Chapter 13

They arrived at the village of Vin’s people in less time than was originally estimated.

Chris turned to glance at his co-pilot and saw how anxious and jumpy he had become as they got closer to their destination. He tried to understand what the brown-haired man was feeling and in some way he did.

Coming home was a big deal. But it was that of seeing family and old friends that was bothering Vin. Chris knew it was the unknown of what time had changed. It was the same way Chris felt when he came home to Helion Prime.

When Chris turned back to look forward again, Vin was now facing him. He could believe that Larabee had made the decision to give him time to see his family. Either the man was soft or he did not have much faith in the outcome of their survival.

No matter. Vin was not afraid of dying. He was only afraid of dying alone and now it did not look like that was going to happen. Not with Chris at his side.

The skimmer moved closer to the group of tents that were built on the desert floor. The Ravakar were nomads, seekers of truth and light. They had no love for outsiders or those who did not understand their ways and very little tolerance for those not of their blood.

As the skimmer parked on the edge of the area where the tents were situated the eyes of the curious and suspicious scrutinized the vehicle. It was not often that a skimmer from the big city of New Mecca would be seen in Ravak.

The door to the skimmer opened and Chris and Vin walked out, with the others close behind.

“Stay close to me. No one goes on their own,” instructed Vin.

Chris nodded as well as did the others. They understood how volatile their situation was. One wrong word or action could bring the whole tribe down upon them.

Most of the men, unlike Chris and Buck, were nervous about where they were. Most of them had never been in a Ravakar village before. But Chris and Buck had. It was how Chris acquired the supply of Dragon’s Blood. He and Buck when they served in the military years ago, they were once stationed as a patrol of the deep desert. There they met a young woman who was being attacked by Sandmen.

Ultimately, they had rescued the woman and found out that her people were of the Ravakar. The tribe had shown their appreciation by declaring that they were of the Dragon’s Blood, warriors born and would ever be welcomed in their village.

But this was not the same village or the same people.

Vin looked around. Much had changed since he last saw his people a year ago. Everything had grown and there were faces that he did not know among the people.

“Vin?” came a soft call from behind him. He turned and found himself watching as a young woman came bounding through the throng of people. She was dressed in the simple dress of a Ravakar woman and her long black flowing hair was tied behind her back. She had brown eyes that seemed to show softness, at least to Vin.

“Sharana!” exclaimed Vin, running to the woman and taking her up into his arms. He then kissed her long and hard on the lips as the others watched in interest.

After a moment, they pulled apart and Vin put her down and led her over to the others.

“Guys, this is Sharana. Sharana, this is Chris, Buck, Josiah, Nathan, Ezra and JD.”

Sharana looked askance at the armed men behind them and said, “And them?”

“Their our bodyguards,” piped up Buck quickly.

Sharana eyed them cautiously. “They look like Sodikar,” she said to Vin with contempt in her voice.

“They are, my dear, from Necropolis,” replied Ezra.

“Hmpf!” said Sharana. She then turned to Vin and smiled, her mood changing like the flow of water. “It is good to see you again, my man.”

Vin smiled at her gently, ignoring the looks from the others.

“Her man,” said Buck softly teasingly.

Vin turned a deep shade of red that Chris could not believe the young bounty hunter could turn.

“Yes,” interrupted Sharana putting her hands around Vin’s neck. “He is mine and I am his as it was in the beginnin’.” She then said to Vin, “Ya have not been here in a while, my man. Was huntin’ good?”

“Huntin’ has been very good, Sharana. Is your pa around?”

“Oh, he’s around, ya can be sure. Come,” she answered laughingly, pulling Vin by the hand towards the inner sanctum of the village.

Vin eyed Chris and motioned that they should follow her. Buck ordered the Sodikar guards to stay with the ship. He did not miss the woman’s attitude when it came to the guardsmen.

The six men followed Vin and the young woman as they walked towards a large tent in the middle of the area. They had noticed that it was one of the largest in the village. Chris knew it signified the importance of the man who owned it.

