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

Posted by admin on March 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 dismounted and looked to Quivain’s wound. The hurt was very bad, but not mortal. Always while in the wild I had remembered to practice my little lore of herbs and roots, and Pascalli had an uncanny ability to know precisely the use of everything we passed. To my great delight the wizard answered those questions as freely as if he felt it a challenge to see if I would ever weary of tapping the well of his knowledge. In truth I never tired of learning the lore of the woods. I often collected seeds when the season was right, and wherever we traveled I tried to gather more so that when at long last we came to some rest I would be able to plant a little garden. Quivain’s luck dictated that I have some bloodsap I had collected only a few days earlier which I applied gingerly.

His determined grimace mocked me as I performed my little surgery. I picked out the shards of bone and stopped the bleeding with the bloodsap. When I asked if he had a clean cloth for a bandage he produced a fine silk handkerchief. After a few long moments I had reduced the danger of gangrene and substantially increased his comfort.

“Light me a pipe, lad,” he asked, his tone no longer jeering. He indicated a pouch at his side. I did as he asked, finding both pipe and fuel inside, as well as a few coins a necklace and a ring. I had gold enough of my own, but I was curious why a man of his obvious vanity would refrain from wearing the jewelry. “You’ve a skilled hand at surgery,” he said when his pipe was lit.

“I’m sorry I haven’t got anything to ease your pain,” I replied. “I’m sure there are roots in the area, but it would take time to find them, and I still need to deal with your rocky friend.”

Sometimes a realization comes upon us with such force it literally changes us into a different person. I believe that as soon as the words escaped my mouth I had such an experience. How stupid could I be! I went chasing hopelessly after the servant when clearly the master was at hand. So the lesson, or at least part of the lesson that Pascalli tried to teach me I learned. The situation required more thought than action, and perhaps more skill with words than with swords.

Quivain seemed to guess my thoughts, though I imagine it was not difficult for him to do so. “At least you’ve discovered that killing me will not stop it. Although it might have saved you some trouble anyway.” He winked. There must have been something special in his pipe for he no longer seemed to be in pain.
“I’m not going to kill you,” I replied. I was now tired and frustrated and confused, but determined to get my answers from him. “I just put you back together again. All I want to do is clear the road.” The words were out before I realized how pathetic they must have sounded to someone like Quivain.
He laughed. He laughed a mocking laugh that bit at my heart with its spite. “The road will be clear in time,” he said. “Why not just go around?”
I didn’t really have an answer, but I said, “Because I don’t want to. Now either make the thing go away or tell me how to do it.”

“Or what?” he asked, his tone incredulous. “You won’t kill me, you already said that, and I won’t be threatened. You may take me prisoner, but I promise you’ll regret it everyday if you do, not that I wouldn’t escape, of course.”

“I have no use for prisoners,” I answered. “What would I do with you?” He rolled his eyes at this question, and started to speak, but I cut him short. “I can’t turn you in for bounty,” I said quickly. That statement surprised him.

“What? Why not?”

I squirmed a little in my mind, and I felt my face flush. “Because imperial agents are looking for me,” I said. His eyes widened with a surprise that even this master rogue could not conceal.

“Surely, lad, you jest. I’ve traveled many a road with many a rogue and few I’ve known to attract the ire of the emperor. Most do little more than stir up trouble for a minor lord or lady now and again.”

“I’m not sure if he’s angry,” I said. “The emperor I mean. He just wants to talk to me and I don’t want to talk to him, that’s all. Now look, why don’t you clear that thing off the road and you can come with us for a while. I can guarantee you’ll be safe from anyone looking for you as long as you’re with us, and you will be free to leave whenever you want.” I was certain he would think me mad. I could tell he was seriously considering his options, but at last he agreed.

“Very well, lad, I agree.” His eyes sparkled dangerously, and he put forward the hand from his undamaged arm. As I took it, he said, “Now fetch me a horse and I’ll see about old rocky.”

By now the forest for several meters in all directions had been vigorously damaged by the raging tumult. Branches and rubble lay strewn everywhere I looked.
The caravan had now managed to gather itself together and was preparing to move out the way they just came. Finding an extra mount turned out to be less difficult than I first imagined. Quivain’s outlaw band was well outfitted, and I turned up a stray in just a few moments. I didn’t see how it happened, but by the time I returned with the horse, the rumbling stopped, and now the quiet felt nearly deafening. In place of the whirling mass of earth and stone was a patch of road as smooth as anyone could desire. Though signs of rubble and broken trees remained, the road and all the dirt had returned to make the pathway straight. A cry arose among the caravan at the silence and they turned to investigate.

Pascalli stood up as I led Quivain to where he had waited patiently for me to put an end to the trouble. “I’ll have that ring, Master Blackhand,” he said.
“It’s not yours on any account, and I certainly wouldn’t want it falling into the wrong hands.”

“Who are you and what are you talking about?” Quivain looked from Pascalli to me. His eyes betrayed both confusion and anger. “What’s this all about?”

“No games, Quivain, and do not attempt to play the fool with me. I have a genuine fool to watch over daily,” he directed his eyes at me. “Knowing the difference is a sort of specialty of mine. The ring,” he repeated.

“Who are you,” Quivain asked. His tone was direct and all pretenses gone.

“I am the master of all that was broken. You’ve a trinket in your pocket that will bring you grief in the end, and I am glad it has fallen to me.” Pascalli towered over the smaller man, and though his words rolled out calmly they held an air of authority.

“If I refuse?” inquired the rogue.

“You cannot,” said Pascalli as bluntly as I had ever heard him say anything. “You will give or I will take.” He uttered the last phrase with a finality that could not be missed.

Quivain conceded. He took the ring from his pouch and tossed it at Pascalli. “Anything else, while I’m giving things away?”
Pascalli snatched the ring from the air and it quickly disappeared to one of his many pockets. “You’ve nothing else of worth,” he replied. “Unless you value your life, which I doubt.” Then he turned to me. “I see you finally managed to think your way out of that mess, though by the look of you it was a hard lesson to learn and one I hope you don’t forget.”

“Of course not,” I grimbled.

“I imagine you promised this person you would let him tag a long whether I wanted him or not?” Pascalli had resumed his usual merry tone, and I couldn’t tell if I was in any real trouble or not.

“Yes, well, I told him he could travel with us. I didn’t see any harm in it,” I said.

“I’m sure you didn’t,” replied Pascalli. “I do see the harm, or potential harm, as well as the potential good. However, it is another lesson you will be able to learn all on your own, and in due time. But you still haven’t done what I asked you to do before this entire mess started. Go and get us employment with that caravan before they decide to leave us all behind. I should like to speak with the merchant. There is news of the wide world I want to hear. Off you go Scratch, and take your prize with you.” He pointed to Quivain who followed me as I mounted my horse and rode back to the caravan.

On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Twenty Five

Back to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Twenty Three

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