Their backs to a fire, K’xarr and Cromwell and a handful of knights faced a large company of Cain’s soldiers. “Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea, Cromwell.”
The Toran felt the edge of his ax. “Well, it was the best one you had today.”
The Asconans that had not been cut off were doing all they could to cut their way to the general and their brother knights. The situation was desperate, but there were just too many of Cain’s Bandarans. That did not stop the knights from fiercely making the attempt to rescue their temporary commander.
K’xarr saw the discipline of the Asconans, they were magnificent warriors, he thought. They fought for him like he was the Grand Master himself. He could not ask for better men, their courage was beyond question, as was their sense of duty, they just didn’t have the numbers.
K’xarr cut down another Bandaran. He could see there was too many of the enemy to break free and the other knights in the garden couldn’t get to them. Their plight was as simple as it was hopeless—being pushed back into the inferno or die at the hands of the Prince’s men. K’xarr decided he wasn’t going to burn.
The Bandarans assault began to break up. K’xarr noticed the men facing him continued to look over their shoulders. He could hear screams and panicked shouts from deep in their ranks. Someone had attack the enemy’s flank hard enough to turn their attention.
In moments K’xarr could see what had happened. A fresh company of Asconans was cutting their way towards him. Cain’s men were parting like the Beast himself was after them. K’xarr saw that was not far from the truth. Kian was with the knights. They had formed a wedge with the swordsman at the front and they were driving their way towards him.
He and Cromwell did their work as well coming at the Bandarans with renewed vigor. Within minutes the reinforcing Asconans had broken though.
K’xarr had them press the attack as more knights poured through the breach in the garden wall to join them.
Kian stood next to them, gasping for air. The swordsman went down on his knees, laying Malice on the ground, he tried to get his breath.
“I thought I told you to stay out of the thick of things?” K’xarr scolded.
“By the Gods, I’m glad he didn’t listen,” Cromwell said.
“I saw you were cut off. I was not going to stand by and watch you both die. Besides I am starting to feel a little better.”
K’xarr helped him to his feet. “You don’t look it.”
K’xarr put Kian’s arm around his neck and help him back towards the garden wall. Sir Ivan was standing at the wall, helmet off, his hair was wet and his armor bloody. “There you are, General. I hope the company I brought helped.”
K’xarr put Kian against the wall and patted him on the shoulder. “It did, Sir Ivan. I think we are starting to drive Cain’s men away from the palace.”
“Then we hold the whole south and East of Turill. I have gotten reports that Prince Cain is holding troops back somewhere. I suggest we regroup and do our best to find them,” Ivan offered.
K’xarr and Sir Ivan spent the next hour recalling the Asconans and the remainder of the Queen’s Bandarans just to the west of the palace. “K’xarr, look isn’t that Rufio coming this way?” Cromwell asked.
K’xarr watch as from the south Rufio and Endra came with what remained of their command.
Rufio was bleeding from a head wound, but he looked like he would live. “You better go find Rhys and get some stitches before you bleed to death,” K’xarr joked.
Rufio shook his head. “Can’t, Cain has gotten around us and is marching south. There aren’t many men between him and the southern gate. The men we left back to defend the Queen will never be able to hold.”
K’xarr seethed with anger. “We need to attack now. He means to take his sister. If he does, this is all for nothing.”
Rufio looked out at the smoke-filled city. “I don’t think we can get to her in time. He leads the bulk of his army and we still have troops scattered throughout the city.”
“General, we can attack with two thousand men now, it’s all we have here. It will at least slow them down,” Sir Ivan said.
“It will take time to cut through their lines, even if we start now, we won’t be able to get to Rhys and the Queen before Cain does. How did that bastard get around us?”
“His men know the city better than we do, General,” Sir Ivan said tight lipped.
