Posted by admin on August 31, 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.
Beneath Darnuth Keep lies a vast maze of passages and chambers, each originally built with a purpose long forgotten. Long since, those passages were covered in darkness and lost to human memory. We found them still and quiet. Fear gripped the occupants as they battled a silent war for survival in a place with few resources. I recognized immediately that we would be short of water and food without luck.
“You will probably need to try to gather water from the air,” suggested Pascalli. “As for food, we have some and the rest will be luck.”
The absence of light was unimaginable. Though I had lived with the Veldmen, delved in their caverns and dwelt underground for a long period of time, I did not expect that darkness. The thick blackness surrounded, smothered, threatened to completely consume us. I had no idea that such dreadful horror existed. The feeble glow of our lantern did little to push back the shadows.
Our first encounter came upon us suddenly. Though my senses were sharpened from long summers of careful travel and study I was not prepared when an unseen attack suddenly hit our lantern and I found myself facing an unknown foe in complete darkness. Not only was I completely blind, but whatever danger waited ahead of us came silently.
True horror grasped me. I felt as helpless as a babe. At my side Pascalli made no move, no sound. With great care and a steady motion I brought my spear to bear. I gripped the shaft and as I did a calm fell over me, for I had trained many times blindfolded or with my eyes closed. In that moment I closed my eyes and shut off the world of sight. I took a deep breath, slowly. Quite suddenly I caught the scent of our attacker.
Though it feared our light and could hear our every move, after long winters of solitude the beast no longer recognized its own scent, which reminded me of the smoke from burning buffalo chips.
The attack on the lantern had been sudden and precise, but there was no immediate follow up. I surmised that it had thrown or shot something at the lantern, and therefore must move closer. I took a half step backwards and away from Pascalli, putting a little distance between us.
I concentrated for but a moment, to beg the air to make a slight breeze so that we might be upwind of our adversary. Almost instantly the air gently began moving past my face, and I caught that odor again. Also on that breeze I caught a faint whisper of breath, more nasally and louder than Pascalli. If I could hear the breathing it must be very close now.
With a prayer to Tylos I thrust my spear in the direction of the sound, hoping Pascalli would not be in the way. The wizard, who was more adept than myself at stumbling in the dark, had created even more space between us, and just as I thrust I heard the dull thump of his staff connecting with something. My spear caught flesh, but any damage done was hard to assess, as my enemy remained utterly silent.
“Make a light,” said Pascalli. “If they are any still alive they will know where we are anyway.”
“The lantern is broken,” I replied.
“Use your head boy,” retorted Pascalli. “Or better yet use magic and that silly rock of yours. Heat it up enough to glow.”
By now I was so used to Pascalli’s remarks that I didn’t waste any time on anger. Instead I heated the rock until it glowed a dull red, though I sent it to hover an arms length away from me in case anything should try to attack it the way they had struck down the lantern.
By the dim light of the stone I could tell that the lantern had been hit with a small rock, probably a piece of rubble from some fallen wall. I said as much to Pascalli, and he replied, “Petrified dung.”
I don’t know that he saw my incredulous look in the half-light, but I held my tongue. The attack destroyed the lantern beyond repair. Not far away lay the body of one attacker. Its body was covered with green scales, and the short, squat creature reminded me of the Barak-dun. But it did not bleed red, but rather a green slime oozed from its wounds, and its eyes reflected a pale yellow.
“There will be more,” said Pascalli. “This kind is capable of breeding.”
Naturally Pascalli was right. Whatever those creatures were, they had multiplied tremendously in the darkness, and at every turn for what seemed like an eternity we crept along step by step expecting yet another attack. They huddled in the shadows, afraid of any light we brought, and attacked without warning.
Although we found many lanterns hung along the walls or from the ceiling most of them had been broken long before. The lamps were supplied with oil by some intricate system of pipes, but without wicks or shades, most could not function. Those that we could use we lighted, leaving a dim trail behind us.
“It will take a long time to clear this area this way,” I complained at some point.
“We aren’t here to clear the cellars,” stated Pascalli. “We’ve much more important business at hand.”
“And what would that be?” I asked.
“There is a curse upon this place, which does not belong here. Surely you have felt it,” he replied.
I had felt something malevolent since we entered the darkness. The lamps we lit gave off far too little light, and I was becoming more discouraged with each step.
“How will we lift the curse,” I asked.
“How should I know,” laughed Pascalli. “I’ve never been here before.”
I’m certain he winked at me in the darkness. I only half believed him, but because I had never known him to lie, I decided we were in more trouble than I had first guessed.
A mixture of the scaly green-blooded creatures we had first encountered, and a more tame variety of twisted animals occupied the first rooms. At least one boarger had ventured into the darkness, and a few large cats. In general the animals left us alone so long as we did not bother them. We would have time to come back and trap them or hunt them if we needed to later.
I can but imagine the countless hours that must have been spent carving and building these vast corridors. By comparison, the castle above us was a relatively small dwelling. The complex of tunnels and rooms loomed nearly as large as the city above us. Here and there water had been channeled down to run into pleasant fountains. These were always closely guarded, and our brief moments of respite were hard won against those who protected their way of life.
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fifty
Back to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Eight
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
Back to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Seven
Posted by admin on August 17, 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 sent Thorn back to lead the wagons and headed deeper into the forest alone. I followed the trail all that day and into the night, until exhaustion demanded I stop for at least some few moments. I found a sheltered spot with my back to a tree surrounded by high rocks. I dozed for only a moment when the sound of something enormous moving off to my right in the darkness startled me awake. My first thought was that an elk or mountain buffalo grazed nearby looking for bits of early spring grass. Then my horse cried out in terror. I saw an eye catch a moonbeam and drew and fired an arrow on reflex. For once Pascalli’s training paid off and I caused the shaft to burst into flame as soon as it left the bow. The fiery arrow showed me an enormous fanged boar’s head atop a body twice the size of the largest shaggy brown buffalo I had ever seen. The legs ended in enormous bear claws.
The shaft bounced harmlessly off of the thick skull, though the fire singed the fur slightly. I had done little more than attract its attention. My horse bolted. I dropped the bow and stood with spear in hand against a giant far beyond my expectations.
A wizard cannot communicate with the elements without concentration and focus. Pascalli forced that lesson home day after day. Everything else must fall to silence and oblivion except the voices of the elements. Staring at that angry boar’s head with those enraged, hungry eyes melted my will. I felt my grasp on my courage slipping. Never before had I truly known such fear, the kind of fear that causes a man to forget everything else and only want to hide himself from the entire world. I felt I could not breathe, and I tried to take a step backwards. I stumbled on the rocks and fell, though I did not hurt myself beyond a few minor scrapes.
For my own part I had given myself up for lost. My heart would not allow even the thought of survival. Providence, however, gave me a second chance. Suddenly a distant whimpering cry broke the air. “Help! Someone, please! Help!” caught my ear. The beast also heard the cry, though its gaze did not leave me. Such a simple cry filled me with a wild desperation beyond any normal courage I could muster. I might be able to let myself go, but nothing in me could ignore the suffering, however well deserved, of another person.
