Sunlord by Ronan Frost Read Free Book Online Page A

hand across his mouth.
"I've come about the invaders from the sky." The Vizier sat up,
then winced as the half-healed flesh in his shoulder pulled. He
continued on. "I came to get your aid and together we shall fight
back." As he spoke he gained strength and looked more alert by the
minute.
    Capac was taken aback. "I thought the Currach didn't
fight at all. Those insane missionaries preach against all forms of
violence. Scroch, he even ate plants and roots instead of killing
prey!"
    "I...I am no longer a part of that society. I have
broken away from the system for the good of both our races. I must
get aboard the Starmen's ship and send them away before my people
are killed."
    Capac was uncomprehending. "The Starmen?"
    "I think he means the Sunlords," put in the Elder. "I
think his name resembles ours in meaning."
    "Sunlords," mused the Vizier. "An apt name. I need to
get aboard the Star-, I mean Sunlords ship."
    "Aboard? Are you crazy?"
    "Some call me that," laughed the Vizier. "I have a
plan. My brains combined with your cunning will enable us to
succeed."
    A silence followed.
    "What is your name?" the Elder asked.
    "They call me the Vizier back in the city. That's my
rank in the Council."
    Capac glanced at the Elder. "What sort of name is
that? What is your real name?"
    The Vizier hesitated. He hadn't used his real name
since childhood. His position dictated what his name was and he had
no need for another. "I once used to be called Ashian, of the Bire
household, but that was long ago."
    The Elder nodded his approval. "It is better to be
known as one's self rather than one's role. My curiosity is aroused
concerning this plan you speak of, but I see you are still weak.
Try and get some more rest Ashian Bire and we can talk again
tomorrow. There is some soup there, help yourself."
    Ashian was grateful. He sat up a trifle groggily and
grasped the small wooden bowl in his white hands, cupping its
warmth to heat his cold hands. He sipped from it and when sated
fell back into the furs. It wasn't long before he sank into a deep
sleep once more.
    "What do you think?" Capac asked once the Currach was
asleep.
    The Elder shrugged. "Either he is insane with fever
or a very brave Currach."
    Capac was silent. The Currach's strange quest had
chilled his blood; whoever would dare to go to Sunlords home?
    * * *
    Ashian recovered slowly and the days past as his
strength returned. He had beaten the last remnants of the fever and
could think clearly once more.
    He was mostly ignored by the rest of the villagers,
but Ashian knew that behind his back they whispered about the
strange new creature. But suspicion of the unknown was
understandable for he was the first Currach many of the villagers
had seen.
    As the week passed he became overwhelmed with the
generosity of the Elder, this was certainly not the 'wild savages'
Orlin had spoken of. Ashian had also spoken to and thanked the
Eloprin hunter who had found him and brought him back, a man called
Nobilor. The hunter had gruffly accepted the thanks and walked
away.
    As Ashian recovered the Elder coaxed more of his
story out of him. The old Eloprin was very interested in his plan
to attack the Sunlords full frontal.
    "Have you had any encounters with the Sunlords?"
asked Ashian one day as they sat in a clearing by the bathing
pool.
    "My village was destroyed by them," muttered the
Elder with passion. "The survivors are those you see before you,
and many carry the scars of attack. I have pledged to avenge those
who have fallen to the Sunlords fire."
    "The Sunlords threaten to destroy my city, too. When
I spoke to them-"
    "You spoke to the Sunlords? You didn't tell me of
this before."
    "I was taken aboard their ship among the stars and
there I was taken to speak with the leader."
    "I don't understand, the Sunlords' home is the
burning sun." The Elder gestured up in the sky to the glowing
yellow orb.
    "No, they live in a steel city in the sky. They are
not gods."
    "Indeed? Many of the villagers