Traitor, Book 1 of The Turner Chronicles

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  Though he was still weak and officially bedridden three days later, Aaron could not wait any longer. He had a long discussion with the doctor and a longer one with Jorrin, but he had the ultimate argument to support his position. Neither of them could stop him from trying to do what he wanted. Not even straps and ties could keep him in his bed if he did not want to be there. So, Aaron gave them a choice. They could help him, or they could stand aside and watch while Aaron likely killed himself.

  Since there did not seem to be much of a choice, Jorrin agreed to come along.

  Aaron transferred them to the small, slime covered lake where he and Beech had fought their battle. Once there, he lay back in the tall grass and let the sun beat its warming rays into him while Jorrin did all the work.

  Just to settle his mind that Beech was really dead, Jorrin spent a little time examining the corpse. He told Aaron that Beech was now lying on his side, curled up on himself, but the sword still pierced his shoulder and came out his back. Aaron had Jorrin pull the sword free and throw it into the lake, figuring that anyone who was willing to swim through the slimy water to search for it had to be a pretty desperate fellow indeed. Try as he might, he had a hard time imagining anyone being that desperate. Besides, the sword was only extremely dangerous when the person using it possessed a deadly Talent that was enhanced by a Talent Stone. Less than one percent of all Talents were actually deadly. Talent Stones were rare, and Talent Masters were almost unknown because very few people were born with the abilities needed to become a master. Fewer still ever found a Stone. The chances were very small that the sword would be found and used by someone who would cause further trouble.

  Afterward, Jorrin gathered up the scattered shotguns from where Aaron had left or dropped them. He searched the area and found most of the empty shell casings and all of the full ones Aaron had dropped. While Jorrin searched, Aaron thought about Beech and his position among the savages. Beech was revered and hated by them. He was a messiah and a pariah. The more Aaron thought on the matter, the more uneasy he became. He did not want anyone to have any reason to search this area, because despite his reasoning, the sword was in the lake and could be found.

  Jorrin carried Aaron over to where Beech lay. Looking at the man he had killed, Aaron felt nothing, no remorse, no anger, no hate, and no relief. His emotions regarding Beech were mostly dead, and yet he could feel other ones stirring about. Something inside him finally wanted to see his children.

  As a last gesture Aaron transferred Beech to where the nomad camp might still remain. Hopefully, the natives would quit wondering and worrying about what Beech planned for them. They could get on with their own lives, lives that were no longer tangled with that of a charismatic monster.

  When that task was finished, Jorrin lifted Aaron in his massive arms, and Aaron once again used his Talent.

  Flicker