Read Online Dreams and Shadows (The Aylosian Chronicles Book 1) by Jeffrey Collyer - Free Book Online
Authors: Jeffrey Collyer
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towards the centre of the medallion, plains to its right and above them. To their right flowed the river that had commenced at the lake, and then below and to the left of the hills was a large forest. His eyes followed the river down through the trees, and bending around to the left as it got near the bottom of the crystal.
He was again astonished at the level of detail that had been etched into this small crystal, his attention rapt as he thought he could detect a small clearing amongst the trees at its bottom just at the bend in the river. So engrossed was he that he didn’t hear the soft rattle on the handle of his front door; the sound of the picks entering the lock on the other side.
His focus intensified on the small clearing he could see, now even starting to make out tents. First, he saw only some shapes, but then some colours: soft blues and greens, and autumnal shades of orange, red, and yellow.
A soft click sounded at his front door, and the handle carefully turned, the door slowly edging open.
The river running alongside the camp now started to shimmer, visions of broken rainbows as if reflecting the sun’s light through the spray from rocks. That’s amazing , Michael thought. Then he could see a bird as if hovering just above the trees. Moving the crystal just a little made it look as if the bird’s wings were lifting and falling; as if he could actually see it flying. His wonder continued to grow.
Carefully to avoid the creak of the floorboards, a man slowly stepped through the front door of his flat. If Michael had looked up, he would have recognised the man who wore blonde hair and had bright blue eyes from the shopping precinct earlier that day – and he would have been terrified as the man once again raised his right arm, his forefinger on the trigger of a pistol.
But Michael didn’t see. He was captivated by the images that were before his eyes. On the bird, he could now discern individual feathers; their light brown fluttering gently as the bird sailed gracefully over the river and forest.
Behind him, the blonde-haired man took aim at Michael’s head.
Just as he was about to fire he was struck from behind and went crashing to the ground, the gun flying from his hand, and bouncing across the floor.
Michael could see animals scurrying amongst the floor of the forest. He could even see shapes along the edges of the tents. A re those people? he wondered.
The blonde-haired man rolled over just as he was struck in the face by Col’s fist, but he was able to move his head the second time – Col’s second strike smacking hard into the floor and causing him to cry out in pain. The attacker threw Col from him, rolled over and stood in one swift movement, drawing a six-inch blade as he did so. Col scrambled to his feet and hurried to get in between the assassin and Michael.
Michael heard none of what was going on around him, thoroughly lost in the beauty of the world of the crystal medallion. He could see the river freely flowing, fish occasionally leaping from its surface, birds flying above the trees, and animals playing amongst the forest. He felt such joy, and longed to join the scene; willing himself there.
The attacker lunged at Col with his weapon, Col dodging it and striking the arm as it went past. The assassin’s grip was loosened momentarily, but he quickly regained it and turned again towards him. He lunged again, and Col once again swung his arm to parry, but he instantly knew he had made a mistake. The blonde assassin’s lunge this time had been a feint, and when Col had committed himself, he struck again, sinking his blade deep into Col’s chest.
Michael was ecstatic as he could feel the wind on his face and tugging against his clothes. He was flying. No, he was falling. The canopy of the forest below him was growing larger even as the light around him sparkled. He felt a light tingle grow into a pain across his entire body. But he exulted in it. He was falling, but he
He was again astonished at the level of detail that had been etched into this small crystal, his attention rapt as he thought he could detect a small clearing amongst the trees at its bottom just at the bend in the river. So engrossed was he that he didn’t hear the soft rattle on the handle of his front door; the sound of the picks entering the lock on the other side.
His focus intensified on the small clearing he could see, now even starting to make out tents. First, he saw only some shapes, but then some colours: soft blues and greens, and autumnal shades of orange, red, and yellow.
A soft click sounded at his front door, and the handle carefully turned, the door slowly edging open.
The river running alongside the camp now started to shimmer, visions of broken rainbows as if reflecting the sun’s light through the spray from rocks. That’s amazing , Michael thought. Then he could see a bird as if hovering just above the trees. Moving the crystal just a little made it look as if the bird’s wings were lifting and falling; as if he could actually see it flying. His wonder continued to grow.
Carefully to avoid the creak of the floorboards, a man slowly stepped through the front door of his flat. If Michael had looked up, he would have recognised the man who wore blonde hair and had bright blue eyes from the shopping precinct earlier that day – and he would have been terrified as the man once again raised his right arm, his forefinger on the trigger of a pistol.
But Michael didn’t see. He was captivated by the images that were before his eyes. On the bird, he could now discern individual feathers; their light brown fluttering gently as the bird sailed gracefully over the river and forest.
Behind him, the blonde-haired man took aim at Michael’s head.
Just as he was about to fire he was struck from behind and went crashing to the ground, the gun flying from his hand, and bouncing across the floor.
Michael could see animals scurrying amongst the floor of the forest. He could even see shapes along the edges of the tents. A re those people? he wondered.
The blonde-haired man rolled over just as he was struck in the face by Col’s fist, but he was able to move his head the second time – Col’s second strike smacking hard into the floor and causing him to cry out in pain. The attacker threw Col from him, rolled over and stood in one swift movement, drawing a six-inch blade as he did so. Col scrambled to his feet and hurried to get in between the assassin and Michael.
Michael heard none of what was going on around him, thoroughly lost in the beauty of the world of the crystal medallion. He could see the river freely flowing, fish occasionally leaping from its surface, birds flying above the trees, and animals playing amongst the forest. He felt such joy, and longed to join the scene; willing himself there.
The attacker lunged at Col with his weapon, Col dodging it and striking the arm as it went past. The assassin’s grip was loosened momentarily, but he quickly regained it and turned again towards him. He lunged again, and Col once again swung his arm to parry, but he instantly knew he had made a mistake. The blonde assassin’s lunge this time had been a feint, and when Col had committed himself, he struck again, sinking his blade deep into Col’s chest.
Michael was ecstatic as he could feel the wind on his face and tugging against his clothes. He was flying. No, he was falling. The canopy of the forest below him was growing larger even as the light around him sparkled. He felt a light tingle grow into a pain across his entire body. But he exulted in it. He was falling, but he
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