Mysterious Warriors: Alone (24 page)

Read the Prophecy Series, also by T. N. Hayden

Child of Prophecy

“There will be a child born. The child will have a birthmark: a brown sword with three red rings around the tip. That child is the only one who will be able to kill Queen Filia.”

~ Prologue ~

Mooch 533

Amber, Fedji

              The girl’s long, golden-red braid hit her back in the steady rhythm of a drum as she rode her black stallion like she’d been born in the saddle.

              Twenty-three-year-old Craig Kender crouched in his hiding spot as he watched her. It was unusual for travelers to be this close to the mountains. The main trail was several leagues west.

              The girl pulled her stallion to a halt, sat up in the saddle, and shaded her eyes as she looked at the mountains.

              What was she doing? Why did she look like she was expecting to find something in this terrain?

              “Hello?” The girl called as she placed a hand to the hilt of the large sword she wore sheathed at her waist. “Is this Amber?”

              The word hit Craig, and he stepped from his hiding place, his naked sword in hand. “This is a dangerous place. A young girl like you should be careful, especially of soldiers who may find you.”

              “I’m not afraid.” She narrowed her deep blue eyes. “You don’t look like a soldier.”

              He shrugged. “What brings you here girl?”

              “Lance Harland sent me.” Her lip quivered.

              Memories of his adopted father flooded his mind, and Craig looked at the girl. Could she possibly be who he thought she was? “How did you know Lance?”

              “He’s my Granddad. He left Amber to find my mom when she was pregnant.”

              Craig nodded. That had been eight and a half years ago; he couldn’t forget the day he’d lost another parent.

              The girl looked down. “I’m here because I cannot go with my mother.”

              “Why not?” Craig demanded.

              “It’s complicated.” The girl dismounted and stepped closer to Craig. “Granddad was supposed to take me back to Amber, but he was killed when we reached Opel.” Her deep blue eyes were the same as Lance. “Granddad died protecting me.”

              “I’m so sorry.” A fist seemed to punch through Craig’s heart, and as he watched the girl, he wanted to comfort her, embrace her and let her know everything would be okay, as he’d done with Nabil two years previous. “What’s your name?”

              “Sara Harland. What’s yours?”

              “Craig Kender.”

              “You’re Craig?” She hugged him and tears exploded from her eyes. “Granddad talked about you all the time. He hated leaving you. He loved you like a son.”

              Craig embraced her. “I’m so sorry Sara.” He stroked her golden-red hair and gently wiped tears from her cheeks.

              “I don’t have anyone anymore.” Sara whispered into his shirt.

              Fury burned as Craig held her. His parents had died protecting him.

              “Why didn’t your mother come?”

              “She couldn’t.” Sara’s voice turned soft. “She wanted to, but she couldn’t.”

              “Then I will take care of you.” Craig held her gently. “We’ll be a family together with my adopted son, Nabil. You’ll have a father and a brother, and you’ll be safe in Amber.”

              “I can fight and help protect the people.” Sara looked at him.

              Craig shook his head. Her mother had abandoned her and forced her to learn to fight. It was a mother’s job to make her children feel safe in the world, to protect and defend. “You will continue to train then.” Craig promised, and her eyes turned hopeful. “Perhaps one day, you won’t need to fight to protect yourself.”

              “One day.” Sara whispered as she scratched her right shoulder.

Child of Beauty

“A peasant shall lead the rebellion and destroy the king.

Out of common blood, blue blood will flow.”

~ Introduction ~

Kapok, Perso’s Creek

508-519

              When he was twenty, Prince Navion Perso of Perso’s Creek decided his parents were too kind and generous to their people. The prince poisoned his parents, blamed common folk, and became king. Within a few years, he gifted his fifteen most loyal noble families with the added advantage of being high noble. King Navion assigned Viktor Little, his most loyal follower and friend, the responsibility of raising a new generation of elite soldiers. Viktor, along with his young wife and son, had envisioned the training school and began building Krijar Castle.

