by Sigrid Kraft
The commander leaned back in resignation: “Tarn and his fellows are scoundrels. That´s a fact. And I do not want to worsen our relations with the clans.”
But as for me, Master Merett thought, a little war could solve all our problems with the savages and the guild could probably get out of the yearly payments to those wildlings. We should take advantage of this golden opportunity. “Sir Orten, we should not set a precedent. The case is unclear and it could cause major problems with the general citizenry if we favor the clanspeople. They could accuse us of caprice if we make a decision without clear proof.”
Master Merett knew the words that would convince Sir Orten. He appealed to honor, duty and correctness until he had brought Sir Orten around to his point of view. Truly, Eglund Merett was the de facto leader of Aspengate.
When the two noblemen had left the hall to confer, talk began to fill the room.
Eryn remarked to Arun: “This is our land. Why are we deferring to the Lowlanders anyway? It should be up to the clans to decide.”
“Or the Gods should judge our claims through combat,” Aileen put in.
Weariness was written all over Arun’s face. He leaned back and spread his arms out to both sides on the back of the bench. “The commander seems to me to be a just man.”
“Pah!” Eryn interjected. “What does justice mean to the Lowlanders? Have they ever called any one of their people to account? You’ve heard Vrat the Raven. They steal and murder, insult and rape but always manage to sweet talk their way out of it. A guilty man is never to be found among them. When has there ever been justice? I would say: never!”
They all agreed.
“We should have seen to it outside the town,” Savas remarked in a low voice. Eryn nodded grimly.
“We were not even sure that they were hiding in town. We had to come here first to find out.”
“And you acted emotionally,” Aileen rebuked Eryn.
The reproach stung, but he knew Aileen was right. We should have just waited and watched them until they left town. Then we could have ambushed them. On the other hand, if they had made it through the gate, we would probably have lost our chance to catch them.
Arun interrupted Eryn’s thoughts: “The clan will come soon. Maybe they are already in the hills outside the town and the older men will know what to do.”
Eryn replied heatedly: “The old ones always talk of peace. They have forgotten how to fight. Come what may – I will avenge my parents”.
The others fell silent and Eryn was lost in thought. Never again will I hear their voices, see their faces or embrace them. A lump formed in his throat. My life has changed completely from one day to the next. Now I am alone, and the only thing left for me is revenge. I may come home later and rebuild the farm. But he could not bear the thought of the burned ruins. He tried to put the terrible event out of his mind and to remember only the good times. Then he made up his mind. No! My decision is right. I will follow Vrat. The Raven will fight now and Bron’s death will provide the cause. Perhaps this Lowlander commander will make a just decision today. This would keep the peace for a little longer. But new injustices will happen soon and the young warriors will raise their bows and draw their longknives. And I will be among them.
Sir Orten and the fat guildsman came back into the room. The dashing officer performed the same ceremony as before. “In the name of the Prince of Ardeen...”
Who the hell is this person? thought Eryn, annoyed. This is the land of the Fenn. The clans decide here, not some prince from who knows where.
Now the commander, Sir Orten spoke: “I promise that I will do everything in my power to find the culprits in this case and bring them to justice. But there is no evidence that Tarn and his fellows are really these wanted men. Injustice must not result in new injustice. Therefore, I will order a further investigation. I will send men to Falgars Vale to interrogate the locals. During that time, Willen, Tarn and his companions will be kept under arrest here in Aspengate. This is all I can do right now.” He ended his speech and a tumultuous uproar filled the hall. None of the parties were actually happy with the outcome of the hearing. Eryn yelled in fury and Tarn’s strong, deep voice roared from the other corner in disagreement.
If anyone had looked at Master Eglund at this moment, they would have seen a sneer of victory flicker over his lips. It hovered there for a second or two and then he regained control.
Sir Orten had Tarn arrested and escorted Eryn and his friends out of the hall. They were led politely but determinedly through the city gates.
