Haven Keep (Book 1)

by R. David Bell

  Three quick deep breaths and he was up and running, grappling hook swinging wildly in his hand. He threw the hook in desperation. The grapple hit and he yanked with all his might. It caught on something. No time to check if it would hold his weight. He leaped onto the wall and used the rope to climb, faster than he thought possible. He raced up the wall, ignoring the cuts and abrasions on his hands. Two arrows struck the wall next to his face. Panicking, he climbed even faster.

  * * *

  Flenn watched the well from the trees. Dell should be coming out any time. He needed Dell to be successful, needed Dell for his plan to work. He anxiously watched the well, then saw something he did not like. Four men on horses making a show of patrolling the field in front of Azmark. Probably trying to give a flaunting reminder to Baiden they were still there. The men were too close to the well. Hopefully Dell would see them and wait before coming out.

  Hoping didn’t count for much. He finally saw Dell flop over the top of the well. The men on horseback saw him too. They reeled around and galloped toward the well. Someone on the wall had seen too and started shouting. Dell jumped behind the well and out of sight. Why the Halfen horsemen fired, Flenn had no idea. They had to know they would miss. Their arrows sailed harmlessly over the well.

  Dell jumped up, running for his life, grappling hook in hand. The Halfen gave chase, but decided better of it when they realized men were gathering on the walls of Azmark. Flenn looked back to Dell. He was halfway up the wall climbing for his life. The Halfen continued to shoot, then a volley of arrows came from Azmark. Two Halfen fell from their horses and Flenn was sure at least one more was hit. The two still on horseback turned and galloped away, leaving their companions to their fate. Flenn shook his head. He didn’t know why he expected anything else from the Halfen. With help those men might live. Fending for themselves, they had little chance.

  Dell scrambled over the top of the wall to safety. Now Flenn just needed to wait for morning. If the Halfen did what he thought they would, did what they had earlier this day, his plan just might work.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Von discarded his cloak and tossed it onto the rear of the bench. Sweat rolled down his brow as he ran through the snow pushing the sled. They took turns pushing and riding and were making good time. Practically falling off the mountain put them days ahead of schedule, but now they were somewhere he had never been. Soren seemed to know where they were and, following his lead, they set off heading nearly due west.

  They were traveling faster than they would have with horses. Each man took his turn running behind the work sled, pushing for all he was worth. It didn’t take long to tire when you were sprinting through snow as fast as you could go, but Von still had some steam left in him. He could go for a little while longer. Even when he slowed a little the others let him keep going until he said he needed rest. All of them had taken more than one turn already and were grateful for the break. Von knew he was when his chance came. Whenever Soren took his turn it more than made up for any lost time or slower pace. He ran like the wind and his endurance was amazing. Von wondered what the man was like in his younger years. He had probably always been as tough as gnarled roots.

  Von wondered about the vyr skin Soren wore. How did it get its powers? How did Soren harness them? Von remembered hearing Soren speak of his bearskin before he traded up for the vyr hide. Soren supposedly killed the bear in its own lair. Von didn’t know what to think about that at the time, but now he believed it for the truth. That was part of the power, killing the bear in its own lair. Soren had done the same with the vyr, but, just as forging his sword was not that simple, there must have been more to Soren’s powers.

  Von’s legs burned, but he pushed even harder. Azmark was two days away, maybe closer. The harder they pushed the faster they would get there. Von stumbled in the snow, but his hands on the sled kept him upright. The work sled still amazed him. It was impossibly light when you pushed it, yet for some reason if you tried to lift it off the ground the same effect did not apply.

  The dragon lord’s must have known a great deal about magic, especially when it came to working with metals, particularly the strange alloy he and his friends had stumbled across in the cave. The possible applications were numberless. He wished he knew more than the art of weapon making. The answers must be at Haven Keep. He wished he could have stayed longer, learned more. At least now he had more of the mysterious alloy, and the ancient book. Corren should be able to help him make sense of the strange runes. He had so many questions he wanted answered. Then there was Brimstone. What answers lay in that direction?

  Smoke rose above the trees in the distance. The closer they came to it the more it smelled like a cook fire. There were settlements and villages by the score in this area. Von wondered if they knew the danger they were in. He should probably warn them. Better yet, solicit help. These would be members of the Kailfen clan. It was their duty to come to the defense of their chief. With that in mind Von turned the sled slightly to the north and headed toward the smoke.

  “Where are you going?” Kaiden asked.

  “To warn these people of the Halfen,” he managed to say through panting breaths. “Maybe recruit some help.”

  They exited the trees into a large clearing, a farmer’s field really, with small houses at the other end. A couple large barns stood off in the same direction. One in particular looked like the roof was going to fall in and all the walls collapse. Chickens wandered around a small coop and four or five cows grazed on what was left of the autumn grass still poking through the snow. A couple hounds barked at the strange sight of men and dogs in a sled.

  Everything that was going to be harvested from the fields already had been, so Von was not bothered by the thought he might be trampling crops as he pushed the sled through the fields. An old white haired man wrapped in furs came out of one of the houses. His beard was as white and as long as his hair. Von finally stopped when the sled came up to the porch.

