Heirs of Vanity- The Complete First Trilogy Box Set

by R J Hanson

  “Whitston, I’ve spoken with your mother,” Roland said. “You and your family will be staying here with us. I’ve offered to buy your land from your mother. It will be available to you to buy back at any time. For the time being I need help here, and you would have your hands full trying to work that much land alone. I need good soldiers to stay here with my wife and coming son while I take this fight to Daeriv. I need you. Will you stay here and help protect them?”

  “I would rather be with you on the battlefield,” Whit replied.

  “I understand,” Roland said. “Whit, your father was a good man and a good soldier. There will be time to avenge him. In the meantime, you need to learn the ways of a soldier. You still have some years, and training, to get under your belt. Learn from the men and dwarves that remain here. I’ll be back in the spring. Can I count on you to do all that you can to protect this house and those in it? Will you be my houseman?”

  Whit took a moment to respond. ‘Houseman.’ The word was not lost on him. This knight, of whom many stories were already being told, asked Whit to defend his home and his family. He had, in a sense, asked Whit to be a member of his family, certainly of his House. Furthermore, this knight, Sir Roland, could teach him to be the warrior he needed to become to see his father’s death paid for in blood.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Very well,” Roland said. “Go to the barn and get yourself outfitted.”

  “Outfitted, sir?”

  “Your armor and weapons,” Roland said. “Listen to the dwarves, Whit. They know steel.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  With that, Whit headed out of the room struggling to keep from sprinting to the barn. Not the giddy trot of a child. The eagerness of one who had a mission and now was being given the means to carry it out. Roland laid out on the bed and sleep came for him again.

  Some hours later Roland awoke to the sound of a puppy barking. He opened his eyes to Kullen standing at his bedside with a bowl of stew and some bread. Roland managed to sit and take the food that was offered.

  “Tell me about this bear,” Roland said.

  Kullen shrugged.

  “Hhhhhhe wwwwas sscared,” Kullen said. “He dddddin’t like them eeeeee…either.”

  “Kullen, the dwarves are going to set Whit up with a shield and a weapon of some sort to begin training,” Roland said. “I think you should be trained too.”

  Kullen downed his head and brushed his toe back and forth across the floor.

  “Don’t you want to learn to fight?” Roland asked.

  Kullen only replied with a slow shake of his head.

  “Why not?” Roland asked.

  “Fffffighting is mean,” Kullen said. “I…ddddd…don’t like bbbbbeing mmmmm…mean.”

  “I understand,” Roland said. “If someone was going to hurt Travelin’ Jack would you want to stop them?”

  Kullen looked up at that with a wounded look on his face.

  “Who wwwwwould hurt him?” Kullen asked. “Wwwww…why would sssssss…someone hhhhhurt him?”

  “Kullen, there are bad people in the world,” Roland said. “Most people are good, but some are very bad. I think you are good. The good people have to be ready and able to stop the bad people. Do you understand that?”

  “I ddddon’t want to hhhhhhurt any…one,” Kullen said.

  “What about the creatures that attacked our home?” Roland asked.

  “Tttthey aren’t rrrr…right,” Kullen said. “Jjjjjjack ssssaid so.”

  “Well, Travelin’ Jack was right about them,” Roland said. “Those things are not right. They are a perversion of what Father Time and Mother Fate intended. But they exist just the same. Animals learn to protect themselves and others of their kind. Men and women must do the same.”

  “I…I llllike Kodii,” Kullen said.

  “Would you rather Kodii train you when he gets back?” Roland asked.

  Kullen nodded his head vigorously.

  “Alright then,” Roland said. “It may be a while before he returns. In the meantime, you’ll help Lady Claire, and the dwarves?”

  Kullen nodded again.

  “Very well,” Roland said. “Help where you can. Maybe Whit and Clowie would like to meet Travelin’ Jack.”

  Kullen smiled at that and skipped out of the room.

  Roland finished his meal and laid back down on the bed. He was worn out. Sleep came for him again, but this time not with its usual aggression.