The young Fenn was boiling with rage. They climbed a little way into the hills and finally stopped at a place where they could observe the road to Aspengate. Still upset at what had happened, they had a brief discussion in which they decided that Eryn should stay there with Deren, while Arun and Aileen went off in search of Jack Gateway of the Long Valley to inform the clanchief about what had happened.
They elected Savas to go back to their own clan and spread the news.
In the evening, some two hundred warriors were camped in the woods around Aspengate. There were men of Bron’s clan, now led by Corman Silverfur. Jack Gateway had turned up as well, with his men from the Long Valley, including Vrat the Raven. All were aghast at Bron Bearslayer’s death. He had been a popular and respected man. They held council, and not even the most coolheaded among them spoke of peace any more. Feelings were at boiling point and, before the next dawn broke, the Fenn had decided to reclaim their land by force.
The guards at Aspengate had doubled, but the Fenn knew how to move without a sound. There were many shadows offering protection from which to approach Aspengate unseen. The guards were eliminated quickly and the intruders had soon opened the gate. Then all hell broke loose. Arrows whirred, weapons clashed and the screams of wounded men penetrated the cold night air. One house was ablaze and the fire was already leaping over to the next. At the marketplace, the Lowlander soldiers had formed up and were now fighting doggedly against the clans.
Eryn fought side by side with Arun and Deren. Aileen was in the background, providing cover for the others with her bow. Eryn’s long knife slipped between two armor plates into the belly of a soldier. The man screamed like a slaughtered pig, dropped his weapon and fell to the ground. At that moment, Eryn grabbed him by the hair and slit his throat. The screaming had set his teeth on edge, so Eryn almost felt as if he had rescued the man from his pain.
Arun fought another Lowlander, but as Eryn came over to help him, the enemy ran away. Meanwhile, the battle in the marketplace was over. The Fenn had killed the last of their enemies and corpses from both sides were strewn about everywhere.
Among them was the commander, Sir Orten, who had fought bravely. It was not long until all the Lowlanders had either fled or been slain. Eryn found the bodies of Tarn and his men. They too had been engaged in the fighting and had not been arrested as Sir Orten had promised. Later on, Eryn discovered that Ragnar had killed Tarn. Ragnar himself had sustained a deep wound from Tarn’s ax, which had smashed his shield and sunk into his left arm. When the fighting had come to an end, the Fenn set the remaining houses of Aspengate ablaze. The fire flared high and illuminated the sky with a ghostly light long before sunrise.
Eryn had now avenged his parents, yet he found no peace. He joined Vrat the Raven and his men as he had intended. At first they were a band of about forty warriors. They hid in the mountains and destroyed the fortress at Threevalley, before attacking the Lowlanders wherever they found them. With these first successes, Vrat gained more influence and the other clanchiefs started to believe they really could cast the Lowlanders out. Corman, Jack, Belemen, Loren and Savas united their warriors with Vrat’s men and together they attacked Falgars Vale.
But the town of Falgars Vale was far better fortified than Aspengate, and many more soldiers awaited them there. After a bloody battle, the Fenn were forced to withdraw. The revenge of the Lowlanders was not long in coming, and they fell upon the Fenn in great numbers. First,
they destroyed Jack’s settlement and established a fortress in Long Valley. Jack himself died in combat and those who could fled into the mountains. Mercilessly, the Lowlanders killed every Fenn they found, regardless of whether they were old men, women or children. The few survivors of Jack’s Clan joined Corman’s ranks.
But the Lowlanders fell upon Bron’s old settlement next, because it was close to Aspengate. The battle was long and hard-fought, with heavy losses on both sides. The clansmen’s village held a favorable strategic position on the hillside, but could not prevent the inevitable in the end. After the fight was lost, most surviving warriors joined Vrat, while a few others marched deeper into the mountains with the old, the wounded, and the women and children.
