The Red Moon Chronicles Book 1: The Crown Of Xenthos

The Chimera Gauntlet

Keenio, Veronica, and Zalpa were traveling down the spiral stone staircase. The sources burned brightly to light their way. They were silent. The only sound was their feet as they continued to travel deeper into the bowls of the earth.

"Keenio.. will this staircase end?" Veronica asked softly, careful to stay quiet.

Keenio said nothing, his cold persona served as his way of remaining focused. He knew he had to keep his mind focused on his mission.

"..Keenio..."

He slowed down, the staircase finally ended, opening into a dark stone corador. It was bare, and cold.

"Right now we are underneath the dungeon of the palace.." Keenio answered finally, "...be careful.. and be silent..."

Veronica and Zalpa looked at him, his words were cold, even for him. The look in his eyes, those blues jewels burned with a cold fury. It reminded her of when Keenio and Elizabeth first escorted her to Athens. That cold intimidating presence, it made Keenio seem like a monster, or rather, a demon.

"You don't have to be so rude.." Zalpa responded, "..we are your friends after all.."

Keenio turned away from them, "let's get going..." He held his tongue, "..we are wasting time.."

Keenio kept moving forward, Veronica and Zalpa followed closely, yet, cautiously.

The corador was like a labyrinth, but Keenio seemed to know where he was going. He memorized the maze, after all Stilphius made sure he knew every path and secret in Xenthos. There was no doubt, they were headed in the correct direction.

Zalpa and Veronica followed Keenio closely. Finally they were at the end of the labyrinth, and before them was an extremely large room, with a large hole hanging high above them. Keenio knew they were underneath the torture room of the dungeon. The scattered skeletons and corpses morbidly decorated the area, the piles of bodies, it was almost uncountable, but most were skeletons now, for time decayed them.

Keenio inspected the bodies, and his heart dropped. For on top of one pile lie a familiar face. Keenio saw the broken body of Martinis. It was unmistakable. Martinis head several broken bones it seemed, probably from when he fell, but his eyes were open still, his body was partially decayed, but there was no mistaking his identity, Keenio recognized his eyes.

"Martinis..." Keenio dragged the body from the pile, and inspected it, "...my friend..."

He fought back his pain, and reached Martinis' collar, and grabbed a small necklace, it bore the phoenix feather of the Xentidos, encased in a silver cacoon, preserving it. He turned it over and inspected the other side, it read:

Name: Martinis Helmshell
Rank: A

Keenio squeezed the tags so much that his hands became red, and held them to his heart.

"..I am sorry.... For everything..."

He then put the necklace on, and hid it's symbol underneath his armor. Then closed his eyes and placed 2 golden coins on them. He then stood there for a moment, torturing himself with his pain, still fighting that feeling.

"Keenio... Are you.. okay?" Veronica rushed to his side, and when she saw what Keenio seen, tears began to flood from her face, "..is that... Martinis?"

Keenio didn't even look at her, his eyes were locked on the body of his dead friend. Then finally he turned to her and nodded, slowly.

"Zalpa... I.. have a request..." He called out.

"..what do you need my friend?" Zalpa made his way to him.

"Use your magic, and burn his body... He deserves peace..."