DAWN OF THE PHOENIX

by A. J. STRICKLER

  “Well, fill us in on what has happened since I left, starting with why you are in Braxton Bluff,” Ansellus said, pulling out a chair for himself and the master knight.

  Raygan sighed. “Let me see, where to begin?”

  When she had finished, Ansellus and Eldon just looked at each other. “Highness, I don’t know what to say other than you have endured a difficult and unusual winter. We will drive Havalon out of Bandara, though I pity him now, both sons dead. No man should have the terrible duty of burying his sons.” The two men stood up. “I assume you want me to take command of the army, Majesty?” Ansellus asked.

  Raygan fidgeted in her seat. She wanted to have Ansellus take command of what little army she had left, he was safe and he knew how to behave in a courtly fashion, but K’xarr and his companions had bled for her and her kingdom. How could she relieve the Camiran of his command? It didn’t seem right, even if she seldom agreed with his barbaric methods.

  “No, Ansellus, I want you to stay close to me as my advisor. Let K’xarr take care of what is left of my army.”

  “As you wish, Majesty. I must say the young man has kept you alive this far. I will not deny him that.”

  Raygan stood. “Now, gentlemen, I must see to my son.”

  "May I have a look at the future king, if it’s alright, Highness?” Ansellus asked.

  “Of course, Lord Fox, he needs to meet all his allies. Would you like to see my son, Grand Master Cross?”

  “Eldon, please, Majesty, and yes, I never miss a chance to meet a future king."

  The queen sent word to King Havalon that she would wait three more days for him to mourn his sons, then he could either lower his flags and be escorted out of Bandara by the Asconans or he could prepare his army for battle.

  The king still held the message in his hand. He stood between the bodies of his sons. He had not been able to bring himself to bury them yet. There was really no decision to make, he would not go back to his county in disgrace or without his boys. He bid his men to fill the royal pavilion with wood and whatever they could find that would burn. The old king softly kissed each of his sons on the forehead and then he put a torch to his grand pavilion and watched as his legacy turned to smoke.

  There was no need to wait three days. When the fire died, the king sent a runner to the castle to tell the Bandarans his men would be deployed in the fields outside the city by morning, and he would await the queen’s army.

  K’xarr had insisted that the six hundred Bandarans that were left be allowed to ride with the Asconans. Eldon Cross balked at first, citing that his men had been disciplined to certain commands and the Bandarans didn’t know them and they might get in his knights’ way. However in the end, he yielded to the queen’s general. Cross liked K’xarr, much to the surprise of Ansellus and the queen. The grand master told them he admired the man’s boldness and his courage.

  The queen and Isabella stood on the wall, watching the armies prepare. Kian, Endra, and Rhys joined her. “Endra, I am so sorry I have not seen your daughter yet. Rhys said she was something to behold.”

  “Oh yes, Majesty, she is something alright.” Endra answered, grinning at Rhys.

  Raygan turn to Kian. She didn’t like talking to him, but she was curious. “May I ask you a question, Kian?”

  “You may ask me anything you like, Your Majesty.”

  “Why aren’t you with K’xarr and Rufio? Even Cromwell is down there, despite the wounds he received defending the gate.”

  “General K’xarr has told me on many occasions, I’m no soldier, Majesty.”

  Raygan was very leery of the half-elf and did not press the matter. It was best he was not out there, she thought. A shiver shook her at the thought of what he had done to Donovan and Griffyn. K’xarr was right. Kian was no soldier, he was a killer. Despite the fact he had saved her life and defended her against the Abberdonians, she still feared the swordsman and the devil that lived inside him.

  Eldon Cross had brought fifteen thousand knights with him, the rest of the fifty thousand Asconans were heavy infantry and archers. All of them wore plate armor, even the archers sported plate armor, except on their shoulders and arms.

  The Asconan knights lowered their lances around noon and crashed against the Abberdonian line like a steel wave.

  King Havalon watched solemnly as his army was cut to pieces.

