Kingdom's Forge: Book 01 - Paladin's Redemption

by Kade Derricks

  “Dain…human,” Caleb mumbled.

  “You know this for certain?”

  “I guarded…half-breed after he rescued her. He told us…killed Haldrin.”

  Koren hadn’t bothered to kill him once she had the name. She simply left him hanging in his chains while she marched off to see her father. At the rate he was bleeding out, he would survive for only a night at most, and there was no need for her to honor any deal made with wood elf filth.

  She took the stairs two steps at a time and met Councilor Alpere as the older elf descended ahead of her.

  “Why Princess Koren, how lovely to see y—”

  He never finished his sentence. His eyes went wide, staring at her blood-smeared face. Koren fought back a laugh.

  “I am well, Councilor. I have some excellent news for my father. Please excuse me,” she replied while passing him by.

  “Of…Of course,” the old elf recovered. His step quickened as he shuffled away from her as quickly as his legs would carry him.

  Koren hated her old tutor. His shock delighted her. As a student, she had been bored to tears daily by his endless lectures on philosophy and mathematics and ancient literature and governance and economics. Perhaps someday soon she would order him over for tea just to watch him squirm. She could wear her bloodied leathers and leave a few prisoners ungagged. As they drank their tea, the sweet music of agonized screams would echo up through the floorboards.

  That ought to give the old creature a turn, she smiled to herself and picked up her pace.

  She climbed the last few steps and threw open the door to her father’s study, passing between the guards outside. King Elam sat behind a large hardwood desk, poring over official kingdom documents. She knew he had been gathering the lists of war materials his generals requested. The stolen gold from the miners would purchase spears, armor, food, and other provisions for the campaign against either the orcs or the wood elves. Her father looked up from his papers at her entrance.

  “Dain. Haldrin’s killer is a human called Dain,” Koren said.

  “You are sure?” Elam asked.

  “I got the name from a wood elf, just now.” The king regarded her for a moment, sitting up straighter in his chair. Koren held her breath.

  “Gashan,” he called out.

  The guardsman stepped into the room and knelt before his king.

  “Go to the mage quarters and tell Blythe to join us now. Koren has found a name for my son’s killer.” Gashan left wordlessly to complete his task.

  “This Dain was aided by the wood elves. That’s how he escaped,” Koren said.

  “Well done, daughter. That fool Alpere was up here earlier telling me the council would not support open war with the wood elves. They feel that we have ‘stretched’ ourselves too far. Now that we have a confession that they aided Haldrin’s killer, those dottering old fools will have no choice but to support me.”

  “You should have disbanded the council years ago. They plot against the throne at every turn, thirsting for power of their own.”

  The king sighed. “Our people have always had the Council of Nobles. They represent the people’s interests. I will not break tradition. And in any event, the councilors can only offer ‘advice.’ They have no real power. They cannot thwart my plans.”

  Waiting for the high mage, Koren paced the room. Her father returned to his lists, scanning each, making notes, and then setting them aside into one of several small sorting bins. She didn’t know how he could remain so calm. Her skin itched beneath her leathers. She tried to distract herself, dreaming up dozens of ways to torture the human who’d hurt her family so deeply. She burned to find other humans to practice and perfect her methods on before showing this Dain what pain truly felt like.

  Gashan and Blythe returned within the hour. Blythe was winded from his quick climb up the tower steps. Koren smiled to herself. Here was another old man she cared little for. The mage was far too arrogant and proud for his own good. The sight of him, doubled over and struggling for breath, pleased her.

  “My king…how can I…serve you?” he huffed, gasping for air.

  “Koren has a name for my son’s killer,” Elam repeated. “You will find him for me.”

  “Ahh…my lord, we still need some object of his in order to track him with our spells,” Blythe said nervously.

  “Then go and get it. Post a large reward for information about the human in Galena. Use it to either find him or to retrieve whatever you need to track him. Either way, I want him found and quickly,” Elam ordered. He pointed at the mage’s chest. “Fail me, Blythe, and I will find another High Mage. Your ‘retirement’ will be short and painful, I can assure you.”

