DAWN OF THE PHOENIX

by A. J. STRICKLER

  The king glanced at his son. “Listen and I will tell you.” Donovan pursed his lips and looked at his brother. Griffyn shook his finger at him and smiled.

  “I want you to press the attack. Cain has help now, Fox and Bradford are no fools and the young Blackthorn will also realize what I’m doing if he has enough time to think. So keep the pressure on them, attack, attack, attack and keep driving them toward Northham, Fox’s castle near the city. If you can rout them and do enough damage, they will take to the castle. Lay siege to it and hold them there. You don’t even have to take the castle, just keep them inside until winter. They won’t move after the snows come.”

  Griffyn folded his arms across his chest. He looked at his brother then his father. “What will you be doing while we bottle up the king and his army?”

  Havalon pointed to Turill. “I will take the capital. Old Lord Blackthorn hasn’t sent his army north, or so our spies say. They are camped just north of the capital, ten thousand men just sitting there while we are chasing the rest of their army all over northern Bandara. I don’t know what he is playing at, but his troops are all that stand between Turill and us. If you can pin down Cain’s Army at Northham, I will defeat Duke Blackthorn and take the city.

  "I have been told by our spies that the king has sent for the Royal Guard to bolster his ranks, leaving only the city watch to take care of the capital. How many men will that give the boy king?”

  “He lost four thousand in our last battle. With Bradford and Fox’s men and the Royal Guard, if they arrive in time, maybe twenty-five thousand, give or take a thousand,” Donovan replied.

  The king picked up a jug of wine and poured himself a cup. His sons said nothing, they knew when their father was thinking.

  “Take ten thousand men each. I will take the rest and the five thousand mercenaries we hired, that will give me well over twenty thousand men. I will head east and wait for word that you have trapped the king, then I will ride on Turill. We might even get lucky and Blackthorn will send his men to try and save his king, and I will take the city with no resistance.”

  “Cain will slightly outnumber us, Father,” Donovan observed. “I thought you said the Bandarans would be easily beaten?” The old king grinned. Donovan frowned and said nothing.

  “I know he outnumbers you in men. He and his general are inexperienced and our troops are far superior. I have no doubt you and Griffyn can handle them. If you get into trouble, send word and I will reinforce you.”

  “Father, I have a question,” Donovan said, grinning.

  “Ask it then, Son, I am tired. It has been a long day.”

  “When we defeat Cain and you take Turill, which one of us gets Princess Raygan?”

  “Yes, Father,” Griffyn said, excited by the turn of the conversation. “She was quite attractive when we saw her at the joust two years ago. She was a bit young then but her breasts were almost as big as Donovan’s head.”

  All three laughed. Havalon held up his hand. “I know the little princess is beautiful and would give either of you a fine heir, but there is not enough of her to go around and she has married the king’s general. So we will have a contest. Whichever one of you kills Talorn Blackthorn can have the girl.”

  Her thin legs quivered only a little when he raped her now, and there was hardly any screaming when he hurt her. The girl was done. The rat bites on her body had begun to fester and her hair was matted and full of lice. He was finished with her.

  The handmaiden had served her purpose. They needed nothing from her now anyway. Once Cain had been told the healer came poking around the palace looking for Raygan’s servant, it was all the reason he needed to order the foolish man’s arrest.

  William had kept the girl for fun. Besides, Cain never said anything about releasing her. The king and Talorn were gone now and he could do as he pleased. Not that he couldn’t before, there was just little need to cover it up now.

  He dressed himself and waited for Arn to come and unchain the girl. He thought he would let the executioner have her, no need to let the last bit of the little bitch go to waste.

  He smacked the girl on the backside. “It’s been a pleasure, my dear.” The duke was ready to get out of the foul-smelling dungeon. He only needed to wait for Arn to come back from feeding the other prisoners, so he could award the executioner his prize.