  The Knights of Ascona controlled their warhorses like they were born on them, turning and wheeling them, charging the Abberdonians’ lines over and over. Mud flew from the horse’s hoofs and the screams of the dying filled the air.

  After the fifth charge by the battle-hardened knights, Grand Master Cross sent in his heavy infantry. The battle-weary Abberdonians fought as best they could, but they were defeated before the battle had ever begun. Kian had killed them and their king when he beheaded the two princes. Their resolve was gone and they had no will to fight on.

  Havalon stood, sword in hand, as the army he had been so proud of was sundered. “Turn and meet you fate, old man.” Havalon looked over to see the huge Toran he had imprisoned in Turill coming towards him with a bloody ax in his hand.

  “If you wish to end my misery, savage, then I offer you the chance.” The king swung his sword at the giant of a man only to have the blow turned aside by the barbarian’s daunting ax. The huge savage traded blows with the old king. Time after time, sparks flew from ax and sword in a barrage of deadly strikes. Havalon knew he could not stand against the might of the Toran’s hammering attacks, but he intended to make the brute work for the privilege of killing a king. For what seemed like eternity, the Abberdonian King fought off the powerful man’s ferocious assault. For a moment he felt young, he was once again the warrior he had been so many years ago. The great ax whistled at his head. The old king raised his blade and blocked the titanic blow, but the Toran’s strength knocked his sword from his hand. The big man kicked him to the ground. It was over. He felt himself being pulled up to kneel before his killer. “Die in the mud on your knees, king of dung.” The Toran’s words meant nothing to him. He would see his sons soon, and he smiled.

  King Havalon Taylin, warrior King of Abberdon, fell beneath Cromwell’s ax late in the afternoon. After that, it was a rout. By nightfall, thousands of Abberdonians lay dead in the fields near Braxton Bluff. The crows feasted well and the God of War was pleased.

  Queen Raygan had ordered the remaining Abberdonian prisoners set free, provided they surrender their weapons and swear to peacefully return home.

  Ansellus and Eldon both felt they would do no mischief on the march back to Abberdon, they were defeated men. There was nothing left for them in Bandara, not even their pride.

  The Abberdonians would also be followed by a company of Asconan knights to make sure they kept their oath.

  The three watched as what remained of the enemy soldiers trudged back north with their heads down. They had lost the war and their king. The defeat would haunt them forever.

  Eldon Cross shook his head in pity. “Havalon’s brother Hakan will be the only happy man in Abberdon when they return. With both princes dead, the kingdom will be his now. Havalon was at least a man of honor, Hakan is little better than a rat. I fear you haven’t seen the last of the Abberdonians, Majesty.”

  “Well, Grand Master Cross, I think it will be some time before he will be able to convince his generals to invade Bandara again.”

  The master knight nodded his agreement.

  “I would like to hear the tale they tell when they return to their homes and families,” Ansellus added.

  “They will be afraid of us now,” the queen said, almost to herself.

  “General K’xarr and his companions have seen to that, Majesty. At least the neighboring kingdoms will not think the young Bandaran Queen is easy prey. The drawback is they will be very suspicious of you, and God only knows what the Church will do,” Cross pointed out.

  The little queen straightened her back. “I’m not truly queen yet. I received word my broth
er controls Turill now and has reclaimed the throne, proclaiming himself king.”

  Ansellus looked concerned. “When did you hear that?”

  “The day after the battle, a courier arrived with a message from Cain. He wants to meet with me in Turill in ten days.”

  “That gives us little time to get started. That is, if you plan to go? In my opinion, it would be a mistake. Cain might try to imprison you or worse, Majesty. He needs you out of the way now. You’re the only thing that will keep him from consolidating his rule. It would be very dangerous to confront him.” Raygan could see Ansellus was troubled by Cain’s invitation.

  The queen flipped her hair back and a look of determination settled on her face. “If I don’t meet with him, my only other choice is war, and my people have suffered enough from Cain and I squabbling over the throne. Even if he had a hand in killing our father, I have to put that aside for the good of my kingdom. A civil war could destroy Bandara. I will not have that on my conscience. I will go and try to settle this with him, but not alone.”

