Haven Keep (Book 1) (44 page)

Flenn first noticed Leofric, a short stocky man, chief of the Hywel, the master traders. The Halfen claimed to be the richest clan, but Flenn was sure the Hywel had more gold than any two clans put together.  Their exact wealth was kept closely guarded.  The grey of Leofric’s beard showed his years.  His councilors Rhodri, Ethelred, and Coel were with him. 

Next to the Hywel were the Kragen.  Chief Bethoc possessed dark brown, almost black hair.  Not very common to the north.  He was tall and broad, like most of the men in here.  Sigmund, Ulf and Gunnar were at his side.  They were master carpenters, most famed for their ships.  Many claimed they could still build ships to rival the dragon lords of old.  Their leathery skin was evidence of years at sea.

The Orlenc clan was across from the Kragen.  Lowerth was said to be the greatest horseman alive.  Flenn thought that was more likely a title passed down from chief to chief.  Still, his horsemanship was famed throughout more than just the north.  The rest of the clan’s reputation was not far behind Lowerth’s.  Their horses were prized above all others in the north and were still in high demand as far away as the Gothen Ilse.  Flenn did not recognize his councilors, but knew them by name.  Amas, Morleo and Domelech.

The Whaleren Clan appeared the most comfortable.  Rhulet ruled with an iron fist.  His light hair contrasted with his dark features and personality.  If the Halfen had won over any clans yet, Flenn would bet the Whaleren were the first to turn.  Master stonemasons, they had the closest relationship to the Halfen, who themselves had worked the mines of the Black Mountains for generations.  Rhulet’s councilors Tudor and Cywrig were familiar faces.  The other man Flenn had never seen before.  He must be Nurr.

The Halfen placed themselves at the head of the table.  There was plenty of room for Flenn and Berkler to sit at the head as well, but it was clear Ky had not expected their arrival.  Whatever conversation had been going on stopped when Flenn and Berkler entered the room.  Flenn did not know the two large men at Ky’s left.  The man at his right Flenn would never forget.  He dwarfed everyone else in the room.  Jubben sat silently, studying Flenn and Berkler as they entered.

“I see you have started without us,” Flenn observed.

Ky stood, his famous temper barely under control. “Where is Baiden?”

“He is recovering from wounds inflicted upon him by your traitorous men, which in case you were wondering are all dead.”

“You lie!”  Ky nearly spit as he screamed the words.  Flenn was not sure if Ky did not believe his men were dead or if he was making an attempt to hide his treachery.

“Do I?”

Flenn sat at the foot of the table, far from the other men.   Berkler stood behind him.  Flenn smiled.  Berkler saw the same opportunity Flenn had.  All sat at the meetings of the clan chiefs except the councilors to the Lord of the North.  They stood behind him in silence as an honor guard.  The other chiefs were to act as his councilors, and he to make the final decision.  By
sitting at the far end of the table Flenn had essentially changed the orientation of the room.  The foot of the table was now the head.  He acted for Baiden here and he would take the lead of the meeting.

“Are you telling me those men acted on their own, wounding Baiden and killing Jeret and all his councilors?  Or are you just angry they did not bring Baiden here in chains to answer to your false claims?”

“My claims are not false.”

“Your claims are as false as you are, Ky.”

“You claim Jeret is dead?”  Lowerth did not sound pleased.  The rest of the room sat in silence, waiting for an answer.

“Ky sent twenty-one armed men to arrest Baiden on false charges.  Jeret and his men fought in his defense.  They gave their lives for their lord.”

“Lies!”  Ky went for his sword, but Jubben put a gentle hand on his arm.  If that man could be called gentle.

“It is good your men are not as hot tempered as you.”  Flenn was pleased Ky had become angry so quickly.  He would not be as convincing if he was kept in a rage.  “By the time this meeting is done I plan to have you arrested for treason.  We will give you a fair trial.  If it is proven your men acted on their own your life may not yet be forfeit.  When Dethan arrives he will back my word.”

“You claim me a traitor?!”

Jubben tried to pull Ky down to his seat.  He knew this was not going well for them.

“Baiden assassinated Cray, killed my messengers sent to him.  Jubben barely escaped with his life.”

Flenn laughed out loud.  He did not feel like laughing, but wanted everyone there to know how absurd he thought Ky’s claims. “You are the one who sent assassins, under the guise of messengers.  We received them as honored guests and they turned on Baiden in his chambers, killing Roren and Jordy.  Do you deny this?”