Though many would call me foolish, even courage drawn from misplaced ideals can work wonders. I came to my senses with indignant rage. On instinct I summoned all of the magic I had practiced and conjured a violent whirlwind between the creature and myself. A little startled, but hardly frightened it let out a low grunt like a bear and lowered its tusked head. I regained my footing and brandished my spear. The enormous animal lunged through the swirling dust and debris and I retreated behind my tree. I pelted it with as many small stones as I could control, infusing each with hot fire. Annoyance turned to rage and the beast again lunged for me. I darted aside again, but realized that this game could only end in disaster for me. I threw my spear so that it lodged high in the trunk of the tree and jumped to reach a lower branch just in time to avoid a wildly swiping claw. Without waiting to see what my adversary would do I climbed high enough to retrieve my spear.
Suddenly the tree shook with the force of an earthquake. Far below me the boar’s head raised and backed away. Quickly it lowered again in preparation for a second run at the tree. The impact nearly knocked me loose even though I braced against the trunk with all my strength. I felt the roots creaking beneath me. A bird’s nest dislodged and bounced off of my shoulder. Twice more the giant boarger, as we later came to call these beasts, charged the tree, but the sturdy pine held. I thought for a moment that I had escaped when it gave up that strategy. My joy quickly turned to desperation when I realized it had clearly dealt with treed quarry before. It circled around, ignoring my constant ineffective onslaught of molten stones until it reached a point of high rocks. Then, with all the agility of a cougar it leapt into the tree, shaking both root and limb. I clung wildly to the upper branches as the tree swayed precariously under the heavy pressure. To my amazement the tree did not snap, though the trunk bent sharply. Fortunately the boarger had not landed quite high enough and did not manage to get a decent foothold. Branches snapped beneath its weight as it slowly slipped back down the trunk. I felt the tree right itself, but I knew it could not withstand a second onslaught of that force.
Angrily the boarger growled at me, its vicious mouth fuming over gore-stained tusks. I took a breath, whispered a prayer to Tylos, yelled insanely and dropped spear first towards the boarger’s mouth. I poured every bit of energy into the tip of the spear until the shaft burned my hands, but I did not let go. I cannot say if fate, luck, or skill guided my hand, but the spear point entered the beast’s filthy maw and drove the shaft in more than half way. I bounced off of the creature’s head, but it managed to take a vicious swipe with one enormous claw. My buckskin shredded instantly, but the chain links beneath held. The force of the blow sent me sprawling across the rocks. I knelt, covering my head for safety.
The boarger howled and screamed and clawed at the weapon protruding from its face. I drew my sword and cautiously slashed at the thick hide. My weapon glanced away harmlessly. I need not have worried, though, for the spear had done enough damage already. The boarger trampled into the woods, bleeding and ignoring me. I trailed it until it collapsed. Though it still breathed, I tightly gripped my spear and pulled it free, setting the creature into a fit of rage and blood. I did not stay to watch it die, but instead returned to try and track down whoever had called out for help.
With a clear starry sky to guide me and a sufficient dose of excitement to keep me awake I quickly tracked the hoof prints I had been following to a dead horse. From there I followed a set of footprints to a tree whose bark had been seriously damaged. My entire encounter had taken place less than a hundred meters from the end of the chase. I looked up and found Laural, pale and frightened, staring back at me in disbelief. Though my horse had bolted in fright I managed to find it quickly enough and Laural slept behind me as we rode to rejoin the wagons.
I cannot say the remainder of our journey passed without incident, but at least we did not lose any more lives. Laural had been wounded when her horse was killed, though not beyond my skills to mend.
“There are many strange beasts around,” I commented to her as I applied a poultice. “I am sorry that you were injured.”
“But you warned me, didn’t you,” she replied defiantly. Her eyes mocked me, but somehow I didn’t care.
“Yes,” I replied, and to my surprise my voice was soft and kind rather than condescending. “I am not angry that you didn’t listen. I want these people to have a safe life, but we aren’t safe yet. I need the courage of everyone, especially those brave enough to challenge the wild on their own.”
She smiled weakly at the compliment, though a bit of doubt still clouded her eyes. “I should have stayed in Dynwater,” she muttered, though I don’t think she meant for me to hear.
“Is that where Quivain left you?” I asked, though I immediately regretted it.
“Yes,” she spat. “That filthy spawn of Hieron cheated me of my half of the reward.” Her face turned immediately bright red. I guessed that she had said something she hadn’t meant for me to know.
“What reward,” I pressed, though I guessed already the answer.
Her eyes flickered a moment as she contemplated a lie. “We had information for the emperor,” she said quickly.
“Very valuable information if the notorious Quivain Blackhand is willing to risk his life for it. I am amazed they did not hang him.” I said.
“I wish they had,” said Laural angrily. “A full pardon he asks. The regent in Havensod offered ten thousand imperial gold coins and he says, ‘I only wish to have my name.’ What dung.”
“Ten thousand, just for a little information,” I prodded. “I had no idea my name was so valuable.”
Her cheeks burned, both from anger and guilt. To my surprise she began to weep. “I am so sorry, Colter. I didn’t know, I didn’t understand.” I felt something melt inside me though somewhere in the back of my mind I worried this might be some trick. “Can you forgive me,” she sobbed.
“There is nothing to forgive,” I said. “Quivain would have done his worst with or without you. At least you’re not back at the Blue Dragon.” I chuckled, and she smiled a little.
So I learned that Quivain had betrayed me, though Pascalli had long before warned me he might. Any return to the east would be barred, and perhaps my journey through the western realms as well. I understood Zaban’s desire to arrest me better. I realized how strong Dina’s influence over her brother must be.
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Eight
Back to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Six
Posted by admin on August 10, 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.
Yunath and Zaban spoke privately with Dina before they parted company the following morning. I waited quietly outside, watching the troops prepare to move south. The village felt suddenly empty as we watched the long lines of soldiers march south. “We best be about our business,” said Dina as the line disappeared in the distance.
“We’ve much to do if we want a good harvest,” I agreed. “Is everything all right with your family?”
She looked at my face but didn’t respond for several seconds. “Things have changed between my brothers. We didn’t win the support expected at the festival. Yunath wanted to use me to help make an alliance with the east. The emperor is growing old, and already some of the powerful houses are talking of war.”
“I don’t know anything about that,” I replied. “I just want to build a home again.”
“Building a home takes more than hands and bricks,” she said. “It also takes planning, and if it comes to it, blood. Torbridge has grown in influence in the east. He’s managed to garner favor with Lord Favisham, regent of all the eastern lands. Favisham is very close to the emperor. We’ll need to make the city strong before he decides to act. We need to prepare, not only for the harvest, but for what may come after.”
Dozens of opportunistic and desperate folk had risked their lives already to see if the rumor that someone had opened the gate was true. I had little difficulty finding souls willing to return with me, souls hungry for land and chances of their own where they could leave behind shattered pasts and missed opportunities.
