The Peacekeeper

Ator broke the last chain. He looked at Ian. “Stand up.”

  Ator called to his dragons. One by one they landed in a half circle around Ian and Ator. Ator said to Ian. “Yell loudly to me and all dragons to bow down.”

  “What?” he asked Ator with his mind. “I’m not goi…”

  “Do as I say!”

  “Oh, mighty dragons, I say this to you now. Bow down before me!”

  Ator was the first. He laid his head at Ian’s feet. Then all the dragons put their heads to the ground.

  “Ken this that I am your leader! I will…”

  “Shut up Ian and get on my back!” Ator held out his wing and Ian climbed aboard. Deafening noise went through the crowd. “Hurrah! Did you see that?” On and on, the crowd went wild as he climbed to Ator’s neck.

  The king shouted, “Stop them! Damn it. I said stop them!” No one moved.

  Ator beat his wings, extra for good measure and showmanship. Then he took off. Flying low over the crowd so they could see him riding on his back. After a few passes, he flew higher, taking to the sky as every dragon followed, different colors gleaming in the red setting sun. They left the crowd roaring in excitement. No one had ever seen anything like it and probably never would again.

  Once Ator got Ian to the cave and off his back, he looked at Ian. “I’m your leader? Really? You were supposed to only say bow down. Who said anything about leader?”

  He shrugged. “It was for the show, you ken.” He grinned. “Thanks, Ator. Och Goddesses! Elspeth! She’s in the dungeon. If that evil bastard lays one finger on her.” He started pacing and running his fingers through his hair. “I canna call on Merlin, Athdar is there. I doona ken what kind of power he has. If I can just get tae the dungeon. That’s it! Athdar probably willna be in the dungeon. MERLIN!”

  A portal opened and Merlin came through. “Elspeth is okay for now. What the hell happened Ian?”

  “Your plan, Merlin. That damn plan is what happened!”

  “Tell me everything. I’m afraid I was watching Elspeth, not you. So, tell me.”

  He told him the story up to when he entered the room with the eerie bottles, then he said, “Och Aye, I almost forgot.” He leaned over and pulled the small bottle from his boot. “I found this room full of these. There’s hundreds of them.” He handed the bottle to Merlin.

  “That’s what I was afraid of Ian. The room is warded, it must be. There’s empty places in that castle where I cannot penetrate. This is ether. It must belong to an Aiden Baird. We have to stop this.” Merlin opened the bottle. The mist flew out of the bottle in a stream and left the cave in a bright flash.

  “Where’s it going, Merlin.”

  “Back to who it belongs. If I’m right that fae will sort of wake up and wonder what he’s doing. His good will weigh with his bad. He’ll have memories of everything, but now he’ll think about what he’s doing before he does it.

  “If I’m correct he’ll now have a choice about his soul. He may be changed back in to what he was before they drained his ether. At least that is what I’m hoping. Finish your story Ian, so we can figure out what to do about Elspeth. Then we need to get those bottles.”

  “Doona you think he’s moved those bottles by now, Merlin? If you can move your entire dwelling in a day, how long would it take Athdar tae move a small room full of bottles? I’ve failed my mission Merlin. I’ve never failed my mission afore. I’ve failed Elspeth. God’s Merlin, I have tae get there and save her.”

  “You didn’t fail, son. You found those bottles. Now we know and have a pretty good idea how many we’re up against. We haven’t lost Elspeth. I’ll go immediately and bring her back through the portal.

  “Go Merlin, we’ll wait here. Please be quick. I have tae see her.”

  “I know Ian. I’ll return promptly.” Merlin opened a portal in Elspeth’s cell and hopped through.

  Chapter 19

  Elspeth paced her cell. Luckily, she wasn’t chained to the wall. But she was terrified. King Rulm had come to tell her what had befallen Heralth MacPherson. Ian, her Ian. She was worried about him. She pulled on her hair and paced. Before the king left, he said he wouldn’t put her in chains, because he didn’t want her body marred.

  Then he’d laughed and said he wanted to do the marring himself. She didn’t care anymore, she just wanted Ian. Her heart was breaking and with everything else that happened, she broke down in sobs. She sat on the floor and put her dirty hands on her face and cried.

