Haven Keep (Book 1)

by R. David Bell

  The man spoke. “They are lucky I did not have a horse.”

  Von?

  “I saw what you did to your last one,” Soren said. He did not sound pleased.

  “I am sorry for that. He was more loyal than many men I have known.”

  Flenn was sure it was Von now. How could that be?

  Before he could ask Kaiden rode up to the circle. He was all smiles. “I’m sorry we did not arrive sooner.”

  “I’m just glad you came when you did,” Flenn admitted, meaning every word. He still hadn’t caught his breath. He wanted to ask “How?” but again he was interrupted.

  “Oded!” Von exclaimed, removing his helm. He nearly pulled the other man from his horse.

  “We hoped you were alive!” Oded beamed, climbing down from his horse before Von managed to pull him out of his saddle. Oded embraced Von like a son and both men had tears in their eyes. Von actually trembled. Flenn couldn’t help but feel sorrow for Von’s life. How long had he been away from his homeland and kin. Did he still have any kin? Tears welled in Flenn’s eyes as well. No, Von was alone. He had no family. At least no real family.

  Kole entered the strange gathering, followed by Tostig. Von’s eyes locked on Tostig. Both men grinned openly. Kole could easily see he was intruding, but obviously did not care. He sounded like he had something important to say.

  “Two armies approach from the north,” he announced. “One is nearly upon us, the other only an hour or so away.”

  Tostig’s nods confirmed it. Not that Flenn didn’t believe Kole, but Tostig, Flenn was willing to bet, was nearly never wrong about things of this nature.

  Kole went on. “The nearest army has over three thousand men. The other I am not sure.”

  Not the best time to receive news like this. “Do you know who they are?” Flenn asked.

  “I believe it is the Kragen and the Orlenc.”

  Flenn sighed. “The Orlenc still support Baiden, but the Kragen have all but announced their support for Ky. I do not wish to fight another battle today.” Flenn did not think he could survive another battle. “Have they shown any signs of hostility toward one another?”

  “No,” Kole said. “They parallel each other, and are marching this direction. I believe the closest army is the Kragen.”

  Von made a vexing sound. “We will cut them to the earth.”

  Flenn didn’t doubt Von could do it. How was it possible he fought the way he did? Was it the helms? He noticed Kaiden wore one too, and so did some other man Kaiden did not recognize. Yet it was only Soren and Von that sent the Halfen into retreat.

  “We should do what we can to not have to fight again this day,” Oded advised. He sounded like a man who was used to giving council and just as used to having that council heeded. “We should sue for peace. We will need as many allies as we can get.”

  Von did not appear to like what he heard, but he nodded. He could hear reason when it was spoken.

  Flenn wanted to ask Von and Soren a question, but he could not quite formulate it the way he wanted to. “How?” was all he could say.

  Everyone turned to look at him, not understanding the question. Everyone except Von and Soren. Both their eyes met Flenn’s, but they did not say a word.

  Once again Flenn was denied an answer. Baiden rode up to the circle. Flenn thought he should still be in bed, but it wasn’t his place to say. Or maybe it was, he was Baiden’s councilor after all.

  “Has the pursuit ended?” Oded asked.

  “Not quite,” Baiden answered. “They are broken though, nearly finished. Some will escape, but there is some good news.”

  “And that is?” Von asked.

  “A large portion of Oded’s forces arrived to help in the pursuit of the routed Halfen.”

  “Then we will have our own army,” Von exclaimed.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The battle field was littered with discarded weapons and the bodies of the dead, fallen men that had given their lives for their homeland. Some of the wounded could be heard moaning or crying for help. Von wanted to speak with Oded, and Tostig as well, but there were those that needed help. Some might die if they did not receive help now. Others would die anyway.

  Von fought back tears, not knowing if it was for his friends and kinsmen, he thought of them that way now, or for the memories that came to the surface upon seeing Oded. Memories of his home, of his mother, his brother, the people. Memories of his father. Oded had served him so well.

