Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1)

by A. J. STRICKLER

  “Kill him then and let’s go,” Cromwell said.

  Kian looked at the circle and saw Endra standing there. He walked over to the defeated man, just as Talorn wrapped his hand around his sword’s hilt. The Half Elf stepped on the blade so the knight couldn’t pick it up.

  The Bandaran Lord looked up at him and Kian struck him in the face hard enough to knock the knight unconscious.

  Cromwell shook his head at the swordsman as he picked up the Bandaran general up like a sack of grain. “I will see he is taken to the Queen when we find out where she is,” the big man said.

  The Half Elf nodded his agreement.

  “If you would have killed him we could have just left him here,” the Toran muttered as he walked past Kian.

  The circle started to disperse. Endra pushed passed the men until she was beside her lover.

  Endra grabbed Kian by the back of his head and kissed him hard on the mouth, both could taste the salty blood that had splattered on their lips. “What was that for?” Kian asked surprised by Endra’s actions.

  “That was for showing everyone that there is mercy in your heart.” Kian looked at the ground, a little embarrassed by her praise.

  “It is what I thought you would do.”

  Endra raised her eyebrows. “No, my love, you are wrong. I would have killed that arrogant bastard.”

  ***

  The city had exploded and the Asconans poured in from the south and Cain’s army, led by Lord Fox and Lord Bradford, came into the city from the north gate. When night fell, the city was split in half with Cain’s forces on the Northside of Turill and Raygan’s on the Southside. The Queen herself was in the southern gatehouse. Ansellus and K’xarr thought it best not to try and occupy the palace just yet. The soldiers of both armies were still outside in the streets, both afraid an attack could come at any time. “This is just what I didn’t want, K’xarr, war inside my city,” the Queen said.

  “It’s good to hear you call it your city, Majesty, but there is no choice now, you will have to fight, unless you want to ride away and leave Turill to the Prince.”

  Raygan’s expression was hard and steadfast. “I’m committed to taking the city now. I would never leave Turill in the hands of my brother. I would die first.”

  “We will try to see that it doesn’t come to that, Majesty. Now I must go see our new allies. I didn’t get a chance to talk with them earlier.”

  “Yes, the … witch Scarlett was very kind to me, but if they help us, it will only cause more trouble with the Church. I think we should only ask for their help if we can find no other way to win ourselves. I have also spoken with Sir Ivan, as you know he commands the Asconans, he said he wants to talk with you so a plan of action can be decided on. I told him Ansellus should join you as well. He knows the city as well as anyone.”

  K’xarr fought hard not to grin. The little woman would be a hardened monarch before she was seventeen if this war went on much longer. “Fine, I will see them after I speak with the witches. Kian and Endra will see to your safety until I can assign a personal guard to you. We can’t have anything happening to the Phoenix of Bandara, now can we.” K’xarr turned to go then stopped and faced the Queen again. “By the way, Highness, we still have your husband held prisoner, do you want him released?”

  “No, leave him where he is. I could not bear to listen any of his self-righteous sermons right now.”

  K’xarr did grin then. “As you wish, Majesty.”

  “Oh, and General would you send Rhys in with Kian and Endra?”

  “Of course, Highness.”

  K’xarr walked into the mouth of an alley where the two witches hid in the shadows. “Scarlett, I’m surprised to see you after last we spoke.”

  “I couldn’t stand by and let this happen.”

  K’xarr looked at her confused. “What do you mean, let what happen?”

  “I can’t explain, can’t you just be grateful for our help?”

  “That I am. Who is you friend? She wasn’t with you last time you were here.”

  Scarlett put her hand on the woman’s shoulder. “This is Gabrielle, she too is a witch.”

  K’xarr gave a very slight bow.

  The woman wore a black lacy grown similar to Scarlett’s. She had very dark hair and dark eyes, maybe thirty years old, K’xarr guessed. She looked a great deal like that bitch Raven K’xarr thought, but Gabrielle’s features were softer, giving her a kinder appearance. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, milady.”

