by Thomas Adams
The only activities not curtailed were patrols and regular runs up to Fortress Cinder for messengers, supplies and troops. It would take days of back breaking work to make the underground halls habitable again. They had not been cleaned out or used in over fifty years. There were large quantities of supplies, provisions and armaments to sort out from the wagon trains arriving every sennight from Kimera and other western cities. The massive stores of weapons and armor in the underground halls would also have to be inspected, cleaned and made ready for issue to the levies.
Master Smith Birger requested all apprentice smiths work with him for the next sennight and Master Ivar agreed. So, for the next seven days Brandt would be sweating it out in the forges repairing weapons and armor. He was glad to be in the forge and not stuck underground in those gloomy damp halls. Going back down there only reminded him of a certain lovely dark haired girl and a very passionate kiss. He didn’t need or have time for that distraction now.
Brandt stood outside one of the portable weapons forges by the main armory he was assigned to and looked at the mountains to the east. There was something different about the cool brisk wind blowing down from the White Mountains now. The smell of war was on the wind and in everyone’s’ minds. A new urgency and motivation was building throughout every single man and woman in Fortress Reave. Previously it was not uncommon to see Jarl Gustave Greyvale in the Low Fort training his personal war band once or twice a sennight. But now, they trained daily and the jarl’s band was three times larger than normal. Commander Hemming, the jarl and the Hall Masters were frequently seen inspecting the Fortress or holding lengthy strategy and planning meetings.
After a fortnight of back breaking work, a resumption of training schedules and more interaction and training with the royal troops was announced. Kriger war bands were being formed and exercised in the Mid-Forts, unskilled or low skilled levies were outfitted and moved into the valley below to start their refresher drills and training. By late summer War Commander Hemming was running large scale maneuvers and war games all over the hills and valley around Tanic and Reave. The older student bands at Reave Hall were sent out to join in on many of the training events. As a result of the increased operational and training requirements no summer leaves were granted to the students.
The summer went by in a frenzy of activity and preparation. And, as the summer came to a close, just as the area farmers were beginning to focus on the harvest in the fields spread out below Fortress Reave, word arrived that some of the Erhand Legions were breaking camp and moving north towards Cinder. As the summer ran out towards fall, everyone was ready for a short break.
Out of the blue one day all the krigers and students were directed to return to Reave Hall. Once they arrived Master Ivar announced there would be a day of feasting for the krigers and students of the Hall. They would celebrate the approaching end of summer and the Reave Hall Gathering. This would be everyone’s first Gathering feast. There had not been a Gathering called in over a hundred years. Everyone in Red Band was very excited. The feast was planned for the following day and would last from noon until late evening. There would even be ale and wine available.
State visits, ceremonies and feasts were rare at Reave Hall. Most holidays were subdued affairs carried out in the students’ mess hall and the great hall was infrequently used. Training took priority over holidays and celebrations, the functions of Reave Hall did not revolve around feasting and drinking. The Guild’s other great halls, in other parts of the Vesfal, did have more social events but in this regard Reave Hall did not. But, for a Gathering, a feast was required.
***
After weeks of waiting the Kûnnabani travelled to Kroya. In the cool evening, after the witching hour, it stood and gazed out across the partially demolished large central plaza of the city. Over twenty five thousand undead were massed in total silence in the plaza. None moved, no sound was made and they all clutched a weapon or wore some type of armor or carried a shield. This would be the catalyst needed to unseat the defenders of Fortress Cinder. This was a force none could withstand.
And, more were coming in every day. For moons the dead marched and gathered at Kroya. Rumors of their passing swept the empire. The people were afraid to leave their houses after darkness fell.
The Kûnnabani were masters of the dark arts of necromancy. This was just the beginning it thought. Many centuries ago this Kûnnabani was called Arngrim. No one knew or used that name now but it still remembered the name and thought of itself as Arngrim. It was once the High King of Eldarharmr and Lord of the Black Keep. It was the strongest of the three Kûnnabani. Arngrim knew he could control up to fifty thousand undead, and with the Emorie magi doing most of the trivial work, it would be no serious strain on its own archania.
