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

by Marcus Alexander

  ‘Very well, then,’ cried Constantina. ‘As I’m sure you all know, there is a new Keeper in town. Charlie Keeper,’ she added, pointing directly to her.

  Charlie felt thousands of eyes drawn to her.

  ‘My fellow Sylvarisians, you need to know that she holds the fate of Bellania around her neck. The pendant she wears is a gift from the Winged Ones. They say it is a secret weapon that might stop the Western Menace in his tracks! But Charlie Keeper herself is under threat from Bane and draws his unwanted attention towards our fair city.’ She paused to let the information sink in.

  Kelko instinctively stood closer to his friend. Charlie took the opportunity to discreetly tuck the pendant out of sight.

  Constantina’s green eyes glinted. ‘But is this Keeper not too young for the task? Is she not too inexperienced for the rocky road that lies ahead?’ The crowd was totally silent now, listening to what their champion was saying. ‘May I suggest that another take up the task of keeping Sylvaris safe from the Western Menace? May I suggest that another take up the pendant? Someone with more experience. Someone more capable of defending our way of life. My friends, my people, my fellow citizens of Sylvaris, I humbly offer myself up for the task. What say you? Am I worthy?’

  Kelko turned to Charlie in shock.

  As one, the crowd roared out its reply, the gigantic cry of consent shaking the stands. ‘Yes! Yes! Constantina! Constantina for Sylvaris! Constantina for Sylvaris!’

  49

  Confrontations

  The flock of crows beat their way through the air. Growing hungry, they angled down towards the Great Plains that lay below. Flying lower, they spotted a small herd of deer led by a proud stag with heavy antlers.

  Descending in a wall of black feathers, the crows dropped upon the terrified stag. Sinking their talons into its soft fur, the mass of birds hauled their wriggling catch into the sky. Then, feeding piranha-like upon the bleating and still-struggling stag, they continued their hurried pace

  ‘What’s her problem?’ snapped Charlie furiously. ‘Is she mad? This pendant is mine! My parents gave it to me. She’s got to be crazy if she thinks I’m gonna give it up!’

  ‘Er …’ said Kelko as he nervously patted his stomach. Constantina was strutting across the arena towards the two of them. ‘Er, this doesn’t look good, blossom, not good at all.’

  Striding up the steps into the stand, Constantina shouted out to the crowd, ‘Sylvaris! People of Sylvaris! Will you bear witness to my request?’

  ‘Yes!’ roared out a thousand delighted voices. ‘Yes!’

  Leaning over towards Charlie, Constantina whispered, ‘Sweeten up, buttercup! Time to make way for someone who knows what they’re doing!’

  Charlie quite firmly resisted the urge to push the arrogant girl back down the steps of the stand.

  Aloud, and for the benefit of the crowd, Constantina called out, ‘Charlie Keeper, do you relinquish your pendant to me, Sylvaris’s K’Changa champion, in this, our greatest hour of need, to be used for the saving of our way of life?’

  Charlie stared at her in amazement. Surely this couldn’t be happening? Aware that thousands of eyes were staring at her, awaiting her response, she blushed a deep, deep crimson. ‘Kelko!’ she whispered. ‘What should I say?’

  ‘Tell her, “Blight me Leaf, but you can jabber off home!”’

  Charlie rolled her eyes. That wasn’t the most ladylike response. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stand up in front of the crowd and voice her reply. ‘No! You can’t have it. Didn’t anyone teach you it’s not right to ask for what isn’t yours?’

  Like some giant beast, the crowd groaned and muttered its disapproval. Charlie could practically feel their displeasure pressing down on her like an oppressive burden. She blushed an even deeper shade of red, but an angry spark began to burn within her heart. Who were these people to judge her? They didn’t know what she’d been through. What she’d already sacrificed to help Bellania. Straightening her back, Charlie stood even taller and addressed the crowd.

  ‘Sylvaris, I’m sorry but no, you may not have this pendant! It is mine, given to me by my parents, and it is all that I have to remember them by. This is the very last shred of contact between me and them so, Constantina –’ Charlie took a very big breath before continuing – ‘you can Blight me Leaf and jabber off home!’

  There was a shocked moment of silence before the Colosseum erupted into a cascading wall of noise as half the crowd roared in laughter while the other half booed out its anger. Kelko laughed so hard he actually fell off his seat. With one shaking finger, he pointed at Constantina’s disbelieving face. She looked like she’d been slapped by a wet fish.

