DAWN OF THE PHOENIX Page 34

  The king was silent as they trudged up the hill where the command tent sat like an oasis in the desert. Black smoke and crows filled the sky and the heat was as hard on the men as the enemy. Both sides suffered from the abnormally warm weather. The air should be much cooler, even though it was early in the fall.

  If they could just hold on a month or two, the winter would come and the armies would be forced to stop until spring came.

  The king looked over to his general as he limped along beside him. “They could not push us back today, Talorn, we still might have a chance rally the men and I will speak with them this evening.”

  The king’s eyes rolled up in his head and he lost consciousness. Talorn had to use all the strength he had left to drag the king close enough to their camp that some of the soldiers saw them and came to help. “Get his surgeons, it’s the right leg.” Several soldiers carried the king into his tent and the surgeons started their work.

  Talorn tossed his heavy helmet on the ground and grabbed a large goblet filled with wine. He drained it and handed it to one of his squires to refill. War was dry work, he thought.

  “It seems you had a good day, son.”

  Talorn nearly spilled his wine. “Father, what are you doing here?”

  Duke Blackthorn, dressed in his full battle armor, walked into the tent. “Things have taken a turn for the worse in Bandara and your little bitch of a wife is responsible for it. She started an uprising among the people, took the palace, and hired a rogue band of mercenaries to help her.”

  Talorn looked at his father like he had lost his mind. “Raygan did all that? I find that hard to believe, Father.”

  William slammed his armored fist down on the small table that held a large pitcher of wine, breaking the legs off it and sending wine and clay shards all over the floor of the tent.

  “That’s not all. She summoned a demon that wiped out what few of the guard you and that fool of a king left me, and to top it all off, Ansellus Fox has returned and is helping the little sow.”

  Talorn had never seen his father’s anger this out of control. “Watch how you speak about my wife, Father. Now calm down and tell me what happened.”

  “I told you what happened. We lost the damn capital, you idiot.”

  Endra had fed her children and now they were all asleep. All but Payton, he was looking out the window at the city of Turill. He was the one whose looks favored their father the most. It was hard to look at him and not remember what had happened to her. She loved him dearly, but his dark eyes were a constant reminder of the man who destroyed her life. The boy had never slept much. Even as an infant, he was always the last to fall asleep.

  “Mother, will we get to see a real battle soon?”

  Endra looked at him quizzically. “War is a terrible thing, Payton, not something to be watched. And it’s not a very pleasant thing to think about before bed, Son.”

  “I dream about it all the time. I see the cavalry and infantry in my sleep. I know when they should move and when they should be still. Someday I want to be in a war, no one will beat me. I will be the best general ever.”

  Endra put her hands on his shoulders and gently pushed him in the direction of his bed.

  “I don’t know what you will do when you get older, Payton. You should just get to sleep for now, little general.” The boy crawled into bed and she pulled the blanket over him, kissing him on the head.

  “Was my father a warrior?” the boy asked, looking up at her with his piercing dark eyes. None of them had ever asked about their father. She didn’t know what to say.

  “I believe he was, Payton.”

  The child gave a very unsettling smile. “I want to be like him when I grow up.”

  Endra tried to smile but couldn’t. “Good night, Payton,” was all she managed to say.

  She had waited until Payton fell asleep, then she went to look in on Kian. He was sleeping when she went to tend the children. Whatever had attacked him in the garden hadn’t kept him down long. When she stuck her head inside his room, she found his bed was empty and his weapons and belongings were gone.

  She thought his wounds would keep him in bed for the night. She had planned to go and stay with him after putting the children to bed. Now she had no idea where he had gotten to. Endra decided to see if anyone had seen him leave, so she went looking for someone she could ask.

  K’xarr had taken command of what was left of the city watch and was using them for palace guards. She approached one, hoping he might know where Kian was. The watchman had told her that Kian had been asked to vacate the palace. They had seen him out and had been ordered by the princess not to let him back inside if he was unaccompanied.

  Endra’s jaw tightened and she stormed down the hall to the princess’s quarters. The little noble was going to hear from her. Kian had helped her at no small risk to himself, now he was not to be allowed in the palace? She would see about that.

  Two guardsmen with spears blocked her way. “Is the princess expecting you?” the taller one asked.

  “No, but I want to see her. Can you ask if she will see me please?” She tried to hide her anger from the two men as best she could.

  The shorter guard said, “Her Highness already has a guest and she said she didn’t what to be disturbed.”

  Endra kicked the tall guard between the legs and he dropped to the ground like a stone. The shorter guard stood with his mouth open, surprised by her sudden violence. Her fist slammed into his jaw and she followed that with an uppercut to his soft belly. She was about to throw another punch when the door opened.

  Rhys stood there with a shocked on his face. She went ahead and threw the punch anyway, knocking the guard to the ground. “I want to see the princess right now.”

  Rhys looked at the two men rolling around on the floor. “Why didn’t you just ask?”

  Endra rubbed her hand, the short guard had a bony chin. “I did. I said ‘please’ too.”