  He could remember Oded standing at his father’s side. They were both so strong. Nothing could harm them. They were the symbols of the empire. Then the Horde came. If his father could not stand against the Horde how could he?

  Von looked with regret towards Oded, then turned to take care of the ones he could help. Wellen and Corren moved through the wounded. They appeared disheveled and haggard, it was obvious they had participated in the fighting earlier. Their skills as healers would be needed more this day. Von caught Corren’s eye and Corren gave him a knowing look. The young cleric knew about the sword. He had seen Von wield it. Helped him forge it. He knew other things about Von as well. Did all the clerics know?

  Von bent over the first man he came across. He did not recognize the man, but that didn’t matter. Von helped the man to his feet. There was a nasty gash across his forehead that was probably the cause of him falling from his horse. At least that was what Von guessed happened, why his arm was twisted in three places that it should not have been. This man would live. Von found a place for him to sit and bandaged his head. When the man was as comfortable as possible Von found someone else to help.

  There were wounded men everywhere. Von helped where he could, bandaging and tying tourniquets. Wellen and Corren helped everyone. Von couldn’t bring himself to. He passed over the Halfen. They could die for all he cared. Maybe that made him a horrible person, maybe not, but he did not feel they deserved his mercy.

  Women came running from Azmark to help with the dead and wounded. Von saw Alensa at the head of the group. She was as noble as her husband. Just the sight of her would give some of these men the will to live. Von searched for Anora among the group, but did not see her. Where was she? He couldn’t think of much else since the end of the battle. He wanted to know she was safe.

  When the women arrived on the scene they took over, taking direction only from the clerics, but letting everyone else know exactly how each “patient” should be treated. Von didn’t mind, they did a much better job than he, and possessed a gentler hand. Those who could move on their own were bandaged up and helped to their feet or onto horseback. Those who could not were placed on litters or a stretcher.

  Von continued to help where he could. He no longer saw Baiden or Oded moving through the wounded. He wondered where they’d gotten off to. He wanted desperately to talk with Oded, but he was nowhere to be found. Tostig disappeared as well. So had Kaiden. Yaris stayed close to Von. It was as if he looked to Von as a protector. Most here would not look upon him too kindly if they knew who he was or how he came to be here.

  Von sought ought Alensa, who was still giving aid where she could to the injured. She would have to do.

  “My lady,” Von said to her as he approached. Yaris still shadowed him.

  “My lord,” she responded, causing Von and her to receive numerous questioning looks. Alensa ignored the looks as if they didn’t happen, but it made Von more than a little uncomfortable. Not everyone knew who he was yet. He didn’t know how they would all respond, nor how he would take their changed perception of him. He wondered if Anora knew. He hoped not, he wanted her to love him for who he was, not who his parents were.

  Von stopped just short of Alensa, but she stepped forward and threw her arms around him.

  “I just knew you were alive.” Von was sure she meant Kaiden as well. “You just had to be.”

  “We are fine,” Von said. “I trust all is well.”

  “As well as can be expected.”

  Von couldn’t wait any lo
nger. “I have not seen Anora. Is she still within the gates?”

  Alensa shook her head. “She has gone to Delpher to win support from the Celtens.”

  Delpher? The capital of the Celtens. Why would she need to do that? “Jeret would never betray Baiden,” Von said. “The Celtens have always stood closely to the Kailfen. Surely she did not need to risk traveling there at a time like this.”

  “Jeret is dead Von.” Alensa’s eyes looked suddenly sadder.

  Von was stunned. How? That man was nearly as tough as Baiden.

  Alensa continued and answered Von’s question as she did. “The Halfen attacked us on our way to Stone Abbey. Jeret was slain, Dethan leads them now.”

  Von remembered Yaris saying men had been sent after Baiden. Von looked at him sideways. Yaris appeared to be trying to sink back into himself.

