The Children of Zegandaria, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov [first color ebook reader txt] 📗

souls they knew that this time might be their last fight, but they had no regrets, having seen and experienced most things in those long nineteen years.

This time there was no going back.

THE HARD ROAD TO FREEDOM

 

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE: THE HARD ROAD TO FREEDOM

 

The road was more than three hundred miles - it was not easy to reach the final destination. This time they couldn't rely on the nirangaters that were on hand at other times. They had to walk, which was unthinkable because of the vast distance. Advancing across these vast territories would have been a talking point at other times, but now the scorching sun was sapping their energy and they would have probably died halfway if Mark hadn't had a brilliant idea - well, maybe it was Sasia's idea, but he improved it a tiny bit.

They remembered how Major Kettrol and Keith Endwalk had procured water through the filtration tube from the huge groandus that had been killed.

All the groandus had been killed long ago so it was impossible to do that now.

On the way to Kimur Zon they came across an old filtration station serving some of the main outposts on the road to the capital of Learnia. Everything was in a very old and battered state.

The two of them tried to find a place to spend the night - deep in their hearts they felt a joyful excitement at the unknown - it was their way of being happy.

The night passed all too quickly and deep down they knew that fighting the demons would solve all their difficulties once and for all. They became aware of the false life they had lived these nineteen years - an illusion called „blue spring“ by an abnormal doctor.

Drilling had long since been abandoned, not only because there were no takers to do it, but for a number of other reasons. It was rumored that some of them were even haunted - no one had ever confirmed this. Mark and Sasia tried to fall asleep quickly so they would be fresh in the morning.

Sleep soon coaxed their eyes - they had no time to fall into unhappy thoughts.

It was too sad that they were already convinced deep down that this was the end. Most of their lives had passed - they stood as monuments to another time, and though they were trying to fit successfully into the new reality - they knew inwardly what the truth was. Everything had a beginning and an end!

Before they fell asleep though, they were able to watch the sunset - a strange mix of orange, blue and purple - so beautiful and so chaotic, much like their thoughts.

When beauty became an end in itself - it was disastrous and they both shared this inner conviction. Many would largely argue whether the world they were currently living in was exactly better than the one before. Were they not trying to hold on to the memories of their past that were irretrievably slipping away from them.

- "I don't want to die alone," Sasia moaned. "And maybe even maimed by some enemy bullet. I just want to see my family one last time! That's how I lost Rodrigo, I don't want to lose them now!"

- "Neither do I," Mark tried to encourage her. "But perhaps a new age is beginning - one as interesting as the last. Time is a great magician and is capable of doing such numbers. We'll have to fight whatever comes out in the end."

Sasia couldn't hear his reasoning because she was long asleep. She didn't want to miss the opportunity to get a good night's sleep before they embarked on their latest adventure.

Mark stayed awake for a while longer - he remembered Kenji, Durnyam, Father, Rat and all the others. He let out a barely audible sigh - how he missed the old days. Then he, too, drifted off to sleep like a stump.

Just before dawn someone seemed to try to wake them. Through Mark's clenched eyelids filtered the first piercing rays of morning. He stirred-Sasia was not beside him.

There were soldiers near them - Mark hadn't seen their uniforms, but he guessed they might be the Archist's.

- "What are you doing here?," they asked them sternly.

Mark was experienced, but they didn't leave him much time to speak, for several shells landed on his head. He collapsed. Everything spun before his eyes.

- "Lead them quickly," ordered a mechanical voice. "Don't give them much time to come to their senses."

As they dragged him along like a dog, Mark remembered how he had contemplated the beautiful moon during his studEnt years and had thought it would last forever - well, that period of romance had ended long ago - now even the slightest mistake could cost you your life.

The soldiers walked confidently forward, dragging their victims. They didn't speak to each other or use any hidden signs to communicate. They simply followed the orders given to them steadfastly. There was a rumble somewhere ahead, and they knew they were expected. Soon they would arrive. These were obviously not the first fugitives they had caught hidden in the filtration station.

Mark could sense that this time their doom was really close - too close even. He wondered what the meaning of his life was and couldn't answer - maybe the answer wasn't so simple and easy.

