Falcon's Quest

FALCON’S QUEST

By

Kathleen Garnsey

© copyright by Kathleen Garnsey, May 2011

Cover Art by Eliza Black, May 2011

ISBN 978-1-60394-499-1

New Concepts Publishing

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Chapter One

Another wave of pain ripped through his battered body. His jaw tightened while he held his breath and waited for the torment to subside to a bearable level. Twin suns continued to scorch his burnt skin, and it would not be long before he drew his last breath.

The past two sun-cycles in the sharp crystal sands had been the worst two cycles of his life. Or had it been three? He could not judge since he'd not seen a moon-cycle. How long had he been lying paralyzed, helplessly exposed to the whims of the ruthless elements of this God forsaken planet?

By the stars, he had no idea where he was, why he was here, or how he'd arrived in such a barren place. From the ache in his head, and inability to move any part of his body, he assumed he was severely injured. What limited vision he had from his prone position and swollen eyelids offered little hope of rescue.

There was a name embroidered on the left shoulder of the uniform he wore. Falcon

Rovarn. That must be who he was, unless he was wearing someone else's clothes. Unfortunately, at the speed his skin was burning, nothing would matter.

Every cell in his body screamed for water. At the current rate of dehydration, he'd be dead before the moon-cycle appeared, if it ever did. The dry, gritty sand had more moisture than his throat. His eyelids stung from the intense heat and he could only pray that keeping them closed would prevent total blindness.

Pain was a good thing; it meant he was still alive and conscious. Dizziness and nausea washed through him with intense vengeance. He summoned every ounce of energy still left in his body in an effort to move one hand, yet his fingers refused, lying still as death in the blistering sand.

All he had control of was his mind, and he feared even that was rapidly slipping. His stomach rebelled violently, but held nothing to purge. Trapped inside a lifeless body without food, water and shelter left no hope.

Would anyone, anywhere mourn him? Would anyone even know he was missing? Gone from where? He managed a silent curse since the power of speech had also forsaken him. So many questions, but he was too drained to care about the answers.

Death would be welcome under the circumstances, yet something deep inside begged him to live. Survival instinct? Whatever those feelings were, a dire urgency gnawed at him to solve the mystery and be on his way to . . .?

Everything suddenly seemed black. He tried to lift his lids, but they would no longer

answer his command. This was the end. He would die alone.

* * * *

Arella held up her hand to halt the scouting party she led through the barren Crystal Desert.

"What is it, Counselor?"

She glanced at her military chief, Gorcey. "There's something down there in the sand."

"I'll see to it."

Gorcey rode his esroth down the slope to the bottom of the ravine. She hoped that whatever lay concealed in the hot crystal sand was not a threat to her people. She'd only held a seat on Nacrem's council for one annual-cycle, and she'd yet to be seen in a favorable light by senior members. She did not need a problem.

"Councilor, it's a human, and he's not of our planet," Gorcey shouted. "His heart still beats, but not for long."

This was a major complication. The council leaders sent her to this low-tech outpost in the farthest corner of Nacrem to keep her out of the way. Mardin was so desolate there was only a small med-unit with one part-time med-tech. Lara was good, but she was not a doctor, or a

miracle worker. Arella watched Gorcey struggle up the sandy embankment with a stern expression on his face. He loved to test her leadership, always looking for the slightest mistake so he could demean her.

Gorcey pulled his mount to a stop next to Arella. "What is your wish, Councilor?"