The Guardian's Apprentice (Beyond the Veil) (7 page)

“That is correct, Dragon.
 
You have served well and fulfilled your contract.”
 

This new voice was one that Keegan had not heard before.
 
He whirled in the direction of the sound and saw a hooded figure in dark robes standing not ten feet from him.
 
Something was not right though, as the figure appeared slightly translucent.
 
The figure turned slowly towards Keegan “Greetings young candidate; I would like to welcome you to your first and - in all likelihood -
last
trial that will test your worthiness as an apprentice to the Guardian.”

Brimstone stood to his full height, obviously displeased with the shift in attention.

“I have
completed
my
task, have I not?
 
I am risking a death sentence to fulfill this bargain, wizard.
 
I am betraying not only the head of an order but the entire Council,” he hissed at the apparition, obviously waiting for his reward.

The figure gestured half-heartedly with one hand, not bothering to turn around.
 
There was a sudden sharp cracking sound and the chain holding the amulet to the dragon’s breast snapped in half.
 
The amulet fell to the ground and exploded into a bright blue fireball, burning furiously for a few moments before hissing out of existence.
 

“You are paid in full, Wyrm,” the figure said.
 
“Do not forget who it was that granted your freedom, for I may yet have need of your services.”

“Hmmph” snorted the huge beast, sending a twenty-foot blast of green flames just a few feet over Keegan’s head and knocking him to the ground.
 
The dragon stretched his wings and shot upward, climbing until he was no longer in view; only the pungent smell of sulphur left as a lingering reminder of his presence.

“Temperamental creatures, but they have the occasional use,” the hooded figure chuckled.

“Who are you?” demanded Keegan “Why have you stranded me in the middle of nowhere?”

“SILENCE, you insolent mortal!” shouted the figure, who flicked his hand in Keegan’s direction.
  
With a loud
crack,
a ring of bright red flames jumped up around where the young man stood.
 

“Yours is not to question, but to survive.
 
Anyone claiming the right to be a future Guardian must possess both the power and intellect to maintain the balance between magic and mortal, to protect our world from theirs and us from them.
 
If you live to arrive at the Council, then you will have passed my challenge and be allowed to appear before the rest of the Council members.”

“But I don’t even know where the Council
is
!” exclaimed Keegan, beginning to panic as he realized just how desperate his situation was becoming.
 

Much to his horror, the hooded figure began to fade, slowly dissolving into wisps of smoke until the only thing left behind was the echoing sound of laughter.
 
The ring of flames surrounding him dissipated as well, leaving behind no trace – even the grass was untouched.

Keegan, in complete disbelief of what had just happened, fell to his knees.
 
What the hell was going on?
 
One moment he was safe and secure (or so he thought) and the next he was facing some unknown dark wizard who wanted him dead.
 
Keegan just sat there for a few moments, not quite knowing what to do next;

W
ait a minute!
 
I can use my ring to create a doorway again, back to my own side of the veil – why didn’t I think of that before!
 

He quickly stood up, pointed his ring at a nearby outcropping of rocks and shouted “V
ervoers portaal!”
 
Nothing.
 
Again, pointing his signet ring at the rocks, he shouted

“
VERVOERS PORTAAL!”
and again, nothing happened.
 

He knew the incantation was correct, but why was nothing happening?
 
He focused on his ring, allowing its image fill his mind and intoned the spell a final time.

“Vervoers Portaal.”

A slight burning sensation began to spread from his ring finger and up along his arm, increasing in intensity as it went.
 
The sudden pain broke his concentration and dispersed the spell.
 
Keegan kicked the ground in frustration and realized he had been with Acamar when he summoned his first portal.
 
Acamar’s presence then must have somehow helped him pierce the Veil, where he now found his spell blocked.

He looked up at the sky, now beginning to dim in the late afternoon.
 

“Well if nothing else I’d better find somewhere to spend the night,” he muttered to himself.
 
He trudged toward the edge of the forest at the base of the mountains.
 
Unsure of the path he should take, he wandered deeper into the woods as the twilight descended.
 
He looked around but could see nothing in the darkness save for the giant tree trunks all around him.
 
He knew he was not alone though, for every so often he would hear the low, guttural growls of something lurking beyond the trees.
 
The sound continued, followed by a deep rumbling sound.

What in blazes was that?

Not wanting to find out, he continued stumbling through the underbrush until he finally came to a small clearing, surrounded by large birch trees on three sides.
 
He slumped down to rest at the base of one of the trees, unable to go any further for the moment.
 
He blinked a few times to try to clear his head but his vision seemed to be blurring; he was suddenly so unbelievably tired!
 
    

I just need a small rest – yes, that’s it – a small rest…

His vision blurred further and his thoughts became jumbled, as the trees around him seemed to spin about.
 
Darkness followed quickly and engulfed his thoughts before his head hit the moss-covered ground.

