‘We are almost there,’ rumbled Darkmount. He didn’t bother to turn round.
‘You said that two hours ago!’ complained Charlie.
Darkmount suddenly stopped and turned to fix his cold grey eyes on her. ‘Well, if you didn’t drag your feet we would be there already. We are a mere five miles from Alavis and Alacorn. The ground above will still be a hotpot of activity and if we were to walk up there we would soon be caught like piglets in the butcher house! Do not forget that Bane’s forces control this land, which is why we must continue to travel underground.’
He skewered Charlie with a piercing look, before turning his attention back to the path. Muttering under his breath about ‘infantile youths’ and ‘spoilt children’, Darkmount stamped ahead.
Charlie licked her lips. The fatigue weighed down on her like an anvil, more pressing than before. The pain in her body grew, her legs felt weak and her vision began to blur. As she took several staggering steps forward, nausea churned in her stomach and up her throat.
‘Nibbler,’ she mumbled through numb lips. ‘Nibbler, I think I’ve got to stop for a bit –’
As the world grew dark, she slowly toppled over. The last thing she remembered seeing was Nibbler’s sudden look of concern as he sprang forward to break her fall.
The driver hitched up his trousers, threw the dregs of his coffee into the bushes and kicked some dirt over the fire, then both he and the guard clambered back on to the wagon.
‘Well, you green-skinned sacks o’ lard, we’re almost there. Another day and you’ll be able to admire your new home.’
The guard chuckled. ‘Think they’ll like it there?’
‘Oh, sure, what’s not to like? Fourteen-hour shifts of hard labour? No daylight, no warmth, a hard floor to sleep on and food so bad that not even a dog would eat it. Course they’ll like it, it’s a real holiday camp.’
The guard laughed yet again. He loved his job. It was easy, they got to take their time travelling from place to place and he could torment the prisoners to his heart’s content. Reaching over, he hooked a finger under Jensen’s gag. ‘So tell me, are you looking forward to your stay in the Soul Mines?’
Jensen worked his jaw from side to side, trying to release some of the cramp. Once he felt he could speak coherently he beamed up at the Stoman. ‘Oh, of course. The faster we can get there the better.’
‘What?’ sneered the guard. ‘And why would you tree-fairies be so keen to get there? Think you might bump into your momma?’
‘Possibly, possibly.’ Jensen grinned. ‘But ta be honest the sooner we get there the sooner we can hope ta stumble across some real humour. Listening ta ya guys trying ta rustle up some witty banter is killing me. I’ve never heard anyone butcher a joke as bad as ya guys. Maybe if I slipped ya a little cash ya could give us some ear plugs?’
With a roar the guard jumped from the seat into the back of the wagon.
Cursing, the driver sprang after him. ‘Stop that!’ he urged, grabbing the guard’s raised fist. ‘You know we’ll lose our bonus if they turn up more damaged than they already are!’
‘Shatter that! They’re already black and blue with bruises, the sergeant-at-arms won’t notice a couple more. Besides, you know they’ve got it coming!’
‘No doubt they do, but either way I’m not risking it. I’m not going to lose my bonus over this green idiot’s mouth!’
The guard’s eyes narrowed into slits. ‘All right, but no food or water for them; they can suffer a little for their impudence!’
‘Sounds fine ta me. Ya can’t cook anyway!’ Jensen smirked. ‘An’ don’t forget the ear plugs!’
‘Why you –’ snarled the guard. Spinning round, he drew back his fist only to have it grabbed once again by the driver.
‘Stone Gods and Crystal Daemons, but I’ve had enough of this!’ Reaching down he gagged Jensen then pushed the protesting guard back to the front of the wagon. ‘No more noises, burps or farts out of you two!’ He glared at Jensen and Kelko, then turned to the guard. ‘And, you, you better keep a hold on your temper.’
Settling back into his seat the driver shook his head. This trip was turning out to be a lot more bothersome than he had first thought. Just one more day to go. Trouble was, he had a sinking feeling that it would be an insufferably long final day.
‘Tremen,’ he said. Leaning over he spat into the mud-churned road.
Bane roared and slammed his fist through the wall.