The village had a few taverns, and the largest seemed to be the gathering place for most of the outsiders. I decided we should try it first. Inside I found an unexpected smile.
“You’ve come a long way, lad,” said Master Delvin. “We heard rumors that you had traveled west. Is it true that there is land to be had in the north?”
“We didn’t expect to find much here,” added Jiora, her face breaking into a wide smile. “A chance to start over is just what we need.”
“Yes, there is plenty of land for those willing to work it,” I said. “What happened to your farm?”
“Some lord or other found out about my helping you and sent troops to arrest me. We led them a bit of a chase, but they gave up soon enough. We had some trouble getting through Anascrag, but the eastern lords have been pushing to get their troops west since you came, and the festival had all their attention. The empire’s a hotbed of confusion right now.”
“I’m glad you made it,” I said, and smiled. “We’ll need all the good men we can get. Are there any others with you?”
“My family, of course. I’ve a brother as well. He brought his family too. Most of the rest I’ve seen are ruffians and rascals, though no doubt we can find some as know how to work,” said Delvin.
“Hello, Scratch!” A familiar voice suddenly called over the din of people. I turned and saw Laural waving at me from across the room. She wore a new silk blouse but the same tight riding leathers I had seen her in before. I waved back, conscious of Dina’s questioning look.
“I see you’ve traveled a lot,” said Delvin.
“She’s a friend from before I came west,” I said. Laural crossed the room. Half a dozen rough men watched her movements, and I remembered my fight with Bracken.
“I see the rumors were true after all,” said Laural with a smile. “I knew you were crazy, but even I didn’t figure you would try anything this wild. I hear there’s land up there. I know a few men looking to ride with you.”
“If they are willing to work they are welcome,” I said. I caught a sidelong glance from Delvin. “We need farmers, Laural, and skilled workers. If they can handle a spear there will be a chance for that too, but don’t expect gold. I’m planning on building a city, not tearing it apart.”
“It’s a dangerous city,” said Dina. Her eyes drew into a scowl. “You may find it less hospitable than you expect.”
Laural winked and smiled. “I can handle myself. Don’t worry. We’ll make out all right.”
The final tally added up to nearly a hundred people, with more women and children than I had expected. Most of the men came to escape the law, but I knew that would be the case. Men don’t leave a comfortable life without good reason. Delvin’s daughter, Brevedia was now growing into a fetching young woman, and she took to Dina like a sister. Dina proved invaluable at organizing the group. I hadn’t realized how much I relied on Pascalli’s judgment until then.
We bought horses, food, and tools all at higher than expected prices. The village was not prepared for the demand, but I wasn’t willing to take any risk of running short before harvest came. Without a manageable road, we would have to pack everything on horses or mules, which meant I needed men who could handle them without trouble. A few of the less pleasant men who joined us came only because I needed the help with the teams.
It took us four days to gather everything together with everyone working as hard as they could before we were ready to leave. As Garret ordered the gate shut behind us I knew that some of us would not reach the keep. We had only two others who were experienced in the mountains apart from Delvin and me. Thorn, an old scout for the Eastern Watch rode with me and learned the trail quickly. His companion, a Darkunder called Twoleaf, kept mostly to herself, though I noticed she watched the mountains and didn’t miss a trick.
Ten days into the journey Thorn pointed out footprints left by a very large creature. The claws resembled those of a bear, but the impression in the ground was much bigger and deeper. The next day Twoleaf showed me some of its dropping, which were shaped more like a horse rather than bear scat. I ordered the fires to be kept burning all night after we found two large pine trees that had been mauled where the beast went to clean its claws. The marks reached a full meter higher than I could touch standing on my toes.
“Keep your families close together,” I warned the men. “Keep near the light, and don’t put out the fires. Whatever it is, it won’t be afraid of men. No man has been through here in centuries. I’m hoping it’s just curious and passes us by.”
Every group naturally has those who dissent or who seek to push the boundaries of the leadership as far as possible. Laural approached me alone. “Some of us want to ride ahead. We’re moving too slow. Carns and Talbot can find the way easy enough.”
“We need to stay together as much for safety as anything else. The trail can be tricky to figure out further north. Besides, I don’t think you want to find Pascalli alone in the city,” I said.
“I don’t think we want to wait,” she replied.
“You’ve been warned. I won’t stop you. I will do what I can to help you when you run amuck, but I will not enjoy finding your carcasses,” I said.
Two men and Laural left the main party the next day. Two days after that we found three boots and one badly mauled and now bloating horse. I made a quick scouting effort and found a second dead horse as well as the trail of the third. The beast’s tracks clearly followed the third horse.
I don’t know if I made the best decision, but I felt the wagons would be safe for a day or two without me. Something inside of me told me I had to hunt this menace even if I could not save the last rider.
“Lead the others ahead to the city,” I told Dina, though I dreaded parting company. “That last rider could still be alive.”
“That’s Laural’s horse,” she observed. A frown crossed her face. “She is too careless.” I sensed that something about Laural’s manner bothered Dina deeper than she would say.
“I can’t let her die out there,” I said.
“Just come back,” she replied. I did not expect the tenderness in her voice. “I’ll worry while you’re gone.”
“Thorn should be able to find the trail easy enough. Just keep heading north. I’ll catch up in a day or two.”
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Seven
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Posted by admin on August 3, 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 felt deeply out of place as Zaban took his seat on a sturdy chair in one of his tents. I stood holding my spear in one hand with my saddle bags over the opposite shoulder. He motioned for me to sit on a silk cushion a few meters away, and a servant brought a second for Dina. I decided to try my luck and trust to Pascalli’s teaching. I refused the cushion. If I expected to be taken seriously I knew I needed to establish my position right then.
“I am Lord of the lands north of the wall, I do not sit on the ground with common servants,” I said. I felt extremely uncomfortable. It felt like a lie, as far as I knew it was a lie, but something inside spurred me on.
Zaban nodded and immediately a servant took the cushion away. A moment of silence thundered between us until a suitable chair appeared. I unbuckled my sword, un-slung my bow and laid them together with my spear at my feet. Then I bowed low and said in a humble voice, “I thank the son of Taradurk for his hospitality and welcome of a stranger in his land. Please accept my humble service while I am permitted to tarry, and accept a small token of gratitude.” I opened one of my saddlebags and tossed a small sack of gems at his feet. Then I took my seat.
“You come from a great journey, which we must hear in length,” he replied. “Your gift is generous and unexpected. Your tongue is courteous when you let it be.” He paused. His eyes betrayed an inner turmoil. “We have much to discuss, son of Halfspear, and much to decide. As regent of these lands I commend your bravery, but the emperor will decide your fate.”
I noticed Dina reel as Zaban stated his position as regent. I also understood. She was now as much an orphan as I, and probably as unwelcome at home.
“First we will eat, and then we will discuss the matters before us,” said Zaban.
Servants brought trays piled with delicately prepared meats and savory sauces. From these trays Dina served each of us. I noticed she offered me first choice, which caused Zaban to raise a questioning eyebrow. Through silent gestures she guided me through the formalities of the meal. I patiently waited for him to resume the conversation.
