by Ahimsa Kerp
“Not far from it.” Barlow’s words were slurred and his voice hoarse.
“Passions, this man needs a leech,” Palne said. “Adroc, help him up.”
Barlow let the man help him up. He shut away the agony of his protesting body and concentrated on speaking clearly. Adroc stood on one side of him, ready to aid him if need be.
“Water,” Barlow croaked.
Palne’s man handed him a skin. It was tepid, flat and warm, and the most delicious thing Barlow had ever tasted. He poured the water down his throat until he nearly choked on it. He poured the rest of the water on his hands, washing the dried filth from them and handed the empty skin back to Adroc.
“Why, may I ask, were you crawling?”
“My kneecap is shattered. I cannot walk on my own.”
“Passions,” Palne said again. “The stories they are already telling of the Titans. Southern warriors will shite themselves at the mention of a Titan for generations to come.”
“Were there any other survivors?” Barlow asked. Had he really in the course of one battle reduced the Titans to legends and myths?
“I don’t know. I spent most of the night tracking this rat-forner down.” Palne motioned to the man in chains.
Sturm Galkmeer sneered at him and mumbled something, but his gag prevented anything intelligible from coming out.
“Galkmeer, the boy who thought he was a man,” Barlow said. “Let me see your sword,” he said to Palne. His voice sounded steadier than he’d feared.
“Want to take a shot at Galkmeer before I hand him over to Hairng?” Palne was clearly considering the prospect. “That’s fair enough. But don’t hurt him too badly—he’s my peace offering. My way of accepting Lord North’s offer from yesterday.”
“I promise,” Barlow said. “He won’t feel a thing.” He swung the sword with all his might. This was for Ghazi and his insane request. It was for Ambrose, for Nekyl, Petteri, Barlyk, and Houn. For the Titans, and all the other men who died for a fool’s pride. But most of all it was for Henry Barlow himself.
Galkmeer’s head flew from his shoulders and landed in the mud beneath his body. Kiln and his men stared at Barlow, too shocked to do anything. With a vicious downward thrust, Barlow speared Galkmeer’s head on the end of his sword.
The Lord of Kiln found his voice at last. “What in the name of the Passions have you done?” He was shocked, outraged.
“Keeping the wolf from the door. And keeping my word to the new power in the land.”
“I don’t believe it. Lord North would never have asked for that,” Kiln said.
“He wasn’t who I was referring to,” Barlow said. “This battle changed more things than we yet know.”
“You’ve killed me.” Palne’s face was ashen.
“You’re overreacting. Lead me to Lord North and I’ll tell him what I’ve done. Besides, this was on the request of Lord Ghazi who, unless I miss my guess, will be the dominant power in the land from here on out. He and his kin, anyway.”
The men walked slowly over the field of agony and death until they reached the camp of the North. Barlow knew he would have no time to rest once they arrived. His thoughts were filled with Gjana and the child, and his body ached with the hope that he had done the right thing.
A NEW ORDER
Unmarked letter, archived during the Reign of Lord Ghazi III by Luyvg the Leech, Order of Basilides, found amongst the dead after the historical Battle of Baldairn Motte.
You will never receive this. I write as I recover from wounds suffered at that terrible battle, and I will destroy it after I finish writing.
Why do I write it then? What do I want to say? I am not sure…. Perhaps that my illusions of control are not as strong as they once were. Is all control an illusion? The leeches say suffering is an illusion too, but my shattered body somewhat disagrees.
I remember the first time I saw you. A charming, beautiful woman, to be sure, but so are half the women in the North. It was your temper I noticed. A young oaf of a Marcher grabbed you by the tits, and you knifed him in the hand. At that moment I knew how I felt about you, though we did not talk until the next time I came to the North.
It’s hard to remember that we were ever that young. Did we appreciate the gift given to us? The gift of a new world, of not being scared to act? Or perhaps the past only always looks as such. We could not keep those days. We should not keep those days.
Ah. A leech came in just now, and I did not turn him away. My head feels much clearer—was I wrong not to trust their gifts all this time? I have been mistaken about a great many things.
