Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1)

by A. J. STRICKLER

  The Abberdonians had gathered up their broken King and fallen Princes and headed back to the city proper. They were finished for this day. He had shaken the Abberdonian’s nerve. The Half-breed had given the Abberdonians a banquet serving them sorrow and despair. They would not soon forget what had happened here today.

  The rain began to fall hard again. The bloody swordsman walked out into the downpour and tried to let it wash him clean.

  ***

  The Queen sat in an uncomfortable chair, much too large for her. The quarters she had chosen to make her own during her stay at Castle Blackthorn were as dreadful as Duke Blackthorn himself. Raygan hummed as she rocked the young Prince. The baby sleepily smiled up at her.

  The sun had gone down but the rain still fell. Winter was at an end, she thought. Spring had arrived, and it would be nice to be in Turill and sit beneath the trees of her garden with Corwin and watch the birds. She had begun to believe that returning to Turill was just a dream. It was a wonderful one though. Much better than awful reality she had to face.

  “Majesty, did you hear what I just told you?” K’xarr asked.

  Raygan gazed out the window, not looking at her general. “I did, Kian, cut the Princes’ heads off and threw them at their father. Yes, General I heard. It was a dreadful and ghastly act.”

  K’xarr walked around so she had to look at him. “That’s not exactly what I said, but you get the idea. Kian has bought us time and changed the course of this siege. Havalon has pulled all his troops back into the town.”

  The Queen stroked her baby’s hair. Corwin was a Prince too. How would she feel if she was in the King of Abberdon’s shoes? “He slaughtered two Princes, General K’xarr. I had met them both, you know, they were young and of royal blood. I just wish there had been another way.”

  K’xarr turned her chair away from the window so it faced him. “Royal or not, they were our enemies, Majesty, they would have taken your Kingdom, maybe your life and the life of the little Prince there, isn’t that what your precious nobles do when they take a Kingdom, murder its former rulers?”

  The Queen did not answer. “I don’t understand you, Majesty, not one damned bit.”

  The Queen looked down. “You’re not royalty, K’xarr, you wouldn’t understand. There are ways things should be done.”

  K’xarr knew his anger was going to get the better of him, his head was ready to explode. The Queen just did not understand what had been done this day and the price Kian had paid. It was be best if he left before he made her understand. “May I be dismissed, Highness?”

  Raygan nodded just as a knock came at the door of her room. “Enter,” she said.

  One of the guards K’xarr had assigned to her stepped in. “There is a man to see you, Highness, he said it’s of the upmost importance.”

  She motioned with her hand. “See him in.”

  K’xarr’s hand instinctively went to his sword hilt. The man came into the room. He was dressed in full plate armor but not the kind for show or parades, it was fine steel, but dull and unpolished, true battle armor. The knight was wet and mud-splattered from the road. He knelt before the Queen. “Majesty, I’m Sir Ivan Rusgule. I have a message for you.” He handed the Queen a scroll tube, it too was wet from the rain.

  She pulled a piece of parchment out and quickly read it. She looked up at K’xarr. “It’s from Ansellus, the Asconans are two days away.”

  King Havalon had his sons placed on tables in his pavilion. He had bid his surgeon reattach the boys’ heads to their bodies. The physician had done the best he could, but he could see the gruesome stiches that held the Princes’ heads in place. The King sat and stared at their cold pale faces.

  He had personally washed them and combed their hair, just like when they were children. Then he covered each one of them with an Abberdonian flag. The war meant nothing to him now, Abberdon meant nothing. The future of his Kingdom was gone. The world was empty without his sons. The monster had been right. Even if he defeated the Bandarans now, it would be an empty victory. The devil half-breed had cut out his soul when he took his boys’ lives. Only death could take the pain away now. In the flickering torch light the King put his face in his hands and wept.

  ***

  “Brigitte, get down, please dear, I don’t want you to fall.” Endra looked at Rhys for help. The surgeon only shrugged.

  Kian walked through the curtain that separated his daughter’s room from the rest of the abbey. The baby had climbed on top of a cabinet Rhys was using to store supplies.

