Keeper of the Realms: The Dark Army (Book 2) (30 page)

Once everyone had settled down, introductions were made and stories exchanged as each party did their best to bring the other up to date. Charlie was elated to hear that Kelko was OK but horrified to hear of the vast army that was now descending on Sylvaris. She couldn’t bear to think of the city that she had grown to love threatened in such a way. Jensen in turn was shocked to hear of Charlie’s adventures and seemed more than a little heartbroken to see her so bruised, battered and changed. He had trouble containing his excitement as he learned the pendant’s secret, and shook his head in disbelief as she told him of their ordeal breaking into the Stubborn Citadel. When he heard that Darkmount had broken Charlie’s leg and stolen her pendant he exploded.

‘Wot? He wot? If I catch him …’ Mid-rant he suddenly stopped.

‘What is it?’ asked Nibbler. ‘What’s the matter, Jensen?’

‘I think … I think I know where he is.’

‘Who? Darkmount?’ asked Charlie, a thrill racing through her.

‘I think so,’ muttered Jensen, trying to piece together the image of the Stoman and his silent army and add it to the pieces of information provided by Nibbler and Charlie. ‘I mean how many Stoman bishops are there any more? Bane has trampled most of his opposition under foot. It’s gotta be him.’

Jensen recounted his journey across the Great Plains and the Slumbering Hills and what he had seen that strange night.

‘That’s got to be him, who else would be power-mad enough to attempt to build his own army?’ said Charlie, balling her fingers into fists. ‘Let’s go and get him. Let’s get my pendant back.’

‘Erm … please tell me you don’t want to go and do that right now,’ said Crumble in disbelief.

‘Of course right now!’

Crumble rubbed a hand over his tired eyes. ‘Charlie, look at us. My arm is so stiff I can barely use it. Nibbler is so bruised that he lurches around like something dragged from a grave –’

‘Braaaaaaaaaains,’ groaned Nibbler, but everyone ignored him.

‘And you …’ continued Crumble, ‘… well, I don’t understand how you can be moving after that beating you took.’

Charlie kept quiet. She didn’t want to explain that bruising or no bruising, with the darkness pulsing inside her she felt fine. She’d been careful not to mention the change in her Will either; that was something she’d rather tell Jensen at a later date.

Jensen, however, had a calculating look in his eyes as he listened to Crumble’s counsel. ‘Maybe the lad’s got a point. Perhaps it would be best if ya took us back ta Sylvaris. I know some amazing healers and they’d have ya right as rain in a day or two. With the Jade Circle’s aid we could return with some serious reinforcements –’

‘Stop that,’ retorted Charlie. ‘We both know that’s not going to work.’

Jensen sighed. He didn’t bother to push his argument any further.

‘Why isn’t that going to work?’ demanded Crumble. He turned to Jensen. ‘Please tell me you’re not thinking of jumping straight in on this too? I thought you were supposed to be the wisest one here! Surely you should be counselling rest?’

‘The dice have already been rolled, lad.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘I mean that when yer falling from a cliff there’s no point in grasping at straws, yer’ve just gotta jump and hope the waters below are deep enough.’

Crumble narrowed his eyes to stare accusingly at Jensen. ‘You’ve met my uncle, haven’t you?’

‘No, lad, but if he talks like me he’s probably sound of mind.’

‘Or you’re just another adult who likes to quote proverbs instead of getting to the point.’

Jensen chuckled at that. ‘Crumble, when an adult throws a proverb at ya that’s their way of hoping yer smart enough ta understand wot they’re driving at without having ta elaborate for half an hour.’

‘Well, I’ve just had my shoulder dislocated by a crew of mercenaries who like to cut their foes into thirteen itty-bitty pieces. Surely that’s excuse enough for my sudden drop in intelligence,
so would you please tell me why we shouldn’t rest up until we’re fully healed
?’