  Rhys shook his head and stepped to help the two battered men. Endra walked past him into Raygan’s chamber. The gaudiness of the room stopped her from speaking for a moment. She had never seen anything like it. Everything was gold, silver, and silk. Her home in Sorrack wouldn’t even make a good dog kennel for this woman.

  “Highness, you have had a trying day with the news about your father, I know, and I know you are about to become the queen of this land, but I must ask why Kian is not welcome in your home? You would not even have it if it weren’t for him.”

  Raygan got up from the huge bed she had been lying in. Endra could see she had been crying, the princess’s eyes were red and swollen.

  “I know what he did here… Endra, isn’t it?” Endra didn’t reply. “I’m truly thankful and you might be right, if not for him I may still be in that filthy barn.”

  The princess brushed at the front of her dress and stretched herself up to all of her five feet of height. “He is half-elven, my dear, and there are some places they are not accepted. Some of my subjects might not be so willing to support me if I allowed him to stay here.”

  “Did you know he was wounded, Highness?”

  Raygan nodded. “I was told the wounds were minor.”

  Endra’s hands clenched into fists. “He is a good man, kind and loving, but you would keep him out over the circumstances of his birth?”

  Rhys walked back into the room. He could hear the women in the hall and chose to remain silent. The healer was not a fool.

  Raygan glanced at him quickly. “I’m sure you think he is all those things, Endra, and maybe he is, but what I saw was a monster, a killer, nothing more. It really wouldn’t matter what his disposition was anyway, he is what he is. Now if you will excuse me, I have things to discuss with my healer.”

  It was all Endra could do not to punch the princess in that sweet little face of hers, but that would not get her anywhere but the gallows. She turned and walked out, slamming the door so hard that it shook the silver sconces off the princess’s wall.

 
Rhys softly groaned. “Highness, you have a lot to learn about people, if I may say so. I’m surprised I’m not working on your face again right now.”

  Raygan flopped down on her bed more like a girl than a woman. “First, I asked you to call me Raygan in private, and second, this Korlest woman is just a peasant and she must be insane to trust that creature. I thought I was very respectful to her since she walked in here, unannounced.”

  Rhys sat down beside her and brushed a stray hair out of her face. “I know you’re upset about what you found out today, but let me tell you something about Endra. I haven’t known her long, but she is the kind of woman that if you were to make her your friend, she would give her life to help you. I won’t even try to explain Kian, but he is no monster, even though he has a right to be. Trust me. I know the truth of what he has suffered.”

  Raygan looked at him and batted her eyes. “Do you find her beautiful?”

  Rhys laughed. “You are not even listening to me. Endra is beautiful, one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, but it’s you I find the most beautiful, Highness.” Rhys leaned forward and kissed her. His face turned red and he quickly leaned back. “I’m sorry, Princess, I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  Raygan smile at him amorously. “I don’t know either, but why don’t you think it again?”

  Rhys kissed her again, wrapping his arms around her shapely body. He hoped she would forget some of the pain she was feeling, but it was he who forgot. With her body pressed against him, he forgot everything. He didn’t leave her room until the next morning.

  Kian sat in the stable where he planned to sleep. He was still sore from the goddess’s attack, but that was not what was keeping him up.

  He couldn’t get her out of his head. He didn’t know what to do. He thought about telling K’xarr, but he would not be happy about a goddess interfering with his plans, and Kian felt he had caused enough trouble for his friends as it was.

  He would have to try and think of something on his own before the Mistress used him to fulfill her evil whims, whatever they might be. He thought maybe he should just leave, then he could resist the evil goddess and when she killed him, it would be over. Would dying be so bad? He didn’t think so, but he couldn’t let the Mistress kill him. He had made a vow to himself to make sure Endra and the children would always be safe. He would just have to find another way out of his predicament.

  “Kian, are you in here?” Endra had found him.

  He almost didn't answer, but changed his mind. “I’m here.”

  She came towards him, dressed in soft leather leggings and a sleeveless white shirt belted at the waist. “Are you feeling okay?”

  Kian looked at her. She talked to him like a child now. “I am fine,” he all but whispered.

  She walked over and stood behind him, putting her hands on his shoulders. “I heard they would not let you stay in the palace. I didn’t know the princess was so ungrateful, or the children and I would have stayed out here with you. We will tomorrow night, just stay calm and everything will be fine.”

  Kian stood and faced her. “You talk to me like a wild horse that you wish to tame.”

  A look of concern came on Endra’s face. “What? I don’t do that. I’m just trying to help you.”

  Kian turned away. “Are you my woman or are you my keeper? I don’t need to be spoken to like I’m a wild animal you fear. If we are to be together, you must treat me no different than you always have.”

  The tall woman turned him around and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry if I have been acting strange, but I truly don’t know what to do. I love you, Kian. I just want to be with you, nothing more. It hurts me to see you so unhappy and in truth, I am afraid sometimes.”

  Kian picked her up like a child and carried her into an empty stall full of fresh hay. He tossed her into the haystack and lightly jumped on top of her. She could feel the intensity of the power that he tried to keep locked inside himself. “You should never fear me.” Minutes later, only the royal horses heard her cries of passion.

  The next morning, Raygan had called K’xarr and the others into the throne room. The princess looked like she had gotten very little sleep.

