The Rhumgold Sagas: Gateway to the Past

By Tim Conley

Andrew Timmons discovers his father has cancer and the Guild doesn't want to treat him, even though they have instruments that can do that. He steals one and begins a life on the run. He is chased into a clearing that has an ancient gateway. He breezes through it and finds himself in another world where he has to catch on quickly - to survive. He has landed on his feet on Chimera, in the Antares star system.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tim Conley
• Release date: Aug 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005975371

Tim Conley

Hi, my name is Tim Conley. I live in Philadelphia, MS with my beautiful wife, Carmela. My son,James (JD) is in the Air Force and has a son Joshua who is 21/2 with another boy on the way. Carmela's son - Enrik just graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Teaching.I have been writing for over twenty years and have published 67 books so far - two recently with Amazon/Kindle. I'm currently working on a fantasy anthology of 28 books called The Rhumgold Sagas.I have always been interested in publishing via eBook format but just haven't found the venue until now. I'm really looking forward to participating in the eBook experience. There are 22 e-books available now and 16 more that are being prepared for release in 2020. Read, explore and enjoy!

Book preview

The Rhumgold Sagas:

Gateway to the Past

TIM CONLEY

Copyright © 2017 Tim Conley

Dragon’s Breath Publishing

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 1-9839-5184-6

ISBN-13: 978-1-9839-5184-8

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

About the Author

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Other Books by Author

Book Order for The Rhumgold Sagas

DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this book to the memory of my mother, Ervena (Childers) Conley who thought borrowing Sci-fi and Fantasy books from the Bookmobile was a worthy way of educating her eldest son. Thanks, Mom. You showed me by example how to live beyond your environment. Kind of what the young man in this story has to do just to survive.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to acknowledge my wife, Carmela and my sons, James and Enrick for sticking by my writing all these years.

C1 Mission: To Steal

Stop him at any cost!

Andrew turned and ran from the Cathedral of Blessed Abundance – turning right at the lane that led past the burial plots of all his ancestors. He barely noticed the small headstones that marked each grave – he was too concentrated on escaping.

That morning had started like most other mornings for Andrew Timmons. His father had awakened in another foul mood – holding his withered hand and pronouncing curses on anyone within earshot. Andrew was not immune to the invectives in his father’s tirade. It had been like that for months – since his hand first began to wither and lose all functionality.

The Church said it was for some past sin that he had committed that was just now catching up with him. He had gone to be baptized but the withering still was upon him. The Bishop had sent him to the Physician’s Guild, but they had been unable to do anything for him. There was none in the land who could.

Somehow everyone expected him to just accept that fate had not smiled upon him. Richard Timmons was not willing to accept that and his son, Andrew, had the same wicked streak in him. He had determined to do anything possible to save his father. He knew better than most that the blight was spreading. Time was running out.

At the moment time was speeding up for the lad as men were now running on his trail. He skidded around the corner of the graveyard and hustled down the dirt path that ran from there down to the river Odin. If he could maintain his lead until he reached the river, he might just have a chance.

He paused to reach down beside the path to retrieve a couple fist sized rocks. Not that he imagined he could toss them with enough velocity to disable maybe one or two of his pursuers. At fifteen he was just beginning to gain some of his upper body strength. But he might be able to wing one of them and cause some consternation within their ranks.

They were chasing him for a reason. He had snuck into the holy chamber at the Cathedral early in the morning – when he thought no one would be around. He discovered he was wrong. High Priest Turtulleon was in his chambers and had heard someone sneak in. He had observed while Andrew sorted through things on the Blessings Table – looking for the one object he knew could help his father.

Finding the orb that could make a bad apple brand new he thrust it into his knap sack and turned to quietly sneak back out of the meeting hall. The old High Priest was there to greet him at the double doors. Andrew decided his best efforts would be to barrel past the priest and so gain his freedom.

He hadn’t counted on the High Priest’s dexterity and fell over the outstretched foot to tumble recklessly into the dirt in the front of the church. By the time he picked himself up the old man had bellowed out his community warning and the chase was on.

Andrew, of course, all along planned to give the orb back once he had used it on his father’s hand. He hadn’t any intention of being closely pursued or running from those he had known all his life. But that was what was happening. The acolytes of the Cathedral were not too forgiving when it came to people messing with possessions that were said to be holy in nature and proprietary by matter of possession by the Church.

One just didn’t walk into the Church and appropriate objects of veneration. Old Zach Thomas had done that when Andrew was six and had hung upside down for a whole week as punishment. He had never been all there for the year or two he had lasted after that. Always had a stumble in his step after that.

