Selati, a big construct forced to work in the cobalt mines of Ilmare, is terrified of the overseers. Danger dogs his every breath, somehow the leader of his ragged work crew, and he finally has enough when the mine itself almost kills him. Humans or no humans, he refuses to let his crew die down in the dark. As his crew takes their stand in their bid for freedom, rescue comes. Freedom in the light and a whole new life awaits.<br><br>It’s a duty Aleledai takes great pride in, saving his fellow Caniean. Humans might have created them to mine and nothing more, but like all things, the Caniean are not the mindless beasts humans intended to work to death for resources. Selati’s rescue is probably his greatest accomplishment, because something about this one becomes everything Aleledai was missing, that made freedom perfect.<br><br>Humans don’t let go of their things easily, though and war is coming, no matter what the Caniean want. The price of freedom is always high. Aleledai only hopes the price isn’t everything he’s found worth living for.

A Soldier's Horizon

“Maybe you should leave me behind,” Selati muttered. “I can hide and follow when repaired.”


“What?” Aleledai jerked around and hissed, concern or outrage in the sound. “Absolutely not. The humans might be close behind. If they found you, who knows what they might do to you.”


“I’ll lead them in a different direction than the camp, if they do. I loathe the idea I might be the reason we are all captured, and the chances are higher if I stay with you.” Selati leaned hard on the big tree closest to him. Only the glue kept his blood inside. It did nothing to repair the damage, the bruise from burst vessels blackening the scales in a great sunburst pattern and farther, mottling his skin above his waist to an alarming shade of purple bigger than Selati’s fists put together.


Chapter 9