  ‘What?’ whispered Charlie. ‘That was the right thing to say, wasn’t it?’

  Kelko’s stomach was wobbling so hard it threatened to break the buttons on his leather shirt.

  ‘What? Why’s half the crowd laughing? That’s what you suggested I should say, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yup, yer right, I did suggest it. I just didn’t think ya would actually say it, at least not in public! Oh, Charlie, lass, ya were excellent … Just look at her face! It’s the best thing I’ve seen all year. No one’s ever dared talk ta her like that – even her own mother – and ta say that in front of the Colosseum crowd … ha!’

  Constantina, having got a firm grip upon her dignity, raised her arms for silence. The crowd grew quiet.

  ‘Charlie Keeper, for your rudeness and failure to support Sylvaris in its hour of need I formally challenge you to a Silent Duel!’

  ‘Burn me Sap!’ muttered Kelko.

  ‘I don’t care what you challenge me to, you chump!’ retorted Charlie. ‘Feel free to challenge me until your face turns blue for all I care. I’m not here to play games with spoilt brats and I’m certainly not planning on being here long enough to get into any fights. Blow your big mouth off all you want, but the answer’s still gonna be no!’

  ‘Er, Charlie,’ said Kelko, leaning in. ‘Constantina’s the K’Changa champion and she’s just challenged ya ta a Silent Duel. Ya’ve got no choice but ta accept. If ya don’t ya will forfeit all yer rights … Even the right ta be called “Keeper”!’

  ‘What? But that’s rubbish. I’m not even from here … I don’t have to follow any of your rules!’

  ‘Blossom, yer a Keeper. Yer family is just as bound by these rules as is anyone who steps inta Sylvaris.’

  Charlie pulled a face. ‘What is a Silent Duel anyway?’

  ‘It’s a game of K’Changa, but with a more drastic outcome. The challengers traditionally play at the full moon.’ He thought for a moment. ‘The next one coincides with the Three Winds Festival. The loser either submits ta the winner’s demands or spends a year banished ta the Halls of Eternal Echoes.’

  ‘Halls of Eternal Echoes?’

  ‘It’s a blooming big cave beneath Sylvaris with no light, no heat and they don’t serve breakfast in bed.’

  ‘A whole year stuck in a cave! Isn’t that a bit drastic?’

  ‘Yup, but it’s traditional!’

  ‘So I’ve got the choice of either giving her my pendant or going crazy in a damp cave?’

  ‘Er, yeah,’ said Kelko uncomfortably. ‘Well, there is one other option,’ he added.

  Charlie gave a bleak smile as she stared over at Constantina. ‘Yeah, I know … beat her at K’Changa.’

  Constantina spoke to the crowd. ‘Sylvarisians, not only is she rude, she’s a coward. As she has denied her right to accept the challenge, I formally lay claim to the pendant that will save Bellania, as is my right.’ The raven-haired girl made to approach Charlie.

  ‘Wait!’ shouted Charlie. Giving Kelko a strangled look, she continued, her voice hoarse with anger and determination. ‘If you want to play it like that, fine. I might not be from around here and your laws might be strange to me, but if that’s what you want you’ve got it. And even though I didn’t ask for this, I’m going to wipe that smug look from your dumb face if it’s
the last thing I do!’

  The crowd roared out its delight. There hadn’t been a Silent Duel for years; this year’s Three Winds Festival would certainly be something to remember.

  50

  Words of Encouragement

  ‘She what?’ growled Azariah with a furious frown. ‘Kelko, by the Seven Heavens and the Seven Hells, how could you let this happen? You were supposed to be looking after her, not getting her into more trouble!’

  ‘How was I supposed ta know Constantina was going ta do a daft thing like that?’ protested Kelko. ‘Do ya think I would have taken Charlie ta the Colosseum if I did? Seeing as I can’t tell the future, I can’t see how it can be me fault!’

  ‘You should have improvised!’ snapped Azariah. ‘You should have –’

  ‘It’s not his fault,’ said Charlie, coming to her friend’s rescue. ‘Neither of us had any idea what she was planning. I’ve never even met her before! I tried to refuse but she kept throwing that daft Sylvarisian Law in my face, and because she did it in front of the whole crowd there was no way we could wriggle out of her trap.’

