Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1)

by A. J. STRICKLER

  The creek ran through the grasslands bringing life to the crops and livestock of the Bandaran farmers. Kian knew little about farming but he thought that this would be a good place to build one.

  He was very anxious about tonight, he had never been with a woman before. Today had been his first kiss other than his mother and a few of the women from the Heavenly Hole when his was just a boy.

  He hoped he would not disappoint Endra. His inexperience with women worried him. He thought of asking K’xarr or one of the other men but decided that would be a very bad idea. No, he would just let nature take its course and hope for the best.

  He didn’t think he had ever been this happy in his life. He had prepared himself for the life of an outcast, to forever be alone in the world, but now he had friends and a beautiful woman that said she loved him. If he could find his family, life would be perfect.

  Movement caught his eye. Siro stepped from behind a tree. “The water is wonderful, are you here to bathe too?” Kian called to the healer.

  Siro pulled up his robe a few inches and made his way to the edge of the creek. “No, I am not here to bathe, Kian. I’m here for you.”

  “What’s wrong, has something happened?”

  “Yes, there was an attack on the farm, more knights, you must hurry.” Kian splashed out of the creek still soaking wet he pulled on his pants. The little healer patted the Half Elf on the back, Kian felt a slight prick. He turned in time to see Siro taking a ring from his finger.

  The healer took a couple of steps back. Kian looked at him confused, his head felt strange and he was dizzy. Siro had poked him with something. He tried to move but his legs had become ridged, his arms fell to his sides too heavy to hold up. He dropped to the ground unable to move at all. He could see and hear but his voice was gone.

  Siro rolled him over on his back. The ugly man looked down in his face. “You made that very easy for me, thank you. Oh, I bet you are wondering what has happened to you, don’t worry you’re not going to die but you won’t be able to move for a few hours.”

  Siro stood up and pulled an amulet from beneath his robe and clutched it in his hand. Kian could see he muttered a few words into it under his breath.

  A figure appeared from nowhere, covered from head to toe in a black cloak cowl, pulled up so Kian could not see the face.

  Siro bowed. “Master, it is done.”

  The man spoke, his voice sounded as if he were being strangled. “I would have preferred if you had done this at night, Siro, you know the sunlight depresses me.”

  “I’m sorry, Master, but I thought this would be a good time, he was alone and unarmed.”

  The man walked over to Kian’s horse and drew the Half Elf’s sword from a scabbard that hung from the saddle. He looked at it then thrust it into the horse’s side. The beast reared and broke free, running back towards the farmhouse, blood pouring from the wound.

  The cloaked figure walked back to where Kian lay, holding the sword by the middle of the blade. He held it above Kian and spoke a word. There was a flash in the palm of his black gloved hand and the sword shattered into pieces, tears of fury leaked from Kian’s eyes. Gildor’s sword was gone. Anger swelled within him but try as he might the swordsman could not move.

  “You won’t be needing that,” the cloaked man said. “Siro, it’s time for you to come back. I have finally acquired everything we will need.”

  “Very good, Master, I have been very eager to get started.”

  “Take my hand, Siro.” The healer did as he was told, the cloaked man reached down and grabbed Kian by the hair, lifting his head and shoulders off the ground. All three disappeared without a sound.

  It was dark and there was still no sign of him. They had found his dead horse a few hours ago lying in the grass not far from the farmhouse,, but no Kian. His clothing had been found, folded on a small tree stump, but the most disturbing discovery was the remains of his sword. No one could figure out how the Elven steel had shattered like that. K’xarr and Cromwell were still walking the banks of the creek, looking for any other sign of the Half Elf.

  Endra was by far the better tracker of the group, she had tracked every kind of animal there was in Sorrack. She easily had found the two sets of tracks besides Kian’s on the bank of the creek, but the tracks led nowhere, it was if they had just vanished. Endra had a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, something strange happened here.

