‘Getting that –’ The bridge they were running on crumpled and partially collapsed as Fo Fum put his weight on it. Helping each other they clambered on to another.
‘Just run!’
Onward and onward they went until they reached the city limits and the towers grew further and further apart. Sliding down the outside of a severely damaged building that leaned at an extreme angle, they tumbled into Deepforest. Checking that Fo Fum was still chasing them they raced across battlefield debris, past groups of Treman soldiers who were being assisted by healers, skipped past still-burning fires and out on to the grasslands of the Great Plains.
‘How-much-longer,’ gasped Marsila, holding her hand to her side in an attempt to calm a stitch, ‘do-we-have-to-run?’
Charlie, realizing that they were now free of the city and the possibility of harming any innocent civilians, skidded to a stop. ‘This is far enough.’
Panting, they looked back to Deepforest.
Fo Fum’s spear spat through the trees and buried itself right between the three Keepers. Clods of dirt and clumps of grass rained down on them from the near miss. Fo Fum came next. Having feasted on the smoke of Sylvaris he was now large enough to push the trees of Deepforest aside like a farmer stepping through a field of corn.
The Keepers were forced to crane their heads right back in order to see the giant’s tortured face. His clothes had fallen from him long ago, leaving him coated in blood and ashes.
‘Feeeeeeeeeeeee!’ he screamed in delight as he saw his prey.
Charlie was so shocked by the change in his appearance that she nearly lost sight of her plans.
‘Charlie?’ E’Jaaz nudged her in the ribs. ‘If you’re going to do anything, now’s the time.’
‘A T-T-Triad,’ stuttered Charlie as the fear threatened to get the better of her. ‘Form a Triad.’
The two Keepers nodded. Wills shimmering, the three merged their strengths.
‘Where do you want us to open the Portal?’ shouted Marsila over the footfall of the approaching giant. ‘Beneath his feet?’
‘No, I want you to open it –’ Charlie was cut short as Fo Fum’s gigantic hand lashed down, knocking her off her feet. It smashed a cratered imprint in the soft earth. Charlie pulled herself upright, doing her best to maintain the Triad. ‘I want you to open it above his head!’
E’Jaaz and Marsila stared at one another, sharing a look of confusion.
‘Where do you want us to open it?’
But before Charlie could reply Fo Fum plucked her off the grass as easily as one might bend down to pick up a fallen grape. His dark chuckle filled the sky. ‘I’ve got you now, my scuttling fugitive! Fiiiiii!’
Delighted with his catch, he tossed Charlie from hand to hand. Charlie had to fight vertigo as she was jolted through the air. Gritting her teeth she fought to hold the Triad of Wills together. She couldn’t afford to let it go.
‘Open the Portal!’ she screamed.
‘Where?’ bellowed E’Jaaz, his voice cracked with frustration. ‘To where?’
‘To the Western Mountains!’ screamed Charlie.
Fo Fum paused. Snatching Charlie out of the air he lifted her to head height so he could better examine her. Charlie almost gagged at the close proximity of the giant’s ruined face. The thick smoke bubbling endlessly from his eyes and the rotten stink of his wounds were almost more than she could bear.
‘Fe-fi, Fo Fum –’ began the mercenary.
Charlie was unable to stand it any more. ‘Enough with the Fe-fi, Fo Fum chant!’ She wriggled round so she could shout to the Keepers below. ‘Just open the Portal to the Western Mountains!’
Still screaming, she struggled to tear open her own Portal. At first it felt as though Marsila and E’Jaaz, confused by her request, were fighting her. Gritting her teeth she Willed them into motion.
A line of gold slashed above Fo Fum’s head. Rotating, it sheared through a different axis then spread open into a wide rectangle.
‘Ffffo?’ The giant gazed at the golden light in confusion.
The Portal began to shake. Vibrating and groaning it roared and reverberated as it fought the Keepers. Jerking faster and faster it began to oscillate.
WHHHHUUUUUUSH!
Fo Fum had only a second to react before the magma erupted from the Portal. Gushing and slurping, rushing and splattering, the lava swept across Fo Fum’s head. It streamed down his shoulders and over his chest. The terrible scent of burning flesh filled the air and the mercenary’s gurgling scream cracked across the Great Plains, echoed over Deepforest and pounded against the towers of Sylvaris so that those brave enough to stick their heads from ruined towers swiftly ducked back inside.
