The Chronicles of Kale: Dawn of Retribution (Book 2) (18 page)

“Only the one appointed as the Keeper can grant access. No one shall enter without permission.” Thomas placed a hand upon the stone wall. “I recall that much from my visit long ago. We were told to keep back, for the tower possessed great power that should not be trifled with. This is the first time I’ve gotten the opportunity to touch this magnificent structure. Some have said it’s only fables, and this is merely an old tower used by the King’s guards centuries ago as an outpost. But I know better, my friends—I can sense the power even as we speak. It’s simply fascinating.”

“How do we find this
Keeper
?” Neelan questioned.

“If my assumptions are correct—the Keeper is none other than Zasha,” Thomas replied.

Kale’s eyes lit up. He placed his forehead upon the cool wall in thought.
Mother, are you truly inside? Can you feel my presence
?
He felt a subtle movement upon his skin and raised his head to see a black door. “What in Pan’s name? I’m certain this wasn’t here a moment ago.”

“The Keeper has responded to your touch it seems. I do believe we are being invited inside.” Thomas motioned for Kale to enter.

“What about them?” Kale gestured toward the sand-people.

“They will be fine, my friend,” the old sorcerer replied.

Kale cautiously wrapped his fingers around the steel handle and firmly tugged. The door eerily creaked open, revealing a peculiar room filled with dangling blue spheres.

Each sphere emitted a blue aura which provided dim lighting to the small area.

“Illadar, make haste, we’re going in!” Kale called out.

Illadar nodded and took Marg by the hand.

“Wait.” Thomas pointed behind Marg. “You haven’t secured your steeds.”

Marg narrowed her eyes in Thomas’s direction. “I could have sworn I’d already done so.” She tilted her head. “But, I suppose you’re right.” Marg slipped her hand from Illadar’s. “I shall be right back.”

Illadar nodded and returned her warming smile.

“Come—she will be fine.” Thomas motioned Illadar in his direction.

Illadar hesitantly approached his friends, glancing often over a shoulder toward where Marg was tying the reins to a misshapen rock.

Once within reach, Thomas shoved him inside, following directly behind. Upon stepping foot within the room, the distinct sound of grinding stone could be heard.

The group spun around to find the door replaced by a solid stone wall.

Illadar rushed to where he had just entered and smacked his palms against the rock. “Open up! We have one more outside!” He called out.

Thomas slid a hand over Illadar’s shoulder. “The Keeper chooses who enters. There were no mistakes here.”

“Maybe it’s for the best. We really don’t know her well enough to bestow this extent of trust,” Kale added.

Though Kale was relieved they wouldn’t have to reveal something of such importance to an individual they hadn’t known for long; he still felt sorry for both Marg and Illadar. Had it been a situation with him and Neelan, he knew his emotions would be torn.

“Don’t comfort me, old man. She could be attacked while we’re in here—or worse!” Illadar pulled away from Thomas’ grip. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you?!”

Before an answer could be given, the lights began to flicker and the ground shook.

Kale clapped a hand against the wall to keep balance and began to shift his eyes looking for answers. “Zasha, is it you who is doing this?! Why will you not show yourself?” He called out as the tremors intensified.

The sound of crumbling rock could be heard, and Kale had just enough time to glance at Neelan, who bore a look of panic, before the floor gave out beneath their feet.

They reached out to one another as gravity engulfed them, and they dropped down into the darkness.

Neelan managed to shove off the wall just enough to force herself toward Kale. Her fingers grazed his as they helplessly struggled to hold onto one another.

“Kale—” Neelan shouted; her voice shaken with fear. “Kale, I love you—from the moment we met. Thomas was right . . . I needed you to know that.”

Kale could tell by the tremble in her voice that she was frightened for what was to come when they reached the bottom. His muscles tensed. Death seemed unacceptable after what they had been through—how close they were to achieving his goal—and how close they had become to one another.

Zasha—mother, will you truly allow us to meet such a fate?! I hope this is all part of your plan . . . My life is in your hands
, h
e thought while forcing his emotions back; not wanting to reveal weakness to Neelan. “I love you too, Neelan.” He mustered the strength to compose his words. “From the moment I held you in my arms, I knew that you were the one I would never want to be without. Everything will be all right . . . this isn’t the end for us.”

