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The Stellar Glory Chapters One: The Captain
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Chapter One of The Stellar Glory
In a cell so small he could not stand, so tight he could not stretch across its length, Christopher paid the price for a captain's pride. He lay entombed beneath the heavens he had journeyed once, beneath the stars, beneath the spires and domes of an ancient capital. Stone and time weakened him. They withered his flesh, conspiring with the horrid stillness of captivity to send his thoughts wandering about the edge of shadows and along the boundless rim of night. What ages past had these walls become his close and constant companions? Such moments Christopher did recall, though with difficulty. It was as if the memories themselves proved an ancient unreality, lies mocking him across the distance of the years. A great light flooded these caverns then, when the chains pulled and the capstone grated loose, a fetid smell like the worst of all corruption breaking free. With armed guards at his sides, Christopher stood before an entrance. It seemed no more than a gaping hole, a pit equipped with a set of steep, winding stairs. "Kneel and be forgiven," said the voice. It came from the shadows, from a distance to the right. In turning, Christopher caught a glimpse of a tall, hooded figure. The voice spoke again. "Others among your crew have confessed." Turning from the half-hidden figure, Christopher faced the entrance to the dungeons and smiled. With slow, deliberate motions, he made the sign of The Church in the air before him, the chain about his wrists just long enough to allow the gesture. The words which came to him then were as much a heresy as the crime of which he stood accused. "If God says a thing is right," Christopher assured his captors, "it does not make it right. And if He says a thing is false, that alone does not cause it to be false. How much less powerful is the word of a Cardinal?" There came from the hooded figure a soft, sighing sound, as if of weeping, or of laughter. So low was the sound, a mere shift in the air seemed to silence it, but not so the figure's voice, for its next words came as a prayer. "May the pains you are about to endure purify you. That is all. Put him in." Christopher's guards moved close. Breaking from the man to his right, Christopher tore at his own uniform. The collar came away, one epaulet dangling on torn threads as he scrabbled for the secret pocket. He knew where the engineer had placed the prize, sewn its pieces into the fabric of his uniform- if only he could gain the chance! The pattern for assembling the small device moved through his thoughts, a haunting sequence of twists and turns that would bring the few small pieces together. In a heartbeat, he could bring to bear a weapon against which his jailers had no defense. His fingers rubbed across the cylinder. It was his! He turned it along its axis. Something sparked, an invisible leap of energies from the device in Christopher's hand that sent him reeling. The guards laughed. They saw a clumsy, desperate man and nothing more. Christopher never felt the tranquilizing blow. The brightly colored feathers of the dart felt like lead to his numbed fingers. He reached to withdraw the needle, staring at it even as the men to his right and left once again secured him in their grasp. (This has been a preview of The Stellar Glory, Chapter One: The Captain. To read the complete chapter, download our FREE PDF of the chapter using the link below.)
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Chapter One of The Stellar Glory
Available Chapters Chapter One: The Captain Chapter Two: Escape from Balecentrol Chapter Three: Battle for Adhara Chapter Four: A God of War Chapter Five: Captured Download Stories If you enjoyed this story, visit our Library Page to read more. Copyright Info The Stellar Glory |
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