Sacrifice

By Patrick Alexander

An ancient evil defeated, the heroes return home, but something still feels off. Unable to fully process just what that something is, they are plunged into a fight for their very lives as a bestial war descends upon them.

Can they repel this latest threat to their way of life while hunting for the answers they seek or are they already doomed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329564206

Patrick Alexander

Patrick Alexander originally developed the Wine Appreciation program when he worked at the University of Miami as Director of the Office of Professional Advancement. In the summer of 2011, after Patrick had left UM in order to focus on writing, Mitchell Kaplan suggested he offer his program at Books & Books during the quiet summer months. “It seems a pity to waste all that research” Mitchell said “and you never know; our book customers might enjoy learning about wine.” Four years, nineteen sold-out classes, and three-hundred satisfied students later, Patrick Alexander's Wine Appreciation Program has become one of the highlights of Books & Books event programming. Previously Director of the Wine Appreciation program at the University of Miami and a judge for the Florida International Wine Challenge, Patrick Alexander has been teaching these wildly popular and critically acclaimed classes at Books & Books for over four years. Patrick is also a published author and his writings include "Marcel Proust’s Search for Lost Time" and "The Nigerian Letter."

Book preview

Sacrifice

1 | The Long Road Home

It has been over a week since the battle at the temple, yet still the land is silent. With each passing day Xan finds it harder to put on an unconcerned face for his traveling companions. Something Arkon has noticed as well, My friend Xan, why the concerned face? Even though we won the day and are making our way closer and closer to your home, your mood seems to grow darker with each passing sunrise.

Glancing over at one of the latest additions to his travel companions, Xan offers up a weak smile, I just have a feeling that was all too easy. Something still feels amiss with the land and it plagues my thoughts. He notes the skeptical look Arkon casts his way and shrugs, You asked. Arkon's face brightens as he chuckles, That I did, friend Xan, that I did. The group walks in silence for several minutes more, the four of them each lost in their own thoughts.

As they reach the top of a mild crest in the road, they have their first glance of the lands of the Partikovan. Looking southward they spy their first glimpse of the river marking the border of Thun lands. Encouraged by the progress they've made they decide to stop under the last patch of trees in the quickly thinning forest to take their midday meal.

Tabitha is the first to break the silence of the meal after taking a bite of her dried cheese, So what is the plan now Xan? She pauses and takes another bite trying to come up with a way to broach the topic which has been on her mind for some time now. Making up her mind that there is no time like the present, she nods to herself and continues, Our elder is dead and our people need you to take his place.

All eyes turn towards him as Tabitha's statement hangs in the air. Xan takes a deep breath before letting his shoulders drop, I know my father is dead. He died defending our people. He died because I wasn't there to save him. A look of shock and dismay cross Tabitha's face as she tries to make sense of the blame he is placing on himself. She is still attempting to do just that when he continues, While I may have stopped the evil threatening our land, the cost of doing so was far too high. I left my father, our elder, unguarded and exposed. It makes no difference this action was asked of me. Guarding him was one of my responsibilities. One I failed.

Tabitha shakes her head and is about to reply when the suddenly morose man continues, I am not even sure I should be allowed back in the camp, or even our lands for that matter. How can I take my father's place when I can't even face all of the people I failed? Not waiting for a reply, the warrior priest stands and walks off into the forest, leaving his other three companions gapping at each other not knowing what to say.

Tabitha is first to break the silence, Well that could have gone better, she mutters before taking a drink of water from her flask. Shaking her head Su nods solemnly, That is an understatement if I ever heard one. Tabitha offers her a weak smile at her attempt for levity. Arkon finishes his meal and joins the conversation, while I don't know Xan all that well, is he usually so ... He pauses looking for the right word to describe what he has come to know of the stoic priest.

Interjecting, Tabitha provides the adjective for him, committed? Yes, he is. Sometimes he takes the weight of the people entirely on his shoulders. That is why everyone is looking for him to lead us through this difficult transition. I never thought that same quality which we all admire could be twisted into such self-loathing. She chuckles softly before continuing, but then again that is who Xan is. Finishing up her own meal, Su inquires, so what now? I take it him running away isn't really an option, so what is the plan to get him past his guilt?

We could just beat him into accepting the position, Arkon offers up with a big smile on his face. As tempting as that may sound, Tabitha warns, I doubt even the three of us combined could pull of such a stunt. No, I think our best bet might be to wait until we get to Mikov. Once there we can ask Elder Adnil for assistance in changing our reluctant leader's mind.

Curious about one who could have such sway with his stubborn traveling companion, Arkon asks the plotting healer, So just who is this Elder Adnil that you think she will have any better luck at changing the mind of Xan? Tabitha just smiles at the question, Oh, the elder has her ways. That and she has known Xan a long time. She is one of the few people who may be able to get through that thick skull of his.

