“Of course not! We will stop at Torkeln on our way, and she will stay with my parents.”“No, Ga’briyel!” Sophyra said wide-eyed. “I will not leave you!”“You must, my heart. You cannot travel where we are going when you are with child. It will be bad enough getting you back to Torkeln.” He kissed her. “Do not worry. I will be back with you as soon as possible. I promise.” Dropping one hand to her belly, he gently caressed it. “I will not risk your life or the life of our child.”“I can help you with your journey, Captain Mistri,” Manali said as she reached underneath her cloak. She pulled out a scroll and handed it to him. “This is a map that shows the way to Neyagin. The Dirack eggs must be destroyed within the next five moons, and it will take you three to reach the volcano. Perhaps four. You must leave soon if you are to keep this evil from being born.”“I know, Manali, but I also need to rest. At least tonight and quite possibly all day tomorrow. As I said, we will leave the day a

"Just do what you must, Frank Mistri," Tomas said, laying his hand on his captain's arm. "I admit that I do not understand everything that you are or that you must do, but I understand enough that I will not stand in your way. Do you need any additional men?""I do not know, sire. May I think about it?""Of course. Let me know by tomorrow so that I can make plans.""Yes, Your Majesty."Tomas smiled then. "Now go home, Captains. Be with your wife, Captain Mistri.""Regretfully, sire, I cannot. I must speak with Ma'ikel. There is much he needs to know, sire.""Very well, but I would not keep that beautiful woman waiting too much longer, Captain, if I were you."Frank smiled as he and the other two dropped to one knee. "I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty," he said.When they rose, Jarda said, "If Your Majesty has no more need for me, I would like to go home as well.""Go, Jarda," Tomas said with a wave of his hand. "Get to know your daughter.""Thank you, sire," Jarda said as he also

"Yes, Captain Mistri?" The man's apprehension surrounded Frank and he scowled."Fix the bag." That was all that was said before the Anmah stormed out of the room, snatching a wooden sword and staff from their holders as he left. Sophyra and Dinton followed him silently. Frank stopped in the center of the grounds, dropped the weapons, and proceeded to work his way through the weaponless patterns. These were not the beautiful, flowing moves that Sophyra was used to seeing, though, and after Dinton kissed her cheek and left, she seated herself on the platform, her feet dangling over the edge, and watched her husband. Each move was clearly designed to hurt someone or something. Frank violently fought with his imaginary opponents, kicking and punching and throwing them with as much intensity as he had shown at the bag. When he completed all the patterns he started them over. Four times he went through the set until sweat was streaming down his torso and his arms and legs ached. Even then h

Kajal started to scoff, but he caught himself just in time. "Enemies, Captain Mistri? What enemies are we supposed to be afraid of?"With a snarl, Frank turned from the man and stood in front of his company. "Starting right now, eight men will stand watch at all times. Four on the ground with swords and four in the trees with bows. Kajal, you will give me a watch schedule by last light. Include the three of us, yourself, and the boys, but do not put us together."Even the boys, Captain? Why them, sir?""Because I said so. That's why. You do not know what threatens this world, Kajal, but I do. I have fought it, and it has killed me. Several times. I did not want the responsibility of the safety of this company, but King Tomas commanded me to take that responsibility, and I will not disobey my king. Zahin will be one in the trees, and Mathi will be on the ground. He will have his staff, though, not a sword. There will be torches staggered around the camp when we stop at night as well. T

"Do not talk to me about Yisu, Sekara! He is not the loving, caring Creator everyone says He is! He is vindictive and heartless and unconcerned with what happens to us!""You do not really mean that, do you, Frank?""With every fiber of my being, Dinton," the Anmah sighed. "I no longer believe that the creator of this world cares for its people. He certainly does not care for me.""You told me that you would never turn to the Evil One, Ga'briyel, and yet I feel as if you are halfway there already. Only one whose mind is open to Sayatan's influence would say such things.""Open to his influence? As if I would voluntarily turn to the being who created the creatures who killed me, not once but four times. Soon to be five or six or twenty." Frank let out another sigh and moved to his sword. It was buried in the trunk almost to the crossguard, and he began working it free of the tree. "Do not worry about me, Dinton. I may not blindly accept the stories about Yisu anymore, but I will certai