Devan Chronicles Series: Books 1-3

by Mark E. Cooper

  Kinnon eased himself backwards and out from under the tree. He raised his fist and pumped it once. The ground writhed and his squad converged upon his position.

  “We have ourselves a camp.”

  “The captain was right?” Hanlon said in surprise. “That boy is full of surprises. Who are they?”

  “That’s what we’re here to find out. Circle around in pairs, and watch each other’s backs. Remember what I taught you about cover and movement. Stay still and you’ll fool the keenest eyes. We meet back at the horses. Hanlon, you’re with me.”

  Hanlon nodded.

  * * *

  Keverin listened to Kinnon’s report in silence. He didn’t know quite what to make of it. Neither did Kinnon even though he had seen it. The encampment in the forest was a puzzle. No banners to indicate allegiance, purposefully disorganised as if they wanted it to be mistaken for a brigand camp, and then there was the keep itself.

  “Tell me again what you found at Herstal,” Keverin said.

  “It’s like a festival, m’lord. There are banners of almost a dozen lords flying over the keep, and hundreds of guardsmen in the town. They’re walking around stuffing their faces and swilling ale like it was mid-summer’s eve. There was some right big ships in the harbour—under Lethbridge and Ascol banners they was.”

  “Scalderon too?” Julia said.

  Kinnon nodded. “Aye, lady, he’s there. I recognised his banner right off.”

  “Wait a moment,” Julia said and went to fetch the satchel of letters from her horse. “What about…” she said rummaging in the satchel. “Horton of Choma?”

  “Aye, him too. There was Herstal, Kelvadon, Choma, Ascol, Penola, Godstone, Lethbridge, Atherton, and Chaidren Ridge. There might have been others, but I didn’t dare go closer.”

  “That’s fine,” Keverin said. “You did well.”

  “Thank you, m’lord.”

  “Go and find yourself something to eat while we decide what’s to be done.”

  Kinnon saluted, bowed to Julia, and went to join his mates. Keverin waited until he was out of earshot to speak. He didn’t want his words carried to the men. There was no point in worrying them until they knew for sure what this all meant.

  “Are they all in there?” Keverin said to a distracted Julia as she went through the scrolls.

  “Not all. Atherton and Chaidren Ridge aren’t, but the rest are. I don’t know that it means anything. As Jihan said before, they might have sent messages verbally or not at all. What are we going to do about this?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing!” Julia said in a shocked voice. “What do you mean nothing?”

  “There’s no law against holding a celebration or gathering of lords like this. They do no wrong, and we have no say in Meagan’s guest list.”

  “But it must have something to do with Athlone’s plan.”

  “Possibly. Probably it does, but that doesn’t change matters.”

  “He’s right Julia,” Jihan said. “We would look foolish indeed if we tried to make something of this.”

  “What of Hringham?”

  “Ah now, that is an entirely different matter,” Keverin said with enthusiasm. “I can and will talk to Meagan about that.”

  “Talk?” Julia said suspiciously. “Just talk?”

  Keverin nodded once. “Just talk.” Of course she didn’t know that the talk he had in mind for Meagan would flay the hide of him. The sword wasn’t the only way of dealing with weasels.

  They reached the town of Herstal late in the day. Keverin and Jihan decided not to visit Meagan immediately, instead they busied themselves with setting up a strong camp outside the town. Julia watched the preparations with concern, but Keverin put her mind at rest by assuring her that he didn’t seriously expect an attack. He just wanted to be careful. Caution cost nothing, he assured her.

  The next morning saw Keverin waiting for Julia outside the camp. He patted Cavell’s shoulder and mounted. “That should do it don’t you think?” he said nodding at the camp walls.

  Jihan laughed. “In more ways than one.”

  They had proceeded on the assumption that Herstal was hostile territory. The tents were arranged in neat rows with wide avenues between, and earthen walls had been quickly thrown up to ring them. The baggage carts were ranked hub to hub in the centre and the horses were picketed within the rampart, not outside of it. Half of Jihan’s men were on the walls standing watch with half of his. Anyone with half a brain could see just by looking that it was a war camp.

