Haven Keep (Book 1)

by R. David Bell

  Flenn laughed out loud. He did not feel like laughing, but wanted everyone there to know how absurd he thought Ky’s claims. “You are the one who sent assassins, under the guise of messengers. We received them as honored guests and they turned on Baiden in his chambers, killing Roren and Jordy. Do you deny this?”

  “Of course I deny it. It is a lie!”

  Lowerth spoke. “What of Ky’s claims that the heir of Evenfelle lives?”

  Flenn was stunned. He should have expected this. Two nights ago the Halfen said as much when they tried to arrest Baiden. Ky must have been spreading similar tales amongst the clans.

  “Deny that!” Ky screamed. “You killed my men when they recognized your young master blacksmith as Beovon the son of Trajan.”

  “Your men were killed in the attempt on Baiden’s life. You wish to usurp Baiden’s authority. Much easier if he were dead. Is it not?”

  “Lies!”

  Jubben spoke softly. He must have been trying to diffuse Ky’s anger. “We made no attempt on Baiden’s life. When I confronted him about Beovon he attacked us. As did you.”

  “I care not about who attacked who,” Lowerth said. “I want to know about this Beovon.”

  Flenn had to tell the story before Ky made it sound worse. “He came to us on the slave ships as a boy. Baiden purchased his freedom and raised him as an honorable man. Baiden has kept his sacred oath to the empire. He has been and remains true. Who else here has done the same?”

  “Why would he keep such a thing a secret?” Rhulet asked.

  “Beovon has just barely come of age. He was kept safe until the time of his youth was over. He is now ready to proclaim himself.” Flenn did not know if Von was ready for that, but it was too late now. It had been done for him.

  “I do not wish to be ruled by an emperor,” Rhulet said.

  “We must be united,” Flenn reasoned. He needed to calm these men down. A unified front against the Horde was the main goal here. He couldn’t loose sight of that. “We need not have an emperor, but we cannot stand this treason from the Halfen. The Black Horde gathers in the south. We must be united against them. Baiden will lead us against them.”

  “Or force us into subjection?” Jubben asked.

  “He will not force anyone.”

  “Then what of this southern army invading our lands? An army of southerners more than five thousand strong, and growing, hidden in the mountains above Azmark?”

  That sent the room into an uproar. Everyone wanted an answer.

  “Who was this army?”

  “What was its intentions?”

  “Why was Baiden hiding that too?”

  “How could we trust a man who hid so much?”

  Flenn needed to end this. “We have only recently learned of the army from the south. It is a remnant of the army of Evenfelle. They continue their fight against the Horde and have come to us for help. Would you have them fight alone? Baiden is still Lord of the North and you all have sworn to obey him. Have you lost your honor?”

  “I have not lost my honor,” Lowerth said. “I have sworn an oath. And I can easily see through the Halfen. They have ever been treacherous.”

  Ky stared murder at Lowerth. This meeting could easily come to bloodshed. Flenn must do something fast. “All who remain with honor and honor the North must stand behind Baiden and fight against this threat from the Horde. Who stands faithful?”

  “I do.” Lowerth said.

  “As do I.” Rhulet echoed.

  “What of you Leofric?” Flenn asked. “And you Bethoc?”

  Leofric spoke, “There was a vote on the table before you entered. It must be voted on before more business is introduced.”

  “There was no vote on the table,” Lowerth protested. “You cannot strip Baiden of his title without a trial and without a full vote. There has been no trial and the Celtens are not here.”

  “A vote has been called for,” Ky hissed.

  “Impossible,” Lowerth argued. “We must follow the law. This vote cannot take place without all clans present, without a trial, without any proof of wrong doing. It has never been done. I will not allow it.”

  It was good to hear a voice of reason among the chiefs. Flenn was grateful to have Lowerth on his side, but he did not like hearing a vote had already been called to remove Baiden. Had Ky dared to be so bold? For the first time Flenn was outraged. Not only were the Halfen traitors, but so were the Hywel. He had to proceed delicately. He could not afford to lose anymore ground.