  K’xarr came walking back and Cromwell waded across the creek from the other side, both of them looking very concerned. “There is just nothing, Endra,” K’xarr said.

  Cromwell sloshed up out of the water holding his hand over his stitches. “I still think it’s strange we can’t find Siro either. You think maybe he had something to do with it?”

  K’xarr looked downcast. “It is possible I suppose, but how would he have taken Kian?”

  K’xarr looked to Endra. “I just don’t know where else to look. It’s dark, we aren’t going to find anything tonight.”

  Endra grabbed his arm. “Please, we have to keep looking, he could be in trouble, he could need help, K’xarr. I won’t abandon him. Rhys is watching the children at the house, so I’m not going to stop looking.”

  “Okay, we’ll keep going.”

  Endra hugged K’xarr. It was all she could do not to cry. “Okay. Okay. Calm down, we’ll round up Rufio and Vandarus and start again.”

  Cromwell looked out over the grasslands, the moon was full bathing everything in silver light. He owed Kian his life and Torans paid their debts. “Where could you be, my friend?” He said to the night.

  The feeling was coming back to his limbs and he could move again if not for the chains holding him to the stone table. Kian’s head was still fuzzy, he knew one moment he was on the bank of the creek, the next he was inside a building of some kind. They didn’t raise his head when they arrived so he had seen little. When they arrived he was put directly on this stone slab and chained down. The man in the cloak had left the room, Siro however had stayed. The ugly healer had drugged him, but why?

  Kian could see Siro out of the corner of his eye taking something out of a huge glass tank of dark liquid. It was fleshy and pale of color. The thing was the size of a large dog. He could tell it had once been an animal of some kind by the scaly tail that dangled from its lifeless body. The little man put it onto a metal table and covered it with a wet sheet.

  The thing that concerned him the most was the growling sounds of an animal behind him, he couldn’t see what it was but it sounded big and upset. He still couldn’t really speak yet, but he didn’t think it would be much longer. Sounds came out now when he tried. Kian need to speak, he had many question for the little healer.

  He looked around the room it was made of stone blocks and very cool, he was naked and gooseflesh pebbled his body. There was one door but he didn’t think the room had a window. He heard a door open then close and the man in the cloak that had brought him here was standing beside him. In his strangled voice he said, “I will ask you this but once, will you join me voluntarily, Kian Cardan?”

  Kian found he could speak but it came out little more than a whisper. “I don’t even know who you are.”

  “I am the Dark One. I am a sorcerer of no small power. Join me, I have need of a swordsman with your skill. I promise you power beyond your wildest dreams.”

  Kian turned his head as far as he could to look at the Dark One. The wizard’s face was still hidden within the cowl of his robe, it was as if he spoke to evil itself. The wizard seemed to exude cruelty and malevolence.

  “I will never join you. I know evil when I see it. You may have destroyed Gildor’s sword but not his teachings.”

  “Ah yes, Gildor, your trainer and mentor, I met him not long ago, he died screaming.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Kian said, his voice high with emotion.

  “Well, it is unfortunate you don’t believe me, now I will have to show you I speak the truth.” The man stepped away from the tab
le when he returned he carried a pole with Gildor’s rotting head on it. “Now do you believe me?”

  Kian strained at his bonds with every ounce of strength, tears flowed from corners of his eyes when he shut them. He could not bear to look upon the old man’s severed head.

  “He was like a father to me. Why would you kill an old man that had done nothing to you?”

  “I thought a reunion was in order and he would not come with me willingly, so I brought you the next best thing.”

  Kian’s mind screamed out in anguish, he didn’t want to show weakness but he could not help but weep. The only father he had ever known was dead.

  The Dark One set the pole with Gildor’s head against the wall. “I didn’t think you would join me and after I spoke with the old man I was sure of it. So I have devised a way to change your mind, but first you must be made worthy to serve me. Your skill with a sword may be … provocative, but you’re still too weak and puny, not to mention insolent. Siro and I will see that your failings are corrected.”