Not the least our boy. I had been gone for months, in the lands that even the Marchers fear and do not visit. There were not even elk roads in the glacial wilderness I explored. When I returned, half-starved, hairy and more ice than man, you told me.
I had no use for babies, but already I knew our son’s purpose. Like a piece to slide into a puzzle, I knew: Why try teach a gardener to be King when you can raise one of your own?
You did too. You suggested seducing Ghazi, and reeking mendicant that he is, my affection for you had never felt stronger. You were successful, of course, and the seeds were planted. So to speak. There were plenty of witnesses to that night, myself included. My body had thawed but my heart remained frozen, as I rejoiced in the success of our schemes. I thought not of your body, used by that blackspur. Or of our son, growing within you already.
We both know that being Ghazi’s heir did not mean anything by itself. Marchers will follow the strongest man, birth be damned, but I used the Shades to ensure his safety and ascension. Our son is placed highly to be the Leader of the North. Such a perfect plan. Such a perfectly foolish plan.
Just coughed pink blood onto this letter. Why is it pink? I shall have to send for the leech again.
When I left you, I returned to the South, to reality, and to my stable of women. I told myself it was to keep up appearances, that if my behavior changed someone would notice. But I did not consider how it would make you feel. I did not consider how it would make me feel. I was motivated by pride, and by fear. I did not want to share you with Ghazi, did not want to lose you. Your letters were few and of necessity, vague and inexplicit. Mine were fewer. Our son grew, and I missed it. I missed you, I missed knowing him. Now, at the end, I can tell you that, tell you what has weighed on my heart for all these years.
Perhaps we were wrong that Ghazi would not impede our schemes. The Shades were the true threat, but that gardener is no fool. And then that forning Baardol betrayed Lord North and upset everything. I gave up my son and my woman long ago. Now I have lost the Titans. What is left? If all is illusionary, as the leeches say, why aren’t my illusions grander?
I must go. Head is spinning. I will burn this letter. Everything is so dim. I do not know if I will survive—the signs look poor. But I have won. Against the odds my schemes of so long ago are stronger than ever. Our son could be ruler of the entire realm, the beginning of an Empire. And yet, holding all that I have worked for, I feel so empty.
We should have taken the elk roads to the north, to where the sun doesn’t set and fairy lights fill the sky. I should have done so much differently.
I have failed you, my one true friend. I am sorry.
THE END
APPENDIX
Cast of Characters
The Queen’s Contingent
KING DERMID THE WANDERER—More so than any ruler of the realm before him, King Dermid fortified the northlands and southlands into a cohesive whole. By building stone roads that connected major towns and villages by land, and establishing shipping routes between Northport and the southern cities, the realm reached heights of prosperity and wealth never before seen. Unfortunately, King Dermid died of gout at the age of 37, leaving his succession and his legacy, in a precarious state.
QUEEN MILDRINE—Wife of King Dermid. Bore him only one child, the Princess Ana Flynn. Following the death of King Dermid, she married Audwin Ernmund and bore him one son,
Borkyr Ernmund, who would become king.
PRINCESS ANA FLYNN—Daughter of King Dermid and Queen Mildrine. Inherited the throne at age 13, along with her husband, Derrin Flynn, upon King Dermid’s death. Less than two years after taking the throne Lord Flynn died of the sweating sickness, and Princess Ana died in childbirth, as did her child, leaving an empty throne to be fought over in the War of Succession.
AUDWIN ERNMUND—Duke of Hairng and Lord North. Descendant of the last King of the Baeldans. Married the dowager Queen Mildrine following the death of King Dermid and fathered Borkyr Ernmund, who would become king following the Battle at Baldairn Motte. Led the northern contingent in contesting Sturm Galkmeer’s claim to the throne.
CADBY ERNMUND—Bastard son of Audwin Ernmund. Inheriting his father’s name was the greatest achievement of his short life. He was killed in the ambush at Plum Grove at the age of 15.
BORKYR ERNMUND—King of the North, the first of his name. The son of Audwin Ernmund and the Dowager Queen Mildrine, Borkyr’s claims to the throne of Fairnlin were bolstered by the strength of his father’s armies. After the War of Succession however his title became a façade under the rule of Ghazi.
