Battle for Peruna by Josiah Boss (book club suggestions TXT) 📕

with tears. He rose and silently went outside. Within five minutes, he found himself overlooking two valleys, Mardoc's army on one side and his camp on the other side. How he got there, he didn't remember. He looked down at his sleeping camp and the picture of dead bodies strewn around went through his head.
He sagged against a tree as sobs racked his body. Dear God, what must we do to survive? He thought to himself. Suddenly, a voice came from the right of him.
“Simple, you must run,” it said. Garnock turned his head and saw a human. An old man with flowing white hair and a kind look in his eyes stood there.
“What did you say?” asked Garnock, slowly pulling away from the tree and turning towards the old man.
“Run. It's the only way to escape from them.”
“What about those strangers I saw in the first vision-dream-whatever?”
“They'll only come in time if you run.”
“And what if we don't?”
“Then you'll see what you saw in the second vision—if you survive.”
“What'll you do?”
“I'll stay here and delay them.”
“But...but...won't they...kill you?”
“Could be, but I was sent to help you. Here's your instructions. When you see lightning in the shape of a cross, you'll have exactly one hour to leave this valley and get moving. Now come on, you need your sleep before morning comes.”
******************************
Meanwhile, Mardoc was having a visitor. This mysterious visitor wore a floor length black robe. As far as Mardoc could see, this stranger had no face and no hands, unless they were covered up. He was also very demanding.
“You will attack tomorrow morning at ten o'clock sharp, if they don't turn over the old man If they don't, you're to slaughter them mercilessly. If they do, then you will take the old man and execute him in the way that I tell you. That will take away all the centaurs' power. You follow?”
“Yes, sir, I guess I do.”
“Guess so?” the stranger snorted contemptuously. “Like you say to your generals, 'Do you or do you not understand my orders?'”
“I do.”
“Good. Tomorrow morning at eight, go to their camp with a white flag, demanding to see Garnock. When you see Garnock, tell that he has exactly two hours to turn over the old man, otherwise you will attack them.”
“Okay.”
“Good.” And with that the black-cloaked stranger was gone.
*******************************
“How do I propose getting out of here?” asked Avelignese, “How should I know? All that I know is that we're in this black hole of a place, and for some reason we can see each other, when we shouldn't be able to.”
“Well then, why don't we just start walking? I mean, we're bound to get somewhere,” said Zebulon.
“Sounds as good a plan as any,” agreed Avelignese. And so they set off in search of something.
*********************************
“You expect me to believe that?” asked Jocelyn McFarland incredulously. Jack just sat in wide-eyed awe at this stranger they'd invited for supper.
“Sure.” Yasahiro shrugged. “Why not?” he took a drink, then resumed his eating.
“Why not? Why not you ask?” Jocelyn was dumbfounded. “Because it's...it's...it's just so...so...preposterous.”
“Why do you say it's preposterous?”
“Well, there are a couple of reasons.”
“Such as...?”
“Well, for one thing—people don't fight with swords, bows, or arrows anymore, at least civilized people don't. Reason number 2 is that there aren't any centaurs. They're made up; they aren't real creatures.”
“Aren't they?”
“No! At least not any real ones. There are some—take yourself for example—that claim to be them, or at least have been one in another world. Which is ridiculous!”
“Why?”
“Because, everybody knows that there aren't any other worlds besides this one that we're in right now.”
“Really now? And you said that there are other who've claimed to be centaurs at one time?”
“Yes, but it was clear across the United States.”
“Where?”
“In a place called New York City.”
“I'm going.”
“But how do you plan on getting there? Walk?”
“Nope, I'll use the fastest transportation available.”
“But that costs money!”
“I have a way. When we went into town, I saw a poster for a sword competition coming up.”
“You aren't thinking of--”
“Sure am.”
Jocelyn grabbed his arm, “But you can't, you mustn't, you'll be killed,” she said, eyes wide with fright.
“Will I? Well, you'll just have to see now won't we? It starts at seven so I better get ready. You'll come with?”
“I guess we should, in case anything happens to you.”
*******************************
Garnock was sitting down to a late breakfast when a guard galloped up. “What is it, Glenstorm?” he asked, rising from his place.
“Enemy at the outskirts of camp. Two dim-witted looking guys with a letter from Mardoc.”
“Take me to them.”
*******************************
“What do you want?” asked Garnock coming up to them. Even though they were mounted, he towered another six inches above them.
The one on the right, brought out a parchment, cleared his throat, and read it in a high-pitched voice.
“The King of Peruna, Mardoc, demands that you turn over the old man you have in your camp. You must turn him over within the next two hours, or he will be forced to attack to get the old man. Signed, King Mardoc.”
He peered at Garnock. “Any questions, sire?” He said “sire” mockingly, almost scornfully.
Garnock stared him down. “No. Go tell your Mardoc that we'll consider his letter.” With that he turned away.
The messenger on the right glanced at the one on the left, who shrugged. Then they left.
“Who are they?” asked Glenstorm.
“His two sniveling generals, Felgor and Forester,” replied Garnock.
“How did you know that?”
“One—I've seen them before. Two—their names were engraved on their sword sheaths.”
