The Keeper of the Stones

by M J Webb

  “What?” asked Jake, pretending he hadn’t heard the comment. “Just get a move on, will ya?”

  They eventually reached the large ledge on which the box lay. Jake ran straight over to it and picked it up, whilst Ben was still stepping down onto the shelf.

  “Go on then!” shouted Ben impatiently. “Open the damn thing, and let’s go home! Your granddad needs us. We can go fetch the Police or something.”

  Jake nodded to him and immediately turned the box upright, he passed his palm over the crest and the box opened very, very slowly. Too slowly. Something wasn’t right. The concerned boys looked at each other. There was no light, no sounds or bangs, no earth tremor! The boys were lost for words, they were horrified and completely out of ideas.

  It was Ben who eventually broke the silence. “What’s wrong with it?”

  “I don’t know!” snapped Jake. “I opened it like that before, but it’s not working.”

  He looked down at the stones inside the box and examined them closely. They were all in their correct place, including the centre stone which was still suspended in mid air, but they were lit up only very faintly, nowhere near as bright as before. And the centre stone had remained unlit.

  “Try it again!” shouted a frantic Ben.

  Jake passed his palm over each half of the crest in turn, the box closed very slowly without a sound, he opened it again, but once more the stones didn’t light correctly.

  “It’s no use!” he yelled. “It’s broken. I don’t think there’s anything I can do. It must have been the fall.”

  “Err… Are you trying to tell me, that we’re stuck here? We can’t be stuck in this place! There must be something we can do?” Ben shouted angrily. “Harry! What about Harry?”

  “Don’t you think I’m feeling that too?” cried Jake, reacting furiously to Ben’s insensitivity. His grandfather hadn’t left his thoughts and his emotions were still running high. “He’s my granddad. And I can’t help him now. It’s probably too late anyway, he was badly wounded, he’s probably dead! If you hadn’t pulled me away when you did, I’d have...”

  “You’d have what??!!” demanded Ben angrily in reply. “…Died? And what good would that have done? I saw the size of that brute you were fighting. And by the way, what the hell was that? I don’t think you could have killed him Jake, and he sure as hell wanted to kill you! Do you really think I did the wrong thing? And I was only following Harry’s orders. He made me promise to look after you, and that does not include watching you die!!!”

  The two boys stopped arguing just long enough for both of them to think about what the other had said. There followed a stony silence that lasted about a minute, until both boys finally said, “I’m sorry.” at exactly the same time, causing both of them to laugh a little and relieving the tension.

  “Well,” said Jake, when they’d settled again, “I presume this place is Rhuaddan. I’ve been looking around and from what I can see it’s not that different from home.”

  Both boys took further stock of their situation and surroundings. From their vantage point on the first small mountain in the Herfion range, situated in the north eastern tip of the country, they could see the rolling fields and meadows that formed the Astelli plains, punctuated sparsely by small villages which housed the farmers and labourers who worked the land in this largely agricultural region. There were streams and brooks and on the western horizon they could see the outskirts of the vast Erriard forest. To the south they could just make out the Isle of Tialeu with its unnatural, surrounding waters like a vast moat, and in the centre of it, the giant fortress of Heron Getracht. In all directions there were the unmistakable signs of war, buildings, villages burnt or destroyed, but there was no evidence of any technology. The climate was quite hot, similar to that of an English summer day, the sun was shining brightly and it was beginning to make the temperature a little uncomfortable out in the open. Jake and Ben’s first impressions of Rhuaddan were that they could just as easily have stepped back in time to pre-industrialized England, the countryside being so similar to what they were used to.

  “Right then, so what’s the plan?” asked Ben. “Where to? If we can’t go home.”

  “First thing’s first,” Jake answered, “let’s get off this rock. We’ll take it from there.”

  They began to climb down the mountain, slowly at first, but their speed quickened as they gained confidence and almost an hour later, they’d reached the bottom and stopped for a rest.

