Xander walked down the muddy path leading into the clearing and took in the springtime air, heavily scented with pine from the forests of Thorn. He could see many soldiers already stretching preparing to spar with each other. Xander unleashed his sword from his side and went into his forms thinking about how he would miss his mom and couldn’t wait to get out of Riley. Other than his mother, many who have been stationed at Riley neglected to talk to him, they weren’t really rude just distant. After 16 years Xander was excited to finally meet someone his age that would treat him as a peer, no someone to avoid. And with all the stories Xander read he couldn’t wait to meet another female other than his mom. Xander unsheathed his sword and began his forms, this was one thing that cleared his mind.
In, out, in, step left, out, step right, this was the butterfly, one of the most advanced forms Xander knew, difficult due to the strength it took to wield a sword one handed. Xander had practiced this with either hand since he was young so did not feel the fatigue of many men even those twice his size. The butterfly soon gave way to the dragonfly and after an hour Xander could see many soldiers had left to begin their day. Only the most dedicated soldiers stayed trying to perfect their craft, like Xander seeking solace in its intricacies.
Many Soldiers saw their commitment as a chore and Xander could see what his mother said was true; many did just enough to get by. This was the only life Xander had ever known and one he excelled at. Xander was taught at a young age all there was to being a Soldier a passion fueled by his mom. He had heard the horror stories of people who were placed directly under the care of some noble do farming or such, many of who used their position as a way to gain permanent slaves or were just drunk with power. Being a soldier meant that the majority of your time was spent around other soldiers, better still after your 24 summers were up if you still wanted to be a soldier you could commission and gain just as much rank as any female.
Xander finally put his sword away as the morning grew hotter and made his way back inside the gates of Riley.
“Finally finished eh runt?” Captain Gowan spoke as he approached Xander. Xander liked Cpt Rowan as he was one of the few who were not put off by his birth and appreciated hard work. At 6’5 he was a mountain of a man bigger than any Xander had ever seen with bulky muscles and instead of a normal sword, Gowan’s was at least a foot longer and a whole lot heavier, capable of cutting a sapling in two with a swing from his massive frame. The biggest thing that everyone noticed even more than his size was his long jet black beard speckled with a few specks of gray. Gowan definitely was intimidating to look at and Xander was sure he was hell to fight in battle.
“Yes Sir, they will be hear any day now to get me and I want to be my best. Leave nothing to chance is what my mom always said.”
“Aye, Maxine is right. Too bad you never met your Pa, if you had he would be right proud of the way you are turning out. If you were my boy I would be proud, not like the two thunder heads I got at home.” Gowan said while shaking his head.
“You have kids?”
“Well don’t sound so surprised that someone once found me handsome. Yeah during my commitment I met a beautiful woman walking the road in the middle of the night. I thought she must be mad, since anyone could have stumbled upon her and took advantage. I offered to walk her home telling her it was not safe and she laughed at me! Imagine that, laughing at me offering her my protection! Ha! She took it anyway and I followed her home not knowing I was talking to a real live witch! She shot fire from her hands to light the lanterns in front of her porch and scared me half to death. Even her slaves started laughing at me as I fell on me backside trying to get away. She was a good soul that invited me in anyway. One thing led to another and I had 20 good years with that woman until the war took her away from me.” Gowan said as he suddenly grew quiet, perhaps remembering his lost love.
“I’m so sorry Sir, I never knew” were the words out of Max’s mouth before Gowan silenced him.
“Don’t be lad, I got some good years out of that woman. She even tried to set her slaves free but they refused to leave. Anyway I have two strapping lads and a mighty fine lass that is at the Magorium learnin’ her spells. Back to those thunderheads though, they’re might lucky they received their letter from the Queen. Those two would be in the mines or cleaning waste out of the sewer they would be. Nowhere near as hard working as you are. It would do me well to have one such as you serve under me. I don’t imagine anyone more of a sure bet for the army. That is unless those damn guys from the watch get you or the palace guard.”