“The Lord Taradurk passed into the immortal realms this winter,” he said. “His third daughter failed her duties. I have come to find her and learn the path she has followed.” Zaban spoke to me, careful to keep his eyes from his sister.
“Dina has been a great help to the Lord of Darnuth Keep,” I replied. “Without her aide the Kaarum would once again have rushed past my borders unchecked to ravage the lands of the empire.” I noticed the approval in Dina’s eyes as I spoke, and felt a thrill creeping into my heart.
“This alliance with the realms of the north is unexpected,” said Zaban. “Is she to continue in your service?”
“Such a show of friendship would mark a great alliance between our peoples,” I said. “I would be honored to have such a lovely lady grace my court.”
The discussion became almost instantly lighter. I watched a heavy weight lift from Zaban’s eyes. He embraced his sister and I saw how deeply the difficult situation pained them both.
“The emperor has not issued any formal decree, so there is nothing to stop me from recognizing the sovereignty of Darnuth Keep. Lord Favisham, among others, would have you stopped here, but I won’t risk my sister to satisfy his whim.”
“Thank you,” said Dina.
“Time will tell if this is a wise decision or not. You made a hard choice. Colter has given you a chance to retain some sense of status and respect among your friends and family,” said Zaban.
“We have plans to fully rebuild the city,” I said. “We have come to purchase supplies and find people willing to join us.”
“I won’t stand in your way, though others will. I came here to find Dina, and now that I’ve spoken with her I can return to Shelsmor. My advice to would be to return as quickly as you can to Darnuth Keep. You won’t have much trouble finding people to join you, but be careful who you take. The western lords have servants and spies even here. If they choose to make trouble for you I won’t be able to stop all of it.”
“We’ll be careful,” I said.
Zaban smiled and the conversation turned to Dina’s family. She wept as he recounted their father’s funeral. He listened intently as she told him of our adventures together. For a while I sat, forgotten, as they renewed the family bonds that she had strained.
“After you have rested, you will both join me for dinner. In the morning I will say goodbye,” said Zaban as we closed our discussion.
“We would be delighted, my lord,” I replied.
Zaban prepared a tent for each of us where we could bath and rest. He sent me a new fine silk shirt and sturdy comfortable trousers. I welcomed the opportunity to relax, but I knew that I would have to use caution in order to understand the regent’s full intentions. A servant summoned me to join the dinner party about an hour later.
Dina appeared in a black silk dress and greeted me as I entered the tent. A large emerald necklace graced her throat. She had pinned her hair high on her head, exposing her strong, elegant neck. She smiled and guided me through the formalities. “Many of my father’s closest advisors are here. Zaban’s position is difficult. Be careful not to offend him or those who are with him here. Pascalli is right that we need additional people at the keep in order to make it grow and hold our position.”
I smiled back and nodded. “I’ll do my best,” I promised.
Though I heard music playing as we entered, it stopped when Zaban saw us. He motioned for us to approach, smiling broadly at his sister. “My lords and ladies, I present lord Halfspear, conqueror of Darnuth Keep.” Most present were able to mask their astonishment, although a few surprised gasps and several incredulous glances floated around the tent. “The lady Taradurk, also of Darnuth Keep has joined him in his conquest. Tonight we welcome them as allies against the Kaarum.” He started applause that others hesitantly followed. I followed Dina’s lead and bowed and smiled.
Dinner saved me from enduring difficult questions as Dina carefully steered nearly everyone away from me. Her skill at managing people shined in a way I had not previously appreciated. Her second brother, Yunath, seemed more reserved about accepting my position. Dina did not try to avoid him.
Yunath was shorter than his brother, with a slightly more powerful build, but he shared the same green eyes of the rest of his family, and the same straight dark hair. “Zaban says that you stopped the Kaarum at the pass near Darnuth Keep,” stated Yunath.
“That is why we went there,” I answered. “It should take them several winters to recover, at least that is what Pascalli says.”
“Pascalli visited our house when I was a child. He showed no respect to our family or our traditions. I do not think he will do what is best for the empire,” said Yunath.
“He will do what is best for the world,” I said. I noticed Dina’s gently concerned look and did my best to change the subject. “Winter is just ending. The time for planting will come soon. We will need a good crop to help us build life into the city again.”
To my surprise Yunath smiled. “You are right. Now is not the time for heavy talk. Nor is it the time to breed mistrust. Zaban is not a fool, though he has made exceptions for his sister.”
The rest of Dina’s family had stayed in Shelsmor. I know that she especially missed her sisters. Mostly military men accompanied Zaban this far north, though a few of them brought along their wives. After a short time I read the disappointment in Dina’s face.
“I’m sorry your sisters couldn’t come,” I told Dina.
“Niersa should be here,” she said. “One of us always waited on my father, no matter where he traveled. First it was Sorla, my oldest sister, then Tiarna, and then me. When I left to find adventure Niersa must have taken my place. She should be here. Zaban doesn’t have any daughters old enough to do it yet.”
“You’ll see them again,” I said. “As soon as everything is in order I’m sure we’ll have a chance to come south again.”
“I hope so, but I feel as if I won’t.”
I didn’t pay much attention to the soldiers who attended that dinner. Dina seemed content to be surrounded again by people who hid their true intentions behind smiles and borrowed emotions.
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Six
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Posted by admin on July 27, 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.
We hurried inside and found an abandoned house. Through the windows I watched several more creatures scurry past out the main gate and off into the deepening darkness.
In the dead of winter I found myself holed up with an irascible wizard and a lame huntress. Dina’s arm had broken. Pascalli complained bitterly to me. “Why didn’t you think, boy? It’s a fight for your life. There are no rules. I wanted into the palace by now, but we can’t leave her alone, and we can’t bring her along like this.”
We had taken refuge in a large mansion near the palace. With little else to do except eat and sleep, Pascalli quadrupled my training. Every chore imaginable he required that I perform by magic alone, without the aid of my hands. Though I had often dreamt as a child of being able to simply wish the dinner pots would clean themselves, I found that asking them to do it was equally rigorous. Catching the right voices among the myriad swirls of so many different elements proved nearly impossible. At first I managed by conjuring water and having it slosh around the same as I would by hand, but Pascalli pointedly dismissed this idea. “Use the meat between your ears, Scratch. You’ve magic now, do something interesting.”
I now realize that no matter what I could have invented there would have been no pleasing that old man, but at the time I scrambled through idea after idea. By the first signs of spring I had become adept at lighting fires and manipulating water and air. I mastered causing small objects to fly, but I had difficulty with anything larger or heavier than a stone the size of my fist.
Pascalli also invented a new, rather disturbing game that truly annoyed me. At odd moments he would toss a stone at me, and I either stopped it with magic or took a lump. As if that game weren’t bad enough, it quickly progressed to a knife aimed at an arm or leg and eventually my more vital parts. He began encouraging Dina to do the same with her free arm, which she did far too willingly for my pleasure. I am sure that had time permitted we would have progressed to stopping arrows or some other nonsense, but Dina’s arm took time to heal.