  “I have to admit,” said Jake, as he sat down and leant against a boulder, “I never thought all of this was real, not really, you know?”

  “Yeah. Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it?” answered Ben, who was lying on the floor and staring up at the sky. “I mean, those stories your grandfather tells… What I mean is… Well, what has he seen? What’s he done? I thought he was just an ordinary old man, you know? I mean, his stories were a little far fetched, hard to believe, but now I realize that actually, he was probably toning them down! Geez, imagine what he could have said. Huh! Probably never thought anyone would believe him. I mean, would you? Did you? And you’re his grandson.”

  “Humph. Yeah. I mean, no. Oh, I dunno.” answered Jake sadly. He was thinking of Harry and wondering if he would ever see him again, he really doubted it now, given what must have happened in that kitchen. But Harry had surprised him before, and he hoped for all the world that the old man had one last trick up his sleeve. He wiped away a tear from his eye.

  “Hey! Wait a minute, what’s that?” shouted Ben suddenly.

  He’d raised himself up to look around and he was now staring across the open plains in front of them, at a figure in the distance who seemed to be running in their direction. Jake turned his head quickly to search the landscape below, his immediate concern was that they might have been seen, but he realized with relief that their position in the rocks at the base of the mountain would be concealed from the stranger’s view. As they watched, the boys saw four horsemen appear over the horizon one by one and they realized that the running figure was being pursued by the riders, hunted.

  “He’s heading straight for us, leading them to us. Quick, into cover!” rasped Jake. The two boys moved rapidly to a more secluded vantage point. The runner continued to head straight for them, seeking the sanctuary of the rocks.

  “Okay, quick, it’s decision time.” said Jake. “Do we help him, or hide? It’s not our fight I know, but normal rules can’t apply here, can they? What do ya think?”

  “Don’t know about you mate, but I can’t watch this. He hasn’t a chance against four soldiers on horseback. It’s murder. Not sure what we can do, but he needs our help.”

  “Okay then. In for a penny, in for a pound. Follow my lead.” said Jake, with a growing confidence and maturity that shocked his friend, who was now flowing with nerves and adrenalin.

  Jake took the box and lay it down on the floor behind some rocks. As he returned to Ben, he drew his sword from his belt. Ben did the same and the two of them crouched down on their haunches, hiding behind the rocks, waiting silently as the runner and his pursuers approached. The runner reached them just as the lead horseman raised his sword ready to cut him down, he passed the boy’s position and the horseman followed, but as the mounted warrior passed Jake, the young boy leapt up with lightning speed and hurled himself through the air at him.

  He wielded the sword with the expertise of a seasoned soldier and slashed across the horseman’s body, almost cutting him in two and ensuring that death was immediate, the horseman’s body falling backwards onto the floor as his horse kept running. It was a textbook ambush and a precision strike.

  Jake was quickly back onto his feet as the second horseman charged towards him. With astoundingly quick presence of mind, he took a few steps backwards, positioning himself perfectly for Ben to attack, taking up a defensive posture and inviting the horseman on. Ben launched himself at the second rider as he passed him. His attack was slower and clumsier than Jake’s, he had t
o finish the horseman off with two strikes whilst on the floor, but the deed was done all the same.

  The boys stood shoulder to shoulder now, Jake calmly and confidently facing their foe, and Ben shaking violently with a mixture of fear and adrenalin. Both held their swords at the ready facing the final two horsemen, who had stopped as they witnessed the deaths of their comrades and were now considering their options. They prepared to charge, but they hesitated, unsure of what else lay in wait for them among the rocks. There was a brief standoff for a moment and, just when it looked as if they were going to charge, the runner suddenly returned to stand at the boys’ side. The riders looked questioningly at each other, the reappearance of the runner seemed to unsettle them. They turned their horses and galloped away at high speed.

