The Guardian's Apprentice (Beyond the Veil)

by J. Michael Radcliffe

  Bringing her wand out from her sleeve, she flicked the tip towards Keegan and smoky black tendrils shot forth to envelope him.

  Acting on instinct and blinded by rage, Keegan brought his staff upward with a flourish, his ring still glowing white. The air around him shimmered and the advancing tendrils withered and dissipated as they contacted the unseen shield spell around him. Bringing his staff back downward with a sharp stroke, he struck the Council table a tremendous blow with the head of the staff. The sound of thunder echoed throughout the room and with a flash, the granite table was broken in half. The Council members scrambled for safety as the shockwave knocked Portia backward and hurled great pieces of granite to the floor. As the dust began to settle, Keegan remained standing in front of them, gripping his staff. His ring shone as brightly as a star and the air in the room crackled as waves of magical force ebbed and flowed through him.

  “You fool!” screamed Portia. “The Oracle will destroy you!”

  No sooner had she spoken these words than the shining orb began descending through the dust-filled air of the chamber. It hovered briefly over the remains of the council table, pulsing slightly, before coming to rest directly in front of Keegan.

  Keegan watched the crystal intently, waiting for it to incinerate him or encase him in crystal, but nothing happened. Watching the myriad patterns reflected off the crystal’s surface, he slowly became aware of a voice. The voice was distant, yet near – alone, but many. It was like a thousand whispers carried on the wind, just out of reach. Concentrating on the crystal, he listened intently. Finally, he nodded in understanding and smiled. Moving carefully, the Council members slowly advanced towards Keegan and the Oracle, unsure of what was happening. Keegan turned to Portia, who was standing a few feet from him with her wand at the ready.

  “This Council is broken. You may continue to bicker and fight amongst yourselves but you no longer speak for the rest of us. You are no longer worthy to call yourselves leaders. It is my responsibility to protect this world and stop Ducat; I am the guardian.”

  As he spoke, the Oracle began to glow brighter, forcing those in the room to shield their eyes from the glare. With a sudden flash, the light was gone and the Oracle had vanished. In its place however, appeared a shining jewel the size of a large egg, suspended on a silver chain around Keegan’s neck.

  “It’s not possible!” Portia gasped, as she pointed at the jewel in disbelief.

  “Of course it’s possible,” smiled Keegan. “It’s magic.”

  Turning on his heel, he walked away from the shattered remains of the Council table. Gesturing towards Acamar, he raised his staff and a portal opened. Almost as powerful as the one he had seen his grandfather conjure, it encompassed both wizards and took them home, leaving the Portia and her supporters standing in darkness.

  ###

  Chapter 35 – Destiny

  The air in the study crackled with energy as Keegan’s portal snapped open, disgorging him and Acamar in a heap on the floor.

  “Ow! Get OFF me!” snapped Acamar at Keegan, who had landed on top of the older wizard.

  “Sorry!” said Keegan as he scrambled to get up. He extended his hand to Acamar and helped him up before setting his staff against the bookcase.

  “What in the name of the Ancients did you do back there?! Or perhaps I should ask how you did what you did! You’ve struggled for weeks to learn a basic shield spell that can’t even repel a half-powered stinger, and yet back there you managed to block an attack by one of the more powerful witches I’ve ever known?”

  Keegan had never seen Acamar this agitated before; the man was pacing back and forth across the study like a caged tiger.

  “I don’t know exactly what happened, Acamar,” said Keegan with a shrug of his shoulders. “I was furious at what they were trying to do. My grandfather saved them all, but none of them gives a damn – they just want power for themselves. Everything became so clear; I just knew what I had to do. I could feel the energy swirling about me and I just told it what to do, sort of…”

  “Sort of? You shatter a thousand-year old granite table, confront a group of spellcasters who have been practicing magic since before you were born, and your explanation is that you ‘sort of’ told the magic what to do? Incredible!” Acamar shook his head in disbelief. Looking at Keegan, he gestured at the Oracle-jewel hanging around the boy’s neck. “And what about that? The Oracle should have incinerated you! What happened to you when you were just staring at it?”

