Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign (Worlds of the Crystal Moon, Book 1) (110 page)

“Tell Kepler that Hesston works on the docks during the Peak of Bailem. Kepler will know where to go once he hears this information.”

“Then will we speak again after I get to Luvelles?”

The Mischievous One shook his head. “It will be a while before we speak again. Until then, be patient, George. After you terminate the family of witches, lay low and don’t use your power.”

The god reached into the flames and touched George on his shoulder. “It won’t be long before Abbie is returned to you. Remember that.”

A moment later, Lasidious departed George’s dream, leaving behind beautiful visions of Abbie that filled George’s mind’s eye.

GEORGE
, his family, and Kepler are now on the world of Luvelles. The ride provided by the Merchant Angels to this new world was dark and dismal. The family’s special container was tight, and everyone had to sit in their own waste for the duration. Despite the annoyances, they arrived in good spirits.

George led the family to the village of Floren, but he had no idea how to find Head Master Brayson. The only thing the mage knew for sure was that he had a family of witches to terminate and a new nephew to take care of.

The family now believed that Susanne had a son. Their minds were manipulated by Maldwin before leaving Gessler. Susanne and Athena have been chattering about a baby they’ve never met.

Maldwin’s visions were specific. After the baby was born, there were health issues that had to be addressed. The family believed that George rushed the child to Western Luvelles to receive the medical attention he needed to survive. But there was one detail about the baby’s birth that Maldwin’s vision was unable to plant into the family’s minds, a detail that George failed to think about, one that could cause a significant problem.

KEPLER
left word for his brothers to govern Skeleton Pass in his absence. As it turned out, Lasidious was right about the demon. The jaguar was more than willing to leave his brothers behind.

CELESTRIA
cleaned up her son, and after holding the baby for a short series of moments, she handed the boy to the witches and then vanished for Ancients Sovereign. Once there, she waved her hand over her belly and removed all evidence of her pregnancy.

SAM
asked Shalee to stay in Brandor. She was still dealing with the stress of losing BJ and Helga. The queen has been crying for Peaks, and the healers warned Sam that the stress was not good for the baby. Sam knows they are correct. Shalee’s depression could make her a prime candidate for a miscarriage, and the king is not about to risk the baby’s or his queen’s health, despite the asset Shalee would be in battle. When Shalee tried to object, Sam would not listen.

After arriving in the city of Champions, Sam received word from his scouts. The barbarian army has headed south for the Serpent King’s lair. They are following the Latsky River in the Neutral Territory. By the sound of the reports, the barbarians and Seth’s serpents will be outmatched.

Peaks ago, Sam ordered Michael to turn the army in the direction of the Serpent King’s lair. The army has crossed the Snake River, and they are now only 2 Peaks from entering Seth’s underground city.

A HEAVY QUAKE
struck Brandor after Sam left the city. Many of the smaller buildings sustained damage, and the roof of the Senate’s hall collapsed. Eleven senators perished in the disaster. Word of the suffering will reach Sam’s ears before the war begins.

Thank you for reading the final edition of the Grayham Inquirer

War is Coming

CHAPTER 39

Surrounded

Griffin Cliffs

Southern Grayham

MOSLEY WAS SITTING WITH SORESYM inside the mouth of the griffin’s cave below the Temple of the Gods. “Sam is walking into a trap, and there is nothing I can do to help,” the wolf complained. “His Peaks as the leader of Brandor’s pack are numbered. To have the power of the gods and be bound like this is frustrating.”

“What kind of trap are you referring to, wolf?” Soresym questioned while looking across the beauty of the valley far below where they sat.

Mosley’s eyes questioned. “You do know Sam is the King of Brandor?”

The griffin fluffed the feathers on his head to allow the breeze to refresh his skin. “I do. Information of this nature travels quickly.”

The wolf scratched the back of his ear. “Sam is leading Brandor’s pack toward the Serpent King’s lair. He has no idea that he’s about to be attacked from all sides...” The wolf continued to divulge everything he knew.

When Soresym finally responded, the Griffin Lord looked confused. “Why would the Minotaur and the bears break their alliance with Brandor? Brandor has allowed them to live in peace for many seasons. They’ve even been allowed to compete in the arenas.”

“Sam was the one who defeated their champions,” Mosley replied, “both of them.”

Soresym cringed as a griffin would. “I knew the Minotaur fell by Sam’s hand, however, I didn’t realize it was Sam who defeated the bear. This doesn’t bode well for Brandor, but this doesn’t justify breaking their alliance.”

“Did you know the Crystal Moon was stolen?”

“Stolen? When?”

“When is unimportant. The Crystal Moon is missing, and its pieces have been scattered. Two of them are on Grayham.”

Soresym tapped his talons against the floor of the cave. “What do the missing pieces of crystal have to do with the bear and Minotaur?”

“A trick has been played. They believe Brandor plans to destroy all beasts on Southern Grayham who have an established monarchy.”

“Why would they believe such foolishness?”

Mosley took the moments to explain.

After the griffin digested what the wolf had said, he wondered, “Why would a piece of the crystal be inside the scorpions’ nest?”

“Lasidious put it there.”

The confusion on Soresym’s feather-covered face magnified. “Why?”

“My friend, why is not important. Lasidious does things for his own reasons. What is important ... his actions have started a war, and a human named George has secured both pieces of the Crystal Moon. He has claimed to have hidden them somewhere within Seth’s den. Brandor marches to fight for them.”