Time was running out. Sasia was definitely not around. Maybe they were torturing her and were going to kill her.

Suddenly something stuck in the back of Mark's head and he fell unconscious. After a moment he came to - but saw that they were in what looked like a huge marching tent - ornately decorated and arranged.

It looked like the Guarron tents, but it was double or even triple the size.

They were thrown roughly inside, and laughing before them was the Archistratus himself.

- "Were you going to see my cousin?," he suggested. "There's not much use in that-she simply won't do for you!"

He chuckled and it was obvious he was genuinely amused - it was just a drag to watch.

Mark was quickly beginning to realise exactly what the situation was - he couldn't just chirp endlessly - he just wouldn't pass the numbers.

He didn't dare look at the Archmistress right away for fear of him instantly taking his head. Cautiously, he considered what to reply:

- Your excellency, we are not coming to have an audience with the esteemed Duchess, but we are Envoys of Kazuk Mon - that was the name he had read in Ecclestone's establishment.

The archpriest grew quite grave and seemed a little more gracious - he had not yet heard of his murder, though several days had passed. But he was prescient enough not to take anything on trust.

Deep down, though, he wished it were so. If his dangerous associate was out of the way, that meant the path to his absolute power over Zegandaria was all but cleared - that left the Dutchess and of course Om Gur Nal. And no one else!

Marcus awaited his verdict, but the Archistratus was in no hurry to respond.

He wanted to hear if he had anything else to say - he was interested, but he knew he had it in his hands and it was a matter of time before he saw the bill.

Mark decided to continue in the same vein:

- "I found out where Kazuk Mon's protégé is and what kind of deal he made with the demons," he said this rather rote, but managed to sound convincing.

The Archistratus seemed to bind himself.

- "Then anyone can tell me," he laughed. "Especially someone who's about to lose his skin."

- "Your Grace," said Mark humbly, "may I point out that I know who's on his heels."

Here the Archon was genuinely intrigued - even if he hadn't heard anything that had been brought to him by the many spies and informers, the fact that someone was so well informed meant a great deal.

- "I'm listening," he said curtly.

- "Well, it turns out a lot of people are on his heels," Mark began, "but I'm pretty sure that somewhere at the bottom is Om Gur Nal."

The Archistratus only twitched his moustache. This boy could clearly use it. He also hated Om Gur Nal in his gut because of his immense power and strength. He made a sign and the soldiers let Mark go.

SASIA

 

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX: SASIA

 

Though she was a woman Sasia did not receive much good treatment, but was herded to a side yurt where she was thrown to the ground like a sack of elendorans. She couldn't defend herself because they had tied her up tight with zeretian strings.

She had heard only sordid stories of the lecherous Archistratus - he knew well how to deal with his adversaries and not show even a rudimentary drop of mercy.

Sasia was in shock as she saw the cruelty the Archistratus' soldiers were capable of - and that was with no martial law declared or anything.

Sasia wasn't going to just sit there with her arms folded, and all sorts of ideas of possible deliverance were running through her head.

Far to the north there was a small separatist camp - the so-called Arthasan[42] people. They might help them, but there was no way to reach them.

She hadn't the faintest idea what had happened to Mark - it was that frightening. At the fierce breeze of memory, strange and distrustful images flashed through her mind. She'd gathered them so she'd have an idea of how to go about her tomorrow - there was nothing else - she owed it to her children.

She had been here a long time - it was as if they had forgotten her.

She was aware that Mark must have some sort of plan - and he had clearly already begun to put it into action. He wasn't going to wait and waste time, leaving everything in his hands.

She wondered how much she actually knew him, though. And for the first time he felt hesitation. The conditions were different now.

He tried to free his arms and legs. It was useless. Downright ridiculous. No development of things.

In the back of her own mind, Sasia realized where she was actually going wrong - she was being set up as a sacrifice, and Mark had Apparently figured the Archist could be useful.

Sasia remembered how Mark had told her how beautiful the skies above Zegandaria were - this was back when they were children playing together.

They needed to feel the beauty of life because everything was new to them. Time seemed