“Of course I deny it.  It is a lie!”

Lowerth spoke.  “What of Ky’s claims that the heir of Evenfelle lives?”

Flenn was stunned.  He should have expected this.  Two nights ago the Halfen said as much when they tried to arrest Baiden.  Ky must have been spreading similar tales amongst the clans.

“Deny that!”  Ky screamed.  “You killed my men when they recognized your young master blacksmith as Beovon the son of Trajan.”

“Your men were killed in the attempt on Baiden’s life.  You wish to usurp Baiden’s authority.  Much easier if he were dead.   Is it not?”

“Lies!”

Jubben spoke softly.  He must have been trying to diffuse Ky’s anger.  “We made no attempt on Baiden’s life.  When I confronted him about Beovon he attacked us.  As did you.”

“I care not about who attacked who,” Lowerth said.  “I want to know about this Beovon.”

Flenn had to tell the story before Ky made it sound worse.  “He came to us on the slave ships as a boy.  Baiden purchased his freedom and raised him as an honorable man.  Baiden has kept his sacred oath to the empire.  He has been and remains true.  Who else here has done the same?”

“Why would he keep such a thing a secret?” Rhulet asked.

“Beovon has just barely come of age.  He was kept safe until the time of his youth was over.  He is now ready to proclaim himself.”  Flenn did not know if Von was ready for that, but it was too late now.  It had been done for him.

“I do not wish to be ruled by an emperor,” Rhulet said.

“We must be united,” Flenn reasoned.  He needed to calm these men down.  A unified front against the Horde was the main goal here.  He couldn’t loose sight of that.  “We need not have an emperor, but we cannot stand this treason from the Halfen.  The Black Horde gathers in the south.  We must be united against them.  Baiden will lead us against them.”

“Or force us into subjection?”  Jubben asked.

“He will not force anyone.”

“Then what of this southern army invading our lands?  An army of southerners more than five thousand strong, and growing, hidden in the mountains above Azmark?”

That sent the room into an uproar.  Everyone wanted an answer.

“Who was this army?”

“What was its intentions?”

“Why was Baiden hiding that too?”

“How could we trust a man who hid so much?”

Flenn needed to end this.  “We have only recently learned of the army from the south.  It is a remnant of the army of Evenfelle.  They continue their fight against the Horde and have come to us for help. Would you have them fight alone?  Baiden is still Lord of the North and you all have sworn to obey him.  Have you lost your honor?”

“I have not lost my honor,” Lowerth said.  “I have sworn an oath. And I can easily see through the Halfen.  They have ever been treacherous.”

Ky stared murder at Lowerth.  This meeting could easily come to bloodshed.  Flenn must do something fast.  “All who remain with honor and honor the North must stand behind Baiden and fight against this threat from the Horde.  Who stands faithful?”

“I do.” Lowerth said.

“As do I.”  Rhulet echoed.

“What of you Leofric?”  Flenn asked. “And you Bethoc?”

Leofric spoke, “There was a vote on the table before you entered.  It must be voted on before more business is introduced.”

“There was no vote on the table,” Lowerth protested.  “You cannot strip Baiden of his title without a trial and without a full vote.  There has been no trial and the Celtens are not here.”

“A vote has been called for,” Ky hissed.

“Impossible,” Lowerth argued.  “We must follow the law. This vote cannot take place without all clans present, without a trial, without any proof of wrong doing.  It has never been done.  I will not allow it.”

It was good to hear a voice of reason among the chiefs.  Flenn was grateful to have Lowerth on his side, but he did not like hearing a vote had already been called to remove Baiden. 
Had Ky dared to be so bold?
  For the first time Flenn was outraged.  Not only were the Halfen traitors, but so were the Hywel.  He had to proceed delicately.  He could not afford to lose anymore ground.

“And you Bethoc?”

“I do not know if I can follow a man who keeps such secrets.  Why were we not told of Beovon?  Maybe Baiden is still fit to lead, maybe not, but my people will not follow Ky unless the proper steps are applied.  There must be a trial before we name a new Lord of the North.”

If Bethoc thought he was playing neutral, Flenn saw right through it.  Ky had already gotten to him.

Ky smirked.  It was obvious to Flenn Ky knew these men were on his side.  Leofric with his money and Bethoc with his ships.  This did not bode well.