              Brad Killer, a sorcerer from Najos, was loyal to the king. King Navion asked Brad to enchant the noble families in the land, giving their blood an added advantage because of their status. Brad Killer worked with Viktor to fashion a weapon which would be deadly against those who fought against the new order of Perso’s Creek. The weapon was called a Wopler, and the first one created belonged to Viktor, and it could only be used by him. No one of common blood could use the weapon.

              But the king was suspicious of his faithful followers, so he had Brad add a little something extra to the Wopler. It couldn’t be used against anyone with the magic of nobility in them.

              Viktor’s vision of elite soldiers became what he called Soldatas and Soldats. He began training six-year-old children: children the same age of his eldest son, Sage. Along with Sage, Thea Barton, Jane Goebel, and Sam Reece were the six-year-old children of the high noble families.

              To fill a class, Viktor decided to have seven Soldatas and Soldats trained each year, and in order to fill the rest of the class, Viktor devised a lottery system to give the noble families a chance to give their children the honor of becoming an elite warrior as well.

              Those children in noble families who weren’t picked to be a Soldata or Soldat could join the king’s forces as soldiers, who would later be led by a Soldata or Soldat. Yet, within this new order of Perso’s Creek, high nobles were unkind to mere nobles.

              The opening of Krijar Castle and the beginning of the Soldats’ and Soldatas’ training was not a celebration for the common folk. There was a regime of rebels who attacked the castle, trying to kill the seven children who were going to start training as warriors. They were led by a man named Cadman Eld. He was strong but of common blood. He didn’t take to the new law that common folk were forbidden to fight, an offense punishable by death.

              As the first day of Krijar came to pass, Cadman and his small army, about fifty warriors, attacked the castle. While the castle itself was large, there were only two teachers, four trainers, and two helpers to protect the seven children. The high nobles were outnumbered.

              The Wopler was the first of its kind, and Viktor Little had never used it. Brad had told him of its magic and explained what it could do. That was the first night Viktor Little used his Wopler.

              He killed forty young men and women that night. The other adults protected the children and Kelvin Hamilton, another high noble, and Viktor Little slaughtered the onslaught of rebels. Viktor’s Wopler was indeed a powerful weapon which the rebels couldn’t defend against. Kelvin Hamilton got his Wopler after that night, and it was a weapon which would be gifted to the Soldatas and Soldats after they had completed their training.

              After the slaughter at Krijar Castle, the commoners were put in their place. It would take something truly powerful to make them fight against the nobles again.

~ Prologue ~

Sake 17, 525

Kapok, Perso’s Creek

              Ten-year-old Aileen Quint chewed the mutton in her vegetable stew. It was spiced, and her mother, Gwen, promised to show her how to make it when she was willing to learn. But training to be her father’s apprentice was more important to Aileen.

              Her four-year-old twin brother and sister, Barrett and Faryn, brought mouthfuls of the stew to their lips, ignoring their spoons and slurping the broth along with the vegetables and meat.

              “Aileen’s going to be an amazing blacksmith one day.” Her father, Creedon, dipped a piece of bread into his meal, using it to wipe every inch of liquid from his clay bowl. “She’s learning the trade rather well.”

              “When I git to learn hamwring?” Faryn sat with her legs folded underneath her so she could easily slurp her stew. She rubbed her crystal-blue eyes as she looked at her older brother, Peyton.

              Creedon chuckled. “When you’re older m’ dear.” He tousled the blonde ringlets atop his younger daughter’s head. “You, Barrett, and Peyton will learn in time.”

              “I git to learn soon, right Pa?” Small pieces of corn and pea flew from Peyton’s mouth.

              “Don’t talk when you’re chewing.” Gwen scolded.

              Peyton swallowed. “Surry Mum.”

              Aileen chuckled.

              Gwen stood and looked at her children. “Peyton, help your father clean up. Aileen, help me get the twins ready for bed.”

              “Awe Mum.” Barrett rubbed his eyes. “I no sleepy.”

              “Me too.” Faryn yawned.

