Into Eden: Pangaea - Book 1 by Frank Augustus

thought, its new moon. No stars…no stars? He had overslept! It would soon be sunrise! When this realization hit him he hurried to the stable and hastily began to saddle his stallion.
    The stable was dark, and filled with the smells of hay and manure. Through the dim light coming through a high window he could see the horses sleeping in the stalls.
    “Going somewhere?” came a voice from the darkness behind him. It was Enoch, and Jesse was so startled that he nearly cried-out.
    “Yes, Enoch. I’m going somewhere...and you know where.”
    “So soon? I figured that you were smart enough to hold off on a journey over the mountains until the spring. It’s too late in the summer to get started on travels to the south. I thought that I had all fall and winter to talk you out of this nonsense.”
    “Waiting until spring was my original plan.” Jesse cinched the strap on the horse’s saddle.
    “What changed?”
    “Meroni’s coming to see me.”
    “Meroni?! Let me get this straight. You’re getting ready to ride two-thousand miles, brave lions on the road, a river filled with monsters and a steaming jungle filled with more monsters to avoid a woman?”
    “Yes.”
    “You are wise beyond your years.”
    “That’s what I like about you, Enoch; old age has made you cynical.”
    “And protective. Now if you insist on embarking on this fool-hardy quest, I insist that you take me with you.”
    “I only want you to come if you will help me. Otherwise, you’re just slowing me down.”
    “I won’t partake in murder—you know that. But I will agree to not interfere with your plans.”
    “Not good enough,” Jesse replied as his stuffed the last of his things in the saddlebags.
    “I’m afraid that you have no choice.”
    “And why’s that?”
    “Because if you don’t take me I’ll stand under your mother’s window and bark until she wakes up. Then I’ll tell her exactly what you have planned and you’ll never make it as far as Albion Bridge.”
    “You wouldn’t.”
    Enoch began to bark and the horses awaked and started to whinny. Jesse clamped his hands over Enoch’s muzzle and said, “Okay. Okay. You have a deal.”
    “Good,” said Enoch as Jesse released him. “Now get the saddle off your stallion and hitch up the gray gelding to the buckboard. I don’t intend to walk all the way to New Sodom.”
    “I can’t. That’s not my horse.”
    “Wrong, Jesse. They’re all your horses now.”
    The truth of Enoch’s observation struck Jesse as oddly surreal. The estate was now his. Horses, houses and fields. And yet he still thought in terms of, this is my horse. That is someone else’s carriage. But all of that had changed. The change had been brought on by a murderous rampage that now he was setting out to avenge. Ironic.
    Jesse stripped the stallion of its tack and then led the gelding out to the buckboard. Time was of the essence. Soon lights would be coming on in the servants’ quarters and an undiscovered exit would not be possible. He threw the saddlebags, spear, quiver and bow in the back of the wagon as Enoch jumped up and sat down behind the driver’s seat. In a low voice Jesse urged the animal forward. When they approached the gate Jesse was surprised to find Abijah standing guard, sword strapped to his belt.
    “What are you doing here, Abijah?” Jesse asked.
    “Your mother has had someone stand guard all night ever since the an-nef attack. It’s my night for guard-duty.” Then, looking at the spear and bow in the back of the buckboard and the sword that Jesse was wearing he asked, “What are you doing here?”
    “Going to Albion to visit some friends.”
    “You must not be on good terms with them.”
    “Oh yes...the weapons…you see…”
    “We’re going to kill Anubis,” Enoch blurted out.
    “Good! Then take me with you!”
    “I’m afraid that will not be possible,” Enoch replied. “You are needed here. Besides, with the loss of your father your mother would be overcome