The Keeper of the Stones

by M J Webb

  “Oh sh...!” began Ben, as he heard the sound and realised that the whole garrison had been warned of their presence.

  “Come on!” interrupted Jake loudly. “Now would be a good time to run! Head for the mountains, Verastus! Follow us!” he shouted, as he kicked his horse hard and they galloped away.

  Verastus’ horse reared upwards violently as the heel of the Falorian’s foot dug deep into its side. Then it bolted and chased after the boys.

  Chapter 38

  Nightfall 18th August – The Search for Tien

  Jake Ben and Verastus galloped away from the fortress at Brandralen as fast as they possibly could. As daylight faded, they were still pushing their exhausted horses extremely hard, until finally they approached the base of the Phelanagarth Mountains. They dismounted and stared up at the high, daunting rockface that towered above them. Verastus glanced anxiously behind to search for any sign of pursuit from the direction of the fortress.

  “Srr, there does not appear to be anyone following us as yet, Jake. But you can be sure that they will come. Taskans are vile, loathsome creatures, you do not want to meet them in battle. They are faster than they appear to be and their poison is deadly. They will chase us until they have caught us, or lost our trail. And I am sure that they were not alone. I saw others on the ramparts, Thargws maybe? I do not know, they always seem to have help with them, warriors who can help them hunt or kill. They are cunning also, I do not like it. We had better not stay here too long my friend.” he warned.

  “Yes, I think you’re right, ‘V.’” answered Jake, as he began searching the rocks in front of him, struggling to see in the fading light. “Look, there’s a path. Right, quickly! As you said, we can’t stay here, we have no option but to go up and see where it leads us. Leave the horses, they can’t climb this narrow trail, carry only your food and weapons. And the box of course, Ben.” he said, trying to calm his friend by making light of their situation.

  “Duh!” replied Ben sarcastically. “As if I’m gonna forget that now.”

  They each grabbed the things they needed, then they set the two horses free, before setting off up the steep, narrow trail that wound its way up the mountainside, following the path that seemed oddly out of place in the midst of solid rock, as if it had been placed there by magic.

  “It will be dark soon, this track will not easily be seen.” stated Verastus, from the rear of the group. He turned around again to check for signs of pursuit.

  As he did, a miraculous thing happened. The steep, narrow path that they’d just climbed up the mountain disappeared from sight. It merged unbelievably with the surrounding rocks, until the mountain was once again whole, with no way up or around it, removing any possibility of the enemy following them. Verastus was amazed, he turned around again to see that the two boys ahead of him were blissfully unaware of what had happened. Believing that they were still being followed, and pleased to see that his friends were setting a fast pace, he decided to say nothing at that time of the miracle he’d just witnessed. He smiled and chuckled to himself at his remarks about the trail not easily being seen.

  “Yeah, lucky for us that Jake spotted it, eh?” shouted Ben happily over his shoulder, the delay in his response adding to Verastus’ amusement.

  “Yes. But I for one am beginning to believe that you are making your own luck, Jake.” the Falorian stated, as they continued to climb. “I mean, everything you say or do seems to work out somehow for the best. It is almost as if you were being guided by someone, or something. As if you know the future, and can predict what is going to happen.” he added.

  Jake stopped walking and turned to look him squarely in the eye. “Well, I assure you ‘V’, I don’t and I can’t! I’m just lucky I guess.”

  They continued to climb upwards. The night grew dark and some large storm clouds formed overhead, blocking out themoonlight. The temperature dipped rapidly as they climbed higher and higher up the trail and before long, both boys were beginning to feel the effects of the cold. Ben was showing the first signs of fatigue.

  “Brrrr... Bl-bloody hell! It’s f-f-f-freezing!” he shouted, his teeth chattering violently and both of his hands placed under his armpits in a vain attempt to keep them warm. “I’m sh-sh- shattered! C-c-c-can we s-s-stop f-for a m-minute?” he pleaded wearily.

