Keeper of the Realms: Crow's Revenge (Book 1)

by Marcus Alexander

  ‘While you are not by my side I have arranged for Sic Boy to act as your bodyguard until Nibbler returns from Alavis and Alacorn. You will be quite safe.’

  ‘When will I see you again?’ she asked.

  ‘Oh, not to worry – you will see me every day. I will expect you at my house no later than eight o’ the clock each morning. You have much to learn about your heritage, young Keeper, so your mornings will be spent with me for tuition, and the afternoons are yours to enjoy with those two rascals Jensen and Kelko. Then you will spend your nights in Willow Tower with Salixia, Jensen and Sic Boy.’

  ‘What will you be doing in the afternoons?’

  ‘I shall be playing the political game. I must warn as many of the councillors about Narcissa’s treachery as possible. It is vital that I prevent the rot from spreading across the Jade Circle. If I can stop Narcissa from turning too many of the councillors towards Bane, then perhaps Sylvaris can survive. If not …’

  ‘What? Do you think that Narcissa could really damage Sylvaris?’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ Azariah admitted as they crossed a narrow walkway. ‘She is a most formidable opponent and if she is left unchecked she could cause real harm to this city. And with Bane involved, who knows how far or how quickly that could spread. I simply cannot allow it.’

  Charlie fell quiet as she mused over Azariah’s words. The two of them continued in a thoughtful silence as they proceeded through Sylvaris. Reaching the Willow Tower, Azariah lifted the heavy knocker and pounded on the door.

  ‘Bless me Sap!’ exclaimed Jensen when he opened the door. A wide grin spread across his face. ‘Charlie, ya look great. Cor! Just look at yer new clothes. Now ya really look like a Keeper.’

  Charlie blushed shyly at his words. ‘Thanks, Jensen. Azariah bought them for me. As a reward for all my hard work.’

  ‘Well, he’s got a great eye when it comes ta buying clothes!’ said Jensen. Throwing an arm over Charlie’s shoulder, he pulled her aside. ‘Er … ya haven’t told anyone else about the incident in the bathroom, have ya?’

  ‘What bathroom incident would that be?’ asked Charlie teasingly.

  ‘Ya know!’ groaned Jensen. He threw a hasty look over his shoulder to make sure no one else was listening. ‘The one with the Portal …’

  Charlie chuckled loudly, she couldn’t help it. ‘Don’t worry, Jensen, I promise not to tell anyone else that you like to relax with bath salts, girlie bubbles, orchid leaves or … that you own a little rubber duckie!’

  Azariah snorted in the background, but when Jensen spun around to confront him the old Keeper appeared to be examining one of the cherry trees that grew along the side of the small entrance bridge. Frowning, Jensen turned back to Charlie.

  ‘Well, ya know, I find it relaxing. Helps me focus me mind, so I can really concentrate on important matters. Running me company, especially in these troubled times, is no easy matter.’

  ‘Oh, sure.’

  ‘And the bath salts, they’re really for me aching back, soothe me muscles something wonderful.’

  ‘Hhmm. Sure.’

  ‘And the orchids clear me sinuses out.’

  ‘Oh, of course,’ sniggered Charlie. ‘And the rubber duck?’

  Azariah snorted much louder, but when Jensen furiously snapped his head round the bearded Keeper had his nose pressed firmly into the cherry blossom and was obviously enjoying the scent. Jensen threw him a suspicious look before slowly turning his attention back to Charlie.

  ‘The duck?’ said Jensen with a perfectly innocent look. ‘I never saw a duck. Perhaps it was yer imagination?’

  ‘Oh no,’ insisted Charlie. ‘I’m quite sure I saw a little yellow duck.’

  ‘Nah, surely it must have been yer fancy that saw it. I reckon Azariah must have been overworking ya too much.’ Jensen blushed. ‘I’d never keep a rubber duck in m–’

  ‘I hate to interrupt,’ said Azariah, appearing beside them, ‘but I don’t have time to hang around all day and listen to you two squabble about whether or not there was a duck in your bath. Jensen of the Willow, I must be off about my business. I leave Charlie Keeper in your care and I shall expect her at my door no later than eight o’clock tomorrow. Furthermore, I look forward to seeing her safe and well.’

  ‘You can count on that,’ said Jensen.