It would continue to amass and order the dead and gather them in Kroya. Then, once the human army was ready he would also march the dead north to Mount Cinder. One of its lieutenants, a Haugar, would lead the last legions north to the gates of Cinder. Arngrim however, would stay with the dead, it felt more comfortable with the dead anyhow. They didn’t talk as much as humans, all that noise, jabbering and wailing upset it terribly. It made the Kûnnabani want to kill the living just to quiet their ceaseless prattling and complaining.
Arngrim figured it now had enough human soldiers to breach the lower and middle defensive bands of Cinder. The remaining soldiers would not be sufficient to successfully assault the upper fortress. And, it would have precious few soldiers left to invade and hold Vesfalruk. That is where the dead would play a part. And, it could create many thousands more from the readily available corpses on the battlefields. It was a better strategy anyway. The dead did not have the logistical problems a human force would encounter on their march into Vesfal.
The only problem now was the weather. The Emoire of Imperia had a mild climate, even in winter. Keeping the dead from deteriorating took a lot of energy and power. Arngrim didn’t want to waste his own power on such a mundane chore. It would summon more human magi up from the capitol to do that work. In the meantime it would send all the undead into the cisterns and sewers and cellars in the Dead City. It was cooler down there and out of the sun and the dead would last longer in such an environment. The Kûnnabani smiled grimly. They would be happier down there as well. The dead liked the comfort of cold stone and deep dark earth.
***
“Did you let Chancellor Rumborg know about Brod?” Aravin asked as she walked into the solar. Yfiria shook her head and frowned. She plopped into the chair across from Aravin and held her hands out to the roaring fire.
“I thought as much. He is not at all receptive to the impulses or flow of archania. The man is like a rock in that regard.”
She laughed, “True but I had to try. So now what? We have to warn them.” He gazed thoughtfully into the fire, in no hurry to respond to her question. Finally she prompted, “Should I try Brandt? He will be easier and he could contact someone at Fortress Reave.”
Aravin responded, “You may as well. You have a much stronger affinity with him than anyone else. If successful they can get a message to Rumborg. If that fails though, someone will have to travel to Ellorhim to warn them.”
She nodded, “I will prepare and try as soon as possible. It will take a day or so.”
“Assuredly.”
She rose and shivered, Talfur was always cold now. It was supposed to be summer. But, it was as if the life and magic were slowly draining from the Druid’s refuge. Aravin had told her it was another sign of the Dokköndi’s power and their fell encroachment. They were actively attacking Talfur somehow. The Druids would not be able to hold off their influence forever.
She thought about contacting Brandt. She was pleased to be able to try and possibly see him again and speak with him, however briefly it would last. She was normally not supposed to contact him through a vision or dream. It had not been even possible until she had helped restore some of his memory. She supposed it was possible now. Communication visions
and archania were simple things if the other person was on the same plane as you. Crossing planes was very difficult and a little dangerous but she felt confident she could get it done.
She turned to depart but heard Aravin mumble, “I wonder...”
He was staring into the fire, lost in thought. “Wonder what?” she queried.
He jerked and looked at her. She realized he had forgotten she was even in the room with him. He just shrugged at her knowing look, “We should plan to return to Vesfalruk soon. I have just had a foresight. It coincides with a premonition I have felt for a week now. Something is not quite right. We will be needed there I think.”
“Needed how? By whom?” Aravin’s erratic and enigmatic nature was on display more than normal.
“Aye, we will be needed. We have some time. Try and contact Brandt. Let me know if that works. We can discuss our other plans once that is done.”
She knew he was not telling her everything. He never did. He was just like her parents in that regard. She was grown now. There was no reason for him to treat her like a child. She made a mental note to discuss it with him soon.