  “And you Bethoc?”

  “I do not know if I can follow a man who keeps such secrets. Why were we not told of Beovon? Maybe Baiden is still fit to lead, maybe not, but my people will not follow Ky unless the proper steps are applied. There must be a trial before we name a new Lord of the North.”

  If Bethoc thought he was playing neutral, Flenn saw right through it. Ky had already gotten to him.

  Ky smirked. It was obvious to Flenn Ky knew these men were on his side. Leofric with his money and Bethoc with his ships. This did not bode well.

  “No one can stand against our might,” Ky said. “The Halfen are the strongest. It is our right to lead. Any who stand in our way will be cut down. Lowerth, Rhulet, join us or share the fate of the Kailfen Clan.”

  Flenn could not let Ky sway these two also. “You need not join the Halfen. Together the combined might of the clans could easily defeat them. Do not cower to this traitorous show of force.”

  “I don’t know if I can see any other way,” Rhulet admitted. “You yourself have said we need to be united against the Horde. We cannot afford to spend our strength fighting amongst each other. It is better for us to have peace amongst ourselves. If we fight with each other we will never be able to stand against the threat in the south. We know many of the clans do not trust the Halfen, but they are close to us and we do not see them as you do.”

  “So you turn traitor?”

  “I’m not saying...”

  Ky interrupted, “Such harsh words coming from such a false man.” He was pleased with himself. His outrage seemed to dissipate as he saw the men in the room come to his side. He could see he was winning. Flenn could see it too. Ky had probably won before the meeting even started. It appeared Bethoc and Leofric had made up their minds before coming. What would make them turn? Did they fear the Horde so much? Or was it Ky they feared? There had to be something else.

  “All I am saying is that we cannot fight amongst ourselves,” Rhulet said. “We can continue to talk. But above all else we must be united.”

  “So you would unite behind Ky?” accused Lowerth.

  “If I must.”

  That was four clans against three. Three only if Dethan decided to remain loyal like his father had. The Halfen were nearly as numerous as the rest of the clans combined. There was no way Baiden could stand against them with only the Orlenc clan behind him.

  “This is treason.” Flenn needed a way to pull Rhulet back to their side. He was wavering now. He could not let Ky get a greater grasp on him. “Do not do this Rhulet. Stand with us. Do not listen to this talk of treason.”

  “No one is talking treason,” Leofric said. “Maybe it is just time for a change. Not treason, just a change in direction. A change of leadership. We need unity and strength to stand against the Horde. No one is saying Baiden needs to stand trial. He and the Kailfen clan will be welcomed allies against the Horde.”

  “So your decision has already been made.” It was not a question. Flenn could see these men had made up their minds before even coming to Stone Abbey. At least Leofric and Bethoc had. “What has Ky offered you?”

  “I have offered peace and prosperity,” Ky interrupted. “No one needs a war with the Horde. When they see our united front they will make peace.”

  “There is no peace with the Horde.” Ky had obviously offered something or he would have let Leofric answer for himself. Flenn was sure of it. “All here know what the Horde did to the lands in the south. They will do the same here.”r />
  “They do not want us,” Ky said. “They want the boy. This Beovon. We can give them what they want and avoid a conflict. Is Baiden willing to do that?”

  Flenn was dumbstruck. He could not believe how easily the chiefs had turned. How willing they were to give up Von. There was more to this decision than Flenn could see on the surface. “And you know this how?”

  “I have spies just like anyone else. They tell me the Horde is searching for something. Something that escaped on a ship to the Gothen Ilse. Only that ship was wrecked in a storm off the coast of Evenfelle. That something was a boy. Picked up on a slave ship.”

  “You cannot think to turn Von over to the Horde.”

  “That is right. I forgot. You Kailfen have become fond of the boy.”

  “That boy is your lord and rightful ruler.”

