Keeper of the Realms: Crow's Revenge (Book 1) (35 page)

In fact, every corner that she turned seemed to hold some new surprise. Every building or street or square or bridge that she visited promised something strange or exotic. Charlie had to admit that she was falling in love with the Treman city.

‘Yeah, well, if ya thought everything else was special, then dis is really gonna blow yer mind,’ said Kelko with a wide grin. ‘Blossom, hold on ta yer little cotton socks as I now present ta ya … Hold on, shut yer eyes while I lead ya around dis corner, ready? OK, open yer eyes and behold! The Colosseum – home of K’Changa!’

Charlie’s eyes boggled as she took in the view. The Colosseum was a huge open-air affair similar to the ancient Roman arenas on Earth. With the last glimpse of the sun setting behind it, it appeared magnificent.

The Colosseum was heaving with people and the noise was almost deafening. Bubbling cheers, catcalls and raucous shouts washed over Charlie as the trio entered. Blazing torches lit both the stadium and the darkening sky. Thick smells and spicy scents from Tremen snack food wafted across the air. She could hear the hawking cries of vendors selling their food, yelling and calling at the tops of their voices so that they could be heard above the mass of cheering spectators.

‘Here,’ said Kelko as he paid one of the enthusiastic vendors. ‘Try these Gingered Snugglegruffs, and these little beauties are Candied Thistleloves. Ya’ll love ’em!’

Charlie took the sweets with a grin. She couldn’t help but be caught up in the excitement of the place.

‘Now then, let’s see about getting us some seats.’ Kelko turned to Sic Boy. ‘All right, boy, seats! Seats!’

Sic Boy got the message. Using his raw muscle as a battering ram, the dog forced his way down through the stands right to the very front of the Colosseum. Kelko and Charlie simply followed after. Some of the fans wanted to protest, but when they saw the sheer size and brutal appearance of the dog they swiftly changed their minds.

‘Righto, we’ll sit here. These seats are reserved especially for the Jade Circle, but I reckon they won’t mind if we take advantage of ’em!’

A huge cheer swept the crowd as the action within the arena intensified. The pounding drums and the rhythm from the band swelled as the K’Changa players battled for the Zephyr and then, with a final, intense flurry of limbs, the game was over. The crowd went wild and the winner was waving his hands in jubilation, a thick grin plastered over his face.

Charlie loved every minute. The sheer spectacle of it all, the crowd, the music and the exhilaration of the game. It was, without a shred of doubt, the most awesome thing she had ever seen, and it made her want to practise her own K’Changa moves even more.

‘Ha! Wot a match, but don’t ya worry, blossom, there’s more ta come yet. There’s a team game, an honour match and let’s not forget the Fleet-Foot Title match. Oh yeah, we picked the right night ta see the games!’

Charlie sat on the edge of her seat for the rest of the evening as excitement gripped her and held her fast. Match after match passed before her eyes, each more spectacular
than the previous. The crowd around her became wilder as time went by until the stadium was awash in a non-stop wave of noise. And then quite suddenly a hush settled across the crowd. A lone contestant had entered the arena and was impatiently awaiting the arrival of her opponent. The teenage Treman girl, standing in the centre of the Colosseum, put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot in agitation. For several minutes she stood there while the crowd waited in expectant silence.

‘What’s happening?’ asked Charlie. ‘Why hasn’t the other player turned up?’

‘It’s the champion,’ whispered Kelko. ‘She’s something of a show-off. She always likes ta make a grand entrance.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘You should probably know that she’s Lady Narcissa’s daughter, Constantina.’

Charlie raised her eyebrows. ‘Yeah? I never got to meet her. Is she as bad as the rest of her rotten family?’

‘Ta be honest, I’m not too sure. I’ve never talked ta the lass so I couldn’t form an honest opinion,’ mused Kelko. ‘She seems all right. And she’s real popular with all the K’Changa fans, but I guess that doesn’t mean anything. After all, Lady Narcissa is well loved, but we know she’s a real nasty piece of work when ya get down ta it.’

‘So how come Constantina’s the champion?’ asked Charlie, her brow wrinkling in puzzlement. ‘I thought all you Tremen were supposed to be the best?’

