by Emma Right
Keeper Of Reign
By
Emma Right
Epub E-BOOK EDITION
*******
Keeper Of Reign
Copyright 2013 Emma Right
E-book Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. All Rights Reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Visit emma at https://www.emmaright.com or follow on twitter @emmbeliever
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Table Of Contents
CHARACTER LIST
PROLOGUE: BEGINNING
1 - ONE NIGHT
2 - TWO WEEKS LATER
3 - THE SOUND OF TROUBLE
4 – HUNTERS
5 – HURRY
6 - HIDE!
7 – DESTROYER
8 - SECRET CELLAR
9 - ANCIENT BOOK
10 – KEEPER
11- STRANGE CLUES
12 - DRAGONFLY LANTERN
13 – WHISPERER
14 - GEHZUROLLE’S AGENTS
15 - LACEWORKS’S HOME
16 – BEWARE
17 –UNKNOWN
18 – LOST
19 - NO HIDING
20 - TUNNEL SYNDROME
21 – TRAPPED
22- DECEIVED
23 - BROOKE BEGINNING
24 - HIDDEN BRIDGE
25 – INCANTATIONS
26 - THE GOING GETS TOUGH
27 – SEPARATED
28 – LOGS
29 – TENNESSON
30 – CAMOUFLAGE
31 - BOOK OF REMEMBRANCES
32 - NOT ALONE
33 – VIPER
34 - ABEL SEACREST, ESQUIRE
35 - TO TRUST OR NOT TO TRUST
36 - PARTING WHISTLE
37 - WEB BRIDGE
38 - NO ACCIDENT
39 - WRONG DECISIONS
40 – LOCUSTS
41 – HARNESS
42 – BOXED
43 – BETA
44 - LAND OF THE DEAD
45 - HOLDEN’S SECRET
46 - HERITAGE
47 - FRIEND OR FOE
48 – LEGEND
49 – ARNETT
50 – NOTE
51 - PIT FALLS
52 – TAKEN
53 - DOWN TRODDEN
54 - BY HOOKS OR BY CROOK
55 - BLOOD RIDGE
56 - SLIPPERY SLIDE
57 - OFF COURSE
58 - ATTACK
59 – VANISH
60 – TRAITOR
61 - COUNTED AS DEAD
62 - ROACHES UP CLOSE
63 - UNFAITHFUL SERVANTS
64 – GIFT
65 - FATAL FALL
66 - GIVE UP
67 - KING STAR
68 - UNDER WATER
69 - SURPRISE VISIT
70 - WHAT HAPPENED
71 -SCORPENT VISIT
72 - TRICKED
73 - FIRE
74 - STAR GAZER
75 - CHAOS
76 - NO ESCAPE
77 - DEEP, DEEP
78 - MOSCHE, FINALLY
79 - FORGOTTEN PROMISES
80 - SHATTERED HOPE
81 - INHERITANCE
82 - GLASS TWINE
83 - DIAMOND-TIPPED CLAWS
84 - CONFESSION
85 - THE SWITCH
86 - FLAMETHROWER’S BOOK
87 - WHERE WAS MIRANDA?
88 - SCREAMING
89 - SHIELD
90 - SINISTER MEETING
91 - THE REAL TRAITOR
92 - SECRET LIBRARY
93 - OOK WITHIN
94 - FOUND AGAIN
95 - BUZZING
96 - BLOWN AWAY
97 - CRUSHED
98 - LIGHTNING SPEED
99 - TRUTH
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My gratitude to the true Ancient Books, all sixty-six of them.
I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 *NKJV
CHARACTER LIST
Jules Blaze, age sixteen, and heir of a Keeper, who suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. And hates the idea that he has to care for his four (yes, so many,) younger siblings.
The other Blaze siblings:
Ralston, thirteen years old and a budding artist who can invent just about anything. If he can overcome his slowness!
Bitha, ten-year-old sister, with flowing jet black hair, and a caring personality, and definitely not keen on adventures.
