“Sweet Fanny Adams I would rather dip my wick into a steaming pile of horse pucky,” Tanner said as Stephen laughed.
“Your estate is just as should be boss, although I admit me and Rose have moved into your bedroom but we could leave,” Stephen said sheepishly.
“You are welcomed to stay wherever you like and if anyone throws a wobbler about it send them my way and I’ll get them sorted out,” Tanner said with a smile. “Now do I still own the house Tazor gave me? I don’t want to stand around here waffling on with you all day while all of these nosey Nancies are about.”
“Of course boss, I make sure it stays clean and well stocked for when I have to visit on your behalf,” Stephen replied.
“Then that’s where me and the lads will be at. Mary’s mum blackmailed me into going to some kind of fancy party,” Tanner said as he motioned for his brother and their entourage to follow. Tanner did not have to walk long when he spotted a sight similar to when Mary was first kidnapped. There was a guard standing at the gate frowning as Tanner walked up.
“I have played this game before. The last man who stopped me from going into my own house wound up bloodier than a whore on her cycle right in the spot you are in now. Now if you even think about telling me I can’t go into my own house you will be the second twat waffle killed right there,” Tanner said as he got up close to the man.
“L-Lord Tox?” the guard said confused.
“If you ever call me that again I’ll kill you,” Tanner said as he brushed past the guard and into his house. Everything looked the same, all of the furniture Mary wanted was still there along with the iron arrow Golden had once made for Tanner long ago. Tanner thought about tossing it but it reminded him of a simpler time, before he became the mage breaker.
“This is how you lived brother?” Gelrix said as he touched a couch. “Everything is too soft here for a warrior of your ilk.”
“My Mary decorated this place to her liking, everything in here she picked out,” Tanner said as he found a silk handkerchief she had once sown for him when he was training with the Black Hand. “Well I am sure there is food here somewhere, let me eat and get a rest in my bed before the pig and pony show starts.”
Tanner found a servant who was shocked but nonetheless made the group food before Tanner lay down on his bed. The people with him would have to make due with the spare rooms or the furniture but they were not picky, they were barbarians after all. Tanner had not slept in an actual bed in a while and fell asleep instantly until he was awaken by someone shaking him with a stick. Tanner opened his eyes and saw Stephen there poking him with his staff.
“You have to come by and see your nieces and nephews, I have been a bit busy since you left,” Stephen said smiling. “I also see that damn sword done right by you, you look better than you did when we first met but we can catch up on all that tomorrow. You have a visitor. I can tell both of them to get lost but they insisted on seeing you. Right now they are talking with a Gelrix, says he is your brother.”
“Gelrix is my brother as much as you are Stephen, who came to see me?”
“Princess Carolina and Prince Tanner,” Stephen replied. “They are an okay sort I guess but I never really got close to any of them. I don’t trust Ketian royals after what happened to you and I know they love the King, all of these idiots do. To be honest though, if judging by his record other than endless wars I can’t blame them for thinking he is some kind of savior.”
Tanner nodded and walked to his living room, leaving his sword and helm behind. He could hear talking, mainly it was the Princess who looked to be making small talk with the barbarians who looked very interested in what she had to say. Tanner thought it was more of having a young girl around them than anything. The Prince looked to have a slightly swollen jaw.
“What are you two doing here fannying around with the enemy?” Tanner asked. “Didn’t your folks tell you there are barbarians at the gate?”
“You are my uncle but you look so young,” Carolina said as she walked over to him.
“We aren’t any blood, at least not anymore,” Tanner replied as he then turned to the Prince. “And you are the poor tosser who got stuck with my name. You should get your coins back from the twat who did that to you,” Tanner said looking at the prince.
“I was named after a great warrior of Ket,” Prince Tanner said proudly.
“You were named after a fool who wound up getting his wife killed and betrayed by the only friend he had. That’s nothing to go singing in the taverns about,” Tanner replied before finishing. “You should go by a nickname, that’s what I would do.”
“My father named me after you, said you were a great friend of his until you had a falling out,” Prince Tanner replied and rubbed his jaw slightly.
“Sorry about that, you look just like your father and he has a face I could punch all day,” Tanner said with a laugh. “I think we had a little more than a falling out, you should get him to tell you the story sometime or ask your Nan, she always been straight with me. I know showing up has made everything go sixes and sevens but I along with my brother was minding my own business when Ket decided to come knocking on my door and killing people. I told Edward to his face if he ever sent anyone after me I’d burn shit down around him and now here I am.”
“My father is who sent us,” Carolina replied. “My mother said you saved her life many times over and was once her bodyguard when her father was still alive,”
“That was a long time ago but I hold no hatred for your mum. Give her my love when you see her,” Tanner replied.
“Did you see your statue in the square?” Prince Tanner asked. “It is where many people propose marriage.”
“I saw that monstrosity, I want it torn down. It is nothing but a pack of lies,” Tanner said as he spit on his own carpet. “Whoever thought of having that made must have a guilty conscious about the way they forked me over but didn’t want the real truth getting out.”
