Haven Keep (Book 1)

by R. David Bell

  Flenn glanced up to the low rolling hills and was heartened to see Tostig finally approaching, probably to inform him they had caught another Halfen scout or some similar news. No, not similar news. Tostig was riding fast and did not slow as he came closer. He rode right up to Flenn before stopping.

  “Flenn.” He was nearly breathless, he must have ridden hard. “The Halfen have reached Azmark. They are at the walls.”

  No. Flenn had hoped to reach home before the Halfen. “Does Azmark still stand?”

  “Yes, they are not pressing the walls too hard. I think they are meant to pin Baiden inside until the main force arrives.”

  “We have less time than I thought.” Flenn did not know if they were too late already. “Berkler pass the word that those who do not have horses will have to catch up as they can. We ride now!”

  “This may work to our advantage,” Oded said.

  How could he sound so calm?

  “We can catch them from behind while they are occupied with the siege,” Oded explained.

  “Yes, but we must go now.”

  “Think first, my young friend. You are gathering men as you go. If you charge off now you will gain no more and you will lose those who do not ride. We can still travel swiftly without leaving the footmen behind. When we arrive at Azmark we will have over five hundred men with us. That is better than two hundred, with another two hundred trailing behind, leaderless and too small in numbers to be more than a nuisance to the Halfen. We cannot afford to divide the forces we do have.”

  Flenn knew Oded was right. He needed to think rationally. “Alright, but as fast as the men on foot can march. We can send horses to gather in as many more men as we can, but we can’t wait for them to give word to everyone. Baiden needs us now.”

  Oded nodded. Apparently that was good enough for him. That was the way of it for the next few miles. Flenn wanted to ride faster, but Oded kept him in reign. Tostig proved again how resourceful he was, returning to his original recruiting mission while still managing to scout ahead. Even while traveling at the faster speed, the recruiting continued to increase. Maybe it was the news Azmark was already under siege. However Tostig did it, the men came in droves.

  The new comers joined the march with a grim determination, falling in with their countrymen, often greeting each other like long lost brothers, though Flenn doubted all of them had met before today. Many did know each other, a good number were related in some way a few generations back. Distant cousins who might not have seen each other in years. If they hadn’t met before, they at least knew of one another. These men were not only countrymen, they were family, and would fight as family. They would fight for their lord and for their land.

  Flenn was glad he’d listened to Oded. He hoped to gather five hundred men before reaching Azmark. Over five hundred followed him already, with more flocking in. Those who came on foot ran along side the horses. They knew what was at stake, and had come to fight.

  Dell rode next to Flenn. The smile Dell wore just a few days before was gone. Today he saw real fighting, fighting in which men died. He was not excited for the prospect of another fight, and Flenn could see he was anxious. Anxious to reach Azmark. Anxious to break the siege and save those inside.

  Timm and Wendle trailed just behind Dell. They looked anxious too, most the young men did, but they rode with determination and conviction. Maybe Flenn was wrong to think they were too young. They could fight. They were old enough for that, more than proving their worth earlier today.

  The forest opened up, the road widened, and farms became more common and closer together. Most were empty and recruiting slowed down as less and less men joined. Tostig and the others gave up on recruiting, and Tostig took to riding near Flenn and Oded, taking reports from the other scouts. The Halfen remained outside the walls, and the scouts reported only a few skirmishes between Ky’s army and defenders of Azmark. It seemed Tostig was right. The Halfen meant to pin Baiden inside and prevent reinforcements from joining him until the main force arrived.

  A scout rode hard across the farmland. He slowed as he approached and reined in beside Tostig. He was a dangerous looking man whose name Flenn did not know.

  “There is a group of about fifty men approaching,” he announced. “I do not think they are with the Halfen.”

  “Any idea who they are?” Flenn asked.

  “I think they mean to join us,” the man answered.

  Finally, good news. Flenn wondered where the men from the farms were. Baiden didn’t have time to gather them all in. Flenn supposed he had his answer.

  They rode for another mile and a rider appeared at the top of small hill to the east. He hesitated only moments, then started toward Flenn. Flenn broke off to meet him.

  The man looked familiar, about ten winters older than Flenn. His beard was slightly darker than his braided yellow hair. He sat without a saddle on a shaggy mare better suited for pulling a plow than riding into battle. His armor easily fit in with the men in Flenn’s small army. He raised a hand in greeting and spoke. Flenn finally recognized him. It was Kole, from one of the outlying farms northeast of Azmark. He rarely came into town, and when he did Flenn usually had no business with him. Still, it was a familiar face and one Flenn trusted.

  “Flenn,” Kole said, “it is good to see you.”

  “You as well, Kole.” Flenn extended his hand and Kole took it. “Are there others with you?”

  “Yes, there are about one hundred fifty of us. We did not want to alarm you by riding up at once.”

  “One hundred fifty? I was told there was only fifty.”

  “We are not all together. We have tried to raid the Halfen camps at night. Smaller groups make it easier remain undetected and disappear into the forest.”

