The Wars of Zegandaria by Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov (best thriller books to read .txt) 📖

master. Their huge green paws were wounded to blood. It wasn't so easy to reach the top, but they persisted.

Suddenly, a crack seemed to be heard. The prince turned around. The old spy had slipped, and miraculously had caught hold of a twig that would give way under his weight at any moment. His time was running out. Despair was written on his face. He was simply a passenger. Kier Zoh wondered if it was worth saving him, since it would mean following him into the abyss. Zontrag understood his intentions and said:

- 'Let me die, prince. Save yourself,' and flew into the abyss.

Suddenly great wings flapped from somewhere and a young and strong Archanaean took the falling creature. Paying no attention to anything, he simply soared into the air. Majestically grazing the air with his wings, he soared even higher, towards the very top. Its silvery feathers were razor sharp. The light reflected in them was simply blinding. Then suddenly it disappeared.

The prince followed it with his gaze. He should have followed it, but now he really wondered why they were saving Zontrag right now. The behaviour of these 'things', as he mentally called them, was apparently quite contradictory. He knew, however, that he would have a hard time getting over the loss of his loyal ally, so without wanting to admit it even to himself, in his heart, he thanked them. That didn't stop him from hating them to death at the same time, for all the beating he took. The challenger, with the last of his strength, trotted to the top. There was still a little way to go.

After a few hours, he was already standing on one of the highest slopes - the very top, but there was, strangely enough, absolutely nothing there. There were no nests of archangels, no feathers, let alone the remains of the corpses of the strange man-like creeps. He was almost ready to scream here, realizing he was all alone, on this peak where he would surely die if he didn't find some food. He was ready to eat even a portion of the high-calorie food they were giving the human pilots. But even that wasn't ...

A majestic picture unfolded before his eyes. He had climbed so high that he could practically see the outline of the Zegarai Mountains, or at least part of them. Their ridges were imposing and definitely higher than those of the Misty Mountains. He had yet to descend into the valley, but there was no telling who or what awaited him. It was all up to him now. His very mind was whispering to him, ‘You've come too far to die just like this. You must find the well! You must find Seva's armor!’

The prince headed that way. Alone, but determined to find the answer to the riddle.

 

^^^

The prince was already descending into the 'Valley of Kings'. Where he was born. Where was the boneyard of his race in the not so distant past. Everything was different now. Or perhaps too much time had passed. And he couldn't tell exactly. He was on guard for a sudden attack. He wasn't sure if any members of their race still lived on these lands. He could see a vague trepidation rising in him for reaching unsuspected heights, but somehow he couldn't accept that he was ready for it. Every one has such a moment in his life. He was alone, utterly alone, and he could take it all or die. It was up to him. He could feel the ache in his stomach, making him rush even more. Maybe it was because one of the birds' feathers had hooked him quite by accident. He bent his gaze and remained pinched. Someone had placed a small leather pouch on his belt. He couldn't believe it. He rummaged in it and found a strange parchment with the words 'Go on without fear, even if you die, this is your path, don't stop...' Whoever the prankster was obviously understood poetry, but the prince set about searching for a deeper meaning in the words.

He remembered that his father was concerned because of the conflict with his brother. He also tried to think of Ras Tian's words, about his brother. Damn! There were so many people, so many words being said. He couldn't connect any of them to what was written.

All that swirled in his head were various images of bloody battles. Nothing meaningful. Mentally, he decided to put off solving the mystery until later. The answer lay down there somewhere and he would definitely find it.

He regretted that he was plagued by an intense thirst and couldn't drink some Ensarian wine. Even the guarrons liked to steal it and definitely thought it was the best discovery humans had made. He'd probably drink a whole mech and fall asleep like a stump. But someone or something could have cut his head off. It was a matter of honor! A royal one at that! Who would dare sleep after being so close to the mark? Who would miss such a chance?

Suddenly, four pairs of strong hands grabbed him from behind and twisted his own behind his back. He was forced to bend over. But Kier Zoh was a deft warrior. Using his invisible foes as a foothold, he masterfully spun and drove such a kick into their thugs that their invisible teeth would surely have snapped out. He felt them drop him. He turned. There was no one there. Was he going to pass out?

He continued down the ancient slopes. The surrounding area looked gritty and dry, yet not completely devoid of vegetation. He had to acknowledge that fact. So what? Surely there was a way to do something about it. The Guarron were definitely not farmers like humans, but even they had a basic knowledge in this area. Strange little liana-like bushes were seen here and there. They definitely looked like volunteer weeds. Nothing impressive. He walked and walked. The soil burned his feet. Maybe half a day passed like that. Suddenly he realized something important. He had to find safe cover, because he was scratching again. He glanced for the nearest bushes and just crouched behind one. The laser cutter was in one of his hands, ready for any contingency.