  Keegan shook his head as if he were trying to shake off cobwebs.

  “I don’t know, exactly, Acamar. It spoke to me; at least I think it did. It was like a thousand voices, all whispering to me at the same time.”

  Acamar’s eyebrows looked like they were trying to crawl up his forehead as he leaned against the desk and stared at Keegan.

  “And just what did these voices say to you?”

  “The time of the Council is at an end. You alone will seal the rift.”

  “Well, by ‘rift’ I assume they meant the Great Seal that was opened by Ducat,” mused Acamar.

  “Acamar?”

  “Yes, Keegan?”

  “There was one more thing,” he said cautiously.

  “Yes?”

  “I think I heard my grandfather’s voice when the Oracle spoke to me. I can’t be sure, but I could swear I caught his voice mixed in with the others.”

  Acamar, who didn’t say anything at first, just furrowed his brow and stared at the rug. After a few moments of pondering, he finally spoke.

  “It is possible, I suppose. No one really understands the nature of the Oracle, nor do we fully understand the nether-regions beyond the gateway. Although I assumed your grandfather was killed in the shockwave that sealed the gateway, perhaps it is possible he still exists in some form on the other side.”

  “So, what do we do next?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know just yet,” sighed Acamar. “None can enter Pahret T’pur now unless we wish it. Not even the most powerful of the Council members can break the wards that guard us here.”

  “Then why fear Ducat? Surely he alone can’t break the wards either, can he?”

  “He alone, probably not. However, if he is truly a servant of the Shadow, then his powers are likely far beyond what they once were. There is also the matter of Brimstone, the rogue dragon that is still on the loose.” Acamar paced over to the balcony, crossing his arms and looking out across the valley. “If Ducat has command of the dragon, things become even more complicated.”

  Keegan put his head in his hands. It all seemed so hopeless! Things were so much clearer back in the Council chambers when his anger overtook him. He had known instinctively what must be done and had seized upon it. Now that he had time to consider the possibilities, it seemed impossible. They had to track down and stop Ducat, find a way to banish the Shadow and finally, find and capture a rogue dragon!

  “You should rest for today, Keegan. We shall begin our search for Ducat tomorrow. I’m sure you are exhausted after our confrontation with the Council,” said Acamar, who had walked over and placed his hand on Keegan’s shoulder. “I must tend to the Blackstar and check the Veil for signs of disturbance. If you need me, use the summoning charm I taught you.” Smiling sadly at him, Acamar turned and left the room, leaving Keegan to be alone with his thoughts.

  ***

  Keegan watched the study door close as Acamar left the room. A few moments after hearing the soft snick of the latch, he hurried over to the door and tried to remember the locking charm he had learned a few days ago. Sketching the glyph in the air around the doorknob, he muttered what he hoped was the right incantation. As he traced the lines in the air they began to shimmer slightly and he was rewarded as the door shuddered ever so slightly and the glyph wrapped itself around the handle and disappeared. Moving quickly to the bookshelves behind the desk, he extracted a large leather-bound volume entitled “The War of the Shadow,” laid it open on the desk, and began to read. Keega
n knew that he must find and neutralize Ducat quickly, rather than wait for him to come out of hiding. He scanned the book for any reference to the Great Seal that Ducat had opened and was soon rewarded when he found the following entry:

  …After the construction of the first portal at Pahret T’Pur, the leader of the Black Order decreed that a second gateway should be built that was outside the control of the Guardian. This portal would be assembled at Talith Nor, a stronghold in the far north that lay deep in the heart of the territory controlled by the dragons.

  “Talith Nor; that has to be the place. But how do I find it?”

  “You could ask someone who has been there before,” came the voice of Nekk’ar in Keegan’s mind.

  “You?” he thought back.

  “Hmph. I lived for centuries before you were born, youngling. There are few places on this world that I have not been.”

  “Then how do I find Talith Nor?”

  “I could guide you, but by foot the journey would take far too long, and you would be discovered before you reached the mountains.”

