The Keeper of the Stones

by M J Webb

  Lord Castrad then appeared from the dungeon stairs which were situated next to the tower room. He was overcome with joy and shouting gleefully to Jake as he escorted a prisoner he was supporting with an arm around her waist. She was dressed in the ripped and worn remnants of what was once a fine regal dress, maroon in colour and embroidered throughout with expensive gold needlework. She shielded her eyes from the sun briefly as they exited the building. When they’d adjusted, she caught sight of the massed crowd of prisoners sitting around the well in the courtyard and immediately shrugged off Castrad’s arm to walk unaided. It was a deliberate show of defiance and pride from the freed prisoner that Castrad was delighted to see and fully understood. All of the prisoners suddenly began cheering and clapping loudly as Castrad walked with her to the well, where Jake and Zephany were waiting.

  “Jake! This is a tremendous honour for me. It is a day I never thought I would see. It is all thanks to you, Jake. I will never forget it, I swear! From this day forward, I am eternally in your debt. I would like for you to meet my cousin, Her Majesty Queen Bressial of Nadjan!” stated Castrad joyfully, with a tear in his eye.

  Queen Bressial smiled cordially and then placed a reassuring hand on Castrad arm.

  “Maam.” answered Jake formally as he bowed his head, unsure as to how to properly address the Queen. “It is an honour and a privilege to meet you.”

  Queen Bressial looked slightly bemused for a moment. She stared disbelievingly at Jake’s clothes. “Th… Thankyou. Jake, is it? I apologise for my reaction to you young man, but we are not used to seeing such attire. Have I been away for that long cousin?” she asked, turning to look at Castrad and Zephany.

  The whole group of rebels burst into spontaneous laughter. It spread rapidly to all of the surrounding prisoners, Queen Bressial eventually managing to see the funny side of the incident when everything was later explained to her by Lord Castrad.

  About an hour or so later, all the explanations had been given and all the prisoners released, fed and watered. In the courtyard now there were around three hundred prisoners, all of the dungeons having been full at the time of the raid. They were all talking to each other or trying to find lost friends. Everyone was in high spirits as they waited to see what would happen next. Finally, Princess Zephany leant over again to whisper to Jake.

  “It is time, Jake. We have to move, my father and Knesh…”

  “Yes, okay I know. Thank you.” interrupted Jake. He jumped up onto the wall of the well, standing on the stones and holding onto the wooden roof support to deliver his address. He gazed around at the crowd before him. They had all fallen silent now as they waited patiently for him to speak.

  “Friends! I hope I may call you friends? You don’t know me, so I’ll begin by saying to you, rather obviously, that I’m not from Rhuaddan. I come from a distant land. Well, another world actually. Huh… That seems so strange to say. Some of you will have had the fortune to know my grandfather, Harry. You will have known him as, the Keeper. He came here a long time ago, to help you all. I am his direct descendant. I have come here to aid King Artrex and the Ruddite Rebellion. And I have brought the stones with me. They are here on Rhuaddan, though they are in need of repair.” he shouted, as loudly as he could.

  Jake hesitated, he’d meant to say more, but a ripple of concerned conversation and unease now swept through the audience and distracted him.

  Suddenly, from her position to his right, Queen Bressial stepped forward, sensing that he needed a little support to deliver the remainder of his speech. She stood by Jake’s side and said nothing. But the whole crowd of prisoners in front of them stopped talking immediately and focussed all their attention back onto the two figures in front of them.

  “Err… Thank you.” said Jake. “Friends, listen to me now. You are all free to go as you please! Free to return to your homes and families. To whatever life you may have waiting for you. We demand nothing of you. But, we are going south. To meet with King Artrex and raise an army that will finally defeat Vantrax and free your people! We will unite all those in this land who oppose tyranny and evil. I know that this is a lot to ask of you all, especially now, having been prisoners for so long, but we have little time and we need your help. We would like you all to join us. I can promise you nothing in return for your allegiance, except that I will not rest until the stones are restored and I complete my grandfather’s work. I promise you all that I will see this thing through and stand by you to the end. Whatever happens, I will not let you own! But, I must ask of you all, right here and now, what is your decision?” he shouted loudly to the entire crowd.

  The prisoners looked around at each other and began discussing the speech, trying to decide what to do. Once again, it was Queen Bressial who determined to act. She put up her hand and the noise stopped immediately. Everyone remained silent as she spoke in a calm but commanding voice.

  “Loyal subjects. Dear friends. Your suffering and sorrow has been great these past years. We have watched it with a heavy heart and a frustration inside that is beyond measure. We have shared your pain and your heartache. If we could have…”

  She stopped herself briefly as her emotions overcame her. Bressial fought back her tears and looked over at Castrad for a moment.

  “…We desire peace above all! It is always uppermost in our thoughts. We are so very tired of fighting. We long to live out our remaining days in harmony. But my friends, that is never going to happen whilst Vantrax remains in power!! Ask of yourselves now, what lives do you have left to go to? How will you live? In servitude? In slavery? In fear? Then, what was our sacrifice for? What have we to show for all those lost years? I ask nothing of you my friends. But I am following this young boy. He has shown that he is the Keeper reborn. He has proven by taking this mighty fortress and releasing us all, that he has courage and skill. I have told you my decision. Now, who amongst you will follow him?”

