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

“Trying to make you see reason will be a waste.” Another sharp rock passed under his tail and Selati hissed as it managed to find a tender spot between his scales.


Aleledai frowned at Selati, eyes finally on him. “There is no reason to see. We will not leave you behind. I would appreciate it if you made my mission a little easier by not leaving us in a misguided attempt to save us.”


“Of course.” Selati dipped his head as he agreed. And he was surprised to find he meant it.


The first sign of the coming night was the greatest star, besides their Caniea, revealed as an oversized dot in the faded blue-green of the sky. Delling was the star of the next system over, named for an old human god. It was closer than humans had known about when they first traveled to Ilmare. That was the rumor, anyway. Humans’ home planet, Earth, didn’t have a system that near.


Chapter 10