The Crown of Arihan

By David Lee Short

The Kingdom of Arihan was lost to barbarian invaders, who left suddenly and without apparent reason. The vacuum has been filled by five men who have divided the kingdom and live under an uneasy truce. After 11 years, the granddaughter of the slain king has gathered a tiny army. She intends to reunite the kingdom under the rightful heir. That heir appears to be her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Lee Short
• Release date: Aug 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005515980

David Lee Short

I was born at an early age (OK, age is just a number; mine is unlisted) in Kualakapuas, a Dayak village in Central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. My parents were missionaries–McGregor Scotts by ancestry, Americans by birth. At the time, Kalimantan was ruled by the Netherlands and known to foreigners as the Netherlands East Indies. Shortly after my birth, a Japanese invasion appeared imminent; we all returned to the United States. We waited out World War II in Springfield, Missouri where my father wrote and edited for the Gospel Publishing House. After the war, we returned to Borneo and lived in the coastal city of Banjarmasin. The way back was long and hard; civilian transportation was still very limited, and while the Army Air Corps would fly us on a space-available basis, very little space was available. We waited 3 months in Adelaide, South Australia, and another 3 months on the island of Ambon in the Moluccas, or Spice Islands. By the grace of God, none of the Japanese munitions I collected from the Ambon beaches exploded. I did, however, develop a fondness for mangos that has never left me. After Borneo, we lived outside Manila, the Philippines, where my father helped build the Far East Broadcasting Company. My father never had a slow button, and after just more than a year, he collapsed from exhaustion. Our ship docked in Burbank, California on December 20–it snowed 6 inches just for our benefit. We didn’t own so much as a long-sleeved shirt.Although I wrote in school, fighting wars and raising babies caused me to set it aside for some years. While snowbound for a week at our Wisconsin home, I decided to write a short story to pass the time. A little more than 100,000 words later, the novel Pastime came to be. The noted author of spy novels, David Hagberg, mentored me for a while. His judgment, correct as always, was that Pastime was a mixed genre; it is Earth-bound science fiction but has whole chapters where no sci-fi takes place. Just to prove I had it in me, I wrote The Devil and Omorti’s Circle, an off-world novel that expands on some of the alien races introduced in Pastime, and has a few of its own. There are now four novels in that series and a spinoff. A Level-Three Correction is a short story that further develops two of the alien races of earlier works. I wrote it to see if I could write a piece that had no slow passages. I give it a B+, but you may judge for yourself. Alaya is a departure for me. Fantasy, rather than hard science fiction, it’s Swords and Sorcery without the sorcery. It too has sequels and a spinoff.I currently live 6200 feet up the side of Colorado’s Grand Mesa and love it.

Book preview

Chapter 1

They sold the two ships late at night in the city of Anderport for a good deal less than the going price. It was the best they could get on the gray market, where goods changed hands with no questions asked, and everyone studiously minded their own business. Thirty people of mixed origin, four horses, and a large ice bear would cause comment under nearly any circumstance, but Alic did his best to make their arrival a non-event. Should anyone realize who the redhead at his side was, the two of them would fail before they were well started. He preferred survival.

The men were all dressed as working folk, mostly seamen and wranglers, the women simply presented as wives. Like all lies, there was some truth in it.

Alic Ahrens had been buying and selling cattle for the last twelve or so years, as had his second in command, Theo Sipes. Anyone asking questions would have eventually found someone that had done business with one or both of them. They hoped no one from their lives before wrangling would know them here in the seaport, outside of Arihan and so many years removed.

Better than half the men were Kos, yellow-haired, blue-eyed men roundly despised as mercenaries in the service of the infamous Lord Atk. Those forces had swept away more than one nation, Arihan included. Local rumor had it that Lord Atk was dead. In any case, his straw-headed barbarians no longer raided anywhere close.

Alic had dyed the yellow hair; there was nothing to be done about the eyes. He had also dyed Andar’s snowy fur a reddish-brown. Pet brown bears were uncommon, but not unheard of; ice bears were another matter altogether. Word of an ice bear would have spread like the plague.