---

Back on the road out of Thun, the traveling quartet settles into a solid pace, looking to arrive at the Partikovan border city of Mikov by dusk. The journey has been long, thinks Xan, but he is finally coming home. His mood darkens as he considers just what that entails now that his father is gone. I need to visit his grave and say goodbye to the people he thinks, as a single tear threatens to escape the corner of an eye. He silently wonders if there is any way he can stay, but he quickly returns to just how big of a failure he is. It was his job to keep the elder of the camp safe. And although his quest caused him leave that job in other people's hands; ultimately the elder's safety is still his responsibility.

Deep in thought, Xan doesn't even notice as the bard Arkon reaches his place at the head of the party, falling in step with the warrior priest. You do know your father's death is not your fault. Startled out of his darkening thoughts, Xan quickly glances left and notes the flowing blond hair of the bard Arkon. He opens his mouth to reply, but doesn't even get a sound out before the boisterous bard continues, I know why you feel it is your fault, but from what I have heard about the entire affair, you being there or not would have made no difference in the outcome.

The attack and poisoning came much too quickly for anyone to react. According the Tabitha, the fight was over before the first guard had even reached the elder's tent. Or are you trying to tell me you are just that much quicker? Xan glares at the presumptuous minstrel before uttering through clinched teeth, We'll never know now will we? Ignoring the hostility radiating off of the priest, Arkon claps his hands and continues, That is exactly right! So if it is something you can never know, why should you even worry about it?

Xan takes a deep breath in an effort to calm his words before replying, While I appreciate your concern in this manner, I will ask you to refrain from offering any more advice on the subject. How I choose to deal with the realities of my life are my choice. Taken aback by the heat of his rebuttal, Arkon raises his hands and slows his paces falling back in line with the two women of the party.

Su fails to hide her grin while asking, And how did that go? Arkon offers her a glance of annoyance before issuing a sigh, about as well as you expected it to go my dear lady. They all walk in silence for a couple of minutes before Tabitha adds, But you had to try. He smiles weakly, Yes, I had to try. Although I hope your Elder Adnil has slightly more success. To his right he hears Su mutter, Well I doubt she can do any worse.

---

As the afternoon sun dips below the horizon, the travelers reach the northern bridge into the city of Mikov. The guard on duty waves them to a halt, covering the ground between them and the guardhouse in short order. As he approaches the group his eyes widen in recognition. Stopping in front of the quartet, he bows his head quickly, Elder Xan! You have returned from your quest in the land of the Thun! Xan notes the honorific applied to his name with disdain, but Tabitha interjects before the warrior priest can voice his displeasure, Yes my good guard, we are returning from our journey into Thun. At the sound of her voice the guard shifts his attention towards the healer, but only after noting the two Thun citizens in their mix.

Noting his inquisitive glance Tabitha hastes to explain the presence of her traveling companions, These fellow party members assisted with Elder Xan's quest, and have been invited by the elder to partake in the wonders of the Partikovan lands. Glowering at the further use of the elder term in front of his name, Xan is about to correct the oversight when another voice bursts forth before him.

Is that Xanny-boy? Cringing at his despised nickname, Xan notes a familiar woman walking towards them from across the bridge into town. As the vertically challenged, warrior priestess comes into view, Xan notes the enormous smile on her face, And just what took you so long? She takes a quick look at his traveling companions and her face brightens even more, Is that you Tabitha?!? Why I haven't seen you in ages!

The two women embrace as Xan looks more and more like a thundercloud ready to unleash its fury. Through clinched teeth and an obviously fake smile Xan asks, And to what pleasure do I owe a personal greeting from my fellow warrior priestess? Jonna turns towards the annoyed priest and smiles at his forced civility, Why I just missed your enchanting company, she states sweetly, That and the Elder asked me to come fetch you when you arrived. Although we did expect you several days ago. Seriously, what took you so long?

Tabitha jumps in before Xan can reply, Well Jonna, we ended up giving our horses to others in greater need, so we actually made pretty good time for walking all of the way from the sanctified temple. And there was the whole, how do we even get back out of the main chamber fiasco. Not to mention the cleaning. Jonna raises her eyebrows as Tabitha forges ahead, You know how messy some people get once they start swinging around their maul, both women glance over at Xan as it is quite obvious just who the healer is referring to.

Well I am just excited to see you. I didn't even know you were part of the expedition, Jonna states. Tabitha looks sheepishly at the ground for a couple of seconds before explaining, Well that wasn't exactly planned, but sometimes things just happen. Before I knew it I was standing in the main chamber with Xan. Finally focusing on the other two members of the party Jonna asks, And just who do we have here?

Arkon bows to the warrior priestess while stating, I, my fair lady, am but a humble bard, but this lovely creature beside me is a treasure beyond compare. Her name is Su, while I go by the name Arkon. We find ourselves blessed to be in this traveling party after surviving the same battle previously spoke off. For various reasons we are looking to see some more of the world while, Arkon glances alluringly at Su, Becoming better acquainted with each other. Jonna just nods and smiles at the newcomers, Well welcome to Mikov. She gestures towards the bridge with her arm and follows the group as they cross over the raging waters below.

