Haven Keep (Book 1)

by R. David Bell

  There were no weapons anywhere.

  There was armor everywhere he could see, but no weapons at all. There were racks for swords and spears, maybe even halberds. They all stood empty. Not so much as a knife that he could see.

  “They looked like they left here in a hurry,” Yaris observed, his voice still barely above a whisper.

  Soren nodded agreement. “The rest of the Keep looks to have been cleaned out, but here... It’s as if they abandoned their work midday and never returned.”

  “Maybe they were the last ones to leave, working right up until the end,” Kaiden thought aloud. “Have you noticed there are no weapons?”

  “I have,” Soren said. “They must have had a need for them. Not much need for half finished armor.”

  “Except some of this armor is complete,” Von added. “Much of it is finer work than I have seen even Berkler, Sem or Tyree do.”

  Kaiden could see the admiration in Von’s eyes. He touched a breastplate lightly with his hand. Almost caressed it, a master blacksmith admiring the work of another. Von supposedly knew some of the secrets passed down from the time of the Dragon Lords. Kaiden didn’t think there actually were any well guarded secrets. It wasn’t like there was a guild or anything. What he did know was men from as far off as the Gothen Isle or the southern marshes would pay a hefty price for a sword made by Azmark craftsmen. Von could make those types of weapons. For him to admire this work said much about its quality. He was even more amazed that the pieces shone as brightly as if they had been forged last week. Rust should have cankered it all, but the years touched none of the masterfully crafted work.

  Kaiden watched Von as he wandered through the forge. He ran his fingers across the top of a helm, then paused to admire a shirt of mail. Kaiden noticed Soren and Yaris were doing the same; Soren’s thoughts hidden behind a stoic mask, Yaris’s face filled with open wonder and amazement. Von walked the ancient forge showing little more excitement on his face than Soren, but his eyes betrayed the same wonder that shone on Yaris’s face. Kaiden could feel the same excitement welling in himself. It was all nearly magical.

  Von made his way to the shelves on the far wall and stopped. The shelves were filled with supply stock and little else, but Von appeared more captivated now than when they first entered the forge. Various lengths of square and round steel lined the shelves. Loads of unused stock, billets just waiting for the hand of a master metal smith to forge them into something useful. Von smiled wide as he hefted a lump of rectangular stock. He ran his hands along it almost reverently. He looked more pleased to find that stock than the rest of the treasures in this room.

  Kaiden scanned the room again and still could not see what they had come for. He looked further around the stone arches until his eyes finally caught on a dark chest of some sort at the far end of the forge. It sat on a raised stand. Kaiden’s father had described that chest to him. What they sought was supposed to be inside. Von apparently saw the chest at the same time, and they both nearly ran over to it, stopping just a few steps short. Kaiden caught Von’s eyes and they grinned at each other before bounding forward.

  The chest was large and black as iron, intricately worked, like the wall it stood in front of. It was similar to a carved wooden marriage chest, only nearly three times the size. There were scenes of men battling other men, depictions of fanciful creatures. Kaiden’s breath caught when he saw what couldn’t be anything but the image of a vyr. There were dragons and sea serpents. Men stabbed at the sea serpents from great oar driven ships. On the front of the chest was something Kaiden had not seen for years, but he still recognized it as the emperor’s seal. A double headed winged dragon behind a shield with crossing swords. It was the sign of Von’s family. Now Von’s sign. He was the only one with the right to it.

  Kaiden let his breath out slowly. He looked again to Von. Von motioned with his head for Kaiden to open the chest. Kaiden fumbled with the Key of the North until it was in position. He didn’t know why he felt surprised when the Key slid in perfectly. He gave a sharp twist then heard a small click. Kaiden paused to look around and saw Soren and Yaris had joined them. Von grinned again and helped Kaiden raise the lid. It felt like he was opening a harvest feast gift.

  The inside of the chest was lined with velvet and fine leather. Such a wonderfully crafted chest must hold something extraordinary. The lid continued to open and inside was..., not a sword. Where was the sword? Where was Durendal?

  Despite what his father had told him, Kaiden still hoped the sword would be here, or at least some kind of weapon. There was only two bracers. Armor for a man’s forearms. The chest was much too large to only hold these bracers. They sat neatly in a compartment built just to fit them. There was a space obviously meant for a sword, but it was not there! There was a place for a helmet, a shield, and room for a whole suit of armor if anyone wanted to put one in, but it wasn’t there. Nothing was there. Only those braces. What help were they? Why had his father sent him for these? Kaiden felt for a false bottom or a hidden compartment, anything. There must be something else here.

  “I don’t think there is,” Von said.

  Kaiden looked at him confused until he realized he had been speaking out loud.

  Von knelt down and carefully lifted the bracers from the chest. They were made of finely polished steel, or something very similar. The bracers had the double headed dragon seal, just like the chest. Von peered at them thoughtfully.

  “I guess those belong to you,” Kaiden said. He hoped he did not sound too disappointed. He hoped even more that Von would know what to do with them. Von gave a small nod and slid the braces over his forearms and tightened them down with the leather straps.