***
The various krigers wandering around the Fortress were a fascinating mix of stalwart traditional Vesfal warrior mixed in with flamboyant adventurer, exotic mercenary, warden or professional pit fighter. Some were skilled but lowly swords for hire and some commanded armies. They came from all over Ellorhim and they all had stories to share. Brandt spent much of his limited free time observing and talking with these men and women.
They all had one thing in common; they were all graduates of the Reave Hall. Many wore the arm rings of sworn service and fealty to the jarls or military forces of Vesfalruk. The Audr Hringr arm ring was a symbol of fealty. They typically were given by three different entities in Vesfalruk. The most prevalent was the ones given by a jarl or clan chief. The remainder were almost all awarded by the King’s Army or Navy or from one of the Guild Halls.
One of the krigers Brandt spoke with was a rough professional mercenary named Hrid. Hrid clarified, “The Audr Hringr arm band is a Vesfalruk tradition. It sets us apart from all those other scum. They still do it some in Osterider and Radnja but it doesn’t mean the same. And, it isn’a done nowheres else to my reckoning.”
Brandt asked, “What about all the others here now?”
“The krigers that wears lots o Audr Hringr are mostly veterans that work for a jarl, like me. See?”
Hrid pointed to his arm rings and named them, “This’n is Reave Hall, this’n is King’s Army and lastly is my jarl’s. I canna say for sure but most these uns here now are likely unattached arms men, veterans, or landed yeoman knights of some Small House or other. Housecarls and landed krigers sworn to a jarl of a high house or clan of Vesfalruk would no come heres but stay put with their jarl. Many those jarls will all have to field their own bands when the chancellor calls em up.”
Brandt nodded in understanding and Hrid added, “See most o the landed krigers, but not the freeholders, have to support and provide for their jarl’s war band. They get land or position from their jarl or the king. And, theys usually abide by the duty to their jarl or king and canna answer their Guild’s call. Isn’a a bad thing. These others uns, the lesser ones or yeoman krigers go where they feel best served.”
Brandt knew wearing an arm ring meant you had taken a sworn oath, the Rầdda Oath or the Oath of Service to a jarl, a Hall or to the king. The sworn men of a jarl could answer a call to Gathering from their Hall, if their jarl permitted it. That call wouldn’t technically override their duty or fealty to their jarl though. Also, a jarl or king could release a sworn man or woman to answer their Halls’ summons.
There were rules about how a Gathering worked and who was required to answer the call and it was a very complicated situation, or could be. The Guild Halls were relatively new to Vesfalruk, a mere two hundred and some odd years old, compared to the ancient laws and rules of clan and the traditions of Rầdda in Vesfalruk. So, their inclusion into the framework of daily life was still, to this day, being worked out.
Brandt had learned about Rầdda, the system of service, fealty and oaths that ruled the relationship between ruler and subordinate in Vesfalruk, here at the Hall. He knew the system was also used in some parts of Radnja and Osterider as well. The clan structure and traditions were passed down from the first tribes to walk Ellorhim, the Einar. Most of the people of Vesfalruk, Radnja and Osterider were descended from those original tribes and Rầdda still held true in Vesfalruk. A diluted interpretation of Rầdda was now in place in Radnja and Osterider.
Thus, the merger of the ancient with the ‘modern’ rules in Vesfalruk was sometimes tricky. Suffice it to say, if a kriger wanted to answer the call to Gathering by his Hall he or she could. But, if the kriger wanted to stay in service to a jarl and contribute to the jarl’s war band, he or she could. But the nuances of right or wrong, of doing one or the other were more complicated and subtle.
When a kriger became a member of a jarl’s or chieftain’s war band or swore some other type of service they would take the Rầdda Oath with that leader. This oath covered martial service, bondsmen service, agricultural, trade or mercantile service and many other things. The Jarl then bound the service with an Audr Hringr or arm ring. The oath maker now answered to their new chief or jarl for their duties.
