In the Land of Magnanthia (Portals, Passages & Pathways Book 1) by Maul B. R

Author:Maul, B. R. [Maul, B. R.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2014-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

13

Bedlam’s Keeper

The skeleton unsheathed his sword and held it high. “Who goes there?” he grumbled. The raven flew from the windowsill and disappeared into the night, his cawing echoing in the outer darkness.

“Cursed crows!” the skeleton droned, waiving his sword at the open window. Then he turned to Jak. The skeleton’s eyes bulged from their sockets having no eyelids to cover them. His body was nothing more than bones, with some rags of hide hanging over his ribs and backside. He wore a wooden helmet held together with a rusty metal brim. His sword was chipped and notched.

“Finally you wake,” said the skeleton moving toward Jak. Having no lips, it was difficult to tell if the skeleton was smiling or frowning.

Jak stumbled back until he was up against the door. The skeleton came closer, his bulging, bloodshot eyes staring at Jak’s. He seemed to be waiting. Then he grunted and shoved Jak to the ground with one arm.

“Out of my way boy!” The skeleton was much stronger than he looked, having no muscles to speak of.

The skeleton pounded the door with the handle of his sword.

“Open up,” he said, “the boy has awakened.”

After a few moments, someone on the other side of the door asked, “Who is it?”

“Who do you think?” growled the skeleton.

“How do I know you’re not the boy?”

“Open this door before I rip off one of the boy’s arms and beat you with it!” the skeleton yelled into the old, wooden door.

“Okay, okay…I’ll get the key.”

The skeleton looked down at Jak, who was still on the ground.

Jak was too nervous to move. It was a skeleton, like some Halloween gimmick, walking and talking and making threats to rip off his arm.

“How long have you been awake?” asked the skeleton.

“Um…I think…” said Jak, but he couldn’t stop staring at the skeleton. This couldn’t be happening. A talking raven, an animated skeleton…what next?

“Come on! Spit it out boy!”

“Maybe…twenty minutes…or so,” said Jak in disbelief.

“I guess I was dead tired…huh?” said the skeleton, chortling. It was the weirdest thing Jak had ever seen. The skeleton laughed like a living being. His jaw moved up and down and he grabbed the area where his stomach would have been as though his laughing was going to cause his side to ache.

Rattling and clinking came from the other side of the door. The latch made a dull thud, and the door creaked open.

“Come on,” said the skeleton, “you’ve gotta admit, that was pretty funny.” Jak just continued to stare. Instantly, the skeleton’s mood changed. “Alright,” barked the skeleton, “let’s go!” Jak leaped up and stepped out of the tower and into the hallway.

Two more skeletons, donned in ragged leather, were waiting for him. The smallest, and seemingly the oldest skeleton, had a hunched back and a few, crooked teeth. He was holding a ring of keys in one bony hand and a torch in the other. Next to him was a large skeleton. His bones were thick with bands of muscle still attached to parts of his arms.

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