Belly of the Beast by Warren Thomas (story books for 5 year olds txt) 📕

easier for Dakar to discover Her within His domain,” Nizar said. “She has taken great personal risk to come to you, girl. Do not dishonor Her!”

            Jessy felt herself go cold. Never, ever would she insult or dishonor her Goddess!

            Raising a hand to quiet him, Ashtar said, “She only speaks her mind. I am not afraid of the truth.” Turning fiery green eyes on Jessy, She said, “Even weakened as I am, I would like to personally stop your cousin. But I am needed even more elsewhere. The war goes badly, for Our faithful are not united, and We will not steal away their free-will as Dakar has done to the people of the Leltic Lands.”

            “I understand,” Jessy said, even though she didn’t. It was all so confusing. Gods walking the world, waging war with humanity and each other. A Goddess sneaking around in Her enemy’s temple, asking a mortal for help. “I won’t fail you, my Goddess. Once I explain what is happening to Tane, he will stop doing whatever it is Dakar is making him do.”

            “If he does not listen to reason, then you must kill him,” Ashtar said, her eyes and voice steel. “Fear not, for that will save his soul. If you fail, and he lives to seal the Gate, then everyone’s soul is destined to be devoured by Dakar. There will be no afterlife for him, you, or anyone. Only oblivion.”

            “I understand,” she whispered, fighting the burning in her eyes. How could she do such a thing? To kill Tane in any cause would be too terrible an act to live with. It would surely kill her to do so. But...she didn’t have any choice. “I will stop him, my Goddess. I swear on my immortal soul.”

            “Excellent,” Ashtar said. Indicating Nizar, “Father Nizar is one of my most trusted priests. He will accompany you, aid you in any way he can. Listen to him, and he will get you to your cousin in one piece. But it will be up to you to stop him, for Tane’s friends have corrupted his mind. He will not believe that Nizar is My priest. Only you can stop him.”

            “I won’t fail You, my Goddess,” Jessy said.

Chapter 65

            The frigid south wind roared above the trees, violently shaking the forest around them. On north-south stretches of road the four riders felt the relentless shock of the wind as well. The snow and ice that had blanketed the tree limbs filled the air, making it difficult to see through the resulting white haze. Tane lifted his eyes just long enough to scan the road before them, then lowered them again.

            Joelle rode a dozen paces in front of him, with Armin right behind him. Quinn rode point, some hundred paces ahead of Joelle, and Raven rode rear guard, a like distance behind Armin. Both Joelle and Armin offered to rotate out with Quinn and Raven, but neither would agree. Quinn insisted he had to be point because of his superior senses, at least until the wind relented in its fury. Raven just wanted to be by herself, or so she claimed. Joelle and Armin believed she wanted rear guard because it was more dangerous, and thus a more “honorable” position. Tane didn’t care, because none of them would even consider allowing him to take either position.

            Now I understand how Jessy felt whenever I tried to protect her. Gods, it’s humiliating to be treated like I’m so helpless! Tane thought.

            The fact that he was obviously the most affected by the weather didn’t help his mood. Quinn was the least effected, with his cloak open and frequently thrown back over his shoulders. Raven seemed to actually enjoy it during the rare times when the wind relented. She claimed it was just like a summer day back in her homeland. They all knew better, but she refused to yield, though kept her cloak on nonetheless. Whereas Joelle and Armin were distressed by the cold and snow, but didn’t allow it to effect their vigilance.

            “Halt,” Joelle said, reining in her bay mare.

            Tane stopped beside her, peering into the snowy haze intently. What was the problem? More zombies? They’d been forced to leave the road and hide a dozen times since escaping the previous morning.

            Then Tane realized that Joelle and Armin weren’t looking forward, but back the way they had come. Turning in the saddle, he spotted Raven galloping toward them.

            “Off the road!” Raven shouted. “Horsemen coming. They’re riding hard, too!”

            Tane, Armin and Joelle kicked their mounts to force them into the thick underbrush. Raven raced by, going to alert Quinn.

            Slipping out of the saddle, Tane coerced his gray gelding to lie on his side in the snow. It was a trick Armin had taught him the first time they were forced to quit the road. Then he lay across the horse’s head, stroking him reassuringly to keep the gelding quiet. While he and Armin hid themselves and their mounts, Joelle used her magic to cover their tracks in the snow before taking her own mount down.

            Moments later the muted thunder of horses approached. Tane watched as they passed. All were free-minded men, maybe two hundred in all, wearing gray and black surcoats over armor. Over that they wore black cloaks.

            Mercenaries, Tane thought, eyes narrowing. Betraying humanity for a few coins.

            Tane found the men and women hiring out their swords to Dakar even more disgusting, and disturbing than His priesthood. He could understand people drawn to a God, serving that God, no matter how evil, due to their love and faith, but the mercenaries were only interested in money. They didn’t care about religion, or the future health and happiness of the world. They just wanted wealth and power.

            “Here comes the rear guard,” Armin said, though Tane could hear nothing over the howling wind.

            A heartbeat later the rear guard passed, just twenty men in