Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1)

by A. J. STRICKLER

  The assassin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could smell the blood in the air. He pulled Finn’s body up to a seated position. Then he sat down in the pew beside the dead man with his arm around Selmac’s shoulders. Zachariah slowly sank the dagger into both of the healer’s eyes. He always stabbed their eyes when he could, but he didn’t really know why. He stood up and watched as the healer slumped down and rolled onto the floor. The assassin looked down at Selmac’s butchered body and considered his handy work. “Amen,” Zachariah said. The assassin walked out the side door of the sanctuary, humming his favorite hymn.

  ***

  The snow was gone from Braxton Bluff when K’xarr and the others arrived. The sky was overcast and looked as if it might rain. The travelers didn’t care about the weather, they were just glad to have gotten to their destination.

  The small town’s population was not more than five thousand, but it was well kept and well built. The group could see the keep that was built into the rock bluff that gave the town its name. Castle Blackthorn was not huge, but it looked almost impregnable.

  The Queen and Rufio came out to meet them as soon as they arrived. They were all exhausted. K’xarr had pushed them and their horses to the limit in order to beat Havalon to the town. The Queen ordered food, drink, and hot baths to be prepared for the weary group. Everyone dismounted but K’xarr. He stayed on his horse watching all of them as they greeted each other. Endra and Kian were met by her brood of children, Rhys and the Queen embracing each other like long-lost lovers, as the Queen’s friend Isabella watched with a smile on her face. Rufio and Cromwell were laughing most likely at something foolish Cromwell had said. Though he would never admit it or tell them, they had become more of a family to him than his own had ever been. K’xarr had little sense of family, but he would protect these people with his life.

  His arm was hurting badly and he had gotten a little dizzy on the ride here. Rhys needed to take a look at it now that they had made it to the Bluff. Rhys could patch him up and he could take command before the Abberdonians showed up. His head swam as he slid from the saddle and collapsed on the ground.

  ***

  The castle was cool and having half the windows of the Palace in Turill, it was dark as well. Most of its hallways were lit by candles or torches. It was not as beautiful as the Queen’s palace, but Rhys could see it was strongly built. William Blackthorn’s castle was to damp for his tastes, but that was not the only thing that troubled him. The young healer was very uncomfortable staying in the ancestral home of Raygan’s husband. Rhys had not been alone with her since he arrived at Castle Blackthorn. He wasn’t sure what was in the Queen’s mind, but he knew his. He loved her more than life itself, but he just couldn’t come up with a way they could be together. She was married and if that was not enough he was just a commoner, even though Raygan had given him the title of Lord, he was still not noble by birth. It all seemed so impossible. He needed to stop thinking about what could never be and keep his mind on his patient. K’xarr was still very ill. His love life would have to wait.

  “How is he?” Raygan asked as she glided into the room.

  “He will live. I just hope I can save the arm, it is badly infected, but at least the fever is down,” the healer said touching K’xarr’s forehead. Rhys felt the Queen’s hand wrap around his bicep and give a gentle squeeze. “I missed you terribly while you were gone. I prayed every night for your safe return.”

  Rhys looked at the small young woman. Motherhood agreed with her, she was more beautiful than ever. “I thought a lot about you while I was gone and our situation. Your husband will be returning soon, what are we going to do about that?”

  She looked deep into his eyes. Rhys had a hard time thinking straight when she did that and she knew it. “Well, he’s not here now and I’m not sure what will happen if he does return, that is a problem for another day.

  Havalon may put an end to that question anyway. If Ansellus doesn’t get here very soon, I don’t think it will matter what Talorn does.

  She stood on her toes so she could reach up and kiss him. He took her in his arms and slid his hands down over her hips.

  “Would you two do that somewhere else? There are sick people in here,” K’xarr said trying to rise.

  “By God, you people are very durable,” Rhys said, letting the Queen go and feeling K’xarr’s head again. “Your fever is gone with a little rest you should be out of that bed in a week.”

  K’xarr rubbed the stubble of his short cropped beard. “Is Havalon here yet?”

