Chasing the Hunter

G. Harrison A.

Description

The task was done so she lowered her arms as the residual magical power continued to bristle through her body. Finally she cried out so the echo would travel through the surrounding mountains 'It is done! All will love me and despair.' The echo faded and the land trembled as it feared at what was to come.

Informations

• Publié par: A. G. Harrison
• Date de parution: 26 juillet 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781839783432
• Langue: English

Extrait

Chasing the Hunter
 
 
Book series: “Soft Madness”
 
 
Part 10
 
 
Series by A. G. Harrison
 
 
Publication as of July 2021
 
Introduction by A. G. Harrison
 
Introduction
 
From the time human felt the necessity to communicate, he realized the value of the written word and wrote by drawing on cave walls, clay tablets, stones, papyrus, parchment, paper, and today, with the development of technology, he has created e-books.
 
The object "book" is classified in industrial products, but at the same time it is a cultural good. Personally, I emphasize both of its dimensions, but mainly in its cultural dimension. I consider the book to be the most important expression of culture because quite simply, in addition to being the same work of art, it supports all other expressions of culture.
 
As an industrial product, through the many stages of its creation and before it reaches the hands of the reader, it financially supports a wide range of professions, such as writers, philologists, translators, designers, publishers, paper merchants, printing houses, bookbinders, distributors and, finally, bookstores… Let us not forget, of course, that today it also greatly supports the huge online market industry.
 
The governments of many countries, studying and delving into the economic benefits of the book, have invested and supported this industry in various ways, which flourished and offered them great financial gains.
 
Starting with the Sumerians, Babylonians and other peoples of Mesopotamia, who wrote on clay tablets, Egyptians and Romans, who wrote on papyrus, the Jews on parchment, the evolution with handwritten books images in the Middle Ages in Europe, the creation of the first wooden typographic elements and paper by the Chinese, who printed the first books, the discovery of metallic elements by the German Johannes Gutenberg during the Renaissance and the really rapid development of printing in 1450 until 1456 and, finally, during the 19th-20th century the Industrial Revolution, which makes the production of the book flourish are some examples of the value of the written word.
 
The agony and effort of all these civilized societies, over time, in various parts of the world, teaches us that the book is an integral part of human existence.
 
Throughout this course the book records and transports from the depths of the centuries ancient civilizations, which teach us about the mistakes that we can avoid or imitate the achievements of our ancestors and adopt timeless principles and values, supplies for survival. but also the evolution of the human species.
 
By reading a book, we have the opportunity to create with our imagination the heroes of history, landscapes, various objects, etc. In the pages of a book, the author, in addition to his study, research, experiences, also expresses his feelings. He makes us members of his own world and gives us the opportunity to learn.
 
It helps us to acquire knowledge but also to enrich our vocabulary, improving our own writing.
 
It contributes to our mental alertness, increases the ability to focus, improves our memory, helps to develop our analytical mental abilities, entertains us, calms us down and helps reduce stress.
 
Of course, apart from the importance of touch and contact with a hot material, reading a quality book contributes significantly and decisively to our self-education, the cultivation of critical thinking, the upgrading of our aesthetics and consequently contributes to our quality of life.
 
It conveys art, informs, cultivates the spirit and the soul, elevates intelligence, finds solutions to problems, conveys messages, circulates ideas, forms consciences.
 
I hope my books convey a message of personal experiences and you could find segments of your own truth as well.
 
Thank you in advance for being here and being ready to start reading.
1
 
The following morning James and Harry rose early to check on their horses that were still in the stable next to the inn. They realised that time was running out and if they wanted to avoid being cut off by the Orcish Army when it marched across Western Celtiberia to attacked the Romans. At best it would be a close if not impossible. James was forced to make the decision he didn’t want to make, he had to leave with or without Gwendolyn. He knew without a calling stone she would never find him and that their chances of succeeding would be greatly reduced. Time had run out he knew it and so did everyone else.
 
Harry and James returning to the palace and evaded the teams of laborers and piles of stones that still littered the palace’s courtyard and waiting wagons. On the far side of the congested square James caught a glimpse of their friend, Morkere and guided Harry across the square to meet him. In the end he called out loudly before he walked away, only then did he see his dark expression as he turned. ‘What’s wrong?’ asked Harry.
 