  “The pleasure is mine, General K’xarr.” Her voice was velvety and made K’xarr think of what the woman would be like in his bed. Perhaps it was his imagination, but she seemed to look at him with a longing in her eyes. Scarlett broke the mood. “We must go, K’xarr. I’m sorry but if Raven finds out, she will cause more trouble for all of us than Prince Cain ever could.

  “I know how Raven is, if you must go, go with my thanks. We can handle things here.”

  Both women kissed him on the cheeks at the same time. “May the Gods be with you, K’xarr Strom,” Scarlett said.

  “A pleasure meeting you, Gabrielle. Perhaps we will see each other again?”

  She looked at him as if she knew him forever and put her hand on his cheek. “ I assure you we will see each other again, General.” She stepped back beside Scarlett, and then they were gone.

  ***

  Zachariah had lain on the rooftop all night under several dirty potato sacks. It was too dark during the night to take a shot at the Queen. There had been no moon and he had to be sure of his aim. Now that the sun was rising, he wouldn’t miss, he never did. It was Tavantis he was worried about. He had decided he would kill the Queen first, then go after the assassin before that devil could come for him.

  He rested the special crossbow on the edge of the roof. He had it made in the city beyond the Black Gate. It was one of a kind. It had three bows stacked one on top of the other and three triggers. It could fire three individual bolts or three simultaneously. Zachariah only used it on special occasions. He thought killing a Queen was special enough.

  The sly assassin had dipped all three of the bolts in poison. The first in poison from the Sidian swamp, Viper; the second in a thick syrup made from the red seeds of the finch bane plant; and the third, a concoction made from spider moss.

  All three were very deadly and usually killed quickly. Zachariah was confident the poison would not be needed, his marksmanship was uncanny, but it was always smart to be sure.

  Raygan walked out of the gatehouse with Kian and Endra. She stretched her arms over her head, her sleep had been fitful. The sun rise was beautiful though. She wondered what it would be like to wake up feeling happy and safe again. The Queen stood in the rays of the morning sun, enjoying a few moments alone before her son woke up.

  She felt a hard shove and found herself on the ground with Endra on top of her. “Are you alright, Majesty?” Endra asked, looking around still shielding the Queen’s small frame with her body.

  “Yes, at least I was until you pushed me down.”

  Both women looked at Kian, he held a crossbow bolt in each hand, a third was buried in his body just below his sternum. He winced in pain and toppled to the ground.

  “Rhys.” Both women screamed at once.

  Chapter 32

  We found nothing, K’xarr, the assassins must have gotten back behind Cain’s lines.”

  “It matter’s little now, Cromwell, Kian saved her, as long as she is alive we have reason to fight.” K’xarr paced back and forth near the southern gatehouse. It was a small building, but well fortified. It was still the best place to keep Raygan. If things went bad, she could quickly be ushered out the southern gate. Even though the assassins knew where she was now, it would be more risky to try moving her through the city to another location.

  K’xarr believed Cain would not wait long to move against them. He just wished he knew where the Prince’s men would attack first. “They will come at us soon, Cromwell. Are the men ready?”r />
  “As ready as they can be, the Asconans are good fighting men, but without their horses they lose a great deal of their strength. Their true power is in the charge of their heavy cavalry.”

  “They will just have to make do,” K’xarr said. The Camiran could tell Cromwell’s mood was sour, but there were things that had to be done. He didn’t have time to worry about the Toran’s melancholy temperament. “Where are the men positioned now?” the general asked.

  “We have made a rough line across the city just south of the palace, but the fighting will be house to house, building to building, it’s going to be a bloody affair, General.”

  K’xarr slapped Cromwell on the back. “Find Rufio and Sir Ivan, tell them to be ready for anything. I’m going to check on Kian, then I will join you.”

  Cromwell shook his head. “He still lives?”

  K’xarr nodded his head.

  “He is a true warrior, and now he will die for his beliefs and it shames me.”