  The Queen shook her head. “No, but Rufio said it will be a day maybe two. He is taking his time, letting his men have a leisurely march. He knows I have nowhere else to go.”

  “Rhys I will stay until Havalon gets here, not a moment longer.”

  Rhys rolled his eyes, they never listened to his advice. “Of course that’s what you will do. I don’t know why I even give my opinion. What do I know about wounds, I’m just a healer.”

  K’xarr laughed and began to cough, Rhys handed him a cup of water from the bedside table. “I’m sorry but duty calls. I promised Her Majesty a Kingdom, and I don’t like to break my word.”

  “When your fever comes back and you die out there, we will give you a fine funeral,” Rhys said looking at his stubborn patient.

  “Go spend some time with the Queen, my friend, when the Abberdonians get here you will be too busy.”

  The Queen smiled at K’xarr and took Rhys by the hand and tugged him towards the door. The healer pointed his finger at K’xarr. “I will be back to check on you.”

  K’xarr smiled. “I hope not too soon.” Rhys grinned as he when out the door. He liked the young general, but it was a mystery to him why.

  ***

  Kian lay in bed beside Endra both still covered in a fine layer of sweat from their lovemaking. They had put the children to bed early, so they could be alone. His hand lay on the small bump of her stomach. “It is so small. Is Rhys sure it will come soon?”

  Endra lay with her eyes closed in relaxed bliss, but she had to grin at her lover’s apprehension. This man who had never shown any fear and had faced death many times seemed almost scared of his child’s birth. “You have asked me that three times, Rhys said by spring.”

  Kian looked at her wide-eyed. “It is almost spring, and war is coming, what are we going to do when the baby arrives?”

  Endra rolled over on her side and pushed her backside against him, maybe that would take his mind off the child.

  “Is it okay? Does Rhys know how to deliver it?”

  Endra sighed. “I told you he said the baby was fine, everything was fine, it just seems to be coming in a much shorter time than most babies.”

  “Did he say if it was a boy or girl?”

  “Kian, relax, I have had children before everything will be alright.”

  She felt him scoot closer to her and begin to stroke her firm hip lazily. “I wish the war was over.”

  She turned over to face him. “Kian, make love to me or go to sleep.” He moved on top of her, looking into her dark eyes. Endra pulled him down on top of her and they both stopped talking.

  ***

  Rufio stood on top of the castle’s gatehouse, looking down at the city. Night was starting to fall and the citizens of Braxton Bluff were heading to their homes for supper. He took off his helmet with its horse-hair crest. He had brought it all the way from Dragita. The liner need to be replaced and some of the dents needed hammered out, but all in all it was still in good shape, and so was he.

  Rufio was damned glad to see K’xarr ride in, sick or not. He calculated the Abberdonians would be here within a day or two, and it was good to have the Camiran back in command. The morale of the men had been boosted as well. Many had started to like the tough young general with the mysterious black blood. They would give Havalon hell now, no matter how outnumbered they were.

  “What are you thinking about with that tiny brain of yours, Rufio?”

&nbs
p; The captain knew the owner of that bear-like voice without having to turn around. “Cromwell, you’re so thick-headed, I couldn’t begin to explain to you what I was thinking about. I thought you were supposed to be resting?”

  The Toran laughed heartily. “To hell with Rhys’s nursemaid advice. I’m not a woman like you, Rufio. I’m from the Harsh Coast, a Toran, I will rest when I die.” Rufio had found insults were the way Cromwell showed people he liked them. So he took no offence to the barbarian’s abuses.

  “Look what I found down in the castle armory.” Cromwell held up the biggest ax Rufio had ever seen. “That could cut an ox in half, you’re not going to use that heavy thing in battle are you?”

  Cromwell looked at the ax almost lovingly. “Of course I am, it’s only heavy to weak men like Dragitans. It is a fine weapon and I won’t have to hit any of the Abberdonians more than once with it. The first blow will surely kill them.