K’xarr threw his helmet on the ground, he should have left more men with the Queen. He cursed himself for being so foolish. He didn’t think Cain could out maneuver him. He had wanted to put an end to the arrogant Prince quickly. He thought he could defeat Cain’s army before the Queen would ever be in any danger. He gambled leaving so few men to protect her, and he had lost.
“I will get to her.” Everyone looked across the street. Kian stood on top of a building, the fire from the city making him an eerie shadow.
“Don’t be a fool,” K’xarr shouted.”
“I will try to keep her alive until you come.”
The general watched as the Half Elf began to leap across the rooftops of Turill. Endra screamed out for him to come back, but he was gone into the smoke-filled night.
“Damn you, Kian,” K’xarr said as he kicked his helmet out into the street.
***
Raygan could hear them coming, her face was tear streaked, she had been weeping for her burning city. Now Cain was coming for her. She didn’t care, she would face her death like a Queen. It was Corwin she feared for. Raygan didn’t think Cain would spare her son. Her brother was mad, he would kill them both without hesitation.
“Majesty, you should come into the gatehouse now. The knights will do their best,” Isabella advised. The girl pulled her hair behind her ears, then warily put her arm around Raygan’s shoulders. The little Queen leaned against the younger girl and wiped her eyes.
Two hundred knights ringed the southern gatehouse. She knew they would fight to the death, they were men of honor, she had also kept one hundred of her loyal Bandarans. They would be her last line of defense. They stood the ground just behind the Asconans.
“I know they will do their best to defend me, Isabella. I cannot leave, but you should go, get a horse and ride out now.”
“I will never leave you again, Majesty, I mean… Raygan.” The two young women embraced each other as the sound of the enemy grew closer.
Cain’s soldiers didn’t even notice the Half Elf as he passed above their heads; he moved silently, landing on the rooftops like a cat.
Kian had only left the rooftops twice where the leaps would have been too far for him to make. He was far ahead of Cain’s soldiers now. They moved cautiously through the shadowy streets of Turill, fearful of an unseen attack. He would have plenty of time to get to the Queen.
If K’xarr and Endra thought he would stand by and let Rhys and the Queen die, they were wrong. Better to die with them, than live with that guilt. Rhys had done too much for him and he had made a promise to protect the Queen.
What no one knew was death had ceased to be a fear of his. Sometimes he thought it might even be a blessing. He loved Endra and the children, and he could not ask for better friends than the ones he had, but he felt like he had become a burden to them. The things that had happened to him had changed his life. He was no longer the same warrior that had walked out of the Blue Dagger Mountains. Death surrounded him now, he could feel its hot breath on his neck. The trouble was, it was not his death that followed him. It was the death that he would unleash on any who faced him.
Tavantis had taken more than his heart, he had taken his humanity as well. Sometimes he felt like little more than an animal. He had become a predator, a killer. It was his nature now, his instinct. Kian knew he could not resist it forever. Someday it would come for him, and the man he was would cease to be.
The gatehouse on the southern wall was in sight, not much farther now. He hopped to the next rooftop and slid to an abrupt halt.
The woman in
the black veil barred his way. “No, my minion, you can’t save the day this time, the Queen must die, the fighting must continue until one of my choosing ascends the throne, a man that will honor the Old Gods, and bring back the days of the sword and torch.”
Malice slid from it scabbard without a sound. “Stand aside, Mistress. I do not need your permission to help them.”
“You will do as I say half-breed, you serve me as does Malice. You and it belong to me.”
“I belong to no one and I will never serve evil.” Kian threw the sword at her feet. “Take the bloodthirsty thing. I never asked for it and I don’t need it and know this; I will never kneel to you.”
“Then you must die, you are far too dangerous to be allowed to live and if you won’t serve me I have no choice.” She raised her hands. Kian prepared himself, better dead than in the service of this evil woman, he thought.
The black lightening arched from the Mistress’s hands and struck the swordsman in the chest, blowing him off the rooftop. The Mistress bent down and picked up the sword. “What a shame, it will be hard to find another with such skill.” She looked at the sword and it vanished from her hands to return to its true resting place.
