Haven Keep (Book 1) (61 page)

One of them, a big graying man, with hard angled features spoke. “My lady.”  He nodded a greeting. “My name is Rall.  These are my companions.”  He gestured to each man in turn.
“Ulfgar, Riktor, Zor, Lloyd, Hames, Vredrik, and Gellien.”  The men each nodded as his own name was spoken.  “We seek your husband.”  His eyes flickered to Von for a moment, then rested again on Alensa.  The one he named Riktor let his eyes rest on Von and never took them off.  Von watched them all warily.

“He is not here,” she said cooly.   “I can take any message you desire to him.  I assure you he will receive it within the day.”

“We had hoped to speak with him in person,” Rall said.  His eyes flickered once more to Von.  Von stopped himself from fumbling with his sword hilt.  No need to make them nervous.  He wished he knew how to keep himself from being overly anxious.

“As I said, he is not here, but you are welcome to wait within the walls of Azmark.”

Von liked that.  If they came in peace there was no reason for them to decline.  If not they would become hostages.  By refusing they would show their true design.

“We accept your gracious offer,” Rall said without hesitation, “but we would deliver our message first to put your mind at ease.”

“Please do.”

Alensa sounded all milk and honey.  By the tone of her voice no one who did not know her well would have thought she was fearful at all.  Von knew she was terrified.  He fingered his dagger and his sword this time.

“I regret to inform you that Bethoc has committed treason.”

Alensa’s posture visibly sank, like an additional weight was placed on her shoulders.

“Do not fear.   The Kragen still stand with you.  Bethoc has gone to Stone Abbey with two of his councilors, Sigmund and Ulf.  Gunnar was to remain behind to raise the forces of the Kragen and join them to Ky.”

“And he has done this?”  Von asked.

“Not exactly,” Rall said.  “The forces of the Kragen have gathered, including the men from the fire islands, but we stand behind Gunnar in opposition to Bethoc.   Bethoc is part of the faction that plans to depose your husband and install Ky in his place.  They will vote at the new moon.”   He shook his head in disgust, then smiled at Alensa as if he knew some private joke.  “Your beauty, my lady is even greater than I had heard, but the Kragen cannot condone betraying our country because of it.”

Von was shocked.  Was that supposed to be some kind of compliment or insult?  He couldn’t puzzle it out.  If it was an insult, Von was going to make him regret it.  And this talk of installing Ky as Lord of the North, he would end that before it started.  The new moon was just two days away.  He would need to ride hard to get there in time.

Another of the Masters spoke.  Zor, Von thought his name was.

“I see that your companions do not understand.  They are too young to have known.  Do I have your permission to tell them, my lady?”

“No need,” Alensa said, sounding and looking visibly shaken.  She turned to Von. “Bethoc sought my hand in marriage.  I thought he had finally gotten over that.  I did not think he was one to hold such a grudge.”

“Not just a grudge, my lady,” Rall said.  “I mean no disrespect, but I think you must know.  Ky has promised you to him.”

Von could see Alensa was trying to remain calm, but her face could not mask the rage.  Her voice did a little better, but not much.  “He will pay for this!” she hissed.

“He has betrayed us as well,” Rall said.  “He has disgraced our clan and all those whom the Demon Mage, with his unnatural storm, sent to a watery grave.   We were willing to die for our emperor.  Bethoc is willing to trade his honor so he can steal the wife of another man.  I myself almost drowned those eight long years ago.  Nearly nine now I guess.  Most of our men did not return.  Bethoc disgraces their widows and children as well as our clan.  We will not allow him to do this evil.”

“I thank you for your honor and your honesty,” Alensa acknowledged, trying to smile.  “I will escort you Azmark.”

“We thank you, my lady. Our army is yours, it is over three thousand men strong, with more arriving from the Fire Islands.  When all come ashore I think we may have near five thousand to add to your strength.  If you do not mind I will send Hames back to inform Gunnar we have been received well.”

“Of course,” Alensa nodded assent. “Shall we?”  She turned her horse back toward Azmark.   The seven remaining Masters fell in behind her.

Riktor reigned his horse up next to Von.  “If you do not mind me saying,” he said, “you look a great deal like your father.”

Von would have stopped dead in his tracks if he had been walking, but his horse kept moving.

“So I have heard,” he said.

