The Reclaiming: The Keepers Saga: Volume Two

by Dillon McNaight

  Sadja was guarding Bargokk that night when the King arrived at the dungeons. The jails of Menethiel rest several hundred feet under the city, deep within the mountain’s roots. A long and winding stone staircase lead to the dungeons, which are rarely used, for most hardened criminals were executed shortly after their conviction. There is a more temporary jail within the tower of the White Council, which was used for criminals of minor crimes. The crimes of the General, however, were not minor. Under Valerian’s demands, the General was to be banished to the Frozen Isles, but asked Kalorah to not reveal that the demand came from him. She planned the trial to instead convict the General of worldly treason and banishment.

  Daane arrived at the dungeon around half past midnight. Sadja was sleeping in a nearby chair against the wall. The sound of knocking woke the Keeper suddenly, causing him to reveal his sword.

  Daane whispered through the small opening in the door, “Sadja, it’s me, Daane, open the door.”

  Sadja released his sword and rubbed his eyes as he stood up, opened the door, and said, “Daane? Why are you here? Is Kalorah back?”

  “No,” replied the King as he struggled to not slur his words, “I just need to have a few words with our prisoner… you know… so that he knows how to proceed when the trial begins and such… just, open the door.”

  “Alright, alright,” answered Sadja as he fumbled for the key.

  Daane had to control himself to prevent him from becoming impatient.

  Sadja finally found the right key, and opened the door, still half awake, as Daane walked right past without giving him attention or thanks.

  “Leave us,” said Daane, as he stopped with his back turned to the Keeper.

  “I’m sorry, my King,” replied Sadja in an attempt to be polite after being so rudely awoken from his deep slumber, “but I am under strict orders from the White Queen that he is to have no visitors outside of the Guardians.” He took two steps towards Daane, and stopped when he smelled the wine sweating out of his pours, and said, “For your own safety, of course.”

  Daane stood still for a moment before turning around.

  He then looked at Sadja with red tired eyes, and said, “You think that you, the White Queen, or anyone else can tell me whether or not I can talk to MY prisoner alone?! This man, this pathetic excuse for a Guardian, is MINE to command! Now, leave us or I will have you banished from the capital of the Kain, in which last time I checked, I was still the King of. Now… LEAVE US!”

  “I’m sorry, my King,” replied Sadja, still miraculously maintaining his composure, “but he MUST stand trial.”

  “AND he will…” snapped Daane, before quickly controlling his tone, “I mean, he will stand trial unharmed and untouched, I simply want to have a few words with him. I deserve at least that much all that he has done.”

  Sadja hesitated, for he could tell that the King was clearly drunk.

  He then said, “Fine. Only a few words, and I will be just outside the door. I will make sure that no one interrupts you. Call for me when you are through, you have five minutes.”

  Sadja then turned, and walked outside the dungeon and closed the door behind him. The King watched him leave, then slowly turned his attention to the chained General within his cell. He walked ever-so-slowly and calmly towards the cell. He stood in front of Bargokk for a moment, and just stared at him. The Red Dragon paid no attention to him, as he stared at the wall with an expressionless face.

  Daane then spoke, “I’ve been going over and over in my head on what I would say to you if I got you in a room alone. There are no words to describe the feeling of hatred I feel towards you, and knowing that you are powerlessly locked away in the very damp and disgusting dungeon of the city you and your brother sought to destroy, has weighed heavy on my mind. You do not deserve a trial. You deserve only death.”

  The General then slowly turned, and directed his attention at the King of Kain. Glammdreing’s magical chains that bound and prevented him from taking his dragon form still illuminated in a brilliant light. His eyes seemed to have no life in them, and were replaced with the look of defeat. He has been abandoned by his brother, and the rest of his people were allowed to return home without a trial, yet here he sits.

  He studied the King for a moment, before he said with complete and utter transparency, “You are right… I do deserve death, and you should be the one to give it to me.”

  Daane was taken aback by his words, and took a step back.

  Bargokk then stood up, and walked over to the iron bars, and continued, “Isn’t that what you came down here to do, rather, what you would like to do? Tell me, king… how is your wife and son?”

  Daane erupted in rage as he rushed over and punched him through the iron bars, causing Bargokk to fall onto his back. Sadja then threw the door open, and ran up to the King to restrain him.

  “NO, MY KING!!!” said Sadja, as he forcefully removed him from the room.

  Daane screamed out towards the General, as Sadja restrained him, “I SWEAR to you, that before this is all over, I will PERSONALLY make sure that I am the one holding the sword that CUTS OFF YOUR HEAD!!! I SWEAR IT!!!”

  Bargokk, now showing his true intentions, smiled as he wiped the blood from his mouth, and smiled at Daane.

  Sadja dragged him outside the dungeon, and closed the door behind him before releasing him.

  “My King, I’m sorry, but…”

  “SAVE IT!!!” interrupted Daane, as he stumbled backwards before regaining his balance and composure. “Just… save it. I know what you are going to say.”

