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

than enough time had passed for Tane and his friends to reach the area, even if they had to hide from and evade pursuit. So Nizar believed them to be in the area, somewhere. He and Jessy had ridden hard both days and a good piece of the night to get here in time, though in truth she didn’t understand that. She was following where he led, almost without question.

            Soon enough he reached the High Priest’s pavilion. All camps had one, for when the High Priest visited. When the High Priest was not in residence, the pavilion belonged to the commander of the host. Nizar knew that Mogens was in Treversax, attending Dakar. When their God decided a certain army or front needed the High Priest’s personal supervision, then Mogens was usually transported there instantaneously by Dakar. After two days and a night in the saddle, Nizar envied Mogens that luxury.

            A pair of towering men guarded the entrance. Both stood at least a head taller than Nizar, with fierce faces and long red beards. They looked like Tyrians, but their accents proclaimed them to be Thanirs like Mogens.

            “Who is in charge of this army?” Nizar said as he dismounted.

            “Sister Arlene, Your Grace,” one guard said. “She is inside planning tomorrow’s march with her officers.”

            Sister Arlene was someone Nizar knew. They had become priests on the same day, for the same reason. In fact, both were “converted” thieves.

            Entering the pavilion, Nizar paused to bow to the small altar before moving toward the group standing around a map table. Sister Arlene was talking, her rich soprano filling the air with confidence. Nizar envied her natural leadership abilities, her ability to inspire those around her to put in that little extra effort. Unlike Mogens, she did it without threats of punishment.

            Seeing him approach, she stared in astonishment for a heartbeat. He found the look on her naked face amusing.

            “I thought Mogens would’ve cut out your black heart long before now,” she said, though grinned wide afterwards. “Welcome, Nizar al-Sayyid, Brother of Dakar. Are you the new second-in-command I requested?”

            The stony silence that met that question, along with the nervous demeanor of the other priests, said something unpleasant had taken her last deputy. Nizar suppressed a desire to glance at the altar, looking for fresh blood stains.

            “Since I haven’t any idea what you are talking about, I guess not,” Nizar said. “I am on a mission of utmost importance. Dakar Himself sent me on it.”

            At the mention of Dakar’s name, the priests all made the sign of their God.

            “I see you’re rising up in the world,” she said, alone unfazed. “Meanwhile, I’m bound in servitude to this lumbering beast of an army.”

            “Ha! I can see you are broken hearted and depressed beyond all hope,” he said. “I can’t imagine the terrible burden of absolute command! And such a command!”

            “We must all make sacrifices for our Divine Master,” she said, chuckling with him. “But seriously, O Prince of the Desert, what brings you to my humble tent? Is there anything we can do to assist your cause?”

            “As a matter of fact, there is, O Queen of the Forest,” he said.

            Nizar told of Tane, and the threat. He then told of Tane’s escape, and possible route. And finally, he discussed his plans for Jessy. The other priests were full of ideas, with many of them being from the surrounding lands.

            “We will be extra vigilant, Nizar,” Arlene said. “If you want, we can send out patrols in all directions.”

            “Yes, that would be appreciated,” he said, though with more reluctance now. Arlene was ambitious. Maybe as ambitious as himself. But he was committed now, and he didn’t see any way for her to take sole credit for the capture of Tane’s little troupe. “I’m thinking that since so many of your priests know the land, perhaps they can lead some of the patrols along possible routes around your army.”

            A calculating looked crept into Sister Arlene’s beautiful eyes. Nizar was well-pleased with himself. His suggestion, if it worked, meant that he could take most of the credit, even though her offer of patrols should’ve been enough to secure the capture of Tane.

            “Excellent idea,” she said, a grudging respect in her eyes. “If they find your quarry, then we will be alerted immediately by the priest.”

            “My thoughts exactly,” Nizar said. With a brief prayer, the priest could alert the entire encampment if he chose. Priests and zombies in the thousands could pounce upon Tane and company. “But I must maintain my disguise with the swordsmith’s cousin, just in case we fail to find them tonight. So, if you’d be so kind as to provide a tent nearby...”

            “My pleasure,” Arlene said, signaling for an acolyte to make such arrangements. “I’ll have your tent pitched nearby, in case we get lucky tonight.”

            Nizar grinned. “Oh, I feel very lucky. It’ll take a miracle for them to get past me now.”

Chapter 67

            With nightfall, everyone quietly saddled their mounts. Tane’s body argued for abandoning the horses and continuing on afoot, especially that region between his waist and knees. But reality won out, condemning him to another grueling trek. Thankfully, the first part of their trip tonight would be either leading the horses or riding slow and careful through the dark forest.

            “Everyone ready?” Tane asked. “Good. No point or rear guard tonight. Quinn will lead, followed by Joelle, myself, Armin and Raven. Any questions?”

            “You’re not going to scout ahead?” Armin said.

            “No. We need to stay together in case we’re ambushed.”

            “Or in case we stumble across someone worth waylaying,” Raven said, and sounding as if she really looked forward to doing just that.

            “I have a spell prepared,” Joelle said. “If we find an appropriate victim, then my spell will incapacitate him without the need for a loud fight.”

            “Witches and wizards take all the fun out