Free The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll by Kurtis Smith Page A

outside.  This made Davin feel like he was still dreaming, though he knew he wasn’t now. 
    He cursed to himself and slammed his fist down on the edge of the bed, grimacing as it started to ache. 
    He was wide awake now.  Thinking of nothing else to do he got up and walked outside.  He stomped a few feet away from his cabin and folded onto his knees in the grass.
    ”I don’t want this!” he shouted into the night.  The echo of his voiced reverberated into the hills beyond.  He sat on the grass and let his mind sort itself out. 
    So he was an Ancient, or at least the Descendant of one. 
    What about my parents? He thought.  Surely they had the same abilities, which would have improved their ch ances of surviving.
    This dream woman seemed to think that there was something stirring in this world that would require him to act.  If there was something threatening the existence of his kind or the world, what was he going to do about it?
    He finally decided that he would wait it out.  It was like the woman had said about his future.  If she was right, then his fate would find him soon enough.
     
    ***
    The sunlight was scattering through the trees around Davin’s cabin.  He was still lying in the grass, squinting in the morning light.  He was definitely glad it was morning.  Things made a lot more sense when one wasn’t drowsy. 
    A loud, low-pitched horn sounded in the distance.  It must have waked him when it sounded the first time.  There was nothing that made that sound in Lemirre.  It had to be the army. 
    In a few short minutes Davin dressed and started down toward town himself. 
    As Lemirre came into view he saw no sign of the army yet, but there was the scent of anxiety in the air.  The town was bustling as always, but today it was with nervous energy.  Several people ran into him as he strolled down the central street of town.  Everyone was preparing for the visit, trying to get all of their morning shopping done before the army appeared.  People ran all over the street in disorderly fashion with all sorts of goods in their hands. 
    He finally found a path through the pandemonium to Roland’s shop.  He saw through the window that Roland was hard at work inside. 
    “Roland, don’t kill yourself trying to finish this.  Just tell the First Captain it was an impossible task,” Davin asked as he rounded the doorway.
    Roland stopped working and looked at Davin, obviously thinking hard about his words.  He had definitely struggled with the decision. 
    “You’d better be right about this,” said Roland firmly.  Straightening up and smiling he continued, “Now, are you going to behave yourself for the army?” 
    Davin snorted in amusement.  “Is anyone?  I thought this town didn’t care about all that.”
    Roland gestured to the mild chaos outside his shop.  “You wouldn’t know the way they’re carrying on out there.”
    “We talk big,” Davin agreed, “but when it comes down to it everyone is just as afraid as the other.  You and I both know this town would never make a stand against anything.”
    “Well, the sooner the army moves out, the sooner we can move on, right?”
    “Exactly,” Davin replied.  If only he truly believed that were true.  The Ancient in his dream had said there would be conflict ahead.  He had to tell Roland now about what he had heard.  He didn’t know how many chances he was going have after this conversation. 
    “Roland…” he started after a few long moments.
    Davin didn’t get the words out.  The low horn sounded again.  This time it was much closer.  In fact it sounded like it was right outside.  Davin stepped out and looked.  His mouth dropped. 
    The army was marching up the central street in rows of ten.  They were clad in bright, shimmering silver armor.  Blue accents ran along the forehead of the helmet.  The armor of shoulders, waistline, and calves all held similar blue accents.  They in were perfect unison and ran