The Keeper of the Stones

by M J Webb

  “Corr!” he moaned, as he shifted the weight once again. “We’ve actually packed the kitchen sink!”

  Only Jake laughed in response to Ben’s comment, the others failing to understand the terminology and irony. Ben just carried on regardless, muttering something to himself under his breath about being a ‘pack mule’, which nobody else heard.

  They walked slowly back through the darkened tunnel and across the stairway that led around the large cave to the entrance. They were all following Tien, who was holding a flamed torch in front of him to light the way. Once he was outside the entrance, the wizard extinguished the torch, he turned around and waited for them all to exit, then he lifted his hand and pointed his palm towards the opening, shouting out firmly.

  “Srunec beraxetomas!”

  The entrance to the cave slowly disappeared, the rocks surrounding it miraculously merged together until the hole was completely gone, and all that remained was mountainside. The twot="ys were by now used to seeing such strange feats of magic, where once they would have been amazed at the sight they’d just witnessed, it now brought no reaction at all from them and they all turned to set off again down the mountain path, this time with Verastus leading the way.

  There was a good deal of snow on the ground while they were high up on the mountain, it became lighter and lighter as they descended and by the time they were half way down, it had completely disappeared. The sun began to shine strongly and it was getting noticeably warmer. Jake was now walking besides Verastus at the head of the group, he turned around to glance behind him at nothing in particular. The mountain trail they’d just descended was now magically merging with the surrounding rocks, following them, and moving about fifteen feet behind them as they walked. There was no trace at all being left of the path they’d followed.

  Filling in the cave entrance was one thing, but this was unreal!

  “Hey! Does anyone else see that?” he asked of all his companions, clearly more impressed with this particular feat of wizardry. “Someone tell me I’m not crazy, please.”

  Tien just smiled to himself and continued walking. Ben looked at the phenomenon and just shrugged, then he tried to shift the weight of the bag on his shoulder. The straps were cutting into his flesh and they were just beginning to cause him some real pain.

  “Ha, ha.” laughed Verastus, chuckling aloud in his deep throaty voice at Jake’s reaction. “Yes, Jake. We all see it, but I at least have seen it before. It is nothing new to me. It is strange to look at though, is it not?”

  Jake continued to question Verastus about his statement as they descended and received a full explanation of what his companion had seen on the way up the mountain. At long last, they reached the bottom and they all halted for a brief rest at Jake’s suggestion, the youngster being concerned about his elderly companion’s health and fitness.

  Tien though, despite his obvious age and apparent frailty, seemed to be feeling no ill effects at all from the strenuous descent. He moved like an old man. He certainly looked like an old man. In truth, he was a very old man. But, the wizard didn’t seem to react like an old man, he was neither tired, nor out of breath. He was taking this physical exercise in his stride, as if it was a gentle walk in the park, and he was obviously as fit, if not fitter, than the rest of them. It was a welcome sign to them all that Tien wouldn’t slow them down on their journey, as they had all at first feared.

  “So, Tien, can you tell us now where we’re heading?” Jake asked, once they’d rested a little. The old wizard stared towards the southern horizon as he answered the Keeper’s question.

  “Yes. We must head for the first of the stones that I know of, the nearest of them.” he replied. “There is an old warrior who lives in Ilin-Seatt. He was once a great knight, a master swordsman who was the King of Nadjan’s champion. He fought many, many wars and battles. They say he was undefeated in single combat. And this in a time when defeats were plentiful! For his services to the royal family he was awarded a ‘Blood Stone’ by the King, a red gem made of Creine. It is a Creine stone we seek to begin the restoration. He will be sympathetic to our cause I know. That is where we are heading, the city of Ilin-Seatt.”

  “Well alrighty then!” responded Jake enthusiastically. “Sounds simple enough. Let’s go!”

  “Yeah!” added Ben, excitedly joining in with Jake’s eager response. “Game on! On tee… The Boy Ben. Ha ha.” he laughed with his friend, as they both stood up.

  Verastus looked over at them with a seriously perplexed expression. “Srr... Game on?” he asked bemused. “On tee? What does this mean?”

  “Yeah, Big Man. ‘Game on!’” Ben said playfully in reply, having rested and now finding himself full of youthful exuberance. “It… It just means, come on. I’m ready. Let’s be having it. You know? On tee… Golf? Tee shot? Nah… You won’t get that one mate.”

  Verastus shook his head in bewilderment. “I fear Ben, that I will never understand you two completely.” he said, as he stood up, smiling at the two young boys.

  Tien’s next words removed the smiles from their faces.

  “You jest, but know this my new friends,” the wizard shouted suddenly, “this task will not be easy! It is no laughing matter!”

  “Huh?” interrupted Ben. “Well, well. Surprise, surprise. Nothing ever is in this world, is it?”

  Tien ignored the youngster’s comments and continued. “Ilin-Seatt will be crawling with enemy soldiers and spies. Lord Bierenstell is old. If he still lives. His mind is not what it was.” he warned.

  “Yes, okay Tien. I think we understand. I’m sorry for interrupting ya, but… Well, there’s only one way to find out, isn’t there, eh?” said Ben impatiently. “Now, this way is it?” he asked, picking up his bag and starting off in the direction of Tien’s former gaze.