  “Evenfelle is dead. We rule ourselves now. We will give the Horde the boy. In return they will leave us in peace.”

  Flenn looked around the room. Blank stares were on the faces of Leofric and Bethoc. Their councilors would not even meet Flenn’s gaze. Rhulet would not meet his gaze either. He stared at the table, silently. Only Lowerth had stood by his side. Would he continue to do so?

  Flenn stood. “I guess I have your answers.” Somehow Flenn needed to find out how Ky succeeded in swaying these men.

  “No one said you could leave,” Ky growled. “Arrest him for murder. He has admitted it with his own mouth.”

  Lowerth was next to stand. His voice was calm despite the rage in his face. “He has admitted nothing. He came here of his own free will and will be allowed to leave the same way. Have we set aside all our law? Ky speaks treason and you cower at his military might.”

  “What would you have us do?” Rhulet asked.

  “Be men! Make your clans proud. Baiden and the Kailfen are not as weak as Ky would have you believe. He still has the secrets of the North. Who else has that?”

  Ky laughed. “Old women’s tales. A decision has been made. Be careful that you do not stray too far to the other side.”

  “No decision has been made.” Lowerth was still outwardly calm. “A new Lord of the North cannot be chosen until the new moon. I will return then.” Lowerth’s gaze fell on the other chiefs. “Think hard on what you do. Your children and your clans will remember for generations your names and what you do here.” He turned to leave.

  Flenn decided it was best he leave too. It would not be safe here for Berkler and him once the Orlenc clan left. The stairs seemed taller now, steeper. Reaching the top took an eternity, as if climbing out of a pit.

  Flenn could hear Ky call after him. “Be careful on your way home.”

  Outside Oded was waiting patiently. He must have seen something in Flenn’s expression.

  “It did not go well then?”

  “The clans have turned against Baiden. It is treason. We must go quickly, while we are still able.”

  “Do any stand with us?”

  “The Orlenc do. As for the rest, I fear it will be war.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Von leaned against the rough stone wall beneath the iron gates. Haven Keep. Somehow he understood this place was safe. Safe from all the dangers and cares that existed outside these stone walls. He did not know how he knew, he just knew. The vyr were still outside, but they were not coming in, for some reason and by some unknown power, they could not. There was something strange about Haven Keep. It was peaceful, calm, tranquil, but that was not all. It was familiar. He had dreamed of this place, sure, but there was more to it than that. It was as if he had come home. Home to a place he did not know he belonged, but he knew he wanted to stay.

  After too many days of strain and effort Von finally allowed his body to relax. The adrenaline pumping through his veins drained from him like flood waters receding back into the fountains from which they came. Von’s muscles ached from overuse and exhaustion, a fact that reminded him of how tired he was, how much exertion he had put his body through. He could finally permit himself to rest now. It was finally safe to. He let out a deep breath as the tension left his body. The soreness remained, now just a dull pain, dampened by the effects of Haven Keep.

  The banging on the doors eventually subsided and so did the cries of the vyr. Von felt for sure the monsters had gone. Isk and Jen appeared calm and content, though they still panted from their long run. The dog’s demeanor gave Von the confidence the vyr truly were gone. Their repeated crashes against the gates were a protest of their quarry’s escape, not an attempt to get in. The creatures knew they could not.

  The rectangle courtyard they stood in was covered in snow. Cold grey stone walls rose around them, towering into the sky. No one had set foot in here for years, but the masonry was in perfect repair. Even the massive archway behind them, with its great iron doors showed no signs of age nor erosion. The battlements in the corners had stood for generations, but could have been completed yesterday for all the wear they showed. With as many winters as this place had seen, the ice and snow should have pulled the walls down, or at least caused cracks and fissures. Even in the valley the continual melting and re-freezing of the ice caused the best stone work to crack and split. Here there were no signs of aging. No signs this keep had stood since before the creation of the empire. Probably for generations before that.

