Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1)

by A. J. STRICKLER

  K’xarr turned to leave. Kian grabbed him by the arm. “We can’t just leave her alone tonight, what if there are other assassins out there?”

  Endra’s brows furrowed. “I don’t need any help from you or anyone else, half-breed.”

  “Don’t take offence woman, he can’t help himself. He likes to see to the safety of anyone he comes across,” Cromwell said and grinned at the Half Elf.”

  K’xarr tapped the hilt of his sword. “Maybe we should leave someone, there could be more of these priests in the woods tonight. Endra, it wouldn’t hurt to have another sword in your camp.”

  “Fine … K’xarr, is it? I’m too tired to argue over it, if you have to leave someone leave the Half Elf. I don’t think he would try to slide under my blankets in the night.”

  “You don’t trust us, woman?” Cromwell said like it was a great insult.

  “No, you Toran pig, I have been watching you and the others look at me all evening, and I think I prefer the half-breed. I don’t think he would know what to do if I did let him under my blankets.”

  Kian flushed and started acting like he was looking for something on the ground.”

  K’xarr had to laugh, he could see that the woman was joking. He knew Kian didn’t get the jest, he never did. He decided then and there that Half Elves must have no sense of humor.

  K’xarr and the rest of the men mounted their horses and rode away. Cromwell lingered. “We will see you in the morning Arradar, if you need help with the Sorrackan wench in the night just come and get me.” Laughing, Cromwell turned his horse and followed the others back to camp. Kian pulled his hood up and started looking for more fire wood. Now he almost wished he had gone back to camp with the others.

  When they returned to their own camp and unsaddled the horses, everyone stood waiting. They all knew what was in the wind. K’xarr still dreaded asking the question, but he was a man who was direct and to the point. “I want to know now, is anyone leaving?”

  They all shook their heads no. Rufio unstrapped his Dragitan breast plate and placed it with care against his saddle. “I think I can speak for the three of us, blood counts for little, it’s what a man does that matters. I see no sense in getting all worked up about it, in the time I have known you I haven’t seen any ill effects from this so-called curse. I will stay.”

  “Aye, me too, K’xarr. Kian has more of a curse than you or Cromwell do,” Vandarus said.

  “I agree with you, Bandaran, the Half Elf has a hard way to go of it, and he can’t hide his affliction,” Cromwell said.

  “What about you, Siro?” K’xarr looked to the healer. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I have seen many strange things in my line of work, a little discolored blood doesn’t bother me.”

  K’xarr sighed heavily “That’s settled then, we should try to get some sleep. I want to put some miles behind us tomorrow.”

  “What about the woman?” Cromwell asked.

  “What about her? She has her own troubles and we don’t need them, besides Kian’s staying with her tonight.”

  “I’m not talking about just tonight, K’xarr. She is the same as we are, at least we should see she gets to a town or something, and what if it’s true the Church is hunting people with black blood? ”

  “You’ve been listening to Kian’s sermons too much, that woman is not our problem, blood or no blood, if she was a bit friendlier and did not have the children things might be different. As far as the Church goes, we will deal with that like we deal with everything else.”

  “Did you believe her story?” Cromwell asked.

  “Hell no, men choking dragons, having a litter of brats alone, and walking hundreds of miles down the Harsh Coast, never happened. She is trouble, my friend, and maybe crazy too. I want no part of her. I left Kian with her, that’s as much help as she will get from me.”

  Cromwell sat down and blew on their fire, sparking it back to life. “I don’t know, K’xarr, her story has a ring of truth to it.”

  K’xarr put his head on his saddle and tried to get comfortable. “Maybe the part where she’s from Sorrack might be true. Go to sleep, your dreams will be more real than that story.”

  ***

  Kian had propped himself against a tree and pulled his hood up. He watched Endra bed down her children. She seemed very loving and caring towards them, unlike the woman he saw killing the priests. After she was sure they had fallen to sleep, she joined him. “Do you sleep, Half Elf?”

