DAWN OF THE PHOENIX

by A. J. STRICKLER

  Raygan looked at her brother, remembering the shy boy he had been and the days of their childhood. Cain was her brother, her father’s son. All her memories of him flashed quickly through her mind. “Kill him, K’xarr.”

  Scarlett grabbed the queen and winked at K’xarr, then she and Raygan vanished.

  “Kian, now,” K’xarr yelled. The swordsman leaped up the steps as K’xarr and the others followed.

  Commander Deverall shouted orders to his knights. “Defend the king and the lord justice.” The knights circled Prince Cain, as well as the Blackthorns and Milara.

  Kian’s blade ripped through the knight’s defenses and their armor. Malice showed no mercy to the holy warriors. The Knights of Deliverance began to fall back before him. None wanted to face the devil or his vicious blade. Within seconds, K’xarr and the others had followed him into the fray at the top of the stairs.

  On the right, Cromwell wielded his great ax like a titan—its heavy blade cleaving his opponents nearly in two. The fury of K’xarr and Endra’s swords pushed the left side of the knights’ line back. As Kian drove into their center, even with the Bandarans loyal to the queen, the group was outnumbered and the knights were fierce.

  The dark-haired witch floated into the air. A bolt of lightning flew from her hand, striking the knights standing in the back ranks and killing several of the metal encased men.

  K’xarr looked back long enough to see Rufio and the rest of the Bandarans charging across the palace lawn. Men bearing Cain’s red-winged hawk on their uniform poured out of the place to reinforce the knights. Cain must have stationed men inside the palace. The prince had been prepared for things to escalate.

  K’xarr looked back to the battle. Cromwell caught his eye and the two men looked at each other. Cromwell had a big smile on his face. K’xarr noticed he was smiling too.

  Lord Justice Milara and Prince Cain had escaped into the palace as the reinforcements had come out to join in the fight. Duke Blackthorn stood in the doorway, ready to leave the battle as well, but Talorn was refusing to follow. “Come on, Son, we need to get to the army.”

  “No, Father, you go. I’m staying,” Talorn said with conviction.

  “Why, there is nothing to do back there but die. Those savages and their sorceresses will kill everyone. There is nothing you can do to stop them, Son. We must get out of here while we can.”

  “No, I must defend the palace, defend Turill. Raygan is my wife, but those she has put her faith in are evil, Father, and I am forsworn to God to fight evil wherever I find it. Raygan needs me now more than ever; I have to save her, Father.”

  William looked at Talorn with disdain. “Then I truly have raised a fool.” The duke turned and fled after Milara and Cain without looking back. The young Bandaran lord’s heart sank as he watched his father flee. Talorn took a deep breath and ran back towards the sounds of the battle.

  Oliver Deverall, Commander of the Knights of Deliverance, found himself face to face with a woman carrying a large bastard sword. She had lost her helmet and he easily recognized her. The woman they had run across in the north. Her looks were unmistakable.

  He wondered if the lord justice would find her as beautiful now with blood splattered all over her face and her wavy black hair wet with gore.

  The young woman was not timid. Deverall nearly failed to block her first attack. She was quick with the heavy sword. The woman parried his blade and pushed him back with a hard kick. The knight commander realized he should take this woman more seriously as her bastard sword slid into the crease of the armored cuisse protecting his thigh. The woman tore her blade from his leg as she stepped back.

  Blood began to pour from the bottom of his greaves. Stunned, he looked up at her in time to see the blow that knocked the helmet from his head. Deverall fell unceremoniously to the ground. “I yield, woman,” he said, holding up his hand.

  Endra stood above him bloodstained and winded. She reversed her grip on the sword and drove its point through the top of the knight commander’s head. Putting her foot on his twitching body, she pulled the blade free.

  “You are not a woman for the faint of heart, Endra Korlest,” K’xarr said as he came up beside her.

  She wiped at the blood on her face, smearing it across her cheek. “We have these holy bastards on the run now.”

  K’xarr pointed his sword at the witch now standing at the bottom of the stair. “She helped with that.”

