The Reclaiming: The Keepers Saga: Volume Two

by Dillon McNaight

  Baron also finished his ale, releasing an inappropriate belch before replying, “I will do whatever you ask of me my Lord, and so will my son, Ethan.”

  “I’m glad you bring up your son,” Daane replied, “I was very impressed with him today. He fought with courage and pride. Alandra tells me that he stood up to the Captain against your judgement, almost causing his own death.”

  Embarrassed, Baron replied, “Yes, well, he has always been a stubborn boy. He means well, but he doesn’t always know how to properly act in certain situations.”

  “I think you are wrong Baron,” replied Daane, “for these are qualities that Ayden looks for in a warrior of the Kain’s Guard, if fact, he told me of his bravery first hand. I believe that your son could be of great use to the Guard. With your permission, I would like to invite your son into the Kain’s Guard and have him travel with us to Riverton.”

  Baron was taken aback by the King’s words as he searched for the right ones to reply with. Finally, Baron said, “He is my son… I don’t want him to get hurt… but at the same time, I know that in his heart, this is what he wants. He wants to fight for his family and his people.” Baron paused before saying, “I would be proud as his father to see him join the legendary Kain’s Guard.”

  Ayden overheard as he chased down some potent brew, and yelled over, “Ethan?! I love that kid, great kid… awesome kid… he should be in the Guard!”

  Daane rolled his eyes at his brother’s drunken stupor, as he turned and replied, “That’s what we are talking about Ayden. Go on now, back to your sworn duty of being the last one to awake tomorrow.”

  “Nope!” Ayden yelled back. “I will be mo… most certainly be the one that, that undoubtedly will probably maybe be the first one to wake last! I’m so ready to go to Riverton and ride horse… ride my horse all that long way.” He hiccupped as he turned back around to pour himself another drink.

  Daane turned back around to face Baron as he said, “You get use to him, or he will just eventually grow on you, but know that he is truly a noble man, and your son will be safe under his charge.” Daane stood up as Baron followed. Daane put his right arm on Baron’s left shoulder, looking him in the eyes before saying, “You have my word that we will do everything in our power to keep him safe.” Baron held back his emotions as his King continued, “I will leave a few Guardsmen behind to help you protect Greenglen. Also, I will need you to send messengers to all surrounding villages and warn them of the Dragonkin’s assault, and to also send every abled bodied man to Riverton to assemble the Kain’s army. Can you do this for me?”

  Baron replied with pride, “YES my Lord!” The drunken men of Greenglen behind him all stopped and turned to Baron and their King. They all raised their mugs in silence. That night King Daane shared in silence his thoughts, his emotions, and his pride with his people. That night they showed that courage still lives in the hearts of the Kain and that their spirits could never be broken.

  Back at the home of Baron, Ethan sat next to the fire as he rewound the day’s events over and over in his mind. His little brother and sister were asleep, and his mother was at the celebration with his father with the rest of the adults of the village. He offered to stay home and watch after his siblings so his mother could have a night off. His deep thought was suddenly interrupted by a knock at the door. He then heard a frail voice through the door.

  “Ethan? Are you still up? It’s Jessabelle. I know it’s late, but… I… wanted to tell you something.”

  Ethan hurried to the door so she didn’t wake his brother and sister. As he opened the door, he walked through it and quietly closed it behind him.

  He then turned to Jessabelle and said, “Sorry, my brother and sister are asleep. It took forever to get them down, so I don’t want to wake them. I can’t sing like my mother, so it isn’t as easy for me to get them to fall asleep.”

  The girl then began to doubt her actions as she replied, “I’m sorry, it’s late, I shouldn’t have come.” She then turned and began to walk away.

  Ethan called after her, “Wait, you said you wanted to tell me something.”

  She wiped a tear from her cheek before she turned around smiling and said, “It’s nothing, it can wait until tomorrow. Have a good night Ethan.”

  “You as well,” replied Ethan as he walked back into the house.

  After Jessabelle was sure he couldn’t see her, she broke down in tears as she walked back to her own home. Ethan was confused by their interaction, for he isn’t the brightest when it comes to matters of the heart. He walked back over to the fire and continued to relive the day’s events.

