Hi,
I have several codes for the US and UK for free downloads of Max and the Gatekeeper.
Anyone interested let me know. First come first served.
Would love honest reviews on Audible, Amazon, or GoodReads but not a requirement to get a free copy. :)
James
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Free Ebook Promotions
Max and the Gatekeeper is currently FREE in all ebook formats:
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/James_Todd_Cochrane_Max_and_the_Gatekeeper?id=7RZ0e5ENGf4C&hl=en
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/James_Todd_Cochrane_Max_and_the_Gatekeeper?id=7RZ0e5ENGf4C&hl=en
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
The Reign of Hudich Part I
The Reign of Hudich Part I (Max and the Gatekeeper Book V) will be released on April 18, 2016.
Kindle copies are already on presale. http://www.amazon.com/Reign-Hudich-Part-Gatekeeper-Book-ebook/dp/B01DCEN6BA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1460467874&sr=8-5&keywords=Max+and+the+Gatekeeper
Kindle copies are already on presale. http://www.amazon.com/Reign-Hudich-Part-Gatekeeper-Book-ebook/dp/B01DCEN6BA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1460467874&sr=8-5&keywords=Max+and+the+Gatekeeper
Monday, November 16, 2015
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Max and the Gatekeeper Audio Book On Sale
My first book, Max and the Gatekeeper, is on audiobook. I have no control over the price but noticed that the people at Audible/Amazon have slashed its price. It usually runs for $17.99 and is now available for $1.99. I just thought I would pass along this information.
James
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_hp_tseft?advsearchKeywords=Max+and+the+Gatekeeper&filterby=field-keywords&x=0&y=0
http://www.amazon.com/Max-and-the-Gatekeeper/dp/B00C20O66U/ref=sr_1_1_twi_audd_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1443020875&sr=8-1&keywords=Max+and+the+Gatekeeper
James
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_hp_tseft?advsearchKeywords=Max+and+the+Gatekeeper&filterby=field-keywords&x=0&y=0
http://www.amazon.com/Max-and-the-Gatekeeper/dp/B00C20O66U/ref=sr_1_1_twi_audd_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1443020875&sr=8-1&keywords=Max+and+the+Gatekeeper
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
The Reign of Hudich (Max and the Gatekeeper Book V) Chapter 1
Here is chapter one to book V in the Max and the Gatekeeper series. I hope you enjoy it.
1
Camps
Boom!
Boom! Boom! A loud bass drum vibrated through the air.
“Do you think they have a chance?” asked
Sundance, a tall average built man, his reddish hair pulled back with a leather
tie. He was dressed in black clothing.
“Not without our help,” responded
Sam, a twenty-something male. Thin, of
medium-height, and freckled-faced with straight brown hair, he stared through
his binoculars. Sam spied a make-shift
fort, roughly the size of two football fields, surrounded by a wall of piled
debris consisting of trees, bricks, old cars, and barbed wire piled
approximately twenty feet high. The two
men lay nestled among a cluster of tall weeds at the top of a small hill.
“I sometimes think there aren’t
enough of us to win this war,” Sundance lamented. “Look at the sheer numbers we’re up
against. It’s like a million to
one. Granted, we have the technological
advantage but, magically, we are behind the curve. They are destroying camps, towns, and cities
left and right, or assimilating them.”
“Don’t worry. We are bringing in more every day. We have some powerful allies on our side
fighting the same fight all over the universe.
We will take Hudich’s empire one piece at a time,” Sam replied.
“I hope you’re right. I, for one, would like to know more. Don’t get me wrong. I love the weapons, but I would like my
magical skills to be up to snuff,” Sundance said. “And those drums mean we
aren’t in for a good night. The enemy is
coming.”
“Your talents will improve, just
give it time. You can’t run a marathon
without proper training,” Sam continued.
“It was only two years ago, I could only do a few things and they kept
me and my friend, Linda, alive until help arrived.” He handed the binoculars to
Sundance.
“Let’s hope we can keep these people
alive a little longer too,” Sundance muttered.
“We need to get them word to keep
all the lights on. Trying to hide in the
dark only puts them at greater risk,” Sam noted.
“You and I know that, but you know
how fond these groups are of strangers.
It’s hard to trust anyone now-a-days, but you can’t blame them. Not only are there evil things roaming the
lands, but clans fighting over food, land, and other supplies.” Sundance
focused on a section of the wall. “I
think I found the front gate.”
“Where?” Sam tried to spot the area
with his naked eyes.
“The center of the left wall. There are an awful lot of guards at that
location. Most of the other sections
only have a handful of watchmen,” Sundance indicated. “So, how do you want to do this?”
Boom! Boom! Boom! The drums pounded
out again.
“Have we tried to establish radio
contact?” Sam questioned, studying the section of wall his friend had pointed
out.
“I put Jim on it.” Sundance passed
the binoculars back to Sam.
“Let’s move back and see if he’s had
any luck.” Sam slid down the small hill, with Sundance right behind him.
They wove their way back into a
small stand of trees at the bottom of a gully and out of sight of the
camp. A man named Jim sat in the shade
with an old radio, trying to make contact on each frequency. Another dozen men occupied positions to watch
the perimeter of the small base, each carrying a small arsenal of advanced
Olik-type weapons.
“What’s the word?” Sam asked Jim as
he continued to fiddle with the radio.
“Well, I’ve had a couple of nice
conversations with a few folks who are either in hiding or trying to lure
victims out into the open. As far as the
complex, nada.” Jim frowned. “I’ve been
warning them about the coming attack. If they are listening, they should know.”
“Keep trying.” Sam patted him on the
shoulder.
“So, what do you want to do?”
Sundance asked.
“I guess I’m going to have to go
knock on their front door.” Sam started handing his weapons to Sundance. “I’ll keep my radio, although they will
probably confiscate it. Take my
communicator. If you think this is going
to get ugly, call for backup.”
“Will backup be able to respond in
time?” Sundance questioned, accepting all of Sam’s equipment.
“I hope so.” Sam shrugged his
shoulders. “Because there is no guarantee these people will believe me or let
me go after I get in. You will have a
hard time reaching me in that situation.”
“Are you sure you want to go in?”
Sundance questioned with raised eyebrows.
“Yeah.” Sam checked his watch. “We only have about five hours until
sunset. We better hurry. I want to give them as much time as possible,
so at least they can release me before dark.”
“Five hours isn’t a lot of time to
convince them to head west,” Sundance observed.
“First things first, I’m just going
to try to convince them to let us help them and
keep the lights on. I’ll worry about
getting them to head to the Rocky Mountains later.”
“Good thinking.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“You better follow me up to a safe
distance. I don’t want to be caught out
there by something we haven’t seen,” Sam said.
The two men found a dry riverbed
which allowed them to move without being seen from the makeshift fort. The wind rustled the leaves and the weeds,
creating the only sound in what seemed like a lifeless world. No birds or other wildlife stirred or made
noises of any kind. An occasional
disturbance would reach them from the direction of the camp, but it was obvious
they were trying to be as quiet as possible.
Sam brought them to a halt when they
were almost in a direct line with the entrance.
They waited in the trees, studying the layout and listening for the
unknown.
Sam’s heart rate increased and his
palms turned sweaty. “Well.” He
swallowed.
“Good luck. I’ll cover you as far as I can without being
spotted,” Sundance promised. “Be extra
careful. You know how crazy these drums
make people.”
Sam climbed out of the riverbed and
up a small hill towards the fort. When he reached full view of the structure,
he raised his hands above his head and started forward slowly.
It wasn’t until he was within fifty
yards that he could make out all the weapons pointed at him. There were at least a dozen assault rifles
trained on him as he continued to take one slow step at a time. “I come in peace,” he shouted when he was
within thirty yards of the gate.
“That’s far enough,” a voice
commanded through a megaphone. “Either
turn around now or lay down on the ground.
If you attempt to come any closer, you will be shot.”
Sam kept his hands in the air while
getting into a kneeling position and then brought them down to lie on the
ground.
The instant he was flat the gate
flew open and several four wheelers zipped out of the gate, along with about a
dozen armed men. The vehicles created a
dust cloud as they circled him, their engines breaking the tense silence.