  Ansellus folded his arms. “You have something in mind, Highness?”

  “I do, but I have some reservations about it.”

  Eldon Cross rested his big hand on the queen’s petite shoulder. “Almost every decision I make I have reservations about. It is the fate of those who would command. Make your choice and stand by it, Majesty, it’s all you can do.”

  Raygan dressed herself in a simple white dress and left her dark hair down. She turned her back to the mirror and looked over her shoulder. Her hair had grown long over the winter, almost down to the middle of her back. The long heavy curls were perfect. She gave herself a quick smile. God had truly blessed her.

  She walked over to where Isabella sat with the little prince. Raygan rested her hand on Isabella’s shoulder and looked down at her son. She must stay strong for him. His fate rested on the choices she made now. If Corwin was ever to be king, she had to settle the feud with her brother one way or another. Raygan felt much older than sixteen, all the fighting was beginning to wear her down. She wished her father was still alive and all she had to worry about was her hair. She would never be that carefree again. The queen squared her shoulders and headed down to the small courtyard of Castle Blackthorn.

  The queen walked into the courtyard. She had not really noticed it before, but the courtyard here was awful; it looked like it hadn’t been tended in years, but what could she expect from William Blackthorn. Her father-in-law didn’t seem like a man who would enjoy having a beautiful garden.

  Kian and Endra sat on a stone bench, watching their odd little child play. Rhys had taken her to see the little girl the day before and the child had frightened her so bad, she let out a small yelp when she saw it running across the abbey floor. Rhys told her that Kian and Endra had tried to move the child out of the abbey after the battle, but she returned there every night. Brigitte liked to climb the sanctuary’s wall and sleep on the huge crossbeam that spanned the Abby’s ceiling, so they decided to let the little girl do what made her happy. Raygan could not imagine how Endra must feel giving birth to a child like that.

  “Kian, Endra, so nice to see you out in the sun.”

  They both stood. “Thank you, Majesty, it is nice to have a day to ourselves. I wanted to thank you for the dress you gave Brigitte, she looks beautiful in it, when I can keep it on her.”

  “I am so glad you like it, Endra.” Before the queen could say more, she felt something run into her leg. Raygan looked down to see the child standing beside her. It was odd to see a child so small standing, but Brigitte was not built like a human baby.

  She was much thinner and she looked strong. Endra had tied the child’s long hair back into a ponytail. The little girl’s hair was gorgeous, it had an almost inhuman luster to it. Rhys had told her the girl had been covered in fine hair when she had been born. Thank God it had fallen out. It gave Raygan chills to think about it, but it was those golden eyes that disturbed her the most. Too much like her father’s.

  In truth, the child’s looks were beautiful, that could not be denied, yet so divergent! The more the queen looked at the child, the more traits she found appealing. She wondered what kind of woman the little girl would grow into.

  Raygan saw her tiny upswept ears, a bit more pointed than her father’s. It hurt the queen’s heart to think of how the beautiful creature would be treated out in the world. “She is a pretty girl, Endra, let no one ever tell you different.”

  Endra’s look told the queen the young woman knew what she meant. The queen walked over to stand in front of Kian. “It is your husband I actually came to see. I have a favor to ask.”

  Kian looked at her with those frightful golden eyes. Raygan could barely hide her revulsion. “I am going to Turill to meet with my brother. I will be taking K’xarr and the remains of my army, but I would like to ask if you would go as my personal guard?”

  Kian glanced at Endra and saw the concern on her face. Both of them knew how the queen felt about Kian. “Majesty, K’xarr told me about the invitation from the prince. Are you expecting trouble from your brother?”

  “Yes, unfortunately I am, and I could think of no one that could handle it better than you.”

  Kian seemed lost in thought for a moment. “I do understand a brother’s treachery.” He gave her a slight bow. “I would be honored to escort you home, Majesty.”