When they finally reached the tent, they found several Ravakar men sitting on the ground in front of it. They were dressed in leather-green jerkins and pants, much like Vin’s tan ones. The soft leather boots, much like Vin’s were green as the rest of them. The only differences beside color was unlike Vin, they wore bows and arrows slung on their backs and long broadswords on their belts. They also were sheik-like headgear unlike Vin’s hooded cloak.

Vin explained softly to the others that this was Jhadia, Holy Warriors of Ravakar. After his pronouncement he could see that it was lost on most of them. He knew that Chris and Josiah understood what it meant and how significant it was that these men were here in front of this particular tent.

Chris sidled up to Vin and whispered, “Who is her father?”

Vin glanced at Chris, wanting to reply. But he did not get the chance.

At that moment an elderly man, dressed in the garbs of a Ravakar warrior except his headdress was more elaborate than the others, stepped out of the tent. Sharana ran to him and hugged him hard. She then spoke something to him in the language of the Ravakar and disappeared into the folds of the tent.

“Acceptus, Vincenzo” said the elderly man walking slowly towards Vin.

“That’s very memor, Aldar. May the light shine.”

The elderly man looked at the others, eyeing them up and down. “I see ya have brought, friends.”

“Yes, Aldar,” replied Vin. He then introduced the other six men to Aldar.

“I am Aldar. I am chieftain of this tribe. Ya are welcome into my home,” said Aldar as he bowed respectfully to them.

“Thank you, Aldar. We’ve been on the rode for a long time and it would be welcomed to rest in your home,” said Chris.

Aldar nodded, but his eyes never left Chris’ person. Aldar knew this man was different from any other outsider or Ravakar for that fact, in more ways than one.

Aldar led him into his tent, which was his home.

When they were all inside, they were led to silken cushions upon the floor of the tent. The cushions were positioned around a great fire into a circle. Aldar motioned for each of them to take a seat, Chris to one side of him and Vin to another. Sharana came out ladled with fruits and wine and served her father and men efficiently.

Once she was done, she then took her plate and her seat besides Vin, smiling at him. Her eyes never left his face. She had not seen her love for over an annus. She had heard of his journeys through other traveling Ravakar, but she never thought she would see him again. She was happy that she was wrong.

“Please, eat,” said Aldar to them, holding his hands out towards the food.

Chris and the others were hungry. They had been eating rations for the past days and right now Chris’ stomach was desiring something different for a change. He knew the others were probably feeling the same way.

As Vin dug into the food without ceremony, the others followed. Chris reached up to his face and removed his glasses from his eyes and glanced around the circle.

Aldar and Sharana gasped once they saw Chris’ eyes.

“What manner of man are you?” asked Aldar with trepidation.

“I am only a man, nothing more,” replied Chris trying to ignore Aldar’s and Sharana’s stares.

“No,” said Aldar, shaking his emphatically. “You are more than that.”

Chris winced in at the statement. It was enough he had the Elementals telling him their insight with their seer ways, now a Ravakar chieftain was telling him things he did not want to hear or believe.

“Listen, uh, I ain’t that hungry,” said Chris annoyed pushing his plate of food away. “I’m kinda tired.” He started to stand up when Aldar pulled him back down.

“No, warrior. Sit. Eat,” demanded Aldar.

Chris glared at him, but sat down anyway.

“Does he always do that when he does not get his way?” Aldar asked of Vin.

“So far from what I’ve seen,” answered Vin softly.

“Shut up, Tanner!” snipped Chris.

“He’s right, Chris. Ya need to eat. Ya ain’t had anythin’ since about two days ago.”

“What?” came Nathan’s shocked response.

“Shit, Tanner! Can’t ya keep ya mouth shut,” growled Chris, avoiding Nathan’s angry eyes.

“Ya ain’t foolin’ anyone, Cowboy,” drawled the bounty hunter. “’Specially me.”

Chris did not utter a word he just kept glaring at the younger brown-haired man.

“Please,” Aldar interrupted, begging the man not to leave.

Chris begrudgingly settled down, but Vin could see he was still not happy about it.

“Here. Try this,” said Aldar handing a piece of fruit that looked purple with black spots to him.

Chris took the fruit, nodding his thanks and bit into it and chewed slowly. He felt his stomach protest at the intrusion as the fruit came to settle inside him.

“It’s good,” was all Chris replied.

Vin eyed him concerned, knowing that since the man had not really eaten in the past couple of days. If he kept it up, he would be in no shape if and when they found the Vicar. He also knew there was something else going on with him, but he did not know how to get it out of the man, at least not yet.

Buck also eyed Chris in concern. He, on the other hand, knew what was troubling his old friend. It was obvious considering they were returning to the one place where Chris almost died. And then with Crematoria and all that happened there, he did not think the man was well enough in mind and soul to handle what they were about to do.

“Vincenzo has been missed by his people for a long time. It is good to have him back and with ones whom he calls friends.”

“It’s good to be back, Aldar.”

“But it seems ya did not acquire what ya seeked.”

“They kinda alluded me, but not for long,” answered Vin calmly.

Aldar nodded. He knew the young Ravakar would find his prey, as he always had.

“My daughter has missed ya a lot also,” said Aldar winking at him.

Vin smiled and turned to face Sharana. She was so quiet that most of the men there had forgotten she was.

“Yeah, I could see that,” said Vin teasingly to her. Sharana smiled and kissed him gently upon the lips, savoring each minute of it.

“My Vin, my man is good at his job. But he needs to be a good lover too,” said Sharana boldly.

Buck snorted so hard, that his drink ended up coming through his nostrils. JD stared in shock his mouth hung open at such a bold statement. Nathan blushed and averted his eyes and Josiah took notice of the ceiling above. Ezra eyes glinted in delight at the uncomfortable predicament of the others and of the discussion of Vin’s prowess with the woman. Chris was the only who seemed not be phased in any way. He stood stoically still to the point that the others thought something was wrong.

“Chris?” called Buck softly towards his friend.

At first Chris did not answer, his slivery green eyes seemed to be staring off somewhere away from them.

“Hey, Chris?” Buck called again, a little louder.

Chris suddenly shivered and his eyes came to bear on Buck and his look of worry.

“Yeah?”

“You okay. Ya seemed to blink out there for a minute.”

“I’m…fine, Buck. Just thinkin’ is all.”

“Thinkin’ about what?” asked Ezra who had heard the quiet conversation.

“Nothin’ of importance, Ez,” replied Chris quickly and then he was silent.

Vin also had not missed the way Chris’ had looked. He knew there was something bothering the Necro heir. He would have to talk to him later and find out once they were alone.

Aldar broke the silence by exclaiming, “Sharana! Ya embarrassin’ our Vincenzo here.”

“It’s alright, Aldar. I missed ya too, Sharana,” stepped in Vin and he leaned over to kiss her gently back on the lips. He would have to make it up to her later and he swore he would before they left to confront the Vicar.

His friends made faces and laughed softly behind hidden faces.

The rest of the night, the meal was taken in silence eating and soft talking.

Vin got caught up on all the latest news and information of his people while Buck and JD discussed whether or not the women of the village were lovelier than the women they had seen in Necropolis.

Nathan and Josiah were in a deep conversation about the religious beliefs of the Ravakar and whether the Ravakar way was right the way to live.

And through it all, Ezra sat quietly scrutinizing Chris with every look. Ezra thought back to the first day he had ever heard of Christopher Connell Larabee.

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It was a day like any other day and Ezra was busily trying to build his new establishment in the god-forsaken town of Kovar. He had come to Kovar because of news that he heard about a new type of ore found in the foothills near the town. He thought that maybe once the Company got involved that the town would be booming.

It was at that time, that he decided he needed a regulator, someone who could take care of the riffraff and handle the bad element.

When he had met Chris, he was talking to the healer of the some town about some medicinal herbs for his hangover when Chris entered on to the scene, bleeding from about a hundred places with eyes like green diamonds.

They man had burst into the healer’s home, waving a triple caliber laser in their faces, requesting that the healer patch him up.

