Dracen Milara sat with no expression on his face, the duke was good at reading men but he couldn’t gage what the Eye of God was thinking.
“Well, that’s quite a story.” The Lord Justice stood up and walked back and forth, the only sound that could be heard in the tent was the birds singing outside.
“Well, if a Church official was intimidated or charmed by magic, there will be a reckoning and I will have the Queen removed and Prince Cain reinstated, of that you can be sure. The Church is here to see justice is done, and I can see that you are all devout men of God and dedicated to his purpose. I promise I will look into you accusations. However, I do have a problem of my own that will slow my investigation. I was sent on a mission by the Holy Father that I’m sure you men could help me with. If you agree, I can quickly complete my mission then I could spend all my time investigating your accusations against the Queen. This would hasten a resolution to the difficulties in Bandara, which would be advantageous to all parties concerned. Unfortunately without your help, I have no idea how long my mission will take.”
“We would be honored to help the Church in any way we can, Eminence,” Talorn said. Cain and William slowly nodded their agreement as well.
“It is a fine thing to find men so pious, many rulers aren’t, should we say, so affable.”
Milara pulled his chair out and sat down. “Let me explain what I need of you. My mission has to do with an enchanted Half Elven creature, which is very capable with a sword.”
Duke Blackthorn’s eyes widened. “I know of whom you speak, Eminence, he is in league with the Princess.”
Milara stomach got queasy at the mention of the half-breed, the images from his dreams popped into his head. “You’ve seen the devil?” he said, looking at the duke.
“I have, he slaughtered a troop of palace guards in Turill without cause. That thing is very dangerous, a killer, he serves Princess Raygan. I know this to be God’s own truth, Your Eminence.”
Milara was afraid he would lose the help he had just attained. He would need to try and down play the monster’s abilities. “You have an army, Prince Cain, surely you can handle one half-breed, no matter how dangerous he is?”
Princes Cain smirked at his duke. “I believe we can, General Talorn is the finest swordsman I have ever seen,” Cain said, patting Talorn on the shoulder. “This abomination will stand little chance against him. We will handle the Half Elf, Your Eminence, if you see to removing my sister from the throne of Bandara.”
Lord Justice Milara grinned. “If the charges are true I am sure she will be discredited and stripped of her title, maybe even imprisoned if her crimes are severe enough.”
Cain stood. “I thank you, Your Eminence, I knew I could count on the Church to see God’s will is done.”
Lord Justice Milara stood up slowly. “On behalf of the Holy Father, I thank you Prince Cain, now all you have to worry about is King Havalon and the Abberdonians,” Milara said as he walked out of the Prince’s tent.
“That bastard,” Cain whispered to William and Talorn.
“Eminence, wait, I have a question,” Cain shouted as he followed the Lord Justice out.
Talorn made to follow his King, he took two steps before his father grabbed him by the arm. “What is it, Father, I need to see to Cain before he insults the Lord Justice. We pledged to help him and we must, it is a Church matter and that must come before Bandara. I also must ask for his lenience with Raygan. I will not see her imprisoned.”
“That’s not what I want to talk to you about, this is more important,” William said, still not releasing his son’s arm.
“Father, let go,” Talorn said pulling at the older man.
“No, you must listen to me, Son.”
Talorn looked into his father’s eyes. There was something there he had never seen before, fear.
“What is it?” Talorn asked, as he pried his father’s hand from his forearm.
“The Half Elf or whatever it is, never cross swords with it, Son. If we go after it, never engage it in personal combat, let other men handle it.”
Talorn looked at his father like he was mad, he was by far the best swordsman in Bandara, Cain had become a distant second, but no one could match him. “Father, don’t be silly, I can manage one mongrel half-breed.”
William lowered his voice but the dread did not leave it. “I tell you, never go near it. It’s not natural. I have seen it for myself, Son, I ask this one thing of you, promise me you won’t face it.”
