Daxton - Episode 21
The 5th Compass | Tales of Stonehaven [1,666 words]
Daxton is the first book in the 6-book series, The 5th Compass, which takes place in Stonehaven. Released in serial form, two episodes each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The audio version is coming in the future for paid subscribers only. Visit the table of contents for a list of previously published and upcoming episodes.
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Before Daxton could question the hag as to how she knew the exact compass maker he was looking for, trumpets sounded in the distance. A ship bearing the royal flag of the king of Gaspar approached and everyone, from the fishermen to the soldiers milling about, stopped to watch the show. From one of the already docked ships four trumpeters and two drummers played a long and drawn out battle song. The docks were already crowded and there was no room for the approaching ship to get any closer. A group of six men, among them Barton’s father, Corwinn, and the Paragon, were lowered to the water in a boat. Two of the six men rowed while the others stood in the boat motionless.
“Let’s get out of here,” Barton whispered when he noticed his father was one of the men in the boat.
“I couldn’t agree more, Master Barton,” the hag responded. “Perhaps we could—.”
The trumpets and drums got louder as it came to a climactic and rather over the top end. The people who started crowding around all cheered loudly, until those who arrived on the boat stood before them on the docks. A silence fell amongst them as they all wondered what would bring not only the king’s army, but his general to their tiny insignificant town.
One of the rowers, after he tied the boat to the dock, stepped in front of the general, unrolled a long parchment, and read the following statement loud enough for all present to hear:
By order of the king: All able-bodied men are hereby ordered to enlist in the king’s army immediately. To undergo rigorous training in preparation for a final battle against Captain Silverblade. Any who choose not to fight but are fit enough to do so will be compelled forcefully or have charges of treason placed upon them and their family. Punishment for such treason to be hanging by the neck until dead. Signed, King Rowan of Gaspar
At hearing this pronouncement, the crowds grew even quieter, so quiet in fact, the only sound they could hear was that of the waves hitting the shore.
General Corwinn stepped forwards and stood at attention beside the man holding the parchment. He puffed out his chest to prepare his own announcement. “All men of an adult age; sixteen years and older, line-up here.” He drew a line in the sand with his foot. The man with the parchment quickly put it away and replaced it with an empty one, pulling a quill from behind his ear. “Anyone not here will be retrieved from their home this evening. By force if necessary.”
Daxton and Barton followed the hag and she led them behind the tavern, towards a heavily wooded area.
“I think we can stop now, I do not even hear or smell the sea anymore,” Barton said, wishing they could stop. He was tired and wanted to rest.
“I live just over that ridge,” the hag looked back and told them, pointing in the distance.
“That is impossible. There’s just a swamp over there.” Barton wiped sweat from his brow as the sun was shining so bright it broke through the thick trees surrounding them.
“True, there is a swamp just beyond that ridge. I live in the middle of it.” She resumed her stride, but Daxton and Barton stayed put. “Well, come on. Or stand here and wait to be grabbed by the king’s army. Your choice.”
They looked at each other and in their silent nods agreed her swamp couldn’t be worse than joining the king’s army. They bounded up behind where she stopped to look out at a rundown shack, held up by several trees and a swamp that surrounded it.
“How in all of Stonehaven are we supposed to get across?” Daxton asked. He grabbed his stomach, almost the same way his mother did when she first knew she was pregnant. The hag stared at him for longer than she meant to as the similarities between son and mother had become clearer.
“Simple really, if you only dare to look.” She took one step off the ridge and both boys lunged towards her, expecting she was going to fall into the swamp, but she did not. Her foot was planted on firm ground and neither could understand how that was possible. She kept on walking straight towards the shack as they both watched her in amazement. To them it looked like she was walking on air. “Are you coming?”
Barton shook his head, there was some trickery at play here and he was not going to fall for it. Nor was he ready to fall into a filthy, disgusting swamp. Daxton peeked over the ridge and squinted at the spot where he watched her step, but his eyes saw nothing there for him to plant his foot. But he needed answers that she might have. Balancing on one foot he poked the other out and brought it down to a point where he could easily have tipped over, but he felt something firm there holding him up. He couldn’t believe it. He took another step towards the shack, now completely off the ridge.
“Take my hand if you are scared,” Daxton reached out his hand towards Barton who batted it away.
“I am not afraid.”
“Boys, that branch you are standing on isn’t strong enough to hold both of you. Hurry across it before it breaks.”
As she gave them warning they felt something beneath them splinter. Heeding her advice Daxton held both his arms out for balance and made his way towards the shack. Barton followed close behind doing the same. Both made it across in one piece, even the unseen branch remained whole.
She ushered them inside where they found the it looked much like the outside. There was grass and dirt and fallen leaves scattered around multiple stumps where trees once stood. Both boys looked up and found no roof but the foliage and tree branches from those holding up the shack provided enough shade to keep out both the sun and the moonlight. She sat on one of the stumps and beckoned them to do the same.
“How did you ever find this place?”
“I was just wandering around looking for a place I could stay that was away from others. I am not exactly the kind of person anyone would want to be around. I was not always this way, you know. But one must adapt to one’s situation. The reason I hoped we’d find each other again is because I need you to get something for me.”
“And in exchange you’ll tell me where the compass maker lives?” Daxton asked, his voice sounding just a bit apprehensive. He got the feeling she was not telling him everything she knew.
“I’ll do better than that. I’ll take you to him myself.”
Daxton pondered her offer. “What is it you want?”
“it is not what I want, it is what I need. The King’s Bow.” Both Daxton and Barton looked at her like she was crazy to even suggest stealing such a prized possession.
“Have you gone mad? What could you possibly need with the King’s Bow? How do you expect me to get close enough to him to steal it? Everyone knows it never leaves his side.”
“I have it on good authority the king will be stopping through here to check on Corwinn’s ability to lead and recruit men to strengthen his army. When he’s here you could—.”
“You expect us to join the royal army so we can get close enough to the king and steal his bow? it is suicide.” Daxton turned to his best friend who, up until that point, had remained quiet and just listened.
“I think we have no choice, so why not make the most out of it?” The hag was beginning to like Barton more and more and was thankful Daxton had someone like him by his side. Daxton looked upon his friend with disappointment. “You heard my father, the king commands we all join. Either we do it voluntarily or we hang, as does your family.”
“No one tells me what to do. I am the master of my own destiny. Besides, I have no family.” The hag’s face became even more drawn than usual and she pulled back her hood to reveal she had a full head of grey hair. Daxton turned to his friend, “I will not join the royal army, by force or otherwise.” He turned back to the hag, “And I will not help you retrieve the bow either.” He stood up from the stump he sat on, ready to leave.
The hag reminded herself of his youth and tried to remain calm in the face of his naïve ideas. “You actually believe that do not you? That you control your own destiny?”
“I believe I am going to find the man who made this compass, and if you aren’t going to help me then I’ll find someone who will. You cannot be the only person who knows of this man.” Again, he turned to his best friend. “You coming?”
“She’s right, Daxton. You cannot run and hide nor will you find the answers you seek faster than if we get her what she wants, and in return she tells you what you want to hear. I’m willing to help you. Do not be a fool.”
Daxton couldn’t believe his ears. He could understand this hag, a perfect stranger, expecting something from him to get the answers he needed. But he was not expecting his friend to take her side. Yet, the more it seemed finding his birth mother would be insurmountable the more he wanted to find her at any cost, but not if it meant joining the royal army. He was raised to kill out of need for food and protection, not for jealousy and hate. So, he ran.