Only three of the lot were experienced seamen, not enough to properly crew the two ships, but the other men took instruction well, as befit the highly trained men-at-arms they were.

They broke into three groups. Alic led one, with the redhead on his arm, her hair tucked under a felt hat. The redhead’s chambermaid had deep olive skin and looked reasonably normal besides the very black Theo as he led the second. Atu Ellis, the first officer from the smaller of the two ships, was the only other man with command experience—his captain was dead and buried at sea. Middle-aged, he caused a few comments because the cook on his arm was easily 25 years his junior. They had little choice; the only other woman, the redhead’s handmaid, was even younger.

The horses and the bear all carried heavy packs. Everyone, even the highborn redhead, carried something. Weapons were carefully concealed.

As the stars began to fade over the sea behind them, the scattered lights of Anderport vanished behind a hill. They had landed.

****

By noon they were looking for a place to camp. They had been awake for 36 hours and the strain of Anderport was beginning to tell on them. They reached a large, well-kept farm with a stream flowing through it. Alic approached the house by himself.

Ho, the house.

A red-faced, barrel-chested man came to the door with a large, half-eaten beef rib in his hand.

Your business sir. He seemed pleasant enough, but Alic was clearly interrupting his meal.

I have traveling companions. The road has been long, and we would like to make camp in that grove down by the stream. We will damage nothing, and be gone in the morning.

Who are you?

I am Alic Ahrens, a drover. We seek cattle, and I have men with me enough to drive the cattle to port and crew the ship that moves them to my home grazing lands.

Three coppers.

One, countered Alic.

Two.

Done. I am much obliged. Alic removed two coppers from a pouch on his belt and handed them to the man.

Don’t be cutting down the entire grove for firewood.

Enough deadwood for three small fires, sir. No more.

The farmer bit off a chunk from the rib. Rest you well, he said as he closed the door.

Camp was a generous term for what they set up. There were no true tents, only sheets of oilcloth with three sticks to hold one side open. They set up three cooking fires and began to cook basic trail rations while Andar, free of his pack, went hunting. Five of the men-at-arms set up their lean-tos so as to form a workable perimeter without making it look like an armed camp. Bows and swords were tucked into the low side of the oilcloth, at hand, but out of sight.

Individuals beat soiled clothing on rocks in the stream and hung it to dry on low-hanging branches. An observant onlooker might have noticed that the youngest woman collected the redhead’s things and washed them along with her own. By midafternoon, nearly everyone was napping.

An underfed, brown dog nosed its way into the campsite, stole a scrap of food, and ran away. No one bothered it. Soon it was back for another raid. Andar raised his massive head and grunted. The dog ran, tail between its legs, as though the devil himself was after it. When asked if he could talk to other animals, one of Andar’s relatives had once said Sort of. Even their communication with humans was terse. Clearly, he could warn the dog away.

Andar lifted his head. Men leave road, come this way, he spoke into Alic’s mind.

Alic stood and walked to the edge of the camp. Five young men, hardly more than boys, were approaching.

They looked Alic up and down. We don’t allow travelin’ scum to linger in these parts.

Alic spoke in a calm voice. I have rented this site from the landowner.

You wasted your money. Be off, the lot of you.

We will be leaving in the morning.

The young man spat on the ground. You will be leaving now.

On whose authority?

A dozen men at arms had risen and were walking casually in the direction of the confrontation.

The young man said, On the authority of the sticks and stones that will rain down on your head if you are not gone in an hour.

Andar rose and padded to Alic’s side. A low rumble formed in his chest.

My bear tends to be a little overprotective. Even one stick or stone would likely push him over the edge. I may not be able to restrain him under those circumstances. Let me recommend you smile and leave. Do not return.

The youths were defiant.

Andar stood on his hind legs, towering over them, and rumbled again.

The spokesman said, You are not welcome here, but it was a parting shot.

Not come back.

Alic replied, Not the best way to start this venture.

