The Secret of Azuron (The Sword Empire Book 1)

by J. R. Kearney

  "So fewer than I expected."

  "Can’t imagine these townsfolk are none too happy that we’re crowding up their land. Dad says we best keep to ourselves, to start with anyways," said Landau.

  "Is Elliott and Timothy coming?" Jenny asked, still nobody found courage to explain to her the truth.

  "I hope so," said Landau, it was all she needed to hear.

  Across the river in a lavish estate those of authority sought to agree on a resolution. Clancey spoke for Porthos among an audience of Pollus and his son, Sabjorn the Elder and other noblemen of Tripple.

  The estate was cluttered and reflected the Elder's negligence, deeds and ledgers were strewn across the table and shelves went unused, while equipment littered the floor as if kicked to one side. Clancey's disdain for Sabjorn was rife, he was self-obsessed and simple-minded, and his ideas were no different, arrogant and useless. Tripple was in desperate need of coin, for Sabjorn was un-admittedly careless with the town's finances, and his generosity was little. He wore clothes exported from richer reaches, and proudly so, balding except for a few white hairs that hung from his sides like whiskers, and his brow was straight and narrow, and displayed nonchalance, as though no words bar his own were of any importance. The nobleman appeared quiet beneath his whim, yet Clancey offered no such respect.

  "All those years ago when the El'saar plague ravaged this place, every town and village gave charity to your people, what nerve to turn us down now that the time calls for it," Clancey yelled to Sabjorn.

  "We are sorry for your loss, but the burden you put on our town financially over time, it - "

  "Burden?!" the word as insulting as it came. "The men be daft in this town if you're who they elect to speak for them. You don't see people out there, villagers who have lost the only home they have ever known. All you see is coin, heck all you smell is coin. You can't smell it on these people and that makes you worried."

  The nobleman became upset and Clancey was a punch away to further his point.

  Pollus attempted to ease the tension. "Most of them have enough salted fish to last them some weeks Sabjorn, all they ask is for fruit and bread, and to share your water."

  "And what of the danger that faced them in Porthos, what if that trouble courses its way up here?" said Sabjorn.

  "Then we'll see how charitable other villages are when you find yourself in dire need," Clancey said.

  "Is the Elder incapable of speaking here for his villagers now, or must we put up with this ridicule from an adventurer no less?" Sabjorn motioned to Pollus with frustration.

  "This isn't a game of politics Sabjorn! Formalities ceased the moment demons incinerated our people. If you saw the horror what unfolded, then you would not be so quick to dismiss charity," Clancey snarled.

  "Our men will be stationed down south for the time being, any threat if it returns will go no further," Pollus assured them. "The Queen's Guard has been notified and will provide further relief."

  "For the moment, we are more than welcoming," Sabjorn replied with some hesitancy. "But I worry my people will not tolerate their dwelling here for long. Perhaps if they provide us with some assistance in our community it will be a fair compromise."

  "These men are fishermen, old ones at that, hardly fit enough to work," said Clancey. "You propose to submit them to labor, just for their right to simply get by? Serfs under your command, is that what you'd have them become? Are you so heartless you would shed no tear for what they have lost?"

  "I am the Elder here and I’ll do whatever the heck I want, and right now I will prevent yourself from residing here if this be your arrogance!"

  "I’d be amazed if you had the energy to do even that, you senseless goat."

  Sabjorn's voice struggled to interrupt Clancey, for it was commanding indeed. Pollus tried to bring order, when the door opened without a knock, and the Queen's first knight entered. All present saluted him with a fist to their chest, Clancey's bandaged arm was fortunately already in that position.

  "Jema of Arwendel," Pollus welcomed him as. "Glad of you to come, and so soon is our good fortune."

  "I could hear this argument from the edge of town," he spoke with a gruff voice, but very stern. "Your messenger ran into us in Merchant's Wall, I assume you got here safely. Your men are to be commended for their bravery in helping these people."

