Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1)

by A. J. STRICKLER

  “I’m beginning to have my doubts about you, Willy, you almost seem … incompetent, yes, that’s the word.”

  “How dare you? If you won’t help, I could … I mean we could lose Bandara.”

  “Never really cared about it actually, Willy. This pathetic Kingdom is what you wanted. As far as I’m concerned, you have served your purpose. Now I am leaving before I lose my patience.”

  “You can’t…” The duke froze in mid-sentence. The Dark One turned, knowing he was not the one responsible for immobilizing Blackthorn. A woman stood behind him, dressed in a black funeral dress. Her whole face covered by a veil, he knew immediately who it was. “Damn it; oh, excuse my foul mouth, Mistress.”

  “I would, but there is no excuse for anything you do. I take it you know the demon he was referring to?”

  “Of course I do. I made it. May I ask what brings a being of such power to Bandara? Surly nothing here could interest someone as mighty as you.”

  “Did you just call me a being?” I think you mean Goddess, don’t you?”

  “Of course, slip of the tongue.”

  “I have taken notice of your creation.”

  “That would explain how he broke through my wards and took the sword so easily.”

  She nodded her head. “I knew you had stolen Malice from my temple in Sidia. I have just had no use for it until now.”

  The wizard took a step back. “No hard feelings then?”

  “I will let it go this time, since you have served my purpose by making that wonderful creature. I must admit you have done well for yourself, sorcerer. You have gained great power and I have even heard the Circle of Thirteen whisper your name.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t come here to tell me how wonderful I am. What is it you want, Great One?”

  She gave a mirthless chuckle. “I have come to see if it is in your power to make more of those?”

  The Dark One shifted uneasily, his scars were starting to ache. “No, the spell was on an ancient scroll I came across. I believe it to be from a time before the Elven wars. I acquired it from a tomb beyond the Sea of Ice. It was destroyed when I cast the spell. Without it, I couldn’t create another.”

  “I see, well, that is unfortunate. Perhaps there may be other ways to make them.” He could hear the amusement in her voice, he knew she already had thought of something.

  “If anyone could conceive of a way to recreate the spell it would be you, Oh Mighty Queen of Hell.” He bowed slightly.

  “He bears Malice now, you would do well to remember that. The creature is mine. Though you fabricated the half-breed, I will not tolerate any interference. I have plans for him.” Then she vanished.

  “I really hate her,” the wizard said to himself.

  “Leave me here. If you won’t help, at least take me with you.” The unfrozen duke finished.

  The Dark One had forgotten all about Blackthorn. The immobilization spell had broken when the Mistress left. “Of course, Willy, I know just the place for you.” And they both vanished.

  K’xarr waited until Ansellus returned. It had taken the old general longer than he thought it would to quell Blackthorn’s men.

  “How did it go?” K’xarr asked.

  “Well, I have them out of our hair for now. Lucky too, a thousand of them were getting ready to ride into the city. Thanks to God many of them remembered their old general.”

  “How did you convince them?”

  “I appealed to their loyalty and love of their country. I told them about the Princess and her plight. They are ‘thinking on it.’ It was the best I could do in such a short time.”

  “Good enough, Ansellus. We will have time to finish this. Later you can win them over to our cause.”

  The older man chuckled. “As long as you give me a barrel of wine next time I talk to them. I will do just that.

  There was little resistance when they stormed the palace, the huge foyer was where most of the fighting took place. Most of the men surrendered, simply throwing down their weapons when K’xarr and his band burst through the doors.

  Endra had to almost hold Kian back from slaughtering the guardsmen where they stood, but in the end he had listened to her pleas for restraint. K’xarr had the palace’s defenders rounded up, as well as all the servants. He ordered Endra and the Loyal watchmen to hold their prisoners in the great dining hall. Then they began to search the palace for Duke Blackthorn.

  Kian found the doors to the chapel locked. He stepped back and smashed the door in with his shoulder.

