Read Online SoulQuest by Percival Constantine - Free Book Online
Authors: Percival Constantine
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Ekala. “More charity work, an’ this ain’t somethin’ small we’re talkin’ about. This could be a long job, one that takes us a while to complete. We do this, we have to turn down lots of other paying gigs in the meantime.”
“Lady’s got a point,” said Swul.
“If these things fall into the wrong hands, then there won’t be much work to be had if the planet’s gone,” said Zarim. “And let’s face it, Quand does take a risk every time he shelters us after a heist. If he’s not gonna do that anymore, it limits our options. Think of survival instead of just the bottom line.”
“Man’s got a point,” said Swul.
Ekala and Zarim looked at each other, then quizzically at Swul, who was in the process of rolling a cigar. “What? Yer both right. If the stakes are high as Quand says, then Zarim’s right, we’ve gotta think about our own survival. But Ekala’s also right—this could cost us some other jobs.
“An’ who says we can’t have it both ways? Quand did say that a person needs all five to get that power, right? So maybe we could take jobs on the side? Y’know, find a stone, then make some money, rinse and repeat.”
The two considered their friend’s suggestion. Zarim nodded. “That actually sounds like it could work, doesn’t it?”
Ekala shrugged. “I suppose we could offset a real job with one of these fake ones.”
Swul struck the match, grinning with the cigar pinned between his teeth. “See? Man’s got a point.”
The two humans chuckled at their faerie companion. Zarim shook his head. “You’re not as dumb as you look, my friend.”
“An’ don’t you forget it,” said Swul.
“Okay, so that’s what we do,” said Zarim. “We’ll stay here the night and leave at first light, sound like a plan?”
Nods all around granted Zarim the approval of his crew. “Great, I’ll go tell Master Quand about our terms and see if he’s got a lead on where the next stone is.”
C HAPTER 7
“Dreyer! We could use a hand!”
The line was delivered with a slight snicker, the voice echoing in one of the many mine shafts that bordered the town of Corvil. Tanus Dreyer raised his goggles to his forehead, peering down at the foreman, Bowers, who waved him over. He stood and pushed through his fellow miners, not an easy task for a man of his frame. His denim pants and heavy shirt were nearly as dark as his skin, thanks to all the dirt and grime. A thick glove covered his right hand, but his left was a different matter altogether. In place of his left arm was a metal prosthetic, with a crude, bulky hand on the end. The result of his service.
“What is it, chief?” asked Tanus, once he approached the foreman.
Bowers knelt down and patted the lower corner of the rocky terrain. “There’s somethin’ stuck here, it’ll take forever to get to it with the axe, and I’m not about to clear the whole tunnel so we can use dynamite.”
Tanus moved beside him, squinting as he stared at the area. He blinked a few times, not quite sure what he was looking at. “Is...is that glowing?”
“Think so. Mind gettin’ a closer look?”
Tanus reached out with his metal hand and tried to tear at the rock, but it didn’t do much good. Whatever was there, it was buried very well. He stood and backed up. “Get clear, boss.”
Bowers did as he was told. The fingers on Tanus’ metal hand retracted into the knuckles and then the palm itself split apart and folded into the wrist. In the center of the stub, a long barrel emerged. Tanus checked the counter on his forearm, reading the current battery capacity, and tensed the appropriate muscles. A pulse-burst fired from the barrel, striking the area with a loud boom that caused the other miners to stare carefully at the stalactites above them.
Bowers leaned forward and shook his head. “Better, but it’s still in there.”
“Okay, going for two.” Tanus fired a second pulse, and the rocks shattered in its wake. The stone spun in the
“Lady’s got a point,” said Swul.
“If these things fall into the wrong hands, then there won’t be much work to be had if the planet’s gone,” said Zarim. “And let’s face it, Quand does take a risk every time he shelters us after a heist. If he’s not gonna do that anymore, it limits our options. Think of survival instead of just the bottom line.”
“Man’s got a point,” said Swul.
Ekala and Zarim looked at each other, then quizzically at Swul, who was in the process of rolling a cigar. “What? Yer both right. If the stakes are high as Quand says, then Zarim’s right, we’ve gotta think about our own survival. But Ekala’s also right—this could cost us some other jobs.
“An’ who says we can’t have it both ways? Quand did say that a person needs all five to get that power, right? So maybe we could take jobs on the side? Y’know, find a stone, then make some money, rinse and repeat.”
The two considered their friend’s suggestion. Zarim nodded. “That actually sounds like it could work, doesn’t it?”
Ekala shrugged. “I suppose we could offset a real job with one of these fake ones.”
Swul struck the match, grinning with the cigar pinned between his teeth. “See? Man’s got a point.”
The two humans chuckled at their faerie companion. Zarim shook his head. “You’re not as dumb as you look, my friend.”
“An’ don’t you forget it,” said Swul.
“Okay, so that’s what we do,” said Zarim. “We’ll stay here the night and leave at first light, sound like a plan?”
Nods all around granted Zarim the approval of his crew. “Great, I’ll go tell Master Quand about our terms and see if he’s got a lead on where the next stone is.”
C HAPTER 7
“Dreyer! We could use a hand!”
The line was delivered with a slight snicker, the voice echoing in one of the many mine shafts that bordered the town of Corvil. Tanus Dreyer raised his goggles to his forehead, peering down at the foreman, Bowers, who waved him over. He stood and pushed through his fellow miners, not an easy task for a man of his frame. His denim pants and heavy shirt were nearly as dark as his skin, thanks to all the dirt and grime. A thick glove covered his right hand, but his left was a different matter altogether. In place of his left arm was a metal prosthetic, with a crude, bulky hand on the end. The result of his service.
“What is it, chief?” asked Tanus, once he approached the foreman.
Bowers knelt down and patted the lower corner of the rocky terrain. “There’s somethin’ stuck here, it’ll take forever to get to it with the axe, and I’m not about to clear the whole tunnel so we can use dynamite.”
Tanus moved beside him, squinting as he stared at the area. He blinked a few times, not quite sure what he was looking at. “Is...is that glowing?”
“Think so. Mind gettin’ a closer look?”
Tanus reached out with his metal hand and tried to tear at the rock, but it didn’t do much good. Whatever was there, it was buried very well. He stood and backed up. “Get clear, boss.”
Bowers did as he was told. The fingers on Tanus’ metal hand retracted into the knuckles and then the palm itself split apart and folded into the wrist. In the center of the stub, a long barrel emerged. Tanus checked the counter on his forearm, reading the current battery capacity, and tensed the appropriate muscles. A pulse-burst fired from the barrel, striking the area with a loud boom that caused the other miners to stare carefully at the stalactites above them.
Bowers leaned forward and shook his head. “Better, but it’s still in there.”
“Okay, going for two.” Tanus fired a second pulse, and the rocks shattered in its wake. The stone spun in the
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