Keeper of the Realms: Crow's Revenge (Book 1) (30 page)

Something was beginning to form within the twisting flames. A diamond-shaped head with piercing, glowing eyes slowly appeared, then two impossibly long reptilian hands emerged to grasp and paw at the air. Crow’s eyes rolled in his head as the fear became almost unbearable. The thing’s skin was carbon black. Crisp and burnt like coal. Mr Crow wanted to flee, to run screaming, to pull at his hair and pluck out his eyes – anything to hide from the fearful sight before him – but his body refused to move. Dread bound him to the spot far tighter than any iron chain or steel manacle ever could.

‘My God, I would ask a favour of you,’ rumbled the Stoman Lord.

‘What would you ask of me?’

The thing had no visible mouth, but nonetheless its voice thundered across the chamber and filled Crow’s head almost to the point of bursting.

‘My God, Bellania is almost mine for the taking, but still the pendant evades me,’ said Bane, ignoring Crow’s discomfort. ‘I believe this mortal has the will and desire to complete the task of fetching the pendant and crushing the Keeper girl, but while his mind is eager, his body is weak. I would ask that you augment this Human and make him capable of the task. I ask that this fleshy, pulpy Human be made a pawn in our game of power.’

The face within the light stared at Mr Crow. Its hands spasmed and clasped at the air, insect-like. Suddenly the lawyer screamed. He could feel something icy and sibilant picking its way across his mind. Something that plucked and strummed its way through his memories. The God curiously studied details of the lawyer’s life. Cold and merciless, it forced its way deeper and deeper into Crow’s being with no apology for the pain it was inflicting.

Finally the alien and corpse-like presence withdrew from Crow’s mind. His knees sagged in relief. Opening his eyes, he squealed in shock at the sight of Bane’s God only inches away. Its blackened face was almost pressed up against his own, eyes shining with some unspeakable hunger. Lunging forward, it snatched at the lawyer and pulled the struggling, skinny figure into his burning, reptilian embrace.

Bane settled down to watch the show. He always enjoyed hearing the screams.

41

A Case for the Jade Circle

‘And how do you plan to do that?’ asked Azariah.

‘Do what, Azariah Keeper?’ said Dridif.

‘Sift fact from fiction. How do you plan to reveal the truth of the matter? Lady Narcissa is a well-known and well-liked member of this council. I doubt that any here would ever refute her word. And as for me and Charlie, we are both Keepers. Our word is considered sacred, so surely whatever we say must be considered the truth too. With all three of us being such honoured and respected individuals, prying the truth from the matter is going to be no easy task. So how do you intend to go about solving this case?’

‘With logic, of course,’ said Lady Dridif. ‘I would suspect that all of ya have amassed evidence and witnesses ta prove yer innocence and yer opponents’ guilt. By listening ta both sides I will be able ta deduce who is fabricating lies and who is innocent. Do not forget that I am Lady Dridif, the Royal Oak, and that I can sniff out the smallest of lies no matter how well hidden.’

‘But surely such a process is prone to error, not to mention being long and time-consuming …’

‘Azariah Keeper, I can see ya are trying ta lead me somewhere with dis. If ya have a better suggestion please just spit it out.’

Azariah grinned at the First Speaker. ‘I’m sorry for beating about the bush, Lady Dridif, but old habits die hard. What I would like to suggest is that we use these …’ Azariah dug into his robes and pulled out the Isiris Bracelets.

‘See!’ hollered Nazareth triumphantly. ‘I told you Charlie Keeper used the Isiris Bracelets on Stones! Azariah has just proved Charlie’s guilt by his own hand. Quick, you there, arrest them!’

‘Nazareth, I’ve told ya once before! I will not tolerate any more outbursts! So sit down and be quiet!’ snapped Dridif.