  Bishop Lyfair turned with a look of horror on his face. “I’m a man of God, you can’t harm me, demon, be gone from this holy place.”

  Kian slowly walked towards the Bishop. The warrior’s sword hand was wet and sticky with gore. Malice too was covered with the blood of two guardsmen he had found hiding in one of the upper level rooms.

  A low growl issued from deep in Kian’s chest and Bishop Marin Lyfair wet himself. “Please, I have information the Princess will want to hear, don’t kill me, I beg you.”

  The Bishop went to his knees, visibly shaking. Kian wrinkled his nose at the smell of urine and fear.

  He reached down and picked Lyfair off the floor by his neck, lifting him until the Bishop’s feet left the floor. He looked into the holy man’s eyes for a moment, then hurled him into the small altar where Raygan had stood for her wedding.

  “Kian, don’t kill him.” K’xarr and Cromwell stepped through the broken doors. “He is one of the men the Princess wanted brought to her.”

  Kian turned to face his friends. K’xarr continued, “Have you found Blackthorn yet?”

  The swordsman shook his head. “No, I have not. This one is of the Church, and you know that they hunt Endra and her children.”

  K’xarr could see a problem about to happen if he couldn’t talk Kian out of killing the Bishop. Then again he could just simply let him kill the man. Raygan’s desires were not worth arguing with the swordsman about.

  “Let the Princess talk to him. I don’t think he’s going anywhere. When she’s done with him we can kill him then,” K’xarr said.

  Lyfair pulled himself up on what was left of the shattered altar. His legs were quivering. “I can tell her who killed her father,” the Bishop said almost out of breath.

  Kian looked at K’xarr. “Maybe you’re right, K’xarr. Let the Princess question him, then we will see. She should know who killed her father. I would not want to rob her of that by killing this priest.”

  K’xarr gave a brief sigh. Maybe Kian’s mind was working better than he thought. “Let him clean himself, then bring him down, Cromwell. Kian, come on, let’s go see what has become of the others.” The two men left the chapel.

  Cromwell jerked the Bishop by his sleeve and shoved him towards the door, laughing at the Bishop’s wet robe. “Don’t feel bad, priest. I don’t think you’re the only one that he made piss themselves today.”

  K’xarr and Kian walked into the throne room where the Princess was being attended to by Rhys. She looked a little pale and very tired. Ansellus was talking with some of the palace staff. When the general saw the two men enter the dining hall he hurried over. “I guess no luck finding Blackthorn.”

  K’xarr rubbed his beard. “No, he must have gotten away somehow. We couldn’t find him anywhere.”

  Ansellus slammed his hand against his armored thigh. “I really wanted to get my hands on him, he could cause us problems later.” The old general’s shoulders slumped, he looked as tired as the Princess. “I’m sure he will turn up eventually, K’xarr, the man is a snake. I can tell you, this he won’t let us take back the city if there is any way he can prevent it. I have spoken with the Princess. I’m going to talk to his troops later and see if I can convince them to do their duty as Bandarans. Maybe this time I can sway them to our side completely. I have also sent messages to some of the minor nobles. I want to call a meeting and see what they think about crowning the Princess as Queen. After all, it was her father’s wish
she rule Bandara. Her brother had no right to alter that. It will also make our position much stronger.”

  Ansellus lowered his voice. “K’xarr, I would like you and the others to stay here and take care of things until I return. It shouldn’t be more than a few days. Can I count on you to see to Raygan’s safety until I get back?”

  “Of course, we will see to the Princess. Besides, it would be nice to sleep in a bed for a change.”

  Ansellus looked apprehensive. “Can I speak with you in private, K’xarr? Kian, will you excuse us?”

  Kian nodded to both men and walked away.

  Ansellus led K’xarr to the far side of the great throne room. “I have a problem and it’s something only you can handle.”

  K’xarr put his hands on his hips. “I hope we can take care of whatever it is quickly. I know everyone would like to eat and get a little rest before we plunge into something else.”