  The wizard seemed to be a little stunned by Ben’s impudence. He was also slightly amused by it. He smiled to himself as he joined the others in following the youngster. They hadn’t walked far, when Tien gave them all one final word of warning.

  “We must still keep a sharp lookout for those Taskans! They will not have given up looking for you.”

  They journeyed all day through open fields and lush green meadows, over hills and dales, and by mid afternoon they had reached the outskirts of LLeagh Forest. Jake was just thinking of halting in the shelter of the trees for a well deserved bite to eat, having been prompted incessantly by the ever-hungry Ben for the last few hours, when Verastus suddenly shouted loudly that he had spotted an enemy patrol behind them.

  “Taskans! Quickly, into the trees!” he ordered, as he caught sight of their pursuers. “Let us try to get into shelter before they see us.”

  They all sprinted the short distance to the trees, the old wizard surprising them all with an unexpected turn of speed that matched his far more youthful companions. As they entered the forest, they turned around to observe the enemy’s response and were alarmed to see that the Taskans had seen them run and were now giving chase.

  The patrol of ten Taskan warriors was from the fortress at Brandralen. The large search party that had combed the countryside for the fleeing strangers had been divided into smaller groups by the persistent Taskan leader, in the hope of searching more ground for their illusive quarry. This patrol had, as usual, been assigned a Pralon warrior as lookout to compensate for the Taskan’s poor eyesight. It was the Pralon who had spotted the group and he now led te as expertly in their direction.

  “There’s no way we’ll outrun these horsemen,” shouted Jake calmly, “ditch your bags and prepare to fight.”

  They each took out their weapons and stood waiting at the entrance to the forest, ready to receive the oncoming Taskans. Tien lifted up his empty right hand and shouted loudly.

  “Ellerat!”

  A large shiny, pointed, sword suddenly appeared in his hand from out of nowhere. He swung it around in front of him with no great confidence or skill, trying to familiarise himself with its weight and balance once again, hav
ing not held it for many years.

  “I thought you had no weapon?” said Jake surprised.

  “I do not pretend that I know how to use it, Jake.” answered Tien honestly, as he moved closer to Verastus. “But it may just give them second thoughts about attacking me.”

  Jake smiled at him, the patrol was almost upon them now and he glanced quickly at his three companions. Ben was on the end of the short line, he looked ‘scared to death’ and it worried Jake to see the expression on his friend’s face. He had no time to react to it though, the first of the mounted enemy came into view and was now bearing down on him, with sword raised.

  Chapter 42

  20th August – LLeagh Forest - Nadjan

  Jake’s next move was instinctive. He stepped forward quickly and with expert timing to meet the first of the enemy horsesoldiers, then he ducked and swerved with lightning speed under the oncoming Taskan’s sword and sliced the mounted warrior across his weak stomach as he passed by, expertly killing him with one swift blow and then standing upright with astonishing speed, ready to meet the next attacker. As Jake stepped out of the line, Verastus instinctively followed him. He engaged the second of the riders, swinging his mighty sword at the Taskan as he rode past. But his blow met the creature’s double-edged blade with a mighty ‘clang’ and the rider continued his momentum unharmed, riding into the trees for some distance before managing to stop his horse. The Taskan dismounted to launch an attack of his own, this time on foot and from the rear.

  Jake and Verastus were now fighting desperately with the remaining Taskans in front of the trees, all of whom had dismounted just short of the forest as they naturally preferred to fight on foot. Tien was locked in a personal duel with the solitary Pralon, swift blows and parries being exchanged between the pair with Tien once again exhibiting the speed and agility of someone much younger. The Pralon was alarmingly fast, but he wasn’t a skilled swordsman and Tien appeared to be holding his own against him, his mind seemingly able to predict each intended strike from the Pralon’s weapon.

  While the other three were fighting in front of the forest, Ben had been left to take care of the solitary Taskan who had rode into the trees and dismounted behind them. The terrifying warrior was now striding towards him purposefully, with his double edged sword held out in front of his body. True to form, Ben reacted without thinking. Though the fear inside him was palpable, he ran at the Taskan and launched himself into a frenzied attack, screaming at him fiercely and reigning down blow after blow with his sword, as fast as he could.

  This Taskan though, was a seasoned veteran of many campaigns, he was more than a match for the young boy’s efforts and he easily defended himself from Ben’s multiple, varied, but totally uncoordinated attacks. He parried blow after blow until Ben’s strength began to fail him, his lunges became ragged and he began breathing hard. The Taskan saw what was happening to his young opponent and seized the initiative. He twirled his sword around expertly and began to launch his own attacks onto the exhausted Ben, with a speed and accuracy that the young boy’s defensive efforts just couldn’t cope with.

  Ben was cut several times on his arms and legs by the sword, the pain of each cut being dimmed slightly by the adrenalin that was now running wildly through his body. He continued to fight on, but he couldn’t launch any attacks of his own, the speed of the Taskan’s sword being far too great for him. He was trying desperately now to block the Taskan’s blows, fighting to survive!