‘But that proves my case. It does, I’m telling you it does! Guards! Get –’

Dridif shook her head and sighed. With a distracted gesture she hooked her fingers together before flinging her hand forward. Nazareth squawked mid-sentence like a startled chicken before once again flying through the room to thud against the far wall. This time Dridif just left the councillor where he lay.

‘What are ya suggesting?’ continued Dridif as though she’d done nothing more strenuous than putting out the garbage.

‘Simple. You place the Isiris Bracelets on each of us in turn. All you have to do is hold the ring in your hand and instruct us to tell the truth.’

‘Ya know that I do not approve of those … pieces of jewellery,’ said Dridif with obvious distaste. ‘They are forbidden.’

‘Of course you don’t, because they are instruments that can too easily be used for wicked purposes. However, I’m sure that you would agree that they would be most suitable for solving our predicament.’

‘Hold on!’ interrupted Lady Narcissa hotly. ‘How can you think that I would consent to such an idea? Those bracelets are forbidden for good reason: they are wicked beyond doubt. I will not accept this. Use some other means for solving this argument.’

Several of the councillors rumbled their agreement.

‘Come now, Lady Narcissa,’ reasoned Azariah. ‘Surely you of all people wouldn’t use such a poor excuse for sidestepping the one thing that can guarantee us the truth in the matter?’

‘Truth? You will get no truth from using such evil tools!’ scorned Narcissa.

‘That didn’t stop you from using them on me, though, did it?’ accused Charlie. ‘Don’t try and act all innocent! Put on those bracelets and see what I had to put up with! We’d find out the truth soon enough then, wouldn’t we?’

Lady Narcissa ignored both Azariah and Charlie and turned her attention back to Lady Dridif. ‘I shall have nothing to do with this. Why can we not simply use our traditional methods of presenting material evidence and providing trusted witnesses?’

‘Because we all know you’ve just faked everything!’ snapped Charlie. ‘If you’re too scared to use the Isiris Bracelets, I’ll wear them first! Come on, then, I dare you! We’ll soon see who’s telling the truth and who’s the liar.’

In all honesty, Charlie couldn’t stand the sight of the
bracelets. But right now she was so furious she was willing to go through anything to prove Narcissa’s guilt. Even if it meant wearing them one more time.

‘A moment of the council’s time, if I may,’ rumbled Flint, his heavy jewellery rattling as he spoke. ‘I for one do not agree that the Isiris Bracelets should be used. We have banned them from Sylvaris and Bellania for good reason. If we are to start using them now, no matter how fitting we believe the circumstances are, we would still be betraying our ideals.’

‘Nonsense!’ snorted a wrinkled old Treman councillor. ‘I believe that dis is the perfect time ta use the Isiris Bracelets. It will solve who is lying and who is not and, more importantly, it will do so in a very short period of time. They are the perfect solution! I say we should boldly stride ahead and use them … Besides, I don’t know about all of ya lot, but I’m dying ta know who the liar is!’

Once more the Jade Circle erupted into shouted arguments. The councillors were obviously divided in their opinions. Lady Dridif wearily pinched the bridge of her nose as though she were doing her best to hold a large and painful headache at bay. She stared first at Lady Narcissa, then at Azariah Keeper. Slowly she held her hands up for silence.

‘We are all getting distracted from the matter at hand. There is without doubt a traitor in dis room. Now put aside all ya foolish passions and pride and let us push ta the heart of dis matter. Azariah proposes that the Isiris Bracelets be used ta uncover the truth. Now, I can see that many of you, perhaps wisely, oppose dis idea, so as the law demands, we shall put the proposal ta the vote.’

Throughout this exchange Lady Narcissa’s finger had been tapping on the table. Looking down the table at Azariah, then over to Dridif, she struggled to reach a decision. Her finger began to tap faster. Perhaps now would be the time to implement Bane’s instructions.

Her finger stopped. Lady Narcissa stood.

‘Sit down, Narcissa,’ instructed Dridif. ‘We are about ta vote.’

