A New Keeper by J. C. Gilbert

Author:J. C. Gilbert [Gilbert, J. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tardigrade House
Published: 2019-05-21T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The soldiers didn't wait long. Soon they were hurtling toward us at an alarming rate. “Now can you run?” hissed Elaine, grabbing my arm.

And run I did, dodging discarded carts and abandoned market stalls.

We continued down the road for a time, the soldiers gaining on us. We ducked down a lane, out onto another street, and then down another alley. The whole city was a maze, a ghost town of stone and fog.

The guards clattered behind us. Somehow they were still gaining on us, even as we weaved. “We are almost there,” called Elaine over her shoulder.

We came to a wall. It was tall enough for its height to be concealed by the fog. Elaine lifted aside a crude wooden door behind which was a tunnel. We plunged into the darkness.

There was a faint light ahead. I couldn't see where my feet were landing. There were pools of water on the ground and soon my shoes were soaked through.

Behind us, the soldiers found the tunnel entrance. Their shouts bounced and echoed all around.

As we got closer to the end of the tunnel, it became apparent that there was a figure there, waiting for us. Its eyes glowed faintly in the darkness. Elaine seemed unconcerned. When we reached the figure, I found that it was enormous, towering over us by several feet. It stepped aside and allowed us to pass.

A small wooden boat bobbed gently in the shallows of a river. Mangrove shoots speckled the mud.

“Get in,” said Elaine.

My feet sank and squelched in the mud. I held the side of the boat down and scrambled in, pulling in half the river as I did. Elaine followed with significantly more grace. She seized the oars and started to row.

I looked back toward the tunnel. The towering figure had stepped back in place, blocking the tunnel exit.

The fog swirled around us.

“Will they be OK?” I asked.

“Who? Oh, the big guy? Yeah, he can look after himself.”

There was a scream and a shout. Through the fog, I could just make out movement, but could not see what was happening. There was a loud splash as something substantial plunged into the water.

Elaine paddled on.

Soon the sounds of the skirmish faded, and we were nearing the opposite side of the river moat.

Once we were out of the boat, I took off my shoes and spilled out the water and mud. This would probably take quite a bit of explaining to Mom.

“We should be safe here for a moment,” said Elaine, collapsing onto the stony shore.

“The fog?”

“Yeah. It's a mixed bag for the citadel.”

“It seems strange to me,” I said.

“It's a curse.”

“It's not so bad.”

“I mean a literal curse. The council placed it on the citadel to prevent the goblin raids. It worked for a while too.”

“Goblin raids?”

“Yeah, vicious creatures. These hills are swarming with them. You will find that most of the villages in these parts are either walled or empty.

I peered suspiciously at the woods which hung all around.

“I wouldn’t let them worry you.

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