Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1)

by A. J. STRICKLER

  Arn held up his stumps, blood pumping down his huge forearms. The Dark One stepped forward and delivered a sharp punch to the middle of the large man’s chest. The great hulking man made an odd gasping sound. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth and he toppled over. The executioner was dead even before he crashed to the floor.

  “That was very foolish, Willy, and I do believe I take offence to it. Although I see you may at least have balls enough to finish what we have started.”

  Lord Blackthorn had backed himself into the corner of the cell eyes wide and hands trembling. “Finish? Then you’re not going to kill me?”

  The wizard made a sick gurgling attempt at laughter. “Of course not, I expect treachery from the people I work with. You could say it’s almost a requirement of mine.”

  William gazed at the dead executioner. “You didn’t even use sorcery to kill him I have seen Arn fight three men at a time and kill them all, how?”

  “It’s all in the wrist, Willy.” The sorcerer smiled beneath his mask. “You see my good Duke, before I took up the art of sorcery I was a Sidian Assassin. I learned the skill in the city beyond the Black gate as one of the Kabash Sar, the heartless ones. Magic is not my only defense, besides I like to keep in practice when the opportunity arises.”

  William pulled his feet back as the Dark One’s cloak brushed passed him as the wizard walked out of the cell. He had terribly underestimated this man. He was no common spell caster. “Where are you going?” the Bandaran noble asked.

  “I have recently had a setback on another matter. I need to reevaluate a few things. You have things to do too, don’t you?” William nodded his head quickly. “Uh yes, I’m on my way now, pardon me. I will contact you when things here are resolved and I apologize for my attempt on your life.”

  The Dark One brushed his hand at the duke as if he were shooing away a fly. “No need, really it wasn’t my life that was in danger Duke Blackthorn, it was yours.” The duke swallowed and headed up the stair as fast as he could go.

  The wizard leaned against the wall of the dungeon, the place smelled of blood, feces, and rotten flesh, and he had caused himself no small amount of pain when he killed the duke’s lackey. He often wondered if the price he had paid for his power had been worth it. No sense thinking about it now, he had made his choice long ago and he had other things to do. He walked over to where the girl hung from the ceiling. He looked over her infected wounds and assessed the damage that had been done to the starving damsel.

  He reached out and lifted her head with his gloved hand. “Now this is no place for a pretty young girl.” He walked over and took the keys to Isabella’s manacles off the dead executioner and unlocked her chains. She weighed nothing, her ribs looked like they were ready to poke through her skin and she was burning up with fever. He carried her out of the cell like she was a baby. “You are safe from that fiend now, my dear, I have a healer at my tower that will take very good care of you.”

  ***

  She thought that things would be better after her new husband and Cain were both gone, but they weren’t.

  Cain had left Duke Blackthorn to run the city in his absence. She thought that she would be the ranking noble and would have at least some control but she was treated little better than the palace servants. The duke had restricted her to her room. She was only allowed in her garden when she was escorted by Royal Guardsmen, and on top of everything else she had been ill.

  She had asked to go into the city but was told it was unsafe. Raygan didn’t believe for one minute the people of Turill would ever harm her. It was her brother that had created all the unrest, not her.

  She wanted to see Rhys. She hoped to go out into the city and see if she could find the healer, but there was no way she could leave without the Royal Guard coming along.

  Most of the guard had been called north to aid her brother. Only Captain Hightower and a handful remained to tend to matters here—her, in particular, it seemed.

  No one had been able to find Isabella either. It was as if she had just disappeared. Then again could she believe what Cain had told her? Had he even sent anyone to find the girl? It had been over two months, she was getting very worried about her handmaiden. Isabella was very resourceful but she was just a girl. If anything happened to her, Cain and his cronies would not like the fit she would throw.