  Azariah sighed when he saw Charlie’s honest expression staring back at him. ‘Hhmm. OK, I concede that it might not have been entirely Kelko’s fault.’

  Charlie grinned triumphantly and slapped Kelko enthusiastically on his shoulder.

  ‘But,’ continued Azariah, ‘are you aware of what this means? You have no choice other than to accept this challenge. A Silent Duel is not a normal game – it means the best of three. This means that you must best the champion of Sylvaris not once but twice in order to keep the pendant and, much as I hate to say this, as things stand I am certain that you shall lose.’

  Charlie blanched at Azariah’s forthright analysis. But after witnessing Constantina’s amazing display of skills, Charlie grudgingly admitted to herself he was right. She couldn’t hope to match Narcissa’s daughter. She would lose the pendant.

  ‘Is there really no way to back out of this match?’ she asked.

  ‘From a Silent Duel?’ said Azariah. ‘I’m afraid not, young Keeper. Once the challenge has been issued, the defendant must either accept or bow to the challenger’s will. It is one of Sylvaris’s most ancient laws.’

  ‘OK, so what happens if I run away? What happens if I leave Sylvaris?’

  Azariah shook his head, the beads in his beard gently clicking together. ‘You lose your right to the name “Keeper”, a price will be put on your head and you will become a fugitive, even if you return to London. Not to mention the fact that you will not be here to receive Nibbler’s message from Edge Darkmount, which means we shall be no closer to our ultimate goal of defeating Bane. Nor will we have any hope of freeing your parents without the pendant here in Bellania.’

  ‘So that’s it, then? We get trapped once again by your silly Sylvarisian Law? Narcissa and her spiteful family get their hands on the pendant and laugh in our faces? Come on, guys, there’s got to be a way out of this mess!’

  Azariah smiled. ‘Of course there is. Have you so quickly forgotten your heritage and all that it means?’

  ‘Wot are ya getting at?’ asked Kelko with a frown.

  ‘The girl is a Keeper,’ said Azariah, his lion-like voice laced with pride. ‘Narcissa and Constantina, in their haste to lay claim to the pendant, have underestimated this fact and that shall be their downfall.’

  Charlie stared at Azariah with a puzzled look. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘What I am saying, young Keeper, is that if there is a “Will”, then there is a “Way”. Which is especially true if you happen to be a Keeper! Just think, Charlie, if you apply your Will to your K’Changa-playing, you could become unstoppable. All of Constantina’s years of experience and her formidable skill with the Zephyr will amount to nothing. You could win this.’

  A jaunty knocking came from Azariah’s front door. Sic Boy, rising up from where he had been dozing by Charlie’s feet, padded over and, using his enormous teeth to grasp and tug at the many latches and locks, pulled open the leaf-shaped door.

  ‘Ho-ho! How’re ya all doing?’ smirked Jensen by way of greeting, his topknot bouncing from side to side as he sauntered into the room. His smile faltered as he saw everyone’s long expressions. ‘Wot? Have I missed something?’

  Azariah, Kelko and Charlie took it in turn to fill him in.

  ‘Blight Narcissa and her cursed family!’ swore Jensen upon hearing all the facts. ‘So how long do we have ta put dis plan inta effect? Let’s see now, the next full moon is at the Three Winds Festival, which is in –’

  ‘Five days’ time,’ said Kelko, finishing Jensen’s sentence for him.

  ‘Yeah, five days,’ agreed Jensen. ‘Is that enough time, Azariah?’

  ‘It will have to be,’ said the old Keeper in a gruff voice. ‘So what I suggest is that tomorrow the three of us combine our knowledge to turn Charlie into the kind of K’Changa player who legends are made from.’

  Charlie suddenly felt the weight of responsibility crash down on her young shoulders. Were they mad to think she could beat Constantina?

  ‘Don’t ya worry about a thing,’ said Jensen when he saw Charlie’s face fall. Leaning over, he gave her a friendly nudge. ‘Charlie, I have absolute faith in ya. If anyone can teach Constantina and her family a well-deserved lesson it’s ya.’

  She sighed. ‘Er … if you don’t mind me asking, what is the Three Winds Festival?’

