Inside the Keep, Timozel, Arne and Gilbert had joined the two elderly Brothers. Gilbert
was standing defiantly in front of the fire with Ogden and Veremund facing him, both obviously
furious. Arne stood slightly to the side and between the three men. Timozel stood well back from
them, not wanting to have anything to do with whatever the argument was about.
Veremund turned as he heard Axis close the door. His face was white with fury.
―This…this snake was trying to burn down the Keep, BattleAxe!‖
Gilbert lifted his chin and stared at Axis defiantly.
Arne stepped forward. ―I‘m afraid it is true, BattleAxe. I found Gilbert in one of the
upper-level rooms, one choked with musty old books. He had a tinderbox with him and was
trying to lay a fire with some old pages.‖
―He had torn up one of the most exquisite volumes we have in the Keep for that very
nefarious purpose!‖ Ogden cried, almost apoplectic with rage. He stepped forward as if to seize
Gilbert, but Axis quickly laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.
―Is that true, Gilbert?‖ he asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
―BattleAxe. We both serve the Seneschal. How can you let this cursed Keep and its
contents stand?‖ Gilbert cried. ―These volumes are wicked—look how they have corrupted our
two poor Brothers,‖ Veremund snorted, ―to the point where they actually admire the Forbidden!
Their minds are soft with age, they mumble about prophecies. Jayme would be horrified if he
knew what was going on here. If he knew what this Keep really contained.‖
―Gilbert,‖ Axis‘ voice trembled with rage, ―it is not up to you to single-handedly
determine to destroy what the Seneschal has maintained for a thousand years.‖
Veremund and Ogden glanced at each other. Best that Axis continue to believe that for
the time being.
―If you go back to Jayme and give him your opinion that the lot should go up in flames,
and if he should agree with you, then fine. I will light the pyre myself.‖ Ogden winced, but kept
still under Axis‘ hand as the BattleAxe continued. ―But you have no right to destroy this building
and its contents by your own judgement, Brother Gilbert. Do you understand me?‖
Gilbert stared at him defiantly. ―You are wrong, BattleAxe, but I must comply with your
orders. My weak body is no match against your sword, and that of your two henchmen.‖ His
eyes swept over Arne and Timozel, then returned to Axis. ―But I will inform the Brother-Leader
of your unreasonable and, might I say, somewhat disturbing championship of these two old
Brothers and their books. Perhaps their behaviour can be excused by their weak minds, but you
appear too ready to listen to words of the Forbidden, Axis, before those of the Seneschal.‖
―I keep an open mind,‖ Axis snarled, ―and I am willing to listen to all who are willing to
talk to me. And if you want to run squealing to Jayme I cannot stop you. But, by Artor, the
moment you are out of these woods you are on a fresh horse and heading back to the Tower of
the Seneschal. And,‖ Axis let go of Ogden‘s shoulder and stepped forward to seize the front of
Gilbert‘s habit, ―you‘ll take a copy of that Prophecy back to Jayme as well, if I have to brand it
on your forehead. Do you understand me?‖
Gilbert sneered into Axis‘ eyes. ―You may be sure that I will report everything that I have
heard and observed when I get back to the Brother-Leader, BattleAxe. Everything.‖
Axis stared at him a moment longer, then let go of his habit, pushing the Brother back
half a step as he did so. He turned to Arne. ―And what were you doing in the upper levels,
Arne?‖ he asked, his tone still low and dangerous.
Arne cleared his throat. ―I heard a noise, commander, and I thought I‘d investigate. I
knew Brother Ogden and Brother Veremund were down here.‖
The two elderly Brothers regarded him benignly. He would do well.