BJORN BLACKFEND—A captain of the North before the war. One of Audwin Ernmund’s favorites, Blackfend was a fierce warrior beloved by those who served him. His death alongside Cadby Ernmund at the ambush at Plum Grove cemented Baardol’s label as a traitor throughout the North. Tales of his heroism and exploits have grown in the years since, transforming the captain into a figure of mythic quality.
HENRY BARLOW—Noblemen in the court of Duke Hairng. Before the War of Succession, he was known as the youngest Captain of the Titan Guard since its inception. During the war, he gained fame, and infamy, for bringing the Marchers into battle. Was not seen again after Baldairn Motte and was assumed to have died from his wounds, though his body was not found.
AMBROSE THARN—Once commander of the Titan Guard. Demoted after a scandal involving the Queen Mildrine. He achieved his reputation from successful skirmishes in the North against the Marchers. Even after his demotion his intelligence network remained the best in Hairng Town.
LEWES BLACKSPAR—A captain of the North and Castellan in the service of Lord Thurmwood. Lewes’ young appearance masked his natural military instincts. The captain proved his mettle, during the battle of Baldairn Motte, rallying a force of men-at-arms and conscripts from the local villages. His leadership on the field impressed Lord Hairng, who named him Constable of North Port after the battle.
The Southern Contingent
STURM GALKMEER—Son of King Dermid's great uncle Eryck Galkmeer. His rise to power began as Master of Horse to King Dermid. When Dermid died, Galkmeer gained control of Fairnlin as the closest male heir of the Galkmeer line. He is most famous for instigating the War of Succession by using force to seize control of lands surrounding Fairnlin and then attempting to expand his power to the North. Died under mysterious circumstances during the Battle of Baldairn Motte.
BRYDON THRAND—Lord Marshall of the Kingdom. An accomplished strategist, he was the South’s biggest threat until he was captured by Hairng's forces. Upon which he fought Lord North in a duel. He was assassinated less than a year after the Battle of Baldairn Motte.
SALMUND PALNE—Palne was twelve years old when his father and older brothers were murdered, and he himself survived only by escaping to the forests outside his castle. He lived as an outlaw in his own land for years using guerilla tactics to battle his usurpers. He reclaimed the castle eight years after being ousted and had his family's killers murdered. Later became famous in the Battle of Baldairn Motte for his capture of Sturm Galkmeer.
Toli Verk—Earl of Gaulang. During King Dermid’s reign, Lord Verk grew to be the richest of the southern lords. His wealth was derived from commanding the bulk of the lush farmland in the south and brokering shrewd trade agreements in and out of the Port of Gaulang. During the war for the throne following King Dermid’s demise, he commanded as many bannermen and troops as the Lords Salmund Palne, Bryndon Thrand, and Sturm Galkmeer combined. Lord Verk was killed in battle by Ghazi, Lord of the Marchers, at the Battle of Baldairn Motte.
Lord Melden Klaye—Lord of Sunspar. As lord of a minor hamlet under dominion of the Earl of Gaulang, Lord Klaye held little power in influencing the succession of the throne in Fairnlin, but he was a staunch supporter of his cousin, Lord Sturm Galkmeer. Died under unknown circumstances in the skirmishes leading up to the Battle of Baldairn Motte.
Others
EMPEROR GHAZI—Originally a Marcher peasant, little is known about Ghazi’s origin. Lord Ghazi’s mysterious rise from petty warlord to most powerful man in the realm was achieved before he turned 30 years old. As his power grew after the Battle of Baldairn Motte, he proved himself an able administrator and fair ruler.
MORD TORALD—Duke of Baardol. There is little known about him, as all accounts of him reference only his wicked youth and foul countenance, because he was regarded as a traitor by the victors of the War of Succession. He died a painful death at the hands of his captors, his remains thrown in a privy before his keep was burnt to the ground.
Terryll Payce—Captain of the Black Zefferus. Captain Payce was born in the harbor district of Gaulang and took to the life of a sailor at a young age. He travelled widely and extensively out of the southern ports and the bordering realms. Accused of piracy and using Gaulang as a port of refuge. Conscripted into service of the Earl of Gaulang during the war for the throne. He and the Black Zefferus disappeared during the Battle of Baldairn Motte. Wanted for desertion.
