The Keeper of the Stones

Chapter 11



14th August – Base of the Herfion Mountains – Rhuaddan



It didn’t take long for the three new friends to capture the soldier’s horses, they were grazing on the long grass that lay beyond the rocks which were strewn around the base of the mountain and they offered no resistance when approached by Jake and Verastus. Jake stared at the large frame of his new companion as he mounted his horse.

“Well, it looks like it’s you and me doubling up mate,” he shouted to Ben, “that poor horse won’t take the weight if Verastus climbs on with one of us. As it is, we’ll have to take it easy I suppose, with two of us sharing.”

“Hey now, hang on just a minute!” answered Ben, as he thought about the practicalities of what was being proposed. “Do you even know how to ride, Jake? I know I don’t. It’s not something that’s called for on my council estate. And they never taught us at school. Hmmn, perhaps they should have though, eh?” he joked.

“Yeah, I do.” Jake answered confidently, though he was surprised by his own reply. “Don’t ask me how come, it must be the stones, but I’m really confident about it. Watch this if you don’t believe me.”

He leapt expertly onto his horse, grabbed the reigns and pulled them up sharply. The horse lifted its head and Jake dug his heels into its side, expertly making it bolt and gallop around thirty yards, before bringing it swiftly to a halt. He waved at his friend with one hand and then turned the horse swiftly around with his other. Then he galloped back to where the astounded Ben was waiting.

“Ra! Very good my friend.” laughed Verastus, impressed by Jake’s perfect display of horsemanship.

“Huh! Show off!” shouted Ben grumpily, as he accepted Jake’s outstretched arm and climbed clumsily and nervously onto the horse. “Well, if you ask me, there’s something not quite right about holding onto another male in this way. In my opinion of course, for what it’s worth.” he quipped, struggling to place both arms around his friend whilst trying to hold tightly onto the box.

“Don’t worry Brooksy, it’s not as though anyone can see ya.” laughed Jake, amused at Ben’s embarrassment. He walked the horse slowly over to Verastus. “Right then, let’s go. And I suppose I oughta give you that explanation I promised?” he said, as they set off gently in the direction of Erriard Forest, which could just be seen far away on the horizon from their lofty position.

They proceeded steadily, every now and then breaking into a canter. As they rode, Jake, with a little help from Ben, relayed the whole incredible story to Verastus, leaving out nothing and amazing himself with how much had happened to them in just a few hours. Jake realised as he spoke just how fantastic and unbelievable it might sound to his new friend, but he told it all anyway. He told Verastus of his grandfather (although at this point he knew nothing of his exploits in distant lands), of the Keepers (Of whom he knew even less), of the box of stones which were central to everything, and the battle at the house. He mentioned his anger and frustration at the uncertainty surrounding his grandfather’s fate. He spoke of the abilities he now possessed with some humility, stressing that everything that had happened to him was down to the stones, and he tried his best to explain how they’d changed him. Finally, he told Verastus of how they both longed to returw theye as quickly as possible, how it was the single most important thing to them both, but he also stressed that they didn’t know how to make it happen.

Verastus listened intently, giving away no indication of his thoughts or feelings, except for when Jake mentioned their desire to return home. This had a visible affect on him and a look overcame his face that suggested he understood exactly how they felt. When the tale had been relayed in its entirety, Verastus spoke.

“You have shared your story and your pain with me, Jake. I thank you both for the honour you bestow upon me. You have a major problem my friends,” he stated, “the stones have brought you to this land, and it would appear, that only the stones can return you home. You are certain they will not work?”

“Definite!” replied Ben emphatically. “We’ve tried them several times, they’ve had it. I mean, the box, it opens but there’s no light, at least no blinding flash of light to walk into. It’s no good, they don’t work.”

Verastus stared thoughtfully at them both. “Then, as I see it Jake, you now have two options. You either find someone who can repair the stones, make them work as they should. Or, you can replace the stones with new ones. If you can find any.”

