by M J Webb
Princess Zephany lowered her head a little in shame. “Yes, we believe you Jake. You know, at times, for all my schooling, I can be a fool. Words come far too easily to me sometimes, they flow out of my mouth before I have had chance to think. It is one of my great faults, I am afraid. Hopefully, age and experience will rectify the problem. Go then, we will remain behind to hold the enemy at bay. We will use whatever time we are granted to train our new recruits. Call for Gellsorr, Jake. Find us a stone. Use whatever powers you… Krr… Where exactly is the stone, Tien? You have neglected to mention that part I think?”
“Kah, yes, so I have. It is in the Thargw Emperor’s crown. We will find him in the main palace no doubt.”
“The Thargw Emperor?! Ay raas, but this is worse than I imagined. It is complete and utter madness!” stated Caro. “Jake, you know me well enough by now, I am always up for a fight if there is one to be had. I shy away from no one and nothing. But… Thargws choose their leaders by tried and tested means, by mortal combat. If he leads them, he is their finest, be of no doubt. Please, let me accompany you on this quest?”
Jake shook his head firmly. “No, Caro. Thanks all the same mate, but there will not be room for you. Besides, you will be needed here, to protect the Princess and organise the defences. Tien and I must go alone, and face whatever we find.”
Tien nodded obediently. The wizard had served many masters in his time. He knew right there and then that he would quite willingly give his life for this new Keeper, this ‘boy’. Though, he was rather hoping that it would not come to that… Not yet.
“Okay then,” the teenager began, his mind now firmly made up, “I think it’s time that I spoke to a dragon?”
Chapter 7
31st August - Varriann City - Perosya
Ben Brooker was busily wolfing down a huge plate of stewed rachtis and praells. Every now and then he stopped for a very brief moment in order to wash it down with some traag’s milk, though the astonishing speed at which his mug was moving to and from his lips meant that he scarcely swallowed more than a mouthful at any one time. For Verastus, Brraall and Gellsorr this was a real education and it was one they were thoroughly entertained by. All three were fascinated by Ben’s frantic eating habits, though they were more amazed by the fact that the youngster was actually able to breathe at the same time. The new friends and allies looked at one another and smiled, content to see such joy and happiness again in the eyes of one so young. The misery and strife on their own world had deprived them all of such a sight for a very long time.
Ben was at first blissfully unaware that he had become the focus of attention. He was distracted by the task in hand and concentrating solely on the need to satisfy his hunger. However, he soon felt a mild burning sensation on his neck and he realised that he was being watched. His eyes flicked upwards and he halted his spoon arm. Then, he gazed quickly at each of his comrades, unsure what to make of their sudden interest in him and his activities. Dropping the contents of his spoon onto his plate, with great difficulty he swallowed down the large piece of rachtis meat he had in his mouth. Then he wiped away the gravy from his lips, before responding to their wide-eyed stares.
“What? What you lot gawpin’ at?” he asked, now feeling a little embarrassed. “Ain’t you seen someone eat before? I’m starving.”
The others laughed gently. It was Verastus who spoke for them all. He thought it best to reply diplomatically, so as not to upset the humiliated teenager even further. “Ha ha… Yes Ben, we can see that for ourselves. It is something of a recurring theme with you, is it not? One of your most endearing traits, if I may say so?”
“Eh? Oh come on, you’re avin’ a laugh, aren’t ya?” Ben replied, recovering in an instant. “Most endearing? You’re forgetting all about my charm and good looks, aren’t ya? Anyway, I’m a growing lad, in I? I’m supposed to get loads of food, to keep my strength up. It’s the way of the world. In fact, by rights, I should get your share as well! Ha ha… So mate, from now on you’ll have to give me the food off your plate.”
“Ben!”
It was Gellsorr, the old dragon, who interrupted the youngster so abruptly. His raised voice was sharp, deep and calm. It carried with it a clear warning to all, instructing them in no uncertain terms that he had something vitally important to say. Ben halted his sentence immediately and everyone remained silent. After a few seconds without further comments though, he began to grow impatient. “What? What is it?” the teenager asked.
“Silence, please? Someone is trying to contact me. I can feel it.”
Gellsorr closed his huge eyelids and concentrated hard upon the faint noise he had heard in his mind. He couldn’t quite hear what was being said at first, so he shifted his position and tried again. The others remained quiet and watched him, as the voice grew gradually louder and clearer in his head.
‘Gellsorr! Hear me, dragon. Listen to my words, please! I am Jake West. I am the Keeper of the Stones, and I need your help!’
The dragon’s giant eyes suddenly shot open in surprise. “It… It is Jake!” he rasped.
“Jake?” cried an excited Ben. His heart began to race, pounding in his chest. “Well? Don’t waste time, shut your eyes again and talk to him!”
Gellsorr was a little taken aback by the youngster’s sudden aggression. He shook his head slightly at him to let him know that he did not approve, before obeying the rather impudent suggestion and silently replying to Jake. ‘I am here, Keeper. I have not left you. We are all here, safe and well. Tell me, what is it you require me to do?’
