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

Posted by admin on April 13, 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.

When we passed the gates of Anascrag I felt I had stepped into a vast ocean of grain.  Everywhere, in every direction, kilometers of wheat, barley, or rye stretched green or golden with the ever-present wind blowing at our backs or into our squinting eyes.  The highways cut wide and straight between the larger towns and cities while less well maintained roads meandered to the villages and large farms.  Imperial guards monitored checkpoints and patrolled the roads with greater frequency and precision than anywhere in the east.  Bricks and clay built nearly every building for both peasant and noble, though some of the wealthy had imported timber from the south or east.

“In the east, the vast tracts of wild land are largely unexplored except by the wild roaming adventurers,” explained Pascalli.  “In the west the governors build great walls, hundreds or even thousands of kilometers long to block out the unknown.  The Anascraggers call it the land beyond the wall, but it once was the very great kingdom of Tuland.  Every young Tulandish man serves his time patrolling those walls or the great highways or filling some other lesser post in the imperial army.  Adventuring, or doing anything out of the ordinary, is not only frowned upon, but requires exact, defined permission from the proper authorities.  Acting without authority or outside of class boundaries can mean severe punishment or even death.  They will make some exceptions, Scratch, because you are clearly an uncouth easterner, but only a very few.  Do as I say, when I say it and all will be well.”

“I’ll do my best,” I said.

“Of course you will.”  Pascalli smiled.  “Keep your wits about you.  The regent, here in the west holds more control over the local lords than the regent in the east.  If he has chosen to find us for the emperor he will succeed.”

Almost as quickly as we exited Anascrag we joined a road going north towards the mountains rather than west towards the sea.  A great wall runs north from the western gate of Anascrag and then after a few hundred kilometers it turns west and runs near the base of the mountains to the sea.  Along the wall, centuries ago, many villages sprang up to support the guard towers and the many imperial troops who constantly patrol and repair the wall.  Many acres of grain surround each village, far more than meets the needs of the local peasant population.
When I asked Pascalli he replied, “It goes to the Empire, Scratch.  Just as the gold of east goes west, and the copper and tin of the south comes north.”

“What comes from the north,” I asked plainly.

Pascalli let out his familiar laugh and replied with a grin and a wink, “Nothing of great worth.”

“What do you mean,” I pressed.  “The emperor is there in Dynwater, right?  Isn’t that where the imperial army is?”

“As I said, nothing of great worth,” answered Pascalli with less laughter in his voice than usual.  He must have noticed my look of dismay and disbelief.  “That is not to say that there aren’t a great many wonderful things in Dynwater.  Many great artisans and artists, poets, architects, and engineers practice and study there.  There is a magnificent library and a huge collection of artifacts from before the breaking.  Much knowledge, much pomp, much wealth.  But you did not ask me what you could find in the north, only what comes out.  None of that, or at least very little of it, ever comes out.  And Dynwater is only one city.  The rest of the north is the Northern Crown and it is wild, a place where wild things thrive and out of it come the Kaarum.  So, as you can plainly see nothing of great worth comes from the north.”

Such as it was I could clearly see the truth in what he spoke, though I sensed there was more to it.

Once out of Anascrag we set a brisk pace north.  Each day Pascalli ensured I completed my practice with my weapons, and he continued to expand my mind with stories and puzzles he had learned through the centuries.  I was keen to learn more about defending myself without weapons, and after a few days of constant badgering Pascalli consented to teach me.  “Fighting is fighting,” he said.  “In general you will find that the principles are mostly the same.  Use your feet to get a better position and strike when able.  As always, the power comes from the hips and legs.  You have to put your whole body into a strike, not just your fists or feet.”

“What happens when they sit on me?” I asked, after being tripped for the sixth time one day.

“There are ways of dealing with a larger opponent on the ground, but you must always be wary that they may have a hidden knife or sap.  Indeed, if you are confident they are unarmed it is often easier to handle a larger foe on the ground where their longer limbs do not give them the advantage of reach.”
I discovered that grappling with an enormous man in dirt and rocks was not terribly comfortable and consented after a few short markets that I knew enough to at least stabilize myself until I could bring a weapon into play.

“We will continue this portion of your training when we have a proper chance,” said Pascalli with a twinkle in his eye.  “I’ve a notion it will be rather important to your future, but now is not the time.”