Nathan was shocked at seeing the condition the man was in. As far as he was concerned, the man should have been dead. Nathan asked him who he was, but of course all the man would say was that he was a wanted man and did not wish anyone to know he was there.

What he did not know was that Ezra knew exactly who he was and why he was wanted. Anyone who’s ever had an association with the upper echelon of society knew whom Christopher Connell Larabee was and that he was the most wanted man in universe. And knowing this, Ezra decided that there was a proposition in this knowledge that would not only benefit Chris Larabee, but himself also.

After the good healer had repaired the man’s body somewhat, Ezra gave the man his proposal. At first, the blonde looked to do Ezra irreparable harm. But after a few days of persistent persuasion, the man seemed more amiable to it and that was the day that the partnership of Standish and Larabee commenced.

During that time, Chris would keep the bad guys at bay, while Ezra continued to clean up on the locals waiting for his fortune to be made from the Company’s discovery.

Unfortunately one day while Ezra was waiting for his fortune to be made his contact within the Company came with some devastating news. The new type of ore was just regular ore, which was practically worthless and of course, so was Ezra’s dream.

So after, Ezra decided to turn his new emporium into an inn and tavern until something else came along. During that time he got to know Chris very well. Well, sort of. He knew who he was and that he was once a residence of Crematoria, but that was about all. He found Chris not to be a very talkative person. He usually “yeahs” and “nos” were the best he could get from him on a good day.

Once and only once did Ezra get some insight into the blonde regulator who called himself a Larabee. It was when he had got so drunk that he started talking to himself. It was late and most of the patrons had either gone to bed in the inn or retired to their own home.

Ezra and Kitra were the only occupants, besides Chris at the time.

Chris was busily at a booth in the back, drinking one glass after another of Soebian brandy. Kitra had told Ezra he was on his third bottle and she determined that he would out like a light in another half hour, if he did not die from alcohol poisoning first.

It was during this time that he noticed Chris speaking loudly as if someone was talking to him. He voice would moderate from up to down as if the invisible person was answering his questions and he answering its.

“No!” Erza heard Chris yell. “No, more pain! Please! No!” He then watched as Chris threw the glass in his hand against the far side of the wall of the inn.

Ezra at this time, looked to Kitra who was now staring hard at the drunken man. She then turned a glance to Ezra as to say that maybe he should do something about this, but Ezra was disinclined to do so.

That was when he heard it. The man started growling deep in his throat and the next thing Ezra knew the man was on the floor, writhing in pain.

Ezra and Kitra both had seen enough. They both ran towards the man on the floor, leaving their positions behind the bar.

Ezra grabbed Chris by the arms, trying to find out what was wrong with the man, while Kitra tried to help.

“Chris? Chris, can you hear me?” asked Ezra trying to still the man on the floor.

“No! Don’t! I don’t know! Do you understand? I don’t know!”

“Chris. It’s me Ezra.”

“They’re…killing them,” rasped Chris. His breathing was becoming faster and more erratic. “All because…of me.”

“Chris?” called Ezra worried, trying to bring the man back to reality.

“He’s either delirious or hallucinating,” said Kitra softly.

Ezra knew she was right, but was unsure of how to help him.

“Kitra, go get Nathan,” ordered Ezra.

Kitra nodded and immediately ran for the door to Nathan’s home.

“Come on, Chris,” said Ezra gently lifting the man from the floor and wrapping his arms around him.

“S…s…so cold. C-c-can’t get w-w-warm,” said Chris shivering.

“Chris, listen to me, where do you think are you?”

Chris did not answer at first. His teeth were chattering and his body was shaky violently. Ezra noticed that as he touched the man’s forehead, it was hot.

“Chris, you are safe,” said Ezra trying to calm the man. He was unsure of what to do, of how he could help the man. He and the man were partners, but not that long. He was at a crossroads. He did not know if he should be getting this involved with the hired help, but there was something about this man that invoked loyalty from people. Something that was just uncanny.

“No. Have to get off this planet! They’re dead! Oh…my God…not my eyes! Please!” screamed Chris, struggling in Ezra’s arms.