  She cried for her brother, she cried for her parents, she cried for herself, but mostly she cried for Ian. He was right, her idea was a bad one. She failed and it was all her fault. “Stupid, stupid, plan!” she shouted.

  She didn’t see Merlin’s portal, or him stepping through, she was too busy feeling the pain of it all. Merlin tapped her shoulder lightly, afraid she’d scream, as it was, she jumped. “Merlin, you scared me!”

  “Well, well, well!” clapped Athdar. “Isn’t that touching.” King Rulm and Drakkor appeared, Athdar stood outside the cell bars.

  “Come! Hurry!” Merlin said. “The portal! Let’s go!”

  Athdar laughed, his evil eyes gleaming. “You aren’t going anywhere brother.” He began an incantation. Before Merlin could get her through the portal, it disappeared.

  Athdar threw up his hands, and a lightning bolt struck Merlin. Chains appeared on Merlin’s arms and legs. He collapsed, his eyes rolled back, unconscious.

  “What did you do to him!” she screamed, running and kneeling she took the old man’s head in her lap. She screamed. “I hate you! I hate you all!”

  “Hate is a very big emotion Elspeth.” Grinned Athdar. “Guards seize the old man! Leave the woman!” He turned to the king. “Anything to say?”

  “I’ll be back later, Elspeth. Alone.” They all laughed.

  Elspeth sat in the corner trying to keep from going into shock. They picked up Merlin and disappeared through a portal. She had no idea where they went. She’d never tried to heal herself before, but if nothing else she needed the warmth.

  She wrapped her arms around herself. She whispered a simple prayer to the gods. “Please, I need help.” In a few minutes, the green glow enveloped her, and she felt the surge and warmth associated with the god’s help. In a matter of moments, she felt renewed, and with determination, she stood and wiped her eyes.

  Chapter 20

  Athdar grabbed a chair, drug Merlin to it, and tied him down. He turned to Drakkor and King Rulm. “He’ll be out for a while, when he comes to I’ll be able to drain some of his ether. I don’t want to kill him yet, but I do want to learn more about The Grimoire to the Light, I need to find it.”

  “I want to go back to Elspeth,” said King Rulm. “We have unfinished business.”

  “We are trying to build an army here. Is that all you can think about. What about that Scottish bastard? Don’t you think we should find out why he was in the ether room?”

  “Did you say Scottish? Did he have long black hair? Green and black kilt? Eyes like silver?” asked Drakkor.

  “Red and black kilt. Why, do you know him?” Athdar asked. “I knew Merlin had something to do with this. I’m glad I was watching the woman. Ha! I knew it.”

  “I think the man is Ian McGregor or one of his brothers, wearing another’s colors. They work with Merlin, and they are a pain in my ass. I killed his father and twin, about a year ago. I can’t believe he escaped and on a dragon. How is that even possible?”

  “There’s a myth about dragons that I never believed. I may have to rethink that. Right now, my concern is Merlin. Aifric I’ll return you to the castle to have your fun with Elspeth. I don’t think it wise to keep her as a live play thing if you know what I mean. Have fun, then end it.”

  “But, I’ve waited years for her.”

  “Then have a lot of fun! When you’re done, end it! Drakkor keep an eye on Merlin, I’ll be back.” He opened the portal and he and the king walked through.

  Chapter 21

  It had been at least
an hour and Ian couldn’t quit pacing. Stopping he turned to Ator. “Somethings wrong, Ator. Merlin should have been right back. They have him. I ken it.”

  Ator stood with his friend. “I’m afraid you’re right,” replied Ator. “I’ve been thinking about what to do. I have an idea. It hasn’t been done in thousands of years, but I can call on the Mountain Keepers. We watch over them and they the mountain. We benefit from the berries, that which they protect.

  “We don’t misuse in the taking of the berries, therefore they grow in abundance. We feed a few to our young, for health and strength. For humans, if they consume the berries regularly, they remain young. If they could access them freely, it wouldn’t be long and they’d be all gone. Mystic Mountain is the only place they grow. So, now you know the secret, one of many the mountain holds.