2 | The Wrath of Virgo

Deep from within the thicket of green Maximilian can hear his mother complaining once more about the quartet of Thun pursuing them. He keeps his eyes on the dirt path they have been traveling however, trying to catch a glimpse of the persistent guards as they pass by. His group is well hidden, so he isn’t worried they will be spotted, but even so the waiting is beginning to tax his nerves some. Without turning he whispers harshly, Does it really matter why they are still pursuing us? They are going to continue to do so until they are told otherwise and that order isn’t likely to be given until they get much closer to the capital. Which, I might add, we are trying to avoid, so if you would be so kind to keep your voice down mother dearest.

He can envision the look his rebuke is likely to have on his mother, but sometimes things need to be said and he is far more skilled than she is at staying out of sight. Maybe not as practiced at it as his brother Zachary, but in his elder brother’s absence he would just have to do. After a momentary pause he can hear his mother once again, although he notes smugly, at a much quieter volume. They have hidden away in this thicket for the better part of an hour, waiting for their pursuers to catch up to their current position.

Trying hard to avoid another confrontation with the Valkyrie squad, his mother Lynn, the current Madame Virgo, of his people and Gloan, his elder cousin and first born to the current Elder of the Mtarazii, decided on deception rather than the more direct approach. Rounding out their party of five is his other cousin Montgomery, and his friend and scribe supreme Olga.

Olga, his mother, and he had a minor altercation with the ladies of the Valkyrie squad on their way into Thun territory several weeks ago. Although no one was seriously injured during their separation, Maximilian was getting the distinct impression they were still holding some sort of grudge. Some people are just like that I guess, he mutters under his breath as his eyes catch the first signs of approaching riders.

It was only going to be a matter of time before they would have caught up to us anyway, the young scribe thinks, since they are traveling on horseback, while we are stuck with nothing but our boots and the open road. They had horses for a while, but not since the scene at the sanctified temple. Some of their mounts had fled during the commotion or were seized by the retreating Thun soldiers who first exited the ruins. The final horse of their original five was given to help haul the unconscious princess back to the Thun capital.

Maximilian jumps slightly as an expected voice issues from his left, Nothing quite as fun as waiting huh cousin? Glancing over at the new addition at the front of the thicket, Maximilian is comforted to see Montgomery crouched down low next to him. He flashes a quick smile at her, before turning his attention back to the road, A wait that is about to be over, he mentions as he nods his head in the direction of the dust cloud swiftly approaching.

As the duo watches the rapidly growing cloud, the ground beneath them begins to vibrate ever so slightly. As the horses continue their journey closer, the vibration beneath them increases, until it is all either of them can do to stay concealed. They inch further under the canopy of green as the quartet of soldiers thunder past their position within the thicket. The ground begins to shake less and less until it is completely solid once again. Now the only evidence of the soldiers is a rapidly dissipating dust cloud in an easterly direction.

---

As the tension of the moment passes, Maximilian lets go of his breath, turns and grins sheepishly towards his youngest cousin. Montgomery looks slightly disheveled from the jostling of the vibrating ground with twigs and leaves sticking throughout her hair from the canopy over her head, but even so, she cannot help but to return the grin in kind. Turning all of the way around Maximilian addresses the rest of his traveling companions, All four of the Valkyrie present and accounted for mother. We are now behind our pursuers.

He notes the tension flow out of their shoulders as the news sinks in. Lynn simply nods, while Gloan grins broadly, proud his idea of hiding has yielded such good results. Olga looks pleased, but asks, So where to now? I don’t think we should continue down this path as they will eventually determine they passed us by, but there is no other road or path that I can find on the map remotely close to our current position.

Lynn turns to address the older lady, Well it looks like we are just going to have to hoof it across southern Thun without the aid of roads. Shrugging at the idea, she continues, At least for a little while. If nothing else it will make tracking us all that much harder. Both Olga and Gloan nod in agreement and the five exit the rear of the thicket.

The sun makes it about midday, Maximilian states, Over rough terrain we won’t make anywhere near as good of time as we would on the road, but I suppose the safety it provides us more than makes up for the loss of speed. Taking a good look at his surroundings, while remembering their journey so far, the young scholar adds, I reckon we are far enough east to be north of Mtarazii lands, so if we strike out on a path relatively south, we should reach the border between our lands and the Thun within a couple of days. Barring any unforeseen issues anyway, he adds.

You just had to go and say that didn’t you? Gloan groans at his young cousin, Why not ask for additional hardship along the way? Maximilian just stares quizzically at the young man before Montgomery interprets for him, Sorry Max, but Gloan has some weird superstitions. One of them being saying things like, unless we run into any trouble, actually invites trouble to find you. Looking at her older sibling with mild disdain she adds, of course there is no proof to his belief, but when has something as small as the truth bothered my brother?

Clutching at his chest suddenly Gloan cries out, Why cruel world? Why hast thou burdened me with such a younger sister? She wounds me at every opportunity and sullies my name without the slightest of care. For all his theatrics the only response he evicts from his sister is a quick rolling of her eyes. Maximilian, for his part, looks just as confused by the whole exchange as he was before.

Trying to get their conversation back on track Olga interjects, I agree with young Maximilian’s assessment. If we head due south we should reach the northern part of the forests of Mtarazii within a couple of days, three at the most. Lynn nods at the information,