  “K’xarr, since Ansellus is not here, you will act in his stead as commander of the military. I know there is little to command, but what there is, I am turning over to you. I hereby officially name you a general of Bandara.”

  It wasn’t hard to watch the predatory look spread across K’xarr’s face. It was easy to tell he was more than happy to take command. “I also wanted you to hear my first decree.

  "William Blackthorn is hereby declared an enemy of Bandara, all his lands and titles are to be stripped and he is to be arrested on sight. This royal decree also extends to Finn Selmac, Stuart Kaspar, Galen Bradford, and Tobias Fox.

  "Bishop Marin Lyfair will remain in his position, pending an investigation from the Church.”

  Rhys nodded to her. That had been his idea. He didn’t believe Lyfair’s story, but there was little they could do but report it to the Church.

  The princess looked at her new commander. “K’xarr, will you handle this for me?”

  K’xarr placed his right fist on his chest. “By your command, Princess.” Raygan stood and walked out of the throne room without another word.

  Rhys stopped to talk with K’xarr as everyone filed out the doors. “I advised her to appoint you until Ansellus gets back. I guess she listened.”

  K’xarr clapped Rhys on the shoulder. “Thanks for that, my friend, I won’t forget it. I know it won’t be for long. Ansellus is just a few miles outside of town and I don’t think it will take him much time to convince Blackthorn’s troops to join us, but it’s good to know you have faith in my abilities. I value your opinion and will need some help with how all this civility works.”

  Rhys laughed. “I do have faith in you, but there really was no one else to take the job. I know nothing about how the military works, but I will do my best to help you with whatever I can. The princess doesn’t know you have never commanded an army before. I think it best we keep it that way.”

  K’xarr grinned at the healer’s observation, then gave Rhys a friendly push and walked away.

  The next few days were very busy. K’xarr familiarized himself with Bandaran military regulations and traditions. He didn’t care for them, so he decided to ignore most of them.

  Ansellus had returned from speaking with the commander of the troops from Braxton Bluff. The old general had brought the man along with him to meet K’xarr. They all met in the old council chambers.

  “K’xarr, this is Greyson Kyle, he is the ranking officer of the troops outside the city.”

  K’xarr looked the man up and down. He was tall and lean with hawkish features. “I want you two to try and work together until I return from Ascona,” the general said.

  “What’s in Ascona?” K’xarr asked.

  “Help, I hope. Eldon Cross is a friend of mine, he is also the Knight Marshall of Ascona. ”

  K’xarr frowned. “Do we need the Church involved?”

  “They’re not a Church order, they are chivalric knights,” Greyson answered.

  K’xarr gritted his teeth. He hated letting anyone see there was something he didn’t know.

  Kyle rubbed his hand through his dirty blonde hair. “Sorry to interrupt. I know you are not familiar with the kingdoms in this part of the world… General.” K’xarr could tell the man was trying to show he was the Camiran’s superior.

  “Who is in command of the troops, General?” Greyson asked.

  This Commander Kyle was older than K’xarr by five years or better, and a Bandaran. K’xarr knew he might have trouble taking orders from a foreigner, so there was no doubt that Ansellus would have to put the man in charge. It shouldn’t have made K’xarr mad, but it did.

  Ansellus picked his helmet up off the table and put it under his arm. “K’xarr will command the army while I’m gone.”

  K’x
arr said nothing. He could see the disappointment on Greyson Kyle’s face. He was pleased, but surprised. The old general was no fool, he had to have his reasons.

  Kyle stopped the general as he started to walk out. “May I ask why K’xarr was chosen over me?”

  Ansellus looked at the younger officer. “You will have to ask the princess, it is by her order. She wished the Camiran to take command. In my absence, you will help with anything he needs and see he is obeyed as if it were I giving the orders.”

  “As you command, General Fox,” Greyson said with a long face.

  K’xarr looked at Greyson and smiled.

  It was later that afternoon that Princess Raygan held court. A few of her lesser nobles were in attendance as well as a rich merchant or two. In all, there were well over a hundred people in the first floor throne room. It was much more richly decorated than the second floor throne room where most of Bandara’s business was conducted.

  King Aaron referred to it as the entertaining room, because he never held court in it, using it only to entertain guests and dignitaries. It even had a terrace off the main room for people to dance on during galas and celebrations.

  She'd had the grand room cleaned and redecorated before the nobles arrived. Raygan had told K’xarr she wanted all of them there, including Kian. She had ordered them all to find suitable clothing and she would cover the cost.

  K’xarr had chosen the armor of a Bandaran officer: short-sleeved chainmail shirt covered with a steel cuirass gauntlets and greaves. He wouldn’t wear the tunic with the Bandaran coat of arms, but he did wear the red and gold cape.

  Cromwell laughed when they tried to make him dress for court. The best they could get him to do was bathe and put on a new chainmail shirt.

  Rufio wore his battered Dragitan armor, the dented breast plate and greaves topped by the horse-hair crested helmet. The man was too proud of his heritage, Vandarus thought. He had, like K’xarr, chosen to dress in Bandaran armor, but he would not wear the cape.