Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,98

take care of George.”

George smiled. “Awww, thanks, big guy. You stay here, I’ve got something to do.”

“Okay, George.”

The human smiled as he jumped into the hole left behind by the boulder.

Kepler stepped toward the edge. “What are you doing?”

As George moved the dirt around, he replied, “I’ll show you in a minute ... I hope.”

It took a few moments, but George finally uncovered the map. He did not understand how the paper could look so new, but said nothing. The weight of the stone should have destroyed it, yet the paper had not been damaged nor had it absorbed the moisture from under the rock. It was as if the map had been drawn that morning. Rather than dwell on this fact, George chalked it up to yet another mystery, and like everything else in this world, it was just one more messed up thing.

Kepler and Kroger were curious. They tried to position themselves to see what was on the parchment, but George pulled the map back to keep prying eyes from seeing. “Take it easy, my powerful friends,” he said. “There’s going to be something in this for all of us.”

Kepler responded. “Why won’t you let us see for ourselves? If we are to dominate territories together, we should share knowledge.”

George nodded. “And we will, but first, I ask that you let me figure out a plan. This map is the bomb, trust me.”

Kepler jumped back from the hole. “Bomb? We must flee!”

“No, no, no, no, no! It’s not that kind of bomb. We’re not in danger.”

The demon-jaguar’s furry face showed his confusion. “Explain.”

George grinned. “When I said bomb, I meant the map is good. It will help us gain a tremendous amount of power.”

Distracted, Kepler looked up at Kroger. The ogre was picking his nose. He rolled the bugger between his fingertips and then flicked the wad into the trees. As it hit one of the branches, it formed around it and did not fall to the ground.

Disgusted, the jaguar shook his head and then redirected his gaze. “Why call the map a bomb if it isn’t one?”

“You can’t be serious?” George replied. “It was just an expression. Just relax. This map is going to give us everything we want.”

Kepler desperately wanted to look at the parchment, but he was learning that George was not stupid. If the human said the map was going to help them gain power, then the jaguar could only trust that George knew what he was talking about.

Night was coming, and George wanted to study the map for as long as he could. He quickly ordered the ogre to gather some wood, and it was not long before the trio was sitting around a Kroger-sized fire. Kepler stared at George, his eyes glowing burgundy-red while the human memorized the details on the parchment.

George was shocked at how easy the map was to understand. The location of the staff was clearly marked. It was resting behind a hidden door that was guarding it. The markings suggested that this door was not too far away from the entrance of the cave. However, once he was inside, there were only two ways out. The first was to make his way through the cave and find an exit called Sorrow’s Release, but that was an 8 Peak walk according to Jason and the mage. The second option was to leave the way the traveler entered, but that way of exiting required the traveler to risk a deadly confrontation with the beast. At the bottom of the map, the parchment clearly stated the beast had to be killed in order to release his control over the entrance.

George remembered what Jason told him. He said the beast was a hideous creature who used visions of sadness to drive those who entered the cave insane. The prospect of dealing with the creature was of little concern since Kepler believed he was immune to its visions. Apparently, sadness was an emotion the jaguar was unaffected by—or so the demon thought.

With George’s mind working overtime, it was not long before he developed a plan. “Listen up, guys. We have a job to do, but first, I’m hungry.” George patted his belly. “What do you guys say we get something to eat?”

“Food!” Kroger shouted in a booming voice. “Kroger like to eat.” The ogre reached into his gigantic backpack and pulled out the first of two dead corgans. He ripped the cow-like animal apart and offered it up to the group.

George was blown