Soldiers of the Heavens by Stephen L. Nowland

Author:Stephen L. Nowland [Nowland, Stephen L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The floor upon which Sayana sat was cold and hard, in spite of the repurposed table cloth she’d turned into a makeshift cushion. She leaned against the wall, watching the hectic proceedings inside the tower with mild interest. Over two hundred escardi had arrived and there simply wasn't enough room for them all, even with the tower's impossible dimensions. Lucas and Saffron were in quite a state trying to deal with the sudden increase in population.

Terinus finally relented and opened a door which, as Sayana recalled, lead to the lower floors. Evidently Robert remembered them as well, judging by his reaction.

“You can't be serious,” he growled. “This tower of yours is a deathtrap. Do you want them to freeze to death in the chamber of frozen horrors, or be mashed into a pulp by your mechanical guardians? I know, it's a hard decision so take your time.”

“Sarcasm is beneath you, Commander Black,” Terinus rasped scathingly. “This door allows direct access to the outdoors, if I will it so. Our guests will bypass the security levels and remain safe, I assure you.” The escardi began filing out through the door which, as Terinus had suggested, showed the calm forests surrounding the tower.

It was their first experience with living trees, and the look of astonishment on their faces was something to behold. Sayana guessed they probably thought they had arrived in paradise, and for all intents and purposes, compared to the blighted world they had escaped, it was. Carthack paused near the door to stare in wonder at the abundance of life outside, and then turned and clapped a hand on Robert's shoulder and pulled him in for a crushing bear hug.

“Killing me is no way to say 'thanks',” Robert wheezed, although Carthack was oblivious to the meaning of his words. With a large grin on his dark features, the big man joined his people in the land of plenty.

“Beggin' your pardon,” an out-of-breath Lucas said as he threaded his way through a forest of giant legs. “Am I going to ‘av to feed all these people too? It wasn't part of the deal, is all I'm sayin'.”

“I believe they will find all their needs met in the surrounding woods,” Terinus replied as he watched his guests file out through the enchanted door. “We need only care for the sick and injured, until they are able to stand on their own two feet.”

“Phew, I mean, not that I begrudge a little company, but it never rains it pours, y'know?”

“Is Saffron coping with the wounded?” Terinus asked, ignoring the rambling little butler.

“She's just gettin’ Nellise back into action,” Lucas conceded. “We need all ‘ands on deck for this one.”

“Stay focused and see to your duties,” Terinus rasped, prompting Lucas to scuttle off once more. Sayana could tell the wizard was tired. They all were, given the likelihood they had been stranded on Placidus for a full day and had never felt the desire to sleep. The relief at seeing the sunrise was immeasurable and she wanted nothing more than to sit and regenerate in its warm radiance.

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