Chapter Eleven – The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep by Kelly D. Tolman

Posted by admin on December 8, 2008

The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep is a fantasy novel describing the adventures of Colter Halfspear as he becomes a man and an initiate of magical powers.

Torbridge rode up a few minutes after the rumbling stopped. His horse’s eyes rolled wildly with fear and exhaustion. A few soldiers straggled behind him. “You’d best come with us if you want to stay safe,” he ordered. But Iven just laughed.

“And what will you do that I can’t?” The smith planted his feet and mocked the captain. “Go on Torbridge, go rally the peasants back in Havensod.”

“You, boy, come with me!” It was more of a plea than an order. I think that was the first time I started to realize that my name had real meaning to people in the wide world. He moved to grab me, but I recoiled and he turned and rode away screaming, “Fools!”

In the valley below a few more eruptions shook the plain before the earth everywhere let out a great sigh. Straggling bands of Kaarum wandered north while straggling bands of soldiers wandered south. The great Kaarum warlord lies buried deep in the earth now along with Lord Kelsin. Bent and broken corpses littered the valley floor along with the scattered remains of weapons and wagons. I clutched my spear and retched again.

“Best use of a spear I’ve seen in a long time,” commented Iven.

“I agree,” said a voice I didn’t recognize until I turned around. There stood the stranger from the night before, quietly surveying the valley. His face was as cold as stone, but his wrinkles made it look like he was smiling even in the face of such destruction.

“Everywhere you go death follows, Pascalli,” said Iven. “Not even Kaarum deserve to die like that.”

“At another time I might debate that point with you,” replied Pascalli calmly. “For now let my work speak for itself. There is no question how I feel about the Kaarum or their masters or their servants.”

“And what of the men?” The smith screamed back. It is a testament to me of the gravity of the violence I witnessed that Iven would lose his temper. Passionate as he was, I never knew him to blink an eye at seeing a man crushed or burned or have a limb cut off. “They have done nothing.”

“I came to warn them, my friend,” replied Pascalli calmly. “Would there be more alive if I had let the Kaarum slaughter them? Would there be less suffering if I had waited? I tried to keep them back but I could not.”

“That is no way for a man to die.” Iven sulked.

“And I am sorry you witnessed it. You should have waited by the wagon. One of you at least has the sense to do as they are told. Scratch, my boy, come here.” Of course I obeyed. I had done nothing more than obey since leaving home. “Let me see.” He looked into my eyes in a way that only Pascalli could look. I felt as if he were searching my soul, looking for some spark of fate that he could ignite. I tried to hide it, and the harder I tried the wider his grin grew until he chuckled and said, “So it is true after all.”

“What’s true, sir,” I asked.

Again Pascalli chuckled. “A fool’s dream, that’s what. Now no more nonsensical questions until you are old enough to not understand them properly. Where are your things? Where is your horse?”

One thing about Pascalli that I always found interesting was his way of constantly asking questions but always refusing to answer them. For example, when I asked “Where are we going?”

He replied, “Ha, and what sort of silliness is that. I might just as well ask what you mean by that. Where are we going now? Nowhere. We are eating lunch right here. Later today? South, generally. Perhaps to Havensod and perhaps not. To Darnuth Keep. Ultimately? Who knows? Where are we going in life, you might just as well give up on that one. In fact, I would suggest you give up asking altogether until you are a bit older, say two hundred or so. Just keep your eyes and ears open and the answers will come when you need them.”

“Who are you?” I persisted.

“I see you won’t be satisfied without a few answers at least,” he said. He smiled broad and laughed as if the battle never happened. “I’ve nearly forgotten what it is to be curious and ignorant.” If he saw my frown he ignored it. “My name is Pascalli, at least that is what I am generally called. I am a wizard. To some I am The Wizard. To others I am other things, both better and worse. You may call me Pascalli or master, for I will continue the training that Iven has started.”

“What do you want with me?” My head reeled with unanswered questions.

He laughed again. “That is a question with many answers, most of which you could not possibly misunderstand correctly. Let us say simply that you and I share the same goals, and a part of the same destiny. I fight the Kaarum. More specifically I seek to destroy them utterly. You will help me. In time we may even succeed. At the moment it does not matter. The fact that Harrim Wilder finally saw fit to thrust you upon the world is at least a sign that things may begin to right themselves.” He saw the question in my eyes. “How I know the innkeeper and why are not questions I shall answer at the moment. Nor shall I bother with the dozen other you would conjure if I didn’t stop you. At the moment I want lunch.”

Between Pascalli and Iven existed a kind of quiet alliance that teetered on hatred but was held together by contempt of both the Kaarum and the injustice of men. I could plainly see that Iven trusted the wizard as he trusted no other man, but that he liked him no better than Torbridge. I found myself drawn to his smile, but a silent warning in my mind told me to tread carefully.

Though the Eastern Watch largely destroyed the Kaarum that day, they suffered tremendous losses. Many soldiers deserted following the destruction and the surviving officers spent the next markets searching for them or hunting the starving pockets of Kaarum. Pascalli had several loose ends to tie up in Havensod, most of which had little to do with me. He had contracted the help of a group of people very much unknown to me, and as I gathered unknown to anyone in the empire. First, however, Iven, Pascalli and I returned to Havensod. While I still remained a soldier in the imperial army and I remained Iven’s charge, Pascalli directed our affairs now and I am certain he didn’t take more than one eye off of me for longer than an instant.

Havensod is a favorite home for merchants, travelers and rogues. Most towns of any size are wonderful to visit, but Havensod has a peculiar kind of warmth about it that welcomes travelers. Inns, taverns, warehouses, shops, bazaars; all of the wonderful places a city should have mixed with the earthy roots of the farmers that built it. The few remaining old families who made Havensod their permanent residence were very old indeed and still mingled their blood with gentleman farmers in the surrounding region. The new permanent families were likewise very few in number and included wealthy merchants tired of their travels but still hungry for news of the world outside. Everyone else visited but never stayed. Shops changed owners almost as quickly as turnips, and the merchant selling beads one market would be gone the next only to return in a five market or a summer peddling pots or rugs. Of all the major cities in the empire, only Havensod openly welcomed foreigners, though few rarely crossed the eastern mountains or made the long trek from the south.

In those days alliances had yet to be forged with the kingdoms across the Shadowspines, and the Darkunders remained under suspicion. Havensod provided a sort of door to the empire for such folk. Pascalli bundled me into the back of the wagon and we entered the town just as dusk fell on the highway. “Here your name is Buck,” he told me. “Don’t you forget it. No mention of battles or Kaarum here, do you understand?”

“Yes,” I mumbled, not really understanding.

“You are a servant in my employ for about the last thirty markets. I treat you harshly. If anyone asks questions, show them your scars and mumble something about me beating you.”

A question started in my throat but he cut it off.

“I’ve neither time nor inclination to explain. Suffice to say that you are in real danger while in Havensod and that Iven and I are your only friends. Now in you go and keep your head down.”

Pascalli chose for our lodging one Blue Dragon inn. The place tickled my nose slightly with the odor of refuse behind the smoke and ale. Pascalli pulled the wagon around behind the inn and hopped out. “Stable the horses. Then bring our gear up to my room,” he growled.

I jumped to obey. Iven returned to the local guard headquarters and left me alone to unload everything. Apparently Pascalli gave orders that I was to do the job myself since none of the inn’s servants lent a hand. I did not finish until late into the night, and when I did Pascalli sent me off to find a corner to sleep with the servants. I collapsed in an exhausted heap on a pile of dirty straw and fell instantly into a deep slumber.

On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Twelve

Back to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Ten

Share and Enjoy: