The Keeper of the Sword

by James Tierney

  THE LEGEND OF ZIERNS

  THE KEEPER OF THE SWORD

  JAMES B. TIERNEY

  Cover Art and Illustrations by James B. Tierney

  Cover Graphics by Joseph Lanza

  Unfamiliar Places and Names in Land of Ack

  Adder: a type of poisonous snake

  Ba: (Bah) as is the sound a sheep makes. Name of Brendan's father and of a Cave in Ack where the sword of Zierns is hidden

  Belter: ( Bell- t- er ) Elder Leader in Isnack

  Blue Crystal Beamers: Weapons used against Wombats, reflect light of blue crystals to a magnifier that converts the light to a laser light beam.

  Brendan: Bren as in hen -Dan

  Brudie Fu: a martial arts style found in the land of Ack

  Brudie the Bold: (Brew- dee) Strongest Ack woodsman lives in the Mazel Mountains. Caves of Epod : ( Ee Pod ) . Caves that one must pass though to get to The Land of Ack

  Castmin: (Cast as in past, Min as in in) Prince of El Ehcim

  Chise: (cha-eye-zz) Race of Dragons that lives in Ack

  El Ehcim: ( EL-ha-seem) City in Ack that lies on the Tiffany River

  Gleep: (Ga Leep as in Sheep) City found in the Land of Ack , where the wombats live.

  Isnack: (Is – Nack) Largest city in the Land of Ack

  Isnackian: (Is – Nack -I- an ) occupant of Isnack

  Jennifer: Dragon, Queen of the Chise, protector of the Zierns and the Keeper of the Sword

  Leonardo Da Vinci: was a leading artist and intellectual of the Italian Renaissance

  Leprechaun: (Lep-Re-Con) Irish folk tale of small people.

  Mazzel: (Ma-zell as in swell) A mountain range and hill region in the land of Ack

  Michele: ( Mi Shell) Proper name

  Mij: (mi-j)

  Mot: Evil wizard that lives in Gleep

  Shawn: ( shh -awn as in Dawn) Name of Ferret that assists the Hero's in the land of Ack

  Seamus: ( Shay- muss) The Keeper of the Sword , farther to Thomas and James, Grandfather to The Zierns = James

  Shelltea (shell-tea) a medicinal tea made from the petals of the shell flower found only at the base of the Mazel Mountain Range. The petals from the flower are boiled to make a sweet tea. The oil in the petals has strange properties, since it can be used as an antibiotic but is also highly combustible. The Zierns used it in celebrations because of its sweet fragrance and flavor.

  The Land of Ack : (aak as in back) Name of the land where the Acks Live

  Tree of Life: The concept of a tree of life is a widespread belief in the world's mythologies, related to the concept of a sacred tree

  Viking: Scandinavian people from northern central and eastern Europe during the 8th to the 11th centuries.

  Willow the Pink: (will- oh) Fairy that helps Seamus in his quest.

  Wombats: (wom as in Thom– bat) evil creatures that live in Gleep

  Zaboom monkeys: Race of primate, highly intelligent, war like, live in Zaboom forest at base of Mazzel Mountains. Primary food source for the Chise

  Zierns: ( Za-Ear-n-za) Grandson to Seamus, one spoke of in prophecies, one who will free the land of Ack.

  map of zierns

  The Legend of Zierns:

  The Keeper of the Sword

  Greetings. I am so glad that you are taking the time to read this book The Legend of Zierns. For I am the Story teller, and I will tell you the story of the Zierns. I will begin with the tale of The Keeper of the Sword.

  The Caves of Epod

  Our adventure begins.

  James, a young boy of seven, sat on his grandfather's bed listening to a story.

  (Let me tell you about James’s grandfather, Seamus. He was from Ireland and moved to New York City to start a new life for his wife and children. He loved to tell stories to his grandchildren about a land he once visited.)

  Now James's father told the children that grandfather made up these stories to make himself feel better for once losing his son, Thomas, in a blizzard.