The remainder of our days we spent much as always, hunting when possible, or at the very least daily practice with the bow as we walked.  Pascalli would pick a target and if I did not spot it quick enough, pull and loose, he would rap me sharply across the shoulder with his staff.

“Again you’ve got yourself killed,” he would mutter.  “Now off and fetch that arrow.”  If ever I reached the mark before his staff reached his, he would often say, “Good lad, now that’s one more life you can spare for another day.  Now off and fetch that arrow.”

Once, as I rode out to find my arrow, I met a patrol of imperial troops.  “Hold, boy,” their leader called.  He was a stout man with thick bones that rode easily in the saddle.  His uniform, though clean, showed wear around the edges.  Tulandish soldiers did not wear beards, but he had a bit of black stubble on his face, and I noticed they carried tents and bedrolls.  I stopped and waited.  Pascalli slowly rode up to join me.  “Hunting is a privilege of the nobility.  Perhaps you have not learned proper manners in the east,” said the soldier.  His voice was gruff and betrayed his impatience.

“Better manners than you, I see,” replied Pascalli.  “This is my servant and knight, Sir Lanseg.  I am Lord Pandrake of Gratterskeep.  I believe it is the custom to properly identify any person before issuing a challenge.  Fetch the arrow, Lanseg.”

I continued my search for the arrow as Pascalli handed the soldiers his papers.  I retrieved the arrow and rejoined the wizard.  “Your documents are correct,” said the soldier.  “We don’t get many eastern nobles this far north, please excuse my rudeness.  The bandit Edelo Cheshk has been raiding through these parts again, so we are closely watching anyone with a weapon.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” said Pascalli with a broad smile.  “I know hunting for sport can be a tricky business in the west, but Lanseg and I were hoping to get something.  If there are bandits in the area, perhaps you would offer us some protection, at least until we reach the next village?”

The soldier hesitated.  “Captain Induresk, at your service,” he said as he forced a smile.  “We would be happy to escort you to Enbeck-thrull.  We can reach it tomorrow afternoon.”

“We are not merchants, but we will pay for your services,” offered Pascalli.  At the wizard’s words, Induresk showed a genuine smile.  “I expect you don’t get the opportunity to make an extra coin too often so far from Shelsmor.”

“Only too true, my friend,” agreed the captain.  “The few authorized mercenaries that come through here take most of the merchants’ business.  Few of the local nobles are willing to pay for a service the regent offers them freely.”

Induresk rode with three other soldiers, all of them tired from their extended patrol.  They guided us toward a more traveled road where we would be able to move faster.  Just as the sun began to set I spotted a patch of bent wheat field.  I dismounted and investigated on foot.  When Induresk noticed that I had fallen behind he called a halt.

“What have you found, my young friend,” he called.  “If you’ve found a pretty girl hiding in the grass, you’ll let us know.”  The soldiers laughed as I looked for prints in the dry ground.  When I found what I was looking for I waved to Pascalli.  He joined me, and Induresk followed him.
I pointed to a shallow hoof-print in the ground.  “So a horse has been through here, what does that matter?” said Induresk.  “We came this way a few days ago, and there are farmers and merchants about.”

“It’s not a horse,” I replied.  “That is a cleft hoof.”

“So a farmer lost a goat.  Let’s get moving.  I want to find a better place before the sun completely sets,” said the captain.

“Lanseg has experience in these matters, captain,” said Pascalli.  “I believe he is telling you that there are Kaarum in the area.”  I nodded my agreement.
“How many, and how far?”

“Three.  I can’t say how far, but they were going southwest, through the fields.  I would guess they came through this morning or last night,” I said.

“How far to the closest farm or village in that direction?” asked Pascalli.

“Two days on a good horse,” answered Induresk.

“The sky is clear, so they will travel at night by the light of the stars and moon.  You can come or stay as you please, captain, but we need to catch them before they reach the farm,” said Pascalli.

“We thought Edelo Cheshk was raiding the area.  How could the Kaarum get past the wall?” said Induresk.

“The wall is very long,” answered Pascalli.  A small band like this might sneak past unnoticed.  Edelo may still be nearby, but he certainly won’t pillage as recklessly as the Kaarum.”

