The Terror of Thorn: Child of War: Book 2 (14 page)

Xander went out a ways where he was sure the Duke or his bodyguards couldn’t see him. Xander made a circle and teleported back to the elves and explained the situation to Patrick who laughed at the smaller Thornians challenge to him. Samantha decided she would tag along also with Priscilla and Rain Water. Xander teleported back just as Joveon was being assaulted by one of the Duke’s bodyguards.

“Which way did he go” said the man, not realizing Xander was behind him. “You better tell me or I’ll” said the man before Patrick interrupted him.

“Or you’ll do what Thornian, tell me what you plan to do?”

The guard instantly turned around upon hearing Patrick’s deep voice. The guard began to shake as he looked up to see Patrick’s full height.

“That’s gotta be the biggest damn Rangelian me ever laid me eyes on” said Joveon.

“Joveon meet Patrick the Lion Heart” Xander began laughing inwardly at using the title common people in Rangel called Patrick due to his battle prowess. “He is the Champion of Rangel and our best fighter by far, it is he who the Duke sentenced his men to fight.”

Xander led Patrick along with Samantha and Priscilla back towards the Duke’s tent, where his men were obviously ready for a fight, joined by some onlookers.

“Lady Samantha!” The Duke said upon seeing Javik’s daughter. “All of this madness has been over you, I should take you in right now!”

“Lay a hand on me and it will be the last time you use it” Samantha said as she pulled out her blade.

“Iff’n you take the prissy miss in” Priscilla began. “Then on your way back you may be looking at Frahchmen running all over this land. You already let your men destroy it.”

“When we first met I told you your men did a disservice to a friend of mine and killed her family.” Xander said as he thought back to his first time meeting the Duke. “This is that person I spoke of.”

The Duke glared at Samantha and took in Priscilla’s words. If he did somehow manage to kill the enchanter and his giant, this war might be over by the time he returned, hell he might lead the Frahchmen to the capital. He couldn’t trust one of his men to do the job, what if something went wrong? No he would have to send a bird letting the King’s Advisor know his predicament and ask for a course of action. That way it would be Brendan’s head on a pike instead of his. “Is this giant your Patrick” the Duke asked trying to change the subject.

“He is and hates to be kept waiting.” Xander stated more loudly than his normal speech for the benefit of the onlookers. “He is the Champion of Rangel and the butcher of Ingland. I give you Patrick the Lion Heart.”

Patrick picked up one of the wooden swords he saw lying on the ground and waved his first victim in. The man Patrick fought was thin for even Thornian standards and went into a fast paced intricate dance like motion waving his sword around faster than almost the eye could see.

“Your giant should be lucky this isn’t steel” The Duke said smirking. “It is doubtful he would be in one piece after this.”

Patrick eyed the man and figured he was probably a lot faster than he looked, but had no idea since how fast Patrick was. Patrick had always been bigger than most, but since he underwent the potioning process from the alchemists his mother kept at the magic school, he had grown immensely in size, weight, strength and most of all speed. Patrick purposely took a long slow swing towards the man and made sure he telegraphed it. His opponent looked at Patrick’s are and the way his hips were moving and spun to the side his sword ready to strike. Patrick smiled inwardly at his opponent underestimating him and delivered a blow to the man’s stomach, he didn’t put all his power into it, but he made sure the fight would be over.

The man doubled over and vomited, losing his sword in the process. Patrick picked up the man like one would a sack of potatoes and threw him towards the Duke.

“Your man lasted but a few moments” Xander said making sure he put humor into his voice.

“I see not all Fire Hair fight same, Fire hair here not like you Fire Hair. These fire hair weak, not able to take punch”
Rain Water said as she looked at the fallen man.

“What did your Elf say?” asked the Duke of Best.

“She said she hoped your other men put on more of a show” replied Xander.