  Of all the men who were present, only one man did Jema not recognize.

  "Who is this man?" he asked, pointing at Clancey.

  "He's from Porthos village, Clancey, old friend of mine, might not be a soldier but he's a hero none the less."

  Clancey reached out his good hand and shook Jema's, and in his eyes reflected a genuine quality.

  "I am Jema, first knight in Queen Anduniel's army. This is my squire Samson," he gestured to the boy who opened the door, who remained silent in the corner. "Forgive me for disrupting your quarrel but who can explain what's happening here? The messenger was grave but very vague."

  None of the noblemen spoke, even Pollus turned to Clancey expecting him to address the question.

  "Our village came under attack, by some Ash-Spawn from the east, six days gone now. They attacked in the night, them and their death hounds, dogs of some unearthly being, burning down our village and killing…" he paused, unable to continue. Jema gestured in understanding before turning to Pollus.

  "And you followed them yes?"

  "We joined the Royal Legion and headed east to the Stone Hills, to meet with the Imperials garrisoned at Fargunthar, but we were ambushed by ashlanders. General Archaliah informed us these ashlanders had united with the three Stone Towers. With their militia united they attacked us, the battle continued for a good hour before these demons suddenly came storming from the mountain. Their disposition favored no-one, and they never joined the battle, rather the battle was in their way. Like thickets in a field they brushed through us, forever determined in heading south. The ashlanders fled before their soldiers did, retreating while these fire-spawn headed for Royal, to which we gave chase, except they never stopped at Royal. We resolved to pursue them while the General assessed his next move. Their tracks were easy enough to follow, the land they tread on melted around them, but if these fire-spawn took rest then it was little, for it was a week's pursuit before we could converge upon them, eventually we did so…in Porthos, our horses spent."

  "What was their purpose?" Jema said to the point.

  Within his jacket Clancey pulled free a blue gemstone, sparkling mildly from the darkness of his pocket.

  "We can't be too sure, but we believe this is what they were after. Porthos could merely have been in the way of their actual destination, though we have our doubts. This was found inside a chest in one of the houses, these demons appeared to have a great interest in it."

  Jema was quick to touch it, the gemstone didn't sparkle as much as it moved, if it impressed him his face showed no such excitement.

  "You say you have your doubts," said Jema. "What do you mean?"

  "There was something else," Pollus was hesitant to reveal. "We searched the village for survivors, the tavern which Clancey here owned was destroyed, with everyone in it, mostly fisherman. Aside from them most of the villagers survived, except…" he hesitated, still dismayed in his findings.

  "They killed all the children. From what some villagers witnessed they were, well…targeted. Only three survived, two girls and a boy hidden away in the Elder's Manor. By Clancey's account had we not interfered in time then those children were intended for a similar fate. The villagers are deeply saddened Jema, as you can imagine. Had we not intervened there's no knowing the extent of this disaster. I don't know what vendetta these beasts had against simple villagers, but they came a damn long way to settle it."

  Jema paced slowly, and his brow was heavy.

  The aging knight stared out the large window that overlooked the river where the lumber yards resembled a refugee camp. This news appeared to surprise him, greater than he anticipated. Clancey moved to hi
s side for some resolve.

  "Look these fire-spawn are cave dwellers, and I mean deep underground where the magma swelters, from another province no less. These people are not meant to see things like this in a lifetime. We could argue all day on their purpose but this was no unfortunate accident, this danger could still be present. All these villagers want is to reside here in safety until we can find answers to why this happened, and prevent it from happening further, without these pompous ass folk," he pointed at Sabjorn and company, "telling us it doesn't benefit them to do so."

  Jema pondered what to do with all this, and gave Clancey no stare.

  "I will need some time to consider these events, though the villagers will stay here until further notice from the Queen, for free. Is that understood?"

  Sabjorn said nothing, and Clancey was impressed by his authority.