  She gazed out her window into the garden, it was so warm. It would not be that way much longer, summer would be ending soon. The war would be in full swing by now and it must not be going well if Cain had to send for his Royal Guard. She wondered how Cain liked being a warrior King now. King Havalon and his sons were well known for their battle prowess. She remembered the Abberdonians had started a brief border war against Bandara when she was ten years old and everyone had said how fierce King Havalon’s sons had fought.

  The war made Raygan unhappy. She had to hope Cain defeated King Havalon for her people’s sake. The truth was it didn’t matter for her if Cain won or lost. Her Bandara was gone.

  Raygan’s door opened and Duke Blackthorn walked in, unannounced as always. “I would like to have a word or two with you Highness.” She could hear the venom in his voice. Something had made him angry, she would have to tread very carefully.

  “Of course Duke Blackthorn, what can I do for you?” He walked towards her, she backed away from him out of instinct. “You’re my daughter-in-law now, no need to be so formal. You may call me William when we’re alone.”

  He almost stalked around her room and he was looking at her in a very strange way. “Thank you, your grace, but I like to show respect for my elders.” Raygan was a master of the veiled insult and she could tell her father-in-law had caught her jab. His jaw tightened and he clenched his fists. Maybe insulting him wasn’t such a good idea.

  “I heard you had been sick, my dear, I thought I would come and check on you.”

  “It was nothing, most likely something I ate. There is no cause for worry, but I do thank you for checking on me.” Raygan said with a flip of her hand.

  The duke picked up one of the silver goblets off her dining table and was admiring it. “I was hoping the sickness meant you were with child. You know it would be of great joy for me, and I know Talorn would be thrilled.”

  Raygan had to hide her shock, she hadn’t even thought her queasy stomach had anything to do with a child. Her cool demeanor fled her like a runaway horse. “I don’t think that is possible, Talorn rode north right after we were wed.”

  He sat the goblet down on her table next to its twin and came closer. “You had your wedding night, that is all it would take girl. I will have Selmac examine you tomorrow. With Talorn and the King both engaged in the war an heir to the throne would not be unwelcome. In fact, it is a necessity.”

  A nervous smile spread across the face of the Princess. “I don’t think I need to be checked, if I was with child I think I would know, and if I need to be examined I have my own healer.”

  “I don’t care what you think or what you know and I don’t think your physician will be available,” the duke snapped. “Selmac will be here in the morning to find out for sure. We need another male heir, and if Talorn hasn’t put one in you womb I might just have a go at it myself.”

  Raygan was speechless. “Yes, my dear, it does not matter whose seed gets me an heir—mine or my son’s, as long as it’s a Blackthorn. Perhaps I will pay you a visit tonight. How does that sound?” He gave her a lewd look up and down turned and walked out.

  Raygan could tell he was not jesting if he wanted to rape her there was no one to stop him. Obviously, he didn’t fear his son or the King. Did he think Cain and Talorn would be killed? Was the war going so badly he thought Talorn would not return to avenge her if he assaulted her?”

  If they were to die, any child she had would be heir to the throne after her. When the baby was born, her life would not be worth much to the duke. William could have her killed and would rule Bandara as her child’s regent. Maybe that was what he had b
een planning all along? She had to get out of the palace as soon as she could. There were no options now, she would leave after dark. She just had to hope God would watch over her.

  ***

  The children were finally all asleep and Rhys was full from another fine meal cooked by Nick Nock. The cook had been a fine addition to the household.

  The little group was quite a handful. Rhys didn’t know how Endra did it, he was exhausted. He hoped that she and the others returned soon, summer was almost over and they had been gone over two months give or take. He didn’t mind watching the children but he knew the little ones were starting to miss their mother.

  It was nice to be back in his home. It wasn’t much but he had worked on it diligently. He had set it up just the way he wanted to treat his patients efficiently. He had never planned on warriors and children living with him. He had to admit though, he enjoyed the company.

  Rhys knew it was dangerous to be home, but the King and most of the Royal Guardsmen were in the north. He could breathe a little easier. He hoped the King had forgotten all about him.

