Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius by Marcus Johnson Read Free Book Online Page B

consisting of
storytelling. Each guest tells a story, including the Maigar ,” Mira
explained.
    “What
kind of stories?” he asked.
    Seles
tapped his shoulder. “Any kind of story is usable. To tell you the truth, I
haven’t heard much of your homeworld since you came to us.”
    “She’s
right Brian,” Mira added. “Despite being in close contact with a Terran we
haven’t learned much about your history or myths. As Kalaidians, many of our
myths and stories tell of songs and performances that changed history. That’s
what we seek from you.”
    He
sighed before closing his eyes. “The reason I haven’t said much about human
history is because of the wars we’ve fought.” He looked at them. “Terran
history is filled with more bloodshed and despair than the Shandi, or even the
Ick-Tckt. In the twenty years I lived on Earth there wasn’t one day of true
peace.”
    Mira
turned to Seles. “Is he telling the truth?”
    Seles
nodded. “When I first met Brian he told me so. Our own history pales in
comparison when it comes to warfare.”
     
    * * *
     
    After
a feast for breakfast the girls all sat on the couches in the apartment’s front
room. He sat in the chair wearing the brown pants and white shirt he usually
wore.
    “So
how does this work?” Brian asked.
    “We
start with the first guest and move in order around the table. You tell your
stories last in the order Brian, so think up a good one,” Mira explained. “The
first one to tell her story is Seles.”
    “I
don’t know which one to tell,” Seles said.
    “Why
not your time with Brian on the frozen moon,” Baed suggested.
    “Yeah,
we haven’t heard what happened at all,” Jesela added.
    She
looked to Brian. “Is it alright?”
    “Sure.”
    Seles
composed herself. “I was guarding Brian before we even knew his name or
anything,” she said. “The look on his face when he couldn’t understand our
language was priceless. At first, I didn’t know what to think about him. Then I
learned he was a Terran shortly before the Avoni was attacked by the Greys. Everything
was a new experience when I first worked with him. When we crashed he said that
the cold and snow were normal for his homeland.”
    “Is
it really?” Mira asked.
    “It’s
true,” Brian answered. “In the part of the world I come from it snows for about
a third of the year.”
    “That’s
cold,” Baed said.
    “Not
my kind of place to live,” Jesela added.
    The
others turned to Seles when she was ready to continue. “On the way to the cave
where we took up shelter for the twelve day ordeal, I succumbed to the cold.
When I woke I was being embraced rather warmly by Brian, who was sleeping
soundly.”
    “What?”
the other three asked.
    Seles
smiled. “He used his own body heat to help me warm up.”
    Mira
closed her eyes. “It’s a known fact embracing helps against the cold.” She
opened her eyes and glared at Brian. “You weren’t naked, were you?”
    He
waved her off. “No, I didn’t do that.”
    “Well
anyway, when I woke up, all I remember was how warm he was.” Seles smiled again.
“No matter how scared I was he always calmed me down. He said that no matter
what, he was going to get me off that icy rock. His strength gave me strength.
I don’t know what I would have done if I was alone.”
    Brian
leaned forward. “Remember Seles, it was the same for me. Without what you
taught me I wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”
    “So
what happened in the cave?” Jesela asked.
    “There
were a lot of strange questions,” Seles looked at Brian again, “I was quite
scared at first, to be all alone with a Terran. But as the days passed I saw he
wasn’t much different than us.” She motioned to her left. “It’s your turn
Baed.”
    Baed
thought for a moment. “When Seles and I lived in the royal palace, we had a lot
of fun annoying the adults. Especially our instructors, but I think we also had
a knack for annoying Celestia.”
    Seles
laughed. “Oh, my