Legend of the Book Keeper (19 page)

“What have you done with our friends? They’re innocent!” yelled Jade. At this, Dace gave a puzzled look. “Innocent? Are you in jest or in earnest?” Jade’s defiant stare confirmed the latter. “I think it’s time you learned with whom you’ve been running, Sweetheart. Your friend Randilin happens to be the most wanted, dangerous criminal in the world.”

Several of the guards pulled their horses aside to reveal a man shackled by both his arms and feet. The back of his shirt had been torn open and the fresh scabs of lash marks lined his back where his flesh had been torn off. The man was Randilin.

“You let him go! I don’t care what he is; he’s saved our lives and he’s our . . . friend.” Cody began to lunge forward but stopped as the guards tightened their grip on their bows. Dace held up his hand to stop his bowmen. “Unfortunately I have orders to follow. And your friend Randilin is now under arrest . . .” he paused. Cody felt his arms being grasped from behind, “. . . as are you.”

Beneath the Dirt

C
ody’s wrists burned as the rope binding his arms rubbed against his skin. Fortunately, Sally had thrown a lively fuss and convinced Dace to allow him and Jade to ride in the pulled carriage with her instead of walking. However, her fit didn’t persuade Dace to provide Randilin with the same courtesy. Delirious from pain and blood loss, he had been bound by his hands to the back of Dace’s horse and forced to stagger behind. Sally had tried her best to free him; knocking two guards completely unconscious before she was eventually subdued. She had finally conceded to stay in her carriage, but the look of rage and disgust never left her face.

The caravan departed. Cody had no idea where they were headed, but then again, there seemed to be very few things that
were
known to him of late. Yet, there was one particular question that was perplexing him the most. Why had Wesley sent him here? He was getting used to accepting the unexpected, but after all the tension and dangers of the journey to arrive here, wherever
here
was, he hadn’t expected to be treated like a criminal and subjected to torture.
What were you thinking, Wesley?

Sally continued to rave about the injus
tice of the situation and Cody decided it was unwise to interrupt her tirade. Instead he looked across the carriage at Jade. Her head rested against the window as she looked out over the rocky terrain. She was unaware of Cody’s stare. The one bright spot of their adventure was that it had drawn him even closer to Jade, a feat he previously thought impossible. The picture of her slight smile as she told him he was brave ranked as one of the greatest moments of his life; although he would never, under any earthly circumstances, hint of it to Jade, of course.

The carriage came to a halt. Cody opened his eyes; he had dozed off, but was unsure of how long. Jade had an equally groggy look on her face. Outside the carriage, they heard raised voices engaged in heated argument, although Cody couldn’t make out the words. Finally the disagreement stopped and the carriage door opened. Dace stuck his head in. “We have decided to stop for the night. We are almost within sight of the city, however, Randilin has slowed our progress and I do not believe he can reach the city in his condition. Tents will be provided for you.” Before Cody could question, Dace disappeared.

Cody stepped out of the carriage. The sun’s light was still shining bright, leaving Cody to question Dace’s concern for nightfall. He quickly searched for Randilin, but he was nowhere to be seen. A lone tent had already been constructed and a gruff looking guard wielding a spiked
mace stood at attention in front of the entrance. Cody guessed that R
andilin was contained inside and hoped he was okay. Jade joined his side; she, too, was thinking of Randilin’s safety.

“Hey, Jade, come make yourself useful. We need to unpack the supplies for breakfast tomorrow,” a guard called across the clearing. Cody remembered the man’s name as Hex. Jade followed in obedience as the soldier led her through the camp and out of sight. The other guards assembled their tents and bustled around. Cody stood dumbly and watched, unsure whether to help or stay out of the way.

“Cody, over here. I wish to have a word with you.” It was the youthful voice of Dace. Cody walked over to where the captain of the guards was standing. “Follow me.” He led Cody a good distance away from the camp and up one of the rocky dunes. Reaching the top of the dune, Dace flopped down and sat upon the ground. He motioned for Cody to join him.

“First of all, I wish to offer an apology for the treatment of your friend, Randilin.”

Cody sneered disdainfully. “An apology is sure easier now, after you’ve already whipped him to death and dragged him half way across this god-forsaken desert. You’re nothing but a bully.”

A wave of irritation passed over Dace’s face, but he took a deep breath and the harsh lines on his brow once again smoothed. “I ask you not to be so hasty to jump to conclusions. While I am in command of this troop, I am far from being in command of all. Decisions regarding the fate of your friend are far beyond my sphere of influence. In fact, by the very act of stopping and giving him rest tonight, I am disregarding my orders, a decision I will be harshly reprimanded for.”

Cody could read the sincerity on his face and instantly felt guilty for his haughty accusations. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Thank you.”

A cocky expression returned to Dace’s face, “Don’t mistake my decision as care for Randilin. If anyone deserves the fate he has received, it’s him. However, there is a fine line between justice and barbarianism and my conscience won’t let me cross it.” Cody stared down at the red dirt beneath him. As much as he hated himself for it, he was beginning to have an involuntary liking for Dace.