  Jake and Ben breathed a huge sigh of relief and turned around to look at their new companion. Standing before them, was a human-like creature whose appearance struck fear into them both, a tall muscular being with large pointed ears, a large mouth filled with sharp teeth and fangs, a hairy face that ended in a sort of triangular-shaped beard, and two huge cat-like eyes. He was covered from head to toe in filth and dirt. He stank, and the boy’s stomachs turned at the smell. His clothes were rags, they were torn to shreds in places and looked as if they might fall off at any point. Jake looked down at the creature’s huge hands, they were more like shovels, but they had cuts all over them that were visible even through the hair, and all the dirt-filled nails on his thick fingers were broken and jagged. The frightful appearance of the creature caused both Jake and Ben concern as to his intent, they’d saved his life perhaps, but that was no guarantee that he would be grateful, and they were still unsure as to why he’d returned. Then he spoke to them in a deep, hoarse voice.

  “You have made a friend this day, strangers. I do not know why you aid me, but it is a debt I shall repay if I can, I swear it. Now, I am sorry my new friends, but can I suggest we move, quickly? They will return to Heron Getracht.” he said, pointing at the horsemen galloping over the horizon. “They will come after me, and now you. They will have more horsemen and they will not give up. We must put some distance between us.”

  Jake nodded to Ben. There was clearly some logic in the creature’s words. They didn’t know the land and had no idea where they were going, so travelling with their newfound friend seemed a sensible choice to make. After all Jake figured, ‘We might need all the friends we can get.’

  “Okay. Grab the box Ben and let’s go!” he said decisively.

  Ben raced behind the rocks and retrieved the box, he returned with it in his hands and as he did, Jake caught sight of the creature’s eyes. They’d widened upon seeing the box, but he said nothing even though it was clear to Jake that the creature had seen the box before, or at least knew of its existence. He didn’t wish to risk upsetting his new companion, so Jake also remained quiet.

  “Which way are we going?” asked Ben, once they were all ready to move.

  “We must make for the forest of Erriard,” the creature stated, pointing to the west, “make contact with the Ruddite Rebel Army if we are able, for only they can help us now. But first, we may be able to find the horses those soldiers were riding, they will not have gone far and they will ease our journey.”

  “The Ruddites?” asked Jake, deliberately being careful not to divulge to the creature that they had any knowledge of Rhuaddan and its people. Jake didn’t know the stranger and he’d certainly not earned his trust as yet, so he’d decided to wait before divulging any information.

  “Yes. The Ruddite Rebel Army. They are the sworn enemy of King Vantrax, whose soldiers you have just slayed. They are our only possible source of help in this forsaken land, and I have heard that they are camped in the forest of Erriard.” the creature answered firmly. “But, if you wish to separate here and now, travel your own path, then I wish you well.” he added.

  He waited a second or two for a reply but when none came from the boys, he continued.

  “King Artrex is Vantrax’ brother. He leads the rebellion and he is in need of soldiers. I will offer my services to him if he will have me. I do not know your purpose, or where you are from, but you are obviously not from Rhuaddan. And Vantrax does not like strangers. Especially those who kill his warriors. Your clothes. Forgive me, but they are… Strange. I have not seen material such as this, what is it?” he asked, pointing at Jakes’ jeans. “And what manner of magic is it that places writing and pictures on your shirt?” he continued, as he looked closely at the emblem on Jake’s Aston Villa football shirt. “The God’s strike me down if I lie, you are both indeed a mystery. Who are you? And where do you hail from?”

  They began to walk in search of the horses.

  “It’s a long story I suppose,” said Jake, “but we have a long way to travel, so I’ll tell you as we walk. But first, we haven’t been formally introduced. My name is Jake, Jake West. And this, is Ben Brooker.”

  Jake extended his hand and offered a handshake. The creature looked down at it bemused, obviously not used to the custom of shaking hands. He took a second or two to fathom out what was happening, but then he tentatively placed his huge hand partially inside Jake’s, who clutched it tightly and shook it two or three times before releasing it. The creature laughed gently at the gesture and looked at each of them in turn.

