The Guardian's Apprentice (Beyond the Veil) (14 page)

“The ‘caves’?” asked Acamar, “Where were you held, do you know?”

“Not exactly,” Keegan replied.
 
“It was just north of the river, not far from the town where I took the portal that brought me here.
 
Inside was carved like a giant cathedral, right out of the stone.
 
He also said something to the creature that knocked me out, something about making a deal with one of the Council members.”

“Did he say who?” asked Acamar.

“No, but it must be the same wizard that appeared when Brimstone landed near the forest.
 
All I could see of him was a dark, hooded cloak.”

“If what you say is true, then I fear it is worse than I first suspected.
 
What you describe sounds like the ancient citadel, the seat of power for the Dragons before the uprising.
 
It contains a portal similar to the one at Veilstone Castle that can pierce the veil in multiple places at the same time.
 
If anyone were to possess the veilstone to power it, then they could cause the disruption of the entire veil or even destroy it permanently.”

“So, what do we do?”
 
Keegan asked.

“You my boy have done enough; your current task is to pass the interview with the Council and begin your training with the Guardian.
 
I will pass along the information you have given me to those that are best equipped to deal with it.
 
Now I will take you to the Guardian.
 
It is he who must present you before the High Council.”

Acamar escorted Keegan down several long passageways until he came to a halt in front of a circular stone portal.
 
It was covered in a pale grey mist, swirling about within its confines like a miniature thunderstorm.
 
Acamar stepped through, dragging a somewhat reluctant Keegan behind him by the cuff.
 
As Keegan passed through the void, a strange tingling sensation passed through him.
 
Suddenly, he found himself standing inside a dimly lit and very cluttered office.
 
An old wizard sat in a leather chair by the fireplace, sipping on a cup of tea.

“Master,” said Acamar, bowing slightly to the old man, “may I present your grandson, Keegan Alexander Whitestone.”

The old man set aside his tea and rose to greet Keegan.
 
For someone who was obviously quite ancient, the old wizard was an imposing figure.
 
As he walked over to Keegan, his robes seemed to change colors, shimmering in the dim light.
 
“My boy,” said the old man, clasping both of Keegan’s arms “You don’t know how happy I am to see you alive.”

“Uh, thanks, I think,” said Keegan, somewhat taken aback.
 
“Look, I’m trying to understand all of this but to be honest I’m lost.
 
First, out of nowhere a black cat appears and starts talking to me.
 
Then the cat turns into a wizard and not only tells me my long dead grandfather isn’t really dead, but I’m also descended from a long line of powerful wizards.
 
I have to admit I’ve seen more today than I had ever dreamed possible, but how can I believe you are who you say you are?
 
My father told me my grandfather died long before I was even born.”

The old man chuckled quietly and moved back over to his chair by the fire.
 
“Please Keegan,” he said gesturing to the chair opposite him.
 
“First sit down and relax.
 
Acamar, please bring Keegan some tea and biscuits while I explain a few things.”
 
The old man sat down and poked at the fire with his staff, stirring up sparks.
 
“There are a great many mysteries in the universe, Keegan, only the first of which has mankind even begun to unravel.
 
You see, mankind has practiced magic for thousands of years, but most people aren’t even aware of its existence.
 
Fewer people still have ever seen a dragon or a gnome and probably would not believe it if they did.
 
Our world exists beyond the sight of the one you live in, for our protection as well as your own.
 
You see, there are those who believe that the possession of immense power entitles one to rule over others.
 
That in essence is the crux of our problem.
 

Our world is governed by the High Council, which was created to bring peace to our world and restore order to our lives.
 
The Council consists of twelve members, four representatives from each of the orders of White, Black and Grey.
 
As you can guess, those who practice the dark arts have little use for morality and believe that those who do not possess magic occupy a lesser station in life.
 
They have pushed for years to do away with the veil, seeking to gain power over the mortal world as well.
 
The order of White, in contrast, views themselves as the caretakers of humanity, shielding mortals from the evil that would consume them.
 
It is this order that hides itself behind the veil like it is some sort of magical cocoon.
 
Although they champion mankind, they see mortals as a threat as well, remembering the Salem witch trials several centuries ago.
 
The Grey order, as you can guess, balances the other two; their views touching on those similar to both White and Dark.
 

As Guardian, I am above all of this…in theory, anyway,” he said over the rims of his glasses.
 
“You will notice that although my ring bears a white stone, denoting my order, my robes are all colors, and none, to mark my position outside the control of the Council.
 
My problem is this; I have been chosen to be Chancellor, the leader of the Council.
 
The problem is that to assume this position I must relinquish my job as Guardian.
 
I cannot do that unless I first have an apprentice that I can trust.
 
You see there are those who would twist the role of Guardian and use its power to destroy the veil or worse, strengthen it to the point where the separation between our worlds became permanent.”
 
The old wizard sat back and sipped his tea, watching Keegan for his reaction.

“So why me?” asked Keegan simply, staring into the flickering fireplace.

“Because you are the last of my line, Keegan” said the old man with a sigh.
 