  Roland was roused from his sleep to the sound of a familiar voice. Roland opened his eyes to see Father Gadriel, the priest that had married him and Lady Clairenese, praying over him and laying his hands on Roland’s wounds. Roland felt the strength of Bolvii flow through him. He felt the ache in his muscles ease and strength returned to his injured knee. Roland laid quiet until Father Gadriel finished. Father Gadriel, now exhausted, fell back into the arms of one of the Prince’s guards that had accompanied him.

  Roland eased himself out of bed and the guard laid the priest down in Roland’s place.

  “Prince Ralston wanted me to confer his appreciation for your actions,” the guard said. “He also wanted me to let you know that he plans to ride out of Skult in two days. He would like for you and Sir Eldryn to accompany him. He plans on a campaign into the northern lands of Lawrec. His estimation is a four-month tour.”

  “I assume you are taking Father Gadriel back to Skult once he has rested,” Roland said.

  “Yes.”

  “When you return, let the Prince know that we will be ready,” Roland said.

  Roland collected his weapons and armor. He took three gold coins out of his pouch and pressed them into Father Gadriel’s hand. He then exited the room as the priest rested on his bed. Roland noticed as he was leaving the room that Tindrakin was no longer in his cot. The other dwarves had been moved somewhere else as well.

  Roland entered the second room of the house and began to dress. Someone, likely Eldryn, had seen to cleaning and oiling his weapons and armor. It felt very good to be strapping on his armor again. Roland slung Swift Blood over his shoulder and his weapons belt around his waist. Claire came into the room with a smile gracing her lips and sadness in her eyes. Roland also noticed the swell underneath her dress that told of the coming child.

  “You know that I have to go,” Roland said.

  “I know,” Claire said.

  “This must be done. Prince Ralston’s forces, although having a good rest, have also been depleted. They will need El and I.”

  “I know, Roland. I understand. I hold nothing against you. I only regret that it has to be this way. When do you leave?”

  “In the morning,” Roland said. “The dwarves, most of them anyway, will remain here. I talked to Harriette and her son. They will stay here with you as well. I’m going to talk to the Prince about having some of his guards sent out here also.”

  “You forget who your wife is,” Lady Clairenese said. “I have taken care of myself for over two hundred years. I think I can survive one winter.”

  “You and I both know that you are a bigger target now than you ever have been before,” Roland said.

  “You shouldn’t tease a pregnant woman about her size,” Claire said playfully.

  “You know what I mean,” Roland said.

  “Yes, I do. Everything will be fine here,” she said. “Do what you need to do so that you may feel comfortable about going, but know that I am fine. I love you.”

  “I love you,” Roland said.

  They kissed briefly and then Roland stepped away toward the door.

  “I’ll see you later tonight,” Roland said. “I have some things to do before I leave in the morning.”

  Claire smiled and gave Roland a ridiculous salute.

  “Yes, sire.”

  Roland smiled and turned. He walked out the door into the sunlight of a crisp fall morning. He saw Tindrakin sitting at the outer edge of the glade in front of the small home. Roland walked out to him thinking to himself what a small thin
g it was to walk. A small thing until you can no longer do it.

  Tindrakin was facing the woods but seemed to be looking at nothing in particular.

  “How are you, Tin?” Roland asked.

  “I have been much better, sire,” Tindrakin said without turning to face him. “I expect that you have come here to tell me to remain behind with the women and children. You don’t need a cripple along with you on this winter campaign.”

  “I came here to tell you no such thing,” Roland said. “Tin, you may feel sorry for yourself if you like, but one of the best warriors I have ever known of only had one eye. He lost it to a fallen champion. He went on to fight for decades as a King’s Knight, a member of the Sheld Fleet, in the wars with Tarborat. The one eye does not bother me, your willingness to quit is my concern.”

  “I am sorry, sire,” Tindrakin replied as he brought his bandaged face around to meet Roland’s. “I just thought that you and Sir Eldryn would not want me along. I have become so much more than I ever thought to. Your friendship has made me a wealthy man. But more than that. I believed in something. I really believed in a future.”

