Shattered Destiny by Shay West Page B

boiling over.
    Gerok turned to his Chosen, hoping that they would force the Astrans to see reason. He sighed when he saw them stand firmly alongside their comrades, although he wasn't surprised. His Chosen were warriors and enjoyed running headlong into danger. Normally he would be just as eager to join them, but he had a greater duty as a Master and Guardian, and had to try to make the others see reason.
    “Going after Brok is too dangerous. We have already lost one of the Chosen. What if more of you are killed? Brok would want you to leave him behind,” Gerok said.
    “I'm not leaving without him. I'll go alone if I have to,” Jon said.
    “I won't leave either,” Gwen said.
    Gerok's jaw clenched as the rest of the Astran Chosen and his own nodded and spoke their own wishes to rescue the old Guardian.
    “Perhaps we should travel on to Heart Stone and see if we can find out who attacked us, and why. We also need to find out what happened to the villagers and farmers,” Saemus suggested.
    The others readily agreed, and Gerok was forced to concede. He could not force them to leave. Besides, I don't want to leave the old man here either.
    The Astran Chosen were eager to leave the area and the dead behind. Saemus and Jon took the lead. Just as they reached the outskirts of the village, Kaelin felt something small and furry launch itself at her chest.
    “Moira!” Kaelin cried out in pure joy. Moira's cheeks were full to bursting with her latest foraging. The little urgit reached up to stroke Kaelin's cheek with her chubby paws. Moira trilled and purred as best she could around the food stuffed in her cheeks, trying to burrow closer to the girl.
    “I can't believe it! I never thought we would see her again.” Gwen clapped her hands, glad to see the little urgit. She held a special place in her heart for Moira – the creature had been the one who had made it possible for Jon to escape the clutches of QueenCheye.
    “What is it?” Seelyr's eyes were as wide as they could go. She held her hand out to Moira, who pulled back. At gentle urging from Kaelin, the urgit reached out with her chubby paws to touch Seelyr's hand. “What an adorable little thing!” Seelyr said, laughing at the Moira's antics.
    The group made their way into Heart Stone, which was just as deserted as Willow Haven had been, with one terrifying difference. Here, there were more signs of a struggle with whomever had orchestrated the attacks on the villages and towns. There was overturned furniture, broken dishes, and spots of blood that stained the floorboards. Here and there were little wooden crosses that marked hastily dug graves. Livestock wandered amongst the buildings, helping themselves to the choicest vegetables growing in the goodwives’ gardens. Kyron and Voilor trotted down the main road and split up when the road forked, each trying to find signs of where the villagers might have gone.
    The Astran Chosen were frantic with worry. Gwen tried to keep up with Jon as he raced down the road toward his family's farm, but her short legs couldn't cover ground fast enough. Her heart felt as though it would burst from her chest, and tears of frustration and worry and fear fell down her cheeks. Gwen watched Jon burst through the door to the house as she turned down the little road that led to her family home. She stood panting in front of the closed door, too terrified to open it.
    “I am with you, Gwen.”
    Gwen jumped as she heard Keera's voice. She had been so intent on keeping her legs moving that she had not even heard her friend following closely behind. Gwen took Keera's hand, which trembled as much as her own, and opened the door.
    She felt a sigh of relief when she saw that nothing in her home looked like it had been disturbed. She ran through the house, calling for her mother and father. Her voice echoed hollowly in the empty house.
    She left by the front door, feeling both elated and terribly frightened at the same time. For while there was