Endra sighed and looked at the child Isabella carried. “Let me think on it, Majesty.”
Raygan smiled. “Of course, take all the time you need.”
That night as the camp slept, Kian was making his rounds of the camp’s perimeter. Endra came awake. She had been dreaming, a nightmare, but she couldn’t remember what it was about. She opened her eyes to find the two-year-old girl sitting beside her. The little girl stared at her intensely. Endra turned over and the child inside her kicked her as she did. “What do you need, little one? It’s too cold for you to be out of your blankets.”
The dark-headed girl cupped Endra’s cheeks with her chubby little hands. “Mama?”
Endra’s heart beat hard in her chest and a lump came into her throat as she looked into the little girl’s dark eyes. “Yes, little one, I’m your mother now.” The child crawled under Endra’s blankets and quickly fell fast asleep. The woman from the north let out a sigh. Now what would she tell Kian?
It just seemed right to keep the girl. Endra already felt like she belonged to her. It was odd to feel that way, but that made it no less true. She put her arm around the child and went to sleep, hoping she made the right choice.
The goddess looked at the child and the woman from Sorrack, sleeping together in the glow of the campfire. It had taken little of her power to sway the warrior woman to accept the child as her own. She could rest easy now that the girl was in good hands. Despite what she had been told about the woman from the north, the goddess trusted her. She would see that the girl was safe. The child was out of danger for now and that was something. Octavia glided away from the camp. The child might be out of danger, but she wasn’t so sure she was.
The little group moved faster after they came out of the forest. Endra was riding her horse and the queen was on Rhys’s. Each carried a child. Everyone else walked on foot. The miles faded behind them as they traveled through the open farm land.
The day was overcast but warm for winter. Endra noticed Kian had been continually looking behind them. Now he had stopped on a small rise. She turned her horse and rode back to see what he was doing. “Do you see something?”
“Men on horseback, perhaps a hundred,” he said.
Endra strained to see but could not quite make out what he saw. The movement was far behind them and she didn’t have his sight, but she didn’t need to see them to know who the riders were. “It’s the Church, Kian.”
There was nowhere to hide; the Church knights would be on them in a matter of minutes. Kian called Tavantis and Rhys over to him. “What can you do, Brother?”
Tavantis looked, he could see the knights now. “I can take the women and children, I think, but that would be my limit, and I don’t think I could come back for you and Rhys, my magic would be spent.”
Kian clutched his twin’s shoulder and looked at the healer. Rhys gave a slight nod of agreement. “Do it, then. Rhys and I will make our own way back if we are able.” The three men turned and walked back to the group side by side.
“Majesty, Endra, get off the horses,” Kian ordered. The two women complied. “Take the children and stand beside Isabella.”
As they did, Endra gave him a questioning look. “Get them out of here,” the swordsman said, looking at the masked wizard.
Tavantis pulled his twin into a parting embrace. “Farewell, my brother.” The Dark One triggered his ring. The hollow needle pumped the black fluid into Kian’s neck.
“You scratched me,” Kian said, holding his hand to his neck.
“Sorry, it was my ring, it has a sharp edge,” the wizard said, holding his hand up so Kian could see the ring. “Hold hands, girls. I’m going to take you home.” Raygan and Isabella grabbed each other’s hands.
“Wait, what’s going on?” Endra asked.
Tavantis grabbed her hand and the queen’s. “Revenge, my dear.” And then they were gone.
Rhys turned to Kian. “What’s he talking about?” Kian touched his neck and looked at his hand. His knees buckled and he had begun to sweat. “Kian.” Rhys ran to his side and tried to hold the half-elf up.
“I think he poisoned me.”
“I’ll get my bag.” The healer started for his horse, but Kian grabbed him by the arm. “There is no time, my friend. Get on the horse and ride. I will hold them as long as I can.”
“I won’t leave you,” Rhys said, shaking his head violently.
“I’m most likely dead already. Let me use what time I have left covering your escape. Tavantis has betrayed me and he has Endra and the queen. One of us must live to help them. Now go find K’xarr and Cromwell, tell them what has happened.”
Rhys reluctantly headed for his horse. He was angry and wished Kian wasn’t right. Rhys jumped into the saddle and took one last look at the swordsman standing alone in the snow. It was against everything he believed in, but the healer put his heels to the horse’s flank and rode to the south.
Kian watched him for a moment then turned his attention back to the company of men riding towards him. He reached down and pulled Malice from its scabbard. He could sense the sword’s need for blood and death. That had never happened before. He could feel the blade’s hate. The sensation was almost overwhelming.
He staggered to his right and his vision blurred. He felt weak, his stomach knotted, and he vomited. Black ichor splattered the white snow around his feet. What had Tavantis done to him?
“Take him alive,” he heard a voice say. He looked up at the circle of armored men sitting on their warhorses. Then he leaped at the knights. He thought he could hear Malice laughing.
The bodies of twelve of his knights lay dead in the bloody snow. There were several more wounded and the rest were weary.