‘Again? AGAIN? You insolent dogs! How could you allow that childish bag of flesh and bones to escape? Have none of you learned from your previous, inexcusable failures?’ Bane snatched up the Shade and flung it at the nearest group of men-at-arms. All went down in a tangle of limbs. ‘I should tear your stomachs from your backbones and feast on your innards!’
Black waves of anger writhed above him like a dark halo. He began to pace the Throne Room. ‘The time has come to stick a nail in that young Keeper’s luck. Pages and scribes, attend me! Ensure that the following proclamation is carried across the land: I, Bane, Lord of the Western Mountains, declare Charlie Keeper to be an outcast and outlaw. I will pay whomever brings me her head and her pendant fifty baskets of emeralds, a hundred baskets of sapphires and a thousand fistfuls of gold coins. If her head is delivered still fresh and bleeding I will double the sum offered. If she is delivered whimpering and broken to lie at my feet I will triple the sum and bestow the title of Lordship of Alavis on whomever succeeds in this undertaking.’
The scribes worked furiously as they took note of their master’s words. When their quills had finished scratching they bowed their heads.
‘Good,’ growled Bane, his anger and black halo abating. ‘If my own servants cannot see the task done then I will see that all of Bellania is turned against that annoying maggot. Make sure the proclamation is carried far and wide. Ensure it reaches the ear of every assassin and mercenary in Bellania. Is this understood?’
The scribes and pages bowed again in silence.
As they trailed from the Throne Room, Bane clapped his hands together. ‘Send for my generals. I want to know how Alacorn and the remaining Human cities fare against my banner.’
‘Wake up,’ growled a voice.
Charlie roused herself and slowly sat up. Her head felt muzzy.
Darkmount sat beside her. Blinking, she realized she was on a bed. The Stoman held a steaming bowl and a spoon, which he pressed into her hands, urging her to eat. As she swallowed the warm pleasantly spiced food, she began to feel stronger. Looking around, she saw Nibbler asleep at the foot of the bed. Her wrists had been wrapped in bandages and her clothes, folded neatly on a nearby chair, had apparently been washed while she slept. Her sluggish brain held ghost memories of being fed before.
‘How long have I been asleep?’
‘It has been nearly two days since you passed out in the tunnel,’ said Darkmount, taking the empty bowl from her hands. He passed her a glass of water. ‘I’ve been feeding you every six hours to rebuild your strength and I’ve attended to your various cuts, bruises and sprains.’
Charlie slowly flexed her arms and shoulders. They were still stiff, but obviously better than before. She felt stronger too; tired but no longer exhausted.
‘Where are we?’
‘My place of refuge.’
‘Where is –’
‘Bah! No more questions from you. At least not now. It is the middle of the night and although I woke you to feed you I did not intend for a full-blown conversation.’
‘Pfft.’ Charlie rolled her eyes. ‘It’s not like you’ve ever been one for long heart-to-heart talks.’
Darkmount let that one slide.
‘What about Sleeping Beauty over there? Is he OK?’
‘Ha! Other than his empty head that Hatchling has no worries. With the ridiculous amount of food he’s been wolfing down do not be surprised if he starts to show rapid signs of growth.’
‘Really? Will he grow big?’
‘Big? You’ve obvious
ly never seen an adult Winged One. Your companion has a lot of filling out ahead of him. But for now, enough words.’ He held up his hand, silencing her next question. ‘I would suggest that you continue to get what sleep you can. Tomorrow we will discuss strategy and in the evening we will make our move.’
‘That quickly?’
‘Your strength appears to have recovered and I do not wish to dawdle. My god awaits and Bane deserves to face judgement followed by swift and serious penance.’
‘Yeah, well if we’re going to get your god tomorrow I’m going to want half the secret to my pendant before we go.’
‘So the deal was made, so it shall be,’ said Darkmount with a nod of his head. ‘Tomorrow, then, we shall talk of strategies, of gods and of secrets.’
‘Tomorrow,’ echoed Charlie.
8
The Pendant’s Secret
‘Charlie, wake up!’ insisted Nibbler. He pulled back one of her eyelids to peer into her bloodshot eyes.
‘Ppff, huh? Whuddya want?’ Charlie stared around with a dazed look then hastily sat up. ‘Where are we? How’d we get here?’
