The Secret of Azuron (The Sword Empire Book 1)

by J. R. Kearney

  "Did you see all the horses Landau?" she said with bewilderment.

  "Yeah, great weren't they, I've never seen them so big."

  "How many were there?"

  "More than you can count," he tickled her enough to abandon the cat. "The tavern was full of people, most of them were dancing, even the Elder. Could you hear the music from home?"

  Melly and Elliott joined them from the stream. "We had a peak from the mountain," said Melly. "It's unfair we couldn't go. We must have been the only people cooped up at home while you all celebrated."

  "None of the other kids were there," said Landau. "Luke and Bryson tried to sneak in but their dad wasn't having any of it."

  Elliott was bothered at the mention of their names.

  "It was a good laugh that's for sure, they were plenty disappointed. Last thing I needed was to listen to their drivel all night, never had so much work to do in the tavern in one day. It was a right old mess to clean up I say."

  "Yeah and all the mugs I had to wash, there must have been hundreds I reckon, Timothy rolled up about five barrels he did," Landau explained, Melly and Jenny were impressed.

  "I wager most of that ended up on the floor. Tryin' to shuffle 'round through people's legs, I got drenched more than most rain storms," Elliott said, "rowdy some of them folks up north no mistakin'."

  "Did Clancey tell anymore of his stories?" Jenny asked.

  "I couldn't hear him from the back, was hard to make out what Timothy was saying most of the time. It was like a constant roar, and when those Alduainians arrived, well…" Landau said, Elliott shared in his amazement as the boom of cheer was deafening.

  "That's all they are is stories," Melly chimed in. "I don't believe a word of what that old man says, talks about elves and goblins like they were as natural as birds and cows."

  "I like to think they're real," said Landau lost in thought, while Elliott pegged pebbles at frogs. "There's got to be more to life than just fishing."

  "There is," she says. "There's farming, baking, gardening."

  "I doubt those soldiers were here to do some bakin' Melly," said Elliott, looking yonder to the mountains in the east. "I wonder what would lie beyond the borders there. I hear Timothy's thinkin' of headin' out soon, venture north somewhere to look for a trade."

  "I know the Elder doesn't want him to go, Timothy does a lot to help the Elder out. I for one would miss him," Melly admitted.

  "Where is Timothy going?" Jenny said in a devastated manner.

  "He's not going anywhere just yet," Landau assured her.

  Elliott wasted the last of his pebbles before stumbling around in search for more.

  "I know when I grow up I'm gonna head out on one of those boats, be a fisherman and travel the seas, men down at the bar say it's the best thing in the world, you can travel anywhere, imagine where you could go," Elliott said with wonder.

  "I heard there's a huge city to the far north, buildings as far as the eye can see, huge castles and statues, a wizard lives there too, can you believe that?" said Melly.

  "So you believe in wizards but not in elves?" Elliott laughed. "You're daft Melly, I'd wager I'd see an elf before a wizard."

  "The sooner you drift away to sea the better."

  Elliott turned to slap her but she ran joyfully towards the stream, Elliott struggled to keep pace before Melly splashed water all over him, every inch of his clothing was soaked and dripping. Jenny nudged her head into Landau's arm while they viewed the uneven quarrel.

  "Landau you're never gonna leave this place are you?"

  Landau smiled, humbled at the affection. "If I did Jenny, I'll be sure to take you with me."

  He sauntered home to his father to notice out the front was Clancey having a laugh, decidedly boasting about the success of last night’s occasion.

  "Ah Landau dear boy, was just telling your father here what a wonderful job you did last night, relentless no doubt."

  "It bother me none sir, I like to hear your tales, plus the gossipings of the outside villages. Be nice sitting by your fire too."

  "Good lad," Clancey smiled, sharing the sentiment with his father.

  He began to retreat indoors before Clancey requested a moment of his time.

  "Landau I would like to show you something, be mindful of appreciating it," opening his palm to show him a thick golden coin, though disfigured.