We rode after them as fast as we could without losing their trail.  In the wide-open fields, they had few options for covering their tracks, and even in the dim light of the stars I had little trouble following them.  We stopped and rested the horses a few hours before dawn, though I knew we didn’t have much time before they reached another farm.

“They need rest just like us,” assured Pascalli.  “I also don’t think they will attack the farm or village during the day, so we may have some time.”

“You seem to know these beasts well,” observed Induresk.

“They ravaged through the east two summers ago.  We both fought them then,” replied Pascalli.  “We know them well enough.”

The horses smelled the Kaarum before we saw them, and broke their stride.  Three black shapes rose out of hiding under the afternoon sun to ambush us on all sides.  I shot one before it could charge, but the other two reached the horses with lightning speed.  One Kaarum pulled a soldier from his saddle and they began to grapple in the hip-high grain.  Under cover of the wheat, I couldn’t get a clear shot at the Kaarum, so I dismounted and charged with my spear.  I reached the Kaarum before it could land the fatal blow, though it had already opened a horrible gash in the man’s side.  Behind me Induresk wielded his cutlass expertly and came to the aid of his companion as quickly as he could.

“Let’s take him to the farm,” I suggested.  “They should be better equipped to tend his wounds than we are.”

“That gash is deep and bleeding fast,” said Induresk.  “He won’t last the hour it will take to move him.”

“Do you still have any bloodsap?” asked Pascalli.  “It will slow the bleeding long enough to stitch him together.”

I cut away the torn cloth with my knife.  “There is some in my bags,” I said.  “Give me your canteen.”  I cleaned the wound as quickly and efficiently as possible while Pascalli brought the bloodsap.  “If you have anything to numb the pain, give it to him, Induresk.”

One of the soldiers produced a bottle of strong-smelling liquid and passed it to Induresk.  The soldier choked a few mouthfuls down before I turned him on his side and went to work.  My hands trembled as I pulled needle and thread.  The bloodsap checked the flow enough that I could see to work, but I could tell from his paleness and labored breathing that he had lost a great deal of blood.

“As fine a field surgery as I’ve seen,” said Induresk when I finished.  “Only Tylos can say if he will live or not, but you’ve at least given him a chance.”
I nodded my thanks and sank back into the soft grain to rest a moment.  “We’ll ride on to the farm as soon as you’re ready,” said Pascalli.  “We can find help there.  We may be able to bring back a wagon to move him.”

“You’ve no need to do that my lord,” said Induresk.  “I can send one of the others.”

“True, but time is pressing.  Unless things are different here than I have come to expect, the peasants will give us less trouble than you.  Rest some and eat while you wait.  With luck we’ll make it back before nightfall.”

Our faces, and my unwashed hands quickly told the tale of our emergency when we reached the farm.  “I’ll have Aldd hitch the wagon,” said the farmer, a thin man with a graying beard.  He wore a simple straw hat to ward off the sun, but he carried himself with dignity.  “You two come inside and tell us what happened.”

We gratefully dismounted and followed his wife into a simple building designed for comfort and efficiency.  She offered us goat’s cheese and bread, which we accepted gratefully.  “You keep a fine home, my good lady,” said Pascalli with his usual smile.  “Thank you for offering us some comfort.”  We recounted our story as the servants prepared the wagon, and Kimlt, the farmer, listened with more than idle curiosity.

“They will be amassing in the north, then,” said Kimlt.  “I’ve not seen them for many winters, but when I was a boy they came through the west once.  The nobles did nothing to stop them until they had ruined all the fields for many kilometers.”

“They attack swiftly,” said Pascalli.  “If they come, it will be in the dead of winter this time.  You would be wise to send word to those who will listen to take care where they secure their winter supplies.”

We worked late into the night bringing the wounded soldier carefully into the farm.  Induresk and his men pitched their tents in the farmyard, while Pascalli and I slept in the barn.  Despite the rigors of the previous night, I found myself restless early the following morning.  “We need to reach the keep soon, don’t we,” I said to Pascalli.

“Yes, lad, we do, though not as soon as you may think,” he replied.  “The Kaarum won’t come south until they need to.  Rebels and strays forage south throughout the summer, and scouts report any weakness that can be found.”

“I still think we need to move on,” I said, and Pascalli nodded his agreement.
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman

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