  Keverin nodded. “Meagan won’t like it, that’s certain.”

  “Who would?”

  Julia strode out of her tent pulling on her gloves. She nodded to Moriz and stepped quickly into his waiting hands for a boost into the saddle. Keverin watched her with pride. No one would have guessed that a year ago she had never sat a saddle. She turned the big black and pushed her into a trot as if born to it.

  “Ready?” Julia said as she drew rein by his side. “What?”

  Keverin shook his head. “I love you, my lady sorceress.”

  Julia’s jaw dropped open a little and her cheeks reddened. “Well… good!” Her eyes found a grinning Jihan. “He’s such a comfort. I think I’ll keep him.”

  Jihan guffawed.

  “I love you too,” Julia said to Keverin and took his hand for a brief squeeze. Kyrie shifted under her and Julia patted her neck. “I miss Ayita.”

  Keverin nodded. Ayita had taken the arrow meant for Julia and had bled out upon the ground during the fighting at Dirlston. “Kyrie suits you—very lady like.”

  Kyrie meant lady like.

  Julia snorted.

  “You’ll get used to her.”

  “She tolerates me,” Julia said with another affectionate pat. “We’re fine.”

  Keverin turned to Jihan. “Ahnao?”

  “I asked her to stay here with Jessica—”

  Keverin raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the camp as the subject of their discussion mounted her horse. Jihan’s face darkened. “Peace, my friend. She will be safe enough.”

  “That’s not the point,” Jihan said stiffly.

  Keverin shrugged and decided he had said enough. Advising a man about what he should or shouldn’t do where his consort was concerned was an uncertain business, and besides, Julia and he were not yet wed. He could hardly call upon his vast experience in the matter.

  Ahnao brought her horse beside Jihan’s and murmured something that Keverin failed to catch. Jihan shook his head impatiently and her face crumpled. Julia was about to say something but Keverin quickly stopped her with a raised hand. She hesitated too long and missed her chance to intervene. Luckily so. Jihan’s face softened and he reach for his consort’s hand. He whispered something that made Ahnao smile shakily.

  “Is all well?” Keverin said.

  Jihan nodded. “Ahnao has never visited Herstal. She will be joining us.”

  “That is well,” Keverin said with a smile and looked back to Brian. “Move out in column!”

  “Column…!” Brian ordered in a strong voice that echoed in the mid-morning air. “Forward!”

  “Column…!” Echion echoed the order for Jihan’s men. “Forward!”

  Jihan and Keverin led their men in a column of fours with their ladies in close attendance by their sides. It was decided to ride straight through the town rather than circle around. It was a faster and more direct route. Keverin was all for directness in this matter and Jihan agreed. Julia’s head was turning constantly trying to take in all the new sights. She had seen very little of Deva. Come to that, she had seen very little of his own lands, Keverin mused. It was something he was determined to remedy.

  “Way there!” Jihan roared. “Make way!”

  The streets were busy. Townsfolk and guardsmen hurriedly lined the street to allow them passage and closed back in behind once they past. Keverin noted the folk were well fed and happy, unlike those poor souls in Hringham. He supposed that was good news, but
he couldn’t work up much enthusiasm. Meagan would be a fool indeed to treat people on his own doorstep as shabbily as he had those in other towns. Rebellion and unrest, though rare, could not be discounted.

  The sights and the sounds had Julia craning her neck trying to see everything at once. The rhythmic clanging of a hammer on anvil spoke of a blacksmith working at his trade. Boisterous singing greeted them outside a tavern. A bakery came and went making Keverin’s mouth water at the scent of freshly baked bread. The marketplace was full to overflowing. They detoured around it. It was easy to find their way. The keep dominated the skyline and could be seen from any point within Herstal Town, and besides that, the grade would have told them the right direction.

  They left the town behind them and followed the road up toward the keep. The encampments mentioned in Kinnon’s report were here too, clinging to the hillside. Keverin took note of the banners and found nine including Meagan’s Herstal. Kinnon had been thorough. Looking back over the rooftops of the town, Keverin could easily make out four huge ships. Their naked masts clawed at the sky like a tree in winter with banners fluttering atop.