  With a final nod for Charlie, Azariah strode off.

  Before Jensen could close the door, a familiar voice shouted out, ‘Hey, Charlie!’

  Charlie and Jensen turned to find Kelko strolling up the bridge towards them. Sic Boy ambled along by his side with a huge bone in his mouth.

  ‘Hi, blossom, how ya doing?’ Kelko smiled and gave Charlie a big hug. ‘Methinks the time has come for me ta show ya around.’

  Sic Boy nuzzled his head beneath Charlie’s armpit and rumbled a low growl as a way of greeting. Charlie absentmindedly scratched him behind his huge ears.

  ‘That’ll leave Jensen some time ta sort out his business and then in the evening we’ll both take ya for some K’Changa practice. Wotcha say?’

  ‘What do I say?’ Charlie grinned in delight. ‘Sounds like a deal to me!’ After the morning’s hard work with Azariah, she was looking forward to a fun afternoon. ‘Lead on!’

  47

  A Conversation with Constantina

  ‘Yes, Mother, what do you want?’ asked Constantina sulkily. ‘I hope it’s important, because you know how much I dislike stopping in the middle of K’Changa practice. And did you have to bring Stones?’ she complained, staring at the Stoman. ‘Couldn’t you have sent a footman to get me? It’s just so embarrassing to see that clumsy oaf stomp all over the playing field.’

  Lady Narcissa sighed. She was very proud of her daughter, but sometimes she wondered if she overindulged her. Perhaps she should cut back on her allowance for a bit. Maybe if she went without clothes-shopping for a week or two she might develop some proper manners.

  ‘Do I really need to remind you that Stones is your brother? Don’t you think you should show him some more respect?’

  ‘He’s not my real brother,’ replied Constantina with a grimace.

  ‘That may be true, but nevertheless he is still family and I expect you to treat him accordingly.’

  ‘I’ll think about it,’ said Constantina, and stuck her nose up in the air to show she had no real intention of following her mother’s suggestion.

  Narcissa rubbed at her forehead. How could it possibly be that plotting to overthrow the Jade Circle was far easier than managing her own family? ‘We shall talk about you and your brothers later.’ Narcissa frowned. ‘Now tell me, have you heard about a young girl called Charlie Keeper?’

  ‘Wasn’t she the one who stayed at our tower while I was visiting Alavis? The one who drugged Stix and painted his face like a clown?’

  The corner of Narcissa’s mouth twitched in irritation at the memory. ‘That’s right.’

  ‘Well, there have been some rumours floating around at school. I’ve heard she’s half royalty and is engaged to marry a Winged One. Oh, and she’s supposed to be working with the Jade Circle to destroy Bane. Is this true, Mother?’

  Narcissa rolled her eyes. How was it that simple facts always got twisted into such wild tales?

  ‘Well, is it, Mother? Is it true?’

  ‘Not quite, Constantina. Close but not quite. Charlie Keeper is a wilful brat who is not even slightly royal. Although she has the acquaintance of a young Hatchling, she isn’t, I believe, engaged to a Winged One.’

  Constanina shrugged. ‘How disappointing.’

  Narcissa continued. ‘However, you are right about her working with the Jade Circle. She carries a pendant from the Winged Ones that supposedly holds the key to stopping Bane’s attack on Bellania. The necklace is what makes her so special.’

  ‘But she’s the same Charlie who burned our roof and drugged Stix?’

  ‘Yes, one and the same.’

  ‘Well, if she’s supposed to be the one who’s going to save us from the
Western Menace, how come she caused so much trouble here?’

  ‘How? Because she’s a dangerous, evil-minded brat! She’s a manipulative, scheming little spider and she has somehow managed to trick the Jade Circle into thinking that she is the most suitable candidate to use the pendant against Bane. I, however, think that there’s someone closer to home who could do a better job. Someone who could rise high enough to become the hero that Sylvaris so desperately needs.’

  ‘Who?’ asked Constantina breathlessly.

  ‘Why, my dear, I would have thought that you would prove to be a perfect candidate,’ suggested Narcissa.

  ‘Me? Really, do you think so?’ gushed Constantina. ‘Do you think I could be … Well, hang on, of course I could! Now that I think about it, I can see that you’re absolutely right, Mother! I should be the one who holds the pendant. It should definitely be someone from our family who leads Sylvaris forward. After all, we are the most prestigious Human family in this city, not the Keepers.’