  “Still torturing and raping little girls, I see.” William spun around, drawing his dagger. The man grabbed his hand as he thrust his dagger and slapped him so hard across the face that it knocked him to the floor. He noticed the man had taken his dagger away as well. The bastard was quick.

  “It’s you… How did you get in here?”

  The Dark One offered his hand to William and helped him to his feet. “I come and go as I please, you know that, Willy.”

  William gritted his teeth and said nothing. He wanted to live. This was the one man Duke Blackthorn feared. “I thought I was to contact you when things were settled here?”

  The wizard handed William’s dagger back to him. “True, but you also said that Bandara would belong to you by now. I did my part. The kingdom was ripe for the taking, but I have seen nothing you promised me for all my work.”

  “It is all but mine now. The Abberdonians have invaded and that has to be dealt with before I can take full control.”

  “I take it you have arranged for the Abberdonians to be defeated after they solve your problem?” the wizard asked.

  “I have made a deal with King Braklan and the Illairians. If the Abberdonians defeat Cain, Havalon’s troops will be weakened from the war. On my order, Braklan will attack with his allies and destroy Havalon.

  “All I have to do is allow the Illairians to extend their border fifty miles into Bandara and the Abberdonian problem is solved.”

  The wizard rested his hands on the two shortswords that jutted from his cloak. “You must trust King Braklan. What would stop him from just taking all of Bandara with both armies decimated?”

  “My agents acquired certain information about him that he doesn’t want his queen to know, or his people for that matter."

  “What if, by chance, the king and your son win the war?”

  The duke slide his dagger back into its scabbard. “Well then, so much the better. I won’t need Braklan and I will take care of Cain myself. Talorn is married to the princess now and he will rule alongside Raygan if Cain dies. Their child will begin the royal line of the Blackthorn family. So you can see, I have been dealing with several situations, but there is no reason for you to worry.”

  The Dark One walked into the cell and lifted the girl’s head. He eased it back down and looked at William. “It looks like all you're dealing with is your own perversions, Willy, and that causes me to doubt your commitment.”

  Arn came down the stairs and into the light. “Arn, kill him, tear him apart,” William yelled, pointing at the wizard. He was tired of being afraid of this sorcerer. He didn’t need him anymore anyway and hastily decided he should kill the man now while he had the chance to catch the mage unawares.

  Arn lunged at the smaller man, arms out stretched to strangle the duke’s enemy. The Dark One pulled his twin shortswords with practiced speed. The dark steel blade sliced through the air, cutting both the hulking executioner’s hands off. The sorcerer twirled the blades in his hands and slammed them back into their scabbards.

  Arn held up his stumps, blood pumping down his huge forearms. The Dark One stepped forward and delivered a sharp punch to the middle of the large man’s chest. The great hulking man made an odd gasping sound. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth and he toppled over. The executioner was dead before he crashed to the floor.

  “That was very foolish, Willy, and I do believe I take offense to it. Although I see you may at least have balls enough to finish what we have started.”

  Lord Blackthorn had backed himself into the corner of the cell, eyes wide and hands trembling. “Finish? Then you’re not going to kill me?”

 
; The wizard made a sick gurgling attempt at laughter. “Of course not, I expect treachery from the people I work with. You could say it’s almost a requirement of mine.”

  William gazed at the dead executioner. “You didn’t even use sorcery to kill him. I have seen Arn fight three men at a time and kill them all. How?”

  “It’s all in the wrist, Willy.” The sorcerer smiled beneath his mask. “You see, my good duke, before I took up the art of sorcery, I was a Sidian Assassin. I learned the skill in the city beyond the black gate as one of the Kabash Sar, the heartless ones. Magic is not my only defense. Besides, I like to keep in practice when the opportunity arises.”

  William pulled his feet back as the Dark One’s cloak brushed past him as the wizard walked out of the cell. He had terribly underestimated this man. He was no common spell caster. “Where are you going?” the Bandaran noble asked.

