done.’
Gerard said goodbye to Zeek and June.
‘Good luck, Gerard,’ Zeek said as he shook Gerard’s hand. ‘I’m sure we’ll see you around the village.’
‘Pop in and say hello when you can,’ June said.
They climbed into the carriage and waved goodbye and then they were off, on the final leg of their journey to the Keep.
They passed through the village and out into the countryside. The Keep wasn’t far away and could easily be reached on foot. On their way they travelled through the Keep’s orchards where rows of apple, plum and peach trees grew. Further along woods extended out to their left and on their right fields of cotton grew. The carriage rambled along the road until they came to a stone wall where the road veered off towards the mountain. As the carriage made its way up the mountain slopes they passed through the gates to the common. Inside the walls was another smaller village with houses dotted here and there, and the people were out in their gardens while their children played. Through the common they continued on up the road as it wound its way up the mountain towards the plateau and although the way was steep it was still walkable. Through the carriage window Gerard and Devon could see the monstrous building as it towered above them. It wasn’t much further before they passed through another set of gates and into the gardens.
They were amazed at the size of the Keep. Its regal towers rose up towards the sky and the many windows overlooked the gardens they passed through. They were both in awe as they travelled through the yard that led up to the entrance. There were wide expanses of lawn surrounded with garden beds and hedges had been planted here and there to give privacy to those who wanted to be alone. Men and boys walked around the grounds in groups or on their own. They wore simple linen trousers with loose cotton shirts and Gerard felt overdressed. The younger boys ran around as they played some kind of game, while others sat in the shade of a tree and read.
Upon the stairs a man in a long grey cloak stood and waited for their arrival. He’d been told a carriage approached and as they were expected he’d gone down to greet them.
The man in the cloak was none other than Hierarch Jacob. He was the senior Wizard chosen to lead all at the Keep. He waited patiently as the carriage approached and pulled to a halt in front of him. Gustov climbed down from the carriage and opened the door for Devon and Gerard. They stepped out into the bright sunlight and the Hierarch walked down the steps to greet them.
‘Welcome Lord Antrobus and Master Gerard,’ he said as he shook Devon’s hand. ‘We’ve looked forward to your arrival.’
‘Thank you,’ Devon said.
‘Good morning,’ Gerard said as he also shook the Hierarch’s hand.
Gustov nearly fell to his knees. A Lord...he hadn’t known, he’d thought they were well to do folk from across the seas. He bowed in their presence. ‘Forgive me, Sir, oh I mean me Lord. I hadn’t known of ya royalty.’
‘There’s no need for that, Gustov. I’m no Lord here, merely a father seeing off his son and besides I thought we were friends,’ Devon said.
‘Gustov, please get the lad’s bags and Samuel will take them to his quarters,’ the Hierarch said and Gustov hurried to do as he was instructed.
The Hierarch looked at Gerard with a strange smile on his face and spread his arms wide. He looked like an eagle about to take flight as he said, ‘Gerard Antrobus. Welcome to the Keep!’
Chapter Five
Brother Astern traversed the corridors of the Keep. He was headed to the reading rooms for his first classes of the day. As he pulled his cloak tighter to ward off the cold he belched to release the discomfort his breakfast had caused. First he needed to check the rooms where the Prophecy Books were kept, to make sure all was prepared for the morning’s lessons.
The room that held the Prophecy Books was located underground, deep in the
Gerard said goodbye to Zeek and June.
‘Good luck, Gerard,’ Zeek said as he shook Gerard’s hand. ‘I’m sure we’ll see you around the village.’
‘Pop in and say hello when you can,’ June said.
They climbed into the carriage and waved goodbye and then they were off, on the final leg of their journey to the Keep.
They passed through the village and out into the countryside. The Keep wasn’t far away and could easily be reached on foot. On their way they travelled through the Keep’s orchards where rows of apple, plum and peach trees grew. Further along woods extended out to their left and on their right fields of cotton grew. The carriage rambled along the road until they came to a stone wall where the road veered off towards the mountain. As the carriage made its way up the mountain slopes they passed through the gates to the common. Inside the walls was another smaller village with houses dotted here and there, and the people were out in their gardens while their children played. Through the common they continued on up the road as it wound its way up the mountain towards the plateau and although the way was steep it was still walkable. Through the carriage window Gerard and Devon could see the monstrous building as it towered above them. It wasn’t much further before they passed through another set of gates and into the gardens.
They were amazed at the size of the Keep. Its regal towers rose up towards the sky and the many windows overlooked the gardens they passed through. They were both in awe as they travelled through the yard that led up to the entrance. There were wide expanses of lawn surrounded with garden beds and hedges had been planted here and there to give privacy to those who wanted to be alone. Men and boys walked around the grounds in groups or on their own. They wore simple linen trousers with loose cotton shirts and Gerard felt overdressed. The younger boys ran around as they played some kind of game, while others sat in the shade of a tree and read.
Upon the stairs a man in a long grey cloak stood and waited for their arrival. He’d been told a carriage approached and as they were expected he’d gone down to greet them.
The man in the cloak was none other than Hierarch Jacob. He was the senior Wizard chosen to lead all at the Keep. He waited patiently as the carriage approached and pulled to a halt in front of him. Gustov climbed down from the carriage and opened the door for Devon and Gerard. They stepped out into the bright sunlight and the Hierarch walked down the steps to greet them.
‘Welcome Lord Antrobus and Master Gerard,’ he said as he shook Devon’s hand. ‘We’ve looked forward to your arrival.’
‘Thank you,’ Devon said.
‘Good morning,’ Gerard said as he also shook the Hierarch’s hand.
Gustov nearly fell to his knees. A Lord...he hadn’t known, he’d thought they were well to do folk from across the seas. He bowed in their presence. ‘Forgive me, Sir, oh I mean me Lord. I hadn’t known of ya royalty.’
‘There’s no need for that, Gustov. I’m no Lord here, merely a father seeing off his son and besides I thought we were friends,’ Devon said.
‘Gustov, please get the lad’s bags and Samuel will take them to his quarters,’ the Hierarch said and Gustov hurried to do as he was instructed.
The Hierarch looked at Gerard with a strange smile on his face and spread his arms wide. He looked like an eagle about to take flight as he said, ‘Gerard Antrobus. Welcome to the Keep!’
Chapter Five
Brother Astern traversed the corridors of the Keep. He was headed to the reading rooms for his first classes of the day. As he pulled his cloak tighter to ward off the cold he belched to release the discomfort his breakfast had caused. First he needed to check the rooms where the Prophecy Books were kept, to make sure all was prepared for the morning’s lessons.
The room that held the Prophecy Books was located underground, deep in the
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