Keeper of Reign

7. Destroyer

THE WARNING GRANDPA gave had frightened Jules then, as it did now.

“Jules, the days are coming,” Grandpa Leroy had said, that bleak day as they sat before the fireplace. “One day, Gehzurolle will intensify his efforts against us. Beware of that day.”

Picking up his Ancient Book, Grandpa read, “Suspecting the lives of the now insignificant Fairy Elves will be restored to the former glories they once enjoyed, the Scorpents and their leader, Gehzurolle, the Lord of Shadows, will be driven to distraction. After many failed attempts to annihilate the Race throughout the centuries, Gehzurolle will scheme to extinguish every inhabitant of the land because finally a Keeper has invited him into our Kingdom. He will spare no Elfie. Not even those who work for him.

“But which Keeper would do something like that?”

“One who’s desperate. When you see the signs, Jules, you must flee. You and everyone in our family. Immediately!”

“But why, Grandpa?”

“Because it means he’s close to succeeding. He will seek us Keeper families first because without the Keepers and our Books our Kingdom cannot survive. I entrust this knowledge to you for you will take over from your mother as Keeper of the Book, just as she’d taken over from me.” His grandfather’s gentle blue eyes locked with Jules’s own green ones.

“But how will I know when this will happen?”

“The Ancient Book says thieves will come to steal—so beware. But these are no ordinary burglars, Jules. They will destroy everything in their path. Whatever happens they mustn’t get our Book.”

*************************************

That was what Jules recalled of that conversation. “We must locate Mom’s Ancient Book,” he quickly said. “Rals, you–”

Then he noticed Miranda staring at him. It wasn’t like her not to voice an opinion. “Don’t be afraid,” he said to her. He wondered if Saul ever told her they were a Keeper family. He scanned the top of the mantel where his mother’s Book usually sat, but nothing was on it. Or on the strewn floor, either.

Before he could utter another word a tap tap tap on the window sill, followed by soft footsteps as if inching closer to the open front door alarmed him further. A rustling outside sent shivers up his spine. Jules put a finger to his lips and gestured to everyone to stay quiet.

Had the intruders returned? How many were they?

Soon the scrunching of dried leaves outside grew louder. Who were these shifting below the front windows?

Bitha said. “Where to hide?” Her eyes flitted from one overturned piece of furniture to another.

Tippy, clutching her red stone, scrambled to the kitchen table, the only furniture still upright in the room, and sat beneath it, hugging her knees. She rocked herself back and forth, her lips ashen gray. Tst Tst and Bitha looked at her pale face and crawled after her. They sat flanking her and hugged her, each with an arm about her thin shoulders.

“Where to hide?” Ralston whispered and tugged at Jules, his nails dig- ging into Jules’s arm.

Jules gestured to follow him but Tippy didn’t budge. She kept shaking her head and pointing at the window. “Tippy, quick.” He kept his voice calm.

“I want Mama!” Tippy cried, too loudly.

“I want Mama, too,” Jules said, quietly. “But Mama would want you to hide. Ralston, help her.” To himself he muttered, “They’re after Mom’s Book.”

A faint smell had wafted into the room. Sweet, almost too sweet, but masking a pungent fragrance. He breathed in deeply and the pungent fragrance cut into his nostrils like acrid acid seeking to lodge itself inside his brain. Strange!

He pushed the small of Tst Tst’s back to get her to move quicker. “I know where to go.”

“The attic’s too small,” Ralston whispered back.