  Well, now, back to the story.

  * * *

  It was one late fall day. All the leaves had fallen, and it was getting colder by the minute. James' grandfather Seamus and his uncle Thomas, a young boy at this time, were out hunting in the woods of North Salem, New York when a blizzard hit. It was the worst early blizzard North Salem had seen since the winter of 1778. The snow had gotten so bad that they soon were lost in the deep woods. So, in order not to get separated, Seamus tied Thomas to him with their scarves and pulled him along. Seamus said he couldn’t even see his hand in front of his face.

  The wind was screaming what sounded like Seamus' name. When it seemed he had given up all hope of finding any kind of shelter from the storm, Seamus heard a voice calling to him. He followed the voice into the raging storm. As the voice became louder, the snowflakes lessened, and the wind slowed as well. Then he saw it, a cave by an old oak tree. No snow fell around the cave.

  “Magic,” he said. "It's magic."

  When they entered the cave, it was already lit by a tiny oil lamp set on the floor. Though only the size of a dime, it put out enough light, to brighten the entire cave with a pink glow. Seamus picked up the lamp and walked deeper into the cave.

  As they looked around the cave, they noticed that all the walls were covered with carvings such as the ones Seamus had seen in Ireland in the ruins left behind by the ancient ones. Swirls and lines flowed down deeper into the cave’s darkness. Thomas tried to pull away from Seamus, but Seamus knew the boy was frightened. "The deeper we go the warmer it will get Thomas," Seamus said.

  When they finally reached the back end of the cave, they noticed blue crystals covered the far end of the cave. The crystals began to glow as they approached.

  "Look," Thomas said. "There's a door, but it's so tiny, who could ever get through it?"

  "Wait, son. Look, the door is getting bigger."

  "No, it isn't," Thomas said. "I think we're getting smaller. Look, my shoes are too big for my feet. And my hat is falling over my eyes."

  “You’re right. We are.”

  As they stood in front of the ever-increasing door, they were suddenly in a heap of oversized clothing.

  Thomas cried. “What are we going to do? I’m really, really scared now.”

  “Not to worry, my boy.”

  * * *

  Every time James’s grandfather got to this point in the story, James’ s dad would step into the room and stop grandpa from telling the rest of the story. He didn’t want James having nightmares. He told James, “Grandpa probably slipped into a state of shock from the cold and had dreams of the wee people. Just like the stories he had heard as a child in Ireland.”

  But this day was different. Grandpa insisted on finishing the story. He said loudly that he knew James was the chosen one, the Zierns. So James's dad let him listen to the entire story this time. Why? No one knows. Maybe he knew that it might be the last chance to hear the entire story. Or deep down he wanted to believe in the stories too.

  “This is how the rest of the story goes,” said Seamus.

  * * *

  Their clothes hadn't grown larger. Both Thomas and Seamus had shrunk to about three inches tall. The lamp was now the correct size for them and so was the door. Thomas was crying and shaking from the cold. Seamus took out his handkerchief, now the size of a large bed sheet, and wrapped Thomas in it. Then he broke the glass in the lamp and started to cut his wool scarf. He made wrap-around clothes for both of them to keep warm. They put them on and tied them up with their shoe laces.

  As he finished securing the last knot, Seamus noticed unusual letters on the door. Though they were completely unfamiliar, he easily translated them. He whispered the words to himself so Thomas wouldn’t hear. “Death aw
aits you.”

  Seamus, adventurer that he was, entered the door that led to the Caves of Epod. Tugging Thomas behind him, he declared, “We must get warm. Maybe there is something to make a fire or something in the caves to keep us warm.”

  “ Aren't you worried?" Thomas exclaimed. "We're only three inches tall!"

  “Yes, I am , but we must get warmer or we'll die.”

  As they passed through the door a large gust of wind blew past them and slammed the door, closing it behind them. Thomas rushed over and pulled on it frantically trying to open it, but it was now locked.

