Axe Warrior - The Nameless One

By Alfred Bekker

Axe Warrior - The Nameless One

Fantasy novel by Alfred Bekker

 

The size of this book is equivalent to 229 paperback pages.

 

Kryll, the young king of Pragan is without power. His kingdom has more or less fallen apart and is threatened from the outside. Then the mysterious Nameless One, a somber figure cloaked in a cowl and carrying a monstrous battle axe, offers his help to the young king. The Nameless One claims to be a servant of the Shadowland and promises him help from the Shadow Warriors, whose arms never flag. Much too late Kryll realizes that he has long since become a plaything of those forces which he himself has summoned... And so, in the course of the plot, a double transformation takes place: Kryll becomes more and more a creature of the Shadowland, while the Nameless One remembers more and more his buried humanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alfred Bekker
• Release date: Dec 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215243855

Alfred Bekker

Alfred Bekker wurde am 27.9.1964 in Borghorst (heute Steinfurt) geboren und wuchs in den münsterländischen Gemeinden Ladbergen und Lengerich auf. 1984 machte er Abitur, leistete danach Zivildienst auf der Pflegestation eines Altenheims und studierte an der Universität Osnabrück für das Lehramt an Grund- und Hauptschulen. Insgesamt 13 Jahre war er danach im Schuldienst tätig, bevor er sich ausschließlich der Schriftstellerei widmete. Schon als Student veröffentlichte Bekker zahlreiche Romane und Kurzgeschichten. Er war Mitautor zugkräftiger Romanserien wie Kommissar X, Jerry Cotton, Rhen Dhark, Bad Earth und Sternenfaust und schrieb eine Reihe von Kriminalromanen. Angeregt durch seine Tätigkeit als Lehrer wandte er sich schließlich auch dem Kinder- und Jugendbuch zu, wo er Buchserien wie 'Tatort Mittelalter', 'Da Vincis Fälle', 'Elbenkinder' und 'Die wilden Orks' entwickelte. Seine Fantasy-Romane um 'Das Reich der Elben', die 'DrachenErde-Saga' und die 'Gorian'-Trilogie machten ihn einem großen Publikum bekannt. Darüber hinaus schreibt er weiterhin Krimis und gemeinsam mit seiner Frau unter dem Pseudonym Conny Walden historische Romane. Einige Gruselromane für Teenager verfasste er unter dem Namen John Devlin. Für Krimis verwendete er auch das Pseudonym Neal Chadwick. Seine Romane erschienen u.a. bei Blanvalet, BVK, Goldmann, Lyx, Schneiderbuch, Arena, dtv, Ueberreuter und Bastei Lübbe und wurden in zahlreiche Sprachen übersetzt.

Book preview

First book: KRYLL

"It was in the year 7462 after the founding of the city of Ilkyn that Kryll of Arkull ascended the throne of Pragan, the great island kingdom to the north. At their assembly in Wallana, the high Pragan lords had elected Kryll as successor to their king Hangi, who had fallen victim to a poison attack in his hometown of Thront. Most of the lords suspected that the masterminds of this attack were to be found in the kingdom of Remur, but this could never be proven.

The throne of Pragan was not an easy task, because the land was poor. On the island, marked by a harsh, cold climate, it was hardly possible to grow anything. Thus, the Praganians often had to go on raids, which led them mainly to Remur, Naru and Dagaria. The Praganian ships were the terrors of the seas and of course they did not contribute to good relations with the neighboring countries..."

(From the HISTORY OF THE WORLD, a work of the historian Yulariz from Kroz Dor)

1. THE SENT

Wildly thundered the surf against the rocks on which Castle Arkull was built.

Kryll, the new king of Pragan, had refused to move his residence to the state capital of Wallana. He wanted to stay at his home castle.

The sun was already low on the horizon when the small group of horsemen approached the castle. They were all heavily armed warriors, dressed in strange robes. Artful ornaments adorned their armor.

Sir! said one of the men to the obvious leader of the group. Sir, according to the map, this must be Arkull Castle!