Oliver had never seen anyone fight like the half-elf had, he had to be a minion of the Beast. The half-breed had come at them like a wave of death. His evil blade sliced through his knight’s armor as if it was not there, cleaving bodies and severing limbs. The creature had been merciless.
Just when he thought they might not have brought enough men, the abomination had fallen to its knees and its eyes had rolled back in its head. Then the half-breed lay still in the red snow.
“Commander, is it secured?” The lord justice’s voice brought the commander back to the present.
“Yes, Lord Justice Milara, he is in chains and still unconscious. Perhaps we should just kill it now.”
Lord Justice Milara shook his head. “No, it must answer some very important questions for me first, then we will burn it in the purifying flame of God.”
Commander Deverall thought the thing’s death could not come soon enough. He never wanted to face that monster again.
The three women and the children found themselves just inside the gates of Turill; the Dark One stood facing them. “Have no fear, I have no need to harm any of you now. My vengeance is complete. The Church will kill my brother and our mother can rest in peace. Farewell, ladies, it has been a pleasure.” He bowed to them and vanished, leaving the women unsure of what had just happened.
Tavantis returned to the tower and found Siro. The wizard patted him on the shoulder as he entered, a rare act of approval that shocked the homely necromancer.
“I want to be alone for a while. I will be in my study.” Tavantis walked into his private room and closed the door. He sat down in his chair, took the ring from his finger, and dropped it on to his desk.
He picked up the empty vile he had taken from the Phoenix Queen’s tomb. The black blood was gone. His brother was infected with it now and the Church would kill him without question. His quest was at an end. Kian was finished.
He thought that it would make the years of pain go away, his mother was avenged, but it had changed nothing. He had killed his brother as surely as he had driven a blade into him. Why didn’t he feel any better? Perhaps it was because he was the one to blame for what happened to his mother? No, he thought, it had all happened because of Kian. If not for him, everything would be different. He was just glad he
had not told his brother the truth or he would be dead now.
“Well, once again you have not thought things through, my young wizard.” He spun in his chair to see Shiavaka standing in the corner of his study.
Slowly she walked forward, hands folded in front of her. “Oh, Tavantis, you thought that was blood you found in the Phoenix Queen’s tomb, didn’t you?”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, thought it was blood?”
She giggled like a young girl. “You fool, that was not blood. That was the poison water of the Forever Sea, the great ocean that spills into the Grand Abyss. It is said to have been created by the black tears of the mighty Gods of Chaos when they wept for their dead children. None but the dead may cross that ocean. The waters are lethal to man and god alike.
"Only the Reaper has dared to cross the Forever Sea and even he has never been bold enough to let its waters touch his body. Even we gods have no knowledge of what will happen to your brother. If you would not have tampered with him, he would have died instantly. There is just no way to know for sure what will happen now.”
Tavantis was dumbfounded. “I thought it was the accursed blood, the Church is hunting anyone that has it. I thought…”
“You thought wrong. I wanted to teach you a lesson, so I remained silent. You must not act so hastily. Now look what you have done. Your rashness will be your downfall, Tavantis. I must say, though, I’m very curious about what the water will do to your brother.”
Tavantis wanted to lash out at the Goddess of Magic, but held his anger in check. He was unaccustomed to being wrong about anything. “Let us hope he dies before we find out what it does.”
She laughed out loud then. “You might be in more trouble than you know. Your brother will most likely die, that is true, but you put a dragon’s heart inside him and it will give him a chance. It is said at the dawn of time that all dragons were the same, until they drank from the dark waters of the Forever Sea. It changed them, made the different species of great wyrms that now inhabit this world. You see dragons are immune to the sea’s toxins. I believe it is why your brother still lives. The dragon’s heart inside him may not have only given him the ability to resist the magic of this world, it may have also made him immune to the poison of the Forever Sea. You may have only made him stronger than he was.”
Tavantis said nothing. His feelings about his mistake were a mystery to Shiavaka. He sat in silence, not saying a word.
The Goddess of Magic sat down across from him and crossed her legs. “It may be a good thing he does live. The Mistress will be very unhappy with you poisoning her champion like that. If he dies, she will seek revenge.”
Tavantis leaned back in his chair and sighed. “It wouldn’t be the first time I knowingly angered a god.”
Shiavaka’s smile faded. “And all you have to do to see the consequences of that is to look in the mirror.”
Endra, Isabella, and the queen made their way to the palace after the wizard disappeared. The city was quiet and dreary. The people they did see looked downhearted and forlorn. It was easy to see the war was beginning to take its toll on the inhabitants of the once vibrant city. The three all heard a great deal of gossip about sorcery and witches as they passed through town. The people they overheard talking chattered about how the foreign general K’xarr had managed to acquire several sorceresses to help him hold the city. Many people were saying that God would abandon Bandara now that the city had witches aiding in its defense, while others seemed not to mind as long as it kept Havalon and the Abberdonians out of Turill. Isabella tugged at the queen’s sleeve. “Milady, did you hear what the people are saying? Witches,” she whispered in a frightened voice.
“Heard them, I will see what is what when we get to the palace, but if they are helping K’xarr, maybe these witches aren’t so bad.”
“God said all magic is bad, milady. It says it right in the Holy Tome.”
