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Chapter 47
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Harbem blinked then cleared his throat. “Yes everything’s fine. It’s just not the news I had hoped to hear.”
“No it isn’t. All is not well despite how it may seem.”
Harbem nodded then excused himself. He stood and removed his tobacco from a shelf. He rolled a cigarette with dried leaves and lit it in the fire in the cottage. Then he stepped outside and closed the door behind him leaving Alexa with the letter on the table.
She watched him as he rolled his cigarette before stepping outside. He looked younger than his years and was in good form. He was handsome. His thick black hair was swept back from his face and his eyes were kind but hard. If you did not know him you would only see coldness. She wondered about Harbem. If he was married or had children. He never spoke about himself other than the fact that he was an orphan.
As she thought of Harbem thoughts of Peter and Muhay crept into her mind. She missed neithe
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“It’s okay. Its life. Besides, my life now is not easy. It may not appear so but it is dangerous and does not lend itself to a relationship.” “Unless it is someone who works for the Black Cloaks?” Alexa ventured. “Perhaps. If I did not know better I would think you are applying for the job.” Alexa laughed. Her laughter was fresh, innocent, and playful. Like her mother’s voice but younger. He could not remember when he had last heard laughter but it warmed his heart. “Not I Harbem. But if you think a partner is a job for someone then I can understand why you have no-one in your life!” “Figuratively speaking,” Harbem clarified smiling. “That’s better. Even so, you might find someone if you refrain from calling it a job to be with you. Figuratively speaking or otherwise!” “No argument with that Alexa.” They lapsed into silence and smoked watching as their tobacco mist dissipated slowly on the cool night air. Alexa and Harbem spent the next few days training. They ran, hiked, rode
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Samnom greeted the man jovially. “Are you the owner?” “I am,” Samnom replied. “How can I help you?” The rider stopped and studied Samnom coldly. “I heard there was a lady here on the property.” “Used to be,” Samnom lied. He had no idea why he was lying but he thought it was the right thing to do. He had no idea who this man was or what he wanted. “I bought the property from her. She moved on. Did not say where she was going. I wish there was a woman around here though. Gets lonely sometimes.” The man allowed himself to smile briefly. “I’m sure it does. So you have no idea where the woman went?” “No. ‘Fraid not. She was rather private and did not volunteer much. I was interested in the property, not a lady at the time so didn’t pay much attention to where she was going.” The man nodded as he cast his eye over the house. Samnom had express instructions to stay away from the house. Weeds were growing around the house making it look untidy. Not like it would be if a woman lived her
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The night air was cool when Peter stepped outside. Hegre sat on the porch steps. He did not look back when Peter stepped outside.“Hey Hegre. What’s wrong?” Peter asked as he sat down beside Hegre.Hegre did not reply.“You can talk to me. I’m here to help you and your sister.”“Really?” Hegre asked.“Yeah. Really. You don’t think I came here for any other reason? You guys saved me remember? I am grateful for that and I would like to repay your kindness.”“How is taking my sister repaying kindness?” Hegre asked not looking at Peter.‘Wait a minute Hegre. There’s nothing going on between me and your sister.”“Do you expect me to believe that?” Hegre asked anger in his voice suddenly evident. “I see how she looks at you. I see what’s going on. How she’s always taking your hand, touching your arm. I see how
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He managed to avert his head but the rock still struck him a glancing blow. He closed his eyes as pain crashed through his skull. He found the strength to push Hegre off and rolled away. There was no time to adjust to the pain from the blow to his head. He stumbled to his feet keeping Hegre in sight and cast about for a weapon of his own. Hegre stood, the rock still in his hand. Peter thought Hegre would throw it but then he charged. Peter waited until the last moment and then sidestepped Hegre. As he did so he shoved Hegre causing him to lose his balance. Peter had spotted the shovel and picked it up as Hegre stood from where he had fallen.Peter brandished the shovel. “Get some sense or I’ll kill you right here whether you’re a boy or not!”Hegre paused. Peter could tell he was considering attacking him again and he stood his ground prepared for the worst.Finally Hegre’s anger relented. “Leave my sister alone! Leave us alon
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Raeme looked around for Melonor. Melonor had disappeared all of a sudden and Raeme expected that he had gone to relieve himself. Raeme was impatient now so moved towards the team leader to see what the issue was. Breeger and Semore did not move but watched Raeme pensively looking around for Melonor.Raeme entered the cave. The team leader was crouching before the blast zone looking down when Raeme approached him. Suddenly light flared in the tunnel creating an incandescent blue all around. For a moment Raeme was stunned by the beauty of the Alamcyte’s glow before his curiosity took over.“What was that?” he asked as the team leader stood up and backed up quickly. He collided with Raeme and sent Raeme falling backwards. When Raeme hit the ground the last thing he felt was a blinding pain across his skull before everything went black.The cave entrance vomited rocks, sand, and Alamcyte as the dynamite inside the cave exploded. The team leader had
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Breeger smiled when he saw Hester. If he was embarrassed by the ladies attention while Hester stood before him, he did not show it.“Aaah! How nice of you to join us, Lady Hester. I do not recall inviting you but you are welcome nonetheless. I am sure there are many who would make you feel very welcome tonight.” Breeger finished his remark as his eyes roamed Hester’s body from top to bottom and up again.Breeger eyed Hester lasciviously while his hand rested inside one of the ladies robes.“You have come to join our party Lady?”“Not at all,” Hester replied. “I want to talk to you.”“In my chambers?” Breeger asked smiling while the girls with him snickered.“In the garden,” Hester replied shortly and walked towards the exit where the garden was. The night outside was cool and the noise of the party diminished quickly the further she moved from the house. Hester found the b
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Benedict denied her freedom yet she was free up to a point. He was faithful to her. He did not see other women the way Atomas had. When he looked at her, she had all of his attention. They had fun together like best friends. More fun than she had had in a long time. Yet he was steadfast on his stance about Alexa. And he had secrets. Many. Was that the basis for love? Perhaps her quiet voice did not answer because the answer was obvious. Yet if she did not have feelings for him, would she enjoy lying next to him as she did now listening to his breathing? Would she feel guilty for betraying him to Breeger? Her thoughts drifted then to Dargo. She wondered what had happened to him. She knew she had hurt him and she felt guilt for what she had done but she could see no other way. It was for the best. It was for his safety. And she was still paying the price. She could only hope that Dargo had not been traced after her meetings with him had been discovered. She hoped that it was clear she n
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It was Alysin, the Elfre. They were seated around a campfire as they had been the night she gave him her gift. “What are you doing Samnom?” she asked in her lilting voice. “I am working.” Alysin looked deep into his eyes from where she sat across the campfire. Her face appeared concerned and disappointed. “I think you delude yourself, Samnom.” “How so?” Samnom asked confused. “You are distracted. The Lady Gillyn is not for you. You do not belong with her or here.” Alysin waved her arm indicating Gillyn’s property. “How would you know?” Samnom asked defensively. “Elfre are magical. We see things. We help direct events of the universe to maintain balance, peace and order. It is why we give gifts and you have been given a great gift. A gift not intended for working in the fields and loving this woman.” “How do you know what it is I need to do with my gift?” “The universe tells us. But we cannot share the knowledge with the receiver. We can only guide the receiver as I seek to do
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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
