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News » History of Mardon Castle - 11C
History of Mardon Castle
Chapter Eleven
Part 3
...
Axiste saw more than a dozen soldiers present in the room, so he spoke simply to see how much more he could learn. “I was only planning to hire about a dozen.â€
Norvichy said, “Hire about three dozen, Axiste, and a few soldiers as well. I am taking a number of men with me into the mountains.†His hand passed around to indicate those in the room as he added, “I am taking who I consider the best.â€
“You are returning to war?â€
Some chuckled while Captain Bostull said, “No, Lord Axiste. We are going to capture a roc.â€
Big plans are being made, but Axiste keeps the focus on what is important.
History of Mardon Castle
Chapter Eleven
Part 3
Once again Axiste felt annoyed at the humans as they summoned him after the setting of the sun. He however went to the tent of Kaervel accepting that some things between the two races were similar. Both did enjoy talking at the end of the day. With the kevalla the conversations were part of adjusting to their changing metabolism as the temperature of their blood dropped along with the air around them. The humans also felt tired at the end of the day, so relaxed to calm their heated bodies so they would accept slumber. Axiste thus moved between the tents feeling that the time would be compatible with both races.
He did not expect such an important gathering. Kaervel was the one in charge of the operation, so most did look to him for guidance or a standard to rate their own level of authority. Axiste knew that many prided themselves on being able to speak to the man, while Axiste felt pride in himself in that Kaervel sought him to speak to. Stepping into the tent the faces of many humans turned to him, and many of the glances caused the elder kevalla to wonder if the conversation was going to allow his blood to cool.
Kaervel was with a number looking at a map on a table, but he lifted his eyes to look at the one that entered to say, “I am sorry to call you at such a late hour, Axiste. I just wanted to let you know to head out tomorrow to hire the first set of kevalla. I have assigned a dozen troops to go with you for protection.â€
Axiste saw more than a dozen soldiers present in the room, so he spoke simply to see how much more he could learn. “I was only planning to hire about a dozen.â€
Norvichy said, “Hire about three dozen, Axiste, and a few soldiers as well. I am taking a number of men with me into the mountains.†His hand passed around to indicate those in the room as he added, “I am taking who I consider the best.â€
“You are returning to war?â€
Some chuckled while Captain Bostull said, “No, Lord Axiste. We are going to capture a roc.â€
Kaervel spoke to support those words. “Baron Zuzolt brought up some facts that I feel have merit. The curse does permeate our whole land, so neither us here or Tasbirn can keep our focus only on our single objective. A roc will give us the advantage of the air.â€
Norvichy added, “We will need to move a ship, or ships, into Lake Nemistry. We thus need to see the actual river channels through our swamp. A view from above should allow us to see that.â€
Captain Bostull chimed in with the words, “As well as provide a different direction from which to launch attacks.â€
Kaervel said, “Baron Zuzolt said that we will need to fight the ghost of the pirate. Which is another thing I need for you to do, Axiste. As you hire kevalla, get some facts about Lake Nemistry. Is there a ghost ship? What other unnatural threats are said to rise from the lake?â€
Axiste nodded as he replied, “I could easily gain the services of a minstrel.â€
“If you have a sage knowledgeable about the topic, secure his services as well. You should find that you have sufficient funds.â€
The elder kevalla did not make a move to indicate his acceptance of the words, but turned his head to look over those in the room before asking, “Kaervel, do you really believe that removing the curse will require such a major undertaking?â€
“We have lived with the curse for almost eight hundred years, Axiste. Our history will ever speak of this period of time, so they will ever speak of those who finally ended the plague upon this land. I don’t really care what is really necessary to end the curse, but I want to be prepared for whatever is required.â€
Captain Bostull added, “And we are going to give the minstrels things to make the tale of us worth the telling.â€
Cheers sounded with Axiste seeing a number of steins lifted. One soldier stood to get a large mug, then filled it with beer and brought it to him. The elder kevalla thought well of the act, and before taking a drink he spoke a toast to the success of the humans. They cheered again, and for a time everyone celebrated being a part of something grand.
While the joyful attitude did affect Axiste’s mentality, some inner distrust of the humans did keep him from giving in completely to the revelry. He had seen the change in the humans. They had fought against deception, but that had forced them to keep their own council. Axiste no longer trusted them to be completely open with their thoughts. In moving to refill his mug, he stepped close to Kaervel to ask a sober question.
