The Ancients Read Free Page B

will be able to break those free who were so violently taken from this world.”
    Martin smiles, “You know I would do anything for you, Samara.”
    “Oh I know.  See you in two days.” I say this as I lean in to whisper in his ear, “Tell no one of us, of us tell none, be my sight, but not my voice.”
    I lean back and smile at Martin, “Remember eleven.”
    “I will be here.”
    Charles
    “Damn, rusty old piece of shit!” I kick the piece of machinery I was working on all day to no avail.  Fred, my black pit bull, just cocked his head with his tongue lolled out to the side looking as silly as always.  So much for a guard dog.  The door to my shop dings indicating a customer.  It was late.  I must have forgot to lock it.  “We are closed,” I yell as I throw my rag onto the machine.
    “Not for me I hope,” a beautiful red haired woman said with a velvety voice.
    One look at her and I know she is dangerous, “I didn’t stutter, lass.  I only forgot to lock the door.  Now be gone with you.”
    “Oh Charles,” she smiles, “It is Charles isn’t it?”
    “That is me, but I ain’t interested lady.”
    “Well Charles, I think you could be if you just listen.  I have a proposition for you.”
    “Look lady my dealings with your breed are done,” I shake my head.  “One too many witches got me into trouble especially pretty red heads like yourself.  I may be a dwarf, but I ain’t dumb.”
    I watched as the pretty lady’s eyes begin to glow.  I hear Fred whimper in the background as he scampers into the back room.  “Now, you look here, dwarf.  I came along way to get the items I require.  You will help.”
    “No, means no, lady.”
    “I am afraid you have no choice in the matter, dwarf,” she smiles a smile that is anything but pleasant.  “I am calling in a life debt you owe my family.  You will honor it or your Gods will strike you down.  My name is Samara de Moray.”
    I feel my face pale.  “de Moray?  But that is impossible!  That line died out a century ago.”
    “Do you want to risk it?  I promise you my ancestor was Jaqueline de Moray who saved you from execution in 1890.  You did not actually think you escaped your fate, did you?”
    I know I am stuck.  Jaqueline saved me from death which means I am in her debt.  She died prior to being able to collect which left the debt to be collected by her family.  I sigh, “I still want proof.”
    “I believe you know what this is,” she smirks at me knowing I am going to help her.  She lays in front of me the necklace Jaqueline and I spelled for the debt.
    Why is this happening now?  I finally have a decent shop.  I haven’t even done anything illegal in twenty years.  Guess that is about to change.  “What do you want?”
    “So glad we finally have any understanding.  I need three items.  You acquire these items in the next two days and your debt is paid,” she says as she hands me the list.
    “A Flint Knife from the Naqada period, a flail symbol of power from the God Osiris, and Osiris’ onyx amulet.  How the hell am I supposed to get these?!  Most of these are locked away and the ones on the black market would cost millions.”  This is not good.
    Samara simply shrugs her shoulders, “I don’t care where you get them from my dear Charles.  I am sure a very experienced dwarf of your reputation will have no problems.  I will be here in two days time at sunset to retrieve my items and release you from your life debt.”
    Up until this point she stayed a few feet from me, however as she spoke she glided towards me cupping my chin caressing my cheek with a long black painted nail.  “Two days, dwarf.”  With that she jerked away, making her way to the door.
    Finally she was gone.  When the bell over the door finished ringing, I see Fred come through the back door and he makes his way to my side.  With my shortened dwarf size, I am only a foot and half taller than him.  “Don’t worry, boy I