The Reclaiming: The Keepers Saga: Volume Two

by Dillon McNaight

  Dathian and Ethan then take off towards the front lines against his father’s wishes. Daane, however, does not stop them, but instead, follows. He feels young again with a newfound strength.

  They continue to push the Dragonkin towards the gates to the second level, causing them to bottleneck. The Kain and Ela hold back their attacks for a moment as the remaining Dragonkin soldiers walk backwards in a panic, with the iron gates at their backs. Daane watches for a moment as he thinks about how to breach the gates. Before he can travel too far, the gates shake with great force. The startled Dragonkin quickly turn around as the gate continues to shake. Then suddenly, they burst open, causing all in front of it to be hurtled backwards. On the other side of the gate stands Malthius with his mighty blue Hammer, and behind him, stands Sadja and the rest of the Kain that escaped from the Mines. Malthius stayed behind and ensured that every last Krocklin was destroyed. Though he is physically spent, a new resolve fills his body and mind.

  Daane smiles with pride as he yells, “GO NOW!!! TAKE THE SECOND LEVEL!!!”

  The Kain’s Guard, Riders of the Trueborns, Sabertooth Tribe, and Guardsmen of the Ela thunder into the second level of the city, and wage battle amongst the remaining Drykans. They quickly overcome them, and continue to make their way up the many levels of the city. The Skyborns and Alandra soon arrive after they defeated the remaining Irondrakes, both alive, and undead. The Warrior Angel and White Queen also arrive. The free peoples of Kranos fight back the countless Drykan and undead soldiers. It takes them hours to reach the highest level of the city. The once red fire-filled skies are replaced with their previous black clouds. Rain starts to fall on the city as they continue to fight their way up the city levels. It is nearing dusk by the time they reach the final level of the city, the pinnacle of Menethiel.

  Ayden takes the last Drykan in their way by the head and slits his throat, dropping his body to the ground. He then turns around to face the final gate, which leads to the Throne Room and the large oval platform that overlooks the city. Standing in a line next to him are the heroes of the free peoples of Kranos. Daane, King of Kain, Ayden, Captain of the Kain’s Guard, Dathian, prince of Menethiel, Ethan, warrior of Greenglen, Biix, saber of Blacktail, Nathian, Lieutenant of the Kain’s Guard, Nexia, Chief of the Sabertooth Tribe, Krendweil, Chief of the Skyborn tribe, Luthar, Commander of the Guardsmen, Glammdreing, the Warrior Angel, Alandra, Keeper of the Bow, Malthius, Keeper of the Hammer, Sadja, Keeper of the Sword, and Kalorah, the White Queen.

  Kalorah then walks closer to the gate, and yells, “Reveal yourself, Calthrog, you have been defeated! You will not be harmed, you have my word!”

  The gate starts to shift as if it is about to open. Kalorah steps back as she watches the gate continue to shake and grumble. The heroes of Kranos watch on with anticipation as they finally start to slowly open. As they do, they reveal not the General Calthrog standing behind it, but the risen King of the Dragonkin, Lorkath… alone. He is clothed in thick black plate armor, draped with a tattered cloak. In his right hand, rests the Peacekeeper. The blade is painted black from hilt to blade. A tar like substance trickles down the sword, which is pointed at the ground, it’s tip resting on the cobblestone beneath it.

  Kalorah then speaks, “Lorkath… I should’ve known you’d be here. Tell me… where is the Black Dragon?”

  Lorkath, showing little emotion on his decrepit and stoic face, replies, “I alone stand before you, witch!”

  “You are defeated, shade,” says Glammdreing, “surrender now, and no more lives have to be lost.”

  “Surrender?” replies Lorkath. “Oh… I have no intentions of surrendering…”

  Ayden then steps forward, and yells, “You stand before us ALONE, and defy the Angels of ELA?!”

  Lorkath says nothing at first, and only reveals a small smile as he continues to look directly at the Queen. He finally says in a dreary and deathly hollow of a voice, “I am not alone…”

  What the White Queen does not know, is that the sword Lorkath holds in his hand, the legendary Peacekeeper, has been infused with the Lord of the Shades’ malice. Lorkath takes the sword, and raises it above his head, then, sends it crashing back down into the ground. As he does, he releases it. He then slowly starts to walk backwards as a thick tar-like ooze spills down the sword, and onto the ground. It quickly spreads over the ground in all directions. The Kain and Ela jump backwards as it covers the ground beneath their feet, continuing past them throughout the city. Soon, all the cobblestone streets are covered in the tar.

