Origins Read Online Free PDF

dead because of some silly trinket in the jungle that had sung to him.
    “I have no way to know where he went.”
    “We will guide you, my son.”
    “Who is that?”
    “What are you talking about, Zareb?”
    “You did not hear the voice?” Zareb stared unbelievingly at Kir. He had to have heard it.
    “No, I did not.”
    “Someone told me they would guide me.”
    “You have been truly blessed. The Ancients are with you now. Believe and things will be all right.” Kir squeezed his shoulder and grinned.
    “How blessed could I truly be? Everyone is dead and those who are not have gone away with Dji. You and I both know that Dji was the better guardian. No purer soul could be found.”
    “Maybe that is why evil was able to take over. We will not know until you bring him home. Go. Take what you need. I will stay here and await your return.”
    “You are a true friend. You should have been guardian with Dji. If you were, none of this would have happened.”
    “You do not know that for sure. Our path was set in motion before we were born. We are all taught this.”
    “I know in my head that this is the truth, but my heart is not so sure.”
    “Go. Let the Ancients guide your way.”

    * * * *

    So much time had passed, but Kir was true to his word. Here, now, when Zareb needed him. The Ancients must be trying to tell him to trust his old friend. Zareb had stayed away from Africa , not wanting to come home until he had Dji with him and now he had even messed that up.
    “Did you ever find Dji?”
    “Yes. It should ease your mind to know that the evil that infected Dji was a spirit from the Vessel. Dji was trapped in his own body. We brought him home, but he was taken from me yesterday. We cannot go search for him until we destroy the Vessel, but we must hurry. Once the kidnappers figure out that we banished the evil soul and only Dji remains, they could kill him and come after us. We will not allow them to get their hands on the Vessel. No one else will be possessed. Not on my watch.”
    Zareb finally stood, ferreted the Vessel out of its hiding place and led the way to the path that would get them to their burial spot. He just hoped he wouldn’t need Dji there with him to destroy the thing. If so, he’d made another error.
    “No more self-doubt, my mate. I want this finished. We have to find the others.”
    Zareb felt the ward being released and realised the danger was all around them. Not only had the wards kept them safe, but, as long as the evil minions waiting for them in the forest hadn’t touched it, it kept him from sensing they were out there waiting.
    “Zareb!” Joy shouted from his left.
    Her form shimmered and she changed into her panther self, but she didn’t have the necessary control to halt the shift. She tore after two of the men that surrounded their camp and brought them down. She snapped their necks in her jaw and looked around her for the next victim.
    Zareb couldn’t allow her to kill more of them. They needed at least one alive to question and   he did not want that on Joy conscience. A spear whizzed by his head. He ducked just in time, still clutching the satchel. He couldn’t let on that he had the Vessel. A hiss came from Joy’s direction. She charged and the man beside him went down.
    “Joy. Do not kill this one. Shift back.” Zareb forced power into his words.
    Kir rushed to his side, his own spear at the ready, just before he collapsed.
    “No!” Zareb lost control. His power flooded his body.
    He dropped the bag and slapped his hand down on the ground. It quaked with his wrath. The men stumbled and fell all over themselves, trying to escape. Joy had shifted back and he withdrew his power, not wanting to hurt her.
    They both went to Kir. The man Joy had spared was long gone, but Zareb couldn’t worry about that right now.
    “Is he—”
    “I am not sure, my siel.” Zareb knelt beside his old friend.
    He might not have seen Baakir in centuries, but that didn’t mean he