The Guardian's Apprentice (Beyond the Veil) (12 page)

“But I’m not a wizard!” cried Keegan in frustration.

“You are; you have just been too long in the realm of science and technology, where magic is neither accepted nor understood.
 
Your mind has become numb and you have forgotten how to believe in magic.
 
You think it is not possible, that this is all an illusion.
 
You are as a newborn pup that has not yet opened his eyes to the world around him.”

“Please understand Nekk’ar, I want to be more than I am.
 
I want to make a difference for once in my life, but
I don’t know how!
” said Keegan emphatically. “I get confronted by a two-headed giant for the first time in my life and all I can manage to do is shine a flashlight on him.”

“Wisdom is a function of time and experience, youngling.
 
To walk you must first crawl, lest you do harm to yourself or others unintentionally.
 
I intervene only in the gravest of times, when there is great risk to yourself or the realm; beyond that, you must use your skill and ability to survive.
 
To summon me in battle or crisis, simply concentrate on the ring, willing your thoughts to mine
.
 
Your training in the magical arts will commence once you are confirmed as apprentice, not before.”

“But how do I get confirmed as the apprentice if I’m trapped in a cave?!” asked Keegan incredulously.

“For that you will rely on your skill; for if you cannot solve this simple puzzle you are not worthy to be an Apprentice.
 
I leave you now, young one.
 
Do not fail your destiny and do not attempt to discard me so carelessly next time,” said the beast.
 

With a thunderclap, the dragon shrank and contorted back into the shape of a ring, which curled itself around Keegan’s finger.
 
He gave it a tug and discovered that the ring was now so tightly wedged on his finger it could not be removed it.
 
If he did not know better, he thought he could hear the echoing sound of the dragon chuckling at him.

Keegan sat down near the door and thought for a moment.
 
The fool of a giant had failed to notice Keegan’s belt, which contained the potions and powders prepared for his Journey by Phineas.
 
He started rummaging through his pouches and began looking at the small vials of potions by the light of his ring.
 
One vial was labeled ‘shrink,’ with the inscription
‘effects last approximately thirty minutes per drop’
in bright red letters.
 
Keegan uncorked the little vial and sniffed at its contents.
 
“Ugh!
 
Smells like rotten eggs,” he said to himself.
 
He shook the vial and splashed a drop on the bottom hinge of the door and was rewarded with a popping sound as the hinge shrank to the size of a paper clip and clattered to the floor.
 
He quickly applied a drop to the top hinge then, careful to re-seal the vial and return it to the pouch; he pulled on the iron handle.
 
With a loud scraping sound followed by a thud the door fell backwards into the room, narrowly missing Keegan on its way down.
 
Easing out into the hallway, he was pleased to see that there were at least one or two torches guttering in the distance, providing him with enough light that he could safely extinguish his ring.
 
There were no signs of life anywhere, let alone the two-headed beast that had brought him here.
 
Keeping as close to the wall as possible, he made his way down the corridor towards the torches in the distance.
 
There seemed to be an upward slope to the floor, so Keegan assumed he was going higher into the heart of the mountain.
 
Reaching the end of the tunnel, he came to a stone archway leading into a cavernous room beyond.
 
Putting hand to ear, he listened for any signs of life.
 
Hearing none, Keegan crept around the corner
.
 
The room looked as if it had been abandoned for centuries.
 
The stone pillars around the side of the room were all cracked, with some having collapsed completely.
 
In the center of the room was a raised dais, with a coiled dragon carved into the floor.
 
At the center of the carving was a large inset with a diamond pattern cut into the bottom.
 
Keegan walked past the dais to the opposite side of the room; the only other entrance to the room was here, in the form of a towering double door that stood at least twenty feet tall and just as wide.
 
Keegan put his ear against the door, straining to hear if there was anything on the other side.

He could barely hear a faint thudding sound, but it seemed to be growing louder.
 
Yes, it was definitely getting louder, a long ‘swishing’ sound like something being dragged across the stone floor, followed by a ‘thud.’
 
Suddenly Keegan realized in a panic that whatever was coming was large enough to shake the surrounding walls, for with each ‘thud’ dust fell to the floor.
 
The noise was getting louder, so whatever the thing was it was obviously headed this way.
 
Keegan looked around the room for a place to conceal himself but there were few options.
 
Suddenly remembering his pouch he reached in, grabbed the potion marked ‘stealth’ and ran behind a nearby column.
 
Looking at the label, he read
‘One dram for every hour and the individual will match their surroundings.’
 

Well, it’s better than being something’s lunch!

He took a swig from the tiny bottle, hoping that a mouthful of the bitter liquid was something close to a ‘dram,’ whatever that might be.
 
He was immediately sorry, as it tasted like a cross between charcoal and dirt.
 
Putting the vial back in his pocket he pressed himself against the wall behind the column and waited.
 