‘Yeah, well, we are. But that doesn’t mean other races can’t play and it doesn’t mean that others can’t become great as well. I mean, just look at ya, playing for a matter o’ days and ya already stole the Zephyr from me and Jensen!’

A commotion from behind them had people turning in their seats and pointing. A low rumble from the crowd soon grew to a shouting crescendo. All of a sudden, there was their champion, descending through the stands. The mass of spectators broke like a wave to let her pass and down she swept, head held high and dressed in white silken finery. A purple cloak flowed from her shoulders and diamonds glittered in her ears. Down the long bank of seats she came, with all the grandeur and pomp of a princess.

Charlie groaned when she realized Constantina was headed straight for her and Kelko. ‘Well, if it isn’t the little Keeper who everyone has been talking about. My, my, you are small, aren’t you?’ Constantina leaned forward and hissed in her ear. ‘And to think that the fate of Bellania could possibly lie in your hands …’ She squinted at Charlie’s pendant. ‘Or even around your neck.’ She smiled to the attentive crowd. ‘Well, I’d love to hang around and talk,’ she announced loudly, ‘but my audience awaits and I can’t keep my opponent waiting all day, now can I?’ With a toss of her head and a final sneer, the champion turned her back on Charlie and strode into the arena. The fans cheered and chanted her name as she sauntered over to face her challenger.

Sic Boy growled deep and low in his throat. He obviously didn’t like Narcissa’s toffee-nosed daughter and if Charlie was honest, neither did she. She couldn’t believe how rude the girl was and she couldn’t have been that much older than her – sixteen or seventeen at the most. All of Charlie’s previous excitement and great expectations for the night evaporated. Meeting Narcissa’s daughter had left her with
a sour taste in her mouth. She wriggled uncomfortably in her seat while she waited for the outcome of the match.

As it turned out, she didn’t have long to wait. Constantina quickly trounced her opponent and once again the crowd went wild. Narcissa’s daughter, victorious and overjoyed by her easy win, raised her arms in a bid for silence. The crowd was only too willing to please their beautiful champion.

‘Tremen, Humans, Stomen, my fellow lovers of K’Changa,’ she called out, her voice swollen with pride. ‘Once again I have bested those who you send to me. Have I not proved time and time again my skill, my prowess? Am I not rightfully your champion?’

The crowd roared its agreement.

‘Is there any better than me?’

This time the crowd howled out a throaty, ‘No!’

‘And in this time of trouble and uncertainty, when the Western Menace grows near, do we not need all the champions we can get?’

‘Yes!’ cheered the crowd.

Charlie turned to Kelko. She didn’t like the way Constantina was leading the crowd along. ‘Kelko, what’s going on?’

‘I’m not sure, blossom,’ said Kelko, worry causing his brow to furrow. ‘Trouble by the looks of things.’

‘Very well, then,’ cried Constantina. ‘As I’m sure you all know, there is a new Keeper in town.
Charlie
Keeper,’ she added, pointing directly to her.

Charlie felt thousands of eyes drawn to her.

‘My fellow Sylvarisians, you need to know that she holds the fate of Bellania around her neck. The pendant she wears is a gift from the Winged Ones. They say it is a secret
weapon that might stop the Western Menace in his tracks! But Charlie Keeper herself is under threat from Bane and draws his unwanted attention towards our fair city.’ She paused to let the information sink in.

Kelko instinctively stood closer to his friend. Charlie took the opportunity to discreetly tuck the pendant out of sight.

Constantina’s green eyes glinted. ‘But is this Keeper not too young for the task? Is she not too inexperienced for the rocky road that lies ahead?’ The crowd was totally silent now, listening to what their champion was saying. ‘May I suggest that another take up the task of keeping Sylvaris safe from the Western Menace? May I suggest that another take up the pendant? Someone with more experience. Someone more capable of defending our way of life. My friends, my people, my fellow citizens of Sylvaris, I humbly offer myself up for the task. What say you? Am I worthy?’

Kelko turned to Charlie in shock.

As one, the crowd roared out its reply, the gigantic cry of consent shaking the stands. ‘Yes! Yes! Constantina! Constantina for Sylvaris! Constantina for Sylvaris!’