  “I have recently had a setback on another matter and I need to reevaluate a few things. You have things to do too, don’t you?”

  William nodded quickly. “Uh yes, I’m on my way now, pardon me. I will contact you when things here are resolved and I apologize for my attempt on your life.”

  The Dark One brushed his hand at the duke as if he were shooing away a fly. “No need. Really, it wasn’t my life that was in danger, Duke Blackthorn, it was yours.” The duke swallowed and headed up the stairs as fast as he could go.

  The wizard leaned against the wall of the dungeon. The place smelled of blood, feces, and rotten flesh, and he had caused himself no small amount of pain when he killed the duke’s lackey. He often wondered if the price he had paid for his power had been worth it. No sense thinking about it now, he had made his choice long ago and he had other things to do. He walked over to where the girl hung from the ceiling, looking over her infected wounds and assessing the damage that had been done to the starving damsel.

  He reached out and lifted her head with his gloved hand. “Now this is no place for a pretty young girl.” He took the keys to Isabella’s manacles off the dead executioner and unlocked her chains. She weighed nothing, her ribs looked like they were ready to poke through her skin and she was burning up with fever. He carried her out of the cell like she was a baby. “You are safe from that fiend now, my dear, I have a healer at my tower that will take very good care of you.”

  She thought that things would be better after her new husband and Cain were both gone, but they weren’t.

  Cain had left Duke Blackthorn to run the city in his absence. She thought that she would be the ranking noble and would have at least some control, but she was treated little better than the palace servants. The duke had restricted her to her room. She was only allowed in her garden when she was escorted by Royal Guardsmen, and on top of everything else, she had been ill.

  She had asked to go into the city, but was told it was unsafe. Raygan didn’t believe for one minute the people of Turill would ever harm her. It was her brother that had created all the unrest, not her.

  She wanted to see Rhys. She hoped to go out into the city and see if she could find the healer, but there was no way she could leave without the Royal Guard coming along.

  Most of the guard had been called north to aid her brother. Only Captain Hightower and a handful remained to tend to matters here—her, in particular, it seemed.

  No one had been able to find Isabella either. It was as if she had just disappeared. Then again, could she believe what Cain had told her? Had he even sent anyone to find the girl? It had been over two months and she was getting very worried about her handmaiden. Isabella was very resourceful, but she was just a girl. If anything happened to her, Cain and his cronies would not like the fit she would throw.

  She gazed out her window into the garden. It was so warm, but it would not be that way much longer. Summer would be ending soon. The war would be in full swing by now and it must not be going well if Cain had to send for his Royal Guard. She wondered how Cain liked being a warrior king now. King Havalon and his sons were well known for their battle prowess. She remembered the Abberdonians had started a brief border war against Bandara when she was ten years old and everyone had said how fierce King Havalon’s sons had fought.

  The war made Raygan unhappy. She had to hope Cain defeated King Havalon for her people’s sake. The truth was it didn’t matter for her if Cain won or lost. Her Bandara was gone.

  Raygan’s door opened and Duke Blackthorn walked in, unannounced as always. “I would like to have a word or two with you, Highness.” She could hear the venom in his voice. Something had made him angry, so she would have to tread very carefully.

  “Of course, Duke Blackthorn. What can I do for you?” He walked towards her and she backed away from him out of instinct.

  “You’re my daughter-in-law now, no need to be so formal. You may call me William when we’re alone.”

  He almost stalked around her room and he was looking at her in a very strange way. “Thank you, your grace, but I like to show respect for my elders.” Raygan was a master of the veiled insult and she could tell her father-in-law had caught her jab. His jaw tightened and he clenched his fists. Maybe insulting him wasn’t such a good idea.

  “I heard you had been sick, my dear, I thought I would come and check on you.”

  “It was nothing, most likely something I ate. There is no cause for worry, but I do thank you for checking on me,” Raygan said with a flip of her hand.

