The Portal Keeper (The Keeper Chronicles Book 1) by S. T. Sanchez

Author:S. T. Sanchez [Sanchez, S. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-14T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter XIII

Sweat ran down Ajax’s cheeks, jogging him out of a deep slumber. The heat of the day was already intense. He rubbed his eyes and turned to where he heard Neely murmuring. A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth as he saw Niko sitting up and complaining about Neely fussing over him.

“I’m fine,” the rhino grunted. “Takes more than a whack with a tail to do me in.”

Ajax shook off his cloak, knocking the sand off of it. He strolled over to Niko. “I’m glad to see you’re okay.”

The rhinoceros stood up. “Alright, now that the human is finally awake we can get started.”

Ajax turned, rolling his eyes. He had hoped fighting side by side with the rhino might have softened the rhino’s perception of him. Apparently not.

Neely led the way with Spots flying beside her.

Niko tapped Ajax on the shoulder as he started to follow.

He turned and waited for the rhino to speak.

The rhinoceros stomped his hooves a few times and cleared his throat. “You did good, boy,” he commended him quickly, then mumbled something under his breath that might possibly have been a thank you, and strode off.

Ajax stood there, stunned. After a moment, he hurried to catch up with the group. They walked in silence, listening for any sounds from sandworms. Ajax noticed Niko glancing at him from time to time, but now his look was more curious as opposed to his previous hostile glares.

“Keep alert. According to the instructions Fez provided me we should be coming upon his residence soon.”

They hiked over a few more dunes and spotted a dome hut. Ajax wondered what it was made from. It resembled sand, but he had no idea how it was held together. From a distance, this house would be very easy to overlook—it camouflaged itself beautifully.

There were several of the twisty cacti around his residence. A couple didn’t have spines.

“We need to wait here,” Neely announced. “Spots, I don’t know the range of these plants. Fly ahead and see if Fez is home. I would feel more at peace if he guided us in.”

Ajax stopped as the bug flew to the house and started shouting through the door. It swung open after a moment and an animal emerged. The creature looked to be akin to a relative of the turtle in the loosest sense.

It was a golden-brown color, easy to blend in with the sand. He had a thick shell similar to that of a turtle, but it was covered in thin sharp spines, resembling those of a cactus. He was thin and lanky.

He walked slowly and gracefully, almost dancing between the plants until he reached their group.

“Neely,” the tort greeted. “I was beginning to doubt that you’d ever make it out this far. How long has it been? Forty years?”

Neely smiled and did an odd embrace with her arm. “You have a good memory, Fez, my dear. Forty-two according to my calculations.” She turned to Niko and Ajax. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought along some of my companions.

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