell of fire was prominent in the air. Some considered turning back, as if this was a bad omen of what was to come, some did turn back, as quickly as they had joined up. However, Krethos pressed on, Esmerelda at his side all the time.
As night fell the first of Krethos' problems arose, none of these people had brought much food, and none of them had bothered to bring shelters. Krethos watched as more turned back in dismay, and most who stayed were angered at him. Esmerelda stepped forward, "The sky is clear, the air is warm, the ground is flat, we need not shelters, and while we should be dismayed for the lack of animals to eat, we should be glad there are no animals to prey upon us. You will all live without food for the night, tomorrow we will make a point of hunting some down."
This satisfied some, but not all, but all laid down to sleep, Krethos built himself a small fire and tended to some wounds on his arm that had not begun to heal. Meir walked quietly up behind him, "So, you are the Keyschnect?" he asked in a sort of declarative way.
"It is so." Krethos answered.
"We lost a lot today." Said Meir
"It is better that way, they were not strong enough, some will fall away, and those that are left will be the strongest." Krethos said without looking at his visitor, taking a slightly pensive tone and mood.
"More will leave tomorrow."
"The weak."
"I don't get you, why did you start on this quest?"
"My family was killed, my friends laid down their lives for me, I cannot live in a world without them, I wanted the keys to bring them back to life."
"So when did you find out you were the Keyschnect?"
"I came to the chamber of King Ahk-hatta, it was said in my land that he had the keys, he told me that Von Bondahar had them, and that I was the Keyschnect."
"Why do you want the keys now, you wanted them to ease your suffering, but what is your motive now?"
"It is my destiny, I don't question it, I need them to end your suffering, to end the suffering of the world."
"Is that so, Is it really true?"
Krethos was taken aback by the question, he thought for a moment before he answered, "Yes, it is true, I have no doubt."
Meir nodded, before he stood up and walked away to sleep, Krethos sat by the fire until the sun began to creep into the sky, and his followers began to wake. They departed before long, walking north to the docks, they came to the end of the burn, waist high grasses swayed with the wind, and the odd tree rose from the sea like a pillar. The group trudged on silent, some turned back, most continued, they were a quarter day's march from the docks at the time that the sun neared the mountain peaks. Krethos sent out hunters to secure food for the 20 followers he had left, the rest set up fires to cook on, the sky was clear still so there was no need for shelters.
The hunters returned with a wolf and several rabbits, they were cooked and eaten quite readily, Krethos was surprised to find that the Wolf was not bad, Esmerelda remarked aloud, albeit softly, "They aren't so bad after all.
The next morning they all departed for the docks, no one left today, they all walked on steady and true. Around noon they came into sight of the masts of the docks, Krethos was pleased, he would find his prey. The group entered the yards, "Have you seen an assassin by the name of Jack Von Bondahar?" Krethos asked a harbor master.
"Why, yes, yes I have…" the man said as he turned around smiling.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

The Keyschnect: Chasing Bondahar Chapter 4

Here is Chapter four of Chasing Bondahar, the first book in the Keyschnect series, please enjoy, and leave me a comment.

Rexpennae

Chapter 4

Krethos stood up from his seat, "Why now, why can you look on me now?"
"Because you know who you are now, because now you have at least an idea of the power you wield, but what you know is not nearly a full knowledge."
"Meaning what, exactly?"
The king turned and mounted up on his horse, "Everyone, everyone, heed my call," he called out, but it was unnecessary, King Ahk-hatta had the people's attention from the moment his horses entered the town, "This man before me, Krethos, is the Keyschnect, there can be no doubt. The savior is come!" and with that the king spurred his horse and was gone.
While Krethos still stood, trying to make sense of the past moment's actions, people all around began to murmur and talk amongst themselves. One by one, starting with the elders, the people began to kneel, in the mud and dung, before Krethos. He stood watching the scene before him unfold, his jaw was slack in complete wonder, his hands hung limp at his side, and it seemed to Krethos that only his eyes floated in midair while his body was nowhere to be found.
Men emptied the shops and women emerged from their houses, Esmerelda came around the corner of a side street, she stopped at the sight, and a knowing and satisfied smile spread across her face. Krethos caught a glimpse of her as even she came to her knees in the mud, there was not one man, woman, or child left standing.
One man, Meir, stood, "You, You are the Keyschnect, and we will follow you, even to the edge of the universe and beyond." He said, to which a resounding chorus added, "Yes, it is true."
"Why do you kneel?" Krethos asked.
"You have come to reverse death, to end our suffering, you have a long ways to go, and many obstacles lie in your way." Meir said.
"The Keys to the Dark World, I do not have them." Krethos called out, mutters of general uncertainty filled the crowd at this.
Meir stepped forward, "Mr. Krethos," he whispered, "Where are they? What must we do to get them for you."
"Jack Von Bondahar has them, he should be far ahead of me by now, but I don't know how far."
Meir stepped back, thinking hard, he turned to the still kneeling crowd, "Do what you will, I choose to follow this man on his quest, to get the keys, you may come along, or may not, it is your choice."
One by one the crowd came to its feet, over half came forward and stood before Krethos as if waiting for instructions, the others walked back to their respective business, all of them feeling shamed for their inability to commit to the changing of the world.
"Von Bondahar has the keys, who has seen him, or knows where he goes when he comes through here?" Krethos asked.
Silence met his question, blank stares filled his vision, no one knew, or no one would tell. Esmerelda suddenly appeared at his side, "The docks, he would go to the docks and try to get away." She said.
"To the docks, arm yourselves, I fear trouble awaits us, then return here, we will depart in an hour." Krethos called out, and the crowd dispersed, all of them to retrieve some sort of weapon, be it a bow or hatchet, or whatever lay at hand.
Krethos walked back into the Mercantile, to help load up Esmerelda's wagon. She came up and laid a hand on his shoulder, "Don't bother, Krethos." She said softly.
"Why, we have to get you back with these supplies before your brother comes back from the mines, and I have to move on quickly."
"Krethos, I'm coming with you." Esmerelda said, she pulled out a letter, "This came for me, the mineshafts collapsed, my brother is among the dead, there will be no need for me to ready for his return. I want to help you right the world."
Krethos looked down at the girl, she had nothing left, but wanted to go with him, he could not refuse, any more than he could order the townsfolk to remain here, their minds were set, unsaying, the would follow the man they believed to be the Keyschnect to the end of the world and beyond.
Krethos nodded and turned away, he went to the back of the wagon and took out his sword, "Well then, m'lady, we ought to get going.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance

All rights reserved

The Keyschnect: Chasing Bondahar Ch. 3

Here I present Chapter 3 of the first book in the Keyschnect duo of books. Please read and leave a comment, I really do appreciate your feedback, and again, if you haven't read the last post, you might not want to read this one, but go back and read the last one first.
Enjoy,
R. Wesley Nance

Chapter 3
Three days later Esmerelda's wagon rolled into town, Krethos was with her, more because of his desire to find some answers than to help his benefactress. Esmerelda pulled the wagon up to a supply store.
"Go, order what you need, I'll be along in a short while to help load up." Krethos said as he walked off down the street to find some answers. Out of the corner of his eye Krethos caught sight of a shop, with keys on the sign. Krethos walked in to a dimly lit room full of shelves and bins, full of keys.
"Ah! Krethos!" a voice said from somewhere hidden in the back corner, "So, you've finally come."
A dusty man came crawling and stumbling over the various boxes in his way.
"Do I know you?" Kresthos asked.
"No. And I don't know you, but I know Glaxon, he sent word that you might come this way."
"Glaxon, He is alive then?"
"Yes, but getting you up to Ahk-hatta was a hard feat for him. Come sit down in my back room with me, Glaxon said you'd probably have some questions."
Krethos followed after the man, expecting to have to climb over boxes, but was surprised to find a path to the back room. He walked in and sat down, "First, I think, I'll ask your name?" he said.
"My name is Kleis, I make keys, and I have fought in several battles with your friend Glaxon."
"What, is the Keyschnect, Mr. Kleis?"
"The Keyschnect is a destiny, to have and use the Keys to the Dark World. The person with this destiny is called the Keyschnect. I don't know when the legend appeared, I don't think anyone knows, but most view the Keyschnect as a savior, one who will right the world."
"What do you think, Mr.Kleis?"
"Nothing, I don't hold to legends, Oh, I believe the keys exist, but I don't know about a savior."
"Who is Jack Von Bondahar?"
"An assassin, just as simple as that, a highly trained and deadly killer."
"Why does he have the keys?"
"Same reason you're looking for them, he thinks he's the Keyschnect."
"What?"
"There is only one reason anyone ever has something, they believe that they should have it, in this case, you believe that you should have the keys, as does Bondahar. Your reasons for it may be different, but nonetheless, you both feel entitled."
"What will the keys do?"
"Ahh… there is a question, to be blunt, I don't know, there are many tales, the one you heard and a thousand more. And all of them are different, but the vast majority require the Keyschnect to open another world. What lies in that world, is a matter highly debated."
"Will they bring my friends back?"
"Perhaps, there is always that chance, always that hope."
Krethos sat back in his chair, this was a lot to take in, he looked around the dusty room and one more thought came to him, one more doubt, "Am I the Keyschnect?"
"Yes, I believe so, you are the Keyschnect, Ahk-hatta was not, Bondahar is not, but I believe you are."
Krethos stood up, his questions had been answered, "Thank you, Mr. Kleis." He said.
"You are welcome, Krethos, Glaxon may come and meet you along your journey, he said that he may try to find you."
Krethos made his way out of the key maker's shop and stepped into the busy street. He made his way through the wagon and carriage choked road to the mercantile store.
"Where is Esmerelda?" he asked as he stepped up to the counter in the store.
"You are looking for the girl?" the clerk asked in return.
"Yes, where is she?"
"She stepped out to visit a friend."
Krethos walked out into the street to wait for Esmerelda to return, all at once screaming erupted at one end of the town, people in the road scattered and twelve men on horses road through the street, and came to a stop just in front of Krethos.
"Ah, Krethos, so you've made it this far, good job, boy." The man jumped off his horse and removed his helmet, "You look surprised to see me, and perhaps, surprised that I look upon your face."

Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance
All rights reserved