Axis wasn‘t satisfied with Arne‘s explanation, but he wasn‘t prepared to push him in
front of Gilbert. He shifted his hard stare to Timozel to search for any guilty expression, then
turned back to Ogden and Veremund. ―How long before you‘re ready?‖
―We‘re all but ready now, BattleAxe. Give us a moment to pack some food and saddle
our mounts and we will be ready.‖
―Make sure you are,‖ Axis barked and turned to Arne and Timozel. ―As you can see,
Ogden and Veremund will be coming with us to render assistance as they may.‖ Neither Arne
and Timozel dared say anything in Axis‘ present mood. ―I‘m sure you‘re as eager as I am to get
out of these Woods, so breakfast as quickly as you can and then saddle the horses.‖
Both Arne and Timozel understood the order as ―forget breakfast and saddle the horses
now!‖ and were quickly out the door. Axis then pulled out a bench with his foot and sat down.
―Now, Gilbert. Shall we sit down and wait together?‖ He broke a piece of fresh bread and
covered it with some bacon from a dish. ―You‘d better eat something, Gilbert,‖ he said around a
mouthful of bread and bacon. ―You‘ll have a hard ride back to the Tower of the Seneschal if you
want to get there as quickly as I think you do.‖
Gilbert merely stared at him and remained standing. Ogden and Veremund packed one
remaining book into their already bulging saddlebags, stuffed a holdall with some of the food
that remained on the table, and hurried outside as well.
They were ready in under half an hour. Axis took pity on Arne and Timozel and gave
each of them some food after they‘d finished saddling the horses. Leaving a sulking Gilbert with
the two Axemen he then helped Ogden to close the Keep down; Veremund was behind the Keep
saddling their horses.
―You must be sad to leave this Keep after so long,‖ Axis remarked softly as Ogden
poured water over the fire and spread the damp ashes out.
Ogden straightened up and looked at Axis. ―Yes,‖ he said. ―Both Veremund and I have
spent most of our lives here. We will be sad to leave,‖ he waved his hand vaguely around him
and looked towards the upper levels of the Keep, ―all our books and records, for they have
become friends to us.‖
Axis moved closer. ―You can understand that I share some of Gilbert‘s sentiments, old
man, can you not?‖ he said softly. Ogden nodded, for once speechless. ―I am the BattleAxe of
the Axe-Wielders,‖ Axis continued so quietly that Ogden could barely hear him. ―My duty is to
protect the Seneschal and Achar itself from whatever threatens it. I find it…uncomfortable, to
say the least, to hear you and Veremund talking of the Forbidden as though they are old friends.
You would not let your rather dubious loyalties compromise any advice that you might give me
in the future—would you, old man?‖
It was not a question and Ogden fully realised it. How strange that this man should
appear in the guise of the BattleAxe of the Axe-Wielders, he thought to himself.
―My lord,‖ he said, and this time he did bow. Axis‘ eyes narrowed at both title and
action. ―I understand your loyalties to your land and to your people and I swear on all that I hold
dear that I will never compromise those loyalties.‖
It was an ambiguous answer, but Axis believed that Ogden meant well.
―Don‘t call me ‗my lord‘,‖ he said shortly, and stalked out the door. Ogden paused briefly
in the room. Both he and Veremund, as others, had waited eons for this moment and this man.
They had sacrificed their lives for it. It was up to them to guide the future. Ogden made a quick
gesture with his hands, his eyes glowing golden for an instant, then he turned and walked
through the door without a backward glance.
He almost ran straight into Axis who had stopped dead in amazement at the scene before
him. Gilbert, Arne and Timozel all sat on their horses, Timozel holding Belaguez‘s reins ready
for him. Gilbert looked openly disdainful, while Arne and Timozel were looking everywhere but
at Axis‘ face.
Veremund stood by the group of horsemen, holding the reins of two fat, long-eared,
thoroughly amiable white donkeys. Both wore oversized saddles and had large crammed
saddlebags, tied on to the backs of their saddles.
―You can‘t seriously expect to keep up riding those two donkeys,‖ Axis said
incredulously.
Ogden stalked past him and took the reins of his donkey from Veremund. ―They will
keep up, BattleAxe. They have impeccable breeding.‖ He looked at his companion. ―If you
would be so kind, Veremund.‖
As Ogden put his foot into the stirrup and grasped the saddle with both hands, Veremund,
his face completely expressionless, placed his hands underneath Ogden‘s ample posterior, and