Times Like These Read online

  "Can this take me to Gateway Control?" Sean asked the device, adding the name for the station that had been listed on the map Mahkiyoc had given him.

  "Move to the first car in the line,"' appeared above the touch point.

  Going to the first car, Sean touched it and asked the same question again.

  'Transit time is one quarter daer.'

  "Three hours," Sean said, looking over at the others.

  "How far away is this place?" Roxy asked.

  Sean shrugged. "Thousand miles maybe? I haven't figured out their measurement scale yet."

  "I'm running the diagnostics on the train," Rowan called without looking up. "Power is at fifty percent, and maintenance is long overdue, so it's limited to one tenth of usual speed."

  "Well, at least it will take us."

  "So when do we leave?" Roxy asked, looking at first Sean, and then the First.

  "Right after we find out how hard it is to pry Mahkiyoc out of that seat," the First growled.

  #

  King Sladd looked around his throne room; all eighteen of his own personal lords were in attendance.

  "You are all no doubt wondering why I have called this meeting, so early in the cycle that the main gateway has not yet even reached its full size. Simply put, as you may know, I have lost Prince Spis. A good many of his lords died, as well as several of Prince Skarm's, when the lions launched their attack on our terminus fort on the other side of the gateway."

  King Sladd noticed the guarded looks his lords were exchanging. They all knew what was coming.

  "Because of this, I ordered Prince Lagereld into the field. His forces started through the gateway two days ago and will continue until tonight. He is bringing more than half of his lords and his people. Prince Skarm has also increased his numbers by calling more of his sworn through to join him.

  "As I'm sure you have all heard, the treasures that await us on the other side of the gate are beyond the ability for one to imagine. As you have not heard, those treasures are being protected quite fiercely by the lions who have claimed that plane for their own.

  "But this will not stand. If we do not make a massive presence over there, so we can start shipping food back here in large numbers, the permanent gateway, which is our right to build to such a fruitful plane, will not be established.

  "Normally when a gateway opens and we go on the hunt, our biggest concern is about our territory and holdings back home. But never before have we come across such an abundance of food. Normally we are fearful of being trapped on a plane after we have harvested; we fear starving.

  "But not here. Even if the permanent gate does not form, even if we are stuck there for a full turn of the gates, there will still be more food there than we can eat.

  "This is a time for decisiveness. This is a time for bold moves and fierce strikes. My oathbound, I am going through the gateway, and I am taking all of you with me. We will construct new keeps, new towns, a new castle. We will make our prey build us the things we want, and then we will eat them when they are done!

  "And when the time comes to leave, if it ever does, we will look around at all we have wrought, and I daresay we will all agree to stay!"

  "When are we leaving, my King?" Lord Klinge asked.

  "I wish for us to begin no more than seven duo-daers from now."

  "Would you have us leave nothing to defend our keeps?" Lord Fjern asked next.

  "Leave the bare minimum to hold your keeps for now. Do not leave your best, your most experienced behind. I foresee that the fight will be hard, but the reward will be great. This is not a time to hold back."

  "I hear and I will do!" Lord Cykel said and pressed his head to the floor.

  "I hear and I will do!" Lord Klinge said next, and then one after another each of his lords agreed to his command.

  Sladd smiled, pleased. None of his lords looked unhappy. Actually, they all looked quite eager to be going. While many of his people had been forced to respawn, they'd still come back telling of the riches of the hunting grounds and how well they'd been eating before they'd been sent back here. They all knew it was only a matter of time until the lions were killed and the will of their prey to resist, broken.

  That was the way it had always been and would always be. Because they were the predator, they were the chosen.

  And now, his lords and his people, who normally were held back to eat last as the others got their fill, would be among the first. So yes, they were both pleased and excited over this change in plans.

  "You are all dismissed, be about your work and make haste! I already hunger for the feasts of the victories we shall have!"

  His lords bowed again and quickly left the room.

  "My King, your lords do seem quite enthusiastic about your plans," his advisor Eldstaden said after his lords had departed.

  "As they should be," King Sladd said with a smile, "and as I am as well. Any word from Prince Talt?"

  "Actually, yes. A messenger showed up prior to the meeting."

  "What did he say?"

  "That he was ambushed by a large force of lions. He did not have sufficient force to take them on, so he withdrew into Spis' lands to increase his numbers and attack them again."

  "Lions?" King Sladd looked surprised. "Are these the same ones that have been harassing and killing my princes' lords and followers?"

  "I'm not sure, my King. While Prince Talt's report is sparse on details, I know he set off with a very large force when he left for the mountain. If he felt he needed more forces to deal with them, that would make it a fearsome group, indeed."