Charlie, desperate to free herself from the giant’s hands before he clenched them in agony, kicked herself free. Tumbling through the air she braced herself with Will in the hope of minimizing her impact, only to be pleasantly surprised when Marsila cushioned her fall with a trampoline of thick golden light.
Grabbing the younger Keeper by the arms, the two adults scampered to a safe distance with Charlie held between them. There, with their hands pressed to their ears, they turned to watch Fo Fum’s demise with a mixture of awe and disgust.
Screaming, bellowing and writhing, the giant folded himself into a ball in an attempt to protect himself from the terrible heat. But it did little good. The lava continued to spew from the Portal like a vengeful red rain. With no smoke from which to draw added energy, the giant’s body succumbed and broke down in the volcanic stream. As Fo Fum stopped moving, the Portal finally shuddered one last time then collapsed in a flash of sparks.
55
Burial at Sea
Thinking that it was over, Marsila and E’Jaaz edged closer to Fo Fum’s body.
‘No,’ said Charlie. She had to repeat herself when the two adults, slightly deafened by the cataclysmic event, failed to hear her the first time. ‘No! Don’t go near him. I thought we’d killed him once before and that didn’t work. Let’s not take any risks.’
‘What?’
Charlie sighed. Doing her best with a mix of poor pantomime and hand gestures she indicated the risk to the dazed Keepers.
‘SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?’ bellowed E’Jaaz.
‘I’m not deaf!’ protested Charlie.
‘WHAT?’
‘You don’t have to shout!’
‘WHAT?’
‘Oh for crying out loud,’ muttered Charlie. Using the last scraps of her strength she opened a Portal back to the Jade Tower.
‘Charlie?’ said Lady Dridif. She paused so that one of the guards could take the arm of the wounded councillor who she had been helping. ‘Is it over?’
‘Yes. Well … almost.’
‘Thank ya, Charlie. For all that yer’ve done. We owe ya a debt of gratitude that –’
‘Uh, Dridif?’ groaned Charlie as she struggled beneath the weight of the Portal.
‘Wot is it?’
‘Portal. Kinda heavy.’
‘Sorry. Wot do ya need?’
‘Can you come through? Bring ink, paper, as many guards as you can spare and all the fans that you can find.’
‘Fans, ya mean the ones on our ceilings?’
‘Noooo,’ grumbled Charlie, really struggling beneath the pressure. ‘The ones that you flap with your hands. Please hurry, I can’t keep this open all day.’
Seeing the sweat on the girl’s brow Dridif bustled into motion. With several swift commands, a few raised eyebrows and the occasional acidic remark she spurred a mixed crowd of Tremen, councillors and servants into motion.
‘Quick! Quick! Ya there, run!’ urged Dridif, berating the last of the guards through the Portal. ‘And ya, stop pretending yer foot’s twisted. I saw yer run fast enough when the Shades came for ya. Jump, all of ya!’
Dridif was the last to step through the Portal. Charlie, drenched in sweat, sighed with relief as she could finally allow it to close.
‘Ya got him,’ said Dridif with an appreciative smile as she sta
red at the lumpy remains of Fo Fum.
‘Maybe, maybe not.’
‘Charlie, that’s just a big lump of charcoal. How can ya be worried about that?’
‘Jensen finished him off once before, but he came back from that. And you saw what happened earlier. I just don’t think it would be wise to take any chances.’
Dridif gave the cremated remains of Fo Fum a measured look. She was certain that the giant posed no threat, but she hadn’t reached her position of power by taking thoughtless risks. ‘So wot do ya have planned?’
Charlie told her. Dridif nodded in agreement and ordered those who had brought fans into motion. They formed an arc round the gigantic corpse and, waving the fans up and down, kept the smokes of Deepforest and Sylvaris at bay. Each councillor, guard or servant was careful in their duties. Indeed they might not have been a hundred per cent sure why they were doing what they did, but Dridif with her iron words and scathing look had ensured that each carried out his or her task to the best of their ability.
