Quantum Heights: Book one of the Dead Path Chronicles Read online

  QUANTUM HEIGHTS

  Book one of the Dead Path Chronicles

  by

  RA.Valicek

  Copyright © 2016 Richard A Valicek

  All rights reserved.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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  Table of Contents

  Intro

  1 - Something Wicked Comes This Way

  2 - A Vampire’s Love

  3 - Cold Hearted and Driven

  4 - Quantum Heights

  5 - Escape from Zaderack

  6 - Win, Lose, or Die

  7 - Menate’ el Demore’

  8 - The Train Ride

  9 - Tillies Fine Watches

  10 - The Goncools

  11 - Of Absence and Malice - Part 1

  12 - Of Code and Honor

  13 - First Knight

  14 - The Mists and the Avant-Guard

  15 - Of Absence and Malice - Part 2

  16 - Fallen

  17 - Down and Out at Quigley’s

  18 - Time and Time Again

  19 - Masquerade /the Power of the Golden Fleece

  20 - Inferno

  About Richard.

  Intro

  Their world has changed. None will live; none now will rest. The evil forces have risen to conflict chaos and destruction upon the free people of Alamptria. The rise of the knight masters of Petoshine will challenge the monstrosities and sinister plots. The great elf wizard, Grongone, and Felicia - the Golden Fleece will guide and strengthen the knight masters. The power of the vim must triumph over the darkness of the lands. Let me tell you a tale… once, in a far off land called Alamptria.

  Chapter 1

  Something Wicked Comes This Way

  The year was 2255. In the privacy of his candlelit room, Confidus Seaton, King of Elysium, sat in his rocking chair engrossed in a book. Still dashing and debonair in his mid-fifties, he had long grey hair, a moustache, and short beard and wore thin-rimmed spectacles that gave him a wise, handsome air. Apart from his warmth and the ease with which he carried himself, his most distinguishing feature was that his left hand bore six fingers.

  Noting a smudge on his glasses, Confidus reticently set his book down on the mahogany side table, took off his spectacles, and reached for a small bottle and cloth. He carefully huffed on the glass and sprayed his lenses before buffing them. He turned them over and over in the burnished light from his reading lamp until he was convinced they were clean. Once again content, he settled them onto his nose and resumed reading.

  Only five minutes later, however, someone knocked on the door. “Oh, now what?” he muttered. He set his book down again and placed his spectacles on top. The knocking continued. “Coming. Coming. These old bones need time to get to the door,” he said. The person knocked again. “You certainly are tenacious,” he chuckled to himself.

  When he opened the door, his youngest son, Dragus, greeted him. “Hello, Father!” he smiled brightly and held out a bottle wrapped in colored paper. “For you.”

  “I don’t recall it being my birthday,” frowned Confidus.

  “No, not yet, but I thought you might enjoy a little brandy to soothe your throat and give you comfort in this dark hour,” said Dragus.

  Confidus accepted the gift. “My son, you spoiled the surprise. Why bother wrapping it if you’re going to tell me what’s inside,” he playfully chided his son. He set the bottle on the étagère by the door and pulled off the wrapping. It was a premium bottle of brandy, very exclusive and hard to find. “Soothsayers’ Brandy, Dragus? You shouldn’t have.”

  “See, it was a surprise after all,” said Dragus.

  Confidus handed Dragus the bottle. “Here, why not pour us a drink.” He sat down on the sofa. Dragus went to the cart where Confidus kept drinks, glasses, and ice and poured two shot glasses full. He brought the drinks to the sofa and sat beside his father. The two of them clinked their glasses and wordlessly watched the deep blue Begonia Ocean as it roiled and pitched. Dragus sighed and set down his drink. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out his silver cigarette case, slid out a cigarette, tapped it on the outside, and retrieved the matches from the box in his coat pocket. He lit the cigarette, inhaled, and let out a plume. Confidus stared at his son with one eyebrow raised. “I thought you quit,” he said.

