Axe of Fate: Goldenfields

Axe of Fate: Goldenfields

By Jeffrey Thompson

Copyright 2016 Jeffrey B. Thompson

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Preview of Axe of Fate: Crimsonseas

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Connect with the Author

Chapter One

Darkness begins to engulf the land of Chivelestine, a kingdom covering the entire low lands of the south. Slowly another gloomy rain filled overcast day is brought to an end for the lowlands. It is normal to have clouds filling the sky; the rain comes and goes. However, the rain has come so frequently as of late, that the river is swollen with water being channeled out of the capitol city of Chivel. As of now it remains in its banks, but another day of rain may prove too much for it and it would begin to flood into the lower setting farm lands downstream.

The castle of Chivelestine, standing in the middle of the Chivel, glows like a beacon against the darkening skies. Stretching out all around the castle are shops, inns, taverns and other lodgings for those who inhabit the city. Within the castle walls, the sounds of laughter echoes throughout the spacious well illuminated throne room; with its ceiling towering thirty feet above the highly polished stone floor. The ceiling is supported by ten octagon shaped pillars, five set to the left and five set to the right and each one set ten feet apart from the other. A twenty foot space separates the five pillars on the left from the five pillars on the right, creating a corridor in which to approach the throne. Each pillar is half buried into the wall until fifteen feet up the wall stops and a balcony forms behind them; revealing a second floor of rooms. The throne itself is ornately carved granite with depictions of the Axe of Fate and the founding of Chivelestine. The seat and arms of the throne are covered in blue clothe cushions. The throne sets upon a three step dais above the main floor.

A stoutly framed, grey-haired, bearded man sits upon the throne in his olive green robes and joined in laughter by a dark haired boy on his left knee and a blonde haired girl upon his right knee.

Grandfather, why does it have to rain so much, the girl asks stopping her laughter as she peers at the trickle of water coming in through a small crack along the upper most part of the wall.

I don’t know Gavista. The ground must be really thirsty, the grey-haired man answers in a gruff voice and smiling.

How thirsty can it be, the boy sighs.

You know Lornell, our ancestors must have wished for it, he tells them.

Why would anyone wish for rain, Gavista questions him with an obvious look of critical curiosity on her face.

There are tales of how our ancestors were forced to work as the heat beat down on them. So I think perhaps the rain was a relief for them, the man answers wiping his forehead acting as though he were removing sweat.

So our ancestors came here because of the rain? Lornell asks.

No, they came here in search of freedom. You see they were slaves…

Koven Goldenfields, a woman’s voice interrupts echoing through the throne room.

All three of their faces turn serious as they look at each other, like they had just been caught stealing cookies. They all then turn their gazes to the main entrance of the throne room to see a grey haired lady walking briskly towards them. Her red robes swooshing side to side, as the color in her face grows to match her robes.

King or not, you shouldn’t be telling those children such stories before bed, she tells him.

Yes, ma’am, Koven says looking down at the children with a wink.

Please grandmother, Gavista pleads on cue, We want to hear the story of the axe.

Pleease, Lornell joins his sister.

If your grandfather chooses to tell you two his stories, then he will be the one having to comfort you when the nightmares come, their grandmother states.

It was an empty threat that they all have heard many other nights before. It would always end the same however. There would be four bodies in the King’s bed that night, but the children would always huddle around her trying to escape his snoring. However that is when the expression on Koven’s face changed and he gave in to her.

You all have heard the story of the axe enough times that you should know it better than I do, Koven says looking down into the surprised eyes of the children, and it is getting late. He takes them off his knees one at a time. Kisses them, and starts them down the steps towards their grandmother.

But we want to hear how you found the Axe on the hillside, Gavista begins.

And then used it to unite the kingdom, Lornel finishes.

Koven stands up, as the children continue to plead with him to hear the stories,

Taking hold of the enchanted axe that was leaning on the side of the throne and holding it out in front of him; he states in a thunderous voice, by order of the King of Chivelestine and the power of the mystic Axe of Fate… Koven looks down at them and in a quieter voice says, It is bedtime. He puts the axe back down in the throne and bends down to kiss each of them once again before moving them further toward their grandmother.

Their grandmother gathers them, somewhat concerned by Koven’s sudden change of heart, and begins to walk the children out of the throne room. She looks back as she and the children exit the throne room, to see Koven sitting back down in the throne holding the axe.

A few moments after the children have been escorted out; some servants begin to dowse the lanterns of the second floor balcony.

I apologize my king, one of them says from the balcony having just realized that Koven was still sitting in the throne. I thought everyone had retired for the night. Would you like these lanterns to remain burning?

No, no, no, Koven replies looking up at the servants. Just leave a few on the main floor so that I don’t stumble about.

Yes sire, the servant says accepting the request with a smile.

The servants extinguish all the lanterns of the second floor, then most of the ones on the main level and leave the King sitting on the throne staring into the axe.

With each step they climb up the staircase, the children tell their grandmother of the stories that their grandfather has shared with them of the past. How their grandfather found the Axe and then wielded the Axe with Lemnar, his commander of the army at the time before Karvian took over, against those who fought to keep the tribes of men from unification.

Their grandmother, glad to finally reach their bedchambers, as the children began to get more and more graphic in acting out the battles they were telling her about, guides them through the doorway into their bedchambers.

Tomorrow is a new day, she says ushering the children into their beds and kissing them on the foreheads, with new adventures. Now though, is a time to sleep so that you can be well rested for those adventures.

Grandmother have you ever seen the snow of the north? Lornell asks sitting up in his bed.

