Haven Keep (Book 1)

by R. David Bell

  “I do not need evidence to know Oded speaks the truth,” Baiden said. “I have never known him to be anything but honest.”

  Kaiden wondered about that. Oded had never spoken anything Kaiden believed was untrue, but he sure left out some details he did not want known. What was he leaving out now?

  “Kaiden, here is the key of the north.” Baiden handed the oblong object to Kaiden. It was only the third time Kaiden had touched it. He only remembered seeing it half a score times. “Bring back what is in Haven Keep.”

  “I will,” Kaiden answered.

  “So there is a weapon at Haven Keep,” said Oded. “I hoped it was so.”

  Baiden looked at Oded curiously. “There are weapons there, but the emperor kept a weapon himself. Do you not have it?”

  Oded sounded grave. “It went missing.”

  “Missing?”

  Kaiden could not remember ever hearing his father so upset.

  “How could it be missing?” Baiden asked.

  “When the emperor died it was given to a member of the royal household for safe keeping. When the Horde stormed the royal fortress it disappeared.”

  “So the Horde has it?”

  “Thankfully, no,” Oded replied. “Rumor put it on a merchant ship headed for the Gothen Isle. When the Demon Mage sent his storms to drive back the dragon ships you sent, he inadvertently sank that ship too.”

  “So it is lost.”

  “It is lost, but I do not think for good. The captain and half the crew were eventually rescued. The captain spoke of no sword.”

  “Sword?” Kaiden asked. “What sword?”

  “The emperor’s sword,” his father answered. “Forged by the Dragon Lords. At least I think so. Hope it to be so.”

  “Durendal?” asked Kaiden. The fabled ancient sword of the dragon kings in the north. The sword of the sovereign ruler of the Dragon Lords. “I thought that was just a legend.” Kaiden needed to rethink every legend he’d ever heard. They were all coming to life.

  “To most it still is,” Oded said. “I was not sure until your father just spoke that the emperor kept the sword in his possession. I had suspected, but did not know for sure.” Oded looked at Baiden and Baiden nodded before he continued. “The sword has been kept by the emperors of Evenfelle since the founding of the empire and the Keeper in the North has kept its most powerful secrets hidden away in Haven Keep. At least we hope. Who knows if the emperor’s sword is the same that was wielded by Elric. We can only hope.”

  “But if my father has kept its secrets, we don’t need the sword,” exclaimed Kaiden. “We have what we need in Haven Keep.” The possibility excited him.

  “Not exactly,” Oded said. “Durendal was the most powerful sword ever forged by the Dragon Lords. I don’t believe there is any weapon that is its equal. We cannot let the Horde get hold of it.”

  “But there are other weapons at Haven Keep,” Kaiden argued. “My father said so. And you don’t even know if the sword the emperor kept was Durendal at all. Maybe Durendal is still there.”

  Baiden sighed, “It is possible.”

  “But the Horde still seeks Durendal in the south. Why?” asked Kaiden.

  Baiden spoke before Oded could answer. “I was to tell you more upon your return from Haven Keep. It is part of your training to become Keeper in the North. By itself Durendal is a powerful weapon. With the secrets kept in Haven Keep it is formidable indeed. That is how the Horde was defeated so long ago. If we can bring what is in Haven Keep and the sword together, we just may be able to stand against the Demon Mage. Without Durendal I do not know if we can prevail. Yet there are other secrets...”

  “I do not think the emperor’s sword is lost for good,” Oded said. “The Horde has been seeking for it on the Gothen Isle, however I do not think the sword ever made it there.”

  “Where do you think it is?” asked Baiden.

  “Half the crew of the merchant ship was rescued. A number of the others were found shipwrecked on a rocky shore, only they were found by slavers. It has taken us these years to track them down. We discovered they were sold to the Halfen to work in the mines. What was left of the cargo was sold to the Halfen too.”

  “The Halfen!” Berkler hissed. “Those traitors!”