“Hands behind your back,” a man
screamed when the group reached his location and everyone pointed weapons at
him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Sam placed his hands behind his back and a
man tied them together while driving his knee painfully into Sam’s spine. Once he was secured, a couple men stepped
forward and lifted Sam off the ground.
“I come in peace,” Sam repeated.
“Shut up.” One of the men punched
him hard in the gut, causing Sam to double over in pain and gasp for air. “We’ll ask the questions. You wanted to come inside, well that will be
under our conditions. If we don’t like
your answers, we will either expel you or kill you.”
“Aren’t you glad you approached the
gate,” another said and chuckled in his ear before a hood was pulled over his
head and the world went dark. “If your
friends want to see you again, they better stop pounding on those drums.”
Sam felt like a sack of
potatoes. His captors didn’t seem too
concerned with how well they treated their prisoner. He was bumped, kicked, and shoved. With his hands bound behind his back, he had
no way to break his fall. Every time he
stumbled he hit the ground hard. Then
someone would immediately yank him back to his feet.
They made him march blindly for what
seemed like several hundred yards before they removed his hood. He stood in an otherwise darkened room, with
extremely bright lights blinding his vision.
Sam couldn’t tell how many people were in the room. Only shadowy outlines danced occasionally at
the periphery of his vision between the lights.
“Who are you? What reason do you have for approaching our
walls?” a deep voice roared at him. “And what’s with the war drums?”
“My name is Sam. I am here to help you,” Sam stated boldly. “I
am not connected to those drums.”
“Here…to help us.”
A roar of laughter told Sam there
was a large crowd gathered in the room.
“What makes you think we need your
help?” the same deep voice asked. “We
are well protected and well informed. We
know about your group of men down in the riverbed. And I’m sure your army is nearby. What is
your real purpose here?”
“We came to help you. You are in extremely great danger,” Sam
stated. “If you last the night, you will
need to head west. There is a well-organized
society in the Rocky Mountains. You will
be safe with them.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Really?
We just up and leave with twenty-five hundred people and supplies. That sounds like a ploy to get us out in the
open so you and your people can slaughter us and steal our property.” A female
voice spoke this time.
“I guarantee you. We are here to help. We only stand a real
chance if we join forces,” Sam urged. “You are vastly outnumbered and you are
not as well informed as you think you are.
You have been cut off from the real news.”
“We have our sources,” a different
man interjected.
“What sources? Those news
broadcasts? They are lies and propaganda
meant to trick you into thinking you are safe.
I’ve been out there. I’ve seen
what’s coming tonight and it isn’t anything you can defend against.” Sam spoke
more confidently than before.
“This is just another con artist
trying to trick us into losing our possessions or worse,” another
bellowed. “Toss him over the wall or
slay him, but I don’t want to hear any more lies.”
The crowd volume in the room
continued to grow with everyone trying to speak on top of each other.
“Give me a chance to prove myself,”
Sam shouted above the din, bringing silence.
“And how do you plan to do
that?”
“By fighting with you tonight. My men and I can keep you alive if you listen
to me,” Sam informed them.
“We don’t need this fool. We have already withstood several assaults in
the past and against great odds,” one argued.
The roar of the crowd started to
build again. The tone and the comments
were not in Sam’s favor. Slowly and
steadily a chant began and continued to grow.
“Throw him out! Throw him out!”
“This battle will not be like any other,” Sam yelled as
loud as he could.
“How?” The crowd roared together.
“What do you know?”
“Throw him out!”
“The things you are about to fight
will not be only human!” Sam shouted
again. “They will not spare women or
children.”
The chant changed to laughter and
calls of “You’re mad! You’re crazy!”
“You won’t be dealing with
conventional weapons,” Sam continued to holler above the mocking throng.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“QUIET!” a loud deep voice shouted
above the crowd and the roar disappeared.
“What sort of weapons are we facing?”
“Magical weapons,” Sam spoke in a
normal voice.
“He’s out of his mind!” The roars
and chants returned, more raucous than before.
“Throw him out.”
“He’s wasting our time. This is some kind of ploy.”
“He’s wasting our time. This is some kind of ploy.”
“I can prove it,” Sam shouted again.
“He’s trying to trick us. He’s a devil.
Toss him out.”
“QUIET!” the same deep voice shouted
again. “Before I came to you, I was in a
battle that matches his description. Creatures stormed out of the dark and
slaughtered us. We managed to kill a few
but we were outnumbered and outmatched.
The battle was over quickly. It
was only blind luck that I survived. The
other few survivors were carried away.”
“I and my men can help you. It will not be easy but if you want to
survive you must do as I say,” Sam affirmed.
“You said you can prove they will
fight with magical weapons. How?”
another questioned.
“Like this. Izginim se.” Sam disappeared right in front of them.
“Where did he go?” Several gasped.
“I told you he’s a devil,” others
exclaimed.
“Do you really think I’m your prisoner?” Sam spoke from a new
section of the room, turning the heads of the crowd. A few seconds later he spoke again, “I am here to help. Otherwise, I could leave at will on my own
power.”
He used a spell to untie his
bindings and slipped into the bleachers until he was standing by the man who
supported his story. “Prikazim se!”
He reappeared.
Most of the people in the immediate
area where Sam showed himself, scrambled away from him in fear. The man who had supported Sam’s claims jumped
a little but remained where he was.
“How did you do that?” the man
asked.
“Magic. It’s real and I can teach you how to use
it. My name is Sam and I am really here to help.” Sam extended his
hand.
The man eyed it for a moment, then
accepted it. “I’m John.”
Boom! Boom! Boom! The drum beats grew louder and
stronger.
“Don’t trust him. It is the power of the devil that is going to
fight devils,” a woman shouted in a shaky voice.
“Have you not heard a house divided
cannot stand? How could the kingdom of the devil stand if I destroy his
followers with his power?” Sam reasoned.
“Those drums will continue to increase as the enemy approaches. If you want my help, we need to start
preparing now. Otherwise, my men and I
will leave you to your fate.”
“Why would you help us?” one questioned. “Don’t get me wrong. I want your help, but why?”
“Because you are needed. There is a bigger war being waged. We can’t win without the help of people
standing for good.”
John rose to his feet and waved his
arms, silencing the crowd. “All in favor of accepting help from Sam and his
men, say ‘aye.’”
There was a loud chorus of “ayes.”
“Those against?” John asked.
A small spattering of “nays”
returned.
“The ayes have it,” John
pronounced. “Now, Sam, what’s first?”
“Send someone to retrieve my men
from the riverbed. We also need to
gather all the lights you can find. We
need to make this place look like a tree on Christmas morning,” Sam ordered.
“Won’t that give away our position?”
a man questioned.
“Yes, but what chases away darkness
better than light?” Sam smiled.
“What else do we need to do?” John
asked.
“Do you have maps of the surrounding
areas, and what kind of supplies do you have, especially weapons? We need to set up a planning area. I may be able to bring in additional help,” Sam
responded.
“How? More magic?” the people
questioned curiously.
“Not exactly, but it may seem that
way.” Sam smiled, trying to ease people’s fear of the unknown.
“What do you need maps for? Offense?” a short stalky man asked.
“Anyone who tries to go on the
attack tonight will be lost, but we might be able to lay down some traps.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Do your people make regular runs
outside the camp on four wheelers?” Sam questioned.
“Yes,” John responded.
“Start sending people out on regular
patrols and mock errands. We need to
create a lot of dust. That should allow
us to set some surprises.”
###
Within a half an hour, Sundance and
the others had been brought inside the fort, and had set up an operations
center in the area where Sam was questioned. Plus, they had designated a spot
to open the gateway.
“Why aren’t we just taking these
people out?” Sundance asked.
“Unfortunately, we aren’t the only
battle going on at the moment. Access to
the gateway is tight right now. There
are missions being run through it non-stop.
When we have a window, they will bring us through. Plus, always running from your enemy isn’t a
good thing. And, reducing their numbers is always a positive,” Sam advised.
“I can’t argue with that, but there
are women and children here. Maybe we
need more gateways?”
“There are plans for that as well.”
Sam patted Sundance on the shoulder.