  “Dethan will follow in his fathers footsteps.” Von felt the need to convince her. “There is no way he will do otherwise.” Von was sure. He knew Dethan. They were friends.

  “I wish it were that simple.” Alensa looked tired. She sighed and continued. “Ky’s lies have spread like a fast moving poison. Anora did not understand why Dethan did not immediately throw his support behind Baiden. Baiden and I understood he needed to mourn his father and sort things through in his own mind.”

  “What kind of things?”

  “Well, you for one.”

  Von’s shoulders slumped. “Me? How does he know of me?” Anora knew then. Well, maybe that would just make him more attractive to her.

  “Ky has known for some time,” Alensa informed him. “We think he has been in touch with the Horde.” Von was conscious of Yaris shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably. “He is spreading lies to the other clan chiefs. He says Baiden intends to use you to carve out a new empire here in the north.”

  “That is crazy,” Von protested, at the same time he looked at Yaris. Yaris kept his eyes down. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

  Alensa smiled a weak smile. “I know that, and you know that, but others wonder. They have been a long time without an emperor. Many don’t want another one.”

  Von nodded. He understood. “But Anora, she did not need to go.”

  “Her father and I felt the same way, but she left on her own.” She must have seen something in Von’s face. “Don’t worry Von.” She put a hand on his shoulder. “I know how she feels about you and she doesn’t even know you are anything more than a freed bond servant.”

  Von was puzzled. How could she not know if Dethan and the other clans knew?

  Again Alensa must have read his thoughts from his expression. “Most in our clan do not yet know. Anora and I were too far away from the Halfen to hear everything that was said before they attacked, but Dethan heard and understood. Or at least he was able to puzzle it out later. Anora has not been let in on the secret.” She smiled at him. “Was that not what you commanded? Tell no one else?” She looked at Yaris, wondering if she had said too much and in so doing disobeyed the command she was just referring to.

  “I seem to remember saying something like that,” Von admitted, forcing a smile. “I’m sorry to have been rude.” He gestured to Yaris. “This is Yaris.” He left out the details about who he was. That would come out later he was sure. “He is loyal to me. I trust him. Yaris, this is the lady Alensa, wife of Baiden son of Baiden.”

  Alensa nodded to him almost a bow.

  Yaris did bow, very deeply. “My lady,” he said.

  “If you are a friend of Von’s you are a friend of mine,” Alensa said. “We welcome you to Azmark.” She left the unspoken question unspoken, for which Von was grateful.

  Yaris seemed pleased with that. “Thank you, my lady.”

  “Do you know where Baiden or Oded are?” Von asked.

  “They went to go meet the lady Elizbet. She is leading some of her forces here to help defend Azmark, if need be.”

  The lady Elizbet? He could not remember any lady Elizbet. “Her forces?” He wondered to aloud.

  Alensa took it as a question. “It is hard to tell who actually leads the army from the south. From my understanding it is a number of groups that have come together for the first time in years. I think Oded leads, but he denies it, and seems to defer to this lady Elizbet. I have not met her. Kaiden has. There seems to be other leaders as well.”

  Von grinned widely and nodded. He remembered Kaiden speaking of some beautiful lady he had met. She was married, from what he remembered hearing Kaiden say. Maybe that was why he did not recognize the name. When women from the south marry their name is changed. If she was married within the last eight years she would be going by a different name than the one Von had known her by. If he had known her at all.

  “What are you laughing at?” Alensa asked.

  “Nothing,” Von chuckled, not wanting to embarrass Kaiden. “Nothing.”

