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I was travelling with Mikeloc and his marauders along the southern wall of Abaddon the first time I encountered the Necroans. Mikeloc had led us along the edge of a swamp in broad daylight because he believed we were safe during the day. How wrong he was. Four giants leapt across the narrow water channel at the edge of the swamp and attacked our troop. Two swung long swords with vicious force overwhelming all opponents with their strength and reach. The other two used spears to impale our comrades. Only when they had skewered one of our comrades were they vulnerable and then only for a moment. Our bows saved us. It was hard to pierce the Necroan hide armor. I was able to bring one down with a lucky bow shot into the eye. When the four were finally down, half of our band was dead. Mikeloc was so shaken by the attack, he did not delay our flight to bury our dead, but force-marched us through the night to get to the edge of the Mutandi Highlands.
Abaddon Journey by Jandor Longwalker
It was late morning and the sky was overcast when Hanomer returned to the lookout ledge. Al and the rest, including Tandor, made their way back to the mine. As they were climbing the ramp to the mine entrance, Al saw no sign of the visitors. The guards and wagon had come and then fled back to Seth.
Al and the others approached the mine and searched it thoroughly for any sign of survivors or guards. Linder acted as lookout, using his binoculars to keep an eye on Hanomer for any signal of approaching danger.
After the second search of the mine was complete under Tandor’s watchful eye, they began the grisly task of collecting clothes and weapons to outfit their party for their eventual entry into the town of Seth.
When they were done, Tandor convinced them that he was feeling much better and could manage a march to the cliffs so they swung by the butte, picked up their gear, and began the journey across the plain.
As usual, Hanomer scouted ahead. The trip to the escarpment was slow. A light rain began to fall and soon they were thoroughly soaked. As Al had predicted, the first part of the journey was level grassland. The rain seemed to have driven the pachydon herds into shelter since none were visible.
The drizzle dampened both Al’s spirits and his clothes. The soggy grass and the muddy track made walking difficult. Linder dropped back to walk with him.
“I don’t like it,” said Linder. “We don’t know the first thing about Tandor, but we’re trusting him with our lives.”
“I know,” said Al, “but what choice do we have? He’s right you know. We’ll be captured one minute after we show up at the town gate.”
“We might find a way to sneak into the town.”
“If we do,” said Al, “we’ll face the same problem all over again. If we ask directions or try to get food we’ll give ourselves away.”
“I guess we have to take a chance,” said Linder, “but I’m sceptical that some random slave we rescue from a mine can be the answer to our problems.”
“I guess that’s the nub of it,” said Al. “I don’t really believe in accidents and random events. I’ve been praying for some help. So Tandor comes along. He feels good, not evil to me. He also seems to have the key for getting into Seth. Even if I’m wrong, even if Tandor sells us out in the end, like Gollum betraying Frodo, I still believe that even the back-stabbing will work out for our good in the end.”
“Okay Al, we’ll agree to disagree as we often do about these accidental events. However, we both agree we have to take a chance on Tandor for now. But I’ll keep both eyes on him.”
By late afternoon the drizzle had stopped. Al had hoped to speak to Thomas, but he was with Dave and Arlana who were acting as rear guard. Al felt a sense of panic as a critical voice within him said, You have offended him now Al. You should have talked to him when he first arrived. But Al’s rational self told him that this wasn’t true. We had to worry about survival of the whole group and that had to come first. Thomas would understand. Anyway, I should be glad he’s building a connection with Dave and Arlana. That can’t help but make him feel welcome.
Al could see that they were leaving the grasslands. They were further north than the route he had taken previously so this terrain was unfamiliar. The group climbed a ridge topped with windswept trees. Al identified oaks, maples, and a third tree with three-lobed leaves that he had never seen before. After crossing the narrow band of deciduous trees, they skirted a series of deep gullies and then entered a pleasant dell that widened out into a shallow valley with a small water course at the bottom. The valley sloped gently in an easterly direction toward the cliff edge. Hanomer led them on a game trail, which followed the meandering brook.
Finally, late in the evening, Tandor suggested they halt. “There are patrols that walk a trail that runs along the top of the escarpment. They are looking for Rebels on the first terrace. I suggest we make camp here.”
It was only when he stopped walking that Al realized how tired he was. He looked for Thomas and found him sitting on a rock. Thomas looked as tired as Al felt.
Al sat on a fallen tree facing his brother. “Hey,” said Al, “I’m so glad you came to help me find Pam and Little Thomas.”
Thomas shrugged. “That’s what brothers do.”
The silence grew awkward. Thomas shifted his position on the rock. “Is it really true that Dalrymple is dead?”
“Yes,” said Al, “he died saving some of his flock during an attack by some wolf-like creatures in a place he had founded called New Jerusalem.”
“Damn!”
Al was startled. He had never heard Thomas speak like that. “You’re upset?”
“It would have been easier—I mean it would have been easier for me to deal with his death if he’d died cowering in a hole, or been pulled down by those wolf-like things while abandoning his people. Now it sounds like he played the hero at the end.”
“Why do you say that? Why did you want him to have a coward’s death?”
“I hate the guy!” said Thomas. “I want him to be easy to hate. I want the satisfaction of knowing that he’s a coward and a cheat.”
Al felt an urge to tell his brother the story of how he wouldn’t even forgive Dalrymple when he asked for it. He decided not to share. Bad idea. Telling that story would not help Thomas. It would only make things worse.
“Dalrymple hurt you a lot, didn’t he?”
“He destroyed me!” said Thomas. “I worshipped the guy, hung on his every word. When he told me not to see you because you’d fallen away from the faith and would pull me down, I listened to him. I did what he said. When I finally saw what he was like, I wanted nothing to do with religion or Christianity—I still don’t. It’s been hell ever since. All my closest friendships are gone. I used to know what I believed and what the future held, but now I don’t.”
“I saw that happening to you, brother, and it tore me apart. I didn’t know how to help. Then you disappeared and my closest friend was gone. Like I said, I’m glad you’re back.” Al leaned over and punched Thomas in the arm.
“Mind if I set up camp here?”
“I’d like that,” said Thomas.