  He signalled his squire to open the door before halting to ask a final question.

  "This chest, where you found that stone…who does it belong to?"

  "A boy," Pollus responded. "The one that managed to survive."

  Jema pouted his lips among a wrinkled frown, he nodded favorably toward Clancey before he exited downstairs, his squire closed the door behind them.

  Chapter 7

  THE PURPLE KNIGHT

  Landau returned to his tent where old friends crowded around his father, avoiding the topic of Porthos, instead they discussed his health and reminisced in all things Tripple. He felt unmotivated to do anything, Elliott was always there to enflame his desire for activities, but in his absence he felt oddly impractical. It wasn't long before he noticed his father seated atop his iron chest, he stared in disbelief at its discomforting presence, anxious on how it appeared.

  He was incapable of casting his eyes elsewhere, among the drowning conversation of his father and friends, Landau was apprehensive on whether the gemstones were still inside, or even the sword. The chest had no lock, and he feared anyone could have accessed it, though his father's temperament suggested he hadn't discovered anything. For a good hour Landau waited for him to depart from the chest, but when one person left another one came. Nicholas was well happy with the company, yet every nerving minute that passed built Landau's tension. Before long a familiar voice acknowledged the both of them.

  "Well it looks as though we'll be here for a while," Clancey relieved at the eventual outcome. "I had to twist the Elder's arm to find some reason, that man is a right stubborn old fool."

  "Well it wouldn't be the first time," said Nicholas. "My friends have told me much of their imperious leader. The people here are good folk, if they frown on our presence it's because they worry his lordship will react poorly, knowing we have little to offer. It will be tough for these people to find comfort here Clancey, safety sure, but our villagers have only ever known home. Even when Porthos gets rebuilt, things will never be the same."

  "I have been to many cities in my days, ravaged by war. Somehow people find the strength to rise above such anguish. A river divides these people in more ways than one Nicholas, Porthos will need your strength to bridge these two societies in the coming weeks. I agree they are friendly, but we are naive to believe that we're welcome here."

  "You ask me for strength, of all people," he jested.

  "Landau," Clancey called out. "Can I borrow you for a moment lad, if that's okay Nicholas?"

  "By all means," he said, only now making his way off the chest. The look in Clancey's eyes suggested concern.

  The pair walked through the camp, haphazard in its setting, far from Porthos Clancey continued to ask him for his time.

  "Landau I need your help lad, in fact all these villagers do."

  Clancey stopped and knelt before him, from within his jacket, concealed tightly in his hand he revealed one of the gemstones. Landau was torn on feeling guilty or even a little invaded.

  "Have you seen this before?"

  He was hesitant to reply, trapped to explain it, the leer from Clancey was as uncomfortable as they came.

  "It was Elliott's sir," telling a half truth.

  "Where did he find it? How long ago?"

  Landau found that harder to answer, without eluding to his book. Conflicted in his reply he remained silent.

  "Landau you must know, it was in your chest. Look a knight is here from the capital no less, he's well respected and will ask you similar questions, and you would be game to lie to the Queen's Guard."

  "Why is he worried about them?" confused among the anguish he would care for something so trivial in comparison.

  "Landau these gemstones may be the reason these creatures befouled our village. Nicholas has never spoken of such trinkets and their use to him eludes me. How long have you had these in your home?"

  The question was lost on him, for his guilt billowed, Clancey had suggested his meddling was the cause of their suffering. Thoughts of Elliott stirred once more, then his breath became shallow and his eyes welled.

  "You're not in trouble lad, it's okay."

  "We didn't know it was dangerous," Landau sobbed. "We thought it could give us gold for dad's medicine, I never thought it would harm anyone."

  Clancey embraced him, yet his confession disturbed him.

  "I believe you Landau. Don't be sad, you are not to blame. We are all at a loss to make sense of this destruction, we are merely considering all possibilities. This knight may be able to help us, once this danger is gone we can return to our village, free from this fear. We must take this chance lad, anything you know that can shed knowledge would be wise to reveal."