“Chris!” shouted Ezra. “Chris, it’s over with. You’re safe now.”

Suddenly, the blond on the floor in his arms started to settle and then completely still.

Ezra watched in deep consternation when suddenly slivery green eyes came to bear on him.

“Ez?” said Chris finally, his eyes seeming to focus again and staring at the green eye red caped man.

“Yes, Mr. Larabee. It seems you’ve had a lot to drink,” said Ezra calmly.

“Ez, what am I doin’ on the floor?” asked Chris confused as trying to raised himself up off the floor.

Ezra placed both his hands on the man’s shoulders, gently pushing him back down to the floor.

“Ah, it…it seems that you’ve had an accident…and fell,” lied Ezra.

Chris eyed him suspiciously, but since he could not remember, he knew he had to take Ezra’s statement at face value.

“Well, can ya help me up?” asked Chris annoyed.

Ezra rolled his eyes in exasperation towards the ceiling, but complied with the man’s request and offered his hand to pull the man up.

Chris took Ezra’s offered hand of help and he pulled himself up off the floor, staggering slightly as he got his legs back under control.

Just then Nathan and Kitra came rushing into the inn, Nathan with his medicine bag under his arm and breathing hard.

“What happened?” gasped Nathan, looking at the two men standing, one swaying somewhat.

“Ah, Mr. Larabee took a fall, Mr. Jackson,” said Ezra hurriedly trying to keep the healer from divulging the real reason he was called.

Nathan caught on quickly and nodded silently. “So…is he alright?”

Ezra turned to appraise Chris and found the man was still trying to navigate on his legs. “Somewhat,” answered Ezra.

“Well, why don’t I just take a look and see what damage there might be,” said Nathan walking over to them.

Chris put his hand in the air, halting the man from coming any closer, while he tried to get control of his legs. “Don’t need any help and I don’t need ya witch doctor remedies,” said Chris disagreeably.

“But, Mr. Larabee…” started Ezra.

“Listen, Ez. Thanks for ya concern, but I’m fine. I…don’t…don’t need no…” And before Chris could finish his statement, his eyes rolled up into the back of his head and his knees gave way.

Luckily, Ezra was on ready and quickly caught the man into his arms before he could hit the floor. He then laid Chris gently back down onto the floor and motioned Nathan to come over.

It was a while later when Nathan had finished examination and determined that the man’s blood was way too much saturated with alcohol.

Ezra had already came to that same conclusion but wanted to know what to do.

Ezra and Kitra watched as Nathan pulled out a liquid from his bag and filled it with a hyposyringe. He then interjected it directly into Chris arm and said, “He’ll be out at least a day. Just let him sleep it off. I just gave him somethin’ that’ll clear up the alcohol in his system, but he going to have shit of a hangover.”

Ezra nodded in thought and thanked the healer. He then turned to Kitra and said, “Tell the boys that we will need assistance in getting Mr. Larabee to his room.”

Kitra nodded and then offered to walk out with Nathan. She and Nathan then disappeared.

While Ezra was waiting for his hired men to come, he looked down and stared at the slumbering face of the man he had recently employed.

“Mr. Larabee, it seems that you have had a very disconcerting life. I am starting to re-think our partnership as it seems,” he said quietly to himself.

Chris did not hear the man in his restless slumber. Ezra did not know how close he was to the truth.

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Ezra was broken from his reverie at the loud laughter of Sodikar Captain Buck Wilmington. It seems he found something amusing and Ezra had lost out on what it was.

Nathan turned to see the face of confusion on Ezra’s face and asked, “Ezra, is there something wrong?”

“No, no. Not at all, Mr. Jackson. Just thinking,” replied Ezra.

“Well, don’t think too hard, Ez,” came the soft voice of Chris Larabee. “Ya might hurt yourself.”

Ezra looked up and found himself staring into laughing eyes of a man he thought did not know how to. “Very well, Mr. Larabee…ah, Chris. I will endeavor to keep from straining my thought processes, just for you,” answered Ezra smiling.

