The Enchanter of Rangel: Child of War Book 1 (2 page)

The cold frigid air played havoc on the always wet clothing of the army, making frostbite a real concern. The Rangelians stayed in their enclosed city in relative safety while the situation for Thorn was dire. Erik reversed many of his enchantments which left the army at the mercy of the Witches and their dangerous fire. With the city walls being too thick to cut through, it was a mere two weeks before Thorn lay broken and was forced to retreat with the Rangelian Army in full pursuit. Before Erik could make it back safely to his palace his army was cut down and he was executed by his own men in return for their safe passage back into Thorn.

Queen Celeste went back on her word and pushed deep into Thorn where the milder winter did little to hamper her army as she ran virtually unopposed through the empire before raiding its treasury of any and all valuables and destroyed every enchantment they found. The Thornians were forced to concede the land on the other side of the pass to ensure no more sneak attacks will be coming from their side and had to give 15% off all their grain to Rangel each year. Although the war was over, Queen Celeste still had a battle to fight within her own halls about her perceived weakness during the conflict and the fact that she herself was not a magic user.

Queen Celeste in an effort to assert her dominance and keep control of the Queendom forced all witches who failed in their duties to defend Rangel to establish more outposts along Rangel’s border with Thorn especially in the pass to slow any future attacks.  Worse she decreed all magic users who failed would no longer pardon the sons of any magic user who did not failed to defend their homeland. In one such outpost is where our story begins…

“Xander, I am going to miss you when you leave, if only I had been stronger when I was younger” said his mom as she stroked his hair. Xander knew what she was talking about as he had heard the story many times before of her capture at the hands of Erik the Red and being the first magic user to suffer defeat during the Great War. The Queen decreed that she along with any other had to give their sons up for service. After Xander’s mother became pregnant and saw that child was a boy, upon registering him as such she vowed never to have another child and had been raising Xander to be a warrior ever since.

“It’s hard to believe my little man is now 16, I know you wish for a world different from the one in which you were raised but things are tough out there for a male, you won’t have the protection of my magic once they come for you.”

“I’ll be fine mom; I can take care of myself.”

“I know baby, it’s just that life isn’t easy out there and there are a fair number of people out there who will hate you just for being mine.”

“Well just let them try, I’ll cut ‘
em all down!” Xander laughingly screamed as he stood up and started making slashing motions while pretending to hold a sword.

“Oh no look at the sky it’ll be sunrise soon,
Xander, hurry up or you are going to be late.” Screamed his mom as Xander struggled to put on his sword belt.

“Mom, it’s just sparring practice
, I go every day. I don’t know why you rush me all the time.”

“You are going and will go every day, unless you want to be in some Lady’s mine or farming her field for hours at a time.”
Xander’s mother reminded him. “You already know you wouldn’t be treated well, and you can’t hide that mop of red hair on your head or your body type. People already hate Thornians as is and you wouldn’t be treated well in the mines out of eyesight.”

Xander sighed to himself as he headed out of the door o
f their home located in the outpost of Riley. Xander had never visited anywhere outside of Riley but knew he was different than the other males he knew. While Xander was not as tall or broad across the chest, arms and legs as many Rangelians he was much faster. The soldiers stationed at Riley changed every year and as long as he could remember he could outrun all of them and his reflexes were on a level above almost all but the most skilled swordsman. Still even with the difference in body size his hair was something he could not really hide.

Every time new soldiers were stationed in his outpost the first thing he had to get used to
were the stares. Some people were just curious since they had never seen red hair before since most Rangelians had either brown or black hair. Older soldiers though whispered rumors that he was of Thornian birth, tales they would never tell to his face for fear of his mother, the only permanently stationed Rangelian in Riley.  Xander never met his father but often wondered if he had red hair, since his mother never spoke of him only saying he was a man who made his own destiny.  Red hair or not, Xander wondered why he needed all this practice, he was already the better with the bow than any at the outpost and was equally skilled with the sword. Xander thought about this as he left the gates surrounding Riley and headed into the morning sunrise in the small clearing overlooking Thorn.

Xander walked down the muddy path leading into the clearing and took in the springtime air, heavily scented with pine from the forests of Thorn. He could see many soldiers already stretching preparing to spar with each other. Xander unleashed his sword from his side and went into his forms thinking about how he would miss his mom and couldn’t wait to get out of Riley. Other than his mother, many who have been stationed at Riley neglected to talk to him, they weren’t really rude just distant. After 16 years Xander was excited to finally meet someone his age that would treat him as a peer, no someone to avoid. And with all the stories Xander read he couldn’t wait to meet another female other than his mom.  Xander unsheathed his sword and began his
forms, this was one thing that cleared his mind.

In, out, in, step left, out, step right, this was the butterfly, one of the most advanced forms Xander knew, difficult due to the strength it took to wield a sword one handed. Xander had practiced this with either hand since he was young so did not feel the fatigue of many men even those twice his size. The butterfly soon gave way to the dragonfly and after an hour Xander could see many soldiers had left to begin their day. Only the most dedicated soldiers stayed trying to perfect their craft, like Xander seeking solace in its intricacies.

Many Soldiers saw their commitment as a chore and Xander could see what his mother said was true; many did just enough to get by. This was the only life Xander had ever known and one he excelled at. Xander was taught at a young age all there was to being a Soldier a passion fueled by his mom. He had heard the horror stories of people who were placed directly under the care of some noble do farming or such, many of who used their position as a way to gain permanent slaves or were just drunk with power. Being a soldier meant that the majority of your time was spent around other soldiers, better still after your 24 summers were up if you still wanted to be a soldier you could commission and gain just as much rank as any female.

Xander finally put his sword away as the morning grew hotter and made his way back inside the gates of Riley.