“I never heard of those, are they some kind of elite unit?”
“Ha, they would like to think so! The city watch basically polices all the big towns keeping the riffraff in line. Way to cushy a life for me though and many of em need knocked down a peg or two. Mostly they spend time taking bribes from whoever is paying the best and abusing their power against anyone who is not on the watch, well except for Soldiers cause we fight back and are better at it. But look at me lumping them together like some highborn. Plenty of them lads do perform the job they were assigned without grumbling, most of em though was like I described from what I met. It’s also up to them to stop highwaymen along the countryside. Then there is the elite of the elite, I was going to try out for em myself until I met my beloved.
“The Palace Guard sir?”
“Aye, lad the Guard. They are normally chosen from among the best fighters available in the Queendom. They are chosen from the best the Army, Watch or the Arena has to offer. You must be proficient with the blade and the bow and to lay your life down for the Royal family. Them lads have it better than anyone, not even the high Witch herself wants to take them lads on, the operate with the authority of the Queen. They serve only 10 years at their post although some are kept on much longer in hopes of being matched with a highborn. Her Majesty the Queen’s late husband was once a palace guard himself, selected by her over the advances of many noble’s sons. That pissed out the lot of them prissy lasses that their poor spoiled offspring was rejected for a commoner! Ha! Anyway that would be the right way to go iffn you want to meet some noble ladies, they are always around the castle gossiping and looking down on any one beneath their station scheming and such. Although I wouldn’t know why a guy would take such a life of being treated second class just so they could marry into money. True the queen might commute your commitment, but whats 24 years compared with the rest of your life? Anyhow, I am sure you will do fine, you know what the trial consist of right?”
“Yes Sir, my mom made sure I knew what to do. She always told me folks would be quick to judge me by what I look like and who my Ma was instead of seeing what I was capable of first. Show proficiency at the bow, have a basic duel with the recruiter and be able to run a mile or two nonstop.” Xander said proudly as he stuck out his chest a little.
“That Maxine tells you true about your appearance, I’m sure you heard some of lads saying you are a damn Thornian, ignorant whelps. They do have a point though you sort of look like them in a way, and I doubt many of them no matter what you look like will give the son of a magic user a fair shake. Hell growing up I thought you a bunch of prissies all full of yourselves. Your ma did you a solid raising you out here on the border; you know hard work and can more than handle yourself in a scrap. Still I don’t think I would announce to many that you are the son of a magic user, let ‘em make up their own mind. I mean that as no slight to Maxine in case she hears of our conversation.”
“My mom isn’t like that Sir, but I will say you are the only one I have ever heard call her by her given name.”
“Aye, she doesn’t seem one for titles. Plus she owes me one, a big one whether she remembers it or not. It has nothing to do with her banishment here on the border. Your Ma reminds me a lot of my sweetie, real down to earth not flauntin’ her power and such. It would be an insult to her to call her by any other name. Most folks think the females, especially those witches or noble born are all full of themselves. Fact
of the matter is everyone gets lonely. And since I am sure not even one other female would ever visit this place, I am sure she misses talking to real people.”
“Yeah she gets lonely sometimes. I am going to miss her a lot but I don’t think I can keep my mom a secret. Folks in the Magorium knew about my birth and even my red hair, she told me as such. Her enemies would love to see me put in a mine or made a slave or something. That’s why I have been training so hard, I will make the Army.” Xander stated as he put a little boldness in his voice.
“I’m sure ye would lad. The wagon is not far off, maybe about a couple of days at most. I am going to tell you something that may save your life one day though. You know them forms you practice along with your sword play? You may want to try getting a lighter sword, maybe one that is a bit shorter. I also recommend dual carrying another one instead of a shield.”
“I don’t know Gowan” Xander said feeling uneasy using his given name, but decided to anyway since he figured he would soon be a soldier anyway. “That would leave me with no way to defend myself from strong attacks.”