Tst Tst, pronounced Sit Sit, and also known as Miss Big Words due to her profuse vocabulary which she uses freely unless her life is in danger, which is about almost all the time in Reign these days. She is eight.
Tippy, three years old, lisps and nothing much escapes her sharp eyes. Much to Jules's annoyance.
Neighbors:
Miranda, daughter of Saul Turpentine, and closest neighbor of the Blazes. Also a subject of much interest for both Holden and Jules.
Holden Lacework, age sixteen, and his mother, Jessie Lacework, are also close neighbors of the Blazes.
The Evil Lord, Gehzurolle (pronounced as Geh-zoo-rawl) and his army of Scorpents and agents of the night. Their headquarters is in Euruliaf across the River, Brooke Beginning, in the Handover side of the territory.
The old map Jules found.
PROLOGUE: BEGINNING
“SIRE, YOU’RE RUNNING out of blood.” Eleazer’s voice quivered as he addressed the only other occupant in the royal chamber. He tried to veer his eyes from the King’s bruised arm but could not pull his gaze away.
The young King grunted a response, his attention focused on the red words whispering out of his plumed pen. Glancing at his cupbearer, he said, “I am aware, Eleazer.” His velvet lapels caught the golden gleam flickering from the lanterns hung on the columns, giving it a rich burgundy sheen.
“Perhaps the wine will help?” Eleazer poured scarlet juice into a goblet and held the fluted stem out, his eyes drawn to his Highness’ pale wrist. His Master’s pallid face sent a shiver up his spine, and a knot of worry formed above Eleazer’s brows. Palm clammy, he set the goblet next to his Master’s arm.
The room was dim despite the golden sparkle of the dragonfly lanterns hooked to the four columns of alabaster that flanked the two draped windows. Books, their golden spines atop each other, were stacked on the mahogany table. Copper wires forming two “X”s upon each spine bound the leaves of the magnificent Books.
“The new star,” the King said, “will be birthed tomorrow, so I must finish writing the Sacred Tomes.” He paused and shot Eleazer a smile. “Why don’t you bind this remaining stack? You can include this end page I am finishing later.” He waited for Eleazer to reply, but the servant only stared at the floor. “My instructions are in the Master Books, but you must inform the others to keep the matter to yourselves.”
“I know—Gehzurolle must not find out.”
“More importantly, do not let him deceive you.”
“I promise.”
“You are a most faithful servant—friend, Eleazer. Thank you.”
“It has been my honor, Your Highness. I should thank you.” Eleazer wanted to say more but his throat strangled the words. He swallowed hard a few times and bowed, as a sigh slipped from his lips.
“Do you compr
ehend my wishes?” The King’s eyes rested on Eleazer’s face.
“Completely.” Eleazer dared not add anything further lest his voice break entirely. His hands busied with the binding of the closing chapters, whilst his Master penned the final paragraphs.
All those books, yet not a single ink pot on that writing desk or on any other furniture in that library. Too soon Eleazer would have to bid his Master adieu. What if he failed the King?
“Master, I wish you didn’t have to d—”
“Don’t start this again, Eleazer—no other way exists. You must trust me. If all of you heed the words, you will end up better off.”
Without looking up, the King said, “Once you’ve completed the binding you must leave me alone. I am almost finished.”
Afraid he might forget the Majesty’s visage, Eleazer’s eyes flitted to the King’s face and drank in the dark brows, the high cheekbones, the soft lips. He opened his mouth to say something, but only shook his head, bowed a fraction, and exited through the double doors.
Alone in the chamber, the King pierced his bruised vein a last time and completed the closing paragraph.
1 - ONE NIGHT
THE LAST THING Jules Blaze thought of before he closed his eyes was how he, how anyone, could undo the curse his people were under. He was in the middle of a dream, a nightmare as far as he was concerned, begging Grandpa Leroy and Grandma Bonnie not to leave, when someone banged on their front door, shaking their entire tree house.
