Keeper: Chapter 43

Chapter 43

After breakfast Jamie laid out his plan to Del, who agreed to act as Jamie’s living anchor with a bit of amusement showing on his face. Jamie shrugged it off and led Del to the closed basement door. Jamie frowned at it for a moment. It looked exactly as he had left it the night before.



“Could you try opening it again?” Jamie asked Del. Obligingly the small man stepped forward and turned the doorknob. It turned but the door would not open. Del flipped the lock and made certain it was not stuck and then tried again with the same results. He stepped away with a shrug. Jamie, a frown still creasing his forehead, reached forward and turned the door knob. The knob turned and the door swung open. Del’s eyebrows shot up and the amusement that had tinged his features before disappeared.



“I’ll go in first,” Del said, stopping Jamie with a wave of his hand when Jamie tried to start down the stairs. “I’ll be the first down the stairs so if there is a nasty surprise the basement can’t lock me out once you are inside. And on the way back up the stairs you will be the first out with me following behind so that again the door can’t close with me on one side and you on the other.” Jamie nodded admitting that the plan seemed sensible. He didn’t want to become a permanent fixture in the basement. Somehow he didn’t think the house actually planned to eat him, but he had seen enough horror movies that knowing he wouldn’t be the last to leave the basement gave him some measure of comfort.



‘Conditioned by Hollywood,’ Jamie thought as he followed Del down the stairs. ‘Or wherever the B-movie capital of the world is.’ The basement was the same as yesterday. As it contained no movable objects, Jamie couldn’t see how much would change. There was still no dust and the sense of waiting seemed the same. Jamie closed his eyes a moment. It was almost the same. It felt a little more ... excited than it had the day before. As if it had higher expectations than earlier. Jamie frowned and opened his eyes. There was still no sense of menace. Del watched him expectantly.



“It feels the same as yesterday,” Jamie said aloud. “Like it is waiting but without any malice.” The words were no sooner out of his mouth than the basement seemed to change. Jamie stepped away from the center of the room and Del followed. Jamie couldn’t put his finger on exactly what had changed at first. It felt as though someone had taken a deep breath or there was a slight pressure change but nothing dramatic. Del was frowning now and looking around him. There was a light breeze that swirled around the room.



‘Or at least it feels that way,’ Jamie thought realizing he could feel the wind but neither his or Del’s hair or clothes were moving as they would in a wind. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and Jamie rubbed at the goose bumps that had risen on his arms. The light from the flashlight seemed to dim and Jamie realized it was because a window had appeared in the wall and sunlight was streaming into the basement. Slowly Jamie’s eyes scanned the room. The edges of furniture appeared and became more solid as he watched. A shadowy form became a table. The table solidified and Jamie could see bowls such as the ones Del used in the kitchen scattered around. One had a rounded lump rising from the center and was covered with a dish cloth.



‘Bread dough?’ Jamie thought, noticing the scattered bits of flour still on the tabletop. He heard a small scraping and watched as an older man settled himself in a large chair placed before the fire. A man more or less Del’s size stepped from the shadows and seemed to be mixing things in yet another bowl. Jamie recognized him as the brownie, called Robin in his dream. Jamie looked back to the older man and realized that despite the age, he had a similarity to the younger man of his dream and as he saw the chain of the Keeper around his neck he realized it was the same man, only time had passed. A lot of time. His hair had turned snow white and receded , the remaining wisps dancing around an age spotted scalp. Age spots stood out on his hands as well and seemed the emphasize the stiffness of the joints as he moved his fingers. He was about to share this information with Del when the aged Keeper began to speak.



“It is going to be a cold one today, Robin,” The old man said. “Half the trees in the forest are still bent with the force of that ice storm last night blew in. I’ll be surprised if we don’t lose several of them. Most of them hadn’t readied themselves for their winter sleep yet.”



“Definitely a good day to be indoors,” Robin said. He handed the Keeper a large mug with steam curling on the top. Jamie inhaled, even as the old man did and was surprised to be able to smell both Lemon and honey in the air. A knock sounded on the door and Jamie jumped even as the old man and Robin turned their heads towards the sound.



“I don’t know who could be out on a day like this but we best let them in before they freeze to death,” The Keeper said. Robin wiped his hands on a towel dangling from his belt and walked towards the door. A stream of icy air blew in as Robin opened the door and Jamie shivered. A cloaked form stepped in, the hood hiding his features. Snow was melting on his shoulders, leaving dark patches of moisture to match the wet hem that had picked up moisture from the ground.