Boom! Boom! Boom, sent shockwaves
through the air. An occasional inhuman,
hair-raising scream joined the chorus of drums, which added even more tension
to the situation. By now everyone pretty
much ignored the drums, rushing about to get things done, when the scream
stopped everyone in their tracks.
“How much fuel do you have? Or is there a supply nearby?” Sam questioned
after a group stood around studying several maps for a while.
“I’m Mark. We have a good supply but
are trying to ration it. We understand
we may need to flee when our other supplies run low,” said a short stocky man
who introduced himself while adding the information.
“We’re going to need all you have,”
Sam reported. “You aren’t going to need it after tomorrow, and we have a faster
way of getting everyone out of here. We
just need an open window.”
“How are we going to leave without
fuel?” John questioned. “I don’t think
we can spare any at all.”
“Your lives depend on sacrificing
everything tonight. You’ll understand
more tomorrow, I promise.”
Sam and his men spent the last few
hours before sundown preparing the people of the small fort for the coming
attack. They faced resistance to using
the fuel and to rerouting all of their electrical wiring to place almost every
available light around the walls and on the rooftops of the make-shift fort. The drums and high-pitched screams continued
to grow in volume and frequency, generating fear among all the inhabitants of
the camp.
After positioning his men, with
their futuristic weapons, at key locations along the wall, Sam and Sundance
joined John and a few of the other leaders on the top of a tower inside the perimeter.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Do you think we’ll make it?” John
questioned with a grim expression.
“With a little luck, we just might,”
Sam responded.
“A little luck and an open gateway.”
Sundance squinted into the setting sun.
“And this gateway is, again?” John
asked as the sun sank behind the hills.
“A machine that can transport us
anywhere in the universe in no time at all.
We can move all of your people out of here in about a half an hour,” Sam
replied.
In the fading light along the
horizon, coming from every direction, dark twisted shapes of varying sizes
massed. The drums continued to pound out
a steady beat and the high-pitched screams grew in strength and number. A constant chatter of excited creatures and
men matched a strange dance coming from the dark shadowy figures. Several of the monsters circling the compound
were massive, while others flapped bat-like wings to rise into the air before
descending to the ground a few seconds later.
The drum beats began to increase to
a steady, Boom! Boom! Boom…Boom! Boom! Boom...Boom! Boom! Boom! The twisted forms of the surrounding army
began to stamp their feet and beat their weapons in unison with the drums,
creating a roar like thunder over the entire area.
“Should we turn on the lights?” John
questioned, his eyes darting nervously around the awaiting doom.
“Not yet. We want to hurt them. Darkness hates light. Wait until they are upon us for it to have
the greatest impact. If we turn them on
too soon, they will use weapons or magic to try to destroy them. But, when they are blinded, they are easy
targets.” Sundance cocked his weapon and positioned it so it was resting on a
rail while he sighted it on a section of the enemy.
Sam glanced at the ever darkening
sky. “Dark of the moon. Their favorite time.”
“I like ruining that for them.”
Sundance grinned.
Dusk slowly changed into night and
the beat and screams continued to send a shockwave of fear over the camp. When the night grew so complete that the
shapes of the twisted creatures and men were barely visible, the drums
stopped. Dead silence settled over the
area for a few moments, then a hair-raising scream propelled the surrounding
army forward.
The black mass rushed forward with a
reckless frenzy. They raced over the
fields like flood water. Many among the
surge launched themselves into the air and advanced quickly towards the camp.
“WAIT FOR IT!” Sam called to John
above the roar from the oncoming attackers.
John held a shaky finger against the
switch to turn on the lights. “There’s
so many of them.”
The twisted forms welled up like a
massive wave, and seconds before it crashed upon the camp, Sam screamed. “NOW!”
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Centalpha 6 Part IX and My Next Project.
I am happy to announce that Centalpha 6 Part IX is now available everywhere.
My next project should be out in May. This one will be a lot different. Over the last 4 months, I have corrected my vision doing eye exercises(one I invented myself) This short book will detail what I did to correct my vision naturally. I went from a prescription of a -7.5 in my right eye and a -7 in my left and am working my way to no longer needing glasses.
James Todd Cochrane
My next project should be out in May. This one will be a lot different. Over the last 4 months, I have corrected my vision doing eye exercises(one I invented myself) This short book will detail what I did to correct my vision naturally. I went from a prescription of a -7.5 in my right eye and a -7 in my left and am working my way to no longer needing glasses.
James Todd Cochrane
Friday, February 6, 2015
New Cover for Centalpha 6 Part IX
Here is the new cover for Centalpha 6 Part IX. I hope to have it out earl March as it is being edited right now. I am now going all out on Max 5.
Monday, January 12, 2015
NOW in ebook The Prophecy of Sky
Hi,
I'm excited to announce that The Prophecy of Sky is out in ebook formats. It may take a day or two to work its way through the system for itunes.
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Prophecy-Sky-Based-character-Gatekeeper-ebook/dp/B00S48OVFK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421071539&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Prophecy+of+Sky
I'm excited to announce that The Prophecy of Sky is out in ebook formats. It may take a day or two to work its way through the system for itunes.
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Prophecy-Sky-Based-character-Gatekeeper-ebook/dp/B00S48OVFK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421071539&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Prophecy+of+Sky
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
The Prophecy of Sky
My new book, The Prophecy of Sky which is based on Sky from the Max and the Gatekeeper series, will be available in ebook formats towards the end of next week. I will post again when it is available.
Monday, December 8, 2014
The Prophecy of Sky
So, I'm a little behind schedule. The Prophecy of Sky my new novel based on Sky from the Max and the Gatekeeper Series should be out in ebook around the first of he year with paper back later in that month. Centalpha 6 Part IX should be out towards the end of January. Here is the cover for 
The Prophecy of Sky.
The Prophecy of Sky.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
New Book Title
I finally decided on a title for the new book about the character Sky from Max and the Gatekeeper.
The Prophecy of Sky.
The Prophecy of Sky.
Friday, October 10, 2014
New Book.
This is the Prologue to my new book which I hope will be out before Christmas. It is a spin off about Sky from the Max and the Gatekeeper Series. This Prologue will be the only thing tying this book to the other series, otherwise it will stand alone. Enjoy!
“I
gave you very specific orders to protect my palace!”
Gree shouted at the top of his lungs, turning his normally green skin almost
black. His heavy fat body hovered over a
blond woman dressed in black garb, bowing before him on the floor. “And now, I’ve found there have been
intruders in my kingdom. Within these
walls. How is this happening?” His voice
echoed off the stone walls of the high chamber, vibrating the massive crystal
chandelier hanging over his throne.
“Magic,” the woman stated, her face still on the ground. “Powerful magic. Unlike anything I have ever sensed before.” She chanced a glance at Gree to see he was visibly shaken by this bit of information. “They must be after something.”
Gree paced around the circular chamber, muttering to himself. “I found it. It’s mine. How did they find out? How did they find…” He climbed the steps to his throne and plopped himself down. A scowl spread across his fat round wrinkled face.
“Do you know what they are after, Master?” the woman rose slightly, revealing a beautiful pale white face with dark red lips and blue eyes that sparkled. Even with her striking features, her face wore a slight expression of distain for Gree.
“Perhaps, but it isn’t something you need to concern yourself about, Slave One. You need to stop these intruders from entering my palace,” Gree ordered.
“It isn’t my…” Her body started trembling as an uncontrollable fear crept over her.
“No,” Gree barked. “They are not after your dar. You need not fear. You will be mine…forever.” A wicked fire burned in his circular eyes.
“Somehow that doesn’t make me feel better,” she mumbled under her breath.
“What was that?” Gree shot her an angry look.
“Nothing. May I at least see it… please? It has been so long,” she pleaded, as an uncontrollable urge crawled up the back of her spine. She couldn’t remember ever wanting something so much in her entire life. Her heart rate increased and she took a few tentative steps forward. Standing below the raised platform, she barely reached to Gree’s knees.
“You bring me these intruders and I will let you see it again, Slave One,” Gree commanded.
The woman’s heart dropped, followed by a sinking sensation, and she stepped back and lowered her head. “Will you at least tell me what they are after? It may aid me in thwarting the thieves.”