Lyrie—A whore at the Minx’s Den in Gaulang. Notable because she was rumored to be Lyssandra Tamarisk of Gaulshire, who disappeared from her father’s keep two years prior to the war for the throne. Assumed dead after being bought by Lord Melden Klaye as a camp whore to join the troops of the Earl of Gaulang.
Basilides—A leech of the Order of Balin. Trained on the Isle of Liraeus by the monks known as the Elders. Survived the sacking of Liraeus and relocated to Fairnlin where he was inducted into the Order of Balin under the tutelage of Master Garson. Conscripted into the service of the Earl of Gaulang during the war for the throne. Left the Order and was rumored to have retreated to the deep woods after the war.
TRASK—A crofter from Burn Gate, owing fealty to Audwin Ernmund, Duke of Hairng. Trask enlisted into the service of the North under the command of Lewes Blackspar. The account of his involvement in the fighting at Baldairn Motte is unknown.
HEM—A miller from Burn Gate, owing fealty to Audwin Ernmund, Duke of Hairng. Lost his wife and child to sickness before the war. Hem was a solid presence among those from Burn Gate fighting at Baldairn Motte. After the battle Hem travelled the North with Cynric, the skald of Mason’s Vale, chronicling the seminal account of the war.
About the Authors
GARRETT CALCATERRA is author of the epic fantasy series The Dreamwielder Chronicles. His other books include Dreamrush, The Roads to Baldairn Motte, and Umbral Visions. His short work has appeared in numerous anthologies, speculative-fiction magazines, and literary journals. When not writing, he enjoys playing guitar in his band Wheel House, drinking craft beer, and enjoying life with his wife and daughter.
CRAIG COMER is the author of the Gaslamp fantasy series A Fey Matter, which includes the novels Oak Seer and The Laird of Duncairn. Craig earned a Master’s Degree in Writing from the University of Southern California. He enjoys tramping across countries in his spare time, preferably those strewn with pubs and castles.
AHIMSA KERP is a language mercenary and peripatetic spec-fic author of a trio of books from Severed Press and numerous short stories. He has been living in Asia for a decade and co-runs Knight Owl Publishing. Follow him @ahimsakerp.
About the Publisher
Knight Owl Publishing is located in cloud-swaddled Portland Oregon where they’re drinking good coffee and publishing dope books. Find out more or order books at knightowlpublishing.com
Novels
/> Shaolin vs Vikings
Shroudfall
The Roads to Baldairn Motte
RPG Books
The Chaos Gods Come to Meatlandia
The Black Blade of the Demon King
The Vanilla Adventure
Invasion of the Tuber Dudes
Monsterarium
Additional Titles
THE DREAMWIELDER CHRONICLES
YA Fantasy Series by Garrett Calcaterra
“Blends the high adventure and courtly intrigue of the classic epic fantasy with a fresh, new magic born of the infinite and dangerous power of dreams” Misty Massey, Author of Mad Kestrel
DREAMWIELDER, BOOK I
Legend has foretold the demise of Emperor Thedric Guderian at the hands of a sorceress with royal blood, and the Emperor has made it his legacy to stamp out all magic from the Sargothian Empire in favor of primitive coal fired smelters and steam powered machines.
SOULDRIFTER, BOOK II
“The powerful follow-up to Dreamwielder . . . with stronger writing, more compelling characters, and the same awesome magic that I came to love in book one! I think fans of A Song of Ice and Fire will appreciate the vast political landscape and grit that this story includes, with a touch more magic.” On Starships and Dragonwings
DREAMRUSH
by Garrett Calcaterra
From the author of The Dreamwielder Chronicles comes 5 tales of fantasy, future past, and gaslamp frontierism.
A FEY MATTER
Gaslamp Fantasy Series by Craig Comer
“Comer weaves a riveting tale of intrigue, magic, and romance in a steampunk-flavored Scotland packed with evil creatures, scheming politicians, and vicious bigots. But the real highlight of OAK SEER is its heroine. Effie of Glen Coe is one feisty freedom fighter!”