DAWN OF THE PHOENIX Read online

  “I grew to love the old man. He had taught me everything I know right there in that little valley. It was a beautiful place, nothing like Thieves Port. My old home was becoming just a memory. I hadn’t forgotten the family I had left behind and thought of them often, but the sword had become my here and now. The years seemed to pass by one after the other and before I knew it, I was twenty-five.

  “I could hold my own with Gildor now. At thirty, I was beating him about half the time. By the time I reached fifty, I could beat the old man easily every time we sparred.

  “One day after I had finished my morning swim in the lake, I got out of the water and sat down in the grass beneath the tree where I had first seen Gildor. I remember the air was cool and I was unhappy because I knew the approach of winter would end my morning swims.

  “The old man called me to the house. I went into the cabin, and this elven longsword lay on the table. He had me pull the blade out and I held it up in the fire light. He told me it was the one he carried when he was the Sunblade, First Sword to King Celebrindal.

  “'I was the greatest swordsman the elven lands ever knew and I have only been beaten once by a student in nine hundred years,' he said.

  "I asked the old man, 'Of all the students you trained, none ever bested you? Not once?'

  "Gildor shook his head. 'Only you, son. Now the blade belongs to you.'

  “So you see, if a poor half-elven boy like me can make good, I’m sure you children will grow to make your mother proud.” He didn’t tell them about his departure from the valley, as it was a memory he wanted to keep for himself.

  Kian remembered it like it was yesterday. He had picked up Gildor’s sword, it felt like it was meant to be in his hand. Then he put it back on the table. “No, I can’t take your sword, Master. Besides, what will you train the next apprentice with?”

  The old man’s lip had begun to quiver. “I will never train another, Kian. You are my greatest achievement. I am like a smith that has forged a perfect sword. Anything he makes after would never live up to his masterpiece. You are my masterpiece, son, my greatest creation. There will never be another like you, boy.” A tear had rolled down the old man’s face.

  Kian had never seen his master cry in all the years he had been in the valley.

  Gildor told him, “It is time for you to meet the world, Kian, and it to meet you.”

  Kian could remember the tears that had filled his eyes when he had embraced his master.

  “You have been more than a master to me, you have been the father I never knew.”

  Gildor pushed him back and looked him in the eye. “And you have been the son I had always wanted.”

  They both smiled.

  “Now, boy, come here, I have some other things for you. We can’t have the new Sunblade sally forth wearing rags.”

  Gildor had outfitted him well with a black leather shirt with the sword arm bare, a black leather bracer reinforced with steel for the bare arm, leather pants, and a good pair of boots. He still wore them now, only the black-hooded cloak he had been given was lost when the boy Julian had been injured.

  He had hated to say goodbye. He told his master he would stay awhile if he wanted him to, but Gildor had told him the valley was for forgotten old men. The world outside the valley was for the young and he must go.

  He remembered what Gildor’s last words to him were as he walked out of the valley. “Use what I have taught you for what is right and good, Kian. You are the Sunblade now and the First Sword of the realm. Always fight the darkness, never let evil creep into your heart. Wherever you go, son, I will be with you.”

  And Kian knew it was true. The old man would always be with him, riding in the scabbard on his hip.

  Kian looked down. Tressa had fallen asleep in his arms and the boys were yawning. “Did you like the story, boys?” Kian asked.

  Both nodded.

  Endra shooed the boys to their bedrolls and Kian laid Tressa next to them and covered her with a blanket. Kian and Endra both sat down near the fire.

  “You know they have taken a liking to you, Kian, especially Tressa. It’s very unusual for them, they are ordinarily very wary of people.”

  “They are fine children, Endra, you have done well by them. They couldn’t ask for a better mother.”

  Endra felt her face flush, no one had ever told her she was a good mother.

  “You see them as good children, most people we have run across don’t and they are not always this well behaved. I think they feel safe for the first time in their lives, thanks to you.”

  Kian looked into the fire. “While I live, no one will harm them or their mother.”

  Kian stood up and adjusted his sword. “I’m sure the others feel the same way as I do about the little ones. I will take watch, get some rest.”

  “Wait, Kian.” Endra stood up. “I am sorry for what I said before. I don’t think I explained what I wanted to say. I mean, I could have said it differently. What I mean to say is…”

  He picked up his cloak and pulled it around his shoulders. “You need to say nothing more, my friend, I have put it to rest. You’re a fine woman, Endra Korlest, and very, very beautiful. You knowing that is enough for me. You owe me no excuses or explanations.”

  Endra just stared at the man. She could not find words for what she wanted to say.

  “I am going to have a look around, I will wake you later.”

  She started to follow him. Endra wanted to stop him and tell him what she really thought but she froze. “Goodnight, Kian,” was all that came out.

  He nodded to her and smiled, then walked out into the darkness. Endra walked over near her children, then loosed her sword belt and threw it down. She spread out her cloak on the ground and laid down with a huff, sleep would be long in coming.

  Kian stood on a small rise above the creek bed. He could just make out the glow of their fire. His thumb rubbed back and forth on the pommel of his sword. He had made Endra uncomfortable, he should have kept his thoughts to himself. He was afraid he had been making a fool of himself. He just couldn’t help it. Endra’s beauty made him do and say stupid things.

