The Temple of Fate by Randy Nargi

Author:Randy Nargi [Nargi, Randy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bogwood Press
Published: 2019-03-18T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

“Stay here!”

Bander jumped into the skiff, nearly capsizing it. Valthar protested, but Bander was already moving, propelling the skiff across the lake’s surface with powerful choppy strokes.

He calculated his options for getting up to the top of the hill as quickly as possible. He could paddle directly across the lake to the base of the hill which would be shorter as the crow flies, but he would have no way to access the path that switchbacked up to the top. He’d have to circle around to southwest of the hill where the river trail headed up the hill.

No, it was much better to keep going by boat, aided by the current, until he arrived at the river trail.

So that’s what he did.

One last hard stroke of the paddle shot the skiff towards shore and Bander levered his body up and out of the vessel, pausing only for a moment to drag the skiff up on shore. Then he ran to the trail and started climbing.

When he had walked this trail yesterday, it had taken him twenty minutes to get to the top. But that was at a leisurely pace. Now he was barreling up the hill at a speed he knew he wouldn’t be able to maintain for twenty minutes.

He lasted less than five.

Bander slowed to a walk, pain biting at his sides, and lungs burning. His body was not designed for this kind of activity. Not at all. And the smoky air didn’t help. The acrid smoke got stronger and stronger as he climbed.

He breathed through his cloak for a ten count, then set off again, running. After a minute he switched to walking. Back and forth. Running, walking. Wolf-trotting it was called. And it got him to the top of the hill in less than a quarter hour. Overall, not a big improvement over just walking. But in situations like this, you didn’t know how important five extra minutes would turn out to be.

The gate was closed but unlocked and two horses were tethered nearby. Which was odd because Sward had said that he didn’t have any horses…

Bander pushed in and got a better look at the plume of smoke. It wasn’t coming from Eton Sward’s cottage—not the result of an unattended cooking fire or a blanket left too close to the hearth. No, the plume billowed up from the temple itself—the chapter house specifically.

Where Eton Sward’s office was.

Bander raced towards the temple ruins. He pushed through the doors of the main building and ran towards the tunnel that was the only way in or out of Eton Sward’s office.

But he didn’t get far. Black smoke billowed from the passage, blocking his way. It made sense; smoke was heavier than air and it would sink down to the lowest part of a building. But it also meant that the fire had been burning for some time. All those ancient books in the office, the scrolls, the maps—all perfect fuel for a fire.

He called out but there was no answer.

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