  Rufio look out toward the road that led to the city of Braxton Bluff. “I don’t think you will have to wait long.” In the fading light, the two men could see the dark snaking line of soldiers coming down the road. Rufio’s calculations were wrong. The Abberdonians had arrived.

  K’xarr and the Queen decided to give Havalon the city, they didn’t have the men to defend it anyway. The plan was to hold the castle and hope Ansellus and the Asconans came in time.

  The defenders had taken as much food as they could from the city without leaving the people to starve, and there were two wells inside the castle walls. K’xarr felt if Havalon threw his whole army at them, they could hold out a week maybe ten days, no more and that was a generous estimate. Everything depended on Ansellus getting there before the castle fell. K’xarr had sent riders out to find the old general and tell him that Turill had been lost and the Queen was here in the Bluff, that might save time and keep Ansellus from riding to the capital before he came here. The problem was they didn’t know where Ansellus was or even if he had convinced the Asconans to aid the Bandarans. For now, they were on their own.

  ***

  The King and his sons watched as the Abberdonian army began to set up camp. Havalon was lost in thought of days long passed. He was thinking of his wife. Would he be here if Josephine was still alive? He knew the answer. His late wife would have never stood for her husband being so far away from home. If she had lived to raise her sons, the old King knew they would not be the warriors they were now. She would have had them docile and domesticated. His Josephine was a woman of little ambition, but he had loved her more than anything. He felt a hand shake his shoulder. “Father, did you hear me?”

  “No, Donovan. I was thinking of … other things. What is it?”

  “When do you want the attack to begin?”

  “At first light, tell the men to hurry with the preparations. I don’t want the Bandarans to have time to get any more people or provisions inside the castle.”

  Griffyn chuckled. “Does it matter, Father? We outnumber them nearly twenty to one.”

  Havalon gave his son a stern look. “Everything matters in war, boy. When you ignore the small things, you will soon find during the battle they will rise up and get your attention. We will leave nothing to chance, now do as I say.”

  “Yes, Father.” The two boys walked away to carry out their father’s orders. He hated to be hard on them, but he loved his sons too much to allow them to be less than diligent in their duties. Josephine would not have approved of that either. She always said people make mistakes, but his dead wife had never been in a battle. There could be no mistakes.

  The Abberdonians attacked the next morning. They had pulled their catapults from Turill with oxen. The Abberdonian siege master had positioned the war machines and Havalon gave the order to begin firing. The target was the gatehouse, it was the fortress’s weakest point. The Abberdonians were hoping to get a lucky shot and sunder the gate. King Havalon knew it might take weeks to batter down the thick walls of Castle Blackthorn, but if he destroyed the gate he could use his superior numbers to take the castle with fewer losses to his own ranks. The King sat on his warhorse and watched the large stones slam against the castle. “If we get a shot on the gates, have your men ready to attack. Donovan, Griffyn, you have your troops attack the walls with the siege towers and ladders, but wait for my order. I will keep my men in reserve. Now go take your positions.” Both the Princes saluted their father. The old King stood with his hands on his hips, watching his sons. As the Princes walked away, King Havalon felt a sense of accomplishment. No man deserved to be this proud of his offspring. He had raised his sons well. They would both make fine Kings.

  K’xarr joined everyone on the wall. He was still very pale and his bad arm was in a sling. “They’re trying for the gate, if they breach it, they have too many men to hold back,” Rufio said.

  K’xarr looked over the deployment of the Abberdonian King’s troops. “You’re right, Rufio, the gate is his best option. We can give him hell if he comes up the wall, the main gate is our weak spot and he knows it. If it goes down, we are finished.”

  “Sorry to interrupt, General, but I have the hospital ready inside the castle’s abbey, I know it does no good to say this, but you should limit you activity, General.”

  “I will do my best,” K’xarr said.

  Rhys waved to everyone and headed to the abbey.

  K’xarr looked at the two men who had traveled from Thieves Port with him. There was nothing else he could do. “Cromwell, you and Kian take two hundred men to the gatehouse, if they break through, try and hold it as long as you can.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll hold it until we kill every Abberdonian soldier or until Havalon dies of old age. Whichever comes first,” Cromwell said.