Chris sent him a smirk back at the man that was his partner in business. “Hrmph!” thought Chris to himself. “More like partner in crime.” But he had to admit, Ezra had shown himself to be a much-needed friend for the first two years of his return back to Helion Prime and he could not ask for a better companion during that time, although he did not think he had reciprocated the same to Ezra. Just like Buck had when he lived in Necropolis, Ezra had become his only support, although there were times when he wondered whether there was some alternate purpose to his friendliness.

Just then Aldar stood up and Chris looked at the man nodded to Sharana.

Sharana then stood up and said, “Now that dinner is complete, my father has entertainment for ya.” She called out a word and men and women dancers and musicians filled the tent.

They started dancing in the huge area in front of them and Buck whooped aloud at the beautiful women that moved around them.

“Now, Chris, this is what I call entertainment!” yelled Buck over the loud music.

“Just keep thinkin’ below ya belt, Buck. It’s what ya good for,” said Chris teasingly.

Buck laughed heartily and Chris had to smile seeing that his old friend was back from the old days.

Aldar bent down besides Vin and Chris and said, “I would like ya both to come with me. I have somethin’ of importance to impart on ya.”

Chris eyed the man wonderingly, but Vin stood up and motioned Chris to follow his lead. Chris nodded and stood up. He trusted Vin emphatically. If the bounty hunter wanted to hurt him, he could have done several times by now.

The others saw them rising and starting to walk away.

“Hey, Chris, where ya goin’?” asked JD.

“We’ll be right back, Kid,” replied Vin and JD saw the look on Vin’s face that said questions were over with.

JD fell silent, not wanting to make the bounty hunter angry. But JD did not know that there was not much that could.

“We’ll be right here,” called Buck as they walked out of the tent. Vin and Chris heard Buck say to JD, “Hey, Kid, ever been with a woman?”

“It ain’t none of ya business!” responded JD annoyed.

“Just funnin’ with ya, Kid.”

“I ain’t no Kid either!”

Vin and Chris both smiled as they walked out. They both knew that Buck and JD were becoming close friends and they could see how Buck hovered over the young man. They would need that when they met the Vicar. Someone would have to watch over JD and they both figured Buck was the right person to do so.

Translations:

Acceptus-Welcome

Memor – Thoughtful

Annus – Year

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Chapter 14

Vin and Chris were led to another part of the tent, which was divided by cloth to section it off.

“This is my council area. We can talk here freely without worry of prying eyes,” said Aldar ominously.

Vin and Chris glanced at each other and then back at Aldar. They both had a feeling that whatever Aldar was about to discuss with them was important.

He motioned them to seat themselves on the cushions that were placed in a circle. He then sat down and placed his hands on both of knees, scrutinizing Chris specifically.

He then said, “Your doubt will not serve you here, Larabee,” said Aldar.

Chris turned a glaring eye towards the elderly man, but it did not seem to faze the man in the least. Vin held up his hand at Chris and said, “He’s not judgin’ ya, Chris. He only is pointin’ out that ya need to be more open to listen to what he has to say.”

Chris then turned his glare on Vin too, but it soon softened. Vin had proven to be a friend and he could at least listen to what the old man had to say.

“Very well, old man. Say ya peace,” snorted Chris.

“I know that it is hard to accept, Larabee. But it is the same for Vin. He did not want to accept who he is and neither do ya. For young men, so full of pride and strength, it is hard to accept what would weakened them.”

“Are ya trying to tell me I’m weak?” asked Chris miffed at the man’s statement.

“No, Larabee. Ya are not weak. But ya are not indestructible either and ya need to be if ya are to go up against the Vicar.”

At Aldar’s words, Chris sprang to his feet, now completely on guard. How could this man know their mission? To Chris, it could only mean one thing. They had a spy in their ranks.

Vin stood up also, mirroring Chris’ action, but his was for a different reason. He knew that it was not impossible for Aldar to know these things. It was not the thought of betrayal or treachery that made him stand, rather it was caution on what Chris would do next.