  “Why the hell would his overblown sense of honor shame you?”

  Cromwell’s eyes were downcast. He looked like a child who had failed at his studies. “It grieves me to say it, but I fight to heap glory on my name so bards will sing songs about me. When I’m dead I want the Gods to know that Cromwell Blood was a great warrior. I have always believed this was what a warrior should be.

  “We Torans speak of honor, but now I think few of us really know the meaning of it. Kian lives it, K’xarr. He cares little for glory or fame. Sometime I think he does not even care if anyone knows about the heroic things he has done. He protects the weak, when my instinct is to prey upon them. When he kills a man, his reasons are pure. Kian is a true warrior, K’xarr, he will see Vinteytium. This I know.”

  “If there is such a place, I’m sure Kian will go there, now stop brooding on it. Rhys might save him yet. He has saved people close to death before, we both have seen that and that half-breed is no normal man. I say he still might have a chance.”

  Cromwell swung his ax up on his shoulder. “I will pray to Fane to aid Rhys,” Cromwell said as he trotted off to find Rufio.

  K’xarr watched him go. Cromwell was right, he mused. Kian fought without thought of glory or personal gain, but without either of the two K’xarr saw little point in fighting at all. He would not have stepped in front of those arrows. Not on instinct anyway.

  Kian and Cromwell’s lofty ideas of honor and morality were for dreamers. In war there were only those who lived and those who died, and the dead cared nothing about honor. If there was a silver city for fallen warriors like Cromwell said, victory is what would get a man through its gates, not honor. The grim Camiran tightened his sword belt and started for the gatehouse to see what Rhys had accomplished with Kian.

  K’xarr brushed passed the Queen who was silently weeping in the doorway of the small stone gatehouse. He patted her on the back as he passed. She said nothing, but her red swollen eyes spoke of what her heart felt.

  Endra sat by the cot where Kian lay. She squeezed his hand as the Half Elf convulsed and shook. The cot he was laying on quivered violently when he thrashed about. He was covered in sweat and his teeth chattered between each convulsion. K’xarr watched as Kian’s muscles twisted beneath the skin when he seized. It was an unpleasant sight to witness.

  The half-breed cried out, his back arching and arms flailing. Endra tried to hold him down, but it was a daunting task. Even in this condition the swordsman possessed inhuman strength. K’xarr had seen few men in this kind of pain and the ones he had were not his friends. Endra looked at him as she tried to hold Kian still. K’xarr could see in her eyes that she craved his help. “He is dying,” she said, as if the actuality of it was inconceivable to her. The general said nothing; there was no comfort he could offer her.

  Rhys motioned for K’xarr to step outside with him. The day had grown overcast and cool, but Rhys was sweating. He wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. It was easy to see he was irritated and gravely concerned. “I don’t know what else I can do, K’xarr. If I knew what poison it was, maybe then I could do something. The truth is he should already be dead. Whatever is keeping him alive must have something to do with what his brother did to him.”

  “Can’t you use you power? I have seen you heal wounds that should not be healed.”

  Rhys hung his head. “I would if I could. Kian is not like other people, and poison is much different than a sickness or injury. Besides his body seems to try and resist my power. The truth is I don’t know how to use my skills to help him.”

  “What you are saying? Is he’s going to die?”

  Rhys took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “Yes, K’xarr. I’m afraid he is and he is suffering. It would be better if it was quick.” Rhys looked at K’xarr as if he were shocked by what he had just said. “I want to help him, but I just…” The surgeon slammed his fist into the palm of his hand.

  K’xarr put his hand on the healer’s shoulder “I know you have done what you can, everyone knows.” K’xarr said looking back at the gatehouse. Stay out here and get some air. I want to say my goodbyes alone.”

  Rhys nodded. K’xarr went back into the gatehouse and bid Endra and the Queen to give him a moment with Kian alone. Both reluctantly stepped out, leaving the two men alone.

  The two women joined Rhys outside, both looked very tired to the healer. “What is K’xarr doing?” Raygan asked.