“You need only know it is kept within the vault and they will try to steal it.” Gree leaned back and glanced at a door to the right of his throne.
“What if I’m not powerful enough to protect it? The creature or creatures are very strong,” Slave One commented.
“Indeed, they are powerful. They are obviously not from this world, slave,” Gree snarled.
“Not from this world?” The slave took another step back. She glanced toward the ceiling as if doing so would help her see beyond heavens. “I’ve always wondered.”
“Wondered about what?”
“If there was life in other parts of the universe,” the slave answered.
“You may yet find out. I may need answers,” Gree said.
“You know…how to travel to other worlds?” The slave’s face shone with curiosity.
“No, but you do. I just haven’t allowed you to do it yet.” Gree rested on his elbows with his hand clasped in front of him, eyeing her. “You are unaware of your full potential. I will show you in time. I will need your powers to achieve my place in history. For now, stop wondering and do as you’re told,” Gree barked, his voice growing in strength once more. “I don’t want any more intruders. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” The slave bowed low and turned to leave.
Gree clapped his hands and several servants of varying species rushed into the room, carrying trays of food and drink for Gree. They wore what looked like burlap sacks for clothing and had loose brown skin hanging from their thin frames.
The slave girl marched out of the chamber at a brisk pace. When she reached the hall beyond, she walked to a large window overlooking a lush green valley. There is life elsewhere in the universe. A place we could have escaped to.
“What did he want?” enquired a handsome pale man with short blond hair, standing only a few inches taller than she.
“Tighter security, Slave Two.” She continued to stare out the window. “Did you know we have the power to travel to other worlds?”
“We what?” The man’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
“Gree told me himself. You, I, and the others have the power to leave this place.” She glanced up at the partly cloudy sky. “He said these intruders came from another world and I’m assuming they used magic to do so.”
“If that’s true, we could have escaped this fate.” The man waved at the castle around them.
“I know.” She frowned and patted the man on the shoulder. “We may never have fallen under the power of the dar.”
“So what are we going to do?”
“Send out scouts. I don’t know how these beings are coming and going. We need to catch them when they are unaware, to avoid a fight. If they are strong enough to get here, they must have a greater mastery of magic than we do,” the slave girl stated.
The man swallowed nervously. “What are you going to do?”
“I want to find out what they are after,” the slave girl responded.
“You know you can’t disobey him. The dar won’t let you,” the man stated.
“I know, but he told me to watch his vault. If there have been intruders, I’m sure he will want to check on his possessions.” The slave girl smiled a dazzling expression.
“Don’t let him catch you spying. Otherwise, he may get more specific in his orders and make our world smaller than it already is.”
“Send out the scouts,” she ordered.
She waited for the man to exit the door at the end of the hall. “This looks like a job for my little snitch,” she muttered to herself as the formation of a plan began to work in the corners of her mind.
Slave One went to the kitchen and grabbed a loaf of bread then headed out onto the grounds. It took a half-hour hike to reach her destination. She sent out a wave of magic to test the area and verify that she and her target were the only ones in the area. Entering a dense forest on the border of the master’s kingdom, she walked until she could no longer see the valley behind her.
“I knew it was you. I felt your magic.” A small young blond girl with pale skin emerged from behind a tree.
The slave girl squatted to be eye level with the girl and held out the bread. “I have a job for you, youngling.”
The girl stepped forward and accepted the bread, then began devouring it. “What do you need me to do?” Her voice was muffled by the mouthful of food.
“I want you to follow someone for me.” The slave girl rose to her feet. “And you can’t be seen.”
The girl twisted her face up into a that-doesn’t-sound-too-exciting look. “Is that all? That’s easy.”
“It’s not and it will be very dangerous. I wouldn’t even ask, but it could help you to avoid my fate and the fate of our people. But…if you are discovered, I may be ordered to kill you.” A flood of guilt rushed through the slave girl’s body at what she was asking of this youngling, a girl whose life was just beginning. I can’t do this to her. I can’t ask her to do this.
“Now, that sounds more fun.” The youngling’s eyes shone with excitement.
“I…” the slave girl stepped back. The horrible image of her slaughtering the youngling flashed through her mind, causing her to feel sick. “I shouldn’t have asked. I was greedy. Forget about it.” She hung her head and turned to leave.
“Wait?” the youngling shouted.
“I can’t ask you this favor,” the slave girl said, not looking at the young girl.
“If it will really help us, I accept the possible outcomes,” the youngling stated.
“Even if the outcome is death?”
“Is a lifetime of slavery really living?”
“No,” the slave girl muttered so quietly the young girl didn’t hear her.
“What?”
“You have to promise me. If you are discovered you will run and never come back. You will never make friends or set up regular patterns,” the slave girl stated.
“I promise. Now, who do you want me to follow?”
“My master. I want you to tail him wherever he goes and remember everything he does. You must remember what he looks at or holds, every possible detail,” the slave girl stated.
“I can do that. When would you like me to start?” The youngling licked her lips with excitement.
“Immediately. Now comes the hard part. You will need to do it without me or anyone else knowing about it. I have been ordered to stop any intruders from entering his kingdom. You fall under that category. I cannot know you are there or I will be forced to catch you. Do you understand?” the slave girl questioned.
“You’re right. It sounds too risky. I don’t think I want to take that challenge,” the young girl said and frowned.
“Smart choice.” The slave girl marched back to the castle.
A couple hours later the slave girl bowed before her master. “As part of the new security measures, I am going to put a spell around your vault that will alert me whenever anyone enters.”
“And why are you telling me this? I gave you permission to protect my property.”
“This spell won’t distinguish between you or an intruder. Do you want me to enter into your vault when it is you who are inside it?” the slave girl asked.
“You know you aren’t allowed in my vault when I am in there.”
“I know, sir. But, if I can put a spell on the vault I can protect it more effectively.”
“How easy is it to remove this magic when I want to enter?” Gree seemed to be mulling over the option.
“Just as quickly as you can snap your fingers.” The slave girl performed the action.
“Leave me. I will call for you when I am ready for this extra measure.”
The slave girl sat in her favorite window in a tower overlooking the entire valley. The sun moved closer to sunset. Although dark clouds threatened to hide its descent, it remained visible through a large gap in the storm. Her mind wandered with thoughts of freedom and exploring the universe. How do I travel to other worlds? Not while you’re a slave you won’t.
“Hey, we have visitors and I don’t think they are from this planet.” The slave boy from earlier snapped her out of her thoughts as he appeared behind her.
“I didn’t sense anything.” She hopped out of the raised window.
“They’re not in our territory. Or at least not yet. And I don’t think they used magic like we’ve ever encountered,” the slave boy reported and spun around to lead the way.
“What do you mean?” She found herself almost running to keep up with the taller man’s gait.
“I don’t know how to explain it. They just dropped out of nowhere. Or at least a few of them did. I spotted two of them on our border and then three more appeared. Like I said, they aren’t from here and they appear to be different life forms.”
“Really?”
“You’ll know what I mean when you see them.”
They proceeded out of the palace and turned towards the setting sun. Slave Two led her down the hill and through an orchard toward a hill at the edge of their master’s kingdom. They climbed to the top of the hill where more slaves lay in the tall grass, observing the valley beyond. The slave girl and boy lowered themselves to lying positions as they reached the others.
“So where did they first appear?” she asked, spotting the small group huddled in the shade of a tree, conversing about something.
“About twenty minutes ago, close to that small opening by the tree,” said another slave girl, who was a little shorter and older.
Slave One peered down and noticed the differences Slave Two hinted at. Three of the strangers, males, appeared to be a taller darker version of her race. One had short brown hair, while another had wavy gray hair with a mustache, and the third kept his hood up, making it difficult to see his face. There was a woman, shorter than Sky, with golden tan skin, and the last resembled something she had never seen. She didn’t know if it was male or female. It had grayish greenish skin with large round black eyes.
“What do you think they want?” the other slave girl asked. “Do you think it has to do with whatever’s in the master’s vault?”
Slave One shot Slave Two a dirty look.
“You didn’t tell me not to tell anyone,” Slave Two responded.
