Ashar'an Rising (Nexus Wars Saga) by Robert Day

least dying, while Andrak and Tyrun were injured, who knew how badly? It gave her hope, knowing if they weren’t seriously injured they would be able to follow these men and rescue her.
    “ Do not cry, my bride,” whispered Hagar, his voice the only thing showing signs of the strain of carrying her. “I have rescued you so now you can follow your destiny. You will find happiness with me in time.”
    “ Why? Who are you?” The gag muffled her question, but Hagar seemed to have heard it as he gave a chuckle.
    “ Why, I am Kiroba, my love. When we get to Dak’mar, you will be afforded all the honor and respect befitting the wife of one of their leaders.”
    Kiroba. That word sent a chill down her spine and more tears to her eyes as she tried to turn and look towards where they had come from. She knew somewhere behind them the campfire burned, and maybe Andrak and Tyrun were preparing to come after her, but she silently hoped they would not. The Kiroba, Assassins from Dak’mar, were not reputed to leave witnesses to their actions, and should Andrak and Tyrun find them it would no doubt result in their deaths.
    Still, she sent out her prayers as Hagar carried her inexorably away from rescue, but her hopes seemed to fade with every long step, until finally mental and physical exhaustion overcame her.
     
     
     
    With one eye still on the surrounding trees, Andrak knelt beside the still form of Ka'Varel. Tyrun, opposite, was studying the old scholar's wounds, his face lined with trails of tears that cut through the fine spray of blood.
    “ These wounds are bad,” he stated harshly without looking to the Prince, his large hands pressed against the deeper wounds, trying to stifle the flow of dark blood. “He lives yet, but there is little time.”
    “ Time for what?” asked Andrak hotly. Already he felt that Kitara was far from him, and he could not let the kidnappers run too far before he started after them. “We must be after Kitara, and soon!”
    Tyrun looked up at the Prince, and Andrak saw matched emotion in the eyes of the big man, but there was anger also and he shifted back slightly, wondering if he had somehow offended the proud barbarian. “If he dies, we have nothing. Without his guidance, this war will be on us before we know it. I must take him to be healed.”
    “ But where?” asked Andrak incredulously. “The nearest healer or Temple is over fifty leagues away, a trip of two days on the fastest horse, and he won't even last until dawn. Besides, our horses have been driven off, and it will take hours to find them.”
    The big man stood suddenly and Andrak flinched, ready to roll away should Tyrun strike at him, but the Barbarian ran to their equipment and picked up his pack and Ka'Varel's before returning. Placing Ka'Varel's pack down, he rummaged through it briefly before pulling out a small metal box inlaid with various gems on the lid, depicting what seemed to be a dragon.
    “ This will take us to a place where he can be healed,” he stated, carefully pulling open the lid, revealing a small diamond pyramid, flawlessly smooth, along with a long silvery chain. Taking both items out, he placed the box back in Ka'Varel's pack.
    “ I cannot leave Kitara,” advised Andrak, rising as the barbarian uncoiled the silver chain and began to circle it around Ka'Varel's body until it came to its end, linking in a whole circle. “I must go after her.”
    Tyrun rose and uncharacteristically grasped Andrak's hand. “Then with luck, we will meet again one day.”
    Andrak nodded thanks and stepped back as Tyrun knelt back beside Ka'Varel and took up the small pyramid. With a gentle twist of his big hands he spun its tip one turn. Nothing happened for a moment, when the pyramid and chain began to glow. First it was nothing more than a pale light, but it built quickly until a dome of light covered the two men, and Andrak had to avert his gaze. The moments passed until the brightness vanished without sound, and he