Free Episode #1 - "Torn": Star Chasers (Volume 1) by Emily Asimov

grasping at his skin. A shiver ran up his spine, bringing a tingling sensation to his neck, which he hunched up. Ty crept slowly toward the safety of dry ground.
         “We have about an hour of light left,” explained Phaylio sounding remorseful at the day’s end. He gave Ty a wry smile. He stroked something within the folds of his overcoat. “Would that the two of you would one day be wed, my life would be complete. I know she would be happy with you; you have a touch of care in your eyes, Ty. I always marked it there, just so.” He said pointing to a trace of light in Ty’s eyes.
         Ty stared at him, giving Phaylio his full attention now. “What?... If I did something to lend you to think... to think that, I am sorry. I must be carrying on, the hour is late...”
         “Yes, it truly is...” summarized Phaylio. “I have something to ask you, Ty. And I want your full attention.”
         “Go on...” replied Ty, “I am listening.”
         “I want you to go this very night, don’t delay... Go as far away from here as you care to go, and never come back.”
         “You want me to go?” asked Ty, rather hurt.
         “Yes, I want you to go, go away, and take Shilastar with you...”
         “Take Shilastar with me?”
         “Yes, I want you to take her with you, take her as far away from here as you can. Take her to a place where there is no darkness and the sun never sets, take her to a place where there is no danger, and everyone is free and equal... Do you know such a place, Ty? Would you take Shilastar there?”
         Phaylio stopped Ty’s lips with his hand, as Ty attempted to respond. “It is only a dream of mine, Ty. You need not worry about it. But would you take her to a place far enough away so that she could be safe? Make it an obscure corner... someplace with mountains and sandy beaches like this one, a place with trees and grasses... There I go running wild again. Just take her away from here is all I ask.”
         “I don’t know if I could, even if I said I would. I’m not sure if I am strong enough...”
         “Oh, I think you are, if you have a mind to try.”
         “I... I don’t know. I could place her in danger. It is so peaceful here. You do not know what trouble I am in, nor would you want to, or perhaps hope to understand.”
         “Oh, really,” returned Phaylio, meaning it as both a question and a statement. “It is that last thing I wish, Ty, would you do it for our friendship’s sake?”
         “I... I’m not sure.”
         “I always thought you would be the one to put the mark upon us, but it turns out it was not so. But it chanced for the better, for now you are still alive. Of course, the other way around would have served my purposes better, though I never really figured out how you would put the mark upon us and still live. If you have been the driving force of the killing, I could have coerced you to my plans, for you would have no other choice. But now I have nothing to hold over you, save this: I am your friend, and Shilastar is your friend, and we are in trouble.”
         “Trouble? What kind of trouble? Phaylio, everything is all right. They are gone now, there is nothing to concern yourself over.”
         “You still don’t understand, I have been grooming you as best I can, and still you do not understand. Were the many years of work for nothing?” Phaylio asked himself, sitting down on the sand. It was cool against his buttocks, especially as the water swept upon him. Only a few more minutes of light were left in the sky, and Phaylio’s eyes were growing heavy. He had so much to do, and so little time to do it in. “Ty, I want you to take her with you when you go. One stop out of the myriad you will play over your lifetime, is it so much to ask? Take her wherever you care.”
         “Phaylio...”
         “I know, I know,” muttered Phaylio. He closed his eyes