E.D.E.N. by Caleb Kelly

Author:Caleb Kelly [Kelly, Caleb]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-25T23:00:00+00:00

— Chapter Twenty-Two —

The rest of the party were gathered around, chatting amongst themselves as Roland and Oliver returned to the helicopter crash. Leodegrance was smiling through his blood-stained teeth. Roland tried to feel happy since they were alive, but the sight of the knight’s missing arm made his heart sink.

“I’m so sorry,” said Roland, putting his hand on Leodegrance’s shoulder.

“Be but a scratch,” he bellowed. “I can still fight with one arm. Slain many of the beasts with only one hand, after all.”

“I would hardly call that twig between your legs a beast.” Caradoc said with a half-smile.

“Aye, but ‘at twig be more than enough to slay some o’ the wenches I be havin’ the pleasure of laying with.”

Roland smiled. Even with a lost limb, the knight was still as jovial and foolhardy as ever. He wasn’t sure how he would react to such a loss. He assumed it would take a heavy toll on him. A loss of that magnitude should be hard for anyone. Leodegrance, however, seemed to shrug it off. He has probably seen his fair share of mangled corpses. A lost limb is nothing as long as he’s still living.

Garrison dropped from his perch on a nearby tree. “It’s good to see you are all still in one piece.”

“Garrison, good to see you,” Lionel called out. “We were unsure if you knew of our escape.”

“I followed you as best I could. I cannot keep up with these metal birds. I saw what happened and found Oliver and Roland out in the forest. However, I recall there were more of you than what’s here.”

Caradoc turned to the raptor. “What you say is true. One of those with us, Simmons, was thrown when we entered the trees. We know not if he still lives. The other man is but a corpse on the ground”

“Don’t speak of him like that,” Captain Raye cried. He walked over to the lifeless corpse of his comrade. The captain bent down and examined his body. “He was my friend. We have been together for a long time. We took flight school together.” Raye closed the other pilot’s eyes.” Rest well, brother. You were taken too soon.” He stood and looked back at the others. “Where is Captain Simmons?”

“Could he have survived?” Roland asked.

Caradoc’s lips turned upward. “He was pulled through the window of that metal bird. His body folded in half as if he had no bones. If he didn’t pass then, I’m sure he has by now.”

“The dead are not of our concern,” said Garrison.

“You could have a little compassion,” Raye snapped.

“We have a visitor that needs to be dealt with.”

Small bushes rustled from behind the party. Roland whipped around and pulled Rhycalibur from the scabbard on his back. Oliver and the other Sworn Ones took a stance by his side - including Leodegrance, who held his war hammer in his only hand.

“Akiva, you and Captain Raye stay back. We can handle this,” Oliver commanded.

“If it be a dragon, it be nothing more than a babe,” Leodegrance growled.

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