Chapter Twenty Eight – The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep by Kelly D. Tolman
Posted by admin on April 6, 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 admit I had tried not to think much of home in all my journeys. I asked for pen and parchment, and she had none, for she did not write and had no use for them. I still had some money and when I asked for directions to a shop, she put it out of my head quickly and instead offered to go and buy them for me. That is when I posted my first letter. Master Baghorn knew of a merchant seeking profit in Havensod by way of the smaller villages. The merchant agreed to deliver my letter.
True to her word I did not lift a finger while a guest in Iven’s home. I thought he would be angry with me loafing about, or just watching him idly at the forge. He was a changed man. A thousand worries vanished from his face. His sons are older than me, and had already married, though they lived close by.
“I’ve an idea of how to build some of those machines the Veldmen used,” said Iven as he idly swept the floor of his shop. His home and workshop sat next to the canal that ran through the artisan district, and a small waterwheel powered some of his machines. “My wire puller needs repair anyway, and I’d like to try it with steam this time.”
“Sounds like a fine idea, but you’ll need lime I think if you want to pull it that fast,” I said.
“Your right about that, though I think I know where to get it. I’ve a bit of coin laid by from our travels. If you’ve finished your letter home, I’d find it a favor if you could find those old drawings we made and sort them out for me.”
I found our sketches in the half un-packed bags, and worked easily. Iven’s home was large, and the balcony upstairs offered a view of the street where I could watch the colorful traffic of the city. The university of Anascrag stood on a low hill not far from the shop, and students and nobles frequented the road. Further out the dome of Tylos’ temple dominated the center of the city. I counted three palaces in the northern half of the city, with the largest occupying a hill in the northwest.
Pascalli knocked on the door just about supper time some two markets later. My gear had been repaired, my horse replaced, and he even supplied me with new clothes and a new hat. I accepted the gifts, reluctantly, and he saw the question in my eyes. “You’ll look the ragtag again soon enough, don’t worry about that. In the meantime we’ve other matters to attend to which require a slight change of appearance.”
“When do we leave?” I asked.
“As soon as you finish your meal,” he replied, and winked at Whinnie. “I’m sorry to call so late, but I’ve not had a chance to drop by sooner. Could you spare a bowl of porridge for an old man?”
“Sit down, at once,” scolded Whinnie. “You leave him and take him as if he were baggage. Porridge it will be for you and nothing better.” Despite her warning, Whinnie served the finest they owned.
Iven seemed a little detached while we ate, and I wondered a bit at his silence. Afterwards he found me to help me pack the few things I owned. He brought me my father’s spear, newly sharpened.
“Do as Pascalli asks,” he counseled. “He still has a mean trick or two up his sleeve, and many hard lessons left for you, but only because he loves you Colter.” He never used my proper name, and for a moment I thought he had said something else.
“I’ll miss you,” I admitted, though I felt odd saying it aloud.
Iven harrumphed, but nodded. “You’ll have little enough time to think of anything, least of all me. But you’re always welcome back here. Remember that. You’ve friends along the way, though maybe no home to go to. Sooner or later that wizard will turn you loose on the world, just don’t forget who your friends are then.”
“I won’t,” I replied.
“And don’t get mixed up with anymore silly girls.”
“I won’t.”
“Or knaves.”
“I won’t.”
“And by Tylos keep your blade sharp and your armor clean.” The smith seemed as full of advice as I had ever known him.
“Do you know where we are going?” I asked.
“It doesn’t really matter. You’ve a future and greatness ahead of you. Already you’ve done more than most men dream. Keep your head and remember the forge you came from.”
Iven hugged me tighter than Whinnie as I said goodbye, and wept as only a father can who is sending off a son who may never return. Whinnie filled my pack with sweet cakes and carefully packaged treats for the journey.
“I’ve little to give you that you might need,” said Whinnie. “There is a nice man who collects strange herbs, and he’s given me some bloodsap and a few leaves of tyrnwood. It isn’t much, but it may be useful.” She gave me a packet of the herbs wrapped in a small cloth.
