The Acolytes of Crane (Theodore Crane, #1)(94)

Nervous, yet eager to seize the moment, I cleared my throat at least ten times before I spoke. I attempted to speak, but my voice puttered like an old beat-up lawn mower.

Then I finally made audible words out of my weak-winded air. I said, ‘Outside of these cavern walls, there is a war going on. We are the answer to this—war, because, war is bad. Umm, okay, you know your job . . . or jobs. So, oh forget it.’

Muttering to myself, I said, ‘Whoa, dude. You can do this. Reboot. Reboot.’

Straightening out my shoulders, and snapping to attention, I was now the model of a bellowing, unflinching five-star army sergeant. ‘We are the only people standing in the way of the Dacturons! It is our duty to recapture Jezra's rightful position as queen! Are you with me!’ Blinking, I surprised myself. Did I actually sound that forceful?

My resounding roar echoed in the brief silence of the cavern, and when the last sound ricocheted, a thunderous ‘Yes sir!’ shook the cavern, stinging my eardrums. We marched in files of two toward the exit from the cave. As I led the invincible-looking army out, my chin held up high, I made a memo to myself:

Don’t ever waste time for a speech again.

I barely had set foot out of the cave, when all of a sudden a single flaming arrow from the dark landed inches away from my left foot. ‘Alert! Alert!’ I cried out, rushing into the dense jungle with my army in mad dash behind me. Ed was beeping like a back-up truck signal.

As we ran through the underbrush, thousands more flaming arrows flew. The sky lit up and the arrows traced the semi-arc of the dwarf star’s reddish glow that dimly lit up the night sky.

As I gasped, a few Elons near me started to go up in flames. I froze.

Ed nudged me. ‘Master, assert your authority now!’

Jolted into action, I issued the orders, based on the intelligence Pike issued to me.

‘Ardo Company! First and second platoons, hold your position here,’ I lowered my voice to speak with Pike, ‘I want you to stay and draw them near. Send one platoon to flank the cliff once they get close, so we can trap them. These flanks will protect our army as we move forward.’

Calling out the names of the other companies, I yelled out, swift and sure, ‘Brigo and Chogo! Let’s move out! Doga! Fall in on me. We are going to parallel Brigo and Chogo. If the enemy makes contact, we will march on. Do you understand?’

Pike was impressed by my resoluteness. ‘You have been in the Chamber of Rafal I see. Your amplified ability to lead tells me that.’ He saluted me from his forehead and rallied his men.

“Leaving behind a flaming forest, just escaping the licking flames, we were off on our mission and on point for our destiny. Brigo and Chogo Company woke up the slumbering forest with their advancement. My crew of elite Doga became shadows under the red aura of the night. The battle began.”





18 DAN: KARSHIZ





“Prisoner. Your presence has been requested by the warden. Please place your hands behind your head. Open request for prisoner eight-six-seven-nine,” the guard says. I am among the general population in the prison, and the current guard has been a friend to me.

“Whatever you say, dude.”

The guard places restraints on my wrists. They are only motion restraints that restrict me from lifting my arms. I follow him.

“So what is this about, dude?” I ask.

“The warden has requested your presence for questioning. We will meet him in a moment. Just relax, Dan. He didn’t seem angry,” the guard says.

“How is your family?” I ask.

“Everyone is doing great. We are going to see the sand surfing competition in Karshiz. You will have to tell me about your days there sometime,” the guard says. “Here we are, prisoner. Don’t speak to the warden unless he requests it. Don’t move from your seat or take any action unless requested. Understand?”

“Yes, dude. I mean—sir.” The guard waits outside.

The warden shows up. “Prisoner. Sit down,” the warden says.

I sit down, and I have trouble staying still. I keep tapping my foot, and the warden stares at it. I think he would enjoy smashing it with a hammer. I don’t say anything, because I have not been invited to speak yet.


“I brought you here by request, because I would like to know about Nilo and Karshiz. Strictly for evidence that may be required in a court of law or a public inquiry. After Eppa was destroyed, we lost all of the information that the Dietons collected over the years. Rest assured, we will not use this intelligence against you. We will not seek your friend Nilo.”

Even with these fake assurances, I will not tell anything that incriminates my crew. The warden is a dumbass if he thinks I will.

“Nilo? All right, dude, but I don’t usually rat on people. I met my best bro Nilo in Karshiz. He was a little older than I was. Do you want me to tell how we met? Or what?” I asked. The warden was fiddling with some recording device.

“I prefer that you are as accurate as possible. I will be recording. Remember this is for legal reasons, so it is best for the information to be precise. Maybe it would help if you told it in the form of a story.”

“Okay, I remember—we were prisoners, training in Trazuline's castle. Between range simulations or tactical and leadership courses, we scanned the joint for some cracks in its security. I remember everyone was so impatient, especially Mariah! She was so pushy. We were planning to escape Karshiz to find Theodore. King Trazuline told us specifically that he was stranded, but he wouldn’t tell us where exactly.”