“Finally finished eh runt?” Captain Gowan spoke as he approached Xander. Xander liked Cpt Rowan as he was one of the few who were not put off by his birth and appreciated hard work. At 6’5 he was a mountain of a man bigger than any Xander had ever seen with bulky muscles and instead of a normal sword, Gowan’s was at least a foot longer and a whole lot heavier, capable of cutting a sapling in two with a swing from his massive frame. The biggest thing that everyone noticed even more than his size was his long jet black beard speckled with a few specks of gray. Gowan definitely was intimidating to look at and Xander was sure he was hell to fight in battle.

“Yes Sir, they will be hear any day now to get me and I want to be my best. Leave nothing to chance is what my mom always said.”

“Aye, Maxine is right. Too bad you never met your Pa, if you had he would be right proud of the way you are turning out. If you were my boy I would be proud, not like the two thunder heads I got at home.” Gowan said while shaking his head.

“You have kids?”

“Well don’t sound so surprised that someone once found me handsome. Yeah during my commitment I met a beautiful woman walking the road in the middle of the night. I thought she must be mad, since anyone could have stumbled upon her and took advantage. I offered to walk her home telling her it was not safe and she laughed at me! Imagine that, laughing at me offering her my protection! Ha! She took it anyway and I followed her home not knowing I was talking to a real live witch! She shot fire from her hands to light the lanterns in front of her porch and scared me half to death. Even her slaves started laughing at me as I fell on me backside trying to get away. She was a good soul that invited me in anyway. One thing led to another and I had 20 good years with that woman until the war took her away from me.” Gowan said as he suddenly grew quiet, perhaps remembering his lost love.

“I’m so sorry Sir, I never knew” were the words out of Max’s mouth before
Gowan silenced him.

“Don’t be lad, I got some good years out of that woman. She even tried to set her slaves free but they refused to leave. Anyway I have two strapping lads and a mighty fine lass that is at the
Magorium learnin’ her spells. Back to those thunderheads though, they’re might lucky they received their letter from the Queen. Those two would be in the mines or cleaning waste out of the sewer they would be. Nowhere near as hard working as you are. It would do me well to have one such as you serve under me. I don’t imagine anyone more of a sure bet for the army. That is unless those damn guys from the watch get you or the palace guard.”

“I never heard of those, are they some kind of elite unit?”

“Ha, they would like to think so! The city watch basically polices all the big towns keeping the riffraff in line. Way to cushy a life for me though and many of em need knocked down a peg or two. Mostly they spend time taking bribes from whoever is paying the best and abusing their power against anyone who is not on the watch, well except for Soldiers cause we fight back and are better at it. But look at me lumping them together like some highborn. Plenty of them lads do perform the job they were assigned without grumbling, most of em though was like I described from what I met. It’s also up to them to stop highwaymen along the countryside. Then there is the elite of the elite, I was going to try out for em myself until I met my beloved.

“The Palace Guard sir?”

“Aye, lad the Guard. They are normally chosen from among the best fighters available in the Queendom. They are chosen from the best the Army, Watch or the Arena has to offer.  You must be proficient with the blade and the bow and to lay your life down for the Royal family. Them lads have it better than anyone, not even the high Witch herself wants to take them lads on, the operate with the authority of the Queen. They serve only 10 years at their post although some are kept on much longer in hopes of being matched with a highborn. Her Majesty the Queen’s late husband was once a palace guard himself, selected by her over the advances of many noble’s sons. That pissed out the lot of them prissy lasses that their poor spoiled offspring was rejected for a commoner! Ha! Anyway that would be the right way to go iffn you want to meet some noble ladies, they are always around the castle gossiping and looking down on any one beneath their station scheming and such. Although I wouldn’t know why a guy would take such a life of being treated second class just so they could marry into money. True the queen might commute your commitment, but whats 24 years compared with the rest of your life? Anyhow, I am sure you will do fine, you know what the trial consist of right?”

“Yes Sir, my mom made sure I knew what to do. She always told me folks would be quick to judge me by what I look like and who my Ma was instead of seeing what I was capable of first. Show proficiency at the bow, have a basic duel with the recruiter and be able to run a mile or two nonstop.” Xander said proudly as he stuck out his chest a little.

“That Maxine tells you true about your appearance, I’m sure you heard some of lads saying you are a damn Thornian, ignorant whelps. They do have a point though you sort of look like them in a way, and I doubt many of them no matter what you look like will give the son of a magic user a fair shake. Hell growing up I thought you a bunch of prissies all full of yourselves. Your ma did you a solid raising you out here on the border; you know hard work and can more than handle yourself in a scrap. Still I don’t think I would announce to many that you are the son of a magic user, let ‘em make up their own mind. I mean that as no slight to Maxine in case she hears of our conversation.”

“My mom isn’t like that Sir, but I will say you are the only one I have ever heard call her by her given name.”

“Aye, she doesn’t seem one for titles. Plus she owes me one, a big one whether she remembers it or not. It has nothing to do with her banishment here on the border. Your Ma reminds me a lot of my sweetie, real down to earth not flauntin’ her power and such. It would be an insult to her to call her by any other name. Most folks think the females, especially those witches or noble born are all full of themselves. Fact of the matter is everyone gets lonely. And since I am sure not even one other female would ever visit this place, I am sure she misses talking to real people.”

“Yeah she gets lonely sometimes. I am going to miss her a lot but I don’t think I can keep my mom a secret. Folks in the
Magorium knew about my birth and even my red hair, she told me as such. Her enemies would love to see me put in a mine or made a slave or something. That’s why I have been training so hard, I will make the Army.” Xander stated as he put a little boldness in his voice.