After some ten markets Dina’s arm knit completely and the weather had turned enough for Pascalli to finally venture a visit to the palace. To my great dismay, however, he did not invite me. Instead he said, “Scratch, my lad, I shall need some supplies. Now I’ve done some looking and turned up a coin or two, and there’s bound to be more about. Go down to Last Gate and see what you can buy. What’s more, see who you can entice into joining us here. The city is open now, and I think we can begin to breathe some life into it.”
I set off with Dina back down the mountain towards Last Gate. Going down seemed much easier than coming up. No enemies pursued us, though in the hills and forest remained a constant danger filled with many strange creatures from the breaking. Our horses delighted in the journey for they had not much exercise in many markets. Dina also acted as gay as any young lass for she was returning alive, though a certain dread did still shadow us. For my part I knew that Pascalli had brought me to the city for a reason that remained as yet unaccomplished. I believe Dina still wondered about her station with her family.
The guards at Last Gate saw us approach easily a kilometer before we reached the wall. Even in the distance we heard someone call into the town, though the words were muffled. A small crowd gathered atop the gate to watch us, and I felt a stirring of pride as they gaped in disbelief at our approach.
Naturally, Garret, the gate captain assumed we were returning in failure. “I see you return one windbag less,” he said with a commanding voice. “These gates are closed by imperial law.”
Dina stood up in her stirrups and I’m sure was prepared to invoke her father’s name, but I motioned for her to relax.
“The Lord of Darnuth Keep does not leave his domain without a steward,” I replied. “My tutor and friend is safe and well, I assure you, preparing my palace for my return.” I must admit at the time I had meant merely to bluff my way through a closed door. I had no idea how near the truth I really hit. “I have come to seek parlance with the imperial regent and to negotiate a treaty to our mutual benefit. Let us pass.”
There were no more replies from the guard towers, only muttered voices beyond my hearing. The gate opened and we passed inside.
The village of Last Gate had swollen over the winter with the news of the three strangers who forced their way through. Swarms of rogues and adventurers all in the guise of merchants crowded the streets peddling anything that passed the guards’ mandates. These merchants brought with them their servants and slaves, and the commotion attracted the attention of yet other visitors. In particular many members of the local nobility lent their curiosity. The moment that drove home the importance of our situation most poignantly happened when Dina suddenly reined her horse in and dismounted. She dropped to her knees before a haughty man some eight or ten winters my elder. He rode a tall black stallion with his hair tied back in a topknot after the fashion of the western nobility. I knew at once from his manner and his eyes that this must be a brother. I waited, facing him silently.
He ignored his sister and instead spoke to me. His shirt and pantaloons were finest silk, and the cutlass at his side had a hilt worked masterfully. I caught the distinct clink of mail and knew that he was protected and surely trained to fight.
“You have broken our law,” he said flatly. His voice carried a deadly steel that I knew came from a life of giving orders.
“That is impossible,” I replied. A slice of anger pierced his eyes. “I am Colter Halfspear, Lord of Darnuth Keep. There is no law here that binds me.” After watching Pascalli for so long I had developed a bit of pomp for bullying. This man, Dina’s brother, however, was not a man to be bullied, especially not by an un-bearded youth such as myself.
“You will give me your weapons, now,” he said. “Then my court shall decide your fate.”
“I know your law,” I said. “It is the emperor’s law. You cannot take my weapons, and you should not try.”
Soldiers had now surrounded us. I began to have some second thoughts about my situation, but I had gone too far to back down. Pascalli had beaten too much pride into me. I couldn’t give it away.
Suddenly Dina spoke, and for the first time her brother paid her attention, “Zaban, you must not try it. He is who he says he is.” She had not raised her head, and I’m sure the muddy streets made her knees quite uncomfortable.
Zaban’s steely eyes turned into a scowl. “Come with me,” he said, relenting slightly. “We have much to discuss. You may retain your weapons for the present.” He did not fear me. That much I could read in his eyes. I believe he saw the wisdom of avoiding conflict despite my forced breach of custom.
He still did not speak to Dina, even as we paraded, with imperial guards on either side through the streets to a large camp just outside of town. His personal tent dominated a small village of tents that housed his many servants and personal warriors.
Pascalli had warned me of the formality of the courts of nobility, particularly in the west. I don’t believe he had planned for me to be introduced just yet, but I was determined not to disappoint. Zaban, to be sure, leaned heavily on formality and custom. His personal guard kept a tight line, much better than typical soldiers, and their gear was polished bright enough to make Iven smile. I suddenly realized how haggard I must look, dressed in home-cut buckskin with wild hair Dina cropped with our crude tools. Though I groomed my horse better than anyone I knew and I tended my weapons and armor as only one whose life depends on it, I had seen too much wear for too long.
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Five
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Posted by admin on July 20, 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.
The next markets passed quite uneventfully. With Dina’s help I tied skins of animals filled with very smelly powder to poles three to four meters tall all around the valley. Pascalli had both Dina and I make arrows by the dozen and practice firing them with their tips dipped and lit on fire. Of course wherever I traveled I had that stupid pebble following me, and lighting arrows with magic quickly turned into a tedious chore.
The snow began to deepen, and the edges of the lake began to freeze. Pascalli warned that it would not be safe to try to catch anymore of the enormous trout for the ice was thin and unsafe but the water could not be reached without walking on it. We built two watch points outside of the walls where Dina and I could reach the poles with a long arrow shot. Pascalli had a signal fire ready to go atop the city wall. With our poles safely planted and our winter stores in, all we could do was watch and wait.
I had long lost the reckoning of days and markets though I know it must have been sometime after the midwinter festival. Needless to say we did not celebrate. Pascalli saw to it that day and night someone watched over the valley, and sure enough one evening just as the gray sun began to slip over the mountains Dina called to us from the city wall.
We all took our positions without questions. Pascalli warned us that the shock might upset some of the keep’s current occupants and we should be on the lookout for creatures running out of the valley and out of the keep. “Especially watch out for what might be inside the palace. We’ve not ventured in there yet, but you can be sure it is not friendly.”
The Kaarum approached like a cold, slow, black snake. Though I knew that their masters drove them on with whips at a running gait across the ice and snow, to me, sitting on my frozen perch the minutes seemed to pass like hours. Much to my surprise and chagrin as the black army entered the narrow valley their pace slackened. They moved carefully. Clearly they knew that some armed resistance had taken at least a few of their scouts. I looked to the place where the signal fire would light. Nothing. My heart sank more as the night began to surround us. If they intended to move in the night my toes would surely freeze from staying still so long, but I had no choice. I had a tiny flame concealed in a little earthenware pot scavenged from an abandoned home. I moved it between my toes and waited.
The troops in the lead slowed and came to a halt. At first I did not understand, but then I realized that they had encountered terrain more difficult than anticipated. Some markets back at Pascalli’s behest Dina and I had struggled to fell trees and drag them with our horses across the road. Covered with two or three meters of snow, the debris would make it dangerous and difficult even for the supply carts on runners. Soldiers on foot could not move through the valley without risking a nasty fall that could easily break a limb. Troops began to pile up behind. Confusion ensued with Kaarum moving every direction but forwards. Suddenly the signal fire flared.