A slight noise made her look up, Kian had jumped back onto the roof. “It seems your magic doesn’t have the same effect on me that it once did.”
The Mistress staggered back a step. “This cannot be, you should be dead, no one can withstand my power.”
He stalked towards, her making a low throaty growl and baring his fangs. Her mind raced, how could he shrug off her power so easily? “The Forever Sea,” she whispered. He rushed towards her and the Queen of the Dead vanished from sight.
Kian dropped to his knees, the pain in his chest was overwhelming. He would have to try and close the door in his mind, but with shutting out the pain came a risk. The chains on the animal inside him would loosen. It was getting harder to keep it under control when he blocked things out. He would just have to try to keep the beast at bay, people were counting on him.
Kian looked back towards the city. Some of Cain’s men had passed his position, he would have to hurry. He staggered to his feet, a couple more jumps and he would be at the gatehouse. He was unarmed and still not fully recovered from the poison, but there was no other choice, he had to go on.
The Asconans held their ground as Cain’s men attacked. Even with the hundred men loyal to the Queen, the enemy was just too many. The brave defenders could not hold. The line was already breaking in some places. Even though Cain could not bring his entire force to bear in the confines of the street, it was enough to do the job. Prince Cain and his best soldiers steadily cut their way toward the gatehouse. They finally broke through the Asconan line near the front of the gatehouse.
Isabella had been watching. When she saw Cain, the girl drew the Phoenix Queen’s sword and stood in the doorway of the gatehouse. Raygan reached to stop her, but the former handmaiden would have none of it. “Bella, no, get back in here.” The girl ignored the Queen’s plea and stood her ground.
The Prince pushed past the men fighting around the gatehouse. He saw the blonde girl with sword in hand at the door of the small building. He laughed. “Are you going to let your handmaiden do your fighting for you, Sister?” Isabella lunged at the Prince, he spun away from her thrust, when he came back around, he severed the young girl’s hand. Sword and hand fell to the ground. Isabella grabbed the stump of her arm, staring at it in disbelief.
The Prince kicked her hard in the chest, sending her backwards into the stone wall of the gatehouse. Isabella laid still, blood pumping from her gory stump.
“Who’s the next to die for you, little whore? Come out here and face me.”
Rhys stepped out of the doorway. He was holding a sword with one hand and keeping the Queen back behind him with the other.
“First a handmaiden, now a healer? I thought you had better allies than that, Sister.”
“Don’t harm him, Cain, or I swear by God…”
The Prince didn’t let his sister finish her oath.
“You will do nothing,” he screamed. “You are finally out of tricks, Sister. After I gut this fool, I am going to strangle you with my bare hands.”
The Prince heard something land softly beside him. The color drained from his face and fear seized him. He was staring into the cold golden eyes of the half-breed swordsman.
“If you wish to fight, Highness, fight me,” Kian growled through clenched teeth.
The Prince turned and ran back to his troops, who were trying to finish the last of the Asconans.
Kian took the long sword Rhys was holding. “I think I will take that from you, my friend. You should help the girl.”
Rhys gave Kian the sword, then he drug Isabella inside the gatehouse with the Queen.
The few Asconans who were left fell back. They formed a small line on either side of the half-breed. The Prince and his men were frozen by the moment, unsure what to do.
Kian looked at the long sword in his hand and thought of his mother and Gildor and all the hate that had been heaped on him his entire life. The chains that held the animal shattered.
A fire began to burn in his dragon heart, the black blood in his veins felt like it was boiling. His strength was returning. His vision blurred and the swordsman waded into Prince Cain’s men.
He let out all the pain, all the agony and disappointment he had ever endured. He used it to fuel his weakened body much like the Viborg Berserkers of the Harsh Coast. The rage inside him became a living thing.