  Koren almost hoped the High Mage failed. Perhaps her father would give him to her. He wouldn’t hold up long under her care—old men never did. She and her poisons would see to his retirement. Yesterday she’d heard of a new one from the south, one taken from a desert scorpion. It was reported to be particularly excruciating.

  “Yes, my king. I will not fail you,” Blythe said, bowing deeply before departing.

  “Koren, you found the human’s name, and for that I will place this Dain into your care once captured. You may play with him as you like. Know though, that I will be the one to kill him. You are not to kill him yourself, do you understand? Haldrin was my son. I will bring him justice,” Elam finished.

  Koren nodded. Her father was a wise and just king.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “Hold the point up…a little higher,” Dain instructed.

  During the last week, he had taught Jin basic swordsmanship outside the little cabin above Teran. Twice, he’d ventured down into the city accompanying Sera to pick up supplies. He hadn’t asked what her father and mother told her, nor did he mention his supposed fate again, not in her presence.

  He did, however, notice a change in her. She seemed more serious and less talkative like a heavy burden had been placed upon her.

  “Yes, higher,” Jin agreed in her child’s voice, full of gravity despite its high, tinkling tones. She raised the willow branch’s tip a few inches in response. The pair faced each other in a small area that she and Dain had spent an afternoon clearing of ferns, shrubs, and other undergrowth.

  “Now, defend,” Dain said. He whipped his own willow at her unprotected flank. Jin parried, and he withdrew to attack her opposite side. She blocked the second stroke as well, and managed an overreaching counter, which he sidestepped. With Jin lunging out of balance, he tapped her lightly on the back with his branch.

  “Too eager. Don’t overextend yourself when attacking. All you do is leave your flank wide open. It does no good to hit your attacker if you are wounded or killed in return,” he instructed.

  “Yes,” Jin answered with a small nod.

  “Your vocabulary still needs work. Only knowing a half-dozen words isn’t enough for a decent conversation, but yes will do for now,” Dain replied with a laugh. “Now, attack.”

  Jin sprung into action and Dain’s willow danced on defense. Although young, her strikes were lightning quick and she could already anticipate most of his defenses. Dain would block a slash then have to react instantly, parrying an inside thrust. Willow met willow and they cracked against one another. After a few minutes, Jin began to tire as the branch grew too heavy for her. He waited her out then sprang on offense, snapping her makeshift sword down and sliding his own up until it touched her chin.

  “Good, quick attack. If you want to be a fighter though, you must work on building your stamina and growing stronger,” Dain said.

  “Stronger,” Jin said with another grave little nod.

  Dain smiled. He had no idea how much of his teaching she really understood, but she was eager to learn nevertheless, and picked up on the physical aspects of instruction well—much better than he’d expected.

  “Enough for today, let’s see if your mother has dinner for us,” he said.

  Turning to leave, he spotted Sera’s brothers standing a
t the clearing’s edge. The oldest, Jace, had still never spoken to him. He glared as if Dain were a bug to be crushed beneath his bootheel. At best, Jace tolerated Dain for the sake of his father.

  Tarol, the younger brother, Dain had spoken to several times. The young wood elf had often asked about the wider world outside the valley. He had simply shaken his head in disbelief when Dain described how large the world truly was. Tarol worshipped his older brother, but did not share his distain.

  Both held their arms crossed and frowned as he and Jin approached.

  “Jace says it’s no good to teach her the sword. Women are for tending the house and producing heirs. Not for fighting,” Tarol said.

  “Jin wants to learn. It matters not whether she’s a boy or a girl,” Dain replied, looking Jace in the eye. “She has powerful enemies who wish to kill her, and I will teach her so that she can defend herself.” He suspected the older elf understood far more Common than he let on. Anger flashed across Jace’s eyes as he spoke. Dain placed a protective hand on Jin’s shoulder.

