Keeper of the Realms: The Dark Army (Book 2) (4 page)

Sprinting forward Darkmount dipped his blazing hands into the floor and ripped free jagged clumps of rock. As he pounded across the room, he flung these crude missiles, knocking soldier after soldier off his feet. Then he was amidst the warriors, moving with raw efficiency. Kicking
and stamping, hurling punches, bone-crunching elbows and vicious headbutts against his opponents.

Charlie’s mouth gaped open. Edge Darkmount didn’t move with the elegance of a martial artist but with the fury and brutality of a bar-room brawler. He used any and every part of his body as a weapon to strike and pummel the soldiers. When they tried to strike back his glowing fists and forearms deflected their blows in an explosion of sparks.

Darkmount was a tidal wave of destruction.

As he made short work of the Stomen, unconscious, twitching and moaning bodies fell to the floor until only three remained. The warriors hesitated at the obvious strength of their foe. Adjusting their grip on their weapons they lowered their stances and began to circle their adversary.

‘Idiots!’ snapped Darkmount with a sneer of disdain. ‘You face a Bishop of the Faith! A true Master of Stone!’

Again reaching his hands into the floor he tore free a length of rock. Quickly passing his hands up and down its surface, he shaped it into a long mace. Then, raising it above his head, he began to whirl it round and round, all the while feeding his power with his stonesinging.

The first warrior made his move. The others, gaining courage from his action, also darted forward, but Darkmount was quicker. Much quicker. Punching the mace forward like a spear, he thrust its blunt head deep into the first soldier’s gut. Lashing the club backwards, he struck the second warrior on his shoulder, hip, knee and wrist in quick succession, before spinning it round to crack against the remaining soldier’s skull.

He grunted in approval as he surveyed his work. Seeing that the majority of the guards weren’t moving and that
those who did were writhing in agony, he allowed his song to slow and the light to dim from his hands.

Moans of pain filled the silence and, apart from the occasional twitch from one or two of the fallen guards, the dungeon was still.

Charlie stared at Darkmount with a combination of awe and alarm. Creepy he might be, but she got the impression he might be better than having a battering ram or armoured tank on her side. Much better.

‘Mmmmmmmmmmggggg!!’ protested a familiar but muffled voice. ‘Mmmmmmmmhhh!’

Charlie moved across the mouldy dungeon where, to her surprise, she found Nibbler. He was struggling between taut lengths of chain. A leather harness had been forced over his muzzle, preventing him from opening his mouth, and all that escaped his lips were the peculiar murmurs that groaned their way across the room.

‘Mmmmmmmmmmmg, mmh-nng-mmmmmmmmhhh!’

‘Oh, Nibbler,’ breathed Charlie, partly in relief at seeing her friend still alive and partly in dismay at finding him in such a bedraggled condition. She wanted to crack a wise joke, something to make everything better, but the sheer scale of failure that had accumulated over the past couple of days weighed heavily on her heart. All she could say was, ‘Oh.’

Stumbling over on leaden feet, she stroked the side of his face. The sight of the cruel harness was enough to push her Will into a tight knot of concentration that twisted and burned within her soul. It swept out from her mind, down her arm and flickered with a wobbling intensity from the tips of her fingers. It was a puny display of power, nothing
compared to her normal abilities, but it was enough to tear the harness from Nibbler’s face and the cruel chains from his wings and legs.

‘Ppfffft!’ spat Nibbler. He staggered backwards on unsteady feet with a wild look in his eyes. ‘Ugh! Yuck, yuck, yuck!! Do you know how long I’ve been dying to spit? That harness tasted of sewer fish! It stank of rotten underwear and mouldy broccoli and … and … two days I had it stuck in my mouth!’ Nibbler hopped up on his back legs and used his forepaws to wipe at his tongue. ‘Two days, you know! I can’t believe it. Ppft!’

‘Oh, Nibbler, are you –’

‘Ack! Eurgh! Ick!’ coughed Nibbler as he tried to spit out the taste. ‘Two days of foot cheese and toe jam in my mouth!’

‘Nibbler, did they hurt –’

‘Two!’ snorted Nibbler. His eyes spread wide with horror and he waved one paw above his head in protest.