  “Father, the dark hours are upon us. The Dark Lord Makoor is standing behind his vampire minions planning his next move.” He let out another stream of smoke. “These are the least of my worries.”

  “Or the most; if the vampires don’t get you, the nicotine will,” said Confidus. They both sipped their brandy and set the glasses back onto the coffee table. He chuckled. “I remember years ago, when you and your brothers were just boys, and I caught the three of you smoking. Do you even remember? You were only six. You’d crept out to the shack behind the apple orchard. I heard the coughing, and when I opened the door, I was nearly knocked over by the wall of smoke.” He smiled. “I thought you all needed to be punished, but your mother, God rest her soul, knew that the foul air you’d all inhaled would be punishment enough. And, she was right; the three of you were sick as dogs for the rest of the day. But,,” he frowned with fatherly concern, “it seems you didn’t learn, and here you are, twenty-six years later, smoking again.”

  “May I remind you, Father, that it was your smoking that influenced us and not just cigarettes but cigars. Mother kept telling you to put them out in front of the children. I know you still smoke periodically.”

  “Dragus, you’re still young enough to quit. I don’t want you taking after my bad habit.”

  Dragus ground out his cigarette in the ashtray and went for his case again. “Would you care for one?”

  Confidus looked at the cigarettes, feeling the urge. “No, thank you. I’m going to stay strong to show you how I can control my cravings,” he said.

  Dragus smirked and returned the case to his shirt pocket. “Would you like to wager a bet? Fifty shillings says within ten minutes you will ask me for one.”

  “I only have to hold out for ten minutes?” said the king, chuckling. “You’re on.” They shook hands.

  “Care for another drink?” asked Dragus.

  Remembering the heavy feeling that had been haunting him all day, Confidus said, “Yes, actually, I think I’d like another.”

  Dragus poured another two fingers of brandy into their glasses. “You know, a cigarette would go fine with a shot of brandy.” He cocked his head.

  Confidus held out his hand.

  “Don’t think I don’t remember that today is the day Mother died. Eighteen years isn’t long when you’re still in love. That is the real reason I called this the dark hour. I miss her. I miss her every day, but I miss her today even more acutely.”

  Confidus closed his eyes against the pain of his loss. Memories of his beautiful wife began to stir. “Your mother was a wonderful woman, everything I wanted in a wife and a best friend. She was always smiling and was so kind and considerate, always putting everyone else first. And, so even tempered, always maintaining control. We had our little squabbles, like all married couples do, but she was always so reasoned, so clear-headed. That is why pe
ople called her the ‘Iron Lady.’” Confidus sighed. “Those were good days,” he said sadly.

  There was another knock at the door. Confidus stood and slowly headed toward the door, wiping his eyes. “Senator Vijas,” he said when he opened it, “what brings you here on this Sunday afternoon?”

  “I thought I’d stop in to see how my old friend is doing,” said Vijas, cupping the king’s arm warmly.

  “Well, my bones feel like they’re eighty today, but my heart is young,” he laughed. “Do come in, Vijas,” said Confidus.

  Vijas pointed to the wrapping on the table by the door, “Someone brought you something?” he asked as they went to the sofa. He immediately saw the brandy on the table. “Soothsathers’! Dragus, where on earth did you get a bottle of that?”

  Dragus laughed. “I have my ways,” he said. He fetched a glass from the cart and offered it to Vijas.

  Vijas poured himself a shot. He sat back on the sofa and enjoyed his drink. “Beautiful. Thank you. In this lovely room in the castle, there’s no better place in which to drink it,” said Vijas.

  “Alright, Vijas, you didn’t really come for a visit, did you?” said Confidus, eyeing his advisor. “What brings you here?”

  Vijas smiled. “You know me too well, Confidus. Very well,” his face grew instantly serious. “I’m sorry to report that the board of council has denied your request to refurbish the council chamber. They say that the spending would be an unnecessary drain on the budget at this time.”