  “I will call on the gargoyles to help you. I can fly you near the castle and drop you with them. They will fly beside me. They can make sure you make it to Elspeth and to safety. Call me when you get Elspeth. I’ll be nearby. I can fly you both out. Merlin too, if he’s there. But if they have him, you won’t find him.

  “There’s a portal at the top of Mystic Mountain. You can go straight to the Wesladus Veil. I could call my dragons, but too many innocents would be killed with fire, and no guarantee of entrance to the castle. The gargoyles can turn anyone or anything into granite. You can bust open granite bars.”

  “You tellin’ me them little Devils are real?”

  Ator laughed. “You will love Tepu. He’s the gargoyle’s king, but don’t let his cheery attitude fool you, he can be the meanest thing alive. I will get him and bring him here. We can tell him the story and he can get his gargoyles to help. He loves an excuse to ride a dragon. I’ll return shortly.”

  He didn’t know what to say. He was still wrapping his head around the idea of the granite devils, truly alive. He watched Ator leave and he sat on the floor. In all his hundreds of years, he could still be surprised. His thoughts were in granite, devils, Merlin, and Elspeth.

  Before he knew it, Ator appeared with two little live devils. After letting them down they turned toward Ian. “You!” said the taller of the two gargoyles. “You called us devils! I won’t help you!” The gargoyle squinted his eyes and crossed his arms.

  “I didn’t ken what you were and you got pointy tails. No harm meant by what I said.”

  “You called them devils?” asked Ator. “You never call a gargoyle a devil. They are far from it.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, meaning it. “I need help for my lady, Elspeth.”

  “The singer?” asked the smaller gargoyle, and he swooned.

  The first one said, “She has a beautiful voice. We would save her. Besides she likes us.”

  “You were lookin’ at us! I knew it!”

  “We see everything!” said the larger one. “We come alive at night mostly. Unless someone breeches the mountain. Luckily for you, you both stayed on the path.”

  Ator cleared his dragon throat. “Ian this is Tepu.” He nodded at the larger gargoyle. “This is his friend, Hermaditt.” He pointed to the shorter one.

  Their fat little bellies hung out, pointed tails swishing back and forth, funny little hair tufts, one black, one red, grizzly smiles on their faces, with narrow elfin eyes. He wanted to laugh, but held it in. “Nice tae meet you,” he said, and went to shake their hands. “If I shake your hand will I turn tae stone?”

  “Only if we want you to,” Tepu answered.

  He hesitantly shook their hands. He told them the story in short form, quickly. “Can you help my woman?”

  Tepu stood with a frown. “We can get you in there and out. We aren’t big enough to fly you, Ator will do that.”

  “Please,” he begged. “We need tae go now. You have no idea what the king will do or has done…if he touches her…I’ll kill him with my bare hands!”

  “I think Hermaditt and myself will be enough help. You know how to get to the dungeons?” Tepu asked Ian.

  Ian nodded. “Let’s go.”

  Ator wasted no time in his flight to the castle. Before he knew it, they were there. He flew past the gates and landed at the front doors. As Ian was stepping down, Tepu and Hermaditt landed softly beside them. Two guards immediately appeared, Tepu took one and Hermaditt the other. Frozen in mid yell, the first guard was instantly turned to granite.

  Other than the guards walking on the top of the walls, the courtyard was basically empty, but two other guards ran. Hermaditt instantly turned the second guard to granite. They quickly entered the castle where two more guards appeared after hearing the commotion. They too were instantly turned to stone.

  They entered an empty kitchen, and went directly to the back, where the staircase to the dungeon was. When he opened the door to the stairs, he heard the angry voice of the king screaming at Elspeth.

  “Fight me whore!” followed by a slap. From what Elspeth had told him, Ian knew this was how the king had treated the other woman. He heard Elspeth cry out, instant dread ran through his veins and he ran faster, he feared what her cries meant.

  His heart stopped. He took the stairs two at a time giving the McGregor war cry. The two gargoyles had to fly down the stairway to keep up with him. They overtook him before he reached the bars. He looked at Elspeth pinned beneath the king, her skirts torn and pulled up. She tilted her face sideways and looked at him, her eye already swelling shut. When she saw him, she smiled.

  He lost it.

