Each ranger nodded in succession.
Darkan took an arrow out of his quiver. “Then let's get to work.”
The Rangers of the Old Forest spread out around the outskirts of the village. Each group moved into the village while Darkan stayed outside, overlooking the scene with his bow drawn.
Even with his wound, Demorac was stealthiest of the rangers. The spiked mace he held in his grip was anything but. Demorac slipped to side of one of the huts as cover. He could hear a barbarian running around the corner. He swung his mace in a deadly arc and caught the barbarians square in the chest without even revealing himself. A fountain of blood erupted as the dirty man fell to the ground.
Farondil used that chance to stick a barbarian in the back with his rapier. The enemy turned around with blood dripping from his mouth and grinned. The barbarian lifted his heavy axe above his head and Farondil took a step back. But the barbarian couldn't hold the weight and his whole body fell backwards as he exhaled his last breath.
Belim was big, round, and loud. He didn't care about stealth. He walked into the middle of the road with his heavy warhammer in his hands. “Who will dare fight me?”
Three barbarians took him up on his challenge but they didn't know what they were getting into. Belim might be slower but he was as deadly as any other ranger. The fight was over in seconds and only took Belim two swings of his hammer.
But he hadn't noticed the fourth barbarian sneaking behind his back.
Garel jumped out of the darkness and onto the back of the barbarian. Two blades crisscrossed around the enemy's throat and Garel sliced. They spun around, dancing until the barbarian was dead.
Belim turned around in shock and then let out a laugh. “Trying to steal one of my kills again, Garel?”
Garel stood up and wiped the blood off his daggers. “Just saving your life, asshole.”
Darkan watched the two groups of rangers take out barbarian after barbarian. One slipped out of the village, thinking that he could escape. But Darkan had different plans for him.
He let an arrow slip away that traveled across the village and connected with the back of the barbarian's neck. Almost took his head clean off. Darkan didn't revel in his kill but nocked another arrow and looked for his next target.
A scream came from the trees behind him.
Darkan whipped around and stared into the Old Forest. Someone needed his help.
His brothers didn't really need him anymore. They had already taken care of most of the raiding party. Darkan made the decision to investigate.
He ran into the Old Forest with his bow ready. Darkan had only heard one scream but that was all he needed to pinpoint the location. He moved through the trees like a bird, quiet and quick.
Darkan saw two barbarians with their backs to him standing over a man. He didn't need to wait to see what their intention might be. He let an arrow loose that hit one right in the back. It only took another second for Darkan to nock another.
When the barbarian noticed his friend fall over. He looked over his shoulder right on time to get an arrow through the eye. The man screamed as the corpse fell on him.
Darkan rushed over. The man strained to get the heavy man off him but Darkan was able to push him off with just one foot.
He revealed the most handsome thing he'd ever seen.
Chapter Eight
Aiden was completely out of breath. Either from trying to run from the barbarians or from the perfect example of a man standing before him. His bounding muscles under his tunic, his brown short hair and nicely groomed beard made his heart skip.
Darkan reached out his hand and he took it out of instinct. He felt a spark jump between them but that quickly turned to nausea as he stood up. The smell of blood mixed with dirty corpses was a sickening recipe.
“Are you all right?” Darkan asked.
Aiden looked down at himself. He had a couple scratches but was otherwise fine. “I think I'll be okay.”
Darkan stowed his bow behind his back and his eyes traveled up and down Aiden's toned body. “My name is Darkan.”
Aiden blushed. The only man to ever look at him like that had been Hugo. “I'm Aiden.”
“It's nice to meet you. We should get out of here.”
Realization hit Aiden. “We need to get back there. My parents are in trouble.”
Darkan didn't get a chance to reply. Aiden darted back the way to his village.
Darkan followed and called out ahead. “We need to be careful. There could be barbarians around.”
Aiden could barely hear Darkan over the blood pulsing in his ears. He had to get to his parents. He had to make sure they were okay.
Darkan and Aiden made it to the outskirts of the village. Smoke from burned-down homes filled the sky. The place was quiet. The fight was over.
Aiden ran straight for his house. He opened the front door expecting to see his mother and father standing there.
But the place was empty.
“Mother, are you in here?”
No response.
Aiden went through each room and found nothing.
Darkan entered behind Aiden with his bow drawn. “Looks like nobody is here.”
“My mother was in the middle of a fight when I ran away.” Aiden fell to his knees with tears hitting the ground. “Why did I run away? How could I be so stupid? My mother needed my help. And now she's gone.”
