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Everything Begins Chapter 97
Frank sighed as he sat down on a large boulder. “Yes, it could be. You are right, Telantes. I am sorry.” During the trek to the mountains, Telantes had been subjecting the Anmah to the things that had killed him over and over again. Ga’briyel, over the last four sennights, had been stabbed by a sword, shot with an arrow, and beaten nineteen more times. There hadn’t been enough water for him to drown that many times, and they had not encountered any of Sayatan's minions, but he knew that the next night Telantes would start with the burning and crushing and suffocating. “Thank you, my friend,” he said, standing and holding out his hand. “Thank you for being willing to do this for me.”“You are welcome, Frank Mistri el’Adama,” the spirit said, clasping the Anmah’s forearm tightly. Then he smiled grimly. “I do not think anyone in your company would be as willing.”“No, definitely not. If they knew what I did away from camp, they would probably tie me up as soon as we stopped for the night
Everything Begins Chapter 98
"No, Frank, you cannot hurt yourself. It would be the same as killing yourself." Telantes sighed and sat down on the ground next to his friend. "But I do not like doing this, Sainika. For the rest, could you not wait until it happens naturally?""No! That could take hundreds of years, Debaduta, and I do not wish to wait that long!" The Anmah dropped his head and exhaled sharply. "Please, my friend, please do this for me.""Of course I will, Ga'briyel, if that is your desire, but I do not have to like it."Frank stood up and stared at the clear black sky, the stars sparkling brighter and bigger the higher up the mountains they climbed. "Where is Yisu, Telantes?"Perplexed by the question, the Debaduta stood as well. "Why do you ask, Sainika?""Is He up there in His heaven somewhere? Is He on Duniya? Where is He? Does He truly care what happens to me or anyone down here?""Yes, Ga'briyel, He cares. He cares deeply for what happens to His creation. He grieves every single time you or any
Everything Begins Chapter 99
First light came faster than he had expected, and he stared east at the volcano as it drifted out of the darkness into the light. The sun rose just to the south of the mountain, so there were no shadows to block the rays from warming him the moment the orb rose fully above the horizon. He stood where he was, staring at the mountain and hoping his newly-found protection would indeed hold true. It was not that he doubted Yisu, but he was not quite ready to believe something blindly just because the Creator said it was so, or because Telantes said it was so. Frank trusted the Debaduta with his life, but the Anmah would be skeptical of everything from now on until he proved it to be accurate.After ten minutes, he sensed the others coming up behind him, and he stood a bit taller, his sword in his hand. “Half a league, Dinton, and no closer.”“As you command, Mistri.” Dinton’s voice was tight, but he was a soldier of the crown, and Frank knew he would obey no matter how much he wanted to d
Everything Begins Chapter 100
"Let her go!" he shouted as he rushed the creatures. "Torture her more, and I will make sure your babies are tortured as well! Let her go, and I will kill them quickly!""Foolish Sainika!" the Dirack said softly, his claw burrowing closer to Ga'briyel's child. "You cannot kill us all before burning. You will be in more pain than she is, boy!" The creature flung Sophyra to the side where she lay whimpering and sobbing, her hands clenched around the wound that still bled heavily. Frank glanced at her once, and she shook her head at him, her eyes blazing with fury as she stared at the Dirack and then back again at her husband. He wanted to go to her, but then he heard her voice in his head."Ga'briyel, help me, please! Save our baby, my love!"He shuddered, knowing that he could not stop to check on her. Instead, he raced toward the Dirack, and as one, they released a torrent of flames in his direction. He just grinned and ran through the fire, none of it touching even a single hair on h
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
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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