Every swing of his blade killed a man; they went down before him one on top of the other. Time ceased. Had he killed ten men or a hundred? Maybe it was a thousand, it didn’t matter. He had freed the thing inside him, and it would not be stopped.
***
K’xarr and Sir Ivan lead a swift attack against Cain’s flank. The enemy’s lines seemed in disarray, some of the soldiers were headed north, some south. The confusion made their superior numbers useless. The Prince’s men seemed to be confused and unsure of which way they should attack. K’xarr pressed the assault, he needed to take advantage of the enemy’s disorganization while he could. Cain’s soldiers were having trouble forming ranks in the confines of the city, as the Asconans knifed through their ranks. K’xarr could hear their officers screaming out conflicting commands: move forward, fall back, and retreat. It sounded like none of the enemy was sure what they should do. The young general smiled grimly. Kian had to be at the heart of Cain’s men’s uncertainty. The swordsman had tipped the scales again.
Cain had pushed through his troops away from the demon swordsmen and the carnage at the gatehouse. Duke Blackthorn urged Cain to reengage, but the King wouldn’t budge. “Majesty, you must get back to the front, your withdrawal has confused the troops.”
“Let the men fight that thing, after they kill it, I will have my sister.”
The duke had lost his patience and his temper got the better of him. “You little fool, K’xarr has attacked our flank. We must get the lines turned around, forget your sister for now, your throne hangs in the balance, what is more important?”
Cain turned and rammed his sword into William Blackthorn’s belly. “I am King, I say what is important and what is not.”
Blackthorn fell to the ground, staring at the young monarch. The Prince had gone completely mad. Cain walked away from him without a backwards glance. This whole battle had gone wrong. The best thing he could do was to try to find a battle surgeon. William began to crawl away, holding his belly as the sounds of battle grew louder.
Kian fought on, among a sea of dead bodies. They were stacked as high as his knees in front of the gatehouse. He fell and tripped over them even with his inhuman balance.
The poison that was still in his system had caused him to reach the limits of his endurance. Yet, he fought on. He was on his knees now wallowing in the carnage. The enemy came at him slowly and very timid but they still came.
Rhys and the Queen watched
as he fought. The Half Elf’s muscles shook with exhaustion and the speed of his blade was near that of a normal human. The healer knew Kian couldn’t last much longer. “Raygan, I love you. I have since the day I first saw you. Forgive me, but I can’t stand here and watch this anymore.”
“No, Rhys. You’ll be killed.” The Queen grabbed his arm, but the healer pulled away from her. “Stay with Isabella. I have done what I can for her.” Picking up a fallen sword he went to stand with his friend.
Kian heard him and turned, looking at Rhys through the blood-soaked hair that hung in his face. “Get back inside, Rhys, you can do no good out here.” The swordsman growled. The healer thrust his sword wildly at the enemy troops doing the best he could to try and defend the Half Elf.
A spear flew through the air, hitting the young healer in the hip. He fell to the ground, clutching the wound.
Kian surged to his feet and stood over the fallen healer. He looked like a nightmare covered in the viscera of his enemies.
“You shall not have this man,” he said coldly looking into the eyes of bewildered soldiers. None of them had even heard of what they were witnessing here.
Kian dropped to one knee, his legs were weary, but the dragon heart still beat strong in his chest. He forced himself to stand on shaking legs. “I will kill every one of you if I must, before I let you have these people.”
The soldiers could see Kian was growing weak, the last of the men that had helped defend the Queen were dead and the Half Elf stood alone now. As they were about to attack, a great shout startled them. It had come from the heart of the city. A beast had awoken. The people of Turill were coming to save the Queen.
Thousands of citizens, with everything from hammers to pitchforks, butcher knives to hunting bows, came charging from the Great Market. The howling mob came on the run. They flew into Cain’s army like an angry wind. Twenty thousand strong. Men and women alike had heard of Queen’s plight and meant to change it.
Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1) Page 61
