Kalerian: The Gatekeeper Series Read online

Kalerian

  The Gatekeeper Series

  Stacey Thompson

  Copyright@ 2016 Stacey Thompson and Stevie Trinity. No one may publish any part of this work without the consent of the authors.

  Published by: Fire Spirit Publishing

  www.staceythompsonwriter.com

  Kalerian

  Japan, 1545

  Kalerian watched the meadow and village go by as the carriage rolled forward. He was on his way to the clan he was promised to. When Kalerian's father died, he became the chosen fighter of the home. It was a tradition his family thought important for the household all to follow.

  He watched the road turn rocky as they climbed the mountain in the little carriage until they came to an abrupt stop.

  “You will have to walk from here,” the driver said not looking back at Kalerian. He nodded and jumped out the back of the carriage grabbing his bag as he went.

  The hike up the small mountain was faster than Kalerian thought it was going to be. He thought about his family and the reasons for her to be here. They didn't understand everything he did or the nights he disappeared to his real masters.

  Japan was divided between two powerful clans. The ruling body and another that wanted to rule. Kalerian wanted to be a part of that ruling power instead of a slave to our current one.

  Before long, he was standing before a wood gate. There was no door only the inscription of the clan. He could hear the clanging of metal within the gateway and smiled to himself. A good fight was always a great way to start the day.

  Kalerian glanced around the tall cherry blossom trees stretched out like a canopy of pink flowers. It held such beauty to it, he couldn't help but stare as he walked. Kalerian’s gaze caught a woman standing underneath the tree, playing with the blossoms. He watched her for a moment.

  She was beautiful in her own way. The woman didn't seem anything like the women in the village where he hailed from. She was different. She had something they didn't, strength.

  She caught him looking at her and glanced his way, a sly smile slid across her face. Kalerian didn't break his gaze as he walked. It seemed as though the world stopped moving and it was just her and him looking in to one another's eyes.

  “I'm glad you got here, Kalerian.” He turned to the owner of the deep voice. It was a tall man in his early thirties. He was dressed in a black Gi that was trimmed in a gold thread. He smiled and bowed his head. “I am Manishi, the clan leader. I will show you where you will reside.”

  Kalerian bowed my head in respect and watched him turn away. He glanced back to the cherry blossom tree, but the woman was gone. He let out a sigh and followed Manishi over the small foot bridge towards the inner workings of the clan.

  The buildings were beautiful, but built for use as well. They all sat close to each other and were painted a rust red color. The walls were thin and you could almost see through to the inside if you looked hard enough. Each building had a sliding door that could be left open if the person inside wanted to or closed for privacy.

  “I’d hoped we could meet under better circumstances. The death of your father is regrettable,” he said, stopping for only a moment to look his way. “He was proud of you and spoke highly of your talents. Even the ones we do not speak of.”

  He didn't answer. What could he really say? If he knew this much about Kalerian, he wondered what else he may know about him and his plans.

  “You will stay here with the other students. You may be advanced, but you will still live by my rules.” Manishi pointed towards a bare spot in the room.

  When he glanced around him, Kalerian noticed the bedding laid out in rows on the wood floor. He figured the other students must be practicing behind the buildings. If he listened close enough, he could hear the sounds of metal hitting metal. Kalerian's eyes roamed following the sound and hoping he could participate and get a feel for how good these guys really were.

  “We will get to it soon enough,” Manishi said as though he knew what Kalerian was thinking. “First leave your things here. I'm sure you can find the way to the practice grounds after that.” He smiled and walked away leaving him alone in the doorway.

  He sighed and dropped his bag in the empty corner. Kalerian sat down beside it and closed his eyes, hoping he could still connect with the magick that lurked inside of him.

  He took a deep breath and let go of everything, only thinking about what the future held. He needed to know where this path led.

  Kalerian felt a burst of power run through him and then an image started to form in his mind. The cherry blossom tree came into view and then the beautiful woman standing underneath it. She was smiling but there was something wrong behind her eyes. Her mouth moved, but he couldn't hear what she was saying. It was as though he was deaf to her.

  Kalerian felt himself slipping back even as he tried to fight it. When he opened his eyes, he stared at the beds made before him. His mind reached back to the vision and how it really didn't make any sense to him. Kalerian barely knew this woman, but she seemed to be a big part of his future.

  His ears heard the clanging of metal connecting and knew they were waiting for him. Kalerian had a short amount of time before the day would come to take over this place and everyone in it. This had to be the way it was to claim this clan’s home and keep his word to the others. The problem was something felt wrong. He just couldn't figure out what it was, not yet.

  He put himself together and wandered through the sliding doors and around the building. There were a lot of different fighters sparring and watching those that were in the various rings of practice. His eyes followed the small group closest to him. They were all younger than he was, around fifteen or sixteen. They were dressed in garb close to what the master wore but in white and blue. Kalerian assumed it denoted the ranks they held within the group.

  When he turned towards the more advanced group, he could see the woman that had captured his interest earlier. She was watching the two in the advanced group sparing. One fought with a staff and the other a katana sword a lot like Kalerian’s own. They were well trained and he knew this advanced group would be the one to worry about, but the sight of the woman sitting quietly helped him forget all that and think only of her. He wondered who she was and why a woman would be allowed here. This was a clan of warriors, not families.

  The taller man struck the other suddenly with the staff, knocking him to the ground. Kalerian’s attention wavered from the woman as the commotion settled in around the group. They were praising the winner and moving the other from the combat area. He wasn’t hurt and stood to bow before his superior. This was the way it should be, and I will be that superior soon.

  “Kalerian, I’m glad you found your way back here,” Manishi said, watching him from a few feet away. “Would you like to try the advanced group first?” He had a twinkle of amusement in his eye from watching the fight Kalerian had just witnessed.

  “Whatever you think would be appropriate, Master.” He observed the respect the others felt for this man in the way he addressed him. Kalerian couldn’t help but have some respect for him as well. He was strong and committed to what he was doing, even if he was going to fail.

  Kalerian’s gaze wandered over the men, stopped on the woman for a moment before she caught him looking her way. She raised her eyebrows and smiled as though she knew the reason he watched her.

  “Raiden, you will go first,” he said nodding to a blond sitting off on his own. Manishi glanced at Kalerian and raised an eyebrow. “Does that suffice for you?”

  He simply nodded and moved to the center of the combat area. Raiden was tall but carried an arrogant smile. It would be fun to wipe it off his face. He glanced at
the master and then back to Kalerian. “Are you sure, you are ready for this, newcomer?” The smile never left his face, not until Kalerian’s first strike. He brought the sword down hard into Raiden’s block. He backed away from Kalerian and readied his defenses. Kalerian struck again from the side, clipping Raiden’s elbow with his blade. Raiden cringed but made no noise to betray his weakness.

  Raiden lifted his gaze to meet Kalerian and blocked a second attempt at his side with his arm to Kalerian’s. He almost didn’t see the blade of Raiden’s sword swing at his head until it was there, barely missing Kalerian’s face.

  While Raiden was still stopping his missed swing, Kalerian kicked into the back of his leg, causing Raiden to fall forward enough to take him off balance. Raiden turned on his knee and punched Kalerian’s stomach, making it hard to breathe. He ignored the pain and brought his sword to Raiden’s throat.

  “That’s enough. You have proven yourself a great fighter. That is all for today.” The sound of the Masters voice barely broke through the beating of Kalerian’s heart in anticipation for the kill.

  Raiden watched him with little fear in his eyes, but there was also something else Kalerian couldn’t quite pinpoint.

  He backed away and turned from the combat field. The day was coming to an end and everyone was getting themselves ready for