  “N-no!” replied Jake sternly, through his own clenched teeth. “W-w-we h-have to keep m-moving!”

  “Jake is right, Ben.” added Verastus, who was used to dealing with extreme temperatures. “We stop now, and you are dead. But we should look for shelter, a cave, somewhere to get out of the cold.” he shouted to Jake, trying to make himself heard as the icy wind blew and howled across the mountainside.

  A great storm was developing and the first drops of icy snow could now be seen in the air, they all looked at each other with concern and then pushed immediately onwards, as fast as they could. They climbed up the steep path that led up the mountain for many hours. The energy sapping climb really began to take its toll on Ben in the blizzard conditions. His strength began to fade and he began to fall further and further behind. Verastus stopped to wait and when the young boy neared him, he picked him up without saying a word, throwing him easily over his shoulder. Ben stubbornly raised his head to object, but he didn’t have the strength, and it instantly flopped down onto the Falorian’s back.

  “Come Ben,” said Verastus softly to him, in a voice far too low for Ben to hear in the whistling wind, “let me carry you now. I will repay my debt to you here on this mountain.”

  Jake looked behind him from his position at the head of the group. He was growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of his friend and he doubled his efforts searching for some shelter from the storm.

  “C-come on!” he shouted over the wind to Verastus. “Let’s f-find that c-cave!”

  Just under an hour later, they found a small, man-size opening in the rockface. Verastus placed his burden down on the floor and Ben stood there shaking violently, a little unsteady on his feet, but still able to walk. Jake led him by the hand into the darkness. As soon as they stepped out of the icy wind the warmth of the cave hit them instantly, but it was pitch black and they couldn’t see a thing. Even in his weakened, almost frost-bitten state, Ben just couldn’t help himself.

  “Oh g--great! Bl-bl-bloody m-marvellous, Jake ol’ son! You’ve l-led us into a hole! Ha ha... N-n-n-now what?” he asked, as he shivered uncontrollably.

  “Oh s-stop your whining again, will ya? And p-pass me the box.” replied Jake, unable to see his friend and having to settle for talking to the sound of his voice in the darkness.

  Ben did as he was told, fumbling for the box and feeling blindly for Jake’s outstretched hands. “Th-there, t-take them then.” he said, frustrated at shaking so badly and worried that he might drop his precious cargo.

  Jake took the box and felt with his fingertips until he found the crest. He ran his right hand over the top of it and a faint ‘click’ sounded. For a split second nothing else happened. Then, the box slowly opened, humming quietly as it did. It seemed to take an age to open fully, but eventually the four corner stones lit updimly, throwing off just enough light between them to illuminate the cave. No rays of light were emitted from the stones this time, the centre stone remained totally unlit, and no bangs or earth shudders followed.

  “Well, I suppose that’s it.” said Jake calmly. “We have light at least.” he continued, as he looked around the cave.

  They were standing on a rock shelf, six feet wide, the end of which dropped sharply into a vast, black, bottomless chasm, which appeared to have no end. They could see neither down, nor across the gaping pit. The emptiness in front of them and below would definitely have taken their lives had they have strayed just a few steps further inside the cave! Their lucky escape did not go unnoticed.

  “There is that luck again, Jake.” said Verastus. “Whatever you say about it, I am glad that I am with you!”

  Jake moved the box around in front
of him to show the rest of their new surroundings. To the right, at one end of the shelf they were standing on, was a wall of sheer rock with no point of exit, a dead end. Jake moved the light towards the left hand side of the shelf. At its end, around 12 feet away, was a set of winding, narrow stairs that they could see rose steadily upwards, hugging the mountainside and running all the way around the edge of the cliff, and the chasm below.

  “Well, that’s simple enough I’d say?” Jake said. “Decision made I think. We’re not going back outside, so upwards it is. What do ya think?” he asked. Now that Ben was out of the cold, Jake was once again beginning to enjoy himself.

