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Chapter 38
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2024-10-29 19:42:56They made a cold camp late that night and Alexa questioned her escort.
“Who are you? What’s your name?”
“I am a Cloak. Call me Rath.”
“Ok. Rath. Where are we going?”
“You have been sent for by someone high in our organization. I do not know who they are. It is my job to deliver you to them.”
“Will I be coming back here?”
“I have no idea,” Rath replied not looking at Alexa. “Looks like I arrived just in time back there.”
“Yeah,” Alexa nodded. “Thanks. I guess you did arrive just in time.”
“Lover’s spat?”
“Break up, caught cheating, all of it.”
“Thought as much,” Rath replied. “So what about your new boyfriend? Sad to leave him behind?”
Alexa shrugged. “I don’t know. Are these the ideal circumstances to fall in love out here? Desert
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“How has your training been going? I have had nothing but excellent reports regarding your training.” “It has gone well. But I hardly believe that you called for me because of my excellent training. Is it to do with my mother? Is she well?” Harbem paused. For a moment Alexa thought she saw sadness cross his face. “Your mother is well, Alexa. There is no need to worry.” “Then why have I been called here?” “Calling you here does have to do with your mother though. You see, when King Benedict overthrew Atomas, we feared what might follow. Yet, he has made steady progress towards improving the lives of the people in the Kingdom. When we urged you not to return to the palace despite his promise that you would be free, we perhaps overreacted. We believe we may have been wrong in our initial assessment. There are now rumors circulating which suggest that Benedict has taken more of an interest in your mother than simply that of a prisoner.” “What rumors are those?” Alexa asked. “Rumors t
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They had stopped Samnom on the road and demanded his money. He had given it to them but when they had started talking about taking his clothes, Samnom realized he was in danger.They attacked him from behind and beat him with a club. Samnom went down and was soon being beaten and kicked by all five thugs. At some point everything went black. The pain of the blows faded as did the noise. It was as if he had drifted far away from the place on the road. He thought he must be dying. Somewhere in the black cocoon that enveloped him the shouts and cries of his attackers took on a different dimension. They became screams of terror.Somewhere in the blackness, the blows and the pain stopped. The screams of terror subsided and silence ensued. The black fog cleared and Samnom looked around him. Five bodies lay twisted and broken around him on the road.Samnom looked around for someone else. A helper? He still doubted his abilities. Had he really done this? There was no-on
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They passed the time making small talk or simply working in silence. Samnom learned that Lored had been travelling from Kyrshom when he had met the lady of the house. Samnom finally asked for the lady’s name. “Gillyn,” Lored replied. Samnom absorbed the name. It was strange. He had never heard it before. He asked if she was from another kingdom and Lored confirmed she was. Samnom asked about her husband hesitantly. She’s newly widowed,” Lored replied. “She left her old home because she wanted a fresh start after her husband died. She loved him a lot so his death has been pretty painful for her. Especially with her child. It’s hard. She prefers not to talk about it.” “I’m sure it hasn’t been easy. How did her husband die?” asked Samnom. “Some illness. No-one knows what it was. Fever came and took him pretty quick.” Samnom was silent. He felt sorry for the lady even though he had not seen her yet. “How old is the little one?” “It’s a boy. Two months old.” Samnom whistled. “What
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“Stop,” commanded Hester. “Everything is fine. Leave her alone.” The guards stopped and left Alexa where she kneeled. “Please my lady,” begged Alexa. “I do not charge too much but if it pleases you I will give you a discount.” “I will look at your wares when I am finished here,” replied Hester. “Very well lady,” Alexa answered bowing her head. Hester moved past Alexa and entered the orphanage. She reappeared about an hour later and paused outside the orphanage door. “Show me your wares lady,” Hester said kindly. Alexa held up the pear again. “This is the best lady. You will not be disappointed.” Hester reached and took the fruit. She inspected it. Almost immediately she felt the cut in the fruit and frowned. Hester applied pressure and part of the fruit slid away. Hester glimpsed a piece of paper in the hollow where the seed usually was. She looked from the fruit to the girl who waited with head bowed. She slid the fruit together again. “How much is it?” “Just two doyles Lady,
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The woman was like a vision from the Gods. Her hair was long and golden. The warm sun shone through her golden hair turning the edges into a halo around her face and making her appear like an angel. Her touch was soft, gentle, caring. Her voice was soft and kind. Concerned. Compassionate. She spent long hours at his side nursing him, giving him medicine and washing the fevered sweat and dirt from his face. He thought he spoke with her and he thought he made her laugh. Her laugh was contagious, genuine and honest with a love for life. Then there was darkness and Peter thought he finally passed on to the afterlife.When Peter awoke, he felt dampness all around him. He must have been caught in another thunderstorm he thought. He wondered how long he had been unconscious in the wild. He sniffed as he came to but could not smell the forest and wild around him. He smelled his sour sweat tinged with something else. Soap. The smell of soap on dried clothes. But he had no soap. As he
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Benedict was silent for a moment. He sipped his wine then set it down next to his chair. “We would have to keep her in custody. You speak as if she is returning or has already returned?” Hester smiled weakly. “If only she had Ben. I hope that she is out there somewhere and I wanted to ask if you could make an announcement asking her to return. But I do not want her to feel betrayed. If she is to return to be taken into custody then she will not return. I ask because I miss her. She is my daughter and my flesh and it kills me not knowing what has happened to her. But if she returns, tells the truth and is still not believed by you, where does that leave her?” Benedict did not answer. Instead he looked out the window his jaw set firmly. “Would you torture her?” Hester asked sensing what Benedict could not say. “If I had to,” Benedict replied almost whispering. Hester’s hand flew to her mouth. “Why? I would help to make sure she tells the truth.” “That would not be advisable Hester.