              “It is early for them to be getting ready for bed.” Aileen was surprised to see the twins forcing their matching eyes open.

              Gwen picked Barrett up, and Aileen got her sister. Mother and daughter brought the twins to their room. After cleaning up the twins and dressing them in their bedclothes, Aileen kissed Barrett and Faryn’s foreheads before whispering. “I love you. Goodnight you two.”

              “G’nite Ailey.” Faryn whispered, eyes shutting as she spoke.

              Gwen set her daughter down and tucked her under the covers as Barrett rubbed his eyes. “So sleepy Mum.”

              “I told you.” Gwen kissed her daughter’s forehead and embraced her son.

              The boy yawned. Gwen tucked him in next to his sister and kissed his head. “Goodnight my children.”

              She blew their candle out and left the room with Aileen, leaving the door slightly ajar.

              “Peyton’s cleaning the dishes.” Aileen stated as she saw her brother in the corner of her eye.

              “Your father’s probably in the shop.”

              “I’m going to read for a while.”

              Gwen nodded and embraced her daughter.

              Aileen went to her room. It was barely big enough for her bed and hope chest. Her mother filled the chest with something new every year. Aileen waited eagerly for the year when she married and could open the chest and see all the presents her mother had gifted her with through the years.

              Aileen grabbed her tattered book and flipped to lie on her back, the dim glow of her candle helped her see the soot smudged pages. Her mother had taught her to read, and Aileen loved to escape her mundane life. Fingering through to her spot, she let out a low sigh as she started reading once more.

              Five pages later, a loud crash made Aileen jump. Her book flew from her hand, and she reached under her bed to grab the crude sword she’d made. She was supposed to keep the weapon hidden, but Aileen would do what she could to protect her family, even if fighting was illegal.

              She ran out of her room, but to her shock, someone grabbed her from behind, clutching her left forearm and pinning both arms with just one. A sharp prick at her throat let her know whoever held her had a knife. She struggled and dropped her weapon; her captor was strong. Aileen looked to see her father facing them from the doorway leading to his Smithy. Her mom knelt over Peyton in the kitchen, checking his breath. Aileen’s heart thumped against her lungs, and she couldn’t breathe.

              “Let her go!” Creedon cried.

              “Who are you?” Gwen’s voice cracked as she looked up.

              “No one you need to know.” The voice was deep and from a man. “I want something you have.”

              “The shop is closed.” Creedon’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at the man.

              “Not something in your shop.” The man tightened his hold on Aileen. She cried out as his elbow dug her arm into her side and stomach. She growled in frustration. How dare this man treat them as he was? Shivers of fear made her back twitch. He had no right to break in and threaten them.

              “Then what?” Creedon shifted his grip.

              “I want your younger daughter.”

              Gwen gasped. “No.”

              “I will pay you handsomely.” The man offered.

              Aileen jerked her shoulders, trying to gain her freedom. She was appalled that someone would offer to buy her sister. The man’s grip tightened around her waist, and she groaned in frustration.

              “You will not take any of our children.” Creedon hissed.

              “You have no choice.” The man threw Aileen against the closest wall. The hard surface slammed into her head, and she crumbled down. Her deep-blue eyes closed. “I will take her with or without your permission.”

              Aileen slowly blinked her eyes open. Her head ached with intense pain. She tried to get up, to move, but all she could stir was her eyelids.

              Creedon attacked the man, yelling nonsense. The man kicked Creedon’s feet out and grabbed his weapon. The man smashed the hilt against Creedon’s temple. Aileen winced as her father crumpled to the ground. This man had to be noble. He was trained to fight.

              Gwen threw herself on him, clawing at his face. He turned and grabbed her right hand with his free one. Aileen silently encouraged her mother in the battle.

              “I admire your heart.” The man whispered. “She was definitely right.”

              “What?” Gwen panted. “Who’s she?” Gwen thrust her knee between the man’s legs.

              He bellowed in pain and shoved her back against the wall. Her head hit, and she fell on top of Aileen. Aileen struggled, but she couldn’t move her mother off to see what the man did next.