The Book of One: A New Age

by Jordan Baker

  “Make that two more, would you lass,” he said with a wry smile.

  “Certainly,” she said, then hurried off to the kitchen.

  Tarnath plunked himself down next to Aaron with a tired sigh and Jacob pulled up a chair across from his boys and took two of the mugs and put them back in front of his younger sons.

  “Not a word about this to your mother,” he said simply.

  The twins, Jake and Diller, were wide-eyed in surprise and they reached excitedly for their drinks but Jacob held up his hand.

  “But you’ll wait until we all have our cups,” he told them. The boys nodded, obediently. It was enough that their father was permitting them to drink ale with him. They would happily wait.

  “Some things taste better, when one's mother isn't around,” Tarnath said to the boys with a chuckle as he tugged on his beard. Out of the corner of his eye, Aaron noticed the big man at the next table get up from his seat and come toward them. He was massive, a bear of a man and he had a mean look to his face. Brian had also noticed the sheer size of him, much bigger than he was, and now he no longer dared to stare at the girl.

  “You son of a whore!” the man exclaimed, pounding his fist on their table. The boys’ drinks jumped from the impact, spilling froth. Aaron thought the man had finally lost his patience with Brian, but then he noticed that he was instead staring at Tarnath.

  Tarnath pushed his chair back abruptly and rose to his full height, his body tensed as though he were preparing for a fight, but he did not reach for his sword. He took a step around Jacob and, the big man did the same. The two of them squared off and sized each other up, then both of them grinned at each other and reached out their hands. The oversized stranger laughed and grabbed Tarnath in a massive embrace.

  “If there was someone I never expected to meet in this back woods!” he exclaimed. “Master Tarnath, well met.”

  “Matthius, welcome. I thought you were still down at Aglhar? What brings you into the hills of Maramyr?” Tarnath asked.

  “Just passing through, old friend,” he replied. “We’re on our way to the crown city.”

  “Will you stay the night?” Tarnath asked.

  “Yes, we’ve a room here,” he said, “then back on the road come morning, though perhaps we’ll leave a little later if we get into our cups like old times.”

  Tarnath turned back to his companions at the table and introduced the man to everyone.

  “Matthius, this is Jacob, his sons Brian, Diller and Jake, and my nephew Aaron. Gentlemen, this is Matthius Brennanson, a former student of mine,” he said.

  Aaron wondered at first why he had never heard of the big man but Tarnath rarely talked about the events of his old life during the days when he was armsmaster to the king. Matthius shook everyone’s hand in turn, and even though he now wore a broad smile on his face, his oversized grip was no less intimidating.

  “Ehlena, come over here,” he called to the girl at his table. “We’re going to dine with an old friend of mine. This is my god-daughter, Ehlena,” he explained as she came over to join them.

  Matthius glanced over at Brian as if to drive the point home that she was his responsibility and that he would also be watching her carefully. It seemed that he had noticed his obvious staring earlier. Brian’s brothers also caught the look and they laughed, while their older brother’s face turned red in embarrassment.

  Ehlena sat down at the table and nodded politely to all the boys around her. They were all doing their best not to stare at her though they were failing miserably and the situation quickly became awkward for them all. Aaron smiled at the girl and extended his hand.

  “Pleased to meet you,” he said. “I’m Aaron.”

  “Ehlena,” she replied and clasped his hand for a brief moment.

  Her cool, pale skin was soft against his rough, weathered hand and Aaron looked at her more closely now. He could see why Brian had been staring. The girl was very pretty, her beauty subdued in an elusive kind of way that reminded him of the morning dew or a wisp of cloud dancing in a blue sky. Here eyes were deep blue, almost like the clear water of a mountain lake, or perhaps the ocean, though Aaron had never seen the ocean before. Brian kicked him in the leg and Aaron realized that he was now the one staring. He quickly introduced her to the others at the table while Tarnath and Matthius became engaged in conversation.

  “What are you doing here in Ashford, Matthius? It’s a bit out of the way from the road to Maramyr.”