  “I do, and my name is Kian.”

  “Well then, Kian you can take first watch and I will relieve you later.” She started to walk back to the children.

  “Your life has been hard, Endra, and I am sorry for that.” She turned and looked at him. Kian could tell she wanted to speak but changed her mind, she just gave him a slight nod of her head. “I also believe your story is true as fantastic as it sounds.”

  She smiled. It was so beautiful that it made Kian’s throat tighten.

  “Then you would be the first, sometimes I don’t even believe it myself. Wake me if there is trouble.” The woman walked away and began to take off her armor. In the dying firelight the Half Elf got a good look at her physique before she lay down near her children. For the first time in Kian’s life he wished Gildor would have taught him more about women.

  Siro had been woken by Rufio for his watch, he had waited an hour until he thought the Dragitan was asleep. He had heard the call in his mind, he knew one of them was near.

  The ugly little healer quietly walked away from the camp. Up near the road, he saw a figure waiting.

  Even in a robe with a deep cowl over the head, he could tell it was a woman. It was too bad she wasn’t his type.

  “Why are you still waiting, Siro? Your master said you would be finished with your task by now.”

  He smiled, the sorceress’s voice was intoxicating. Most likely a spell but he still liked it. “I am waiting for the right time, these things must be done very delicately. The Dark One will not tolerate any mistakes.”

  The woman giggled. “The Dark One, that always makes me laugh, your master is powerful, but he knows nothing of true darkness. We had a deal, necromancer, your master has been paid, finish your job and leave. We will not allow this to go on much longer. My sisters and I have our own agenda.”

  “You must understand, timing is everything. If I don’t time this right and his plan runs afoul, my master will destroy me or worse.”

  “That, you nasty little creature, is your problem.” She vanished and Siro was left standing by the road alone. They would not rush him, he had put too much work into this and he would not fail his master. He stealthily made his way back to the camp, he had a lot of planning to do.

  ***

  The morning was beautiful, the sun was warm and the sky cloudless. Kian loved these kinds of days.

  Endra was up and getting her children ready to go. She had them prepare their meager belongings with practiced precision. Kian didn’t want to leave the woman and her children to travel alone with the Church looking for them. It would be just a matter of time before they would be caught.

  He had tried to tell himself that it had nothing to do with the fact that he was attracted to the woman. The truth was her looks did play a part in his wanting to help them. He had very little experience with women. The only women he had ever been around were back at the Heavenly Hole. Give them a little coin and you could purchase their undivided attention. He knew he had no chance with Endra anyway. Thinking about it was a waste of time. She was very beautiful and a human. She would never take an interest in him, but he still wanted to help her. The very least he could do was find them a safe place to stay before leaving them on their own.

  “I would like to know what the children’s names are.”

  Endra looked at him strangely. “The taller light-haired boy is Vinsant, the stocky one is named Payton, and the girl is Tressa.” She bent down and started tying the little girl’s shoes.

  “I will travel with you unt
il you find a safe place to go, if you wish.”

  Endra stopped helping her daughter with her shoes. “Why would you want to travel with me? I am hunted, have three young children, and I am not looking for a man or a Half Elf for that matter, what would be your gain?”

  “Nothing, it is what any man should do, that’s all.”

  “I doubt your companions would feel the same way,” the woman said coolly.

  “No one knows how another person feels unless they ask. You are most likely right though, I have been told I can be too helpful. Often they don’t agree with what I think should be done. If they won’t let you travel along with us then I will go with you on my own and I will find them later after we have gotten you and the children to a safe place.”

  Endra tilted her head and squinted her eyes, “You are an odd one, Kian … do you have a last name?”

  “Cardan.”

  “Well, Kian Cardan, let us see what your friends have to say. I am sorry if I have seemed less than hospitable, but I have to keep my guard up, we have been tricked before. I don’t know why but your eyes speak the truth to me, and I believe you mean what you say. I will accept your help.”

