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

Cool metal slid against his scales. Selati took in the bright gleam of his spear, surprised. He looked behind him and the strange Caniean, the one who risked his life for the cloth Hedyi held to his shoulder, grinned.


The Caniean didn’t respond with anything except a nod.


Dirt crunched at a distant, near constant staccato beat. Many footsteps. Many humans. Selati couldn’t count them and he couldn’t hear where they were coming from, the pain of his side a shriek in his head. It seemed like all around them.


“Ready?” Hedyi pick up his spear. “Take them by surprise, if you can.”


Selati breathed deep, the urge to gag on the scent of dirt and sickly sweet blood intense. His right hand tightened on his spear. Fear crossed his mind, that his grip on his weapon was too weak for a proper killing blow.


The shifting dirt sounds stopped in that strange double shuffle humans had.


Chapter 44