“Your father, Richard, was stripped of his magic and exiled to the mortal world by the Council.
 
His crime was trying to open the great seal in an effort to gain power; had he succeeded our world would have been consumed.
 
Upon his death, the ring passed to you, courtesy of Acamar.
 
Simply put, if you do not become my apprentice then the role of guardian will pass to the next family, most likely the Thornbacks.
 
This must not be allowed to happen if our two worlds are to survive,” the old man said, leaning forward to emphasize his point.
 

“But what can I do about any of this?” asked Keegan, an increasing sense of fear welling up inside him.

“You must first interview with the Council,” said Phineas.
 
“Then you must pass three tests.”

“What kind of tests?”

“You will be tested on your magical ability in three basic areas of magic; portals, incantations and scrying.
 
In addition, you must also seek out an audience with Seba’an, the oldest and wisest of the dragons.”

“But I don’t know the first thing about any of this!
 
How am I supposed to pass the tests?”

“Calm yourself, Keegan,” the old wizard said affectionately.
 
“These will be puzzles to test your rudimentary skills only.
 
You will be given clear instructions and the necessary tools for each one; you needn’t worry.”

“What happens if I fail?” asked Keegan.

“You won’t,” the old man said simply.
 
“I have faith in your abilities, Keegan, even if you do not.”

###

Brimstone angled high over the North Sea, winging his way to the cave of the Alderdrache, the Dragon Elder whose word was law amongst all of the Greater Dragons of the North.
 
The last time he had been summoned before Seba’an was just before the great insurrection that ended in his enslavement to the Council.
 
This time he had requested an audience with the revered leader, hoping to gain the old wyrm’s support for what he had planned.
 
The lair of the Alderdrache was a vast cavern formed in the caldera of an ancient volcano when the lava dome cooled and hardened.
 
It provided both the seclusion that Seba’an desired as well as the ample room an ancient dragon needed to move about.
 
Seba’an was the oldest and wisest of the dragons, having lived since the beginning when the ancients first brought magic to the druids.
 
Brimstone landed softly outside what looked like a solid stone wall; with a wave of his claw however, the stone vanished to reveal a gaping archway cut into the stone.

“Enter and be well, Skyv’tai,” echoed the deep and resonating voice of the Elder.
 
It had been many years since anyone had used Brimstone’s birth name; he had grown accustomed to the name that the humans had bestowed upon him.

Brimstone bowed his giant head deeply, almost touching the floor “I am honored that Thou hast granted me an audience, Great Elder.”

“Rise and come forward, young one.
 
Why hast thou sought my Council?”

Brimstone rose and approached the raised dais on which the older dragon was perched.
 
Seba’an was slightly larger than Brimstone and his scales were such a dark black that it was like looking into an endless abyss.
 
Only his eyes betrayed his age; where once there glowed a fierce red fire, there now glowed only embers.
 
Brimstone knew it was by scent alone that Seba’an was able to identify him, as the old dragon had gone blind several hundred years before.

“I come to speak to thee of the Great Barrier, Wise One,” said Brimstone as he took his place at the foot of the dais.

Seba’an cocked his head to one side.
 
“What of it, young one?” he asked slowly, his voice laced with suspicion.

“The time has come, Great Elder, for the Barrier to fall,” said Brimstone intently.
 
“The Guardian is leaving his post to lead the Council and in his stead there shall stand but a mere apprentice.
 
Now is the time for us to strike the veil, before the apprentice is fully trained.”

“Bah!” snorted Seba’an, sending a blast of flame over Brimstone’s head.
 
“What dost thee know of the Barrier?
 
Thou were but a hatchling when it was created to protect our kind.”

“Surely thou should say
imprison
our kind?” asked Brimstone.

“Nay, young one,
protect
.
 
Our kind is out numbered ten thousand to one by the humans alone, not to mention the other races that crawl upon this world.
 
The Great Barrier is the only thing that has saved us from extinction,” said Seba’an.

“With respect Elder, we are the most powerful of all the creatures that roam this Earth; magic has flowed in our veins since before the time of the Ancients.
 
We are not so easily defeated!” snarled Brimstone.

“Thou art a fool Skyv’tai, for the three orders will not permit thee to destroy the Veil; nor will the old Guardian stand idly by whilst thee incinerates his successor.
 
Thou hast disappointed me young one, as I had thought thee reformed.”

“Thou art nothing by a blind old FOOL!” roared Brimstone, rising up to his full height.
 
Blinded with anger, he shot forth a white-hot blast of flame directed at Seba’an’s shining black head.
 
The Elder dragon didn’t even flinch, as the flames split in two not an inch from his snout and were deflected harmlessly away into the surrounding cave.

“Thy temper will be thy downfall, young one.
 
Leave this place now and do not return, for thou shall remain exiled until nothing remains of thee but ashes,” hissed Seba’an.
 
He nodded his head at Brimstone and suddenly the younger dragon was enveloped in the center of a vortex of white light.
 
With a clap of thunder, he found himself deposited on a snow capped mountainside, a hundred miles from the cave of the Alderdrache.