[Time Hunters 01.0] The Time Hunters by Carl Ashmore

Author:Carl Ashmore [Ashmore, Carl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Adventure
Goodreads: 9490327
Published: 2010-10-02T06:00:00+00:00

- Chapter 19 -

Capture

With a gentle swish, an arrow sliced the air. It connected with the blade, sending it flying from Jason’s hand. Will leapt from the blackness. He loaded another arrow and pointed it at the small man’s throat.

‘P - P - Please don’t kill me,’ Jason whimpered.

Will drew back the bowstring, fury creasing his face.

Uncle Percy’s eyes snapped open. Shocked and disorientated, he saw the dagger. He scrambled to his feet, creating a human shield between the two men. ‘WILL…NO!’

The turmoil caused Becky to wake. She screamed. Joe, Theseus, Phineus and Hercules jolted up simultaneously.

‘Forgive me.’ Jason curled into a quivering ball.

‘I think you can lower the bow now, Will,’ Uncle Percy said assuredly. ‘He is no longer a threat, are you, Jason?’

‘N-no,’ Jason whined.

‘You were just carrying out orders, weren’t you?’

‘Y-Yes … I am sorry.’

‘No harm done. Will, please, sit down.’

Reluctantly, Will complied, but never once took his steely gaze from the tiny man.

‘Now, Jason,’ Uncle Percy continued. ‘You were told to kill me. Why?’

Jason lowered his head. ‘The messenger said you were a cruel man. That you had travelled here to secure the Fleece of Gold and use its sacred power to destroy these lands. He claimed to be an emissary of Zeus himself. That it was Zeus’ decree that I carry out a divine mission: your execution. And if I failed, my soul would forever be condemned to an eternity in Tartarus.’

Uncle Percy’s face shone with compassion. ‘Your soul is safe, Jason. You have been the victim of a deception, that is all. This so-called messenger is not godly in any way. He is but a man...’

‘But only a God could foretell your coming.’

‘There are other ways, believe me,’ Uncle Percy said simply. ‘The messenger was just someone that wants me dead. He tricked you into doing it for him.’

‘Can this be true?’

‘I swear,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘He is the dangerous one. And that is why we have travelled a great distance to be here. We are trying to stop him. Now, tell me … what exactly did he want you to do?’

Ashamed, Jason turned away. ‘He said I must gather a crew and boat, and then journey to Crete. That soon after our arrival, I would meet you and your companions, that I was to gain your trust. I was to wait until you slept, then … then slay you.’ Jason paused. ‘Then I was to kill him …’ He inclined his head toward Will, who responded with a derisory grunt.

Jason seemed unable to continue his admission.

‘Please, go on,’ Uncle Percy said.

Jason hung his head. ‘I cannot.’

Uncle Percy’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. ‘What was to happen to Becky and Joe?’

‘He ordered they remain unharmed.’

Uncle Percy nodded sharply as if this confirmed what he already knew. ‘And what was to happen to them?’

‘He said I was to take them with me.’

‘Take them where?’

‘To Hypatia Point in the Grey Mountains.’ Jason pointed into the distance.

Everyone turned to chart the direction of the finger. The night was lifting and in the early morning light they could just make out a sprawling mountain range.

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