  Finally, the warrior’s sword breached Ben’s defences and it sliced into his stomach, tearing open the flesh. It was a glancing blow which wasn’t a fatal wound, but Ben dropped to his knees with the pain and shock of it. He was now totally shattered, he dropped his sword with exhaustion and, realising that he was finished, he stared up at his Taskan assailant, resigned to his fate.

  The Taskan towered above the young fifteen year old boy with his sword raised and poised to strike. The fight had been a mismatch from the beginning. But the young Ben had given a good account of himself and he was happy for that. He fully expected now to die. He knew that he probably only had the time it would take the Taskan to deliver the final blow, a few seconds at most.

  In such circumstances, a few seconds can seem like a lifetime and Ben’s whole life suddenly flashed through his mind. Curiously, he felt no fear, all his pain had subsided briefly and a strange sense of calm and serenity overcame him, as he thought of home.

  ‘Home. What home? There’s no one who’ll miss me too much back home. Sure, Jake will be mortified by my death, but he’ll survive. His family will be sad, but no one will be heartbroken for me back home. Dad’ll probably not even care. He probably won’t put his bottle down long enough to understand what’s happened. No, if I have to go, then this is as good a way as any, trying to help the one person in my life who’s stood by me, and shared in everything.’

  His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a sword whistling its way towards him at high speed.

  The sword was not Taskan! The mighty warrior still towered over him with his sword raised, but Ben suddenly felt a sharp gust of wind whistle past his ear, followed by a fleeting glance of shiny metal, as an object flew past his eyes at tremendous speed and lodged itself deep into the flesh of the Taskan’s stomach.

  Ben looked up at the stricken warrior. He stumbled backwards under the weight of the blow, the shock and pain of it etched onto his face. He stared down disbelievingly at the sword that was now embedded in him and his hands instinctively dropped his own sword to grasp at it. A split second later, he fell heavily to his knees, right in front of Ben. The Taskan was dying and, judging by his pained expression, obviously feeling the last remnants of life leaving his body.

  In a last ditch moment of defiance, even as he took his last breath, the Taskan flicked out his long, thin, venomous tongue. He whipped it swiftly and viciously in Ben’s direction and the tip of it lashed against Ben’s cheek, cutting the flesh deeply, an instant before the warrior fell dead onto the floor.

  Ben raised his hand to his face immediately with the pain of the blow, it stung like hell, and for a split second he closed his eyes and winced. Then he remembered how close he’d come to death and he turned to see where the sword that had saved his life had come from.

  Striding towards him as fast as he could was the old wizard, a look of real concern now clearly etched on his face. Tien had seen what had happened to Ben and launched his own sword at the Taskan just in the nick of time, having killed the Pralon facing him more through luck than skill. But he had also witnessed the injury to Ben’s face, and he knew only too well what it meant!

  Tien shouted loudly to Jake with real despair echoing in his voice as he ran. He reached Ben just in time to catch him, as the young boy collapsed. Jake and Verastus were still fighting the Taskan’s facing them. Jake was too skilled in combat for the enemy warriors and he’d already killed most of their number. Verastus too had proven to be an accomplished swordsman, occupying several of the enemy, killing one, and affording Jake the time to engage the rest. Only two Taskans remained facing them now as Jake glanced briefly over at the trees and saw Tien holding his badly wounded friend. The anger swelled within him until it exploded and he launched into a frenzy of action, throwing himself at the Taskans a speed and intensity that left Verastus wide eyed and open mouthed.

  The Taskans stood no chance. They were cut down so fast they didn’t have the opportunity to raise their swords. Jake’s movements had been so quick that they’d appeared blurred to Verastus’ shocked and amazed eyes and, before the last Taskan hit the ground, Jake was already running over to Tien and Ben.

  “Ben! Ben!” shouted Jake desperately, as he reached his friend. “Ben! Talk to me! What’s happened? Are you alright? Can you hear me?” he screamed loudly at him.

  “He has been cut by a Taskan. His sword wounds will heal, but...” said Tien sadly, not wanting to say what he was clearly thinking. “Quickly, pass me his bag!” he shouted to Verastus. The Falorian ran to r
etrieve the bag, before returning sharply and handing it to the wizard. Tien reached inside and pulled out a small brown bottle, as the frantic Jake looked on.

  “What’s that?” demanded Jake. “What are you giving him? Tell me, Tien! Tell me everything, I have to know!” he pleaded.

  Tien talked to them as he poured the contents of the entire bottle into Ben’s mouth, anxious to administer it whilst the young boy was still able to swallow.

  “Jake, a Taskan’s poison is very strong. In a few moments, Ben will be unable to move, unable even to speak. Already the poison is working its way to his heart. If we cannot remove it, he will be dead within a half a day.” answered the wizard truthfully. “There is not much that I can do against such a powerful weapon. The potion I have given will serve to give Ben more time. It will slow the poison down, but I am afraid that... Jake, I am sorry, I do not know that we can remove all of the poison, as we must!” he stated, looking sorrowfully into Jake’s tear-filled eyes. “I have known many such wounds in my time, sometimes we have been successful and the victim has been saved, but others have not always been so fortunate.”