***

The guttural sounds increased in the distance and a few moments later a snuffling sound came from the underbrush.
 
Cautiously at first, a round bodied animal the size of a large dog emerged from the shadows.
 
Covered in coarse brown fur, the creature loped along on two oversized back legs.
 
Instead of eyes, it had two thin, twitching antennae sprouting from its forehead, and a leathery black nose with three slits and whiskers on each side.
 
Although it had no eyes, it zeroed in on Keegan’s body by scent and loped forward, its two smaller hook-shaped front limbs poised to strike.
 
Whiskers twitching with delight at such large prey, the animal moved in for the kill.
 
As it approached, it began absorbing Keegan’s essence, feeding off the young man’s magical aura.
 
Suddenly it stopped, sensing the presence of another creature nearby, although it could not sense what that creature was.
 
Putting its nose to the air, the beast snuffled loudly trying to taste the scent of this new intruder.
 
It caught just the slightest wisp of a scent and froze in confusion and fear.
 
Before it could move however, a shining silver bolt shot from the darkness, hitting the creature directly between where the eyes should have been.
 
The beast collapsed in a furry heap and expired, leaving its prey untouched.

***

Freed of the mind numbing influence of the beast, Keegan woke with a start.
 
Struggling to stand, he nearly fell over the carcass of his would-be attacker.
 
Startled by the size and appearance of the animal, he staggered forward, desperate to find safety.
 
He did not know how long he ran through the woods; all he knew was the total exhaustion overtaking his body.

Finding a small grove of trees that provided shelter from the wind, he set about gathering dry wood for a fire.
 
He had no idea what he was going to do for food, but at least he would be warm.
 
He rummaged through his pouches looking for a match, a lighter or
anything
that would help him build a fire.
 
He pulled out a small silver metal box with strange markings on it.
 
Squinting in the dim light, he could just barely make out the inscription:
 

Warning: Fire beetles - extremely volatile.
 
Keep away from open flames, dry wood, leaves or other combustible materials.
 
To ignite, place beetle within six inches of the fuel source then poke beetle with sharp object.
 
Retrieve beetle from ashes after extinguishing fire and return to storage container when cool.
 

You have to be kidding
, thought Keegan.
 

He opened the little silver box and saw a pair of tongs attached to the lid.
 
It certainly did not look very impressive; it was a dark russet color with two emerald green eye patches on its back.
 
Taking the tongs from the bracket, he reached further into the box and gently grabbed a beetle.
 
Placing it near the firewood, he poked the little insect with a sharp twig.
 
Not partial to being poked, the beetle made a loud clicking sound as a warning.
 
He poked again a bit harder and the clicking got both louder and faster but still no fire (the little insect was
really
irritated now).
 
Alright you stupid little bug
, he thought and gave it a good sharp jab when
WHOOSH
the little insect shot a bright blue fireball into the pile of wood.
 
The blast of heat was enough to knock Keegan back a few feet.
 
The beetle was still making clicking sounds and had turned to face him; he looked down at the sharp stick in his hand and quickly threw it to the side.
 
Slowly the clicking subsided, and after a few moments the little insect flicked its back carapace open and shut a couple of times and then scuttled contentedly into the hot coals at the center of the fire.
 

Keegan had no idea where he was, much less how he was going to get to the Council.
 
Exhausted after his long day he leaned back against a small tree and closed his eyes, hoping to erase the last twenty-four hours of his life.

###

“
Where’s my grandson!?”
shouted Phineas, his normally calm features flushed with anger at Lord Cedric Thornback.
 
The two were in Lord Thornback’s Council chambers discussing the failure of a long trusted courier dragon to deliver its quite precious cargo - one Keegan Whitestone.

“Phineas, my old friend, I have no idea what happened to the courier,” said Cedric in an oily voice.
 
“As to your young
applicant
for the position of apprentice, it is my understanding that he is to undergo a pre-interview qualification of his skills.”

“You have no right to do this, Cedric,” replied Whitestone in an ominous tone.
 
“You are bound by the by-laws of the Council and must follow its decrees.”

“The Council is nothing but a bunch of weak minded fools!” spat the dark mage, “Present company excepted of course,” he said placing his hand on his breast with a smile.
 
“They do not have wits enough to conjure up a bowl full of toads much less choose the next Guardian.
 
Besides, you know as well as I that the rules of the Council plainly state the applicant shall be tested to determine his qualifications for the position.”

“Tested
by the Council
Cedric, not by
you
,” said Whitestone dryly.

“Merely a matter of interpretation my friend.”

“My grandson is an innocent, Cedric!
 
He knows nothing of the power that resides within himself!
 
The boy barely knew his father and has been raised completely in the world of science.”

“Do you honestly expect me to believe that?
 
How can he not sense the power that runs through his veins?
 
He carries the blood of the Whitestone family, Phineas.
 
As much as I dislike pointing this out, yours has always been one of the most powerful families!”