  ‘That’s my girl!’ Narcissa smiled. Her face shone with beauty, yet deep within her eyes something nasty glittered as she watched her plans begin to unfold.

  ‘But how are we going to get the pendant?’

  ‘How? Well, my dear, that is a very good question. Now, let me tell you …’

  48

  The Challenge

  ‘All right, then, lass, enough of the touristy stuff,’ said Kelko as the evening approached. ‘Methinks it’s time ta see something that’s a bit more special.’

  ‘Kelko, everything I’ve seen so far has been special. All these sights that you’ve shown me … Well, I’ve never seen anything like it before, ever!’

  Charlie’s head was still spinning. Kelko, with Sic Boy at his side, had been taking great delight in showing her around the city. It felt like she’d explored every last inch of Sylvaris. She’d seen the Great Bazaar, where almost every imaginable item was for sale or trade. Even some unimaginable items were there too, like the Lacquer Tea Step, a tool for making tea that doubled as a footstool, or the Spiral Telescope Picker, which allowed star-gazers to watch the night skies and discreetly pick their nose at the same time.

  She’d been to the Whispering Heights – Sylvaris’s tallest buildings, which made mournful sounds when the strong southern wind blew – and she’d walked through the Vanilla Orchid Fields. She’d applauded the daring acts of the street acrobats and trapeze artists who busked for money along the Crooked Silver Bridge and she’d even admired the great piles of teeth that were on display in the shop windows down Dentist Street.

  In fact, every corner that she turned seemed to hold some new surprise. Every building or street or square or bridge that she visited promised something strange or exotic. Charlie had to admit that she was falling in love with the Treman city.

  ‘Yeah, well, if ya thought everything else was special, then dis is really gonna blow yer mind,’ said Kelko with a wide grin. ‘Blossom, hold on ta yer little cotton socks as I now present ta ya … Hold on, shut yer eyes while I lead ya around dis corner, ready? OK, open yer eyes and behold! The Colosseum – home of K’Changa!’

  Charlie’s eyes boggled as she took in the view. The Colosseum was a huge open-air affair similar to the ancient Roman arenas on Earth. With the last glimpse of the sun setting behind it, it appeared magnificent.

  The Colosseum was heaving with people and the noise was almost deafening. Bubbling cheers, catcalls and raucous shouts washed over Charlie as the trio entered. Blazing torches lit both the stadium and the darkening sky. Thick smells and spicy scents from Tremen snack food wafted across the air. She could hear the hawking cries of vendors selling their food, yelling and calling at the tops of their voices so that they could be heard above the mass of cheering spectators.

  ‘Here,’ said Kelko as he paid one of the enthusiastic vendors. ‘Try these Gingered Snugglegruffs, and these little beauties are Candied Thistleloves. Ya’ll love ’em!’

  Charlie took the sweets with a grin. She couldn’t help but be caught up in the excitement of the place.

  ‘Now then, let’s see about getting us some seats.’ Kelko turned to Sic Boy. ‘All right, boy, seats! Seats!’

  Sic Boy got the message. Using his raw muscle as a battering ram, the dog forced his way down through the stands right to the very front of the Colosseum. Kelko and Charlie simply followed after. Some of the fans wanted to protest, but when they saw the sheer size and brutal appearance of the dog they swiftly changed their minds.

  ‘Righto, we’ll sit here. These seats are reserved especially for the Jade Circle, but I reckon they won’t mind if we take advantage of ’em!’

  A huge cheer swept the crowd as the action within the arena intensified. The pounding drums and the rhythm from the band swelled as the K’Changa players battled for the Zephyr and then, with a final, intense flurry of limbs, the game was over. The crowd went wild and the winner was waving his hands in jubilation, a thick grin plastered over his face.

  Charlie loved every minute. The sheer spectacle of it all, the crowd, the music and the exhilaration of the game. It was, without a shred of doubt, the most awesome thing she had ever seen, and it made her want to practise her own K’Changa moves even more.

  ‘Ha! Wot a match, but don’t ya worry, blossom, there’s more ta come yet. There’s a team game, an honour match and let’s not forget the Fleet-Foot Title match. Oh yeah, we picked the right night ta see the games!’