Who’d be crazy enough to disturb them at this hour? He sat up on his bed and cocked his head. His mother’s soft tread tap-tapped on the wood floor.
“Who’s there?” her muffled voice asked, harsh and whispery from sleep.
The banging stopped.
“Erin, open up.” Saul’s voice, gruff and loud, jolted the last fog of sleepiness from Jules. He peered over at his brother sleeping noiselessly in the bunk below him, and quietly slipped down the ladder. On tiptoe he sneaked to the trapdoor opening that led down to the living room where Saul stood dripping from the rain.
“Is everything okay?” Erin said.
“Would I visit now if it were?” Saul said. Then in a gentler voice he added, “I’m sorry. Please, let’s take a seat, Erin.” He nodded at Jules who’d slipped down the pull-down ladder to join them. “Jules.” Jules thought about his father at the war front and swallowed a lump in his throat. Was this why Dad hadn’t sent any word to them for the last months? Because he couldn’t?
Saul held Erin by the arm. He led her to the dining room chairs behind the sofa covered with knitted shawls and afghan throws.
Jules trudged to the window and peered at the branches outside. The arm of the oak tree grew so thick they could easily live in it, although getting up there could be a problem, especially since he was afraid of heights. These days they didn’t even live in stone houses, or even wooden ones, unless living under a tree counted as a wooden home. Elfies lived in trees, or burrowed under rocks, in the forest of Reign.
“Take a seat, Jules.” Saul locked eyes on him for an instant. “I just received word from the riverfront patrol—Leroy and Bonnie’s boat capsized in the storm. They’re searching for the bodies, but it doesn’t look good.”
Erin let out a gasp and brought a fist to her mouth. “No!”
“Boat? How can they be sure it was them?” Jules leaned forward in his chair.
“Some of their belongings floated to shore, and I identified the wreck—the pieces drifted to the bank.”
Erin looked at him blankly.
Saul said, again, “The boat…was a wreck.”
“Boat?” Erin said.
“I’d loaned it to them.”
“Why?”
Saul looked at the ceiling. “They’d wanted to get across to Handover.”
“Handover? That’s preposterous. After telling us never to cross the river and saying how dangerous Handover is?” Erin’s voice sounded angry amidst her sobs.
Saul pushed his chair back and stood. He reached into the cloak of his pocket, brought out a few items and laid them on the dining table. “Some things to remember your folks by.” And with that he turned and stalked back out into the dripping night.
Jules stared at his grandpa’s pocket watch, the green felt hat the old man always wore, especially on damp days, and his grandma’s silk scarf she donned when the wind ruffled her snowy white hair. Erin sobbed more violently, and Jules stood behind his mother’s back, leaned over and hugged her trembling shoulders.
2 - TWO WEEKS LATER
WHEN JULES BLAZE peered out his living room window, the sky was still dotted with a million stars. He craned his neck out farther and stared at the branches that cast dark shadows upon each other like black bones crisscrossing. Out of the corner of his eye a shadow passed, but it swooped so fast he couldn’t say what it was.
He’d planned this too carefully to let anything spoil it. He couldn’t believe Grandpa had died. Just like that. Swept away, some Elfie neighbors had said. Or maybe they were on the Handover bank. Surely a sixteen-year-old could go to Handover to seek answers?
But should he leave his mother and his younger siblings? Like this? Without him could they fend for themselves? Especially with the rumors he’d heard? But he wouldn’t go for long, he promised himself.
Between the foliage, tearing the darkness, a bright line whizzed in the inky sky. It was as if someone had drawn a silver line across the expanse.
Was it lightning?
But when he strained to hear the rumble of thunder that should follow only the whispers of the forest came. Jules blinked several times and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands. Had drowsiness made him see things?
Without another thought he whisked his cloak off the peg by the front entryway, grabbed his pouch of jeweled stones by his feet and headed for the outdoors. Before he crossed the threshold he glanced at the closed door to his mother’s room. What would she say when she found him missing? Ralston would have to take charge, at least until he got back.
