A Quick Sun Rises Read Online Free PDF Page A

attitude.
    “Dax,” A voice said, drawing all eyes to Dor who had come up unnoticed and was now standing next to Tam.
    Thane nodded. “Dax!”
    “What is a dax?” the colonel asked.
    “DaxSagn,” Thane corrected. “DaxSagn is one of our people.”
    “Can he kill the dragons from far?” Domis asked.
    “No,” Thane shook his head. “But he has an arrow that can.”
    “What fool talk is this?” Jack asked, his demeanor one of irritation but his voice revealing a glimmer of hope. Zadok’s army was still larger than they could possibly hold off alone, but it was certain death with his dragons flying around. If they could defeat the dragons, it might just give them the edge they needed to defeat the rest of the army.
    “DaxSagn,” Dor answered, “or Dax, as we call him, has an arrow that can pierce steel.”
    “That’s impossible,” Braxton chided. “You would have to be right on top of the beast to even have a chance at penetrating its skin, and that not likely.”
    “I agree,” Dor continued, “with a normal arrow. But Dax has no normal arrow. His it is rumored comes from the heart of a YeiyeiloBaneesh tree.”
    “A yeilo what?”
    “They were the sacred trees of our people that were destroyed when…” Dor paused for a brief moment before continuing, “…they are no more. Dax has the only known surviving arrow, and it can pierce steel from a distance. Thane and I have seen it.”
    “Then we must have this arrow,” Braxton said.
    Thane looked at Jack whose face had suddenly become unreadable. He knew they needed Dax’s arrow but he also knew what it would mean to try and get it. Was he ready to return and face his people? A people who never trusted him and who, in the case of some, plotted his death? Asking for their most treasured possession to use in a war to save HuMans was not going to bide well with the Chufa—that is, if they believed him at all. It was an impossible chance, but he also knew that they were without any other viable options. He couldn’t count on luck to drop him on top of another dragon again, and without an anchor tree to lend its power, he could not attempt another kill using his QenChe Tane.
    All eyes had fallen to him waiting for a response. It was madness, but there were no other options. He felt the weight of the entire HuMan race suddenly pressing down on him. “I’ll go,” he finally said.
    “You know he won’t give it up,” Dor pressed.
    Thane stared at his friend. He knew Dor was right, but he still had to try.
    “But how will you get there and back in time?” Jack asked.
    He turned to Teek. “Master Teek, do you think your bird friend might offer me a ride once more?”
    Teek shuffled nervously under the gaze of all those around. “I don’t know,” he shrugged. “She does as she pleases mostly.”
    “Then I will just have to ask her,” he smiled slightly.
    Braxton chuckled at the notion but was alone in his doubt. All the others knew that there was more to Thane and his abilities than even he possibly knew. “Best ask her for two,” Jne interjected.
    “Three,” Dor and Tam added in unison.
    “Now wait,” he said turning to his friends. “Even if she can hold that many, there is no reason for you all to go. Dax will either give me the arrow or he won’t. Having the rest of you along will not change that, especially you, Jne.” Jne’s face turned red but Thane kept talking. “Our people would shoot you full of arrows before you could even speak because you are a HuMan.”
    Jne spat. “Do not place me with the dung of the field, Ghar of the Chufa. Being Jinghar does not mean I will be insulted by you.”
    “What does she mean dung?” Braxton asked, his face clouding over.
    Jack placed a hand on his friend’s arm. “Let it go.”
    “It is not that,” Thane said. “I do not call you HuMan, but my people will not know the difference. All they will see is a person that is not like them, that fits the description of what they think