“Fine. I promise I won’t seek it out, but I don’t believe it can beat me and if God sets me against it, I will not shirk my duty.”
William looked into his son’s eyes. “It won’t just beat you, boy. God or no, if you fight the half-breed, it will kill you.”
***
Kian had pushed them until the horses were so winded Endra didn’t think they could go on much longer. Finally, the walls of Turill were in sight. Abberdonian banners flew from the battlements. It was over, the city had fallen.
“Do you think they might still be alive?” Rhys asked.
Kian scanned the wall. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. If they still live, it won’t be for long. Havalon will execute them.”
“Havalon may just hold them. He might want to question them about the Queen or something,” Endra said.
Kian looked at her and smiled, a rare thing these days. “K’xarr and Cromwell won’t be model prisoners, trust me, King Havalon will kill them eventually, they will make him.”
Endra sighed. “I have to agree with you. They would make very unpleasant captives. What do you think, Rhys?”
Rhys shrugged but said nothing, he seemed lost in his own thoughts.
Endra could tell he was nervous, she also knew he wanted to get back to the Queen as soon as he could. Kian should have sent him on to Braxton Bluff. Maybe he could have gotten there before the city was under siege. Havalon would most likely be marching on to the Bluff now that Turill had fallen. If he wanted all of Bandara, he would have to take Braxton Bluff and the Queen.
“We will leave the horse and move closer to the city,” Kian said. Endra and Rhys climbed down from the horse and the trio moved toward Turill under the cover of night.
There were few guards on the battlements and the night was dark, the moon was hidden behind a thick bank of clouds. “Wait here,” Kian told his companions.
He ran to the wall as fast as he could. He leaped up on to the wall and began to climb quickly towards the top. The sentries didn’t see or hear him and no alarm was raised. Rhys and Endra sat in the pitch dark waiting for him to return.
Endra could feel the tiny life inside her body move. She was growing more uncomfortable by the day. She tapped Rhys on the shoulder and pointed to her belly. The healer reached under her mail shirt and felt her stomach. “It won’t be much longer.”
Endra and Rhys both jumped as Kian just seemed to appear out of the night. “We didn’t even hear you coming,” Endra said startled.
“I think the main army has moved on. Most of the Abberdonians here are on the north side of the city. Let’s move to the south side, we should be able to get in there much more easily.”
Rhys looked around in the dark. “You think it will be easy to get into the city?”
“Yes, getting back out might be the problem.”
They made their way to the south side of Turill. “You two wait here.” Kian went over the wall again. Endra and Rhys could hear the bodies of the guards as they hit the ground near the foot of the wall. Rhys counted eight.
It was only a short time before Kian found them again. “I have a rope waiting, let’s go, we don’t have long before day breaks.”
A rope hung down the wall, Kian had tied it off at the top. The three began to climb, Kian going first. Rhys struggled but Endra helped the healer make it up the wall. Kian knew Rhys was not accustomed to this kind of work. If Rhys was going to stay with them, he might need a little training.
When they m
ade it to top of the wall Kian caught a glimpse of Endra wincing. “Are you hurt?” he asked.
“No, it’s just a twinge, it’s nothing.” Kian touched her and moved on along the top of the wall.
“Endra, is it the baby?” Rhys whispered. Kian’s head whipped around, he was back beside them before Rhys realized his mistake, he had forgot how acute the swordsman’s hearing was.
“What baby?” he asked
“It is ours, my love, I didn’t want to worry you…” Endra got no more out before she was crushed in his embrace.
“I was always told Half Elves could not father children,” Kian said looking at the healer.
Rhys patted his friend on the back. “They can’t, they are hybrids. I believe it must be due to your brother’s magic and the fact you aren’t truly Half Elven anymore. There could be some issues with…”
“We can talk about this after we find out about K’xarr and Cromwell,” Endra said gently pushing Kian back and giving Rhys a hard look.
“You should stay here. I wouldn’t have brought you if I had known. We can’t risk the child,” the swordsman said.