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As they walked Semore explained the characteristics of Alamcyte and pointed out the evidence of his knowledge at various points. Alamcyte was the strongest metal in the world and the lightest. It had an extremely high melting point which made it difficult to work with. Despite the difficulty it was used to make swords, shields, gates, arrow heads and jewelry as well as for decoration of the wealthiest people’s homes. The colour varied in the cave. In some areas more blue than green and in others more green than blue. The green areas were where the Alymcyte was shallower while the blue was where it was deeper. It was like glass and the thicker it was the darker in colour it became. The cave was blue green throughout indicating the Alamcyte was a fairly thick layer which deepened to dark blue when the cave finally opened into an enormous chamber. Benedict whistled when he saw the chamber. Raeme was silent. Semore smiled as he watched their reactions. He paused then delivered what he be
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Mama sipped her tea and studied Hester’s face. Despite appearing happier she seemed older. The events of the last months had taken their toll heavily on Hester. More than she let on to anyone. Mama admired Hester. She carried so much within herself. She was not one to share her troubles with others but rather concerned herself with alleviating others troubles. Even now in her response to Mama, Mama suspected that she was not saying everything she could. But that was how Mama knew Hester. “I have told you many times before my dear,” Mama said, “you know you can always talk to me about anything. Whatever you tell me is safe. It stays with me. I am your Mama,” she smiled. Hester looked up and placed her hand over Mama’s on the table. “Thank you Mama. You are a truly kind and generous soul. I am grateful for your friendship every day. You are one of the closest friends I have even though I do not see you nearly often enough. Visiting here with you brings calm to any storm I may have at a
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The city of Kyrshom was never the same. The lava had destroyed much of the city and it would never be rebuilt. The walls that had been built naturally from past eruptions were destroyed and partially covered by the new lava flow. They could no longer serve as natural protective walls. The lava had flowed through the city all the way down to the cliff where it had poured over the edge and buried the harbour. The ramp that had previously been built was partially destroyed and could no longer serve as an access to the city without considerable repairs which would take a long time. Many residents moved away and the life and culture of Kyrshom seemed to have left with them. People feared another eruption of Mt Almall and did not wish to lose what little they had left. Hope sparked briefly for the revival of Kyrshom as the lava cooled. People discovered Alymcyte in the cooled lava and there was a brief “Alymcyte rush” before the price offered for Alymcyte fell through the floor. It was so
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Eesa seemed to consider then replied in a hushed voice. “Thank you for your kindness sir. I am new and I am particularly interested in meeting men if you understand?”Breeger smiled. “I do indeed understand Eesa. But perhaps you would prefer to meet only one man if he makes it worth your while?”Eesa looked at Breeger in disbelief. “You would like that? You can do that?”Breeger smiled. “I assure you that I can.”“Then let us discuss it further somewhere more private. Perhaps tomorrow after your party?”“Perhaps tonight after my party?” Breeger pressed.“As you wish,” Eesa replied.Breeger explained to Eesa where his villa was and he left, very happy at the prospect of seeing Eesa again.After the party that evening Breeger took Eesa back to her home and she invited him in.Breeger was keen to start his new affair with Eesa and did not sa
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Firing continued strategically but damage was much less now as the attackers had moved out of the path of the catapult. The fires in the small trenches were doused and the attackers advanced further only to be stopped by new fires in new trenches. A co-ordinated retreat was being made by the army. They would ultimately retreat to within sight of the palace where another large trench had been dug and would be fed by oil from two sides to keep the fire burning. One army advanced and the other retreated. Neither side noticed the sky lighten with the approaching day. Then, just before dawn, a new quake struck. It was brief and violent. It was as if the earth heaved and men were thrown to the ground as the quake increased in strength. Then it finally subsided and all was quiet for a brief moment. In hindsight that moment seemed to last forever. Then an explosion tore through the predawn air and the earth shook knocking everyone to the ground. People screamed and shouted looking around des