“Right.” answered Jake. “And do you know of such a person? Someone who can fix the stones? I mean, can they be fixed?” he added, growing excited at the prospect of any solution to their current plight and desperately hoping that Verastus had some idea, unlike him, of what they should do next.

“Honestly, Jake? I do not know.” replied Verastus, thinking as hard as he could to come up with a plan. “Let us see, Vantrax obviously might be able to. But then, he would kill you both and keep the stones. He would use them for evil deeds. Kraa, what evil he could perform if he had that box. You must know that you hold a very powerful thing in your hands, Ben? It is something that people have killed for. Will be killed for! If Vantrax ever gets hold of it…?” he said, scaring himself and the boys as he thought of the possibility. “No! It must never be allowed to happen. I must help you if I can. Srr… I have not been entirely truthful with you both. I saw the box before, when you fetched it from behind the rocks. I know of it, all of Rhuaddan knows of it. We have all heard of the stones and the stories surrounding them, it is the hope that some people here cling to in their miserable existence. I have heard too of the Keepers, but I did not think they were real. So, the stones, let me think… Ay raas! There is a legend. But I do not know if it is true.”

“Legend, what legend?” asked Ben, desperation echoing in his voice. Both he and Jake were now hanging onto Verastus’ every word, hoping to seize on any chance of going home.

“My friends, there is talk of an old wizard. He lives in the mountains of Nadjan, he is believed to have helped the Keepers of long ago, and he is thought to have knowledge of the stones and their powers. But they say he is quite mad and speaks to no one. If he lives, he is the only one I know who might be able to help. If he can fix the stones somehow, they may get you home, but if you have to replace them, it will be extremely difficult! They are very rare stones. The Reolite stone in the centre for instance, it is almost impossible to find. I know this because my enemy, King Vantrax, has been trying to replace his for years, with no success.”

“His?” interrupted Jake sharply. “How big is his stone? Have you seen it?”

“Yes. I was taken to Heron Getracht when I was captured,” replied Verastus, “it is worn on a chain around his neck and it is… Ay Raas! No, Jake! No my young friend, you cannot seriously be thinking what I think you are? No, no, no, you would never get close enough. It would be suicide. Vantrax never leaves that fortress and it is too well defended. Besides, Sawdon would...”

“Hey, chill out! I’m only asking.” interrupted Jake. “It may not come to that. If we can find this wizard and fix the stones we’ll be fine, but if we have to replace them… Well, all I’m saying is, we need to know all of our options, don’t we?”

“Yeah, well I for one think that’s the worst idea you’ve had in a long line of silly ideas!” stated Ben. “It’s like stupid. Those stones must have affected your brain or something.”

Jake laughed at Ben’s comments, breaking the tension slightly. Verastus shook his head, failing to see the humour in Ben’s words and the conversation stopped for a while. The three friends continued riding across the plains of Astelli as the sun shone brightly. After a long while, they stopped for a drink of water from the canteens attached to the horse’s saddles. Ben was the first to drink and he swallowed the water gratefully, then he looked anxiously behind them for signs of any followers. When he was sure that he could see nobody, he turned to Verastus.

“So, come on then big man, tell us your story. We’ve been talking for ages, where are you from? And how were you captured?”

Verastus wiped the water away from his mouth and beard. He took a moment to decide where to begin. “I am from Falor my friends, on the continent of Mynae. I do not know what your world is like Ben, but ours is a turbulent one. We fight over borders, lands, crowns, minerals…. Anything at all. All of our lives are affected by it. It has been worse since the latest Rhuaddan wars. Volunteers from my country and neighbouring countries fought for Vantrax, for money and power. The Succession War was won, although Artrex still manages to survive beyond all reasoning, but Vantrax was determined to conquer the rest of Estia. To do that he needed more soldiers, volunteers alone would not suffice, and that is when the raiding forces began to arrive in my homeland.”

“Raiding forces?” asked Jake.

