History of Mardon Castle - 17B
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 (12:00:16)

Posted by TerishD

History of Mardon Castle
Chapter Seventeen
Part 2

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Axiste knew that women did have a place in most conflicts. While the females did not usually fight, they stayed present to keep the men fighting. The warm-blooded races had the power to sustain their emotions, but kevalla tended to feel their thoughts wandering during a prolonged battle. The presence of a female could keep the men focused enabling them to continue fighting until victory was gained. Axiste let the women know that they had not been needed.

“We kevalla men heard the report just like you. While you were safe in your homes, all of us were safe in our beds. The human soldiers did as they were supposed to. They were alert during the night and fought the threat.”

Another lady said, “The report was that the battle was with ghosts.”


Women should be a part of any major story.


History of Mardon Castle
Chapter Seventeen
Part 2

Axiste listened as some kevalla mentioned the amount of concern that should be given to a wall containing a fresco. While Kaervel had simply given the order to clean the walls enough to remove most of the mud, the workers wanted some quality to show in their work. Axiste listened without challenging what was said, although intended to remind the men that the castle would probably end up being reburied.

Voices of others working outside the excavated structure began to be heard, forcing him to silence those before him so he could check on what might be a more serious immediate problem. Stepping out of what once had been a servant’s door, he did not see any fight or other dangerous activity. Lifting his gaze to match the view of others, he saw a number of kevalla women on the edge of the pit. He looked back to those that he had been speaking to in order to tell them that he had to check on other concerns.

It took one of the workers making a statement of identification that had Axiste look up again. With the pit being so deep, it did not help to look up or down during the climb. He however had to verify that one of the ladies was his wife. Seeing that it was, he simply set his sight straight before him as he returned to the climb.

He stepped away from the pit without fear of the women that surrounding him. The female kevalla were taller than the males, but as with humans the females were still considered the weaker sex. That did not mean that they were, but only that the men had strong egos. Axiste felt that the ladies had a reason for being present, and simply waited for them to speak.

His wife, Sherroxa, moved before her husband and said, “We had heard of trouble, Axiste. It was hard enough for most to prepare for a winter without their men, but then word of a battle came to us. We thus came to stand with our men.”

Axiste knew that women did have a place in most conflicts. While the females did not usually fight, they stayed present to keep the men fighting. The warm-blooded races had the power to sustain their emotions, but kevalla tended to feel their thoughts wandering during a prolonged battle. The presence of a female could keep the men focused enabling them to continue fighting until victory was gained. Axiste let the women know that they had not been needed.

“We kevalla men heard the report just like you. While you were safe in your homes, all of us were safe in our beds. The human soldiers did as they were supposed to. They were alert during the night and fought the threat.”

Another lady said, “The report was that the battle was with ghosts.”

“That was what we were told as well. The ghosts that we have seen however have not fought us.”

Sherroxa asked, “Axiste, you have seen a ghost?”

“I have seen a ghost. Now that we are inside the castle, we all expect to see more.”

“Our children are being watched by your sister, but I must return after checking on Nevixt. Some ladies however have no children at home. They thus want to stay.”

“I could give them duties keeping the fires lit. We men feel winter coming, but there is a lot of work to do.”

The voice of Kaervel now sounded, “And I believe that we all consider a meal cooked by a lady to taste much better.”

The mage spoke through a window of his tower room. While the chamber was below ground level, its height still gave Kaervel a good angle to gain some view of the surrounding land. His work to secure the areas before removing the soil did drain his mind, but he did try to stay alert to any developing problems. Axiste thus moved through the ladies to look at the mage as he spoke in return.

“You do not mind taking on some ladies?”

“I don’t care how cold it is, but we need to continue working. If some ladies want to keep their husband’s warm, that is fine with me. I only want to pay those that are working however. The same goes for any man now working as a cook that gets replaced.”

Axiste turned back to the ladies to say, “Feel free to look over the site. The ladders are strong, but we still only go one at a time. If you are scared of heights, wait for your man to finish his time.”

A lady asked, “Lord Axiste, is it warm down there?”

“It is becoming warm. The warm air rises, and at first we felt cold as drafts came down. We have now been working long enough that the ground has absorbed the warmth of the fire as have the stone walls holding back the mud. There is still a chilly draft, and new sections are very cold, but some workers are beginning to make their beds up near the walls because they feel more comfortable there than in our camp.”

The lady that had spoken earlier asked, “What about the ghosts?”

“The cold weather bothers most of us more than the presence of the ghosts.”

“Have you seen a kevalla ghost?”

Axiste considered that a strange question, although he did answer it. “No, but I guess it is possible. Some of us surely lived with the humans back then just as some of our kind do today.”

“That looks like a castle that a kevalla could call home.”

The ladies moved to look down much in the manner that he originally saw them. The men gazing up now to see the ladies however quickly turned their heads back to their labor upon seeing his presence among the females. Axiste knew that many kevalla spoke of having their own communities gain the status of a human holding. Just because they did not build fortresses did not mean that their leaders could not protect those around them. Stone buildings however did not provide the warmth that kevalla desired. Axiste looked down feeling that the building below might hold the heat better, although he spoke of another problem.

