Haven Keep (Book 1) (32 page)

The other men nodded an acknowledgment, continuing to follow Kaiden’s lead.

The well was exactly where Kaiden said it would be.  The horses were watered, given a short rest and the men were again on their way.  The road was more a hard packed dirt path to start with, but soon widened into a more navigable route.  A thin layer of mud and melting snow covered the packed earth.  The mud soon gave way to small rocks and gravel retrieved from the mines in the east, slowly turning  to cobblestone the closer they rode to Azmark.  It wasn’t really much of a road at all, and was in great disrepair, filled in with gravel and crushed stone in many places.  The remains of the cobblestone road stretched over a league before leading right through the gates of Azmark and up to the Great Hall.

Night fell over the little city long before the men rode through the main gates.  Zared stood in one of the watch towers overlooking the entrance to Azmark.  Kaiden thought that strange.  No one had manned the towers for years.    Maybe he was there to greet any clan chiefs that might be delayed by the snows.

Zared was a hard man.  One Kaiden’s father used for dangerous situations, situations needing someone very reliable.  This was not exactly the welcoming party Kaiden would have chosen. 

Zared recognized Kaiden and descended from the tower to meet him at the gate.

“Where are the others?”  He left the obvious question unspoken and eyed Oded and Tostig.  It was considered rude to ask who Kaiden’s companions were before they were introduced.

“They are dead.”  Kaiden saw no reason not to tell Zared the truth.

Zared breathed in sharply through his nose and his eyes flickered a bit, but that was the only reaction he gave to the news, and he asked for no further explanation.  Kaiden had no desire to give him one.

“These men are here to see my father.  They are Oded and Tostig.”

The men nodded greetings to each other.

“Should I tell him you are here?”  Zared was just being polite.  Kaiden knew his father probably wanted Zared to remain at his post.  Kaiden would find out the reason for it soon enough, so did not ask.  What he did wonder was why his father had not yet left for Stone Abbey.

“My father is still in the city?” Kaiden asked.

Zared looked a little uncomfortable, as if he did not know how much he could say around Oded and Tostig.  “There was,” Zared paused to choose his words.  “An incident,” he finished.  “It delayed your father’s leaving.  He thought it best not to travel alone to the meeting, nor arrive before the other chiefs.”

“What kind of incident?” Kaiden asked.

Zared glanced at Oded and Tostig before he spoke.  “Your father can explain it.  I can take you to him if you wish.”

“Thank you, no.  We will find him ourselves,” Kaiden declined, and turned his horse towards the city.

Zared nodded and glanced back at Oded and Tostig then returned to the top of the tower.

Kaiden did not have a good feeling. 
What kind of incident would delay his father?
  Surely many of the chiefs were beginning to arrive at Stone Abbey.  He could think of no reason his father wouldn’t have left already.  The news must not be too bad, otherwise Zared would have said more. Then again, with Oded and Tostig here, who knew how much Zared held back?

The streets were empty and felt deserted.  Most of the window shutters showed no light shining through from the inside.  Maybe it was later than Kaiden thought.  Even the windows in the Hall had no lights in them. There should have been more celebrating going on. 
It was just late
, he thought.  Everyone must be in bed for the night.

The stables were dark and empty, save for a few sleeping draft animals, and there were no stable hands.  Not even a stable boy.  Kaiden felt a little embarrassed that they were obliged to tend to their own horses.  Oded and Tostig gave no sign they thought it was out of the ordinary.  Kaiden wondered how late it actually was.  He didn’t think it was
that
late.

He made sure the horses were given enough fodder, then closed the stable door and led the men to the Hall.

“Is it always this quiet at night?” Tostig asked.

“No.  I don’t know why there is no one around.  Normally this time of year is a celebration of the harvest.  Strange that everyone has gone to bed so early.”   Kaiden left out the fact  he hadn’t seen anyone man the towers in years.  He saw no reason to alarm the southern men before he found out if there was anything to worry about.