  Seamus took the boy’s hand and led him further inside where the same carvings were on the walls, swirling down a tunnel. “These seem like directions, Thomas. We’ll follow them.”

  It was warmer now, and Thomas had calmed down.

  They moved into the caves deeper and deeper until they finally came to a Y in the tunnel. The swirls went to the right, but to the left the carvings had changed. Seamus thought they seemed more dramatic, more beckoning. He thought it was obvious they needed to go to the right with the old swirls; however, he had a strange feeling that they needed to go left, the way of the frantic-looking carvings. He remembered the warning at the entrance.

  “Maybe the right is the correct way and the left a trap. What should we do? Go, with my feelings or with the obvious choice?”

  Thomas said, "I think we should go with the swirls."

  Seamus disagreed. “No. We'll go the left. I think the swirls must be a trap. The newer carvings are to stop us from going any further.”

  Just then a voice came from the left tunnel. It said. “Come this way.”

  Out of the shadows stepped a small man dressed in an Asian robe. He had pointed ears and a very creased old face. He carried a long walking stick.

  “Who are you?” Thomas asked.

  With a husky but whispering voice, the man said, “We have no time for idle chatter. We must go now. Fast. They are coming and they will take you to Gleep. This is not a good place to be. Quickly now. Follow me.”

  Seamus felt they could trust this man.

  “By the way," the man continued, "you were correct in your logic to choose the left tunnel. It is a trap made by the Wombats to catch unsuspecting visitors like yourselves.”

  Thomas, not feeling as trusting as Seamus, said, “Wombats! What are they? What are you?” he asked. “Are you one of the wee people?”

  Before the old man could answer grumbling came from behind them and grew steadily closer and louder, turning into growls and barks.

  “They're almost upon us!" the little man screeched. "We have to get to the entrance of the Land of Ack.”

  Thousands of little feet pounded from behind them. The snarling, barking and heavy breathing of the creatures was getting stronger.

  “You must not perish at the hands of the Wombats. They are getting closer!" The little man waved them past him.

  Ahead Seamus saw a light coming from an opening in the cave. Still clutching Thomas’s hand, he hesitated.

  “Look just ahead. There it is. Run for it! They are upon us!" screamed the little man. "Go! Do not look back.” He turned and raised his staff and began hitting the hideous creatures.

  Seamus released Thomas’s hand and gave him a shove. “Run to the entrance ahead and don’t stop until you are safe.” He turned back to help the brave little man who thrashed at the creatures with his walking stick. Seamus picked up an abandoned club and struck at on-coming creatures.

  “Don't be a fool! Go on,” the man screamed. "I am lost. Go! Go now while I still can hold them back! You must live so the Zierns can be born of your blood.”

  At that moment, the little man took a sword to his belly.

  “Once upon a father's tear,” he whispered in a low voice just before he fell.

  Seamus gasped, turned and ran toward the light with four Wombats clinging to his clothes. He dove through the entrance. As he did, the Wombats burst into black dust. The dust floated to the sky, turning blue as it disappeared. He rolled, jumped up ready for more to come out after him, but they didn’t. He turned to look at his son.

  Thomas stood wide-eyed, frozen in terror. “What will we do?" he cried out.

  Seamus dropped to his knees, and hugged him. “I don’t know... I just don’t know... but at least we are alive, and I think we are safe”

  Found by Brendan

  As Thomas and Seamus turned and looked over this land known as Ack, they were in awe of its beauty. In the distance, walls swooped up into the bluest sky. The sky was made up of the same blue crystals as in the entrance to the caves. These crystals gave light to all of The Land of Ack.

  “Strange," Thomas said. "Look over by that big lake. The sky is dark over that black castle. No blue crystals are shining down on it.”

  “I think that castle is where those creatures have come from,” Seamus said.

  Thomas agreed, “Let's stay far away from there."

  “It’s true, it’s true," a small voice chortled from somewhere in the field of grass where they stood.