  “Traitors?” Oded asked curiously. Kaiden felt the same way Oded sounded. The Halfen were a backstabbing quarrelsome bunch, but he’d never known them to be traitors.

  Baiden answered Oded’s question. “This last week they made an attempt on my life. They killed two of my councilors. One of them managed to escape. You would know him. Jubben.”

  “Jubben? I’d never have thought him capable of such an act.”

  “Much has changed since you were last in the north. The north has changed nearly as much as the south has. The clans have drifted even further apart. If the Halfen have the emperor’s sword they will divide the clans even further. Oded my old friend, I will need your help to unite the other clans against them.”

  “You will have my help as I know we will have yours in the defense of the south. What is left of it. It is good to know you still stand with us. I believed you would, but others feared you may not.”

  “The men of Azmark will fight along side you. My councilors have already pledged their support as well. I have named Berkler to replace Roren. I still need to name another councilor to replace Jordy. Kaiden, where is Soren?”

  Kaiden had avoided this as long as he could. “I am sorry father. He is dead. He died slaying the beast.”

  Baiden’s shoulders sank. “Dead,” he whispered. “What beast? Was it not an icebear?”

  “No it was...,” Kaiden did not know how to answer. What could he say that would be believable? “I have never seen anything like it. It killed the whole party. Only I remain.”

  “The whole party?!” Flenn could not contain himself any more.

  “I am only alive because of Oded and Tostig. I am all that is left. Even the dogs are dead.” For some reason that made it sound worse. Kaiden couldn’t stand the shame. He was a failure.

  “What beast could have done such a thing?” Baiden asked.

  Kaiden hoped for some help from Oded, but the man remained silent. This was his responsibility. Oded was not about to bail him out.

  “A vyr,” Kaiden finally admitted. He hoped his father did not think him crazy.

  “A vyr you say.” It was not a question. “Wellen warned me the old days were returning. I only half believed him.”

  “We saw it too,” Tostig offered. He apparently wanted to help Kaiden as much as possible. “It was no icebear. Of that I am sure.”

  Baiden sighed. “We will need to act quickly. We must not allow the Halfen to gain any more strength than they already have. Soren would have been a great asset to have at Stone Abbey, but he is gone. That makes our task just that much more urgent. I was waiting for Kaiden and Soren to return before I left and I feared additional treachery from the Halfen, so I waited for Jeret and the Celtens to arrive. I fear I can wait no longer for the Kragen clan. We will have to rely on whatever strength we already have. With this news I do not know if we dare wait until morning to depart.”

  “You are probably correct,” Oded said. “If the Halfen have gained favor with any of the other clans we will be in a dire situation.” Oded spoke what everyone else feared to be true. The Halfen had proven themselves traitors. If they possessed the sword of the emperor it would only strengthen their might.

  “I will have to wait to name another councilor,” Baiden said. “Kaiden you will leave for Haven Keep in the morning. Appoint Sem to lead in my stead. Make sure all know of his appointment. We must have order here while my councilors and I are gone.”

  Kaiden hoped to get a couple of nights rest before leaving again. The Halfen had put an end to resting for a long time. “I will do as you say. Where can I find Von?”

  Tostig went stiff at the mention of Von’s name. If Tostig hadn’t reacted the way he did Kaiden would never have noticed the slight tw
itch in Oded’s eye. How did they know him? Tostig spoke of him before. Maybe Oded had dreamed of Von too. Not likely.

  “My son, Tostig, is a dreamer,” Oded said. “He sees things even clerics like myself do not.”

  “I guess he does,” Baiden acknowledged. “As I told you I keep more safe here in the north than just what was entrusted to me.”

  “I don’t think we should wait much longer to hear what that is.” Oded sounded patient, but did not look it.

  “You will need to wait a short time longer.” Baiden sounded the lord that he was.

  Oded answered with a blank stare.

  “I have been sworn to secrecy, but trust me, you will soon know all.”

  Oded nodded thoughtfully. “I will trust you.”