  Nothing happens at first as it reaches the lower level of the city before stopping. The heroes of Kranos looked around in confusion, but Kalorah does not take her eyes off the risen King. Then, the ooze starts to cover the countless bodies of the dead. As the black death crawls towards a nearby dead soldier of the Kain, it spreads over his body and into his mouth. The eyes of the dead Kain turn black, with his skin following in suit. Once the soldier is completely covered, he suddenly takes in a massive breath, and is awakened. He slowly starts to stand up as tar begins to pour out of his eyes, trickling down his arms before arriving to his hands. He stands completely erect as the black around his hands start to form into blades. After they are crafted into weapons of death, they harden, like glass cooled after the fire. One by one, countless dead soldiers arise from the streets, all bathed in the tar-like substance. As their black blades harden, they all start running towards the Throne Room with incredible speed, unlike the previous undead.

  Daane turns around and sees several shadows of the incoming onslaught of shades, and yells, “QUICK!!! Everyone inside the gates!”

  They all move inside the final level of the city.

  Kalorah turns to Glammdreing and says, “Take care of him, we will handle whatever conjured demons march upon us!”

  Glammdreing nods, and turns towards the risen King as he takes out his sword and shield.

  As Glammdreing approaches him, Lorkath says, “Come now, Angel, show me just how much of a warrior the legends say you are!”

  Glammdreing says nothing as he continues to walk straight up to Lorkath. As he reaches him, he swings his mighty sword down on the risen King. Lorkath quickly summons the Peacekeeper and blocks the blow. They then engage in equally skilled combat.

  The Shade Army soon arrives to the armies of the Kain and Ela, and spreads out like locus upon a field. As they arrive, they barrel into them with great force. This enhanced version of shade is faster, stronger, and much more skilled than their former selves. They fight against the Kain and Ela with such speed and accuracy, slaying many with their glass-like blades. Screams can be heard for miles as countless Kain and Ela are repeatedly impaled. They move from body to body, slaying all they came in contact with. Malthius and Sadja are able to slay a few, but soon became overwhelmed. Sadja fights off many, but more and more come. Malthius looks over in terror as a blade pierces into Sadja’s stomach. Then… the world goes silent. Sadja looks down and sees a pool of blood forming between his feet. Blindly, he swings his Sword around in search of any opponent. Another pierces his back, causing his lungs to suck in, followed by another… and another. He can no longer keep his Sword revealed as it disappears into his soul. Sadja falls to his knees as he continues to fight them off with his fists. Malthius tries to make his way over to him, but is also stabbed by several blades in his back, which came and gone without rhythm or prediction. Malthius keeps his focus on Sadja, but also falls to his knees. He is helpless as his Hammer disappears. With his last breath, he watches his fellow Keeper, and friend, be overcome by the shades, and succumb to his wounds.

  He screams, “SADJA!!!” just as a blade pierces him through the neck, stealing his life from him in an instant. As the shade retracts the blade, the legendary Keeper of the Hammer falls dead to the ground.

  Alandra screams in horror, “NNNOOO!!!!” as she watches him fall.

  She then quickly turns around and sends arrow after arrow into the shades, but they do nothing, and simply f
ly through them. Suddenly, a massive blade protrudes through her chest from behind, causing the air to be stolen from her lungs. She is then lifted off her feet, for the shade behind her is in fact a risen rock troll. Tears well up in her eyes as the massive troll throws her off his blade before moving on to its next victim. She falls hard, and rolls to a stop. She sits up on her knees, and tries to stand up, only before falling to her hands.

  “ALANDRA!!!” yells Ayden as he turns towards her.

  He fights off as many shades as he can, trying to make his way to his love, but before he can get to her, he feels the unmistakable pain of a blade penetrating his body, followed by two more. He falls and begins to crawl through his own blood, only if to hold her hand… one last time. Their eyes connect, and she reaches out her bloodstained and quivering hand, as Ayden does the same. Before either words could be made, life leaves their eyes, and their world goes dark.