Not long after, the other chiefs, Lorne and Savas, capitulated. Their settlements lay far closer to the Lowlanders’ towns, and they surrendered so that the Lowlanders would spare their people’s lives. The conditions were oppressive, with crippling tolls to pay to their conquerors in food and work. No one spoke anymore about payment for the land.
A new and stronger fortress was built on the ruins of Aspengate. Vrat continued to terrorize the Lowlanders, ambushing poorly-guarded supply trains and small patrols. But the Lowlanders were also becoming more watchful, sending out scouts and pressing hard on Vrat and his men on more than one occasion.
Things went from bad to worse when Chief Belemen surrendered. In fact, he merely confirmed his peaceful relations with the Lowlanders. A clever speaker, he denied ever having joined the war against the Lowlanders.
They were suspicious, however, and sent soldiers and officials to the settlements of the Fenn. It was loudly proclaimed that these villages now belonged to the kingdom of Ardeen and in the future there would be only one law: the law of Ardeen.
The presence of the foreigners in the clan villages now made it far more difficult for Vrat to find refuge and support. The Lowlanders declared him an outlaw and set a price on his head. They also offered a bounty for the capture of the most notorious members of his band. But Vrat was clever and he knew the mountains well. He had created secret camps in many places where they could hide. And he avoided open combat.
The Raven now planned every operation very carefully and acted only when the risk for his men was low. He could not afford to lose a single man, whereas the Lowlanders seemed countless. It didn’t help that some Fenn treacherously sold their scouting services to the enemies and helped to track down Vrat and his band. But they had not yet succeeded. The Raven’s lot were like an annoying insect, circling the great beast Ardeen and stinging it at every opportunity.
3. The Black Guard
It could not be said that Prince Raiden was very happy with his guest. Master Ulf Merett had already bothered him several times about the incidents in the northern mountains. At heart, the Lord of the Black Tower was not interested at all in the concerns of the common people. He was a Master of magic and it was the miracles and possibilities of this art that occupied him.
How miserable are the lives of simple, unmagical people. They seem so meaningless to me as to be not worth the waste of a single thought.
But besides the power of magic, there also existed the power of gold and politics. And this was the kind of power that even the unmagical could acquire. In this respect, Ulf Merett was one of the most powerful men in the kingdom. Even apart from that, Crown Prince Danian of Ardeen had pointed out to his brother Raiden several times now the great importance of Aspengate to the country. He had also insisted that Prince Raiden send reinforcements to the bases in Falgars Vale and Aspengate. As Guardian of the North, it was one of Prince Raiden’s duties to establish peace there.
But these inept commanders seem unable to pacify a few savages. I have already replaced ‘son of this one’ with ‘son of that one’, but none of them could see to peace and quiet up there. And now this toad Merett waddles into my house again to complain about the state of affairs.
The guard stepped in and announced the ambassador of the guild.
The man followed directly on his heels and greeted Prince Raiden with an effusive bow.
He would feed on shit if it would gain him any advantage. The thought shot through the Prince’s mind, completely contrary to his normally polite elocution. “Welcome, Master Merett. What brings you here?” As if I did not know already. I need not read the thoughts of good Master Merett to guess that.
“My Prince, it is very unpleasant for me to bother you again, but the ambushes in the mountains are continuing unabated. A band of villains strikes terror into the people’s hearts and robs peaceful merchants. This is causing uncertainty among our trade partners. Many are deciding to use the old gates, even if the way is longer and more expensive. Most merchants do not want to risk the loss of all their goods.”
And your profit surely also suffers under these conditions.
As if Ulf Merett had heard the Prince’s thoughts, he went on: “Your Highness should consider that it will also deplete the gold of the Crown in the end. The commanders in the north are certainly very eager to gain control of the situation, but the scoundrels surrounding this man Vrat the Raven are clanspeople and they won’t fight openly. They attack when they outnumber us and hide in the hills when more troops arrive to hunt them down.”
“Are you telling me that my commanders are unable to deal with a band of petty thieves?”