  “I thought I might drop in on Kaleb.” The man shrugged. "Apparently he’s having some problems with Cerric, something about requisitions for the army and some serious diplomatic problems with the Xallans. It could mean trouble for these parts.”

  “What news of that?” Tarnath asked.

  “The Xallan Army has begun to mass, in greater numbers than we’ve seen in years. Queen Calexis sent some of her soldiers out last year against some of the small kingdoms to their east and wiped them off the map. She is consolidating her power and I wouldn’t be surprised if it isn’t very long before the Xallans decide for a push westward.”

  “Calexis, eh?” Tarnath asked. “I thought Nerak was King of the Xallans.”

  Matthius shook his head.

  “No, he died. Poisoned, is what I've heard. It wasn’t long before Calexis took over.” Matthius raised an eyebrow at Tarnath’s puzzled look.

  “You have been out of things for a while haven’t you, old friend?” Matthius commented then began to explain. “Calexis is the youngest daughter of the late King Nerak. It is rumored that her mother was a witch that Nerak dallied with years ago. Whatever the case, the story goes that one morning, the King’s servants went to rouse old Nerak and found him dead. His skin was said to have been the most gruesome shade of purple, clearly from some exotic poison.

  “For a almost a month, Nerak’s sons bickered over the throne. His eldest, Kerak won out over the others and was even King for a day, until Calexis had him killed. All in all, Nerak had twenty-three children and they all met the same fate in a matter of weeks until only Calexis remained. With the help of her mother, the witch Tersis, Calexis’ own network of spies and assassins, and with no one left to get in her way, she took the throne easily. Her first order was to give the priesthood state sanction for their religion. Her second order was for the army to begin conscripting. She’s an ambitious one, that Calexis, and from all accounts, more vicious than an Ansari viper. For the final act in her gambit for total rule, Calexis also killed her own mother, removing the last person who could even dream of challenging her authority.”

  Tarnath shook his head, pondering Matthius’ story. As he man had said, he truly had been away from the affairs of the world for too long and it sounded as though the peace that had been enjoyed for nearly a generation, a peace that he had fought for so long ago, might be coming to an end. He wondered about Kaleb’s problems and whether the small farming community of Ashford would be affected.

  “You said Kaleb’s having some troubles?” Tarnath asked.

  “The story I’ve heard is that Cerric, the Regent of Maramyr or Regent-King as he likes to be called, has ordered an increase in taxes from all the lords and that he has also sent out requests that they begin conscripting men for the Maramyrian Army, most likely to counter the threat from Xalla. Apparently Cerric isn’t happy with the numbers Kaleb has been sending so a few weeks ago, he rescinded Kaleb’s title and granted his lands to some other lord by the name of Manfred, a baron or something. To put it mildly, Kaleb’s in a spot of trouble. It’s common knowledge that he barely taxes his lands and his people around these parts apparently love him for it, but it has left his local garrison weak and poorly supplied. The word is, Manfred is already raising a force to depose Kaleb and remove him from his lands.”

  “I can’t imagine even Cerric could get away with this without the support of the Royal Council of Maramy. He’s only the Regent,” Tarnath mused aloud.

  “From what I have heard, things have changed at the capital
, old friend. Kaleb went to Maramyr to seek an audience with the court and Cerric’s men tried to arrest him.” Matthius told him. “Over the last few years, the council has slowly become a collection of Cerric’s puppets. A few capable members remain, but they have little sway. Cerric's rule is almost absolute, and even though he is not technically king, he certainly has become a tyrant.”

  “What of the princess?” Tarnath asked.

  “She is almost of age to take the throne,” Matthius said. “But we’ll see if Cerric permits it. He keeps her fairly isolated and she has very little support from the rest of the nobility.”

  “That’s a shame,” Tarnath commented, tugging on his beard. “When is this Manfred expected to move on Kaleb?”

  “Soon, I expect,” Matthius said with a grim look.

  “So you’re going to help him get his head knocked off?” Tarnath shook his head.

  “I’m going to do what I can keep that from happening. Kaleb’s an old friend. He’s a good fighter and loyal to the crown of Maramyr. If Calexis and her Xallans are contemplating a move on Maramyr, Kaleb’s just the man to drive them back.

  “Well, I hope it works out and the peace is kept for everyone,” Tarnath told him. “I’m surely glad I left that world a long time ago and I don’t want those kinds of problems showing up on my doorstep.”

  “You never did tell me why you left, Tarnath,” Matthius said with a questioning look. “I know you didn’t get along with Cerric but everybody else respected you.”

  Aaron listened a little more closely, curious to hear the big man talk about Tarnath’s days at the crown city. Tarnath noticed Aaron’s ears perking up along with everyone else at the table.

  “I don’t think much about those days anymore,” Tarnath told him. “I got old, tired and decided to retire.”

  He hoped Matthius would catch the hint that he preferred not to discuss such things. Matthius’s massive frame and his deep, rumbling voice made him seem a little bit slow at first, but the sharp look in his eyes betrayed the fact that he was extremely intelligent. His words had confirmed it, but now he dropped back into acting more like a big, gruff, lout, dropping the question.

  “You’ve always been old, Tarnath, but tired? Never!” He laughed. “Well I’m glad to see you’re keeping well.”

  The innkeeper came over to the table to ask if they needed anything else and they were about to order another round of ale when the door opened and a weasely-looking man in fine clothes, accompanied by a group of liveried soldiers, entered the main room of the inn. The man unrolled a piece of parchment and began to read the words inscribed on it.

  “By authority of the Crown and by lawful treaty, these lands and the peoples herein now fall to serve Baron Manfred of Kellern. It is his wishes that all person’s report forthwith to the town square for census and bring the sum of two silver each. Anyone failing to do as hereby requested, will be detained by his Lord’s men. Once counted, all able-bodied men are instructed to remain for listing in the new regional militia.”

  While the man read his scroll, the soldiers began to move through the bar, removing patrons from their seats and ushering them towards the door. When they reached the table, Jacob and his sons were already on their feet, ready to move toward the door as the man had instructed, waiting while a number of patrons crowded past their table. Matthius eyed his pack and the large axe he had brought with him, but his attention shifted when one of the soldiers rounded their table and slapped the flat of his sword to Ehlena’s backside.

  “Get moving wench,” the man barked.

  Mattius turned and looked at the man who now stood directly in front of him. He rose to his full height and the big man was nearly a head taller than the liveried soldier, and nearly twice as wide.

  “Friend,” he said. “You should not have done that.”

  He punched the soldier square in the face, knocking him flat on the ground. The little man with the scroll saw what happened and yelled for his men to attack then he ran out the inn’s door as the soldiers headed for the commotion. Matthius took on two more of the soldiers and sent one of them flying over the bar. The rest of the soldiers, eight more in total, advanced toward them with their swords drawn, ready to fight.

  “Jacob, you take your boys and get to your sister’s house. You don’t want any part of this.” Tarnath said as he pulled his sword from its sheath. “Go out the back, through the kitchen. And take the girl with you.”

  “No, she stays with me,” Mattius said. “Ehlena, stand back. We will take care of this.”

  Jacob knew he would not be much help against trained soldiers and he hustled his two younger sons toward the inn’s kitchen. He looked back, hesitating at the door, when he realised that Brian was not following him.

  “You too Brian!” Tarnath barked.

  “I’m staying,” he said stubbornly and pulled his long dagger, his eyes fixed on the oncoming soldiers.

  Tarnath nodded at Jacob as if to tell him that he would look out for Brian but it seemed the young man was destined to fight and there was little he could do about that. He turned to Aaron, thinking of his own duty as the young man's guardian.

  “Aaron, it would be best if you don’t fight these men, but I’m not going to tell you what to do.”

  “I’ll stay,” Aaron told him. He drew the sword that hung at his waist and stood ready for the approaching soldiers.

  “Try not to kill any of them,” Tarnath said to Matthius. “They’re just a bunch of country lads, following the orders of an idiot.”