Dace looked toward the sky, back to the horizon, and then back to Cody. “Good night.” This peculiar statement rattled Cody. By way of answer, the entire sky went pitch black. “What’s going on!” cried Cody. The sky had instantly transformed from sunny midday to late evening in the span of an instant.

Dace laughed, “Don’t worry. It’s perfectly normal down here. It will make more sense tomorrow. Trust me.” Cody hoped so, because it certainly didn’t make any sense at the moment.

“Wait.” Cody pondered, “What do you mean it’s normal
down here
?”

Dace looked honestly surprised by the question. “You mean you genuinely have no idea where we are? Neither Randilin or Sally told you where they were leading you?” Despite the images of Randilin’s bloody back, Cody couldn’t help but feel some resentment toward the dwarf for having kept him in the dark. Then again, he was starting to learn that Randilin was a man accustomed to secrets. “No, they did not. They didn’t tell me a single thing.

I’ve been carrying this B . . .” he paused. He realized that so far there had been no mention of the Book.
Perhaps Dace doesn’t know?
Cody decided that it was best not to bring it up. He stumbled on his words, “this b . . . b . . . burden of not knowing for awhile. So where on earth are we?” Dace caught the awkwardness but, to Cody’s relief, did not question it.

“Actually, it is not a question where
on
earth we are, but rather, where
in
earth we are.” Dace allowed a moment for his words to sink in.

“So you mean, we aren’t . . . on earth? But that whirlpool in the well at Area 51, it couldn’t have led anywhere. It could only have led . . .”

“Down,” Dace finished.

“Surely you don’t mean that, I mean, you can’t be seriously saying that we’re, that we’re . . .”

Dace flashed a mischievous smile. “Oh, I am absolutely serious. I guess I should take a moment to offer you salutations. Welcome—to the center of the earth.”

The Lost City

C
ody stared at the shadows as they danced across the roof of his tent like a puppet show. His conversation with Dace had come to an abrupt end when Dace was called to attend to a dispute between several guards accusing each other of cheating in a gambling game. The reality of being in the center of the earth had not shocked Cody as drastically as it probably should have. Perhaps he had finally thrown in the towel and opened his mind to the many unknown, crazy realities that were now his
new
reality.

After Dace left, Cody wandered back to the camp in search of Jade. Being unable to locate her, he decided to retire to his assigned tent. The commotion outside slowly died down and one by one the lights had been extinguished. However, he could still make out the shadow of a man sitting at the entrance to his tent. The man had an axe.
I’m being guarded
.

Lying alone in his tent, out of touch from Jade, and enclosed in the center of the earth, Cody began to feel very claustrophobic and very alone. He closed his eyes. He had the feeling that tomorrow would require all his strength.

The sound of voices awakened Cody from his sleep. Stretching and rubbing his eyes, he pulled himself out of his sleeping bag and exited his tent. Men were scurrying around and packing up the final pieces of equipment, leaving no sign of last night’s campsite.

“My boy, bout time you got up, you sluggard. Don’t know what Dace has me guarding ya for, can’t escape if ya ain’t ever gettin’ out of bed!” The comment had come from Wolfrick, the guard who Cody remembered had captured and bound Jade’s wrists the night before. Of all the troops, he was the biggest. His hefty size came from bulkiness, not fat. His reddish hair hung greasily over his eyes and formed a messy pony-tail that reached his mid-back. A thick, bushy beard that was fashioned into two, tight braids covered his face.

“Then again, it must be pretty exhausting being a criminal fugitive, I reckon.”

Wolfrick smacked his large hand onto Cody’s shoulder. “But lazy cow as ya might be, you sure got good taste in women, I’ll give ya that! Your pretty girlfriend’s practically running the place already.”

Cody flushed bright red. “She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just friends.”

Wolfrick gave him an exaggerated wink. “If ya say so, captain. She’s over on the north end helping out Hex and Sheets last time I saw. Asked me to send ya over when ya woke.” The large man turned and walked back into the camp, muttering to himself, “Just friends, he says. My mother-in-law’s false teeth, they’re just friends.”

Cody dashed in the direction that Wolfrick had pointed but immediately slowed himself. He didn’t want to appear desperate or concerned. He looked to the sky. In the daylight he could see the rocky surface stretching out as far as his eyes could see.
They were literally in an enormous cave. Colossal stalactites hung from the ceiling like gobs of thick tar ready to break. Cody shuddered. One break and they all would be smashed into bloody pancakes. Something glittering above his head caught Cody’s attention; hundreds of shimmering sparks flashed before his eyes. It was as though he was looking at a starry night sky. One of the passing guards slowed down and followed Cody’s eyes. “Ah . . . I see you’ve taken notice of our stars. Beautiful, ain’t they?”