The Reclaiming: The Keepers Saga: Volume Two

by Dillon McNaight

  “Alright, you have to leave now!” said Dathian. “If you follow the river, you will stay out of sight. Follow the east bank until you reach the lake. You’re on your own from here, for I can’t protect you if you get caught.”

  Unexpectedly, Caegan grabbed Dathian and embraced him as if he was one of his own.

  “This is a sign from the heavens,” said Caegan as he pulled back.

  “What is?” asked Dathian.

  “That we will see peace one day, our peoples,” said Caegan with pride.

  Dathian replied with a genuine smile, “I hope so, I truly do. Now, go!”

  Caegan lingered for a moment, then turned and motioned for his children to follow. They moved quickly, and were soon out of sight.

  “I can’t believe we got away with that,” said Ethan as he wiped his brow, “I was a little worried there for a second.”

  “Worried about what?” suddenly came a voice from behind them.

  They both spun around as the White Queen approached them, followed by the King and Glammdreing. Shortly behind them, Nathian caught up with heavy breath.

  Dathian looked at the Queen, then at his father, then back to her.

  “The Drykans, they escaped!” exclaimed Nathian as he tried to catch his breath.

  Daane couldn’t take his eyes off his son as he replied, “Yes Nathian, we know.”

  Puzzled, Nathian said, “You know?! But how? You just sent me to execute them.”

  “Yes,” said Daane with an eerie calmness, “shortly after you left, Kalorah came to me and said that Dathian, my own son, was going to release them.” Dathian’s heart dropped and his knees began to shake. Daane continued as he stared at his son, “I didn’t believe her when she said it, and here you are.”

  “Wait, no, I didn’t,” stuttered the prince as he looked at Kalorah, “tell him! Tell him that you…” He could suddenly say no more.

  Ethan couldn’t feel his legs as his skin turned white.

  Dathian then said in a more controlled and monotone voice, “Tell him that I told you what I was going to do, and that you tried to stop me, but couldn’t. I acted on my own accord.”

  Ethan couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of his mouth… and neither could Dathian.

  Daane, who tried to comprehend what he just heard, looked to Kalorah for confirmation.

  She lingered in her gaze with Dathian for a moment before she turned to face and King, and said, “It is true. I would’ve told you sooner, but I thought he would come to his senses. Clearly, I was wrong in my assumption.”

  Daane looked back at his son as he asked with subtle tears welling in his eyes, “Dathian… how could you? After what they did to you? What they did to OUR people, and YOUR mother?!”

  Ethan tried to speak, but was unable to, as if controlled by a power not of his own.

  Dathian then spoke again in a stuttered and broken voice, “I am sorry father, but I decided their fate on my own. I didn’t think they should die, so I went behind your back.”

  Kalorah then said before Daane could respond, “What your son and this young man did is an act of treason! Surely, the laws of your people do not exclude them just because he is royalty!”

  Confused by the whole thing, a bewildered Nathian said, “Wait… now, let’s everyone just calm down! There has to be a different explanation for…”

  “No,” Daane interrupted as tears freely fell from his eyes, “The Queen is right. Aiding in the intentional release of prisoners is an act of treason… for anyone… including my son.”

  Dathian was screaming behind his silent lips. He could no longer control his words, or his actions, though his consciousness was still present. Ethan was suffering from the same bewitchment. By then, a few guards had arrived, and awaited their King’s orders.

  Without taking his eyes off his son, he said, “Take them to the cell in the main Courthouse.”

  Kalorah looked at Glammdreing and said, “Go, find the missing Drykans… kill them all!”

  Several guards walked over to the teens and bound their hands behind their backs. They then proceeded to lead them towards the Courthouse in the center of the city. Dathian, still unable to speak, could only stare into Kalorah’s eyes as Glammdreing revealed his wings, and took flight south towards where the Drykans that were trying to escape. He begged her to stop this with his eyes. He has never felt a betrayal like this, and was completely unaware of its origin. Why would she do this? How could she betray him?!