Morkere, the new Chief Minister for the Kingdom of the Three Stars was still getting over the events from the previous night. On seeing them he cursed, ‘damn you James! After you told Edwina about leaving she gave Wihtred and me, what for! She doesn’t want you two to go. For three hours we argued.’
 
James cursed, ‘It’s your entire fault Harry! If you weren’t so damn handsome she wouldn’t have fallen in love with you and we wouldn’t be in this mess.’
 
Harry gasped then whispered, ‘shut up James! Gilda might hear you. She’s still touchy about Edwina. Damn that woman can get jealous at times’.
 
Morkere knew James was playing games by avoiding the subject, ‘you’re leaving tomorrow aren’t you?’
 
James nodded, ‘will Edwina stop us?’
 
‘I don’t know but if you don’t see her before you leave she will never forgive you two’ and indicated he also wanted them to stay.
 
‘What about this merchant fellow, have you found him yet?’ asked James.
 
‘That’s the good news. You should see him this morning. Wihtred will bring him to your room but watch him. He’s a sly bastard but once he makes a bargain he sticks to it,’ whispered Morkere.
 
Later that morning Wihtred walked into James’s room with a short stocky fellow well dressed and in his fifties. James glanced over his shoulder and saw the two men then continued showing the route for the journey to the others. No one took their eyes from his finger as he traced their route on the map. Once his finger reached Laketown James stopped and turned back to the two men, as did the others.
 
Wihtred announced ‘I have found you the man that will get you past the Celtic Tribes and other dangers that lurk in the East. This is Angus a well-known and respected merchant. He travels many lands that are less than friendly to strangers.’
 
James walked forward and shook his hand. ‘My name is James’ then he introduced the others.
 
Angus smiled. He was a shrewd man that could quickly size up a situation and was always determined to get the best profit from any trade. ‘Now that I am here can someone tell me why I have been dragged across the city to the palace?’
 
James steered the merchant over to the table and placed his finger on the map and pointed to the mountains north of the Roman Empire then he pointed to Laketown which was the northern most town, on the Ribbon Lake not that there were many towns in that part of the land.
 
Angus saw the opportunity to make a profit and smiled at the outlander like a crocodile preparing to devour a wildebeest drinking from a riverbank. ‘Hmmm a very long and dangerous journey. The Celts are very dangerous and would gladly kill you for your horses. That’s if the Romans don’t capture you and make you slaves and that’s only the beginning. Then there are the druids very unpredictable and dangerous though the real danger comes when you’re near Silverdale. Those murderous bandits would kill you in seconds or you could take the south road and travel through the mountains and risk the unknown terror that now lurks there. I once traveled that path with fifty men and ten wagons only six lived to tell the tale.’
 
 
2
 
James and Harry glanced at each other. This was the man they needed and watched the merchant closely before nodding. Angus now appeared more confident by the minute so he continued. ‘I have fifty battle hardened mercenaries and a way and means to pass the impassable. No other can offer you what you require. So what’s so important about Laketown?’ James could tell Angus wanted to know their reason before he would settle on the price as he sensed the man wanted to make a killing .
 
James smiled he knew what the merchant wanted, so to avoid wasting any more time he asked, ‘What’s your price?’
 
Angus’s expression changed from a smile to a very businesslike manner, ‘Six hundred silver crowns all in advance!’
 
Wihtred gasped, ‘you’ll never get six hundred crowns you greedy thieving bastard.’
 
James held up his hand as Gilda and Esa both appeared shocked at the price with Gilda whispering, ‘That’s a King’s ransom!’
 
James knew there was now no way of avoiding the truth any longer so he decided to tell the merchant. ‘I have something more valuable to you than silver. Your life and the lives of your family and friends!’
 
Angus took a backward step. ‘You dare threaten me,’ then saw that the others thought it was a good idea so the merchant glanced behind in search of an escape route and found Wihtred covering the door with his hand on his sword. Angus’s eyes darted around the rest of the room hoping for another means of escape and not finding any.
 
James smiled again gesturing towards a seat, ‘I have no wish to harm you. I only want to save your life.’ Angus glared at the outlander then reluctantly took the seat only after conceding that escape wasn’t an option though his eyes continued sweeping the room. James asked ‘where’s your home?’
 
Angus