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

Posted by admin on February 9, 2009

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.

I left them with their daughter in the late afternoon sun and headed towards the farm where I knew my companions would be waiting.  I barely left the little road that wound away from the farm when a group of four horsemen approached.  I noticed something familiar about the way their leader held himself and decided to see who they were.  As we drew closer I noticed Torbridge’s crisply clean uniform.  He led three imperial troops toward Delvin’s farm.  He didn’t recognize me at first.  I had grown up a great deal.  I wore my new mail comfortably, and though the sword was still strapped across my shoulder, it fit there properly.  I now moved more like a soldier and less like a farmer.  The most striking change though, would have been the length I added to my legs.

Behind him rode Lyekal.  The smith’s son also carried himself like a soldier now.  I noticed a new scar on his chin only slightly visible beneath the stubble he grew to cover it.  The sword at his belt was one of the many we had turned out prior to the battle of Havensod.  Most likely he had scavenged it from an officer who no longer could use it.

“Hallo!” called Torbridge and I slowed to greet them.  I must have made an instinctive motion to my bow because his next words surprised me.  “You’ve no need to draw against soldiers of the empire, lad.  Can you direct me to the farm of Master Delvin?”  I pointed back the way I had come and then he recognized me.
“Scratch, my lad, I’m amazed to see you alive and well.  His lordship the governor requests your company.”  He motioned to his soldiers to surround me and I offered no resistance.

I saw no point to struggling.  I couldn’t fight all of them, and I knew that Pascalli and Iven were relatively close.  When they missed me they would come and get me.  “Hello, captain,” I said.  “Hello, Lyekal.  I’m glad to see the army has treated you well.”  Lyekal avoided my eyes and kept quiet.

“I’ve been sent to help some farmer that complains about missing chickens,” muttered Torbridge.  “Do you know anything about it?”

“They were also missing their children,” I replied.  “I found their daughter this morning.  We killed the creature earlier.  You’ve nothing left to do here.”

“It’s too far to ride back tonight.  Where can I find this farmer?”

I turned my mount and they followed me back to the farmstead.  Delvin stepped onto the porch to watch us.  I let Torbridge take the lead as we approached.

“We’ve had reports of chickens killed in the area,” said Torbridge.  “I understand the creature was caught and killed.”

“That’s right,” said Delvin.  “You’ve arrived too late to save my son, though the young master brought back our daughter.”

“We’ll need to stay tonight,” said Torbridge.  “We can stay in the barn.  Bring supper when it’s ready.”

Delvin nodded.  “Is the lad to stay as well?” he asked.

“Dunroust, the imperial regent has requested his company,” replied the captain.  “We’re to escort him to Havensod.”

Delvin nodded again, but his eyes jumped to mine and I knew he didn’t trust the captain’s story.  “We’ve just prepared a meal.  Come inside and join us.”
We took the horses into the barn and stabled them carefully.  Torbridge had lost none of his exactness for his personal care and grooming.  His boots shined as brightly as ever.  Most soldiers of the Eastern Watch dressed only as well as they could afford.  Most seldom shaved or even bathed.  Except for a bit of stubble on their faces Torbridge’s men appeared as groomed as courtiers.  I followed them slowly back into the farmhouse.

“I’ve found the bowls we keep for special guests,” said Jiora.  “I see you’ve traveled far, captain.  Would you and your men care for some of our blackberry wine?  Delvin put it up himself a few summers back.  We don’t often get visitors here.”

“Thank you,” said Torbridge.  “I’m sure we will be delighted.”

“There’s only so much as can go around, I’m afraid, my dear,” she said to Delvin.  “Just enough for the soldiers.”

“Not to worry, love.  Summer will be here soon enough and I shall make some more.”

The meal passed peacefully though the conversation was strained throughout.  Torbridge saw that I received water, though his men finished the last drop of the wine.

“Have you heard anything of Wess?” I asked Lyekal as we finished the meal.  “I’ve had little news since the battle.”