  As they were led through the streets, everyone stopped what they were doing and watched. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing, and gossip quickly began to spread. Just as they arrived at the Courthouse, with Daane and Nathian watching with utter sadness, Dathian turned one last time to beg his father to reconsider, just as Glammdreing glided back to the ground. Dathian looked down at his sword, which was covered in blood. The world began to leave the prince as his vision became foggy and static. He could barely hear Glammdreing say to his father, “It is done. They didn’t suffer.” The door to the courthouse was opened, then the cell door, and in were thrown the teens. The last thing they saw was a steel gate being slammed shut, then another door leading to the cell, then nothing… nothing but darkness, and the bitter bite of betrayal.

  CHAPTER 13

  FORGOTTEN DEPTHS

  Very few who now live in Kranos know about the secluded race of outcasts from the territory of the Dragonkin. The Keeper Malthius is one of the few that remember the deformed race of Drykans. Calthrog called them the ‘deformed,’ and the Clauggs called them the ‘unsaved.’ The race of deformed and unsaved Dragonkin did in fact have a name, and that name was, and still is, the Krocklin.

  The high General Calthrog was still new to his new-found Guardianship. Only ten years had passed since that fateful meeting with the White Queen, and the arrival of Archimus. He received word of a few Drykan children that were causing trouble in the nearby Kun-Kin villages. They were described as hunched over and deformed. They also stated that there was a menace inside of them that screamed for attention. Calthrog investigated the issue further and came to find out that all the children belonged to a single family. The family was well known for their disobedience towards their god Alvane. They believed that if their god loved them so, that he should provide them with more than rocks to live on, and fish to eat. They disobeyed all the laws of the Drykans, including procreating within their own family. Over many years of incestuous births, the family quickly turned into a deformed race. The name Krocklin comes from a word the locals used to describe someone of dishonor. The name stuck, and so did the family. Soon, the family grew in numbers beyond counting. They became disgusted with the rest of the Drykan race, and another civil war erupted. It didn’t take long for Calthrog to intervene, for he didn’t want another uprising like the Lorkath Loyalists. He banned the Krocklin from the city of Drokkin, however he did not send them to the Frozen Isles like the Loyalists. The General forced them into the caves underneath the eastern Kastus Mountains instead. Calthrog then sealed the entrance to the caves, forever imprisoning the Krocklin under the mountains.

  Being sealed underneath the mountain did not deter the bitter race, who half expected to be sent to the northern continent like the others banished before them. Although deformed from improper breeding, the Krocklin were the smartest and most inventive among the Dragonkin. Their ingenuity far exceeded any of their kind. They quickly adapted to the desolate dwellings they were exiled to, which was void of any sunlight. Under the mountain lies a vast network of caves and caverns. The Krocklin crafted a series of small channel ways along the cave walls, which housed a small but steady stream of a flammable fluid that seeped from the wall’s exterior. Once lit, they transformed the dark and lifeless corridors into well-lit passage ways. An underground river that comes from Mount Karnith flows through the center of the caverns, and provides the Krocklin with fresh water and fish to feed on.

  It only took the Krocklin five years to not only multiple
their race by three, but to build the foundation of their capital city, in which they named Carnith. A few voyagers were able to travel outside of the caverns by way of the underground river, and made their way to the northeastern shores of Kranos. A small but unique pack of wolves dwelled in the same inlet. They are much larger than their cousins the Grayhides. They are tall at the front shoulders and lean towards the back. Their hair is short like a cat, and the color is black with a hint of dark brown. They have large brown eyes, and their front two fangs grow much longer than their cousins the Grayhides. They mostly live off small game that inhabit the forest, such as rabbits and small birds. The Krocklin expedition convinced the pack of wolves known as the Blackhides into traveling to Carnith in promise of endless stores of fresh fish, as well as custom built dens to live in. They soon came to serve the Krocklin as their mounts and trusted companions.