Master Merett coughed in embarrassment: “So to speak, Your Highness. On the other hand the Fenn are not to be underestimated. My own nephew, Eglund Merett, fell by their hand. I think I mentioned this already.”
Every time you inconvenience me with your presence.
“Now that you mention it, I believe I do recall it. Please accept my condolences for your loss. I suppose Sir Ulwen will handle the situation up there in good time. He has enough men under his command.”
Master Merett seemed to have a different opinion: “My Prince, I am sure Sir Ulwen does his best, but every day this bunch disrupts the trade route constitutes a serious blow to the trust of our business partners, and if Your Highness would glance at the books, you would surely see for yourself how profits are falling.”
The books are the last thing of interest to me. Pages filled with endless columns of numbers. I can create gold myself. Well, the spell is extremely laborious and exhausting considering the small amounts of gold it yields, but I will never be without means in my life. Becoming destitute is your worry, not mine. And what does he want from me anyway? Sir Ulwen is not incapable and I am sure he will solve the problem soon.
Meanwhile Master Merett carried on talking: “This is a race against time and it would send an important signal to everyone if – ahem – Your Highness would take care of the matter himself. Incredible tales of your magical abilities are told throughout the land...”
Does this twit really think I will tend to the matter myself? “You’re not serious, are you? Me, deal with a few paltry robbers?” The harsh words cut through the room. “What will you ask me next!? To help with the harvest or perhaps mop the floor?”
The merchant seemed to shrink with every word the Prince uttered. “My Prince, you misunderstand me completely.”
Oh really, I think I have understood you quite well. But wait – isn’t it money that concerns you most? Perhaps I would be willing to do something for you – a favor for which you will pay me dearly. I think it is worth a great deal of gold. And it will swell my coffers, too. “Well, I probably can’t attend to such a matter myself, but just to send a signal – as you put it so well – I will command the Black Guard to restore order in the north.”
Master Merett heaved a sigh of relief. He was glad that the Prince’s fit of rage had passed.
With a devilish grin Prince Raiden now continued: “But of course there will be expenses, which I’m sure you won’t mind paying. I think a sum of five hundred thousand in gold coins should cover it. And in two months this annoying affair will be history.”
The sum was enormous, but Ulf Merett seemed rat
her unimpressed. “My Prince, the guild will be very grateful to hear of your decision. Now I can see a quick end to this unpleasantness, as the reputation of the Black Guard is outstanding.”
Prince Raiden dismissed Master Merett and sent for Lord Boron, the commander of the Black Guard.
While he was waiting, the Prince gave himself over to contemplation. Certainly it would have been easy to solve the problem with magic. There is only one small problem – I can’t use magic for this, because the land of the Fenn is unhaer.
The word ‘unhaer’ described unmagical parts of the country, where a mage could not use his powers. Even worse, the unhaer lands made magically gifted people rather sick. The more power a mage possessed, the more he was afflicted by the Unhaer. And as Prince Raiden was one of the most powerful mages in the world, he could not even set foot there without suffering terrible agony and almost instant death. This was a great limitation for him, which he naturally kept secret from the common people. Lesser mages could walk through the Unhaer without dying immediately. But they too possessed no magical powers there and would also suffer great feelings of unease.
No one must know how this disables me. There have always been these cursed areas, but since the Nimrod spell was spoken, they have been growing larger. The old mages noticed it first. In particular, Master Savyen of Draegnok in his ugly Blue Tower. This discovery frightened him, and he is many things but definitely not a coward. His tower stands next to the Nimrod’s border. And this dangerous and mysterious border creeps closer every year. Perhaps it would frighten me too, if it happened near Naganor... But as it is, I just listen to the Brotherhood’s palaver and feel pretty safe here. Naganor is such a nice place – so far away form the Unhaer. But all joking aside. From a larger perspective this is truly a serious matter. I wonder what kind of spell the damned dragon cast all those years ago? In time, the unhaer problem will concern all of us if we do not find a way to break the spell.