A little later, sleep overcame him. Someone with a hood on their head appeared to him in his sleep and whispered 'You're very close, when you find the answer you'll die...' He woke, drenched in sweat. It was terribly strange. He felt his neck with his hand. Was he living in a nightmare? No - this was even worse. He was living in his own fictional, illusory world, well-fed, with the status of a prince. What was there even to talk about? He needed to win! Even just once! Not for glory! But to feel life filling him again!

It occurred to him to feel his belt. The pouch was no longer there. It occurred to him that even though nothing was clear to him, he was beginning to grasp the logic in this whole thing. It even made too much sense to him.

In the distance, a settlement of some sort appeared. The prince was still too far away to be sure what it actually was. Strange tents where their ancestors had most likely lived were visible here and there. He decided not to take any chances and go straight into the village, but to wait, at least for a little while, to look around. The pain in his stomach seemed to intensify again. Why the hell couldn't he get rid of it? And why was she calling right now when he needed all his strength.

When he finally got the courage to go inside, he saw that the village was actually quite deserted and dead quiet. She decided to search it anyway. Anything could be of use to him. He walked into just about the first tent that came into sight.

Then he heard the Voice behind him.

- So you decided to come after all!

- I came to hear the truth. And not least to accept my fate,  he declared rather clichéd and pathetic.

- Oh, so it is, eh,' you'll find it out soon enough. Even to-night. But until then, be my guest. Eat and drink to my health.

- 'But I don't see you,' replied the prince a little awkwardly.

- 'It is not necessary,' the voice replied simply. 'The important thing is that you are here.'

He turned and saw a table set, like in the fairy tales. He sat down and began to eat. There was some of the chicken milk. There was some fruit that he had eaten as a child - like elmoana bananas, and it was plistorean pasta. God how delicious they were! Considering the nomadic life they led, these two foods were a real delicacy. Suddenly, something in the corner stirred. He decided to check. He squeezed the handle of the knife and saw a huge sack moving left and right. He went to untie it. Inside he found the body of his faithful companion Zontrag. He was dead. It looked like a heart attack. Quite a nasty accident! But at least he had died with a smile on his face. In his hands was a note ‘This is for you, prince! I'll see you tonight!’

- 'So be it,' said the prince.

Still, there was too much time before evening. So he decided to make the most of it and wander around the village. It was definitely strange. A kind of nostalgia came over him for this much more settled life compared to his present one. Everything was falling into place somehow. Everything was so simple. The prince was wandering aimlessly through the streets without any real thought when he finally saw something rather interesting.

Some small cemetery, not far from the village. It looked even more lonely than the village itself. After a few minutes, he was already there. He saw a small plaque, almost completely erased, that said ‘Seva’ on it. He started to dig the grave. The more he dug and the more dirt he threw away, the more it seemed to him that he was doing nothing. He was only wasting his strength. Finally a stone sarcophagus with intricate initials on it came into view. The prince wasn't sure if he could move it at all. It was so heavy. So he decided to push it away. That seemed possible to him.

When he did, he saw the Queen's remains. On her neck was the same inscription, ‘Here we meet again!’

The prince cried aloud. It was the Voice!

 

^^^

- 'You should hear my voice more often, Kier Zoh,' the skeleton kept telling him, giggling furiously. - I am the last Great Queen of Au Kaktir. Me and no one else. That is what I want you to remember. You and your brother fought over nothing! And the whole damn planet is at war, but I'm channeling a group of brave men who want to help. Even if their help proves useless. They want to help! You understand me!’ the skeleton was just disgusting. - And what did you do? Can you tell me? You made the mistake of going down a path that wasn't for you at all. Your brother is becoming a king, but not you. Your situation is different. You will have an even more important role. The role of redeemer.

Kier Zoh watched her. That skeleton must have lost his mind. But how was that possible since there wasn't a drop of brains in his rotten skull? How dare she speak to him like that? This was intolerable! Strange business! But there were signals reaching his mind that clearly showed she could be trusted. She was aware of what she was saying!

- 'I'll listen to you,' said the prince. 'I am guilty. And because I was wrong, I beg atonement for my deeds.'

- 'Isn't it a little late?,' the skeleton continued to quarrel. 'I'll help you, but you mustn't