Chapter 4

The Gatekeeper

 

The party waited patiently at the top of the rainbow for the sun to set. Charjer looked at the land he stood above and saw a temple in the distance.

"Everyone get ready," he heard Ryoga say.

Gohan handed Charjer a cloak. "When we get down there," he said, "wear this. Lots of wild things down there." Charjer nodded.

"Thanks, but I already have one," Charjer replied. Gohan nodded and folded the cloak back up and put it in his pack.

Everyone gathered where Ryoga stood. As the sun set, the moon began to rise. Before the group, a path made of moon dust began to formulate. Ryoga stepped on a few places to make sure the path was solid enough. "Okay. Let's go down," he ordered as he began his descent. They each followed him down one at a time.

After Charjer had descended, he found they had arrived in a cave. Ryoga was concentrating intently and mumbling something to himself while he pursed his fingers together. When he had completed his incantation, he ordered everyone to place their cloaks on.

As Charjer placed his cloak on, he noticed that he could still see everyone, but they seemed more shadow-like.

"We're going to pass through the Enchanted Forest," he heard Ryoga say. "Be on your guard." He looked towards Gohan. "Lead the way." Gohan nodded.

He lead the party out of the musty cave to a rickety bridge. "Looks too weak to hold more than one person at a time," he observed. "Okay, let's go, one at a time," he said before he crossed the bridge. Cueball followed, then Ryoga and Ate. As Smirk got halfway across the bridge, a large shadow passed over her. Charjer noticed it as well and glanced up to see a large winged beast fly over some tree tops. He followed Smirk across the bridge as she finished her crossing.

A path lay before the group that Gohan followed with everyone trailing after. After a ways, they approached a path that pulled to the left which Gohan passed by. They approached another path, and this time Gohan turned to take that one and followed it to a locked gate. He turned and looked at Smirk and motioned her to the gate. She nodded and proceeded forward to pick open the lock. Charjer stood with his back to the group to make sure nothing had followed them.

He then heard a click and the wiry creaking of the gates being swung open. Charjer turned to follow the group through the gate as Gohan lead everyone over another bridge, one that looked sturdy enough to hold more than one.

Past the bridge lay the outskirts of a village. "Phexton," said Charjer. "We're home." Gohan lead everyone to the opposite end of the village where a lone hut stood before tall stone gates standing twenty meters high.

"Who goes there?" boomed a voice from within the hut.

Charjer removed his cloak and answered, "Master Boran." A massive figure came out of the small hut that stood three meters high.

"Charjer," the large man said in surprise. "Welcome home young one." Charjer bowed before his former master.

He introduced his comrades who also had removed their cloaks by this time. "I won't be staying for long master." He retold his nightmare and asked if he had heard of or seen the elven maiden.

"Why yes. She was headed west towards Lindon." Charjer thanked him and turned to leave when he was stopped. "Hold on," said Boran. "Perhaps this will help you as well. Around her neck, she was wearing a jade pendant that held a rock of obsidian."

Charjer thanked him once again and nodded to Gohan, who lead them out of Phexton as Boran watched, a lone sentinel and last remnant of the old world.

Navigation
 
Original Stories Main
 
Darbonne Stories Main
 
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue

 

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