CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE-THE GATEKEEPER

While Selvin’s battered and broken body hung limp from the pole in the dirt floor basement, the storm started to let up outside and in Ben’s heart. Ben wiped his bloody hands on a towel as he panted for breath after the vicious beating he gave Selvin. “Anybody want seconds on this old pathetic asshole?” he asked coldly as he turned to Thorin and Haldir.

Thorin shook his head. “No, I’m quite tired of seeing his ugly face. I won’t waste a minute more of my life on this…this nothing. Let’s be done with this and get moving on. She’s waiting for us.”

Haldir pulled on a clean shirt and sniffed through his nose. “I agree. This has been fun and all, but we have a long journey ahead of us. I may be pretty fancy here on Earth, but the Realm’s a big goddamn place and you can’t just mist into the Darke’s lands without his permission. It’s quite a trek.”

Ben rolled his neck from side to side and clenched his jaw as he nodded. The beating he gave Selvin wasn’t nearly as satisfying as he’d hoped it would be. Until he had his family safely in his arms again, Ben would never be a content man. The hole in his chest ached for them and no amount of suffering he inflicted on Selvin filled it.

“Alright,” Ben pulled his knife from the sheath on his waist. “For you baby.” Ben grabbed Selvin by the hair and lifted his face until their eyes met. Ben smiled and said, “Now, I get to go be with my wife and daughter and there’s not a fucking thing you can do about it anymore.”

He slapped the blade against Selvin’s forehead a few times. “I told you I was going to kill you, asshole.”

With a scowl and a grunt, Ben dragged his blade across Selvin’s throat. While the spark of life left Selvin’s eyes, Ben took a deep breath and laughed as he realized his nightmare was finally over. He looked up to the ceiling and said, “I’m on my way, Imara. I’ll be there soon, baby.”

While Selvin slumped onto the floor, Ben cleaned his knife off on the towel and tossed it aside. As he looked around at the blood-soaked floor, Ben rubbed the back of his head. “What do you reckon we should do about this? We can’t hardly leave three dead bodies behind for the humans to find. I don’t think the council would take kindly to that.”

Haldir pulled on his beard and nodded. “We’ll burn it when we leave. By the time the firemen get here, the place will be leveled.”

Thorin shook his head. “You don’t think we should give them a proper send off, Ben?”

Ben bit his lip and shook his head. “No, that’s not them anymore, Thorin. My girls are waiting on me over there. Let’s go get them.”

After he closed the tie on his backpack, Ben slung it over his shoulder and reached back with his other arm then threaded it through the strap. As he centered it on his back, Ben looked around the guest house.

He walked to the play pen and picked up Mr. Rabbit and kissed the toy. “Can’t forget that again.” Ben tucked the toy into the inner pocket of his coat near his heart. He took the stack of photos that Imara wanted to keep and put them in a Ziploc bag then put them in his other chest pocket.

Before he walked out of the house, Ben grabbed the blanket that Imara had just knitted and her favorite book from the table.

As he met Haldir and Thorin in the yard, Ben slid the dark brownie beanie Imara made him over his head and tucked in his ears. Ben slid the book in his waist pocket then slung the blanket over his shoulders and tucked it into the bag straps to secure it. Thorin handed him Imara’s knife and Ben looked at it as tears filled his eyes. “She never had a chance, even with this.”

Thorin shook his head. “No, Ben, she didn’t. Even if she did, Imara could never hurt a soul. Not even one as black as Selvin’s. She’s not that kind of witch. You were meant to save her. Only you.” Thorin put his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “We couldn’t stop this thing from happening, but you saved her and Eliza from the eternal damnation of this curse Ben. You saved their souls. They’re free of it now. You did that. Only you could do that.”

Ben nodded and threaded the extra sheath onto his belt then buckled it again. “So, are we ready?”

Thorin looked back and nodded. “Yes, I suppose we are. And you know what? I’m not even going to miss it. I’m tired of this ugly, old world.”

Ben shook his head and pushed out his lips. “Me neither.” He put his finger to his mouth and whispered “Shh!” then pointed it to the main house. As flames erupted from the kitchen, Ben turned to the guest house and whispered, “Shh!”. The smaller guest house quickly raged into an inferno as the roof of the main house began to shoulder.

Haldir chuckled through his nose as he put his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Well, I guess you are one of the Darke’s. No wonder he’s so eager to collect you.”

Ben closed his eyes and saw Imara walk through the gates of the city in the woods. As she got to the other side, she looked back over her shoulder and smiled as she pushed the windblown hair from her face. I’m home, Ben. I’m waiting for you. “He’s going to have to wait. I got to see about my girl first.”

Haldir motioned to Thorin to come closer with his hand. “Let’s go Thorin.”

As Thorin walked to him, Haldir put his hand on his shoulder then misted them both away.

When they reappeared, they were outside a great tall castle that sat in a valley surrounded by snowcapped mountains. On the Northern border sat the entrance to a dense, dark forest.

Haldir said, “ This is the kingdom of King Eliphas the Wise. He is the gatekeeper for departed spirits to enter the Realm. Imara would have come here first.”

As the three men approached the tall glass doors of the fortress, the doors parted and an elderly

man with a long white beard stood before them. “Welcome Haldir. I’ve been expecting you. Daniel said that you would be on your way.”

Haldir walked forward and kneeled before Eliphas. “Your majesty.” Haldir looked back at Thorin and Ben and nodded for them to join him. They walked toward Haldir and knelt as he was. 

“Please stand.” The three men rose and followed Eliphas as he turned and walked away. “You are here seeking the Lady of Light?”

“Yes,” Ben said quickly.

“Do you know where she is?” asked Haldir.

Eliphas said, “Yes, of course. You can find her in the city in the North Woods. She is under the protection of Lord Nicholas now.”

Ben asked, “How far is that?”

Eliphas answered, “Nearly three weeks as the crow flies.”

“Three weeks?” Ben asked as his heart sank.

“Yes, Ben Logan. You didn’t really think this would be easy, did you?”

“Yeah, I was kind of hoping it would be for once. Can we mist there?” asked Ben.

“I’ve never been there before, and I doubt Lord Nicholas would take kindly to three strange men misting into his city,” said Haldir.

Eliphas chuckled to himself. “Fortunately for you, Daniel the Darke has already made arrangements. Once you reach his lands, he will escort you to the North. You may stay the night here if you wish or start off after dinner. The choice is yours.”

“Thank you, your majesty,” said Haldir.

“I have something that I will need you to deliver on your journey, Haldir.”

“Yes of course, anything,” he said.

After dinner, Eliphas gave a scroll to Haldir. As he tucked it into his belt, he smiled at Eliphas.  “This couldn’t have been done by crow?”

Eliphas smiled a devious grin and nodded. “Yes, I suppose it could’ve, but I wanted to surprise them. Daniel won’t be expecting this at all.”

Haldir turned his head slightly and pulled his lips to the side as he looked at Eliphas trying to figure out what he meant. “He’s not going to kill me for it. Is he?”

Eliphas shook his head. “No! He’ll be quite amused. It’s not often that I can surprise that young wizard.”

Haldir patted the old gentle King on his arm and said, “Thanks for everything.”

Eliphas nodded his head once then held out his hand to usher the men to the door. As the three men walked off to the path North, Eliphas cupped his hand to his mouth and shouted, “You’ll have to come back and tell me what his face looked like when he reads it. I really must know!”