  “Tin, that warrior I spoke of. His name was Sir Ellidik. He was El’s father and my father’s best friend. You’ll not find us leaving you behind just because of a lost eye. Now get your things together. We will be leaving in the morning and be assured it will be a long, dangerous road.”

  “Yes, sire.”

  Tindrakin stood and walked past Roland back toward the barn. Roland could smell the strong drink of the dwarves on Tin’s breath. Roland hoped he had put an end to that need. He walked around behind the small home and found Ungar directing other dwarves in their construction work. They were leveling the foundation for the rest of the house and marking the corners with wooden stakes.

  “Ungar, I want you to know how much you and your soldiers being here means to me,” Roland said.

  “That is our way,” Ungar said. “We stand beside our friends.”

  “Will you be here when I return in the spring?”

  “I will not,” Ungar said. “My crew will be though.”

  “Where must you go?” Roland asked.

  “Well with you, you dolt,” Ungar replied. “I’ll not be missin’ any fightin’. I’m leavin’ behind me a good crew and they’ll do ya a fine job. Battarc ‘ill be in charge of ‘em. He’s sturdy, good with stone, and one of the finest warriors I know. I’ll be marchin’ with you.”

  “This is not your fight,” Roland said.

  “I know that,” Ungar said. “I don’t need a cause, I just need a place.”

  “Very well,” Roland said. “It will be good to have you along. We leave in the morning before sunrise.”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  “Where is Eldryn?” Roland asked.

  “He’ll be awaitin’ us in Skult,” Ungar replied. “He said he had some things to do.”

  Roland wondered at that. It was not like El to take off on his own at a time like this. How could Roland know that a few leagues away Sir Eldryn was in the process of giving Lady Angelese another gift?

  Sir Eldryn was careful not to violate any rules of her existing engagement to Sir Sanderland but Lady Angelese understood more than she let on. The female paladin was beautiful and a dangerous foe in combat, however, she was also an accomplished chess player. A skill she owed to her father’s genes. A skill that developed her abilities to see beyond a person’s initial moves.

  Sir Sanderland had been wooing Angelese for over a decade and finally she had given in. She had heard some soldiers say bad things about Sanderland but he had always been a gentleman when he was around her. She had seen him be kind on several occasions and brave on many more. He was a handsome man and well thought of in the church. He also seemed deeply in love with her, as far as her judgment of love could tell.

  Love was a concept Lady Angelese had a great deal of trouble with. It was true that she had risen to the ranks of some of the greatest paladins of any land but she still doubted her own soul at times. She had been raised by the church after being left on the altar at a Church of Fate. She had always wondered about what sort of parent would abandon a child.

  As she grew older, she found that it took all of her will to control an embedded anger that seemed always with her. The priests of the church helped her to control that anger and her violent urges. They also helped her to channel them. They taught her of the goddess Fate and of her ways. She was taught the ways of the sword by the Templars of the church. She also learned that she didn’t seem to age like the other children around her. Lady Angelese discovered that she was gifted with the prayers taught to her by the church as was she gifted in the arts of combat.

  All of these unique differences caused Angelese to grow up along a very lonely path. Sir Sanderland was the first man to ever threaten her security in solitude but she had such a desire to be loved. That desire had, over time, convinced her that she loved Sanderland in return. After many years of pursuit, Sir Sanderland finally won his goal. However, in her wisdom, Angelese had consented to marriage on the condition that it take place after Lawrec was secured from Daeriv’s forces. After all, she and Sanderland were of the Great Race and in no need of rush or hurry.

  Lady Angelese was flattered by Sir Eldryn’s attention. Eldryn was a very strong young man and seemed to be a good warrior with much potential. However, he was not the first to be drawn to Angelese by her beauty and not the first to offer expensive gifts for the momentary favor of her smile.

  All in all, she received the gifts from Eldryn with graciousness and a genuine thank you. Her smile made the whole venture worthwhile to Sir Eldryn. El had sacrificed his self-control and pride for this simple act and he had found that the prize of Lady Angelese’s smile was worth what his soul had bartered for, and more.

