The Estian Alliance

CHAPTER 22

3rd September - The City of Te’oull - Siatol

The dark and sinister clouds growing on the far horizon went completely unnoticed at first by the warriors of the Estian Alliance fighting in Te’oull. Most were too busy desperately trying to stem the enemy’s relentless advance to notice. The battle was now one for survival, it had their full attention and everything beyond the city walls was forgotten for the time being, as they clung on to their positions and their lives, by the very tips of their fingernails. Brraall was at the head of his tribesmen leading from the front as usual. They were involved in a fierce fight against hoards of Thargws, Falorians and Taskans, but the situation deteriorated further when they were soon joined by warriors from almost every other species in King Vantrax’ armies. Though his force was considerably outnumbered, the great tribal leader was using his substantial and muscular frame to bowl over any attacking beasts, before relying on his astonishing speed and reflexes to avoid being hit by their weapons, and then using his sword to deadly effect. He had sent many warriors to the afterlife this way and his followers took great heart from having him at their side.

Then, in all the confusion, Brraall had a sudden moment of extreme clarity. His eyes fell directly upon Sawdon, the beast of King Vantrax, whose legendary skills and ferocity had the entire continent shaking in fear. The Thargw Gerada had just killed two of his own tribal warriors. Brraall had witnessed the deeds and he was enraged, infuriated. He fought his way towards the Thargw as quickly as he was able, determined to take revenge upon him for the loss of his friends. As he approached, Sawdon saw him coming and waited patiently for him to make his way through the crowd, smiling broadly as he eagerly anticipated yet another duel, relishing the opportunity to test himself once again against a warrior of almost equal standing.

“Kah… Strength comes straight from the heart of a warrior. We do not tire from the fight; we grow stronger with each kill… And this day surpasses all others. Ay raas, but I must have pleased someone in another life? I must have done something to earn such favour? Step forward and join me in battle, let us finish what we began at Dassilliak. You were fortunate to survive the last time we met, but you will have no such luck this time. There is no place for both of us in the new world we will create.”

Brraall said absolutely nothing in reply as he finally reached his opponent. He was a man of few words, a man of action. He swung his huge sword down upon the Thargw and immediately began a determined and ferocious attack, the likes of which had scarcely been seen on an Estian battlefield.

Meanwhile, Jake and the others had reached a different section of the front lines, not far from where Brraall was fighting. Their position was slightly elevated and as they looked out over the city, across a sea of fighting warriors, they saw the clash between Brraall and Sawdon. Something inside of Jake snapped. All of a sudden he knew exactly what he had to do, and he reacted without thinking. “Wait here with Verastus!” he shouted to Ben. “…Keep your head down Brooksy, and try not to get involved in the fight unless you really have to, unless you’re attacked. You hear me?”

Ben nodded vigorously. He had no intention of taking any unnecessary risks and he hardly needed to be told, though he was certain that he could do more to help. “Yeah, of course I hear ya. You’re screaming at me from like two yards away! But, I can…”

“Ben!” snapped Jake, turning on his friend for once with an urgent, almost hostile tone of voice that was completely out of character. “For Pete’s sake! For once in your life, just do as you’re told! This ain’t the school playground now mate, it’s a real war! …Look, you’re as hard as any boy I know when it comes to a fight, the hardest. To be fair, I wouldn’t stand a chance against you in a scrap if I wasn’t… Well, a Keeper. But, these guys are trained killers! They’re in a different league altogether! Just do as I say, please?”

Ben nodded once more. “Alright, alright. I’ll hide myself away if that’s the way you want it, keep out of trouble. I’ll only fight if there’s no other option, okay? What are you gonna do?”

Jake gave a huge smile of relief. “Thanks pal, that’s a weight off my mind. I know that was hard for you, given your stupid pride an’ all that. But, it makes me feel much better about things knowing you’re as safe as you can be, given the circumstances. I still think we’re gonna survive this day, so don’t give up just yet. I’m gonna kill me a Thargw!”

Before Ben could say anything else, or try to stop him, Jake turned and sprinted away. He started to work his way towards Sawdon, battling through the crowds of warriors and the packed streets to get to the fight as fast as he could, hopefully in time to help Brraall and defeat the Thargw warrior most regarded as invincible, to kill a legend.