“Where you go, I go. We are bonded together Kian, no matter what. We will do this together.”
He looked at her. Kian knew there could be no arguing with her. Besides now wasn’t the time. “Please be careful,” he said cupping her face with his hand.
“I will, now let’s go before the sun comes up.
They had to kill seven guards before they got to the palace, Kian five, Endra two. “Even with child, you’re handy to have around in a tight spot,” Kian told her.
A big smile spread across Endra’s face, the compliment had pleased her. Kian knew sometimes she felt like a burden to him.
He helped Rhys and Endra over the small wall and into the Queen’s garden. Kian neither smelled nor heard any guards. He wished he could stop thinking about Endra and the baby, he didn’t want to make any mistakes because of a lack of concentration. It just made him so happy. He didn’t think he would ever be a father. The thought of a child brought him a great sense of peace. He felt Malice stir in his hand. Kian could feel the evil in the blade, the hate. It would never let its wielder know peace. It only wanted one thing. Death. He could tell the sword longed for nothing so much as to be drenched in blood, and Malice was not particular about whose blood it was. Kian vowed then to shed himself of the evil blade. His child would never be safe as long as he possessed it.
They made their way to the back of the palace. Kian knew this entrance well. The Queen had him brought through this door when he had needed to enter the palace.
Kian saw the four guards who had been assigned to the back entrance. He sheathed Malice and walked up the short flight of steps as if he were meant to be there. “Who are you?” one of the Abberdonians asked.
With a burst of his unnatural speed, Kian killed all four of the unprepared guards before they could cry out. The first hit the ground as he pulled Malice from the fourth.
“I thought the plan was to use stealth, not just kill everyone in the city,” Rhys said.
“If I was only going to rely on stealth I would not have brought you and a pregnant woman with me,” Kian said without turning around. “I don’t know how many men occupy the palace, we will just have to see. If there are too many, I want you two to get yourselves out, I will manage.”
“How many is too many,” Endra asked jokingly.
“More than I can kill,” Kian whispered.
Rhys patted the swordsman on the back. “It will be hard to judge, we have yet to find that number, my friend.”
They walked through the back doors. They were large and ornate and made a lot of noise when they were pushed open. In the rear foyer another pair of guards met a swift and bloody end. The palace seemed almost deserted. “K’xarr sent most of the Queen’s staff with her to the Bluff,” Endra said quietly. “Havalon must not have had time to replace them.” Kian nodded his agreement as the three moved silently through the halls. They needed to find the entrance to the dungeon. That’s where Cromwell and K’xarr would be, if they still lived.
They drifted through the palace like shadows until Rhys spotted an elderly woman he knew. The old woman was roaming the halls of the palace on a late-night errand for one of her new masters, no doubt. She had been the servant the Queen had assigned to see to his wishes during his stay at the palace. The old servant must have wanted to stay or had been left behind when the Queen went south. He went forward away from Kian and Endra and talked to her quietly. “I remember her,” Endra told Kian. “Rhys saved her daughter from a terrible fever; she will help us.” The maid smiled at Rhys and gave him a quick hug and went back to her duties. Rhys came back to the dark alcove where the two were hiding behind a large statue of the late King Aaron.
“She said there are few Abberdonians in the palace. Havalon looted the place then left. There are eight besides the ones you killed near the main entrance. She told me how to get to the dungeons too. The rest of the Abberdonians are down there with the prisoners. She said she takes them their meal.”
“Has she seen K’xarr or Cromwell?” Kian asked.
“She said she didn’t know if they were down there or not. She never got a look at any of the prisoners.”
Kian thought a moment. “This place is big enough that we should be able to get down there without the guards at the entrance hearing us. If we keep quiet we should only have to deal with the guards below. Lead on, Rhys, and be careful.”
Kian and Endra followed Rhys to the dungeon passageway. They eased the door open and headed down. Kian took the lead. The passage was not lit well and there were a lot of stairs. Kian had to slow his pace so Endra and Rhys could keep up. They couldn’t see in the dim light as well as he could.