“Yes. They came in ships across the Fetril Sea, small armies that captured us, chained us and brought us to Rhuaddan and Vantrax. Here we were offered a ‘choice’; fight for Vantrax and earn our freedom (although few have lived to see it), or a lifetime of servitude in the mines. I would not fight for the tyrant. So they took me to Heron Getracht, threw me in their dungeons. I tried to escape, but they caught me and tortured me. I was even taken to the tower room and placed in front of Vantrax himself, on my knees of course, where he tried to persuade me to fight for him. That is when I saw his stone. He calls it ‘The Lichtus’.” said Verastus, before pausing while he thought of how best to continue.

“So, what happened from there?” asked Ben.

“I would not... I will not, fight for Vantrax! They sent me to the great mine at Lidzenstor where I have worked day and night these past four years. All that time I was planning my escape. This morning I ran, I thought I had made it when I saw the mountains, but those horsemen followed and… Well, you know the rest.”

“But you must want to return home to your family after so long away, surely?” asked Jake sensitively.

“Raa... Family? I have no family left Jake!” answered Verastus angrily. “Some were killed by the raiding forces, the rest were taken into slavery, they have all perished fighting, or in the mines. You cannot imagine the conditions down there. The poisonous air, the filth… I will never go back. I will die first!” he stated emphatically.

Jake and Ben could see the fury and determination in Verastus’ eyes. ‘I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him!’ thought Ben. “Well, my new mucka,” he said, “you’re free now. And you’ve got a couple of secret weapons on your side.”

“Thank you.” replied Verastus, smiling humbly to acknowledge the sentiment in Ben’s words.

Jake nodded and smiled at him also as they mounted their horses to continue their ride. They’d travelled for several hours when they approached the outskirts of the vast Erriard Forest. Jake and Ben stared up at the enormous trees in front of them. “Wow, look at the size of that tree! You don’t get trees like that in Staffordshire. It must be hundreds of year’s old.” said Ben, clearly impressed by the scale on the forest before him.

Jake was about to respond, but a party of around twenty horsemen suddenly galloped out from the darkness of the forest to where the three had stopped, encircling them in one neat, practised, professional manoeuvre. Ben instinctively placed the box under his shirt, deliberately hiding it from everyone’s sight.

“Who are you? And what is your business here?” demanded a young female warrior who seemed to be the leader of the group, despite her obvious youth. Her voice contained an authority that belied her age, she was confident and impressive. “Speak quickly! And you may survive this day!” she warned, her eyes now firmly fixed on Verastus.

Verastus looked at his two companions. Ben appeared to be terrified and was obviously lost for words. Jake was maintaining a dignified silence, he appeared outwardly calm and he was obviously content for Verastus to speak for them all in this instance.

“I am Verastus of Falor. I seek an audience with the rightful King of Rhuaddan, King Artrex.” Verastus stated boldly.

The female warrior wasn’t impressed. “You will address me first! And I will decide who you see!” she answered, in a manner that ensured they all knew who was in command of the situation. “Why do you seek Artrex?” she shouted.

“I have escaped from the mine of Lidzenstor. I have been enslaved there these past four years. If you serve King Artrex, I would offer him my sword. If you do not, then stand aside or finish what you have started. We have no time to waste. Vantrax’ soldiers will not be far behind us.” snapped Verastus in reply.

The young warrior turned her attention to Jake and Ben, looking them up and down with amazement and curiosity. She turned to speak to Verastus again. “And what do you have with you, Verastus? What manner of clothes do they wear? Vantrax’ spies?” she asked.

Verastus and Jake were about to respond, but they didn’t. A soldier to the side of his leader suddenly stated forcefully to her, “Princess! Horsemen approach, over there! I count six, a scouting party?” he ventured, as he pointed to the figures that had appeared in the distance.eight="8">

“It is a search party.” Verastus answered for them all. “As I have stated, they are looking for us. We must move now! Do we come with you or not?” he demanded anxiously.

The female warrior nodded firmly. “So be it! Come quickly! I am Princess Zephany and, for the time being at least, until we can verify who you are and learn your stories, you are all now prisoners of the Ruddite Rebel Army.” she shouted, as she expertly turned her horse swiftly around and galloped back into the forest, followed immediately by her soldiers and their three new captives.