Keeper of the Realms: The Dark Army (Book 2) (20 page)

Who’s he?
Charlie thought to herself.
And can I trust him?

‘Charlie?’

She turned to find Nibbler with a look of concern on his face and beyond him the Stoman boy was also waking.

‘Charlie,’ continued Nibbler, ‘are you OK? How do you feel?’

‘How do I feel?’ Charlie rose on the balls of her feet, testing the strength of her recently broken leg. ‘Other than being betrayed by that rat Darkmount? I feel … good. Really good. Who do I have to thank for mending my leg?’

‘Um … that would be me,’ said the Stoman somewhat shyly. ‘The bone wasn’t that difficult to fix and the gash on your leg cleaned up nicely so it should heal well too.’

‘Are you a doctor?’

The boy blushed. ‘No. Nothing of the sort. I just know some healing that my uncle showed me. I’m not the best Stonesinger, but fixing a bone was –’

‘Stonesinging?’ interrupted Charlie. ‘You used stonesinging on me?’

Nibbler, sensing how upset Charlie was, quickly did his best to calm her. ‘He’s OK, Charlie. Really. If it hadn’t been for Crumble Shard’s healing talents and help making camp
and catching us some dinner we would really be down on our luck.’

Charlie struggled to throw aside her suspicions and even though she knew next to nothing about this new Stoman she did know that she could trust Nibbler.

‘Sorry,’ she mumbled. ‘Strangers and stonesinging aren’t a good combination, at least not in my experience. But if Nibbler says you’re OK, then for now you’re OK. I owe you for fixing my leg and I hope that one day I can repay you, but right now we’ve got to go.’

‘Go?’ asked Nibbler in alarm as he watched Charlie raise her arms in preparation to open a Portal. ‘Go where? Charlie, we’ve got to come up with a plan before we do anything! You’ve already lost your pendant and you nearly lost your life! Now is most definitely not the time to be doing anything rash.’

Charlie’s face momentarily fell at his mention of the pendant, but swiftly hardened into a mask of determination. ‘You’re right, I’ve lost a lot and, yes, you’re right we’ve got to make decisions, but I’m not doing it here. We’re going back to Sylvaris where at least we know we’ll be safe. Dridif can help us and so can Jensen –’

‘They’re gone, Charlie!’ interrupted Nibbler. ‘Jensen and Kelko got taken to the Soul Mines, remember? And I don’t ever really remember being that safe in Sylvaris either. The Delightful Brothers and Mr Crow are still out there somewhere and let’s not forget that Bane managed to send his Shades not once but twice into Deepforest. If anything, we’re safer here where no one knows us!’

Charlie squirmed uncomfortably as she realized that in
the heat of the moment she had forgotten that Jensen and Kelko were potentially in a great deal of trouble too. The burden of responsibility slammed down upon her shoulders. Friends, family, the future of Bellania …

‘So what am I supposed to do?’ she asked, finishing her train of thought aloud.

‘Winged One. Keeper,’ said Crumble Shard. ‘I know we have only just met and I know that in your eyes I am very much a stranger, but I would like to offer my help. My uncle always said that a problem shared is a problem halved. Perhaps if you were to voice your troubles we may be able to summon suitable counsel.’

Charlie sucked on her lower lip as she gave his idea some thought. Both he and Nibbler had raised some valid points and after so many mistakes she knew she could no longer act without forethought. However one thing bothered her slightly. ‘Is it Crumble Shard or just Crumble?’

‘Uh, just Crumble is fine.’

‘Crumble, I have to ask … do you always speak so formally or are you talking like that just to impress us?’

‘Um …’ Crumble blushed again, his cheeks turning crimson with embarrassment. ‘No I do not, I mean, no I don’t. It’s just that I was always taught to show respect to Winged Ones and Keepers and now I’m talking to both of you at the same –’

‘Crumble?’ said Charlie, interrupting the flustered boy.

‘Uh, yes?’

‘Do me a favour. Talk normally, will you? I’m only fourteen, but when you talk to me like that you make me feel old.’

‘You’re fourteen?’ squawked Nibbler. ‘You told me you were thirteen!’

‘I was, but I worked out the date – I had my birthday five days ago.’