  At least the others were not here to torment him about her rejection. They had been giving him a hard enough time ever since he talked K’xarr into letting her come along.

  He had denied it when they accused him of having feelings for the woman, but looking back, he was certain they could tell how he felt about her. He had acted so ridiculous. It was time he stopped fantasizing about her. What would a magnificent woman like her want with a half-breed anyway? What kind of life could he give her? He was starting to understand why his mother hadn’t married Elu.

  He took a piece of leather that he had wrapped around his wrist and tied his hair back. He would let her sleep most of the night. He needed to be alone for a while to try to get his mind off her. He always knew there could be nothing between them, but it hurt to hear her say it.

  These were the times he missed his mother and brother. They would understand. He thought a great deal of his friends, but sometimes he felt very alone. They didn’t comprehend what it was like for him. They couldn’t, they were human.

  He walked on, cursing himself for being so melancholy. The self-pity had to stop. His mother always told him when the children of Thieves Port teased him, “You can’t change what you are, Kian, so ignore their taunts, only you can make yourself a lesser man.”

  She could always make him believe in himself. He hadn’t realized how strong his mother had been until he had gotten older. He shouldn’t complain, his life could be much worse. He could still be stuck in Thieves Port.

  A twig snapped. He spun and drew his sword in one motion, the moon light reflecting off the polished elven blade. A figure was standing just a few yards from him dressed in a robe with a deep cowl. There was no doubt by the shape that the stranger was female.

  He had not heard or seen her approach. “Who are you?” he asked.

  “You do not know me, Kian Card
an, but I know you.” The woman’s voice was smooth and almost soothing, but Kian was wary.

  “How do you know my name?”

  The woman began to walk very slowly in a circle around him. “I know many things, swordsmen like you are in grave danger and do not even know it.”

  Kian gripped his sword tighter. “I’m not afraid of you. I do not fight women if I can keep from it, but I will defend myself.”

  The woman giggled. “The danger is not from me, silly boy. No, I find you very interesting and have no wish to harm you. The danger is from another that has taken interest in your skill with the blade. I just came to warn you to be on guard and to not be so trusting.”

  Kian sheathed his sword. The woman was offering no danger. “Why would you warn me, milady?”

  “I have found few men of courage and virtue in this world and I find the traits very endearing. I wish I could help you more, Kian Cardan, but a warning is all I can give. Heed my counsel or you will face a horror like nothing you could ever imagine. ”

  “What or who is the danger?” As he finished his question, the woman vanished before his eyes and left Kian to wonder if the conversation had even happened at all.

  When the first light of morning came, the men rode back into camp. Endra woke and rolled out of her mammoth cloak, sleep still making her head fuzzy, concerned that the birds were singing and she could feel the warmth of the sun on her skin.

  Kian hadn’t gotten her up for her turn on watch. Her first thought was something must have happened to him in the night, but she saw him sitting near their small fire, poking the embers with a stick.

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” she asked.

  “I wasn’t tired and had to think on some things. Besides, you needed the sleep.”

  Endra said no more. She could see something was troubling him and this time, she would keep her mouth shut. Besides, she had a pretty good idea what it was.

  K’xarr walked over to the fire, chewing on a piece of dried beef. “We found out Abberdon has invaded Bandara and there is work to be had. The Bandarans are outnumbered and hiring men as fast as they can, but most of the companies in the area have already joined the Abberdonians. The Bandarans have lost their king. He died not long ago and the new king is young and untried.”

  Vandarus interrupted. “Yes, Prince Cain is king now. His father King Aaron wasn’t much of a military man, but he was our king and was well liked by the people. King Havalon, the ruler of Abberdon, is a warrior and a fine strategist. This isn’t the first time that bastard has crossed our border. My country will be hard pressed to stop the Abberdonians if this ends in a full scale war. From what I’ve heard, Prince Cain is a good man but he’s young. Bandara will need all the help it can get.”

  Cromwell slapped Vandarus on the back. “Settle down, blondie. I’ll save your homeland for you. If that’s the side we take.”

  So the camp was packed up and the group prepared to leave. They were about twenty days' ride from Turill, Bandara’s capital. Maybe less if they kept to the Gold Road.

  “The Church is strong in Bandara, maybe the children and I should just go our own way,” Endra said.

  K’xarr thought for a moment. “No, I think it will be fine. With this war going on, the agents for the Church won’t have time to be hunting for a woman and her children. I can’t believe you’re that important to them. We’ll just watch our step and it will be okay.”

  Endra resolved to go on with them, she didn’t want to leave anyway. The countryside should be safe enough if they kept to themselves.

  The days passed slowly while they waited for night to fall so they could travel on. The children were enjoying the warm weather and were doing well. Kian had said nothing more of his feelings for her and he was much more reserved when they were together now.

  He was still very nice to her, but the sparkle had gone out of his eyes when he looked at her. She didn’t like it. She missed the way he got excited when he was around her.

  The more time they spent together, the more her affection for him grew. She had been too much of a coward to say anything about her true feelings and now it was too late. Maybe it was for the best, but it gnawed at her all the same.