  Kian tried to keep from smiling but did a poor job of it. “Let’s go ask K’xarr what he thinks and if he says no then we will travel on alone.”

  “Agreed, but I don’t want to cause trouble between you and your friends.”

  “It’s okay, they’re used to me causing trouble.”

  Endra stood a few yards away with one arm around each son’s shoulder and the little girl clinging to her leg. K’xarr looked at them. The little family was trying to look pleasant.

  “I should have known you would pull something like this. I should have made you come back with us last night. They are hunted by the Church, we don’t need that kind of trouble. Kian you can’t help everyone we come across.”

  “Let them come with us, just until we find them a place for them to stay. Please K’xarr, they won’t be any trouble and Endra has a good sword arm, she might be of use if we run into any trouble ourselves.”

  “The only use she would be is if she was on her back with her legs spread.”

  Kian’s lips tightened, and he looked K’xarr in the eye. “I don’t think you should talk that way about her.”

  “Oh by the Gods of horse shit, I see now, you are smitten with her! Why didn’t you say so, that I understand.”

  Kian looked to see if Endra had heard K’xarr. “Please keep your voice down. I’m not smitten, I just can’t leave a woman and children alone and in danger.”

  “I won’t argue with you, Kian, I know you well enough now that it’s a waste of time, here is what I’m willing to do. They can travel along with us until they find a safe place, then we cut them loose and it’s over. I won’t take on the might of the Church for anyone and they are your responsibility until we get them where they’re going.”

  Kian nodded. “I understand and don’t worry, I think she can handle herself and I will help her with any problem that might arise.” Kian looked over his shoulder at Endra and her children. “Thank you, K’xarr, I won’t forget this.”

  “Don’t thank me, I just don’t want to listen to you complain and I don’t want to lose your sword arm either. If it takes hauling a woman and her brats a few miles down the road, so be it.”

  The companions mounted their horses. The children rode with Cromwell, Vandarus, and Rufio. Kian gave his horse to Endra and he trotted alongside her. Kian looked up to find Endra staring down at him. “Is something wrong?”

  She shook her head. “I wanted to say thank you for the kindness you have shown me and my children. It’s been a long time since I had reason to give anyone my thanks.”

  Embarrassed, Kian smiled at the woman. When he looked into her eyes he found it hard to speak. The sun climbed higher in the sky as the small band rode on to the southeast.

  Chapter 11

  It was the end of spring in Bandara. The cool nights and warm days of spring were changing to warm nights and hot days of summer. The farmer’s crops had been planted. The fishing boats were full with the sea’s hard won bounty when the summer breeze brought them back into Fair Wind Harbor. It had also come time for the sheep to be shorn throughout the Kingdom. The days were growing longer in Bandara and the army was preparing to march.

  Abberdon had brought its soldiers down to the northern border of Bandara, forty-thousand strong. It would be no small incursion, this time it would be war.

  King Cain had ordered Talorn to prepare the army to make the march north to the Abberdonian border. Cain had paid the army with Duke Blackthorn’s generous donation and had spent time over the last few weeks talking with the now-placated Bandaran officers. He made sure they that knew under his rule they would never be neglected again. He had patches made with the personal symbol he had adopted. The Bandaran red-winged hawk flanked by crossed lances on a blue field. Cain told the troops that the phoenix was still the symbol of Bandara, but he wanted them to wear the hawk so it would remind them they were fighting for their King as well as their country. It would signify that whenever they marched out he would be with each man in spirit.

  The young King was smart, the army had loved it. Most of them had never served under a King that indulged the military. King Aaron had been very indifferent to the military. He found them just a large draw on the royal treasury. Now the army was ready to enforce the King’s will and defend the Kingdom again. Cain had accomplished it all in less than two weeks.