  “Is that what you named her?” Kian asked.

  Endra turned around, she wore a simple gown, her hair was down, and her eyes were bright. She smiled at him and he felt some of his guilt ease. He had done what he had to do, but he still felt shame. The animal inside had got the better of him.

  “Yes, it was my mother’s name. I hope its okay.”

  “It is a fine name.” Kian looked at the little girl on top of the cabinet. She sat looking at her mother, dangling one leg over the edge of the cabinet. There was no fear in her eyes, in fact she seemed content. “What happened to all her body hair?” he asked.

  “It just fell out,” Rhys said. “I think it was a natural thing for her. Like a child’s umbilical cord falling off. I don’t believe the hair will grow back, but then again when it comes to your daughter, what do I really know?”

  Kian walked over to the cabinet, Brigitte jump down into his arms. Endra gasped and Rhys chuckled.

  “She seems to know her father. We’ve been trying to get her down from there for an hour,” the healer said.

  Endra frowned. “Does she not like me?” The child began to purr softly in Kian’s arms, his heart lightened for the first time in a long while. “I’m sure she loves you. We played while you slept; perhaps she wishes to do so again?”

  Endra stood beside him and stroked the little girl’s long soft hair. “I think she is her father’s daughter.”

  Rhys came closer and stared at the fascinating child. “That may be true in more ways than one. I do know she is much more advanced than a human child and not just physically. I believe she understands some of what is being said around her in a very rudimentary way. This may be all do to the magic that was cast on Kian or perhaps the combination of Endra’s unnatural blood and the sorcery used by your brother. There is just no way to know. Either way your daughter is healthy and beautiful, as well as being quite unique.”

  Kian held her above his head, making the child smile. “You are safe little one. The Abberdonians will not hurt you now.”

  Endra looked at Rhys, then back at Kian. “What did you do?”

  Kian handed the little girl to Endra and she wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck and closed her eyes. “I protected my family.”

  Endra’s heart swelled at the sound of that. Kian felt that she and her children were his. She didn’t care what he had done. He did it to protect them, that’s all that really mattered. She fell into his arms, and he held her as he watched his new daughter sleep in her mother’s arms.

  After Kian had left, Rhys watched Endra with the child, they seemed content and he hated to dampen the moment, but it had to be done. “Endra, I have check Brigitte’s blood.”

  “Is it … like mine?”

  “It is, I think the condition is passed on through birth, just like with your other children. I am still doing some tests, but I don’t think the black blood is harmful in anyway. It may even be beneficial.” Endra sighed and looked at her little girl. The color of blood didn’t matter to her. Brigitte was her daughter and she loved her, if the fates wanted to tie her children to her through their blood, then so be it.

  ***

  Two days later K’xarr and the Queen watch from the walls as fifty thousand Asconan knights rode towards Braxton Bluff. It was the only knight order on the middle continent that didn’t serve the Church.

  Ascona was a military state that was led by a Knight Grand Master. Their current leader was a knight by the
name of Eldon Cross, an old friend of Ansellus’s.

  “I don’t understand why that fool Havalon isn’t falling back or trying to turn and fight. He had to have reports that the Asconans were coming,” K’xarr said.

  “He just lost two sons, General. I don’t think he cares.”

  K’xarr looked at the somber Abberdonian camp. “He will care, Majesty. I can promise you that.”

  The Queen received Ansellus in what Duke Blackthorn used as his council chamber. It was much smaller than the council room in her palace, but it would do. She smiled at Ansellus as he came into the room. The general gave her one in return. The Bandaran General was not alone; he had the Grand Master of Ascona with him. The leader of the Asconan knights was well over six feet tall and his hair was more grey than black. He was older but still looked strong enough to brain an ox.

  He was dressed in the same armor as the man who delivered the message. Battle armor is what K’xarr had called it. Whatever the name, it was not very attractive. The only difference from the other knight’s attire was the Grand Master wore a gold chain around his neck. It bore the symbol of the Asconan knights, a horse’s head over crossed lances.

  Ansellus cleared his throat. “Majesty, let me present Grand Master Eldon Cross.”