  “Raarr! I am honoured to be your friend, Jake. I am honoured to be your ally, Ben. I promise that I will repay my debt to you both. My name is Verastus.”

  Chapter 10

  14th August – Near to Heron Getracht Fortress – Rhuaddan

  The blue skies opened and a dazzlingly bright light raced down onto the field outside Heron Getracht fortress. Three warriors emerged from the brightness. Sawdon and Adrob were holding up the gravely wounded Boghias, he was in tremendous pain, unable to stand unaided, but despite his wounds Sawdon threw him to the ground. Boghias fell heavily on the turf and screamed out in agony. Then he sobbed uncontrollably as Adrob tried to comfort him.

  The mighty Thargw roared loudly in frustration. He’d expected to be closer to the stones, to at least have some clue as to their destination or whereabouts, he couldn’t understand why the shard had brought them back to the fortress. ‘Perhaps, it has been drawn back to the Lichtus?’ he thought, as he searched his brain for an answer. ‘Raarr! Whatever the reason, one thing is clear. The stones are nowhere to be seen!’

  Sawdon was absolutely livid that the boys had escaped him. “Rrraaaarggh!!! They must be here somewhere!” he raged, his fists clenched tightly in anger as he scanned the horizon in every direction. The Herfion Mountains could just be seen far away in the distance. Miles of fields and meadows, villages and hills lay between Sawdon and his prey, though at this point he had no way of knowing their location or fate.

  “He’s dying!” shouted Adrob, deliberately trying to get Sawdon’s attention and feeling aggrieved at the lack of interest and care being shown by the warrior to his fallen colleague. “He is not long for this world. The wound is too deep, and it will not stop bleeding.” he added, as he knelt down beside his friend cradling his head in his arms and trying his best to ease his pain. Adrob had become quite close to Boghias over the past year or so, they had their differences but he liked him, he respected him as a warrior, and Sawdon’s treatment of his friend angered him.

  Sawdon halted his scan of the countryside. The Thargw was still furious, he looked down on the stricken Boghias who was lying on the floor in Adrob’s arms, gasping desperately for each painful breath. Sawdon could see that he was dying, nothing more could be done for him. ‘Death is just a matter of time,’ he thought, ‘and time is a precious commodity in our current plight.’

  Suddenly, the mighty warrior drew his battlesword. Without warning, he plunged it deep into Boghias’ body, expertly cutting his heart in two with one blow so that death was immediate. It was the kill of an expert.

  Adrob jumped up startled and he reacted without thinking. “The Lords of Srenul!!” he exclaimed, cursing
loudly and instinctively going for his sword. A split second later, Adrob’s rational thought processes had returned and, realising the folly of his actions, he halted his sword arm, immediately throwing his weapon down onto the floor.

  He was just in time! The mighty battlesword of Sawdon came within inches of cutting him down, the Thargw’s intended strike being pulled deliberately so that the blade fell just short of its target, the wind from it caressing Adrob’s cheek as it sailed swiftly past his face. Adrob knew that he had come within a split second of death, he shook violently with fear as he now faced Sawdon’s wrath.

  “I... F-forgive me my Lord!” he begged, falling to his knees. “I do not know what possessed me. I...”

  Sawdon merely scowled at him and grunted loudly, he was not one for wasting conversation and he didn’t intend to discuss the incident. “Come!” he growled, as he marched off toward Heron Getracht. “We have to report to the King.”

  Adrob picked himself up gingerly. He trudged obediently behind Sawdon without saying a word, mightily relieved to still be alive. They entered the gates to Heron Getracht fortress and walked into the courtyard. Sawdon made straight for the well in the centre, he wound the bucket up quickly and poured its entire contents over his head, wetting the thick black hair on his body. Once he’d finished, he turned around to face Adrob.