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

by A. J. STRICKLER

  The immense towers slammed into the wall. King Havalon had them brought to Turill in wagons and his soldiers had finished assembling them just a few days ago. The doors of the mammoth war machines opened. The Abberdonian’s front ranks emerged, thrusting long spears at the defenders to keep them back. It was working, the inexperienced Bandaran troops staggered back from the spearmen, letting the Abberdonians gain the wall. That was when she waded in to the fight.

  She struck right and left, killing the men that had jumped down from the towers onto the wall. When she was close enough, a spearman thrust his weapon at her. Endra dropped her sword and grabbed the haft of the spear with both hands, yanking the Abberdonian spearman off the siege tower and watching as his body plunged forty feet to the ground. An ax glanced off her helmet as she bent to pick up her sword. Seeing stars, she thrust her blade wildly through the ax man’s groin. The man howled with pain and went down. She spun and killed two more of the invaders. Endra let out a fierce war cry that rallied the Bandarans around her. The green soldiers followed the dark-haired lioness into the fray and began to slowly beat the Abberdonians back.

  The ramparts were chaos. It took better than an hour for them to drive the Abberdonians off the wall. Slowly the towers were pulled away. K’xarr had his archers fire flaming arrows at them, but they did little damage. The towers were covered with hides soaked in water. The wet skins had turned to shields of ice in the frigid air.

  Endra unstrapped her helmet and took a breath. She sat down and leaned back against the cold stone of the battlements.

  “Well done, milady.” She looked up to see Rufio standing above her, covered with the grime of the morning’s combat.

  “I don’t know how well it was done, but it was done,” she countered. Rufio reached out and pulled Endra to her feet. She tried to wipe her dark hair out of her eyes but gave up, it was too matted down from the helmet she had worn. “Will they try again today, you think?” Endra asked.

  The Dragitan shook his head. “No reason, Havalon knows he has us. All he has to do is sit back and wait. He can pick his time to attack. Sooner or later, he will gain the walls and we won’t have the men to drive them back. He will just let us think about it for now.” Rufio took off his helmet and brushed its horse-haired crest. “K’xarr is a good general, we just don’t have the men, unless he has some kind of trick he hasn’t told us about. We may not even last the winter, unless we find a few more Sorrackan women with your gift for killing Abberdonians.”

  Endra smiled and tucked her helmet under her arm. “If anyone comes looking for me, tell them I went to see Rhys.”

  Rhys took her back into the storeroom of the warehouse he was using as a hospital. She was lying on a table as the healer felt her tight abdomen. “You shouldn’t even be up there; I should go up there right now and tell K’xarr about the baby.”

  She pleaded with her eyes. “Please, don’t, I have to keep it secret. I don’t want anyone telling Kian about it until I do. It was just a slight pain.”

  Rhys put his hands on his hips. “The baby is fine. I see you didn’t listen to me. I told you to tell him. Now you might not get the chance.” He saw the expression on her face change and she put her head down.

  “I’m sorry, Endra, I didn’t think. I’m sure Kian is fine.” The healer turned away from her so she couldn’t read the lie on his face.

  Endra pulled her shirt down and put her hand on his shoulder. “I know it’s hard for you too. You miss her, don’t you?”

  “It’s not just that. I should have gone with Kian. I feel like a coward standing here while he is out in this abominable weather trying to bring back the woman I love.”

  She grabbed the healer by the shoulders. “You’re no coward, Rhys, at least no more than I am. I wanted to go with him too, but in the end I let him talk me into staying here. I don’t know if he made a better point than I did or I was scared he might say yes. In the end, I gave up and let him win.”

  Rhys lowered his voice. “Maybe we should follow him. Even if I died, it would be better than feeling like this.”

  Endra perked up at the healer’s suggestion. “I don’t think one more sword on the wall would make a difference, but you leaving will cost men their lives. You know that, don’t you?” Endra gave him a look of compassion, she knew how Rhys felt about those under his care.

