The Sword of Light: Book One of the Veredor Chronicles (3 page)

‘
Why would a hunter adopt a child? That seems strange to
me.’

‘
I guess that’s true. It’s just the way it happened. I don’t
really know much of the world outside the hills around Clemensdale.
The village is still a safe place and seems mostly unaffected by
all the troubles elsewhere. Although, we have suffered over the
last two winters and have had some poor crops.’

‘
Poor crops are better than none. Most Ortarian farmers
brought in next to nothing last year. I think this whole land is
cursed,’ said Red as his eyes drifted to look at the dark edges of
the glade. ‘I don’t know what’s happening, but it seems to be
getting worse as time goes on. Once I get some money together I’m
going to sail back to Silvor and leave this cursed land behind
forever.’

**

The two young
men walked east for two days. The forest eventually gave way to
grass covered hills that gradually descended toward the coast. They
stood on the hill about two miles from the western gate of Ancora.
The entire town was set around the edge of a small bay. The sea
stretched out into the distance beyond. Eben was mesmerised by the
subtle light of the sun shimmering on the water.

He had never
seen the sea before and he marvelled at it for some time; he felt
something in his heart grow warm at the sight. High above the town
several large vultures circled ominously. Smoke rose from many
chimneys, clouding the sky directly above the city. Red started
moving down the grassy slope that extended all the way to the main
gate. The gate was arched and set in a poorly maintained grey stone
wall. Eben followed after Red.

‘
We will have to be careful,’ said Red. ‘There are a lot of
thugs who try to take advantage of unsuspecting folk coming to
town. Keep your eyes open at all times.’

They
approached the gate together and several brutish guards looked up
as they walked through. For a few moments Eben thought they were
going to be stopped, but they passed by the guardsmen without
incident. Inside the gate a cobblestone street wound its way
eastward and turned north through the town. The road led up a
gradually rising slope toward a large palace that was set atop the
headland at the northern edge of the bay. The Palace was a
magnificent building and dominated the skyline. Three large towers
rose from its highest point, and they stood like sentinels watching
over the town below.

Many beggars
scurried about. They were dressed in rags and the sight of such
poverty shocked Eben. Further along a group of mangy dogs poured
over the rubbish filled streets. A stench like nothing Eben had
ever experienced rose from the streets and permeated the whole
town. Red led the way quickly away from the gate, and apart from a
few grim looks from strange men they were not bothered by
anyone.

‘
A good friend of mine lives down by the docks. She may be
able to provide us with some safe rooms for the night,’ said Red.
‘Do you have much money?’

‘
A little, how much will it cost?’ asked Eben.

‘
Probably a few copper coins a night.’

‘
I have some silver coins,’ said Eben.

‘
That’s plenty.’

**

They arrived
at the docks several minutes later. There were about five or six
ships harboured in the bay. Many smaller boats were tied to a
network of docks that were situated toward the southern side of the
bay covering an area about two hundred yards in length. The docks
were busy and bustling with fishmongers, sailors, and seafaring
folk.

‘
Three years ago the harbour had a hundred anchored ships in
it. Most sea merchants try to avoid Ancora these days,’ said Red as
they walked along the edge of the docks. Red then suddenly veered
to the right and led Eben down a narrow laneway. At the far end of
the laneway was a small door. Above the door was an old painted
sign that Eben could scarcely read. He strained his eyes and made
out the words: The Sea Dragon.

‘
I used to drink at this place, but it closed down about a
year ago. It’s an old tavern that doubles as an inn,’ said Red as
he knocked on the door. He waited for a few moments. ‘The King kept
taxing places like this until they went out of business,’ he added,
continuing to knock loudly.

‘
Who’s there?’ asked a woman’s voice from the other
side.

‘
It’s me, Red.’

There was a
long pause. Red shuffled nervously.

‘
What do you want?’ she asked, her voice sounded very
wary.