“They don’t look like that big of a threat. Although the one with the hood looks like he knows how to handle himself,” she stated.
“You didn’t see them arrive. They have some serious magical talent to get here. Don’t forget that,” Slave Two responded.
“Maybe one of us should go down there and just ask them?” the other slave girl asked.
“Be my guest.” Slave One motioned with her hand toward the visitors.
“All right then.” The other slave girl sprang to her feet and bounded down the hill.
They all watched her march across the field towards the strangers. When she was within fifty yards she hailed them and waved her arm in the air.
Before they got a chance to watch the encounter, Slave One sat up with a bolt. “Oh no!”
The others around her rose up as well. “What?”
She shot a glance back at the castle. “My spell. Something just entered the master’s vault. Come!” She sprinted back towards the castle with the others on her tail. Her speed created a wide gap between her and the other slaves. It was her special skills and magical talents that made her the master’s #1.
Most slaves took years to reach her status, but the master chose her only a few months after her capture. It was an event that only caused her pain and regret. The master forced her to fight the old #1 to the death. In the end, she killed him at the master’s command. All the others avoided her for several years, but in the end she managed to develop something close to what could be called friendships.
She arrived at the entrance to the throne room to an all-out battle raging inside. Gree cowered behind the side of the door, roaring in his deep guttural voice about something stealing his property. Several slaves from Slave One’s race battled an unknown assailant just inside the vault. Fire, sparks, and rays of intense heat flashed through the room—exploding against walls, furniture, and slaves.
She noticed several of her people had fallen and lay motionless on the floor, their clothes and flesh bloodied and burned. The remaining resistance fought from positions of relative safety, the throne and other furniture.
Slave One became a blur, zipping from the door to join another slave behind the throne. The sight that met her eyes caused her to gasp. A creature unlike any other she had witnessed rummaged through her master’s possessions, tossing things everywhere with one arm and sending out spells with the other. A tall muscular creature with a black skull-like head and red-rat eyes blocked and attacked as if he didn’t face a serious threat out of the vault.
“Where is it, Gree,” the stranger barked in a deep voice. “I know you found it in the ancient ruins. The dark ones left it behind and you recovered it.”
“Send a volley so I can get closer,” slave girl one ordered the slave crouching in front of her.
The slave behind the throne sent a powerful shockwave into the vault. Before the spell reached its target, the slave girl zipped to the wall beside the vault door. She barely ducked out of the way as the intruder deflected the spell and returned it to the sender. The force cracked the throne free of its bindings and dropped it onto the slave, who let out a cry of pain.
She drew her sword strapped across her back and rushed the attacker. She managed to get only a few feet into the vault when an invisible vice-like force lifted her off the floor. It pressed her from all sides and held her suspended in the open doorway.
“You must be Gree’s #1,” the intruder mocked. “Not really all that dangerous are you?” He held out his hand and made a fist. The force squeezing the slave girl tightened like a coiling python.
She gasped and the force strengthened making it difficult for her to breathe. Her vision darkened and little lights popped in front of her face. Just when she thought she was about to die, she was free. She fell to the floor and strange flashes of light zipped over her head, forcing the dark creature to turn his attention towards the open doors.
She heard strange voices calling through the doors and a name. Hudich.
The thief roared with rage and swung his arms in a wide circle over his head, creating a tornado which pulled in all of her master’s possessions. Things began to spin faster and faster in a rush of loud wind.
“Ahhhhh.” The stranger’s voice seemed to take delight, and while continuing to control the circling objects with one hand, he snatched an old scroll out of the funnel. Then with one final thrust, he threw his hands forward and everything flew out of the vault.
Slave One covered her head as the deadly speeding projectiles flew over her. She managed one last glimpse of the stranger standing in the center of the vault with an evil smile, before he vanished in a bright light.
She hurt and struggled to move. Everything seemed like she watched it from a great distance. The other intruders were there. Two of them, the woman and the one with the greenish skin and black eyes, examined her and gave her something she assumed would help her. Why would they be here unless the master allowed it?
As soon as they left, a warming calm crept over her and she felt a strong desire to sleep. It was as if there was nothing as important in the world as sleep. She struggled to keep her eyes open but gradually drifted off to sleep.
She winced as she sat up. She hurt everywhere but everything still worked. “That was one powerful creature,” she muttered to herself.
She hurried to the restored throne room where two slaves held the youngling between them. Her blond hair was disheveled and there were cuts and bruises on her face. The sight hit the slave girl one with enough force to expel all the air from her lungs and almost doubling her over. Her heart dropped and more fear than she could ever remember feeling spread through her limbs, causing her to tremble and her pace to slow.
“They caught this youngling snooping around my thrown room. I ordered you to keep all intruders out. We have had more unwanted guest than necessary today. I will not tolerate this. I want this one made an example of.”
“Has she stolen anything?” the slave girl asked, her voice cracking slightly with fear, hoping that was the case in order to plead for leniency.
“She denied taking anything at first but we were able to get it out of her. So, not only has she trespassed, but she thought she could take my property,” Gree screamed, his green face growing darker.
“What’s more, she claims to be operating under your orders,” Slave Girl Two stated with a smile.
Slave One felt like she was back in the grip of the powerful intruder. Her world grew small and dark, while her insides contracted in an uncomfortable knot.
“Is that true?” Gree’s sheer volume shook the chandelier above him.
Slave One’s eyes dropped and she nodded slowly. She felt ill, her head spun with a dizzying nauseating sensation and beads of cold sweat formed along her brow.
“As your reward for this betrayal, you will retrieve what’s been stolen from me and then you will kill her. You thought my rules were strict before. You haven’t seen anything yet,” Gree spat. “I gave you some freedoms, but no more.”
Tears formed in Slave One’s eyes and she drew a dagger from her belt. Her feet felt like they had sprouted roots as she struggled to take the steps towards her small friend. “What did you take?” Her voice shook.
A smile spread across the youngling’s bruised face. “Your dar.”
The statement rolled through the throne room like a giant hand had slapped everyone and they gasped.
“Impossible,” Gree stammered, almost stumbling backwards before dashing into the vault. A single word issued loudly from the vault. “No!”
Slave One struck quickly. Spinning the dagger around she hammered the hilt downward onto the forehead of one of the youngling’s captors and blasted the other with a spell that sent him flying. Then, blowing out the window with another spell, she snatched up the youngling and sprang out the window.
They finally rested when they were deep inside the forest. Slave One’s heart raced with the thought of holding her dar or possessing it, so no one would have power over her ever again. To go by my real name again instead of the insult Gree had forced me to accept.
“Will they come after us?” the youngling questioned between mouthfuls of air, glancing back in the direction of the castle.
“Where’s my dar?” The slave girl could think of nothing else. She had to have it. To hold it. Nothing in the universe mattered but her dar. It took all her restraint to not start frisking the youngling for it.
The youngling’s expression changed to a look of suspicion and the color drained from her already pale face. “Do you need it that bad?” she stammered, taking a step away and glancing around.
“Why are you keeping it from me?” The slave girl stepped closer, blood starting to pound inside her ears, causing them to ring. “I must have it.”
“I don’t have it.” The youngling shook her head nervously retreating a little more.
“WHAT? YOU SAID YOU TOOK IT?” The slave girl snatched her off the ground by the arms and rattled her back and forth.
“I did. I did,” the youngling responded, with tears leaking from her eyes.
“Then where is it?” The slave girl growled with venom.
“I didn’t want to be caught with it so I hid it in the pack of that man,” she cried. “Please, you’re hurting my arms.”
It felt like being doused with ice water. The intense uncontrollable desire and rage dissipated as quickly as it had come on. Her fingers snapped away from the youngling almost as if she had received a nasty shock.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” The slave girl stepped back, her own tears starting to flow. “I am grateful but…”
“Is that what it’s like? Is it that uncontrollable?” The youngling’s eyes grew wide with fear.
“Yes. It is all you can think of once it takes hold of you.” The slave girl wiped her eyes and glanced at the darkening evening sky.
“But you’re free now, aren’t you? That man took it far away,” the youngling questioned with curiosity.
“No!” The slave girl shook her head. “Even still I can feel my dar’s pull. I belong to him now. In whose pack did you place it?”
