The Search for Gram by Chris Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page A

The feeling was surreal; 120 eyes looked at them, but not a voice spoke.
    A feeling of dread overwhelmed Calvin as he returned the stares of the Aesir.
    “Welcome to Golirion,” said a voice from behind them. The Terrans and Captain Nightsong turned to find the Thor and queen in an alcove above them, sitting on thrones.
    “Thank you for your welcome,” said Captain Sheppard, “but this feels less like a welcome and more like an inspection. We thought we were here at your invitation. Were we mistaken?”
    “No, you are quite correct in that you are here at our request,” said the Thor, “and the queen and I are very happy you have come. Our people have a pressing need which must be discussed, and an answer must be found to the troubles we are having. We need to determine what we are going to do about our missing forces; however, there has been a complication.”
    “What’s the complication?” asked Captain Sheppard.
    “One of our reeves has declared the right of trial by combat,” replied the Thor.
    “Trial by combat?” asked Captain Sheppard, not liking where this was going. “Trial by combat with whom? ”
    “With Lieutenant Commander Hobbs, actually,” said the Thor. “The reeve disputes that Lieutenant Commander Hobbs is the hero we have been looking for. He wants to lead the mission and has challenged Lieutenant Commander Hobbs to single combat.”
    “ Swina bqllr! ” said Captain Nightsong under his breath. “I was afraid this would happen.”
    “With all due respect, Thor,” said Captain Sheppard, “this is stupid. We come all this way to help you and find out we have to conduct some sort of challenge before we can? That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. C’mon folks, we’re leaving.” He started walking toward the door through which they had entered, underneath the Thor’s platform.
    “It’s okay, Captain Sheppard,” said Calvin. “I’ve got this. This feels like something I need to do.” He looked at the Thor. “What is the nature of this combat?”
    “To the death,” replied the Thor. “It is the only possible outcome of single combat. Do you accept?”
    A momentary wave of panic darted through Calvin, and his eyes jumped from side to side as his body unconsciously tried to look for a way out. Shaking his head, he regained control. He took a breath, held it for a second and then released it. He’d been in worse positions; he’d get through this. He nodded his head. “I do,” he said with more enthusiasm than he felt.
    “Bring in the challenger!” called the Thor. A door on the other side of the room opened, and one of the blue Aesir came out, held by two of the green topsiders. “I’ll kill him!” the Drow screamed. “I’ll kill them all! No aliens should be allowed on our world! No more alien obligations!” Spittle flew from his mouth, and he jerked violently, trying to free himself from the two Aesir holding him.
    “Thor, he doesn’t…he doesn’t appear totally sane,” said Captain Sheppard.
    “I’m afraid he’s not,” replied the Aesir. “He has his good moments and his bad. This, unfortunately, is not one of his good ones. He was exiled to a small county where he couldn’t harm himself or anyone else; however, he somehow snuck back into the capital when he heard foreigners had come.”
    “You’ve got to call off the duel!”
    “I cannot,” replied the Thor. “Once accepted, it cannot be undone.”
    “It’s okay, sir,” said Calvin. “If he’s crazy, he can’t fight very well, can he? I need to do this.”
    Captain Sheppard raised an eyebrow.
    “Really, sir,” said Calvin with a nod. “I’ve faced worse odds.”
    “If you say so,” said Captain Sheppard, not sounding convinced.
    The challenger had stopped struggling and had fallen forward onto his knees although the two Aesir holding him maintained their grip. The Aesir no longer resisted, but he had lapsed into a litany of, “I’ll kill him,” which was even more frightening. A