  Flenn smiled. This was the best news he’d heard since leaving Azmark. He wanted to believe there would be resistance, was sure there would be, but dared not hope too far.

  “Come with me,” he told Kole. Flenn turned his horse and galloped back to Tostig.

  Introductions were quickly made, with short nods of acknowledgment on both sides.

  Flenn formulated a plan. “Tostig, take your men and fifty of mine and join them to Kole’s.” He dismounted and started drawing in the snow and mud. A crude map of Azmark. “The scouts report the Halfen are here.” He made marks indicating the Halfen position. “Take your men and position them in the copse of trees here.” Flenn looked to Kole questioningly.

  “I know the spot,” Kole acknowledged.

  “Good.” Flenn went on with his plan.

  Tostig began nodding agreement as the details came together. Kole wore an open grin.

  Oded’s expression showed nothing, but he spoke his approval. “That should work well. You will make a fine general yet. Now we need a way to get a message to Baiden and ensure he will sally forth if the Halfen turn on us faster than we want.”

  “I can do that,” Dell piped up. He sounded too eager, as if he didn’t understand the risk, as if this was still a game.

  “It’s too risky, Dell.” Flenn did not want to be responsible for Dell being captured or worse. “There is no way you can sneak by the Halfen army without being seen.”

  “What about the old well? The one that connects to the cave near the sea?”

  “The West Well? It doesn’t come out into Azmark.”

  “No, but it comes out near enough to the walls that I can get in from there without being seen. Even if I am, the Halfen will notice too late to do anything about it.”

  Flenn did not like it, but it was their best chance and he had to admit it would probably work. A message to Baiden would also give his plan a greater chance for success. He could count on Baiden’s help instead of just hoping for it.

  “Okay,” he agreed a little reluctantly, “but we move now. I want to reach Azmark before nightfall. Dell you’ll have to ride fast if you are to beat us there.”

  * * *

  Dell stood at the mouth of the cave. Waves splashed up to the
opening, hidden in the rocks and crags along the shores of the Emerald Fjord. How many times had he been down here, playing at having adventures with his friends? This was not playing anymore. He left his horse in the trees above. The rest of the way would be on foot, or crawling. Torch in hand he entered the cave. He always felt excitement at the prospect of adventure this cave brought. Now he was nervous, even a little scared. Not that he would admit it. The fate of Azmark now depended on him doing his part. He sometimes fantasized about the fate of kingdoms being in his hands, being a warrior, winning the day. Now it was real. He wasn’t enjoying it as much as he thought he would.

  The cave was damp and cold. Dell hadn’t been down here since he’d found that box of rusty forge tools with Reece and Von. At least he got a dagger out of that fiasco. His hand went to his waist where that dagger was now belted. It was an exquisite piece. Von had really outdone himself. Who knew, maybe that dagger would prove useful in the coming days.

  The cave felt emptier than ever before, almost lonely. It was probably his imagination, maybe his anxiousness for the coming battle, but he thought he could feel eyes in the darkness, watching him. The feeling reminded Dell of the tales claiming this cave was haunted. Many claimed the white clad girl had something to do with the spring going dry. Dell wasn’t sure he believed it. The well had been dry for years before he ever came to the Kailfen clan, and no one had claimed to have seen the maiden in all that time, but the story persisted.

  He scampered over moss and slime covered rocks, making his way further into the cave. The sunlight faded behind him leaving him alone with the torch light. Shadows flickered and danced across the cave walls. To the left was the passage he and his friends found the rusty forge tools in, but his task today took him another direction. He followed the narrow opening to the left which opened to a wider passage, one large enough he could easily navigate. Up ahead was an alcove he and his friends often played in during the years of their youth. Truthfully, it wasn’t that long ago, maybe just over a year. Had it only been a few short weeks since he was here with Reece and Von?

  The alcove was large enough for the young friends to have mock sword fights and battles. They even spent the night here a few times, but what really brought them here were the paintings. Dell couldn’t help pausing to look at them once more. Scenes of battles and terrible monsters, ships and sea serpents, enough to get a young boy’s fancies going. No one really knew who had painted them any more than the reason the spring had dried up. The paintings were old though, that much was obvious. Why they were painted was just as much a mystery as who had painted them.

  Dell knew he needed to be going, but one scene caught his eye as it had so many times before. A group of armored men, charging on horseback. Towards what he did not know. Behind them was a great dragon, at least that’s what Dell and his friends thought it was. Time faded many of the pictures into a blur. Dell remembered having more than one heated argument concerning the dragon, wether it was chasing the men on horseback or joining their charge. Dell liked to believe the dragon was following the seven armored men into battle. Most of his friends thought he was crazy.

  He left the paintings behind wondering who had painted those scenes. Who was it supposed to depict? Maybe the Dragon Lords. He liked to believe that. Dragons supposedly followed them, like pets or war beasts. That’s what some stories claimed. Others painted an entirely different picture. Either way, he was not here to find an answer. It was a question for another day. Right now there was a well to climb, and after that a city wall to scale. He needed to figure a way to do it without breaking his neck or getting himself pincushioned with arrows.

