DAWN OF THE PHOENIX (Gods Of The Forever Sea Book 1)

by A. J. STRICKLER

  Cain’s supporters had ignored the king’s change in succession and were already preparing the new council and advisors for her brother. Cain had brushed off her father’s wishes like lint from his sleeve.

  There would be no one to help her now. All she had left was Isabella. Even now the girl sat by her side waiting for her next request. Bella had been amazing, doing the work of several servants and caring for her injuries on top of that.

  Raygan remembered her father picking the sick girl up off the road during one of their coach rides through the country. Raygan had thought nothing of her father’s act of kindness until she saw how pretty Isabella was. Her looks were why Raygan had offered her a job serving as one of her handmaidens.

  She never would have guessed the Celonian girl was such a wonderful worker. If she wasn’t a servant, Raygan might even call the pretty handmaiden her friend. She watched as the girl began to tidy up her room without even being asked. It wasn’t hard to see Isabella was tired. Raygan hated to ask any more of the poor girl today, but she had no one else. It was hard for the princess to speak, everything had to be said with her teeth clenched. Her broken jaw made it very hard to form words, but Bella seemed to understand her.

  “Isabella, I want you to do something for me.”

  “Anything, milady.”

  “Go into town and find the best healer in the city and bring him to me. I will not have that dolt Selmac attend me anymore.”

  “I will go right away, milady.”

  “I have to get up, there are things I need to do.” Raygan scooted to the edge of her bed and tried to rise. Her head started to hurt worse and she was having trouble breathing as sharp pain shot down her side. She lay back on the bed, trying to keep from getting sick.

  “Stay still, milady, you should not try to get up yet.”

  “I have to get better soon. Father can’t lay in state forever. I want him to have a wonderful funeral, Bella. He was so good to me, he must have a magnificent service. One that is so grandiose that no one will ever forget it. It’s the very least I could do for him. Besides, Cain can’t be trusted to tend to it properly, so I have to handle it. Father would have wanted that.”

  The tears began to fall again. Isabella handed her a silk handkerchief to dry them.

  “Where should I look for a healer, milady?”

  Raygan wiped her eyes and did her best to clear her throat. “Go to the Great Market, I’m sure you can find one there. Ask around, the people will know who’s best. Then bring the healer back here quick as you can.”

  The young girl turned and bowed to her princess, walking out and closing the door quietly.

  Raygan wanted to get better so she could bury her father, but that wasn’t the only reason. She was afraid now of what her brother might do. He was mad, she had seen it in his eyes that night. If Cain intended to kill her, the least she could do was meet her fate like a Princess of Bandara, standing on her own two feet with perfect hair.

  The new high council of Bandara had been in meetings for the last three days. Cain’s head ached from lack of sleep, there were so many things to do and so many decisions to make.

  General Voths had been relieved of his command and almost all of the old council his father put in place had been dismissed. Now the council consisted of men who were loyal to the throne and wanted the return of a monarchy that favored the aristocracy of Bandara.

  Cain had also signed a royal decree proclaiming Braxton Bluff to be Bandara’s first grand duchy and William Blackthorn to be its first duke, with the titles and lands to be hereditary. Lord Talorn Blackthorn was made general of all the armies of Bandara. Though his father had been given the title of duke and the city of Braxton Bluff and surrounding lands named a duchy, Talorn was still Lord of Southern Bandara and first seat on the royal council.

  Duke Blackthorn had volunteered to stay on to help the council with the transition until the new king had established himself. The other three high lords of Bandara--Galen Bradford, Tobias Fox, and Stuart Kaspar--had been appointed to the council and had their lands increased.

  Bishop Lyfair had stayed on the council due to the fact William Blackthorn had told Cain no one knew more about the domestic workings of the kingdom than Lyfair, and the Church could also be very helpful in quelling the commoners if they became unruly.