  “I follow your lead, Jake.” Verastus stated, in a short and obedient reply.

  They both looked across at the dithering Ben. He struggled to speak, but muttered valiantly, “D-d-d-itto m-mate.”

  Jake nodded and led the way up the steps, holding the box out in front of him like a torch as they climbed. The further into the cave they walked, the warmer the air became, and Ben soon began to feel much better. He stopped shaking so badly and was relieved to find that he no longer ached so much from the bitter cold.

  After a while, the stairs suddenly stopped outside another small, man-size hole which was cut into the rockface. It was the entrance to a dark, black tunnel with no visible end, and Jake walked through it hesitantly, the others following closely behind. A hundred feet or so later, they emerged from the darkness and stepped out into a large room which had been cut into the granite rock. The room was lit in places with candles and torches, there were several unlit dark corners, but the light inside was enough for them to see most of the dwelling so Jake closed the box with a wave of his hand. The stones dimmed and extinguished as the lid covered them once more.

  “Yes, Jake.” came a voice from within the shadows, echoing eerily in the empty chamber. “Close that box. Be sure to hide from prying eyes that which you are sworn to protect.”

  They all turned sharply around to their left, convinced that the voice had come from that direction, but nothing could be seen in the dark recesses of the cave. Verastus glanced at Jake, his hand felt for the pommel of his sword. Then, the voice spoke again, only this time it had moved, and it was now coming from out of the darkness to their right.

  “Tell me, why have you come here, Jake? Speak, Keeper. These are not your people. This is not your land. It is not your fight! Why then do you seek me now? I am old. My time has come and gone. You have the stones, you do not need me. Will you not leave an old man in peace? I can help you no longer. Go now! Go home to your own people, and your uncomplicated lives!”

  “Tien!” Jake shouted loudly into the darkness. “It is you, isn’t it? I won’t talk to shadows, wizard! Show yourself to me, please.”

  “Ra! You speak like a Keeper, Jake. Good for you. But do you fight and think like a Keeper?” replied Tien, as he suddenly stepped into the light.

  Standing before them, in the centre of the room was a small, hunched, bald old man, dressed in long grey rags that hung shabbily and loosely from his painfully thin, almost skeleton-like body. He looked ancient, more like a fossil than a living being. He shuffled forwards as if every movement was excruciatingly painful, until he finally sat down on a chair-like rock that lay in the middle of the room, next to a small fire that curiously burned without emitting any smoke. The light of the fire flickered constantly and revealed numerous shelves and holes which were cut into the surrounding rocks, all of them filled with small bottles, potions and medicines, as well as boxes and trinkets.

  Tien looked up slowly at the strangers who still blocked the doorway, his white, pupil-less eyes examining each of them carefully from head to toe. “You have not answered my questions, Jake.” he stated, in a strong, coarse voice that should not have come from one so old.

  Before Jake could answer, Ben responded for him instinctively. And once again, he spoke angrily on behalf of his friend without thinking, stepping forward slightly as he did.

  “How can you question him like that? He’s proven his honour time and again for these people. He’s out-thought everyone here. He’s taken a fortress that no one believed could be taken, and the mines. We all wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him! There would be no army, and Vantrax would probably have the stones. So lay off! Who do you think you…”

  Ben was stopped in the midst of his verbal attack by Jake, who grabbed his wrist and shook his head firmly at him. Both boys looked over sheepishly at Tien. The wizard was chuckling to himself at Ben’s reaction. When he was satisfied that the sudden outburst had been halted completely, he spoke once more.

  “Good. You have a spirit in you Ben that you will need before you are through. But, you must decide here and now what it is you are willing to sacrifice on this journey? Before you go on, you all must ask yourselves that question.” Tien said mysteriously.