‘No,’ said Narcissa.

The table fell silent. Dridif frowned. ‘Excuse me?’

‘I said no.’

‘Now ya listen here –’ began Dridif, but Narcissa interrupted her.

‘I have no confidence in this council! I believe that some of you have been corrupted by Bane. I believe that some of you are traitors. Therefore I cannot allow myself to be hostage to any vote. I lay claim on my rights to be judged by a Winged One.’ She looked at Nibbler scathingly. ‘A
real
Winged One.’

A mutter of disbelief swept through the council members.

‘Narcissa.’ Dridif wearily pinched the bridge of her nose again. ‘There are no Winged Ones other than dis Hatchling. And although their Chrysalis Period is almost at an end, they are not due to return for another twenty-one days. And that is being optimistic. If worse comes ta worst, Bane could block their return.’

‘Nevertheless, it is my right to demand a trial by Winged One.’

‘Foolishness!’ snapped Dridif.

Lady Narcissa shrugged.

‘As bizarre as the request is,’ said Flint, ‘it is her right.’

‘But wot good can that do?’ protested Dridif. She turned her scrutiny back to Narcissa. ‘There are no Winged Ones ta judge you and if you insist on following dis antiquated law you must realize that if no Winged One appears within seven days the right ta judge you falls back ta the Jade Circle. At best you are only giving yerself some breathing room. At worst you are raising suspicion and doing nothing ta eliminate any possible treachery within the council.’

‘I don’t care,’ hissed Narcissa. ‘I feel unsafe. After Charlie Keeper’s actions last night, which I can only assume were orchestrated by Azariah Keeper, I have no doubt that some councillors have been seduced by the Western Menace. I cannot and will not place my trust in the Jade Circle. I demand my right to trial by Winged One.’

Dridif gave Narcissa a long, level stare. ‘If ya wish ta take dis road, Councillor, so be it.’

‘What?’ stormed Charlie in disbelief. ‘You’re going to let her just walk away?’

‘It is her right,’ explained Flint.

‘Right?’ Charlie couldn’t believe it. ‘Look, we all know she’s guilty, but you’re going to let her get away with it? That’s crazy.’

‘Charlie Keeper,’ snapped Dridif, ‘dis is the Jade Circle. We have rules and laws that must be followed. Without law there is chaos. Narcissa has claimed her right ta trial by Winged One. I will stand by the law and allow her dis. And in seven days’ time, if no Winged One appears, I will reconvene the meeting and get ta the bottom of dis.’ Her stare grew steely and she turned to look at each member of the
council. ‘But beware, each and every one of ya. I strongly suspect that there is foul work at play. Be it Charlie Keeper, Azariah, Narcissa, Nazareth or any of ya who are guilty of working with Bane, know that I will find the darkness hidden within dis council and I will, believe me, cut it out.’

‘You can’t –’ protested Charlie, but Dridif cut her off.

‘Silence! I have spoken.’ Dridif looked furious and Narcissa’s jubilant smirk quickly disappeared. ‘Know that I am not happy with dis. It would appear that Sylvaris is entering dark times and ta safeguard the city I shall triple the guards that patrol the streets. Furthermore, bear in mind that all of ya will be under me scrutiny. If I find one of ya is a traitor, ya will feel me wrath. Now get outta here. Dis meeting is adjourned.’

42

Crow Gets His Wings

As usual the Throne Room was silent. Yet this time there was a sense of expectancy, a feeling of suspense that crept and sneaked throughout the imposing chamber. It showed in the impatient fidgeting of the heavily muscled Stoman guards standing sentinel by the large doorways. It showed in the slight turning of heads as the cowled and liveried footmen stared towards the dark recess at the rear of the Throne Room. Even the Shades were restless, rustling and writhing as they haunted the misty shadows. Their attention was also focused upon the archway that led to their God’s lair. Eventually their patience was rewarded.