  Herstal keep was constructed quite unlike other Devan fortifications. The most obvious difference was its lack of a curtain wall and towers. The keep was only a tenth the size of Athione’s citadel. It was tall like any good watch tower should be, but Herstal was no longer a watch tower. Not truly. Truth be told, Keverin didn’t much care for it. It was an ugly building of dark stone. It dominated its hill and surroundings, but it didn’t lend the feeling of safety like Athione did. No doubt so many windows (there were dozens and dozens) could be used for archers, but without walls and towers they were Herstal’s only offensive advantage. Defensively was another matter. There were no walls for an enemy to climb, and hence there was only one way in—the gates. It would take a very determined enemy to force the gates and enter the keep while under fire. They were narrow to prevent a large force from doing just that. Keverin knew he could hold Herstal for many tendays against a much larger force should that be necessary, but what of protecting the town?

  Keverin paid close attention to the stables and out buildings. The stables were small, probably only enough capacity for two or three hundred men. There were almost certainly more stables on the other side of the hill, but if they looked anything like these, he had nothing to fear. Keverin felt sure Meagan had not been recruiting an army. If he had been, there would have been many more horses and supplies in evidence. The mounts that he could see grazing looked of good quality but not the best. He doubted two in ten were bred from Camorin stock. No doubt they were all war trained, but Devan bloodlines were known to be inferior.

  The gates remained tightly shut—not very hospitable—but to be expected. The guardsmen within the camps looked on without concern, which lessened Keverin’s anxieties. More guardsmen ducked out of tents—without their weapons for the most part, and took the time to watch a rare spectacle. Two of The Four had come calling.

  A rare event indeed.

  Keverin was pleased by their lack of readiness. He didn’t want a fight, Jihan didn’t want a fight, and if he had any sense, Meagan didn’t want a fight.

  “Chaidren and Atherton seem out of place,” Jihan said as they rode under the eyes of the silently watching guardsmen.

  “Why?” Julia said.

  “They’ve joined forces in one camp, and they’re sharing guard duties.”

  Keverin frowned. He had missed that and he shouldn’t have.

  “The others are keeping to themselves,” Jihan went on. “There appears to be some division between allies here. See how they’ve set their camp apart from the others? And see there,” Jihan nodded toward the picket lines. “Half the horses are already saddled for a quick response.”

  “Hmmm,” Keverin mused, “Not all is well here. Some, it would seem, dislike the taste of treason.”

  “That,” Jihan agreed with a nod. “Or they bicker over some other point.”

  They rode beyond the encampments and right up to the keep. Brian ordered his men to reform into two ranks before the gates. Jihan’s men did likewise. There was complete silence except for the creak of leather as the men shifted in their saddles.

  “Ho the Gate! Open!”

  “Who comes?”

  They already knew who and what had come calling, but the challenge was traditional.

  “Keverin, Lord Protector of the West!”

  “And I! Jihan, Lord Protector of the North!”

  The silence resumed and continued long after it should.

  Keverin glanced at Jihan who shrugged. It seemed neither of them had thought they might be denied admittance. Keverin fumed. He was angry with himself for not considering such an obvious turn in events. If Meagan didn’t want to admit them into his home, why then, he need not do so. He need only keep the gate barred, and there was nothing to be done about it. Keverin was almost growling with frustration. He was embarrassed not to have thought of this. He felt ridiculous cooling his heels before the barred gates with no idea what to do next.

  Julia took matters in hand. She nudged her horse forward. “Let me see now,” she said reaching out to touch the wood of the gate. “Hmmm…”

  “Julia, what are you—”

  There came an audible clunk from within the keep and the sound of heavy wood falling. The gates swung open without a touch upon them. Keverin watched with a feral smile as Julia’s magic opened the way. There were frightened shouts from within the keep and the sound of running feet on cobbles. No doubt the gatekeeper was off to find his captain or his lord.

