Keeper of the Realms: Crow's Revenge (Book 1) (31 page)

A sound echoed out from the gloomy tunnel, growing in volume as a tall silhouette strode into the Throne Room. The footsteps drew nearer to the dais, where Bane sat patiently. The guards stopped playing nervously with their swords, the footmen held their breath and the Shades finally grew still as a lanky figure stepped out from the shadows and into the torchlight.

It was Mr Crow, but it was quite obvious that there was something very different about the skinny lawyer, something in the way he held himself and the way he moved. No longer
did he cower in Bane’s presence, he walked with purpose in his stride. And his eyes, if they were dark before, were now like deep oily pits. Black as the night, unwavering and unblinking. When he stared at anything, he did so with a hungry and carnivorous expression. Truly this was no longer the old Mr Crow. No longer was he a secretive, grubbing and spineless scavenger. He had the look of a predator.

A hungry predator.

He stared briefly at the Shades, footmen and guards before dismissing them as being unworthy of his attention. He focused his gaze upon the throne and its occupant.

‘Crowman, come here.’

Mr Crow did as he was told. Moving forward with silky grace, he approached the Devouring Throne’s steps.

‘You remember Charlie Keeper, do you not?’

The lawyer nodded, his head moving with a quick, jerky motion.

‘Excellent. You are to go east, to Sylvaris, the Treman city,’ commanded Bane. ‘Once there you will aid Lady Narcissa with her task. She has been instructed to deliver to me Charlie Keeper and her pendant. You will ensure that this task goes smoothly and to plan. Do you understand my demands?’

Crow silently nodded.

‘Good.’ Bane rose to his feet. Stretching out his arms, he opened his mouth and in his deep craggy voice he began to sing. The dais began to shiver, the stone floor quivered in soft waves which rippled, fanning out across the room, rocking the Shades and forcing the footmen and guards to fight, like drunkards, for their balance. Crow, however, remained unaffected and silently rode out the tempest that rocked the chamber. The
ripples ran up the walls and into the darkness, disappearing into the shady heights of the vaulted ceiling. Bane’s voice grew stronger, deeper. The song intensified and the soft glow in his hands blossomed, then violently burst into fierce flames. With a great cracking and growling, the heavy ceiling tore itself open into a massive chasm that cut through a layer of bedrock, revealing the night sky twinkling far, far overhead.

Bane lowered his flaming arms and sat back on the Devouring Throne.

‘There, Crowman, is your exit. Take it and make your way east. Fulfil my commands and, should you succeed, know that I will reward you in ways that you never dreamed possible.’

The lawyer bowed once more to his lord, then with a hop and a bound launched himself into the air. Flapping his lanky arms, he hurled back his head, arched his spine and opened his mouth to reveal newly sharpened teeth before bursting apart into a hundred black and evil screeching birds. The creatures flapped, cawed and clawed their way from the hidden bowels of the earth where Bane kept his kingdom, up the chasm and out into the unsuspecting night sky.

The footmen and guards stared after the swiftly disappearing Mr Crow in morbid fear and sickened astonishment, while Bane, the Western Menace, laughed in delight.

Charlie was fuming as she, Nibbler and Azariah left the Council Chamber and walked the long corridors of the Jade Tower.

‘So what, she just gets away with it?’ she stormed. ‘What
kind of stupid law lets her walk free like that? How can Lady Dridif let that happen?’

‘Because Lady Dridif believes in the law,’ answered Azariah. ‘She upholds it even when it doesn’t work smoothly.’

‘But why?’ insisted Charlie.

‘Because she believes that without law there is chaos. Sticking to the law is Dridif’s way of fighting against corruption.’

‘Well, it obviously doesn’t work that well, does it?’ said Nibbler. ‘I mean, if Narcissa can walk free as easy as that, then something’s wrong.’

Azariah sighed. ‘Dridif believes in the big picture. Today Narcissa might walk free but in seven days’ time Lady Dridif is certain she’ll find the truth. It might have cost Dridif in the short term, but she always, always looks at the long term.’

‘But that gives Narcissa an extra seven days to cause trouble!’ complained Charlie. ‘Your laws are seriously messed up.’

