Read Online The Gauntlet ( A Fantasy Novella) by Michael Diack - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Diack
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this knife, besides, we would expend the energy we just consumed eating it.”
They finished eating the last of the meat. Janna dispersed the embers of the fire and began to walk away. Ugg followed Janna straight away, but Ash paused to say his thanks to the unknown creature. He thought about whether it had a loved one and, if it did, would they ever discover its fate?
“Come on, Ash, the dead do not listen. You are too sentimental sometimes,” shouted Janna.
“That is not a bad thing,” spoke Ash quietly under his breath. The knight left to catch his companions up and couldn’t help but think about how cold Janna was with her emotions. While beautiful on the outside, she was, Ash thought, a little heartless and numb on the inside. Although that’s what also made her the strongest in many ways, he reasoned. All three had their own strengths which complimented the group dynamic for the better.
“If I die you can eat my body, just bury my bones, please. That is my only wish. There is something so undignified about being left to rot in the open. I don’t like seeing open bones,” said Ash.
The three knights continued navigating the maze until the sun set once more and, for another night, they rested. They did not hear any more screams, nor did they talk much, for the frustration and tedium of the maze was beginning to agitate them all.
Chapter 8: The Oasis
At dawn they set off once more, hoping – and secretly praying – this would be the day they escaped the maze. Their water was running low, if they didn’t get out soon it would be their graveyard. It was windier today and the morning sky appeared a dusty red, streaked with pale white clouds. As they progressed the ground began to change, becoming sandier while the hedgerows appeared to fade from their brilliant dark green towards lighter greens and yellows.
All three of the knights sensed a change was coming and hastened their pace without realising it, anticipating the imminent exit. It didn’t take long for their prayers to be answered. At the next left an exit appeared to them, a similar sized hole in the hedgerow like at the entrance and joyfully, they escaped their two-and-a-half day prison.
“We made it,” proclaimed Ugg. “Never doubted that we wouldn’t!”
The environment around the maze was similar: a flat plain but dominated by an orange sand instead of gravel.
“It’s dry and arid, just what we don’t need,” said Ash.
“I’m not sure, in the distance I can see something. I hope it is water and not a cruel trick of the sun again,” said Janna.
Ugg focused on the distance. On the horizon there shimmered what appeared to be a lake and some palm trees.
“I do not believe it is a trick, there are trees and where they grow there must be water. We should head that way for certain.”
“There is something even stranger beyond the trees, an undulating orange line dominating the horizon,” said Ash.
“They are sand dunes. I saw the same at the coastline on the eastern borderlands. But these ones look to be much larger,” replied Ugg.
“Let’s get to the trees first,” said Janna.
All three of them were happy to put the maze behind them and they briskly walked towards the distant trees. The temperature was notably hotter on this side of the maze and the knights dripped in sweat as they trudged along the sandy, gravel floor. It was tough going but gradually the trees became closer and the crests of the orange sand dunes behind them rose higher and higher. A hundred metres away from the trees the three knights were in no doubt about the presence of water. They ran eagerly to the water and collapsed on their knees at its edge, scooping the clear, precious liquid into their mouths and over their cracked, dry lips. It was an oasis on the edge of a desert, a large natural spring where groundwater rose up and gave life to palm trees and other fruitful blooms.
“This tastes better than ale. It’s so clean,” said a cheerful
They finished eating the last of the meat. Janna dispersed the embers of the fire and began to walk away. Ugg followed Janna straight away, but Ash paused to say his thanks to the unknown creature. He thought about whether it had a loved one and, if it did, would they ever discover its fate?
“Come on, Ash, the dead do not listen. You are too sentimental sometimes,” shouted Janna.
“That is not a bad thing,” spoke Ash quietly under his breath. The knight left to catch his companions up and couldn’t help but think about how cold Janna was with her emotions. While beautiful on the outside, she was, Ash thought, a little heartless and numb on the inside. Although that’s what also made her the strongest in many ways, he reasoned. All three had their own strengths which complimented the group dynamic for the better.
“If I die you can eat my body, just bury my bones, please. That is my only wish. There is something so undignified about being left to rot in the open. I don’t like seeing open bones,” said Ash.
The three knights continued navigating the maze until the sun set once more and, for another night, they rested. They did not hear any more screams, nor did they talk much, for the frustration and tedium of the maze was beginning to agitate them all.
Chapter 8: The Oasis
At dawn they set off once more, hoping – and secretly praying – this would be the day they escaped the maze. Their water was running low, if they didn’t get out soon it would be their graveyard. It was windier today and the morning sky appeared a dusty red, streaked with pale white clouds. As they progressed the ground began to change, becoming sandier while the hedgerows appeared to fade from their brilliant dark green towards lighter greens and yellows.
All three of the knights sensed a change was coming and hastened their pace without realising it, anticipating the imminent exit. It didn’t take long for their prayers to be answered. At the next left an exit appeared to them, a similar sized hole in the hedgerow like at the entrance and joyfully, they escaped their two-and-a-half day prison.
“We made it,” proclaimed Ugg. “Never doubted that we wouldn’t!”
The environment around the maze was similar: a flat plain but dominated by an orange sand instead of gravel.
“It’s dry and arid, just what we don’t need,” said Ash.
“I’m not sure, in the distance I can see something. I hope it is water and not a cruel trick of the sun again,” said Janna.
Ugg focused on the distance. On the horizon there shimmered what appeared to be a lake and some palm trees.
“I do not believe it is a trick, there are trees and where they grow there must be water. We should head that way for certain.”
“There is something even stranger beyond the trees, an undulating orange line dominating the horizon,” said Ash.
“They are sand dunes. I saw the same at the coastline on the eastern borderlands. But these ones look to be much larger,” replied Ugg.
“Let’s get to the trees first,” said Janna.
All three of them were happy to put the maze behind them and they briskly walked towards the distant trees. The temperature was notably hotter on this side of the maze and the knights dripped in sweat as they trudged along the sandy, gravel floor. It was tough going but gradually the trees became closer and the crests of the orange sand dunes behind them rose higher and higher. A hundred metres away from the trees the three knights were in no doubt about the presence of water. They ran eagerly to the water and collapsed on their knees at its edge, scooping the clear, precious liquid into their mouths and over their cracked, dry lips. It was an oasis on the edge of a desert, a large natural spring where groundwater rose up and gave life to palm trees and other fruitful blooms.
“This tastes better than ale. It’s so clean,” said a cheerful
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