  Raygan didn’t care about Cain and his war, she was far too distracted by her feelings for her new physician. While Cain had been spending all his time with the army and his tax collectors, Rhys had healed the damage to her face. His skill was amazing; it looked like it had never been damaged at all. She was beautiful again. Her side was still a little sore but Rhys said he would take care of that today. The handsome healer had won her respect and admiration, and maybe a bit of her affection as well.

  Rhys had not only healed her physical wounds, he had helped the sorrow she had in her heart. His kindness and concern had helped to ease the pain of the loss of her father. The healer had been a true blessing from God. The only thing he couldn’t take away was the anger she felt for her brother. She tried to think of ways she could make Cain pay for what he had done to her. It was the only other thing on the Princess’s mind besides Rhys.

  She found herself thinking of revenge often. Not just for the beating or the engagement to Talorn, which she had told no one about. What had drawn her true ire was he had placed her father in the royal tomb in the dead of night with almost no one in attendance at all. She hadn’t even been told about it and wasn’t present at the crude service Bishop Lyfair performed, if he had even truly performed one. Who would know? She wasn’t being told anything. Isabella lurking around the palace eavesdropping was her only source of information. Of all the things Cain had done to her that was the worst. He had buried their father as if he was ashamed of him. The contempt he had shown for his own flesh and blood was unforgivable. What had really crushed her was she hadn’t got to say goodbye to the father she loved so dearly. The new King had even taken that from her.

  The people of Turill had not liked the disrespect shown for their former King either. They too wanted to give their beloved King a sendoff that benefitted his station. Their anger at the funeral services for the old King didn’t last long. They had quickly found a new target for their outrage: the staggering new taxes Cain had imposed on them. The usual harmonious people of the city had changed to a disgruntled mob in just a few weeks. Her father had been right. Cain was quickly destroying their Bandara.

  Her mind was torn, half of her was filled with rage at her brother and the other half with the feelings she was starting to have for the handsome healer from Tara. It was exasperating; Cain’s deplorable actions had weaved themselves into her life like the thread of a cheap rug. She simply wouldn’t think about it anymore, what could she do anyway? Raygan decided t
o turn her thoughts back to Rhys.

  She sat in her garden thinking about what she would say to the young physician when she saw him today. As she sat daydreaming, a large male peacock, one of the several that roamed the garden, walked into her line of sight. How her father had loved them, he had once even had the royal dressmaker construct a cape for her out of their tail feathers.

  When she was in the garden her thoughts always returned to her father. He would have been very fond of Rhys too, she imagined. The healer was gentle and bright and the old King had loved those traits. She started to fantasize about what the two of them. What would they have talked about? It would be her, of course, the thought of it made the Princess smile.

  The warm spring breeze brought her back to the present. Raygan wondered what was keeping Isabella and her healer. The peacock let out a piercing cry and quickly ran for the cover of a hedge cut into the shape of the pagan Goddess Octavia. She turned to see what had frightened the peacock.

  Cain was coming across the lawn towards her. She started to shake despite herself. She had not spoken to him since he had almost killed her. All her petty schemes of revenge washed away only to be replaced by cold fear. She stood up from the bench and put her hands behind her back so Cain would not see her trembling.

  “Sister, may I speak with you a moment?” He wore a heavy quilted red gambeson trimmed in gold with the phoenix of Bandara emblazed on the chest. It covered a shirt of fine chainmail their father had given him several years ago.

  She swallowed hard, getting up the courage to speak. “I don’t want to talk to you, Cain, after what you have done to me. I don’t think there is anything to say.” She said it with as much disdain as she could muster.

  Cain nodded his head. “You’re right, Sister. I was wrong to hurt you like I did, and perhaps I should have waited until you were able to attend father’s funeral, but war has come and there is no time to stand on ceremony or cater to the whims of women. Besides, you seemed to have overcome your injuries quite quickly. Selmac said that you would be permanently disfigured. Tell me, Sister, how was it you healed so swiftly?”