  Jace responded in rapid Elvish without looking away, and beneath his hand Dain felt Jin’s muscles tighten. Tarol started shaking his head back and forth, evidently not liking what was being said, but Jace was insistent. Dain glanced down and saw Jin glaring daggers at her uncle. Tarol finally relented and turned back to him with a sigh.

  “My brother says if Jin needs to learn to fight she should have a better teacher than a human. Humans care only for wealth, digging for it like a gopher burrowing a hole,” Tarol said. Jace smirked and continued to meet Dain’s eyes.

  “Wasn’t Haldrin supposed to be a great warrior and fighter? How many wood elves did he kill? I’m sure he would say I’m qualified,” Dain responded, keeping his voice calm but firm.

  Tarol translated for Jace, and the older elf scowled.

  “My brother says Haldrin was weak and you were lucky. Humans can’t stand up to elves in a fair fight.”

  “Maybe we should show Jin what real fighting looks like,” Dain said with a shrug. He wasn’t in the mood for Jace’s attitude. He gestured toward the clearing, inviting the prince to take the field first.

  Jace needed no translation. He stalked out into the center, waiting.

  “Weapons?” Dain asked Tarol.

  “Swords. I have a special fabric to wrap them in. It’s spelled for dueling and won’t let the blades do any lasting harm,” Tarol answered. He wrapped first Jace’s and then Dain’s swords in a thin, red cloth and cast a minor enchantment on each to seal the material onto the blades. Dain wondered how they happened to have the fabric with them, then realized that Jace had planned on provoking him the entire time. The prince could, in this manner, teach the human his place without breaking the king’s order.

  Dain smiled ruefully to himself. We’ll see how that works out for him. He gave the wrapped sword a few experimental swipes.

  He raised his blade against his forehead in a knight’s salute then crouched down, holding himself ready. Jace kept his guard lowered, studying Dain for a moment before slashing from his left.

  If Jin was quick with her blade, Jace was lightning itself. Dain managed to block the first swing and immediately parried a second, downward strike. Jace withdrew a few steps, well out of reach.

  He couldn’t come close to matching the elf’s speed, Dain knew. A single missed block or parry and this duel would be lost. Jace smiled broadly, taunting him. The elf understood well his advantage. He raced in for another quick attack then retreated back, toying with Dain.

  The pattern repeated for a time with Jace striking and retreating. Dain deflected each of the elf’s attacks, but couldn’t counter. Other than his speed, Jace didn’t impress him. His technique was poor, sloppy, nowhere near as good as Haldrin’s. His attacks were quick, yes, but wild and undisciplined. Dain doubted he had ever received any formal training in swordsmanship. More important than his flawed technique, each attack was predictable, and Dain had now learned his timing. It was time, he decided, to show the overconfident elf something new.

  Jace lunged in again for a quick slash, but this time his sword found only air. Anticipating the move, Dain had sidestepped out of it. He then took advantage of Jace’s lack of balance and swung hard at the elf’s weapon itself. His blade connected an inch above the hilt and sent the prince’s sword spinning to the other side of the clearing.

  Dain tapped the confused Jace on the throat with his wrapped blade.

  “Two out of three?” he asked, holding his sword beneath Jace’s chin. After a moment, he returned to his starting position.

  Tarol retrieved his brother’s blade and held it out for him. Jace snatched it away and stalked sullenly back to his original spot. He raised his weapon, signaling he was ready.

  Unwilling to defend first this time, Dain attacked. He moved quickly but with purpose, thrusting and slashing in measured control. His greater strength shook the elf with each hammer-like blow. The anger remained but Jace now seemed panicked each time Dain advanced. He flinched whenever their blades met and his eyes darted wildly about. Dain forced him to give ground until he tripped over a downed log at the clearing’s edge. Startled, the elf threw his arms out and sprawled out on his back. Dain’s blade tapped on his chest.

  “Three out of five, perhaps?”