Charlie used the pen and paper to write down instructions for E’Jaaz and Marsila.
‘WHY DO YOU WANT TO OPEN A PORTAL TO THE SEA OF CHARMS?’
‘Oh, my days, would you two please stop shouting!’
‘WHAT?’
‘Stop shouting! Ooh hang on …’ Charlie scrawled Stop shouting! in capitals on a piece of parchment and underlined it three times. Grabbing both Keepers she held the paper under their noses.
‘Oh, sorry,’ said Marsila, shrugging. She stuck a finger in her ear in an attempt to clear her hearing. ‘We didn’t know.’
‘So why do you want to open a Portal to the Sea of Charms?’ asked E’Jaaz.
No smoke underwater, wrote Charlie and held the paper up so they could see.
‘Ah, good idea,’ said E’Jaaz, finally understanding what Charlie had been driving at.
Charlie gestured at the food and drink that Lady Dridif had thoughtfully brought with her. She thought it would be a good idea to boost their lagging energy before attempting to undertake the Portal opening.
While she ate, a terrible, if improbable, image of Fo Fum meeting Darkmount’s god miles beneath the waves of the Sea of Charms sprang to mind.
‘Dridif?’
‘Yes, Charlie.’
‘What’s the second deepest ocean in Bellania?’
When the Keepers had eaten their fill and recovered somewhat from their labours – and, more importantly in Charlie’s opinion, also recovered their hearing – they set to work.
The three Keepers formed an informal triangle with Charlie at the front. Shutting their eyes they summoned their Will and formed a Triad. Gesturing in unison they opened a Portal that led to a calm ocean. The waters were dark blue and although it was of course impossible to tell how deep they were, they nonetheless gave the suggestion that beneath the surface there lay a great depth.
‘OK, are we ready?’ asked Charlie.
‘All right, ladies, gentlemen,’ instructed Lady Dridif in an iron voice. ‘Roll up those sleeves and let’s get ta it. Push! PUSH!’
The faces of the guards, councillors and servants wrinkled in disgust as they began their unpleasant task of manhandling the crispy remains of the burnt giant. Charlie, taking control of the Portal, indicated that E’Jaaz and Marsila should apply their Will to aid the effort.
Struggling and grimacing, pushing and straining, everyone slowly pushed Fo Fum’s remains forward. Groaning with difficulty, they finally succeeded in pushing it up to one edge, then with a final shout of ‘Heave!’ they shoved it so that it teetered for a second before gravity pulled it into the ocean with a great splash.
Everyone turned to watch as several fins broke the water’s surface. Wriggling through the waves, great sharks with razor-sharp teeth began to attack the corpse. Slowly the great lump began to sink with the sharks following it into the depths.
Charlie watched until the ocean waves grew calm once more. Almost as an afterthought she unfastened the belt that held the gargorillas’ controlling heart. Realizing that without an army to control it was useless, she cast it into the waves too. Satisfied, she closed the Portal.
‘I wonder if he ever thought he’d end up like that?’ said E’Jaaz.
‘Like what?’ asked Marsila.
‘As barbecued Fo Fum.’ E’Jaaz chuckled. ‘It almost sounds like the name of a real snack.’
Lady Dridif put her finger to her lip and nodded appreciatively. ‘I think that would be a suitable revenge,’ she mused. ‘I’ll have all the street food vendors in Sylvaris rename their barbequed Hoodwinks Barbequed Fo Fum.’
‘What’s a Hoodwink?’ asked Charlie.
‘A type of tree rat,’ said Dridif. Seeing the look on Charlie’s face she added, ‘They taste nicer than ya think.’
‘You want to name a street food after Fo Fum?’
‘Why not? Fo Fum added to the destruction of our city so dis way our citizens always get the chance ta bite back. With the addition of Barbequed Fo Fum ta our diet Sylvaris will always have the last laugh.’
Charlie stared at Lady Dridif, uncertain whether she should be horrified or amused. Seeing the twitch of a victorious smile on the old lady’s face, Charlie realized that she liked the idea. She chuckled in delight, enjoying the idea that the joke would become part of Sylvarian folklore.
‘So, young Keeper,’ said Dridif, interrupting Charlie’s thoughts, ‘how do ya and yer colleagues feel about cutting us a Portal back ta the Jade Tower?’
