The Reclaiming: The Keepers Saga: Volume Two

by Dillon McNaight

  “You have my word,” replied Bargokk, “and the word of a General of the Dragonkin has never been broken. The Mines will be yours.”

  “How do you plan on us getting into the Mines, the passageway was long ago sealed by the Clauggs?” asked Dreynor.

  Bargokk smiled as he reached into his robes and pulled out a burlap sack. “With this.”

  “And what exactly is ‘this’?” asked Dreynor as he examined the sack.

  “This is a sack full of explosive powder that was extracted from one of the Kain’s weapons. You need only use a handful to collapse a wall. Travel down the abandoned passage through the mountain and set the fuses. Once lit, the way to the Mines will be cleared. The blast will startle any around it, giving you the element of surprise. Once through the newly opened gap, do not stop until every man, woman, and child is dead! Once the Mines have been taken, open the gates and meet me within the capital.”

  “And what of the Keepers? How do we stop them?” asked Dreynor with concern.

  “They are men just like the others,” replied Bargokk, “they will be weak from hunger. I do not believe they will be of any challenge for your great numbers. Your Krocklin army and your black beasts will quickly overwhelm them.”

  Bargokk underplayed the Keepers’ power in order to gain Dreynor’s allegiance, and the mass slaughter of Krocklin by the Keepers is no more than collateral damage to him, pawns in a game of war.

  “Then it is decided. The Krocklin will go to war.” Dreynor turned to the two nearby guards and said, “Sound the horns my good men, for we must quickly muster the troops and prepare the armory. Summon the kennel master to prepare the Blackhides for war. Go with haste, for we leave for the tunnel in no more than four days. Finally, we will have our long-forgotten revenge. Finally, we will get what we deserve.” Dreynor then turned back to Bargokk, “I hold you to your word, General. Once the city is claimed, it is ours. I will meet you in the capital once the Mines are overtaken and every man, woman, and child is dead. For this, you have MY word.”

  The leader extended out his hand, as Bargokk met it with his.

  “We will meet again. Let Alvane be with you my friend.”

  With these words, Bargokk turned and headed back to the entrance to the city as a wide and merciless smile painted his wicked face. After paddling his way out of the cave and into the eastern sea, Bargokk took to his dragon form and soared into the sky before setting flight for Menethiel.

  We now travel back to the day before the Dragonkin attacked the capital of Kain, and a young teenage boy of Kain, age seventeen, scribbles on a blank piece of parchment. While his instructor Shelly talks about the economic values of the Kain, his mind is elsewhere. He draws a dragon perched on top of a towering mountain somewhere in the lands of the Drykans. The teen, named Joseph, has always dreamed of seeing one of the Drykan Generals in their dragon form, or even one of the lesser drakes. Although he was raised to think that they are dangerous and always a possible threat to the Kain, he thought differently.

  “I asked if you knew the answer to the question of the day?” asked the instructor to Savannah, whom Joseph has never had the nerve to talk to.

  Her words temporarily distracted him from his writing as he looked up and smiled at her immediate and undeterred answer. Joseph comes from a humble, but financially stressed family. His father was a missionary, and his mother a barmaid. He has no siblings. He is tall and skinny for his age, but his mother tells him all the time that he will grow in to his body someday. Although he comes from simple means, he was allowed to join the class of royals and elites because of his incredible intelligence. Although he is not very physically strong, he is incredibly gifted in the mind, far surpassing many adults twice his age. The others in the class looked down on him, and made fun of his simple clothes and messy blonde hair. Like Dathian, he was well ahead of his classmates when it came to the material they were studying, so he would often draw his dragons instead. He left class that day still laughing at Savannah’s answer, but also felt a little jealous that the prince had caught her attention. He has been in love with her from the first moment he laid his eyes on her, but she was of the elite, and he was not. After class, he walked home as he did every day, instead of hanging out with the rest of his classmates, seeing how the elite would never dare be seen with someone who lived on the first level. He walked down to the first level with a smile on his face.