Is it true that they have to melt the snow from off of Northwall at times? Gavista chimes in to aid her brothers stall tactic.

Tomorrow, their grandmother replies trying to catch the children before they gain momentum with their questions. You can ask your grandfather tomorrow. But, no I have never seen the snow and would prefer to keep it that way. Now go to sleep, she says closing the door behind her as she leaves their room. As the door latches closed, her concern of Koven’s willingness to send the children to bed begins gnawing at her even more persistently. Unsure of why he had such a change of heart this night, she is confident it has something to do with that axe. She proceeds back down to the throne room, in hopes that Koven might uncover the mysteries that thing might be telling her husband.

As she comes down the stairs she sees, the much too young for her liking, Commander of the King’s Army, Karvian standing in front of the closed doors to the throne room. She had voiced her opinion to Koven before that this Karvian was too young to hold such a position; and yet Koven insisted by always telling her that Karvian’s youth hid his great experience and wisdom. She wasn’t impressed then and still isn’t.

Commander Karvian, she addresses him while still descending the stairs.

My lady, Karvian states looking up at her with those strange blue almost shimmering eyes. I was under the impression that you had retired to your chambers for the night.

I am concerned about the King. Have you noticed anything unusual about the way he is acting, she questions in a somewhat monotone voice.

He does seem a bit preoccupied with his thoughts, Karvian replies rubbing his chin. But such is the way of running a Kingdom I suppose.

Is he still in the throne room? she asks.

Yes my lady, Karvian answers. He is sitting on the throne and staring at the Axe.

He’s done this before, she states shivering as if a cold wind had just blew past her. I don’t like it when that thing starts talking to him.

The Axe of Fate is not an evil thing, Karvian offers.

No, however just because it’s not evil doesn’t mean I have to like anything it has to say to my husband. Besides Koven is getting too old to be chasing around the country side with that Axe, she explains. Now stand aside and let me peep in on him.

Karvian abruptly moves away as she comes in towards the doors.

Gently and slowly, so as not to make a sound, she opens one of the doors ever so slightly; with just enough of an opening to peek in to see Koven sitting up in the throne holding the Axe out in front of him.

Yes, it’s talking to him again, she whispers easing the door closed softly. If I were you Commander Karvian, she tells him in the utmost serious tone, I would be sure to get your rest also. Judging by the look on Koven’s face, there may be something big about to happen.

I will double check my rotation schedules, Karvian tells her.

And now, if at all possible, I should try to get some rest as well, she states beginning her ascent up the stairs. The trip back to the throne room has done little more for her than cause her concern to grow into worry fed by anxiety.

Good night my lady. Would you like me to have anything brought to you, Karvian asks.

No thank you Commander, she replies moving slowly up the staircase.

She reaches her chambers and dresses for bed, while thoughts of concern and proposals of fear swirl through her mind. Getting into bed, she closes her eyes and concentrates on quieting her thoughts. It is a vain attempt. The more she tries to concentrate, the louder the anxiety screams at her. At some point in the night however during her restless fidgeting, her body overrides the conflict in her mind and gives in to fatigue.

She wakes to a squirming beside her. She looks up groggily to see a patch of dark hair poking out from beneath the cover, as a boy shrouded under the blankets pushes himself as tightly against her as possible. She looks across the bed only to meet eyes with a blonde haired girl staring at her. Then the anxiety rushes back to her as she realizes that there are only three in the King’s bed. A knot begins to grow in her stomach, but she forces a smile and whispers, Good morning.

Morning, Gavista whispers back.

Where’s your grandfather? she asks straining with everything she has not to panic upon seeing the sorrow in Gavista face.

He fell asleep on the throne, Gavista says with a quiver in her voice.

Fell asleep on the throne, she repeats as her anxiety starts winning the battle for control.

And he dropped his Axe, Gavista says turning her head into the pillow.

The Queen moves quickly out of the bed, struggling between panic for her husband and concern for the children. She makes it out of the bed chamber before panic overwhelms her for control. She runs down the hall, catching several servants by surprise.

Tend to the children, she yells at the servants as she passes in the hall. She moves as quickly as possible down the stairs as she can. She trips at the bottom and is caught by Karvian before striking the floor. She stands and pushes away from him. Throwing the doors open to the throne room, she yells, Koven!

He doesn’t move. He sits motionless, slumped down in the throne with the axe lying on the steps leading up to it.

No, she screams collapsing to the floor.

Servants catch up to her as she collapses and begin trying to console her.

She stands and walks sobbing towards the throne. You… she yells getting to the steps. You cursed Axe, she continues to yells at it. You did this to him, she screams reaching down for the Axe’s handle.

Suddenly Koven lunges forward and grabs her wrist.

Don’t touch the Axe, he tells her in an airy voice and then slumps back into the throne.

For a moment everyone stands in terrified silence trying to grasp what has just happened. Then the Queen faints. Karvian and the Queen’s servants rush quickly to her side, as more servants enter the throne room drawn by the commotion.

Get the Queen back to her chambers, Karvian orders. and tend to the children and I need messengers now!

Servants rush to retrieve the Queen and take her back to her chambers. Others move quickly up the stairs to check on the children, while still others begin to fetch messengers. Quickly messengers begin to arrive and depart after receiving instructions from Karvian. He sends one messenger to Northwall, located at the northern most part of the Kingdom, to retrieve Stovin; Koven’s last living son. He sends another to summon the undertaker and his men.

It wasn’t long until a group of men arrive in the company of the undertaker. Everyone except Karvian is ushered out of the throne room.

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