  Chapter VIII

  Marching

  Prince Ralston rode out of Skult flanked by thirty knights of Lawrec, eight knights of Lethanor, five paladins of various faiths, and seven hundred troops. The general soldiers were of small number purposefully. Prince Ralston wanted as many soldiers as possible to remain behind and protect the southern half of Lawrec.

  The seven hundred had been chosen for their endurance and skill. Seven hundred forty-four fighting souls marched out of Skult on that crisp fall morning bound for the nearest river crossing and the territories of Daeriv’s unholy forces.

  Sir Eldryn was mounted on Lance Chaser, and Sir Roland was mounted on a horse newly purchased. Road Pounder had been nowhere to be found. Tindrakin rode next to them wearing a black patch over the place where his eye had been. Ungar rode a mule purchased from a near-by farm.

  Sir Sanderland was among the paladins that would accompany the knights and soldiers of Lawrec. El’ was not happy to see him.

  “Did you ever find my prisoners that escaped you, jailer?” Sanderland asked Roland a bit too loudly. It was clear he wanted many to overhear this inquiry.

  Roland felt his temper rise but fought against it.

  “I did,” Roland said. “I found them, found their equipment, and discovered their purpose. It would seem that a simple jailer should have been sent in the first place over an inept paladin.”

  Now Sanderland’s anger mounted.

  “Be careful,” Roland said seeing the flush of red in Sanderland’s face. “It would be a shame if the elves of the Suethiel had to be consulted on the facts surrounding the capture of those prisoners.”

  Sir Sanderland felt as though ice water had been thrown on his bare nerves. He had been confident that no one would know of what had actually taken place when he’d ‘captured’ Yorketh, Dawn, and the small man he later discovered was the Shanks. He decided then that someday he would have to deal with Roland. However, killing a knight was bold even for a paladin. This would have to be done with finesse.

  In the next few days of riding, camping, and marching, Prince Ralston and his men met little opposition. On the fourth day out from Skult Sir Brutis found and approached S
ir Roland. He carried a large bundle under his arm. Something wrapped in a canvas tarp.

  “I found this in the marketplace,” Brutis said as he handed the package over to Roland. “A farmer had discovered it in his field and thought it would be worth a few coins.”

  Roland pulled the canvas back and discovered his shield, although he still thought of it as Mandergane’s shield, within.

  “I am in your debt,” Roland said, not taking his eyes from the shield.

  “Yes, you are,” Brutis said. “Seventeen gold coins, to be exact.” Brutis, seeing Roland’s confused look, continued. “That’s what I paid the farmer for it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s a fine piece,” Brutis said. “The enchantments make it very valuable, but the fact that it bears your family’s colors must certainly give it a special place in your heart.”

  “I assume the Prince knows as well,” Roland said, not sure where this conversation was about to go.

  “He does,” Brutis said. “Although some of your decisions have given him, and me, pause, your actions have been exemplary. Is your family’s claim to Lawrec what brought you here?”

  “I didn’t even know about it until father told me a few weeks ago,” Roland said in a measured tone. “I don’t presume to have any claim in Lawrec beyond what the Prince sees fit to grant. I am in his service and proud to be so.”

  “Good,” Brutis said. “If your views on that matter should change, do I have your word that you would tell me, or him, before taking any action?”

  “I assure I have no plans to…”

  “You said as much and I believe you,” Brutis said. “However, any man that claims to predict what decision he might make in the future, having no idea how circumstances might change, is either a fool or a liar.”

  “Then you have my word,” Roland said. “If I should decide at any time to assume rule of Lawrec, because of family name or any other reason, I will tell you and whoever holds the lands before I commit any act in furtherance of that goal.”

  Roland was a bit surprised to see Brutis smile at that.

  “You’ve study law as well,” Brutis said. “Very well. I accept your word and there will be no need of discussing the matter further. Unless, of course, something should change. What do you think of Engiyadu?”