Darkan inspected his surroundings. “There definitely was a fight here. A small amount of blood was spilled. Most likely your mother was injured.” Darkan put a hand on Aiden's shoulder. “The barbarian tribes don't always kill. They sometimes take slaves.”
Aiden wiped his eyes and looked up at Darkan. “You think she might be alive?”
“I'd bet my life on it.”
Aiden got up and swayed for a moment. Darkan steadied him. “I need to find my father too.”
He left his home and began turning over corpses. Every dead body was a neighbor or a friend. He broke down crying. But his father was nowhere to be found.
Darkan left Aiden alone to meet with the Rangers. They stood at the edge of the village, cleaning their weapons.
“Everyone all right?”
Garel nodded. “No injuries.”
Belim slapped his big belly. “Unless you count my empty stomach. When are we going to eat?”
Darkan laughed. “You all deserve a big feast after this.”
“Who's the man?” Farondil asked.
Darkan looked behind him at Aiden crying over one of the bodies of the villagers. “Found him in the forest. Name's Aiden. Two barbarians had him cornered.”
Aiden approached the group of rangers. The forest was spinning behind them. His legs were weak and could barely hold him up. “We need to go after them. They took my parents.”
“We can't just yet,” Darkan replied. “We have no idea how many barbarians lie across the river. We need to see the King for reinforcements.”
Aiden tried to protest but his heart was pounding in his chest. Aiden's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he dropped to the ground.
Chapter Nine
The heat of a fire shocked Aiden awake. He found himself in the Old Forest laying next to a campfire surrounded by the Rangers in the middle of the night.
Darkan hovered over him holding a bowl. “Don't try to get up.”
Aiden felt so weak. “What happened?”
“You fainted.” Darkan took a spoon of soup. “Eat this. You need to regain your strength.”
Aiden let Darkan feed him. The soup was thick with meat and vegetables. Aiden savored every bite. “This is so good.”
“You can thank Belim for the food.”
Aiden looked past Darkan but didn't know who Belim was. “Thank you for the soup.”
Belim let out a rumbling laugh. “There's more where that came from.”
Darkan pointed to the rest of the rangers. “Aiden I'd like you to meet the Rangers of the Old Forest: Garel, Farondil, and Demorac.”
Each Ranger
nodded as Aiden's eyes fell on them. They looked like a rough bunch.
Aiden looked up to Darkan. “I need to thank you for saving my life.”
Darkan shook his head. “It was nothing.”
Aiden remembered the two barbarians looming over him. The sense of dread he felt was like nothing he ever felt before. “If you didn't come along, I'd be dead...or worse.”
Darkan sat down next to Garel and served himself his own bowl of soup. “You should get some rest.”
“What about the King? Those barbarians might have my parents. I need to save them.”
Darkan nodded. “I will be leaving soon to meet with the King Uzmar. I was worried about you and just wanted to make sure you were safe before I set off.”
Aiden blushed. He didn't know why this stranger cared so much about his well-being but he kind of liked it.
Darkan finished his soup and threw the bowl into the dirt. He stood up and hooked his bow behind his back. “The King awaits me, Brothers. Wish me luck.”
“I'd like to come along,” Aiden said.
“The King only meets with Darkan,” Farondil replied.
“I'm sorry Aiden, but I don't think the King would see me if you came along,”
Aiden slumped on his log. He felt so utterly helpless. His parents were out there somewhere as slaves of the barbarian tribes.
Darkan looked at his group a last time before heading into the Old Forest. “Take care of him.”
Farondil nodded.
Chapter Ten
The Castle of Rian with it's tall towers stood on a hill overlooking the entire kingdom. A wall surrounded the fortress with one gate as an entrance.
Darkan exited the Old Forest and came upon the King's Path, a dirt road that ran through the kingdom and led directly to the castle. Various merchants in carriages pulled by horses were coming and going in the night. No one had any idea that the barbarian tribes had just attacked Icebor.
The gate to the castle was open and protected by four guards. They were dressed in red armor and held spears to their sides. Darkan stopped before the gate and was approached by one guard.
“What business do you have here?”
Darkan bowed slightly. “I'm a Ranger of the Old Forest and I have business with King Uzmar.”
The guard was new and didn't recognize Darkan. He looked to one of the senior guards and they nodded at him. The young guard stepped out of the way and let Darkan in.
He walked into the castle and went straight to the royal throne room. The large double doors stretched to the ceiling and was guarded by another few guards.
Darkan bowed before them. “I have business with King Uzmar.”
“King Uzmar has been asked not to be disturbed,” a guard said.
“I'm sorry, but this is urgent.”