Yes, came the sullen reply.

Count Yakurul, I suggest we send someone ahead to announce our arrival!

The count turned around to the speaker.

I hardly think this will be necessary, Lirahat!

Perhaps there is a trap lurking within these old walls, Lirahat now explained in a hushed tone.

Yakurul's features changed.

No one would dare to attack the ambassador and confidant of the King of Remur! Not even Kryll of Arkull could be trusted with such a daring deed!

The Praganians have dared quite different things! Wyllck, Kruss, Doban, Kenun - almost every one of our major coastal cities has already been attacked by Praganian pirates! Their ships are said to have been sighted on the coasts of Kroz and Lukkare for some time now. Be on your guard, sir! The Praganians are among the most devious the gods have created!

Yakurul shook his head in spite of everything.

We are within sight of the castle, Lirahat. If they had wanted to harm us, it would have happened long ago.

Lirahat did not dare to contradict the count once again. But it was obvious that he did not agree with the count's views.

The castle really looks very old, one of the other men commented almost reverently.

And someone else added, The Lords of Arkull have resided here for over 500 years!

This castle really must have been here since time immemorial, Yakurul thought.

And yet its massive walls made it immediately clear that it could withstand an attack without further ado.

A few guards patrolled up and down behind the breastworks.

The troop of horsemen now came up the narrow rocky path that led to the castle gate.

They reached the moat, which was crossed only by the drawbridge that had been raised at the moment. The moat was nothing more than a crevice in the rock - but it served its purpose only too well.

Yakurul did not dare to look down into the abyss. Instead, he raised his head.

Lower the bridge and open the gate! shouted the count.

A guard looked over the parapet.

Who are you?

The tone was suspicious, but not unfriendly.

I am Count Yakurul, the ambassador of the King of Remur. I must speak with your king!

The guard nodded.

I will ask the king if he will grant you admittance, Count! With that, he was gone.

Maybe he's just calling his people together to capture us, Lirahat murmured.

We'll have to wait and see! the count hissed indignantly. He patted his horse's neck. Too much suspicion can hurt, my friend!

But if you have too little of it, it can be fatal at times, Count Yakurul, Lirahat replied.

The count wanted to say something in reply, but at that moment the guard came back.

The king allows you to stay in the castle! You are his guests! I will now lower the bridge!

Tell your king how grateful I am to him! shouted Yakurul to the guard.

But this one had already disappeared again.

Creaking and groaning, with loud groans and squeaks, the drawbridge now came down.

When she was downstairs, the gate opened.

To Yakurul, the bridge appeared to be very rotten and he was not comfortable with the idea of crossing it.

The bridge groaned precariously as the count passed it with his entourage, but it held.

Then they reached the castle courtyard, which now seemed larger to Yakurul than he had suspected from the outside.

Now we'll see if it's not a trap after all, whispered Lirahat in Remurian so that the Praganians wouldn't overhear. The count did not reply.

Strange, he thought, from the inside Arkull Castle does not look so dilapidated and ruinous. The outer appearance was deceptive, there was no doubt about that.

A servant skillfully helped the count out of the saddle.

We will take care of your horse! As well as the horses of those who came with you!

Yakurul nodded to the servant.

Good! Now take me to my quarters!

The count's words sounded satisfied. Lirahat stepped to his side.

Be careful, my count! Death could be lurking everywhere here!

I don't think so, Lirahat!

But...

You'd better see to it that you don't offend our hosts, because in that case this castle could actually become a trap. A deadly trap... Yakurul turned back to the servant. Go ahead and show me to the quarters your master has assigned me.

The servant nodded submissively.

My count! You can't possibly expect me to leave you alone with this... he pointed with a derogatory movement at the servant, ...this fellow here!

For a moment, Yakurul looked sharply at his counterpart. So sharply that Lirahat almost flinched.

The count turned to the servant again.

Well come on! Show me the quarters now!

Yakurul turned to leave.

My count! cried Lirahat.

