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Everything Begins Chapter 101
"I am sorry, Frank.""For what? For the fact that I saw my wife pierced by a Dirack's claw? For the fact that I cannot stop being what I am? For what, Telantes?""Yes, both of those, and I am sorry you have been suffering at night. Why did you not tell me you were having nightmares? I could have kept them away as I did before." Telantes tilted his head and studied Frank with concern. "I am here to help you, Sainika, but you have to let me do so."The rest of the company had joined Frank by that time, and the Anmah picked up Kumar's reins and swung up into his saddle. Without another word to anyone, he turned his horse west and kicked him into a trot. He felt his company's surprise, but he ignored it as he had ignored their awe. He wanted to get back to Torkeln as quickly as possible, and if that meant he left his men behind while he traveled without rest, he would do that."You cannot, Ga'briyel. Yisu has another message for you." Telantes was floating next to Kumar, easily keeping pa
Everything Begins Chapter 102
"Please, Baba, please do not worry. I will be all right. Mama and the others will be all right. And you may name me now if you wish. Mama will know the name you choose.""How will she know that?""The same way you know she is safe. I will tell her in a dream." The boy smiled. "I would like to know my name, Baba." Frank sat on the ground, and the boy climbed into his lap and hugged him tightly. "I love you, Baba," he said softly."You do not even know me, little one. How can you love me?""But I do know you, Baba. Yisu has given me knowledge of you, and I love you already. Even though I am yet unborn, I love you and Mama both." The tiny arms squeezed, and Frank returned the gesture."Adama," he said softly."My name?""Yes. Adama Mistri el'Frank el'Adama el'Altyara.""I like it, Baba. I will be proud to bear the name of your baba, and I will make you proud as well.""Of that I am sure, my son. Will you tell your Mama something else for me?""Of course, Baba."Ga'briyel's breath caught
Everything Begins Chapter 103
Telantes had spoken with Yisu moons before, and the Creator had told him how to create venom. Eighteen excruciating days passed while Ga'briyel's flesh and bones melted, but now, thanks to Yaksaya and his single drop, he was now immune to that as well."You cannot kill me, son of Sayatan. You cannot hurt me by piercing my body with fangs or claws, and that drop of venom you so graciously bestowed on me was my twentieth time being burned by it. Even that can no longer harm me. Telantes knew what he was doing as he caused me pain, and now there is nothing that you can do to me. My soul is safe from you, and there is no chance that I will let you harm my family." Frank put his hands on the rock behind him and pushed himself forward. Yaksaya's claws continued through the Anmah's body until its palm was flat on his chest. At that point, Frank reached down, plucked his sword from the snow, and laid it against Yaksaya's throat. "If I slit your throat, daemon, will it kill you and drive you f
Everything Begins Chapter 104
"Is it time, Sophyra?""I believe so, Mama." Ga'briyel's heart soared when his wife used the intimate title for his mother. It showed that they had truly accepted her into the family, and it made him relax a bit, but then Sophyra cried out once again, and he moved to her head."I wish you knew I was here, my heart," he whispered as he placed a kiss on her forehead and then took her hand in his. He felt every squeeze and grasp she gave him, but he knew that to her it was as if she was grasping at air.Hours crept by, and Frank Mistri felt completely helpless as his wife battled through childbirth without him. Then he heard Adama's voice again. Soon, Baba. You will see me soon. Five minutes, perhaps ten.Frank brushed Sophyra's sweat-soaked hair from her forehead and said, "I love you, my heart, more than anything in this world." He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, and then pulled back in shock when she turned her face toward him so that their lips met. He groaned at the sensation and
Everything Begins Chapter 105
“Who is that?” Frank growled softly.“Rabarta Arthara, the Chief Minister of Basanta. Why, Sainika?”The Anmah said nothing but took one step toward the six men. The Chief Minister was looking at some fabric, but when Frank moved, his head snapped up, and his eyes fixed on the Sainika. He grinned, and his white teeth flashed.“Jana, clear the market, now!” Frank snapped.“Why, Sainika?”“Because there is going to be a fight.” Frank took another step toward the Azazil and drew his sword. Jana gasped when he saw the glowing white of the blade, and the Chief Minister’s grin disappeared abruptly. The five other men moved in front of him and unsheathed their own swords. The people in the market saw this, several screamed, and they all scattered into the streets. Jana had not moved, but Ga’briyel’s goal had been accomplished. There were no innocents around to worry about.“Yisu, kanba vol si e en sakorota. Veya Azazil lo tainon nun lenfi,” the Anmah said in a loud voice, and the Chief Minis
Everything Begins Chapter 106
Frank sank down on one of the many benches and looked up at Debhida as he stopped in front of him. “I felt it. I have the lovely ability to feel evil, my friend. Although I did not realize daemons felt the same as Azazil. I suppose I will just have to try the banishing phrase, and if it does not work, the creature must be a daemon. I only have twenty-one more of them to kill, after all.” He said the last with a grimace, and Debhida sat down next to him.“I hope you truly understand how much people appreciate what you do for them, Sainika,” the older Anmah said softly. “Everyone in this city was afraid of the Chief Minister and his men, and now we know why.” Debhida looked around the market, staring at the people with suspicion. “Are there any others here?”“Not that I have felt, but in a city this size, I may not be close enough to feel anything. Tomorrow I will walk the city and see what I can find out.” He looked at Debhida, who was still staring at the people going about their busi