  The duke picked up one of the silver goblets off her dining table and was admiring it. “I was hoping the sickness meant you were with child. You know it would be of great joy for me, and I know Talorn would be thrilled.”

  Raygan had to hide her shock. She hadn’t even thought her queasy stomach had anything to do with a child. Her cool demeanor fled her like a runaway horse. “I don’t think that is possible, Talorn rode north right after we were wed.”

  He sat the goblet down on her table next to its twin and came closer. “You had your wedding night, that is all it would take, girl. I will have Selmac examine you tomorrow. With Talorn and the king both engaged in the war, an heir to the throne would not be unwelcome. In fact, it is a necessity.”

  A nervous smile spread across the face of the princess. “I don’t think I need to be checked. If I was with child, I think I would know, and if I need to be examined, I have my own healer.”

  “I don’t care what you think or what you know and I don’t think your physician will be available,” the duke snapped. “Selmac will be here in the morning to find out for sure. We need another male heir, and if Talorn hasn’t put one in you womb, I might just have a go at it myself.”

  Raygan was speechless.

  “Yes, my dear, it does not matter whose seed gets me an heir—mine or my son’s, as long as it’s a Blackthorn. Perhaps I will pay you a visit tonight. How does that sound?” He gave her a lewd look up and down, turned, and walked out.

  Raygan could tell he was not jesting. If he wanted to rape her, there was no one to stop him. Obviously, he didn’t fear his son or the king. Did he think Cain and Talorn would be killed? Was the war going so badly he thought Talorn would not return to avenge her if he assaulted her?”

  If they were to die, any child she had would be heir to the throne after her. When the baby was born, her life would not be worth much to the duke. William could have her killed and would rule Bandara as her child’s regent. Maybe that was what he had been planning all along? She had to get out of the palace as soon as she could. There were no options now, she would leave after dark. She just had to hope God would watch over her.

  The children were finally all asleep and Rhys was full from another fine meal cooked by Nick Nock. The cook had been a fine addition to the household.

  The little group was quite a handful. Rhys didn’t know how Endra did it, he was exhausted. He hoped that she and the others would return soon. Summer was almost over and they had been gone over two months, give or take. He didn’t mind watching the children, but he knew the little ones were star
ting to miss their mother.

  It was nice to be back in his home. It wasn’t much, but he had worked on it diligently. He had set it up just the way he wanted to treat his patients efficiently. He had never planned on warriors and children living with him. He had to admit, though, he enjoyed the company.

  Rhys knew it was dangerous to be home, but the king and most of the Royal Guardsmen were in the north. He could breathe a little easier. He hoped the king had forgotten all about him.

  It still bothered him that he didn’t know the real reason he had been pursued by the crown, but he would just have to let it go for now. Maybe when K’xarr got back, he could try to find out something for him. At least no one had come looking for him and he could see to his patients without the fear of being arrested.

  The city guard had problems of their own, so he didn’t think they had time to worry about him either. Rhys's patients had told him that there had been a few small riots on the south side of the city because of the new taxes. The market as well had become unruly with all the merchants protesting the huge tax increases.

  The city guards were shorthanded and very busy trying to keep the city under control now that the king and almost all the Royal Guard were gone. They were overwhelmed by the number of disturbances throughout the city. While he was setting a man’s broken arm earlier in the week, Rhys was told there were many people still claiming the princess was the rightful heir and should be ruling instead of Cain. Some citizens even stood outside the palace and shouted at the guards, demanding to see her. It was said that Duke Blackthorn had them arrested. Rhys sighed; the beautiful city had changed a lot since he came here.

  At least for now he felt safe in his home. It also helped his peace of mind to have Rufio and Vandarus sitting in the back room. The two warriors had been invaluable to him since they had returned to Turill, both were savvy in helping him sneak around the city to see his patients.

  They had tried to help him with Endra’s children, but the little ones only seemed content when he was with them. The warriors weren’t very understanding when it came to the children, though they did their best. Rufio and Vandarus were just not much good at looking after children.