  “What about teleporting? I could open a portal, couldn’t I?”

  “Not directly, no. There are wards there similar to the ones that guard this citadel. Only the most powerful of wizards could breach them. You will need a key.”

  Keegan was getting tired of this banter. The dragon spirit enjoyed toying with him, and did not like to volunteer too much information at once.

  “And where do I get this key?” thought Keegan with a distinct edge in his mind’s voice.

  “Why, from the owner, of course,” chuckled Nekk’ar, enjoying his game.

  “Wait a minute!” cried Keegan aloud. “The book said Talith Nor was constructed by the head of the Black Order! That means Master Thornback has the key, doesn’t it?”

  “That is correct, young one. You will find the key ensconced in a place of honor in Cedric’s study. All you need do is go to his chambers in the capital, collect the key, and go to the main portal gateway. When you place the key in the portal stone, it will allow you to pass safely to Talith Nor.”

  “You make it all sound so easy.”

  “I make what sound so easy, dear?” quipped a female voice from behind him.

  Startled by the nearness of the voice, Keegan very nearly fell out of the chair. He spun around to see Mrs. Hoskins smiling at him, a mischievous twinkle dancing in her eyes.

  “Um, nothing. Nothing at all Mrs. Hoskins – I was just talking to myself,” he stammered, trying to regain his composure.

  “If you say so, dear,” she said, still smiling as she bustled about the room tidying up. She paused just for a moment and looked Keegan directly in the eye. “Now, you’d best be off, before Whiskers gets wind of what you’re up to.”

  “What? But… I’m not up to anything – I was just reading through this history…”

  “Now, young Master, I’ve been caretaker here far longer than most would believe. I’ve seen a great many things in this lifetime, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that a wizard doesn’t use a lock-charm unless they don’t want anyone to know what they’re up to.”

  “But…”

  Mrs. Hoskins held up her hand, silencing Keegan. She shook her head and frowned.

  “Now, that’s enough, young Master. You know as well as I what must be done, and you also know that Whiskers won’t like it, so I suggest you be off.”

  Keegan nodded solemnly and closed the book on the desk. Rising from his chair, he took up his staff. Before he could go, however, Mrs. Hoskins handed him a small black tablet of stone, about the size of a playing card.

  “What’s this?”

  “A runestone, dear. It contains a map of the Council chambers, including the private offices of each member. It might come in handy someday, should you ever need to locate one of the Council members,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “Just say erkennen to activate it and skjule to clear it.”

  “I can’t thank you enough, Mrs. Hoskins.”

  She nodded and smiled warmly at him, and then returned to her chores. Keegan pointed his staff at the wall and opened a portal that would take him to the Council chambers once more.

  ###

  Chapter 36 – A Thief in the Night

  Keegan’s portal snapped open in the main courtyard, disgorging him in a heap. Although he was beginning to master opening portals, he really needed to work on landings. He picked himself up and dusted off his robes, looking around to see if anyone had noticed his abrupt arrival. At the moment, the courtyard was empty, but he knew his arrival would probably not go unnoticed for long. He quickly made his way through the archway into the main building and found a secluded corner behind a large statue of a rather severe looking wizard, its arm reaching upward towards something unseen in the heavens. He settled down to wait until nightfall, although the castle was largely deserted already. The breaking of the Council had become the news of the day, and word had traveled quickly throughout the magical world. The members of the Order of White had pledged their support to the Guardian, much to Keegan’s relief. The Gray and Black Orders, however, had fractured. Many of the Gray had fled to the relative safety of their homes, however many had openly allied themselves with the Black, sensing an opportunity to seize more power for their Order. Portia’s command of the Black Order had widened, as she had incinerated several of Cedric’s more vocal supporters on the spot. Since no one had seen Cedric in some time, he was presumed to be captive or worse.