Sawdon’s battlesword easily parried Brraall’s opening attack. Despite the ferocity and speed of the skilled swordsman’s efforts, the mighty Thargw was equal to everything thrown at him. Several minutes into the fight, he began to gain the upper hand. The clashes of jintan metal upon jintan metal were so loud and frequent that all those who could actually do so, stopped fighting to watch the remarkable tussle reach its conclusion.

Brraall grimaced in pain as one of Sawdon’s many sword thrusts met with success and cut into his side. He tried hard not to let the wound affect him and went straight back onto the offensive, launching two more vicious attacks upon his opponent in quick succession. To his dismay however, Sawdon was actually smiling as he easily fended off both attacks. Locked in a bitter fight to the death which could easily go either way, the Thargw beast seemed to be having the time of his life.

“Raar! Yes! Come on! More!” he roared, as he pressed home another attack of his own. “…This is what life is all about. Do you not feel it? We are blessed to live in such times as these. This is war!”

Jake could not break through the crowds fast enough, no matter how hard he tried. There were simply too many bodies in the way and he had too far to go. Every warrior he faced seemed to want to engage him, and they were all competent swordsman who delayed his progress. He used his sword like a man possessed, swiping, thrusting and eventually cutting them all down, but as fast as he killed them, others seemed to come from out of nowhere to take their place. He was only metres away when he saw the end of the fight.

Sawdon dropped his shield in a surprise move which fooled his opponent and he stepped inside Brraall’s intended overhead strike. It was a totally unexpected tactic, a move bordering on insanity because it was so dangerous. However, supremely confident in his own abilities, the Thargw moved so swiftly that he managed to grab the wrist of Brraall’s sword arm as it hurtled down towards him. His giant hand halted the tribal warrior’s arm instantly, in mid flight. At the same time, his own sword swiped downwards onto Brraall’s thigh. The great Thargw battlesword cut straight through Brraall’s leg, severing it in two. The tribal warrior fell to the ground and a second strike to his midriff killed him outright.

Sawdon roared again in ecstasy, his teeth drenched in saliva as he celebrated the kill. He was breathing hard, but he felt unstoppable, indestructible. Jake witnessed the whole thing from not too far away. He screamed out loud as Brraall’s body hit the floor, alerting Sawdon to his presence.

“No!!!”

The young Keeper from Lichfield felt an immense rage course through his body. He had never felt anything like it before. It was much more than a feeling; it was controlling him somehow and it invaded every fibre of his being. It was much more than fury, and way beyond wrath. He was exploding from within. Before he knew it, the usually mild mannered teenager was suddenly awash with an insatiable need to kill!

The speed and venom in his attacks intensified to an unbelievable, astonishing level. Every single warrior barring his path to Sawdon fell within a few short minutes, until at last he found himself standing before the mighty Thargw. But, Sawdon was by now fully recovered. The great Thargw warrior was grinning, waiting for him.

* * *





Princess Zephany and Caro had by now fought their way to the main square. Zephany surveyed the large empty patch of open ground with extreme relief, grateful for the fact that the enemy had not yet beaten them to it, and prevented her army from regrouping. The solitary statue in the centre of the square would serve as her command post. From there she would direct the very last stand of the Estian Alliance. Zephany was under no illusions; she knew that on the outcome of this fight rested the entire future of her world.

“Good, we are in time. Caro, tell our captains to organise the defence and set the perimeter. They are to send warriors to all four sides of this square in equal numbers. We have to hold out here and allow as many of our forces to join us as we can. This is it, Caro, there is nowhere to go from here except for the afterlife. Fight or die, those are our only choices now.”

The Perosyan champion clicked his heels as he snapped smartly to attention. “Yes, your majesty, I will see to it. I will return to you if I can,” he replied.

Princess Zephany placed a gentle hand upon his shoulder. “I know you will, my friend. I have been fortunate to know such loyalty in many of my warriors, but you humble me more than most. I saw the same kind of devotion from Knesh Corian and the way in which he served my father for many years. Now that it is directed towards me, I cannot tell you what it means.”

* * *

Inside the small, abandoned dwelling Tien placed the box of stones carefully down on the floor. From the bag, he retrieved each of the new replacement stones and laid them on the ground next to the box, in the order they would be needed. “Srr… Does anyone have a dagger, or a throwing knife?” he asked. Jean, Harry and Graham looked at one another but nobody had anything that would suffice. “…No matter, I will use my sword. Though, it will be awkward.”

Tien drew it and with some difficulty he used the tip of the blade to prize the first stone loose. “There, that’s it. Let us try to mend that which is broken, to replace these gems and rebuild the shattered hopes of our people.”