  “I don’t remember that one, do you?” Endra asked.

  “No, but I will be happy to make her acquaintance. Besides, I need to find out where Scarlett took the queen.”

  The last of the knights went down before the great doors of the palace and Cain’s men had fled the fight or were dead. Talorn had fought alongside the Church knights until only he remained. He saw the abomination that Lord Justice Milara had told them about. If he was going to die, he would at least rid the world of that thing. “Monster, do you have any honor? I, Talorn Blackthorn, challenge you to single combat.”

  Kian looked at the man’s long blonde hair and polished armor. This must be the queen’s husband. He had heard a great deal about the Bandaran general’s skill.

  Cromwell walked up besides Kian, laughing. “Stay here, sword-brother, you have nothing to prove. I’ll chop this pretty man to pieces for you.”

  “It is the queen’s husband, Cromwell, we should let him be. She may be displeased with us if we kill him.”

  The queen’s men formed a semicircle around the knight, his back to the palace doors. “Are you a coward, monster? Will you not fight like a man or can you only fight like an animal?” Talorn jeered, trying to provoke the half-breed into single combat.

  Kian said nothing, his face looked as if it were made of stone.

  “Come, beast, I have never been defeated. See if you can take my head like you did Donovan and Griffyn.”

  Cromwell seethed with anger. “Kill that woman-haired bastard, Kian, or I will.”

  Kian walked into the circle of men. “Why is it you want to kill me?”

  Talorn straightened his back and thrust his chin out. “You are an abomination in the eyes of God and you have attempted to corrupt the woman I love with your evil. I will not allow this to happen.”

  “I know who you are, Talorn Blackthorn. You are the queen’s husband. I want no quarrel with you and I have done nothing to harm your wife. Just walk away, and we will let you go back to your men in peace. ”

  “You are a demon, half-breed, do you think I trust anything you say? God has ordained your death.”

  Kian stood arms at his side, sword in it scabbard. “I’m no demon, nor am I evil. Would you kill me simply because I’m different than you?”

  Talorn hesitated for a moment. “It is what God commands.”

  Kian folded his arms across his chest and faced the handsome young man. He could see nothing he could say would change the man’s mind. “Is your God with you today?” Kian asked.

  “Yes, and I will strike with his power. The evil you spread will be vanquished, half-breed, and my wife will be free of your control, for I intend to slay you in his holy name.”

  “I hope you said your prayers last night, you girl-faced braggart,” Cromwell said coldly.

  Talorn charged the half-elf with his longsword raised high in the air. Kian didn’t move until the young knight’s blade was coming down at his head.

  The swordsman stepped to his left, pulled his dark blade and blocked Talorn’s cut. He quickly disengaged his blade, rolled his wrist, and delivered a blow with all his inhuman strength. The Bandaran general’s sword snapped at the hilt.

  Talorn looked at the sword in disbelief. Kian put Malice to Talorn’s throat. “Your God must not have been watching that time. Give him another blade.”

  Cromwell pulled a sword from one of the queen’s men and threw it to the young knight.

  Talorn again attacked, a mighty horizontal cut came at Kian’s neck. The half-elf ducked the cut casually and spun away, caus
ing the general to awkwardly stumble forward.

  A look of disbelief began to show on Talorn’s face as he thrust at Kian’s unarmored abdomen, only to have his blade flicked away and swordsman’s black-hilted longsword put on his throat again. Kian pushed the blonde-haired man back without shedding a drop of his blood.

  Talorn’s anger began to show. He attacked again and again, but his sword could not get past the half-breed's defense.

  Cain’s general was tired and his heavy armor had begun to weigh him down. He aimed a cut at Kian’s head. The half-elf spun his sword, deflecting the blow and sending Talorn’s sword sliding across the marble stairs. The disarmed knight fell to his knees, exhausted. He looked at Kian, then he began to crawl towards where his sword landed. “He has had enough,” Kian said.

  “Kill him then and let’s go,” Cromwell said.

