David Bishop and the Mystic of Creation T.C. Crawford (icecream ebook reader txt) 📖

The sky was mostly overcast, with a few patches of blue peeking through occasionally as the wind gently moved the cloud cover over their heads, but it only seemed to enhance the natural beauty of the valley. When the sun broke through those openings in the clouds, brilliant shafts of light would pour through, highlighting random patches of rolling hills far below and enhancing the vibrant colors of the changing seasons.

In addition to the visual cues, David could also feel the season shifting towards the cooler fall weather, each passing day growing shorter than the one before and bringing in a cooler northern breeze. The leaves had just recently started to drop their bright vibrant green, being replaced with a slight tinge of orange and brown near the edges indicating the shift in seasons was upon them.  On the peaks of the surrounding mountains, snow seemed to be encroaching lower with each passing day, warning of the coming winter that would be upon them in only a few short weeks.

When they finally reached the area before the tunnel, they could see that the clearing operation had been successful.

It had taken Reingard and a crew of roughly twenty men only a few short hours to clear the fallen debris from the entrance into the tunnel, leaving the wide opening into the mountain once again accessible. It was roughly fifteen feet across and twenty or so feet high and was supported by large wooden beams in a rectangular cut, making what resembled a large doorway into the mountain.

Its depths were blacker than night, giving the tunnel a foreboding appearance that nearly made David second guess his chosen route out of the valley. The mountain pass, although hazardous in its own ways and potentially soon to be crawling with demons and undead mages, seemed to look like a much more reasonable approach.

Holzer had been able to sort through the old maps in the record hall and found a map of the tunnel passages along with what was once the Southern Kingdom before he met back up with Tyrius and made his way to the tunnel with his and Reingard’s packs. He was standing by Reingard and the others, plotting what David assumed would be their route through the Southern Tunnel and out into the lands beyond.

When David and Erin approached the others, they each prepared to say their goodbyes.

General Ryan seemed to be the most uneasy of the bunch, hesitant to let Erin go off on her own without his watchful eye. He was confident in her ability to take care of herself, but only he and the King knew of her importance to the survival of the Northern Kingdom, and his fear of what might happen to her was beginning to overshadow his duty to his men.

The King put his hand on the General’s shoulder and squeezed reassuringly, telling him it was okay and to let her go. With this gesture, the General finally seemed to relax.

He looked to David before speaking, “You make sure you keep a close eye on her, you hear? I know you two have become close, but don’t you forget that I’ve spent my whole adult life watching her grow into the woman she is, and you would do well to make sure she comes back unharmed. You understand?” he said, glaring at David like a father would before letting a young man take his daughter off on a date.

“I understand, General. But honestly, if anything, she’ll be the one protecting me. I’m no match for her skills with a bow or blade, and from what I’ve seen, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who is!” said David, half-joking and clearly uncomfortable at the sudden intensity of the General’s gaze directed at him. He understood the close relationship that General Ryan had with Erin, and noticed it was much like a father to his daughter, and he had felt that intense gaze over the past week more than he would have liked.

“Oh, stop it, you two!” said Erin scolding the two. “Ryan, you know I can take care of myself! And David, you’ve gotten much better with a sword since our first encounter outside of Eldergate. I am confident you will continue to improve, and will no doubt become a formidable opponent to anyone who stands in your way, orb or not!” she said, smiling.

She wrapped her arms tight around General Ryan, squeezing him and kissing his cheek goodbye.

Orin and Rex took turns saying farewell to David and Erin, and the King wished them all a successful journey before reminding them what was at stake should they fail.

“Trust in the Creator God, He will lead you all to safety and success! Just don’t take too long to find it!” he added jokingly, to which they all chuckled nervously. It may have been a joke, but it had a very serious undertone – he was right, if they took too long, there may not be a world left to fight for.

Holzer and Reingard promised Rex they would behave and keep a close eye on David and Erin before they turned and headed into the tunnel entrance, leading the party into the depths of the mountain.

When the last of them disappeared around a bend and out of sight, Rex and the others made their way back to the Castle to discuss the preparations for the defense of the valley.

Rex, Orin, the two Generals, and King Eldergate along with the officers of both armies all took a seat around a large circular table within the war room before spreading a map of the valley out across its surface and beginning their planning.

Rex, having intimate knowledge of the surrounding lands and the defensiveness of the valley, was the first to speak.

“Gentlemen, we find ourselves in a dire situation today and are left with the defensive planning of what will likely become the final stand of men. I cannot say we will make it out of this alive, but I know