49

Confrontations

The flock of crows beat their way through the air. Growing hungry, they angled down towards the Great Plains that lay below. Flying lower, they spotted a small herd of deer led by a proud stag with heavy antlers.

Descending in a wall of black feathers, the crows dropped upon the terrified stag. Sinking their talons into its soft fur, the mass of birds hauled their wriggling catch into the sky. Then, feeding piranha-like upon the bleating and still-struggling stag, they continued their hurried pace

‘What’s her problem?’ snapped Charlie furiously. ‘Is she mad? This pendant is mine! My parents gave it to me. She’s got to be crazy if she thinks I’m gonna give it up!’

‘Er …’ said Kelko as he nervously patted his stomach. Constantina was strutting across the arena towards the two of them. ‘Er, this doesn’t look good, blossom, not good at all.’

Striding up the steps into the stand, Constantina shouted
out to the crowd, ‘Sylvaris! People of Sylvaris! Will you bear witness to my request?’

‘Yes!’ roared out a thousand delighted voices. ‘Yes!’

Leaning over towards Charlie, Constantina whispered, ‘Sweeten up, buttercup! Time to make way for someone who knows what they’re doing!’

Charlie quite firmly resisted the urge to push the arrogant girl back down the steps of the stand.

Aloud, and for the benefit of the crowd, Constantina called out, ‘Charlie Keeper, do you relinquish your pendant to me, Sylvaris’s K’Changa champion, in this, our greatest hour of need, to be used for the saving of our way of life?’

Charlie stared at her in amazement. Surely this couldn’t be happening? Aware that thousands of eyes were staring at her, awaiting her response, she blushed a deep, deep crimson. ‘Kelko!’ she whispered. ‘What should I say?’

‘Tell her, “Blight me Leaf, but you can jabber off home!”’

Charlie rolled her eyes. That wasn’t the most ladylike response. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stand up in front of the crowd and voice her reply. ‘No! You can’t have it. Didn’t anyone teach you it’s not right to ask for what isn’t yours?’

Like some giant beast, the crowd groaned and muttered its disapproval. Charlie could practically feel their displeasure pressing down on her like an oppressive burden. She blushed an even deeper shade of red, but an angry spark began to burn within her heart. Who were these people to judge her? They didn’t know what she’d been through. What she’d already sacrificed to help Bellania. Straightening her back, Charlie stood even taller and addressed the crowd.

‘Sylvaris, I’m sorry but no, you may not have this pendant! It is mine, given to me by my parents, and it is all that I have to remember them by. This is the very last shred of contact between me and them so, Constantina –’ Charlie took a very big breath before continuing – ‘you can Blight me Leaf and jabber off home!’

There was a shocked moment of silence before the Colosseum erupted into a cascading wall of noise as half the crowd roared in laughter while the other half booed out its anger. Kelko laughed so hard he actually fell off his seat. With one shaking finger, he pointed at Constantina’s disbelieving face. She looked like she’d been slapped by a wet fish.

‘What?’ whispered Charlie. ‘That was the right thing to say, wasn’t it?’

Kelko’s stomach was wobbling so hard it threatened to break the buttons on his leather shirt.

‘
What?
Why’s half the crowd laughing? That’s what you suggested I should say, isn’t it?’

‘Yup, yer right, I did suggest it. I just didn’t think ya would actually say it, at least not in public! Oh, Charlie, lass, ya were excellent … Just look at her face! It’s the best thing I’ve seen all year. No one’s ever dared talk ta her like that – even her own mother – and ta say that in front of the Colosseum crowd … ha!’

Constantina, having got a firm grip upon her dignity, raised her arms for silence. The crowd grew quiet.

‘Charlie Keeper, for your rudeness and failure to support Sylvaris in its hour of need I formally challenge you to a Silent Duel!’

‘Burn me Sap!’ muttered Kelko.

‘I don’t care what you challenge me to, you chump!’ retorted Charlie. ‘Feel free to challenge me until your face turns blue for all I care. I’m not here to play games with spoilt brats and I’m certainly not planning on being here long enough to get into any fights. Blow your big mouth off all you want, but the answer’s still gonna be no!’