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Everything Begins Chapter 54
“They can only control the weak or the willing, Captain,” Nikale said, causing Frank to snap his head back toward her. She smiled slightly. “No, I cannot read your thoughts, but I can read your face. The boy was weak, and I would guess that the man in Difeld was willing. And they cannot control those who stay true to Yisu. The Creator protects his own.”“He did not protect Sophyra,” Frank said, a bite to his words. “She was violated and murdered. And now this.”“In a way, he did,” the old woman answered. “If she had not been made Anmah, or if she had died today, she would have been with him in the afterlife. That is not a bad thing, Captain.”“Not for her, perhaps, but it would have been very bad for me.” The bite remained. “I was about to damn the world to Hell it was so bad.”“And Yisu did not let you. He always knows best, Captain Mistri. Never forget that. You caused him to change his plans, but that is not necessarily bad, either. Apparently, your life was more important in his p
Everything Begins Chapter 55
Frank bent down and pulled off his boots. “You and everyone else in my life, Nikale,” he said with a sigh, and she gave him a small smile and left the room. He pulled the covers back and climbed into the bed next to Sophyra before pulling her into his arms. She shifted her position and draped one arm over him as she laid her head on his chest. He kissed her hair and tried to rest, but there were too many things racing through his mind—the Daitya, the Azazil, Nikale, the twenty-seven men he would kill before last light. He was still wide awake when Mathi stuck his head into the room to tell him that last meal was ready. It was only then that he wondered where the boy had been all this time. When he asked, Mathi smiled.“Hiding. When something can control the captains like that, I hide. Perhaps someday I will not have that instinct, but until then, I have no shame in it.”“Nor should you,” Frank said, sliding out of bed and tugging on his boots. “You will have reason to hide again after
Everything Begins Chapter 56
“What is your name, little one?”“Nayna, sir,” she whispered, her eyes wide with fright.“And these two? What are their names?”“Wamil and Heena, sir.” Her voice was a whisper as she pointed to them.“How old are you three, Nayna?”“I just had my fifth naming-day a moon ago, sir, Wamil is four, and Heena’s fourth naming-day is next moon.”“Are you all from the same town?”“We are from the same village, sir. It is called Lalon, but we cannot go back there.”“Why not?” Frank wanted to keep her talking even though he knew the answer to his question.A tear ran down Nayna’s cheek as she dropped her head and mumbled, “Because our families are all dead.”“How do you know that? Did you see them?”“Yes, sir.” She pointed a tiny finger toward the Asabya whose head was no longer attached to his body. “That man made sure that we saw our babas and mamas and brothers and sisters dead before he took us from Lalon.” She caught her breath and let out a small sob. “He told us on the way here that we w
Everything Begins Chapter 57
“Each time a Sainika is born into the world, he has the abilities that are necessary for whatever Sayatan has sent. The abilities I have witnessed before are translation, physically feeling emotions, seeing thoughts, second sight, and remarkable fighting ability among others. You, however, seem to have all these abilities. This has never happened before.”Frowning, Frank drew his sword and looked at it. “That does not sound good.” He glanced up at Telantes. “Does not that mean this time things will be worse? That Sayatan is sending everything he is got?”“I suppose that is a possibility, but I also know that Yisu always gives His Sainika what he needs to overcome Sayatan and his underlings. I do not want you to get discouraged or to doubt yourself.”“Discouraged? No, it is not that, and I do not doubt anything.”“What is it, then?”Frank sighed again and twirled his sword until it was a blur in front of him. “I am tired, Telantes.”“Physically?”“No. Emotionally, mentally, spiritually
Everything Begins Chapter 58
Captain Johnson !”He vaguely recognized Mathi’s voice, but he could not move. He heard the boy’s footsteps approach, and then he felt hands running over his body.“Are you all right, sir?”“I am fine, Mathi. Just a little tired.” He looked at the boy and smiled. “Do not worry. I will not die from this. Blades cannot kill me anymore.”“Maybe not,” the boy said, “but you are still hurt, and you are still bleeding. Come on, Zahin, let’s get him inside the walls.”Frank felt two sets of hands haul him to his feel, but he could not put any pressure on his right leg, so he leaned heavily on Mathi as the two boys helped him back to the town. He looked down at the person on his left side and was surprised to see the same boy who had shot Padmal and the other Asabya. The boy who had been possessed by the Azazil.“Zahin is your name?”“Yes, sir,” the boy mumbled.“Well, Zahin, I am in your debt. Padmal was about to cut off my head when you shot him.”“I know, sir. I could not let him kill you
Everything Begins Chapter 59
Sophyra came back within ten minutes, and she smiled when she saw that Frank was asleep. He was sitting up, and his head had dropped onto his right shoulder. She put the bowl of soup on the chest of drawers and went to him. Carefully, she pushed and pulled him until he was lying down, and then she pulled the blanket up to his chin.“Sleep well, my love,” she whispered and kissed him softly. She picked up the bowl, left the room, and walked down the stairs. In the kitchen, she poured the soup back into the large kettle that was hanging over the fire in the huge stone fireplace. Then she moved to the basin to wash the bowl, but her hands started to shake, and she dropped it. It broke into several pieces when it hit the floor.“Sophyra, are you all right?”She turned around to see Tero in the kitchen’s doorway, leaning on his crutch. His kind words and concerned voice caused her to lose complete control, and tears began streaming down her face as she shook her head. He hobbled toward he
Everything Begins Chapter 60
“Stop,” he said, holding up his hand and wiping the sweat out of his eyes. All three men were shirtless, despite the chill in the early morning autumn air, and moisture gleamed on their bare torsos as it ran down to soak into their breeches. The other two captains dropped the points of their swords toward the ground and looked at him in confusion. “Something is wrong.” He sheathed his sword and walked to his heart. As he got closer, the sensations of her fear and worry were added to the others, and he hurried to cover the remaining distance between them. “Sophyra, what is the matter?”“May I talk to you, Frank ? Alone?”“Of course.” He took her arm and led her across the square. He placed himself between her and his friends and cupped her cheek in his hand. “What is it?”“I am afraid you will be angry when I tell you.”“Tell me what?” When she was silent, he sighed. “Sophyra, talk to me. I promise I will not be angry.”“I…” She stopped and took a deep breath. Then she stood up straigh
Everything Begins Chapter 61
Frank ’s eyes blazed with the thought that someone could be born into slavery, but he kept his voice calm. “And you Zahin? What is your story?”“I am a citizen, Captain Johnson . My father was one of Dahaka’s companions. My parents were both citizens, and so am I.”“Well,” the Anmah said, straightening the younger boy’s wrist as he simulated a punch, “now everyone is a citizen. How do you feel about that?”Zahin smiled brightly. “I like it, sir! Before, I would not even have been able to talk with Mathi, but now he is my friend. Right, Mathi?”The question had a touch of apprehension in it, but when the older boy answered in the affirmative, the younger one grinned widely. It occurred to Frank then that probably neither boy had ever had a friend before, and he felt a warm rush fill him at the thought that he had made their friendship possible.They spent another hour with the patterns, and then Frank saw Sophyra in the doorway of the house. She was leaning against the frame, her arm