Halfway across the courtyard Kaiden noticed the light of his father’s forge fire burning bright.  He could hear the rhythm of a blacksmith hammer pounding against the anvil.  Someone was still working, and it was probably Von.  That guy never took time for leisure.  Kaiden wanted to stop by and see his friend, but Oded and Tostig were more important.  Trying to sneak those two in without prying eyes noticing and without anyone asking too many questions might be easier than he first thought.

Kaiden chose the back entry with the narrow staircase.  Inside the oil lamps were already turned low.  The place was quiet.  Too quiet.  It would only be worse when everyone heard the news he bore.  Azmark would be in mourning for the next few weeks, if not longer.  The deserted hallways gave Kaiden the feeling it already was. 
It wasn’t that late yet.  Where was everybody?

If Oded or Tostig thought it strange there was no one to greet them they didn’t say.  Evidently the two knew discretion.  Kaiden was glad since he had no idea what he would have told them.  His original plan was to stash them in his room and retrieve his father from the Hall.  Now it seemed he might as well take them directly to his father’s chamber.  Apparently, since
everyone had gone to bed, that was the most likely place to find him. 

Kaiden walked quickly through the hallway, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be up.   Oded and Tostig trotted behind in an effort to keep pace.  He stopped at his father’s door and knocked softly.  There was no answer.  He knew someone was in there, he could see the light spilling out from underneath the door.   Kaiden was about to knock again when he heard his father’s voice.

“Come.”

Kaiden expected to be greeted by Isk and Jen.  They almost never left his father’s side unless it was to spend time at his father’s fire, or with Von.   The dogs were not there.  Who he did see was a surprise.  Flenn and Berkler.  Roren and Jordy were conspicuously missing.  The men were all seated around the large table in the middle of the room as if in council.

His father jumped up when he saw him.  “Kaiden, you have returned.  All went well I hope?”

Kaiden hoped he could avoid this a little longer. “No, the beast is dead, but...”  He didn’t know how to say the rest.  He remembered Oded and Tostig.  Maybe he could stall a little, figure out what he was going to say.  He had three days to think about it, but still couldn’t find the words.  “Father, these men are Oded and Tostig.  They are from the south.”

Baiden reacted with shock.  If he had still been sitting he would have jumped up again.

Kaiden remembered his manners, “Oded, Tostig,  this is my father, Baiden son of Baiden, Lord of Azmark and Keeper in the North. The other men are Flenn, one of my father’s councilors, and Berkler, master blacksmith.”

“I know who Oded and Tostig are, son.”  Baiden waved the men into the room.  “Bring them in.  Bring them in.”

“You know?” Kaiden stammered. “What?”   Kaiden hoped he did not look as stupid as he must sound.

“It is good to see you again Baiden,” Oded took Baiden’s outstretched hand.  It was like old friends having a reunion.  Kaiden didn’t understand. 
Why hadn’t  Oded said anything?  Why all the secrecy?

“What is going on?” Kaiden asked.  “How do you know Oded ?”

“Oded was a trusted advisor to the emperor,” Baiden answered then turned to Oded. “I did not think you still alive, Oded.  And Tostig you were just a boy when I last saw you.”

“You’ll forgive me if I do not remember you my lord,” Tostig said.  “My father says we have met, but I fear I was too young to remember.”

“Yes, I suppose you were,” Baiden agreed.  “This is very unexpected, Oded.  Please sit.  Tell me why you are here.”

“I would think you know why we are here.   The threat has not gone away.”

“Yes I know.  I am hoping to gather strength here.  There is a meeting of the clan chiefs in two days.  I was planning to ask for a council of war.  Your coming here may make that task easier.”

“It may, but there are some in the south who no longer trust you,” Oded said taking a seat at the table.  “They wonder why you have not offered help sooner.”  He turned to Kaiden and spoke almost apologetically.  “I thought we needed to feel out the situation before we revealed to you too much about who we are.  I hope you understand.  I think your father can appreciate our position.”