“What are you gonna do about their threat?”
“Do? Why I'll never turn that old man over to those old hags.”
“Then what? We don't have near enough troops to fight them for very long. They'll slaughter us.”
Garnock didn't say anything. He went by himself to find the old man who'd gone to pray-or so he said. He found him about a quarter mile out of camp, resting on a rock.
“They've come?” asked the old man, without even glancing up.
“Yeah. You knew they would?”
“Yes. I'm ready. Take me to them before it is too late.”
Garnock hesitated. “They'll kill you.”
For the first time, the old man looked up at him. “It's the only way for the race of centaurs to survive. Now,” he said firmly, “take me to their camp.”
*******************************
Ten minutes later, they were at the top of the hill separating the two camps. They paused at the top to take a breather. When the old man saw the camp below them, he bowed his head. Garnock saw tears stream from his eyes.
“God, help me through this,” he heard the old man groan. Tears stung his own eyes and a lump came into his throat as he turned away and blinked to get rid of the tears.
“I must go no,” said the old man, sounding far away, like someone in a dream.
“Don't you have anything for me, like encouragement or something?” pleaded Garnock.
“Just this,” said the old man. “When you see the cross, run and don't look back.” Then he turned away and wound his way down the mountain side.
Garnock heard a roar rise up from the camp below when the old man appeared in front of the guards. He saw them tie him up, and, after tying him to a stake, whipped him. A lightning bolt came down in the shape of a cross. With tears blinding him, Garnock wheeled and raced down the mountain. Within fifteen minutes the centaurs' camp was completely evacuated.
*******************************
“What's this?” asked Zebulon coming to a halt in front of a stone pillar coming out of the ground. The four leaders crowded around him.
“So I see you found it,” a familiar voice purred from the darkness out of Zebulon's vision. Instantly, the sound of swords being drawn filled the air. It was the witch again.
The witch laughed a soft, rippling, evil laugh. “Now, now,” she crooned, coming into their vision, “I mean no harm, see? I'm unarmed.” Zebulon eyed her warily.
“What do you want?” he asked suspiciously.
“I've just come to warn you. See that bell on top of the pillar? I warn you—DO NOT RING IT!” Zebulon eyed her.
“I smell a rat,” he told Avelignese, who nodded. “Why not?” he asked the lady.
“Because,” she said, “a great evil will come forth if you ring it.”
“You lied before, why should I believe you?” queried Zebulon. There was a murmur of agreement from behind him. Just then he had a thought, She's a witch. She can't tell the truth, or if she does, it's twisted.
“I'm not lying,” she said.
“Well,” Zebulon said slowly, as he glanced around him. “How about we just see what happens when I ring this bell?”
“NO! Don't do--” the witch's voice was cut off, when Zebulon pulled the cord. The ring seemed to echo on and on, going forever. The witch was frozen to the spot, petrified. What about, Zebulon did not know.
*****************************
Skylar was reading to Skye; Fletcher was working on homework with Garth's help; Leigha was sewing; Chance was trying to fix a leak in the kitchen pipes on that rainy afternoon. It was so boring that Chance started talking to the pipes, while slowly the others stopped what they were doing to listen to him.
“Stupid pipe!” he shouted. “You weren't supposed to spring back; you were supposed to stay there.” A grunt followed. “Fine then, I'll just tuck you behind here and that'll keep you there.” A snicker from Skylar. A little pause of pure silence, followed by a whack! “Stupid, idiotic thing!” Chance roared, emerging from the sink, looking just a bit frazzled and rubbing his head. Fletcher buried his head in his arm to smother his laughter.
“Don't laugh! It's NOT funny!” Chance said, trying not to laugh himself. “Stupid pipe slipped and whacked me on the head.” Then he started to laugh, all the others joined in.
Just then a knock sounded on the door.
“Now who in the world would be out on a night like this?” he asked, walking over to the door.
“Yeah?” he asked opening the door. “You got anything to sell? We ain't interested.”
“I don't have anything to sell. I'm here because I was told that you guys claimed to be centaurs at one time,” said the stranger. “I also was one at one time, believe it or not.”
“Garth, get over here and question this guy, like you did all the others,” said Chance. Garth rose from the table, stepped up beside Chance, and gaped.
“Yasahiro!” he exclaimed, “What are YOU doing here?”
“Garth? Is it really you?” Yasahiro was just as astonished. “Your mother's been worried sick over you. Your whole family is, as a matter of fact. As well as,” he lowered his voice, “Natelin.” He winked and grinned at Garth, who blushed.
“Don't start!” he said, trying unsuccessfully to act mad. Then he turned to Chance, “You mind if he comes in? I know him. He's one of my dad's best bowmen.”
“I guess,” said Chance and invited him in.
Suddenly the ground shook beneath them and from the living room Skye shrieked.
“An earthquake!” whooped Fletcher, throwing aside his homework.
But before they knew it, darkness enveloped them and a ringing sound filled their ears.


Part
Three


Part Three
The sound seemed to go on and on, putting Zebulon in a sort of a trance-like state. In the trance, he thought he saw a room with some people in it. Suddenly, the ground shook violently, and he heard the girl start screaming. Then they