Jensen rolled his eyes, but took pity on the Stoman boy. ‘Bellania,’ he began, ‘as we know it, is on the brink of collapse. Bane could quite feasibly crush it and rebuild the land in any way he sees fit. He’s blocked the return of the Winged Ones, conquered Alavis and Alacorn and has sent one of the largest armies dis realm has ever seen to Sylvaris. Wot Charlie was quick ta realize is that the Jade Circle cannot help us now, nor can it afford ta divert soldiers from the defence of Deepforest. If there’s any hope ta be had – any hope at all for saving Bellania – we have ta get that pendant back. If we can get it then we can free the Winged Ones, kick Bane up the backside and return Bellania ta its state of peace. And cos time is so pressing we cannot afford ta lie around. We’ve gotta move and we’ve gotta move now.’ Jensen’s serious expression was abruptly marred by a grin. ‘Besides, from wot I hear yer not exactly the wisest of counsels either. Weren’t ya about ta take Charlie and Nibbler right ta the Western Mountains? That sounds like the sort of foolhardy thing that happens in fairy tales: trying ta kill the bad guy in his own lair.’

Crumble blushed. ‘That was Charlie’s idea. I-I just felt honour bound to help.’

‘Pfft,’ snorted Jensen. ‘I think we all know that Charlie is missing a few marbles in her noggin when it comes ta making sensible decisions or where her safety is concerned. Nibbler hasn’t worked out what the word danger means and Sic Boy …’ They all turned to look at the ferocious dog. ‘Well, let’s just say he’s suitably named. I think, young Crumble Shard, that ya are deluded inta thinking yer sane, but let me tell ya dis: anyone fool enough ta hang out in dis group has ta be a few acorns short in the head too!’

The twinkle in Jensen’s eyes was infectious and Crumble couldn’t help but return his smile. ‘OK, maybe you’ve got a point. And … to be honest, the idea of taking on Edge Darkmount and his new army sounds just as crazy as going to the Western Mountains. At least this will mean a change of scenery even if the risks are the same.’

‘That’s the spirit!’ Jensen chuckled.

‘So what’s the plan then? How do you intend to reclaim the pendant?’

‘I think it would be best ta ask Charlie.’

They turned to look at the bruised and battered girl.

‘After all my recent fights, Crumble, I think it’s fair to say that having the Will to fight is not enough,’ she said with a shrewd look. ‘So I’ve decided to take your advice: be more aggressive or be sneakier. Well, I choose being sneakier. But before we do anything I need to know a little more about these things you Bellanians call gods.’

41

From Another Realm

‘The stories would have it that, throughout the ages, gods have always come and gone from Bellania. In dis case Darkmount and Bane’s gods are relatively new ta the realm,’ began Jensen. ‘Edge Darkmount’s god appeared ninety years ago and a small but flourishing Stoman religion was built around its worship. Darkmount stems from a line of bishops who see their god and their religion as the one true faith. Indeed, rumour would have it that his father was the original founder of their religion.

‘Forty years ago Bane was a merely a young bishop with dreams of power. Unable ta wrestle the existing god of the “true faith” away from Edge Darkmount and his fellow bishops, Bane went in search of something else that would grant him supremacy. Drawn towards the never-ending passages and tunnels that lie beneath the Western Mountains, he went on a three-year quest until he found his
own
god. As Tremen, we’re not sure how he managed ta usurp both Darkmount’s god and religion and then rise even higher until he became the Stoman leader, but succeed he did.’

‘And what about the gods themselves?’ asked Charlie. ‘What are they? What can they do?’

‘I was just coming ta that, lass. Many years ago when I was still growing my financial empire I was granted a meeting with Dridif and a Winged One and they did their best ta explain the truth of the matter ta me.’

‘And that is …’

‘They’re not gods.’

‘Huh?’

‘Well, maybe they are, but not in the sense that ya or I would expect. The Winged Ones say that they’re just creatures from another realm – and insignificant ones at that; in their own realm they’re nothing more than bottom feeders.’

‘Wha– You’re not making any sense, Jensen.’

Well, maybe I’m not spelling dis out too clearly, although ta be honest I was never a hundred per cent clear meself when it was explained ta me. Look, from wot I can gather these “gods” ain’t from Bellania or even Earth. They’re supposed ta be from somewhere else altogether.’

‘How can that be?’

‘Uh, well the Winged Ones sometimes like ta talk about parallel realms and “united universe” theories but that’s a subject for another day. Apparently, in their own realm these gods live in a world that is nothing more than a gigantic ball of gas.’

‘What, like Jupiter?’