Jules was about to step off the porch when the whole sky lit up and a golden glow brightened the deep forest. And then everything darkened again, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
What was that? Jules’s heart quickened, and he steadied his breathing as he sprinted down the pebbled path away from his home, one hand clutching the pouch of stones over his shoulders. When he rounded the corner of the last spruce, the one that had burned into a charred stump and marked the beginning of the meadow, crunching footsteps stopped him in his tracks. Who was awake this late? Following him?
He crouched and, hiding between the blades of grass, slowly turned to face the sound. The steps hurried toward him, quick and frantic, as if unafraid of detection. Jules was sure his pursuer had circled to get behind him, but just as he readied to spin around and hurl a rock, two arms pounced upon his shoulder and grabbed his neck.
“Jules!” his captor shrieked.
“Tippy?” He swung around and dragged his two-year-old sister from behind his back, relieved he had not flung the stone. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” Tippy’s brown eyes were round with fear.
He had a strong urge to smack her little arm, but bit down on his tongue instead. “Tippy, you shouldn’t be out here.”
“Like you?”
“Don’t be sassy.”
“I was following you.”
“You can’t. Go back. Now.”
“Are you running away, Jules?”
“It’s none of your beeswax.” He stood, straightened his cloak, grabbed his pouch, and took a step forward. But something made him turn around. Tippy still crouched where he’d placed her. Even in the dark he could sense her pout. Her outline in the dimness looked small, even vulnerable.
He stared beyond her dark form and noticed from where they stood he could hardly see the oak tree that held their home.
“Come on, now.” He pulled Tippy to her feet and half dragged her home.
On the walk home, his little sister in one hand, Jules wondered about that bright flash. But as they were about to enter their front porch an acorn fell, missing his head by a hair’s breadth. He leapt back and turned to check on Tippy.
“That was close,” she said. The acorn was of normal size, yet it measured about half of Jules’s height and weighed probably twice as much.
Jules always found issue with his inconvenient stature. And even though those of his race, the Fairy Elves, or Elfies as they were more commonly called, had suffered the effects of the curse for centuries and had adapted to their surroundings, he always regretted his size more than anyone he knew. If only I could reverse this curse!
Inside his home Jules quietly shut the front door and placed his cloak exactly as he’d found them on the peg. Reaching into one of his pockets he brought out a tattered booklet, the size of his palm. The thought of placing it back where he’d found it earlier crossed his mind, but he felt Tippy’s eyes watching his every move. It wouldn’t do if his mother found it.
“Bed now, Tippy.” He pointed to the narrow staircase that led to her attic bedroom, where his two other younger sisters slept. But Tippy just blinked at him. So, he slid the booklet back into the cloak pocket. He trudged to the hearth and hid his pouch of stones behind a loose brick to the right of the hearth. “And don’t tell Mom about me, either, or I’ll snitch on how you went out all by yourself.”
Tippy yawned and slunk up to the attic room she shared with her two slightly older sisters. Before she climbed the first rung, she turned and faced
Jules. “Will you be here tomorrow?”
“Go—to—sleep,” Jules said.
“Promise?” She padded up the spindly steps.
“Go.” But he smiled at her.
As he stood by the window and watched the night sky, the blonde hair on the nape of his neck suddenly prickled. A shadow sifted past the bough above his window and a soft whoosh made him step back.
What was that light? That glow in the sky? A bomb? Lightning?
He gripped the rough window sill and leaned out to see what could have caused the shadows to move, but he saw nothing suspicious. If Grandpa was here he could’ve asked the old man, but that was out of the question now. And his mother never had the right answers. Even his father could have helped him, but that too was out of the question.
Jules climbed the stairs to the attic and to his bed on the upper bunk, cautious not to rouse his brother, Ralston, below, who, fortunately for Jules, could sleep through a tornado.
If I can convince Mom to let us outside tomorrow, I can find answers to that strange light. Some had rumored that the war was coming closer.