faced north toward the mountain behind them, scanning the rear half of his property. He grunted agreement and started back down the ladder. When he reached the ground he moved with more urgency, but he still didn’t run. A Sergeant Major doesn’t run, even under fire.
Lynn watched the old Sergeant Major walk back into the house, and then he turned back toward the valley. Just then he caught movement in the forest to the east. He grabbed the handle of the axe he carried with him, and worked the grip as he continued scanning. He saw one man, running fast, carrying a bundle in his arms. He cleared the trees and was running straight toward the house where Seth and Charity were.
“I don’t think so, son.” Lynn said. He swung over the edge of the roof and dropped to the ground with a grunt.
Lynn heard a low growl from inside the wood shed. The mother dog sensed danger to her pups. He confirmed the shed door was shut and turned back toward the house. He swung the axe back and forth a couple of times to feel the weight and set off to intercept the runner.
“That’s far enough!” He heard Seth shout from inside the house as he passed the corner. He slid to a stop in the dusty soil unsure if Seth was talking to him or the runner. The other man had stopped as well and his eyes were fixed on a drop door in the wall of the house Lynn had not seen opened before. Protruding from the opening was the distinct curve of a loaded crossbow arm and its deadly bolt.
“Don’t shoot! I’m here to help!” The man shouted back at the house. “There isn’t much time. They’re almost here!”
Lynn eyed the man carefully. He could tell he was looking at a professional soldier. The man was drenched in sweat, breathing hard, and carrying a bundle of weapons. His back was straight and his eyes were sharp. “An officer maybe.” He guessed.
“Who are you?” The Sergeant Major yelled.
“We’re wasting time!” Chase shouted back sharply. Realizing he wasn’t going to win the argument, he said, “I’m Lieutenant Chase Martin, King’s Royal Guard. I recently escaped a rebel camp and found my way to your valley. This morning, my brother and I saw seven armed men heading this way. They did not look friendly.” He gestured to the west. “You may have seen some smoke earlier? That was my brother, getting their attention while I did some…resource collecting.” And he held up the weapons for emphasis. “There are only five of them now.”
Lynn walked forward with the axe still held in front of him. When he was within five paces he stopped and lowered the axe. “Where is your brother now?” He asked.
Chase shrugged, “He is coming up the western side of the valley, but he only has one leg, so he’s going to be a while.”
“What?” yelled the Sergeant Major. “On one stinking leg? Well how the hell did he do all of that if he only has one leg?”
“Seth, I think we have more important things to consider.” said Lynn. He stepped forward and offered his hand to Chase. “Lieutenant, I’m Lynn Hayes and this is Seth Butcher. We appreciate the warning and your help.”
Chase looked shocked as he shook Lynn’s hand. “Sergeant Lynn Hayes?” He asked.
“Yeah, I used to be.” He acknowledged. “Why?”
Chase chuckled and grinned. “Let’s just say I feel better about our odds all of the sudden.
Chapter Sixteen
(Present Day: 237 Cycles into the Light)
Guy was stuck.
He took a chance and followed a game trail to move faster through the forest, but saving time ran him directly into the gang. He was right in the middle of them before he saw them and now all he could do was hold still and pray.
The taller, younger axeman was ahead of him and the older one, head down, was coming up on him now. He was only a few paces away, and Guy hoped he would walk right past him. Guy tried to become as small as possible, hoping for some kind of miracle. He pulled his knife and held his breath.
He no longer heard the men
Lynn watched the old Sergeant Major walk back into the house, and then he turned back toward the valley. Just then he caught movement in the forest to the east. He grabbed the handle of the axe he carried with him, and worked the grip as he continued scanning. He saw one man, running fast, carrying a bundle in his arms. He cleared the trees and was running straight toward the house where Seth and Charity were.
“I don’t think so, son.” Lynn said. He swung over the edge of the roof and dropped to the ground with a grunt.
Lynn heard a low growl from inside the wood shed. The mother dog sensed danger to her pups. He confirmed the shed door was shut and turned back toward the house. He swung the axe back and forth a couple of times to feel the weight and set off to intercept the runner.
“That’s far enough!” He heard Seth shout from inside the house as he passed the corner. He slid to a stop in the dusty soil unsure if Seth was talking to him or the runner. The other man had stopped as well and his eyes were fixed on a drop door in the wall of the house Lynn had not seen opened before. Protruding from the opening was the distinct curve of a loaded crossbow arm and its deadly bolt.
“Don’t shoot! I’m here to help!” The man shouted back at the house. “There isn’t much time. They’re almost here!”
Lynn eyed the man carefully. He could tell he was looking at a professional soldier. The man was drenched in sweat, breathing hard, and carrying a bundle of weapons. His back was straight and his eyes were sharp. “An officer maybe.” He guessed.
“Who are you?” The Sergeant Major yelled.
“We’re wasting time!” Chase shouted back sharply. Realizing he wasn’t going to win the argument, he said, “I’m Lieutenant Chase Martin, King’s Royal Guard. I recently escaped a rebel camp and found my way to your valley. This morning, my brother and I saw seven armed men heading this way. They did not look friendly.” He gestured to the west. “You may have seen some smoke earlier? That was my brother, getting their attention while I did some…resource collecting.” And he held up the weapons for emphasis. “There are only five of them now.”
Lynn walked forward with the axe still held in front of him. When he was within five paces he stopped and lowered the axe. “Where is your brother now?” He asked.
Chase shrugged, “He is coming up the western side of the valley, but he only has one leg, so he’s going to be a while.”
“What?” yelled the Sergeant Major. “On one stinking leg? Well how the hell did he do all of that if he only has one leg?”
“Seth, I think we have more important things to consider.” said Lynn. He stepped forward and offered his hand to Chase. “Lieutenant, I’m Lynn Hayes and this is Seth Butcher. We appreciate the warning and your help.”
Chase looked shocked as he shook Lynn’s hand. “Sergeant Lynn Hayes?” He asked.
“Yeah, I used to be.” He acknowledged. “Why?”
Chase chuckled and grinned. “Let’s just say I feel better about our odds all of the sudden.
Chapter Sixteen
(Present Day: 237 Cycles into the Light)
Guy was stuck.
He took a chance and followed a game trail to move faster through the forest, but saving time ran him directly into the gang. He was right in the middle of them before he saw them and now all he could do was hold still and pray.
The taller, younger axeman was ahead of him and the older one, head down, was coming up on him now. He was only a few paces away, and Guy hoped he would walk right past him. Guy tried to become as small as possible, hoping for some kind of miracle. He pulled his knife and held his breath.
He no longer heard the men
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