  Daane looks over as he sees a shade grab his son from behind. He looks on helplessly as his son struggles in the arms of the shade. Dathian tries to swing his sword around, but it’s knocked out of his hand. He tries with all his strength, but is unable to release himself. He can see Ethan and Biix trying to get to him, but before he can even say their names, he feels the cold kiss of Shadestone against his throat. For a moment, his eyes meet his fathers, and he looks to him as a small child. The shade behind him then takes his razor-sharp blade, and cuts the prince’s throat to the bone, sprouting out blood like a punctured balloon. The world instantly vanishes from his eyes as the shade releases his body, allowing it to slump to the ground.

  The King is overwhelmed with emotion, and can do nothing but scream. Just then, several blades pierce through his chest, dropping him to the ground to quiver and die as tears continue to fall from his lifeless eyes.

  Glammdreing tries to combat Lorkath, but the shades soon overwhelm him, allowing Lorkath to turn his attention to someone else.

  Kalorah continues to fight off the overwhelming and endless onslaught of shades as she raises her staff above her head, then throws it into the ground, causing many to be knocked backwards. As she once again raises her staff, she feels a chill from behind her. She turns around, and standing directly behind her, is Lorkath.

  He then speaks, “Are you ready witch?! It’s time to die…”

  He then sends a ray of dark power from the Peacekeeper towards her. She immediately raises her staff, and sends an equally powerful ray of purple light. The two rays of power meet with tremendous force and compete against the other, as Lorkath slowly walks closer. The dark magic becomes too powerful for her to repel. As it reaches her staff, it causes it to crack, and Kalorah to fall to her knees.

  Lorkath walks towards her, and grabs her chin with his boney hand as he brings his head in close. She feels helpless as the life within her body begins to be siphoned from within.

  Lorkath then says, “Look around you, witch… look as all that you love is stolen from you…”

  He then forces the Queen’s head to turn towards Glammdreing. All sound escapes her ears as the shades overcome the Warrior Angel, stabbing him repeatedly without mercy or reprieve. She also watches on in horror as one by one, Nexia, Luthar, Ethan, Biix, and Krendweil all succumb to the shades, as well as the rest of her people, and the Kain. The risen King of the Dragonkin then turns her face back towards his.

  Lorkath moves to within inches of her face, and says, “Now, you will die… only to be returned to HIM!”

  The White Queen’s silky white hair begins to singe away as her skin starts to burn and decay. A solitary tear falls from her eyes and she feels her life begin to leave as her body continues to dissolve slowly. Just as she is about to give in to the risen King’s power, a faint voice in her head tells her to look up towards the sky.

  She then hears a faintly familiar voice inside her head say, “Do not fear, my Lady, for this day, you will not be left alone to fight OUR evils!”

  Her and Lorkath then hear a tremendous roar, causing them both to look to the sky. Then they see the first one… a massive purple Dragon all the size of Calthrog ascending towards the capital. As the Jailor of the Damned, Valkyre, reaches the city walls, she releases a massive wave of blue fire down upon the overrun first level. As they hit the shades, their essence dissolves, and their host released. What’s left of the Kain and Ela who are alive are immune to the flames, and it just passes right through them. Another terrifying roar can be heard coming from Menethiel Harbor, drawing the Queen and Lorkath’s attention.

  Then the second… Jailor of the Damned, Valnor, a great brown Dragon of equal authority, rains down his cleansing blue fire on the second and third levels.

  “NO!!!” screams Lorkath in rage, “THIS CANNOT BE!!!”

  The two mighty Jailors soar with a commanding presence and grace, eliminating hordes of shades with each pass. They fly back and forth, quickly moving up the many levels of the capital, destroying every shade in their wake.

  Then the third… Jailor of the Damned, the great White Dragon, the first Dragon, and Master of Death, Valerian the Proud. His enormous body comes crashing down onto the Throne Room.

  “YOU WILL NOT TAKE THIS FROM ME DRAGON!” exclaims Lorkath with unspeakable rage, as he turns the Peacekeeper towards the White Dragon.