Andrew reached the river and took the right fork of the path that ran beside the bank. He judged he had maybe a full quarter mile to run to the bend where the Odin made a sharp left turn south. At that point there was a tree that had been pushed over by a storm. He could climb out and jump across to the other shore.

He accomplished that before his pursuers reached the river. They had to decide which fork he had taken, and it took them a couple minutes to determine he had run down the right-hand fork.

Charlie Sanders was leading the group and held up his fist to stop them when they got to the left turn in the river. He decided to keep on going down the path.

Running beside the Odin, the path zigged and zagged past an open field of high saw grass. Trees sat back off the path on the right-hand side and became dense as they moved up the slope. Charlie was keenly aware that Andrew could double back on them by making it to the trees and going back over the ridge to his house.

He came to a break in the saw grass where it looked like someone had left the trail and held up his hand again for everyone to stop.

Why are we stopping? demanded his brother, Reggie, as Charlie stooped down to examine the trampled grass leading off at an angle.

Because he just might have taken to the trees, you imbecile. You’re going to have to learn to think like your prey. What is he going to do? Continue to run down this path for days? No! He is going to double back on us and head for home.

Why there?

Because he took something precious from the Church, moron. And he wouldn’t have done that if he was in his right mind. Something caused him to snap his reality and I think I might have a clue what.

Reggie stood looking down the path but had to admit that Charlie was probably right. You think he would do that to save his father, don’t you?

Charlie nodded and stood up. That sounds logical. No one else has been able to help the old man. Young pup might have the mistaken feeling that he has to do something. I can see that, but that still doesn’t mean we should let him steal from the Church.

They meandered their way back up over the ridge and came out down the road from Andrew’s house. Having seen nothing of him during the jog back toward the village raised the hackles on the back of Reggie as they approached the house that stood on the outskirts of the small town.

River Odin flowed over miles of lowlands that dwelt between two high mountain ranges. A dozen small towns lay along the river’s confluence. In the distance – at the base of Mt. Thendrun – lay the metropolis of Theuniss and beyond that the border with Caperne.

Charlie had been to neither city – nor had he visited any of the villages along the Odin. He had no reason to venture forth. All he needed was supplied by the Guild and the Church. Now he was on church business and was not to be messed with.

He knocked upon the rough wooden door and one of Andrew’s sisters opened the door. He immediately asked if Andrew were at home and she shook her head No. Then he asked to see her father.

She escorted him into the drawing room where her father sat – looking out the window into the garden beyond. Richard Timmons turned his face toward them and placed his withered hand on his lap.

What do you want with my son?

I beg your forgiveness, my Lord, but your son, Andrew, broke into the Cathedral this morning and stole one of the artifacts. He must be turned in as soon as he comes home. The Bishop has sent us to bring him in. Have you seen him, perhaps?

Of course, I haven’t seen him. Not since this morning and I don’t understand why you think he broke into the sanctuary. What need would he have for anything housed in there?

Charlie cleared his throat and wondered how best to approach any explanation. Perhaps the best way would be to just be up front and candid.

We think he took the Orb of Everlasting Life so he could use it on your withered hand.

That is absurd and ridiculous. Tell that old fool the Bishop that I would not accept something of that nature even were he to appear in this room with it. I am not a blasphemer, and neither is my son. I will send him straight to the Bishop the moment he arrives.

Thank you, my Lord. I will certainly let his Grace the Bishop know of your intent.

Get your ass out of my home and you better not harm a hair on his head. You got that?

Charlie remarked that he had and backed out of the room. Upon getting around the bend he assigned two of his men to watch the house. Then he headed back to the sanctuary to report in.

C2 Mission to Flee

Meanwhile, over on the other side of the river Odin, Andrew was contemplating his next set of actions. He was aware that the Church would have a bounty out on his head and probably would have his house under scrutiny and surveillance. He also knew the mettle of his father. The old man would waste away completely before he would allow the Orb to be used on him.

Dad is just too stubborn, he remarked to the trees and the river, but they didn’t return a response. He was only left with the faint echo of his own voice as it sped across the water.

Taking a stick, he drew in the loose dirt. The river went its way in both directions for more miles than he could imagine. He knew of five villages along its pathway from tales told of his father’s exploits. He also at night could see the distant lights of two larger villages tucked over under the mountains. His father had claimed not to know the names of either.

Andrew marked their spot on his map and then looked across the miles in their direction. He had made up his mind. Get the Orb into his sister’s hands and then cut across country to one of those cities. He could get lost in the population and find work. Eventually his sister could find a way to secret the Orb into her father’s chambers and then they could return it to the church. Then he might be able to return home – maybe when the old Bishop passed on to his reward.

Waiting until sunset was nerve-wracking. He finally crossed back over the river and silently made his way to his family’s home. He came up behind those left to guard