The Enchanter of Rangel: Child of War Book 1 (7 page)

Xander didn’t want any trouble but kept his head down and continued walking. Suddenly Xander could hear the horses turn around and start toward him. Trying to think
quick, Xander figured he could strike a horse but if the other rider got away he would be in a ton of trouble. Xander stopped walking and figured the truth couldn’t hurt. Turning to face them Xander began to speak.

“I lost my way; I’m heading to Meadow for my commitment. I am trying to find my way there right now when I stumbled upon you.” Xander said trying not to sound threating.

“Well young man you are far off from Meadow, I’ll say at least five days walking. How did you lose your way?” said the older female sounding much friendlier than the younger one.

“He probably killed his entire party, look how filthy he is! He is good for nothing but the arena, let’s turn him in and be done with it mother!”

“Calm down Lissett, I don’t see any blood on his clothing so I doubt he has killed anyone today. What is your name young man?” said the older female climbing down from her horse.

“I am called
Xander, I am from the outpost of Riley a few days ride south of here.”

“South of here?
That would put you towards the border.” The older female said.

“Then he must me a Thornian spy, look at that red hair!” said the younger of the two.

“So does the Gatrick boy, is he a spy too?” said the older.

“Then he must be a child of the war. With all that Thorn blood running through his veins, he should be either brought to the arena or put to labor in one of the mines until he can’t dig any more jewels out. Then they should throw his broken body out with the trash!”

“Forgive Mesha, Xander. The boy she wanted to marry got a better offer from a spell caster who turned up in the village. She seems to think any boy should be happy to put up with her instead of marrying a Witch who got him out of his commitment. He was a street cleaner before his marriage, now he has a comfortable life with slaves answering his whims.”

“Why don’t you go ahead and tell him my life story, I don’t have time for this, I’m looking for Sandy.”
Said Mesha as she rode away.

“Xander, why don’t you stay with us for a while? Our town isn’t far away and I am heading to Meadow in a couple of days anyway. On horseback you should make it there with us no more than a day later with the added benefit of having something in your stomach.” The older lady said and on cue Xander’s stomach growled loudly, slightly embarrassing him and proving the older lady right.

“No need to be embarrassed Xander, now if you can help me find our lost horse, we can consider it even.” Just as the older lady finished speaking they heard a girl scream followed by a horse’s whinny.

Xander took off running towards the sound and it led off the road through some brambles. He could see a girl struggling with two dirty men yanking her off of her horse. Xander saw he wasn’t spotted yet and quickly yanked the older lady off of her horse. Trying to get closer and signaling for her to be quiet, Xander could hear the men plotting.

“You better shut your trap girlie or old Josh will put something in it for ya!” said a tall but thin man with a short haircut and dirty clothing, even dirtier than the ones Xander was wearing.

“Ha Josh, looks like our luck is finally picking up! Leaving that old mine was the best thing we could have done. Now we have two horses and something to keep us warm! Now let’s get out of here!”

“The nerve! You better unhand me, the dignity of it all! Me, grasped by you filthy beings. Let me go or I’ll have the watch throw you to the arena!” said Mesha as she struggled to get away. One of the men pulled an ax and held it up to her throat.

“Mesha no!
Let my girl go, take the horses” cried the older lady giving up her and Xander’s hiding place.

“What luck Jasper, two women one for the both of us!” the man called Josh said as he headed off towards the sound of the other lady’s voice.

Xander had to think quick since the men would be right up on them. Seeing no other way out other than force, Xander stood and drew his sword hoping the other men were not armed with anything more than an ax, especially not with a bow.

             
Josh paused as he now saw Xander standing and walking towards him.

             
“Let the girl go or prepare to defend yourself” said Xander with a bravado he did not feel inside. Josh looked at Xander’s sword then back at Jasper.

             
“You would raise arms against your brother to protect one of them? They would sooner toss you into the arena or in the slave mines than look at you!” said Josh as he backed away.

             
“Probably, but you are holding my sister and my horses hostage” said Xander as he advanced on Josh. “I cannot abandon them to you; now let them go or fight.”

             
Josh backed away to the point he reached Jasper. Taking the girl away from Jasper, he put Mesha in front of him.

             
“I don’t want any trouble, if we let the girl go will you let us leave?” said Josh.

             
“You have my word I will let you go and will not call anyone but the horses also come back with me” Xander said as he stopped in front of Mesha.

             
“If we give up the horses, how are we going to get out of here? I’m not going back to them mines.” Said Jasper.

             
“You could ask Sam what is his next move” said Xander.

“We don’t know any Sam” said Jasper
.

“
I would venture south then if I were you, try to sneak into Thorn. There isn’t really much between here and there except an outpost. Good luck” said Xander as he grabbed Mesha.

             
The two men looked wary of Xander and his sword but were smart enough not to try to attack an armed opponent with an ax. The two men retreated deeper into the woods as Xander took the reins of the two horses.

             
“Aren’t you going to stop them boy? They are getting away!” screamed Mesha as she pointed towards the fleeing men.

             
“Let them go, they were just desperate besides they didn’t lie. Have it your way, you would have had me in the arena to fight for my life, and for what, because I refused to speak to you?” said Xander as he looked Mesha in the eye.

