Kylari Way

“But…you can’t die, Sergie!  We need you…I need you,” I sobbed helplessly.

Reaching up weakly, he laid a hand on my shoulder and said with failing breath, “All men must die, Son…and…today is a good day to do so.”  His eyes sought the sky and I saw the recognition of danger awaken in them.  “My god…Nat!  The storm…its purpose has become clear to me.  The river, warn them of the river…” With a sharp gasp, he collapsed, his hand sliding away from my shoulder to fall limply across his chest as lightning erupted all around us.  For a moment his eyes seem to blaze with a fire of their own, or was it but a reflection of the storm lit sky?

Overhead, the lightning flashed and roared with incredible frenzy.  In an amazing display it seemed to form a ring directly over us flashing intensely.  One flash lanced down toward the earth to strike Atwan’s Lightning Lance.  Instead of killing Atwan as one would have expected, the lightning forked outward from the lance to strike amongst the Sharone, felling dozens of them while leaving Atwan and those around him staring in amazement.

Then the light faded from Sergie’s eyes and, abruptly, the lightning subsided.