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

“I must go and report to my king immediately. I know the way out. I know we’ll be seeing each other soon, may it be when you have taken the planet.” Bazar then nodded toward Axlor and then swept out of the room and headed off toward the rocket port where his own ship was located and ready to speed him back to his home world.

After Bazar had left, Axlor pressed a communications monitor on the right arm of his throne and said, “Commander Adler, contact all of our commanders and generals and get them here immediately. Tell them I need to see them now! And then summon Vengethor.” He sat down to mull over in his head the implications of what he’d heard. He vaguely heard Adler say, “At once your Highness.”

Chapter 11

Welcome Home

The troop of Golden Griffins approached the town rather joyously. They were still elated at driving back the Boulthorian knights, and they had successfully protected the princess. They also had with them a teenage boy that may be the missing son of Dr. Sonderson. Trance was surprised at the speed the robot horses could carry them. There at the bottom of the target screen on the horse’s neck was the speedometer reading forty-five mph. While on the Markem farm he’d gotten used to the smooth motion of the robot horses. Up ahead he spotted the town they were headed for, Shandac. He remembered asking Major Marlett about how long it would take to get to the capital from Cassera.

“A little under four hours,” Marlett had replied. Sure enough three and three quarter hours had passed since the battle and they were now entering the town.

A few minutes later the troop turned a corner and started down a street that was familiar to some of them. Zak in particular had been here before; his friend Kyle had lived here. He rode up to the boy and encouraged him and told him that he hoped that he really was whom he thought he was.

Trance was triple happy; one, he was happy to be going to see his family again; two, he had been given the horse he was riding by the princess as token of appreciation, since he had saved her from capture; and three, his dream could come true, here he could become an knight. He felt his excitement increase as the troop approached and stopped in front of a beige bi-level house half way down this block.

Major Marlett signaled Zak and indicated that he go to the door. Zak dismounted and walked to the door and knocked. The door was opened and Zak began talking to someone in the doorway.

Trance couldn’t see whom he was talking to and dismounted himself and started to lead the horse forward. He had named the horse Odin shortly after the horse had been given to him. He cautiously approached the house that might or might not be his families.

“May I intro…” Zak was starting to say when he turned and saw Trance moving into hearing range and was interrupted by the shock of the pair who had locked eyes.

Trance’s voice caught in his throat as soon as he saw the person talking to Zak. Memories flashed through his mind as he stared. “Mom,” he finally croaked when he found his voice.

“Trance,” said the woman in the doorway, her eyes filling with tears of happiness. Could this be true, her eldest finally showing up alive and well?

Trance stopped the horse and ran up to her and hugged her. As the troop and princess watched from the street, many wiping their eyes, they heard Eileen speak. “Oh Trance it is you. Thank God you’re alright.” Then she turned to Zak, “Thank you Zak for finding him and bringing him home.”

“No problem ma’am,” he said blushing. Then he leaned close and whispered, “I didn’t tell him, I thought it would be better if you told him.”

Eileen nodded and then waved at the troop. “Hello Major. Hello Corena. Thank you all so much for finding him. I can’t tell you how much this means.” She hugged Trance again and kissed his head.

“It was our honor Mrs. Sonderson,” said Marlett. He bowed his head, then signaled Zak and indicated that they needed to go, and got his troop formed again and started to lead them away. Many Golden Griffins waved and said good-bye as they started away.

“I’ll report the good news to my father,” said Corena as she had lingered. “Trance I hope to see you soon,” and then she too turned and started away.

Eileen led Trance into the house and continued to hug him in the entry. Then Trance heard a familiar voice from the upstairs. “Honey, who was at the door?”

Trance released from his mother and shot upstairs. Eileen trailed behind and called back to her husband, “We have a visitor Evan.”

Trance reached the top of the stairs and looked around quickly. Right in front of him was the bathroom, and then on the left of the bathroom were two bedrooms. Opposite them were two more bedrooms and a hall closet. To his right he could look into the living room at the front of the house, and then there was the kitchen and dining room at the back of the house. Sitting at the dining room table sat Dr. Evan Sonderson, Trance’s dad.

Evan was sitting at the table drinking coffee and relaxing, admiring the small chandelier that hung above the table. However, he immediately stood up when he saw Trance step into the room. Emotion filled him as he gazed at the son that he hadn’t thought he’d ever see again. The emotion hit hard because of the memory of his father telling him about a dream he’d had about his son.

“Hi dad, I’m home,” was the only thing Trance could think to say.

“Trance, look at you. I thought we’d never see you again. Where have you been? How have you been? What’s happened to you since you awoke?