  King Sladd thought about that a moment. Prince Talt was an apt commander, and had won many fights, both here and in the many feeding grounds he had been to.

  "Investigate the holdings of the two lords he took with him. It's always possible that some returned from the fight early. I would like to know more about this fight."

  "You suspect the prince of lying?"

  "Perhaps," King Sladd said, leaning back and stroking his chin in thought. "But Prince Talt is a very capable leader with well-trained troops. If he really was forced to retreat and gather reinforcements, this will be something that will bear further investigation."

  "Do you think they mean to invade us?" Eldstaden asked with an incredulous look.

  King Sladd laughed. "No! They seek mainly to cause problems and draw our attention elsewhere. All the more reason for me to move through the gateway to the other side. Have you heard anything on the battle Skarm and Lagereld are currently fighting?"

  "Not yet, my King."

  "Keep me informed. Now, go about your work. I have things to consider."

  Eldstaden nodded and backed out of the room. "Yes, my King. Of course!"

  End Book Sixteen

  Afterword

  Hello everyone, I'd like to start by saying, if you enjoyed this book, please go on Amazon and give me a review and a rating. I've said it before, and of course I'll say it again: Ratings are my lifeblood as an independent author, with 4- and 5-star ratings being the ones that help me the most. The more of those I get, the more likely Amazon is to show my work to other folks.

  So, book 16. When I started writing this story I never thought I'd get past six, much less sixteen. That's part of why the arcs were broken up like they were. So I could just wrap the story up easily if it turned out it wasn't popular, or if it stopped being popular.

  But surprisingly, it hasn't stopped being popular and it hasn't stopped selling. Oh sales are a bit slower now; after all, not many people expect a series to run as long as this one has. So again, thank all of YOU for staying with it and following the story.

  Yes, the story, the original plan I made over two years ago, is drawing to a close, the end is near, as they say. What will come next? Well there are a few other things I need to get caught up with; another Portals of Infinity book, a project I've been working on with two other authors to see if that bears fruit, another new series (which won't be as long as this one) and then
perhaps a return to this world to see just what's been going on.

  I know there are going to be people who will wish for this particular series to continue on for many more books, perhaps even forever (!) but I've never been a fan of stories that never ended (Inuyasha drove me crazy with that and eventually lost me - even Himura Kenshin had an end that was well worth watching to). So after this series concludes if there is enough interest there will be a follow on story. Mostly likely with new characters, or perhaps existing characters you haven't really gotten to know.

  I also need to write a bunch of short stories to add to the ones already out there.

  And maybe revisit Shadow to see what's been going on in his life.

  Once again, I'd like to thank all of you for buying my books and supporting me. I do it all for you, and you all mean so much to me. Hopefully I will be able to continue to do so.

  Some Recommendations: As mentioned before, I do have another name I write under: John Van Stry. If you haven't looked at it, you might appreciate my 'Portals of Infinity' series. It's currently at eight books and will continue; I will hopefully be writing the ninth book in the series within the next few months.

  Some other people I enjoy reading in this genre, and you might, as well:

  William D. Arand (aka Randi Darren) – Please check him out, he's good. I've been a big fan of William's since I discovered his work. It was kind of a funny moment for me when I found out he was a fan of my stuff as well. I'm honestly beginning to suspect that he can't write a bad story, because every book he writes is just so much better than the one before. I just finished 'Swing Shift', and it was great. You should really buy his books.

  Blaise Corvin – The Delvers books are really a lot of fun and very much worth it. When I first came across his Delvers LLC books, I almost felt kind of jealous, because I was like 'why didn't I think of that?' I do think if you like my stuff, you'll like his as well, so check it out! And definitely give the Nora Hazard book a try ('Mitigating Risk' is the first one), I'm reading it now and really enjoying it.

  Michael-Scott Earle – one of these days I'm going to bribe him to finish Lion Quest.

  They're all good people and great writers.

  Daniel Schinhofen - another author you should consider checking out as well.

  If you're into 'Harem' type fiction, you may also want to check out this group on Facebook to see who else is writing it that you might like:

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/haremlit/

  Again, thank you for your support and for buying my books.

  My Amazon Author's webpage:

  https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Stryvant/e/B06ZY7L62L/

  Occasional announcements at:

  https://stryvant.blogspot.com/

  Jan Stryvant website at:

  http://www.vanstry.net/stryvant/

  (The stuff written under my real name - check it out, you might like it too!)

  John Van Stry website at:

  http://www.vanstry.net/

  Email:

  [email protected]