‘
Stella, I know you probably don’t want to see me, but I’m
really in a bit of trouble. I need a room for a few nights. My
friend can pay for both of us,’ said Red, his voice becoming more
urgent.

‘
You owe me a fortune, Red!’ she shouted angrily. ‘Stay
somewhere else!’

Red rubbed the
back of his neck. He nervously looked at the door for a few
seconds. ‘Come on, Stella, just a few nights. Then I’ll never
bother you again.’ There was only silence. He knocked again a
little harder.

‘
Go away, Red!’ she shouted.

‘
Oh, come on. Please, Stella, I really need your help this
time. Remember the good old days when we worked in the circus
together. Come on, just a night...or two. Please, Stella. You know
I’ll pay you everything I owe you when I can.’

There was a
silence that lasted about half a minute. The door opened a few
inches. Eben could see the face of an attractive young woman with
dark hair cut to her shoulders, a fair complexion, and large green
eyes. She stared out at the two of them unsympathetically. Her eyes
narrowed as she looked Red up and down. She then gave a slight
bemused smile.

‘
Red! What happened to your clothes, and why are you wearing
those ridiculous rags?’ she asked as she opened the door wider. Red
smiled widely and stepped into the large common room of the
tavern.

‘
Great to see you again, Stella,’ he said, giving her a hug.
She gave Eben a slightly suspicious glance as he stepped through
the door. She then closed the large oak door and bolted it with a
big iron latch.

‘
Only two nights, Red,’ said Stella firmly.

‘
Sure, I get the picture. We won’t bother you at all. You
won’t even notice us.’

‘
Good,’ she said. ‘You can stay in rooms four and five
upstairs. Don’t forget to make the beds when you leave and change
the sheets,’ she added. ‘And just one last thing: you’re not hiding
from anyone here are you?’ she asked, giving Red a doubting
look.

Red took a
step back. ‘Hiding from someone? What? Why would I be hiding from
anyone? Whatever gave you that idea?’ He winked at Eben.

‘
If I find out that you’re taking advantage of my hospitality
I’ll throw you to the streets where you belong,’ said Stella in a
hardened voice.

Red laughed
from his belly, ‘I really would like to see you try to throw
me.’

Stella turned
on her heel and marched out of the room, slamming the door as she
exited. Red looked over at Eben with a wide smile.

‘
She’s your friend?’ asked Eben.

‘
Yeah,’ answered Red. Eben realised that there was some
history between them and thought it best not to ask any more
questions. He took his backpack up to room five which had a small
window with metal bars and a narrow bed. It was a simple but
comfortable room. He set his backpack down against the wall and lay
down to rest.

**

Eben awoke to
the smell of eggs and onions cooking. He got up, put on his
clothes, and then walked down the stairwell to the common room
where Red was chatting to Stella who seemed much more relaxed than
she had been the night before.

‘
Would you like some eggs, Eben?’ asked Stella as he
approached the bar.

‘
Thanks, that sounds great,’ replied Eben, taking a seat
beside Red.

Red had some
new clean clothes and had trimmed his shaggy beard into a neat
style, but he had left his hair long.

‘
What’s your plan for the day?’ asked Stella, looking to
Eben.

‘
I’m actually in Ancora to find answers about my
heritage.’

‘
Red did say something about that,’ said Stella, handing him a
plate of fried eggs and onions.

The taste of
eggs was delicious compared to the salted meat that he and Red had
been eating for the last few days.

‘
Do you have any idea where you would start looking?’ asked
Stella.

‘
I am searching for a woman by the name of Lady Kaloren, I
think she would probably know where I could find my
parents.’

‘
The nobles don’t tend to mix with the commoners in Ancora,
especially these days,’ said Stella. ‘Lady Kaloren, I don’t know
the name, perhaps she’s the wife of a knight or lord.’

‘
You could try the Royal Library,’ suggested Red. ‘They
probably won’t let you in, but if you pay one of the scholars they
might be able to point you in the right direction.’

‘
I’ll give it a try,’ said Eben.

He looked to
Stella and she smiled back at him warmly.

‘
So you and Red worked together in the circus?’ asked
Eben.

‘
I was an acrobat,’ replied Stella. ‘Unfortunately the circus
was burned to the ground a long time ago. I do miss those days;
seeing you dressed up as a clown was always amusing,’ she said to
Red, a playful grin crossing her face. Red shot a nervous glance at
Eben before uncomfortably looking away.

‘
You never said you were a clown,’ said Eben, smiling at Red.
Red twitched in his seat.

‘
I was only a clown for a little while; it was more like
filling in really,’ he said defensively.

‘
Filling in!’ Stella laughed. ‘Don’t believe a word he says,
Eben. He was employed as a clown from the very
beginning.

‘
No! I wasn’t!’ he cried, blushing crimson red.

‘
Come on, Red. You’re a wonderful clown,’ she said, trying to
reassure him, but still laughing.

‘
It is true, I was a clown,’ confessed Red, glancing awkwardly
up at Eben.

‘
You are the first clown I’ve ever met,’ said Eben
smiling.

Red nodded and
his usual smile crossed his face. He was happy to hear the sound of
their laughter, even though it was at his expense.

**

Dozens of
vultures slowly circled high in the sky above Ancora. They peered
downward through the hazy smoke cloud to the dank and filthy
streets below. To the town folk their arrival was a sign of the
dark times they were living in. Never before had vultures circled
the skies above their town. They were a constant symbolic reminder
of the ever growing oppression that filled the Kingdom of
Ortaria.

Eben walked
through the streets and up the main cobblestone road that led
toward the palace. A deep depression and despair pervaded the
entire town. Stella had given basic directions to the library and
he walked along quickly, not wanting to catch the attention of any
of the unsavoury looking characters he saw along the way.

The main road
ascended gradually toward the palace. At the top of the rise was a
large town square, and across the square were several wide stone
steps that led up to a mighty arched entrance gate that was set in
a gatehouse. A stone wall stood about fifteen yards high and
encircled the entire palace. Ten fully armoured guards with long
spears stood at the gate. It seemed like the gate was the only way
in or out of the palace. He passed by unnoticed and followed the
lane that edged along the outer wall on the western side of the
palace.

Just down from
the wall on the northwest side was a large building with a set of
stone steps that led up to a solid bronze door. At first glance the
library looked closed. He walked up the steps. There was a big
bronze doorknocker with the face of a dragon. Eben knocked three
times. There was no reply. After a minute he knocked again, but
still there was no answer.

After waiting
several minutes he decided to push on the door. The hinge creaked
as the door slowly opened revealing a dark hall beyond. Many
Bookshelves had been cast down and those that were still standing
were completely empty. The library had been ransacked. A dim light
drifted down from several smashed windows set high in the walls.
There was no one around and the abandoned library had a spooky
feeling about it.

‘
Hello,’ called Eben as he walked forward into the gloom. His
voice echoed off the stone walls.

He heard
someone approaching and looked to his right and saw an old man with
crazy dishevelled white hair and piercing blue eyes. He was
carrying a large wooden staff. The man jumped over a broken
bookcase with surprising agility and started to spring forward
toward Eben.

‘
Who said you could come in here?’ he shouted as he prepared
to swing his staff. ‘Damn young ragamuffins coming round here
looking for something to steal! Can’t you see the King closed the
library and burned all the books? There is no money here! I’ll
teach you a lesson, thief!’

‘
Excuse me, Sir, you’re mistaken. I was looking for a
librarian or scholar,’ replied Eben, having to jump back to avoid
being struck.

‘
Nonsense!’ shouted the old man, swinging the staff again.
Eben ducked easily out of the way and stepped backward toward the
door.

‘
Really, I’m searching for someone who can help me find...’
Eben had to dodge quickly to avoid getting hit once again. He was
almost at the door.