AngelFall Book III - A Novel of Hell (The AngelFall Series 3) by S.E. Foulk

Author:S.E. Foulk [Foulk, S.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-01-14T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 55

Guests on the Blood River

Pholus could not believe his eyes. Sitting near the rocky slope of the Seventh Circle with several of the centaur commanders, he stared as Chiron emerged from the mist. Following behind the leader centaur were two humans, one large and one small and gaunt, and more astonishingly, one whom Pholus had chased away on many occasions, the Minotaur. The group of four was walking down the slope in single file fashion, and Pholus knew this was at the behest of his friend Chiron. Pholus and the commanders, Tacitus among them, stood frozen in place, mouths agape at this very odd entourage. Chiron, seeing Pholus and his commanders at the base of the slope, changed course and headed in the direction of the meeting of the centaur leadership.

Ironically, Pholus had called this meeting after Chiron had not returned for more than forty turns. The Second in Command of the centaur herds had Titan trot the entire circumference of the Seventh Circle and report each time he completed a lap. Pholus began to worry when Chiron did not reappear after the twenty-fifth round, but withheld taking action for another fifteen rounds, considering he really had no idea how long Chiron would be away. The herds had begun to whisper, rumors of their missing master circulated widely, and Pholus gathered his leaders to initiate counter-measures. The commanders, only a small sampling of the total number of herd leaders, were those whom Pholus trusted the most. They did not include Nessus in their number.

When Chiron and his strange herd approached, Pholus and the commanders followed the usual protocol, though none took their eyes off of the Minotaur. Even the thinner, frail human seemed wary of the bull-like beast, looking behind him with each step. The Minotaur did not miss the fearful wariness of the human; every so often he would emit a low rumbling growl, stopping only when the group neared the meeting centaur commanders. Chiron returned their bows and introduced his queer company, though not without prefacing with an explanation of his arrival.

“Commanders, I am happy to see you all. I have returned from a lengthy and not uneventful journey, and I have much news to report. I know all here to be loyal and faithful to our centaur kind, and the wisest and most trusted leaders of the herds. I know this from my own observations, and those of Commander Pholus, who has summoned you in a most timely manner, unbeknownst even to himself. I have returned from a visit to the First Circle, the area known as Limbo, and with those I would have you accept on my word as friends to centaur kind.” At this, the leaders scanned the guests of Chiron, feeling at ease to do so now that he had requested their acceptance, and they scrutinized even the Minotaur, who stared back at each commander in turn.

Chiron continued, “This is a most unusual request, Commanders. I understand, and I will assure you I have not lost my senses.

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