Book One: Rise of the King

Chapter Six

The knock at the door barely roused him but the slamming of the hand on the table had him sitting up like a shot. He blinked, feeling his head explode. Standing just inside the door were Charlie, Nate and Eli.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys?" Gray grumbled, closing his eyes against the accursed light that seemed to be everywhere.

"We've talked it over and we're all going to go with you." Charlie informed him.

"Great." Gray replied, putting his cheek on the table. "That's fine."

"When are we leaving?" Nate asked.

"In the morning." Gray replied.

"My pretend wife has decided that she doesn't want anything to do with me if I'm going to be as stupid as you." Nate informed him.

"Good for you. Never liked her anyway."

"I didn't have to ask anyone, but Mom told me I was forbidden to go." Eli added.

Gray would've rolled his eyes, but he couldn't really do that with them closed so he snickered instead. "I'm not the least bit surprised by that."

"So we kind of don't have anywhere to live." Nate said.

Gray raised his head to look at him. Nate wasn't sure if the frown was from what he'd said or the hang-over.

"Get only what you can fit in a back pack. Make sure it's something worth bringing and not stupid shit." Gray told him, rising to go to the sink. "Man, what a hangover."

Charlie gave a nod at the empty bottle on the table. "Is that what you were doing last night?"

"Yup." Gray answered, taking a drink of water from the pump that led from each dugout to the group water tank.

Before sunrise, Gray had gathered a pack and a saddlebag. He saddled Horse. On his way to the village, he noticed his brothers and Charlie Nix walking toward the horse paddock. He grinned, glad to see they were going. A long journey might be better with company. He was really glad to see Charlie going. The man was, in Gray's opinion, a genius and a jack-of-all-trades. He seemed capable of anything. Without knowing what lie waiting for them, he thought it was a real stroke of luck to have someone as gifted as Charlie with him.

It wasn't long before the foursome were standing with their horses at the western edge of the village. Gray was happily surprised to see his parents had come to see them off. Tyler, Charlie's boy, was there with his young family. His pretty wife and two adorable kids were hugging Charlie for all he was worth.

"I don't like this one bit, but you're clearly determined to do this." Anna was saying behind him. Gray turned to see her cupping Eli's face in her hands. "Just be careful. And go with God, Eliot."

Eli nodded and gave her a hug.

Nate was next. She hugged and kissed him. "Don't be mean to your little brother."

Gray went to her. Tears were welling up in her pretty blue eyes. "You've always had to do everything the hard way." She lamented, kissing his cheek. "Come back safe. I don't want you dying before you get saved."

Gray snickered, fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Yes, ma'am."

Within a few minutes all their good-byes were said and the four men mounted up. They shared a look of hopeful uncertainty before Gray started Horse away from the village, the others close behind. Their families stood watch until they were too far away to see. When Anna finally turned away, she saw that Tyler was still looking after his father.