The Black Sword Trilogy: The Four Nations

by VanMeter, Jeffery

  “And you think I can help you find them.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  Kenner took a couple of steps away from her.

  “He’s your friend, Kenner.” She added. “He’s in terrible danger.”

  “Low blow, Terri.”

  “It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

  Kenner took another thoughtful drink from his stone cup and sighed. He looked again at the people gathered around the fires and the children; some of them playing, some of them sleeping near their parents.

  “I have to think about it.” Kenner told her.

  “That’s all I can ask for now.” She answered.

  Chapter Eight

  Later that night, Kenner and Terri returned to his small house. As Terri sat in Kenner’s chair and warmed herself by the fire, Kenner opened the back doors that he’d had to widen and Shela and her babies came running. Shela immediately set on Terri, pushing her enormous head against Terri’s.

  “You let them in at night?” Terri asked.

  “You didn’t think I’d leave them out in the cold, did you?”

  “I’d slap you if you did.”

  The two kittens disappeared into the bedroom, while Shela lay down at the door of the room.

  “So where do you intend to look for him?” Kenner asked.

  “There are rumors he went to Masallah.” She answered, lighting Kenner’s pipe.

  “Well,” Kenner continued. “There’s a problem right there. As you may recall, your King in his infinite wisdom banished me from Walechia; “on pain of death” as I seem to remember.”

  “So what?”

  “Wouldn’t we have to go across Walechia to get to the gate at Parabas?”

  “Not necessarily. There are other ways.”

  “Such as?”

  “There’s always the sea route.”

  “What sea route?”

  “From the port of Bahastrawp.”

  “Isn’t that in the Blackwoods?”

  “It most certainly is,” Terri said grinning.

  “So now you want me to take the Black Sword to the Lady of the Woods, is that it?”

  “Don’t be silly,” Terri said with after a gulp of ale. “Kayla is anxious to meet you, but she neither needs nor desires that sword. Besides, you know what happens when anyone but you touches it.”

  “I get the impression it might make an exception for her.” Kenner said fingering the handle.

  “Perhaps to touch, but I don’t think it would allow you to give it to her.”

  Kenner thought for a moment and seemed to sense an answer from the sword.

  “No it wouldn’t,” he answered seriously.

  As Terri poured herself another flagon of ale, she noticed Shela’s eyes following her.

  “What’s the matter, old girl?” She asked her.

  After she sat back down in the chair, the huge cat simply lay her head back down on the floor and appeared to go back to sleep.

  “I’m assuming you know how to get to the Blackwoods?” Kenner asked.

  “I do indeed. Shall we leave in the morning?”

  “I still haven’t said that I’m going.”

  “No, but you’re strongly leaning in that direction. I can see it in your eyes.”

  “Give me a night to not get any sleep over it.” He answered dryly.

  Terri chuckled and continued to drink and smoke.

  Later, Terri produced two cigars from her pack and the two smoked, drank and talked about old times. They laughed and sighed over their stories of the Northern Wall and their battles. Terri told some stories of her adventures over the past two years and Kenner described his life in the village. At one point they caught themselves yawning.

  “Looks like it’s bed time,” Terri said, finishing another ale. Jason noticed that she had drunk a lot, but it didn’t seem to affect her.

  “Yeah, I’ve got a long night of staring at the ceiling ahead of me.”

  Terri laughed and started towards his bedroom. When she got to the door, she heard Shela growl at her.

  “What the deuce?” She gasped. She turned and saw Kenner smiling.

  “You may have taken my chair, my pipe and half my ale, but I’m the only one allowed in that room.”

  Deep into the night, Kenner lay on his bed pinned in between the two kittens with Shela still sleeping at the door. He was staring at the shadows of the tree branches dancing in the moonlight and thinking about the possibility of joining Terri on her search for Krall. Did she really need him, he thought? Couldn’t she take care of herself? What if there were assassins and spies looking for her or following her? Even with the Blackwood Bow, could she defend herself against such? And what of Krall? Where had he gone and why? Had he really gone to Masallah? Why? What was there? Could he be taking the axe to their King? Would he try to raise an army against Walechia? Surely not, Kenner thought. There couldn’t be any more loyal or dedicated soldier in all of Walechia. He couldn’t be a traitor…could he? He wanted answers to these questions. More than that; he had a strong feeling he needed those answers.

  Kenner felt himself starting to drift off to sleep when he heard a grunt from Shela. She was lying on her side and he saw her raise her head. He then thought he heard a soft voice in the dark. The kittens groaned disapprovingly as he raised himself slightly to get a better look. There in the darkness, standing just over Shela was a shadowy form. He became slightly excited as he thought he recognized the soft silhouette.

  “Is that you shadow?” He whispered.

  He didn’t so much see as “felt” a smile seem to come from the form and then it moved off into his living room. He climbed out of bed and then over the sleeping form of Shela who didn’t even seem to notice him. He crept silently into the living room and saw his front door wide open. He knew for a fact that he had closed and barred it. He found a bear skin and wrapped himself with it. He then put his boots on his feet and went out into the cold night.