“The older one with the graying hair. He seemed like such a nice life form. I figured it would be safe with him. How will you find him? He could be anywhere out there in the universe.”
“Magic. My attachment to my dar is already pulling me. Somehow, I know where it is and how to get there.”
“Do you have to go?”
The slave girl put her hands on the shorter girl’s shoulders and bent so they were eye to eye. “I must and you need to go into hiding. Don’t ever go back to the castle. If I can come back and help you, I will.” She pulled the youngling into a tight hug. “I appreciate what you did for me. I only hope my situation has improved.” She rose and in a flash of light disappeared.
The slave girl landed on shaking knees in front of a strange home. It resembled cottages from her world but was much larger. It was white and appeared to have three levels and an iron barred fence surrounded it. That fence can’t… She started to ponder the weakness of the fence when she sensed an extremely powerful magic surrounding the premises. How did I get in?
She felt exhausted but didn’t know how to proceed. She climbed the steps and took a seat on the strange bench hanging from some chains. The device swayed, giving a relaxing sensation when she plopped down into it.
She snapped to attention, feeling a gentle nudge which had awoken her. The seat started to sway again and her eyes grew wide as she noticed the older man with wavy gray hair, mustache, and slight beard was staring at her. She didn’t know how long she had slept but she didn’t feel rested. Her body was sluggish and sore, which she attributed to yesterday’s battle.
“If you don’t mind my asking, who are you?” he asked with a kindly smile.
“I belong to you.” She sprang out of the bench and assumed a kneeling position with her head bowed.
“You what?” He chuckled putting a hand behind her upper arm, lifting her gently to her feet and setting her back on the bench, where he sat beside her.
“I belong to you, keeper of my dar.” Her head remained bent slightly to indicate his superiority.
“Hold it for a second. What? Why do you think you belong to me? I don’t understand.”
“You are in possession of my dar. A youngling put it in your backpack in my world. I belong to whoever controls it. I belong to whoever owns it. I must do your bidding.” Her eyes finally met his but there was something strange in the way he looked at her. There was not the usual greed she noticed in most master’s eyes, but pity and kindness.
“I see.” He rubbed his scruffy chin as if in thought. “I wondered what that was in my pack and where it came from.” He smiled, patted her leg and rose to his feet. “Wait here.”
Her heart beat faster inside her chest at the thought of at least seeing her dar again. Somehow she felt better about this new master. He didn’t seem cruel or domineering. He actually seemed kind.
He returned with a small wooden box and sat next to her. “I don’t think anyone anywhere should belong to another.” He held out the box for her to take.
“Y—you’re…giving it to…me?” Tears stung her eyes and her hands shook as she accepted the box. For the first time, something odd had happened. She no longer had the irresistible desire to see or hold it. Now that it was hers and in her hand, it had no power over her. She wept for joy.
“Freedom is a grand thing,” the old man said, and patted her back.
She could never remember feeling so happy. “Thank you. Thank you.” Tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
“You are most welcome, Ms.?”
“Ms.?” she questioned through sobs.
“Let me be more specific.” He chuckled. “I am Joseph, Joseph Rigdon. And you are?” He raised his eyebrows.
“I am…”
“Your name?” He smiled.
“My name is Slave…Sk—Sky.”
Prologue
“Magic,” the woman stated, her face still on the ground. “Powerful magic. Unlike anything I have ever sensed before.” She chanced a glance at Gree to see he was visibly shaken by this bit of information. “They must be after something.”
Gree paced around the circular chamber, muttering to himself. “I found it. It’s mine. How did they find out? How did they find…” He climbed the steps to his throne and plopped himself down. A scowl spread across his fat round wrinkled face.
“Do you know what they are after, Master?” the woman rose slightly, revealing a beautiful pale white face with dark red lips and blue eyes that sparkled. Even with her striking features, her face wore a slight expression of distain for Gree.
“Perhaps, but it isn’t something you need to concern yourself about, Slave One. You need to stop these intruders from entering my palace,” Gree ordered.
“It isn’t my…” Her body started trembling as an uncontrollable fear crept over her.
“No,” Gree barked. “They are not after your dar. You need not fear. You will be mine…forever.” A wicked fire burned in his circular eyes.
“Somehow that doesn’t make me feel better,” she mumbled under her breath.
“What was that?” Gree shot her an angry look.
“Nothing. May I at least see it… please? It has been so long,” she pleaded, as an uncontrollable urge crawled up the back of her spine. She couldn’t remember ever wanting something so much in her entire life. Her heart rate increased and she took a few tentative steps forward. Standing below the raised platform, she barely reached to Gree’s knees.
“You bring me these intruders and I will let you see it again, Slave One,” Gree commanded.
The woman’s heart dropped, followed by a sinking sensation, and she stepped back and lowered her head. “Will you at least tell me what they are after? It may aid me in thwarting the thieves.”
“You need only know it is kept within the vault and they will try to steal it.” Gree leaned back and glanced at a door to the right of his throne.
“What if I’m not powerful enough to protect it? The creature or creatures are very strong,” Slave One commented.
“Indeed, they are powerful. They are obviously not from this world, slave,” Gree snarled.
“Not from this world?” The slave took another step back. She glanced toward the ceiling as if doing so would help her see beyond heavens. “I’ve always wondered.”
“Wondered about what?”
“If there was life in other parts of the universe,” the slave answered.
“You may yet find out. I may need answers,” Gree said.
“You know…how to travel to other worlds?” The slave’s face shone with curiosity.
“No, but you do. I just haven’t allowed you to do it yet.” Gree rested on his elbows with his hand clasped in front of him, eyeing her. “You are unaware of your full potential. I will show you in time. I will need your powers to achieve my place in history. For now, stop wondering and do as you’re told,” Gree barked, his voice growing in strength once more. “I don’t want any more intruders. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” The slave bowed low and turned to leave.
Gree clapped his hands and several servants of varying species rushed into the room, carrying trays of food and drink for Gree. They wore what looked like burlap sacks for clothing and had loose brown skin hanging from their thin frames.
The slave girl marched out of the chamber at a brisk pace. When she reached the hall beyond, she walked to a large window overlooking a lush green valley. There is life elsewhere in the universe. A place we could have escaped to.
“What did he want?” enquired a handsome pale man with short blond hair, standing only a few inches taller than she.
“Tighter security, Slave Two.” She continued to stare out the window. “Did you know we have the power to travel to other worlds?”
“We what?” The man’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
“Gree told me himself. You, I, and the others have the power to leave this place.” She glanced up at the partly cloudy sky. “He said these intruders came from another world and I’m assuming they used magic to do so.”
“If that’s true, we could have escaped this fate.” The man waved at the castle around them.
“I know.” She frowned and patted the man on the shoulder. “We may never have fallen under the power of the dar.”
“So what are we going to do?”
“Send out scouts. I don’t know how these beings are coming and going. We need to catch them when they are unaware, to avoid a fight. If they are strong enough to get here, they must have a greater mastery of magic than we do,” the slave girl stated.
The man swallowed nervously. “What are you going to do?”
“I want to find out what they are after,” the slave girl responded.
“You know you can’t disobey him. The dar won’t let you,” the man stated.
“I know, but he told me to watch his vault. If there have been intruders, I’m sure he will want to check on his possessions.” The slave girl smiled a dazzling expression.
“Don’t let him catch you spying. Otherwise, he may get more specific in his orders and make our world smaller than it already is.”
“Send out the scouts,” she ordered.
She waited for the man to exit the door at the end of the hall. “This looks like a job for my little snitch,” she muttered to herself as the formation of a plan began to work in the corners of her mind.
Slave One went to the kitchen and grabbed a loaf of bread then headed out onto the grounds. It took a half-hour hike to reach her destination. She sent out a wave of magic to test the area and verify that she and her target were the only ones in the area. Entering a dense forest on the border of the master’s kingdom, she walked until she could no longer see the valley behind her.
“I knew it was you. I felt your magic.” A small young blond girl with pale skin emerged from behind a tree.
The slave girl squatted to be eye level with the girl and held out the bread. “I have a job for you, youngling.”