  It was obvious from the puzzled look on Flenn and Berkler’s faces they did not know what Baiden and Oded were talking about. Kaiden was as perplexed as his father’s councilors. He didn’t like being left in the dark. This was most surely about Von and once again Kaiden was given no explanation. He was determined to get one.

  “Father...”

  “Not now.”

  “But,...”

  Oded repeated Baiden’s words. “Not now.”

  That just gave Kaiden more questions. He would just ask Von. They couldn’t keep him from doing that even if they tried. He and Von were traveling to Haven Keep together.

  Baiden used his index finger to emphasize every syllable as he spoke. “You will go to Haven Keep tomorrow. If Von is not available, you will go alone.”

  Kaiden did not know what to say. The last couple of weeks his father had been a mystery to him. Like a man he did not know. Maybe when he learned the secrets of Haven Keep he would understand.

  Berkler interrupted again. “I think it would be good for Von to go with Kaiden. As you have said, there are secrets kept there and I think Von will understand them to a greater degree than maybe even you do.”

  Baiden’s brows furrowed in thought before he spoke.“We can’t wait. Kaiden must leave tomorrow, no matter what.”

  “Is Von not here?” Kaiden asked.

  “He is unavailable,” his father said. Kaiden knew that was all the explanation he was going to get. He would have to trust his father just as Oded did.

  “Now go,” he said to Kaiden. “We do not have time to waste. The rest of us will prepare fresh horses. I want to be gone within the hour.” The urgency in Baiden’s voice transferred to everyone in the room. All were up and moving with purpose.

  Kaiden was the first to reach the door. He had his own mission to accomplish. The first part of it was to find his bed. He would salvage what remained of the night. He had no intention of leaving in the morning with no sleep at all. Apparently his father was going to see to the needs of Oded and Tostig. Kaiden would try to find Von in the morning. No matter what his father said, he was determined more than ever to take his young friend with him.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Break it down,” Kaiden ordered. He was through playing games. He could hear Isk and Jen through the thick door, growling, as if placed there as sentinels. Von would have to do more than that if he wanted to keep Kaiden out.

  “Your father said he was not to be disturbed,” Sem argued. “He made sure the whole of Azmark knew. He was very clear.”

  “Well my father is gone and until I leave you are not in charge of anything.” Kaiden felt a little bad for speaking that way to Sem. He could see the distress in Sem’s face. He wasn’t sure if it was for the possibility of damaging the forge doors or being disobedient to Baiden. Kaiden didn’t care. He was taking Von with him and if that meant breaking down the doors of his father’s forge than that was what he was going to do.

  “With all due respect, Kaiden,” Dell said. “I don’t think...”

  “I don’t care. Get some timbers. Break this door down.” The tone in Kaiden’s voice sent Dell and Reece running.

  A small crowd gathered around the forge while Kaiden waited for Dell and Reece to return. He did not need an audience for this. Dell and Reece were sure taking their time. He didn’t understand why everyone was so afraid of offending Von. Everyone except Anora. She was sure getting uppity lately. She had left this morning practically hand in hand with Dethan. They were chasing after Baiden and the rest of the party that departed in the night. Anora was not happy about being left behind. She was even less happy about Von locking himself in the forge for the last four or five days. The way she set out this morning, she would probably catch their father within the hour, or at least by the end of the day. Dethan on the other hand, seemed content to stay behind with Anora. He was more interested in her than in the clan chief meeting. Kaiden would have to warn Von that he had some competition. The thought put a smile on his face that hadn’t been there for at least a week. He almost laughed out loud.

  No one could give Kaiden a straight answer as to how long Von had actually been inside the forge. Most rumors put Corren in there with him and, for some reason Kaiden could not figure out, his father had told everyone not to bother Von.

  Dell and Reece finally returned with a roof beam to use as a battering ram.

  About time Kaiden thought.

  He took hold of the middle of the beam and the three rammed the thick timber into the door.

  Jen and Isk growled angrily.

  Again they slammed the beam into the door. Sem winced. He was not happy about this, but Kaiden kept on anyway. The third strike hit hard and he felt the door give a little. This door was sturdier than he thought. Two or three more hits should do it though. Kaiden braced himself for the fourth impact.