  Both Kelko and Jensen’s faces split into huge child-like grins. Even Azariah’s frowning face momentarily brightened.

  ‘The Three Winds Festival, blossom, is the most amazing of festivals,’ said Kelko. ‘It’s the best …’

  ‘The most amazing …’ continued Jensen with a glimmer in his eye.

  ‘The most phenomenal …’ offered Kelko with a look of enchanted wonder.

  ‘The most spectacular …’

  ‘The most stupendous …’

  ‘The most awe-inspiring …’

  ‘The most breath-stealing …’

  ‘The most heart-quenching –’

  ‘OK, boys, I think she gets the message,’ interrupted Azariah before they could continue. He’d seen the two of them like this before and knew they could go on for hours. ‘Young Keeper, the Three Winds Festival marks the end of spring and the beginning of the summer and, as legend would have it, it also marks the last day of the Cataclysm. It’s a festival that is celebrated all over Bellania but Sylvaris, in particular, is renowned for the enthusiasm of its festivities.’

  ‘Yeah, that’s cos nowhere celebrates it like we do!’ bellowed Kelko with a big, dopey grin.

  Azariah merely raised an eyebrow at the interruption before continuing. ‘There will be parades, fireworks, feasts, acrobatics, treesinging, fireworks, sword-swallowing, orchid competitions, floating lanterns, fireworks and just about everything else that you could possibly expect to create a sense of wonder and delight.’

  ‘Er … you said “fireworks” three times,’ pointed out Charlie.

  ‘I know, that’s because I enjoy them so much.’ Azariah chuckled with a boyish grin. ‘They remind me of my childhood.’

  ‘But why is it called the Three Winds Festival?’

  ‘Hhmm?’ asked Azariah, who had been lost in childhood memories. ‘Oh yes, well, with the change of season the three western winds get stronger, bringing with them the scent of the summer. I believe that Kelko has shown you the Whispering Heights, has he not?’

  Charlie nodded. ‘The tall towers that make all those strange sounds when the wind blows through them?’

  ‘Yes, that is the place. Well, as the southern wind loses its power and the three western winds begin to blow, you will hear the towers play a delightful new melody. The sound that echoes from the Whispering Heights indicates that summer is truly upon us.’

  Charlie’s eyes gleamed. The Three Winds Festival sounded like a very special event. Under other circumstances she would be excited, but not with the Silent Duel hanging over her. Instead of enj
oying it, she was going to be the reluctant star attraction.

  51

  Family Squabbles

  ‘Well?’ asked Lady Narcissa.

  ‘Well what?’ Constantina replied rudely.

  ‘How did it go with Charlie Keeper? Did you lay down the challenge like I told you to?’

  ‘Oh, that,’ huffed Constantina, looking uninterested.

  ‘Yes, that,’ snapped Narcissa as she finally lost her temper with her spoilt daughter. ‘Did you or did you not challenge the Keeper? Answer me this instant, young lady, or I shall punish you like you’ve never been punished before!’

  ‘Yes, of course I challenged her!’ screamed Constantina. ‘I did what you asked me to do and I even won the Fleet-Foot title match, but what do you care? I always do what you ask and I always win, but you never seem to notice! All the other kids at school don’t do half as well as me but they get more affection from their parents! Why can’t you, just for once, say, “Well done, Constantina. I’m proud of you”? What kind of mother are you?’

  ‘What kind of mother am I?’ hissed Narcissa as she rubbed at the bridge of her nose in disgust. ‘Well, not only am I one of the most powerful women in the land of Bellania, but have you forgotten that I’m the one who buys you all those designer clothes from Alavis and Alacorn? I’m the one who keeps you supplied with all those sapphires from the Western Mountains. I’m the one who gets you the best K’Changa tutors in Deepforest. I’m the one who sends you and your other petulant little friends off on exclusive holidays to the Dream Isles and the Scented Mountains. Having me for a mother ensures that you enjoy the life of a celebrity!’ She glared at her daughter, who was cowering from her rage. ‘Now, would you like me to stop lavishing all these luxuries on you or are you going to be quiet and do what I demand like a good little girl?’

  Constantina’s lip began to quiver and her eyes grew teary. Leaning over so that her hair covered her face, she answered her mother. ‘Y-y-yes.’

  ‘Good. Now then, let me get this straight. You issued the challenge and she agreed, yes?’