The girl stepped forward and accepted the bread, then began devouring it. “What do you need me to do?” Her voice was muffled by the mouthful of food.
“I want you to follow someone for me.” The slave girl rose to her feet. “And you can’t be seen.”
The girl twisted her face up into a that-doesn’t-sound-too-exciting look. “Is that all? That’s easy.”
“It’s not and it will be very dangerous. I wouldn’t even ask, but it could help you to avoid my fate and the fate of our people. But…if you are discovered, I may be ordered to kill you.” A flood of guilt rushed through the slave girl’s body at what she was asking of this youngling, a girl whose life was just beginning. I can’t do this to her. I can’t ask her to do this.
“Now, that sounds more fun.” The youngling’s eyes shone with excitement.
“I…” the slave girl stepped back. The horrible image of her slaughtering the youngling flashed through her mind, causing her to feel sick. “I shouldn’t have asked. I was greedy. Forget about it.” She hung her head and turned to leave.
“Wait?” the youngling shouted.
“I can’t ask you this favor,” the slave girl said, not looking at the young girl.
“If it will really help us, I accept the possible outcomes,” the youngling stated.
“Even if the outcome is death?”
“Is a lifetime of slavery really living?”
“No,” the slave girl muttered so quietly the young girl didn’t hear her.
“What?”
“You have to promise me. If you are discovered you will run and never come back. You will never make friends or set up regular patterns,” the slave girl stated.
“I promise. Now, who do you want me to follow?”
“My master. I want you to tail him wherever he goes and remember everything he does. You must remember what he looks at or holds, every possible detail,” the slave girl stated.
“I can do that. When would you like me to start?” The youngling licked her lips with excitement.
“Immediately. Now comes the hard part. You will need to do it without me or anyone else knowing about it. I have been ordered to stop any intruders from entering his kingdom. You fall under that category. I cannot know you are there or I will be forced to catch you. Do you understand?” the slave girl questioned.
“You’re right. It sounds too risky. I don’t think I want to take that challenge,” the young girl said and frowned.
“Smart choice.” The slave girl marched back to the castle.
A couple hours later the slave girl bowed before her master. “As part of the new security measures, I am going to put a spell around your vault that will alert me whenever anyone enters.”
“And why are you telling me this? I gave you permission to protect my property.”
“This spell won’t distinguish between you or an intruder. Do you want me to enter into your vault when it is you who are inside it?” the slave girl asked.
“You know you aren’t allowed in my vault when I am in there.”
“I know, sir. But, if I can put a spell on the vault I can protect it more effectively.”
“How easy is it to remove this magic when I want to enter?” Gree seemed to be mulling over the option.
“Just as quickly as you can snap your fingers.” The slave girl performed the action.
“Leave me. I will call for you when I am ready for this extra measure.”
###
The slave girl sat in her favorite window in a tower overlooking the entire valley. The sun moved closer to sunset. Although dark clouds threatened to hide its descent, it remained visible through a large gap in the storm. Her mind wandered with thoughts of freedom and exploring the universe. How do I travel to other worlds? Not while you’re a slave you won’t.
“Hey, we have visitors and I don’t think they are from this planet.” The slave boy from earlier snapped her out of her thoughts as he appeared behind her.
“I didn’t sense anything.” She hopped out of the raised window.
“They’re not in our territory. Or at least not yet. And I don’t think they used magic like we’ve ever encountered,” the slave boy reported and spun around to lead the way.
“What do you mean?” She found herself almost running to keep up with the taller man’s gait.
“I don’t know how to explain it. They just dropped out of nowhere. Or at least a few of them did. I spotted two of them on our border and then three more appeared. Like I said, they aren’t from here and they appear to be different life forms.”
“Really?”
“You’ll know what I mean when you see them.”
They proceeded out of the palace and turned towards the setting sun. Slave Two led her down the hill and through an orchard toward a hill at the edge of their master’s kingdom. They climbed to the top of the hill where more slaves lay in the tall grass, observing the valley beyond. The slave girl and boy lowered themselves to lying positions as they reached the others.
“So where did they first appear?” she asked, spotting the small group huddled in the shade of a tree, conversing about something.
“About twenty minutes ago, close to that small opening by the tree,” said another slave girl, who was a little shorter and older.
Slave One peered down and noticed the differences Slave Two hinted at. Three of the strangers, males, appeared to be a taller darker version of her race. One had short brown hair, while another had wavy gray hair with a mustache, and the third kept his hood up, making it difficult to see his face. There was a woman, shorter than Sky, with golden tan skin, and the last resembled something she had never seen. She didn’t know if it was male or female. It had grayish greenish skin with large round black eyes.
“What do you think they want?” the other slave girl asked. “Do you think it has to do with whatever’s in the master’s vault?”
Slave One shot Slave Two a dirty look.
“You didn’t tell me not to tell anyone,” Slave Two responded.
“They don’t look like that big of a threat. Although the one with the hood looks like he knows how to handle himself,” she stated.
“You didn’t see them arrive. They have some serious magical talent to get here. Don’t forget that,” Slave Two responded.
“Maybe one of us should go down there and just ask them?” the other slave girl asked.
“Be my guest.” Slave One motioned with her hand toward the visitors.
“All right then.” The other slave girl sprang to her feet and bounded down the hill.
They all watched her march across the field towards the strangers. When she was within fifty yards she hailed them and waved her arm in the air.
Before they got a chance to watch the encounter, Slave One sat up with a bolt. “Oh no!”
The others around her rose up as well. “What?”
She shot a glance back at the castle. “My spell. Something just entered the master’s vault. Come!” She sprinted back towards the castle with the others on her tail. Her speed created a wide gap between her and the other slaves. It was her special skills and magical talents that made her the master’s #1.
Most slaves took years to reach her status, but the master chose her only a few months after her capture. It was an event that only caused her pain and regret. The master forced her to fight the old #1 to the death. In the end, she killed him at the master’s command. All the others avoided her for several years, but in the end she managed to develop something close to what could be called friendships.
She arrived at the entrance to the throne room to an all-out battle raging inside. Gree cowered behind the side of the door, roaring in his deep guttural voice about something stealing his property. Several slaves from Slave One’s race battled an unknown assailant just inside the vault. Fire, sparks, and rays of intense heat flashed through the room—exploding against walls, furniture, and slaves.
She noticed several of her people had fallen and lay motionless on the floor, their clothes and flesh bloodied and burned. The remaining resistance fought from positions of relative safety, the throne and other furniture.
Slave One became a blur, zipping from the door to join another slave behind the throne. The sight that met her eyes caused her to gasp. A creature unlike any other she had witnessed rummaged through her master’s possessions, tossing things everywhere with one arm and sending out spells with the other. A tall muscular creature with a black skull-like head and red-rat eyes blocked and attacked as if he didn’t face a serious threat out of the vault.
“Where is it, Gree,” the stranger barked in a deep voice. “I know you found it in the ancient ruins. The dark ones left it behind and you recovered it.”
“Send a volley so I can get closer,” slave girl one ordered the slave crouching in front of her.
The slave behind the throne sent a powerful shockwave into the vault. Before the spell reached its target, the slave girl zipped to the wall beside the vault door. She barely ducked out of the way as the intruder deflected the spell and returned it to the sender. The force cracked the throne free of its bindings and dropped it onto the slave, who let out a cry of pain.
She drew her sword strapped across her back and rushed the attacker. She managed to get only a few feet into the vault when an invisible vice-like force lifted her off the floor. It pressed her from all sides and held her suspended in the open doorway.
“You must be Gree’s #1,” the intruder mocked. “Not really all that dangerous are you?” He held out his hand and made a fist. The force squeezing the slave girl tightened like a coiling python.
She gasped and the force strengthened making it difficult for her to breathe. Her vision darkened and little lights popped in front of her face. Just when she thought she was about to die, she was free. She fell to the floor and strange flashes of light zipped over her head, forcing the dark creature to turn his attention towards the open doors.
She heard strange voices calling through the doors and a name. Hudich.
The thief roared with rage and swung his arms in a wide circle over his head, creating a tornado which pulled in all of her master’s possessions. Things began to spin faster and faster in a rush of loud wind.