  Von put his forearms out in front of him and turned them over, studying the bracers. “They don’t have the feel,” he said softly.

  “What was that?”

  “Nothing,” Von answered.

  He looked puzzled. Probably as puzzled as Kaiden felt.

  “They just don’t feel like anything special.” He sighed in deep thought. “Maybe...”

  “Maybe what?” Kaiden asked. He did not like coming here hoping to find something to help his father and finding only this.

  “I have been thinking. Maybe it isn’t just a weapon the Keeper in the North was supposed to keep safe.” Von sounded like he was thinking aloud.

  “What do you mean?” Kaiden hoped Von had a good answer and wasn’t just speculating. “Do you mean more than one weapon? There aren’t any here.”

  “The Kailfen are blacksmiths. They are said to be the descendants of the Dragon Lords themselves. They were supposed to know the making of weapons like Durendal and a dozen other fabled weapons. Not to mention the armor.” Von gestured to the plate armor and mail around the room. “This chest was obviously built to hold more than just these.” He held his forearms out displaying the bracers. “Durendal was just supposed to be the most powerful weapon the Dragon Lords created. They were said to know the making of much more. What if they still know?”

  “Know what? How to make Magic weapons?” That was absurd. Kaiden had grown up around the master blacksmiths of his clan his whole life and had never seen or heard of anything of the sort. “Von, even if they once had known something like that,” which Kaiden seriously doubted, “the master blacksmiths do not now.”

  Von smiled that wry smile he had worn when he was over by the shelves. “But what if they had this?” He hefted the stock of steel he had taken from the shelf. “What if your father was supposed to keep the making of Durendal a secret? It has been centuries since the first Keeper was named. Who knows if they still remember what it is that they are safe guarding.” He lifted his forearms to show Kaiden the bracers. “Would you know just by visiting here and gazing upon these?”

  “It is no wonder my father did not tell me more of what to expect. He probably didn’t know himself what everything here means.” Kaiden looked around the room again. He certainly did not know. He could not puzzle out what would b
e so important about the bracers.

  “I think your father knows more than you suspect. I think the emperor held at least part of the key to understanding. When your father was named Keeper by my father I am sure he was told more about what his charge meant. Maybe your father expected me to be able to tell you”

  “Do you know?”

  “I have an idea.” Von said as he stood and started studying the wall. The wall was covered with scenes similar to the ones on the chest. Von looked absorbed by them.

  “You can’t just leave it at that. If you have some idea you have to tell me. Tell us.”

  “I think the master blacksmiths of Azmark are capable of making swords to rival even Durendal. I think I know how they could do it.” He turned and faced the other men again. “I think what the Keeper in the North was supposed to safe guard was more than just these.” He gestured with his forearms once more. “I think he was supposed to safeguard knowledge. Only that knowledge is really held by Sem, and by Tyree, and even by Berkler.”

  “But I have seen their work. There is nothing magical about it. I have not seen a single piece come out of any of their forges that seemed charmed at all.”

  “But they didn’t have this!” Von hefted the bar of steel again hardly containing his exhilaration. “An alloy. The making of which has been lost. Most of what is on those shelves is just steel, but there are a few more bars like this.” He was smiling almost triumphantly.

  Kaiden was disbelieving. “Your saying that with that,” Kaiden pointed to the hunk of scrap metal. “Berkler could make a sword that was as charmed as Durendal?”

  Von’s only answer was a nod. He turned to the wall again. “Now there must be a way to get through here.” He felt along the wall with his hands, looking for an opening. “Hand me the Key.”

  Kaiden wondered if Von had taken a head injury in the last couple of days. “Here.” He handed the Key to Von and looked closer at the iron wall. “Do these scenes remind you of anything Von?”

  “The cave at the bottom of the well,” Von answered. “The old paintings.”

  “That’s what I thought too,” Kaiden said.

  Von took the key and slid it into the wall. It fit the same way it had in the chest. A section of the wall swung inward. It was a door. Hidden in the artwork. Von didn’t hesitate when the door opened, he went right through.

  Kaiden wanted to take a better look at the wall, but instead followed Von. Behind the wall was another forge, only smaller. Neater too. There were no tools out of place here. Everything was in order.

  Maybe Von was wrong. Kaiden’s pulse began to race again. Maybe what he was looking for was in here, but there was no black chest. The hope in his heart sank when he realized that, but only for a moment. This room did hold weapons! Maybe not a sword, but there were seven bows on the far wall. Made from fine steel. He nearly ran to them. There were arrows as well. And seven daggers.

  “Von, look at these.” They were exquisite. Masterpieces. All in perfect condition. Time had touched these weapons as much as it had the rest of the keep, which meant not at all.

  “Von?”

  Von was engrossed with the stock on the shelves. He looked almost giddy. “Kaiden! There is more. Enough to forge nearly one hundred.”

  “One hundred what? Look at these!” Kaiden retrieved one of the bows from the wall. It was lightweight and strong. Made by a master. There were bow strings too. After so many years he was sure they wouldn’t be strong enough to hold the recurved bows, but on closer examination he realized they were made of spun steel. He strung the bow and nocked an arrow. It pulled back easily, almost too easily. The bow felt powerful, strong enough to punch through a wooden shield. These were fine weapons, but were they left here for him or someone else to find?

