The Quantum Prophecy - Ryan Matthew Harker (best management books of all time TXT) 📗

hand in a gesture of greeting while the bear sat on its haunches and similarly raised a paw. These completely human gestures instantly decided the wary soldier. While a bear might raise a paw in this manner it was an affectation no werewolf, domestic or wild, would ever adopt. Those animals would rather launch an immediate, direct assault than waste time with something so congenial.
“Are you ready?” the immortal asked. It was an obvious question but one Jeshux raised automatically.
The werewolf emitted a low growl from its inhuman larynx while the bear again raised a paw. The answer was as obvious as the question had been.
“Good. Let’s go,” Jeshux said and turned away from the door. It’s a good thing they were placed in these quarters, he thought, or they would never have fit through the door. As it was the werewolf crouched low to pass while the bear only just squeezed her shoulders through. Noting this inconvenience Jeshux had to adjust his decided path of flight in favor of larger portals which placed their little party into more habited regions of the castle. Fortunately luck was on their side and they were able to make it undetected from the castle.
It was almost ten minutes until one o’clock in the morning when they burst into an outer courtyard, through a final set of double doors- almost gate like in their structure- and out into the city proper. Jeshux men were precisely where he had sent them to wait with a visibly agitated Max.
“Thank God you made it!” the scientist wailed. He was not used to all the stress of this cloak and dagger business. Everything had progressed so rapidly throughout the day that he had had trouble keeping up with it all.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Jeshux informed him stoically. “We’ve still got to make it free of the city.”
He sent two men ahead on point and then fell in behind them. Then came Max who kept glancing furtively over his shoulder at the monstrous forms of Candlelite and Absinthe as they followed him. Bringing up the rear were four more of Jeshux men with the other six spread out on all sides to form a secure perimeter. Again Lady Luck was with them and it was in this manner that the now fugitive party escaped the over protective clutches of AnEerth’s reigning monarch.
No one noticed the two shadows that doggedly followed them from the city and through the woods.