“I have kept my vow,” Baiden protested.  “I still keep safe that which I was entrusted with.  And more.”

“What do you mean more?” It was easy to see Oded’s curiosity peaked.

“We will speak of that later.  Tomorrow I travel to meet with the chiefs at Stone Abbey.  While I am gone Kaiden will go to Haven Keep and retrieve that which has been entrusted to the North for safe keeping.   Will you accompany me to Stone Abbey?”

“I will,” Oded said, “but you still must be reconciled to the forces in the south.”

“Of course,” Baiden agreed.  “How much of your forces still remain?”

“About ten thousand scattered across the plains and some here in the north.”

“In the north?” Baiden questioned.  “Not very many or we would have noticed you.”

Oded laughed loudly.  “I have not survived this long by being noticed my old friend.  There are four thousand fighting men in the Iron Mountains.  More arrive daily.”

“Impossible,” Berkler interrupted.

“It is true,” Kaiden said.  “I have seen them.”

“You have only just arrived?” Berkler questioned.

“We have been here three moons.”  Oded answered.

“Impossible.” Berkler was unwilling to believe it.

“I have seen the evidence,” Kaiden explained.

“I do not need evidence to know Oded speaks the truth,” Baiden said.  “I have never known him to be anything but honest.”

Kaiden wondered about that.  Oded had never spoken anything  Kaiden believed was untrue, but he sure left out some details he did not want known. 
What was he leaving out now?

“Kaiden, here is the key of the north.”  Baiden handed the oblong object to Kaiden.  It was only the third time Kaiden had touched it.   He only remembered seeing it half a score times.  “Bring back what is in Haven Keep.”

“I will,” Kaiden answered. 

“So there is a weapon at Haven Keep,” said Oded.  “I hoped it was so.”

Baiden looked at Oded curiously.  “There are weapons there, but the emperor kept a weapon himself.  Do you not have it?”

Oded sounded grave.  “It went missing.”

“Missing?”

Kaiden could not remember ever hearing his father so upset.

“How could it be missing?” Baiden asked.

“When the emperor died it was given to a member of the royal household for safe
keeping.  When the Horde stormed the royal fortress it disappeared.”

“So the Horde has it?”

“Thankfully, no,” Oded replied.  “Rumor put it on a merchant ship headed for the Gothen Isle.  When the Demon Mage sent his storms to drive back the dragon ships you sent, he inadvertently sank that ship too.”

“So it is lost.”

“It is lost, but I do not think for good.  The captain and half the crew were eventually rescued.   The captain spoke of no sword.”

“Sword?” Kaiden asked.   “What sword?”

“The emperor’s sword,” his father answered. “Forged by the Dragon Lords.  At least I think so.  Hope it to be so.”

“Durendal?” asked Kaiden.  The fabled ancient sword of the dragon kings in the north. The sword of the sovereign ruler of the Dragon Lords.   “I thought that was just a legend.”  Kaiden needed to rethink every legend he’d ever heard.  They were all coming to life.

“To most it still is,” Oded said.  “I was not sure until your father just spoke that the emperor kept the sword in his possession.  I had suspected, but did not know for sure.”  Oded looked at Baiden and Baiden nodded before he continued. “The sword has been kept by the emperors of Evenfelle since the founding of the empire and the Keeper in the North has kept its most powerful secrets hidden away in Haven Keep.  At least we hope.  Who knows if the emperor’s sword is the same that was wielded by Elric.  We can only hope.”

“But if my father has kept its secrets, we don’t need the sword,” exclaimed Kaiden. “We have what we need in Haven Keep.”  The possibility excited him.

“Not exactly,” Oded said.  “Durendal was the most powerful sword ever forged by the Dragon Lords.  I don’t believe there is any weapon that is its equal.  We cannot let the Horde get hold of it.”