  The knight gave a slight bow to Raygan.

  “I didn’t expect you to come in person, Grand Master Cross.”

  “Majesty, I never miss a good fight and King Havalon and I are not friends. I have met him on two occasions and I didn’t like him either time, and please call me Eldon, Majesty.”

  Raygan was taken aback by his familiar manner, but it seemed genuine. “Well, let me say your help is greatly appreciated and will not be forgotten, Grand Master Cross.

  “Well, fill us in on what has happened since I left starting, with why you are in Braxton Bluff,” Ansellus said pulling out a chair for himself and the master knight.

  Raygan sighed. “Let me see, where to begin?”

  ***

  When she had finished, Ansellus and Eldon just looked at each other. “Highness, I don’t know what to say other than you have endured a difficult and unusual winter. We will drive Havalon out of Bandara, though I pity him now, both sons dead. No man should have the terrible duty of burying his sons.” The two men stood up. “I assume you want me to take command of the army, Majesty?” Ansellus asked.

  Raygan fidgeted in her seat. She wanted to have Ansellus take command of what little army she had left, he was safe and he knew how to behave in a courtly fashion, but K’xarr and his companions had bled for her and her Kingdom. How could she relive the Camiran of his command? It didn’t seem right, even if she seldom agreed with his barbaric methods.

  “No, Ansellus, I want you to stay close to me as my advisor, let K’xarr take care of what is left of my army.”

  “As you wish, Majesty. I must say the young man has kept you alive this far. I will not deny him that.”

  Raygan stood. “Now gentlemen, I must see to my son.”

  May I have a look at the future King, if it’s alright, Highness?” Ansellus asked.

  “Of course, Lord Fox, he needs to meet all his allies, would you like to see my son, Grand Master Cross?”

  “Eldon, please Majesty, and yes I never miss a chance to meet a future King.

  The Queen sent word to King Havalon that she would wait three more days for him to mourn his sons then he could either lower his flags and be escorted out of Bandara by the Asconans or he could prepare his army for battle.

  The King still held the message in his hand. He stood between the bodies of his sons, he had not been able to bring himself to bury them yet. There was really no decision to make, he would not go back to his county in disgrace or without his boys. He bid his men to fill the royal pavilion with wood and whatever they could find that would burn. The old King softly kissed each of his sons on the forehead. Then he put a torch to his grand pavilion and watched as his legacy turned to smoke.

  There was no need to wait three days. When the fire died, the King sent a runner to the castle to tell the Bandarans his men would be deployed in the fields outside the city by morning, and he would await the Queen’s army.

  K’xarr had insisted that the six hundred Bandarans that were left be allowed to ride with the Asconans. Eldon Cross balked at first, citing that his men had been disciplined to certain commands and the Bandarans didn’t know them and they might get in his knights’ way. However in the end, he yielded to the Queen’s general. Cross liked K’xarr, much to the surprise of Ansellus and the Queen. The Grand Master told them he admired the man’s boldness and his courage.

  The Queen and Isabella stood on the wall, watching the armies prepare. Kian, Endra, and Rhys joined her. “Endra, I am so sorry I have not seen your daughter yet, Rhys said she was something to behold.”

  “Oh yes, Majesty, she is something alright.” Endra answered ,grinning at Rhys.

  Raygan turn to Kian. She didn’t like talking to him, but she was curious. “May I ask you a question, Kian?”

  “You may ask me anything you like, Your Majesty.”

  “Why aren’t you with K’xarr and Rufio, even Cromwell is down there, despite the wounds he received defending the gate.”

  “General K’xarr has told me on many occasions. I’m no soldier, Majesty.”

  Raygan was very leery of the Half Elf and did not press the matter. It was best he was not out there, she thought. A shiver shook her at the thought of what he had done to Donovan and Griffyn. K’xarr was right. Kian was no soldier, he was a killer. Despite the fact he had saved her life and defended her against the Abberdonians, she still feared the swordsman and the devil that lived inside him.

  Eldon Cross had brought fifteen thousand knights with him, the rest of the fifty thousand Asconans were heavy infantry and archers. All of them wore plate armor, even the archers sported plate armor, except on their shoulders and arms.

