On the Winds of Quasars (The Song of Kamaria Book 2) by T. A. Bruno

Author:T. A. Bruno [Bruno, T. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sci fi, Science Fiction, space colony, Sci-fi, adventure, Space Exploration
Publisher: Tom Bruno Author
Published: 2021-09-19T22:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

FIVE DAYS EARLIER

L’Arn flew back to the eastern shore. When he stopped to rest, he sat across the fire from his murdered friend, Nock’lu. The corpse was his only companion. L’Arn looked into Nock’lu’s lifeless eyes and listened to the Song of the Dead. The Daunoren had listened to this same song for months as it devoured lost loved ones in a ritualistic feast. Auk’nai of Apusticus could not hear this song, but the auk’gnell of the wild knew it all too well.

It was a low-tone hum. Slow and even. Haunting. Nock’lu’s eyes remained open, staring into L’Arn’s soul. L’Arn stared back until the campfire faded, and the stars revealed themselves in the night sky. In the low light, he half expected his friend to stand up and move toward him. It was somehow more eerie that he didn’t. An attack would have meant his friend was not dead.

L’Arn did not sleep.

The following day, L’Arn made it to the shore. Auden had a fire going near his cave, the smoke signaling L’Arn. When he landed, Auden emerged from the cave with his arms outstretched and exclaimed, “You’re back!”

L’Arn dropped the body on the black rocks and pulled his sword out, holding the blade toward Auden. The man with the black marble eye put his hands together and smiled. When L’Arn didn’t lower the sword, Auden’s smile faded into a frown.

“I can assure you, that will not work on me,” Auden said. He stepped forward and pushed the sword to the side as he knelt next to Nock’lu’s body. “Yes, this one will do nicely. Bring him over to the cave. I have a spot ready for him.”

“What have you done to me?” L’Arn asked.

Auden turned and raised one eyebrow at the question. His eye looked up and down L’Arn’s body. He sighed and said, “I fixed you. But not completely. You still aren’t perfect.”

“What have you done to me?” L’Arn repeated with a raised voice and stepped forward, pounding his clawed foot on the stone.

Auden shook his head, then flicked his hand toward L’Arn. “If you really want me to lower the veil, I’ll do it. Take a look for yourself.”

As Auden waved his hand, everything changed.

L’Arn noticed the campfire on the shore first. It had been made of sticks and tinder, a roaring red fire. Now it was some sort of light with a metal base. Heat spewed from the top of it, warping the air around it. He raised his hand toward his face and felt metal over his eyes, three cylindrical tubes with lenses on the ends. When L’Arn pulled his hand away, he felt the lenses adjust to sharpen his vision.

L’Arn lifted his left arm and screamed.

Where his arm had been was now a piece of machinery. It moved like an arm, but that was where the similarities ended. Open compartments vented steam and heat, and smoke rose from gaps in the metal panels. His hand was a sizeable viselike metal claw.

“It’s rude to ask a magician to reveal his trick,” Auden said.

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