Necropolis (Book One of Book One), Penn Fawn [e book reader android .TXT] 📗

in the air, and he said no more.

“Which one is it?” Nyeusi asked, and the room once again fell into a deathly silence.

A second passed, then two, three . . . . Seven seconds passed.

“Sit down, you would be traitor,” Nyeusi said, and Betason did as was told.

Nyeusi wrestled with trying to come to a decision about what he should say next.

“Now, where were we before being so rudely interrupted?” he said.

His temperature slowly began to cool. Betason suddenly felt quite cold, although perspiration appeared on his forehead.

Nyeusi began to discuss what he had in mind as a strategic attack, and the assembly, all of them except Betason found it difficult to concentrate on the topic of discussion.

The inability to concentrate lingered. The meeting drew to a close, and Betason could not recall a word of what was discussed after he was told to sit and be silent.

Nyeusi gave his closing remarks and Betason, with the longest face he ever wore, felt numb.

“Take him to the executioner’s block,” Nyeusi ordered, then he made to depart. “His life is forfeit.”

“My Lord,” the condemned soul lamented, but his words fell on deaf ears.

In the blink of an eye, Nyeusi was no longer among them, and his thoughts were on whether he should try to get a bit of rest.

He decided he would.

He headed toward his chambers and was pleased to see his bed and all within the place was kept in as immaculate a condition as if he had never left.

Barely twenty minutes passed before he settled into bed when Abysinnia came looking for him.

“Leave us,” he said, and the guards who came with him departed.

Nyeusi sat up.

“It is done,” Abysinnia said.

“Very well,” the elder brother replied.

“How long before you’d have us leave for Maar?”

Maar was a pristine forested region hundreds of miles east of the Besi or great river.

“I wasn’t thinking of you going,” Nyeusi replied.

“No?” Abysinnia said.

“No,” Nyeusi replied.

“Okay,” Abysinnia said.

“Do you want to?” Nyeusi asked.

“It doesn’t make a difference to me,” Abysinnia replied.

“Why not stay here?” Nyeusi asked. “Continue to be my eyes and ears while I’m away. In fact, I’d prefer that.”

“As you wish,” Abysinnia said.

“For the immediate future, most of what’s to do away from here will be grunt work anyway. Stay here and relax a bit,” Nyeusi said.

“Fine,” Abysinnia replied.

“Good,” Nyeusi said.

“And, when the work is done, when they are prepared, what will you have me do? Will you at least keep us informed this time, considering how many of our men here will be involved?”

“Of course,” Nyeusi replied.

“And, will you not want me to play any larger role then? I mean after they have built the boats?” Abysinnia asked.

“You are a commander and a strong leader,” Nyeusi replied. “You needn’t throw yourself into the heart of this battle unless you have a mind for it.”

“I needn’t, but I don’t mind,” Abysinnia said.

“Your enthusiasm warms my heart, brother. I commend you. This time there will be no mistakes. They will not expect an approach coming from the east as they have no men that way, or certainly not as far away as Maar. Also, this is not a last stand kind of situation,” Nyeusi said.

“But you were mistaken about their presence before.”

“I’ll have the area further monitored before long. How’s that?” Nyeusi said.

“Very well,” Abysinnia replied, “and, on that note, I’ll leave you to get some rest. Who isn’t already informed about what’s going on needs to be. I’ll see to that.

“Our riders will need to be informed and prepared with all the necessities for the journey. There is no time for play. We shall talk further before you depart.”

“Thank you, brother,” Nyeusi said.

Dusk was fast arriving, and the immortals decided they would rest as well. They were grateful to be blessed with consecutive days of no rain since getting any rest meant sleeping out in the open exposed to the elements.

Fear of being attacked by nocturnal predators persisted while they slept, but the fires they made around them proved to be sufficient to ward off any beasts that may have had having a meal in mind.

The individual campfires stretched out over so large an area, for that matter, that for the nocturnal animals, they proved to be more a spectacle and source of intrigue than any inspiration to launch an attack.

Men shared the responsibility of awakening every few hours to ensure they kept the fires going, plus keep an eye out should there be any daring and wayward beast that may have fancied having a go at them.

They awoke at the crack of dawn, as did Nyeusi, with both parties bent on heading to their homes.

“I hope I will see you again,” Abysinnia said.

“Like it’s such an improbability. Why do you say it like that?” Nyeusi asked.

“Because,” Abysinnia replied.

“Because what?” Nyeusi asked.

“Because these are trying times,” Abysinnia replied.

“They are,” Nyeusi affirmed. “But as far as being involved in any unusual danger, nothing will happen unless they launch an attack on us.”

“And, how probable do you believe that is?” Abysinnia said.

“Anything is possible,” Nyeusi replied, “but at least we’re making plans.”

“Plans that may be thwarted,” Abysinnia said.

“Have faith, my brother. Think positive thoughts,” Nyeusi said.

“Very well,” Abysinnia said.

Nyeusi embraced him.

He and a farewell party that included Firstson, Moto, and Kalinda, watched him mount his kilman and fly away.

Abysinnia turned to Moto. “We have work to do,” he said.

“Indeed,” Moto replied.

“We must tell the riders the time has come to prepare themselves to head to Maar,” Abysinnia added.

“Right,” Moto said.

Meanwhile, there wasn’t a man left at Kimbilio who hadn’t ventured out onto the plains that now failed to assemble outside the village.

They stared fixedly at the horizon. The inside of palms clenched steadfastly to weapons became sweaty.

Perspiration congealed on many a brow, and there was not a cheery face among them.

Apprehension slowly turned to curiosity as the source that so alarmed them drew nearer, and now, it did not appear to be so foreboding after all, or so many of the onlookers began to believe.

Several men from