  “We must take some of this alloy back.”

  Kaiden jumped. Von stood just behind him.

  “What do you have there?” Von asked.

  “I’ve been trying to tell you. Look how well they are made.”

  “They’re crafted from the alloy,” Von exclaimed. “Soren take a bow. A dagger too.”

  “I have a bow,” Soren said. The man probably never owned a bow he didn’t make himself.

  “Not like this you don’t”

  Von turned to Yaris. “Well, I said I would trust you.” He handed him a bow and a dagger. Yaris took them from Von almost ceremoniously.

  “We wondered how we were going to get by the vyr.” Von laughed out loud.

  Kaiden wondered again if Von had been hit in the head.

  “With these I think we can.”

  “With some fancy bows?” Kaiden asked skeptically.

  “Not just bows. If they are what I think they are, we will have no problems.”

  “And just what do you think they are?”

  “Have you not been listening. This alloy.” He held the stock in his hand and made a sweeping motion around the room. “This forge. You thought the vyr were only fables. We know they are not. The Dragon Lords are not fables either. Neither are the stories of their weapons. I think your father knows that. He must. I believe that bow in your hand is deadlier than you might think or even dare believe.”

  Kaiden was not convinced, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t true. Part of him hoped it was. Hoped maybe Von was right, after all he was trained as a blacksmith and from what was said back home he was a near master himself. “If you say so Von.”

  “I do say so!” Von gathered the rest of the bows and the daggers.

  Kaiden still wished they would have found a sword. Maybe a spear, a halberd, something. Daggers?

  “There’s a compartment on this wall,” Yaris announced. He was fumbling with something on the reverse side of the metal wall.

  Kaiden rushed to his side, again hoping to discover something better than a dagger. Yaris opened a small door. Too small to hold anything that Kaiden was hoping to find.

  “A book?” Kaiden asked.

  “I believe so,” Yaris answered. “Something important I would guess.” He carefully retrieved the leather bound volume and gently handed it to Kaiden.

  Kaiden flipped through the pages, trying to find anything useful. He couldn’t decipher the ancient markings.

  “I think it is written with cleric runes,” Kaiden guessed. It was filled with pictures, but even those didn’t make any sense. “This page appears to be instructions on how to shoe a horse. I can’t tell without being able to translate the margins.” He rubbed his forehead, trying to clear his mind. “Maybe you can make some sense of it,” he said and handed the tome to Von.

  Von took hold of the book as if it was a winter festival gift, and began thumbing through the pages.

  “We’re taking this with us. I bet Corren or Wellen could read it, maybe even teach me how.”

  “Maybe,” Kaiden said, trying to sound enthusiastic. He slumped down to the floor, his back against the wall and watched the others continue to explore the room.

  “Hey, look at this,” Von declared with excitement. Kaiden grunted with the effort of standing and walked over to Von. His friend stood on an iron trap door.

  “I think we need the Key to open this,” Von said.

  “I gave it too you,” Kaiden said looking around the room for it. He wished Von would control his excitement and calm down a bit, take more time to assess the situation, not run around from corner to corner like a spooked jack rabbit.

  “I left it in the door.”

  “Here it is,” Yaris said. He handed Von the oblong rod.

  The Key worked perfectly. Von grunted with effort, trying to open the door. Kaiden and Yaris grabbed hold of the handle. It wouldn’t budge. They pulled hard, combining their efforts.. An air seal released. The door flew open. An updraft of noxious odor and gas blasted through the opening. The release of heat and humidity caught Kaiden full in the face. He shrank back, choking and gagging, sweating from the sudden increase in temperature. Von and Yaris recoiled, sweat immediately beading across their foreheads. Soren
hung back covering his mouth and nose with his hand. Isk and Jen coughed and snorted, shying away from the square hole in the floor.

  Steam rose swiftly up and out the trap door. Kaiden took a few steps back then looked closer at the hole. There was a ladder leading down. The ventilation that ensured fresh air circulated throughout the keep did not reach down that hole. It smelled of burning sulphur and maybe something worse.

  “Do we dare go down?” Yaris asked. He sounded a little nervous.

  “I don’t see why not,” Von answered. He shrugged and started down the ladder.

  Yaris followed close behind his new master. Kaiden hadn’t heard any screaming so assumed they must be okay. He sighed and started down after Yaris.

  The ladder led to a cavern of enormous proportions. It reminded Kaiden of the vyr’s lair. The keep was safe, but was it still safe down here? An orange light beaconed from around the bend, burning and glowing from the hidden corners. Von headed further in to investigate, with Yaris trailing close behind. Kaiden shook his head, Von had thrown all caution to the wind.

  The cavern was uncomfortably hot. Kaiden loosened his cloak and undid his shirt. He mopped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, then hurried after Von.

  Kaiden caught up quickly. Von and Yaris had stopped just around the bend. They stared at a small lake of molten rock. The lava bubbled and spewed smoke and gas. Kaiden could see a trail leading around it, see that the cavern continued much further. Who knew how much further? Maybe as far as the Rift.