“My father along with the king wanted to see that your sacrifice was honored,” Prince Tanner replied.
“I could tell you where they could stick their honor but there is a lady present and I know you are sick of me tearing down your Da. I only hope he treats the both of you better than he did his best friend and his sister. Now why did he send you to me?”
“He wanted to make sure you were coming to the feast later, he was not sure if you would answer any of their messengers and mom thought you would attack any official looking types on contact,” Princess Carolina said.
“Your mum was right,” Tanner said laughing. “You might have noticed I have no respect for the crown at all, not even a little bit. She probably guessed I wouldn’t kill her kiddies. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I know all the gossips are about. I’m waiting for just one blowhard to talk crazy about me and my brothers and I am going to enact the King’s law and get into a duel where I plan on splitting wankers in twain until me sword arm get sore. I also believe King Edward plans on sending whatever assassins he can to go after me, I want him to try. My brother would level this place and everyone in it except for those he knows I have a fondness for.”
“That I would. All the males would be put to the sword and all females would be given as wives among the horde,” Gelrix said as the rest of the barbarians nodded. “All except me, ten wives is too high of a number already, I should have stuck with four or five.”
“Ten wives?!?” Prince Tanner asked excited and a little confused.
“Men in the tribe can have as many wives as possible,” Tanner said filling in the blanks.
“How many do you have?” Princess Caroline asked.
“I do not have any and let us leave it at that,” Tanner replied quickly.
Tanner led the royal children out and felt a bit weird at the same time. They both looked similar to the age where he found the sword and could possibly be older although he looked their same age which really brought his situation home. How would Mary had of felt married to a man that wa
s forever young? If they had stayed married their kids would be the same age now. This thought angered Tanner greatly as the barbarians left to get the horde ready in case Tanner was not seen by noon tomorrow. Tanner thought about trying to wear something fancy but thought better of it and instead went to the party as he was. Once he got inside the Sun Palace, there were a lot of new faces around. Tanner recognized hardly any of the servants working there as he looked around at the place, a voice stopped him in his tracks.
“You still look like your father,” Queen Aundrea said as she walked over and caressed his face.
“I see now why he wanted to get the pit out of the scheming that goes around,” Tanner said with a weak laugh. “How are you doing Your Majesty?”
“I have been better, my best soldier showed up leading a barbarian army out for blood,” Queen Aundrea said as she pointedly looked at Tanner.
“I told that bastard if I even saw one Ketian that I thought was operating under his orders I would burn the world down around him. I was safe and found some measure of peace and belonging when your army came about and started killing folk.”
“Edward always could never get enough of his wars,” the Queen replied. “I had told him it would be the death of him one day. Had he known though after all that had happened that you were in the free lands I doubt he would have attacked. As he gets older he wants to right his past wrongs. The fact that you never had your happily ever after and refused to even pretend to be the Earl but instead appointed your half man to rule in your stead has never stopped haunting him. A long time has passed Tanner. I know you still miss Mary but the man did only what he thought was right and Ket has prospered tremendously because of it.”
“All it cost me was my world, a fair deal I guess if I were him,” Tanner replied. “I got stuck with the raw end of it but that’s another story, no need bringing up old ghosts.”
“I hear from my granddaughter that you have not remarried despite the many offers I am sure you receive,” the Queen said as she looked Tanner over. “I can’t imagine any barbarian girls turning down your advances.”
“My love life is not really anyone’s concern except my own Aundrea,” Tanner snapped.
“I see there is still plenty of the boy I once knew in there,” Queen Aundrea said with a sigh. “Well I am sure we have attracted much attention already. Come with me, I am sure if I leave you alone you are bound to get in some sort of trouble.”
“Your Majesty do you mind if I steal this one for a moment?” Tanner heard a female’s voice say.
“Not at all, just make sure you don’t get him in any trouble,” The Queen said to the woman over Tanner’s back. Tanner turned around and found Jennifer, well the Duchess of some land or another garbed in a dark dress like everyone else was wearing. She was still pretty but was over forty summers now. Her hair still maintained its vibrant color but the lines around her face and eyes gave her age away.
“I should have known there was a reason none of the assassins sent after the great barbarian battlemaster returned. Are you still planning on killing me?” Jennifer asked.
“Not unless you make me, what do you want?” Tanner asked as he folded his arms.
“Just to talk to an old friend.”
“We were never friends, just worked together once,” Tanner replied.
“Yes that was true. We half way expected you to rush the hand alone and start killing off random members until you were brought down,” Jennifer said laughing. “But I am a noble now, I haven’t assassinated anyone in years. Now among the Hand I go by the title of Master.”
“Well good for you, what does any of this have to do with how many ticks there are on a dog’s bollocks?”
