The Revenge of Excalibur Read Free Page B

where his King lay, unconscious, on the same bed his younger brother had died. Panth's eyes brimmed with tears, thinking about the injustice inflicted on his family. His only brother was dead, while his younger sister was being violated on a daily basis. On Teth, Pohat would still be considered a child. He ground his teeth in anger. Every time the guards made an appearance, he had to restrain himself from attacking them, in Pohat's honor.
    Why have they imprisoned my family?
Panth wondered, clenching his right hands into fists.
What do they want from us?
    Panth's eyes widened as he received Pohat's telepathic warning.
So that's why she'd been captured.
She knew about the strange silver objects hidden on their planet. He'd heard rumors from his people of Calens and Eilsels roaming over a remote mountainous region. He and his brother were a day's journey from that area when they were taken in ambush.
Were the men searching for those objects? What is so special about them?
    With a loud huff, Panth swung his four legs over the side of the bed, sitting up. Upper elbows on his inner knees, he leaned forward, placing his head in his hands, his lower arms picking and scratching at the never-ending biting mites.
    Maybe they would never know. But, his sister was right; they must keep the Queen and King alive, as long as possible. Someone would come for them, eventually, he hoped.
Only Osso knows how long I've been in this stinking cell.
His only references of time were the sporadic, rotten meals they were served, or when the guards came to take Arthur away for the deep mind probes.
    When they first dropped Arthur on the cot, drooling, twitching spasmodically, the guards joked about a new weapon their leaders devised to take out the infamous, invincible King. Curious, and fearful, of the type of weapon the Calen's had developed, Panth formed a mental link with Arthur. He recoiled in horror and terror at what he saw. The imbecilic Calens had located an imprisoned Shalit, and using an Ultilear, directed the beam through the silver-encased Shalit, thereby enhancing the power of the weapon. This powerful beam finally took down the Calen despised, false, Earthling King.
    Panth was dumbstruck. Every race knew you didn't mess with a Shalit. They were evil, and sucked the life force out of all living matter.
Where did they find one?
He remembered Pohat's message and the rumors of Calens on his planet.
Is that what those silver objects are? Shalits? How did they arrive there? Who hid them on Teth?
    Panth turned his head, resting his chin in his hands, staring at Arthur. Being a renowned mental healer on Teth, whom his people traveled vast distances to seek treatment from, Panth knew his King's brain was severely damaged. Most was a result of the unknown weapon, but had been exacerbated by the intensive mind probes from The One. Panth shuddered, thinking about the giant brain in the lower level, and the whispering he'd overheard from terrified guards, who'd witnessed what happened to the prisoners, once the interrogations were finished.
    Restless, he slowly rose, and, on unsteady legs, shambled over to the Earthman. He'd never heard of a Human before, not until the Earthling had been tossed into his cell. Leaning over, he raised one of Arthur's eyelids with his lower hand, while feeling his forehead with his upper hand. The eyeball rolled-up to the back of his head, and his skin was cold and clammy.
    Panth had been using his expertise to heal Arthur's mind, but the mental probes were hindering the process. He hung his head, feeling sad and helpless. Since Arthur's arrival, he'd come to respect this male, and considered him a friend, almost like a brother. If one of them fell into despair, the other one would give their strength to keep them going. But, each time Arthur returned from the interrogating probes, it took longer for his conscious mind to surface again.
    Panth linked into Arthur's mind, seeing flashes of memories about a Commander Dobie