The Gatekeeper's Daughter

The Gate

www.gatekeepersdaughter.com

Now available for you in Kindle and trade paperback formats on Amazon.com

Also the sequel (book 2 of 9) has is posted here on Wattpad.  The Title is "In Darkness Deep"

Aramos took the key from the keyhole in the door and looked back to the others and made a "be silent" sign by putting his finger to his lips as he put the key in a pocket located somewhere under the front of his armor. Aramos turned back to the door, that he was told lead directly to the gate. He remembered being told that the gate was a large maze that had ancient writings on the walls. He remembered being told that the path one walked would determine how the book was written, and that the one true path was a mystery that only a key could unlock. Aramos also learned that the sword of his fathers, was one such key, and he had it with him. For a moment he paused noticeably, and looked down a little, deep in thought. He wondered if the power of the gate could be used to bring about victory.

It was then he remembered something else. Maybe it was the reason he had the erg to pause. The Maze had guardians. The gate was guarded by some kind of powerful protectors. What exactly it was that guarded the gate was unknown to all. None who had braved the Gate, and had not mastered it quickly had ever lived to tell. The legend is that once inside the gate, a person has only a short time to master the gate, before the guardians came and killed the intruder.

"Why do you pause my lord?" Audra asked seeing that he was deep in thought. "Aramos turned to the others and considered each of them briefly before answering: "You are not called to follow me into the Gate. I can't ask it of any of you. It is likely that I will not master the gate, and that all of you will die, meeting the same fate as those who have come before, never to return. It isn't wise to risk so many, where only one should go."

"That's not the plan," Max said with some anger in his voice, breaking his long silence. Aramos looked to Max, whom he had served with before years ago. He realized, However that he did not really know Max, nor his motivations, and as such was visibly unmoved by Max's protest.

"Max is right." Aiden said uncommitted to the point as he looked to and fiddled with his arm still mending in a sling. Aramos was again unmoved. Aramos looked at the expression on Shue Herm’s face. It was impossible to read Shoe’s thoughts on the matter, and Shue said nothing. Unvaba was also silent. Aramos considered Brooz for a moment, but knew that Broz’s faith would put the matter to Aramos, and let fate itself decide if Aramos was right. If Aramos wanted an unbiased opinion he wasn't going to get it from his cousin Justin either. Justin was already looking at Aramos with a look Aramos knew to be a protest, and was only waiting his turn to make his protest heard.

Before Justin could find a space to speak uninterrupted, Halfstone stepped forward and putting his massive hand on Aramos's shoulder leaned forward and whispered in Aramos's ear so adeptly that only Aramos heard him say. "Sir, I left your brother and all of my men, and now they are all dead. You'll have to kill me to keep me from following you. I know also that I speak for Kilimir and the angry little Halfling as well." Halfstone backed up a half step with a small and serious smile on his face.

Aramos was inwardly both amused with and proud of Halfstone's dedication and professionalism. But he wanted an unbiased opinion and knew exactly where to get it. Aramos looked to Audra around the mighty girth of Halfstone and engaged her eyes with his own as he asked: "What does the Gatekeeper's Daughter say?"

Audra did not expect any question to be coming her way. Suddenly she was nervous. She could feel her hands sweat, and she knew she would not have sufficient time to even consider all the ramifications. She was taken quite off guard by Aramos deferring to her, and not Justin or Brooz. She was confused by the situation, but quickly and must faster than she realized when to work on making the decision. She looked to Rom and without anyone noticing, took Alestra's hand in the hope she cold glean some wisdom from either source. Audra, saw and felt nothing from Rom or Alestra that she could be certain of, so following only her heart she said: "We all go with you."