“Is that all, Tien? You just have to take them out and put the new ones in their place?” asked Harry, surprised.

“No, of course not. That would be far too easy. You would hardly need a wizard if it were, would you? Watch, Keeper, and all will become clear. First, the Bloodstone, made of creine,” Tien stated, holding the new stone up for all to see. He placed it in the vacant space left by the jewel he had removed. It locked itself effortlessly into position, despite seemingly floating in mid air, with absolutely nothing to hold it. “…As we begin the restoration of the stones and the Heynai’s box, we remember the sacrifice of Lord Bierenstell at Ilin-Seatt.”

Tien then prized loose the second gem and replaced it with the new stone. “Next… The Eye of Toganoll. Mynaen ore, won through tests of courage and wisdom, by the Keeper himself in the forest of Readal. Given freely by Brraall and his tribe to the Keeper destined to hold it, the one spoken of in legend, so that good may triumph over evil.”

The third of the five stones did not come out so easily and Tien had to apply a lot more pressure with his sword. Eventually, it flew across the room as the force asserted suddenly made it leap out of the box. Harry went to fetch it, but the wizard stopped him before he had taken a step. “No! Leave it. That stone is nothing now but rock and dust. This is the one we need,” he said, holding up the new replacement. “…That which was taken from the Thargw Emperor himself, at the city of Kerralux.”

“Oh my…! I never realised. I never fully understood until now, until right this second, what he has done, what he’s had to do. What you went through, dad,” stated Graham, all of a sudden.

Harry and Jean took hold of a hand each as they tried to comfort the son who, for varying reasons, they realised they hardly knew. Graham felt his emotions getting the better of him and a lump developed in his throat, as he was suddenly overcome by very strong feelings of regret and sorrow. “All those lost years. What a waste,” he said, as he squeezed their hands gently. “I’m sorry, dad. I’m sorry for everything I put you through. I blamed you for it all, for everything, didn’t I? I never knew you see; why you weren’t there for me, either of you. But, I do now. I know I’ve said it all before, but I really need you both to know how I feel. I need to know that you forgive me? I have to tell you how much I regret what happened to us.”

“It’s okay, son, you were not to blame. You were the innocent victim in all of this, we know that. This whole thing was bigger than any of us. We all did what we had to do to survive. We did what was required to get through it,” replied Harry, smiling warmly.

“Yes, Graham, listen to your father, please? We are together now and that is all that counts, thanks to Jake,” said Jean. “Somehow, between the three of us, we managed to produce a remarkable young boy. He is…”

“A Keeper?” suggested Harry.

Jean nodded and they all laughed a little as they turned their attention back towards Tien, who was clearly impatient to proceed. “Yes, thank you. Time is running out. Now for the difficult part.”

The reolite pendant lay next to the dragon’s sphere. Tien removed the old stone from the box with some difficulty and held it out in front of him. “Stand back, please. All of you. There may be some sparks.”

The others did as they were told, retreating to the open doorway, where they stood and watched as the wizard went to work.

“Rebbrell euth hineax treoll,

Verrestte prolluum neothe,

Endulae weotte neesche!”

The Lichtus in his hands suddenly began to glow, but the light being emitted was far too dim, and Tien was obviously extremely concerned. Then, without warning, the stone jumped from his hands and flew across the room, halting in mid air about one foot from the startled Harry and Graham.

The old wizard realised immediately what was happening. He smiled a little with extreme relief. “Quickly! We still have a chance for this to work! The power of that stone is fading, but it has been drawn to you both. The mystery, the reason for your appearance on Rhuaddan, has been answered. You were both meant to be here. You were brought to this land for this very moment. It is seeking more energy, it needs the power of the Keepers. Without you, the box cannot be fully restored. Come over here, next to me. If I am right, the stone will follow.”

Harry and Graham let go of Jean’s hand and walked slowly over to Tien. As soon as they were by his side and the stone had stopped moving, the wizard began to chant again.

“Heynai greesht uthreall,

Nexoll praeet vixienne,

Alltol keprarr!”

The reolite stone suddenly burst into life to emit a very bright, white light. A radiant beam then shot out of it, causing Jean to shield her eyes, even though the others seemed strangely immune to its effects. The light raced from the pendant straight up to Graham and Harry’s eyes and then joined to form a perfect triangle. Tien reached forward without delay and threw the dragon’s sphere into the centre. As it crossed the ray of light, three further beams immediately appeared, firing out of the Lichtus swiftly to fix the sphere firmly in the heart of the triangle. It remained there motionless, suspended in mid air at eye level. Jean could hardly see now, but her heart was racing as Tien cast one last spell.