  Dain and Jin left after he had defeated Jace a fifth straight time, and rounded the corner to the cabin’s front. They washed up in a copper basin on the front porch, drying their hands and faces before entering. Sera waited inside. Jin immediately began to talk excitedly in Elvish, but Sera silenced her with a stern look.

  “You saw my brothers?” she asked Dain.

  “Yes, were they up here for a reason?”

  “Word has been sent that King Elam searches for you. He knows your name and is offering a thousand gold pieces for whoever takes you alive,” Sera answered.

  “Maybe I should turn myself in. I could use the gold,” Dain said, allowing one side of his mouth to quirk up in a smile. Her grave expression sent it right back down again.

  “Do not be funny,” she whispered, glancing toward Jin, who was busy playing in the corner of the cabin. He looked back to Sera, to the deep furrow that had appeared above her silver eyes. “You need to leave now,” she continued. “The wood elves will see you to the border, and then you can head back south to your homeland.”

  “I have no homeland, not anymore. I lost it and I can never return,” Dain said, hoping he didn’t sound too bitter. “Besides, what of my fate, and saving your people?”

  He’d been reluctant to bring it up again, but here they were. Over the past few weeks, he’d questioned his motives for staying again and again. Yes, the gold, but…but if all this talk of fate and destiny kept him close to Sera and Jin, too, why fight it?

  “Even fate can be changed if you try hard enough. Step off the path fate has made for you and break free. This is our war, not yours. My father is wrong.”

  “I have to wait another few weeks for him. I promised.”

  “Are riches so important? The dead have no need for them,” Sera said, her voice rising.

  “Riches are important to those that don’t have them, Sera. I need enough to pay for my land.”

  “And if Elam catches you before the time is up? What good will your gold do then?”

  “What of you and Jin? If I left, you could come with me,” Dain said, ignoring her question. It had tumbled out of his mouth before he’d had time to reconsider.

  “Jin and I…will go on as before,” Sera said, turning to hide her face. “My people will take care of us.”

  “Sera—”

  “I cannot leave my people, my family,” she said. “Please, just…just leave. Don’t make this any harder than it already is.” With that, she strode toward her room.

  Dain stepped back outside into the glimmering afternoon. Light filtered down through the trees, losing its intensity and gaining a warm, orange tint. He had failed at finding wealth in Galena. It wasn’t the
first time. He had spent the last year trying to gather enough money together to buy his land, but never seemed to make any progress. A quiet place of his own had been his only dream since his father sent him away. In many ways, the time spent with Sera and Jin had been like living his dream, but he was no closer to actually having it than he’d been months ago. Sera was right, he should leave and start over elsewhere. He’d regret it if he brought further danger down upon her and her family, no matter how much he wished to find a way to stay near them. His continued presence was obviously not something she wished for anyway. He heaved a sigh and kicked a small stone up the path. Perhaps it was time to face facts.

  Resolved, he walked up the path and away from the cabin. He stopped and stood for a moment, listening to the forest’s sounds. Birds and squirrels chirped away, oblivious to all else. Fish leapt from the water’s surface, snatching at hovering mayflies. A deer called to its mate. There was a restful peace in this place. One that he’d never felt before.

  Boon had been stabled in a large barn nearby. The big warhorse stood in his stall and stomped, impatient to be free. Dain lifted the latch and entered, then checked the horse’s shoes to make sure they were tight. He removed several briars from the animal’s mane then dumped a bucket of oats into a shallow wooden trough.

  “Ready to head east?” Dain asked, grateful he didn’t have to mask the disappointment in his voice from his oldest friend. He patted Boon’s shoulder. “Soon we’ll ride for greener pastures. It just didn’t work out for us this time, but we’ll get back on track. Tomorrow you and I will see what’s over the next mountain.”

  Satisfied that the horse was ready to travel, he returned back down toward the cabin. He wouldn’t tell Jin or Sera of his decision until the morning, when he was ready to leave. For one more night he wanted to pretend nothing had happened, wanted to pretend to live forever in the dreamlike world he’d grown used to and fond of over the past few weeks. There was no need to ruin the evening.