The Keeper Read Online Free Page A

and Harry Two came over and settled down next to the wooden pallet. I dropped my tuck in the corner, sat on the rude bed and took off my cloak. Underneath was my chain, which I would not be taking off. In the pocket of my cloak was the Adder Stone, which healed pretty much anything. Along with the Stone was the glove. My shrunken Elemental was in my other pocket.
    I pulled from my cloak the ring Thansius had sent me before I escaped into the Quag. It had belonged to my grandfather. It had been found at Quentin Herms’s cottage. I was told my grandfather had suffered an Event, which basically meant that one vanished into, well, nothing. But that had been a lie. I had learned that my grandfather had left Wormwood of his own accord.
    On the ring was the symbol of the three hooks. I had no idea what it meant. I thought I might find out in the Quag. I thought I might learn a lot in the Quag. If the place didn’t kill me first.
    I lay back on the bed and held the ring up to the flickering candle. The hooks glistened and glowed in the soft, bluish light. My grandfather had the very same symbol on the back of his hand. I had also seen this exact same ring on the finger of the dying female warrior who had given me the Elemental.
    I put the ring on. It was too large for any of my fingers except my thumb, where it rode snugly. As I looked at it on me, I couldn’t help but think that I had just made some sort of unconscious decision committing me to something.
    I felt my eyes close, the rise and fall of my chest started to slow and I collapsed into a deep sleep. But right before I completely drifted off, I could hear Harry Two’s contented snores as he lay beside me on the floor.
    My dreams were not pleasant ones. In every crevice of my mind, I seemed to encounter danger. Time passed and I slept on. When I finally awoke, I started to rise, but something held me back. I opened my eyes. And gasped.
    I was in a cage!
    I sat up and looked around. Delph was lying next to me, still asleep. What had been keeping me from rising was Harry Two. His paw was still protectively on my shoulder. The bars of the cage were stark white. As I drew closer to them, I could see why. They were made of bones.
    I instantly drew back when I heard a laugh, a familiar one.
    I looked to the right and there sat Thorne on a huge chair carved from still more bones. And all around the cage were ekos bearing weapons.
    He pointed at the cage bars. “As you can see, we do make use of our little, uh, trophies here in the Kingdom of Cataphile.”
    With a thrill of horror, I saw four items resting on a slab of rock next to his seat. Destin, my chain, the Adder Stone, my grandfather’s ring and the glove I had to use when holding the Elemental. I touched my cloak and felt the small outline of the shrunken Elemental still in my pocket. They must not have noticed it or else thought it of no importance.
    I spoke loudly. “Why are we in here? And why did you take my things?”
    This roused Delph, who slowly sat up and then leapt to his feet.
    “What the —” he began, but I shushed him and then turned back to Thorne.
    “Why are you doing this to fellow Wugmorts?”
    Thorne pointed in turn to the Adder Stone, the chain, the ring and the glove.
    “What are these things, Vega Jane? I would dearly like to know.”
    “Why?”
    “Well, how else can I make use of them?”
    “You’re not to make use of them. They’re mine,” I said heatedly. I felt woozy in the head and I suddenly knew why. “You put something in our water to make us fall asleep,” I said accusingly.
    He picked up the ring. “I have seen this before. On your grandfather’s finger.”
    I grabbed the bars of bones and shook them. “Let us out of here! Now!”
    “You are in no position to make demands, my silly little female.”
    “I’m not silly and I’m definitely not little,” I shot back.
    “To me, you’re nearly invisible, so insignificant are you.”
    “Well, then I guess you don’t need