  Flash forward exactly twenty-four hours, Joseph is on the same street, yet he was not walking with a smile on his face, and he was not heading home. The Drykans have overrun the city, and he was running with all haste towards the gates of the Mines. Blood poured out from different places and his leg was broken, but none of this pain could be felt as adrenaline pumped through his young veins. Even with only one eye, Joseph was still able to use his sword to defend himself and make it to the Mines. It wasn’t much long after that Kale and the other Keepers made it in and Malthius sealed the gates. Once they were closed, the real commotion began. Many witnessed the Keeper of the Staff collapse, and many thought he was dead. The King was screaming with uncontrollable rage and emotion until he could scream no more. The women frantically searched for their husbands and sons, but only a third of them returned, and most of them were not in one piece. The gruesome sight was enough to make anyone sick. Limbs were missing from some as they bled out and died in their loved one’s arms. The Clauggs tried their best to save as many as they could, but there were just too many, and not enough doctors. Sadja carried Kale out of sight as Alandra and Malthius tried their best to help with the wounded, and to diffuse as much panic as they could. As Joseph searched for his father, his hearing left him as the screams faded into nothing more than murmurs. As the adrenaline began to wear off, an incredible pain came from his leg as he fell to the ground in agony. The last thing he saw before the light left his eyes, was his mother rushing towards him with her arms outstretched.

  We now return to the present, and although his leg was healing, he still had a long road ahead of him. He has to adjust to life with only one eye, not to mention the ghastly gash across his face. He will forever bear the hideous scar on his face, as well as the scar in his heart. He was told that his father may still return, but he knew better. If the gates wouldn’t even be opened for the Keepers, they most certainly won’t be opened for his father. His mother tried to stay positive for her son, but he knew that her heart was breaking. She cries when she thinks he’s not looking. He does not cry, because even though they lost the battle, and he will never again be the same, he gained something that he did not expect… courage. The Keeper of the Staff gave him that on the wall just before the battle began, and he will never forget it. He spent most of his spare time practicing with his sword and building his strength. His leg was still in a splint, but he had enough mobility for the most part.

  Food rations were getting low, so Joseph decided to skip his one meal of the day for some of the smaller fatherless children. Instead, he decided to partake in his favorite past time, swordplay. He has been practicing every day in the empty armories. He was still skinnier than he wished, and with the lessoning rations, he was only growing thinner. He did what he could to build the strength in his arms, but his sword was still a little on the heavy side. Still, he practiced until he could no longer raise the heavy longsword, which is the same sword the Keeper of the Staff encouraged him to raise just before the battle began. As he once again swung the heavy steel at the target dummy, the sword got stuck, and Joseph struggled to get it loose.

  “Need a hand there, son?” said a man from behind the teen.

  Joseph released the sword and turned around, only to see the Keeper of the Sword, Sadja smiling at him.

  “No, I… I can handle it, but thank you, um…” stuttered the teen.

  “Sadja, and from the looks of it, that sword is too heavy for your body weight. I think I would know, seeing how I am a little bit of an expert on the subject.”

  Joseph couldn’t help but to blush in
embarrassment as he looked down.

  Sadja quickly added, “Don’t do that, don’t lower your head when someone tells you something you don’t agree with.” Joseph looked up as the Keeper continued, “No matter what anyone tells you, the only person you need to listen to is yourself. If you think that you can wield this massive sword, then you can. Now that the motivational speech is over, give me the sword.”

  “Um, ok… but,” said Joseph before Sadja interrupted him.

  “Just give it to me.” Joseph skittishly handed him the sword as Sadja added, “Sorry, I’ve never been one for manners.”

  Joseph smiled nervously as he handed the legendary Keeper his pathetic excuse for a sword. It was partially rusted, with lots of nicks and imperfections. Sadja carefully took the heavy sword as if it was an old relic.

  “You see, it’s the appearance of a weapon that makes it great, rather the history of it. I assume you do not know this blade’s?” Joseph shook his head no as Sadja continued, “That’s alright, you don’t need to, for it grows its history every minute it is in your capable hands. But I will tell you one thing, it is far too heavy for your hands. Allow me to… lighten your burden.”