  “Of course, I could do with a meal myself. It’s not any work that needs done. I want to speak with you about Kian. I don’t think he should stay in the palace. Raygan is scared of him and on top of his other problems he is a Half Elf. That won’t go over so well with the nobles. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize the Princess’s chances to claim the throne because of one man.”

  K’xarr closed his eyes and tried to hold his temper. “He almost took this place completely alone, and you’re saying he can’t stay in it a night or two? You can tell your Princess she wouldn’t even be in her palace now if it wasn’t for that Half Elf.”

  Ansellus held up his hands. “Easy, my friend, I know what he did, but I must make it sound like you did it. When I tell the nobles the story, it will be you and your mercenaries who took the palace. Think, K’xarr, should I tell them an enchanted half-breed slaughtered the Royal Guard and took the palace? How do you think that would be received? No, it must be you who took the palace. There is no other way.”

  “I will not take credit for another man’s actions.”

  Ansellus took a deep breath. ”His kind is not accepted by our Church or our people, it’s just the way of the world. Look, K’xarr, you are a good man and you have the making of a fine commander despite your youth, but you can’t fight the way people believe.”

  K’xarr spit on the floor. “I thought you were better than that Ansellus, that’s what I thought.”

  “It’s not me. I don’t care if he is here or not, and I honor what he did it’s just what must be. You also know he is dangerous, what if he turns on us? Everyone knows Half Elves are untrustworthy by nature, he’s also unstable, can’t you see that?”

  K’xarr tried to keep his voice down. “You want him to go, then you tell him you don’t trust him, and he should leave now because no one really wants him here. Whatever Kian is, I count him a friend. I won’t ask him to leave or take any glory for what he did. I’m particular about the people I travel with. You insult them and you insult me, you should take very close account of that, general. You do what you must, but I will not be a party to it.

  Kian stood across the vast dining hall watching K’xarr and Ansellus’s conversation. He turned and tapped Endra on the shoulder. She was talking to Rufio and Vandarus about the day’s events. “What is it? Is something wrong?” Endra asked.

  “K’xarr is my friend. Do not be hard on him. I know he seems harsh sometimes, but we can trust him.”

  She looked at Kian questioningly. “What makes you say that now?” Kian looked across the throne room where Ansellus and K’xarr were still talking. “It was something I heard him say.”

  Endra didn’t understand at first then she smiled, and Kian knew she grasped what he was telling her. He had been listening to K’xarr’s conversation. “I must go, Endra, but I won’t be far.” He started toward the door.

  “Why?” she asked. He heard her but didn’t look back.

  His pupils dilated, in the dark he could see. The night couldn’t protect its secrets from him anymore. His mind was clearer in the dark. His new instincts seemed to melt away in the moon’s soft glow. He walked along aimlessly through the palace grounds, the fog in his brain dissipating the more he walked. How many men had he killed today? He could not even remember.

  He was a warrior, killing was a part of that, but the men he fought today hadn’t been true opponents, they had been his quarry. They had stood no chance against him and Malice. He must find a way to bring all this under control. He could accept the fate the Gods had dealt him, he had been doing that all his life. What he could not live with was not being in control of his actions and his thoughts.

  He would try to stay away from the palace, there would be less trouble for the others if he did. Knowing K’xarr had defended him meant a great deal to the swordsmen, but it wasn’t K’xarr he was worried about.

  Endra said she loved him and he knew it was not a lie, but he could sense she was afraid. He had to think about her and what he should do about his feelings for her.

  Kian looked up at the stars that filled the sky, as always his thoughts turn to his mother and brother, and he wondered if they were looking at the same sky or if they lay rotting in a grave somewhere, forgotten to everyone but him.

  He found himself out at the edge of the Princess’s garden. It was nice, he would find somewhere to sleep out here. It would be better for everyone if he kept his distance.

  “You are very quiet tonight, my champion,” Malice whispered from its scabbard as Kian spun and dropped into a crouch ready to spring. A woman dressed in a beautiful black gown stepped from the night, her face covered with a black gossamer veil.