Everything Begins Chapter 107
“A fine horse, Frank.”The Anmah smiled as he turned to face Telantes. “Yes, he is.”“His name?”“I do not know it yet. I am testing him to see if I want to buy him. The test is over, however. This is the one I want.”“Will you return to the cave for your tack? You know you are supposed to be headed south, not north.”“No, it will stay there for now. Perhaps I can stop at Torkeln and send someone back for it.” Frank sighed, and his smile faded. “I would like to see my family again.”“Have you not seen your son in your dreams?”“I have, but it is not the same. I want to hold him and kiss my wife and sleep by her side at least one night. One night, Telantes. Is that too much to ask?”“No, Ga’briyel, it is not.” The spirit tilted his head as he listened to Yisu. “Yisu says you may spend three days and two nights at home once you get there, but that is all. You must be on your way south after that.”“I know,” Frank said softly as he moved to the stallion. He rested his hand on the horse’s
Everything Begins Chapter 108
“Come on, Klyar, there’s nothing here, and I want to sleep in an inn. I’m sure you would prefer a stable to a clearing, too, so get moving.” No matter what Frank did--snapping the reins, digging his heels into the bay’s flanks, even dismounting and attempting to pull the horse down the road--Klyar refused to take another step, his eyes showing the whites, his ears pinned back, and his breath coming from his nostrils in sharp snorts. The horse was terrified, and Frank once again searched the area around them for any indication of what he was reacting to. Eventually, he saw something.In the middle of the road about twenty paces ahead, three figures appeared. They did not come from the forest, and they did not come from the direction of Torkeln--they just appeared, much as Telantes had the first time Frank saw him. These three were not Debaduta, however. The man was dressed in clothing that Frank had only seen in history books. He had on bright red trousers that clung to his hips but th
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- Everything Begins
Chapter 123
"I am fine, Frank, but I am very hungry." She smiled up at him. "Just like you always are."He frowned and ran his hand over her hair. "Not always, Sophyra. Not after the Dirack." He took her hand and led her out of the room, shutting the door behind them to let his son sleep. They went down to the main room, and Frank eyes went wide when he saw Telantes sitting at the bar talking with Luija."Telantes, my friend. Why are you here?" Frank kept his arm around his wife but walked up to the Debaduta and clasped his forearm."I am here to tell you where you are to go next, Frank."With a skeptical look, Frank eyed his friend and tightened his grip. "Why did Yisu not just tell me Himself like before? Why are you really here?"Grinning sheepishly, Telantes released the Sainika's forearm. "That is one reason, Ga'briyel. I cannot lie; you know this. But there is a second reason. You and your family..." The spirit looked at Sophyra. "I hear congratulations are in order again, Sophyra. Another
- Everything Begins
Chapter 122
"He is dead!" he announced, and the soldiers carried him into the same room as his supposed victim and laid him on the floor. Captain Panakari followed them, shooed them out of the room, and shut the door. "You can get up now, Captain Mistri." Frank opened his eyes, took his sword belt from the other captain, and stretched with a smile before strapping it around his waist. "There is a back way out of this room, Captain, but you must make your way to your inn on your own. Try not to let anyone see you, or they will know I lied, and then I will find myself in the noose."Frank held out his hand, and the other clasped his forearm firmly. "Thank you, Captain. I appreciate everything you have done for me tonight. Please know that everything I did was for the good of your people. They may not understand that, but it was. My family and I will be gone in the morning." He followed Captain Panakari to the door in the back of the room, and after it was unlocked, slipped out into the darkness of
- Everything Begins
Chapter 121
"Benefits of being friends with a Debaduta, daemon!" Then Frank stopped talking, swung his sword, and began the deadliest dance known to man with the daemon in front of him. Dolsaya's eyes went wide, and he tried to flee, but Frank was too quick, and soon the daemon was backed up against his storefront. With a single swipe, Frank removed the daemon's head from his shoulders, and with several others, dismembered it. Then he turned to the daemon behind him and resumed the dance. It seemed as if it only took a few minutes before Kaysaya's head was rolling along the middle of the street, caught in a rut formed by hundreds of carriage wheels, but when Frank had hacked the third daemon to pieces, he realized that it was dark, his muscles ached, and he stank like rubbish that had been sitting in the summer sun for a moon. He looked around and was surprised to see several people standing on the wooden walkways watching him. Most had torches, and he walked to one, grabbed his torch, and applie
- Everything Begins
Chapter 120