  Kian looked at the circle and saw Endra standing there. He walked over to the defeated man just as Talorn wrapped his hand around his sword’s hilt. The half-elf stepped on the blade so the knight couldn’t pick it up.

  The Bandaran lord looked up at him and Kian struck him in the face hard enough to knock the knight unconscious.

  Cromwell shook his head at the swordsman as he picked up the Bandaran general up like a sack of grain. “I will see he is taken to the queen when we find out where she is,” the big man said.

  The half-elf nodded his agreement.

  “If you would have killed him, we could have just left him here,” the Toran muttered as he walked past Kian.

  The circle started to disperse. Endra pushed passed the men until she was beside her lover.

  Endra grabbed Kian by the back of his head and kissed him hard on the mouth, both could taste the salty blood that had splattered on their lips. “What was that for?” Kian asked, surprised by Endra’s actions.

  “That was for showing everyone that there is mercy in your heart.” Kian looked at the ground, a little embarrassed by her praise.

  “It is what I thought you would do.”

  Endra raised her eyebrows. “No, my love, you are wrong. I would have killed that arrogant bastard.”

  The city had exploded. The Asconans poured in from the south and Cain’s army, led by Lord Fox and Lord Bradford, came into the city from the north gate. When night fell, the city was split in half with Cain’s forces on the north side of Turill and Raygan’s on the south side. The queen herself was in the southern gatehouse. Ansellus and K’xarr thought it best not to try and occupy the palace just yet. The soldiers of both armies were still outside in the streets, both afraid an attack could come at any time. “This is just what I didn’t want, K’xarr, war inside my city,” the queen said.

  “It’s good to hear you call it your city, Majesty, but there is no choice now. You will have to fight, unless you want to ride away and leave Turill to the prince.”

  Raygan’s expression was hard and steadfast. “I’m committed to taking the city now. I would never leave Turill in the hands of my brother. I would die first.”

  “We will try to see that it doesn’t come to that, Majesty. Now I must go see our new allies. I didn’t get a chance to talk with them earlier.”

  “Yes, the…witch Scarlett was very kind to me, but if they help us, it will only cause more trouble with the Church. I think we should only ask for their help if we can find no other way to win ourselves. I have also spoken with Sir Ivan, as you know he commands the Asconans, and he said he wants to talk with you so a plan of action can be decided on. I told him Ansellus should join you as well. He knows the city as well as anyone.”

  K’xarr fought hard not to grin. The little woman would be a hardened monarch before she was seventeen if this war went on much longer. “Fine, I will see them after I speak with the witches. Kian and Endra will see to your safety until I can assign a personal guard to you. We can’t have anything happening to the Phoenix of Bandara, now can we?” K’xarr turned to go, then stopped and faced the queen again. “By the way, Highness, we still have your husband held prisoner. Do you want him released?”

  “No, leave him where he is. I could not bear to listen any of his self-righteous sermons right now.”

  K’xarr did grin then. “As you wish, Majesty.”

  “Oh and, General, would you send Rhys in with Kian and Endra?”

  “Of course, Highness.”

  K’xarr walked into the mouth of an alley where the two witches hid in the shadows. “Scarlett, I’m surprised to see you after last we spoke.”

  “I couldn’t stand by and let this happen.”

  K’xarr looked at her, confused. “What do you mean, let what happen?”

  “I can’t explain. Can’t you just be grateful for our help?”

  “That I am. Who is you friend? She wasn’t with you last time you were here.”

  Scarlett put her hand on the woman’s shoulder. “This is Gabrielle, she too is a witch.”

  K’xarr gave a very slight bow.

  The woman wore a black lacy grown similar to Scarlett’s. She had very dark hair and dark eyes, maybe thirty years old, K’xarr guessed. She looked a great deal like that bitch Raven, K’xarr thought, but Gabrielle’s features were softer, giving her a kinder appearance. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, milady.”

  “The pleasure is mine, General K’xarr.” Her voice was velvety and made K’xarr think of what the woman would be like in his bed. Perhaps it was his imagination, but she seemed to look at him with a longing in her eyes. Scarlett broke the mood. “We must go, K’xarr. I’m sorry, but if Raven finds out, she will cause more trouble for all of us than Prince Cain ever could."