  It still bothered him that he didn’t know the real reason he had been pursued by the crown, but he would just have to let it go for now. Maybe when K’xarr got back he could try to find out something for him. At least no one had come looking for him and he could see to his patients without the fear of being arrested.

  The city guard had problems of their own, he didn’t think they had time to worry about him either. Rhys patients had told him that there had been a few small riots on the south side of the city because of the new taxes. The market as well had become unruly with all the merchants protesting the huge tax increases.

  The city guards were shorthanded and very busy trying to keep the city under control now that the King and almost all the Royal Guard were gone. They were overwhelmed by the number of disturbances throughout the city. While he was setting a man’s broken arm earlier in the week, Rhys was told there were many people still claiming the Princess was the rightful heir and should be ruling instead of Cain. Some citizens even stood outside the palace and shouted at the guards demanding to see her. It was said that Duke Blackthorn had them arrested. Rhys sighed; the beautiful city had changed a lot since he came here.

  At least for now he felt safe in his home. It also helped his peace of mind to have Rufio and Vandarus sitting in the back room. The two warriors had been invaluable to him since they had returned to Turill, both were savvy in helping him sneak around the city to see his patients.

  They had tried to help him with Endra’s children, but the little ones only seemed content when he was with them. The warriors weren’t very understanding when it came to the children, though they did their best. Rufio and Vandarus were not much good at looking after children.

  Endra’s little brood was quite trying. They were at their worst at bath time. They had not bathed regularly when they had been on the run from the Church and now it was a task to clean them, but Rhys refused to allow them to be unsanitary. He was dead set on keeping them healthy, even though he had not so much as seen one of them with a runny nose. The healer insisted on cleanliness. It was a trial, but he was managing to get it done. The little girl had been the worst. He didn’t even want to think about Tressa and her menagerie of dead pets. They had a terrible time getting the carcasses away from her and the odor of the filthy things still lingered in the children’s room.

  He was ready for their mother to return, he also knew his two bodyguards had been expecting their friends to have returned by now. Rhys could tell they were starting to worry. Rhys had told Rufio and Vandarus that there was no set time on how long it took to rescue a friend from an evil wizard so they should just be patient. They had seemed content with that evaluation.

  He was about to get ready for bed when a knock came at the door. Rhys didn’t get the door all the way open when the small Princess burst in and threw herself into his arms. “Thank God you’re here, Rhys, I need you, Isabella is gone and I have no one I can turn to.”

  He held her close he could feel her shapely form under her thin cloak, he liked the sensation. The healer held her just a little longer than he should, but finally he gently pushed her back. “Your Highness, uh … I heard you were married. I don’t think you should be here, it’s unseemly. Besides, it could cause us both a great deal of trouble.”

  “I sorry I couldn’t tell you about the wedding. I didn’t really know about it myself, the whole thing was orchestrated by my brother and not with my consent. My God, Rhys, what happened to your hair?” Rhys looked at her, embarrassed. “It’s a long story.” The Princess touched it with her hand but said no more about the odd color of the healer’s hair.

  “It was no longer safe for me at the palace and I had nowhere else to go. I waited until nightfall and cloaked myself. I asked through the streets until I found someone that knew where you lived. I had to get out of there, Rhys. I was so scared, you might be the only man I trust in this whole city.”

  Rufio and Vandarus came in from the back room, swords in hand. Rhys could see it startled the Princess and she instinctively clung to him for protection. “It’s alright, Highness, they are friends.”

  Vandarus slowly lower his sword and knelt on the wooden floor. “Your Highnesses, forgive my rudeness for having a bare blade in your presence.”

  She shook her head. “If you’re a friend of Rhys’s, then there is nothing to forgive. Do I know you?”

  “No, Highness,, but I saw you once when you were young in a parade with your father. Your beauty has only grown since then, Highness.”