  Neither K’xarr nor any of the others had mentioned leaving her and the children behind lately, and in truth, they hadn’t seen anywhere that would be a very good place for them to stay. Time was growing short. If she was going to leave before they got to their destination, it had to be soon.

  They had ridden into the Kingdom of Bandara at night and it was hard to tell what the land looked like, but at daybreak she saw how truly beautiful the kingdom was.

  It was just as Vandarus had described it: full of fine-looking pasture land for all the cattle and sheep herds they saw. The countryside looked like a field that had been sewn with small farms, most of which looked very well maintained and the crops in the farmer’s fields grew in abundance throughout the land. Endra could tell the war had not reached far into the kingdom yet.

  “Your homeland is lovely, Vandarus. It’s no wonder you’re so proud of it,” Endra told the young warrior.

  “It is a true paradise, isn’t it? I wish we had the time, I could show you Turill. You would not believe how beautiful it is.” The Bandaran smiled broadly at her, pleased she appreciated his homeland.

  A passing merchant had told them that the armies were to the north and had only just engaged each other. After hearing that, K’xarr had pushed them on harder. He didn’t want to get there too late to be hired on. He had also started traveling by day again. It was dangerous, but they had made good time.

  Vandarus had driven K’xarr crazy until he had agreed to offer their services to the Bandarans first.

  Endra saw K’xarr drop back to come alongside her. This would be it. They were less than a day out of Turill, and the great walls of the city loomed in the distance. Time for them to stay behind, safe or not.

  K’xarr ran his hand through his dark wavy hair. He looked tired to her. “Endra, I’m sorry we couldn’t find a good place for you and the children. If you want to risk it, you can ride on into Turill with us.”

  “Yes, I would like that. Thank you, K’xarr.” She knew it was foolish but couldn’t stop herself from agreeing to go with them.

  “We will see you settled somewhere in the city before we leave. Turill is a huge city, perhaps you and the little demons will go unnoticed,” he said.

  Endra tried not to smile too big, but she just couldn’t help it. Maybe it wasn’t too late to make things right with Kian? Staying in the city would be dangerous and she would have to be careful. It might be all right if she stayed to herself and kept the children hidden. She told herself she would only stay for a little while, but she knew that was a lie. She had tied herself to these men and she wouldn’t leave them now.

  Vandarus galloped over to K’xarr and pointed urgently down the Gold Road. Endra turned in her saddle to look. She saw a large group of men in red and gold chasing a man down the road towards them.

  “Those men are dressed in the uniforms of the Royal Guard of Bandara, K’xarr,” Vandarus said.

  “Everyone, off the road,” K’xarr ordered.

  The man being pursued was on a small white horse and clearly would not be able to outrun the men chasing him. They would pass by the group in a matter of seconds. They were traveling so fast, there was no way they would stop to trouble their group, so K’xarr had them ride just off to the side so the guardsmen could pass easily.

  The man on the white horse sped past them just as two of the guardsmen fired small crossbows at the man’s horse. One of the bolts buried itself in the white horse’s flank. The other just grazed the horse’s rump, slicing against the curve and flying on to hit Endra in the thigh.

  Kian looked at her leg, then he kicked his horse, charging after the Bandarans.

  K’xarr stood up in his stirrups, screaming, “No, Kian. Don’t, damn you, don’t do it. It’s not our fight.”

  Kian either di
dn’t hear K’xarr or just ignored him.

  The others had not seen the bolt hit Endra and had no idea why he had taken after the guardsmen.

  The white horse stumbled, and horse and rider went down. The troop of guardsmen began to slow their mounts. The guardsman who had fired the crossbow was on Kian’s left side. Endra knew the half-elf was right-handed. It would be awkward for him to strike the man. Besides, his horse was still running at a breakneck speed.

  She watched as Kian drew his sword with his right hand and tossed it through the air into his left, decapitating the man in one unbroken motion. His concentration was amazing.

  Most of the other guardsmen were dismounting, trying to restrain the man they had been pursuing. Kian killed two more of them before they noticed he was there. The half-elf jumped down from his horse among the surprised guardsmen, blade flashing.

  “Help him, damn it,” Endra yelled then launched her horse forward.

  Five of them were dead as she joined in the melee. All the guardsmen were fighting on foot but one. He was still on his horse shouting orders. Endra spurred her horse and headed right for him.

  The officer turned in time to see Endra’s horse collide with his, sending both of them to the ground. She rolled to her feet, the bolt in her leg sending waves of pain through her body.

  The officer was trying to get up as she drove her naked blade through his chest. Endra spun, blood flying from the tip of her sword to find the road in chaos.

  K’xarr and Cromwell were fighting back to back, Rufio and Vandarus side by side. Siro was trying to help the man who had been on the white horse get off the road.

  She looked over to see her children safely waiting on the roadside, then she plunged into the fray.

  Kian was fighting two men at once, so she took the one to his left. He was good, a thrust of his longsword almost took her in the throat. She dropped to one knee and slashed at his leg, cutting it off at the knee. When she stood up, Kian was pulling his blade from his opponent’s face.