  Charlie sat on the edge of her seat for the rest of the evening as excitement gripped her and held her fast. Match after match passed before her eyes, each more spectacular than the previous. The crowd around her became wilder as time went by until the stadium was awash in a non-stop wave of noise. And then quite suddenly a hush settled across the crowd. A lone contestant had entered the arena and was impatiently awaiting the arrival of her opponent. The teenage Treman girl, standing in the centre of the Colosseum, put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot in agitation. For several minutes she stood there while the crowd waited in expectant silence.

  ‘What’s happening?’ asked Charlie. ‘Why hasn’t the other player turned up?’

  ‘It’s the champion,’ whispered Kelko. ‘She’s something of a show-off. She always likes ta make a grand entrance.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘You should probably know that she’s Lady Narcissa’s daughter, Constantina.’

  Charlie raised her eyebrows. ‘Yeah? I never got to meet her. Is she as bad as the rest of her rotten family?’

  ‘Ta be honest, I’m not too sure. I’ve never talked ta the lass so I couldn’t form an honest opinion,’ mused Kelko. ‘She seems all right. And she’s real popular with all the K’Changa fans, but I guess that doesn’t mean anything. After all, Lady Narcissa is well loved, but we know she’s a real nasty piece of work when ya get down ta it.’

  ‘So how come Constantina’s the champion?’ asked Charlie, her brow wrinkling in puzzlement. ‘I thought all you Tremen were supposed to be the best?’

  ‘Yeah, well, we are. But that doesn’t mean other races can’t play and it doesn’t mean that others can’t become great as well. I mean, just look at ya, playing for a matter o’ days and ya already stole the Zephyr from me and Jensen!’

  A commotion from behind them had people turning in their seats and pointing. A low rumble from the crowd soon grew to a shouting crescendo. All of a sudden, there was their champion, descending through the stands. The mass of spectators broke like a wave to let her pass and down she swept, head held high and dressed in white silken finery. A purple cloak flowed from her shoulders and diamonds glittered in her ears. Down the long bank of seats she came, with all the grandeur and pomp of a princess.

  Charlie groaned when she realized Constantina was headed straight for her and Kelko. ‘Well, if it isn’t the little Keeper who everyone has been talking about. My, my, you are small, aren’t you?’ Constantina leaned forward and hissed in her ear. ‘And to think that the fate of Bellania could possibly lie in your hands …’ She squinted at
Charlie’s pendant. ‘Or even around your neck.’ She smiled to the attentive crowd. ‘Well, I’d love to hang around and talk,’ she announced loudly, ‘but my audience awaits and I can’t keep my opponent waiting all day, now can I?’ With a toss of her head and a final sneer, the champion turned her back on Charlie and strode into the arena. The fans cheered and chanted her name as she sauntered over to face her challenger.

  Sic Boy growled deep and low in his throat. He obviously didn’t like Narcissa’s toffee-nosed daughter and if Charlie was honest, neither did she. She couldn’t believe how rude the girl was and she couldn’t have been that much older than her – sixteen or seventeen at the most. All of Charlie’s previous excitement and great expectations for the night evaporated. Meeting Narcissa’s daughter had left her with a sour taste in her mouth. She wriggled uncomfortably in her seat while she waited for the outcome of the match.

  As it turned out, she didn’t have long to wait. Constantina quickly trounced her opponent and once again the crowd went wild. Narcissa’s daughter, victorious and overjoyed by her easy win, raised her arms in a bid for silence. The crowd was only too willing to please their beautiful champion.

  ‘Tremen, Humans, Stomen, my fellow lovers of K’Changa,’ she called out, her voice swollen with pride. ‘Once again I have bested those who you send to me. Have I not proved time and time again my skill, my prowess? Am I not rightfully your champion?’

  The crowd roared its agreement.

  ‘Is there any better than me?’

  This time the crowd howled out a throaty, ‘No!’

  ‘And in this time of trouble and uncertainty, when the Western Menace grows near, do we not need all the champions we can get?’

  ‘Yes!’ cheered the crowd.

  Charlie turned to Kelko. She didn’t like the way Constantina was leading the crowd along. ‘Kelko, what’s going on?’

  ‘I’m not sure, blossom,’ said Kelko, worry causing his brow to furrow. ‘Trouble by the looks of things.’