Paladins Unbound

By Rangi Krishnan

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Hannibal and Sophie are whisked away from their everyday lives to become more of what some unknown force wants them to be. Some may say that the universe has chosen its champions, but it is up to them to rise up to the challenge of being and becoming more than ordinary.

Teaser
Chapter One - Lightning and Bubble Wrap:
A flash of lightning criss-crossed the sky that made people stop and look up. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and, more unusually, no thunder followed. Katie pointed the phone to where they had witnessed the last bolt just as another flash crackled overhead and once again there was no thunder.

“What the hell is going on?” said Katie to no one in particular just as another flash ripped across the sky. Only this time it was closer and crackled with malice and there was the distinct smell of something singed.

Teaser
Chapter Two - Witness:
Hannibal looked out through the bubble that encased him. He couldn’t move; he felt as if his body had suddenly become frozen although strangely enough, he didn’t feel cold. In fact, he didn’t really feel anything.

He could see Katie on the deck reaching for him and Josh had his arms wrapped around her holding her back. They all looked frozen in time as they posed unmoving.

He shifted his eyes slightly and saw a bird frozen in mid-flight. One of the partygoer’s had dropped their plate of food which hung in mid-air waiting to hit the deck.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rangi Krishnan
• Release date: Mar 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463611180

Rangi Krishnan

Rangi (short for Ranganathan) Krishnan was born in 1962 in India. He arrived in New Zealand with his family in 1970 when his father secured a teaching position at the Tauranga Boys' College.He had a career in government for some time before deciding to explore other possibilities. After moving to Marton, a small town in the country, he was encouraged to write by the local Rangitikei Writers' Group and so it began...You can find other works and creative writings at https://www.ephiinspired.co.nzYou'll find, among lots of other things, a collection of short stories. These include:--Adventures in Book Coverland -- February 2020--Haunted House -- First published 1980 - The Hillsdene Reflector--Haunted House -- The Story Behind the Story - March 2020--Kitty Conundrum -- Interactive children's book for the android tablet but also available just as a story--Seesaw Kitty -- Interactive children's book for the android tablet but also available just as a story--Tiki Tour North Island -- Published May 2014--My Wife's Garden -- Published may 2014--Tiki Tour Wellington -- Published November 2013--Potatoes -- Written May 2019--The Future Of Parking Spaces -- Written June 2019--Tractors -- Written July 2019--Trampolines -- Written September 2019--Tidal Wave -- Written September 2019https://www.ephiinspired.co.nzTrust you will enjoy the writings.

Book preview

Paladins

Unbound

Rangi Krishnan

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

For my daughter Grace.

Synopsis

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy

Hannibal and Sophie are whisked away from their everyday lives to become more of what some unknown force wants them to be. Some may say that the universe has chosen its champions, but it is up to them to rise up to the challenge of being and becoming more than ordinary.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgements

Also, a thank you to my friend Marianne for her feedback.

Cover art by Thomas Budach from Pixabay.com

Other Stories by the Author

Paint It Black

First Published December 2019

Available on website:

https://www.ephiinspired.co.nz

Haunted House -- First published 1980 – The Hillsdene Reflector

Kitty Conundrum -- Interactive children’s book for the android tablet but also available just as a story

Seesaw Kitty -- Interactive children’s book for the android tablet but also available just as a story

Tiki Tour North Island -- Published May 2014

My Wife’s Garden       -- Published may 2014

Tiki Tour Wellington -- Published November 2013

Potatoes -- Written May 2019

The Future Of Parking Spaces -- Written June 2019

Tractors -- Written July 2019

Trampolines -- Written September 2019

Tidal Wave -- Written September 2019

Published December 2019

Marton, New Zealand

© Copyright 2019 Rangi Krishnan

Paladins

Unbound

Chapter Titles

Lightning and Bubble Wrap

Witness

Sophie Divided

Release

Three of a Kind

Azeroth

Ties That Bind

Max

Keeper, Teacher, Huntress

Paladins

Trial and Error

Push Me Pull You

Time Enough for Love

About The Author

Chapter One

Lightning and Bubble Wrap

The barbeque was well under way. The sausages sizzled on the plate and the smell of onions wafted across the fenced off backyard. It was a small area divided in two; half set in concrete and the other half was neatly mowed grass with a small portion set aside for a raised vegetable garden. The yard led onto a small deck which provided entry into the kitchen area of the house.