“A thank you my good man,” the newcomer said as he slipped his cloak from his shoulders and tossed it to Robin. Robin frowned but the newcomer paid no attention. Alerted by the voice, Jamie was not surprised to see Terrell once the cloak was removed. Like Robin he had not aged. The scar on his cheek had healed and it was more like the scar Jamie remembered seeing rather than the raw mark he had worn in Jamie’s dream. Jamie noted that the Keeper, while not being happy with Terrell’s presence, did not seem overly surprised.



“Ah Keeper, So glad I caught you at home.” Terrell said.



“Are you now?” The Keeper asked, with a raised eyebrow. “And why would that be? Or should I guess.” The Keeper’s tone was dry and flat. It was obvious to Jamie that he knew why Terrell had come calling.



“I was wondering if a final ruling had been made. After all the Lune Merdos is approaching and it doesn’t come that often you know.”



“I am aware of that Terrell,” the Keeper said with a sigh as Terrell seated himself in the extra chair by the fire. Robin remained close to the door as if aware this meeting would not take long. “My answer is the same as before. Until you answer my questions I can not make a ruling.”



“But the Lune Merdos only comes once every few hundred years and we need time to prepare...”



“Then it would be beneficial to you to answer the questions quickly rather than try to dissuade me from asking them.” The keeper said firmly. Jamie found himself smiling at the firmness in the old man’s voice even as Terrell’s face darkened in anger.



“It is not your place to question the inner workings of the High Court Houses.” Terrell snapped.



“The Lune Merdos is a ritual that when conducted grants an enormous amount of power to those completing the ritual. Power is not raised for the purpose of watching the pretty little lights,” the keeper said wiggling his fingers in the air as though mimicking fairy lights.. “It is raised for a purpose. Neither The Federan nor the Gederan have told me what purpose they wish to put the power to. How then can I decide who best the power serves?”



“Perhaps then as the Gederan conduct their rites during the day and the Federan by the light of the moon it would be best if we share the space and the power.” Terrell said. Jamie noticed the rather sly look that had come across his features, replacing the dark anger. Jamie noticed the old Keeper caught the change as well. The elderly man smiled; it was not a pleasant expression.



“Perhaps then neither of you should use it.” At the keeper’s words, Terrrell leapt to his feet, sending his chair crashing to the floor.



“Humans have no place meddling in things they don’t understand,” Terrell hissed through clenched teeth.



“Then perhaps you should take up the matter with the High Court Tribunal,” the keeper said, his calm words a counterpoint to Terrell’s anger. “Assuming of course that you could find an advocate to speak for you since the ban on your participation in court affairs is still in place.” Terrell stared at the Keeper, eyes bulging and breath coming hard with his anger. Jamie had the feeling that if looks could kill his predecessor would be an ash stain on the stones. Robin, would you be so good as to see Terrell out? Thank you.”



“Of course Keeper,” Robin answered. He held Terrell’s cloak out to him and ducked as the taller man swung it on to his shoulders. Without another word, Terrell staled out of the door Robin held open for him and disappeared into the cold night. Robin shut the door.



“That’s a bit of a nasty mess,” Robin said shivering a little.



“It is indeed,” the keeper said as Robin returned to his mixing bowls.



“Do you think the two of them could share for the ritual?” Robin asked. “They’ve never been keen on sharing before.”



“Terrell does not share power. Nor do any of his kin, regardless of which House they stand with. If they are willing to share the space it is because they have reached an arrangement, perhaps pooling both sides of the power of the lune merdos rite, giving them the power drawn by light and the power drawn by dark. As neither is willing to say what the power raised will be used for and both Houses fatten the ranks of the Brotherhood of Shadows I am loathe to see either of them in possession of it. I have the feeling it would not bode well for the rest of humanity and would thus violate the agreement.”



As Jamie listened the keepers words began to fade away. When he finished speaking Jamie could see Robin’s mouth moving in comment but could no longer hear the words. The items in the room also seemed less substantial and he realized that this vision, or whatever it was had reached its conclusion and was fading away. The scene began to fuzz around the edges. The light from the window faded. In a blink Jamie was staring at the empty basement illuminated only by the beam of the flashlight. The sense of waiting had vanished with the scene.



The basement was now just a basement. Jamie turned to Del. The smaller man’s eyes were wide and he was breathing fast. Jamie touched his shoulder and Del started as though he had forgotten Jamie’s presence. As Jamie had forgotten him as he watched the scene unfold he figured it was only fair. Jamie tilted his head towards the stairs, not really wanting to say anything just yet. Del nodded and gestured for Jamie to proceed him. Jamie walked up the stairs, Del following. They left the basement with no problems and Del closed the door behind him, turning the lock to secure it.



“That was certainly interesting,” Jamie said. Del looked at him and shook his head.



“Human magic is very strange stuff indeed. I think I need a bit of a sit down after that.” Del said He headed towards the kitchen as if seeking a more familiar realm.