Chosen of the One: Chapter 16, Part 1

16 February 2026

We return with another installment of the first book in The Redemption series, Chosen of the One! (26 May 2014) We again remind our readers to right-click on the Glossary link, open in a new tab or window, thus enabling the reader to learn what each of these new terms mean.

Chapter 16, Part 1

. . . thus did escape the CHOSEN
fleeing their unlawful incarceration
led by their brave klitodweri
into the sewers beneath Shigmar
where they discovered much more
than the foul reek. . . .

from “The Great Year,” a song cycle by Sir Kovar, written 3553

“Which way?” Blakstar asked.

“I hate sewers,” Tevvy said, his voice muffled by the cloth bound over his mouth and nose. The two kailum, along with Marilee and Delgart, stood closely together, still whispering, while Klare wrapped her head with a cloth, covering her nose, then Klaybear bent low so that she could wrap his head and face, even as Delgart and Marilee did the same to each other. Thal stood to one side, behind Blakstar, looking very pale and holding the sleeve of his robe over his face, trying desperately not to vomit, as the sound would echo throughout the sewers, revealing their presence to whoever was moving around nearby. Tevvy seemed not to notice the kortexi’s question, absorbed in the floating bit of paper he had dropped in the channel.

“Now we all look the same,” Klare whispered, looking at the others.

“And if our robes were all tan,” Klaybear added, “we’d look like desert raiders, whose only purpose for being this far from the desert would probably get us killed on sight.”

Delgart snorted; Blakstar smiled; Klare punched her husband in the shoulder. “Don’t be cheeky!” she said.

“That way,” Tevvy pointed to his left, “although we may have to go in a roundabout way.”

“Why?” Blakstar asked suspiciously.

“To avoid whoever is down here,” Tevvy replied.

“No, I meant, why that way?” the kortexi said.

“Oh,” Tevvy replied, “that should be the way out.”

“Yes,” Thal whispered weakly, “by all means let us get out of here before I lose it again.”

“The way out?” Blakstar asked.

“The headmaster told me to follow the water to its outlet,” Tevvy replied, “he even gave me the key for the gate and suggested we should circle Shigmar to the north, and something about a ‘kailu safe-house,’” he looked at Klare and Klaybear. “He said you would understand.”

Klaybear exchanged a glance with Klare before answering. “Do you think he means the teleport house, in the northwest section of town?” Klare asked him.

Klaybear shrugged. “Maybe, but it is inside the walls,” his brow wrinkled as he answered. “There is always someone on duty inside, someone who can hold any intruders who try to enter that way.”

“Yes, and since we have become ‘intruders,’” Klare said, “we will be held there until help could arrive, to send you back to your cells.”

“Is it two-way?” Thal asked.

Klaybear nodded. “I think so, but I’ve never heard of anyone using it that way. Why?”

“Maybe he wants to meet us there,” Thal noted, “to give us more instructions.”

“I hope he brings our horses,” Blakstar put in, “I cannot go anywhere without my mount and the rest of my gear.”

“May I remind you, my strong friend, ” Thal said, “that we have all been branded traitors. I’m sure notices of our condemnation have been nailed to every corner of Shigmar; if we show ourselves anywhere in the city, we will be dragged to the block!”

“Not Klare or Tevvy,” Blakstar said, pointing to them each in turn. “Klare is still missing, and Tevvy has not done anything more to merit notice. Have you?” the kortexi asked, eyes moving to the small rogue.

“Well,” Tevvy began, eyes lowering and cheeks coloring, “nothing that anyone could tie to me, personally.”

The kortexi took the smaller shoulders in both his hands, forcing the awemi to look up. “Are you implying that you have committed crimes that have gone unpunished?” he asked in a steely voice.

“Crimes?” Tevvy said, one eyebrow rising, his face still flushed. “No, not crimes, I was, uh, practicing my skills. I visited the central market, trying to find out what happened to Klare, and while I was there picked up a few things, nothing valuable, to keep my skills sharp. Don’t you practice your sword skills, and if someone gets injured during your practice, are you guilty of a crime?”

“Do not try to justify your misdeeds by trying to compare my sword practice to your petty thievery,” Blakstar replied. “Taking another person’s goods without his permission is a crime that must be punished.”

Thal snorted. “You are a good one to be talking about crimes and punishment!” he exclaimed. “You who couldn’t keep your mouth closed, and so we all ended up in a cell under condemnation of death as traitors!”

Blakstar looked at the maghi before replying. “I did the right thing in order to save another from an unjust accusation,” he hissed through clenched teeth.

“The right thing?” Thal said, standing taller and letting his sleeve drop, but before he could go on, the stench of the sewers forced him to bend over and wretch noisily.

Delgart stepped between them and removed Blakstar’s clenched hands from Tevvy’s shoulders. “This is not the time or place for accusations or arguing.” He took and held each eye for a moment before speaking again. “We are in very difficult circumstances; the worst thing we can do is argue among ourselves, giving our enemies time to discover we are missing and begin to search for us. Considering the noise that we were a part of in the dungeon above, I’d be very surprised if they have not discovered us missing, and it will not take them long to figure out where we went. We have to band together in order to get out of here alive.” He turned to Marilee, one hand still on each shoulder of Tevvy and Blakstar. Thal was wiping his mouth and putting sleeve over mouth and nose. “How far away are they?”

Marilee looked down the passage before answering. “Hard to say. We are in the main tunnel under the school, which is in the southeast part of town. We need to move closer to the center to be more sure, but it sounds like they are still somewhere to the north, although with the way things echo down here, it is hard to be sure.”

Delgart nodded, then turned to Tevvy. “Lead us out. Blakstar, you and Klaybear follow, in case we stumble into any strays. Klare, you follow with Thal, and Marilee and I will guard the rear.” He stopped, realizing they were all staring at him. “What’s wrong?”

Klaybear smiled and clasped his brother’s shoulder. “Father always said you were a natural born leader, and you have taken command of us without a second thought.”

“I’m sorry,” Delgart said, “have I done wrong?”

“Someone has to keep us together,” Thal said, smiling weakly and wiping his mouth with one sleeve, “and you seem like the one who can do it.”

The company re-ordered itself, with Tevvy in the lead. The awemi turned to Klaybear and Blakstar. “Stay a bit behind me, so I can scout silently ahead.”

“How far?” Klaybear asked.

“The light here is dim,” Tevvy replied, “so about thirty feet, as long as you can still see me. There are places where the magluku are farther apart, so you may have to move closer to keep me in sight.” He looked to the others. “If I wave like this and flatten myself against the wall, you do the same. I’ll sneak forward to get a better look, then return before we move again.”

“We should also keep a small distance between us,” Marilee added, “so that if we have to stop and hide suddenly, there will be plenty of space.”

They nodded and Tevvy moved off silently. Klaybear took his wife’s hand and squeezed it, then patted his brother on the shoulder. He followed the kortexi, keeping the awemi in sight. The others followed in turn. . . .

Come back Wednesday for another installment of our epic tale and see the chosen’s path out of Shigmar blocked; however, they discover another place to hide, a place prepared for them in the distant past. If you wish to read more, the ebook version is available from Smashwords for free! If you prefer print, purchase it using the link provided. Good reading!