  Rhys nodded. “I know.” He looked at his hands. “She’s that important to me, Endra. I will just have to learn to live with it.”

  “We will leave out the south gate. K’xarr doesn’t have many sentries there.”

  Rhys leaned on the table like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. “I hope we’re doing the right thing, Endra.”

  She picked up her helmet and shook out her dark hair. “We’ll soon see.”

  K’xarr had gone to the palace late in the day. He sat on a bench in great dining room, looking into a mug of ale. He had worked up a thirst on the wall that morning. The Abberdonians hadn’t attacked again, they didn’t have to. Havalon had made his point. The Bandaran troops were just too raw, they would never hold until spring. At least he had gotten the Abberdonian King to break the Church’s law by attacking in the winter. That had pleased Lyfair, since now both sides would be guilty of defying the Church’s edicts.

  K’xarr didn’t think it would matter what the Church thought. Havalon would be the one to answer for it. By the time the Church intervened, the old king would have taken the city. All he could do was hold on as long as he could. He would never surrender, that was out of the question, it was something he just couldn’t do. No, if Havalon wanted the city, he would have to take it.

  “Any more ale?” Cromwell asked. He and Rufio had walked in. K’xarr had been so deep in thought, he hadn’t noticed.

  “There’s a pitcher on the table, help yourself.” Rufio retrieved two mugs from the kitchen and poured a mug for himself and one for Cromwell. “It went well today, I think,” Cromwell said, nudging K’xarr with his elbow.

  K’xarr sat up straight. “I suppose so. I wish there was more we could do. I hate waiting on Havalon to make a move.”

  Rufio sat down on the other side of K’xarr. “I hope we have to wait on the old bastard until spring to make a move. Ansellus should be back, and the queen too, with any luck.”

  K’xarr drained his mug and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “It will take more than luck to bring the queen back. Between us, I don’t have much hope we will see her or Kian again.”

  Cromwell stretched out his long legs and poured himself another mug of ale. “I wouldn’t count the Arradar out, he may yet surprise you, General. He took a palace, why not a tower?”

  Endra finished tying her shield to the horse she had picked out. It was a short sturdy horse, not fast, but it would still be going in the snow when the big warhorses were finished. Her children had been left in the care of Nick Nock. She knew the servants in the palace would help the young cook look after them. She hated to leave them alone for so long, but it just couldn’t be helped. There was no way she was going to try and bring them along on this little quest.

  “Are you ready?” Rhys asked, blowing into his hands.

  Endra was glad Rhys had grown up in Tara. Like her, he was no stranger to the cold. “Yes, that’s the last of it; I don’t think the horses can carry another thing. Maybe we should have taken a pack mule.”

  “Too slow, it would take forever to get there with pack animals; it’s going to be slow enough as it is,” Rhys said.

  Endra could tell the healer was anxious to get going; just deciding to go had improved his mood. She just hoped he knew what they were getting into.

  The sentries at the south gate had given them no trouble. They recognized Endra and let her pass without question. Rhys had kept his head down and in the dark, he went through unidentified. The sentries would not have liked K’xarr’s chief healer leaving the city during a siege. K’xarr would find out by morning that they had left. Both of them knew they would suffer
the general’s wrath if they returned, and so would the sentries when he found out what happened.

  Two riders should be able to slip by the frozen soldiers in the dark. They would have to take a wide path before turning back north to avoid Havalon’s troops but they should be well past the Abberdonian army by dawn. Endra looked back to give the city a last glance. She hoped K’xarr would understand.

  K’xarr stalked toward the wall around noon the next day, Rufio on his heels. “That stupid woman, what the hell was she thinking? Bad enough she runs off herself when I need all the sword arms I can get, but she takes my healer too?”

  Rufio knew the question was not directed at him and shrugged when the general looked his way. He just kept quiet and continued to listen to K’xarr rant. “I guess her loyalty lays inside her pants; go on and find your lost kitty, you foolish wench.”