“I’ve got to stop!” Max finally managed to wheeze as he stumbled to a halt.
The rest of the party came up short and Jeshux turned abruptly. “Damnit! We don’t have time for this Max. It’s almost two and we still have a long way to go.”
The scientist was about to stutter a protest when he was suddenly seized in the strong-clawed grip of Candlelite and placed unceremoniously astride Absinthe’s massive back.
Jeshux chuckled softly at Max’s fearful look and said, “Good. I suppose we can continue now?”
Candlelite nodded his shaggy head and growled in assent.
“Let’s go then.” Jeshux turned away and again made his way swiftly through the forest, traveling a trail that only he seemed to know.
In this manner the fleeing party made their way down the avenues that wound through the dark forest. The moon was full, or near to it, but little light filtered down through the branches. Jeshux began to push for more speed as dawn approached and they were still within wooded confines. He had a destination to make before the light of the dawning sun rose to pierce the horizon. If they were even one second late their refuge would be denied and they would be obliged to seek safety elsewhere. It was improbable that they could accomplish this as he steadily led them further and further from the settled territories.
The edge of dawn stalked the eastern hills and barely lit the edge of the horizon when they burst from the restricting environs of the forest. Jeshux stumbled to a halt and everyone else did also. Breathing heavily the Commander General and his men took a moment to get steady. Although these were disciplined men who were used to such feats of endurance they had been traveling hard for the better part of four hours. They may be immortal but they were still human. Max, from his position atop Absinthe, was less tired. He had been forced to run off and on throughout the long night for Jeshux insisted that if he was to travel with them then he would need to accustom himself to such displays. The two ‘animals’, both heavily muscled, were the least inconvenienced of the party.
The mercenaries were soon to recover and Jeshux gave the order to move out. Dawn was almost upon them and they had little time to spare. Suddenly there was a familiar luminescent shimmer and a woman appeared in their path.
“Farewethor!” Jeshux exclaimed. “Damnit woman, what are you doing here?”
“Commander General, it is good that I found you. The king has been aware now for near three hours of your absence. He has become much vexed and ordered your arrest. It would do you well if you and your companions were to accompany me.” The good witch looked stressed and not altogether sure of herself, as if she waged some sort of inner war, but still she stood fast.
“Listen to me Farewethor!” Jeshux barked. “I don’t have time to argue with you. We need to get to the monastery before first light. I will not let Zakeriah’s good intentions doom us all.” And then with a note of finality he said, “We will not be be returning with you. Not now and not later!”
The small woman smiled sadly and shook her head. “I had feared as much. I do not wish to resort to force sir but I have been authorized for such.” Her eyes seemed to say what her voice could not, please don’t make me do this.
The twelve mercenaries formed a crescent behind and to either side of their leader, drew their rifles and coldly aimed them at the unarmed woman.
“You cannot think your weapons pose any threat to me?” Farewethor asked incredulously.
And indeed they did not. Jeshux was aware of the uselessness of such armaments against the witch. If they had been two dozen strong then perhaps they would have stood half a chance but as it was he gave a silent signal and his men lowered their arms.
“Are you prepared to see reason?” The witch arched an eyebrow.
“No,” Jeshux replied casting a quick glance to the east. The sun, he knew, would soon be upon them. “But perhaps you are.”
Farewethor smiled but her resolve was strong. “And what reason would you present other than the reason before us?” she asked.
Jeshux cleared his throat and then spoke, “You’re an intelligent person Farewethor and I think you realize that in this matter the king is wrong. These two individuals,” he indicated Candlelite and Absinthe with a sweep of his arm. “These two are the Chosen Ones. Without their aid Harmony will surely succeed. How are they to accomplish anything if they’re forced to remain locked behind closed doors in the ‘safety’ of the castle?”
He paused for a moment to let his words sink in. He knew there was uncertainty in Farewethor’s heart and he saw her resolve falter just a little. She was only following orders but she knew the logic behind those orders was faulty and if only he could find the right combination of words, Jeshux knew that Farewethor could be persuaded to abandon her mission.
“Is that what you want?” he asked staring straight into her eyes. “Do you want to live in a world enslaved by the dictatorship of Harmony’s rule? You have family Farewethor. Do you want them to suffer? Do you want them to endure atrocity? You can’t even begin to imagine a land bound by the shackles of evil. I can, I’ve been to Earth. I saw firsthand the brutality of Harmony’s conquest. I, and my men, can attest to the savagery of his takeover.” The other mercenaries nodded in agreement. “And this is a world he has no feeling for. I tell you, with the hatred he harbors his homeland the evil of his actions will only be multiplied. I implore you Witch Farewethor, do not condemn our fair country to the horror of Harmony’s onslaught.”
“Jeshux,” Farewethor bowed her head, all formality abandoned and the pain of her indecision plain upon her face. “If I do not return with the Chosen Ones then I cannot return at all. My betrayal to the crown will be easily made known.” She looked up directing the full force of her gaze at Jeshux. “What would you have me do?”
Relief flooded through Jeshux entire body. His men sensed the change in their situation and began to relax, the tension all but disappeared.
“There’s only one thing I ask of you,” Jeshux returned the witch’s stare steadily. “We’re bound for the Midnight Monastery. We have already been delayed too long to arrive there before the sun rises. You know the importance of this requirement, so this is what I ask.” The Commander General stepped forward and offered his hand to Farewethor. “Join us. Join us and deliver us on time to our destination.”
Farewethor stood without moving, pondering the choices of her dilemma. Then without a word she grabbed Jeshux hand in hers and the entire party began to shimmer with a rainbow luminescence. Farewethor could only hope she had made the right choice.

*****

The two shadows moved from where they were concealed within the trees and stood in the confusion of footprints that covered the area.
Dan and Dave had followed the fugitives all night as they made their way through the dense forest. Their presence had never been suspected.
Observing the drama that had just unfolded they experienced a brief moment of panic at the thought of returning to the city they had just left. Now though they were in a deeper state of panic as they surveyed the ground around them. They had lost their prey and had no idea where the witch had spirited them. Had she in fact spirited them back to the confines of the castle, or had she been seduced by the soldiers touching speech and rushed them to the safety of this Midnight Monastery?
As it was logic served the situation. Although the two spies had no means of communicating with each other over long distances they still had two possible answers, leading in two opposite directions, to two destinations, they decided to split up.
Unfortunately they had never been to, or even heard of, this Midnight Monastery but both agreed that logic seemed to dictate that if one of them proceeded in the direction they had been headed in then he would in all probability reach this unknown place.
And so it was agreed. After spending nearly their entire lives together Dan and Dave said their farewells and set out on separate paths, Dan in the presumed direction of the Midnight Monastery and Dave back to the city of Dirsellia. Neither man suspected that this would be the last time they would see each other.

*****

King Zakeriah was furious. He had never been so angry in his entire life. He was known throughout the kingdom- throughout the globe- as a fair, wise, and above all calm man. Even the queen, who had been his companion for many, many years, had not seen him in such a state of agitation. She sat on a small stool and watched as he paced up and down the length of their private apartment. Occasionally he would suddenly stop, turn toward her his face red with rage, fire a