CHAPTER 3
The touch of a silky and familiar hand caressing his cheek awoke Daniel from his slumber.
"That's it my Daniel, open your eyes."
Like a bolt of lighting, Daniel's eyes snapped open. There, sitting at his bedside was Vala.
"I must be dreaming," he said trying to pull himself up. It was then he noticed his surroundings.
Daniel found himself in a bedroom, eerily similar to that of Harrid and Sallis in Ver Ager.
"Where am I?"
"It's a village called Ver Isca; it's very similar to Ver Ager, almost identical. And for the record, this is not a dream."
"Then what is it?"
"It's a kind of . . . hallucination."
"I'm hallucinating?"
"I had every intention of telling you everything. However we got interrupted and I had to think of something else."
"Interrupted how?"
"One thing at a time darling, lets start from the beginning."
"Okay. So we're in Ver Isca. We're in someone's house. Whose house are we in?"
"It belongs to a man named Tomin. He was the one who found me after I had been transported to the Ori galaxy. He has taken care of me ever since I came here."
"Are you okay?"
"I've been better."
"That didn't answer my question."
"I believe I told you to take it slow, now where was I . . . ah, right. So Tomin took care of me and brought me back to health. Tomin was stricken as a child and as a result he walks with a limp. The other villagers look down on him because they feel that the Ori have deemed him unfit in a way. He seemed as if he longed for company and I wanted to blend in so I went along with it at first. After being there a while, I realized that I needed to find a way to contact you or at least someone in this galaxy so I started putting feelers out for any sign of the Anti-Ori underground that Harrid, Sallis and Fannis had belonged to."
"Well did you find anyone?"
"Yes. There was a barmaid with whom I struck up an instant friendship. Her name was Denya. At first I had no idea that she was some part of a rebellion. She worked for Seevis; he was the town barkeep and administrator it was his job to keep the flock in line so to speak. After the first few weeks I realized that Denya was feeling me out so I took a chance and made a few interesting remarks."
"Then what happened?"
"Seevis knocked on the door, dragged me out of the house and chained me to the altar. He called me an unbeliever and made me stay there without food or water until I decided to tell on whomever else were conspiring with me."
"So how long were you chained up?"
"Three days."
"Oh, my god."
"Eventually Tomin, who at first was afraid to defy Seevis, believed that I had been accused unjustly and let me out of the binds."
"Seevis did nothing to stop him?"
"No."
"So neither he nor Denya were part of the underground?"
"No, that's the thing, they were. They were testing me to see if they could trust me. Soon after that I was let into the inner circle."
"What did you find out?"
"There are ships, hundreds of them on planets all across the Ori galaxy. You were right Daniel, they are preparing for crusade."
"Have you seen the ships, do you know what they look –" Daniel said as he tried to pull himself out of the bed. Getting as far as a sitting position he was once again overwhelmed with pain.
"Daniel are you –"
"I'm fine, just tired."
"Then rest, we can pick up where we left off later."
"But you need my help," Daniel said as he tried to hold back a yawn.
"Sleep, Daniel," Vala said as she ran her fingers thru his hair. "I will be here when you wake up."
Daniel gave Vala a large smile and closed his eyes. With a small sigh Vala bent down and kissed Daniel on the forehead.
Vala slowly opened her eyes. Looking around the room she quickly hid the Ancient communication stone under her pillow. Tomin entered moments later, his faced filled with an enormous smile.
"Did you sleep well?
"Yes."
Tomin sat besides her and gave Vala a warm embrace.
"It's going to be okay. I know that you have been thru a lot in the last few days. Especially since Seevis and Denya were forcing you use that machine to contact the unbelievers."
"I'm fine, really I am," Vala said returning his embrace.
"Once again I am sorry that you were injured. I only meant to stop them."
"I know you did, and I am fine. The Prior healed my wound."
"The ships will be leaving soon and when they do we will spread the word of the Ori to all of those touched by evil. It will be a glorious day for us all."
Still in the comfort of Tomin's embrace Vala closed her eyes and softly cried.