‘Nib–’

‘Aaahh … urgh … ppft!’

The young dragon continued to prance around, shaking his head in disgust and gesturing wildly. He was so caught in the moment that he failed to catch the look that crossed Charlie’s face. When Charlie finally opened her mouth it was like an explosion going off.

‘NIBBLER!’

‘Huh? Oh … uh, hi, Charlie. How’re you doing?’ The silence, combined with Charlie’s tip-tapping foot, caused Nibbler’s eyebrows to wriggle in concern. His shoulders hunched forward and a flustered look passed across his face. ‘Uh, the, uh, taste …’ he tried to explain, realizing a little too late that he was in trouble.

Charlie’s frown deepened. ‘Do you have any idea how concerned I’ve been? I’ve been stuck in a manky, rat-infested cell worrying about what might have happened to you and all you want to do is have a sissy fit about a bad taste. Do you have any idea what it feels like to be that stressed about the safety of your friends?’

‘Er …’

‘Do you?’

‘Well …’ began Nibbler, then paused to look around with a cheeky expression. ‘Before I answer your question I have one of my own which is … are you my momma?’

‘What?’ said Charlie, the unexpected change in conversational track causing her to mentally stumble. ‘No, of course I’m not! What kind of stupid question was that?’

‘Well, it’s just that you’re nagging me like an old woman and doing that squinty thing with your eyes … so I kinda thought it’d be wise to check.’ With an air of innocence he went on to shrug his shoulders. ‘Y’know just on the off chance.’

‘But …’ Nibbler’s rude grin caused her own lips to twitch and she could not stop a large smile creasing her face. ‘Ahhh, Nibbler, you’re a joker through and through.’ Reaching over she rubbed his muzzle. ‘I’m glad you’re OK, I was getting really worried and … well I’m just glad you’re safe.’

Nibbler laughed at the sudden release of tension. ‘I missed you too.’ Leaning forward he batted his head beneath Charlie’s arm and pulled her into a hug. ‘So you’re not my momma then?’

‘Oh my gosh!’ huffed Charlie and pushed him away. ‘Two days of being tied up and you’re still a fool!’

Nibbler chuckled in delight, secretly pleased to see her still smiling.

‘Enough of this idiotic prattle!’ snapped Darkmount. ‘Your companion is safe. It is time we hastened and freed the other three. Hopefully they won’t all be as foolish as this young Winged One.’

‘Who’s this?’ asked Nibbler, giving the brooding Stoman a look.

‘He’s Edge Darkmount –’

‘What! The one wh–’

‘And, no, he didn’t betray us,’ interrupted Charlie before Nibbler could go off on another verbal rampage. ‘To cut a long … well, medium, story short he’s trustworthy …’ She paused to look over at the Stoman bishop who, having picked up one of the unfortunate guards by the scruff of his neck, was now cruelly demanding the location of her friends. ‘Well, maybe trustworthy isn’t quite the right word for him. But I think he’ll help us in the short term. I’ve made a deal with him and till it’s sorted out he’s going to help us.’

‘Deal? What, are you crazy? I wouldn’t invite a dude like that to my birthday party, let alone consider making a deal with him!’ exclaimed Nibbler. He flinched as the huge bishop casually threw the guard across the room. ‘What kind of deal was it?’

‘I’ll tell you on the way. I think he’s found out where the others are.’

Edge Darkmount strode back across the room. ‘Your friends are being held in the Autumn Winds Courtyard. It’s on the northern side of the university, next to the city gates.’

‘Did the guard say if they were OK?’

‘I didn’t ask, but knowing the Stoman army I would assume that they have been treated harshly – probably beaten or whipped.’ He shrugged. ‘We won’t know for certain until we get there.’

Charlie scrunched her eyes shut at the thought of her friends taking such punishment.

The bishop continued. ‘I would suggest we continue to be discreet and tunnel our way beneath the university. We don’t want to deal with every guard and soldier between here and there.’

‘Agreed.’ Charlie nodded, seeing the wisdom of his words. ‘Lead the way.’