  Just past his own door, he looked for Shadow and didn’t see her at first. Then he saw her dark figure seem to float off past the boundaries of the village and he followed her. Hearing only his own footsteps crunching in the snow and his own breath, he followed the shadow until he came to a familiar and large oak tree in the woods. There Shadow appeared to him fully. Her black hair fell, as he remembered down her shoulders and back, her eyes looked gently on him and she smiled just as sweetly as he’d always remembered.

  “Hello old friend,” She said to him in her musical voice.

  “Hello there.” He said to her, not knowing what else to say.

  “It’s been a while, hasn’t it Kenner?”

  “Yes, it has; two years to be precise.”

  “Not long at all, when you really look at it. Compared to the rising of the mountains, the growing of the trees and the rivers cutting their way through the lands and to the sea, two years is no time at all.”

  “No it isn’t I suppose.” Kenner replied looking down at his feet.

  “And how have you been?” She asked him.

  “You haven’t been watching?”

  “I have. But I can’t read your mind. I wanted to know how you felt about the last two years.”

  Kenner sighed.

  “It’s been quiet. After just a few days of war, I guess I learned the value of peace and quiet. I guess you could say I like it.”

  “Most who have survived the horrors of war do find they prefer peace.”

  Kenner looked at the ground and nodded.

  “This isn’t a coincidence, is it?” He asked. “I mean, you showing up on the same night Terri comes here to try and recruit me for her search for Krall. That can’t be a coincidence.”

  “I’m afraid there are no such things as coincidences in these times,” She told him. Her smile faded as she said it. “The winds are all beginning to gather and a time we all knew was coming is fast upon us.”

  “Are you starting to talk about destiny again?”

  “Inevitability.”


  “Right. And I’m supposed to be a part of this ‘inevitability, is that it?”

  She smiled again.

  “I told you before; destiny is a choice. The tools have been placed in your hands, but it’s ultimately your decision as to how to use them.”

  “And you’re not pushing me at all, are you? You’re not going to try and influence me in any way.”

  “I will confess that there is a direction I would prefer you go and I can lead you in that path as I have in the past. But again, I can only show you the path as I did in the mountains. It’s up to you to follow it.”

  “What happens if I don’t follow the path you show me?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What? You don’t know? I thought you were all-seeing and all-knowing.”

  “Hardly,” she said with a soft laugh. “Although it’s true, I can see things that you can’t, including possibilities, the future is in the hands of those who make it. People like you decide what is to come, not spirits. No matter how we may wish to influence this world, we can only advise and guide. You make the decisions in your reality. You create the world your decedents will be left with.”

  “That’s comforting.”

  “It’s the way it should be. If gods and spirits made the world as we see fit, there would be nothing left for women and men. Without a future to mold for yourselves, you would atrophy. You did not evolve to be mere statues. You became who you are to be an active part of this world; to be its living and breathing creators and destroyers as you wished. This world is in your hands.”

  “That doesn’t sound very wise. My kind are not known for our sound decision making as far as our own futures are concerned.”

  “It may surprise you, my friend to discover that we have just as much, if not more faith in your people than you have in us. Yes, you make mistakes from time to time; sometimes very bad ones. But I have seen in your history that eventually you figure out the ways that are right for all of you. That is the beauty of your kind. You find your own paths and somehow, they almost always turn out to be the right ones.”

  Kenner looked down at the ground again. His feet were beginning to feel the cold of the snow and his hair began to feel wet from the snow piling on his head and shoulders.

  “So,” he said. “Should I go with Terri or not?”

  “You already know how I’m going to answer that question, my dear.”

  “Yeah, yeah; it’s my decision.”

  “Yes it is. But I will tell you this. No matter what decision you make, because of who you are and the tools you have been given, your choice will affect the entire world.”

  “No pressure there.”

  Shadow laughed.

  “Well, if you’re not here to tell me what to do, why have you come back after two years?” Kenner asked her.

  “I wanted you to know that no matter where you go on this journey that you and I both know you’re going to decide to do, I will be with you.”

  “To give me vague answers to important questions?”

  “To help you understand the decisions that you alone must make.”

  “Gee thanks.”

  “This too: even if you decide to go with Terri only to aid her on her journey and not become entangled in the brewing storm, which you can still decide not to do, you will not return to this village the same man. Everything that is out there waiting for you has the potential to change you forever.”

  “I don’t suppose you could give me a guarantee that I will return to this village.”

  She smiled sweetly and said, “I’m afraid not.” And then she disappeared.

  Kenner stood staring at the tree thinking seriously for what seemed like a long time to him. Although mostly lost in thought, his ears were still keen to the sound of footsteps coming up behind him. Even in the dark, he could easily identify the shape of Terri coming up towards him.

  “What the hell are you doing out here?” She asked him.

  “Saying hello to a tree.”

  “When you gotta go, you gotta go.”

  Chapter Nine

  Terri was sleeping on the floor of Kenner’s front room and dreaming of the beautiful Kayla, her wavy brown hair and her sweet smile when she was awoken by Kenner kicking her in her butt.

