Ari said in earnest. Oddly the motivation wasn’t so much the excitement of the last several days, but the thought of not having to be stuck at a desk, ever again.
“Excellent,” Shew responded. “We leave first thing in the morning. You are to tell no one you are leaving. And you are to tell no one of any of the conversation we have had in this room this evening. Is that understood?”
“Yes Sir,” answered Ari as the secretive nature of his future began to sink in.
“ The commandant has been instructed that you are being transferred to IDAD in Jehhet, to assist in the back log of their magetech research. Pack your uniforms and travel gear only. I notice that you have accumulated several artifacts that you use for your “hobby” I believe you said; you may want pack and seal them. We can arrange to have them shipped as dangerous items to only be opened by our people with then next artifact shipment and retrieved later. The rest the commandant will have shipped to your new quarters in the capitol. We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there. We’ll leave right after breakfast.” With that the mysterious attaché exited the billet.
Earl y that morning Ari entered the mess hall but saw no sign of Shew. He hurriedly ate breakfast then went back outside to see if he could locate his new boss. As he stepped outside and into the grey of the early morning, there was Shew mounted and waiting. Shew held up the reigns of the horse next to him, indicating that it was time to get moving. Ari secured his saddlebags and gear to the waiting animal and mounted. Without a word Shew turned his horse and headed from the camp; Ari following close behind.
Ari and Shew rode in silence. After two hours Shew finally spoke up. “Ari is no longer. You are now known as Stafford. No first name no last name, just Stafford. Your rank is whatever the mission requires. After you complete your training you will be the same as me. You will answer to no one but the king and that will include me.
Inside a taxi coach on a rainy afternoon the man called Stafford had mixed feeling s regarding the events from that day so long ago. Had he actually done any good; all of the deeds and the time spent in between.
S oon the man called Stafford would be no more.
III
Shane awoke fully clothed. His face felt hot. Putting his hand to his cheek he opened his eyes blinking them quickly closed again as he realized that the sun was shining onto his face from the open draped window. Looking at the clock on his desk he saw that it was just after lunchtime. Although he felt completely rested and refreshed the growling of his stomach reminded him that he had missed breakfast. His dream suddenly came rushing back to him. His mind suddenly filled with the image of the golden pyramid covered in glyphs. As he tried to visualize the glyphs they kept fading; failing to keep in focus. Like quiet thunder from a distant storm he heard a voice rumble through the back of his mind saying the words, “ Create the Instructor While your mind is still touched by the Arc. ”
“Wow!” Shane said out loud and he practically dove under his mattress to grab his notes.
Sitting at his desk Shane began to review the glyphs that he had copied from the artifact from the lab the night before. As he pondered the different connections they seemed more logical somehow. Realizing that he had no idea on what types of materials the original artifact had been made of he grew concerned that he may not be able to duplicate the device. Instantly a picture of a square metal plate that looked like polished brass filled his mind and he saw himself inscribing the glyphs on the lower half with the activation control and the intensity line at the top with a blank space beneath.
Shane jumped at a knock on his door. He quickly stuffed his papers into his desk and shut the drawer. The
“Excellent,” Shew responded. “We leave first thing in the morning. You are to tell no one you are leaving. And you are to tell no one of any of the conversation we have had in this room this evening. Is that understood?”
“Yes Sir,” answered Ari as the secretive nature of his future began to sink in.
“ The commandant has been instructed that you are being transferred to IDAD in Jehhet, to assist in the back log of their magetech research. Pack your uniforms and travel gear only. I notice that you have accumulated several artifacts that you use for your “hobby” I believe you said; you may want pack and seal them. We can arrange to have them shipped as dangerous items to only be opened by our people with then next artifact shipment and retrieved later. The rest the commandant will have shipped to your new quarters in the capitol. We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there. We’ll leave right after breakfast.” With that the mysterious attaché exited the billet.
Earl y that morning Ari entered the mess hall but saw no sign of Shew. He hurriedly ate breakfast then went back outside to see if he could locate his new boss. As he stepped outside and into the grey of the early morning, there was Shew mounted and waiting. Shew held up the reigns of the horse next to him, indicating that it was time to get moving. Ari secured his saddlebags and gear to the waiting animal and mounted. Without a word Shew turned his horse and headed from the camp; Ari following close behind.
Ari and Shew rode in silence. After two hours Shew finally spoke up. “Ari is no longer. You are now known as Stafford. No first name no last name, just Stafford. Your rank is whatever the mission requires. After you complete your training you will be the same as me. You will answer to no one but the king and that will include me.
Inside a taxi coach on a rainy afternoon the man called Stafford had mixed feeling s regarding the events from that day so long ago. Had he actually done any good; all of the deeds and the time spent in between.
S oon the man called Stafford would be no more.
III
Shane awoke fully clothed. His face felt hot. Putting his hand to his cheek he opened his eyes blinking them quickly closed again as he realized that the sun was shining onto his face from the open draped window. Looking at the clock on his desk he saw that it was just after lunchtime. Although he felt completely rested and refreshed the growling of his stomach reminded him that he had missed breakfast. His dream suddenly came rushing back to him. His mind suddenly filled with the image of the golden pyramid covered in glyphs. As he tried to visualize the glyphs they kept fading; failing to keep in focus. Like quiet thunder from a distant storm he heard a voice rumble through the back of his mind saying the words, “ Create the Instructor While your mind is still touched by the Arc. ”
“Wow!” Shane said out loud and he practically dove under his mattress to grab his notes.
Sitting at his desk Shane began to review the glyphs that he had copied from the artifact from the lab the night before. As he pondered the different connections they seemed more logical somehow. Realizing that he had no idea on what types of materials the original artifact had been made of he grew concerned that he may not be able to duplicate the device. Instantly a picture of a square metal plate that looked like polished brass filled his mind and he saw himself inscribing the glyphs on the lower half with the activation control and the intensity line at the top with a blank space beneath.
Shane jumped at a knock on his door. He quickly stuffed his papers into his desk and shut the drawer. The
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