stone was shoved into his mouth. The rock-nosed chief knelt, grasping one of the hefty stones from the altar.
“Be forced to what? Spout your profane magic? We are well aware of your heathen powers, which is why you and your friend will no longer be permitted to speak.” At his words, three more savages circled the altar and grabbed stones. “I truly pity you …unfortunately, your irreverence is not mine to judge…or to pardon.” In unison the four Garga lifted the boulders in front of their faces. “Great Garganton, ever generous, ever strong. Your mercy great, your judgment sound…”
Cody thrashed against the grip of his capturers but they were too strong. He strained to harness the Orb’s power, but the stone in his mouth restricted his tongue from forming any words.
“We present our thanksgiving, oh Great One, with the sacrifice of this infidel. May his flowing blood be soothing in your mouth.” The four men pushed the boulders above their heads. “Amen.”
Cody winced.
BANG!
29
Summoning the Hound
THE BLOOD-SMEARED BOULDER CRASHED to the ground. The sound was echoed as the lifeless body of a Garga collapsed—a red mark dotting the center of his forehead.
A humming noise buzzed in Cody’s ear. Thud. Thud. Cody opened his eyes as two Garga staggered with surprised faces. Embedded into each of their chests was a crescent blade. The zealots crumbled to the earth, their elevated boulders smashing down on them. Gunfire crackled as two more stunned Garga buckled over.
Free from restraint, Cody pulled the stone from his mouth and turned toward Xerx, still bound and flanked by two Garga. “ Dastanda! ”At his command, the zealots’ eyes bulged. Dropping their spears, they grasped their necks. Then both fell to the ground, a mound of sand draining out their mouths.
Cody pulled the stone from Xerx’s mouth and severed the bindings. “What’s going on!? Where’s the attack coming from?” There were two more jarring blasts followed by two loud thumps.
“Cease!” The only remaining Garga, the rock-nosed chief, stood upon the altar with the Book open in his arms. “May the Great Garganton’s wrath fall upon you all!”
Cody held up his hands. “Put the Book down…it’s over.”
The Garga laughed. “Only over for you.” The chief’s eyes fell toward the Book. Cody’s heart skipped as realization finally struck.
Oh, no! “Stop him! He’s going to read from the Book!” The Garga began to mutter. There was a pop of gunfire; the chief’s head whiplashed as he tumbled off the altar, dead. Cody ran toward the body. We were too late .
He snatched the fallen Book. “We have to get out of here, now!”
Xerx continued to process the rapid turn of events. “We’re okay…nothing happened when he read the words.”
Cody scanned the sky. “I’m not worried about when he read them…I’m worried about what comes afterwards . The last time someone other than the true Book Keeper read those pages it was me—and things didn’t turn out so well.”
A familiar British voice carried across the clearing. “A shame that necessity repeatedly cuts our meetings short, as I always find our conversations so delightful.” Dunstan appeared, striding toward them; smoke still rising from his revolver. Behind him stood the Man with Circular Blades, the towering bearded man from the bedroom encounter, and a cloaked woman with bright, red hair.
Cody shoved his hand in Dunstan’s face. “ Now you show up!? Why are you following me?”
Dunstan’s face drooped. “Now, now my boy! Your haughty tone chills my heart.” He bared his crooked teeth. “Especially considering I just saved you from certain death!” He holstered his pistol. “After all this time, do you still not trust me as a friend?”
Xerx stepped forward. “Cody, who are these men with their Surface-Dweller weapons?”
Dunstan raised his eyebrow in amusement. “Ah-ha, you have Wesley’s defined chin, my lad.”
Cody brushed Xerx
“Be forced to what? Spout your profane magic? We are well aware of your heathen powers, which is why you and your friend will no longer be permitted to speak.” At his words, three more savages circled the altar and grabbed stones. “I truly pity you …unfortunately, your irreverence is not mine to judge…or to pardon.” In unison the four Garga lifted the boulders in front of their faces. “Great Garganton, ever generous, ever strong. Your mercy great, your judgment sound…”
Cody thrashed against the grip of his capturers but they were too strong. He strained to harness the Orb’s power, but the stone in his mouth restricted his tongue from forming any words.
“We present our thanksgiving, oh Great One, with the sacrifice of this infidel. May his flowing blood be soothing in your mouth.” The four men pushed the boulders above their heads. “Amen.”
Cody winced.
BANG!
29
Summoning the Hound
THE BLOOD-SMEARED BOULDER CRASHED to the ground. The sound was echoed as the lifeless body of a Garga collapsed—a red mark dotting the center of his forehead.
A humming noise buzzed in Cody’s ear. Thud. Thud. Cody opened his eyes as two Garga staggered with surprised faces. Embedded into each of their chests was a crescent blade. The zealots crumbled to the earth, their elevated boulders smashing down on them. Gunfire crackled as two more stunned Garga buckled over.
Free from restraint, Cody pulled the stone from his mouth and turned toward Xerx, still bound and flanked by two Garga. “ Dastanda! ”At his command, the zealots’ eyes bulged. Dropping their spears, they grasped their necks. Then both fell to the ground, a mound of sand draining out their mouths.
Cody pulled the stone from Xerx’s mouth and severed the bindings. “What’s going on!? Where’s the attack coming from?” There were two more jarring blasts followed by two loud thumps.
“Cease!” The only remaining Garga, the rock-nosed chief, stood upon the altar with the Book open in his arms. “May the Great Garganton’s wrath fall upon you all!”
Cody held up his hands. “Put the Book down…it’s over.”
The Garga laughed. “Only over for you.” The chief’s eyes fell toward the Book. Cody’s heart skipped as realization finally struck.
Oh, no! “Stop him! He’s going to read from the Book!” The Garga began to mutter. There was a pop of gunfire; the chief’s head whiplashed as he tumbled off the altar, dead. Cody ran toward the body. We were too late .
He snatched the fallen Book. “We have to get out of here, now!”
Xerx continued to process the rapid turn of events. “We’re okay…nothing happened when he read the words.”
Cody scanned the sky. “I’m not worried about when he read them…I’m worried about what comes afterwards . The last time someone other than the true Book Keeper read those pages it was me—and things didn’t turn out so well.”
A familiar British voice carried across the clearing. “A shame that necessity repeatedly cuts our meetings short, as I always find our conversations so delightful.” Dunstan appeared, striding toward them; smoke still rising from his revolver. Behind him stood the Man with Circular Blades, the towering bearded man from the bedroom encounter, and a cloaked woman with bright, red hair.
Cody shoved his hand in Dunstan’s face. “ Now you show up!? Why are you following me?”
Dunstan’s face drooped. “Now, now my boy! Your haughty tone chills my heart.” He bared his crooked teeth. “Especially considering I just saved you from certain death!” He holstered his pistol. “After all this time, do you still not trust me as a friend?”
Xerx stepped forward. “Cody, who are these men with their Surface-Dweller weapons?”
Dunstan raised his eyebrow in amusement. “Ah-ha, you have Wesley’s defined chin, my lad.”
Cody brushed Xerx
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