“Ahhhhh.” The stranger’s voice seemed to take delight, and while continuing to control the circling objects with one hand, he snatched an old scroll out of the funnel. Then with one final thrust, he threw his hands forward and everything flew out of the vault.
Slave One covered her head as the deadly speeding projectiles flew over her. She managed one last glimpse of the stranger standing in the center of the vault with an evil smile, before he vanished in a bright light.
She hurt and struggled to move. Everything seemed like she watched it from a great distance. The other intruders were there. Two of them, the woman and the one with the greenish skin and black eyes, examined her and gave her something she assumed would help her. Why would they be here unless the master allowed it?
As soon as they left, a warming calm crept over her and she felt a strong desire to sleep. It was as if there was nothing as important in the world as sleep. She struggled to keep her eyes open but gradually drifted off to sleep.
###
She
awoke with a jolt.
Gree was shouting
for her and he seemed angry. “#1!”She winced as she sat up. She hurt everywhere but everything still worked. “That was one powerful creature,” she muttered to herself.
She hurried to the restored throne room where two slaves held the youngling between them. Her blond hair was disheveled and there were cuts and bruises on her face. The sight hit the slave girl one with enough force to expel all the air from her lungs and almost doubling her over. Her heart dropped and more fear than she could ever remember feeling spread through her limbs, causing her to tremble and her pace to slow.
“They caught this youngling snooping around my thrown room. I ordered you to keep all intruders out. We have had more unwanted guest than necessary today. I will not tolerate this. I want this one made an example of.”
“Has she stolen anything?” the slave girl asked, her voice cracking slightly with fear, hoping that was the case in order to plead for leniency.
“She denied taking anything at first but we were able to get it out of her. So, not only has she trespassed, but she thought she could take my property,” Gree screamed, his green face growing darker.
“What’s more, she claims to be operating under your orders,” Slave Girl Two stated with a smile.
Slave One felt like she was back in the grip of the powerful intruder. Her world grew small and dark, while her insides contracted in an uncomfortable knot.
“Is that true?” Gree’s sheer volume shook the chandelier above him.
Slave One’s eyes dropped and she nodded slowly. She felt ill, her head spun with a dizzying nauseating sensation and beads of cold sweat formed along her brow.
“As your reward for this betrayal, you will retrieve what’s been stolen from me and then you will kill her. You thought my rules were strict before. You haven’t seen anything yet,” Gree spat. “I gave you some freedoms, but no more.”
Tears formed in Slave One’s eyes and she drew a dagger from her belt. Her feet felt like they had sprouted roots as she struggled to take the steps towards her small friend. “What did you take?” Her voice shook.
A smile spread across the youngling’s bruised face. “Your dar.”
The statement rolled through the throne room like a giant hand had slapped everyone and they gasped.
“Impossible,” Gree stammered, almost stumbling backwards before dashing into the vault. A single word issued loudly from the vault. “No!”
Slave One struck quickly. Spinning the dagger around she hammered the hilt downward onto the forehead of one of the youngling’s captors and blasted the other with a spell that sent him flying. Then, blowing out the window with another spell, she snatched up the youngling and sprang out the window.
They finally rested when they were deep inside the forest. Slave One’s heart raced with the thought of holding her dar or possessing it, so no one would have power over her ever again. To go by my real name again instead of the insult Gree had forced me to accept.
“Will they come after us?” the youngling questioned between mouthfuls of air, glancing back in the direction of the castle.
“Where’s my dar?” The slave girl could think of nothing else. She had to have it. To hold it. Nothing in the universe mattered but her dar. It took all her restraint to not start frisking the youngling for it.
The youngling’s expression changed to a look of suspicion and the color drained from her already pale face. “Do you need it that bad?” she stammered, taking a step away and glancing around.
“Why are you keeping it from me?” The slave girl stepped closer, blood starting to pound inside her ears, causing them to ring. “I must have it.”
“I don’t have it.” The youngling shook her head nervously retreating a little more.
“WHAT? YOU SAID YOU TOOK IT?” The slave girl snatched her off the ground by the arms and rattled her back and forth.
“I did. I did,” the youngling responded, with tears leaking from her eyes.
“Then where is it?” The slave girl growled with venom.
“I didn’t want to be caught with it so I hid it in the pack of that man,” she cried. “Please, you’re hurting my arms.”
It felt like being doused with ice water. The intense uncontrollable desire and rage dissipated as quickly as it had come on. Her fingers snapped away from the youngling almost as if she had received a nasty shock.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” The slave girl stepped back, her own tears starting to flow. “I am grateful but…”
“Is that what it’s like? Is it that uncontrollable?” The youngling’s eyes grew wide with fear.
“Yes. It is all you can think of once it takes hold of you.” The slave girl wiped her eyes and glanced at the darkening evening sky.
“But you’re free now, aren’t you? That man took it far away,” the youngling questioned with curiosity.
“No!” The slave girl shook her head. “Even still I can feel my dar’s pull. I belong to him now. In whose pack did you place it?”
“The older one with the graying hair. He seemed like such a nice life form. I figured it would be safe with him. How will you find him? He could be anywhere out there in the universe.”
“Magic. My attachment to my dar is already pulling me. Somehow, I know where it is and how to get there.”
“Do you have to go?”
The slave girl put her hands on the shorter girl’s shoulders and bent so they were eye to eye. “I must and you need to go into hiding. Don’t ever go back to the castle. If I can come back and help you, I will.” She pulled the youngling into a tight hug. “I appreciate what you did for me. I only hope my situation has improved.” She rose and in a flash of light disappeared.
###
The slave girl landed on shaking knees in front of a strange home. It resembled cottages from her world but was much larger. It was white and appeared to have three levels and an iron barred fence surrounded it. That fence can’t… She started to ponder the weakness of the fence when she sensed an extremely powerful magic surrounding the premises. How did I get in?
She felt exhausted but didn’t know how to proceed. She climbed the steps and took a seat on the strange bench hanging from some chains. The device swayed, giving a relaxing sensation when she plopped down into it.
###
She snapped to attention, feeling a gentle nudge which had awoken her. The seat started to sway again and her eyes grew wide as she noticed the older man with wavy gray hair, mustache, and slight beard was staring at her. She didn’t know how long she had slept but she didn’t feel rested. Her body was sluggish and sore, which she attributed to yesterday’s battle.
“If you don’t mind my asking, who are you?” he asked with a kindly smile.
“I belong to you.” She sprang out of the bench and assumed a kneeling position with her head bowed.
“You what?” He chuckled putting a hand behind her upper arm, lifting her gently to her feet and setting her back on the bench, where he sat beside her.
“I belong to you, keeper of my dar.” Her head remained bent slightly to indicate his superiority.
“Hold it for a second. What? Why do you think you belong to me? I don’t understand.”
“You are in possession of my dar. A youngling put it in your backpack in my world. I belong to whoever controls it. I belong to whoever owns it. I must do your bidding.” Her eyes finally met his but there was something strange in the way he looked at her. There was not the usual greed she noticed in most master’s eyes, but pity and kindness.
“I see.” He rubbed his scruffy chin as if in thought. “I wondered what that was in my pack and where it came from.” He smiled, patted her leg and rose to his feet. “Wait here.”
Her heart beat faster inside her chest at the thought of at least seeing her dar again. Somehow she felt better about this new master. He didn’t seem cruel or domineering. He actually seemed kind.
He returned with a small wooden box and sat next to her. “I don’t think anyone anywhere should belong to another.” He held out the box for her to take.
“Y—you’re…giving it to…me?” Tears stung her eyes and her hands shook as she accepted the box. For the first time, something odd had happened. She no longer had the irresistible desire to see or hold it. Now that it was hers and in her hand, it had no power over her. She wept for joy.
“Freedom is a grand thing,” the old man said, and patted her back.
She could never remember feeling so happy. “Thank you. Thank you.” Tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
“You are most welcome, Ms.?”
“Ms.?” she questioned through sobs.
“Let me be more specific.” He chuckled. “I am Joseph, Joseph Rigdon. And you are?” He raised his eyebrows.
“I am…”
“Your name?” He smiled.
“My name is Slave…Sk—Sky.”
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