‘I have been to Earth several times in my life,’ admitted Azariah, ‘and I do not believe that the laws in your realm are foolproof either. I remember hearing stories of legal battles going on for years. I have seen how the large corporations in your realm bend the law to their gain. Life, young Charlie, as you well know by now, is not always fair.’

Charlie scowled. ‘So we just stand around and let her get away with it?’

‘No! Of course not. The law is for Lady Dridif and the Jade Circle. You and I are Keepers and young Nibbler here is a Winged One. We do not uphold the law. We uphold what is right.’ Azariah flashed Charlie a reassuring smile.

Charlie hesitantly returned it. ‘So what are we going to do?’ she asked.

‘We are going to have a discreet word with Lady Dridif. Come, we shall go and talk to her in her study. This way.’

Charlie and Nibbler obediently followed the old Keeper as he led the way through the maze of corridors and into the grand hallway.

‘Look, the war is killing me!’ said a familiar voice. ‘If I don’t get me Moreish powder flowing back along the Spice Route and through ta the markets of Alavis and Alacorn, me business is doomed!’

‘Wot about, ya know, popping over ta the Other Realm?’ suggested another familiar voice.

‘The Other Realm? Oh, sure, no problem apart from the tiny, incy, wincy fact that Bane has got his blooming Shades watching all the Gateways. I’ve got no choice but ta ask the Jade Circle for help.’

Rounding the corner, Charlie came face to face with Jensen and Kelko.

They stopped and stared, first at the sight of Nibbler, but then at Charlie.

Butterflies began to flutter their wings inside Charlie’s stomach and almost immediately her palms grew sweaty. Hot waves of guilt washed her face red with shame.

‘Oh, look who we’ve got here,’ snorted Jensen. ‘Miss I’m-Too-Good-For-The-Likes-Of-Ya! Surprised ta see people like us in such a posh tower? Well, don’t ya worry. We’ll soon be outta yer hair and back ta where “riff-raff” like us belong!’

Jensen’s snide remarks hit Charlie hard. The guilt in her stomach and the remorse running up and down her spine intensified. Kelko, standing next to Jensen, didn’t say
anything. He just looked shamefacedly down at his fat stomach before quickly walking off.

Which was worse. A lot worse. Charlie would have preferred the sarcastic remarks from Jensen rather than having to see the awful look of hurt across Kelko’s gentle face.

‘Look, I didn’t mean to say those things! It wasn’t really me saying any of that! It was –’

‘After all the help we gave ya and that’s how ya go and repay us?’ interrupted Jensen. ‘Charlie, we thought ya were a nice girl. But yer a real piece of work, ya know that?’ Not waiting for an answer, he stalked off.

‘B-but …’ stuttered Charlie.

Azariah gazed softly at Charlie. ‘Young Keeper, there will be time enough for that later. But right now it is imperative that we see the First Speaker.’

‘But –’

‘Later,’ insisted Azariah. ‘I shall, as I promised, help you. But please remember that a Keeper must always face up to his or her responsibility. And at the moment that means having a quiet word with Lady Dridif.’ He held out his hand. ‘Now, come this way.’

The young Stoman boy paused on his way to the market. On his back was a large pannier of crystals and rock fruit that his father had instructed him to sell. But the pannier was heavy and the road long. Pausing for a break and a sip of water, he eased the pack off his back and sat down to massage his aching legs. But … what were those noises?

Caws and raucous shrieks began to tear along the pathway, echoing back and forth, growing louder and louder. The boy stood up fast. His heart jumped and kicked wildly within his chest. Wyrms! It had to be! They were coming back. Coming back for him!

Panic coursed through his veins like a wild electrical fire. He tried to sprint for safety but his tired legs were in no shape. Cramp sent its cruel fingers digging into his calf muscles and with a hoarse cry the boy fell over.

The shrieks grew louder and louder. Closer and closer the strident call came and then it was there. Whipping around the corner a thick black cloud of rushing, streaming, cawing crows cascaded towards him. Hooked yellow beaks and needle-sharp talons flashed in the afternoon sun. Dark feathers fluttered fiercely. The harsh sound of hundreds of beating wings tore at his ears. The endless tide of shadowy birds blocked out the sun, leaving the boy to whimper and scrabble in the gloomy dust.