  The gargoyles turned the bars to granite. “Your turn,” Tepu said. The king looked astonished, his shock freezing him in place. Ian took his sword, and with his anger behind it, hit the cell doors. They shattered to dust. The king found his footing and stood up. He reached for his sword, but it wasn’t there. Ian’s anger increased when he thought about what the king had intended for Elspeth.

  He stalked past the dust piles of what was left of the cell doors and bars. He threw his sword down and picked the king up by his neck. He saw red. He smashed the king’s face with his fist. The king was large and strong and struck back.

  He lost his grip, the king stumbled back, and moved to take up a fighting stance. “Good,” Ian said. “I’m goin’ tae beat you tae a bloody pulp, tear you from limb to limb, feed it down your gullet, and when I’m done, you’ll beg me tae kill you.” He loved a good fight and he wanted one now.

  He played with the king but made sure that when he threw a punch it hurt but did not kill him. He was damn sure he was going to make him pay before he killed him and kill him he would. He thunder-punched Rulm in swift movements alternating his fists as he wore the king down.

  He was turning black and blue. Blood flew from his broken nose, his face pulverized. He tried to scream for guards, but his mouth was a bloody mess and he could only whimper.

  When he saw Rulm beginning to pass out, he grabbed his head and forced him to meet his eyes. “Look at me if you can.” His eyes were swollen, but through narrow slits, he looked at Ian. “Remember this face. You will rue the day you touched my woman.” His voice low and menacing. His anger and hatred, steady and clear. “You see this face? Because it’s the last one you’ll ever see,” and Ian’s fangs descended.

  Rulm reared back and shook in terror. He bit down, but instead of drinking the tainted blood he ripped his throat out. Before he fell, Tepu ran in and touched the king and turned him to granite. Then Hermaditt came from behind holding Ian’s sword. Copying Ian’s war cry, in a higher pitched voice because of his size, Hermaditt swung the sword and castrated the statue.

  “There!” stated Hermaditt. “All is finished.” He dropped the sword and brushed his hands back and forth. He went straight to Elspeth, who was sobbing.

  “Did he? Did the bastard…? Els?” he asked picking her up and cradling her in his arms.

  She shook her head no. She gulped air. “He just ripped my dress and he…he…he hit me. He just hit me, but if you hadn’t come when you did…” She sobbed and put her face in Ian’s neck.

 
; With some relief, he held her tight. “I’ve got you, love. I will not let you go.” He gently held her in his arms and kissed her head. “I got you.”

  He picked up Elspeth and cradled her in his arms to carry her out past what remained of the king, the gargoyles following behind. Hermaditt stomped on what was left of the king’s appendage as he passed.

  He thought the little guy might have issues.

  They went up the steps and out the front door where guards descended on them. Ator flew down and blew fire across them, causing most guards to turn and flee in terror. Pandemonium broke out but he didn’t have time for it. He looked over at Tepu and Hermaditt. Hermaditt was busy turning any remaining guards to stone, Tepu looked up and motioned them forward, “we’ve got this, you and Elspeth make your escape!”

  He nodded and quickly carried Elspeth to Ator, who just finished blowing fire at another guard heading in their direction.

  Ator put his wing down. “Hurry Ian, get her aboard!” Quickly and as carefully as he could, he climbed aboard, resting the battered and sobbing Elspeth in his lap. She quickly buried her face in his chest, shaking. He knew she was in shock. He hugged her close to him, and once they were good and settled he noticed Hermaditt, Tepu and Ator had cleared the courtyard.

  There was no sign of Athdar, or Merlin. They obviously had taken him through a portal to a destination he couldn’t hazard to guess. He hated that thought, but right now Elspeth was his worry. He also knew Merlin would want him to take care of her first.

  Tepu and Hermaditt came gliding up. Hermaditt again brushing his hands back and forth. Aye, the little guy had issues. “Is she hurt?” asked Ator concerned.

  “Yes! She’s hurt. Nae she wasn’t violated. I need tae get her tae Wesladus.”

  Tepu spoke up. “You can use the portal atop Mystic Mountain.”

  “Good, please take us there Ator. Thank you for your help Tepu and Hermaditt. I wish it were under better circumstances.”

  “When the lady is well, please, have her come and sing for us.” Tepu bowed. Then the two gargoyles flew off toward the mountain.