  Sadja stared at the sword for a moment, then casually handed it back to the teen. As Joseph took the sword back, he was amazed to discover the sword almost weighed nothing now.

  “Wow, how did you… I can’t believe…”

  Sadja leaned in and interrupted, “Let’s just keep this our little secret. After all, I don’t really feel like enchanting every beckon soul’s weapon, if you know what I mean.” He then gave him a hard slap on the back and said, “Now go on, continue your training young man, you may yet need it.”

  As Sadja walked away, Joseph couldn’t believe his luck that the Keeper of the Sword himself enchanted HIS sword! His downed spirits were lifted, and an even greater confidence entered his soul. He then effortlessly swung the sword at the target, increasing his skill with every swing, completely unaware that the Krocklin were mustering their troops right at this same moment. He, as well as every other innocent soul trapped under the mountain, does not know that in just one day’s time they would see war again… but not from the outside.

  CHAPTER 14

  EVE OF DEPARTURE

  The inevitable arrival of night came to Kranos on this cold and cloudy fall day. The Mother of the Trueborns has successfully mustered the entire fleet of masterful horses. Their riders are prepared for the long journey ahead of them tomorrow. The Trueborns were secured with strong leather armor around their chests and hind end. Their riders wore a combination of leather and light plate armor, which allows them to have proper protection without compromising agility. Only the most skilled riders will carry a combination of bow and sword, both of which they can operate on the run. The Trueborns have heightened senses and less fear, allowing them to bravely charge into combat. After all were mustered, there was just over ten thousand Trueborns and riders, leaving yet another five thousand ground soldiers, though less experienced fighters. A thousand archers will lead the company from the rear, in which they will synchronize an orchestrated volley of arrows. Their leaders, including King Daane, Ayden, Nathian, and Alandra, all spent the evening preparing alone in their own way. Daane took to prayer, Ayden and Nathian retired their mugs of ale for a good night’s rest. Alandra chose to make camp outside the city in the wild, alone with her thoughts. Kalorah and Glammdreing stayed up through the night and worked out every strategic battle strategy, for they didn’t need the sleep like their mortal counterparts. The time has finally come to reclaim Menethiel, and the anxiousness kept many awake. As the bustling city of Riverton tries to tire their weary eyes, a woman, boy, and a dog make their final approach to the city from the western borders of the Andwaith Forest.

  Briev and Anabel have been walking for the past couple of days, and they are now just a few miles outside Riverton. They have not spoken much to each other, and mostly walked in silence. Anabel managed to find an abandoned cabin, which happened to have some raggedy clothes, and even a pair of leather boots. They were a little big, but Briev appreciated them nonetheless. Along the way, Cami, Anabel’s dog, stayed close to the Drykan teen’s side, which gave Anabel mixes feelings. They only stopped for a few hours to sleep and cook some fresh meat, but otherwise kept a steady pace. Anabel wanted to resolve the Drykan’s matter as quick as she could, so she could make it to the Shorelands before snow fell in the mountains.

  Finally deciding to break the silence, Anabel said, “So tell me, if I do happen to find out that your family is indeed captured, what do you plan to do? I mean, you can’t exactly go charging in and demand their release, and I am certainly not going to ask for their release either.”

  Briev looked down in embarrassment, for the truth was he didn’t know.

  Noticing his discomfort, Anabel stopped and faced him, and said in a more warming tone, “Listen, I’m not trying to make you upset, I am simply being realistic. I know you know I’m right.”

  Briev looked up and said in a defeated tone, “You don’t have to tell me, I know that I can’t save them.” He struggled to keep his tears at bay as he continued, “I… I just need to know… you know? I have to know. There is nowhere else left in this world for me to go without them. They are all that I have. I don’t have friends, and everyone back home just thinks that I’m weird, or odd, and they want nothing to do with me. But my family was always there… they never turned their backs on me, and I don’t intent to turn my back on them.”