  At that moment, riders appeared over the low hills to the north. Eight of them. It wasn’t an army, but that didn’t mean the army was not still coming. They rode forward with their banners held high, indicating they had a message to deliver. Von could not make out the banners from this distance, but if he needed to guess he would say it was the eight Masters of the Fire Islands which belonged to the Kragen. The Masters of the Fire Islands were nearly chiefs in their own right. Each island was almost its own little clan, the smallest two islands governed under one master. The Masters were loyal to the Kragen chief. Von remembered Flenn saying something about the Kragen all but announcing their support for Ky. He could deal with these eight men himself. Especially with Yaris to help.

  A hand touched his arm and he jumped. He did not realize he had become so tense.

  Alensa spoke. “Be at ease. They come under a flag of peace.”

  Von tried to relax and listen to the rest of what she had to say.

  “I do not see my husband here so I will need to ride out to meet them. Will you accompany me?”

  “Of course,” Von agreed. “Yaris, procure us three horses.”

  Yaris turned to do his masters bidding.

  “Make it four if you can find Soren.” Von hadn’t seen him in a while, but maybe Yaris would have some luck.

  Yaris returned quickly with three horses and no Soren. This would have to do.

  “Protect the lady if need be. That is your only task,” Von told Yaris. Yaris acknowledged with a nod.

  The three of them rode slowly to meet the eight men. As they approached Von could see that indeed it was the Eight Masters. He hoped he did not have to kill them.

  Von and Yaris flanked Alensa like an honor guard. She rode ahead of the men as if she were a battle queen from the old tales Von often heard around the campfire.

  They met the Masters half way across the field of battle. The eight men were all dressed in heavy armor and carried their shields and swords. All carried a battleaxe as well. The Masters always carried those.

  One of them, a big graying man, with hard angled features spoke. “My lady.” He nodded a greeting. “My name is Rall. These are my companions.” He gestured to each man in turn. “Ulfgar, Riktor, Zor, Lloyd, Hames, Vredrik, and Gellien.” The men each nodded as his own name was spoken. “We seek your husband.” His eyes flickered to Von for a moment, then rested again on Alensa. The one he named Riktor let his eyes rest on Von and never took them off. Von watched them all warily.

  “He is not here,” she said cooly. “I can take any message you desire to him. I assure you he will receive it within the day.”

  “We had hoped to speak with him in person,” Rall said. His eyes flickered once more to Von. Von stopped himself from fumbling with his sword hilt. No need to make them nervous. He wished he knew how to keep himself from being overly anxious.

  “As I said, he is not here, but you are welcome to wait within the walls of Azmark.”

  Von liked that. If they came in peace there was no reason for them to decline. If not they would become hostages. By refusing they would show their true design.


  “We accept your gracious offer,” Rall said without hesitation, “but we would deliver our message first to put your mind at ease.”

  “Please do.”

  Alensa sounded all milk and honey. By the tone of her voice no one who did not know her well would have thought she was fearful at all. Von knew she was terrified. He fingered his dagger and his sword this time.

  “I regret to inform you that Bethoc has committed treason.”

  Alensa’s posture visibly sank, like an additional weight was placed on her shoulders.

  “Do not fear. The Kragen still stand with you. Bethoc has gone to Stone Abbey with two of his councilors, Sigmund and Ulf. Gunnar was to remain behind to raise the forces of the Kragen and join them to Ky.”

  “And he has done this?” Von asked.

  “Not exactly,” Rall said. “The forces of the Kragen have gathered, including the men from the fire islands, but we stand behind Gunnar in opposition to Bethoc. Bethoc is part of the faction that plans to depose your husband and install Ky in his place. They will vote at the new moon.” He shook his head in disgust, then smiled at Alensa as if he knew some private joke. “Your beauty, my lady is even greater than I had heard, but the Kragen cannot condone betraying our country because of it.”

  Von was shocked. Was that supposed to be some kind of compliment or insult? He couldn’t puzzle it out. If it was an insult, Von was going to make him regret it. And this talk of installing Ky as Lord of the North, he would end that before it started. The new moon was just two days away. He would need to ride hard to get there in time.

  Another of the Masters spoke. Zor, Von thought his name was.