  The door swung wide.

  They missed the door completely. Dell stumbled through the threshold. Kaiden tripped over him. Reece followed, ending in a tangled pile on the hard stone floor. The crowd outside burst into laughter. Kaiden glared up at them, but most continued to chuckle under their breath. Some turned to the side in a vain attempt to hide their amusement.

  Kaiden glanced around the forge searching for who had opened the door and noticed Corren leaning against the large timber framework of the doorway. He wasn’t much to look at, with his hair disheveled and clothes unkept. It was obvious he hadn’t shaved in days. Kaiden stood up and brushed himself off, but did not get too close to Corren. He probably smelled the way he looked.

  “What’s been going on in here?” Kaiden demanded. A closer look into the forge revealed Von lying in a heap on the floor. It was hard to tell if he was breathing. Kaiden rushed to Von’s side.

  “We’ve been working,” Corren answered. He sounded annoyed.

  “Working?” Kaiden was not amused. “You look near dead and Von looks worse.” Kaiden could finally see that Von was indeed breathing. That was a relief. In his arms Von cradled a sword. Almost caressed it.

  “He’s alright,” Corren protested. “He’s just tired. Just sleeping.” Corren sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall with his head in his hands. “I’d still be sleeping too if you hadn’t made all that foul racket.”

  “Don’t you have a bed for that?”

  “Seemed too far away at the time.”

  Kaiden shook Von by the shoulder. “Von, wake up. What are you doing locking yourself in the forge?”

  Von groaned.

  “Hey! Wake up.” Kaiden shook him a little harder.

  Jen and Isk did not like that. They growled at Kaiden.

  “You two mongrels knock it off. It’s me.” Kaiden pointed to a bucket of water. “Hey Dell, hand me that bucket.”

  Dell laughed and handed Kaiden the wooden bucket. He obviously knew what Kaiden was going to do. Kaiden snatched the bucket out of Dell’s hands and emptied it in Von’s face. Von sat up straight, took a deep breath then started coughing.

  “Hey, what the devils do you think you’re doing?” Von tried to push Kaiden away, but Kaiden was already hauling Von to his feet.

  “If I didn’t know better I’d say you were drunk. What did you do? Find out about Anora and Det
han?” That got another laugh out of the crowd.

  “What are you talking about? Let me go.” Von was standing on his own power now. “Ooh, that hurts”

  “What hurts?”

  “Everything.” Von winced as he tried to stretch. “I’m sore. I need to find my bed.” His stomach growled. “And some food... What time is it?”

  “It’s mid morning, I’ve waited for you long enough. Your horse is ready, let’s go.”

  “Go where?”

  “Are you awake yet or do I need to throw some more water in your face?”

  Von rubbed his face with his left hand. He still hadn’t let go of that sword with his right. “I’m fine, you still haven’t told me where we are going.”

  “If you can’t remember I’ll tell you along the way.” Kaiden didn’t want to remind anyone where he was headed. Normally the heir of the Keeper never made the journey to Haven Keep until he was ready to take over as the Keeper and Lord of Azmark. And he definitely went alone. He didn’t need all these people asking questions about why he was going and why Von was coming along. It would all come out soon enough and then his father would be here to explain. “Just get in your saddle Von.”

  Kaiden pulled Von along by the arm. Von limped after him. “Ow. Stop that. I can walk on my own. I’m just a little sore.”

  “It doesn’t look like you can walk on your own. Where’s your shirt. Pew, you stink like a polecat. Dell fetch another bucket of water. Make it two.”

  Corren looked up lazily as the two other men exited the forge. He appeared ready to pass out. Von did too for that matter. He kept groaning with every step. Kaiden wasn’t about to let go of him. He was already getting a much later start than he wanted.

  Dell returned with the bucket of water much faster than he had with the roof beam. He wore that silly grin of his on his face. At least someone was enjoying this. Kaiden dumped the bucket over Von’s head.