Almost as one, the entire army shouted in collective panic. I lit my arrow in my tiny flame and loosed it at the first target. I knew by memory where each lay and did not need even the little bit of starlight that now filtered through the thin clouds. My first arrow struck and I lit the next. Before I could shoot a second arrow an enormous explosion rocked the valley. I did not know if my second arrow found its mark because just after I let it go a second explosion shook the valley. I found my last target and fired.
If there were more explosions I could not say because in the next moments the entire valley became one continuous rumbling tumult. I grabbed my earthenware jar and scrambled to the relative safety of the abandoned city. All around the snow had begun to fall off of the teetering mountain peaks dumping thousands of tons of white death onto the army below. Somewhere I think I heard the cracking of the ice in the lake, but I can’t be certain. The morning found a valley floor covered in white mounds where the night before an army had tried to cross.
I am glad that I could only catch faint glimpses of crushed bodies in the dark and that the massive avalanche drowned their screams. Death is horrible, even for the Kaarum. When spring arrived, bringing new life, we found a valley floor littered with bones and rot and old gear. The deep valley lake covered much of the destruction and smell, but for a long time afterwards the marks of our triumph remained.
The shaking of the avalanche startled the entire city, including the palace. Pascalli’s counsel to keep up our guard proved wise. Dina and I both returned to the city wall about the same time. We had opened the city gates, knowing that the Kaarum would not attempt to get in, but we had not really planned on facing down enemies trying to get out.
A dog, perhaps the size of a pony, surprised us in its terror. The scales along its torso, like those of a fish, glittered slightly in the starlight. It cracked a long, bony tail like a whip. The enormous jaws growled in unmistakable anger and fear. Yellow eyes darted everywhere in panic.
We pulled up short. I took a step backwards slowly, giving it plenty of room to pass. Dina did the same, but her hand moved too quickly to her quiver. Before I could warn her, the beast had already decided she was a threat and lunged. It grabbed her arm in its teeth and flung her like a doll. I had a brief second to knock my own arrow, but the point bounced harmlessly off of the creature’s natural armor. I’m sure I panicked. Dina had the good sense to lie still and it turned its attention on me. I found my father’s spear and dropped my bow. It would not be useful in this fight.
Though wide enough for several horses, the area in front of the gate did not leave a great deal of room for maneuvering. I circled carefully, waiting for an overwhelming lunge. I tried to put myself between it and Dina, but it seemed to sense my tactic and feinted. I parried with a jab to the snout, but it pulled back in time. Clearly this thing, whatever it was, had experience fighting and understood much more than the average wild animal.
Although I managed to hold my own for several more minutes, I am reasonably sure that in the end Dina and I would have met a rather unpleasant fate had Pascalli not been curious about us. Suddenly I heard his voice, booming like thunder from atop the city walls. “Use your blasted magic, boy! I’ve not spent my life blood training you to watch you waste it away like this.”
I will admit that I felt stupid, and to this day feel a little guilt that I did not think of the idea myself, an idea that could very well have saved Dina some pain. Of course the entire time my rock still flickered about me as it always had. I think the rock, more than anything had caused the creature to hesitate when it attacked me. I quickly focused on the rock, begging it to blaze to molten heat and sent it effortlessly into the dog’s eye. I had expected it to burn and frighten the creature, but instead the rock’s intense heat actually melted through the eye and burned into its brain. It dropped dead at Dina’s feet.
“Now that’s much better, lad,” said Pascalli. “Best get inside quick, and take it careful with her arm.”
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Four
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Posted by admin on July 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.
With autumn fading quickly into winter I hunted each morning and then returned to skin and cure hides and smoke meat for our winter store. So many supplies had been left behind that we needed blankets, clothes and food. The cold mountains would have to provide our needs for the coming winter.
Dina handled her bow expertly, though she lacked my experience in the wild. At first we hunted separately, scouring the valley and mountain near the keep. Each day Dina grew a little more frustrated as I found more success. Pascalli suggested after a few days that we would be much safer hunting together while he worked on his preparations. Whatever he prepared for the Kaarum he did not explain to us.
We set out together, and I immediately noticed the noise she made as we walked. At first I ignored it, hoping she could learn by watching, but eventually I realized she needed help. “Let’s rest a bit,” I said. She didn’t want to stop. “We won’t find anything this morning.”
“How can you be so sure?” she asked. “This game trail is fresh.”
“The trail is fresh, but you aren’t,” I replied.
“I’m not tired,” she said, frowning.
“You move like you are tired. And I know that I am tired,” I said.
“You haven’t been yourself since you opened the gate to the inner circle. You don’t cook anymore, and you never join us at the fire in the evening anymore.” I didn’t expect to feel any concern in her voice, and the comfort surprised me. “What’s wrong?”
“I saw horrible things.” I know tears came to my eyes, but I did my best to hide them and keep my voice steady. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“Will you at least tell me why you always find more game than me?” she asked. “My father taught me to hunt when I was only a girl, but I’m not having any luck here.”
“Hunting for sport is not the same as hunting when your life hangs on your skill. You are too nervous. You make a lot of noise, and you miss the small details. You have to know not only to look, but to see and understand.” I hoped I didn’t sound like Pascalli lecturing, but I knew I did.
“I would like to move the way you do. I always wanted to be better than my brothers. They have glory and honor already, but I will have to earn mine,” she said.
“I don’t know anything about glory, but I know that you don’t need to hunt like me to earn respect. You have a strength that is all your own. You gave up your life to be with us. I can respect that,” I said.
For the first time, I think she smiled at me. Although she never mastered everything about the wild, she put her heart into it with each step. Later that day we found two Kaarum, which we shot at a safe distance before they caught our scent. I learned to forgive what I viewed as her shortcomings, and she began to overlook mine. Such friendships are bought hard and dear, and only come with time and trial.
“What will your family do when you return?” I asked her as we sat around the fire. I needed something to take my mind away from the flames.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “My family has a great responsibility to the emperor. I met him once, you know.”
“Who?” I asked.
She laughed, the sort of laugh I expected from Laural. “The emperor, silly. I lived three summers in Dynwater, learning the ways of the courts. I know well my duties, and so does all my family. My father may not be able to let me live if I go back. Certainly he can no longer claim me as a daughter.”
“Why not? All you did was cross a gate,” I said.
“I aided you. There are some in Dynwater, and other places, who do not want you wandering free.”
“I haven’t seen or heard from my mother or sister since I left the village. I don’t know if they are still alive, though I hope they’ve had an easier time than I have.”
“You’ll see them again someday,” she reassured me. “Maybe one day we can visit them together.”
“And maybe you will introduce me to your family.” We laughed away our fears. I came to know that her great resentment of me stemmed only from fear of my father’s legend. Together we found game and gathered nuts and roots while forging a bond tempered through hardship.