Kale stretched his arm until his muscles burned and his shoulder ached, until he grasped Neelan’s hand in his. Fighting against the forceful winds, he pulled her close to his chest, wrapping his arms protectively around her small frame. Her hair fluttered wildly against his face as they descended.

They continued to plummet and as time passed, the sheer terror of the situation subsided.

“Is this some sorta’ sick game?” Illadar questioned in anger. He held his arms wide to maintain balance as his large body fought not to teeter.

“Please calm yourselves, everyone,” Thomas spoke in a composed voice.

“Are you serious, old man?! Or have you gone senile on us?” Illadar replied.

“I do not think Zasha will allow the eggs to be in danger,” Thomas called out through his thick beard, which he fought to push away from his mouth.

“That may be true, if this
is
the correct tower. But what if we are in the wrong location?!” Illadar angrily yelled.

“I-I believe this is where we should be . . .” Kale looked into the darkness. They had fallen so deep he could no longer see any hint of light from above.

Kale’s chest tightened and his heart throbbed at the realization that there was a chance he did steer them wrong. When Thomas had mentioned the tower, Kale’s desire to move forward and save the eggs overpowered any desire to consider the situation further.

If I’m wrong
, Kale thought,
then Zasha is not the Keeper, and we may all be in grave danger. . .

Thomas spoke, and a small orb appeared within his palm.

“Why must you always delay using your magic?! I’d like to see if I’m about to become a heap of splattered intestines!” Kale angrily called.

“I have already explained that I do not believe we are in any form of danger here,” Thomas replied.

The group inspected all directions, but could see nothing beyond the circumference of light. Their bodies had adjusted to the velocity of falling and Kale began to explore how he was able to maneuver himself through the air by tilting the position of his arms.

“I’m going to see what’s at our sides.” Kale released Neelan’s hand.

“Kale, no! If there are stone walls, you will rip the very flesh from your body with a single brush,” Neelan pleadingly warned.

“I have to know. We could very well keep falling until we die of starvation.” Kale waited no longer as he pressed his arms tightly against his body and dove. “Thomas, guide the orb to me,” he commanded over a shoulder.

With a wave of his hand, Thomas led the orb in Kale’s direction.

Kale waved his hands around cautiously, but still could not see, nor feel anything but darkness and air.

“It’s hopeless—there is nothing around us. If we were still in the tower, I surely would have made contact with the wall,” Kale surmised. “Can’t you do something Thomas?”

“I have told you—I strongly believe this all has purpose.” Thomas stared at Kale in the dim light. “Do you not find it odd that we are able to speak, even though falling? We are not descending at normal velocity. There is a strong magical presence guiding us. Besides, hard-headed boy, you know I cannot teleport us within a closed area. We would all meet a horrid fate. I believe it is best that we allow the Keeper to bring us where we need to go.”

“I swear, old man, if anything happens to Marg while we’re here . . .” Illadar looked away to conceal his emotions.

“The sand-bags are with her,” Kale replied with a snicker. “I’m sure they won’t stand in wait while a lady is harmed.”

Neelan gasped, “Reem! What if I travel too far from them?!” Her wide eyes could be seen through the light.

“There is magic at work here, dear,” Thomas assured. “I have a feeling it will be just fine.”

“Look!” Illadar called, while pointing a finger below.

A faint blue glow could be seen beneath them, like a beacon in the darkness.

Neelan clawed at Kale’s clothing in a frightened panic until catching hold of his arm and pulling herself tightly against his body.

“This is the magic you spoke of Thomas?! We’re going to fall to our deaths!” Neelan yelled and buried her face in the pit of Kale’s arm.

“Thomas—I think now would be a good time to do something!” Kale called.

Suddenly, Kale felt a strong tug from behind and was torn from Neelan’s arms. His body was sent into a tumble by the force, and he flung his arms out in a quick attempt to steady his body against the wind.

Thomas shot an arm forward and the small orb raced in Kale’s direction. “Kale—watch out!” He shouted as a black arm took hold of the egg sack.

The arm tugged firmly until pulling the straps from Kale’s unsteady arms.