  “Up and at ‘em, blondie.” He told her.

  She sat up and stretched her sore back. Looking outside, she noticed that it was still dark.

  “Great Lady, the sun’s not even up.” She moaned.

  “Yeah well, we got a long way to go, don’t we?” Kenner answered.

  “So you’ve decided to go?”

  “I can’t let a delicate rose like yourself face this dangerous world alone, can I?”

  She answered by swatting him on his own rump.

  Kenner cooked a breakfast of bacon, eggs and the worst biscuits Terri had ever had. They were harder than the floor she slept on and had way too much salt. Kenner noticed her finish two flagons of ale while eating.

  “Ok…now I’m ready.” She said after swallowing the last gulp.

  As the first light of dawn began to filter out the night, Kenner and Terri went out the front door and noticed Shela and her kittens being extra affectionate to each other.

  “I think they know we’re leaving.” Kenner said at seeing this.

  Several villagers began to gather around Kenner and Terri as they were getting their horse and battle cat ready.

  “And where do you think you’re going?” Migran told them as they continued to make ready. “Who’s going to protect this village?”

  He saw Kenner glare at him and took a step back from him.

  “The kittens will do a good job of keeping an eye out for strangers. But if that fails, I suppose you could always try using my father’s sword.” Kenner told him.

  A little later, the red-haired girl approached him with a pack of her own.

  “I’ve packed you some bread and sausages for your journey.” She told them.

  “Thank the Lady,” Terri said. “I was afraid I’d have to eat more of Kenner’s biscuits.”

  Kenner gave Terri a mock angry look and placed the pack on Shela where the girl could see them. As he climbed on Shela’s saddle (the one he had been given before his last battle), the girl took his hand gently.

  “I’ll keep the fire going in your hearth so your house will be warm when you get home.” She told him.

  Her eyes had a loving look that he’d never seen a woman give him. He smiled and squeezed her hand.

  “I may be gone for a while.” He said to her.

  “I don’t care how long you’re gone. I will wait for you.”

  “Do you have any sisters?” Terri asked.

  “Actually, I have three…” the girl began to say. Kenner turned around and said to Terri, “It’s time to go,” as he saw the knowing smile on Terri’s face.

  After leaving the village, they stopped at the tree Terri remembered from the previous night.

  “Is there something special about this place?” Terri asked.

  “This is where I buried my father. He wanted to be buried instead of burned so his body could be consumed as part of the circle of life.”

  Kenner stayed there silently for a few moments.

  “He used to take me to this tree all the time and talk to me about the truth of the world and the way things worked.”

  “Sounds like a wise man.” Terri added.

  Kenner sighed sadly.

  “He was a sad, bitter man who rarely smiled. The only time I ever heard him laugh was when he took me hunting or fishing.”

  Terri found herself remembering her own father; a happy, funny man who could smile only with his eyes.

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” She said.

  She saw a sad face come across Kenner’s face. He then turned Shela and they rode away.

  Terri led the way to a road cutting through the forest and they stayed on it for about half the day. At midday they stopped, ate and talked more about the past two ye
ars. Kenner noticed that she drank from a small jug she had on her horse.

  “You seem to be drinking a lot.” He told her.

  At first, she gave him a slightly angry look which surprised him.

  “If you’d seen the things I’ve seen, you’d be drinking more too.” She answered him.

  “The war?”

  She took a thoughtful draw from her pipe.

  “That and other things.”

  The two stopped at an abandoned cabin in the woods and settled for the night. They finished the good food that the girl had given them and started a fire. After their meals, Terri produced two more cigars.

  “Where did you get these things?” Kenner asked. “I know they’re not cheap.”

  “Kayla gives me a couple of boxes whenever I visit.” Terri answered.

  “How often is that?”

  “At least twice a year. King Melkur has this absurd notion that Kayla will join him in the war at some point.”

  “What are the chances of that happening?”

  “Not good, I’m afraid. Kayla and a few others disagree; but the general consensus of her council is that it’s Walechia’s war and none of the Blackwood’s business.”

  “That may be true now, but it probably won’t stay that way.”

  “No, it won’t.” Terri said morosely. “There seems to be some malevolence at work in this war; something that seems to want more than just Walechia.”

  Kenner nodded.

  “That’s the feeling I’ve gotten.” He said. “It feels like a plague that’s only now starting to spread.”

  Kenner drifted off to sleep before Terri. She sat quietly still drinking and thinking of old friends and comrades she’d seen hacked to pieces. As she began to doze, she could hear their screams and cries. Another cup of ale quieted them down enough for her to sleep.

  The two rose at dawn and then continued on their way. They stopped at midday again and then continued for the remainder of the day. Just before sunset, they came to the river that marked the boundary of the hills. Kenner noticed that the trees were larger and thought he felt a presence coming from them. More than that, he felt as if they were watching him. He saw Terri dismount and did the same, following her to the edge of the river. As he stood next to her, he saw her staring across the river.