No one dead. The bear waddled back to where he was resting and sprawled on the ground.

Not even close, returned Alic.

Close. Kat almost shoot.

He turned. The redhead stood between two bushes with a bow and a quiver of arrows. Were you planning on announcing to the world that we are here, and we are armed?

Insolence! It’s bad enough from full-grown, highborn men, but snot-nosed street urchins?

Kathryn Roby, we have all put our lives at great risk for you. If you are willing to bring the local law, whoever that might be, down on us because you are offended by five young men, then we should turn around now. I will not see these good men hanged, or in prison with no chance of success.

She stood with her mouth open. He had never spoken to her that way, and she wasn’t sure how to react. They were not yet lovers, but that had seemed to her to be the direction things were going. Noted. Kindly remember that I am not Marianela.

She instantly regretted using her older sister’s name. Marianela had been Alic’s wife for nearly 11 years and had been dead only a year. He still grieved. She dropped the weapons. That was cruel. Forgive me?

He drew a long, slow breath. We were never in danger. Please leave the arms to the trained men. He walked away. After a few steps, he stopped. Yes, I forgive you. Try not to use Marianela as a weapon ever again.

By sundown, they were all asleep except for one guard.

At first light, they broke camp, burned their trash, quenched their fires, and returned to the road. In less than half an hour, they passed through a small village. Few people were about, but vendors were setting up their wares under colorful canvas in the market. They sent the cook and two of the men to buy food. The others moved on in small groups. The rest of the day passed uneventfully.

As the sun sank low, they came to a small town on the banks of the D’Arcy, a navigable river that the road more or less followed. Alic remembered the town as Xan, wondered momentarily if they should have sailed up the river and sold the ships here. He decided they had made the right choice. Selling two sea-going ships here would have caused a stir.

As they approached the outskirts, they found a large building with a sign over the door. The Red Pig Inn proved to be a public house on the first floor with rooms, both private and shared, on the two higher floors. Alic entered and asked for the innkeeper.

A woman approached. How may I be of service, good sir?

Alic decided she ranked high on the list of ugly women he had seen. What remained of her gray hair hung in matted bunches. Her nose was large and hooked and sat a little crooked on a face pocked with pits and scars from an earlier disease. Her back was hunched, and she walked with a cane.

I am looking for food and a night’s lodging for myself, and my traveling companions.

How many would that be, and will any of you require private rooms? The voice was not the raspy cackle he had half expected.

There are thirty of us. Four are women, and they will need a private room; the rest of us will sleep wherever there is a bed. We will need livery for four horses, and I have a pet bear.

The woman never blinked. What does the bear eat?

The bear hunts along the road, and will not need anything except a corner to sleep in. The rest of us, including the horses, are road-weary, and would like your best fare.

She paused a moment. A quarter gold and the place is yours for the night. People will still be eating and drinking in the public house.

A half gold and you are closed for the night. Includes food, ale, lodging, and livery. The bear sleeps just inside the door.

The scraggly eyebrows raised ever so slightly. Half a gold it is, then Cap’n. It will take half an hour to clear out the usual drunks. Jamesburg is not used to people buying out the place for cash. The stables are behind the building. You have your choice of rooms up that staircase. I will be by the kitchen door if you need me, and welcome to the Red Pig. A smile improved her face a great deal. I have a whole pig that has been roasting since early this morning if that would be to your liking. I can also prepare chicken or fish.

The pig will do nicely. My name is Alic Ahrens. He had filed the new name of the village away.

A drover, are you then? You dress like one and were concerned for the horses.

I am.

I hope you’re selling; precious few cows in these parts. Someone’s been buying them all and shipping them away.

I am on a different mission this time. The next trip, I will see that you have a cow at the best price.

Well-fed, and a little drunk, everyone slept soundly that night. They would not find such a place again this side of the border, another day away for a group on foot, carrying burdens.

Chapter 2

The stone marker was generally unremarkable. Kathryn stood for perhaps five minutes staring at it as though willing it to say something else. It continued to read, Arihan, in plain block letters.

