City of Gold Read Free

had provided first intelligence on El Dorado’s swelling war camps.
    “These are dire days,” began Cia solemnly, “the faith of our people is in an epidemically fragile state. So again, I must advise that the information revealed in this council not be shared. Our citizens must continue to assume that there is hope, even if that hope is bleak. General Levenworth...”
    The stone-faced General stood. “Word has come from Flore Gub through the tunnel-phone network: Captain Eagleton’s forces arrived just in time to repel the initial assault on the borderlands… however , rumor spreads that a new legion of enemy soldiers has emerged on the battlefield. Warriors referred to in hushed whispers as The Rephaim : hollow wraiths impervious to fear and pain; men who are not men at all—but unholy demons. Where they trek, the ground ripples with the blood of our men.”
    Cody saw Tat’s face drain of color. It had been he who had first seen the warriors up close. Levenworth continued, “I fear El Dorado is using these assaults merely to gauge a lesser foe’s strength. The Golden King now knows the extent of our weakened state. His strike will be swift and furious. As such, I will not risk wasting our soldiers in unnecessary open conflict or in an indefensible outpost such as Lilley. I have ordered all fighting men to fall back to the fortress of Flore Gub immediately….”
    “And what of Lilley?!” Tat cried. “It’s just a peaceful outpost. You remove the troops and you assure its doom!” The suddenly animated Tat Shunbickle thrust a finger at the General. “You heartless fiend, it will be a bloody massacre!” his voice cracked and his eyes moistened. “My wife…”
    General Levenworth stood silently against the outcry like a rocky shore withstanding the violent crash of the ocean’s waves. Rage drained into fatigue and Tat collapsed back into his chair. When Levenworth spoke again his voice was calm and steady.
    “The fate of Lilley is a tragedy without equal since Sir Randilin’s dark deeds in the First Great War. Captain Talgu evacuated as many people as possible but, regrettably, many still remained when the dark shroud of El Dorado fell over it. I’m sorry, Private. Unfortunately, the price of victory is often the willingness to sacrifice some for the greater good….”
    “Repeat that tonight while you rest in your luxurious palace chambers,” spat Tat venomously.
    At this Kantan broke his silence, “Enough, Private! Step out of line one more time and you’ll earn a date with the gallows. The decision is made. Lilley is now lost behind enemy lines and thus out of our control. We will not let Lilley’s sacrifice be in vain. As much as it pains my soul, our greatest hope now rests in our Book Keeper.” His beady eyes fixated on Cody. “Regardless of how utterly incompetent he may be,” he added spitefully.
    “Indeed, brother. Cody is the key,” declared Cia. “He alone is the symbol that unites Atlantis against El Dorado.”
    Sli Silkian cleared his throat, producing a high-pitched wheeze. “Symbol or not, Kantan is correct. Valuable as he may be, Cody remains an amateur Creator at best. Potential alone does not win victories. He doesn’t stand a chance against the immense power of the Golden King. Let him return to the Brotherhood of Light and complete his training under High Priest Lamgorious Stalkton…”
    “There is no time!” Kantan interjected. “Every moment we delay means more soldiers slaughtered on the borderlands. Flore Gub is strong but not impenetrable. It will fall, and when it does, the wrath of El Dorado will pour into our land like a plague. Cody’s connection to The Code is all that can tilt the ever-slimming odds in our favor. Peace is a time of knowledge—war is a time for action. Cody should be…”
    “ STOP! ” The room faded into silence. All eyes turned to Cody, who was now standing, the veins in his neck bulging as they pumped blood to his reddened face. “