“How did you remain so youthful while the rest of us aged?” Jennifer said as stuck out her hand to admire it. “I remember I wanted you so bad, ever since I saw you fight. You were big, dashing and angrier than any man I had ever seen. You only had eyes for her though. After she passed my uncle tried to convince me to go after you, not that I needed much convincing but I saw the look in your eyes moments after you found her. I have not been that scared before or since. How did you eventually defeat the Green? I never had a chance to tell you what the relief was and you left the antidote unopened where it was.”
“It doesn’t matter, only that I did,” Tanner replied. “Now I prefer not to waste my time talking to the likes of you, I am only here for Amelia.”
“Isn’t she a little old for your taste?” Jennifer replied. “I have a daughter now. Me and Nance eventually got together but he died four years ago from the speckled plague. My daughter is the same age as you look and she is kept far from the world of assassins and other things, I want a better life for her.”
“Hopefully she will find one,” Tanner said as he found Amelia who unfortunately was with Golden. Tanner took a deep breath and decided he wouldn’t give the tosser the satisfaction of getting angry as he walked closer.
“Okay mum, you got me here with all these fancy boys and girls. What exactly does this spread have to do with old Diamond?” Tanner asked ignoring Golden.
“You got me Tanner, the nobles always want a reason to party,” Amelia replied.
“Hello Tanner,” Golden said as he looked Tanner up and down.
“Don’t hello me Blessed One, we are far past the point for pleasantries. If I were you I would ignore me, it’s what I am going to do to you,” Tanner said as he took an offered goblet from a passing server.
“Tanner we were like brothers once,” Golden replied.
“Yeah we were, I found a new brother now. One that will fight through the pit alongside me,” Tanner replied. “It is he who I place my trust in along with Stephen. Mary would have been happy you got your happily ever after though, you married the girl you wanted and got the position you wanted. Not bad for a commoner from Kol. Hope it was worth it for you.”
“Tanner I am not going to beat myself up for a decision I made over twenty years ago and one that I can’t change. I’m not a kid anymore.”
“And no one is asking you to,” Tanner said shaking his head. “In fact I didn’t ask you nowt. You are a snake Golden no matter old you are, you are far from trustworthy to those who really know you. I don’t care how many good works you have done since or the fact you cursed that boy with my name. You and the so called King can both get stuffed, in fact you are lucky my brother tired of this war or we would have massacred the Ketian army and would have been laying siege to Ketol itself.”
“Tanner my life has been blessed. My wife has given me two lovely children and I live far more comfortably than I ever thought possible. Although you don’t share the sentiment, I love you Tanner. I want you to find the peace and happiness I have even if it is not with my sister.”
“Your love kept you here safe while I killed. Your love saw my Mary tortured while you frolicked at the master’s boot and your love saw Todd Greenley of all people torture Mary until she killed herself. If that is your love then I would rather have your hatred. I can’t see any difference between the two. Here comes your master now, give him your love.”
“Earl Tox,” King Edward said with a shaky smile. The man had to be at least in his seventies and walked with a little limp.
“Don’t you ever call me that. I’m not your bootlicker like Golden here and if you even think of pulling some shit with me like you did with my Mary I will burn this fucking city and everyone in it down,” Tanner said angrily.
“Such language Tanner, now you come back at the head of an army looking for blood?” the King asked.
“I could have wiped out your army and killed you long ago if it was blood I was after,” Tanner laughed.
“Why did you spare me?” The king asked seriously. “You were within your rights to kill more than just the mage and the guards.”
“Because you pretend to be a man of the people, someone folks can trust to do right by them. Deep down though you know you are a fraud, someone not to be trusted. Your hush money
meant nothing to me, you thought with time I would eventually forgive and enjoy the life I had complete with whatever power you supposedly gave me. It would be a win-win situation. But it’s not and I know it grates at you. That King Edward the Just, isn’t. Isn’t that what they call you? King Edward the Just, is anything but. Your everlasting thirst for power led you to an enemy that you underestimated. You have an army right outside of Ketol city walls. An army that may had never had a chance to defeat you if you hadn’t wronged me. My uncle used to tell me not to sling shit in the wind, it always comes back to hit you in face, just like now.”
“I have been a good and fair ruler Tanner,” King Edward replied. “Never have the people seen such peace, my army, what’s left of it is a volunteer force. People are happier under my rule. I tried to make things right with you, you won’t allow it.”
“Exactly how can you make things right with me?” Tanner laughed. “I don’t think there is anything you or your lapdog could do to make things right with me.”
“I gave you a title and riches beyond what you had,” King Edward stated.
“I was already rich before I met you and I didn’t want any title,” Tanner replied. “I could have gotten even more money on my own without your help. In fact without help from you at all I already have a title. I am the battlemaster for the horde, a position of honor. Giving me something I can achieve anyway is not some kind of gift.”
“I would have thought of something Tanner, if you only gave me the chance,” King Edward said sadly. “Do you plan on returning with your horde when this is all over or are you going to stay in your lands? Despite your bravado you are not the type to murder innocent people and the barbarians do not value land and wealth the way we do.”
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”
THE HAMMER OF CHAMPIONS
CHAPTER 1
KING GOLDEN
The Mage Breaker Page 24