“The humans do not know what they are going to do with it after the curse has been removed. Living in it right now would not be proper, as the ghosts could be more numerous.”

Another lady mumbled loud enough to be heard, “And threatening.”

Axiste spoke in return loud enough to assure that all heard, “We are uncovering a past that the humans allowed to be buried. Maybe they were wise.”

Sherroxa said, “Get back to work, Axiste. Let us women have our council. When will Nevixt return?”

“He is hunting. It all depends on when he makes a kill. The humans tend to seek swamp serpents, as they provide a lot of good meat. Nevixt and Betemma tend to hunt deer, squirrel, and pigs, as they provide them with more fun in the hunt.”

“I won’t leave until I see him.”

“Then I hope he stays away for a time.” He saw the glance from his wife, and said, “You should recognize my tent. It would be nice having you there.”

After trading a sign of affection with her, Axiste left his wife and the ladies to climb back down below. Gaining the top of the castle wall, some ladies called down asking about making their own descent. He told them what was told to all others, although did stay to see a couple make the descent to his position then take a ladder to move on to the ground. His wife was not one to descend, so Axiste decided that he needed to go on down and return to overseeing those working.

The form of Kaervel in the passage through the tower motioned for him to come over. Feeling that he would be given some specifics concerning hiring a few ladies, Axiste moved to the mage. The expression on his face was not serious however, and his words were not about work.

“I wish human women thought like those of your race. It would be nice one day looking up and seeing a group of human ladies.”

Axiste felt that the man did not have the proper perspective. “Those are married women. If a group of human ladies did come, they would probably be seeking their mates as well.”

“I said that I would marry the lady that came to me. I keep hoping that she would arrive.”

“It will take more than simply waiting. You will need to let them know that you are there and what type of man that you are.”

“Yes, I know. Nalisha speaks of the balls she hopes to have later in the year. Still, seeing the ladies had me think of my own dreams.”

Axiste thought of the conversation that he left to speak to the ladies. He considered asking a question, although held his words as he considered exactly how to state his idea. Kaervel saw the play of movement in his face, and finally had to ask of what the kevalla was thinking. Axiste really wished that he had more time to consider his request, but did his best to voice his thoughts.

“Some ladies that stay will want to cook, but most came to spend time with their husbands. Keeping the fires going is not however that difficult of a task, and it easily gets managed by those with other duties. I would like to give the ladies the tasks of cleaning the artwork found inside.”

The mage showed that he did not understand the request, although had been listening to the earlier conversation. “In case you kevalla did decide to call this place your own?”

“So you would have something to impress a lady. Even for you humans, simply having a castle is not enough.”

A look of shocked crossed Kaervel’s features, then he smiled as he said, “Yes, it would help if I could speak of the artwork. Nalisha was quite pleased to receive the plants.” The man nodded as he added, “Yes, Axiste, I would not mind having the ladies clean the artwork.”

“Well, I won’t blurt it out. I will wait to hear how many ladies actually make the decision to stay and their thoughts about what plans they might have. Cleaning the artwork does not hold any priority, but I merely wanted your thoughts about having it as a possibility for a duty.”

“Those sound like good words, Axiste, as have your other statements. Let me say that I am glad to have hired you.”

The elder kevalla turned to look over the excavation as he said, “The men are working hard. You should have no bad thoughts about those you hired.”

“As long as I get what I want, I will always speak well of those that helped me get it.”

“You don’t want the castle.”

The words were not spoken as a question, but Kaervel responded as if it had been. “No, I want a happy life working with magic while having my family about me. I would like a tower above the ground where I could see the scenery.”

“Any lady seeking you thus really should not come here.”

“Besides the fact that I want to remove the curse, that is another reason to have the workers doing as much as possible. I need to be where my eventual wife will want me to be.”

Axiste took a step away as he said, “Then let me get back to work assuring that everyone stays working.”

“Give me about another hour, and I will be out preparing another section of ground. I was reading Norvichy’s notes about what he did when I heard the ladies. We all have jobs to do. Hopefully, all the people of Mardon will one day honor all those that worked here.”

“Are you going to hire people to make new works of art?”

“Probably, but not here. All I want here is an acknowledgement that we did what was necessary.”

“Of course.” Axiste moved back to the mage to say, “I like the idea of a kevalla making this a home. We need some better recognition in the land, but also I believe that if we simply allow this place to be buried that all will consider this place to be a grave.”

A bold growl came in return, “If it is, it will be considered the grave of heroes.”

“No, it will be considered the grave of the past. What is below is what Mardon once was. To truly let our children know that we accomplished something, we cannot allow the past to die.”

“We have done well without… No, you are right, Axiste. I will mention your words in my next report to Tasbirn.”

Axiste tried to help convince the mage of his change in thought by saying, “That is what I believe will be the worth in cleaning the artwork. It will let us know the stories that those here considered important. In seeing their art, we might learn something of them.”


Someone that had next will return.