  "The prophecy has come to be.” A small man, very much resembling the other man in the cave ran toward them. He stopped, looked around, arms waving, eyes wild. "Where's Ba? The man sent to find you?"

  “I’m sorry, but he perished while saving us from the creatures in the cave. He was very brave,” Seamus told him.

  “It was written, but I hoped it wouldn’t be true,” the little man said sorrowfully.

  “Did you know this brave man who laid his life down so we could live?” Seamus asked softly.

  The little man looked down sadly. “He was my father.”

  "I see…" Seamus whispered.

  Then the little man held his hand out and said in a small voice, “I am Brendan.”

  Seamus grabbed his hand and pulled him in and hugged him. “Your dad was the bravest man I ever met. He will be remembered for all time. You should be very proud of him.”

  “So where are we?” Thomas questioned.

  “You are in the Great fields of Michele in The Land of Ack. Follow me to Isnack, the capital of our land. It is the greatest city ever. Look, you can see it going up the side of the wall over there in the blue mist.”

  “Wow!” exclaimed Thomas.

  “It is about an hour's walk from here.”

  As they walked, Brendan told them of his land and the dark city of Gleep. "You need to stay clear of it. It is the home of the Wombats."

  “What is a Wombat?” asked Thomas

  “Wombats are evil creatures. Many were once Acks taken by other Wombats and exposed to The Black Crystal in the Tower of Gleep. And for every Ack turned into a Wombat, a blue crystal goes black on the roof of the cavern. This is why it is black above the castle. Lately, more and more Wombats are capturing our kind and turning them. This is why you have come here. Oh, I am getting too far ahead of myself," Brendan said.

  As they approached the city walls, Brendan informed them, “We are here. Isnack is my city.”

  Thomas and Seamus looked at the great walls in amazement. The milky blue walls went straight to the top of the cavern and appeared to be at least a mile high.

  “It is the strongest substance in the world," Brendan told them. "It takes magic to cut the crystal from the mine walls.”

  “I will take you in the back way. Not to disturb the people of Isnack at this time. You must be greeted properly by the Council of Elders first.”

  They followed a path along the wall until they came to a small door. From out of the door, a very old man came. He walked up to them. Brendan knelt down on one knee and bowed. Thomas and Seamus looked at each other and then did the same to show respect.

  “Sir, may I present to you 'The Keeper of the Sword,’ Seamus, and his son Thomas,” Brendan proclaimed.

  “Arise, Seamus and Thomas. Never bow to anyone, for you are The Keeper of the Sword. All shall bow to you." And then he bowed to them and rose up with a great big smile upon his face. "Come. Come. We
have a lot to do before meeting the Council of Elders.”

  “You mean there are older ones than you?” Seamus asked, thinking he was making a joke.

  He laughed, “Why, yes, I am but a pup.”

  He led them all away from the city walls to a small dome house made of sod and wood that sat on the Great fields of Michele.

  “Here is where you will live. This is the house made just for the Keeper of the Sword.”

  “But wait," Seamus said. "We are leaving as soon as we figure a way around the Wombats in the cave.”

  “Oh, yes, you will leave, but not until you have retrieved the sword. It is all in this book. You must read this book, and then you shall understand why you have come,” explained the old man.

  Brendan, Seamus and Thomas entered the house where they found three rooms plus a small kitchen and a dining area. A rocking chair sat by the window.

  Thomas and Brendan went off to bed after a small meal, but Seamus stood in the doorway looking out on the magical landscape.

  For the first time since leaving Ireland years before, he felt at home. "Enchanting how the crystals dim as if it is sunset and go out and only a few stay lit to look like a starry night. What a wonderful place this Land of Ack is," he thought.

  Then he went in and sat on his bed and picked up The Book of Zierns, Prophecy of the Ancients. Funny how he could read this writing that he had never seen before. Magic, just like in the cave. The first line in the book read, ”Once upon a father's tear, a legend was born. The Legend of Zierns." After reading for hours, he fell asleep.