‘That’s that planet that can be seen from Earth, isn’t it?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then, yes, like Jupiter. Now as I was saying, apparently, in dis realm all manner of weird and wonderful beasties exist. The Winged One said that the beasties over there treat
the gas like a liquid – almost like a spherical ocean – and that these weird creatures swim, fly and float through the gassy murkiness much like our sea creatures navigate through water. Now wot’s so unbelievable about all of dis is that over there the gods are at the bottom of the food chain. Literally. All the really amazing creatures swim high up where the pressure is lower, then as ya get deeper and deeper and the pressure grows, the creatures of that realm get smaller and smaller and less majestic. And there, right at the bottom, where there’s no light and the gas pressure is so intense that almost nothing but the most hardy bottom feeders can live ya’ll find –’

‘The gods?’

‘So they say.’

‘B-b-but that makes no sense!’

‘I know. That’s wot I thought when I first heard about it.’

‘But how …’

‘How did they get here?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good question. The Winged Ones reckon that in their realm the gas pressure is so strong that the sheer, unrelenting, unimaginable force of it pushes them through the reality of their realm inta ours.’

‘Doesn’t that sound a little far-fetched?’

‘Ta be honest? Yes it does and I’ve always had my suspicions that Dridif and that Winged One were having a laugh at my expense but oddly enough their explanation does have some logic ta it.’

‘It does?’

‘Well … yes. Just think about it, we’re all familiar with
the Gateways between Earth and Bellania and we know there are other realms and places that we can travel ta.’

‘Like what?’

‘Like the lower dominions where you retrieved Darkmount’s god and then there’s the Winged Dominion: the place where the Winged Ones go for their Chrysalis Period. If we know all these places are connected wot’s ta say that it couldn’t happen with another realm, even by accident?’

Charlie opened her mouth to laugh but paused as she considered what Jensen was suggesting. There was indeed a faint trace of logic to it. After all, wasn’t Bellania a weird and wonderful place in comparison to Earth? Knowing that, who was she to say that there were or weren’t other realms with inexplicable laws and physics? Then her sense of suspicion caught up with her and she looked askance at Jensen.

‘Ha!’ He chuckled as he saw her expression. ‘I gave the Winged One and Dridif that very same look when they first told me. I wasn’t sure if they were pulling my leg or not.’

‘Were they?’

‘They said they weren’t and as odd as it sounds I do tend ta bow my head ta my more learned betters in subjects such as these. I think they were telling me the truth.’

‘OK, supposing it’s true, what do these gods want?’

‘Well there’s the rub. They want ta be worshipped. They don’t care by whom or by wot, but there’s something in the
stuff
of worship that they need. Something that is intangible ta ya and I, but acts like food ta them. They grant wishes and in return they get fed wot they desire most.’

Charlie scrunched her eyes shut as she tried to make sense of all the bits and pieces of information. ‘So they really are
bottom feeders, aren’t they? I mean there’s no “greater purpose” going on here is there? These things just grub around looking for sustenance and cos they’re so alien they’re called gods.’

‘That’s the crux of it.’

Charlie was caught up in her own thoughts. ‘When I talked to Darkmount’s god, it sounded like it was right inside my head, my nose began to bleed and I had a splitting headache … Do you think that maybe it feeds on thoughts or emotions?’

‘I’m not sure … maybe. All I know is that there’s supposed to be a price to be paid. They say if ya spend too long with one it changes ya.’

‘Changes you how?’

‘Charlie, I honestly wouldn’t know. Darkmount hasn’t spent too much time with his, but Bane … they say Bane has changed the most. The Winged Ones say that the reason why his face can never be seen and that he wraps his flesh in bandages is because all that time spent with his god has changed him irreversibly.’

‘What do you think he looks like beneath that hood?’

‘That’s the billion shilling question, isn’t it? No one knows and only Darkmount is fool enough to risk playing with a god long enough ta find out.’

Charlie shivered at the thought. The idea of allowing something so alien inside your head, to allow it to pluck and squirm through your emotions and memories for year after year seemed horrifying.

‘One more question,’ she said. ‘What do you think these gods ultimately want?’

‘We don’t know. Well, I definitely don’t know, and neither
Dridif nor the Winged One knew either. There’s a theory that these gods are quite happy picking over the scraps and leftovers. And while they’re content ta live amongst the Stomen, the Winged One and Dridif were musing that perhaps they would be just as happy amongst chicken or even shellfish. I don’t think these gods care who worships them – if worship is even the right word – so long as they have the opportunity ta feed off emotion or memories or wotever it is they suck from their followers.’