  “You could say that about pretty much every man with a sword,” Matthius responded, picking up his large axe and swinging it around easily. “But, I will try to spare them. I’ll get the ones in the middle, you lads take the sides.”

  The soldiers rushed them and in a flurry of steel, fists and feet, clashing against the unlikely group of small town folk who were suddenly baring steel and fighting back. The soldiers had badly underestimated their opponents and within a few short moments, the rest of them lay sprawled on the floor, unconscious. Brian was the only one who was injured, if one could call it that. He had skinned his knuckles on one soldier’s helmet when he missed a punch intended for the man’s jaw.

  By the time the fight was over, the rest of the patrons, along with the innkeeper, had already fled outside. Tarnath, Aaron and Brian checked to make sure the soldiers on the floor were alive but unconscious while Mattius and Ehlena gathered their things. All of the soldiers were still breathing, but none of them would be waking up any time soon.

  “These are Manfred’s men,” Brian said, the excitement still in his voice. “We just fought with Manfred’s soldiers.”

  “What should we do now?” Aaron asked.

  “Nothing,” said Matthius. “We’re going outside to see what all this fuss is about.”

  “Do you think that’s wise?” Tarnath asked.

  “I’ve heard of Manfred. He’s an ass, but he follows the law. I will let them know who I am. They will not attack.”

  Matthius hefted his massive battle-axe and picked up the pack he had carried, then walked straight out the door. Tarnath shrugged and followed him with Aaron and Brian, the two younger men standing guard around the young girl Ehlena. Outside, they were met by a much larger group of soldiers waiting with their swords ready. The man in the fine clothes who had read out the proclamation earlier stood behind them.

  “Give up now or by order of Baron Manfred you shall be executed as outlaws,” threatened the little man. Matthius looked unimpressed. He dropped his pack and pulled loosed one of the leather straps that bound it shut.

  “Your man touched my daughter and was none too nice about it. And now you call me an outlaw? I think that you and your petty baron owe me and my girl an apology,” he demanded.

  “Apologise to a brigand such as yourself?” the man said, indignantly putting his hand on his belt. “I think not.”

  “I am no brigand,” Matthius said then he turned to Brian. "Can you handle an
axe, boy?"

  “I think so,” Brian said.

  “You have attacked the Baron’s men, and thus you have broken the law,” yelled the official. “Get them!”

  Matthius had hoped the man would listen to reason, but he was prepared and pulled two hand axes from his bag. He tossed his big battle-axe to Brian as he leapt forward, axes flashing through the air. The soldiers ran at them with their swords poised to strike.

  Tarnath blocked a sword, then, with an elbow, he crushed another man's windpipe, dropping him to the ground. Aaron and Brian both leapt forward and to the side, dodging steel that swiped past them as the soldiers attacked them.

  Brian swung Matthius’s axe, and brought it up to block one of the soldiers' swords. The axe was heavy but Brian’s muscled arms hefted it easily and, once he had gotten the feel of its weight, he was quickly able to switch from blocking to attacking. What he lacked in finesse, he made up for in strength, driving back his opponent with a series of heavy blows.

  Brian did his best to remember the things he had learned from Tarnath. He had secretly continued practicing when his parents were not around, and even taught his younger brothers a few of the things he had learned. The training paid off and he finally brought down the man before him with a heavy blow to his ribs, the axe biting past the gap in his armor and through the chainmail underneath. The man went down, and a puddle of blood pooled on the hard-packed dirt in the yard of the inn. The man was dead.

  Brian looked down at him for a moment. He had never seen a dead man before, nor had he killed anyone. He thought it would have been more glorious, but it was not. The man was dead, and that was the end of it. Winded, he took a moment to catch his breath and looked around for any other soldiers. From the corner of his eye he saw the Baron’s man running off, calling for reinforcements then he turned at the sound of steel on steel and saw Aaron fighting two men. He was amazed at how fast his friend moved and he watched as Aaron seemed almost a blur, handling the two soldiers with apparent ease.