Destiny (The Keeper's Trilogy Book 1)

by Olivia Ali

  "Tristan?" Dante blurted; half relieved and half wishing he had waited a moment or two longer to make his debut appearance. "Where have you been?"

  "Around..." Tristan heaved as he caught his breath.

  "This is no laughing matter Tristan," Nielson lectured, rising to his feet. "Daxon here has been waiting up half the night for you, even after you abandoned him. I think you owe him an apology." Tristan looked up at Dante who had folded his arms and was now glowering at him - he was loving this.

  "Just let me catch my breath and I'll explain." Tristan came to sit at the table, his breath still coming in ragged chunks. He sat and poured himself a tankard of the ale, gulping it down without a second thought.

  "Where did you disappear too then?" Dante asked calmly once he'd finished the tankard.

  Responding calmly Tristan told them of the events that had ensued. He told them honestly how his head felt like it would explode if he'd stayed a moment longer but he somehow managed to knock himself out and the rest well that's a bit blurry apparently. Dante got the impression he didn't want to say too much in front of Nielson, why though he did not know...unless he was afraid of wandering ears that is. Once Tristan had finished recounting the events, he poured himself another tankard, this time sipping it patiently, his face suddenly realising how little he actually liked ale.

  "So you followed her ghost?" Dante assumed vacantly, trying to make sense of the gibberish he had just heard.

  "Not exactly," Tristan sighed. "I mean I touched her face so that's got to mean something..."

  "Wait a minute...you touched her?" Nielson stammered.

  "She was in the tavern, like I said. A voice said to me to reach out and touch her face, so I did."

  "Who did the voice belong to?" Dante asked curiously.

  "I don't know, no one was there. I've been hearing it all night, I thought I was going crazy...I probably am...but I definitely touched her face and she felt it to."

  "You really have lost it." Nielson sighed heavily. "She's dead Tristan face it. The quicker you do the better."

  Nielson stormed off out of the atrium and in the direction of the dormitories. Tristan didn't quite understand the reason for his outburst but then again, he did raise her.

  "You know you really do pick your timings right don't you?" Dante goaded as he rounded on Tristan once Nielson had disappeared.

  "Oh so it's my fault he stormed off?" Tristan mocked, gulping down more ale. He didn't usually like ale, but in his current mood he'd drink anything.

  "Please don't tell me I have to explain that to you!" Tristan shrugged. "Look I'm not going to berate you on how you should be acting because to be quite honest you wouldn't listen to me anyway. But you have to remember Tristan that Dagnen was as much a part of him as he was of both you and me only perhaps more so. By saying she's alive like you just did, that's going to dreg up some memories that he'd probably rather not have floating around in his head. Plus, it doesn't help with what we were talking about before you came in."

  Tristan didn't answer him straight away, he just stared at the dregs of ale in his tankard thinking quietly to himself.

  "What were you talking about then?" he asked after a while, not making eye contact with Dante.

  "Well put it this way, I was this close to telling him who I am."

  "Then why didn't you?"

  "Well you walked in didn't you? And besides, even though he says he forgives me - if push comes to shove...which it will...I doubt he'll stick to his word."

  "Dante, what you did…it is forgivable, especially by someone who is related to you."

  "You have no idea do you?"

  "I'm sure it's not as bad as you make out."

  "Tristan, I let myself be manipulated into betraying my brothers. I killed Keepers, thousands of them in a bloodthirsty rage. I nearly killed Nielson.”

  Tristan didn't remember much about the Annals of Unity he had read as a Scribe and Acolyte. He had read perhaps all of them to make sure he did not make the same mistakes they did but the details all seemed to blur into one now. He knew enough not to pursue Dante further for details especially with the distress it seemed to be causing him.

  "What stopped you from killing him?"

  "I hesitated and it gave my mind the time it needed to focus away from the influence of what was controlling me. I turned on my Brothers of Union and Balderick and Felicious followed suit. We were all exiled though despite it. That's all there is to it." He looked exasperated and tormented.

  "That won't matter..."

  "Oh what would you know? Once a traitor always a traitor!"

  Dante stormed off in the same direction Nielson had moments earlier. Tristan sighed heavily, it wasn't his fault he betrayed so why was he so bothered. Then again, maybe the fact that he let himself be manipulated was what it came down to. His eyes were drawn to the entrance way as Basso walked in dazedly - he had been drinking. He looked to Tristan and nodded, a large black bruise obscuring the look on his face. He looked like he'd gone ten rounds with a bear, not to mention drank a whole gallon of beer at the same time. The only bar around here was Frankie’s though and that place was shut so where had he got himself into this state? Tristan watched after him as he disappeared down the corridor towards the dormitories, stumbling over his own feet. Waiting a while before heading back to his own dormitory which he shared with Dante, he watched Basso disappear behind his own door. Lingering, he listened as bangs sounded and glass shattered. Whatever had happened had obviously hacked him off. Shrugging, he disappeared behind his door, only half surprised that Dante wasn't there in his bed.

