"You shall not pass. Your journey is at an end." The voice was deep and resonating. "I will let you live out what days you have left if you turn now and go back to Creele or whatever other little town you desire. But you shall come no further."
During this exchange Jack had his eyes closed going deep within himself. Opening his eyes Jack asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Dashan, and Phillip, I am much more than just a man."
Stepping back a few more steps once again eased the feeling of dread and fear and lightened the air somewhat for Phillip.
Phillip looked closer at the figure, his eyes trying to pierce the darkness of the area where the face should have been. "Why? Why are you doing all this to the world and its people?"
"I for myself am not doing it. I am just a servant of the Shaye who in turn serves Terah their God. In time all worlds will serve Terah. It is an age-old system of many worlds. War as conquest. Conquest is power. Terah just takes it on a much grander scale. The inhabitants of the new world are taken to the previous world. There they are broken and trained as slaves. When the process is fully complete they are brought back to their world to help against those remaining. Those that resist are outright killed. We will not rest until all are converted. Then the world is ours to use as Terah sees fit. When Terah feels it is time he creates another portal to the next world and an Ambassador youth is chosen and taken to be trained. When the youth is completely trained and reaches his or hers full potential the gateway is opened again and the reign of Terah starts on the new world with the Ambassador at its head. I was taken from this world when very young to serve that purpose. So now, here I am."
Anger stirring inside of Jack spurred him. "If all resisters are killed then why are you allowing us to live?"
"Terah foresaw you three being here from the next world. But a shadow is drawn over you so even he cannot see all. So he is curious. Who knows, perhaps one of you three will be chosen for your worlds Ambassador."
"Not on your life!" Jacks anger swelled into rage. With a warriors cry Jack started running at the figure. He drew his sword back over his head as if to cleave his obstacle in half. Jack almost reached his goal, almost. But with a slight flick of the dark ones hand he found himself flying off into a storefront hitting hard enough to splinter the wood. Stunned Jack lay still.
"I will give each of you this last chance to turn aside. I am a true mage - a very powerful one at that. If I wish I can call the air away from you and leave you choking, or even call the lightning from the sky to strike you down. You are nothing."
"We will just have to see about that dude. We were called here for a reason and we aim to complete our task. You and your army may as well pack your bags and go back to your home. This world belongs to its people."
Laughing the shadows in the robe mocked, "Are you talking about the Shandaha Phillip? I feel that it is weak and almost dead. It to is nothing."
Calmly and looking at Dashan Phillip triggered the button on his rod calling it into his staff. Then slowly advancing he started it to spinning. "Go home old man." Closing the distance Phillips hands became a blur as the speed of the spinning staff started making a keening sound. "I said go home old man."
The dark figure took one halting step back as if unsure of himself. Then chuckling he raised one hand to the sky and closed a fist. A bolt of lightning flew down. Phillip did not even flinch, with a slight motion his spinning staff deflected the lightning away. Focusing Phillip went closer yet. Once again the dark man raised his hand toward the sky. This time, holding it a bit before closing it into a fist, a blinding bolt flashed down. To Jack it looked like Phillip caught the lightning with his staff which set it blazing. Phillip spun around holding his staff out and swinging it. When he had completed his circle the lightning flew from its tip and arced back at Dashan. Dashan used a flat palm to deflect the lightning away from himself.
With a shout Jack was back on his feet. Picking up his sword he once again started to charge.
Dashan said, "I grow weary of this little game. It is time to end it." With that the dark man held out both hands toward them and closed his fists. The reaction of Phillip and Jack took a few seconds but both fell to their knees and started choking. Jack dropped his sword and Phillip his staff. Bringing their hands to their throats and working their mouths like fish out of water. Then each went face down in the dirt of the road.
"NNNOoooooo..." shouted a forgotten Tracy. "Please let my arrow fly true," she whispered as she released it.
Hearing Tracy he released Jack and Phillip just in time to turn and open his palms out and make a pushing motion.
"Oh." Tracy managed to get out. She looked down and saw that her arrow had pierced deeply into her chest. Confused she looked back up. She saw Jack and Phillip struggling to their feet. Touching the arrow she took a few staggering steps. With tears of sadness in her eyes knowing that she could not help the boys any more she fell.
"TRACY!!!" Both Jack and Phillip cried out in horror. Phillip reached her first and cradled her head in his lap and started stroking her hair. Jack let his sword drop and knelt down beside them.
"Tracy girl, hang in there. I'll go get the healing salve. Just hang in there."
"You fool. That salve cannot save her. Even now her lifeblood and force is coming to an end. Jack, you even played a part. The Danga plant poison will surely finish her if the wound does not." The robed figure had drawn beside them without their notice. "I tell you what. I am feeling generous right now so I will offer you a deal. Refuse and not only will she die, but you and Phillip will to. Right here, right now. My deal is this. I will send you home to your plane. In doing so I will also heal Tracy."
At hearing the word home Jack and Phillip looked up into the shadows where the face should have been.
"Ahhh... I see that I have your attention. Good... good. To make the deal even sweeter I will also give you this promise. We will not attack your plane of existence in your lifetime. Maybe not even in your children's life time."
As Jack looked up Phillip looked back down at Tracy's closed eyes and the ever-growing pool of her blood. Both could almost feel Dashan smiling.
"Come come... what say you?"
COMING SOON:
Krae! Krae is the second and more than likely the final book in the Kantura World series. Hopefully it will tie up all the loose ends into a nice pretty bow. Do not worry, I will not leave Jack, Phillip, and poor Tracy to suffer theirs fates alone. Will Tracey live or die? That at the time of this writing I do not know. They have not told me yet and the Shandaha is strangely silent at this time. Krae, coming around mid/end of July 2011, Krae will be priced at $2.99.
** Special Thanks **
A huge Thank You needs to go out to my middle son Christopher M. Yelverton. If you enjoyed reading this book you also need to thank him. Without him spurring me on you would have never known of the plane of existence that Rashnar is in. You never would have met the head strong Jack, the think on his feet Phillip, or the kind and caring Tracy. He was a proofreader, cheerleader, and an idea creator all rolled into one. So Thank You Chris. Hopefully one day he will also be Co-Author to me or maybe even write his own books. He has it in him; he just has not figured that out yet.
I would also like to Thank my wife Penny. She also proofread and caught some amusing typos that both Chris and I over looked. With out her, poor Stacey would have chewing on a piece of gun instead of gum. Not a pretty site. LOL! Even though Fantasy is not her "thing" she read it start to finish and pointed out a lot!
Thank You to Peggy Hughes. With out this lady the book would have been chalk full of grammatical errors and improper word usage. She also came up with some interesting ideas to bring out certain aspects of some plots. She also pointed out omissions and picked up on plot drops. This lady put a lot of hard work into this book. So Thank You!
Last but certainly not least is Barbara Wilson and her hubby Chip. Constant emails and support from them helped keep me motivated t
o get it done. Barbara and Chip, sorry about the ending of this book. I will have to take your torches and pitchforks away from you. LOL!
About the Author
The Author is Florida born but is currently residing somewhere in East Tennessee. His is happily married and has three grown sons and a smattering of grand children.
Connect with Me Online:
My Website: https://robertyelverton.info/
Author of:
"It Waits"
"Dragons Fire and the Brave Little Prince"
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