Gods of Garran

The Gods of Garran: Chapter 30

A novel by Meredith Skye 

* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *

The journey passed as nothing but a blur to Asta. The dizziness persisted and the moments of memory loss got worse. She wasn't sure how long they had walked. She knew that her identity as an agent had been discovered. So far they hadn't hurt her but she was effectively a hostage.

All her attempts to think of an escape plan were interrupted by random thoughts and memories—as though someone were rummaging through her mind. She found it hard to concentrate and keep control. The guilt and pain continued in varying intensities.

She had to escape the Garrans—she knew that much. There was no telling how long they would tolerate her before they took the stone and killed her.

But the Chanden would also want the stone, and she didn't want to relinquish it. Above all else, she needed the stone. And there was more .... In the city of Urrlan stood an ancient place named the Temple of the Stars. She had to take the stone there ... it wanted to be taken there. She didn't understand why but this thought rooted itself in her mind. Nothing else mattered.

She had heard them talk about the stone and how it could drive someone mad. Perhaps she was mad already. But somehow getting to the temple seemed essential to her sanity.

A sound of heavy footsteps from behind startled them, but it was just Jarvaine catching up with them.

"What happened?" demanded Morrhan.

"They left after a few hours," said Jarvaine.

"We should keep moving," said Morrhan grimly. The others nodded, getting up to continue the seemingly long journey through the fire cave.

Within an hour they made it to the west entrance. "Do you think they'll be waiting for us?" asked Morrhan.

Jarvaine shook his head. "I hope not. I'll take a look. Wait here."

They rested an hour while Jarvaine scouted around. Finally he came back. "It's clear—at least as far as I can see."

Jarvaine led them from the caves, and they made their way along a ravine that gave them partial cover. Colors interrupted Asta's thought: blue, white, pale yellow. Images of spears, huts, fire. Destruction. A Chanden squad just over the hillside.

Asta stopped suddenly. "Danger," she said. The others stopped and looked at her.

"What danger?" asked Sindke. Had it been a dream or was it real? Asta wasn't even sure.

"Is it the Chanden?" asked Jarvaine. Asta made no reply.

Jarvaine climbed out of the ravine and scanned the horizon, then came back down. "I saw something. I think they're following us."

"Impossible," said Morrhan. "How do they know where we are?"

Jarvaine looked at Asta. He came over to her, pulled out his laser and held it to her head. "How do they know?" He powered the laser up. "Tell me!"

She stared at him. The situation wasn't working. Something had to change. Purple, orange, green.

"I said—tell me!" something hit her. She opened her eyes to see Jarvaine, waving the gun at her. He had hit her with it.

"A locator," she said.

"Give it to me," he said.

"It's internal," she managed to say.

"That's it. We leave her, we have to," said Jarvaine. Even Sindke had no other answer. Movement on the ridge above them caught Jarvaine's eye. "They're coming!" He shoved Asta to the ground. "Get the stone!"

Asta struggled to recover but before she knew what was happening Morrhan grabbed the bag from her and ran. She started after him but the pain hit her immediately and she buckled to her knees. "No!" she screamed.

"I'll kill her," said Jarvaine.

"No!" said Sindke.

Red, yellow, pale blue. The sun setting on an ocean of glass. Sitting across a fire with other Garrans. Murmuring.

Pain enveloped Asta and she knew that Morrhan had escaped with the stone. She opened her eyes and saw laser fire. Up to her right she saw Chanden enforcers. With her last strength she got up and ran for them. They'd help. They'd get the stone.

She stumbled into a group of them and they nearly shot her.

"Asta!" one man shouted. "She's one of us!" He made his way over to her. It was Ruben. But Asta's head was swimming. She felt unsteady.

"Are you all right?" asked Ruben, taking her hands to steady her. "You look terrible! Did they hurt you?"

She ignored the question. None of that mattered. "They've got the stone," she told him. "You've got to catch them."

"We will," He said. "When you stopped reporting, we feared the worst. We've been on your tail ever since. I knew you'd come through."

Asta was in too much pain to reply.

"Do you need a medic?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she grimaced.

"Get the stone!" Ruben signaled to a team of five soldiers, standing nearby. They nodded and took off. Asta followed. Half running, half falling she made her way down the slope after the Chanden, despite Ruben's objections. He followed with his laser drawn.

Pale green, white, brown.

Strange music, a familiar melody.

Asta ran after the Garrans, half blind.

Suddenly Asta realized that they'd stopped. She'd lost time again. They'd captured the Garrans. She hurried over to where the Chanden held them, taking their weapons. Morrhan lay on the ground, stunned. Sindke was wounded. She didn't see Jarvaine.

Asta ran to over Morrhan and ripped the bag from his hands.

"We trusted you," said Morrhan, a deep hurt in his eyes. Asta had no answer for him. She had the stone—that was all that mattered. The pain in her mind eased. She turned and walked back towards Ruben and the others.

"You have it?" asked Ruben. "Let me see."

She hesitated and finally pulled the stone out of the bag. It glowed a pale blue. The others stared at it. Ruben picked it up and immediately dropped it.

He turned to the others. "I thought I felt it move!"

Carefully Asta picked it up and wrapped it in its cloth. She slipped the stone back in the bag. "They say it's cursed. It will drive you mad," Asta said coldly.

Ruben could think of no response. None of the others argued with Asta as she shouldered the bag.

As they walked back to the ship, Ruben tried to put his arm around her. "I was so worried about you."

She pulled back from him. "Don't touch me," she said, angry. Surprised, he withdrew his arm. She continued up the hill towards the ship without him.

Asta watched vacantly as the Garrans were loaded in an airship. Morrhan glared at her, sullenly. It didn't matter—the stone was hers.

_____________________________________________________

Thanks for reading! If you liked this chapter, please click "vote".

The complete book, The Gods of Garran is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback.

http://amzn.com/B00FGLUI00