“Come along, Scratch,” said Pascalli. “We’ve a bit to do yet today.”
I followed the old wizard up a winding lane towards the center of the city. We passed houses and shops which grew larger and larger. The finely combed fields of the wealthy sprawled across the upper portions of the city, and I saw private guards in red and gold livery watch us suspiciously as we rode.
“Don’t bother speaking when we arrive,” said Pascalli.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“To see one of the nobles.” I wanted to know who and why, but restrained the question. “She has information that we can use.”
Pascalli reigned his horse at a tall wrought-iron gate and pointed to a thin rope attached to a brass bell. “Let them know we’re here, Scratch.”
I rang the bell vigorously and almost immediately a man with a soft green surcoat embroidered with an eagle emerged from a small guardhouse near the gate. Beyond the gate, a narrow carriage path cut through a short-cropped lawn until it reached a wide patio in front of an enormous house.
The guard reviewed us cautiously. Pascalli tipped his hat and smiled, but said nothing. “You are expected,” said the guard at length. If you will ride to the house, Jorgon will see to your horses.”
“I thought Jorgon had given up his duties,” said Pascalli with a smile.
“He couldn’t bear to be with his wife that much and came back within a market.” The guard chuckled. “He still complains as much as ever, but he only half means it these days.”
A surly gray bearded man took our horses when we dismounted at the house, and before we reached the door it opened. “Go directly to the dining hall,” instructed a stocky young woman.
A woman with gray hair restrained by a series of pins and crowned with a small green hat waited for us at the far end of an enormous oak table. Her eyes commanded the entire room. A young woman waited silently behind her. The surface of the table reflected the hanging candelabra.
“Leave us, Maris,” said the old woman. The girl moved silently past us and closed the dining room door. “You may sit, if you wish.”
I glanced at Pascalli who winked back and smiled broadly. I pulled out one of the several enormous chairs and sat as quietly and still as possible.
“The estate has changed little since I was here last,” said Pascalli with a smile.
“You come too seldom, my friend.” She turned her eyes on me. “You are Kyven’s boy? What is your proper name?”
“Colter,” I replied.
“Colter was my father’s name,” she said. “My name is Lady Dairtha. I am a cousin to the Taradurk’s though from what I’ve heard that won’t mean anything to you. Your father was a good friend once upon a time. I was sorry to hear that he had died.”
“We can’t stay long,” said Pascalli. “The Kaarum are already moving. By winter they will reach Darnuth Keep and begin to breach the passes. I we don’t stop them there they will ravage across the East again.”
“With the Festival coming we won’t be able to recover,” replied Lady Dairtha.
“Which is why I need to know how dangerous the roads are in the west,” said Pascalli.
“Avoid the highway. The Taradurk is not well. His son’s will not trust you the way he did.” She seemed lost in thought as she spoke.
“Zaban has solid judgment. I’m less worried about him than Favisham,” said Pascalli.
“Favisham is pressing hard to carry the festival this time. He has poured everything into raising a whelp of sufficient strength. You won’t need to worry about him until after the festival. All his attention is here, and his agents are few and weak outside of Shellburg,” said Lady Dairtha.
“Please warn Narnal that the kaarum will return. Three winters, no more, and they will try the eastern passes again. He must continue to prepare,” said Pascalli. He stood up and motioned for me to follow.
“So quickly? Not even to break bread with me?” she asked.
“Look kindly on the lad when he returns,” said Pascalli.
“If he returns,” replied the lady. Then she broke into a smile. “I will be waiting.”
I think I expected Anascrag to be a dangerous place for us. I knew that the ties to the emperor were strong, and it was simply not possible for us to have wandered so long and word not reach the authorities. “Don’t you think we’ve stretched our luck staying here so long?” I asked Pascalli.
“Sure enough, lad, but we’ve more than a few friends about,” he said. “Now ride just behind me. Keep your eyes open and your mouth closed. The nobility may not be aware of your presence but most will certainly recognize me. I’d like to slip out of the city without drawing attention to ourselves, if possible.”
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
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