But, when a kriger graduated from a Hall they would swear the Guild oath to their hall. The hall would then bind that service with a copper arm ring. Each Hall had basically the same arm ring. There were slight differences though. All krigers were taught the differences for each Hall’s arm ring. The Guild oath did not supersede the Rầdda Oath but was in addition to the Rầdda Oath.
The Kings Army and Navy of Vesfalruk took it a step farther and had all personnel swear the Blӧd Oath. The military bound this oath with an iron arm band. The King of Vesfalruk’s men and Drottain or war captains all swore the Blӧd Oath to the king and to Vesfalruk. The lower soldiers and sailors all swore their oaths to their respective captains or commanders and the king.
The King of Vesfalruk also swore the Blӧd Oath. He swore this oath to the people and jarls of Vesfalruk. The Audr Hringr the king wore to symbolize his service to Vesfalruk was gold and silver with blood rubies and was very elaborate. It was now held by the Chancellor, in trust, until the king returned. The Blӧd Oath ceremony for a king was performed during a king’s coronation.
Brandt was not well versed in all of the intricacies of these traditions and structures of Rầdda. His memory and upbringing prevented him from having this deep seated knowledge of traditional life in Vesfalruk. And, since they applied to Vesfalruk civil and martial life they were important to understand for any future monarch. He had a basic understanding from various lessons provided by the Hall. So, to fill the gaps in his knowledge, he engaged many krigers, usually after a sparring session, and asked about their particular Audr Hringr and the duties it implied. The men and women he talked with, like Hrid, where all happy to share their particular history and stories about their Audr Hringr.
Brandt was an orphan, the sole surviving member of his family and clan. So, it was a mystery to him. His talks with the other krigers helped him come to terms with this aspect of his country, the families and the clans that comprised the peoples of his land. He also realized if he was to pursue his claim on the kingship he would have to fully understand these traditions and support them. He also assumed, as the last of his clan, he would be beholden to any Audr Hringr he swore to his service for their support and protection. It was a fact of life he would have to become comfortable with. From his discussions he gathered that the best chance of security and support came from within your own clan and its closest allied families. Without the family and clan support to fall back on he would have to rebuild his own clan and be very careful who he handed out his Audr Hringr too.
Brandt also learned that the structure of the Krighird or any chieftain’s hall war band was basically the same as the
King’s Army. They all used the same formations and structures to simplify command across all types of units and war bands. That was just good common sense Brandt thought. There were some differences in composition and tactics but they were minor for the most part.
A krigenhird or Krighird was comprised of a chieftain, a Drottain or war captain. The second in command was the Flikkeller or standard bearer. Under them were the Skati, the Lendermen or landed men that usually, in a Jarl’s Krighird, provided and led their own smaller group of warriors. The krigers were the lowest. Most Lendermen were in charge of ten to twenty krigers. And, a Krighird could consist of several Lendermen or more. Total size depended on the power of the Jarl and the clan. Most Jarls would cap the size of their Krighird around one hundred. But they may have several Krighird at their command. The Drottain led the bands and a Skati led a single band.
The army operated in much the same way but the rank structure was a little different and the size of each different element was fixed, for consistency. A krighird was capped at approximately one hundred and twelve men and led by a skati or under-captain. Four krighird formed a companie and were led by a vinni or captain. Four or more companies were called a fylkrig and were commanded by a senior-captain or vinni-drottain. A drottain led multiple fylkrig or commanded an army or fixed installation like a fort or castle. Knowledge of the command structure and the system of Rầdda that ruled the clans and formed the military was very import to any potential ruler in Vesfalruk.
***
It was a half sennight before the Sword and Axe Trials were to be held. Grand Master Ivar sent Master Grovan to explain the rules to all of the candidates participating in the trials. The students gathered in a classroom and waited anxiously, the excitement was palpable. Brandt, like most students, knew some of the rules, or thought he did. Word got around the Halls and even though the trials were held in secrecy, bits and pieces of information did leak out to the students. But were those tidbits fact or just rumor?