‘Five days ago?’ Nibbler scrunched his eyes shut as he struggled with the calculations. ‘What, you mean you had your birthday when we were in Alavis?’

‘Yup. My fourteenth birthday was spent hanging from my wrists.’ Charlie shook her head. ‘Great party decor too, lots of straw, cobwebs and a fine collection of stinking, scurrying rats for party guests. Bellania really knows how to show a girl a good time. Crumble, how old are you?’

‘Fifteen.’

‘Great. A fifteen-year-old, a fourteen-year-old and a seven-year-old. I bet Bane and Darkmount are tembling in their boots right now.’ Charlie did her best to rein in her sarcasm. ‘OK, I guess talking can’t hurt.’ She sat close to the fire and indicated that the others should do the same.

‘Seven in Winged One years isn’t the same as in your years,’ said Nibbler, who obviously felt honour bound to defend his age. ‘Really. I’m sure if there was a mathematical equation we’d probably work out that I’m closer to fourteen or fifteen too.’ Seeing the carefully polite look on Crumble Shard’s face and the more-to-the-point raised eyebrow of Charlie, Nibbler squirmed on the spot. ‘Fine, don’t believe me, then. See if I care.’

Charlie sighed, rubbed at the empty spot round her neck then stared directly into Crumble’s eyes. ‘Let me tell you where we currently stand …’

The sun had set hours ago, but Sic Boy continued to carry Jensen across the darkened landscape of the Great Plains. Although Jensen, as a Treman, was more used to the rich splendour of the forest surrounding Sylvaris, he was nonetheless a seasoned traveller and took delight in all the places that he visited. The grasslands of the plains did not have an ounce of the wildlife found in Deepforest, but if you knew where to look there were wonders to be seen: the huge herds of purple and green striped antelope, the soaring bila eagles, the crafty prairie foxes, the two-streak moths with their seven-foot wingspans and so much more than would have been believed in such a seemingly desolate place. Now that it was night Jensen found himself bewitched by the beautifully eerie mating song of fengris bats. In his attempt to spot the creatures his eyes had inched skyward and now he could hardly drag them away from the wonder of the stars. Bright and unmarred by any terrestrial lamps, lights or fires, they glowed supreme. Here, out in the wide, wide grasslands without trees or hills to encumber the view, the stars were awe-inspiring.

Lost in his thoughts and his eyes diverted, he trusted Sic Boy’s good sense to maintain the right direction. When the large dog slowed and halted it took a moment for Jensen to snap out of his reverie.

‘Wot’s up, boy?’ he asked.

But the cause of Sic Boy’s discomfort was obvious once Jensen looked down and saw a ghoulish green glow in the valley below.

Sliding off Sic Boy’s back, Jensen crouched low and slowly inched his way forward for a better look. Always making
sure there was a ridge or a crest of grass or a bush between him and the glow, Jensen circled closer and closer. When he thought he was near enough he slunk down on his stomach and slowly parted the knee-high grass so he could see clearly.

At first he thought he was looking at a vista of statues. There were about twenty of them, all standing in geometric lines, but then the eerie green light flashed again. There was a moment of silence then the sound of something heavy thumping its way across the grass.

Jensen held his breath in shock.

It was one of the statues. It was moving. In fact, it was alive.

The thing thumped its way over to the others then froze, becoming as still and as silent as its companions. There was further movement, but this time it was more natural. Raising his head, Jensen spied a Stoman standing over what he first assumed to be a cooking pot, but when he looked closer he realized that it was a stone urn. It was one of the sources of green light; the other was the Stoman himself whose fists glowed the same supernatural colour.

‘Stone Bishop,’ whispered Jensen to himself.

The Stoman muttered an inaudible request. The urn flashed and something next to it began to move.

Jensen’s eyes widened.

An egg of some sort appeared to be growing out of the ground. As he watched, it swelled and increased in size. Miraculously it twisted and transformed into one of those stony-looking creatures that he had mistaken for a statue. The thing stood upright then stamped over to join the others. Whatever these things were there were now twenty-two.

Jensen frowned. Whatever or whoever this Stoman bishop was, it was obvious that he was building himself an army.