And then they were gone. Croaking and screaming, the crows sped onwards, hurtling down the path and disappearing into the distance.

It took the young boy a long time to gather his wits together and longer still to fasten the heavy panniers upon his back. First Wyrms and now this.

‘What is happening to Bellania?’ he said aloud, before hastening to the market.

43

Planning Ahead

‘And why, might I ask, do ya want ta see the Isiris Bracelets?’ asked Lady Dridif.

‘To prove a point,’ said Azariah, as though it was the most reasonable request in the world.

‘And wot point would that be?’

Azariah sighed. ‘Lady Dridif, I have known you for eighty-seven years. I would like to think that perhaps, after all this time, we could finally learn to speak openly with one another. You and I both know the threat that Bellania faces. You and I both know that the shadow of Bane will soon cover the land. We need to make bold decisions and we need to make them now.’

The four of them – Azariah, Charlie, Nibbler and Lady Dridif – were standing in the First Speaker’s comfortable study. A large fireplace occupied one wall and along another was a huge map of Bellania. The third wall was covered by bookshelves and the fourth was one enormous window that looked out across the beauty of Deepforest.

‘We both know that the Jade Circle has been compromised,’ continued Azariah. ‘At least one of Bane’s agents, if not more, is a councillor. After this morning’s accusations
you know without a doubt that either Lady Narcissa or Charlie works for the Western Menace. Give me the Isiris Bracelets, right here, right now, to use
privately
in this room and I shall prove to you that Charlie is beyond suspicion.’

Dridif silently turned away. Walking over to the window, she rested her forehead against the cool glass and stared out across her city.

‘I have been on dis council for more than two hundred years and of those I have held the position of First Speaker for one hundred and eleven. After all that I have seen and endured, after all that I have had ta fight for ta ensure Bellania retains its freedom, I have grown weary. I’m tired, me bones are old …’ Lady Dridif took a deep breath before standing up stiff and straight. She stared at Nibbler, who remained solemn and silent.

When Dridif next spoke her voice had grown hard. ‘But of course that ain’t wot ya want ta hear, is it? And ya shall not, for I’m still Lady Dridif, the Royal Oak, First Speaker ta the Jade Circle, and I still hold the ideal and promise of liberty close ta me heart. So I will fight against Bane in any way that I can, even if it means betraying some of the principles that I hold dear. The bracelets are there. Use them and show me the truth.’

Charlie looked to where Dridif was pointing. Without hesitation she walked over and clamped the cold jewellery over her wrists. Picking up the Isiris Ring, she passed it over to Dridif.

‘Ask me,’ said Charlie quietly. Then, because that didn’t feel quite right, she said it again but this time in a more determined voice. ‘Ask me.’

‘Charlie Keeper, I bid ya ta tell the truth. Do ya work for or in any way aid or abet Lord Bane, the Western Menace?’ asked Dridif.

‘No, I don’t!’ declared Charlie. ‘Help that angry idiot? I’d rather have all my hair cut off and have my name changed to “Bob” before I helped that horrible grumping stumping oaf of a giant!’

‘Young Keeper, a simple “no” would have sufficed, but thank ya all the same,’ said Dridif, fighting to retain a prim and proper expression on her face. ‘Very well, then, the truth is revealed. Lady Narcissa is the traitor.’

‘My turn,’ said Azariah.

‘Wot?’

‘I insist,’ he said. Stepping over to Charlie, he unfastened the bracelets from her wrists and slipped them over his own. He stared expectantly at Dridif.

‘Very well, then. Azariah Keeper, I also bid ya ta tell the truth. Do ya work for or in any way aid or abet Lord Bane, the Western Menace?’

‘No.’

‘Well, then, if you can do it so must I,’ grumbled Lady Dridif.

‘But you’re the one we had to prove our innocence to!’ protested Charlie. ‘Why would you have to wear the bracelets?’

Dridif held up her hand. ‘If Bane has succeeded in reaching with his dark fingers all the way inta the Jade Circle, then no one, absolutely no one, is above suspicion. Trust is a luxury that we can no longer afford,’ she said, snapping the bracelets over her green wrists. ‘Azariah, would ya be so kind?’