  “That’s handy,” Jihan murmured and Keverin nodded. “Shall we?”

  “One moment,” Keverin said and turned to speak with Brian. “If we don’t return within a candlemark, send back to the camp for reinforcements and pry us out of there.”

  “But my lord! I should accompany you.”

  “And I,” Captain Echion said appealing to Jihan. Jihan raised his hand and told him to wait.

  “Follow my orders, Brian.”

  “Yes my lord, but at least take an honour guard… a bodyguard for the ladies at least,” Brian said slyly.

  Julia opened her mouth to protest, but it was too late. Keverin nodded and let Brian have his way. “Give me Kinnon’s squad—”

  “Yes my lord, I was about to suggest it. Take Moriz and Halbert as well… and another twelve besides.”

  Julia was growling under her breath about bodyguards and what Brian could do with them.

  Keverin smiled. “I think twelve is enough, Brian. Two dozen would be discourteous to Meagan.”

  “What of Lord Jihan?” Brian said glancing at Echion.

  Echion nodded. “I must insist on a like number for my lord’s honour.”

  Jihan’s lips twitched fighting not to laugh. Keverin raised an eyebrow and Jihan nodded with a shrug that said, ‘let us get on with this.’

  “Twelve each it is,” Keverin said in appreciation of the well executed strategy. Brian knew that Julia’s safety was paramount to him as was Ahnao’s to Jihan. Two dozen it would be.

  Jihan and Keverin helped their ladies to dismount, and then entered the keep on foot with their respective honour guards hovering protectively behind. Moriz and Halbert took up their accustomed places at Julia’s back.

  “Can you jam the gate open?” Keverin said as they stepped around the fallen locking bar.

  Julia flicked a finger at the huge beam where it lay upon the cobbles. It shot through the air and hit the right-hand gate, which slammed against the wall with a boom. The beam groaned and creaked as Julia wedged it open. Keverin stared at the sight. The beam was easily a half yard square, yet it was bowing like a twig. He had no doubt that she could snap it like one if she chose.

  “Is that all right?” Julia said.

  Keverin nodded. Meagan would have to chop through the thing to have a hope of closing the gate. “That’s fine.”

  Julia took his arm and they continued through the dimly lit
tunnel into the keep. They emerged into the stable court and looked around for a welcoming committee. The courtyard was empty. It was a small space open to the sky and surrounded on all sides with walls studded with windows. Directly ahead was a large door that opened into the keep proper. Smaller doors to the left and right allowed entry into other areas. Perhaps even into the very barracks and rooms above the gate that belonged to the windows they had seen on their approach.

  “Not very friendly,” Julia said. “I wonder if they know we’re here.”

  “They know,” Jihan said as guardsmen bundled out of each of the doors. “And here is our welcome.”

  Keverin watched the guardsmen organise themselves into a semblance of proper form, and then Meagan emerged looking nervously at his companion. Not his seneschal surely?

  “Do you know the man on his right?” Keverin said under his breath.

  Jihan shook his head. “I’ve met Meagan less than a dozen times all told. I don’t know him. You?”

  “No.”

  Meagan stopped before Keverin and inclined his head politely. “I apologise for the lack of welcome. I wasn’t informed of your arrival.”

  That was a boldfaced lie if ever he had heard one. Meagan certainly knew of the camp outside of Herstal Town, and his gatekeeper would have informed his captain of intruders at the gate.

  “Apology accepted,” Keverin said making Meagan’s face darken. Meagan had expected him to wave his apology. “May I introduce my lady Julia?”

  “Charmed,” Meagan said and inclined his head to Julia.

  “And Lord Jihan and his consort Lady Ahnao.”

  “Welcome to Herstal my lord and lady of Malcor.” Meagan said and then with a quick glance at his companion he went on, “This is—”

  “A friend,” the stranger said watching Julia as if mesmerised. “Might I ask?”

  Julia cocked her head. “Ask what… friend?”

  “Forgive me. My manners seem to have deserted me. My name is Demophon,” he said with a handsome bow. “It’s said that you have magic in the manner of a mage, and that you can heal death itself.”