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

Posted by admin on June 22, 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.

Dina came out a few moments later, her hair still wet.  I offered her some food, which she took silently.  I knew that it was not in her nature to apologize, especially to a person of my class, but to me that did not excuse the resentful anger in her eyes.  I could not conceal my own anger and rather than fumble my way through a conversation I did not want to have, or through silence too awkward to bear I went into the house and began skinning out the beast.

In the east we have several kinds of tigers, but the largest is smaller than the variety of black mountain cat I killed that day.  That breed is not only larger, but generally more aggressive and very dangerous to hunt.  With the absence of humans for so long they had begun to range all across the Hansfor valley.  The hide made a surprisingly thick and warm coat, and the meat turned out to be both tasty and plentiful.

I was still hungry so I cut some steaks and added them to our meal.  Dina immediately showed her disgust.

“We do not eat beasts of prey,” she said.

“Then it’s going to be a long and hard winter for you.”  The voice was not mine, but Pascalli’s.  “I see that we had one visitor tonight.  I had rather hoped for more, but we take what Tylos gives.”

“You mean you used me for bait?” said Dina indignantly.

“No, child,” said Pascalli.  “I simply let you have your way.  If you do not like the consequences of thinking and acting for yourself then perhaps you should heed the advice of someone more experienced than yourself.  Mind, Scratch, don’t burn those steaks.  I feel as if I could eat a horse.”
“And you may have to,” I chided.  “If we don’t find safe pasture for them.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that if I were you,” said Pascalli.  “This city is not all stone.  There are wonderful pastures on the upper levels.”
“Are they safe,” I asked.  Dina had retreated into the house again to get another blanket.

“Much safer for the horses, but perhaps less safe for us.  Tomorrow we will go up and find a place for a more permanent camp.”

“One with a proper roof,” I hope, said Dina as she rejoined us.

“A perfect mansion,” said Pascalli.  I expected his usual wink, but his face was serious.  “There are several up there, and you may choose any you like, though you may have to ask permission of the current occupants.”

“Do people still dwell here, then?” she asked.

“People, my dear?” replied Pascalli.  “Certainly not.  At least not in the way you and I think of them.”

“I am not afraid,” said Dina.  “I will fight when the time comes.”

“The time has already come,” said Pascalli.  “I know you can use that stick of yours, but it will be useless against those who dwell in the noble houses of Darnuth Keep.  You cannot hope to take residence there by fighting.”

“Then how?” she pleaded.

“By following and trusting,” he answered.

I know that she did not like his answer.  Few people could truly appreciate Pascalli’s way of avoiding a question.  “I’ll follow you,” said Dina.  “So far you’ve not shown me the glory I want.  I don’t know if I can trust you.”

“Oh, ho,” laughed Pascalli.  “Not to worry, not to worry at all.”  Now his eyes took on the devilish gleam that meant he had her trapped.  “You see, you’ve neither to follow or trust me one bit, for I’ve not the ability to set one foot along the path we tread without help.”

“What?  Then who?  What are you talking about?” she seemed both scared and confused, and I admit that by now I was just as confused though I knew better than to voice my opinion.

“Scratch, my boy, you’ll take good care of us, won’t you,” said Pascalli.  I half expected to hear his familiar laugh, but somehow I knew in my heart it was true.  “I’m relying on you in the morning to start what your father never came to start, and in return I’ll see you finish it alive or I’ll die trying.”
Though I had experienced many wonders, frights and even battles, there is no greater adventure than having the life and trust of another person placed in your hands, especially when it is the life of a person you love and respect as deeply as I did that old wizard.

Dina’s face sank instantly.

“Dina, you and I will keep watch tonight,” said Pascalli.  “Scratch is short of rest and will need his strength.”

“Opening a gate can’t be that difficult,” said Dina.

“I can keep my watch,” I protested.

“Of course you can, lad, but tonight there is no need,” he said.  “No more arguments from either of you.  There is more to entering the upper circle than just opening the gate.  Just leave a knife, Scratch, so I can start scraping that hide and go inside.  Now Dina, I don’t know that you’ve ever scraped a hide before so come here and lend me a hand.  I know that the Taradurks keep a master tanner, but here we will make do ourselves with what we have.”  I fell asleep to the cracking of the fire and the gentle muttering of Dina complaining beneath her breath.

Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman

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