  As night began to fall, Keegan noticed the red wisps coming to life around the courtyard outside, and pale golden ones lining the inside hallways. Taking out the runestone, he muttered ‘erkennen’ and a silvery map sketched itself along the obsidian surface of the tablet. Peering closely at the stone, he noticed a tiny silver arrow blinking at what he presumed to be his position on the map. Keegan was scanning the map for some indication of Cedric’s chambers when he noticed a set of dotted lines flowing outward from the arrow symbol. They were apparently blinking in the direction he needed to go. He grinned and whispered a silent thanks to Mrs. Hoskins – he did not know how she knew his plan and right now, he did not care.

  The journey to Cedric’s chambers was uneventful as most of the castle was deserted. Keegan approached the door warily; unsure if anyone was inside, he edged closer until he noticed that the door was ajar. He peered carefully through the opening, but the room appeared to be deserted. Carefully he eased into them room, shutting the door behind him. Pocketing the runestone, he began searching the room for the key to Talith Nor. Moving beyond the first room, he entered the study where Cedric’s desk was – surely something as important as the key to Talith Nor would be kept close at hand. Keegan glanced at the desk and was about to move to the bookshelf behind it when he noticed something odd. A small, crystal orb the size of a tennis ball was sitting in the middle of the desk – which he thought was just a paperweight until he noticed a faint shimmer surrounding it. After picking it up for a closer look, he noticed that it was warm to the touch and there appeared to be something suspended inside. Moving closer to the wisp hovering above the desk, he held the sphere up to the light and saw the tiny black shape of a raven!

  Oh no! They’ve trapped Nisha!

  He knew he had to free her from the orb, but had no idea how. He turned the sphere over and over in his hands while he thought.

  “Would you stop it? I’m getting dizzy!”

  Keegan very nearly dropped the sphere in surprise. Bringing the crystal close to his face, he whispered as quietly as possible, for fear someone would hear him.

  “Nisha? Is that you?”

  “Yes, it’s me! Who else do you think it is? Now get me out of here!”

  “But, how can I hear you? You’re encased in crystal!”

  “I can communicate with someone if they are holding the orb,” she said in an exasperated tone. “Now would you please get me out of here?”

  “How? You’re encased in solid crystal!”

&n
bsp; “You mean to tell me you single handedly destroyed the Council chambers and faced down Portia Nightshade, but you can’t break a hex?!”

  Keegan sighed and shrugged his shoulders. How could he explain something that he himself did not understand?

  “Look, it’s a long story…”

  “Do I look like I’m going anywhere?”

  “Nisha, I don’t have much time! I have to find the key to Talith Nor and use it to open a portal, so I can close the great seal.”

  “WHAT? ARE YOU INSANE?”

  Keegan winced at the sharpness of her words.

  “Keegan! Listen to me – what you are attempting to do is suicide! Even Cedric wouldn’t go anywhere near Talith Nor once we learned of the return of the Shadow.”

  “I have to do this, Nisha,” he said firmly. “It’s my duty as the Guardian to protect this world; I have to close the seal.”

  Nisha did not respond for a few moments, and Keegan thought their connection had somehow been lost until she finally spoke again, quietly.

  “There is an obsidian gargoyle in the corner, near the bookcase. Use your thumbs to press the rubies in his eyes at the same time.”

  Moving over to the gargoyle, Keegan pressed his thumbs into the rubies that were the gargoyle’s eyes. He pressed firmly and after a few seconds heard the snick of a latch being released. He pulled his hands back and watched as the beast’s mouth began opening wider and its black stone tongue slid silently outward. Once the mouth had stopped opening Keegan could see a glint of silver at the back of the gargoyle’s throat. Holding Nisha’s orb in his left hand, Keegan pushed up the sleeve of his robe and reached his right hand into the beast’s mouth until he felt a small piece of metal. He was about to pull the key out when Nisha’s voice pierced his mind like a sharp knife.

  “KEEGAN! STOP!”

  Keegan was so startled that he dropped Nisha’s orb, which came to rest a few feet away. He was about to pull his hand from the gargoyle’s mouth and retrieve Nisha when he felt a sharp pain in the back of his wrist, like a needle being pressed into the skin. Afraid of what might happen, he froze in place, his hand still clutching the key in the back of the gargoyle’s throat.