Pascalli did not forget any of my other duties. At times Dina hunted alone, scouting only the fringes of the city, or stayed in camp preparing stores for winter. On those days she stayed because Pascalli kept me busy with my training and my learning. The daily efforts with sword and spear were redoubled, but he added to this meditation and serious practice with magic.
“Living matter is the most difficult to master,” explained Pascalli. “So we will begin with that which was never alive, or at least only alive so long ago that it has no memory of itself. That is to say it has no intelligence.” He held up a pebble. “Begin with that.”
I looked at the pebble. It seemed rather ordinary and uninteresting.
“Remember, you must focus. Find its voice and the voice of the element you want to use to control it. You have proven you can listen to the air, which is the easiest, go ahead and lift the pebble.”
So I began each day lifting the pebble. Eventually Pascalli moved me on to not just lifting the pebble but having it fly in circles or other patterns, and eventually to keeping it hovering over my shoulder as I moved around the camp. Controlling magic can be very tiring, and long before the first snows fell I had already grown weary of my daily routine.
Still Pascalli proved relentless. Each night when I returned he checked that the stone had not fallen. Then he introduced me to the other elements. “There are many elements all around us, and many kinds of energy. Understanding magic means understanding all of these things and bending them to your will. Take fire, for example. It is all around us, but you must ask the air to give it to you. The same is true of water and of lightning and of the force that causes things to fall. Concentrate on your stone again, but this time try to find the voice of fire within it.”
I concentrated. Instead of the usually wispy voice of the air I could hear a low rumbling, crackling whisper like a very distant forest fire.
“Now ask it to warm the rock.”
I found that I was not surprised when the pebble grew intensely hot.
“Very good,” said Pascalli. “You did not break your concentration. From now on you will use magic to light our campfires. Also practice collecting water from the air into your canteen as you hunt. I do not expect miracles yet, but time is short and you will soon be tested.”
When the first flakes of snow trickled from the sky Pascalli ordered us to stop our hunting efforts. By then we had a large stock of supplies in one of the smaller mansions in the citadel. We still had not entered the palace proper, which Pascalli seemed to regard with both dread and curiosity.
“Now then,” he began, using his lecture tone. “The time has come for us to begin in earnest one of the many reasons we came here. That is to say the main reason I came here, though you two are of course involved. As you both know, the Kaarum have sent their scouts through this valley. It is one of the few passes open during the winter though they have not tried it in many summers because the wild beyond it is both dangerous and unrewarding. The passes to the east are much better. Unless I am very much mistaken they will be forced to send their army through the valley this winter. They will wait until the lake is frozen over and until their own supplies of food far to the north have nearly dwindled until they are forced to hunt for plunder. We have come to stop them here.”
“How are we going to do that?” gasped Dina. “Three people against thousands of Kaarum do not make good odds.”
I had to agree, but I knew from the twinkle in the wizard’s eye that he had a plan. “There once was a time, young lady, when I alone could have stood against them without bothering so many markets in advance to prepare. Should time prove to be on my side, I shall prepare young Scratch here to do the same. In the meantime trust that this old bag of bones has a plan larger than his belly.”
Clearly Dina was not taken in by his smile. Pascalli ignored her glare and continued.
“There are ample supplies of certain minerals in the mountain, which I have been constantly mixing and preparing. Scratch, you may recall that the Veldmen make such powders from time to time to help delve. We shall place quantities of these powders in strategic locations around the valley and when the Kaarum arrive they will explode causing all of the snow to fall from the mountain on top of them. With any luck the frozen top of the lake will also give way and in one swift crack we’ll have them all.”
Naturally I thought he had lost his mind, but I had the good sense to hide it. Dina, however, exploded in a short-lived fit of incredulous rage. She was right, of course, there were far too many ways the plan could go wrong, but I knew Pascalli too well to really doubt him much. Besides, I had done crazier things already.
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
On to The Cleansing of Darnuth Keep Fantasy Novel Chapter Fourty Three
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Posted by admin on July 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 had prepared to say my name, but my heart froze as I looked into the pale dead eyes that stared unflinching back at me. Once a fat priest, now the flesh had faded into nothing by thin gray whiteness and the wispy hair drifted into smoky etherealness from behind a once balding pate. The dead eyes had no pupils, only rolling cloudy orbs above a clear-white face. As I looked into those eyes I saw not only the depths of fear, anger, and pain, but also the walls and decorations of the temple. Weapon or not, this foe I could not destroy in battle. I could not speak for a long time for it held me transfixed in anguish with its stare. The creature appeared to be waiting, but for what I could not tell.
As if in response to my thoughts the temple door opened and slowly a procession of other smoky-white entities began to file into the large worship hall. Though many seemed still to be dressed in clear or white versions of their earthly clothes, most had torsos and legs that faded into wispy nothingness with only faces and arms bearing their human resemblance. Slowly I began to understand. The eyes of long dead nobility focused on me and the simple offering I had made to my goddess. Though they barely filled the hall a quarter of the way, the procession ended and the door closed behind them as suddenly as it had opened. I felt at once trapped, frightened and exhilarated.
I stood, a mere spectator, as events beyond my control unfolded. I suddenly felt the chill in my blood give way to warmth that encompassed my entire body. The bright, snowy light I had seen only once before suddenly surrounded the offering pit and began to fill the entire chamber. Against that brightness the angry spirits became nearly invisible. The threatening eyes recoiled in confusion and awe. The majestic, sublime and simple voice addressed them.
“Give way now, my loyal children for the time has come for the world to be healed again. Your vow to protect my holy place is fulfilled, come now and enter my rest.”
Just as suddenly as it had appeared the light began to fade, but behind me my little fire flared into life beyond its means. One by one the specters moved forward. I stepped aside though they now seemed oblivious of my presence. Each in turn entered my fire, and as they did it flared up until the last, the deadly priest that first addressed me vanished in its heat and the fire died suddenly into cold black ashes.
For the briefest moment I stared about into the encroaching darkness. I found that I was covered in sweat and grime from the day’s labors and from the intense heat of the fire. I could not separate the confusion swimming in my head. Clearly Tylos wanted me for something, but there, alone in a forsaken dead city I could not have guessed my future.
Much later, long after dark I reached our camp. I approached silently, for that had long become my habit and found them guarding a little fire. Dina jumped in surprise and fear when I stepped from the shadows but Pascalli merely smiled and quipped, “I see you’ve done well lad.”
“Is there any hot food,” I asked, for I felt my strength had all drained away. Something about those garish faces seemed to have stolen the life from my limbs.
“Not yet, though we got some meat today,” winked Pascalli. Dina will cook.” Dina glared at the wizard and clearly meant to refuse. I shrugged and went to find their kill, but Pascalli called me back. “Sit down, Scratch. By the look of you I’d say you’ve seen death, or worse. Now go one girl, I’m sure you can manage.”
I found a comfortable spot out of the smoke near our fire and waited. Dina retrieved a scrawny rabbit, which Pascalli helped her prepare. After they had it roasting she looked me over, and with some hesitation asked, “What happened?”
