The Crimson Spark by William Hastings

Author:William Hastings [Hastings, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-15T05:00:00+00:00

39

Back in Chains

Wind swept across the desert, sand flying up in curtains, winding through the sky then settling again in the endless dunes. Thick clouds were beginning to gather overhead and a distant rumble of thunder could be heard. Still Leo and his companion walked on through the wild, storm-tossed wasteland. His skeletal friend held his hand tightly, too tightly. The skeleton was squeezing down on Leo’s right arm with all the pressure of a vice, and it was only growing worse. Leo screamed and tried to rip himself free, struggling and thrashing.

Leo sat up with a start. His was in the back of some kind of prison wagon. His whole body felt numb with exhaustion, but he recognized a familiar pressure on his ankles – irons on his arms and legs.

Leo’s eyes fixed on a patch of sunlight coming through the barred window. He was out of the dark; somehow he had gotten out in one piece. The ache from his dream hadn’t faded. His bad arm still hurt, though not the way he was used to. Why was that? He looked down, and all the memories and sensations of the trek through Adis, returned in a violent wave. He stared at the twisted remains of his arm in a more decent light. It was completely set in his flesh now, no twisting or bleeding. Knail was simply inlaid there, like a gem upon the hilt of a sword.

All at once he became aware of his insane thirst and hunger. He looked around for a something, anything to drink.

“Here.” Seiyariu tossed him a bit of dried pork.

“Seiyariu?” The vagabond was a mess, battered and bruised, his clothes stained with blood. He was similarly shackled and his hood was up, casting his face into shadow.

“Eat, you need to get your energy back.” Leo obeyed scarfing down the meat like an animal. “You had me worried Leo. You’ve been sleeping for a day and a half.”

No. How could he still be so weak, so tired? “What’s happened to me?”

Seiyariu leaned forward and Leo saw dark bags under his eyes. “For God’s sake Leo, why did you open it?”

“I… I had to. I would’ve died.”

Seiyariu’s voice was without affect. “I need you to tell me everything that happened after our separation in Adis.”

Leo did just that, and when he reached the point where Pluto had turned on him, Seiyariu scowled.

“I left you with him, damn my eyes but I should’ve seen it. It was too convenient, all of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought it strange that we didn’t encounter any sign whatsoever of the Black Briars on our trek through Styx and Adis. I didn’t understand why Beljhar would simply leave all his treasures unprotected. It didn’t occur to me that Pluto might be the guard I was unable to find. Beljhar has outsmarted me again, and this time it’s cost us our freedom.”

“Pluto got you too?”

“Once he had you, it wasn’t a choice.”

Leo felt these words dig into him, so it was his fault Seiyariu was in chains as well.

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