Are they done yet dad? called ten year old Max who stood on the deck looking out across the yard. She dragged a strand of dark hair from in front of her face which the light breeze immediately returned to its original state.

Another five minutes sweetie Hannibal called back as he took another swig of his lager. He stood at about five foot eleven and was looking quite ripped as he had been working out at the local gym over the past few months. He busied himself rolling over the sausages with the barbeque tongs.

It was a beautiful evening and not a cloud in the sky. The barbeque marked the start of summer although summer was still in the very early stages of making its presence known. Nonetheless, the Mayas’ were keen to help it along joined by a small group of friends and family.

Tell your mum we’re ready for the steak he added.

MUM – DADS READY FOR THE STEAK" yelled out Max as she turned and made her way indoors.

Not quite what I had in mind said Hannibal looking over at his daughter’s disappearing back with raised eyebrows.

Well, I guess if Katie didn’t hear that, you better get her hearing checked laughed Josh, the brother-in-law.

How’s work goin’? asked Josh as he stood overseeing the chef. Josh had come to the venue straight after work so he appeared somewhat overdressed for the occasion.

Not bad. We’ve just about finished the drawings for a large project. Good when we can get it signed off replied Hannibal. He worked for a local engineering firm currently overseeing a major construction project and was thinking about taking some time off for a holiday with his family.

And get paid added Josh.

Yep, that too smiled Hannibal as the two men clinked their bottles. 

Could use another beer though said Hannibal as he made the last mouthful barely touch the sides.

Will see what can be done replied Josh as he collected the empties and headed in for a refill.

A little while later the meal was being served on a table set up on the deck and people were helping themselves to the various dishes the Mayas’ and others had contributed. Some made their way back inside with their plates while others gathered together on a blanket that had been laid out on the lawn.

Come on hun – it’ll get cold called out Katie to her husband as she took pictures and movies of the event on her phone. Although the air was still a little cool, she was dressed in a colourful summery dress trying to encourage the warmer days to arrive by getting into the spirit of the event.

Be there in a minute he called back as he busied himself finishing the clean-up of the barbeque. He wanted to enjoy his meal and relax with a few beers without having to deal to it afterwards.

A flash of lightning criss-crossed the sky that made people stop and look up. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and, more unusually, no thunder followed. Katie pointed the phone to where they had witnessed the last bolt just as another flash crackled overhead and once again there was no thunder.

What the hell is going on? said Katie to no one in particular just as another flash ripped across the sky. Only this time it was closer and crackled with malice and there was the distinct smell of something singed.

People began to panic and Katie called for everyone to get inside. Those in the yard slowly made their way towards the deck just as those on the deck began filing in through the glass sliding door.

Katie saw her husband standing at the barbeque looking upward.

Get your ass inside Hanny she yelled out to him looking worried.

As Hannibal began to make his way forward, another flash lashed out directly above him. Katie saw Hannibal stop and look up. She saw the light hit her husband and completely envelop him and she screamed.

The light had totally encased Hannibal in a bubble. Katie watched her husband trapped inside this bubble and she screamed out to him. Josh grabbed her as she tried to head off the deck towards him.

And then, Hannibal was gone. The light was gone; the bubble was gone; Hannibal was gone. All that lingered was the smell of something burnt and it wasn’t the barbeque.

Not long after, the police had arrived and were taking statements from the partygoers. They investigated the site where Hannibal had stood and found no scorch marks or anything out of the ordinary. People watched as they carefully canvassed the small backyard searching for any possible clues.

They reviewed the videos people had taken from the deck and through the windows. Sure enough, they saw something that simply didn’t make any sense.

The detective on the scene had initially considered that this may have been an elaborate hoax. But after looking at the video footage from the attendees and talking to several, he had concluded that this