  “I thank you both. Of course, Endra, you may accompany us as well. I will find someone suitable to look after your children,” the queen said, looking at their daughter. She wondered who on her staff would be so brave.

  “Thank you, Majesty, but Nick Nock can see to them. Let me say, it will be a great pleasure to see you return to Turill.”

  The queen patted Brigitte on the head very lightly. “Thank you. I just wish it was under different circumstances. Well, I have plans to make. Thank you both so much. I will have someone notify you when I am ready to leave.”

  The queen squatted down hands on her knees and looked the little girl in the eyes. “Thank you for letting me take your mother and father away for a little while, my dear.” Brigitte stood on her toes and licked the queen’s face with her abrasive tongue.

  “Brigitte,” Endra shouted. “I’m so sorry, Majesty.”

  The queen wiped her face and tried to smile.

  Endra had taken Brigitte to the abbey and put the other children down for the night. She found Kian in the courtyard exercising. The movements and footwork Gildor had taught him seemed almost like a dance. The pivots and leaps, the lunges and fades, all could have music set to them, she thought. “Will you teach me?”

  Kian stopped and wiped the sweat from his face with a towel. “Need you ask? I am not my master, but I will do my best to teach you what I can. I would feel much better if you had some training.”

  “I have held my own in battle,” Endra snapped back.

  “I meant no offense. You have great natural skill and you are strong. You can kill, I have seen that, but with training you could become an artist.”

  Endra looked at Kian as if he was a madman. “What does swordsmanship have to do with being an artist?”

  Kian pulled Endra’s bastard sword from her hip. “Gildor told me death was an art form. A swordsman must create death each time he fights. This is your brush,” he said, pointing to her sword. “And your opponents are your canvas. You must start by giving life to the blade.” He slowly moved the bastard sword through the air in an intricate pattern. “Then envision your composition and craft your masterpiece.” He sliced through the air three times, too fast for her to follow. “It is easy to kill, it is a much harder thing to stay alive as you do it.” Kian handed Endra’s sword back to her hilt first.

  She looked at the polished blade. “Teach me to be an artist.”

  He explained what he had been taught all those years ago. He worked with her into the night by the torchlight of the courtyard. The woman was quick and had good balance. She listened to everything Kian told
her and did her best to mimic it. All the years of instruction he had inside him could not be taught in one night, but Kian felt Endra was off to a fine start.

  When they finally sat down on a stone bench, they were both drenched in sweat.

  Endra leaned over and kissed Kian on the cheek. “Thank you, my love, you are a good teacher.”

  “You are a better student. I questioned everything Gildor told me. You listen and do as you’re told. I think you will learn faster than I ever did."

  Kian became silent and looked into the night sky. The moon was bright and beautiful. He was quiet for a long time before he spoke very softly. “I have seen the Old Gods. They have spoken to me. I’m afraid of what they might want.”

  Endra’s brow furrowed. She knew Kian well enough to know what he said was no fantasy. If he said he had seen the gods, then he had. “Why didn’t you tell me? What did they say to you?”

  Kian drew Malice and held it out before him, looking at the strange steel. “I think some may want me to serve them. It’s causing me great concern. I don’t know what I should do.”

  Endra didn’t know what to say. Her people still believed the Old Gods walked the world in disguise and interfered with the lives of men. Her mother said they tested people to see if they were worthy to serve them. If they failed the test, the gods would kill the poor man or woman for their inability to please them. “Do not anger them. If they are watching, they have a purpose and it must involve you in some way.”

  Kian looked into her eyes. “I do not wish to be involved.”

  Eldon Cross sat on his huge warhorse at the head of a column of knights. “I wish I could send all of them with you, Majesty, but the Abberdonians have been defeated and I can’t stay and help you with your brother. It is a Bandaran matter and must be handled by Bandarans. Besides, I don’t need any more trouble with the Church. The pope is not fond of me or Ascona, and I don’t wish to incur his wrath by meddling in the affairs of a kingdom still in good standing with the Church.”