  Confidus’ nostrils flared. Why interrupt his weekend—quiet time he was spending with his son—and calm afternoon to deliver this bad news? “May I remind you that it was the Elysian council who convinced the council of Koriston to expand the railway system into much of Alamptria. And, how much did that cost?” demanded Confidus.

  “Confidus, we needed the railway expansion,” said Vijas, leaning back.

  “Father, Vijas is right. Our spending needs to be reduced,” said Dragus.

  “You knew about this, Dragus?” Confidus raised his voice.

  “Father, please try and understand,” said Dragus.

  “Not all is lost. It was decided that we can still proceed with plans for a new facility in ten years,” said Vijas. He shot the king a placating smile. “The council does understand that the chamber needs to be modernized. But, now is not the time.”

  “Ten years? You want to wait ten years?” asked Confidus. He glowered at Vijas and then sat up and went for the bottle. “Now I know why you brought over this bottle of Soothsathers’, Dragus. It was a low blow.”

  Dragus pulled out his cigarette case. “Smoke, Father?”

  “Why the hell not; I’ll be dead anyway before the chamber is updated.” Confidus pulled out a cigarette. Dragus lit the cigarette for him and smiled.

  Confidus puffed angrily and stared at his son. “This was all planned,” he said. “Do you seriously need fifty shillings that badly?”

  “A bet’s a bet, Father,” said Dragus, shrugging.

  At this, Vijas began to smirk. Then, Dragus began to smirk. They looked at each other and started laughing. Dragus reached for the bottle of brandy and topped up everyone’s glass. “I suppose we should tell him,” said Vijas.

  Dragus giggled. “Yes, I guess we should.” He put his hand on his father’s shoulder. Confidus glowered at him, not at all impressed by the other men’s mirth.

  “Confidus, Dragus and I are both here because the council has, in fact, unanimously agreed that it is more than high time to renovate the council chamber and update all the equipment.”

  “You mean this was all a big joke?” Confidus smiled.

  “Yes, your son Caprius put us up to this,” said Vijas still giggling. “The brandy is our way of saying thank you to our great king and to celebrate the future to come.”

  Confidus stood and went to the window. He watched the deep azure water toss about and admired its wild beauty. Below, the citizens of Elysium were walking about the castle grounds enjoying the lovely afternoon sun. A shadow crossed his sight, and he looked up far into the mountains of Drone. Lightning from dark grey clouds flashed with vigor. “A storm is coming,” said Confidus calmly.

  Dragus joined him at the window. “Indeed,” he murmured peering out the window. “Something truly wicked is coming this way.” Confidus looked down to the right at a train whistling its way out of the station.

  ***

  In the Garden of Meadow-lie, Caprius Seaton was standing on the Bridge of Vows with his wife Melina Hampshire. The river flowed avidly beneath them.

  Caprius tucked a lock of hair behind his wife’s ear. “I remember when you were so madly in love with me. You could hardly keep your hands off me,” said Melina as she took his hands and held him.

  “To think I won your heart, and poor Fenison Torrington had his heart broken.”

  “You know perfectly well he got what he deserved,” she said.

  “You know as much as it was his fault that we had a role to play in his departure,” said Caprius. “And, you, my sweet, were the object of his affection.”

  “So, you wish to put the evil eye on me, don’t you?” She folded her arms. “Remember, Caprius, we did something we may regret some day. Fenison Torington may have been a high school student with much more on his mind, and should he return to Elysium, I think you and I will be in for more of his escapades.” They began to walk off the bridge and onto snowy land. They walked along the waterbed.

  “As mischievous as he was, I don’t think you and I have anything to worry about. Fenison was in love. It is only natural for a man to fight for a woman. That is why I forgive him. Despite what he intended to do.”

  “He was a foul breed, with no thought to his devious intensions,” she said. “But, I must admit, he did have charm. You know, if I hadn’t met you, Caprius Seaton, Fenison and I would probably be together.”

