Kriki's Gift, Chpater 29, Reading 27

The excitement builds as the release of 

Kriki's Gift, Book Two of the Geometry of Power 

draws near.

He listened carefully. "It almost sounds like a distant drum beat."

"A good way to sound an alarm in a cave fortress," the captain speculated. "I wager we're soon going to have company."

"A reasonable guess."

"Gather around the cave," Pender commanded. "Defensive positions. Try to find a spot where your footing is secure."

As the soldiers moved into the best possible places around the cave entrance, another group of twenty men arrived from the west.

"Good, we have more swords," Cherok noted as he watched the men dismount. "I have a feeling we're going to need them."

The new fighters were under the command of Lieutenant Boerger, Henny's betrothed. He was one of the younger officers, but a capable fighter and leader. He was a big man, but was agile and quickly led his men up the slope.

Before Boerger and the others reached the ledge, the light vanished, leaving behind nothing but the ring of the Valkea's henchmen who had died trying to reach her. Before any of the men could react to the sudden end of the light, an image coalesced and they found themselves in the presence of their King.

The men instantly saluted. "Your Majesty," Pender said respectfully.

"Gentleman," Kalmar replied and gave them a nod to acknowledge their salutes. He didn't realize it, but his face was haggard with the effort of battling the Valkea - a fact instantly noticed by his men who exchanged a concerned glance.

"How may we be of service?" the captain asked.

Kalmar looked around at the men gathered at the cave entrance and instantly noticed that the ground was littered with the Valkea's dead clansmen. "As you can see the Valkea is no more. Thank you for taking care of her fighters here. Now we need to cleanse the world of the nest of monsters she has been incubating in the caverns beneath our feet. Before we can continue, I need to assess the situation here. Have any of your men entered the tunnel?"

"No, Sire. We just finished our battle and were preparing for more of the Valkea's henchmen to appear for we hear the distant drums. Please allow me to congratulate you on your victory."

"Thank you, Captain." Kalmar focused his attention to listen for the drumbeat but instead felt his mind being drawn to the place Flindra and Gegen were now seeing. Deep within the heart of the cavern was a central chamber and it was here that the drums were being sounded. Men and women were running to the summons. All had grabbed some kind of weapon and moved about in complete frenzy. All three Champions were shocked to see the numbers present - hundreds of howling monsters were running helter-skelter while they awaited someone to take command.