Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign (Worlds of the Crystal Moon, Book 1) (44 page)

Thank you for reading this edition of the Grayham Inquirer

Bassorine’s Old Cabin Home

High Atop Catalyst Mountain on Ancients Sovereign

CHAPTER 17

Daddy, Help Me!

The Cave of Sorrow

GEORGE TOOK A DEEP breath. “Let’s go over the plan again before you go inside, Kep. Kroger and I will stay out here and give you the moments to find a spot to hide. Then, I’ll climb to the top of the entrance and hang out while Kroger bangs his club against the ground. Hopefully, the beast will want to see what the commotion is about. If he does, that should lead him past you, Kep. All you’ll need to do is chase him outside. Remember, you need to stop short of the entrance. We don’t know what will happen if you get too close to it. The map said the beast uses magic to stop folks from leaving once they’re inside. Once the beast is out here, I’ll shoot him. If I miss, Kroger can bash him over the damn head.”

George looked at his companions. “Do you understand that it may take a while before he comes looking? It’s one hell of a big cave, so I’m counting on the walls inside to echo the sound of Kroger’s club.”

Kepler nodded that he understood, but the ogre had an expressionless look on his face. George shook his head. “Do you understand, Kroger?”

Kroger shrugged. “Me thinks so, George. Kroger bang when George say bang. He bash head of beast when George say bash.”

George smiled. “Sounds like you’ve got it, buddy. Get going, Kep.”

The demon headed inside as George set the timer on his Rolex. After an hour, he climbed to the top of the cave entrance. “Bang away, Kroger!”

The Hidden God World

Ancients Sovereign

Mosley awoke and stepped outside onto the porch of Bassorine’s old home high atop Catalyst Mountain. The view was breathtaking, and the air smelled of pine. The cabin overlooked two valleys, one to the east and one to the west, and both were filled with grazing animals.

Bassorine had been the one to give the mountain its name. This had been the late God of War’s way to remember the many battles he had been the influence behind, or better yet, the catalyst of.

The home itself was not unique, but none of the others in the Collective lived in anything like it. Bassorine was rugged, and the dwelling he left behind was nothing more than what those of us from old Earth would have called a log cabin. Now, with Bassorine’s destruction, the house fit Mosley’s tastes as well.

Mosley jumped off the porch and started sniffing his new territory. Today was a special day for the night terror wolf. He would have his chance to meet the others of the Collective. The Book of Immortality said his introduction would be short and to expect a rush of interest after Bassorine’s Passing Ceremony.

Mosley had spent a good portion of the previous night howling his delight at the many different abilities he now possessed. All of them were useful, but he especially liked the fact he could conjure a rare, corgan steak and it would just appear before him. He had ignored the fact that he no longer needed to eat and enjoyed four steaks before he went to sleep.

The wolf felt it was important to look good for the ceremony. He knew the others were snobs—the Book had left behind a parchment inside the cabin to warn him of that much. No matter how much he hated the thought, a bath was in order. He smiled. If his wife was alive to see this Peak, she would have been proud to see the tub of hot water appear before him. It only took a simple nod of his snout to make it happen.

Mosley grumbled as he put the first of his paws into the water and spoke to his lost love as if she was there. “This is not wolf-like, Luvera. This is unnecessary torture and unbecoming of a beast of my stature.”

Now, fellow soul ... for Mosley being such a smart wolf, he sure didn’t use his head on this Peak. Sure, he thought far enough to create his own bath and make it appear in front of him, but I find it funny that he failed to think beyond the idea of a simple bath. A smarter use of his godly power was all it took to clean himself without water being involved at all. I’m sure Mosley was upset once he realized that he had bathed unnecessarily. Poor wolf.

Southern Grayham

The Cave of Sorrow

According to his Rolex, four hours passed while George sat above the entrance to the cave. The sound of Kroger’s club banging into the ground was becoming taxing to George’s nerves.

A hole had formed at the center of the clearing as a result of the devastation—a good five feet across and equally as deep, with the trees resting atop the pass shaking with every hit.

Finally, Kroger stopped banging as something scurried out, but it was not even close to what George expected. It was just an over-sized rat with dark-brown fur. George rolled his eyes as the rodent rose up in front of Kroger.
Damn,
he thought.
What a waste of time. Will the damn beast ever come out?

A moment later, George’s opinion was changed. The rat rose up in front of the ogre and looked Kroger in the eyes as it held its ground.
What the hell? It can’t be.

A moment later, Kroger grabbed his head, set his club on the ground, and then placed his thumb in his mouth. The ogre started crying.

George shook his head in disbelief.
No freaking way.

As the ogre’s tears rolled down his face, George surmised,
It’s got to be Maldwin. Kroger wouldn’t act that way if it wasn’t. But why does everyone make him sound like he’s so much more? This little guy is not a real beast. He’s not even scary. I’ll just toss him a piece of cheese and then shoot his ass.