Kian stopped abruptly and sniffed the air. “There are men just ahead,” he whispered.
Endra drew her sword and Kian tightened his grip on Malice.
As the trio got to the bottom of the stairs, they could see six guards sitting around a table. They were throwing dice and drinking. Everyone froze as the two groups spotted each other.
One of the Abberdonians started to stand, Kian kicked the table into him, pinning him against the wall. Malice glided through the air and severed two of the guards’ heads before they could stand up. Endra caved in the skull of another. The man pinned by the table tried to wiggle free. Kian kicked the table harder, breaking the man pelvis.
Rhys winced at the sound of the bones crunching and the man’s screams of agony. One man had managed to draw his blade and sent a deadly thrust at Endra. She parried it and kicked him in the chest. The Abberdonian guard fell into his remaining companion, knocking both men down on their backsides.
Kian put his blade on one man’s throat, Endra did the same to the other. “Take us to the prisoners.”
The guard was too afraid to talk, but he shook his head in agreement until Rhys thought it might come off. The Abberdonian stood up. Kian disarmed him. Endra stripped the other guard of his weapons as well. Rhys had moved the table and was examining the man with the broken pelvis. The Abberdonian was in a great deal of pain. He was pleading for the healer to help him. Kian walked over and plunged Malice in to the man’s chest, ending his life. Rhys looked up at the Half Elf stunned by the swordsman’s callous act. “I’m sorry, but there is no time for that, Rhys.” The healer solemnly lowered his head in agreement.
They walked down the filthy hallway of cells. The place was damp and smelled of urine and feces. A few of the cells were filled with dirty and half-starved prisoners. Kian had the guards set them free. The freed men hurried down the hall elated to be out of the dank prison.
The guards led them to the final cell in the hallway. K’xarr and Cromwell stood looking through the bars, Cromwell was smiling and K’xarr was staring dumbfounded. “I told you the Gods would not let us die in this squalor,” Cromwell said, as he reached out of the bars and grabbed Kian by the shoulders. “You’re a prettier sight than a
Celonian whore. It’s good to see you, Arradar.”
“I would have bet my last copper you were dead,” K’xarr said as Kian opened the cell, letting both men out.
“Endra, may I see your dagger.” K’xarr asked pleasantly. Endra hand him her large hunting knife. K’xarr looked at the knife, then he slit one guard’s throat and plunged the blade into the other man’s crotch, both fell to the floor bleeding profusely. Then the Camiran handed the blade back to Endra. “That’s for the beating and the bad food, you filthy curs.”
“For the love of…” Rhys moaned, surprised by the sudden violence. He looked at the two Abberdonian soldiers and shook his head. There was nothing he could do.
The group started back up the hall. “Where the hell have to you been?” K’xarr asked as he slapped Kian on the back.
K’xarr and Cromwell rearmed themselves with the dead guard’s weapons; neither man looked well. Rhys kept trying to see if they had a fever but both shooed him off.
“This is not a two-handed Toran war sword, but I guess it will do,” Cromwell said as he looked over one of the dead men’s swords.
“It works the same, you stick the pointed end in your enemy, you thick-skulled bull,” K’xarr said grinning.
“The front of the palace is guarded by eight men, they should not be much trouble,” Kian said as he looked up the stairs.
“Wait a second, Kian, didn’t you say you came in the back way?” K’xarr asked as he sheathed the sword he had chosen.
“We did, the guards there are dead. There is no one to fight in back,” Kian said as he looked at the general, confused.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to get out that way? It would be faster and we wouldn’t have to fight?”
Kian thought a moment “Yes, I guess it would.”
K’xarr sighed. “How you managed this without me I will never know.”
Cromwell patted Kian on the back. “I would have gone out the front too.”
Kian looked at Endra, she was trying hard not to laugh.
Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1) Page 51