What else?

The count tried to remain friendly despite everything.

Still, a hint of impertinence crept into his tone.

I insist on accompanying you!

Yakurul nodded.

Come along if you think it necessary!

Together they then followed the servant.

*

They were led into a simple but tastefully decorated room. On the walls hung carpets decorated with ornaments. In the center stood a table with two chairs. In one corner there was a soft bed for sleeping.

Not quite what I'm used to from Remur - but I'll be comfortable here, Count Yakurul said, throwing himself on the camp.

Here...

The servant pointed to an elaborately crafted bell that had its place on the table. If you need anything, just ring!

Thank you. You can go now! the count returned. The servant bowed and left the room.

Why are you so suspicious, Lirahat! Everyone here is very kind to us, aren't they?

Let's wait and see how the king behaves first. He has to say it here - not this servant!

Listen to me, dear Lirahat. If we sow kindnesses, we shall reap accordingly.

Kindnesses? My count, you forget the profound differences between Remur and Pragan!

Differences are by no means a reason to throw the forms overboard! So, pull yourself together, my friend! Otherwise this story will come to a bad end!

If you do not proceed with the necessary vigilance, there may be far worse consequences!

Well, no matter how you may feel about it, Lirahat! I order you to stand down. Do you understand me?

Yes.

Lirahat's voice sounded dull and expressionless.

And now please leave me alone!

Yep.

Lirahat bowed deeply and then also left the room. Yakurul was now alone.

Lost in thought, he lay on the soft bed.

I hope I can get the king to stop the raids on the coastal cities, otherwise I see a black cloud for the relations between our countries, the count thought. He unbuckled his sword and laid it beside him on the camp.

When a figure entered the room completely unexpectedly, he instantly straightened up. It seemed to be a knight, an ordinary pragan knight - and yet this man was surrounded by an aura that involuntarily captivated Yakurul.

Who are you? asked the count.

I am the king, it came back curtly.

Count Yakurul frowned involuntarily.

You are Kryll of Arkull?

Yes, that's right.

The count now rose from his camp and straightened himself to full height. I had imagined the king of Pragan a little differently, he then admitted frankly and with a faint smile around his lips.

The king smiled back.

And how, may I ask?

I thought you were like all kings are! But you seem different to me, Kryll of Arkull! For example, you wear the clothes of a simple knight, not the robes of a ruler!

Does that fact bother you?

There was a hint of mockery in Kryll's words.

It confuses me a little bit. I'm not used to this kind of thing!

Kryll took a seat on one of the two chairs that were in the room. The count followed his example and took the other one.

No wonder, laughed Kryll. After all, the kings of Remur are known for their arrogance and grandstanding!

Yakurul's face darkened.

You wouldn't want to offend me, would you, my king? asked with a threatening undertone.

Kryll, on the other hand, remained calm, almost serene.

If I have offended you with my comment, I sincerely apologize.

Perhaps we should now move on to the real topic of conversation: The relations between our countries, the count suggested. And to himself he thought: He doesn't take life seriously enough for a regent!

Then Count Yakurul saw his counterpart shake his head thoughtfully, yet firmly.

There's still time for that. He smiled. There's really not the slightest need to rush.

No rush?

The count rose from his seat. Indignation was written all over his face.

Let me tell you something, my king: at this very moment, one of your pirate fleets may be attacking Darjos, Shian, or any other of our ports and trying to plunder it. And what do you say to that, my king? No hurry!

The count shook his head. I don't believe it! he exclaimed aloud.

Meanwhile, a gloomy shadow had also settled over the king's face.

I knew you would come for this, dear Count. Unfortunately, I cannot help you. Kryll's voice had become hoarse.

Yakurul now leaned forward and propped himself up on the table with both hands.

Now I have taken upon myself the perilous sea voyage to Alark and the subsequent, no less perilous overland journey to Arkull - and all this just to have you tell me that you cannot help me in this matter?