Adama grinned and slid out of their bed. He went to the chest of drawers and pulled out a white linen shirt, black breeches, and a red coat. He dressed himself quickly, and then looked at his parents expectantly. "Come, Baba," he said, excitement flowing from him and covering Ga'briyel, as he held out his tiny hand to his father.With a smile, Frank stood, held out his hand to Sophyra, who took it and joined him, and then took his son's hand in his. They went to the main room where Luija already had first meal on the table. The Debaduta was standing by their table, a worried look on his face."Are you sure about this, Ga'briyel? It will be dangerous at the docks. Two of the daemons have shops there, after all.""How did you know?" Sophyra asked him. Luija just looked at her, and she nodded. "Yisu told you, yes?""Of course He did, and I do not think this is a wise move to make, Sainika. The daemons will be waiting for you to bring your family out of the inn. I have a very bad feeling
- Everything Begins
Chapter 119
“Nor should you, my child.” Frank looked at his son, forced his eyes to dim, and smiled. He sat down next to Sophyra on the bench she had chosen, pulled her close, and kissed her softly. “Later, my heart.” He groaned softly when her heat almost smothered him. “Please, Sophyra, stop. Not now.”She rested her hand on his thigh and began to trace small circles on it. “I will try, my love, but it will be difficult knowing what you have planned for later.” She smiled coyly at him as Luija entered the room with a platter full of food. He set it on the table, smiled at Ga’briyel, and spoke softly.“I would love to speak with your son later on, Sainika. I think we could speak together for several hours. You and your wife could retire early to your room, I think, if you would like that.”Grinning and letting his eyes flare once, Frank answered, “I would like that very much, Luija, thank you. I was going to ask you if you would watch him for a while.”“Watch him? There would be no watching, Ga’
- Everything Begins
Chapter 118
“It is, but they know you are here, and they will block your ability to sense them. I will do my best to help you find them, but I am at risk if I leave this building, as well. I do not wish to be banished, and so I generally stay here. They know of me, of course, but there is nothing they can do about it.” Luija came around the bar, gestured over his shoulder, and walked toward the hallway that led off to the right of the main room. “I assume you would prefer a ground-level room, Sainika?”Frank did not move. “Why would you assume that, Debaduta?”The man smiled as he turned to face his newest boarders. “Stairs can slow you down if you need to leave the inn quickly, Sainika.”“Nevertheless, I would prefer a room above ground. Stairs may slow me down a bit, but I do not want anyone to be able to reach our room while we sleep. I will not risk my family like that, Luija. They are my life, and if I lose them, I cannot be responsible for what will happen.”Luija frowned at that last state
- Everything Begins
Chapter 117
There were several villages through which they rode where Frank and Sophyra were given distasteful glares when adults saw the tiny boy riding alone on the large bay, but while Sophyra took each look to heart, Frank ignored them completely. He could not ignore Adama’s innocent question the first time it happened, however.“Baba, why is everyone so angry?”“What do you mean, my son?”“When we enter a town, people stare at me as if they are angry.”Frank smiled. “They are not used to seeing such a small boy riding alone without support. They do not understand that you are not like other boys, Adama, and they disapprove of what they do not understand.”“I could make them understand, Baba. May I try, please?”With a shrug, Frank acquiesced. “You may try, Adama, but I do not believe you will have much success.”They had stopped at the first inn they had come to, having been in the saddle and sleeping on the ground for the past four days and nights, and Frank dropped from his saddle, helped
- Everything Begins
Chapter 116
"A fool am I?" Frank snarled. "And what is it that makes me a fool, Daitya?"The man laughed. "Anyone is a fool who tries to fight Sayatan and his sons."Ga'bryel grinned, but if a human had seen that grin, they would have screamed. "And yet I have killed three of his sons already, Daitya. Dismembered, they are rotting away as we speak, never to come together again. Soon they will be only bones." He shrugged as if it mattered not a bit to him. "I assume their souls are gone as well. That is what Telantes told me."At the name of the Debaduta, every Daitya recoiled. "That interfering spirit!" the spokesman said with a snarl. "He has been far too involved in your life, Sainika. Sayatan will deal with him in time. We may be able to banish him for a year or so, but Sayatan can destroy him as easily as you can destroy us.""Speaking of," Frank said, taking a step closer to the Daitya and readying his sword, "I am going to destroy you all right now.""You would fight unarmed men?""You are
- Everything Begins
Chapter 115
Unknown to the kosmar, Frank was fighting her in his mind. When she stripped him and herself bare, he battled with the vision of her and forced himself not to react. Devina noticed this and growled softly. She tried everything she could to stimulate the Anmah, but he struggled through it all and kept Sophyra in the forefront of his mind. With his wife's face emblazoned on his subconsciousness, he was able to resist everything Devina did to him. She became more and more frustrated as time went on, and then Frank slowly became aware of a voice in his mind.Baba! Wake up! Fight her, Baba!At that, Frank opened his eyes, and Devina jerked away from him. When he slowly stood, she backpedaled until she was against the door of the room. "How?" she asked softly."My family," Frank said quietly. "They protect me. Even from myself sometimes." He walked toward the kosmar until his sword's tip was at her throat, and then he grinned without humor. Devina's eyes went wide, and she raised her hands