  Chapter 34 - The Maw of Chaos

  Oglivy's Treatise on Sentients and Sacred Places

  I) Contents of ‘Known’ Sentients

  Anvil of St James

  Orion’s Medallion

  The Chalice of the Builder

  The Crown of the Trickster

  The Elemental Talismans

  The Eye of the Storm

  The First Hammer

  The Hand of the Jackal

  The Heart of St Bradshaw

  The Horn of Quintas

  The Onyxum Flambertus

  The Ruby of Sorrow

  The Skull of St Yora

  The Spur of St. Dalnir

  The Staff of St Elderbine

  The Tapestry of St Elian

  II) Important Chronicles and Annals

  The Book of Days

  The Book of Names

  The Compendium

  The Prophecetus

  III) Places of Power

  The Abandoned Compound

  The Forgotten Cathedral

  The Library of St Jenkins

  The Maw of Chaos

  III) Places of Power

  Introduction to Sacred Places

  Sacred Places are all around us in reality; each faction sees a Sacred Place in a different context. It can indicate anything from a shrine to a religious complex. In the case of this Treatise, Sacred Places are those abandoned by the other factions and reoccupied by Keeper renegades such as the Brotherhoods of Dharsi and Union. These Sacred Places house great power which is originally bound to the founding faction. When these places are abandoned, the magic remains to be reclaimed and wielded sometimes by the wrong party. The magic within these places is to a point un-tameable as well and can therefore be dangerous to those who are not in full understanding of their own abilities and the Glyphs around them, not to mention the belief that a certain type of magic will only comply to its true master.

  III.V - The Maw of Chaos

  Ancient Sacred Burial Ground of the Pagan faction, however has been abandoned in the last millennia. The Pagans abandoned the place, which resembles a Cocoon, when Bloodroots began to grow without the necessary rituals and they therefore referred to the place as an abomination. It is believed that the place was adopted by the Brothers of Dharsi however this remains unproven. The room resembles a circle in which the Cocoon sits in the middle with a sacrificial plinth in the cen
tre. Drawn on the floor is a five-pronged star however its exact purpose is unknown. It is thought to have something to do with the Brotherhood of Unity however the theories that state this are unclassified and uncredited.

  The Maw of Chaos is said to be capable in rising immense power for the wielder, power capable of the most heinous atrocities.

  Two Sentients which have since been linked to the Maw of Chaos; The Ruby of Sorrow and the Eye of Storm. Theories have suggested that the combination of these two artefacts with the Maw of Chaos is what corrupted the Brotherhood of Unity, however once again the reasoning behind this is unclarified. It is however widely believed among the Prodicals and Elders. The exact details of the ritual are unknown however it is thought that the Brothers of Dharsi were the ones that performed it.

  For further information see sections on the Ruby of Sorrow and the Eye of the Storm. For more information on the brotherhoods of Dharsi and Unity see Anselm's Treatise on Brotherhood.

  Tristan wasn't sure how long they had been waiting in the clearing however it was clear that Boris was late. Then again why break the habit of a lifetime? He could sense Cedric in the trees becoming wary as he adjusted his position of stealth. The plan was simple - hand over the Eye and then if an attack did ensue, pretend to die. Cedric would handle the rest. Of course he had faith in their Ally but the fact that their lives were in jeopardy here made them all incredibly nervous. A rustle echoed in the trees and Tristan looked to each of his brothers in turn as they all nodded to him.

  "Sorry I'm late," Boris grunted. "Got a bit lost a few miles back." He was out of breath; it had obviously been quite a trek but then for one as large and out of shape as he was it really surprising?

  "We were starting to think you wouldn't show." Tristan piped up trying to be his usual arrogant self.

  "As if I would do that? Now, do we have the...package?"

  "You make it sound so sordid." Ramien joked, a smile touching his lips as Zhaine gave him a dirty look. Tristan could hear Cedric sniggering away in his thoughts - simple minds.

  "Ha-ha very funny. Now hand it over!"

  "Aren't you forgetting something?" Jacques stepped forward and questioned. Boris looked at him blankly however he was unsure as to whether or not the oaf was toying with him.

  “We had a deal remember?" Zhaine finished, looking snidely at Boris

  "Oh yes, that's right," it sounded as though Boris was hoping they'd forget. But they weren't as easily lead as he was, they wouldn't forget their brothers that easily.

  Boris placed his hands in front of him so that they seemed to form an orb in which colour flowed into forming figures all behind bars. What looked to be Sarisus' men were unlocking the doors and leaving the room, releasing the Keepers from the capture they had been under. Although all of them knew it was fake, they had to play along otherwise they wouldn't be pretending they were dead - they would actually be dead.

  "As promised," Boris started, making the vision disappear by clapping his hands together. "The Keepers have been freed and Sarisus and my comrades have left the Compound."

  "And as we promised," Jacques stepped forward and unstrung a cloth bag from his waist. "The Eye of the Storm."