  Kian gave a quick nod of his head. They started for the stairs.

  Endra, now dressed in her armor, stopped Kian. “Be careful and don’t do anything foolish.”

  Kian touched her stomach, gently rubbing his hand against the mail that covered it. “Promise me if you have trouble, you will find Rhys and send for me.”

  She smiled and kissed him quickly. “I promise if I have any pains, I’ll leave the wall.”

  Kian reached over to the battlements where Endra’s helmet sat, he picked it up and put it on her head. The spectacle guard around her eyes and nose made the helmet look almost like a mask. “Keep that on you head.”

  She buckled the chin strap, leaving her raven-black hair to spill out from under it. The big bastard sword she carried slid from its scabbard with ease. With her naked blade and cape fluttering in the breeze, Kian thought she looked every bit like a warrior Queen.

  “I will see you soon,” she said softly touching his face. Kian put his fist to his chest giving her a mock salute. Then he headed for the gatehouse.

  ***

  Just before noon, the gate burst inward. Splinters of heavy wood flew everywhere. Prince Donovan ordered his men to charge the damaged gate. The first group carried a small ram, they smashed what was left of the gate down. The Abberdonians gave a loud cheer, but it was cut short as Kian, sword in hand, and Cromwell, ax at the ready, stepped into the archway of the gatehouse to meet their enemy.

  The gateway was as wide as five men with their arms stretched out. Ax and sword did their deadly work well in the confined space. Bodies of dead Abberdonians began to pile up like cord wood in front of the gate. The two warriors stayed inside the cover of the archway, so only a handful of the soldiers could engage them at any one time. The carnage the two warriors dealt to the Abberdonians was terrible. Blood and gore splashed the walls around the gatehouse and the screams of the dying echoed inside the stone walls of the castle.

  As the Abberdonian troops jammed into the castle’s entrance, the men from the walls fired arrows and threw stones down on them. The Abberdonians were taking heavy casualties and could not find a way to get past the two men holding the gate. Donovan ordered his men back. The gatehouse was a death trap. He needed to pull back and regroup.

  Havalon co
uld not understand why Donovan had not gotten into the castle, it was three hours past noon. He had given his son plenty of time to take the gate. The boy must need a little help. Donovan wouldn’t like it, but he was tired of waiting. He ordered Griffyn to attack the walls, that would do the trick. He would not lose the advantage of having taken down their gate. If he was lucky, he might have the castle by nightfall. Donovan would just have to put up with his brother sharing in the glory of taking the Bluff.

  Cromwell was gulping great breaths of air, as soon as he caught his breath he would return to the archway with Kian. He had taken several breaks to catch his breath while fresh Bandaran soldiers took his place, but the Half Elf had fought on for hours without rest. K’xarr was wrong, the Gods had blessed Kian’s sword arm, there was no other explanation for it. He took in one last breath of air and headed back to the gate.

  K’xarr had taken off the sling Rhys had made for him. He knew the healer wouldn’t be happy if he found out. It just couldn’t be helped. They needed every man they could get on the wall. He would just have to risk the healer’s wrath.

  He parried a blow from a young Abberdonian soldier and ran his long sword through the man’s guts. He looked down the wall to see where he was needed the most. Rufio and his Dragitan short sword were steady as ever. The captain was barking orders at the men, repelling the Abberdonian assault and they were still holding strong. Endra was beside him, dealing death with her heavy-bladed sword. Given time the woman would become a magnificent warrior.

  A war hammer came at his head. He was so distracted, he almost didn’t get his guard up in time. He twisted his wrist and slid his sword down the hammer’s handle, burying his blade in the man’s neck. The gate still held and the walls would not be taken today. It would be nightfall soon, hopefully Havalon would pull back. The first day was near over. They had fought well, but K’xarr knew time just wasn’t on his side.

  Night fell and the Abberdonians launched two more half-hearted attacks after dark that failed. There was no give at the gate. Kian and the men with him still held the deadly entryway. The next two days were no different.