  He then turned around, and started to stumble up the long spiraling staircase out of the dungeons to sleep off his drunken stupor.

  Sadja felt the same way towards the General, but respected the judgment and command of the White Queen too much to let his emotions get the best of him, as they did his King.

  The next morning, Dathian stared out his window as the sun began to rise, for it was always his favorite thing to watch from his room. He remembered when he was a kid how his mother would always take a few minutes to watch the sunrise with him after she woke him up to prepare him for his day. Dathian struggled with his decision to return to the world of the living, for he has witnessed firsthand the beauty of the heavens. Although the laceration in his neck is healed in the technical sense, he can still feel the blade cutting threw his neck. He hasn’t spoken a word since he was brought back.

  He paused from watching the sunrise, and looked down to a flower pot that was given to him by one of the survivors. He was given many gifts from the Kain, and was loved by all as they kept him in their nightly prayers. The flower in the pot is limp and dying, so he reached out to cradle it in his hand, but before he could touch it, it began to come back to life and stretch upwards, as color came back to its pedals. Dathian was surprised by the sudden rebirth of the small and insignificant flowers beside his bed. He then heard the door behind him open, and as he turned around, Lady Savannah was standing in the doorway.

  Dathian couldn’t believe his eyes as he gazed upon his love. She was wearing a thin, silky pink dress, with matching flowers in her hair. In her hands, rested a solitary red rose.

  “I picked it this morning from the Rose Garden,” said Savannah, “remember the Rose Garden?”

  A thin layer of tears gently began to coat Dathian’s eyes as he shook his head yes. He stood up and walked over to her. As he arrived, he took the rose and smelled it.

  He then looked up at Savannah, and tried to speak, “I… I…”

  Savannah put her fingers up to his lips and said, “Ssshhh… I know my love… I know.”

  Dathian could not stop staring into her eyes as all the worries around him began to fade. He then took his hand, and gently caressed her chin as he leaned in to kiss her. He then pulled her into him in a loving embrace, using his free hand to gracefully tuck her hair out of the way.

  He then whispered into her ear, “Www… wwill… will you… mma… marry… me?”

&nb
sp; Savannah pulled away to look into her love’s eyes. Tears started to fall from hers as she placed her hands on each side of his head, then rested her forehead against his, and said, “Of course I will, you are the love of my life.”

  She said nothing of their unborn child growing inside her. For her, it wasn’t the right time. They then shared a long-awaited kiss as the ring on Savannah’s hand started to glow. As they kissed, all the dying flowers and plants in his room started to come alive, and grow in size and beauty. Green vines climbed up the walls and covered the ceiling as pink and white flowers bloomed. So begins the engagement of Dathian and Savannah.

  The White Queen has finally returned, and upon her arrival, she immediately requested a meeting with the White Council. The Keepers, along with Glammdreing, met in the Hall of the White Council, along with the King, and other members of the court to discuss the matter of the missing Black Dragon, and the pending trial of the Red Dragon. Upon the matter of where she has been the past five days, she shared with them what they wanted to know.

  “Let me start off by asking for your pardon in the matter of my abrupt absence. Upon allowing the surviving Drykans to return to their lands unharmed, I decided that a treaty of peace needed to be negotiated, which brings me to my dealings with the Drykans. With the Generals removed from power, and the risen King vanquished, the Drykan people are now leaderless, and left to pick up the pieces of a failed invasion. I arrived at Drokkin shortly after I left, and found the one that was acting as their acting Prime Leader. From what I could tell, he is an honorable man, and quickly agreed to a peace treaty. He has signed the treaty, and so have I… there is only one signature left.”

  She then looked at Daane, who hesitated at first. After feeling the obvious pressure to do so, he took the treaty, and signed it. They then discussed the matter of the missing General, in which Kalorah said that she has already designated a secret party to investigate his disappearance. All that was left to discuss, was the trial of the General Bargokk, and how it would proceed. They all agreed that Bargokk shall appear in front of the White Council, which would consist of the three Keepers, and the two Angels. Sadja didn’t think that the King should participate in the trial, for he feared that his anger would cloud his judgment. Although Bargokk was guilty of all accusations against him, he was still a Guardian of Kranos, and any crimes committed by a Guardian had to undergo a trial in front of all of the other Guardians. The trial was to commence the following morning.

  As the sun started to rise on the day of the trial, people were already arriving outside the Hall of the White Council to watch. Daane had ordered several members of the Kain’s Guard to stand guard over the crowd to ensure that order is maintained. The truth of it was that the Kain’s Guard had more cause to kill the General than most, but respected their King enough to follow his instructions. It didn’t take long until the city streets were completely filled. They waited for the White Council members to come out of the Hall, and onto the oval platform from which they will direct the trial.

  Shortly after the sun had settled into the sky, the doors to the hall opened, and the Keepers and Glammdreing walked out, spreading themselves among six chairs in a line facing the street. Kalorah was the last to come onto the platform as she walked to the chair in the middle. She then began the trial.