  “I know how Raven is. If you must go, go with my thanks. We can handle things here.”

  The women kissed him on the cheeks at the same time. “May the gods be with you, K’xarr Strom,” Scarlett said.

  “A pleasure meeting you, Gabrielle. Perhaps we will see each other again?”

  She looked at him as if she had known him forever and put her hand on his cheek. “I assure you we will see each other again, General.” She stepped back beside Scarlett, and then they were gone.

  Zachariah had lain on the rooftop all night under several dirty potato sacks. It was too dark during the night to take a shot at the queen. There had been no moon and he had to be sure of his aim. Now that the sun was rising, he wouldn’t miss. He never did. It was Tavantis he was worried about. He had decided he would kill the queen first, then go after the assassin before that devil could come for him.

  He rested the special crossbow on the edge of the roof. He had it made in the city beyond the Black Gate. It was one of a kind. It had three bows stacked one on top of the other and three triggers. It could fire three individual bolts or three simultaneously. Zachariah only used it on special occasions. He thought killing a queen was special enough.

  The sly assassin had dipped all three of the bolts in poison. The first in poison from the Sidian swamp, Viper; the second in a thick syrup made from the red seeds of the finch bane plant; and the third, a concoction made from spider moss.

  All three were very deadly and usually killed quickly. Zachariah was confident that the poison would not be needed, his marksmanship was uncanny, but it was always smart to be sure.

  Raygan walked out of the gatehouse with Kian and Endra. She stretched her arms over her head, her sleep had been fitful. The sunrise was beautiful, though. She wondered what it would be like to wake up feeling happy and safe again. The queen stood in the rays of the morning sun, enjoying a few moments alone before her son woke up.

  She felt a hard shove and found herself on the ground with Endra on top of her. “Are you alright, Majesty?” Endra asked, looking around and still shielding the queen’s small frame with her body.

  “Yes, at least I was until you pushed me down.”

  Both women looked at Kian. He held a crossbow bolt in each hand, with a third buried in his body just below his sternum. He winced in pain and toppled to the ground.

  “Rhys,” both
women screamed at once.

  “We found nothing, K’xarr, the assassins must have gotten back behind Cain’s lines.”

  “It matters little now, Cromwell. Kian saved her, and as long as she is alive, we have reason to fight.” K’xarr paced back and forth near the southern gatehouse. It was a small building, but well fortified. It was still the best place to keep Raygan. If things went bad, she could quickly be ushered out the southern gate. Even though the assassins knew where she was now, it would be more risky to try moving her through the city to another location.

  K’xarr believed Cain would not wait long to move against them. He just wished he knew where the prince’s men would attack first. “They will come at us soon, Cromwell. Are the men ready?”

  “As ready as they can be. The Asconans are good fighting men, but without their horses, they lose a great deal of their strength. Their true power is in the charge of their heavy cavalry.”

  “They will just have to make do,” K’xarr said. The Camiran could tell Cromwell’s mood was sour, but there were things that had to be done. He didn’t have time to worry about the Toran’s melancholy temperament. “Where are the men positioned now?” the general asked.

  “We have made a rough line across the city just south of the palace, but the fighting will be house to house, building to building. It’s going to be a bloody affair, General.”

  K’xarr slapped Cromwell on the back. “Find Rufio and Sir Ivan, tell them to be ready for anything. I’m going to check on Kian, then I will join you.”

  Cromwell shook his head. “He still lives?”

  K’xarr nodded.

  “He is a true warrior, and now he will die for his beliefs and it shames me.”

  “Why the hell would his overblown sense of honor shame you?”

  Cromwell’s eyes were downcast. He looked like a child who had failed at his studies. “It grieves me to say it, but I fight to heap glory on my name so bards will sing songs about me. When I’m dead, I want the gods to know that Cromwell Blood was a great warrior. I have always believed this was what a warrior should be.