  Anabel, who was surprised at his words, possibly the most she’s heard in total, replied sincerely, “Thank you, I just needed to understand. You’re… you’re a very honorable young man, even though you are a Drykan.” She ended with a sarcastic smirk.

  Briev smiled slightly as he said, “I promise after you find out, no matter the outcome, you will never have to see me again.”

  Looking slightly concerned, Anabel replied as she turned and started walking again, “But where will you go? I mean, you’re not safe in these lands, not now. A Kain will sooner kill you than look at you.

  Briev rubbed his arm as he answered, “I will try and find my way back home.”

  “What if you get, you know, confused, or however you put it?” asked Anabel.

  Briev tried to look not concerned, and appear brave as he replied, “I’ll be alright, Drykans have a natural sense of direction. Plus, I’m small, so I hide easily.”

  Anabel just smiled, even though she knew that he wouldn’t make it three days in the lands of the Kain by himself. They continued to walk for about an hour before they could finally see the faint and hazy yellow lights of Riverton, just three miles away.

  Anabel stopped and turned to Briev as she said, “Alright, I think it’s best that I go the rest of the way on my own. You wait here, and I will be back in an hour or so. Cami, let’s go.”

  Her dog sat down next to Briev and just stared at her master.

  “What am I thinking, of COURSE you’re just going to stay with him,” said Anabel to her dog in a scolding way.

  As she turned to leave, Briev added, “Thank you… for whatever it’s worth. I never thought that another Kain could be this nice, you know… to my kind.”

  Anabel smiled as she turned and walked away. It didn’t take long to walk the three miles to the western drawbridge. As she approached, there were two guardsmen with shields and lances, though they were next to them, not being held. They were sitting and not paying much attention as Anabel almost walked completely to them unheard. Once one of them saw her, the startled guard quickly stood up.

  “Oh, calm down, it’s just me,” said Anabel as she smiled.

  The young guard let out a breath of relief as he replied, “Ana, it’s just you. You scared me half to death!”

  Anabel laughed as she said, “Well, if you were better at your job, you would’ve seen me in time.”

  The other guard then said, “Why are you back so soon, I thought you just left a week ago for the Sh
orelands, did you change your plans?”

  “No, I just realized that there were a few things that I needed to do first, and, um… forgot about them, so had to come back… stupid me.” As the two guards chuckled, clearly friends of the woman, she added, “So… have you two heard rumors that a bunch of Drykans were captured and are in the city somewhere?”

  The first guard answered and said, “Ya, that was crazy what happened to them.”

  Surprised that her intuition was right, Anabel further probed, “I haven’t heard much more than they might be in the city, so, what happened?”

  The second guard eagerly answered, “It was crazy from what I hear! The prince of Kain, the King’s son, helped them escape, and now he and his friend are locked up for treason! All on the night before the Kain’s Guard is leaving with the Ela’s army to reclaim the capital.”

  “Ya, it’s been pretty eventful around here,” added the first guard.

  Trying to get to the point, Anabel said, “So what happened to the Drykans?”

  The second guard answered without any emotion or empathy, “Oh, they didn’t get far. That big warrior Angel flew and found them… killed them all on sight. He returned all bloody and stuff, it was amazing!”

  Anabel’s heart sank. Even though she resented the unexpected teenage burden, she couldn’t help but feel for the pain he is about to feel, the pain no human, Drykan or Kain, should ever have to feel. How could she possibly tell another soul that their entire family was killed? How could she inflict that much pain on someone so young, and then leave him to just get captured himself, or die.

  The first guard could sense something was wrong, and asked, “What’s wrong Ana? You don’t actually care about a few dead Drykans, do you?”

  Anabel quickly broke a smile as she replied, “No, of course not, they can all die for all I care, I’m just worried about the prince, he might get a bruise or break a nail or something. Poor pampered little baby.” The guards laughed as she added, “Well boys, it has been fun, but I got to get going. Sorry I couldn’t stick around, I just can’t stand the idea of this war, and want to get as far away as I can. Maybe I’ll see you both next summer, and hopefully Riverton isn’t in a pile of ashes.”