  Back at the lodge, the celebration continued as Alandra burst through the door and marched right up to the bar next to Ayden. He was taken aback and said nothing as she asked the Innkeeper for a bottle of his strongest stock. She then snatched the bottle from his hand and pulled the cork out with her teeth as she then held the bottle up and started drinking, and didn’t stop until the entire bottle was gone. Ayden was rarely speechless, but this action caused him to be utterly so. Once she was finished, she slammed the bottle on the bar and cleared her throat. She then turned to face Ayden with an expressionless face. For a moment, the two just stared at each other. Then, the Keeper simply said…

  “Come with me.”

  Alandra then stood up and walked out the door. Ayden, still speechless and confused, looked at Nathian and shrugged. He gave him a look as if to say ‘what are you waiting for?!’ Ayden then finished what was left in his glass, stood up, straightened his jacket the best he could, and followed the Keeper out the door.

  As he stumbled out, he said, “Where are we going? Is it a surprise? I like surprises.”

  She said nothing as she continued to walk away from the Captain. As she passed several homes, she looked in each one, hoping to find one that might be empty.

  “The suspense is killing me you know,” said Ayden as he tried to keep up. “Just so you know, if you are going to murder me, just don’t mess up my face. I like my face…”

  Alandra stopped at a home with no lights and looked in the window. The two-room home looked empty. She then said, “This will do,” as she held her hand up to the door knob and used her power to break it open. As the door creaked open, she looked at Ayden with the same expressionless face and said, “Well, are you coming or not?” She then disappeared through the doorway.

  Ayden, still confused, hesitated on what to do. He knows what his heart wants to happen, and what he feared was going to happen. Although he wears a tough and less than serious persona, deep down he was quite sensitive, and couldn’t bear to have his heart tormented with. After reassuring himself, he then slowly began to walk towards the home. As he walked into the dark room, there was Alandra, standing still with her back to him.

  “So, we are in someone’s home because…?” questioned the Captain.

  Alandra then turned around, and the expression on her face was no longer void of emotion. Her eyes were wet and full of every emotion that she has kept locked behind her constantly stoic gaze.

  “Alandra, you’re…”

  “Don’t speak,” interrupted the Keeper as she held up her right hand.

  A blue haze started to flow around it as a few candles were suddenly lit with a flame as blue as the haze around her hand. They gave off just enough light for the two of them to see each other. She slowly walked towards Ayden as her eyes grew more blurred behind her gated tears. As she walked closer, the blue haze around her hand escaped and turned into hundreds of beads of light, like blue fireflies. They filled the room as Ayden gazed at them in awe. Once she reached him, she stood still only inches from his body. She placed her hand over his heart as she stared into his transfixed eyes.

  “Feel that?” She then took his hand with her other and placed it over her heart. “Now… feel that? They beat the same. Long have I hindered the rhythm of my heart when I look in your eyes… so don’t break it.”

  Ayden’s drunken stupor was now gone as
he stared more intently than ever in his life, and answered sincerely, “I would never.”

  She then moved her hands to the sides of his face as her tears freely fell. “I want you to make me feel good.” She repeated softer and more intimate, “…make me feel good.”

  Ayden slowly moved her hands away from his face as he placed his own on hers. He then leaned in, hesitant at first, and then met his lips with hers. Then, with the progression of a galloping steed, they intensified their passion as he moved his lips to her flush neck. She then broke away as she pushed him against the wall. As he hit it, she pressed back up against him, ripped his jacket off and tossed it aside, as she reengaged her lips with his. The speckles of blue light around the room grew brighter as random objects in the room started to involuntarily move. She then grabbed him by the shirt and turned him around towards the nearby bed. He almost lost his footing as she raised her hand with her palm forward. As she did, he stabilized, and his shirt began to unravel its thread and fall to the floor, revealing his bare chest. Her eyes began to illuminate in a faint blue light as her hair began to move and elegantly flow in a breezeless static. She slowly walked towards him as her leather corset began to unravel itself without aid. Once the strings were loose, she pulled the corset off, revealing a see-thru under garment. The objects around the room then began to rise into the air as the walls vibrated softly. Ayden smiled lustfully as he met her and grabbed her waist, pulling her to him. He then pulled her garment over her head, and with her now exposed body against his, pulled her backwards towards the bed. Once he felt the end of the bed touch the backs of his legs, he quickly unbuckled his belt. As he struggled, Alandra once again used her mind to break the belt lose, discarding it to the ground. She then pushed him onto the bed as she climbed on top of him. Her eyes were now completely illuminated with blue light as she singed away the rest of their clothes. They then completely lost themselves in the heat of passion until they both simultaneously experienced a long-awaited release. Afterwards, they both rolled onto their backs as the levitated objects around the room fell, and the speckles of light faded. They breathed heavily as they stared at the ceiling of the modest home. Neither one could udder any words.

  Ayden then said with breathlessness, “Well then… that was… you were… you destroyed our clothes, you know that right?”

  Alandra couldn’t help but to burst into laughter as she covered her mouth with embarrassment.

  “Literally destroyed them… as in we are now naked… with no clothes.”

  She then rolled over onto his chest and looked him in the eyes as she replied, “I wasn’t really worried about that in the moment.” She then took the sheet and stood up out of the bed and started to walk towards the door. She looked back at Ayden and said with a grin, “I can remain hidden from all those that I chose. Too bad you can’t do the same.” She then turned and walked out of the home.

  Ayden watched her leave as his heart continued to beat hard, “Well… I can’t, so, thanks for that.” He then sat up and looked around the strange home, realizing that he was most likely going to have to leave with no clothes. “Seriously?!” exclaimed Ayden.

  CHAPTER 5

  THE GOLDEN ARMY

  Dathian and Savannah stayed up late as they went over every detail of their time with the Angels. They knew that their time together was drawing to the end, and neither one of them knew what was going to happen after that, whether they would see each other again… or not. They decided to hope for the best. Long after the sun had set, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  Everything and everyone in the Great Forest slept sound that night, and there wasn’t a song to be heard or a light to be seen. As night turned into morning, the outline of one of the Angels can be seen standing motionless against the sunrise. As the sun peaked above the canopy and illuminated the ground below with its soft glow, the outline of Glammdreing came into focus. He had his hands behind his back and his head bowed down with his eyes closed. It was as if he were preparing for a demanding task that he soon had to perform. As he lifted his head, he opened his eyes. He gazed upon the Great Forest for a moment before turning to a nearby Oakling. He slowly walked up the tall and spiraling staircase. As he reached the top of the Oakling, he came to stand in front of a large metal object. The object was a horn of great size and grandeur. At its bottom is a small mouth piece that grows in size and girth as it climbs up the mighty Oakling. At its peak is a large horn that splits into four smaller horns, all facing different directions. Glammdreing stood still for a moment before approaching the massive horn. He knew that once he sounded the horn, that it would resonate throughout the Great Forest signaling other horns throughout the Ela and summon the Golden Army to Brethiel. The Golden Army consisted of the three tribes of the Ela.

  The Skyborn tribe resided in the western shores. They ruled over the harbor and the seas to the west. Their territory grew into Kranos only a few miles inland from the shores. The southwestern shores of Kranos consisted of many cliffs and inlets. The trees close to the shore barely resembled the large Oaklings further inland. They had large and wide trucks, but only grew about fifty feet off the ground, and spread outwards and draped back down to the ground. Their dwellings were built out of wood from the nearby trees, and laid across the ravines and inlets. A series of rope bridges zig-zagged down the ravines, connecting all the dwellings to each other. They are called the Skyborn because of the mighty Griffins that call the western shores their home.

  Many winters ago, the Skyborn came to an agreement with the Griffins. They would help feed and protect the rare beasts in return for their service in times of need. The Griffins averaged in size, no larger than a horse, but were swift and agile creatures, both on the ground and in the air. Their head resembled that of a golden eagle, with its beak painted bright gold. The Griffin’s is wrapped in a white mane of feathers, with its body resembled that of a lion. Its front legs resemble an eagle’s, and its hind legs a lion, ending with its tale of golden feathers. Their wings are almost solid white and freckled with brown as they powerfully rise from each side of the Griffin. They are a fiercely proud creature and would usually only trust one person to ride them. As a Skyborn child reached maturity, his first task as a man was to choose an adolescent Griffin and create a bond that would last their lifetime.

  The leader of the Skyborn is called Krendweil. He is nearing his three hundred and fiftieth year. He has been the leader of the Skyborn tribe for over one hundred years. Krendweil shows his age in his face, but not his body. He is much taller than most Ela, excluding the warrior Angel and the ancient Shaman. His hair is braided into a long black braid that nearly reaches the ground. His face is severely scarred from an encounter with a rouge drake many years ago. One eye is gray and the other is blue. He is considered to be the best flyer and mightiest warrior amongst the Skyborn. He bares two swords that he places in sheaths on his back so he can fly without them interfering. Only when he was on the ground would he reveal the swords from their sheaths. Krendweil’s army consists of several hundred highly trained flyers. Their numbers might be small in comparison to the other tribes, but their skill and experience outweigh them all.

  The Sabertooth tribe lives on an island east of the harbor called Blacktail Island. The Island isn’t even half the size of the Great Forest, merely a third. Its eastern shores lie directly west of the Golden Harbor, which consists of sandy white beaches. The sand is so fine that it will fall through your fingers like flour. The outskirts of the island consist of a rich variety of vegetation including palm trees, ferns, bamboo, and wild flowers as tall as trees. At the center of the island lies a small lake. At the center of the lake rests a small town built on top of the water. It isn’t overly magnificent. The piers were built from bamboo rods, and the roofs of the dwellings were draped with palm branches. The Sabertooth tribe cares little of elegance and grandeur. The women don’t wear dresses of silk, and many of their faces are painted with tattoos of different tribal emblems. Their army consists
of just as many women as men, for they are not like the pampered women of Menethiel. During battle, the men and women would paint their faces and bodies with blue paint made from wild blueberries. The Sabertooth tribe aren’t famous for their lack of sophistication or their modest dwellings, but for the great Sabertooth tigers they ride.

  The Sabers are larger than any other cat in the world. They are nearly the size of their distant cousin the Griffin. To each side of their mouth rests massive fangs nearly reaching the ground, and are solid white and never erode or chip. They are as strong as iron and can never be broken off. The fur on their head and neck is colored in almost rainbow colors, often changing in the sunlight. As you reach the creature’s back, the rainbow coloring turns pitch black all the way to its tail. The tribe engineered saddles and bridles to fit the Sabers. They are a proud creature, just as their cousins the Griffins, and will only answer to one tribesmen. They also choose their Saber at a young age.

  The leader of the Sabertooth tribe is called Nexia. She is a fierce warrior and is just as feared and respected as any man. Her blonde hair is shaved on the sides leaving only the top which is braided down to her back. Her face is almost completely covered in tattoos representing every battle she has been in. She is nearing her eightieth birthday, which is considered to be young amongst the Ela. She carries a spear which consists of a strong bamboo rod, and the spearhead is shafted out of a drake’s fang. She leads an army of one thousand riders. When needed, they would cross the gap between the island and the mainland by a concealed bridge. The bridge made of bamboo stays concealed under water until needed, in which a few members of the tribe would crank massive wheels, straightening the bridge above the water for the Sabers to cross.

  Finally, were the Guardsmen of the Ela, whom reside in the capital of Brethiel. The Guardsmen are the police force of the forest. They oversee all internal affairs and rarely travel outside of the city. Even though most of them have not seen real battle, they are well trained by the Angel Glammdreing himself, for he is the General of the Ela’s Golden Army. Glammdreing trusts Krendweil and Nexia to properly train their own charge per the Angel’s standards. Since the Angel dwells mostly in the capital, he took it upon himself to train the Guardsmen. They are trained to wield the lance primarily, with a sword as a side arm. They are primarily trained in the arts of melee combat, and are the most skilled in ground combat. Although they don’t have Griffins or Sabers to mount, they do have a unique breed of horse at their command.