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    Artan's Night
    Artan's Night
    Artan's Night
    Ebook47 pages42 minutes

    Artan's Night

    By Rory Mackay

    ()

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    About this ebook

    ‘Artan’s Night’ is the first in a series of short stories serving as prelude to the novel ELADRIA.

    Artan is a young man with a secret. He has the ability to read people’s minds and hear their thoughts. Struggling to survive in a war-torn, poverty stricken town, he’s been using his newfound power to cheat in casinos; a game that soon backfires when he gets caught. But the worst is still to come. In the middle of the night, the town comes under seige by marauding Ha’shon warriors. Artan is forcibly taken from his home and led on a journey that will change his life - and the fate of his world - forever.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRory Mackay
    Release dateAug 19, 2012
    ISBN9781476351018
    Artan's Night
    Author

    Rory Mackay

    Born and raised in Scotland, I'm a writer, artist and something of a philosopher too. I'm also a social activist, animal lover, music junkie, photographer, cake enthusiast and generally rather-chilled-out-guy.

    Read more from Rory Mackay

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      Book preview

      Artan's Night - Rory Mackay

      ARTAN’S NIGHT

      A short story by

      Rory B Mackay

      Prelude to the novel Eladria

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2012 Rory B Mackay

      Cover artwork and design by Rory B Mackay

      Thank you for downloading this free short story. If you enjoy it, you are welcome to share it with your friends and family. The story may be distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided it remains in its complete and original form without alteration. Thanks for your support.

      The novel Eladria is now available to purchase in paperback and ebook editions.

      For more information please visit

      http://www.dreamlight-fugitive.co.uk

      or http://www.facebook.com/AlanarAscendant.

      CONTENTS

      1. Artan's Night

      2. Afterword

      3. Excerpt from Eladria

      4. About the author

      ARTAN'S NIGHT

      1

      There was no immediate sign of pursuit, but Artan knew that he wasn't in the clear yet.

      Glancing around nervously, he exited the casino and made his way down the cobbled street. The darkened sky was thick with cloud, the only source of light being the pale blue glow of the street-lamps dotted along the sidewalk. The air was cold against his skin, with a dampness suggesting imminent rain.

      Even at this late hour, the town center was far from deserted. He would have to make his way past drunks, drug dealers and military patrols, as well as being careful to avoid entanglement with the street gangs. Walking down the plaza, avoiding eye contact with anyone he encountered along the way, he kept his hand in his left trouser pocket, as if fearful the tightly wrapped wad of currency would vanish if he took his attention off it for even a second.

      Artan could normally sense when he was being followed. But in spite of that, and his cautiousness as he’d left the casino, he was unprepared for the attack that ensued.

      The first thing he felt was a blow to the back of the head, powerful enough to knock him to the ground. Without having to think, his immediate instinct was to get back up. But as he tried to clamber to his feet, one of the attackers punched him in the stomach, forcibly expelling the air from his lungs and knocking him back to the ground, where he lay dazed and breathless.

      As a wave of pain shot through his body, Artan looked up at his assailants in bewilderment. There were three of them: burly, middle-aged men with coarse faces, immaculately groomed and dressed in expensive grey suits. He immediately recognized them from the casino: they were the bodyguards of the businessman he’d just beaten at red-double. He’d been aware of them glowering at him the entire night as he beat their employer at game after game.

      What do you want? Artan asked, still lying upon the cobbles.

      That man you just beat at five games of red-double, one of the men began. You have any idea who he is?

      Artan shook his head.

      His name is Hakan Alaar. Most powerful businessman in this whole region and renowned roulette and bajaka champion.

      One of the other men stepped forward. Unlike the first, who was thin with greying hair and pointed features, this man was slightly overweight, with a rounded, shaved head and a serpentine tattoo winding down his thick neck. He spoke in a gruff tone as he glared down at the boy. "Few have the nerve to challenge him in public as you did. But he was amused at your nerve. An arrogant boy wanting to take on one of the

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