After a while, Alic said, Having second thoughts?

What choice do I have? Find me another heir and I’ll turn around and go back to Nord for the rest of my life. I like it there.

Even if we win, it will not bring any of them back. Not your grandfather or grandmother, not your father or your mother. Not Marianela. Not any of my men. Going forward, we will surely lose more good men, and we have no assurance that our heads won’t end up on a spike over one castle gatehouse or another.

I owe it to the kingdom.

No, you choose to do this, or not. If you are not totally convinced that you have the God-given right to your grandfather’s throne, give it up. I’m not interested in losing two redheads in a year. Marianela’s hair had been as red as her sister’s.

Her hair flipped as she turned. Who said you had a second one? Let’s do this. She walked past the border marker without a backward glance.

Her band of 29 followed.

An hour past the border, they came to a crossroad. A marker read, Galrus, with an arrow to the right, and Carbery, with an arrow to the left. Above that, an arrow pointed ahead, with the caption, Heigue.

Which way, commander? Kathryn used the old title carefully. Alic and Theo Sipes were the only trained combat officers in her tiny army. Alic had once commanded her grandfather’s forces before the Kos came. Had the king not sent him and nine others to gather reinforcements, they would likely have died with most of the rest.

Galrus. It’s a fortified house, not a castle. If we fail there, we’d be foolish to continue. Carbery has its tower; less than a castle, but a good fortification nonetheless. He turned the small band to the right fork. We will need a camp somewhere close to Galrus House where we can have a little security. We need rest, and time to scout out the house; we’ll not likely have that luxury with any other place. He called two men to him and sent them out to scout, one on each side of the road.

They crested a hill, and the city came into view. It was not large, several tree-lined streets with good houses, an inn, a large open-air market. There were other businesses; one looked like a tannery, the one with smoke rising in the calm air was likely a smithy. The great house sat on a low rise near the center. Farms stretched to the left. To the right was a forested jumble of large rocks ranging from the size of a horse to the size of a house. Beyond that lay more farmland.

We could find a place in the Jumbles. It’s supposed to be an old burial ground; everyone thinks it’s haunted. Young men sometimes go there on a dare, but never at night. Kathryn delivered the lines simply, not as a true believer.

You ever go there?

Me? I had three nannies and an armed guard. I seldom went anywhere. We visited Galrus House several times, but I never went outside the curtain wall.

Don’t mention the place’s history or any of the stories. These are simple men at heart, some would be terrified.

Andar, call in the scouts.

Come.

They turned aside, and crossed hayfields until they came to the unique formation. The lack of paths between the rocks attested to the limited number of people that came here. Alic picked a spot near the center, rocks surrounded it such that only two narrow passages led between them. Beyond the passages lay an open space covered by two enormous oak trees, their branches intertwined. They set about making camp. Andar squeezed his bulk into one of the passages and stood guard.

After dark, they set a guard on the other passage. Alic found Kathryn and said, Theo and I are going to Galrus. We’ll return at first light; we would never find this place again in the dark. If we are not back by full daylight stay quiet until dark and then leave.

The two slipped out of camp. The moon was at less than half; they picked their way carefully in the near-darkness until the lights of the city came in view. Once out of the Jumbles, they made their way to the road, and then into the city. They found a public house and ordered ales. The talk among the other patrons was that men from Carbery Tower had tried to breach the curtain wall around the great house the night before but failed. The number of heads impaled over the gatehouse varied with the teller. Soon, a burly, middle-aged man entered wearing chainmail armor and a long sword. He was greeted with cheers and offers of drinks.

I know that man, Theo said softly. He was a knife swinger under Captain Arlow, may he rest. If he lives, there may be others.

Alic said, We need to talk to him, not here, somewhere private. If we can recruit a few more men, our chances go up considerably.

If we cannot recruit him, he would likely tell his superiors about us. He would know little enough, but they would double the watch.