  Rufio knew K’xarr was mad, not only because Endra ran off with Rhys, but because he was worried what would happen to them out on their own. He cared, though he would never admit it. Rufio sighed, he could tell it was going to be a long day.

  Bishop Lyfair had said his morning prayers and talked with the priests of the city on what they should be telling their congregations about the queen. Now he had returned to the comfort of his rooms. He poured himself a glass of wine and sat down before his fireplace. He sat in a great overstuffed chair and kicked his shoes off. The heat quickly warmed his bones.

  He wondered if that animal could truly bring the queen back. It mattered little to him now who ruled Bandara, he would be fine either way. Cain, Raygan, or Havalon... He would prefer one of Aaron’s children, but he wasn’t picky. He was protected by the Church in any event.

  Lyfair was very glad he had the good sense to send word to Tyro when K’xarr and the others brought that monster in to the city.

  The courier should have reached Tyro several weeks ago. If the Church had sent an envoy by way of the Gold Road, it may already be in Bandara. He had received no word but that wasn’t unusual, the Church would do what the Church would do.

  He was sure the Holy Father would take interest in a rogue half-elf, and there might even be some recognition for bringing it to the Church’s attention. After all, the thing was extremely dangerous and obviously enchanted. Mother Church frowned on unsanctioned magic in all forms. He just didn’t know what was taking them so long to act. Lyfair had no way to know how big an impact that one message would have on the world and his life.

  The snow was still coming down hard, but he could at least see now. His feet were frozen and frost had formed on his face. It had become very hard to keep moving. He was tired, yet his feet crunched through the hip-deep snow, one after the other. He hadn’t stopped or had any food for days and he had lost track of the time, going so long with no sleep. He knew falling asleep might mean death in the bitter cold. How long had it been?

  He thought it must have been at least a week or ten days, maybe more, because now Kian could see the Adorn Forest in the distance. It was there, looming ahead like a great shadow in the falling snow.

  He decided he wouldn’t stop until he reached the forest. Once he was inside the wood, he could find shelter and rest for a day. Maybe he could find something to eat as well. He pulled the hood of his cloak down tighter and pushed on.

  A blizzard had hit Bandara not long after he left Turill, and only sheer determination and his inhuman constitution had gotten him this far. No human could have survived the journey he had just made. The white of the snow had been the only thing on the horizon for days. Now at last he could see the naked trees of the accursed forest. He was getting closer.

  Kian had never felt as isolated as he did in this white waste. For brief moments he would forget where he was going and why he was out in this misery in the first place. Then he would remember the queen and her unborn child. He had to bring them back, but it was so cold and he was exhausted. He needed rest, his mind was starting to do strange things. It was hard to stay focused and he couldn’t afford to lose his wits now. All he had to do was get to the trees and everything would be fine.

  Rhys and Endra had come across the Wounded Griffin Inn a few days after the blizzard started and had been holding up there ever since. It was just too hard on them and the horses to stay out in the cold. There had been no choice but to stop and wait it out, no matter how much they wanted to go on.

  No other guests were staying at the inn. Lew, the innkeeper, and his wife Dory were their only company. The innkeeper and his wife had fed them well and had not asked many questions. It had been a pleasant stay. Lew’s levity and Dory’s charming disposition made the days pass much faster for the two anxious travelers.

  The weather had finally begun to ease and the wind had died down. Rhys pulled back the plain curtains that covered the inn’s window and looked out. “The snow is slowing down and the sky is not so dark. I think we can move on.”

  Endra was sitting at one of the tables, drinking warm wine; she set the cup down and joined Rhys at the window. “I think you’re right, let’s saddle the horses and go. I wonder where Kian held up during this blow.”

  Rhys gathered his cloak and fur cap off a peg on the wall. “I hope somewhere as nice as this. That weather was not fit for anyone to be out in, even Kian couldn’t have survived it.”

  “I hope he was not foolish enough to try and press on through that storm. If he didn’t take shelter, he will be far ahead of us.”

  Rhys pulled his fur cap over his head. “If he didn’t take shelter, he is dead. Don’t worry, we will catch up to him.”