‘I… No, we, need a lift. Err… Sorry, we need you to take us to Mynae? The horses are too slow and I’m told that they wouldn’t survive the journey. Listen, we have no time, Gellsorr. The fourth stone we seek is there. We must leave straight away, right now!’
The mighty dragon’s eyes opened once more. For the briefest of moments he caught sight of a rather pathetic figure standing before him, a desperate and worried young boy from Earth, a boy who was longing for news of his best friend, to hear for certain that he was unharmed. He shut his eyelids tightly again almost immediately, to respond to the Keeper’s news. ‘But Jake, what of Ben and the others? Who will protect them if I leave?’
‘I’m sorry but we have no choice now. They will have to look after themselves. There’s no other way. Only you can fly such a distance, in so short a space of time, and return us before the attack. The forces of King Vantrax are here, Gellsorr. They are at the gates to the city. We are about to fight the final battle but, with the Heynai’s help, we have secured a little time before they can get to us.’
‘I see. Then conversation is futile. I am coming to you, Jake. What do you want me to tell the others?’
‘They are to journey south. They are to travel to the Kielth Mountains and beyond. Not far across the border with Siatol they will find an unguarded pass. Tien has informed me of it. It leads all the way to the northern wall of Te’oull. The Heynai have created a barrier through which no one and nothing can pass, a hidden shield to protect us from harm. It is keeping King Vantrax’ armies at bay for the time being. We are safe, but it will not last long.’
‘A barrier?’ asked Gellsorr. ‘Then, how do I, how do we, pass through such an obstruction? We will be trapped in the same way as our enemy, by the very thing that is meant to save us?’
‘No, you will not, I promise you. I am not meant to, but I will contact Sereq. I will ask him to create a gap in the shield, one large enough for you to slip through. I will also ask him to do the same again when the time is right, for Brraall and his people. Approaching from such an unlikely direction, they should be able to reach the city before the creatures know they are there, especially if we can time it right, at night time?’
‘Creatures? Graxoth?’ asked Gellsorr. His demeanour changed and his heart became heavy all of a sudden, full of dread and hatred.
‘Yes, and revalkas. We face an entire army of them now, hundreds. You will have to fly high so as not to be seen,
for you will be seriously outnumbered if they spot you… And land from the south, out of sight, with the city walls to hide you.’
‘I understand, Keeper. Everything will be as you ask. I am leaving now. I should be with you soon.’
‘Great! Thanks Gellsorr. With you on our side, this ridiculous plan might just work.’
The ancient dragon opened his eyes again. A sizeable crowd had now gathered around him. In the centre of them all, was Ben. He was looking like a lost child at a fairground, waiting anxiously to see if his mummy or daddy had come to collect him. “Well? Come on then! Spill the beans, will ya?” he yelled.
Verastus shook his head. “Raart, I will never understand the way you speak, Ben. I know you mean no harm, but please be advised that there are some in this realm who will take great offence at it. You are fortunate that we have come to understand that you mean no disrespect. Srr… I believe he means, tell us what was said?”
“Kah! Yes, I will explain everything as quickly as I can. But then, I must leave. You have to let me go and help Jake, he needs me,” replied Gellsorr.
All eyes turned towards Ben. Everyone seemed to be expecting the youngster to voice a strong objection, or at least comment upon the dragon’s statement with a heavily sarcastic repost. But, to their surprise, Ben Brooker said nothing.
* * *
The opening to the cave in the Kielth Mountains was illuminated by a strange light. Sereq and the rest of the aged spirits were concentrating hard on maintaining the power of the protective shield. The incredible focus and energy-sapping mind control techniques required to sustain it were taking their toll upon their reformed bodies. Beads of sweat were once again falling down their brows and their hands and legs had begun to shake. An orange glow radiated from each of them. Every now and then, each spirit’s face would transform back into the horrid mess of flesh and bone that had scared Jake when they first met. For the Heynai, it was a clear sign that their powers were diminishing. And, ‘if they were fading so rapidly, how long could they possibly hope to keep the screen intact?’
Sereq noticed the change first. His powers appeared to be greater than the others though and as yet he was not affected. The shield was holding, for now. He had recovered his faith in his fellow spirits, he was confident they would be able to withstand the relentless onslaught of pain and weariness that he knew lay ahead of them, for several days if needed. ‘Everything will be fine,’ he thought, ‘just so long as nothing interrupts our thoughts and deflects our powers away from the shield.’
‘Sereq!’
The leader of the Heynai was suddenly hailed. He was caught completely off guard by it, astonished, and almost overcome with shock. This was the last thing they needed, but he recognised the voice inside his mind immediately. It was Jake’s and it had sounded so intensely that he knew he could not ignore it. Desperation had echoed in that one word for far longer than it ought, leading Sereq to the instant and inescapable conclusion that something had gone drastically wrong.
‘Jake! What is it? Why do you ignore my instructions and contact me now? Be very quick, Jake. Every second you distract me is a hazardous one!’