  "This is a coin almost one hundred years old now, going back four generations of Empires, when Emperor Vidarr was conferred the throne in Astiroth."

  Clancey leaned in closer to hand Landau the coin, ambiguous to its value.

  "Now be it not as interesting a tale as some others of mine, but interesting none the less."

  "'It’s kind of light I would think for a coin, no?" Landau said.

  "You be right, very good lad," Clancey said with a small clap. "You see an Imperial coin is made up of its emblem and ruler, and though the emblem remains the same the ruler is destined to change. When Vidarr was in command the image on these coins changed again, and a new dye was made with his unkempt appearance, however very few were made from this dye; the Emperor felt it was without flattery. Where its interest lies however is that this dye was the first to be imprinted on gold, common as it seems now, it replaced silver, which had replaced copper and so forth. This coin was among the first produced under his Imperial rule. You may notice the dye mark is off-center, such a practice has been improved in years, still I sought a good while to discover its worth."

  "So is it valuable?" Landau held it with renewed interest.

  "I searched high and low for the value of this coin, convinced its price was greater, eventually tracked a man down in Ordel in the north of Astiroth, exhausted the afternoon talking to him, astonished at how I had obtained such a thing," he laughed obnoxiously. "Anyway I ramble, the value of the coin beyond gold is little, but it is historical none the less, a fine collectable, but I have plenty." Landau glanced at the coin in his hand once more before politely handing it back to Clancey.

  "Gold is still pretty valuable I would think, why no-one in this village I know of sees such coin, except perhaps the Elder."

  The barman gave him and his father a stern gaze.

  "I’ll tell you what lad, I'll give you this coin," Landau was excited but a tad presumptuous. "I have a curious task in mind, nothing to do with the ‘Barrel’ mind you. I’m headed to Bunbury in the coming days, to purchase me some horses and equipment, plus get some labor from Tripple on the way back. My plan is to set up a horse farm of my own. I pondered the idea last night, be it with a mind full of ale. Still I have always desired it, and you very well know I am not one to dally on decisions, I am a man of action."

  "I never figured you a horse man," Nicholas said. "A lot of work, and what about your tavern?"

  "Fall season is upon us, business slows down early on, as it does every year. Timothy's on the verge of becoming a man old enough to venture out into the world, he's fit to run the place while I'm gone, the extra coin will see him comfortably on his way. Plus, Elliott can pick up the slack that Landau usually does. What do you say lad? Would you like to help out at the farm?"

  Landau pondered for a moment the task, before taking a step back towards his father.

  "Thank you Clancey sir, but I need to spend more time with my dad, he's been feeling ill of late."

  Nicholas instantly waved it away, modestly to not make a scene.

  "Rubbish son, this'll be good for you, give you good insight into the labor trade." Clancey winked at his old man before offering the coin once more.

  "What would I be doing?" Landau wondered.

  "Just some sorting and cleaning, horses are not fussy creatures by any means but there are many particulars to be done before I can start housing them here. I'll explain the specifics when you come by. Your dad's a strong scamp Landau, he can take care of himself no doubt."

  Landau was hesitant but thought it great to work more closely with Clancey, and away from the tavern. He agreed, and C
lancey laughed in delight.

  "Come by the house tomorrow after breakfast, I'll show you around and get you sorted," he said. "Oh and Landau," he remembered quickly, "don't tell of your reward to anybody, village would probably go mad if they found out."

  "Will do sir," he said joyfully before he ran inside. Clancey smiled and shook Nicholas' hand.

  "That's a generous gift for a young kid," Nicholas said, and not in an entirely contented way.

  "He is a good boy your son, with an even greater father. Be it a thanks to you both." Clancey walked away, aware his gift may have seemed more charitable than generous.

  The ambience of a crackling fire in the late evening was a welcome backdrop, and Landau enjoyed the night off from the tavern to spend with his father. Nicholas sat comfortably whilst Landau finished brewing some tea, letting the pot boil over the fire before returning with some cups. He watched his son organize himself so diligently, he knew Clancey's influence and discipline were much to thank.