The guards looked at each other and shrugged. The two big doors swung inwards, revealing the lavish red room. A dark red carpet led straight to a throne made of gold. Candelabras were situated underneath tall stained-glass windows that lined the walls.
A guard whispered, “Good luck,” to Darkan as he passed.
King Uzmar with his gray hair and beard sat on his throne, his head hung low asleep. The day had been long and the night was late.
Darkan didn't know how Uzmar would react to being woken up. He got down on one knee and cleared his throat loudly.
The King didn't even stir.
Darkan cleared his throat louder.
Uzmar's head bobbed up once and then settled back into sleep.
Darkan cursed to himself. “King Uzmar, I have come to report,” he said with a full voice.
King Uzmar shot awake and his eyes darted around. He wiped the drool from his mouth and his vision settled on Darkan.
“Darkan, a Ranger of the Old Forest. What are you doing here at this late hour?”
“I have news to report, your majesty.”
Uzmar shifted in his seat and scratched his beard. “Go ahead.”
Darkan didn't want waste any more time. “The barbarian tribes attacked Icebor today.”
King Uzmar jumped out of his seat. “What!”
Darkan had never heard the King with so much emotion before. He gulped before continuing, “The Rangers and I arrived after they had raided most of the village already. We took out any leftovers and I came straight here.”
That wasn't entirely true. Darkan had taken a long break around the campfire to make sure that Aiden was all right. But getting to the King sooner wouldn't have changed anything. The barbarians had gone back across the river and over the hills. They wouldn't attack again so soon. Not when the Kingdom would be on its guard.
“And how many dead?” Uzmar asked.
Darkan lost his train of thought as the image of Aiden with his dark hair entered his mind. He had truly taken his breath away.
“How many dead, Darkan?”
He snapped back to reality. “I'm sorry, my lord.” Darkan bowed his head. “Most of the village was killed. We saved a man who claims that some were taken prisoner by the barbarians.”
King Uzmar sat back down in his throne and rubbed his beard. “All of Icebor?”
Darkan nodded and let the news sink in. “I'd like permission to go across the river and rescue any prisoners.”
“And what makes you think that they're still alive?”
Darkan didn't quite know how to answer that. Before meeting Aiden he would've assumed they were already dead. The barbarians weren't known for keeping prisoners. Aiden believed that they were still alive.
That was good enough for Darkan.
“Your Majesty, the prisoners might be dead or they might be slaves. I think it's worth the risk. A small group of my rangers could get in and out before the barbarians even know it.
The King stared into Darkan's eyes for what seemed like an eternity. “If some villagers from Icebor are truly still alive, then what king would I be if I left them to suffer? Take a group of rangers over the hills and get back my people.”
Darkan nodded and slammed his fist to his chest. He twisted around on his toes and left the throne room.
Convincing the King to go after the barbarians was the easy part.
Actually rescuing any prisoners was going to be a lot harder than Darkan made it out to seem.
Chapter Eleven
Aiden woke up to the sun peeking through the forest trees. The campfire had died during the night and only a wisp of smoke remained.
He sat up and was surprised to see Darkan sleeping so close to him. He watched him sleep, his chest lifting up and down. He wasn't like anyone he'd ever met before.
“Did you sleep all right?” Darkan asked, rubbing his eyes.
Aiden didn't even realize he had woken. He flushed with embarrassment, not knowing if Darkan had noticed him staring. “Not as comfortable as my bed back home but it was okay.”
Darkan sat up and stretched his arms over his head. Aiden watched his large biceps strain against his green tunic.
The other rangers woke up at the same time, stirring in their beds of leaves on the ground. Sleeping in their tents wasn't the safest when barbarians were out there.
“What did King Uzmar say?” Aiden asked.
The rest of the group perked up at the question. They wanted to know the answer too.
Darkan looked at his Rangers and stepped around the dead fire. “The King gave us permission to go over the hills and rescue the prisoners. We should set out in an hour or so.”
“After breakfast of course,” Belim added.
“After breakfast,” he replied.
Farondil ignited the fire with a spark from a piece of flint. Belim cracked two eggs over a pan and they began sizzling.
Darkan leaned over Aiden. “May I speak to you alone?”
Aiden nodded and followed Darkan into the forest. They came to a spot next to a tree with a scarred trunk. They were just far enough away from the camp to be out of earshot.
Darkan turned to Aiden. “You should return to your villa
ge and wait for us there.”
“You've got to be insane if you think that I'm going to let you go after my parents without me.”
Darkan put his hand on Aiden's shoulder. “This is a dangerous mission. We might not all come back alive. You'll be safer at Icebor.”
Royal Blood Complete Series Box Set Page 50