Darkmount grunted, turned round and strode back the way they had come, his voice blossoming into song and his fists erupting into light. Charlie and Nibbler shared a quiet look of determination before following the Stoman bishop into the tunnel.

The colonel and the Shade passed from the well-kept corridors of the university into the dusty, darker vaults that lay beneath the city. Two bored guards straightened as they caught sight of the colonel. Throwing a hasty salute at him they opened the heavy door that led to the cells.

‘Which one is she in?’ queried the Shade.

‘This one,’ said the colonel, pointing at one of the doors. It took both of his hands to open the bolt, but once it was free he swung the door back and allowed the Shade to enter first.

‘You bungling idiot!’

The colonel frowned. Dipping his head beneath the door-frame he glanced inside. It only took him a second to realize what had occurred. ‘Guards! You –’ he pointed to one. ‘You are to attend me, and you –’ he pointed at the other – ‘go and raise the alarm. Someone has freed the Keeper.’

Drawing his sword and indicating that the remaining soldier do likewise, he began to jog briskly down the tunnel.

The Shade stared venomously at them, but swiftly followed. Punishment for this idiocy was something that could be dealt with later; first, the Keeper had to be secured.

Flitting from shadow to shadow the Shade overtook the two Stomen. Moving faster and faster, it charged on until it came to a split in the tunnel. It hissed in frustration; the scent of the Keeper was fresh in both directions. Slashing at an offending piece of rock, it spat in fury. The Shade didn’t like having to make hasty decisions. When it hunted it preferred certainty, not doubt. Now it would have to split its meagre forces. Tail coiling, it waited for the two Stomen to catch up.

‘The tunnel has split. You two will take the northern direction; I will continue along this path.’

‘Wait, what of your brethren?’ asked the colonel. ‘I was informed that a full pack of Shades would be arriving at Alavis. If there are more available, now would be a good time to call upon them.’

‘Sssssss … my brothers and sisters are on their way,’ spat the Shade. ‘They will arrive shortly, but for now I suggest you shut up and continue with your search!!’

The colonel nodded his head in compliance before racing north with his guard. The Shade leaped to the wall and, using it as easily as the floor, sped down the other tunnel.

4

The Courtyard

Edge Darkmount folded back the brickwork with a flicker of his hands. When he was satisfied that the way was clear he stepped from the tunnel into one of the narrow corridors that bordered the Autumn Winds Courtyard. Nibbler slipped past and tiptoed to the corner so he could peer out.

‘I can’t see Kelko or Jensen,’ he whispered. ‘The square is empty!’

The courtyard, with its rearing stone columns and impressive statues of great scholars and heroes, was indeed empty. Two guards patrolled the square, and another pair could be seen guarding the far gate, but that was it. No prisoners, no captives and certainly no friends waiting to be rescued.

A small fragment of hope plunged from Charlie’s heart to wrestle its way into her stomach where it coiled uneasily like bad indigestion. What had happened to her friends?

Darkmount frowned as he too peered out. ‘Perhaps they have been moved elsewhere. I will have to question those two soldiers to clarify this matter.’

‘What makes you think they’ll tell you anything?’ asked Nibbler.

‘The last guard I questioned gave up this location pretty quickly. I doubt that these soldiers will prove any different.’

‘Wait,’ hissed Charlie. ‘I thought we were going to be subtle about this? Marching out there and demanding directions is going to bring the whole army down on our heads!’

Darkmount fixed his cold eyes on Charlie. ‘What makes you think I won’t be discreet? Little girl, we have all seen how weak your Will is. You will need sleep and food before you’re of any use and as we don’t have the time to pamper you back to health. I suggest you stand aside!’

‘But –’ began Charlie.

‘Bah, there are only two!’ snapped Darkmount.

‘What about the two by the gate?’

‘They will not see me.’

‘I can help,’ offered Nibbler.

Darkmount turned on Nibbler. ‘I doubt, Hatchling, that you would be able to stalk those two half as well as I. You will stay here.’

Without waiting for a reply he softly sang two notes of power, causing his hands and feet to glow. Walking to the nearest wall, he plunged his fingers and toes into the rock and swiftly scaled the side of the courtyard.