Dublin had told them, and the creature wouldn’t be flying for several weeks.
Silas learned before the ceremony that funerals in Marenon were extremely rare for Humans. Most people did not desire to be observed more than once, but for someone with such renown as Garland Ainsley, a funeral was expected. It was a symbol of honor and respect.
He looked across the way and saw two men standing tall and strong, almost angelic. Their blonde hair and slender build gave away what they were, but who was a mystery. They were Erellens, perhaps friends of Garland’s or maybe they had fought beside him many years ago. He sighed and looked at Kaden.
“So, what happens next?”
Kaden turned his head from the flames to meet Silas’ eyes. “From the beginning I swore to protect you, Silas.” Kaden paused for a moment then continued. “The best way for me to do that is to train you for the fight ahead. Defeating Maroke was a victory, but it was a small victory. The Stühoc King Anithistor still drives his legions to a deeper hatred. A fallen general is easy to replace in his eyes.”
Silas shuddered slightly and turned his gaze back to the fire. He watched the smoke that rose into the darkening sky, feeling the pain of losing his grandfather again.
Wherever Garland was this time, he hoped that he was finally getting some peace and quiet.
The thought made him smile.
Book Two:
The Gatekeeper
Chapter One
Silas Ainsley was no stranger to death, but that didn’t mean they were friends. Even in this afterlife, death seemed to pursue him with vehemence.
The arrow flew at a blinding speed, finally embedding itself into the tree only inches from his head, as he dropped to the ground for safety. Whoever shot it had not intended to miss.
The trees surrounding him in the wooded terrain provided sufficient cover, but he would not be able to stay there for long. He glanced to the sky, noting that the light was fading, giving him maybe an hour before darkness stole the sky completely. He had been trying to track Kaden and Inga for a while now as part of his training. The three of them had gone into the woods just outside the city of Jekyll Rock during the early afternoon. They were teaching him to use magic. He had no sword, no bow and arrows. He also had not been allowed to carry the mystical staff of Uriah he obtained just over three months before. He had only been allowed to use the power of his mind; the magical power that flowed through his veins: the power of the Meshulan.
He knew the arrow that had missed him by inches was not from Kaden or Inga. They never fired at him, but only shouted, letting Silas know that he had left himself vulnerable and it was time to try again. Also, Inga never carried a weapon. Her magical powers were stronger and more effective than any sword or arrow could ever be. No. This was someone else. Someone who wanted Silas dead.
He knew he couldn’t stay on the ground. The would-be assassin saw him drop for cover, and would have obviously seen the arrow miss. Silas strained to hear any sort of sound; leaves rustling or twigs breaking under the pursuant foot of the assassin, but he heard nothing. Perhaps the attacker was watching for Silas to peek his head from behind the bushes, an arrow fixed in front of a trained eye that would not miss a second time. He had the gut-wrenching feeling that the assassin was on the move. He didn’t hear it. He didn’t see it. He could feel it.
Taking short, shallow breaths he dug his elbows into the dirt beneath him, pulling himself forward as quickly as possible. He knew he could not escape the shooter this way, but perhaps he could crawl to another point in the woods before he began to run. If his attacker was expecting him to stay still, this could heighten his chance of being missed by a second arrow. He wished that he had gotten a good look at whoever was after him. A brief glimpse was all he managed before taking to the ground; and all he had seen was a dark figure, possibly wearing a mask, but he wasn’t sure.
After a few more seconds of inching his way on the ground by his elbows and knees, he knew he could not keep moving in such a way. If the assassin caught