“Why three dozen? These are not workers that are going out with Norvichy, and with only you working the necessary magic the pace of the excavation will not increase.â€
The mage moved his finger over the map as he explained, “Baron Zuzolt let me know that he cannot afford to send any ships. He suspects our actions will call in more pirates, and with Baron Russon gone the last few years, Baron Zuzolt is the most knowledgeable of what the pirates are capable of. Thus, if Tasbirn is going to send a ship inland, it will be from Baron Russon. That man respects Tasbirn, but will play every action to get the most advantage. We thus are considering using the fact that it is mostly kevalla around Lake Nemistry to make a play to put some kevalla upon the ship.â€
“To make your own play for power?â€
“I am putting you in charge of the kevalla workers, Axiste. Any success will thus reflect on you.â€
The elder kevalla quickly let it be known that he did not accept what he was being told. “I don’t believe the viscount will move to the castle below. This will end up being your stronghold.â€
“I like your support for what we will find.â€
The reply came too quickly and easily to satisfy Axiste. He felt certain that his reply did not even come close to touching the mage. He thus looked to the man in an attempt to reason out what motives drove him. As if understanding the gaze, Kaervel spoke on the topic.
“I want what you already have, Axiste. I see you with your boy. I believe when you return to your people to hire those I request that you will spend time with your wife. You have children at your home that you will also spend time with. By the gods I want that, Axiste. I swear the next lady that I allow into my life will be able to cut my throat, as I would rather suffer that fate than have to live with the blood of someone so dear to me again on my hands.†Before Axiste could speak, Kaervel added, “I also want the curse removed. This is not an either-or option, but I want both. I will have a tower chamber to look over the healing land while I have my family near, and that castle down below will not give me one part of my dream, so I will not accept it.â€
Axiste reached for a pitcher of beer as he said, “Prove it. Tell me about this lady you had. Tell me what made you love her, and why you killed her.â€
While Kaervel took him to a corner of the tent to speak his words in private, the room grew quiet as he spoke of the war. No one made an attempt to interrupt the man, but Axiste noticed nods and other subtle actions of support and agreement for the words. He thus found himself accepting the stories that were told. It was hard understanding the life described. The amount of deception they had come to experience in what they saw, heard, and touched sounded like stories told to children and not real events. Having spent time with Kaervel, and seeing what the man could accomplish with his magic, Axiste did believe that he had gained enough power to challenge the rival mages. The pride in the man’s voice caused him to accept that Kaervel had taken a woman simply as a token of his superiority. His description of her and the pleasure she gave to him was also told with a conviction that could not be challenged. He spoke of more than just her presence in his bed, but told stories of her about the camp. Kaervel pointed to some of the men in the room with him to have them speak of the lady and things she did in their presence. While a number of stories caused laughter, it all ceased as the words of the lady’s death were related. The hope for victory had been too great, and the years of deception had forced a dependence upon religiously obeying certain rules. Kaervel acted swiftly and decisively when he saw her speaking to a crow, and he cried as he said that he still missed her.
Axiste rose as he said, “I hope that you find another lady, although simply finding your tower might be difficult enough.â€
“I will build it if I have to. I won’t search the world for my lady however, but she will come from Mardon. I believe that once my name spreads as having taken a major part in restoring the land, someone will come to live with me. I promise to love her.â€
Others now spoke of their own stories from the war. While most tales did not have the tragedy of Kaervel’s, the facts of the deceptions and the necessary responses to identify and remove them supported what he had said. Axiste listened to each, then asked the man what he had set as his goal upon returning to Mardon. All in the room spoke of wanting to start their lives, but only after they could relax in a land free from the horrors of magic. Some laughter sounded as a number assured the mages that the words did not include them, and as jibes passed between the men smiles came to the faces of all.
The elder kevalla paused to refill his mug, then lifted it as he said, “My blood is becoming cold, so I am going to bed, but I want all of you to hear that I consider this evening to have been spent with friends.â€
Well, it seems that an installment is coming with our two main ladies.
Posted by TerishD on Monday, December 21, 2009 (12:56:10) (270 reads)
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