That’s the reason for meeting him in private. If he does not join us, he will become the first casualty of this war. And it does sound as though it will be war.

The man drank a sociable ale, and left, with Alic and Theo right behind him. There was much more darkness than light, even in the city. In one light patch, they walked up, one on each side of the man, who loosened his sword in its scabbard.

Alic said, Do you remember us?

The man stopped and searched their faces. Damn the pot if you’re not the black captain, Sipes, no? And you? Not possible, both of you are dead.

Our ghosts would have a word with you over there in the shadow. Ghosts are not fond of the light.

The three vanished into darkness made even darker by the occasional pool of light.

Is that truly you, Commander Ahrens? Everyone assumed you had been killed.

Only ten of us survived. Who is the everyone you speak of?

There are a few scattered about; six of us here at Galrus. All of us here were wounded, but the farm folk hid us. My name is Carlo Nix. What are you doing here after all these years?

Kathryn Roby lives.

A Roby? One of the royal line?

King Arlo’s granddaughter. She intends to retake the crown.

No offense, Commander, but what does she expect to do? Milan Lima holds Galrus House with seventy men. Does she expect to simply walk in the front door and demand that he yield his sword? He’d simply use it to take her head. Is it red like the rest of them?

Yes, she has red hair. I have men with me, but I could use more with your training and experience. Will you join me?

They draw and quarter deserters here.

Only if they catch them. If we are successful, and you stay with Lima, you would likely die on the wall. If you come with me and we fail here, you would suffer the same fate. Did you plan to live forever?

What of the other five?

All of that would apply to them as well, but I need to be sure of you first.

Lima is a mediocre tactician and a poor leader of men. I will march with you, Commander. A Roby on the throne after all this time. He shook his head in wonderment.

Bring the others here at this time tomorrow night.

Not to try to second guess the commander, but it would only take one of them to tell Lima, and you would have little chance. I can get you past the curtain wall. The house should fall after that. All the forces look outward. I would only ask for the lives of the other five.

Is there a chance one would not march with us?

Who knows the heart of a man? I trust them, but you are asking them to change allegiance to a woman they have never met, likely never heard of. Let me return to the garrison, and then meet you tomorrow night as you said.

And yet, you expect me to read yours, and trust you with all our lives. It would require less trust if you returned to the camp with me.

That it would, sir, but you would only gain a single sword. If I go back to the garrison, I can gain you passage through the wall, something all your men together may not be able to do.

How will you get us past the wall? You cannot hide that many men.

The gatehouse is strong and well-guarded; you are correct that I could not bring you in that way. There is a sally port on the far side of the wall. It is small, with an iron-faced oak door designed to withstand a battering ram, but it only has one guard. Come to the port this time tomorrow. If the door is ajar, enter. I will meet you there. If the door is locked, leave, and try again the following day. If it is still locked, I will have failed, and you will need a new plan.

I will trust you, Carlo. If you betray me, be sure that you kill us all. Drawing and quartering would be easy on you if even one of us finds you.

I would expect no less, Commander. I suppose that I’m a dead man, either way. As you said, no one lives forever.

****

They spent the day sharpening weapons and checking equipment. There was a great deal of off-color joking and friendly insults. It was the way of men waiting for battle. A single man walked through the city to the far side of the great house, found the small gate called a sally port, and planned a route from the Jumbles.

Alic found Kathryn sitting on a rock, sipping a mug of tea. Kat, we need to agree on a plan should we fail. He was the only one who called her that.

You will not fail.

I don’t intend to fail, but the odds are not in our favor. Andar and the horses stay here with you and the women. If no one comes for you by dawn, saddle the horses, take what you can easily carry, and try to make it to Nord. One of you will need to ride the bear. Hide, do not fight.

Are you commanding me, now?

No, I’m saving your life.

She kissed him. If I am to be queen, I will need to learn to give orders to people larger and stronger than I am. Here is my command; do not fail. We will sleep with a roof over our heads tonight.