“Lad, I saw a person once use two swords to great devastation, Erik the Red. I have faced him in battle and he cut down many of us before we knew we were in a fight. True he had those damn magical swords of his before we broke ‘em but I don’t think that was the reason. The man moved like a damn dervish, stabbing and slicing before any knew they were cut. It was there he cut had me about to finish me off until my woman came to save me. She was too exhausted to use her magic and threw herself in front of me.” Gowan paused and his eyes started to mist.
“Gowan you don’t have to keep telling this story I know it makes you feel bad.”
“No lad, I must. For too long I have kept to myself and young-ins. Anytime I get to talk about the love of my life is a good time. Anyway she gave me just the opening I needed and I cut him down with all the might I could muster. I sliced the bastard in two I did. He went down fighting though, a finer opponent I have never met. It was his own men that gave him up, led him right into an ambush in exchange for gold and safe passage back home. I freed your Ma along with three or four other magic users he had captured. He was using them to test their magic against his enchantments to see which ones would hold or not. I still have hate in my heart, but I guess I can’t blame him or his kind for wanting to survive. I just wish my Vivian wasn’t one of the ones who had to go in his battle to survive. The Queen heard of my deeds and gave me a writ decreeing I could hold all property of my wife’s until the time my daughter came of age. I raised them all by myself trying to stay true to my babe. Now that they all are grown up, I asked to go back to the Army. It is not a bad life being known as a hero of the Great War.”
“You slew Erik the Red?” Xander asked suddenly in awe. “And he fought using two swords? That is madness even attempting it against a sword and shield or even against a pike. But I’ll try it, hopefully it works better for me than it did for Erik the Red.”
“I hope so to lad, well let me see what these lazy sots are doing. Good luck lad.” Gowan then walked towards one of the four tower surrounding the outpost no doubt in Xander’s mind to sneak up on the guard that is normally sleeping up there trying to catch a few more winks.
The next couple of days flew by for Xander and left him conflicted after his talk with Gowan. On one hand he couldn’t wait to be out and meet new people since Riley was all he had ever known. On the other hand, he thought about his mother being left alone with no one to talk to, although Gowan did something he had never seen any other soldier do, he came by and talked to his mom about old fights and sometimes just to talk. Xander couldn’t ever picture them together but did notice his mother seemed in a lighter mood when he visited instead of hiding her sadness about Xander leaving.
One morning when Xander was going outside of the gate towards the border with Thorn he heard the unmistakable sound of the north gate opening. Xander saw a huge covered wagon driven by 8 of the most massive horses he had ever seen. When the wagon turned towards the stables he could least 15 youths all of which looked about his age. In behind the wagon was a carriage, much nicer than the one his mother had but never used and this one seemed to shine a little, though be it because of the white paint or something different Xander could not tell.
Xander watched the carriage make its way toward his home. He followed at a distance while trying to remain somewhat concealed. The driver of the carriage hopped down and looked at Xander as he was walking up. The driver pulled his sword and immediately charged at Xander with his sword held high.
Xander was taken by surprise seeing someone charging at him with a weapon but held his cool. His attacker attacked high and a little wide but was trying to overpower him with the sheer number of blows he rained down upon him. Xander knew sloppy sword work when he saw it and blocked everything easily, but could not figure out why he was being attacked. While defending himself Xander saw the carriage open and out walked a woman dressed in a black robe who began pointing at him and moving her lips. Xander wasn’t sure what she was saying but knew from watching his mother a hex was sure to fly his way. Xander hit the floor as he saw the fire ball coming, which promptly hit his opponent square in the chest. As his opponent caught fire and began to shed his heavy now on fire cloak, Xander picked himself up and charged at the spell flinger.
Xander’s opponent looked surprised she missed but hurriedly began another chant and let fly another fireball at Xander. Xander rolled out of the way and was soon upon the witch who for the first time had fear in her eyes. She readied her spell when Xander caught sight of his mother behind her with a dagger at her throat.