Raygan put her arm around Isabella’s shoulders. “I know what the Tome says, my dear. However I think you should remember that you told me it was the Dark One who saved you from Duke Blackthorn. Did he not use magic?”
Isabella looked at her as if she had just been caught stealing honey cakes from the kitchen. “He did, milady.”
“Then perhaps magic can be used for good as well as evil.”
Isabella shrugged. “I guess, but it still scares me.”
“It scares me too. More than you know.”
The trio kept to the side streets, keeping anyone from recognizing them as they walked through the city. Both of the children were sleeping and all three women were thankful for that. They were still a little disoriented from their magical return to Turill and didn’t want any unsolicited attention.
When they arrived at the palace, the women made arrangements with the servants for the two children to be bathed and fed. The queen could hardly be pulled away from the young prince. Endra had to stress the importance of reporting to K’xarr as soon as possible before the queen would leave her child. Endra didn’t want to go face K’xarr herself, it was a duty she was dreading. K’xarr would not be happy about her and Rhys’s temporary desertion, but Kian would need help and fast. Endra knew how merciless the Church could be. K’xarr would be able to think of a way to get help to the two men who had been left behind. The queen kissed Prince Corwin once more and the three women went to find the general.
They found K’xarr in the council chamber. He said nothing when they walked in. He glared at the three young women as they sat down at the large table. Endra and the queen proceeded to tell him the entire story of Kian and his brother and the events at the tower. K’xarr didn’t interrupt them once, but it wasn’t hard for them to see the rage building in the young general as they told their tale. When they finished, K’xarr shook his fist as he shouted. “I have told that fool a million times he’s too soft-hearted. So what if that evil bastard is his brother, he should have killed him as you would a mad dog. You say that a company of Church knights were riding down on him and Rhys right before the wizard brought you here?”
Raygan nodded. “Yes, and there was nowhere for them to run. I believe the sorcerer had been planning it all along.”
K’xarr leaned forward on the table, giving the queen a venomous look. “Well, aren’t you the wise one, the evil wizard who must have been thinking about killing Kian for years had a plan to betray his brother. Did you use your whole brain to figure that out, Majesty?”
The queen’s face turned red and she looked ready to burst into tears.
K’xarr rubbed his eyes, he was tired. King Havalon had tested their defenses the last few days and the witches were being less and less helpful. They had been doing just enough to keep the Abberdonians out of the city. That’s what he was truly angry about. He shouldn’t be taking out his aggravation out on the young queen. “I’m sorry, Majesty, it’s just this is becoming a lot to handle. The Abberdonians have been pressing us hard and our magical allies are not as much help as they could be and now all this with Rhys and Kian. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, Majesty.”
Raygan sniffed a little and wiped one of her eyes. “It’s understandable, you are under a great deal of pressure, General, and I should be of more help. I just don’t have a head for all this.”
K’xarr waved his hand, dismissing her statement. “You are doing fine, Majesty. I still think we can come out of this alright.” He knew it was a lie, but he didn’t feel the queen needed any more bad news.
“I want to know what we are going to do about getting Kian and Rhys back,” Endra said.
“We aren’t going to do anything,” K’xarr said, raising his finger at Endra. “I think you did enough when you ran off after I told you to stay put, and from what you told me, Kian managed to get the queen without you or Rhys’s help.” Endra started to speak, but K’xarr cut her off. “This time you’re going to do what I say. You should trust in Kian’s skill and courage. If he is alive, he will find a way to escape. Besides, you lost Rhys last tim
e you went out to help him. I can’t afford to lose anyone else. No one leaves, Endra, not without my say-so.”
Endra grunted, slammed her fist down on the table, and stormed out of the council chamber.
K’xarr ignored the woman’s outburst. “Majesty, you should rest. We can talk later. I will fill you in on what happened while you were gone. You might also want to make an appearance in public soon. The people and the servants have been asking where you have been. We told them you were having trouble with birthing the child.”
The queen stood up, looking very tired. Isabella stepped forward and placed herself at the queen’s side. “I am going to see my child, General, but I would like to hear about these witches later. They are the talk of the town. It will be difficult to explain them helping us, but I will try and think of something, and I plan to appear publicly tomorrow and introduce the people to their new prince.”
K’xarr nodded. “Very good, Majesty. It’s good to have you back.”
“There is one more thing, K’xarr. I just want you to know that Kian saved Isabella and I. Not to mention two small children. Perhaps you should think about at least finding out what happened to him. I find myself very concerned about the half-breed after what he has done for me. I would not want to see him come to harm.”
K’xarr bowed slightly as the queen turned and left the room, Isabella on her heels.
K’xarr stood in the room alone. He would like to ride out after Kian, but he just couldn’t. Too much depended on him. The gullible bastard would just have to get himself and Rhys out of trouble all on his own.
The door creaked open and Cromwell came in, giving K’xarr a dark look. “She is right, you know.”
K’xarr nodded and sat down in one of the heavy wooden chairs that were scattered around the council table.
DAWN OF THE PHOENIX (Gods Of The Forever Sea Book 1) Page 46