“Trendiogh kuell weppronn leeast!”

The three beams of light which held the dragon’s sphere in place shifted. They moved along the orb to converge on one central point, whilst somehow continuing to keep it aloft. A faint humming noise began and the lights started to cut into the solid stone. Slowly, gradually, they carved out a smaller gem, one which would fit perfectly into the box. Sparks began flying off in all directions, covering Harry and Graham and burning their skin. The heat caused by the friction became intense, and the two Keepers began to feel the effects. They were soon in agony. They both felt as though their skin was on fire, though one frantic and incredibly relieved look down, told Graham immediately that it was not. Miraculously there were no blisters, no burns, not even a redness of the skin. Still, the pain was unbearable.

“Aaargh! Dad, I can’t take much more of this!” yelled Graham.

Jean’s hand shot up to her mouth and tears filled her eyes. She was horrified as she watched their suffering, afraid that she might lose them both and able to do absolutely nothing to help. She could barely watch, but she knew instinctively that it had to be done, that they had to hold out. “No! You can do it, son. Trust me,” she screamed out, “my beautiful, precious boy.”

“She’s right, Graham. Listen to her,” said Harry, through clenched teeth. His face was contorted now as he tried hard to block out the intense pain. “Think of Jake. Think of all he has gone through to get us here. You are stronger than you can ever imagine.”

Graham suddenly called upon reserves of strength he never knew he had. For the mild mannered businessman and father, it was a very real and shocking revelation. More than that perhaps, it was also an awful, terrible realisation. He knew in that single moment that he was part of this dynasty, one of the chosen few, a Keeper, able to do anything if he put his mind to it. Graham West was a peaceful man by nature. He was perfectly happy with his lot in life and more than content to remain in the background, where he had always wanted to be. But, he knew immediately somehow, that this event could have drastic consequences for him and his future, for the ones he loved. He knew that his life had just been changed forever. He was no longer on the sidelines rooting for his son, he was at the very heart of what was happening.

He clenched his fists as he reluctantly accepted that fact, thought of his boy, and screwed up his face. “Okay dad, let’s do this. For Jake!”

Minutes later, the agony was over. The cutting was complete and the new stone fell from the sphere to land on the ground at Harry’s feet. The beams of light retracted immediately, vanishing into the pendant as if they had never existed. At the same time, the remainder of the dragon’s sphere fell and crashed to the ground. Ignoring the replacement stone completely, Harry immediately rushed to his son. “Graham, are you alright?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

Graham took a moment or two to collect himself, before replying in a slightly nervous, shaky voice. “Yes, I think so, dad. I don’t ever want to have to go through that again though! I’m sorry, I know the decision may not be mine to make, when and if the time comes, but I’m no Keeper! I don’t want to let you down but it’s not in me to do the things you’ve done, the things you’ve both done. I’m caught up in all of this now I guess, but truthfully, I want no part of it.”

Harry hugged him as best he could. Jake’s grandfather and former guardian of the stones was barely able to control his emotions. “That’s alright, my boy, that’s okay. I never asked you to be a Keeper. I tried my hardest to spare you from all of this, for I know what it entails. I love you just the way you are, and I always will. You have to know it, and believe me when I say that… I promise you here and now, if there’s a way, we will keep you out of it. Okay?”

Graham nodded gratefully before turning back to Tien. The wizard had retrieved the new stone he had cut and placed it into the box. He was just about to place the Lichtus stone in position also, when Jean interrupted his concentration with an unexpected question.

“Wasn’t… Wasn’t that hot?” she asked, pointing at the stone cut from the dragon’s sphere.

Tien shook his head. “No, it was as cold as the snow on my mountain. Now, without further delay, time for the final piece of the puzzle. Behold, a reolite stone. This one is known as the Lichtus. It was taken from a tyrant, freed by a slave and a King, and it has been sought for a thousand years by an entire population.”

He placed the Lichtus gently into position and stepped backwards. For a while nothing happened, and Harry and the others began to grow more than a little concerned. They looked at each other and then at Tien. The wizard remained expressionless as he watched the box intently. Then, all of a sudden, the reolite stone shone brightly. It lifted upwards to reach its highest point and each of the four corner gems burst into life.

“Close the box!” Tien instructed Harry. “It is ready!”