  Landau wiped his eyes and gave no argue. Clancey remained calm but suspected Landau had a secret to concede, and Jema's scrutiny would be sufficient enough.

  They travelled the northern bridge to 'The Iron Ladle' inn and Landau hoped he looked presentable in the presence of a knight, uncertain of how intimidating he may be.

  He observed the tavern, he had only ever seen Clancey's before, and this was larger, yet lacked any warmth or merriment. The few patrons he passed seemed depressed to be here, glowering at him like a cow in a paddock of horses. He kept his head low while Clancey ushered him upstairs, to knock on a door at the end of the hall.

  Within seconds a young man appeared, lightly armored and dapper looking with golden hair and a dimpled grin. The squire welcomed them inside before retreating to the corner. Against the fire an older man approached in his young fifties, with a grey, frizzled beard; his attire was unfamiliar but very regal, his decorative breast-plate was silver and light, and engraved with thin curved lines, scarred with faint scratches from the odd stray weapon, worn over a doublet of black stitching, that poked through his rerebrace. His armor was dark but shone a stately silver in the glare of the fireplace, but his crowning achievement was a long velvet cloak that draped behind him, thick like a blanket that descended to the instep, and his hair was white as snow, tied in a neat pony-tail to reveal his narrow face. With a stern look the knight glanced at Clancey in acknowledgement they had spoken of him earlier. He shook his hand and pulled up a chair beside a table.

  "My name is Jema son, over there is my squire Samson, he helps an old man like me out. We are servants of Queen Anduniel, our role is to defend Ruun and keep it safe from any and all danger. Ruun is void of most perils, which does an old man like me just fine, alas, that is why we are here. I don't know of these monsters that attacked your village son, there are many strange creatures in this world and beginning to understand them all is a task on its own. I am interested as to why they attacked you." Jema paced around Landau's chair. "I need your help to understand this disaster, one I’ve heard you may know something about."

  He reached into his satchel, and in his hand was the other blue gemstone.

  "Your friend here is quite the treasure hunter I'm told, alas he is unaware of the relevance of this stone. He tells me this is yours."

  Though his voice was ever calm, every word he uttered came with a browbeat stare. In his palm the swirling texture of the gemstone t
aunted him, before Jema curled his hand, and demanded more seriously.

  "Where did you get this?"

  "In a cave," Landau confessed. "In the woods near our village."

  "You told me of no such cave," said Clancey.

  "When did you find it?"

  "Almost two weeks ago, a couple days before the fall."

  "That's about the time Pollus encountered the fire-spawn in Stone Hills," said Clancey. Landau sweated in a panic, every answer painted him the villain.

  "Tell me about this cave you found."

  "It was dark, Elliott my friend found the gem inside, not far from the entrance. We used it to light the way further, there were dozens of them. We came to a room, kind of man made, all…broken," he struggled to explain.

  Jema held the gemstone in confusion.

  "You're saying this stone was one of many in this cave?"

  Landau gave Jema an anxious nod. The knight groaned, and callously he placed the gemstone on the table, as though Landau’s answer robbed it of all wealth, perturbed in the knight’s sudden sway of interest as he conversed with Clancey out of earshot.

  "I don’t think this stone can be the reason these demons attacked your village."

  "How can you be sure?"

  "Pollus followed these Ash-Spawn all the way to Porthos, why would they travel to your village if there was a cave brimming with these things, and even then why wait until now?" Clancey was at odds to explain it.

  "I imagine your friend took this for its potential worth," Jema said to Landau. "Why not yourself? If there were other stones similar to this one why not take more than a couple, assuming that’s all you took?"

  "I'm not too sure. Many were in the ceiling, far from our reach. At the time we used them to light the way, only later did we think they might be of value. I'm sorry."