  “Whatever you do, I will never serve you.” The Dark One stepped behind Kian’s head and he heard a low growl and the sound of creaking hinges. He walked back into Kian’s line of sight, leading a massive black panther. The great cat easily stood four feet at the shoulder.

  “Don’t worry, I have charmed the beast he won’t eat you.” The Dark One’s throaty chuckle made Kian’s skin crawl. “My magic is very powerful and Siro is a most accomplished vivisectionist, as well as a gifted necromancer. So you shouldn’t worry, I have the upmost confidence in the success of our little experiment, and you will be a better man for it.” Siro giggled. “Better man, you are very funny, Master.”

  The Dark One looked over to his accomplice. “Shut up, Siro. Is the heart ready?”

  “It is and it’s viable just like you said it would be, Master. It’s better than we could have hoped for. All I have to do is remove it from the creature’s corpse.”

  “Good let us begin. Now Kian, I wish I could tell you this won’t be painful, but it will be. The process may take a few days and I’m afraid I must use my magic to keep you awake the whole time. It’s the whole suffering thing, you understand.”

  Kian struggled against the chains but it was hopeless. The sorcerer raised his arms and spoke a word. Kian’s body began to glow with silver light. “You may precede, Siro.” The little necromancer came to the table with a small oddly shaped knife. He started cutting at Kian’s throat and didn’t stop until he reached the Half Elf’s groin, Siro carefully laid the flesh back on both sides and inspected his work. Kian could hear himself scream. He wanted to pass out but the wizard’s magic would not allow it. Then the true pain began as the vivisectionist started sawing through his ribs.

  ***

  They had searched all night and found nothing. Mist lay across the grass like a big white blanket as the sun tried to creep into the sky. Endra could not stop her mind from imagining terrible things that could have happened to the man she loved.

  She was bone tired. K’xarr had tried to get her to sleep but she had refused. The children had gotten up and were with Rhys. The young healer had them down at the barn feeding the horses. She leaned against the house, her eyes lids were so heavy they felt like lead. She fought it, but they slowly closed.

  “Why don’t you go inside and get some sleep? There is nothing more you can do.”

  Her eyes snapped back open. “Where could he be, K’xarr?”

  He rubbed at the black beard he had grown. “I don’t know but…” He hesitated, she knew what he was going to say.

  “We can’t wait long, Endra, you know I would if I could but it’s getting more dangerous by the day, we have stayed here far too long now. I’m sure the knights’ bodies have been found by now, we must move on before someone comes looking.”

  She knew he was right but she couldn’t let go, not now. Her life had been full of too much hardship and suffering. She couldn’t let fate dash her hopes away again, but there were her children to think of.

  “I will go on but I will come back after everyone is settled. I won’t stop searching for him.”

  “Perhaps I can help.” K’xarr and Endra both drew their swords together. A small figure in a great black robe with a deep cowl had appeared not twenty feet away. It was a woman by the outline of her robe and the sound of her voice. He called out to the others. The rest of the men came out of the farmhouse armed and ready.

  “What black sorcery is this that you appear out of thin air?” K’xarr said through gritted teeth.

  “The blackest kind to be sure, but if you want to know where your friend can be found I would lower those blades.”

  Endra did so instantly the others did the same reluctantly, K’xarr being the last. “I would see your face, wench, before I believe anything you say.”

  The woman raised her delicate hands and pulled back the cowl. Waves of black hair fell past her shoulders and her eyes were dark and hard. Her looks were truly exquisite, but she had coldness to her, a look of cruelty. “Are you happy now, K’xarr Strom?”

  K’xarr’s eyes narrowed. “Do I know you, witch?”

  “Witch, I think I like the term, you may refer to me as such. You don’t know me, Camiran, but I know you and I have chosen to help you at no small amount of danger to myself.”

  “What do you want in return? I’ve never heard of a witch that didn’t have a price.”

  “I see you have no love of the arts, K’xarr Strom. All I ask is that you remember the aid I give you today.”

