This Deadly Engine by Philip Ligon

Author:Philip Ligon [Ligon, Philip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silver Empire
Published: 2019-11-10T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

A deafening boom sounded from behind, and a wave of heat washed over us. Flames consumed the ‘Myths and Legends’ exhibit. A fire bell tolled nearby. Another followed, and another, and another. People screamed both within the building and without. The former sound made me hesitate.

The gnome asked, “Do you have the Heart?”

I patted my pocket and nodded.

His eyes lit as he wrung his hands. “Then let’s be on our way to Branagh’s.”

For once, I missed the little canon’s voice of righteousness and mercy. I needed his encouragement even though I knew the right thing to do.

Orcs and gnomes fled the spreading flames with a few humans – men, women, and children – scattered among them. Yet more cries and pleas for help arose from within the exhibit. People remained trapped. They could very well die if no one helped.

Cavendish said, “Ash…we need to go.”

I shook my large head and blinked once. “We need to rescue them.”

Perrin said, “Why do you do these things? Risking your life for strangers? Why…oh…” He grunted. “You are a strange one, Alexander Asherton. But there is good in you.”

The gnome stepped in front of me. He looked straight up. “This is not your fight, Ash. This is not your decision to make. If you are in there, Perrin, listen to me. Do not let yourself go back.”

Every moment we waited and debated, the chances of survival decreased. “I can help. What if Ravenlea was trapped in there? Would you want me to leave her?”

Cavendish pointed to the right. “I found her in another building. She is part of a different display.”

“Is Sera there?” I asked before I stopped myself.

The gnome eyed me with concern. “Who?”

“She is someone we will need to find later.” Arguing with both the hairy creature and the large brute only wasted more time.

Perrin said, “I need to know. We should go to where the gnome’s lady is.”

“No, we need to help the people trapped. We are the reason they could die.”

I would not have their deaths on my conscience. They would not be the victims of a rotten plan. No one listened when I tried to argue against it. Why?

Perrin said, “Because my world is at a tipping point. Will order reign or will chaos engulf all? And if chaos, then what does that mean for your world? Will the orcs be satisfied with only one world when they can spread their darkness to another? The plan was worth the risk. Besides, who else was willing to try? Who else could they ask to put their life on the line but two people with nothing to lose? Can you not see?”

Indeed I could, especially when he stated it so bluntly. He emphasized his point by remembering when we stood on the edge of Reganas Nine two months ago. On the plains below stretched an army of orcs, lizards, giants, and dragons. Thuds deep enough to rattle the ground sounded in quick succession. Four boulders each the size of a dwarf’s house flew through the air.

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