Space Knights: The Arrival by Gregory Samuelson (buy e reader .TXT) 📕

saw all the birds take wing and circle their home peaks. He had looked on in shocked awe. He had checked to make sure all seven peaks were being circled by birds. As he watched they all formed one very large flock and soared around the entire mountain range. He scratched the feathers under his beak with his talon-like hand and wondered where the General was and most importantly who he was. After seeing this great sight he had summoned a meeting of the Griffin Court and relayed to them what he had seen. Some believed him and others did not. Yet in a few minutes all believed as they all spotted the birds still in flight, first circling their home peak and then forming a great flock and circling the entire range.

After the meeting had ended the other Griffins had gone to perform their other duties and wondering where Faylor was. He had stayed behind to think and ponder about the next signs of the Griffin General. When would they be fulfilled?

***

Hours later a starship is flying at absolute top speed toward the planet of Boulthora. It is noon on the planet as the ship with king Axlor aboard makes its approach and slows for its descent toward its intended landing area. The great ship soars down the sky toward the planet’s capital and main castle. After landing at the rocket port the ship lowers the boarding ramp and Axlor strides down and is greeted by a platoon commander and his platoon of three hundred knights. As if a signal was given, when the king was at a certain point, the knights instantly encircled him to escort him straight to the castle a mere two miles away. They marched a half mile to a massive stable where their horses were waiting. It only took a few minutes for all of the knights and Axlor to mount their horses and be on the move again.

Inside the castle Axlor dismounted and dismissed his men and headed straight for his throne room where Bazar would be waiting for him. While he strode down the halls, he again wondered why the Sphinx King had sent Bazar instead of a regular messenger, and what was the hurry for him to come.

“Axlor, it is great to see you. Thank you for coming so promptly,” said Bazar, bowing very slightly as Axlor entered the throne room.

“Hello Bazar. Alright enough pleasantries, what was so important that I had to return here so soon and leave my current operation,” said Axlor impatiently as he strode through the room to take his seat on his royal silver throne.

“Well, since you are so anxious to get to the point of our meeting. My master the honorable Sphinx King has sent me to see you because something of major importance has occurred. Yes, even more important than your so-called operation. By the way I didn’t see you bringing back Princess Corena,” said the Sphinx in a rather sneering voice.

“Just so you know, she was very lucky to escape. Now what can be more important than her capture?” answered Axlor. He knew his place in the alliance with the Sphinx, yet this was his home world, and he was King. He definitely did not like being talked down to.

“Very well, I have been sent here with very grave news. Our spies have reported that the first sign has come to pass. The General is about to appear,” said Bazar, now in a more anxious voice.

For a moment Axlor looked at the Sphinx and tried to figure out what he’d just heard. The Sphinx King, the Great Sphinx King who ruled nearly two-thirds of the galaxy, was worried about some general. By the way, what was this first sign and who was this general and why did he seem to worry him? Finally he asked these questions, “What sign and what general? Certainly no general could worry the great Sphinx.”

“What, don’t you know man? This general should concern you too,” Bazar said, exasperated. Then he explained, “Don’t you remember the prophecy? The prophecy found in the book of Gravor in the Bible. Our spies on Althora have reported that the sign of the birds at the Crown Mountains has occurred. Don’t you know what that means? It means that the Great General is about to appear. Once he does, it’s only a matter of time before he will start to rally worlds to his cause.”

Axlor took a few minutes to process this information. Slowly he started to remember the story and he started to recognize the threat that this general was. “When did this happen? Where and who is this general? We must get rid of him at once,” he said, now getting into the mode.

“We don’t know who or where yet. Our spies just spotted the sign very early this morning on Althora and reported. Within minutes I was dispatched here to tell you. I arrived only to find you not here and still attempting to capture one girl protected by one small group of knights. I must also tell you that his Highness the Sphinx King is going to come here to find out who and where this general is. He urges that our plans move up and that you conquer Althora as soon as possible.”

“I’ll send for all of my commanders and generals immediately and start planning our assault. By morning they will be here and ready,” said Axlor excitedly now. Now was his chance to finally get what he wanted, to capture the element-rich planet of Althora, and to remove them as the great thorn in his side. Soon the planet would be theirs.

“One more thing, when and if you find out who the prospective general is, you are to have him killed on the spot,” Bazar said with a very slight threat in his voice. “Do you understand?”

“Yes!” answered Axlor as he stood to get going on his attack plan.

“Good,” replied Bazar as he strode toward the door.