He began to feel a strange burning sensation over his entire body.
 
Looking down, he was astonished to see his skin was now the exact same color as the rock wall behind him, complete with cracks to match those in the stones.
 
Likewise, his robes had faded to the same color.
 
He pressed himself tightly against the wall just as the massive wooden doors swung inward.
 
Keegan jumped slightly when a bright blue column of flame shot from behind the doors and raked across the torches lining the far wall, setting them ablaze.
 
With a loud dragging sound and several thunderous ‘thuds’ the creature hove into view; it was Brimstone, the great dragon who had stranded Keegan in the forest to begin with.
 
The great beast half walked, half slithered to the far side of the room and curling into a ball like some gigantic housecat, settled to the floor with its head resting on its front talons.
 
The dragon appeared to be staring intently at something standing just beyond Keegan’s view in the doorway when it spoke.

“Well slave, what do you have to report?” hissed the great dragon.

Keegan watched as the massive, two-headed giant (quite small compared to the dragon, actually) stumbled into the room, both heads bowing emphatically to the dragon.

“We caught ‘im in the forest, your worship, he’s the one what was called by the guardian,” stuttered Grim.

The dragon actually appeared to smile - something Keegan really wished he had not seen.

“Good.
 
The little fool shall make a decent snack; ‘twas a pity to set him loose in the wilderness.”

The giant was standing closer to the dragon now, wringing his hands together “But, your grace, you knows what HE said ‘bout keeping him ‘ere.”

“In case you had not noticed fool, I am no longer a servant to that Council of the damned, nor am I bound by that fool of a wizard who freed me.
 
Ours is an alliance of convenience, nothing more.
 
I upheld my side of the deal by setting the young fool free in the forest; it is the boy’s misfortune that he found you.
 
Now, go and fetch a deer or two from the forest.
 
I feel like a snack.”

“Yes your worship sir,” said the giant, bowing deeply and backing away from the dragon until he reached the door to the passage Keegan had taken to get here.
 
As soon as the giant left, Keegan realized just how perilous his situation was; if the giant reached his cell and found the door open, he would raise an alarm.
 
Keegan began edging his way towards the open double doors, moving slowly and carefully while trying to keep himself pressed against the wall to maintain his camouflage.
 
The dragon had resumed his resting position and obviously hadn’t seen Keegan yet.
 
His robes and skin continued to change color and texture to match the walls and even the door when he reached it.
 
He was edging towards the opening beginning to think he might actually make it, when the dragon opened his eyes lazily and looked directly at him.

“Your potion does not mask your smell, youngling.
 
Nor does it affect my ability to see in the other spectrums,” Brimstone hissed at him.

Keegan froze where he was, not quite knowing what to do; if he made a run for it, the dragon would surely burn him to a cinder.

“Oh don’t worry boy, I’m really not going to eat you.
 
Your species is far too stringy for my taste.
 
Besides, that is not your destiny in my plan.”

“I….don’t understand” squeaked Keegan.

“That’s right, you don’t.
 
You probably never will either, but that is immaterial.
 
For you to serve your purpose you need not understand, only do as I instruct.”

“And if I don’t?” Keegan actually managed to ask.

“You die where you stand.
 
If you’re thinking about trying to betray me after you escape, don’t bother.
 
You see, telling the guardian or the Council about me will alter nothing.”

“What is it you want from me?”

“Succeed.
 
Get to the Council and be interviewed.”

“And?”

“And nothing.
 
Just go to the Council.
 
That will accomplish all that I desire.
 
Follow the passage from the Great Hall and you will exit at the base of the mountain to the south of the forest.
 
The river is only a half day’s walk to the South.
 
Following the river East will bring you to the village of Quai.
 
From there even you should be able to find your way.”

“But…”

“Leave.”

“But… “

“If you do not leave before that fool of a giant returns, then I will have to incinerate you where you stand.
 
Is that sufficiently clear?” the great dragon said, raising his head up and glaring down at Keegan.

“I understand.
 
Thank you, dragon, for sparing my life.”

“Hmph.
 
You serve my purpose youngling, nothing more.
 
Now leave.”

Keegan didn’t hesitate this time and darted out the door and down the hallway, giving little thought to why he was being freed and concentrating on saving his skin.

###

The city of Quai was nestled peacefully on the Eastern shore of the White River, and it was bustling with activity when Keegan reached it early the next morning.
 
According to Kust it was a thriving center of commerce, thanks to its location between the Outer Sea and the Capital city of Innenstadt.
 
All goods arriving had to pass through this port, which made it a hub for river shipments.
 
Keegan made his way to a small cafe near the center of town, hoping to grab a hot meal before venturing any further up-river.
 
He found a table in the corner and collapsed into the chair.
 
A server came over, bringing him a large mug of coffee.

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t ordered yet,” he said.

“Bought’n paid fer by th little fella over there,” she said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder.