Haven Keep (Book 1) by R. David Bell Read Free Book Online

To Von it marked the beginning of another long freezing winter.  At least the crops were safely gathered into the granaries and cellars.  What a huge job that always was.  Thankfully those tasks usually fell to other servants.
    Von considered himself lucky to have Baiden as his master.  He knew when Dell and Reece teased him there was some truth behind the jibes.  Von was privileged to be educated alongside Kaiden, learning the fighting and hunting skills taught to the freemen in Azmark.  Von took advantage of Baiden’s generosity, learning from anyone who was willing to teach him. It all added to the education received in his early years at the court of Evenfelle.
    The fact he had even been at court in Evenfelle was something he never told anyone.  Dell and Reece probably wouldn’t believe him if he did.
    Thoughts of Evenfelle made him wonder why the clans never banded together to help save his homeland.  Maybe they could have stopped the destruction of his country, the fall of the capital, the death of his family.  Why didn’t they  make an attempt, mount some kind of resistance, at least try to save the empire?
    Von scooped up a fistful of snow, formed a tight ball and threw the packed ice in frustration. The snowball smashed against the solid wall of the Great Hall.  It did as much damage to the gray stone as his efforts to find a way home had succeeded in getting him off this frozen island.  He pulled his threadbare cloak around his broad shoulders to ward off the cold and continued his march towards the Hall.  He quickened his pace, trying to outrun those old memories.
    “Those days are gone,” he muttered to himself.   “You are a blacksmith apprentice now.”  Apprentice sounded much better than bond servant, better than slave.
    The Great Hall loomed before him.  It was nearly the size of a small castle.  The stone structure, built as a last line of defense, was the residence of many citizens of Azmark.  It was a remnant of ancient times, when battles raged across the north and Azmark ruled over many lands to the south. Those days were just as gone as Von’s old life.  Azmark was a shadow of its former self, a ghost of its former glory.
    Inside the Hall the festivities were probably well under way.  The celebration of the end of the harvest, the death of the summer and the birth of the winter.  All things the clerics still preached about.
    Von didn’t hold much faith in the religion of the north.  He still considered himself part of the empire and couldn’t bring himself to convert to the doctrines the clerics believed.  The inhabitants of the north had been a part of the empire.  In Von’s mind they should still think of themselves as such.  Not many did, especially since the empire was now gone, fractured by the Black Horde.
    Von stared into the sky.  A light snow began to fall.  The dark clouds threatened to send more, giving Von a shiver.  He quickened his pace, reached the back door of the kitchen, and stomped up the steps in an attempt to knock the snow from his boots.  Pushing open the door he squeezed inside, shutting out the cold.  The warmth of the kitchen fires made him glad he was back indoors.
    The kitchen buzzed with activity, a beehive of cooks and servants whisking food and drinks into the Hall and empty platters out.  The serving girls rushed back and forth, their skirts whirling. A few sent admiring glances Von’s way.  They giggled and whispered to one another until Allie’s eyes widened.  She turned bright red, nearly dropping a platter of pork. The giggles turned to outright laughter. Redd shooed everyone back to work.
    Von was oblivious to the attention.  He scanned the packed room for his friends, finally spotting Dell and Reece standing in a corner, elbow deep in the wash tubs.  Reece glanced up from his work and aimed a toothy grin at Von.
    Von returned Reece’s grin and headed to the corner. He was glad to see the pile of clean dishes was larger