Free The Crystal Warriors by William R. Forstchen Page A

draw upon the Essence. Only the gods themselves, their heirs, and sorcerers like myself may use it."
    "You mean that you're a mutant, and this magic crap comes from the gods," Kochanski scoffed.
    Pina's gaze hardened, and the aura of diffused light that surrounded his body grew much brighter.
    Kraut kicked Kochanski lightly and muttered, "Don't piss him off, asshole."
    Mark was more blunt. "Kochanski, shut the fuck up!" And be stepped between Pina and his man, protecting him with his body.
    "Pina, a lot of what you're saying is hard for us to swallow."
    Ikawa joined in, "We deeply appreciate your enlightening us. Please continue." Mark shot him a grateful glance.
    Pina was still staring hard at Kochanski. "The ability to use the Essence is so rare and precious that families and clans thank fate when a child is born with it. It occurs in only one of a million births."
    He paused. There was another benefit to using the Essence, but he didn't want to mention it yet. "And the gods are not like your god. Our gods are here with us, enormously powerful, and a permanent fixture of our world of Haven. When you swear fealty to Allic you are also swearing loyalty to his father and liege lord, Jartan, ruler of this whole region of the planet, and one of the Creators."
    There was silence as the men absorbed what he was saying.
    "I will see to it that you eventually meet Jartan, Kochanski. And we will see if you still have doubts."
    There was silence for a moment and Pina continued, "Once we get you settled in quarters, you will start your training."
    "Does that mean we're going to have to live with the slants?" Lieutenant Younger pointed contemptuously to the Japanese.
    As one man the Japanese turned, ready to face the challenge.
    "Unwashed foreign pig. Our ancestors were civilized before your forebears crawled from under rocks. Why should we want to live with you?" hissed Sergeant Nobuaki.
    A crack like thunder brought them back to reality. Pina brought his arms down and said quietly, "I grow weary of this. You are from the same world, fighting for survival in a hostile environment. I order you to put aside your hatreds. Failure to treat each other properly will be severely punished. I trust I am making myself clear."
    The two groups fell silent, eyeing each other suspiciously. Pina looked the two groups over for a moment and then indicated that the men should settle down and rest.
    Pina strode over to his two assistants and relaxed beneath the shade of a low hanging tree.
    "So none of them were aware of the Essence in their own world?" one assistant asked incredulously.
    "Remarkable, isn't it?" Pina replied quietly. "Apparently no one in their entire world has ever been exposed to the Essence in its pure form, and thus they have no built-in immunity to wielding it. A strange world, that."
    "Wait until they find out what having the ability to use the Essence means," the first assistant said, chuckling softly. "As off balance as they seem to be right now, which do you think is going to affect them more―the powers of a sorcerer or the increased lifespan?"
    "The latter," Pina said softly. "A lifetime of a thousand years will truly stun them."
    Both assistants nodded.
    "The problem for them," Pina continued, "is how that will affect their desire to return to their own world, and lose the gifts of power and extended life."
    * * * *
    The dawn had been magnificent. The sun now rose to its zenith, flooding the savannah with a fiery light. Sounds from birds and animals had reached a stunning crescendo at dawn, but were now mute―lulled by the noonday heat.
    The men were in various stages of repose, and no one had said a word for some time.
    "Bogeys!" screamed one of the Americans. "There's a formation coming this way from the north."
    Everyone was on his feet in an instant, weapons ready.
    With his binoculars, Ikawa could count sixteen men flying in formation. Each wore the same style of dress as Pina and his men, with a glowing belt of