He did not want to look at Riktor.  He did not want to look at anybody.  Too many people had told him of his resemblance to his father to discount it.  He needed to get used to the idea of people knowing.  Not just who he was, but what had happened to him.  What had happened to his family, his homeland.  Riktor’s comment on top of seeing Oded and Tostig again after so many years brought back too many emotions he had fought too long to keep buried.  He could feel them welling up now.  There must be a way to keep them down.  He wanted to ride ahead, get away, but he could not leave Alensa alone with these men.  He would have to fight it, bury it again, deep inside like he had for so many years.

Thankfully Riktor said no more, though Von could tell he wanted to.  They rode uncomfortably a while until finally something gave Von a way to escape the prying eyes of the Masters.  Riders from the south.  At this distance it was hard to tell who they could be, but Von recognized the way Kaiden rode.  As they drew nearer it became obvious one of the men was Baiden.

“Here comes Baiden and Kaiden.  We should turn to meet them,” he said.

“Are you sure?” asked Alensa.

“”I am sure,” Von answered.

As they rode closer he could see Oded, Tostig and Soren. Berkler was with them too.  The other men he did not know, but he could see a woman rode with them.  That must be the Lady Elizbet he had heard about.   Two boys rode with her.  He could see they were very young, but they rode like they were born in the saddle.  He wouldn’t be surprised if they had been.

The closer they came, the higher Von sat up in his saddle.

No, it couldn’t be.
 
But it was.

Bet, no Bethrone, but she was married now, that was why they were calling her Elizbet.  Whatever her name was now she was still Bet to him.  He didn’t care what anyone thought, he spurred his horse to a gallop.  Bet, his childhood friend was alive, and she was here.

How many times had he and his brother saved her from dragons or marauding pirates, or listened to her as she pretended to be a sea nymph and reveled the location of her underwater treasure?    When they played knights she was always the gracious queen, or the princess in distress.  The bad memories seemed to disappear when he saw her smiling face. The nostalgia of his childhood reminded him of all that was good about Evenfelle.

He couldn’t believe she was alive.  Bet was alive!

She recognized him as well and began riding his way, spurring her horse to a faster gait.

Demons, she was beautiful.  She had certainly changed.  Grown up.  When Von finally reached her she had tears in her eyes.  He jumped down from his horse.  Bet did as well, but before she was halfway off Von grabbed her in a big hug and spun her through the air. 

She laughed.  “Put me down Beovon.”  She made it sound like an order.  Come to think of it, it probably was.  She was still the same Bet.

“Oh, it is good to see you!”  Von exclaimed.  “And you’re married I take it.  Elizbet now is it?”

“Yes, Von...”

“And these are your sons?”

The two boys rode up with the rest of the group. Kaiden, Oded, Alensa, Tostig, Baiden. Von was surrounded by friends and those he considered family.  Maybe he wasn’t as alone as he thought. He went on swinging Bet through the air. He did not care what the strangers might think. 
Bet was alive!
  

“Von, I need to...”

“What are their names?”   He finally put her down.

She hesitated a bit.  “The older one is Elon and the younger one we call Bo.  Von, I....”

Von smirked.

“What is so funny?” she demanded.

“Nothing,” he lied between giggles.  It truly was good to see her.

“Nothing?”

“It’s just that Kaiden had a dog that was named Bo.”

Bet’s eyes narrowed.  “I wouldn’t laugh if I were you!”

For some reason Oded and Tostig were laughing now, harder than Von was.  At least he tried to hide it a little.

“Bo’s just a nickname,” Bet snapped. “He’s named after his uncle!”

Von smirked again.  “And who might that be?”

Bet wore a smug look on her face.  “His uncle is Beovon son of Trajan.”

Jaws everywhere hung open, but none more so than Von’s.  “You mean he’s...?  They are...?  You are...?  Domnal’s alive!”

“Yes,” Bet said.  The tears were in her eyes again. 

Von sat down hard on the ground.  Fell was more like it.  His own eyes filled with tears.  His brother lived!  He had nephews!

Bet pulled him off the ground.  “Don’t fall apart on me now.”

“What’s the matter mom?  Are you sad?”  Elon asked.

“No, I am very happy.”

“Where is he now?” Von asked.

“He is with the greater part of our forces, shadowing the Halfen.  If the Halfen attack here they will have a nasty surprise from behind.”