  "Will be a good experience for you working with Clancey at his farm," he uttered while Landau poured them tea. "You have some will in you."

  "I don’t know what the downside is, the work seems easy compared to the amount of dishes he gives me every night. Very kind to reward me with gold though," still in disbelief his goal would profit him as such. "Do you think this has something to do with them soldiers that came by yesterday?"

  "No doubt. Still Clancey's always been an avid thinker, probably too insatiable to slow down, needs some other venture to keep himself interested. If there were sense in that man he would use his land to grow crops, from which we sorely need. Horses have their uses but few inside this village."

  "What should we do with the coin dad?" he couldn't help ponder. "I mean we could travel, buy some more chickens, maybe even a calf, they have more than enough in Dairy we could buy. Be nice to have some fresh milk in the morning."

  "Son the experience is the greater reward, strengthen you for your future. Be mindful of what you learn Landau, Clancey may be odd in comparison to more simple folk but he has a morality that is very useful for you to understand. I know you find interest in his tales of adventure, but by his own admission wishes them upon no-one else. He has a tenacity that rivals only myself in younger days, this trait of his you should fixate on beyond all others. You will find no better thinker, not in these parts."

  Landau gave no thought to the future ahead, surrounded by farmers and fisherman for so long he waited for that flicker of interest from either trade to captivate him. Between Clancey's stories and those from his books, such trades paled in comparison to what else await him in the world.

  "What about you dad, will you be alright?"

  "I am weak Landau, that is all. A boy shouldn't worry about his father son. You should put concern with all that's ahead of you."

  "And what's that?" assuming his father had the answer.

  "Well…there are many things to choose from. You are already far beyond your years, at your age I was no better than your friend Elliott, running about causing mischief, no real direction in life. But in fairness his childhood is parallel to every other. Kids need to learn the meaning of fun before life directs them to hardships, and there will be plenty Landau, most of which you will never foresee. I may sound like a dour old dog but the younger you begin to take life seriously the more fruitful your journey will become. What you plant now, you can harvest sooner if you follow me."

  Landau sipped his tea, his words were far from encouraging.

  "The most important thing to learn son is responsibility, success can only come from responsibility, and rarely comes to those that can be replaced. You must strive to be irreplaceable Landau, and many doors will open for you."

  "But I don't know what I wanna do yet dad. The smell of fish sickens me, I don't think I could ever fancy being a fisherman. I feel like one day it will grab my interest. I mean when did you know you wanted to be a woodworker?"

  Nicholas scoffed at the thought. "It was hardly what I wanted son, but if I was going to do it, I was going to be the best. Strong aspiration is hard to come by, you will encounter bad days, where exhaustion consumes you to the point of collapse, but know there are people out there worse off than you, that would be lucky to have what you do. Knowing that, I worked to my potential, and eventually earned respect, even caught your mother's fancy," he smiled.

  Landau surmised that moment in time was still heartfelt now as it was then.

  "May she forever rest in peace," Nicholas muttered.

  It had been almost eight years since his mother departed from disease, vague were the images he had of his mother and little memory of her endured. Landau took his father's tea and comforted him, and Nicholas welcomed the hug.

  "I do my best for you son," he said with a quivering voice, perturbed in the moment he chose to return the cups to the kitchen himself, overcome with abashment.

  "Of course you do dad. You have plenty to be proud of. This house, Clancey's tavern. I can only hope to achieve such things as you have."

  Nicholas returned quickly enough to mask his impetuous mourning.

  "Landau, I am proudest of you most of all, beyond doubt," he declared, exuding cheer as he messed his boy’s hair. "I have every faith you will achieve great things," he was famously stubborn to admit such words.

  "If you think I can dad, then I know I can."

  "Man's greatest weakness lies in giving up son. The most certain way to succeed is to always keep trying," said his father before lurching towards his bedroom.