  Numerous small buildings lined the stone walls of the courtyard, some stone, some wood. Those buildings showed as much wear as the keep itself. The structures varied in design and size. Von thought they could be shops or stables, maybe a guardhouse or two. As far as Von could tell, they ranged between one to three levels. Some were large, some were small. Some were even open to the courtyard, with just a slanting roof built up against the walls of the keep. The closer Von looked the more he was convinced some of the buildings were stables. It would be difficult to tell exactly what each building was used for without actually going inside each individual one. Maybe not even then. He doubted there would be anything within those structures for the horses to eat. This place had been empty a long time, those buildings were probably empty too.

  Wide stairs ran up the side walls to the battlements. Towering structures large enough to allow massive siege engines to be placed atop them. They sat empty now, but could easily be refilled, the defenses restored. The tops of the walls were wide enough for five men to ride abreast on horseback. An army could dash itself to pieces against these walls.

  The center of the court yard was clear except for the snow. All the buildings hugged the walls or were built right up against them. At the far end of the courtyard, about one-hundred paces away was the main keep. Built of grey stone, just as the walls, but it rose even higher. Three times as high at least. A square castle, with battlements of its own at each corner, though smaller than the ones on the outside walls. Easily it was the largest building Von had seen in the north, dwarfing Baiden’s Great Hall. Four steps ran almost the length of the front of the keep and led up to a large terrace and iron doors that matched those at the entrance of the keep.

  Von could see, even with his limited experience, this was a great stronghold. With enough supplies the right fighting force could defend this place for a long time. Years if need be. They were safe here. It indeed was a haven. Only it could turn into a prison too, with a besieging army outside. Or with the vyr.

  That was something they could worry about later. Right now they needed to get what they came for, whatever that was. Kaiden would know. He should know where to look, or at least have an idea. And then there was Soren. Where had he come from? He was supposed to be dead. Von wanted answers, but he needed rest more. He felt like collapsing on the hard cobblestone floor underneath the wide arched doorway. If he let himself, he would probably not get up again.

  Kaiden broke the silence. “Soren, how..? I saw you fall. I felt the vyr die.”

  Sweat beaded on Soren’s brow. He did not answer right away, instead he removed his cloak and tossed it to the side. Underneath was a thick fur covered shirt. His bear s
kin shirt? No, the dark hair was soft and long, too long to be a bearskin, like the one he was known to wear. The one said to give him the strength of a bear. There were not many who still held to those old beliefs. Men often spoke of Soren and his strength and prowess in fighting as well as hunting. However men described Soren, Von had always thought a bear might not be too far off, even with his wiry frame. After seeing what he had just done against the vyr Von no longer knew what to think.

  “My sword pierced the vyr to the heart,” Soren began slowly. “As you know we fell into the abyss. We did not fall far before we hit a lower ledge.” Soren paused, as if recalling things he would rather not remember. “The weight of the vyr crushed me and drove my sword deeper into its body. In its death throws it struck wildly at me, flailing and clawing, sending us over the ledge.” Soren’s breathing was heavy, but even and relaxed. “I don’t know how many more times we hit rock or stone. I fought to keep the vyr’s claws and teeth away from me. The vyr fought for I don’t know what. It must have known it was already dead. We slid and tumbled down a steep incline, almost a bluff. There was no light. I could not see the bottom, or if there was a bottom.”

  Von wondered how Soren could have survived such a fall.

  Soren’s head was down, then he looked up, meeting the other men’s gazes. “Finally the vyr was still. I tried to keep it underneath me to soften my fall. I awoke on a flat rock overcropping.” He shook his head. “I do not know how long I lay unconscious. It could have been minutes or hours, but I do not think it was longer than a day.”

  “And now you wear the vyr skin as a trophy?” Kaiden asked.

  “Of sorts.” Soren had a wry smile. “I know most young men do not hold to the old ways. If you were my sons I would have had you hunting bears in their dens as soon as you were capable. Which would have been years ago for the both of you.”