  All other nobles had been told to return to their individual land holdings and that the new king would deal with them individually in time. Cain was pleased with the choices he made. The new high council was made up of men who supported the new king and his vision for Bandara’s future. The council was not as large, but Duke Blackthorn said a smaller council would mean fewer arguments.

  The duke’s experience had been invaluable in the last few days. Cain was just glad the meetings were over for now. He needed some sleep desperately. Duke Blackthorn stopped him as the meeting adjourned. “You’re doing a fine job, Majesty. I think the kingdom is finally in good hands.”

  Cain’s face reddened a tad with pride. “Thank you, Lord Blackthorn, that pleases me greatly coming from a man like you.”

  The older man put his hand on the new king’s shoulder, “If I can be of any help, Majesty, just ask. I believe my son would like to speak with you now.”

  William lowered his voice and winked. “I think it has to do with your sister.”

  Cain nodded. The last thing he wanted to think about was Raygan. He hadn’t had the courage to go and see his sister yet, and he really didn’t want to discuss her with Talorn, but he had little choice. He had promised her to the knight and he would fulfill his end of the bargain. He shook Duke Blackthorn’s hand and excused himself. Cain caught the eye of his new general across the room and motioned for Talorn to meet him in the king’s private office across from the council chambers.

  “Majesty, may I have a word?” Bishop Lyfair called out as he was heading through the door.

  “I have a meeting with Talorn Bishop. What is it?”

  “I wanted to know when you would like to have the coronation ceremony, Highness. You must be ordained by the Church before you are truly King of Bandara.”

  “It will just have to wait, I’m far too busy to bother with it now.”

  Lyfair frowned. “But, Majesty, the Church can’t recognize you until you are properly crowned. Until then, you’re not the true ruler of Bandara in the eyes of God.”

  Cain smiled.

  “I assure you, Eminence, only I rule in Bandara.” Cain gave Lyfair a condescending pat on the shoulder and walked away.

  “As you wish, Prince Cain,” Lyfair said under his breath.

  The council hall had emptied except for William Blackthorn and Bishop Lyfair. Lyfair walked over to his co-conspirator after his unsatisfying discussion with the young prince.

  “What is it now, Father? I have a great deal to do today.”

  Lyfair looked around then moved closer to Duke Blackthorn and lowered his voice. “You seem very sure that the…incident with the king will go unchallenged.”

  “Who’s going to challenge it, Father?”

  Lyfair lowered his voice to a whisper now. “I have been thinking the healer Averton perhaps, and there were two of the king’s guard there also. They didn’t see, but they may have heard or suspect what happened.”

  “Didn’t you hear, Father? Averton fell from a window in the palace library two days ago. Tragic. I told the staff not to bother anyone with the details since the palace has had enough turmoil and bad news this week.”

  Blackthorn pushed his chair into the huge table and picked up his cloak. “As for the two guards, they are now on their way to the Bluff. I asked the king if they could take a message there for me as well as the king’s decrees on my new titles and the deeds to the lands Talorn and I have recently acquired.” He leaned close to Lyfair’s ear. “I don’t think those two will be leaving the Bluff, not alive anyway.”

  Lyfair could only step back and look at the new duke.

  He was shocked by how glib the man w
as about murder. “God help you, William.”

  “He already has, Father, he already has.”

  Cain sat down at the desk in the king’s office. He would have to change the décor in here, there were too many reminders of his father. He didn’t want anything around that made people remember the weak old man. It was just an irritation he would have to put up with for now. Talorn had followed him in and closed the door.

  His general sat down in a chair opposite him. Cain looked at him. “Okay, let’s hear it.”

  “Do you remember Morgan Galnic?”

  “I do,” the king said. “He was one of the boys that attended riding class with us all those years ago. We spent the summer pretending we were knights. I remember it well. Why?”

  “I thought he would be a good choice as a junior officer. I helped him train for the last tournament. He is from a noble family and he’s a good man. I thought of giving him a commission.”