I didn’t mean to ignore her, but I couldn’t begin to describe anything. Pascalli gave her a disapproving look, but said nothing.
“Is there some secret?” she asked. I sensed the frustration in her voice. “I feel like I have a right to know what’s going on. I’m out here too, you know!”
I turned away from her, numbly staring into the flames, but I quickly found that too horrible as my mind kept conjuring images of the dead as they walked into a different fire.
“There are some questions, which cannot be answered,” said Pascalli. “There are some questions that should not be asked.”
Dina glared, rolled her eyes and sighed. “Did you at least open the gate?” she asked.
I did not answer, I was still lost in thought, but Pascalli brought me to my senses. “I believe the young woman asked a question,” he said.
I didn’t care for his tone, but then I didn’t much care for the conversation. “It’s open,” I said simply.
Pascalli forced me to eat before going to sleep. I ate mechanically, tasting nothing. Dina had never before cooked during our journey together, so it should have been a memorable moment, but it was lost to me. I saw the hurt in her eyes as I ignored them both, but lacked the strength of will to respond.
“Whatever evil remains we will have to face ourselves,” I mumbled. “The dead have gone, but they left their work behind.”
So many of my memories have been lost in the well of time, but I can never look at a fire without seeing the dead or recalling the night of nightmares that ensued. If Pascalli or Dina asked me more that night, I didn’t answer. I drifted into exhausted oblivion, chased by the images of the dead. For days and nights afterwards I slept only fitfully, and Pascalli did not let me stand watch alone.
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
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Posted by admin on June 29, 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.
The following day proved tiresome and cumbersome for me in too many ways. Pascalli accompanied me through the city to gate at the highest level. The lowest level of the city spans a great semi-circle out from the mountain with the back wall running straight as an arrow and cutting deep into the mountainside. A wide highway opens from the main gate and takes a straight course up, through six wide tall gates to reach the palace proper. At each level a terrace is cut into the mountain and a wall holds back the earth and gives a place for troops to watch the city. The first four gates hung open wide. The gentle archways, unchanged by time, invited me in. The fifth gate, however, stood closed.
“That doesn’t look any different than the lower gates,” observed Dina.
“Of course not,” said Pascalli. “You didn’t expect it to be on fire, did you? I’ve not dared pass that portal yet, and that should be warning enough for both of you. The lower levels bear no malice, for they were homes for common folk who largely fled during the breaking. But the fifth level was home to many nobles. They swore by their lives and souls, in a sacred vow, that no unclean thing would dwell in their homes or disturb their rest. As a sworn enemy of this place once upon a time, I at least, will not be welcome until they are pacified.”
“And you expect me to make them happy,” I replied.
“I hope you can,” he said, though his tone did not reassure me.
“Exactly what am I to do?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” said Pascalli. “I have a number of guesses, but I think you would be better off asking them than me. There is no magic sealing the gate, but you can’t open it from the outside. Take a rope and hook. I brought it for a purpose. You will end up scaling the wall I’m sure. Now off you go.”
Scaling the wall proved immensely difficult. There are no footholds in the polished stone and only a very few places where a steel hook has any hope of catching. After nearly an hour of trying to lock the hook in place, my arms and back ached. Finally it caught but I no longer had the energy to pull myself up using only my arms. I sat to rest and chew on a piece of dried meat. From somewhere inside I thought I heard dull laughter.
After a long rest I scrambled up the rope. I pulled the rope up behind me thinking to find a more secure place to tie it off. For a few minutes I wandered the top of the wall, looking for such a place but to no avail. Then I realized all I needed to do was push open the gates. From the inside, the inner city walls were really nothing more than a high stone fence reaching to about my chest. From the outside, below they appeared to be both tall and thick because of the earth packed behind. I followed the wall and found the guardhouse near the tunnel that led to the gate.
My hand had reached to pull the lever when I spotted a movement from the corner of my eye through the guardhouse window. I turned to look but could see nothing. Instantly my bow was at the ready. I had cover from the guardhouse but only a limited view. I could not cover both the window and the door while simultaneously attempting to manage the lever. I decided to deal with whatever was out there before trying my luck with the gate.
Stalking a large animal through a dense mountain forest has both advantages and disadvantages. I had become familiar after living off the land so much with how to be patient and how to use cover. I noted the direction of the wind, and generally kept my eyes open. Here in this desolate city, with no trees, only windswept stones and sunlight, I discovered a new sense of dread. After emerging from the guardhouse I immediately felt exposed. Whatever was out there could see me, though I saw nothing.
I paused to listen. Nothing. I crossed the street where I could keep my back to the wall of a tall house. I glanced up briefly to see dark vacant windows staring like ancient faces down at me. Again something moved. But I heard nothing. It moved very fast. I thought it was white, perhaps the edge of a robe or dress.
I crept along the edge of the wall slowly and silently, watching both where I had been and where I was going. I reached a point where I could clearly see the corner of the building opposite me where the movement had been. I crossed the street and crept slowly to that corner. I was not surprised to find nothing but an empty alley. Whatever it was left no tracks, no sound, and no signs of any kind. I dismissed all of this without thought for I also moved without much sound and I had been careful to leave no tracks, though it appeared that I moved considerably slower.
Whatever it was had only one way to go so I entered the alley and quietly picked my way to the end. Again I saw nothing at first, but while studying the area my eye caught motion once more. I played this game over and over throughout the morning until I knew well the lay of much of the inner circle. My prey had taken me from the wall up to the palace gates and back again until I found myself just outside a temple to Tylos.
Tired, thirsty and hot from my long work I decided to give the chase a rest. I tried the main door to the temple and found that the seasoned wood and iron opened as easily as if the hinges had been oiled and mended that morning. I found a cool, shady corner and sipped water quietly. I bit off a piece of meat and chewed it thoughtfully, planning my next move. Whatever else might be out there I had not accomplished my goal. I had neither discovered nor discussed my desires with this citadel’s former occupants. The gate remained closed.
Quite suddenly the temple door slammed shut as a great gust of wind rushed past on the street. Again the low laughter I thought I had heard before teased my ears, but this time much clearer, though still distant as if from within a vault.
At first I thought to open the door again and continue my earlier chase, or at least return to the gate and try the lever. When I stood up I felt differently. I had never been inside a real temple to Tylos before and I felt compelled to offer Her some prayer or oblation before leaving. I did not know the proper ceremony, but I managed to find the offering pit at the top of a small dais. Sunlight poured in through a high opening in the domed top. I found a small pile of cedar left stacked from centuries before and lit it in the pit. All I had with me were a few herbs for cooking and a bit of dried meat. I put them on the fire and then knelt. Raising my hands and staring into the sky, I offered a prayer to my goddess.
“Who are you to bring sacrifices to this house of holiness,” asked a sinister voice from behind me. Hatred poured from the voice like acid. My blood ran chill. My bow lay beside me, out of reach. My spear waited back at camp. Even if I tried, I knew I would not have time to draw my father’s sword and bring it into play. Very slowly I stood up and turned around.
Copyright 2008 Kelly David Tolman
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