  The well was only a few hundred spans further, but the cave did not end at the well. Once he and Wendle tried to find out how far back it went. They finally gave up and turned back. He was sure Kaiden and Von had once gone even further. He smiled, remembering the incident. They returned well after dark and Baiden was not pleased, especially since no one had known where they were.

  After that, Kaiden and Von tried to convince everyone the cave connected to the Rift. Most of the adults just chuckled at them, but Dell had some ideas of his own. He always wanted to spend a couple of days exploring the cave, but never got the chance.

  He squeezed through a narrow passage and pulled himself over a pile of rocks. There was a light ahead, shining down from the ceiling of the cave. The well. The opening was at least twenty spans up, the light never really penetrated the gloom below, nor reached the rocky floor, which Dell imagined was once a pool of water.

  He’d climbed up this well on a number of occasions, the first was on a dare. That time he scared himself half to death thinking he was going to fall. Each subsequent time it was easier, becoming a kind of game. They would egg each other on, trying to see who could climb it the fastest. Dell even won a couple of times. This time he was not worried about speed.

  “Just get up there safely,” he told himself. There was no one here to help if he were to fall.

  Dell climbed onto the rough stones at the bottom of the well. That’s strange, they’re wet. He’d never seen them wet before. He looked around and saw a small amount of water trickling through the cave. Except for the opening near the sea or at high tide, this cave was always dry. The rocks were covered with a gray green dust that was probably the remnants of moss. These walls would turn slick if they ever got wet again. Maybe they soon would be.

  He made sure his rope and grappling hook were securely tied to his waist, then let out a deep breath and readied himself for the climb. He stretched his hands and legs out, braced himself between the walls, and began to shimmy up the sides.

  Dell moved slowly and deliberately. The rough walls scraped his hands as he climbed. Every few spans he stopped to rest and get his bearings, wedging himself between the opposite walls. He was halfway there. His muscles began to ache, tire with the strain. He stopped again and looked down. That fall could kill him, or at least break a bone or two. No time to think about that. He needed to keep going.

  The light began to brighten, telling him he was nearing his goal. He inched toward the warm sunlight, feeling cautiously for secure hand and foot holds. He neared the top of his climb and stretched out his hand for the opening, carefully. He didn’t want to be seen putting a limb or his head above the top of the well. He stretched a little further, his hand found the rim of the well. Just a little further now. He reached up with his other hand. Almost there. His fingers missed. His footing gave way. His body slammed against the rock wall, the impact nearly sending him crashing to the rough rocks below. He dangled from the top with one hand, desperately clinging for his life. He tried to pull himself up. There was too much weight on his fingers. He was slipping. No one would find him for days, if then. Baiden would not get the message. No, he couldn’t give up. Not now.

  He split his legs apart trying to reach the sides. His feet passed through empty air. His hand was still slipping. He was going to die. He thought there might still be a chance. With one desperate effort he could make it. If it failed he would fall. He placed his feet firmly against the stone wall and pushed off with all he had left, keeping his hand in place, clinging to life as best he could. It was a blind leap into darkness, only he knew what his feet would find, what they should find. Both feet hit the opposite side at the same time, a little sooner than he expected. The jolt almost tore his hand free, but somehow he was able to hold on. He pushed hard with his legs and his feet stayed firm without slipping. He had wedged himself inside the well, feet on one side and hands on the other, facing downwards. The grappling hook dangled below him, swinging like a pendulum. The bottom of the well disappeared into blackness. He closed his eyes, sighing with relief. At least he had both hands on the walls again.

  He remained there, motionless for a while, watching the grappling hook swing back and forth. He took a few deep breaths, tried to regain his composure.

  What was that?

  At the bottom of the well, a faint white light glowed in the
darkness. Dell strained his eyes trying to make out what it was. Someone was down there watching him, bathed in the light, illuminated by the soft white glow. A young maiden? Impossible! It was her.

  He inched his way up in a panic, scrambled to get out, not caring if he was seen. He threw an arm over the rim of the well and let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He clambered over the top and let himself fall to the ground on the outside of the well. The walls of Azmark were in front of him.

  “I made it,” he told himself.

  He sat on the muddy ground for a few minutes, back pressed against the well, glad to still be alive, wondering if he really saw anything at all. He tried to regain his composure, sitting still in one place, until he heard shouting.

  Dell peered around the stone well wall and saw four men on horseback riding at him fast. They didn’t look friendly. They stopped about fifty spans from the walls of Azmark, raised their bows and aimed at him.

  Dell took cover behind the well, unwrapped the rope and grappling hook from his body. Arrows whizzed over his head, easily missing him, but still closer than he felt comfortable with.

  He took a deep breath and readied himself to move, but his legs stayed where they were. He let the air out, closed his eyes, and breathed deeply. You can do this.