‘Darkmount carried you here, remember?’
It all came rushing back to her. ‘Yeah, yeah I remember,’ she yawned and knuckled her eyes. ‘You know, I don’t think I’ve had one night of decent sleep since I got to Bellania. I’ve got to do something about all these dark dreams I’ve been having.’
‘Too right you do,’ snorted Nibbler. ‘Have you ever tried sleeping in the same room as someone who fidgets as much as you?’
‘Is it that bad?’
‘Charlie.’ Nibbler’s eyes grew wide. ‘You have no idea. If it’s any consolation at least you don’t fart in your sleep.’
‘Nibbler!’
‘Well it’s true – you don’t. You kinda make up for it though by snoring like a bad-tempered volcano.’
‘I do not! Well, maybe I snore a little, but I don’t think it’s as crazy as you’re trying to make out.’ She did her best to ignore Nibbler’s wicked grin. ‘So where’s Edge Darkmount?’
‘He’s outside. This place is amazing; you’ll love it! Here, let me show you.’
As Nibbler led the way through several rooms and corridors, Charlie soon realized they were in the home of a scholar. Books and scrolls lined shelf after shelf. There were blackboards, thick with scribbled notes and mathematical symbols and maps of far-off places. Detailed diagrams of Winged Ones hung from the walls. Some were sketched details of their wings, others showed close-ups of their heads and yet more showed them in varying postures of flight and rest.
Nibbler caught sight of Charlie’s questioning look. ‘Darkmount said he started moving all his stuff here as soon as Alavis came under siege. You won’t believe it, there’s hundreds and hundreds of books on Winged Ones, histories of old empires and encyclopaedia of strange creatures that live thousands and thousands of miles away. It’s awesome! If I stayed here long enough I reckon I could catch up on the education I’m missing. And check this out … Apparently, half the books Darkmount wrote himself! But if you think the house is cool wait till you see what’s outside.’
Nibbler pushed a door open and light came spilling in.
They were still underground, but in a cave the like of which Charlie had never seen before. The cavern was so large that it dwarfed Darkmount’s house. Charlie gazed around with a sense of wonder and delight.
Fat stalagmites reared upward like great tree trunks to touch a roof of amethyst that glowed and flickered with a light of its own. Several chuckling and trickling streams meandered between the large stalagmites to gently fill an oval pond. Looking into the crystal clear waters Charlie could see lazy carp swimming in circles. Moths the size of eagles flapped close to the ceiling, the strange light from the amethyst giving their wings a soft, lantern-like glow.
‘So our sleeping Keeper finally awakens,’ said Darkmount, appearing from behind a stalagmite.
‘Erm … yeah.’ Charlie fidgeted as she realized she owed this unlikeable man a debt for the care he had given her over the past days. ‘I wanted to thank you for carrying me here and for all the cooking … That was … nice of you.’
‘We are partners in the undertaking of a deal,’ grunted Darkmount. ‘It makes sense that I look after you. So today is the day for action. Are you ready?’
‘Yes, I think I am. But if we’re making a move today then today is also the day you tell me about my pendant.’
The Stoman bishop nodded. ‘And so I shall. But first you must show me that you have regained control of your Will. Show me that, then we will talk about your pendant and then, well, then we shall talk about retrieving my god.’
‘OK.’ Charlie could already sense that using her Will wouldn’t be a problem. The rest had finally restored the familiar energy that nestled like a deep pool within her body. ‘So what exactly do you want me to do?’
‘First show me your talent. Show me you can hold your Will.’
Charlie reached deep then grinned as she felt her Will coiled inside. It was like the welcome return of an old friend. Golden flames flowed from her hands and forearms. ‘Is this what you were looking for?’
‘Good,’ grunted Darkmount. ‘Now open a Portal.’
‘Where to?’
‘Anywhere, it matters not.’
Charlie hesitated. By the rules that governed her Will it needed to be a place she could visualize. Reaching a decision, she gestured with her hands. A slice appeared in the air. She teased it apart so that it formed a circular portal; through it they could see Deepforest and the slender towers of Sylvaris, the Treman capital. The sound of tree song and the scent of orchids breezed into the cave, filling her with a welcome sense of déjà vu. Memories and flashbacks flickered in her mind’s eye: the Jade Circle informing her of her parents’ fate, Lady Dridif’s no-nonsense approach to leading the Circle and ruling the city, eating exotic new foods with Kelko, and the day that her mentor and friend Azariah Keeper had first saved her from Bane’s Shades … and how he had ultimately died while trying to protect her from Mr Crow.
‘Good. Now open another,’ demanded Darkmount, snapping Charlie out of her daydream.
Charlie closed the first Portal, then, gaining confidence, swiftly opened one more. Through it they could all see the waterfall and cave through which, after being chased from her home by Bane and Mr Crow, she had first arrived in Bellania. Mist from the waterfall sprayed through the Portal.
‘Good. Now open two.’
‘Two?’ Charlie’s face grew pale. ‘I’ve never opened two! I didn’t even know it could be done.’
Darkmount shrugged. ‘Well now would be as good a time as any to try it.’
Charlie tensed her shoulders and hustled forward like a wrestler limbering up before confronting an opponent. Keeping the Portal with the waterfall open, she gestured with her left hand and to her delight a second Portal opened to reveal the grassy clearing where she had first met Kelko and the other Tremen.
‘Excellent. I believe that you are up to the task that lies ahead.’
Charlie smiled. Having her Will back felt wonderful. After the low moments in the Alavisian prison and during the escape she had felt weak … useless. But now, now she felt whole. Her grin nearly split her face in two. ‘So now it’s time for the pendant!’
‘Very well.’ Darkmount put out his hand.
Charlie felt the twin emotions of nervousness and excitement. Excitement that now, at long last, she would learn the pendant’s secret. Nervousness about entrusting it to someone she barely knew. Realizing that she would have to trust someone at some point in order to have it examined, she took a deep breath and with the insistent throb of excitement urging her on she pulled it from round her neck and placed it in Darkmount’s outstretched hand.
He held it up to the light, gave it a close look, then began to stroke it with his eyes closed. After a few brief moments of the slightly odd stroking he grunted thoughtfully and passed it back to Charlie.
&nb
sp; ‘Is that all?’ she blinked. ‘No magic, no flash of light?’
‘“Magic”? Bah, why do children always believe in magic?’
‘Well, I thought it was, you know, a magical item,’ insisted Charlie.
‘Of course it’s not a magical item! It is a Winged One’s artefact and it is my long years of study that allow me to plumb its secrets, not because I spent my youth daydreaming about “magic”!’
‘So what is it?’
‘It is a key.’
‘Yeah, I know that already.’ Charlie raised an eyebrow. ‘But a key to what?’
‘A key to free the Winged Ones.’
‘Huh?’ Charlie turned to stare at Nibbler. ‘But I thought Bane needed to completely take over Bellania before he could block their return? That’s what Lady Dridif told me.’
‘Bane’s power has increased far beyond anyone’s reckoning. My sources tell me that Bane has already managed to block the Winged Ones’ Gateway back. They cannot return, at least not through their traditional route. Hatchling, you must have returned to Bellania before this happened.’
‘What? Bane has blocked their return already?’ choked Charlie. Her dreams that the pendant would unlock some secret weapon – perhaps a magical wand or a super cannon – or give her the ability to control a legion of undead ninjas, were dashed. And now this news! ‘How are we supposed to do anything if we can’t get the Winged Ones back? I thought they were supposed to save the day and kick Bane’s backside! And what’s up with the pendant? I thought it was supposed to be a key to a weapon of some sort. A really powerful weapon that was going to defeat Bane and end this war!’
‘Wait,’ insisted Darkmount, holding out a hand to calm Charlie. ‘Wait before you jump to conclusions. Yes, Bane has managed to block their Gateway, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other ways for them to return. Have you listened to anything I said? The Winged Ones knew that Bane was rising too quickly. They knew the threat he posed. And although you might not appreciate it, a key to return the Winged Ones to Bellania is a tool more powerful than your feeble reckoning. Imagine if the Winged Ones could return, especially if Bane wasn’t expecting it. What would happen to him then? All his dreams of conquest would come to nought. The Winged Ones could snuff out his empire like the wind does a candle.’
Keeper of the Realms: The Dark Army (Book 2) Page 5