  “I’m no one’s champion. Scarlett said she would be the one to return. Who are you?”

  The woman glided across the grass to stand right in front of him; she was tall and showed no fear of him or his sword.

  “First, dear champion, I’m no mere sorceress like that red-headed harlot. I am a Goddess, the Mistress is what you mortals call me, and you should be kneeling in my presence, but since things are as they are, I will excuse it.”

  Kian had heard the name before, one of the Old Gods, she was the Queen of Hell, the wife of the Reaper. He could sense the woman’s power, it emanated from her like a fine perfume.

  “I was not aware I ever agreed to be your champion.”

  “You picked up my sword, you spilled blood with it, that is all it takes. You belong to me now.”

  “I belong to no one.” Kian tightened his grip on the sword.

  “Think what you will my dark warrior, it matters not to me. You will come to know your place in time.”

  Kian growled and stepped closer to the woman.

  “Before you do something hasty, I want you to remember this. I can be very generous or I can make you wish you had never crawled out of your mother’s womb.”

  Kian swung the blade. It was a blur but instead of crunching through flesh and bone, the blade passed harmlessly through the woman.

  “I told you I am a Goddess, you fool.” The Mistress raised her hand fingers open, it reminded Kian of a claw. A dark red light discharged from the palm of her hand striking him in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Again and again the Goddess fired her magic into his body, and every time he felt as if he was being skinned alive. Finally she ceased her barrage. Kian lay smoldering on the ground, barley conscious.

  “Remember this lesson, champion, I have returned. I will rise to my former glory and you will help me. You have no choice in the matter, monster. I require little from you, save obedience, otherwise do as you will. I like the woman you have selected, take her as your mate, I approve of it greatly, stay in Bandara or leave. I really don’t care, but know this your allegiance belongs to me. She vanished, leaving her champion lying on the ground near death.

  Chapter 18

  Most of the next morning had passed before he was found. It was Tressa, Endra’s daughter, who came upon Kian’s still form. She was playing with her brothers in the garden when they saw him lying unconscious in a circle of burned grass.


  Tressa, being a smart girl, ran to the palace to find her mother. Her brothers rushed to Kian’s side and tried to wake him up. Then the boys tried to pull him up by his arms.

  When Tressa returned with Endra and K’xarr, Vinsant and Payton had started trying to roll Kian towards the palace. “We will take him, boys.” K’xarr said. Endra and K’xarr both took note of the burned area in the grass. Neither said anything, but both knew something unnatural had happened here.

  They had placed him in one of the empty rooms on the second floor of the palace. Endra sat beside his bed holding his hand. Rhys had finished examining the Half Elf, he stood at the foot of the bed staring at his patient with his arms folded. “I have no explanation for the burns on his body, the closest thing I have ever seen was a boy who had been stuck by lightening.

  The boy was dead when they brought him to me, so I have never treated this kind of burn. However, Kian seems to be quickly recovering on his own, perhaps another side effect of his transformation, I would say with a little rest he should be good as new.” K’xarr nodded his approval.

  Endra squeezed Kian’s hand. She felt him give a gentle squeeze back. “I will stay with him, you two go on, I’m sure the Princess will need your help questioning the Bishop.”

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Rhys asked. “I can stay if you want. K’xarr can handle the Princess’s inquiry.”

  “Go, we will be fine.” K’xarr opened the door. “Come on, Rhys, she can do more good for him now than you can.” Rhys touched Endra on the shoulder and the two men left the room.

  As they headed down the stairs K’xarr stopped the healer. “What do you really think happened?”

  Rhys took a deep breath. “Well, my first guess would be he was attacked with some kind of magic, there really is no other explanation.”

  “I was thinking the same thing, ever since he was … changed, things with him have become strange and I don’t like it. He is not the same man I met in Thieves Port, that’s for sure. I will tell you something else. I don’t like that damn sword he found in the Dark One’s tower either.”