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Samnom knew that no-one in this compound was his friend and he treated them all as the enemy as he wandered through the compound calling out Gelyn’s name.Two more encounters with guards in the compound left the remaining guards assured that they were little or no match for Samnom. One guard stepped forward to meet Samnom.“We do not know where Breeger or Gelyn are. They went to the King’s ball and never returned. Breeger is wanted and the king’s men have searched the compound already for Breeger. He must be hiding somewhere else.”Samnom thanked the soldier and left. He made his way to the palace where he was stopped at the gates.“I seek no fight. I simply wish to see the lady Gelyn. My name is Samnom.”The guards looked concerned and conferred with each other a short distance away. Then one walked off towards the palace while the other returned and asked Samnom to wait.A while later the guard ret
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The air by the East wall was thick with dust as the sun approached the horizon. A clear sign that the army beyond the walls would actually strike at sunrise. Benedict left his chambers and made his way to the East wall. He was greeted by the watch commander whose face was grim. He bowed and greeted Benedict. “Your majesty.” His body language said what he dared not say. They were hopelessly outnumbered. Benedict greeted him and made his way to the edge of the wall. He was right. The army of the Kelnians had approached the walls as near as they dared before daybreak. With the first sun’s rays, their strike would begin. Benedict looked along the top of the wall. Boiling pots of oil stood ready to be poured on the army below. Archers were ready too and Benedict was assured the catapults were ready too although he was not sure if they would be effective since he believed that the Kelnians were now closer than the minimum range of the catapults. As he looked down he saw the arrangement o
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She could not tell Alexa for it would alert the men with them. Hester waited until they turned the next corner in the passage. Alexa looked back as always after turning a corner. Hester followed them around the corner and then stopped as soon as Alexa had looked back. She turned and ran back around the corner and into the dark. She had no torch but there was only one path in this passage. If she collided with a wall she just had to find the right way again and then continue on. She prayed for Alexa to forgive her for not saying goodbye.At the next corner Alexa turned and realized Hester was gone.“Hester is gone!”The men in front of her stopped and looked back. “We can’t go back Alexa. It’s too dangerous now. Others will be coming through here soon enough and if she has fallen they will find her.”“But she could be dying!” Alexa insisted.The men looked at each other. One volunteered. “I&rsquo
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“You seem to be full of excuses King Benedict but yet have no proof of anything you say. Assassins killed our masters you say but they escaped. Atomas body was not burned you say but you cannot produce his body. Atomas women have left you say but where is the proof? I truly believe that you have lost control of the kingdom King Benedict. In all the time you have been king, you have failed to eradicate the Black Cloaks. I think it is time that we should do your job for you and relieve you of the task of ruling this kingdom.”“I ask you to please reconsider your threat Olnoy. I have come here today in peace. There have been a series of unfortunate events which have happened at this point in time. However, if you will decide to at least try and trust me, I will show you what I say is true.”“I think letting you stand out here and lie to me is enough. Letting you give me the bodies of our masters simply adds insult to injury.”Ben
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“He had it coming. Besides, if he had been freed and allowed to voice his opinion, he would not have voiced it in favour of us.“ “Of that much I am sure,” Benedict replied. He would have to explain the death to Talek. There was not much else that could be done. Benedict insisted that they make their way to the mine first before returning the bodies of the masters. Tordor agreed. Melonor had not returned with news from the mine and both Benedict and Tordor suspected that he must have met with misfortune. They instructed the soldiers with the bodies to wait at the East gate for them and rode to the mine with a small number of soldiers. On the ride up they found out why Melonor had not returned from the mine. He lay dead beside the road, killed by an arrow through the heart. Benedict and Tordor surmised that it was an assassin ordered to stop word of the situation at the mine getting back to Benedict. They doubted that anyone would try to stop them now but cautioned the soldiers to
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Tordor agreed. He knew it was a war they could not win. He left to order the bodies prepared for burial.Benedict looked over the city. His thoughts turned to Hester and Harbem and Alexa. He called one of the guards and told him to fetch Harbem from the dungeons.Harbem was ushered in some time later. His hands were still chained and Benedict ordered the chains removed. The guard removed them and left. Benedict indicated that Harbem should be seated. He poured two cups of wine and handed Harbem one.“Perhaps we can make a deal Harbem.”“I am prepared to listen your Majesty.”“There are ten thousand men outside the walls of the city. This morning, two of the three masters who led them to the gates, were murdered in audience with me. I have no doubt Breeger is behind it, but that’s beside the point. Those men outside the city will march and wipe out this city. I will need every man to defend it. Perhaps now is the
