A Key of Hope: Neldorailin Series, #1

Map of Isle of Norman

Map(s) of Neldorailin Copyright 2014 by Amanda Redhead © All rights Reserved.

Chapter 1

The sun shone on the lighthouse in the distance, glittering on the whitewashed walls as the waves lapped against the rocky island it stood upon. The children from the small inlet harbour of Whitecliffs were playing on the beach below the towering white cliffs and a heat haze shimmered over the entire scene.  Gulls and terns screeched and worried one another over bits from the daily catch, and all combined to create a calm, pastoral scene as the backdrop for her onerous task.

Rose stopped and watched the children for a while as the sounds echoed around her. The mare she was sat upon skittered and pranced on the spot, unused to the inactivity. Rose had been riding towards the small cottage on the cliff top for the last few days. She was dreading the moment when she arrived and had to deliver such devastating news to the old lady who lived there.

Rose had been caring for a sailor named Phillip Rodgers, in the small almhouse in Harbourtown, where all the ships brought their cargo to be unloaded, from the distant shores of the mainland of Neldorailin. Phillip had been helping to unload when he had been crushed by falling cargo and Rose had promised the dying man that she would tell his mother of his death. He had entrusted a key and an envelope to her and she would deliver it before heading home on the northern shore of the island, where she was planning to visit her parent’s graves.  Such were the realities of life in Harbourtown; Phillip's injuries had been too severe, and there had been no time to send for one of the healing priests from the monastery.  All Rose had been able to do was to comfort the dying man with herbal tinctures to ease his pain.

The old woman stood in her garden and watched the young lady sat astride the chestnut mare off in the distance. With the sunlight highlighting her red locks, there was something about the young woman’s face that tugged at her soul but she couldn’t quite place it. But intuitively she did know with a great sadness that the young lady was heading towards her home. She had felt the passing of her son a few weeks earlier and knew that this wee slip of lass was bringing news to confirm what she already knew in her heart. The Gift was quite strong with the Rodgers’ women. She entered the cottage and filled the kettle with water from a bucket that stood in the corner, placing it on the hot plate over the brick fire to be boiling, whilst she placed cups on the table and added tea leaves to the teapot warming next to the fire.

A few moments later, a knock came at the door and she called out, Come in dearie, the door is open Rose entered the cottage and said, Mrs. Rodgers? My name is Rose, and I bring news of Phillip. The old lady turned around and with tears in her eyes replied, I know dearie that my Phillip is dead, but bless you for coming to see me. Now sit yourself down and we shall have a nice cup of tea, you have travelled a great distance.

Sitting at the table whilst the old lady bustled with the teapot, Rose spoke again I cared for Phillip in his last days; he was crushed as he was unloading cargo from the ship he was assigned to, and our healers could do nothing for him, but he wanted you to know that he loved you and gave me this envelope and key to bring to you. Rose placed the envelope on the table and took a small key from a chain around her neck placing it on top of the envelope, which she then pushed towards the old lady. Phillip said you would know what this key opened and he was insistent that it was returned to you

Mrs. Rodgers passed over a cup and ignoring the items on the table said, What was your name again dearie? Taking the cup Rose replied, My name is Rose. Rose Tresco; my parents used to live on the northern shore of the island in the tiny hamlet of Normanton.

Nodding Mrs. Rodgers said, You are welcome in my home Rose; you should stay the night before continuing with your journey.

Picking up the key, Mrs. Rodgers said, I have no idea what this key opens, I have never seen it before; did Phillip not tell you anything else about it?

Shaking her head Rose replied, No, only that you would know what it opens and entrusted me to return it to you

Placing it back on the table Mrs. Rodgers picked up the envelope and opened it, removing a sheaf of paper and a handful of gold sovereigns.

Mrs. Rodgers felt tears as she read Phillip’s final words to her.

"Mother

If you are reading this, then I have passed from this realm into the next. I am sending you my final payment from my last voyage and a key which I have entrusted into the hands of a young woman, who should be sat before you.

Her name is Rose and she brought much happiness and comfort in my final hours in this realm.

The key is to be entrusted into her care, as it is her birth right. She is my daughter; her mother and I were lovers many years ago when I helped her escape from the Lord of the Horse Plains across the great sea in the land of Neldorailin. It opens a small chest in my old room in the lighthouse which contains such things that proves that she is heir to the throne of the Horse Lords. Her mother asked that I hide these items in case the future Horse Lord found them. Inside is also a letter that explains everything and why I left Rose in the care of good people in Normanton who were named Tresco. I do not know how she came to be in the hospital when I needed her, or why she offered to bring you news of my passing, but I know that she is my daughter because she has a small crescent birthmark behind her right ear.

My hand is shaking now as I feel my life ebbing from me Mother, I love you. Please do all you can to assist your Granddaughter in her quest to regain her birth right, should she want to take it!

Phillip"

Silently Mrs. Rodgers gave the letter to Rose to read, leaving the cottage to stand looking over at the lighthouse, giving Rose a moment to take in all that the letter was telling her.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she heard a small tearful, Grandmother?

Turning she replied, So it would seem, Rose. I had no idea that Phillip had a daughter. Holding out her arms she took Rose into her embrace and hugged her close as they both looked across the water to the lighthouse beyond.

Chapter 2

Across the great sea in the Horse Plains of the land of Neldorailin, the Horse Lord sat astride his horse peering off into the distance across the great forest of Dunsinar wondering why the buzzards were circling. He was a large man, about fifty years of age, with silver streaks running through his dark grizzled hair and beard.

Turning to his second in command he said, Well Gunther, do we investigate or let the pointy-eared devils get on with it?

Gunther grunted replying, It is none of our business M’Lord Rathfor; they would not leave their forest to help us; so let them deal with their own issues and harvest their own acorns I say!

Grinning, and shouting Bloody Squirrels! Rathfor pulled his horse around and said, Then let us race back to the encampment, and if you win Gunther, then I will let you choose your bed mate first tonight

Racing across the plains, whooping and cheering, both men were in their element. Leaning low across the saddle-bow, Rathfor whipped his mare to greater speed. Years of breeding and pairing steeds to bring out the best of qualities, The Horse Lords of Neldorailin had no match in all the Realms for the quality of the horseflesh that they reared.  Rathfor's thoroughbred stretched her gait smoothly, falling easily into the rhythm and pace he demanded of her. Rathfor reached the sentry first, but only by the merest of margins. Gunther's steed was a rival in breeding matching that of his Lord's favourite mount. Throwing off the reins to the saddle boy to have the mounts curried, he slapped Gunther on the back and said, One day Gunther, you will beat me, you were so close that time.

Settling down in front of the fire, Gunther watched as Rathfor called for food and ale to be brought. He was a fair haired man of forty years who had seen many things and lived many ways. His wife had recently died after Rathfor had flogged her for being slow in her duties; not even being five months pregnant had deterred him.  Gunther served his lord dutifully, but Rathfor was a hard man to love more than allegiances required. He had watched Rathfor do many evil things since he had become Horse Lord over the clans, from raping women to killing people who had become a drain on the clan resources.  It couldn't be said that Rathfor suffered weakness in others at all, whether real or perceived.

Gunther still wondered whether Bern's death had been an accident or whether Rathfor had planned it. This thought brought him to think of Hildred, his step sister and not for the first time Gunther wondered what had happened to her. She had run away many years ago, when Rathfor had announced that he would marry her, so that his claim to the throne would be cemented in stone. Deep in his heart he knew Hildred had been right