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

Posted by admin on August 24, 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 the towers of the keep first appeared through the forest canopy a stir of murmurs rustled through our group.  Excitement and fear covered less powerful emotions, but all were affected in some way.

“Hardly looks touched by time,” commented Delvin.

“Keep to the group,” I warned.  “The lower levels are still very dangerous.  Wild animals and other things still stalk the streets.  There are homes and land waiting in the higher areas, but it will take work to clear them.”

The city gate stood open as we approached.  Pascalli watched us from the parapet overlooking the highway and waved a cheerful greeting.  Twoleaf seemed surprised to see the wizard, though she didn’t say anything.

Pascalli appeared delighted that I had returned with a sufficient number of folk eager to make new lives for themselves.  “This is quite a start, Scratch.  Before long you’ll have yourself a proper domain.”  I had no interest in having anymore domain then than the farm back in Dunston and I told him so.  “Oh, Scratch, my boy, I’m afraid you’ve long outgrown your farm,” he said.  “One day, perhaps, you shall return there, but when you do I think all you will find is sorrow.”

During my absence Pascalli spent a great deal of energy clearing out a living space within the palace.  Most of the chambers, he explained, were unoccupied and left largely undisturbed, but many others had become the homes to the distorted remnants of ages past.

“There is something else that I was not expecting,” he said, his voice very grim.  “I am not sure what it is, but the door to the lower levels, the area where the ancient wizards kept their magical secrets, is open but shrouded in darkness.”

“Have you been down there?” I asked.

“Not yet,” he winked.  “I think it is something you will have to handle.  Destroying the Kaarum is important, but clearing the evil from this place is why I brought you here.  We should not delay any longer.”

I gave each family a house of their choosing, the order of choice by lottery.  We allotted land according to profession and family size such that those who could produce food for us in the coming months had the most.  I gave those who continued to demonstrate interest only in treasure the choice between establishing trade with the empire and systematically clearing the city building by building of unwelcome guests with a regular share of the profits to keep for themselves.  I knew that most would not survive, but under Dina’s watchful eye I hoped they would at least do more good than harm.  Laural found a sword and joined them, though her experience could hardly match any of them.

Our labor returned quick rewards.  Though many of the fields in the valley had become overgrown and tangled, those nearest the city remained relatively clear and we were able to plow and plant these quickly.  Within only a few markets’ time, we managed to settle all of the families into new homes.  Though we continued to rely heavily on wild game for food, we planted gardens in the upper levels, and the fresh supplies from the south helped us all feel as if we were truly making homes rather than just camping in the wild.

Holding a spring celebration for so many people so far from the homes they had once known proved a strange experience for all involved.  Everyone looked to me as not just a leader but also a king, though I had little experience organizing social affairs.  “Let the women handle it,” advised Delvin.  “Jiora’s already decided how it should be done, and I know Dina has her own ideas as well.  Nod and smile, and you’ll be a happier man.”

We cleared the great hall at the palace and danced to tunes remembered from all across the empire.  We used more of our flour and sugar than any of us felt was prudent, but nobody complained.  The poor from every land love music and the old stories put into song.  Delvin produced a small fiddle, and Jiora convinced me to teach Brevedia the dances we had danced in Dunston.  Laural pulled me into a lively jig whose beat I did not recognize, but which was easy enough to learn.  Twoleaf played the tune from her home in the far south, where none of the rest of us had ever visited.

As I sat and rested a new voice sprang up, slowly, but without effort.  All eyes turned as one and fixed upon Dina as she startled our hearts with a slow but not quite melancholy song.  She sang my father’s story as the great musicians in the imperial courts had sung it, though with unexpected passion and sorrow.  At my side Laural turned and tried to ignore the song, but I felt myself drawn not only to the haunting music but also to the singer.  Though she wore no stately dress, she could not hide her noble heritage.  I watched and knew and felt and could not turn away from her.

Pascalli drew me aside after most of the settlers had gone.  The only item of real interest we found in that time, aside from a few forgotten gold coins, were a pair of small gold rings, set with diamonds.  They had been left untouched on the thrones in the great hall.  He pressed the rings into my hand.
“They belong to you now,” he said.  After a moment he added, “The time has come, Scratch, for you to come with me below.  There are some evils that should not linger a moment longer than required, and this city holds some very ancient travesties.”

“Just us,” I asked.

“Bring anyone you like,” he responded.  “I suggest you place your trust carefully.  Remember our journey will take at least a five market, perhaps two, and the city will not rest in your absence.  Some of the wilder ones may try to take advantage of our absence.”

I formed a small council to govern the city in my absence.  Dina, who had been acting as my steward in everything, already seemed the natural choice to continue governing.  Laural had also showed incredible energy and remarkable intelligence and had done very well leading a small group in the efforts to drive creatures from the city.  She did not wish to sit in counsel.  Instead she wanted to join me.  “I would rather seek glory with you than stay here tending sheep,” she put it.  I didn’t see the glory in going down a dark staircase to almost certain misfortune.  On the farm we called that idiocy.  Master Delvin agreed when I asked him, though he admitted he did not feel adequate to the post.  I left the fortune of the city in their hands, hoping for the best.  Halfway through spring with most of the planting completed I entered the darkness.

Once more, but not for the last time, I felt that I was leaving behind a home and family forever.  I would miss Dina, and her eyes spoke the silent fear that I might not return to the sunlight world.  In a way she was right, for I did not return the same young man as when I entered.  Often as we hid in the silent darkness, resting, my thoughts returned to her.  Indeed, I believe it was the memory of her face that saved me in my most difficult moment.  Darkness has the power to change a soul either for great evil or great good.  A man cannot pass through shadow unchanged, either he will shrink or grow.

The staircase seemed innocent enough.  Behind a larder in a back corner of the castle stands a large hardwood door, neither oak nor of any wood I recognized.  The door is very dark, nearly black in color.  A large gold knocker in the shape of a dragon’s head hangs in the middle.  Circling the knocker in gold Darkunder runes are the words (roughly translated) “Davmandius’ magical laboratory, enter those who would lose themselves.”  I came to learn much later that the phrase “lose themselves” could have many meanings, from the simple “perish” or “die” to “be changed” or even “find meaning”.  I am certain that Davmandius thought himself quite witty with the phrase’s many meanings.  Probably he meant it a warning for others and a promise of new knowledge for himself.
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman

On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Nine

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