‘I’m sorry Sereq, there was no other way. I need you to create a hole in the wall, to let Gellsorr through to us? We need him to take us to Mynae, to find and claim the fourth stone.’
Sereq cringed in agony as a searing burst of intense heat seemed to almost rip his mind apart. “Raarrgghh!!!” He screamed out loud, barely able to stand the hurt. Finally, after a second or two, it relented a little and he was able to think. ‘Frah! Very well, Jake, if we must. It will be as you ask, though it will seriously weaken the shield for a time and King Vantrax will know of it. He will feel it.’
‘It can’t be helped. Good,’ replied Jake. ‘But, there’s something else. In a day or so, you will have to create a much larger hole, one big enough for Brraall and his people to go through?’
‘Jake! You realise of course that what you ask of us now could seal your fate?! If we disrupt this spell for such a time, to that extent, there is no guarantee at all that we will be able to restore it! And, while the shield is down, our people will have no protection at all from attack. They will be completely at the mercy of the wizard and his beasts.’
‘Yes, I thought it might be a little risky. Oh well, it’s one worth taking. This is the only way I can see to achieve our aims. I will not abandon Ben and the friends he has with him. Besides, we need all the help we can get.’
‘Ay raas, but you are a stubborn one, Keeper.’
‘Eh? Yes, I suppose I am. I get that from my mum. Now, I’ve made my decision. Do you understand what you have to do?’ Jake asked, with an unmistakeable air of authority.
‘Yes, Jake. You are in command of everything now. The fate of this world and others is in your hands. Now go! Leave us to our work and do not speak to us again. We have fulfilled our promise to you and our people, done all we can do. We have given you hope, a small chance of achieving victory.’
‘Okay Sereq. Goodbye, again. When the time comes and the shield is lowered, we’ll just have to hope that the enemy doesn’t realise what we’re doing.’
* * *
In the great palace at Dassilliak, King Vantrax was sitting on a very large and elegant chair. He was surrounded by warriors and servants who were tending to his every whim. Chief amongst these was Nytig. The King’s personal slave was rushing around as fast as his deformed body would allow, fetching and carrying drink and food for his master, whilst at the same time attempting to remain as far away from Sawdon as he could. The Thargw Gerada was seething with impatience. He wanted to depart Dassilliak and chase his enemy down without delay. He knew the force which had been despatched was not nearly enough to win a full scale battle. Everything was prepared now for the pursuit. He was waiting only for the King’s orders and Vantrax was just about to give them, but suddenly the doors to the large room opened and in through them strode the newly revived Melissa.
The Sebantan Princess had been caught by the dragon’s beam on the fields outside the city. She had been turned instantly into black stone, as Gellsorr’s timely intervention saved the lives of Ben, Brraall, Verastus, and all the tribal warriors. King Vantrax had used the Lichtus stone to successfully reverse the powerful spell. But, the energy it took to overturn the effects of such a weapon, to breathe life once again into an inanimate object, had very nearly destroyed him. The Lichtus itself had amazingly suffered no lasting damage. The King knew however, that he would never be strong enough to perform such an extraordinary feat again, not without placing his own life in extreme jeopardy. His many warriors who had fallen at the battle were therefore doomed to remain on the fields of Dassilliak, encased in stone for all eternity. And now, the evil wizard knew that the dragon possessed at least one weapon he could not counter. It did not unduly concern him though. He was convinced that his invincible army of revalkas and graxoth were more than enough to take care of a solitary dragon.
“Kah, Melissa,” stated the King, as he caught sight of his favoured warrior. The issuing of orders temporarily left his thoughts as the Sebantan beauty approached, much to Sawdon’s further aggravation.
“My liege, a thousand apologies for my unavoidable absence. You will be surprised just how tiring death can be,” said the warrior with a smile.
The evil wizard laughed a little. “You are forgiven. Come, Melissa, let me look at you. You seem to bear no visible scars? You are unhurt by your ordeal I take it, and fully recovered?”
“Yes sire,” replied Melissa. “Thank you, for everything. Now, I am of a mind to take me some revenge! Tell me, what have I missed?”
Sawdon stepped forward purposefully. “You, Sebantan, have missed the war!” he roared. He went to confront the female warrior but halted when King Vantrax raised his hand to stop him.
“That is enough, Sawdon! We have no time for this. We must concentrate our efforts on…”
The King was suddenly interrupted in mid conversation by an in
credibly sharp pain in his chest. It was coming from his heart, and the agony was excruciating. He clasped his hand tightly to it as his face was immediately drained of all colour.
“Sire??!! What is it? Are you hurt?” asked Sawdon. He rushed to his leader’s side, along with Melissa and Nytig.
King Vantrax said nothing. He was in shock, unable to do anything. However, the astonishing pain rapidly diminished as quickly as it had appeared, and soon it was gone altogether. Once he had recovered himself, Vantrax began searching his mind for answers, trying desperately to understand what had just happened. ‘What does it mean? Where did it come from?’ he asked himself.