  The Asconan knights lowered their lances around noon and crashed against the Abberdonian line like a steel wave.

  King Havalon watched solemnly as his army was cut to pieces.

  The Knights of Ascona controlled their warhorses like they were born on them, turning and wheeling them, charging the Abberdonians’ lines over and over. Mud flew from the horse’s hoofs and the screams of the dying filled the air.

  After the fifth charge by the battle-hardened knights, Grand Master Cross sent in his heavy infantry. The battle-weary Abberdonians fought as best they could, but they were defeated before the battle had ever begun. Kian had killed them and their King when he beheaded the two Princes. Their resolve was gone and they had no will to fight on.

  Havalon stood sword in hand, as the army he had been so proud of was sundered. “Turn and meet you fate, old man.” Havalon looked over to see the huge Toran he had imprisoned in Turill coming towards him with a bloody ax in his hand.

  “If you wish to end my misery, savage, then I offer you the chance.” The King swung his sword at the giant of a man only to have the blow turned aside by the barbarian’s daunting ax. The huge savage traded blows with the old King. Time after time, sparks flew from ax and sword in a barrage of deadly strikes. Havalon knew he could not stand against the might of the Toran’s hammering attacks, but he intended to make the brute work for the privilege of killing a King. For what seemed like eternity, the Abberdonian King fought off the powerful man’s ferocious assault. For a moment he felt young, he was once again the warrior he had been so many years ago. The great ax whistled at his head the old King raised his blade and blocked the titanic blow, but the Toran’s strength knocked his sword from his hand. The big man kicked him to the ground. It was over. He felt himself being pulled up to kneel before his killer. “Die in the mud on your knees, King of Dung.” The Toran’s words meant nothing to him. He would see his sons soon, he smiled.

  King Havalon Taylin, warrior King of Abberdon fell beneath Cromwell’s ax late in the afternoon. After that it was a rout. By nightfall thousands of Ab
berdonians lay dead in the fields near Braxton Bluff. The crows feasted well and the God of War was pleased.

  Chapter 31

  Queen Raygan had ordered the remaining Abberdonian prisoners set free, provided they surrendered their weapons and swore to peacefully return home.

  Ansellus and Eldon both felt they would do no mischief on the march back to Abberdon, they were defeated men. There was nothing left for them in Bandara, not even their pride.

  The Abberdonians would also be followed by a company of Asconan knights to make sure they kept their oath.

  The three watched as what remained of the enemy soldiers trudged back north with their heads down, they had lost the war and their King. The defeat would haunt them forever.

  Eldon Cross shook his head in pity. “Havalon’s brother Hakan will be the only happy man in Abberdon when they return. With both Princes dead, the Kingdom will be his now. Havalon was at least a man of honor, Hakan is little better than a rat. I fear you haven’t seen the last of the Abberdonians, Majesty.”

  “Well Grand Master Cross, I think it will be sometime before he will be able to convince his generals to invade Bandara again.”

  The Master Knight nodded his agreement.

  “I would like to hear the tale they tell when they return to their homes and families,” Ansellus added.

  “They will be afraid of us now,” the Queen said, almost to herself.

  “General K’xarr and his companions have seen to that, Majesty. At least the neighboring Kingdoms will not think the young Bandaran Queen is easy prey. The drawback is they will be very suspicious of you, and God only knows what the Church will do,” Cross pointed out.

  The little Queen straightened her back. “I’m not truly Queen yet. I received word my brother controls Turill now and has reclaimed the throne, proclaiming himself King.”

  Ansellus looked concerned. “When did you hear that?”

  “The day after the battle, a courier arrived with a message from Cain, he wants to meet with me in Turill in ten days.”

  “That gives us little time to get started. That is, if you plan to go? In my opinion it would be a mistake. Cain might try to imprison you or worse, Majesty. He needs you out of the way now. You’re the only thing that will keep him from consolidating his rule. It would be very dangerous to confront him.” Raygan could see Ansellus was troubled by Cain’s invitation.