“No!” Kale shouted as he struggled to maneuver himself toward the slender appendage.

“
Calodranora!
” Thomas swung his arm forward and a teal rope shot forth, targeting the blackened arm which grasped the sack tightly.

The teal rope raced upward as their only hope for retrieval. It was nearly to the sack when the arm slipped back into the darkness as swiftly as it had appeared.

“I’ve lost it . . .” Thomas muttered as the rope fell limp in the air before disintegrating into tiny particles.

“No—no!” Kale flapped his arms in a failed attempt to defy gravity.

“We’re about to hit bottom!” Illadar yelled while moving his body upright. “There’s somethin’ down there!”

A glassy tear slipped from Neelan’s eye as she pinched her lids shut. The velocity at which they fell increased and the wind pressed forcefully against their skin.

Zasha, please let this be your intention—we have come too far to die now,
Kale repeated in his mind.

The blue, luminescent ground closed in and Kale swallowed hard. He could no longer move himself willingly toward Neelan, and without Thomas’ willingness to intervene—he was helpless.

Chapter 17: In His World

T
heir bodies impacted against a blue substance with a soft, cottony texture. Each lay momentarily speechless as their minds caught up to the occurrence that had just happened—they were alive.

Kale brushed his arm to his side, pressing down against the squishy surroundings. With every touch, it left an imprint of his fingers. He curiously rolled over and better examined the area. He could see that not far from where he lay, the ground came to an end. Kale steadily inched his way to the edge and quickly realized they had not fallen upon the ground, but an enormous mushroom. He glanced over a shoulder and saw that both Neelan and Illadar wore equally dumbfounded expressions.

As if on cue, the three burst into a sudden fit of childish laughter.

“We’re alive!” Neelan exclaimed amidst her astonishment. She tossed her body back onto the blue, cushioned mushroom cap and smiled. “I’m sure I speak for us all when I say that this is a moment we will never forget. I thought it was the end for us all.”

“Don’t say I didn’t tell you it would end this way.” Thomas chuckled with a wink.

“What is this place . . . ?” Illadar’s voice trailed as he glanced around.

Many vibrant mushrooms glowed in a multitude of colors. Their stems were a luminescent white, topped with a cap in blue, green, or red which created a breathtaking sight. The group was confident that they were no longer on the surface of Revaxis. The question stirring within their minds was
where
it was they had landed.

Neelan yelped in surprise as the whizzing of tiny wings zipped near her face, leaving a trail of glistening violet dust in its wake. “What was that?!” She questioned while attempting to follow the creature’s trail with her eyes.

The group slid from atop the mushroom, falling to another which was slightly shorter in height. They continued this process until dropping to the ground. The moist, sponge-like surface squished beneath each step they took.

“Oh Kale, look!” Neelan exclaimed as she pointed ahead at the stunning meadow of exotic flowers. “They’re lovelier than the gardens within Tyrione!”

Though Kale equally admired their surroundings, his focus remained on the eggs. He glanced above at the gaping darkness. His instinct told him that whoever had taken them was close.

“We need to keep going.” Kale took the first steps forward.

“Come, Illadar.” Thomas patted him on the back.

Illadar took a final look upward before heavily exhaling and joining his friends. As they ventured deeper into the unknown, his fear for Marg’s well-being overtook any concern for possible dangers nearby.

Another group of fluttering, golden creatures flew by, leaving violet dust to fall gently upon them. One of the beings broke away from its group and circled Kale and his friends. As it moved closer, Thomas took a stride away from the group.

“Fairies . . .” he whispered.

“What?” Kale replied, while watching the creature circle; moving closer with each round.

“They’re adorable!” Neelan smiled and held out an open hand.

“I would not advise doing that, dear.” Thomas warned.

“Look at them, Thomas; they’re no more than the size of a finger. What could they possibly do?” Neelan replied.

The small fairy danced around Neelan’s head, playfully lifting strands of her hair.

Neelan giggled and twirled around. “Hello, little one.” She smiled and once again extended her arm to the fairy.

The fairy slowly descended, and Neelan could see its smooth, peach-toned skin and golden hair which flowed down her back like silk. It landed gently within her palm and tucked its wings silently behind.