  Out of the bag he pulled a diamond probably the size of his fist if not bigger, showing it to Boris who nodded intently, his eyes widening with glee and lust. Tristan tried desperately not to make eye contact with the gem out for fear its voice would come to him again. He hadn't told anyone he could hear it as well as Jacques and no one was going to find out either because sooner or later; all this would be over.

  "Don't think you can hide from me betrayer!" Too late, The Eye had seen him anyway and its voice echoed in his mind. "I will always find you."

  Placing The Eye back in the bag, Jacques handed it to Boris. The traitorous scum smiled widely and took it with both hands, clutching it to his chest like a mouse with a piece of cheese. Come to think of it he did have rather a mousy shaped face.

  "Pleasure doing business with you gents," He tied the cloth bag to his belt which clung to his abnormally large waist, patting it as he did so. “Well, I’ll be seeing you then brothers.”

  “I wouldn’t count on it!” Tristan muttered under his breath.

  They watched after Boris as he strode away out of sight, waiting for an attack. Each minute that passed seemed to drag and ache past. A branch broke under the foot of an unseen man and arrows flew through the air, whistling in the breeze. In an instant, all five brothers dropped to the floor; arrows seemingly buried deep in their chests. Boris let out a snigger as he signalled to the men that lurked in the trees to leave.

  A few moments later, Cedric dropped down from the trees above and checked around one last time. Nodding, the arrows fell free of their occupants as though they had only been hovering above them, and his brothers rose to their feet shaking off the magic that had given them momentary death.

  “Good job,” Tristan praised, clapping Cedric on the back.

  “Thanks!” Cedric replied as the others echoed their appreciation. “Now, we have to get back to the Compound.”

  With a flick of his hand, he drew up a port key which would get them back to the Compound of Dilu in no time. Each stepped through it in turn and stopped and stared in bewilderment around the atrium they now found themselves in. A shadowy figure was there waiting for them and he came over to clap them on the back and greet his brothers; perhaps.

  “The Keepers are free,” the shadow echoed. “Sarisus kept that much of his bargain at least.” Why couldn’t he remember the man who stood before them?

  “Well at least that’s something, now we’ve just got to find out what he’s doing with The Eye.” Jacques pondered, noting the disappointed looks on Keepers as they passed them by. Even though they had saved them all, their deeds had cast a dark shadow over their reputation.

  “That is no longer a problem. Whilst you lot were off playing dead, I managed to find out what Sarisus wants it for. Have you boys ever heard of the Maw of Chaos?” They all shook their heads, all except Tristan being truthful – he had skimmed across it a couple of weeks ago when they first encountered rumours of The Eyes appearance in their destiny. “The Eye is capable of immense power and it is the Maw of Chaos that will help unleash that power upon us all casing immense destruction. But it needs space to commit that damage, conceal it and it will destroy not just Sarisus and the Maw but also itself.”

  “But how do we do that?” Romeo asked.

  “It’s simple really. You see the Maw is a five-pointed star in the centre of which is an old Pagan Cocoon of power. Your runes of Unity are upon each point of the star and all you have to do is unleash the glyph upon the floor – The Failsafe Glyph. This glyph will contain the power causing it to combust and destroy all those within it. Simple!”

  “Sounds it.” Ramien shrugged sarcastically – he didn’t believe it was, if anything it sounded incredibly complicated.

  “Tristan!” a voice called as Dagnen came running towards him, arms held out ready to embrace him. She must’ve feared him dead, even if that was partly true. The lovers embraced as happiness filled their faces to be in the arms of one another.

  The Maw of Chaos was a dark dwelling but that was to be expected considering it was situated inside the centre of a deep mountain of which the point was only slightly hollowed out; enough to let in a little light. In the centre stood Sarisus, the light just reflecting off his balding head, straggly ends reaching his neck by the ears. His eyes were sunken and heavily blood struck by the strain he was trying to muster. Sweeping ripped robes covered his unhealthily thin stature. Below his gaze was The Eye, colour sparking through its crystal surface.

  As the brothers spread around the star finding their marks within the Failsafe Glyph, Tristan could feel the words of The Eye trying to reach him at the back of his consciousness. Trying to block it out, he took his place by the Glyph of Nobility and stood tall and strong, waiting for the right moment. And that right moment came soon enough as The E
ye shone with power, lightning and thunder striking outside as a storm ensued. The power connected with Sarisus before striking up through the opening above, giving the brothers their cue to act.

  The five of them took their places, calling upon all their inner strength as they all glowed, shining with supremacy. The power conjoined together and formed a dome over the Maw, cutting off the Eye’s connection to the storm outside. Sparks flew off its fluorescent centre, hitting the edge of the shield that had formed around them. As the power began to strike off of Sarisus he cried out in pain, trying to knock The Eye from the plinth it stood on and smash into oblivion. The brothers stood strong, their shield containing the magic within in as it shrunk smaller and closed in on Sarisus and The Eye. The smaller it got, the more blinding the lights of power became until finally the shield disappeared taking Sarisus’ cries with it as he dropped to the floor.