Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #14 May 2015 | Page 66

“Then we’d better keep moving,” Damitri said as he
offered Selina his hand.
They had not been traveling long when they heard the
sound of movement beyond their makeshift barricade.
“We don’t have much time.” Again Davaldion cut the
supports of the tunnel which collapsed behind them.
“There is only one more junction like this before we
get to the surface.” As the words left Davaldion’s
mouth the tunnels shook as the pursuing minions
broke through the first barricade.
They ran, ran as fast as they could, until in the distance they could see the faint glimmer of daylight
through the tunnel opening, but behind them they
heard the second barricade buckle under the weight of
their foes.
“You won’t have time to reach the exit before they
are upon us and this barricade won’t hold them long
enough,” came the defeated response from Davaldion.
“We have to try,” cried Damitri.
Davaldion slowed to a walk: “This is the last of the
interchanges,” he said turning to Selina. “M’lady, I
wronged you. I said I would make amends and that is
something that I still wish to see fulfilled so I give to
you three gifts.” Again he produced the crystal soul
stone and, taking her hand he placed the stone on her
palm. “I give to you the freedom that you returned to
me: keep it close and may it always remind you that
even those that have strayed the furthest from the path
may find it again someday.”
“My second gift to you is this,” he turned to Damitri
and offered him a leather bundle, “this was my greatest possession from an age ago, it is hers now.”

they will tear you apart.” Selina pleaded. “M’lady I
have lived more in the last hour than I have in the last
thousand years, which reminds me… ”
His sword shone cutting the supporting beam, causing
the tunnel to buckle as it began to collapse. “For my
third gift I give you the gift of time, the time to get out
of here and a moment of reflection for when