  For an elongated moment Landau remained in thought, amid the crepitating fire he could hear his father struggle to get into bed. Landau's mind was conflicted on proving himself, yet restless to stay and care for his ailing father. He extinguished the light and retired for the night, for now determined to prove himself in the days ahead.

  Chapter 2

  TRASH AND TREASURE

  Clancey opened the rusted barn doors to the stench of dried grass and dust, while scampering noises recurrently murmured in the rafters. The barn was dark as if it had rarely seen sunlight, and around him Landau frowned at the amount of clutter Clancey had accumulated, among them were farming tools, broken bottles, and more barrels than he could count.

  He feared that Clancey had undersold him this task.

  "Is this all rubbish?" Landau asked, Clancey grimaced like he should know better.

  "There be some rubbish here yes, but most items here I can bring in the house for sorting. What I need you to do Landau is go through all these barrels and crates for me. I confess in haste I have found little time to organize myself since arriving in Porthos, my things were thrown in here left for quieter times of which I have found little. Take these gloves lad," obtaining an empty crate from outside to place it in the middle of the barn. "Anything you see that looks valuable put in these crates. Blankets, clothes, tools; if something still looks proper then place them in here, I'll sort them out later. Any rubbish you see, things beyond repair, anything that stings the nose a bit just put in a cart," he pointed outside to one of a number of carts.

  From the size of the carts in comparison to the small amount of crates, Landau was expecting to encounter more trash than treasure.

  He jaunted over to one barrel, already he found empty rice sacks, old chains, torn rope and what looked to be the leg of a chair.

  "Fear not lad, that'll be the worst of it," swimming in the idea of his barn. "Once I clear this out, all that side will have stables for the horses, six to start with I hope. Bruiser (his horse) will finally be among welcome company. They'll have the finest straw to lay upon, very important for a healthy horse, as much as their diet is, which reminds me Landau, come with me."

  He escorted Landau outside and across the stream to a huge meadow of short grass and flowers. "Here is where the horses will roam and pasture."

  "It’s a huge space," realized Landau.

  "Aye but still not large enough to be proper. Horses are nomadic by nature,
even when we fence this area all the way around the environment will still be unnatural to them. Nevertheless, it'll be far less stressful for them, there is plenty of space to gallop and grass to satisfy them, plus they will appreciate the sea breeze." Clancey spoke of them like a father would talk proudly of his son.

  "However some plants can be poisonous to a horse, and as intelligent as horses are they cannot abstain from eating them, no matter how dangerous to their health. I'll need you and Elliott if he's free to pull out all the lupins and nightshade from the area, you know the ones I mean yes?"

  Landau went out and collected one of each, Clancey smiled knowing he was leaving the farm in good hands.

  "Little Landau, you are indeed a good lad. Now, I need to get myself sorted for the days ahead. I'll be heading out tomorrow morning, get some men to build this fence before all else, a quality fence too no less. If I can manage it I will inquire about a smith, though I will have to travel as far as Bunbury I fear to find one decent. Any questions lad?"

  Landau shook his head, eager to get on with the task. He forgot about the gold coin for the moment, the idea of getting horses to reside here was exciting, until he returned to the barn to see the barrels full of junk waiting to be sorted. Clancey was enraptured at the boy's eagerness and patted his back before leaving. Landau stood wondering where to start.

  Days passed and Landau was hard at work to get Clancey's barn in order. He marvelled at the barn his dad had built, even now in its decayed and musty state, Landau could appreciate his dad's skill with the hammer. Several crates were finished for Clancey to sift through, yet the old adventurer had set off north and was yet to return.

  He tore through a number of barrels in hope of finding interesting trinkets, though it was almost entirely rubbish and he spent much time separating the wood from the metal. Anything metallic would be taken to the blacksmiths in Bunbury to be melted down, reworked and sold for profit. The remainder were tossed into carts for Clancey to haul to the Scorched Coast, west of Porthos along the Taperel Bay, aptly named for the burning of rubbish left the ground scarred and scorched; folk in the south considered it a necessary evil.