“Chris, listen…”

“Listen to what?” exclaimed Chris. “Listen to how this man could know about what we were planning to do? The only thing I’ll listen to right now is if he tells me the name of the traitor and now!”

“Traitor?” asked Aldar confused. “Ya that I had come by this information through a traitor?” Aldar chuckled lightly. “No, my friend. That is not so.”

“If that ain’t so, then how did ya know what where we going?”

“I don’t know where ya are going. All I know is who ya are going after.”

“And how is that? I never told ya why we were here.”

“Ah, but ya did,” replied Aldar simply.

Chris eyed him in confusion, he was baffled by what Aldar statement could mean, but Vin was not, he only nodded in comprehension.

“I don’t get it,” said Chris shaking his head.

“Ya are an open book right now, Larabee. I can read what is in your mind without any trouble. This must change if ya are to go against the Vicar.”

“You can read my mind?” asked Chris looking at him incredulously. “How?”

“Please, sit back down and I will explain,” said Aldar motioning for the blond to take his previous seat.

Chris took his seat, looking to Vin for confirmation that he was going to do the same. As soon as Chris sat down, Vin did the same and looked at Aldar to continue.

“I know of the Riddick and I know of the Larabee that is his descendant. There are not too many people of the Ravakar who do not know. I also know that although ya doubt it, it is your destiny to destroy the Vicar.”

“You still have said how you know?” said Chris eyeing the man warily.

“I am what is known by your people as a seer.”

“A seer?” said Chris disgusted and rolled his eyes upward in exasperation. “I shoulda known.”

“It is not what you think. I am a different kind of seer. I don’t see the future or make predictions. I can only see what is in front of me. I can see what makes a man who he is and what he will become. Larabee, I see many things in ya, but I cannot see what ya will become. It is hidden from me.”

Chris silvery eyes glittered at the man. He did not know what this man was talking about and it was annoying him greatly.

“Vin, what the hell is he talkin’ about?”

“Chris, he’s a great Profeta.”

“Prophet? I thought he was a chieftain?”

“Our prophets are usually chieftains of our tribes. He’s a prophet of mankind. Ravakars have no need of prophetizin’ ‘bout religion or faith. We know that our religion comes in how we treat the land and living things. That’s where our faith exists. That we can live with what God has given us side by side and not destroy it.”

“Unlike the Necro,” interrupted Aldar.

“I am Necro,” said Chris proudly.

“I know. But ya are also Furian and Elemental.”

Chris looked at the man surprised.

“Yes, Larabee. I know what ya are. It is what ya may become that has me worried.”

“Worried? Me?”

“Yes. Ya are an enigma, Larabee. Ya have the potential to save the universe, but ya also have the potential to destroy it.”

“I’ve been told this by our own seers.”

“And it has been calculated by the Elementals,” added Aldar. He saw the shock on Chris’ face. “But even Elementals cannot calculate all the odds. Numbers mean much to them, but sometimes they forget there is more than numbers that determine the future.”

“And you see more?”

“Not more, just differently. I have asked ya here because I wanted to warn ya.”

“Ya wanted to warn me? Why?”

“First of all ya Vin’s friend and that weighs much with me. Vin is a very special man. I believe one day he will be chieftain among all the Ravakar tribes.”

“I thought ya had to be a Profeta to be chieftain.”

“Vin is Profeta. He just does not know yet how to use his ability. But he will learn, it is his destiny to fulfill.”

“Ya keep sayin’ that, Aldar and I don’t think ya got ya head screwed on right on that one,” piped in Vin looking annoyed at the old man.

“He keeps doubtin’ me. I would think after all this long time he would learn that I am never wrong,” said Aldar smiling at the unruly brown-haired man.

Chris could see that although they had their disagreements, Vin and Aldar were really close. There was no mistaken the gleam in Vin’s eye as he argued with the man and the look of comradeship in Aldar’s as he smiled at the young man.

“Well, I can see that might be true for Vin, but I can tell ya it’s not true for me,” said Chris. He had no reason to believe that he was special in anyway. If he was so special, why did everything he touched, everything he ever loved, died in by his hands, no, it was not so and he knew it in his heart.