  “We all will do what we must!” answered Verastus, in a deep and honourable voice. “I speak for us all when I say that we are united in our decision to go on. We will not falter wizard, if that is what you are scared of? Do not be fooled by appearances, these boys have qualities that few of my countrymen can match.” he added emotionally.

  The boys looked proudly at each other and then at their friend, before turning to face Tien once more as he spoke.

  “So it begins. Come. Come on in. Step forward and warm yourselves by the fire. You need rest, food and drink. When you are able we will talk. And I will see what I can do for you. I make no promises. Save to say that I will hear you out. Come, we are safe in here, the Taskans will not venture up this mountain. Although Jake, you know that sooner or later, you will ave th leave? And they are sure to be waiting for you!”

  Chapter 39

  18th/19th August – The Wizards

  Jake, Ben and Verastus were deep within the Phelanagarth Mountains, safe from harm for the time being and able to relax a little for the first time since they had all met. The two young boys had almost ‘lost their grip’ on reality by now, the world as they knew it had been turned completely on its head with the events of the past few days. So, now that it came to sitting down and conversing with a real life wizard, they both ‘took it in their stride’, acting as if it was an everyday occurrence.

  The three companions walked over to Tien and sat down beside him. Ben couldn’t fail to notice that there was a rabbit-like creature roasting on an open spit, he licked his lips and then hungrily pulled off a leg when Tien gestured at him to help himself, almost burning his fingers in the process as he juggled the hot meat from hand to hand.

  “So,” the wizard began, once they had all sat down, “now that you are finally here, Jake, where would you like me to begin?” he asked invitingly.

  “Err… You can start by telling me how you know of us? How do you know my name?” answered Jake. “And the others? You must live a lonely existence up here, how do you know so much about us?”

  Tien smiled warmly at the boys. “I live alone, yes. But I am not blind. Indeed, my old eyes have seen far too much these past few years. Sights I wish I had never seen. It may be difficult for you to understand. I suppose I will say that I am blessed, and I am cursed, with the gift of foresight. Though, I can only see what I am allowed to see. No more, and no less. I can not change the future, Jake. But I can sometimes warn of events to come.”

  “Yes. Okay, I understand that, I think. But it doesn’t explain how you know about me? And sacrifice? You talked about a sacrifice before? What sacrifice? What does that mean?” asked Jake eagerly. Tien sat back in his chair, he altered his position several times to make himself comfortable and then he replied.

  “The powers I possess are limited, Jake. I am not all powerful, there are things I cannot do, things I cannot say, for to speak may alter some future reaction, one that must take place, regardless of the pain it causes, or the consequences for those involved. You all have to accept this fact, you cannot challenge me on this, if you are to finally prevail!” he said, looking into the eyes of each
of them in turn to gauge their reaction. Nobody replied, so Tien continued talking.

  “Jake, your coming was foretold to me many years ago, when all thought the Keeper had been killed, and along with him, all hope of seeing the stones again. I alone knew that one day he would come back. Though I could tell no one, for fear of altering what had to be. Knowledge of your impending return may have affected the judgement of our people, instead of resisting Vantrax, they have surrendered, or gone into hiding, awaiting your return. Can you see? I have been waiting for this day ever since.”

  He stopped abruptly in mid sentence for no apparent reason. His expression changed completely, he suddenly became more intense, and he leant forward.

  “The world we have known, everything that we now hold dear, will, I am afraid to say, come to the very brink of destruction! These events are already set in motion. It will come to pass. There is nothing we can do to stop it. The evil powers in this land have grown far too strong in the Keeper’s absence. But... The end is not written. I cannot see that far ahead. There, my gift has forsaken me. I only know… That we now have to earn the right to be allowed to fight for our survival. The balance of power has shifted too far. Nothing now is given. We must fight! We will have to rise from the ashes of despair, there will be much heartache and sorrow ahead for us all. We will be tested, as we have never been tested before. And for our world to survive, we must all pass that test! As I have said, nothing is for certain, Jake. You have to remember that.