  “Well, that’s a lovely compliment. I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.” The Princess looked at her healer.

  Rhys cleared his throat. “Let me introduce Vandarus and Rufio, Highness, they are here as … well my bodyguards so to speak.”

  Raygan motioned with her hand for Vandarus to rise, which he quickly did. “I am very pleased to meet you both. I hope you can forgive me, but I must speak with Rhys privately.”

  Vandarus nodded and started for the back room. Rufio didn’t move. “Your Highness, last time Rhys went to the palace and asked about your handmaiden he was almost killed by the Royal Guard. Are you sure you’re not going to bring the weight of the crown down on us just by being here? What I mean, Highness, is if what I overheard is true they know you have a connection to Rhys, they may come here looking for you. Were you followed?”

  Raygan dropped her eyes to the floor. “I hadn’t thought about that. I don’t know if I was followed or not. It’s possible my brother’s servants spy on me constantly. How could I be so foolish?”

  “This will be one of the first places they will look, Highness, we need to leave. Vandarus wake Nick Nock and the children and let’s get out of here,” Rufio ordered.

  Rhys took the small woman by the shoulders. “I know a place we can go where they wouldn’t look for us. It’s not the palace, but it should be safe. Highness, I sorry I know you came here to hide, but we’re going to need to take you elsewhere.”

  “Whatever you think is best, I trust your judgment. I’m sorry for coming and causing you trouble, that was the last thing I meant to do.”

  Vandarus rousted the cook and the sleepy children and brought them out into the front room. Rhys grabbed his bag of instruments and herbs when a knock came at the door.

  “Open up, in the name of the King.”

  “Take the Princess and the children out the back Rhys. Vandarus and I will hold off the guard,” Rufio quietly commanded.

  “I can’t leave you here,” Rhys said. He picked up an iron poker from the fire place ready to stand his ground.

  Rufio grabbed his arm. “Take them and go. Go now.”

  Rhys shook his head. “No, Rufio, I can’t let you and Vandarus die for me.”

  “K’xarr told me if I let anything happen to you he would have my hide, now go, this is our duty. Besides I think the Princess would like you to save her. Unless you want to stay here and see her d
ragged back the palace and explain to the guard why the Princess was here in the first place.”

  Rhys nodded and clutched Rufio’s shoulder then he and Nick herded the Princess and the children to the back.

  The two men drew their swords as the door crashed in. The first two members of the guard went down not expecting to find fighting men in the house of a healer. Rufio pulled his bloody Dragitan short sword out of the city guardsman and turned to take on the next. “Here they come, Vandarus, hold the line, death or glory.”

  Rhys gave one look back and followed Raygan, Nick Nock, and the children out a window in the back of the house. He hated to leave Rufio and Vandarus behind, he had grown close to both men over the last couple of months, there was just nothing else he could do. The city watch had men coming around the back of the house, but they didn’t see the little group. Rhys picked Payton up and Nick Nock grabbed Vinsant and he instructed Raygan to carry Tressa. They ran as fast as they could with Rhys leading the way. As they turned down an alley, they heard the first crash of thunder.

  It had been lucky for them the doorway to the healer’s home was narrow and it was the city watch not the Royal Guard that came looking for the Princess, but Rufio knew that they had just about run out of luck. The wooden floor was slick with blood and five of the city watch lay in the doorway dead or dying. It didn’t matter, there were more to take their place outside. Sooner or later, it would be the watchmen who got lucky.

  “Well, my friend, I bet you didn’t ever think you would die defending your Princess, did you?” Vandarus parried a spear thrust from one of the city watch trying to get inside.

  Vandarus grinned at his friend. “No, I didn’t, it’s not such bad way—good cause and all.”

  Rufio sighed. “I would have preferred a battlefield myself, but this will do.” A spear thrust came through the door at Vandarus’s head he blocked it, but he did not see the one that came in low that pierced his calf.