  The prisoners in the courtyard suddenly stood up on their feet. They all began cheering and clapping wildly in a mass celebration and statement of intent. Jake turned to Bressial and mouthed, ‘Thank you’ silently to her, before putting up his hand to stop the noise. The prisoners all fell silent once more, as Jake spoke to them again.

  “Okay. Thank you all. We have a lot of work to do then. Go now and search the fortress, take for yourselves horses, weapons, food and clothes. Whatever you need. But, be back in this courtyard in half an hour. When you return we will make for Lidzenstor!” he declared boldly.

  The prisoners began to disperse. The entire contingent of rebels around him appeared to be shocked by Jake’s unexpected announcement. No one was more shocked than the Princess.

  “Lidzenstor?” she asked, once the noise had died down and she had Jake alone.

  “Yes. Lidzenstor. We’re going to free the slaves there. And then we’ll free those in the mines at Berok, Periknar and Dingarth. Verastus has informed me of the mines, and he says that they hold many potential recruits. The delay in our journey will be minimal according to him. They’re not far from the route we must take to Soreen. And just think of the damage it’ll cause to Vantrax’ operations. And his reputation. He relies on the wealth of those mines to pay his armies.” said Jake, by way of a belated explanation.

  Zephany stared straight at Verastus in complete astonishment. “And just exactly how long have you two been planning this?” she asked firmly.

  Verastus looked sheepishly at her, unsure if she was offended at being excluded from the planning for the operation, as her royal status warranted. “I… I have been thinking of it from the start, Princess.” he admitted. “Though I have only recently told Jake, and I never thought he would agree to it.” he added in his defence.

  Zephany smiled broadly. Then shelaughed out loud at them both.

  “Ha ha ha. So be it, Keeper!” she said, as she turned to look at Jake. “I can see that life with you two, is going to be anything but dull.”

  Chapter 25

  Morning of 15th August – Th
e Battle of Erriard Forest – Part 2

  The battle had been raging for hours. The Rebel Army had fought valiantly but the Northern Army advance had not been checked. Ben, Artrex and Knesh had finally had to retreat to their established ‘last line of defence’. They now found themselves in a group of rebel soldiers who were forming the eastern edge of the rectangle formation that would hopefully hold the enemy back long enough to give the remaining rebels a ‘corridor’ through which they could escape, out of the forest. Facing them were the Thargws and Falorians, who continued to advanced relentlessly and were now rapidly approaching their position. The rebels were all exhausted, having dashed from one ambush position to another, but up to now they’d only seen the enemy from afar and had managed to skilfully avoid close quarter battle, just as Knesh had hoped and planned.

  This time however, there could be no retreat. They had to withstand whatever the enemy threw at them. There was nowhere else to go and nothing to do but to stand and fight! They could hear the Thargws and Falorians moving noisily through the forest, as they waited anxiously for the inevitable attack. Knesh seemed to be totally at home in the hostile environment. Despite the risks, he stood up calmly and took out what looked like a child’s wooden toy from his pocket. He unwound the vine that was wrapped tightly around it and let it drop, until it was dangling loosely by his side. Then he whirled it violently and rapidly around his head. As the air was forced through the slits that were carved into it an ear-splitting, high pitch shrill sounded loudly. It forced Ben to cover his ears and he instinctively ducked, although he had no idea why he had.

  “What the…? Hey! What is that?” he asked, his fear and nerves of before now having subsided.

  “It is a Rhuaddan Geslaq. An old huntsmans tool. We have been using them for years. It will tell our soldiers to retreat, they have to protect our escape route, or we will be surrounded. The situation is critical, Ben. The enemy was not meant to have advanced so far and so fast. The enemy opposing us, to our front and to our right, will be here soon. And now they will have heard our signal, it will have given away our position. That could not be helped. Listen to me, Ben! Quickly, you have to do as I say now!” said Knesh firmly, placing both his hands on the young boy’s shoulders.

  Ben was alarmed by the sudden urgency in Knesh’ voice, it was completely out of character for the warrior. “Of course I will Knesh, you only have to ask.” he answered, his mood altering drastically as he thought of what the warrior was about to say.

  “Ben my friend, I need you to leave right now. You have to go with my King, to protect him and the stones.” he said, for the first time displaying real emotion that he wasn’t trying to hide.

  “But, I can…!” interrupted Ben, forgetting his promise as the gravity and probable consequence of the order dawned on him.

  Knesh looked back at him sternly. “No! Do not disobey me on this, Ben. Please! If the Thargws or Falorians break through the line, all will be lost. We will be encircled and they will have my King and the stones. I cannot allow that to happen. You have to go now, quickly!” he implored. The warrior looked pleadingly at both Artrex and Ben. Ben didn’t have time to respond.