  The Krocklin continued to grow in numbers over the next twenty years. As they continued to expand their domain further to the north, they unexpectedly dug their way right to the outlining walls of the Melentine Mines. A long and strenuous conflict began between the Clauggs and the Krocklin over territory rights. Malthius often led the charge against the Krocklin. After being defeated numerous times, the Krocklin abandoned their plight against the Clauggs, and sealed the gateway between their two races. Every once in a while, a rogue Krocklin outcast would venture outside of the mountain’s underbelly, and run into a member of either the Kain or Claugg, usually resulting in their death. Otherwise, the Krocklin have not been seen or heard of in over three hundred years.

  Bargokk learned of the entrance into the caves from a Drykan fishing expedition that traveled further north than they usually did. They saw from a distance several small wooden boats sailing in and out of the massive cave entrance in the cliff wall. The eastern shores of Kranos are made up of towering cliffs and large rock formations that jet out of the sea near the cliffs. The current is much stronger in the eastern seas, and the weather more unpredictable, which is why the Drykans never sail that far north. Once the Drykans discovered who were manning the boats, they quickly sent word to the General.

  The deformed race has long been on Bargokk’s mind. He didn’t share the same disgust with the Krocklin as Calthrog did. He thought of them as a useful tool in claiming the northern lands. Now that the Keepers and the remaining soldiers of Menethiel reside in the impenetrable city under the mountain, they have become even more on his mind. After receiving word from the messenger that the entrance to their domain has been located, Bargokk immediately took flight for the eastern shores. If he could convince the Krocklin to fight on his side, then he would have a way into the Mines, and claim the city of the Clauggs, and wipe out the rest of the Kain and the surviving Keepers.

  Bargokk arrived at the eastern shore line and landed on a large rock formation towering out of the sea in front of the entrance to the cave. He discarded his dragon form and gazed at the entrance as the wind blew against him, causing his long black cape to sway behind him. He studied his surroundings, looking for a way into the cave, for there was not enough room for him to enter in his dragon form. As he looked behind him, he saw a small abandoned wooden boat tied to the rock formation. What became of its owner, he did not know, nor cared. He boarded the boat, and used its single ore to slowly paddle his way to the entrance. The light started to fade as he paddled further and further into the cave. The channel grew smaller in girth the further he went. The water was calm inside the cave, and appeared black in color. The walls of the cave transformed from jagged rock edges into smooth and manicured walls. He could see a faint light coming from the distance. As he approached, he was met with a large iron gate and two lamps lit by fire. The underground river was channeled into a controlled highway for the Krocklin to travel on. Standing in front of the iron gate stood two guards. They were short in stature, only about four feet tall. They held iron spears, and were dressed in a mixture of plate and leather armor. As Bargokk approached, one of the guards spoke.

  “Halt! No one enters Carnith without our permission,” said the guard, “state your name and business stranger!”

  Bargokk replied, “I am the General of the Dragonkin, my name is Bargokk. I have come to speak with your leader, and I assure you, that I mean your people no harm.”

  The guards knew the name, though they have never met one of the Generals of the Dragonkin. They knew of Calthrog and the decision he made many years prior to banish the Krocklin from Drokkin, but they did not know the intentions of his brother.

  “I ask you,” replied the other guard, “why has the General of the Dragonkin decided to enter the domain of the very race that his kind banished long ago? What business do you have with the Krocklin?”

  “I understand your concerns young one,” said Bargokk in a friendly tone, “but I will save the explanation of my arrival for your leader. Allow me to speak with him, and all your questions will be answered.”

  The guards were weary of the General’s intentions, and did not know whether to trust him or not, but they also knew that they could not stop him if they tried, for the great Guardian was powerful, and could easily overtake them if he wanted to. Hesitantly, they agreed to lead Bargokk to their leader within Carnith. They simultaneously pulled down on two chains opposite one another, and the iron gate started to slowly rise. Bargokk paddled through the gate and got out of the boat. The two guards closed the gate behind him, and proceeded to lead him through the corridor, and into the city limits of Carnith.

  Bargokk was amazed at the ingenuity of the deformed race. He expected them to live in a savage landscape, dwelling in caves and eating meat off the bone. He couldn’t have been more wrong. The Krocklin carved directly into the cavern walls. The streets were smooth, as well as the outsides of their dwellings. An intricate and elaborate series of lanterns and fire-wells lined the walls of the city, illuminating it in a bright orange light. They also used Sunrocks, for the Clauggs weren’t the only ones who were able to mine the precious stone. Over the last five hundred years, the Krocklin’s numbers grew into the thousands. The once inbred race was now more distinct in appearance as the blended blood lines grew more and more separate. They now appear to just be smaller versions of the Drykans, though their eyes are larger and darker than their distant kin, allowing them to see in almost complete darkness. They primarily feed off fish and other sea dwelling creatures. However, over the years they have developed new ways of preparing the fish to provide them with diversity in their food.

  Bargokk gazed around him as the residents of Carnith stared at him with fear and confusion. After passing over many bridges through the channel ways, he and the two guards finally arrived at the city’s center, which sits a massive structure that rises from the floor all the way up to the cavern ceiling. It is circular in shape, and houses many levels and windows. From the front door, a distinguished looking member of the Krocklin approached the General. He was the leader of the Krocklin, and his name is Dreynor.

  “I never thought I would see the day when one of the Generals would enter my domain,” said Dreynor.

  “Allow me to introduce myself, I am…”

  “…I know who you are, Bargokk, Guardian of the Dragonkin,” said Dreynor. “Why have you come?”

  “I am sorry, I didn’t catch your name mayor,” replied Bargokk.

  “That is because I did not give it,” snapped Dreynor, “now, answer my question General.”

  “I assure you I mean you and your people no harm, I simply mean to discuss a proposition. If you haven’t already heard, the high General Calthrog and I have laid siege to the capital of the Kain, and have set up a new residency in the fallen city. The Keepers and the survivors of the capital now take refuge within the Melentine Mines, which is why I have traveled here today to speak with you.”

  Dreynor was taken aback by the General’s words. “These words trouble me, and I do not understand why you would attack the Kain. They are powerful, and their numbers outweigh yours three to on
e.”

  “The words you speak are true,” replied the General, “but we did not just blindly attack the men of Kain. We are being aided by a powerful force that this world has not seen before. However, our several attempts to enter the Mines have been unsuccessful. There is an ancient magic placed upon those gates that will not allow us to enter. That is where you and your people come in, but first… your name.”

  “My name is Dreynor, and I am the leader of the Krocklin.”

  The leader was advanced in age, and was much fatter than the others. His left ear was cut in half, and next to it a large scar. His right hand was also missing, and was replaced by an old duel-bladed hook. His garments are simple, and on his head, rests a bronze crown of multiple iron spikes.

  “Well then, I must say it is an honor to finally meet the proper leader of the Krocklin, descendant of my people,” said Bargokk as he bowed slightly.

  “Do not distort your true intentions, General,” said the leader of the Krocklin, “I am no fool. What is it that you want, and what shall I get as payment?”

  “Straight to the point I see,” replied Bargokk as he straightened upwards. “It is simple, you complete a task for me, and you will be rewarded.”

  “And what task is that?” replied the leader with suspicion in his voice.

  Bargokk studied Dreynor before saying, “If you help me in overcoming the Mines and all those who reside in it, I will return the favor by granting you and your people claim over the Mines. All who still reside within will be under your rule.”

  The leader of the Krocklin turned away in thought as he processed the General’s offer. Dreynor’s face quickly turned from worry to a sense of justification. He grew up hearing stories of the conflict between the Clauggs and the Krocklin over territorial rights. His great-great-grandfather fought in the war between the two races. A sense of entitlement rushed through the leader’s body as he turned to the General.

  “Say I accept your offer… how do I know that you will keep your word?” asked Dreynor.