Lyekal glanced at Torbridge, but the captain seemed caught up in his wine.  “We were separated when the fighting started.  We were among the first ranks to meet the Kaarum.  Most were killed in the initial attack.  Others became stranded in the middle.  Only a few escaped when the ground began to swallow everything in sight.  Nobody has seen anything of Wess.  He was presumed dead or deserted, which is the same thing.”

“Any news from Dunston?  I’ve not had a chance to visit,” I said.

“Neither have I,” replied Lyekal.  “I left for good.  Soldiering is good work, and profitable too when it comes to that.  I’ve set by a few coins and I’ve a girl in Havensod now.  You were a fool to leave.  Word is you’re wanted now.”

“That’s enough, corporal.”  Torbridge cut in.  “Scratch’s business with the lord regent is not your business, nor is it mine.  He is our guest.  I see you’re still riding the same horse you bought in Havensod last summer.”

“We had no time or chance for breaking new mounts,” I said.  I felt he was hunting information, but I had little enough to tell.  “I’ve been busy these past markets.”

“Of course,” replied Torbridge.  “Learning a new trade is hard work.  How is Iven?  I see you are alone at the moment.”

“He’ll be along to fetch me soon enough,” I said.

“I thought he would take you straight home to Anascrag.  He seemed anxious to return to his forge.”

“We had business to settle here first.  An old debt.”  Torbridge raised a questioning eyebrow.  I knew he didn’t believe me, but he remained curious.  “I’ve learned a fair amount in our travels, though.  The forge can be cruel master.”  I looked into Lyekal’s eyes.  “It can also be very profitable.”

“As I’ve explained to the corporal, there is always profit in war,” said Torbridge.  “Courage and a steady hand will always bring honor and glory to those strong enough to overcome.”

“I don’t see the good that comes from men dying,” I said.

“There is more to fighting a war than killing.  You’ve an opportunity to see that now.  Havensod was horrible.  I won’t deny that, but it was also a chance for those strong enough to survive.  I’ve the ear of the regent now, and the means to help you become a great man if you want it.”

“You and your men must be tired,” interrupted Jiora.  “See they’re already nodding.  You’ll want to make an early start, no doubt.  There’s plenty of room in the barn, though the hay’s not as fresh as one might like.  With all the trouble we’ve had, a few chores remain unfinished.”
Torbridge remembered his manners.  “Thank you my good lady.  You’ve served us better than I would ever have imagined.  I am certain we will be perfectly comfortable in the barn and I hope the intrusion will not be too great.”

After consuming far more than the farm could afford, the soldiers wandered into the barn.  One by one they drifted off while I looked into the mountains, wondering what had happened to Pascalli and Iven.  In the morning the soldiers continued to sleep long after I awoke at my usual time before the sun began to stir.  I wandered over to the farmhouse and found Delvin waiting for me.

“They should sleep until mid-day at least,” explained Delvin.

“He’ll be angry when he finds out,” I warned.  “Thanks for your help.”

“You’ve given us life and purpose again, my boy.  If ever you need a friend, you can find one here.”

He brought out my horse and saddle.  Jiora met me with a bit of bread and butter to take with me.  She hugged me as she would her own son and kissed me on the forehead.  “Come back again when you have a chance, my dear,” she said.

Pascalli and Iven met me only a short way along the road.

“Iven told me you chased something into the brush.  I’m glad it didn’t eat you.”  He laughed.

“Delvin and his family are nice people,” I replied.  “But Torbridge came looking for the creature.  He’s still sleeping in their barn.”

“I imagine it won’t go well when he wakes up,” said Iven.  “That man has ambitions, and you’re a key to some of them.”

I noticed that the smith led a mule, and it had been packed with a couple of bags.  “You bought supplies?” I asked.

“The beast had a small treasure,” replied Pascalli.  “Iven and I have put aside a share for you, and the farmer was generous enough to sell us a few things.”

“I would like to leave some with Delvin.  Torbridge has already taken more from them than they could afford, and without their son, planting will be hard.”

“I’ll swing back around later,” said the wizard.  “I don’t think you should see Torbridge again just now.  You’ve done well, Scratch, but let’s not push luck beyond its limits.”

Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman

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