Charlie stared at the two adult Keepers, who were once again arguing as to whether or not E’Jaaz was to get a dinner date, a kiss or a fat lip from Marsila. Shrugging, she turned back to Dridif.
‘If it’s all the same with you I’m knackered. I’d rather save my Will and Portals and fighting for another day. What do you say to joining me in a walk back to Sylvaris?’
‘Wot do I say? Young Keeper … that sounds like a plan.’
Shoulder to shoulder, Charlie Keeper and the First Speaker of Sylvaris walked, or in Charlie’s case limped, towards the trees of Deepforest.
56
A Fallen General
The Shades had already informed Bane of all that had occurred at the battle of Deepforest. His fury had been significant upon hearing the news. The Throne Room bore the marks of his temper: statues lay strewn and broken across the floor and several of the great columns displayed fist-shaped cracks.
Yet, as elemental as Bane was, a strategist’s mind lurked beneath his shadowy cowl. He had already taken steps to prevent his barrier against travel being used as a weapon. Charlie Keeper might have made use of it once, but after conferring with his god, the barrier’s properties had been lifted. Any Keeper thinking of repeating the actions that had resulted in Fo Fum’s demise would surely be disappointed. He had also taken steps to prevent the news of his defeat from causing any damage to his growing empire. In a show of strength he had doubled garrisons throughout his territory and increased executions as a deterrent to any who thought they could take advantage of his loss.
There was one other vital piece of information that he intended to take advantage of: Sylvaris and Deepforest were now without defences. It was true that he had lost his prime fighting force, the First Army, but Deepforest had lost two. His Shades had reported that not only had the Treman army been decimated but that the strange dark army led by the Keepers had also been destroyed.
Sylvaris was now ripe for the plucking.
‘Bring in my generals.’
Men-at-arms pulled open the heavy doors and footmen ushered in the generals. There were noticeably only two. The largest of the three – the leader of the First – was absent. The two generals clicked their heels together and saluted with a chorus of ‘My lord’.
‘The Jade Circle has expended all their forces and now lies defenceless. You will take both my Second and my Third Armies and you will crush Sylvaris. Crush it! I want that Treman city gone. Splinter its towers, harvest its citizens, burn the trees and salt the earth!
I will have all traces of that city swept from my empire. See it done.’
‘Aye, lord,’ said the general with the milky eye.
‘Your will, my lord,’ said the one with the cleft in his jaw.
They both turned to go.
‘Wait,’ commanded Bane. ‘I think it only fair that you taste how I reward those who please me.’ The Stoman Lord snapped his fingers. At his bidding, twelve servants struggled forward, pushing four barrels that twinkled and sparkled with diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. ‘Your baths will be filled with these and tonight you will wash in wealth.’ Bane snapped his fingers a second time. A long line of slaves from all three races were led forward. ‘These will attend your every wish.’
The generals’ eyes glittered with greed.
‘My lord.’
‘My thanks, my lord.’
‘Enjoy tonight, let my generosity spur your ambitions, and when you return after crushing Sylvaris I will gift you more jewels than you can imagine. Return to me as victorious generals and I will let you swim in your reward. Now go.’
The two generals swaggered out of sight.
Bane waited for their footfalls to diminish before gesturing a footman forward. ‘Bring him in.’
There was a clink and rattle of chains as a large Stoman pressed beneath a great weight of shackles lurched his way into the Throne Room. The strain of the action was evident in the tensing of the tendons in his neck and the play of muscles round his clenched fists. Even though his head was held high, the man’s eyes betrayed his fear. He was none other than the disgraced general of the First Army.
Slowly and ponderously the man made his way to the foot of the raised dais where he knelt before the Devouring Throne. Pressing his forehead to the floor he failed to notice Bane’s fury rekindle itself as a dark halo that spat and boiled.
‘My lord, I did everything in my power to achieve your desire, but I simply could not –’
His words were cut off in a squawk as Bane leaned down and grabbed him by the throat. Holding him up so that his feet dangled above the floor, Bane growled, ‘You think that I will let such an error go unpunished?’
Keeper of the Realms: The Dark Army (Book 2) Page 29