Elon had another question.  “Is this dad’s brother?”

Bet wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded.  “It is.”

Von got over his initial shock and looked around.  Most mouths were still hanging open.  Kaiden’s face was nothing short of comical.  Baiden wore a look of puzzlement and Alensa beamed like a mother overly proud of her child.  The Masters were mumbling among themselves.  The only one to take it all in stride was Yaris.

Von, for the first time in a long time did not try to hold his feelings in.  The tears ran down his cheeks.  He grabbed Elon and Bo each in one arm and spun them much as he had their mother.

“It’s a good thing you take after your mom,” he told them.  “You wouldn’t want to go through life looking like your father and me.”

Bo looked at Von shyly.

Elon furrowed his eyebrows, then said, “Dad said you were shorter than him, but you aren’t.”

Von laughed out loud.  “You don’t say?”

Tostig was at Von’s side.  Von hadn’t seen him dismount.  “It is good to see you old friend,” he said.

“Old?”  Von asked.  “You look like you could nearly be a grandpa.”

“Hey.”  Tostig ran his hand over his hair.  He still had a majority of it, but it looked a little thinner than it did just eight years ago. “Now that is uncalled for.”  He didn’t sound like he meant it.  He shook Von’s hand and put his other arm around him.

The other men from the south were off their horses as well.  They knelt in a half circle around Von.  “Lord Beovon,” they all said softly.

“No need for that.“ Von protested.  “I never liked that when I was ten.”

They all rose and one of them spoke.  A man of middle height and light brown hair with a beard to match.  His voice was strong and full of authority.

“I hate to break up this reunion, but the Halfen are on the move and they are closer than we thought.  Two days away, maybe closer.”

“What of the two armies to the north?” Baiden asked.  “I see the Kragen have joined us.  Does this mean you will fight with us?”

“It does,“ Rall said.  “Our swords are yours.”

As if talk of battle had been a summons more riders appeared to the north.  Two of them, riding fast, kicking mud and snow up behind them.  They slowed just short of the gathering then stopped when they reached Baiden.  The two new comers exchanged looks, then one gestured to the other one to go ahead.  The second nodded and spoke.

“Lord Baiden, I am Trey, of the Orlec clan and I bring word to you that Lowerth is bringing the might of the Orlenc to join with you.  He has refused the summons to Stone Abbey and has pledged to fight any who vote for treason at that meeting.”

Baiden nodded.  “The Orlenc will be most welcome. The faithfulness of Lowerth and the Orlenc is as steady as ever.”

Baiden turned to the second rider.  The man took it as a cue to speak.

“My lord, I am Pate, from Delpher, of the Celtens.  I bring word our people also come to defend our lord and our land from the treacherous Halfen.    Dethan leads us now.  He has gone to Stone Abbey to be named chief as well as to use any diplomatic means to persuade the other chiefs of the folly of following Ky.”

“So the meeting goes forth?”  Baiden asked, not really expecting anyone to answer.

“I will stop it,” Von vowed.  “Ky will never succeed in gaining any part of the north.  I will see to that.”

“And how do you propose to do that?”  Baiden asked.  It was obvious he did not believe Von was thinking rationally.

“Soren and I will ride now,” Von declared.  He surprised even himself at how fast he had gone from the joy of seeing Bet and learning of his brother and their sons to the near consuming anger he felt for Ky. 

“Just the two of you?” asked Baiden.

“I think they could do it,” Flenn said.  Von met Flenn’s gaze and he saw something in Flenn’s eyes.

Flenn watched Von as if he were an enigma.

“There is an army of Halfen between us and Stone Abbey,“ Berkler reasoned.  It was the
first time Von could remember Berkler speaking to him with respect.  “Sixteen thousand strong.  Do you plan to cut your way through?”

Von smiled at him, fingering his sword hilt.  He turned to Kaiden and spoke for his ear only.

“Everything we brought from Haven Keep is to be given to Corren’s care.   If I am killed, have him give those things to Berkler, Sem and Tyree.  With what Corren knows, I believe those three will be able to puzzle out some of the mysteries of Haven Keep.”

Kaiden nodded, though Von could see he did not quite understand.  He didn’t need to, as long as he followed Von’s instructions.

Von spoke to Pate.  “Tell Anora I am sorry I missed her.”