  “This day we gather here to commence in the prosecution of the accused. General Bargokk will answer for his crimes against the free peoples of Kranos, and justice shall be rightfully provided to all of those that have been directly affected by his actions. I trust that I shall receive order from you all, and that you accept whatever decision the White Council makes in regard to the proposed punishment of the accused. Now, let us begin.”

  Kalorah then sat down along with her fellow members of the Council.

  The crowd parted as Ayden and Nathian escorted the enchained prisoner to the center of the street, directly in front of the members of the court. Once Bargokk was placed where he was needed to be, the Guardsmen released him, and stepped aside with the other Guards. Bargokk was left standing alone in front of the White Council, still bound by the Angel’s chains.

  Kalorah then spoke to him, “Bargokk, Drykan Guardian, you are accused of genocide against the free peoples of the Kain and Ela, how do you plead?”

  He just looked up at Kalorah, and replied, “Don’t insult me with this pointless trial, witch, we all know what I did. Let us just end this now.”

  “So, your plea is that of guilty then?” asked Kalorah.

  He replied, “The only thing I am guilty of is failing. I know what you want me to say. You want me to say that I am guilty, and that I am sorry for what I have done. Do you really expect me to beg for my life? Don’t waste my time... get on with it.”

  Kalorah stared at the General as whispers filled the streets. She then said, “So, you want death? You think you deserve that?”

  The Keepers all looked at each other as they listened to the White Queen.

  She then stood up, as she continued, “Death would be a pardon, for which we never intended to provide you with. No… you shall not receive the pardon of death, rather the punishment of life. You will be stripped of your dignity and purpose. You will live out the remainder of your immortal life alone. I, Kalorah, member of the White Council, Queen of the Ela, and Angel of Aya, condemn you to the Frozen Isles by way of ship, exiled from Kranos forever. Once there, you may never leave, for if you do, it won’t just be you that suffers the consequences! And when you are at your most vulnerable, remember that it was the Angels of Ela that took your wings, and the Keepers of Kain that took your freedom.”

  She then turned around, and motioned for Ayden and Nathian to take the former General to his cell to await his departure to the northern continent of Vrekos, more commonly known as the Frozen Isles. Throughout the history of mankind, only the worst of the worst have been banished from Kranos to the Frozen Isles, including the Lorkath Loyalists. Little is known of the Isles, and to this day, no one knows what became of them and if anyone or anything still lives on the fabled northern continent, except one, but the Keeper of the Staff isn’t alive to share his discoveries.

  The people in the streets soon dispersed after the trial abruptly ended. Many disagreed with the White Queen’s decision to allow the Dragon to live, and how she alone seemed to make it. Rumors started to spread, and theories began to be crafted on the White Queen’s true intentions, and whether or not she was trying to take over as the leader of the White Council, a position recently left vacant. Even the Keepers questioned her motives, and complete dismissal of their vote. Glammdreing was the only one who seemed to not be surprised by her actions.

  As gossip spread throughout the wounded capital, Alandra stood up out of Ayden’s bed completely naked, and started to get dressed.

  “Don’t you ever just want to relax after?” questioned Ayden. “Even just for a little bit?”

  “I can’t,” she said, eager to leave, “I am already late, I can’t stay any longer.”

  “Alright, I just thought that since…”

  “…Since what?!” interrupted Alandra. “Since you died? Since ‘WE’ died?! No… I’m not ready to have that conversation.” She then charged for the door, but just as she was prepared to leave, she turned, and said in a calmer, more caring tone, “Listen, I do love you, at least I think I do, but I promise that we will discuss it later, alright?”

  Ayden then stood up, not bothering to dress, and walked over to her, and put his arm in front of her.

  “Say what you want,” he said, “but I know how you feel. You may act like an elitist, or embarrassed to be with me, or the many other different sides to you, but none of them fool me. I saw how you looked at me when you thought I was dead. It’s the same way I looked when I thought you…” He stopped as he controlled his emotions, then continued, “when I thought I was going to lose you. Wherever you’re going, right now, just know that I will be here when you get back.”

  “Fine,” she sai
d as she pushed his arm out of the way, “we will talk later.”

  Alandra then stormed out of the captain’s home. He watched her with confused thoughts, and thought of what he should have said different.

  Down by the docks, a ship is being prepared to take the traitor Bargokk across the Northern Sea to the Frozen Isles. Most of the ships were destroyed by his destructive flames, but one survived. Ironic that the one ship he failed to sink, was the one that would exile him from Kranos. The ship is small in comparison to the massive ships that traveled between the capitals of Menethiel and Brethiel, and was designed more for speed than cargo space. The ship consists of two sails and a narrow hull. Below the decks are three small cabins, and a small mess hall equipped with enough food for the long journey. Kalorah already knew what verdict she was going to deliver to the traitor, so she had one of the cabins fashioned as a jail cell to house the prisoner. It was nearing the end of fall and the beginning of winter. They would have to depart soon to make the two-week journey across the Northern Sea before winter fully arrived. The Northern Sea was much calmer than the Southern and Eastern seas, although it has been known to house a few cold weather storms from time to time.