No Return by Zachary Jernigan

Author:Zachary Jernigan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781597804561
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Published: 2013-03-04T13:00:00+00:00

‡

They exited the inn. Churls squinted into the sun. “I don’t want to go back yet.”

Berun nodded, and they walked along the shore, away from the docks. He admired the way the sunlight glinted off the waves, the sound of gulls screaming. He imagined what it might be like to smell things. Men always commented upon the smell of water. He considered asking Churls if she would mind if he took a stroll under the glass clear shallows, but rejected the thought. At that moment, she possessed a fragility incomprehensible to him.

She loves Vedas , he thought. Love, too, was unfathomable.

“Even with flags, it’s not always safe,” she said after some time. “Pirates sail these waters. Maybe our luck will run out on the lake.” She squinted into the sun. “Sometimes I think that’s what Vedas wants. A big fist to come out of the sky and smash him. A confirmation that fate’s aligned against him.”

“Maybe.” Berun sensed she had more to say, and waited for it.

“I’ve read the speech,” she eventually said.

“I know.” He found a flat stone and pitched it hard enough that it was lost to sight long before it stopped skipping. He came upon two large rocks halfsubmerged in the sand, and picked them up. He turned in a circle, and then laughed his brass laugh. “Look around us, Churls. In an ocean of sand and small stones, these two rocks. Rough around the edges, ready to be turned into weapons.” He began spinning them in his hands, grinding them down.

They resumed walking. “What does it say?” he asked.

“It’s a call to arms,” she answered. “A declaration of war.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.