A World Apart The Jake Thomas Trilogy - By Steven A. Tolle Page 0,117

into the young officer.

"I'm sorry, but my orders..." The officer began, suddenly sweating.

"I don't care about sorry, soldier." Dominic interrupted, anger now clear in his voice. "I thought that they still taught officers how to exercise judgment." His eyes seemed to shine. "You don't want me to have to get off my horse to teach you a lesson in judgment." Dominic finished ominously.

The young officer swallowed nervously, his men exchanging worried looks, but no one moved. Just as Dominic placed his hand on his pommel, preparing to dismount, Armartas came riding out of the gate. "Open a space!" He called out. "Let them through or I will have someone's ass!"

Jake saw relief on the faces of the officer and the men as they hurriedly opened a space in their ranks. Dominic continued to stare at the officer for a moment, then headed into the gate after Armartas, shaking his head. Hailyn went next and as Jake entered the tunnel, he turned to see the soldiers close ranks again.

Once inside the city, amid the hustle of soldiers moving around the gate area, Jake saw Dominic talking quietly with Armartas. Armartas looked over and saw Jake holding Cherise. He straightened in his saddle and gave Jake a salute. Jake saluted back, touched by the gesture, and Armartas returned to his conversation with Dominic.

As Jake got closer, he heard Armartas explaining to Dominic that he had the engineers working on the gates, trying to rig at least a temporary fix to allow them to close the gates. Apparently, there was damage to the West Gate as well, so the engineers were spread thin.

"We'll not keep you then, Armartas. You have a busy night." Dominic said, motioning for Hailyn and Jake to follow him.

They were quiet as they moved deeper into the city, watching as more groups of soldiers deployed to the streets, many with at least one cleric, searching for any half-men or demons that still may be in the city.

...

Jonas was sitting wearily on the steps of the Temple, his staff next to him as he sipped some hot tea an apprentice brought him. In the distance, he could see the torches of the soldiers, as well as the shining forms of clerics, moving about the courtyards, making sure the areas were clear. He felt bone-tired, worn out by the nearly continuous use of his power. He had never used so much at one time for so long, first to fight off the demons, then to perform healings.

He was sitting there trying to recover his strength, his thoughts on Dominic and Jake, as well as Hailyn and poor Cherise. A rider had come to him earlier, sent by Armartas, letting him know what had happened at the gate. Saying a prayer for their safety, he closed his eyes and soon drifted into a light sleep.

He started awake when he heard the sound of horses coming closer, a trickle of fear passing through him. Leaning on his staff, he pushed himself up, prepared to meet whatever came on his feet.

As he watched, relief and joy took over as Dominic appeared out of the night on Shadow's back, followed closely by Hailyn riding another horse. Behind her, he saw Jake riding Dontas, with Cherise held in his arms.

"Praise to the One!" Jonas exclaimed, moving forward to meet them. "I'm glad to see you safe and sound."

"You should be in bed." Dominic said as he halted Shadow, looking closely at Jonas. "You look like warmed-over death."

"I will sleep soon enough." Jonas replied, reaching up to grasp Dominic's hand. "More soundly now that I know you are safe."

Hailyn slid off her horse and handed the reins to Dominic. He shook his head and instead untied his horse and handed the reins to Jonas. "The Temple should keep the horses until the former owner's family is found, if possible. If not, then I guess the One has other plans for them." He motioned to Jake to untie the other horse as well.

Hailyn hurried over to the Temple doors and found a couple of apprentices to take the horses, then returned. After the apprentices moved off with the horses, Jonas said. "Do I need to see to any of you?" He reached for his power, feeling it flow into him again.

"Don't tax yourself. The girl did a fine job healing." Dominic said, waving Jonas off. He gestured towards Hailyn. "She was very brave tonight and acquitted herself well in the battle." His face took on an irritated look.