Part 1 of 57For The Sake Of The KingAvi stepped cautiously through the garden, which was bathed in a dusky light. He hummed softly against the whistling breeze and giggled at the funny shape of the bouncing melody. He let the music rise, adding humor with every note. The original composition bubbled with life and […]

Part 2 of 57For The Sake Of The King“But I don’t understand,” Jamesh said, after the broadcast had concluded. “Dusk happens at a different time depending on where in the empire you are, right?”  “That's right,” Avi said. He glanced at his father, seeing if he wanted to answer the questions. His dad watched but […]

Part 3 of 57For The Sake Of The KingAvi was up earlier than most, though the youngest kids woke long before the sun. He circled to the rear of the house where most of the morning foods grew. He grazed the garden for something exciting to eat.  The fields beyond encircled the small estate and […]

Part 4 of 57For The Sake Of The KingAvi was up earlier than most, though the youngest kids woke long before the sun. He circled to the rear of the house where most of the morning foods grew. He grazed the garden for something exciting to eat.  The fields beyond encircled the small estate and […]

Part 5 of 57For The Sake Of The King“Where’s dad?” Avi asked when his mother returned without him.  “Bhoora was getting into the sweet drip patch; he went to shoo him out,” His mother said. She took Galiun from Avi's arms and cradled him softly.  “Is everything ok, Honey?” his mother asked, dividing her attention […]

Part 6 of 57For The Sake Of The KingBhoora, the giant grizzly bear, was snoozing lazily in the orchard. Margreth was sleeping in the afternoon sun, leaning against his tawny fur. The light danced through the orchard branches and dappled the ground below. Bhoora rolled over, and Margreth lost her bear pillow.  “What ya doing?” […]

Part 7 of 57For The Sake Of The KingCarina had to park the truck a few blocks off of mainstream on account of the congestion and heavy foot traffic. The passengers poured out of the truck bed and began pushing their way into the crowd. The town center had a dozen small buildings rising above […]

Part 8 of 57For The Sake Of The KingThe sun had set before they chose a place for the esteemed visitors to dine and lodge. A knot twisted in Avi’s stomach when one of Sundar’s most distinguished men, Nimit Patel, took the honor. Avi let his eyes follow Nimit as he returned to his seat […]

Part 9 of 57For The Sake Of The KingJenil continued the sweeping melody with closed eyes. Avi's ear caught a few new embellishments of Jenil's, which were not part of the original composition and were not altogether an improvement. Jenil's pitch was slightly flat; his voice wavered in places it ought not and slid to […]

Part 10 of 57For The Sake Of The KingThe evening weather had been so pleasant that Avi and his family slept under the stars. Although everyone else had slumbered soundly, their small fruit orchard provided the backdrop for Avi’s sleepless night. He tossed and turned under the fruit-laden branches, reconsidering his near encounter with Eliah […]

Part 11 of 57For The Sake Of The King"Hello, Avi. How may I help you today?” A powerful voice said almost in his ear. Avi turned to find Shepherd Amos, dressed in white, smiling, and waiting. He had met him a few times and heard him speak at the village gatherings more times than he […]

Part 12 of 57For The Sake Of The KingAvi kept the invitation to himself, not wanting undue pressure from his good-intentioned family. The weeks passed slowly on the farm. They melted into months. Avi was as reluctant as ever, but his dad constantly encouraged him, and he crawled toward a kind of readiness. His desire […]

Part 13 of 57For The Sake Of The KingThey walked about fifty paces and found a place among the orchard to talk. Amos began. His words came heavily laden with sorrow.   “Avi, you've done your village a great service, but I'm sure you don't know,” Amos said, rubbing his brow. He looked almost troubled, […]

Part 14 of 57For The Sake Of The KingRachit, Avi, and Carina rode silently for a long time. Bhoora had fallen back into a nap in the truck bed. The hover pods seemed to moan a little louder than usual as they sped eastward.  “Amoli asked about you,” Carina said.  “Really?” Avi replied.  “Well, she […]

Part 15 of 57For The Sake Of The KingThe dust bit Avi's eyes. The sand choked his throat as if he was drinking a desert. Little granular shards ground at his skin. It didn't matter.  “Bhoora!” he shouted. The gritty blast muffled the sound of his voice. “Where are you?”  When the moaning picked up […]

Part 16 of 57For The Sake Of The King“Everything is so desiccated,” Carina said.  “How could this be?” Avi said. He felt like he could cry from the sight, but the air was quickly dehydrating him, and he had no tears to give.  “It’s awful.” They walked on, studying the landscape. Carina knelt to the […]

Part 17 of 57For The Sake Of The KingThe drive through the withered lands was harrowing. The dried landscape stretched on for hours. Sometime near dusk, they came to the other side. Just like the wall of wind-born dust they had entered, they discovered another great wall of grit near the edge of the territory. […]

Part 18 of 57For The Sake Of The King“Avi,” Carina said. “Wake up.” “What?”  “There's something you need to see,” she said, taking his hand. He had drifted off to sleep long after the others, leaning against Bhoora. The bear was still sleeping deeply in the truck bed. Avi glanced at the sky, seeking the […]

Part 19 of 57For The Sake Of The King“Hey, there,” Avi said. “Are you ok?”  He knelt next to the stranger, covered in a thick layer of dust and mud. Avi’s breath came delicately. The person was not a man. She was not even an adult. The dirt-covered stranger was a teenaged girl. She was […]

Part 20 of 57For The Sake Of The KingAvi carried the girl back to their camp. The pain of the scratch on his leg ached with the exertion. By the time they had arrived, the rain had stopped. Carina made a place for her to lay. She slept all day and through the next night.  […]

Part 21 of 57For The Sake Of The King

Part 22 of 57For The Sake Of The KingAnother day in camp and they were all ready to move. Rachit and Carina’s debates were getting louder, and Zariah seemed eager to get on the move. Avi was the only one that wanted to stay. When it was finally decided, they began gathering their gear.  “The […]

Part 23 of 57For The Sake Of The KingAvi marveled at the incredible size of the trees they passed. They were at least half over the height of any tree he had seen in the wood around Sundar. In the high reaches, squirrels and birds played vigorously. Chirps and scuttling from the canopy above mixed […]

Part 24 of 57For The Sake Of The King“I’m a nomad,” the man said. “My name’s Fred.” What a strange-sounding name, Avi thought. Uninterested, Bhoora grazed nearby on some local plant life as Avi and Carina gave their attention to the stranger.  “I’m Avi, and this is my sister Carina.” He decided not to introduce […]