  “A strange way to travel,” the old man said.

  “It serves us well enough,” Kaiden told the man.

  Von was more than happy to let Kaiden do the talking while he caught his breath. Von bent over, rested his hands on his knees, and waived at Kaiden, motioning him to keep talking.

  Kaiden smiled to himself and went on. “Are there any more men around?”

  “Why do you ask?” The old man’s dark eyes narrowed as if he was wondering what they were up to.

  “The Halfen are invading, we need every able bodied man.”

  Well he certainly got to the point Von thought.

  The man’s face darkened and he muttered under his breath. Von thought it was, “Ever treacherous,” or something very close.

  “There is just me and my two grandsons,” the man spoke louder this time. “I’ll get our swords.”

  The man emerged with his grandsons. He carried a shield, there was a sword at his hip and a bow across his back. His grandsons carried the same weapons and wore helmets too. The older one resembled his grandfather only with darker hair and more meat on his bones. The other was more of a boy than a man. He possessed the same dark hair minus the beard and was much shorter. He only appeared about fifteen winters, but he carried himself with confidence.

  “We only have two horses,” the old man said. “So my old bones will have to ride in your...” he gestured at the work sled. “In whatever that thing is.” He climbed up into the sled and made himself comfortable.

  Von exchanged an amused look with Kaiden.

  “I am Jak,” he said, “and by the look of you, you must be Kaiden. You look just like your father. I won’t ask you what happened to your horses.”

  “You wouldn’t believe us if we told you,” Soren laughed.

  Von felt some excitement. Jak was willing to drop everything at only the hint of an invasion. If this man was so willing to fight the other farmers should be too. Not to mention the villages between here and Azmark. Maybe they could gather enough men in to m
ake a significant difference.

  Jak snapped at his two grandsons. “Don’t just stand there, get your horses.” He shook his head. “They are good boys really. Their ma was my daughter. She and her husband died a few years back. I raised them. Even built them each a house if they ever find a girl willing to marry them. I can’t take care of them forever you know.” He stopped and looked around. “Well you know who I am. The boys are Jick and Nim. Nim’s the younger one. I know who Kaiden is, who might the rest of you be?”

  Von couldn’t help laughing. Before he could introduce himself Kaiden started talking again.

  “This is Soren, Yaris and Von.” He pointed to each of them in turn. “We come from Haven Keep and we race to Azmark in the hope of reaching there before the Halfen army does.”

  “Haven Keep you say? Well if you want to gather more men in, there is the village of Sonder just a mile or two that way.” He pointed in a general west direction.

  “Good,” Kaiden said. “That’s the way we are headed.”

  “There are a few farms between here and there,” Jak offered.

  That was the way it started. The farms were larger and more frequent as they approached Sonder. Each farm they stopped at more men joined them. Most were big burly men all carrying swords or axes. Some had mismatched armor and others appeared like lords in shining mail and breastplates. Most carried shields too. Some of the women fussed a bit, but not too many. They knew what was at stake just as well as the men did. At one farm they even picked up a couple of horses for the sled. By the time they reached Sonder they had over forty men with them. The farmers were eager to fight for their land. At Sonder it was a different story.

  Sonder resembled a walled town more than a village. Most settlements closer to the mountains did have walls to keep the wild animals out at night. Sonder must have figured if they were going to build a wall, they might as well do it right. The large wooden walls stood on a stone foundation and possessed battlements, palisades, and massive gates. These walls were built to keep out an army, not wild animals. Sonder even had a lookout tower. Von had no idea why they needed that. Of course they had never been invaded before, maybe this wall would prove useful in the coming weeks. Who knew what direction the Halfen army would turn?

  The welcome they received at Sonder was not a welcome at all. The strange party led by the sled approached the walls of the town and the villagers began closing the gates.

  Strange behavior, Von thought.

  When the sled reached the gates a man called down from the tower to them. “We don’t want any trouble!”

  Kaiden exchanged a puzzled look with Von. “We don’t bring trouble!” Kaiden called to the man. “We bring word of a Halfen invasion. I am Kaiden son of Baiden. We require your help. The help of your men in repelling the treasonous Halfen.”

  “We know of the invasion,” the man said. “We want no part of it.”

  “How could you know?” Kaiden yelled.

  “The Halfen sent messengers last night. A warning. They are too strong. They will crush you. They said if we stand aside we will not be harmed.”

  Von was furious. How could these men be such cowards? Men like this would enable the Halfen to gain victory. Rage boiled inside him. He tried not to let his desire for vengeance against the Horde consume him. He knew it was not the correct path, but now it was coming to the surface and a new anger accompanied it.

  “What has Ky promised you?” he shouted.

  “Just safety.” It was another man’s voice, more calm. “We wish you success, but you must understand we can’t help you. We cannot risk our families. If we help and the Halfen find out, they will come and destroy our town.”