  Cain put his feet on his father’s old desk and looked at the ceiling. “Well, Morgan won’t be available to aid you, Talorn. He and his family were among some of the nobles that questioned my right to rule right after Father died. They came to the palace and complained that Raygan had been named successor and they supported Father’s insane decree. So I had the whole lot imprisoned. Morgan was among the dissidents. You’ll just have to find someone else.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know,” Talorn said, hanging his head.

  Cain put his feet back on the floor and looked at his friend knowingly. “Was there something else?”

  “Have you talked to her yet?”

  “No, I haven’t, and I don’t intend to anytime soon. If you want to tell her about your impending nuptials, you tell her. If you hadn’t noticed, I have been a little busy.”

  Talorn shook his head. “I know you have been occupied with state business, Majesty, and I would talk to her. I just think it should come from her brother, the king. Besides. she ordered me not to come back to see her.”

  Cain stood. “Why do you listen to her? I think you are afraid of a tiny fifteen-year-old girl.”

  “I am not afraid of anything, Majesty, I just think you should be the one to break the news.”

  Cain folded his arms and smiled. “It’s not like she can say no. She will marry who I choose, it’s her duty.”

  “I don’t think she will take it well coming from me,” Talorn said.

  Cain laughed. “And you think she will be more accepting if I tell her? I nearly killed her a few days ago.”

  The two men looked at each other and smiled. Both realizing that neither wanted to talk to the princess.

  “My pardon, Majesty, I must admit I’m a bit nervous. You know my history with women.”

  Cain smirked. “You have no history with women. Look, Talorn, I know Raygan. Whoever tells her, she won’t take it well. We need a neutral party to break the news and absorb her initial fury. Make no mistake, there will be a tantrum. Then after she calms down, you can speak with her about it. Why you want to marry her in the first place is what I would like to know, the girl is a selfish tart.”

  “Majesty, please stop insulting her. At least in front of me, I beg you. I have loved Raygan for a long time. I just… Well, you know I have a hard time talking to women. Once we’re together. though. I think she will come around. She’s still young and…” Talorn saw Cain grinning at him. The knight stopped talking, realizing he had been speaking his thoughts.

  The new king shook his head and folded his arms across his chest. “I know you must love the little beast, just remember I warned you. Now try to think of someone we can get to tell her.”

  Both men sat in silence for a moment. A big smile spread across Cain’s face. “I know just the man for the job.” Cain walked over and jerked open the door. The servants had begun cleaning up the council room across the hall. Cain pointed at one of the men as he walked into the hallway.

  “You come here.”

  The young man hurried over to his king.

  “Yes, Your Majesty?”

  Cain looked at Talorn with a grin on his face

  “Go find Bishop Lyfair and tell him I want to see him.”

  Bishop Lyfair’s eyes darted back and forth as he passed down the empty hallway toward the princess’s quarters. Cain had taken all her servants and guards away. He said it was because Raygan might conspire with them. The real reason was he did not want anyone to see what he had done to her.

  The empty hallway was ominous and made Lyfair uneasy. The eerie corridor made him think of the deranged duke and consider the deplorable pact he had made with him. William Blackthorn was a madman that he could do nothing about. He had heartlessly beaten and smothered King Aaron. Now he had all but said he killed everyone else that was in the vicinity of the murder that night.

  He wasn’t worried that Blackthorn may try to kill him, there was no need. He was just as guilty as if he had killed the king himself. He had stood by and watched. If they were found out, he would hang right alongside Blackthorn. He had begun to have nightmares about it, dreadful nightmares, and had gotten very little sleep the last few days. Lyfair was an intelligent man. He knew it was his guilt that was causing them. Being sent to talk with the princess and his nightmares were his penance. God had a way of making people suffer for their sins.

  Lyfair lightly knocked on the door to the princess’s room, hoping no one would answer.