Boy comes. Andar rose from his adopted spot in one of the entrance passages between boulders and moved out on silent pads. He returned a few minutes with a boy of ten or so years. The boy had wet his pants. When he saw the glen filled with men armed for battle, he froze.

Kathryn took him by the hand and led him to the shade of the oaks. What is your name, boy?

Robbie Chase. It was hardly more than a whisper. Please don’t kill me.

What are you doing in the Jumbles, Robbie Chase?

My friends said I lacked the...manhood.

Do you understand what is happening here?

No. Well, maybe a little. You aren’t Milan Lima’s people. You mean to attack again. Are you from Carbery Tower?

No, we are not from the tower. My name is Kathryn Roby. My grandfather was King Arlo; that makes me the rightful heir to the throne. Taking Galrus House will not put me on that throne, but it’s the first step.

The boy had stopped trembling. You are the queen?

Several strong lords would question that, but I intend to be.

He dropped to his knees. I am your loyal servant, Your Majesty.

Perhaps after the coronation. M’lady will do for now. When do your parents expect you back?

He looked down and shuffled his feet. I have none, M’lady.

How do you live?

More foot shuffling.

Everyone needs to eat, Robbie. Do you steal?

Sometimes I can do work for food, but not always.

Do you know the men from the house, the armed ones?

Some.

Do you know one Carlo Nix?

He flinched at the name. He beats boys like me; sometimes worse. He doesn’t like…,

Doesn't like what, Robbie?

Women, M’lady. He uses boys.

Has he ever used you?

Only twice, M’lady.

She raised her voice. Alic, would you come here a moment.

When he arrived, she said, This brave young man is Robbie Chase, a street orphan. He says that your trusted man in the great house rapes young boys. Can you trust such a man?

We that take up arms kill men for a living. Not that many are the kind you would introduce to your daughter...or sister. We have a code of honor, but our morals are sometimes flexible. Whether killing attracts such men or creates them is a discussion for higher minds than mine.

Are yours also flexible?

I am about to use a man that rapes boys to enter a house where I plan to kill men that have done me no wrong. I will do that for a redhead that I admire, perhaps because I have no interest in boys. Those morals would not likely qualify me for sainthood if I believed in saints.

So, you still trust him?

Not all that much, but the sally port is the best I have. Otherwise, we could storm the wall. That has not worked well for those that tried in the past.

There is the trash dump, M’lord. I come and go that way all the time. The kitchen is the best place to...find food.

Can you move around the grounds?

Usually. They will beat me if they catch me in the house, but the grounds are mostly men-at-arms that don’t much care about a small boy.

Would you do a great task for Lady Kathryn?

Whatever she asks; I have pledged her my loyal service.

Carlo Nix has agreed to open the sally port for us. Do you know where that is?

Everyone knows.

I need you to go in through the trash dump and watch the sally port. If men are gathering around it on the inside of the wall, leave the house, and tell me. It will happen just after dark, tonight. I will be in the dark outside of the sally port. If there are no men behind the port and nothing happens, come back here.

I will do my best, M’lord.

Then go.

The boy ran at his best speed.

Chapter 3

They moved in groups of three or four, trusting that no one would think that unusual. The city was used to armed men. The one that had scouted the sally port led the way. Soon they stood in the darkness, the outline of the small, heavy door just visible by moonlight. Alic left the others and walked to the door. It stood slightly ajar. He returned to his men and waited. After half an hour, the boy, Robbie, had not appeared. Alic gathered the men and approached the door.

It opened outward, a provision against forced entry; three men grasped the edge and opened it. Beyond was a short tunnel through the wall. No more than three men abreast would be able to pass. Alic started in. Theo joined him, but he motioned him back; the men would need a leader if this was a trap. Two others stood, one on either side of him, and he moved forward. Others crowded in behind.

Beyond the wall, Carlo Nix stood in the shadows, a body at his feet. Evenin’ Commander. As you see, I managed to open it on the first try. The guard objected, briefly. He nudged the body with his toe. "Also found this slinking around. Almost killed him too, but he spoke