  “PITIFUL LITTLE MAN!” roars Valerian, causing all to cringe and cower.

  As Lorkath prepares to send a black ray of death blasting towards the Jailor, Valerian releases another roar, then opens his jaws wide, and bites down on the risen King of old. Lorkath disappears within the jaws of the White Dragon as he is then discarded off the edge of the oval platform like an unwanted scrap of meat.

  CHAPTER 17

  REBIRTH

  As Kalorah collapses, Valerian takes to his human form, and rushes towards her as all remaining shades charge him. He simply tosses his hand up, and they all vanish into nothingness, back to the hell from hence they came. The other two Jailors continue to rain down their blue flames as Valerian reaches Kalorah and takes her in his arms, just as his body begins to illuminate in a warming light. First, her singed hair instantly grows back, and her decaying skin is returned to its youthful and glowing self. As her clarity returned, she looks up at Valerian in disbelief.

  “You… you came…,” stuttered Kalorah as she gently moved her shaking hand over his cheek, “…you saved me.”

  As she looks to the left of his eyes, she is then paralyzed in grief as she sees countless bodies around her. Valerian helps her to her feet, and the realization that she is the only one alive hits her, causing her to nearly collapse.

  Just then, Valnor and Valkyre land on nearby buildings in their massive Dragon forms, crushing them under their immense weight.

  Valerian smiles at the White Queen and says, “Do not trouble yourself with their deaths, for they can be returned… if deemed worthy.”

  She quickly turned to him with rarely seen tears streaming down her face, and said with begging eyes, “…Please.”

  Valerian then turned to Valnor and Valkyre.

  “Brother… sister… thank you for hearing my call. Long have I secluded myself from the world as I saw it, cruel and undeserving. In doing this, I have caused you to turn your backs as well.” Valnor and Valkyre listened as their former leader continued, “We have already had a choice in how we decided to aid this world, and could have been cause to its destruction, if so our desire was, but we have not. Our creator created us for a single purpose… protect the free peoples of Kranos from the worst of its creation… to jail the jailed, and right the wrongs. We have respectfully completed our duty of original purpose, for the shades and their master have been sent away from this realm. The Lord of the Shades has been defeated at the cost of an Angel’s life.”

  He then turned to face Kalorah. She then knew of whom he spoke. Teeca has lost her life defeating the Shade Lord. Though she does not fear for her soul, she is saddened nonetheless. The amount of devastation around her makes her stomach churn, and her head becomes
light.

  Valkyre then transforms into her human form and approaches the White Queen, walking around the countless dead bodies. Her bare feet soon turn red from the cobblestone stained with warm blood. She slightly hits the lifeless head of the King of Kain as she makes her way to Kalorah.

  She then looks her in the eyes with a warming face, and says, “She came to me first… the Angel that defeated the Shade… she asked for my help, and I cursed her heart as I turned her away. I saw the one killed by the first arrow, yet… I turned my back. She knew that she could not force my hand, but defied me nevertheless. I have never seen in another, courage equal to hers. If it was not for my unjustifiable bitterness, she would still be alive. It’s only after I spoke with her, that I ventured to find my lost love.”

  Valkyre then turned to Valnor and smiled. Valnor then transformed into his human form, and preceded to walk towards them as he navigated the field of dead bodies.

  He then said, “As much as I am raveling in our unexpected reconciliation, the memory of my son’s death does not escape my current sense of reasoning.” He then directs his attention to Valkyre, and continues, “Have you forgotten that SHE is the one that killed our only son?!”

  Valerian stepped in and said, “Have YOU forgotten that it was Magdaran that committed treason against his own people?! Then he convinced you that I was behind it all along, forcing my exile.” He then turned to Kalorah and said, “I thank you for slaying that monstrosity.”

  “How dare you!” exclaimed Valnor. “That is our SON that you speak of!”

  “AND YET YOU ARE STILL BLIND!” yells Valerian.

  Valkyre interrupted, “Valnor… he is right. We lost our son long before this one killed him. She was only protecting her people… we cannot place blame on the White Queen, nor her people.”

  Valnor looked to his former love and said with disgust, “You haven’t changed at all, for you still say or do whatever he tells you. Do what you will with these fallen souls, but I will have NO part in it!”