  “Come in,” he heard someone say, the voice sounded strange.

  Lyfair slowly opened the door and walked in. He saw the princess propped up on her bed, and tried to keep the look of revulsion off his face. The girl’s looks were ruined. He had never really liked the young girl. She only had one redeeming attribute and that was her beauty. Now that it was gone, there wasn’t much to like. She had not deserved the beating she had gotten from the new king, he had nearly killed her that night, but with the way she looked now, Lyfair felt like it might have been a blessing if Talorn had let Cain had finish the job.

  “Princess, may I speak with you?”

  “No, you may not.”

  Raygan turned her face away, refusing to look at the holy man. It was hard for Lyfair to understand what the princess said. She had to speak with her teeth clenched and the swelling in her jaw didn’t help the situation.

  Lyfair walked closer to the bed. This was going to be like dealing with a child, Lyfair thought.

  “I must speak with you, Highness. It’s the king’s own order.”

  She turned to face him. Now that he was closer, Lyfair could see her poor face more clearly, it was truly a mess. If Blackthorn hadn’t killed King Aaron, one look at his precious daughter’s face would have.

  “I care very little about what my brother has to say, Bishop Lyfair.”

  Her jaw moved like a wagon with a broken wheel when she tried to speak and she winced in pain with every word.

  “Highness, please let me speak the king’s word and I will leave you in peace.”

  Raygan glared at him with fury in her eyes.

  “Very well, speak quickly and be gone.”

  Lyfair cleared his throat. “Princess Raygan Albana, you are to be wed to General Talorn Blackthorn, Lord of Southern Bandara and heir to the Duchy of Braxton Bluff, in the fall. The king expects you to do your duty and accept the lord general as your husband.”

  Her lip had begun to quiver and tears ran down her face, dripping on the satin pillow she clutched to her breast.

  “I’m truly sorry, Highness, I…”

  “Get out now!” Raygan grasped her face in the pain the shout had cost her.

  “As you wish. Good day, Highness.”

  She didn’t have to say it twice. He did not want to be there in the first place. Lyfair turned and quickly left the room. He could hear the princess weeping as he walked back down the shadowy hall, though it sounded more like a wounded cat than a young girl. He was too old for this. Cain should have attended to this task himself. Maybe the new king didn’t have as much backbone as William
thought. The king and his general were both too craven to talk with the princess themselves. And why did Talorn want to marry the princess now anyway? He could not understand, the girl was disfigured and she was not known for her sweet disposition. It didn’t matter, he would tell the king that the princess had been informed of her impending nuptials and the subject would be closed. He needed to return to the church. He needed a nap and maybe Selmac could give him something for his aching head.

  She would never marry Talon Blackthorn. Not in the fall or any other season. So that was what Cain had in store for her. Marry her off to one of his cronies. If she were a man, she would challenge him for the throne. Her claim was just as strong as his now. All the nobles of Bandara had heard what her father said. She had no chance, though. Cain would simply imprison her or have her killed. She had no army and few of the powerful nobles would support her. Fulfilling the promise she had made to her father was hopeless.

  She might not be able to fight Cain for the throne, but she would not cooperate with this marriage. Raygan decided right then she would run and leave Bandara behind before she married Talorn. The very thought terrified her, but she would not allow herself to become the wife of Cain’s arrogant friend. First, she needed to get better, then she would bury her father. Raygan hoped Isabella was having some luck finding someone to help her.

  Isabella had asked everyone in the Great Market of Turill who the best healer in the city was. Everyone had a different answer. The healers she had checked on seemed little better than Selmac. She knew Raygan would not stand for any of them to treat her injuries.

  She had left the market district. There was one more name she had acquired from an old man with no legs: Rhys Morgan. The old man said he didn’t have a place in the market. The healer worked out of a small two-story house by the northern gate. That area was the poorest district in the city. Why he had his practice there and not in the market district was a mystery to Isabella.