  Rhys could not look in either woman in the eye. He was afraid they would see the guilt on his face and guess what he had suggested to K’xarr. He would have given the Half Elf peace himself if he could have. Killing was not it his nature even if it was a mercy. K’xarr could do it, of that Rhys had no doubt.

  “Rhys, I said what is K’xarr doing?” the Queen asked again.

  “He’s going to help Kian. He is the only one who can now.”

  K’xarr sat down in the chair Endra had occupied. Kian’s eyes rolled over to look at him. “We need to talk, my friend,” K’xarr said harshly.

  Kian’s arched up off the cot again and K’xarr pushed him back down hard on to the little bed. “Stop it, damn you. Are you going to lay here like a weakling and let a little poison kill you?”

  Kian looked at K’xarr. The Camiran could see the anger in the Half Elf’s eyes. It was just what he wanted.

  “Rhys thinks it would be better if I killed you quickly and ended your suffering. He said you should already be dead, why aren’t you, Kian?”

  “Think about what that might mean.” Kian’s back arched as his muscles contorted again. K’xarr slammed his body back down on the cot nearly breaking the legs off it.

  “I will tell you what it means. It tells me you can survive the poison. Whatever is inside you is fighting it. Now you inhuman bastard, grit your teeth and go to war. You can beat this. If you couldn’t, it would have already killed you. I need that sword arm of yours now more than ever. Are you going to let me down when everything we have fought for hangs in the balance?”

  Kian’s lips quivered, he was trying to speak but K’xarr didn’t wait. “Endra, Cromwell, Rhys, the Queen, your children, they are all counting on you. This whole city is counting on you, it’s you who can make the difference between victory and defeat, just like at Braxton Bluff.

  “Kian, you have carried us this far, I know that. Carry us the rest of the way. You can get up and help us or you can lay here and die, it is up to you. I thought you were many things, but I never thought you were a coward.”

  K’xarr watched as Kian tried to speak. The muscles in his jaws were just too tight to allow it. “Don’t fail us Kian, not now.”

  K’xarr turned and walked out. He hoped Cromwell was right about what kind of man Kian was, and he hoped he was right about the poison. It was a gamble.

  Rhys said the poison had not killed him like it should have. Then maybe due to his enhanced constitution he was just sick, and the poison would pass through him without being fatal. If not, he had just been very cruel to a dying frien
d.

  “Will he live, Mother?” The Mistress and Syann stood atop the gatehouse eavesdropping on K’xarr’s conversation. She had made herself and her daughter unseen to the humans. “It is possible, I’m … unsure.”

  Syann looked at her mother in surprise. “Unsure? Does he not belong to you?”

  The Goddess of the Dead paced the rooftop. “Something has happened, the creature has transcended what is natural to this world. Perhaps between what his irksome brother has done and me allowing him to possess Malice for so long, we have caused something to exist in this world that should not exist. The Forever Sea flows in his veins. Inside him is a darkness he can never rid himself of.”

  Syann shook her blonde head. “What does that even mean, Mother? I don’t understand.”

  The Mistress smiled beneath her veil. “He is dammed, my dear, his existence is unnatural and unprecedented, as to your question if he will live, I don’t know, for I no long know what he is.”

  Endra started to go back into the gatehouse, Rhys and the Queen following her. K’xarr stopped them. He took Endra by the shoulders and looked the woman in the eyes. “Wait, give him a few moments alone.”

  Endra pushed his arms off her shoulders and tried to walk past. K’xarr grabbed her around the waist and held her back.

  “What are you doing?” Rhys said.

  “I said no one goes in there, just wait.”

  Endra struggled to break free of the general’s grasp. “Let me go, he has little time left, you bastard.” K’xarr refused to let go of the thrashing woman.

  “Kian is dying, why are you doing this?” Endra said as she fought to break free.

  “Let her go, K’xarr, what does it matter now, you did what you had to do,” Rhys sadly said.