  “Very well, if that is all I will remember, now tell me your name so I know who it is I need to remember?”

  “You may call me Selena, that will do.”

  “Well, Selena, do you know what happened to Kian?”

  “He is in the hands of the Dark One.”

  “I have heard of him, the foul wizard that lives in the Adorn Forest?” Vandarus said, looking almost frightened.

  Selena smiled. “Yes, Bandaran, the very one. He has a tower deep inside the forest, your friend is there.”

  K’xarr stepped toward the witch, his fear of her magic overcome by concern for his friend. “How did he get him to this tower so fast?”

  “The same way I came here, magic, K’xarr, and you will have to face that magic if you are planning on retrieving the half-breed. I will tell you something more before you undertake this quest. You may not want him back after the Dark One gets through with him.”

  K’xarr reached out and grabbed the woman by her cloak. “What is he doing, witch?”

  The woman looked at his hand. “I would remove that now if I were you.”

  K’xarr twisted the robe tighter in his hand. The witch raised her arms and uttered a word. K’xarr and everyone else were hurled against the side of the farmhouse by a great blast of air. Shaken but uninjured the group began to get to their feet. “Take care who you try to bully, boy.” The witch straightened her robe, giving K’xarr and the others a look of contempt. You will find what’s left of the half-breed in the Dark One’s tower, provided you want what remains.” The witch then vanished without a sound.

  K’xarr pulled Endra to her feet. “By all the Gods, I hate magic. Rufio, get the horses ready.”

  Chapter 14

  K’xarr had sent Rufio and Vandarus into Bandara with Rhys and Endra’s children. Rhys said he had several places they could lay low until the three of them returned from the Adorn Forest. It was well over a hundred miles to the forest and there was no Gold Road to follow this time. It would take weeks to get there and back even if they rode hard.

  He looked over at the woman riding beside him. K’xarr wanted to send Endra with the others to Bandara, but he knew there was no chance of that. For some reason Endra had fallen for the crazy half-breed, why he would never know. A sword maid like her could make any warrior’s blood run hot. She could have her pick of any man she set her eyes on, but she chose Kian. Maybe she was crazy too.

  He wished he could have brought
Rhys along, but Rufio and Vandarus could never have managed the children alone. Endra’s children would have out foxed those two in a day.

  At least he had Cromwell with him. K’xarr had become accustomed to having the big Toran at his side. They had been sword brothers for a long while now and K’xarr could not ask for a more dependable ally. Not that he would ever tell Cromwell that, he would never hear the end of it if he did. “Cromwell, keep an eye out. I don’t know where those two armies are and I don’t want to run into either right now.” Cromwell nodded.

  They were headed north, somewhere out there the Abberdonian and the Bandaran armies were making war on each other that was where he should be going. There was just no way he was going to let some wizard take one of his men, he was going to find Kian if he had to burn the Adorn Forest to the ground to do it. He didn’t much care for that witch either. If he saw her again he would set her straight on who she could bully. It still bothered him why the witch had taken an interest in his small band. He didn’t like magic and didn’t trust anyone who used it. He had no doubt he would see the witch again.

  Rufio was not happy. K’xarr, Cromwell, and Endra had been gone several days and it already seemed like a life time. Rhys was off delivering some woman’s baby and Vandarus had taken off to the Silver Fist again, and he had been left with the little heathens.

  The two boys had broken spindles off Rhys’s front porch and were using them as swords. Rufio had encouraged that at first until he was hit in the leg with one. Now he sported a bruise the size of a ham on his thigh.

  Sweet little Tressa had brought a dead cat into the house and told him it was her new pet. He had tried to take it from her but the little girl had gotten away from him. Now her pet cat “Cromwella” was hidden somewhere in the house.

  The devils wouldn’t listen to anyone but Rhys—and to him only about half the time. He had commanded a company of Dragitan cavalrymen and they weren’t as unruly as Endra’s brood.