As George continued to minimalize the rat in his mind, Kroger’s actions reminded him about the seriousness of the rodent’s visions.
Come on George, think. He may be a damn rat, but he’s made a lot of folks kill themselves.
He looked at Kroger.
It’s clear his visions have an instantaneous effect. I better be careful.

George needed to protect himself before anything else happened. He reached in his backpack and pulled out another scroll he had purchased from Morre. As he read from it to shield his mind, the giant’s booming cry covered his voice. Just like the scroll he had used when he snared the saber tooth lord, the paper vanished into thin air as soon as the final word was uttered.

The longer George watched the ogre cry, the more he realized a new plan was in order. His original plan was not going to work. Kroger was no longer useful, and he knew his pistol would work since the beast was small enough, but why shoot the rodent? There had to be a better way, and a new idea was forming. If Maldwin’s ability was able to be harnessed, killing him would be a waste of resources.

George climbed down from the top of the cave as the ogre continued to cry. For the moment, Maldwin had his back to him. It was worth a shot, especially with the scroll protecting his mind. What harm could it do to try to get the rat on his side? He smirked.
Holy hell. I can’t believe I’m trying to befriend a damn rat. I must be insane.
He reached up and covered his mouth to suppress his desire to laugh at his next thought.
Everybody will call me the rat whisperer if I pull this off.

With his feet on the ground, he questioned his judgment again, but the answer was the same. The rat’s talent would come in handy, and if it was not salvageable, he could always shoot him.

George noticed Kepler was near the entrance, yet the jaguar had stayed far enough back that he had not challenged the magic that was said to protect the mouth of the cave. As he turned to face the rat, he quietly pulled the blood stained sleeves of his old shirt out of his pack to wrap his hands for protection.

He was now within 10 feet of Maldwin, and the rodent still had no idea he was there. The opportunity was wide open for the taking. George lunged and landed on top of the rat.

Maldwin squealed as George closed his hands around his body.

“I got you, you little snot! Visions, my ass! You never saw me coming, did you?” George pinned the terrified creature to the ground and then waited for the rat to stop squirming.

Maldwin continued to squeal as he fought to free himself, but struggle as he might, he could not break his assailant’s grasp, nor could he bite his captor’s hand to force the human to release him.

George mocked, “Face it! You’re screwed!”

Eventually, Maldwin tired and his body relaxed.

George adjusted his hold to one hand and then reached under his pant leg to draw his pistol. He pointed it at Maldwin’s head and shouted, “Can you talk?”

When Maldwin did not respond, George tightened his grip. “I asked if you can talk! Every other damn thing around here can, so you’d better be able to!”

When nothing came out of the beast, George’s voice amplified. “This is your last chance! If you don’t say something, I’m gonna drop you!”

Again, nothing. George lifted his pistol. He was about to pull the trigger when the rat spoke.
“As sel a ip te yalema quay!”

The words were clearly a language, but nothing George could understand. “English, you little freak. Do I look like I speak Ratanese?”

From inside the cave, Kepler growled. “He wants you to spare his life. He’ll do whatever you want.”

George found the jaguar’s glowing eyes. “You understand this … this … this—”

“He’s a rat!” Kepler snapped. “What’s wrong with you? You’ve made your point. You’ve displayed your ability to pounce. Your prey is frightened, and idle threats no longer serve a purpose.”

George thought,
Damn it. I’ve got to think faster. Come on, George, you need to be smarter than this. You’re going to lose your advantage if you don’t pull your head out.

George adjusted his attitude and then responded. “Well don’t you have many talents, Kep? Having you around is going to be just what I needed. I have a linguist and a politician all wrapped up in one big, furry companion. I should never have doubted you.”

George made sure Kepler saw him smile. The manipulator knew that simple reassurance often went a long way. The jaguar seemed nervous over the last few Peaks and being complimentary, however untrue his intentions, would help the cat relax. George’s manipulative mind was now working more efficiently.

Kepler did feel a sense of relief. The jaguar shouted something that only the rat could understand.
“Uh uyat gote say!”

George watched as the rat twisted his head and responded,
“Le fuat yoor tekle!”

Kepler walked out of the cave and back into the open. He moved close to George and sat down. “I told him to release his magic over the entrance. I’m going to translate for you, but I cannot say this pleases me. Speaking to a rat is degrading. I should be devouring him, not conversing with him.”

George grinned. “Degrading, but necessary. He’s too valuable to devour.”

Kepler’s head tilted. “How so?”

“I’ll show you. But first, I need you to tell him something. Will you please do that for me?”

The manipulator thought a moment. He had no idea how stupid he was about to sound. “Tell him it’s clear that neither you nor I are affected by his visions. Tell him I don’t intend to kill him. Tell him I’m offering him a chance to do something other than live in his cave. Tell him I would like to employ his ability to send others visions.”