“No one can stand against our might,” Ky said.   “The Halfen are the strongest.  It is our right to lead.  Any who stand in our way will be cut down.  Lowerth, Rhulet, join us or share the fate of the Kailfen Clan.”

Flenn could not let Ky sway these two also.  “You need not join the Halfen.  Together the combined might of the clans could easily defeat them.  Do not cower to this traitorous show of force.”             

“I don’t know if I can see any other way,” Rhulet admitted.  “You yourself have said we need to be united against the Horde.  We cannot afford to spend our strength fighting amongst each other.  It is better for us to have peace amongst ourselves.  If we fight with each other we will never be able to stand against the threat in the south.  We know many of the clans do not trust the Halfen, but they are close to us and we do not see them as you do.”

“So you turn traitor?”

“I’m not saying...”

Ky interrupted, “Such harsh words coming from such a false man.”  He  was pleased with himself.  His outrage seemed to dissipate as he saw the men in the room come to his side.  He could see he was winning.  Flenn could see it too.  Ky had probably won before the meeting even started.  It appeared Bethoc and Leofric had made up their minds before coming. 
What would make them turn?  Did they fear the Horde so much?  Or was it Ky they feared?  There had to be something else.

“All I am saying is that we cannot fight amongst ourselves,” Rhulet said.  “We can continue to talk.  But above all else we must be united.”

“So you would unite behind Ky?” accused Lowerth.

“If I must.”

That was four clans against three.  Three only if Dethan decided to remain loyal like his father had.  The Halfen were nearly as numerous as the rest of the clans combined.  There was no way  Baiden could stand against them with only the Orlenc clan behind him.

“This is treason.”  Flenn needed a way to pull Rhulet back to their side.  He was wavering now.  He could not let Ky get a greater grasp on him.  “Do not do this Rhulet.  Stand with us.  Do not listen to this talk of treason.”

“No one is talking treason,” Leofric said. “Maybe it is just time for a change.  Not treason, just a change in direction.  A change of leadership.  We need unity and strength to stand against the Horde.  No one is saying Baiden needs to stand trial.  He and the Kailfen clan will be welcomed allies against the Horde.”

“So your decision has already been made.”  It was not a question.  Flenn could see these men had made up their minds before even coming to Stone Abbey.  At least Leofric and Bethoc had. “What has Ky offered you?”

“I have offered peace and prosperity,” Ky interrupted.  “No one needs a war with the Horde.  When they see our united front they will make peace.”

“There is no peace with the Horde.”  Ky had obviously offered something or he would have let Leofric answer for himself.  Flenn was sure of it. “All here know what the Horde did to the lands in the south.  They will do the same here.”

“They do not want us,” Ky said.  “They want the boy.  This Beovon.  We can give them what they want and avoid a conflict.  Is Baiden willing to do that?”

Flenn was dumbstruck.  He could not believe how easily the chiefs had turned.  How willing they were to give up Von.  There was more to this decision than Flenn could see on the surface.  “And you know this how?”

“I have spies just like anyone else.  They tell me the Horde is searching for something.  Something that escaped on a ship to the Gothen Ilse.  Only that ship was wrecked in a storm off the coast of Evenfelle.  That something was a boy.  Picked up on a slave ship.”

“You cannot think to turn Von over to the Horde.”

“That is right.  I forgot.  You Kailfen have become fond of the boy.”

“That boy is your lord and rightful ruler.”

“Evenfelle is dead.  We rule ourselves now.  We will give the Horde the boy.  In return they will leave us in peace.”

Flenn looked around the room.  Blank stares were on the faces of Leofric and Bethoc.  Their councilors would not even meet Flenn’s gaze.  Rhulet would not meet his gaze either.  He stared at the table, silently.  Only Lowerth had stood by his side. 
Would he continue to do so?

Flenn stood.  “I guess I have your answers.”   Somehow Flenn needed to find out how Ky succeeded in swaying these men.

“No one said you could leave,” Ky growled.  “Arrest him for murder.  He has admitted it with his own mouth.”

Lowerth was next to stand.  His voice was calm despite the rage in his face.  “He has admitted nothing.  He came here of his own free will and will be allowed to leave the same way.  Have we set aside all our law?   Ky speaks treason and you cower at his military might.”

“What would you have us do?”  Rhulet asked.

“Be men!  Make your clans proud.  Baiden and the Kailfen are not as weak as Ky would have you believe.  He still has the secrets of the North.  Who else has that?”