Yakurul went to the window and looked out at the sea. On the beach they lay: the dangerous and fast longships of the Praganians. The harbor facilities of Arkull were very sparsely developed, but the ships of the Praganians basically needed no harbors at all. They could land and dock almost anywhere.

Their port was the entire coast of the world....

I thought you were a king, Kryll, Yakurul gasped bitterly.

That's me, Kryll replied, not without wounded pride. He had risen in the meantime as well. Now he came to the window next to the Remurian.

If you are the king here, why can't you do anything about the piracy of your own fleet?

Even a king has limits!

There are limits to every king, but those limits must never be within his own country!

Kryll shrugged his shoulders.

The Lords have too much power in this country for me to ban them from piracy...

Yakurul turned his gaze to the longships moored on the coast.

Their ships are dangerous, the count thought. Remur would do well not to underestimate the Praganians.

I fear it will come to war if your fleets continue the brigandage, Count Yakurul then commented. We have already made an alliance with Dagaria.

Kryll shrugged.

I will not be able to stop you from going to war against my country!

He's having a good time with me, Yakurul thought.

The count turned away from Kryll and walked a few steps back and forth.

When he then turned his gaze back to Kryll, he saw that his counterpart's face now no longer looked so relaxed.

You must also understand our side, Count! What are the Pragans supposed to live on? Our land is barren. Up north, the ground thaws only a few inches deep for a few months each year. In the last few years the great shoals of fish have failed to appear, so that many people in our country have come into real distress. With you in Remur, one can perhaps not imagine such a thing. Especially not in the palaces where your people live, Count Yakurul! You wondered about my clothes! If my land were more fertile, if the shoals of fish were more constant, I could levy high taxes and also surround myself with such splendor as is said of the king of Remur! But this land is poor. And poverty does not stop even before its king!

Yakurul was silent for a while. He seemed to be thinking about how to proceed.

You are silent, Count Yakurul?

The count took a deep breath.

What more can I say to that? I have said everything that needed to be said. My duty is done. How you can persuade your lords to give up brigandage is your problem, not mine. However, if you fail to convince the lords, well... Then there will be war! And you can surely count on two fingers that Pragan would not stand a chance in such a battle! Not one battle would go to the Praganians!

The king regained his old smile.

If the Praganians are really as easy to beat as you claim, then I don't understand why you are so afraid of their raids!

The count did not answer.

Instead, Kryll continued: Most likely, they are very afraid of us in Remur, otherwise your king would not have found it necessary to ally with Dagaria against us! What you said has neither hand nor foot! You want to frighten me, but you shall not succeed! I will not be intimidated in the same manner as you may be accustomed to from your Dagarian allies!

Count Yakurul approached the king and stood up in front of him. His heartbeat must have been up to his neck with excitement. He was flushed red.

Good thing he put down his sword, the king thought involuntarily.

He clearly saw the naked anger in the count's face.

Do not dare to insult us and our allies again. You are squandering the last sympathy you still enjoy with us.

Kryll's face was distorted.

Sympathies? Who would give us sympathy in Remur? Let's not talk about things that don't exist and won't exist in the next hundred years!

Suddenly, Kryll paused.

It is nonsensical for us to exchange insults with each other, he thought. The king gave the count a thoughtful look and was startled by the fierceness that came out of the other's eyes. If the high lords of Pragan do not see that they must stop robbing - well, there will be war. Just as you said, Count Yakurul. A brief shrug of the shoulders followed, as if this were an irrefutable fact, something that would come to pass with all certainty, no matter what was done about it.

You take this with astonishing indifference, Yakurul noted, not without bitterness. The count's eyes had become narrow slits as he then said in a voice dripping with scorn, Your people will be grateful to you for this for all eternity, King Kryll!

But Kryll did not answer with the same sharpness at all.

All I can do is this: I can convene the Council of Lords in Wallana. I have the right to do that. They will then decide what will happen - whether there will be war or peace!

Kryll saw the disappointment on his counterpart's face and so he added, That's the best I can do!

He hates me, ran through