Westhaven by Rowan Erlking (best sci fi novels of all time TXT) 📕

Months since the incident at Wimanus, Key spent most of the time back in the west working with Rainold and Berd over their camp in the Westerlund Hills. It was already in the throes of autumn, though the mountains behind him already covering with snow. Mostly he worked in the smith shop forming swords that would be strong but easy to fit inside farm tools. Establishing a Westerlund style sword was his goal. Mostly they made hoes and hayfork scabbards with swords hidden inside them so that one jerk on the top handle would pull the sword right out when needed. These they would distribute throughout Westhaven within the Westerlund trade route right under the noses of the Sky Children. Key only left the hills to meet with the leaders of the camps at Yarrding and then in the Duglis Mountains to update the others on his progress.

He entered the meeting spot in the already frosty mountains with Tiler and Loid, climbing the slope through the once more inhabited campground. Instead of Herra raiders, this time a few refugees from Sundri had now settled there. Most huddled around their cook fires to brace against the coming winter. Lanona was among them attending to Lady Renna. When she noticed Key enter the camp, Lanona’s face went red and she turned away, trying to look busy.

He watched her as he crossed the campground, feeling like he ought to say something considering the bad terms on which they parted, but Lanona scurried off before he could get the chance. Shrugging, Key continued up the mountainside to the cave where the other leaders were waiting.

Not everyone had arrived yet. When they stepped into the cavern, Sadena was there wrapped in a blue shawl talking with Callen who was already in his winter fur. Nodding to Key, Sadena’e eyes expressed her pleasure that he had come on time. However, Key’s eyes dropped to her swollen belly.

He gaped at her.

“Welcome, Key. Your men can wait in the camp,” she said.

Key continued toward her as Tiler and Loid exchanged glances from being regarded as one of Key’s men as if he were their boss. Key’s eyes kept going back to her round stomach.

“You…you’re….”

“Astute as ever.” Sadena snickered, her eyes sparkling. She leaned against Callen’s shoulder. “I am with child.”

Nodding, Key then looked at Callen. “Can I assume…?”

Callen nodded, grinning broadly.

Tiler and Loid coughed, turning away to hide their smiles.

“I hear your friend is also expecting a child,” Sadena said, glancing to Loid.

Loid immediately lifted his head and nodded, beaming.

“Surely, Key, you did not expect us to withhold from every happiness just because we are at war?” Lady Sadena said.

“It doesn’t exactly seem prudent,” Key murmured, glancing at Loid too. When Key had discovered his cousin’s pregnancy after passing through Yarrding again, he had also been surprised.  But then he raised his head and sighed. “Well then, I guess congratulations are in order.”

“Thank you,” Sadena said. She then gently gestured for Key to enter the cave.

Tiler and Loid held back, both of them sighing as they turned to descend the hill once more.

Key entered the cave. He had to let his eyes adjust to the dim light while he searched for a seat. Most of the seats were filled, but not all the faces were ones he knew well. Luis came up to him almost immediately and shook his hand, expressing pleasure at meeting him again. Key noticed the patriarch of Sundri sitting in a far seat on the other side of the table wrapped in a thicker sweater than normal. He averted his eyes from Key with guilt he still felt for not keeping his word with the young man. Mikal of Mistrim nodded to him, though his companion Dinnis gave a pleased salutation, obviously happy with the work Key had done in Calcumum. The patriarch of Wendora was also there, heavily dressed against the cold he was not as used to, but he was busy chatting with a man from Kalsworth. Key had to blink at the man again to recognize him as his friend Telerd Roper. The man had gotten broader in the chest, and he had grown a trim beard.

Key walked right up to him, grinning from ear to ear. “Telerd! When did you arrive?”

Turning, Telerd smiled. “Oh, I’ve been here for a week. Is Loid in camp?”

Nodding, Key felt like laughing. “Sure is. He and Tiler are probably getting something to eat.”

Giving a snort, Telerd smirked. “So, Kemdin, is Loid keeping that Herra man in line?”

“More like the other way around,” Key murmured with a glance to the cave opening, thinking about how those two associated with one another.  

Telerd raised his eyebrows, looking at Key sideways. “You three have gone all over together these few years. You’ve changed a lot. You’re taller, for starters.”

Key just shrugged. “Things happen.”

“Are you still limping?” Telerd asked glancing to Key’s right foot.

Glancing at his ankles also, Key shook his head slightly. “Not so much. I think I’ve gotten used to walking a lot. The limp comes and goes.”

Grinning again, Telerd slapped Key on the shoulder. “Well, it is great seeing you here. But I have got to go talk to that man over there.”

Telerd pointed to a lanky man with dark skin that Key had never seen before.

“Who is he?” Key murmured, holding Telerd back with a gentle hand.

Hardly looking at Key, Telerd said, “He’s from Stiltson. They call him the Sea Fisher, but I have yet to hear a name dropped. I think he, like you, prefers to remain anonymous to the blue-eyes. Now excuse me. I really do need to talk to him.”

And Telerd parted from Key without another word. Key stepped back, wondering what kind of men they were starting to align themselves with. He could see the Underlord of Calcumum standing with Edman in the far corner of the cave and a swarthy looking man talking with General Dalis and Captain Lowman Freyman. The swarthy man wore several silk sashes around his waist, three gold brooches in line on his brocade and velvet coat like overlarge buttons, and ermine trim. There were five other men Key did not recognize who had a solid Wede Mountains look to them. Their clothes were warm and heavy, and they had faces like the people he probably had passed when he was still a slave to General Winstrong. In fact, as he took off his hat to shake out the sweat in his growing hair, their eyes widened into stares. One of the men from the south west nodded then whispered to the others, verifying Key’s suspicions.

Lady Sadena walked in just then, raising her throaty voice so all could hear her. “If you will all take a seat, we will begin the meeting.”

Key walked over and pulled out a stool near Luis. Edman took the seat on Key’s other side. The underlord of Calcumum took the next seat to continue their conversation. The rest of the people in the room gathered according to their groups, leaving almost no space on the benches open. Sadena sat at the head of the table as the council had acknowledged her as the moderator for some time.

“Welcome guests to this meeting of the Army of Man.” Sadena led out her arm to Edman first. “Please introduce your guests, starting here first and going to the right.”

Edman nodded and extended his hand to the underlord. “This is Dannot Butcher of Calcumum. He represents the resistance in the underground of that city.”

Dannot rose from his seat, exchanging glances with those he knew and gave a bow. When he sat they continued around the circle. Lowman introduced the swarthy man.

“This is Pattron Huldrid of Ladis city, an ally of mine.”

Pattron rose and nodded, sharing a look with the other southerners. Ollev Tallar didn’t smile much when his and Pattron’s eyes met. Key noticed also that the Sea Fisher also did not look at Pattron kindly. Luis introduced Ollev Tallar once again to the group and then the Sea Fisher.

“This is Bredin Sefesher of Stiltson, a former merchant forced into piracy.”

Key blinked at the man who rose with a solemn bow to them all. This man didn’t seem anything like a pirate or a merchant. The lanky man had more of the look of a priest who was worn with worry over his people. Key would have taken Pattron as a pirate rather than Bredin Sefesher.

Then the five men from the Wede Mountains stood up. The shortest of them, a man with a solid, thick middle, introduced the group as Luis nodded and grinned. “My name is Nemen Rais. I am from Marchal city. These are my associates: Jussen Tekerson from Gibbis, Losen Ruban and Steben Weder from Roan, and Loid Darmoth from Danslik.”

He sat down as the other men bowed to the group. Each one looked like a simple common man, entirely forgettable.

Frad from the Herra group then stood and introduced a small roundish woman from the town of Tobi as Madame Olisa Thera Filianna. She wore at tan, curved hat over her curly brown hair with three feathers sticking out one side and a fashionable bow over her right ear. Her dress was fancier cut than that of the others in the room. It had layers of ruffles with a surcoat trimmed with fur over it. She sat with an uplifted nose as she peered over everyone else within the cave. Madame Olisa Filianna was obviously an aristocrat.

“Now that we have met our guests…” Lady Sadena started.

But as she spoke, several of the newcomers cleared their throats, leaning forward with gestures for the roundtable to pay them close attention. One was the Sea Fisher.

“Excuse me, but my business is urgent and I cannot stay long,” he said with a nasal tone, his eyes scanning the group. “If we could just discuss the—”

“Actually, our business is more urgent,” Pattron from Ladis said, nodding to Lowman. “We have been—”

“Excuse me! I was speaking!” Bredin Sefesher rose from his seat.

“Actually, Lady Sadena was—” Key murmured aloud, glancing to the wizard to see if she was going to stop them from interrupting her. So far she just watched in silence, her fingers gently rested against her lips.

Pattron blustered. “I demand that we attend to the needs of Ladis at once, or you will not get my help!”

“Who wants it?” Ollev tossed back with a snort.

“Who needs you here?” Pattron practically snarled at the former patriarch. “You’re nothing more than a disenfranchised—”

“Better than a collaborator!” Ollev jumped up, glaring at Pattron as if he were about to bite out his throat.

“Indeed!” Bredin piped up. “But I really do need to—”

Callen slammed his sword onto the center of the table. He glared at the lot of them as the sharp metal clattered against the wood. “Silence! Luis! Lowman! If your guests do not behave themselves according to the rules of this council you must remove them!”

Stiffening, the three men from the south stared at the burly warrior. They also glanced to their respective hosts. Luis the swordsman sighed and nodded to his friend. Lowman drew in a breath and set a hand on Pattron’s arm.

Ollev sat down, averting his eyes. Bredin stiffened, glancing to Pattron who still glared at him. However, the other two men returned to their seats.

“Now, Lady Sadena was speaking. If you have forgotten the rules of this council—or if they have not been properly explained to you—I will remind you