Read Keystone (Gatewalkers) for Free Online

doorways there, and did not return.
    “They must be receiving more advanced training,” Tom said.  
    “The talismans must be woven with gate spells,” Lallia decided, seeing how the keepers carried crystals as they led each group to the doors along the hall.  
    Tom nodded in agreement. “A very clever arrangement. It must be like the gates in Iomara, so that any portion of the kingdom may be reached quickly.”
    “I like this world,” Lallia decided. “It is full of adventure. I told you we would find our hero here.” She pointed down at the magenta-haired human woman.
    “Her?” Tom said doubtfully.
    “Her,” Lallia affirmed. “She is the one.”
    Lallia fluttered down to settle lightly on the woman’s shoulder, and began whispering a suggestion into her ear, weaving a subtle thread of magic.
    ***
    An Age of Destiny “war party” came trooping out of one of the multi-player rooms, chattering animatedly about their next foray into the Dread Dungeons of Doom.  
    Charlie checked the waiting list and called up the next party. While the giggling, chattering teenagers assembled, Charlie paused to work a crick out of her neck. Twenty minutes left. Only twenty to go, and this day was done .
    This new group wanted to play Nightfall, a dark urban fantasy in which mob-like vampires ran the underworld. Nothing like a bunch of teenagers pretending to be power-mongering bloodsuckers. If there was anything she disliked more than a Mature rated game in the hands of an underage kid, it was vampires.
    Charlie had never liked the games where bloodletting was a central element, but vampires made it much more personal. The mere concept of playing one herself made her queasy. Though if the game involved hunting them rather than being one, she had no such qualms.
    Charlie loaded the game onto a data key, her eyes absently scanning over the “recommended titles” that popped up next to the search bar. A title caught her eye.
    SEINNE SONNE
    Save the princess, save the worlds.
    Charlie didn’t remember seeing that one before. She thought she knew all the sword and sorcery games, good and bad. It hadn’t been on the list of new games for this week either, she was sure of that. Charlie stashed the title in the back of her mind and set up the bloodsucking party.
    When she came back to the desk, the unusual title came back to mind. Charlie searched it to get the longer blurb.

    Seinne Sonne needs a hero, and you have been chosen! The crown princess has been kidnapped, and the legendary Keystone has been stolen and shattered. Its pieces are scattered across the multi-verse. Are you up to the challenge of rescuing the princess and saving the worlds?

    Charlie snickered. The tone reminded her of old fashioned carnival barkers. Come one, come all! Step up to the plate and save the universe!  
    Still. She had a weakness for sword and sorceries, even if they were low budget ones. Charlie chewed on her lower lip. It had been a long day. The crowd had thinned as it approached supper, the calm before the evening storm.
    She could snag a little VR time herself.
    Charlie tried to dismiss the thought. After all, why prolong the day any longer than she had to?  
    It tickled in the back of her mind, persistent. Playing a quick game would be different than being on duty. Unlike lending her card to a customer, playing some VR (off duty) was technically encouraged so they could better advise customers. It had been so long since she’d taken advantage.  
    Abruptly Charlie felt the full weight of the day’s stresses, combined with a longing to play this new game. There was nothing quite like the thrill of a new game. She loved all the possibilities that a new game offered. New characters to meet and become, new monsters and new villains, new challenges. Beating the game couldn’t compare. Ending was so much sadder than beginning. Perhaps that was why her home gaming unit had dozens of starts that she’d just never gotten around to finishing.