How not to explore ancient temples, advanced lesson.
Photo credit: jatlee (public domain)
“Follow that light,” Anqearo told Thono. The big man grunted as he carried her broken form, proof of his own injuries from the cave-in.
They hadn’t found Daerona in the rubble. Anqearo prayed for him.
There—stairs leading out of the ancient temple, to daylight. Anqearo sobbed in relief, squealing as pain racked her chest.
If they could reach the donkeys, get her pack, they might yet survive.
But no. Both donkeys were gone, and most of their bags. All her herbs. Only her spellbooks remained.
Daerona. He’d abandoned them.
Anqearo grimaced. She would live to make him regret this.
Especially for those of you who wanted to hear more about the adventurers in my earlier story, How Not To Explore Ancient Temples. Read the next story: A Grave Warning.
Word count: 100. Submitted for this week’s Friday Fictioneers photo prompt challenge. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting! Click here to read the other stories, or submit your own. See the original photo prompt below:
Photo © Amy Reese
Tales from Eneana 
A fascinating continuation, Joy. I doubt Daerona has gone far, though. He still has a treasure to find, after all. Maybe he’ll be able to blag it that he was just looking for help to dig them out – Anqearo doesn’t seem like the type of woman he wants to get on the wrong side of. A very enjoyable read. 🙂
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Thanks Lou! Daerona definitely has a head start — it probably took them a while to crawl out from the rubble and get their breath back enough to escape, and he does have donkeys. But yes, he was planning on returning, and Anqearo does seem pretty motivated, so the “old gang” might indeed meet again!
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good stuff
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Thanks, glad you liked it!
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I wonder if she will catch up with him? Suspenseful.
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Thanks, Jacqueline! I’m not sure if she will, but if she does, he’d better talk fast!
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She will make him 😉
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Great story. I reckon her desire to catch Daerona will keep her alive!
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Thanks Ali! Yep, she’s extra motivated now!
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She comes across like a female warrior.
And he’s in so much trouble for crossing her.
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I figure that anyone who goes on an adventure to explore a lost temple in the middle of the desert must have a pretty strong heart! And yeah, don’t cross them. 😉
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I’m rooting for Anquearo and Thono. Captivating vignette.
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Thanks Sandra! If you read the first one, you can see that Daerona is not the most personable man. So I’m rooting for these two also. 🙂
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I think this is not the end… vengeance is a great force to drive forward,
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You may be right — I have no idea where this is going, myself! As much as I didn’t like Daerona, he really did think they were dead before riding off with all their gear, so… Nah, I’m still on her side.
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Sometimes being angry makes you so much stronger. She’ll make him pay.
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Yes, in this case it seems to have given her the push to keep pushing on. Thanks for reading!
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I wouldn’t want to be Daerona. I like strong people who beat the odds. Looking forward to more.
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Thanks G! I think I’m going to have to do more, now that I’ve started down this path…
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What a lousy partner taking everything and running off like that.
Great story. Come see mine here.
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Thanks! In his defense, he did think they were dead. Although apparently he didn’t *check* very thoroughly!
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I love the characters. The story builds tension and leaves the ending open for it to lead off anywhere.
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Glad you liked it — thanks for reading!
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Good continuation of your story, Joy. It could also stand alone. It seems she’s going to live through a sheer desire to make him sorry for leaving. Good description. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne! I was hoping it would stand alone well, too. And yes, you caught it exactly, that her anger is what’s motivating her to survive. I’m curious about what might happen next… 🙂
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