‘But why?’ whispered Jensen. ‘And wot on Bellania is in that urn?’

He wanted to stay longer in the hope that some of his questions would be answered, but he forced his curiosity down. He had something more important to attend to: a young friend who needed saving.

Slinking back the way he had come, he left the strange Stoman bishop with his ghost-like urn and silent but growing stone army.

28

Dark Tidings

Crumble Shard rubbed uncomfortably at his head. He had a dazed look in his eyes as though he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. The three of them had talked for hours and he had to admit that he had been shocked by the problems that Charlie and Nibbler had encountered so far, but what Charlie had just proposed seemed ludicrous. Insane even.

‘So let me get this right. After everything that you’ve been through you want me to guide you to the Western Mountains so you can defeat Bane? In his own city?’

‘More or less.’ Charlie nodded. ‘I mean, what other choice do I really have? I have no idea where Darkmount is and as much as it hurts me to admit this … I don’t think I’m ever going to get my pendant back.’ Her voice faltered. Struggling to maintain a brave face, she continued: ‘That means the Winged Ones are out of the picture and, as Nibbler pointed out, there’s little reason for me to return to Sylvaris. Our ultimate goal still remains: if I’m to save my parents and keep Bellania free that means I’ve got to defeat Bane. We don’t know where the Soul Mines of Zhartoum are so we can’t come up with a plan of rescue for Jensen and Kelko, and even if we did know where they are, we don’t have any
guarantees that the boys are there or if they were taken somewhere else. Again, the best thing we can do to help them is end this war. End all of it and once again that means confronting Bane. Any which way you look at it the path always leads there.’

‘But that’s crazy!’ insisted Crumble. ‘Look, I’ve already told you that I don’t believe in what Bane is doing. Most of my village don’t like the idea of one Bellania beneath Stoman rule, but we all know how powerful Bane is! There’s never been a Stoman lord like him before. Jugged the Great, Hook the Thunderer and Stale the Swallower are like mice next to Bane and they’re mythical heroes and kings! The fact that Bane is real and stands head and shoulders above all the legendary lords makes what you’re suggesting absurd.’

‘Maybe it is and maybe it’s not,’ said Charlie. ‘But it doesn’t matter. I’m not asking you to join our fight. You offered to help and that’s all I’m asking. All you need to do is be our guide. Azariah said that the Western Mountains would be protected against unwelcome Portals so we’ll need to walk in. All you have to do is show us the way. Once Nibbler and I are there we’ll handle the rest.’

‘And do what?’ Crumble continued stubbornly, unwilling to allow a Keeper and a Winged One to walk towards what he saw as certain death. ‘What do you think that you can possibly do to Bane? Don’t you understand when I tell you that he’s the most powerful being that has ever sat upon the Devouring Throne?’

Charlie sat up straighter and clenched her teeth together. Without realizing it her hands knotted into fists as she imagined finally coming face to face with Bane. A dark shadow
flickered across her eyes and her hair began to writhe as her Will – unsummoned this time – manifested itself as black flames that flickered round her knuckles.

‘Don’t worry about Bane. He and I have some unfinished business,’ she said with a voice that growled with the promise of violence.

‘Charlie,’ protested Nibbler. ‘Look, I know we’ve just gone over all our options, but surely there’s got to be something else that we can do? There’s got to be another option. There’s got to be.’

‘Like what?’ snapped Charlie. Little sparks of darkness trickled from the corners of her eyes. ‘Where in Bellania are we going to be safe? Nowhere! Can we afford to hide away and hope things get better? No! Things are only going to get worse. Either Bane conquers the land or Darkmount does. Yes we could play the waiting game in the hope that Darkmount and Bane eventually fight and we try to take the pendant from whoever wins, but the likelihood of that happening or us lasting that long are tiny.’

As Charlie continued to talk, she grew angrier and her voice grew harsher. ‘So if we make a move now or later our chances are still the same. Maybe better now because no one would expect us, maybe worse later with Bellania crushed and conquered. But all of that aside I’ve had enough! They’ve taken too much from me. Too much! And I for one think that Bane needs to learn that things don’t always go his way. I want to go to the Western Mountains, go to his Throne Room and show him that I mean business. I owe Bane a debt of agony!’