  The healer walked over to the counter where Lew and Dory stood. “I want to thank you both for your kindness and hospitality.” The healer put a small sack of silver coins down on the bar and shook Lew’s hand. Within an hour, Rhys and Endra had gathered their things, saddled the horses, and were heading north.

  Lew and Dory walked out from behind the bar of the small inn. As they did, Lew’s form changed from a short balding Bandaran into a tall muscular blonde man with skin bronzed by the sun and beautiful amber eyes.

  Dory, no longer an aging woman, had changed into a flawless young beauty with long, perfect, blonde hair. Her magnificent body was only surpassed by the woman’s enchanting blue eyes and angelic face. She wore only a see-through shift. The handsome man’s eyes devoured her heavy chest and well-rounded hips. “Must you always dress like that, Valintina?”

  She gave the man a wicked smile. “How should the Goddess of Love dress, Airius? Would you prefer I cover my body with cloth and furs like the barbarian woman?”

  It was his turn to give a wicked smile. “Her curves rivaled yours, my dear, even in that vile clothing.”

  The goddess frowned. “I think not, my dear. She is the one, though. The sins did not lie about her, even though dishonesty is second nature to them.”

  He put his arm around her and both gazed out the window, watching the two travelers ride away through the snow. “I still don’t believe he has returned, no matter what they say. We all locked him away, there is no returning from that prison.”

  He felt a shiver go through her body and she looked at him with her sea-colored eyes. “Do you want to take the chance and ignore their warning? I know they are lying troublemakers, but who else among us would have bedded her, and why?”

  He turned her towards him. “We should return to the veil and find the others. Maybe they know something. Let’s bring back the innkeeper and his wife and go.”

  The Goddess of Love looked up into the God of the Dawn’s eyes, her face covered with a shroud of fear. “What if it’s true, Airius? What if the Reaper has escaped?”

  He pulled her into his embrace and caressed her soft hair, as if trying to comfort a child. “Then we are all dead.”

  Three thousand men were all that was left of the Bandaran defenders. There had been two more assaults by the Abberdonians since Kian went north, the last had gone on all day and into the night.

  K’xarr looked out over the enemy. They were
going to come at them again soon, maybe tomorrow or the next day, and he didn’t think they could hold the wall again. Many of his men were wounded and morale was low.

  He looked down at the bandage around his arm. The black stain on the white bandage stood out like a crow among doves. The men had seen it and word spread quickly through the Bandaran ranks. He had been so focused on the Abberdonians, he had almost forgotten about his affliction. Just like always, he heard the speculation start: sorcerer, demon, cursed, evil. He had heard all the same words before.

  It filled his heart with hate when people found out about his blood. They treated him like some kind of malevolent thing born of the Beast. He would like to kill them all, but could he really blame them? Would he be any different if it was someone else, if he was not the one?

  To Hell with them all, he would show them. He would stand with them when the Abberdonians breached the walls and die just like any other man, no matter what they thought of him. It could be worse, they could have tried to imprison or kill him. The only thing stopping them was the war and the queen’s order that he was to be obeyed. Thank the heavens that Lyfair had kept her absence secret. He and his priests fed the people tales of her struggles with the royal pregnancy. It seemed to satisfy them for now.

  There was no sense debating all of his troubles, it didn’t matter anymore, in a day or two it would all be over. He looked down the wall to see Rufio and Cromwell approaching. “General, you have some…people that want to see you,” Rufio reported.

  “What people?”

  “Witches,” Cromwell said with a sour look on his face.

  The six of them stood before him in the old warehouse he had commandeered for his headquarters near the north wall. Every one of them more beautiful than the next, having abandoned their heavy-hooded cloaks. In their place, each wore a black lace dress that did nothing to hide their striking figures. One’s hair a deep red, another’s was white as snow, all the rest of the women’s hair was black as midnight, and none looked older than twenty-five. “What do you mean, you’ve come to help me?” K’xarr asked.