Read Online The Island on the Edge of Forever (The Epic of Aravinda Book 2) by Andrew M. Crusoe - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Andrew M. Crusoe
Ads: Link
thousands, the tide turned, and the Confederation claimed victory over the Vakragha Dominion. That war of tyranny ended, and for millennia afterward, we swept the galaxy clean of any stragglers. Most believed that they had been exterminated.”
“Wait,” Asha interrupted. “I think we know the story from there. The Vakragha returned even stronger than anyone ever imagined, right? Even the Confederation doesn’t seem to be able to slow them down anymore, which brings us right up to the present, doesn’t it?”
“Wrong,” Mira said. “We are close to locating their greatest weakness. But that is not your mission. Your mission concerns the Darkest.”
“The darkest what?” Vivek asked.
“The Darkest was the greatest mastermind the Vakragha ever produced. She was killed in battle millennia ago; yet with the Kiss of Life, an artifact of true elemental power, she could be brought back from oblivion to usher in a new era of the Vakragha Dominion. We have reason to believe that there is a plan to unite all of the factions, and with the Kiss of Life, the Darkest would be in the ideal position to do it.” Mira sighed. “If you think the Vakragha are fearsome now, you have no idea how much more powerful they could become if that happened.”
There was a brief silence while everyone considered this.
Asha rubbed the back of her neck. “So, this Kiss of Life can completely revive the dead? And you’re sure this artifact exists?”
“I have seen it.”
“Where?”
“In a vision,” Mira replied.
“Oh, great.” Asha rolled her eyes.
“Do not scorn what I see. There is much you have yet to learn. What is important now is that you have been charged with a task directly from the Confederation. That is, if you accept it.” Mira paused. “Yet you are the one who solved the council’s riddle, are you not? And have you continued in your practice?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then, Asha, I ask for your assistance in retrieving the artifact. My starship has been designed to be the most advanced reconnaissance vessel possible, capable of withstanding energetic abuse that Navika never could.”
“Why do you need me? Wouldn’t you be better off with a warrior or another captain?”
“Asha.” Mira sat down and gazed deeply into her eyes. “The Confederation is doing all that it can, but the old strategies are not working anymore, which is why I have been sent here. If we can retrieve the Kiss of Life, we can turn the tide. Not only can we stop the Darkest from being brought back, but we can restore the greatest hearts and minds on our side, as well. Do you know how many trained healers are left? You are not a mere physician. You balance life force itself, and I do not think I have to tell you that we are losing millions every day. Asha, based on everything we know about the Kiss of Life, we believe that only a born healer can wield it. We need you.”
Asha looked down and noticed that she was still holding her father’s hand tightly. She looked up, into his eyes. There was a sadness behind them, but something else was there, too.
She looked back up to Mira. “So, how do we find it?”
“The Chintamani is the way. I believe you called it the Tulari. Is that right? It will lead us to the Kiss of Life.”
“Zahn.”
“Indeed.” Mira’s eyes drifted to the view of the ocean beyond the window. “It is with him, on the ship.”
Darshana looked over to Asha. “The ship? What happened to Zahn? Where is he?”
“He took Navika.” Asha shook her head slowly. “He asked me if I would stay on the islands, and when I told him I wasn’t ready to live on Avani, he disappeared into the forest. Then I heard a rustling high up in the trees, and when I felt for the ship, it was gone. I think he’s going back to the outpost to try and seal up the wormhole the marauders are coming in from.” Asha massaged her temples. “I wanted to chase after him. I was about to, but something held me here. I’m not sure why, but
“Wait,” Asha interrupted. “I think we know the story from there. The Vakragha returned even stronger than anyone ever imagined, right? Even the Confederation doesn’t seem to be able to slow them down anymore, which brings us right up to the present, doesn’t it?”
“Wrong,” Mira said. “We are close to locating their greatest weakness. But that is not your mission. Your mission concerns the Darkest.”
“The darkest what?” Vivek asked.
“The Darkest was the greatest mastermind the Vakragha ever produced. She was killed in battle millennia ago; yet with the Kiss of Life, an artifact of true elemental power, she could be brought back from oblivion to usher in a new era of the Vakragha Dominion. We have reason to believe that there is a plan to unite all of the factions, and with the Kiss of Life, the Darkest would be in the ideal position to do it.” Mira sighed. “If you think the Vakragha are fearsome now, you have no idea how much more powerful they could become if that happened.”
There was a brief silence while everyone considered this.
Asha rubbed the back of her neck. “So, this Kiss of Life can completely revive the dead? And you’re sure this artifact exists?”
“I have seen it.”
“Where?”
“In a vision,” Mira replied.
“Oh, great.” Asha rolled her eyes.
“Do not scorn what I see. There is much you have yet to learn. What is important now is that you have been charged with a task directly from the Confederation. That is, if you accept it.” Mira paused. “Yet you are the one who solved the council’s riddle, are you not? And have you continued in your practice?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then, Asha, I ask for your assistance in retrieving the artifact. My starship has been designed to be the most advanced reconnaissance vessel possible, capable of withstanding energetic abuse that Navika never could.”
“Why do you need me? Wouldn’t you be better off with a warrior or another captain?”
“Asha.” Mira sat down and gazed deeply into her eyes. “The Confederation is doing all that it can, but the old strategies are not working anymore, which is why I have been sent here. If we can retrieve the Kiss of Life, we can turn the tide. Not only can we stop the Darkest from being brought back, but we can restore the greatest hearts and minds on our side, as well. Do you know how many trained healers are left? You are not a mere physician. You balance life force itself, and I do not think I have to tell you that we are losing millions every day. Asha, based on everything we know about the Kiss of Life, we believe that only a born healer can wield it. We need you.”
Asha looked down and noticed that she was still holding her father’s hand tightly. She looked up, into his eyes. There was a sadness behind them, but something else was there, too.
She looked back up to Mira. “So, how do we find it?”
“The Chintamani is the way. I believe you called it the Tulari. Is that right? It will lead us to the Kiss of Life.”
“Zahn.”
“Indeed.” Mira’s eyes drifted to the view of the ocean beyond the window. “It is with him, on the ship.”
Darshana looked over to Asha. “The ship? What happened to Zahn? Where is he?”
“He took Navika.” Asha shook her head slowly. “He asked me if I would stay on the islands, and when I told him I wasn’t ready to live on Avani, he disappeared into the forest. Then I heard a rustling high up in the trees, and when I felt for the ship, it was gone. I think he’s going back to the outpost to try and seal up the wormhole the marauders are coming in from.” Asha massaged her temples. “I wanted to chase after him. I was about to, but something held me here. I’m not sure why, but
Similar Books