  “Yes, shacking up in your love nest and making wild noises in the night, enough to wake up the dead,” said Caprius. “Raising rug rats by the many and being a full-time mother with no time for anyone but you and him. You would be totally disengaged from the public eye.”

  “I don’t imagine him in that way. I thought of him as a person who only had an interest in a serious career as a teacher. You know his marks were extremely high. He was quite intelligent, you know. I was merely his hobby—someone to share in his adventures with.”

  “Every man has his passion. But, he was deranged. You were his main ambition, not his schooling,” he said.

  “Oh, let’s not talk about him anymore. I do wish him well. And, he did move on. So, let’s just leave it at that,” Melina insisted.

  “Yes, he is just a memory. We’ll leave it at that,” Caprius agreed. They continued to walk.

  “I was in the sacred garden having words with the Golden Fleece. She told me you visited yesterday,” said Caprius. “What did you talk about?”

  “I merely wanted her advice on motherhood. How to be a good mother to a new born child,” she said.

  “Is that all you talked about?” he asked.

  “That, and…” she trailed off.

  “You talked about me constantly going on missions,” he said seriously.

  Melina bit her lip and shook her head. “Felicia is a tattle-tale. She shouldn’t have told you.”

  “Melina, you must understand that I am bound to the ‘holy council of sacred deeds,’ and my work is very important. I know you like me to be at your side at all times, but these are really important missions. The Dark Lord is sending his vampire minions across the lands; he is eager to destroy humanity. He means to take control of Alamptria. The powers of Petoshine sense a great attack upon us. There’s no telling where Makoor will strike next.”

  “Is that supposed to mean that I am to be second fiddle?” asked Melina concerned, crossing her arms.

  “Second fiddle?” Caprius raised his voice. “Melina, I’m not on your becking call!” He stopped her as she tried to walk. They stood still looking i
nto each other’s eyes. “If you wanted someone who would be by your side at all times, then perhaps you were meant to be with Fenison Torrington. These are hard times. We live in a very dangerous world. The society is filled with corrupted individuals.”

  Melina pouted. “No, I don’t want to be with Fenison.” She put her arms around him. She laid her head against his chest. “I want to be with you.” Caprius put his hands upon her cheeks. He cupped her face and laid a sweet kiss upon her.

  “You know, being a man who is in the service of his majesties ongoing missions, I think I deserve the pleasure of a night of courtship. I’ll make like a wild cat,” said Caprius jokingly.

  Melina backed slightly away. Then, with her hands against Caprius’ chest, she pushed him away. Caprius lost his balance, falling onto the snow.

  Caprius sat upon the snow-covered ground. He looked up at his beautiful wife. “All right, I guess I deserved that.”

  Melina walked toward him. She held out her hand to her husband. As Melina tried to pull Caprius, helping him up, Caprius pulled her hand and she tumbled onto the snow. She gingerly held onto Caprius, pulling herself up. As Melina now looked away, her eyes caught a familiar little girl wearing a yellow dress staring at them. “Run along, Tabetha. There is nothing to see here,” she said to the little girl. “Tabetha, it’s not nice to stare,” said Melina. A woman called out to the little girl. “Tabetha, your mama is calling.” The little girl ran off.

  They walked the garden trail. “You look so radiant, Melina. Our child will be born to the most beautiful mother there is,” he said, looking down at her belly with love.

  “The birth is still nine months away. But, I am already very excited to bring your child into this world,” said Melina, cupping her hand around her husband’s.

  “Our child,” corrected Caprius.

  “Yes. Yours and mine,” said Melina. “Do you still believe we will have a son?”

  “You needn’t worry. You have even heard it yourself from Felicia - the Golden Fleece. The prophecy states that it will be our child, Lantrinon Seaton, who will destroy the Dark Lord Makoor and the undead creatures of Mount Drone,” said Caprius. “We can rejoice, Melina. His days on this earth will soon come.”