Thanks for the comments on the previous post. I have launched straight into a second attempt on the back of it.
Chapter 1
When hunting a god, there is a fine line between being the hunter and the prey. One has to be outlandishly ambitious to attempt such a thing; one has to be teetering on the edge of insanity to attempt the hunt alone. Janus Samuson was currently staring over the edge. In the complete darkness of the freight crate which had become his transport, Janus had become the prey.
In truth, he had been fortunate to make it off Andor at all. Janus found it strange that human drug smugglers were ashore on an Elvin world, but Fate did owe him a favour or two, so he considered it adequate remittance. Though it would be fair to suggest that Janus had hoped for a more comfortable mode of transport.
Ivan, the crew leader had promised Janus that they were headed to the West. Janus knew better than to trust the word of a smuggler, but he seriously doubted they could go in any other direction. Harmony’s drug trade was centred on the West, where all the worlds of Men were. There was a bit of trade to be had in the Near North, where the Dwarven markets were. Dwarves were always keen for steroid or stimulant, particularly as competition amongst them intensified.
Janus liked to distract himself with idle thoughts. His current predicament was such that any distraction was welcome. Though he knew that avoiding the game was no way to play. The game being evenly poised. Neither side had really revealed their hands yet, but each knew the others goals. Knowing his enemy’s goal was Janus’s greatest advantage and disadvantage. The Whisper’s great fixation with eradicating anything which had trace of The Lanus about it, meant that although he did not know of Serena, he searched for it. Janus knew that Serena represented his castle, but he did not his castle out in open play, at least not yet. If he could somehow reach Serena without leading the enemy to his door, he could at least regroup. Serena represented a retreat to be sure, but Serena also represented something of a high ground. The trick was getting there without a pawn in toe. That would prove problematic.
Janus pushed against the lid of the crate to check if it was still sealed. It was. An impish anxiety danced across his mind, what if this was all an elaborate trap?
Credit where it was due, The Whisper was a shrewd tactician, he deployed his agents with great care. He had Janus watching who was behind him. Even children were not exempt from being called into service. Janus shuddered. He'd call the despicable practice cowardice, but it had been an effective gambit. He felt a sharp pain as he drew breath, reminding him just how effective a gambit it had been.
Looking down at the palms of hands, Janus took some solace. The blue light which nestled there, reminded Janus of just how far he had come.
Chapter 1
When hunting a god, there is a fine line between being the hunter and the prey. One has to be outlandishly ambitious to attempt such a thing; one has to be teetering on the edge of insanity to attempt the hunt alone. Janus Samuson was currently staring over the edge. In the complete darkness of the freight crate which had become his transport, Janus had become the prey.
In truth, he had been fortunate to make it off Andor at all. Janus found it strange that human drug smugglers were ashore on an Elvin world, but Fate did owe him a favour or two, so he considered it adequate remittance. Though it would be fair to suggest that Janus had hoped for a more comfortable mode of transport.
Ivan, the crew leader had promised Janus that they were headed to the West. Janus knew better than to trust the word of a smuggler, but he seriously doubted they could go in any other direction. Harmony’s drug trade was centred on the West, where all the worlds of Men were. There was a bit of trade to be had in the Near North, where the Dwarven markets were. Dwarves were always keen for steroid or stimulant, particularly as competition amongst them intensified.
Janus liked to distract himself with idle thoughts. His current predicament was such that any distraction was welcome. Though he knew that avoiding the game was no way to play. The game being evenly poised. Neither side had really revealed their hands yet, but each knew the others goals. Knowing his enemy’s goal was Janus’s greatest advantage and disadvantage. The Whisper’s great fixation with eradicating anything which had trace of The Lanus about it, meant that although he did not know of Serena, he searched for it. Janus knew that Serena represented his castle, but he did not his castle out in open play, at least not yet. If he could somehow reach Serena without leading the enemy to his door, he could at least regroup. Serena represented a retreat to be sure, but Serena also represented something of a high ground. The trick was getting there without a pawn in toe. That would prove problematic.
Janus pushed against the lid of the crate to check if it was still sealed. It was. An impish anxiety danced across his mind, what if this was all an elaborate trap?
Credit where it was due, The Whisper was a shrewd tactician, he deployed his agents with great care. He had Janus watching who was behind him. Even children were not exempt from being called into service. Janus shuddered. He'd call the despicable practice cowardice, but it had been an effective gambit. He felt a sharp pain as he drew breath, reminding him just how effective a gambit it had been.
Looking down at the palms of hands, Janus took some solace. The blue light which nestled there, reminded Janus of just how far he had come.
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