  “I will not leave you to your fate, my friend!” stated Artrex, before Ben could speak and with a tear in his eye. “There are others who can perform this task. It does not have to be you!” he added, anticipating correctly his friend’s plan and knowing only too well the suicidal nature of what was being proposed.

  “Yes. Yes, it does sire! We both know it. Who else will our soldiers follow? I owe it to them to fight by their side. I cannot desert them now. I have lived a good life, my King. It has been my privilege to know you, and to serve you. You are a good man, a good King. Please explain all of this to Zephany, she will not understand I think.”

  “She will understand my old friend,” stated Artrex sadly, reluctantly accepting his friend’s decision, “you have taught her well. Farewell.”

  King Artrex embraced Knesh warmly. But the two friends and warriors knew that they had to make their goodbye short and they didn’t linger. Ben was lost for words, he wanted to say something more, he needed to say something more!

  But he couldn’t. Tears were streaming down his cheeks as Artrex placed an arm around his shoulder and led him away. He glanced backwards one last time as they reached the horses, just in time to see Knesh, sword in hand, explaining the impossible situation to the soldiers who had to stay with him. His address was deliberately short and to the point and, to Ben’s astonishment, the rebels all accepted their fate without a single complaint. They began to take their positions.

  ‘Such is the measure,’ Ben thought, ‘of the man who leads them.’

  * * *

  The Northern Army continued its relentless advance. It was now closing in fast on the ‘corridor’ of defenders who had volunteered to remain with Knesh and hold the line long enough to enable their King, Ben, the stones, and the rest of their Rebel Army to escape. The beleaguered rearguard now numbered only around one thousand men. They knew they couldn’t hope to hold out for long against the far superior forces they faced. But they also knew that the King didn’t need too long to lead his mounted force out of Erriard forest. And they shared in the belief that their sacrifice, in saving their King and the stones, would keep alive the hopes of eventually destroying Vantrax and his armies and freeing their people, so they fought hard.

  Artrex climbed quickly up onto his horse, he stretched out his hand to Ben and pulled him up onto the saddle behind him. Ben was still carrying the bag with the box of stones inside and it became caught under him as he jumped onto the horse. He lifted himself in the saddle and altered his position to pull out the bag, before placing his arms around the King. Artrex cast a quick glance over at Nytig who was sitting with his hands bound at the foot of a large tree. He decided that the servant could yet prove useful to them and he instructed one of his men to put him on his horse. The soldier grabbed Nytig and thrust him across the beast roughly, the vile servant ending up with his head facing the floor. They wasted no more time. As soon as all were ready, Artrex kicked his horse hard and galloped away through the trees, racing down the ‘corridor’ that was temporarily open to them.

  Artrex was angry and frustrated, his heart was breaking. He knew he’d left his good friend and his comrades behind to face almost certain death, but the King tried his hardest not to show his despair, aware of the example he needed to set to his men. Ben said nothing, he was clinging on desperately to Artrex as the horse weaved violently from side to side to avoid the trees, but he was still crying openly at the thought of Knesh’ probable fate.

  As they galloped through the forest they soon began to hear the unmistakeable sounds of battle moving closer and closer towards them, the roars of Thargws and Falorians, the cries of the wounded and dying, the clashing of swords and armour. The sounds grew louder and louder, until they were both beginning to fear that they wouldn’t make it out of the trees.

  “Oh sh… How much further to the edge of the forest?” shouted Ben anxiously.

  “Not far.” answered Artrex. “But we may not make it, look!” he added, pointing towards a group of his own men who were running towards them, away from an enemy.

  The King pulled hard on his reigns and stopped his horse, he drew his sword and waved the column of horsemen past him, then he approached the retreating soldiers.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” yelled Ben frantically. “Are you crazy? Why are we stopping?”

  “Ben, calm yourself, please. This has to be. I am going to lose enough soldiers today, with all those brave souls staying behind with Knesh. I am not going to lose any more!” stated Artrex defiantly, as he raised his sword and halted the running soldiers.

  Ben obeyed the King’s command, he was as scared as he’d ever been. He wanted to say more, but something inside of him told him to remain quiet. The column of retreating horsemen continued to gallop past as Artrex spoke to the soldiers, who had all stopped running u
pon sighting their King. He had to shout loudly to make himself heard over the sound of galloping horses.

  “Soldiers of the Ruddite Rebellion! We do not have long, so I will be brief. I know we have already asked too much of you this day. You have all performed wonders. It goes without saying that I am very proud of you all. You are all loyal companions, and I would not choose to lose any one of you. But these men and women who leave with me now, are your friends. Your comrades. The sacrifice you have been asked to make is the only chance they have of escape. There is no other way, the enemy is upon us. If you desert us now, they will surround us. And they will capture the stones!” he shouted, pointing at the bag hanging from Ben’s shoulder. “Those stones will help to liberate people, I promise you all! But… My loyal subjects, if you so wish it, I will now remain with you. And I will fight. And I will die, by your side. Friends. Brothers. I will not leave you now. Not unless I go with your blessing!” the King stated proudly.