“Launch one more spell at my son and it will be the last thing you do witch” Xander could hear his mother say coldly. Xander had never heard his mother speak so acidly in his life but the look in her eyes said she wasn’t kidding. Xander sheathed his sword as the woman lowered her hand, Xander’s first attacker was led at sword point by the Soldiers stationed at Riley.
“Your son Maxine, I thought he was a Thornian sent here to assassinate me!” the woman said with an obvious smile on her face, letting Xander know she knew exactly who he was.
“A mistake like that could cost you your life Sharon, it might still cost you your life. You should tread carefully, the soldiers here are under my command and people die all the time out here on the border.” Maxine said as she dug the knife a little deeper into the woman Xander now knew as Sharon’s neck, drawing a little blood. Xander could see the woman turn stark white as Maxine finally lowered her weapon.
The woman instantly pulled out a handkerchief from one of the folds of her robe and began attending her neck.
“Why are you here Sharon, I thought you would be busy sucking the teat of the high witch or Celeste herself.”
“Do not say the Queen’s name as if you are old friends, I see time out here has done little to temper your temper. What a greeting you give an old friend, you must not get any visitors with an attitude like that.” The woman said with a slight smile on her face.
“You left me to die with our enemies all around us. When you thought me dead you didn’t even honor me but instead blamed me for everything. Any love I had for you is gone and if you so much as touch my son you and that miserable excuse for a swordsman of yours will both be fertilizer by moonrise.”
“Well it couldn’t have been all bad; at least the Thornians didn’t kill their captured whores, or do they just not the ones with child?” Sharon said facing Maxine.
Sharon never saw the punch coming which felled her. Xander looked shocked as he had never seen his mother’s temper in the 16 years he had known her. Maxine turned her back and began walking back to their home and motioned for Xander to follow her. Xander always had suspicion that his father was a Thornian but it wasn’t until this Sharon lady confirmed it that he knew he had been right all along. As he crossed the entrance into his home he came to the conclusion that it didn’t matter one way or another, his mother had shown hi
m love all his life, his birth didn’t shame him and it shouldn’t make her ashamed either. Maxine led him into her bedroom and locked the door. Under her mattress she pulled out a small leather bound book covered in what Xander thought looked like tattoos he had seen on some of the soldiers.
“Xander I should have told you this a long time ago, but I was ashamed and couldn’t have you talking like young men are known to do. Xander, your father is a Thornian.”
“Mom I don’t care, I sorta always knew, it’s kinda hard not to hear all the whispers.”
“Let me tell you the whole story about that woman out there before you hear a corrupted version” Maxine began and then started trembling slightly. Xander put his arm over his mom before she continued on. “A long time ago I was a student at the Magorium, I wasn’t the best by far but I did alright. When we started getting reports about Thorn amassing troops we were sent out in teams. My group fell under that horrible woman out there, along with her daughter and several other magic users. Normally there would be just one magic user for every 50 or so group of Soldiers but our group had a lot of capable users, but we were still students. Our group was to be a special strike team dealing massive amounts of damage where ever the fighting was fierce. We were pretty successful too, causing havoc among the enemy ranks. The problem was we became too good, we had a chip on our shoulder and it wasn’t long before the enemy figured out we needed to be taken care of.”
“We were out bathing when the attack came, catching us totally by surprise. Our guards were silently killed allowing our enemies to get in striking range before we knew what was happening. Sharon’s daughter, Shannon had the sense to grab the bow she always kept with her and let a couple fly, downing at least two of our attackers. She was quickly grabbed though and drug through out of the water toward the tree line. I could see the shock on Sharon’s face as Shannon was taken away and I reacted. I charged naked through the wood line launching every spell I knew. I killed at least two of them when the third released Shannon and came at me. My fire had no effect on him what so ever and before I knew it he closed the distance enough to deliver a nasty blow.”
The Enchanter of Rangel: Child of War Book 1 Page 2