  Von stood on the bench of the sled. “You do not know me, but you will learn who I am.” His voice was icy, much like he felt. “Choose your fate now!” he warned. “Fight with us and you have some hope.” He had every intention of carrying out his ultimatum. “Remain within these walls and when I return I will lay waste to everything you hold dear!” With the furry he felt inside himself, Von did not know how he was able to stay so composed on the outside. “Shirk now your duty to your lord Baiden and to this land and I will return and call due your debt.”

  “I’m sorry,” the second voice called. “Please go away.”

  Von was aware of Kaiden’s eyes on him. Other eyes were on him too. Most looked at him in disbelief. They had no idea who he was, but Kaiden did. Von would not listen to Kaiden tell him these people had a right to stay inside their walls where they thought they would be safe.

  “Be careful,” Kaiden put a hand on Von’s arm. Von flinched away. “Do not let your anger rule you.”

  “I won’t,” Von snarled. He tried to make his voice sound calmer, “but I will not let treason go unpunished.”

  Soren stepped forward too. “Kaiden is right, my young friend. Let us worry about the Halfen. Baiden can deal with sedition in his own realm.”

  Von just stood there. He did not know if they wanted a response. He was not going to agree with them. He had seen one home destroyed by war already. He would not let his new home die the same way. He certainly would not allow the people of Sonder to go unpunished. “We have wasted enough time here,” he said coldly. “Let’s go.”

  They began to leave and the gates of Sonder opened wide enough for a horse and rider to pass through. Six men on horseback exited the gate in single file. They were garbed the same way the other men that joined them were. Their weapons and armor were much the same too. They rode up to Kaiden. One of them eyed Von warily then spoke to Kaiden.

  “We will fight for our land.”

  Kaiden nodded.

  “Do you have families?” Von asked.

  “Yes,” the man said. He seemed a little taken back. He turned to Kaiden again. “I am Burt and these are Lanen, Gabris, Teran, Kris, and Serden.” Each man nodded in turn. “We will follow you wherever you lead.”

  Von would need to remember the names of these men. He would show mercy to them and their families. “Let’s go,” he said again.

  The next farms were more reluctant to join. About half refused for the same reason as the men of Sonder did. There was no time to deal with them now. It was a problem for another time. Still their numbers more than doubled. Von knew he should be happy with their numbers, but he couldn’t shake the memory of Sonder. Why were they such cowards? Why did they refuse to fight for their freedom? More importantly, how could they bring themselves to betray Baiden?

  Late in the afternoon they arrived at a town twice the size of Sonder. The town of Pontry. Von remembered coming here years ago with Baiden and Kaiden, though not the reason for the trip. It was a little over a day’s ride from Azmark, if you rode fast. The walls were taller and thicker than those of Sonder, almost the size of the walls of Azmark. When they rode up to the gates they were already locked up tight. Von thought they must have just closed the gates early. Surely these men would not respond the way the men of Sonder did.

  Kaiden called up to the gatekeeper. “Ho! Gatekeeper! We bring dire news.”

  A sarcastic voice yelled back. “Not as dire as we have for you. The Halfen have laid siege to your home and have promised to raze it to the ground. You better hurry if you want to die with them.”

  Von could take it no more. “This is treason!” He drew his sword. “I will give you worse than the Halfen have threatened!”

  A roar of laughter came from within the walls. Von could not tell how many voices there were, but most of them yelled insults or something obscene.

  One voice rose above the rest. “Oh we were told of you little man. The young lordling with nothing left to rule.” The laughter began again. “The Halfen have not threatened, they have promised gold and when Baiden is gone we will rule under Ky. It is better to live safe within these walls than to die with you fools on the fields of Azmark. Go away before we send out our men to spank you.” More laughter erupted from within.

  “Send them and you will see who does what to whom.”
Von felt a gentle hand on his sword arm. It was Kaiden.

  “We do not have time for this.”

  Von turned to him. “You are right. We must reach Azmark.”

  They left Pontry faster than they left Sonder. This time no one came out to join them. There would be no mercy for Pontry.

  They rode hard. If the siege was already begun they may be too late. Azmark had to stand. It had to.

  Darkness soon replaced twilight and the traveling became much slower. Von listened for the wind, but none came. Surely the vyr were left behind in the mountains. Still, he watched the shadows just in case. He noticed Kaiden and Yaris doing the same. Soren only watched the forest ahead. Von was glad Soren was with them. He would warn them if the vyr were out there. Somehow he’d known before.

  About half the men from the farms they passed joined them. Some men ranged further out, gathering in farmers and homesteaders that were not along their direct path. In that way their numbers tripled from what they possessed at the gates of Pontry. Nearly three hundred men. If the men from Sonder and Pontry had joined them, they would have over six hundred. No matter, they would fight with what they had. It would be enough. Somehow.

  It was a peculiar procession that wound through the forest. Three hundred men with mismatched horses and armor, following a silvery sleigh by moonlight, riding as swiftly as they could to reach Azmark. The men wore grim faces. They knew some of their number would not return, yet they marched onward anyway. Determination shone in their eyes. Von wondered what his own eyes gave away.

  They would be weary when they reached Azmark, but it was worth it if they could arrive in time to help. Baiden needed all the men he could muster to fight against the overwhelming numbers the Halfen were said to possess.