             
“I believe the words you are looking for is thank you!” said the older lady as she hugged her daughter. “They would have slit our throats and took our horses. Only the laws of nature apply when the law is not around. You will do well to remember that baby. Xander if you know how to ride you can hop on Sandy, our village isn’t too far away but it looks like night has caught us. Let’s get back to the road.”

             
Mesha remained quiet during the ride back to her village which Xander found out was named Valley. He found the streets deserted and it really wasn’t that much bigger than Riley, maybe three times the size but Xander could see most of those were residences. After riding through town they stopped at a house that was bigger than the rest of them, since he could see this one had a stable and such.

             
“Xander you can tie the horses up around back. Make sure you water and feed them then brush their coats. I should have supper ready for you by the time you finish” said the older lady as she walked into the house followed by Mesha.

             
Xander finally relaxed as he began filling the feed sacks with oats. Being with the horses had always relaxed him and that’s what he needed right now. Those men he almost had to fight had fear in their eyes, Xander knew he caused some of it but most was just their lives so far. Xander had seen a couple of people over the years sneak pass Riley’s gates trying to reach freedom in Thorn. He could still here his mother telling the guards to stand down or release one if they were caught. Xander could hear his mom in his mind as he thought about it, along with what she usually said. Xander, Thorn is not much different than Riley. In some ways it’s even worse, if you don’t have food you starve, no one cares. The rich feed off of the poor but they do have something we don’t have. Freedom. It is still very hard for a female to make it over there, but you don’t have to worry about being enslaved or thrown to the arena. I often thought about sneaking over there myself if they didn’t execute any women from Rangel on the spot.

             
Xander thought about this as he walked around the front of the house. He could disappear into Thorn, and blend in. No one would look at him different and he probably could make a good living doing something, after all he was an enchanter. Then again where would that leave his mother? He quickly dismissed the idea as he walked to the front door and could see it was left open to him. Walking silently inside, he could hear Mesha arguing with her mother.

             
“I can’t believe you are letting that boy stay here, what if he is dangerous? You saw how he let those criminals get away! They probably planned the whole thing!” said Mesha talking more than loud enough for any passerby to hear.

             
“He did save your life or did you forget that? Where have you picked up this entitled attitude from? Your father must be rolling over in his grave hearing your feeling about men. If it wasn’t for one, you wouldn’t be here!” countered her mother. “You are more than old enough to get your own home anywhere you want, if you don’t like my rules leave then!”

             
Before Mesha could reply Xander made a grand show of slamming the door louder than he needed to, to get their attention. Xander could see the layout to their home was similar to the one he had with his mother in Riley, he guessed they were built with the same blueprints.

             
“Xander, we were just talking about you, no doubt you and the rest of this town could hear our conversation.” Said the older lady.

             
Xander blushed and just nodded his head not wanting to say anything. On one hand he wanted to leave to make their home life easier but on the other hand he was hungry.

             
“Come take a seat at our table and tell me about yourself Xander, we don’t receive many visitors way out here in the middle of nowhere. In fact the only reason we exist is in case there is another war the troops can be supplied without heading to the bigger cities. I am the mayor of this small town, Sheila Lowe.”

             
Xander told them about himself and how he became to be walking along the road to meet them but left out important details he thought they had no right of knowing. He told them of his mother and her exile and even left in the part about her being a magic user and his betrayal, but wisely left out the part about the witch Sharon, Xander didn’t know if they were her allies or not. He also didn’t mention anything about who his father was or his ability to enchant.

             
“So your mom fought in the war huh?” said Mayor Shelia trying to lighten the mood. “There is no shame in falling before a strong enemy. I didn’t even fight in the war; I fled to the capital and waited it out like everyone else while the women and men of the military died. Many don’t share my sentiment by I’m new at this noble thing. The only reason I have the position I have now is because no one wanted to risk being this close to Thorn.”

             
“I am not ashamed although it’s gonna make my road to being in the army kinda tough.” Xander said thinking about what he was going to have to do in the coming days.

             
“Well I’ll help you however I can. In a couple of days I have to head into Meadow with our excess food stores, and the taxes we have gathered. We could use your sword, the next town over Rue has had their entire load taken from them last month by a gang of well-armed bandits. Killed everyone in the caravan they did.” Said Shelia matter of factly.

             
“Where are the Soldiers or the watch at?” Said Xander outraged someone would not only rob but murder too.

             
“Still here but understaffed. If they left to protect our taxes then our town would be undefended. We don’t have any magic users stationed here permanently either. We split up our forces but it still isn’t a good plan, just leaves us vulnerable on two fronts.” Said Shelia.

             
Xander’s stomach started growling just then, letting him know it was well passed the time he should have eaten.

             
“You poor dear” said Shelia as she got up out of her seat.

             
“Sit down mother, he should be serving you” said Mesha before continuing “It’s bad enough you have him eating at the table with us. We should have slaves for this type of work, when we go into Meadow you should finally get some, what good is being in charge of this town if you have to do everything yourself!”

             
“Ignore her Xander” Shelia said as she placed some sort of stew in front of Xander along with some rolls. “Mesha was raised in Meadow where things are a little bit different. Part of the reason I came here is because I think folks should be judged on their merit, not their birth. I am gonna make sure there is not one slave in Valley.”