Duke Best motioned another of his men to fight Patrick. This man did not perform any fancy tricks; he just went right into the attack. Swipe, parry, retreat. This man Xander could see would be a challenge. Any trick Patrick tried the man did not fall for, this was a true swordsman. The fight raged on for ten minutes at this point, a lifetime for a sword fight and Xander noticed the other man began to sweat.

Patrick wasn’t able to mount much offense against the man, but his speed stayed relatively the same while it looked to Xander his opponents slowed somewhat. Duke best must have seen it also and sent his remaining men in to attck Patrick’s back.

“Behind you Patrick” Xander called out as Patrick turned just in time to catch his foe by his sword arm. Patrick immediately turned and threw the man into his first adversary knocking them both down before turning around to face his remaining foe.

“I have seen enough” Duke Best said disgusted. “Your man can do the job.”

Xander and Duke Best put together a plan of attack. Xander showed him what he could bring to the battle and transported all of the elf warriors, both Dark and Light. Xander could see Duke Best was amazed but tried his best not to show it. Xander and the Duke came to a conclusion that the best time for an attack would be right before sunset, the sun would be in the eyes of the Frahch.

Xander concluded his plan with the Duke of Best and found many men and women gathered around Patrick all talking excitedly. From what Xander had heard, many were amazed with his size, others wanted to know if he had ever met a witch. Patrick was clearly not used to the crowds as Xander could see he was uncomfortable, many questions were asked about life in Rangel and was it true everyone went to bed with a full belly. As Xander listened though, one question was asked more than others, what was it like to travel with Erik the Red. Patrick tried to tell them he traveled with Xander his son but none would listen. Some of the women though were disappointed he was married to the Princess of Rangel.

“The attack will happen as the sun drops out of the sky” Xander said trying to save Patrick from the crowd.

“What will our roles be” asked one of the Duke’s bodyguards when a man came up running out of breath.

“They have broke through!” the man said as he dropped to his knees.

Xander listened and could hear men screaming, apparently headed their way.

“Archers fall back to the rear within the trees, the land we are on now is the killing ground.” The Duke of Best said taking charge. “Enchanter you lead the ground troops, Patrick you are on me”.

Xander looked as Patrick grabbed his sword and went to the Duke’s side, sending Samantha and Priscilla with the elves. Xander fell the troop back to the left of the position most of the invaders would come through, ensuring they take a lot of arrow fire. The invaders came through faster than Xander thought possible unitl he saw why, they were cavalry.

The men on horseback came through so fast the arrows only had moderate success. It was clear by the way they rode the Duke was their target as the men on horseback ignored Xander and his infantry all together. Xander and his men charged anyway, trying to take the men down from the side when Patrick went into action. The first man to reach the Duke, Patrick grabbed hold of his lance and used it to throw the man off. Xander looked back and grabbed the Duke, depositing him on horseback. Duke best took off in the wilderness with the animal as men descended on Patrick. Xander began to give chase when the ground troops from Frahse showed themselves. Xander rallied his troops but hated his predicament, he had ground troops at his back, and fighting men in front with nothing but a bunch of farmers to settle the score. Xander figured this was a no win situation since his elves could not even bring their strength to bear. Xander took a deep breath as he focused on his target as he heard a terrible yell.

Patrick had ripped the front legs off of a horse and was using it to beat a man unconscious. Men all around Xander stopped their charge as Patrick picked up a blade and separated a man’s head from his shoulders. Patrick picked up the head and stuck his fingers in its mouth and began to use that as a weapon as the Frahchmen, scared for their lives began to retreat. Patrick threw the head and began to follow behind the fleeing Frahchmen until Xander stopped him. Xander looked around at his troops and saw although a couple were hurt, none were serious. The enemy only lost about 6 men, but the thought a facing a head wielding giant was more than they bargained for.

“I don’t care what the Duke says” one of his bodyguards began. “I aint going to the capital to fight the damn Rangelians if that’s what we are facing.”

Xander quickly rallied the remaining people and marched them towards Frahse. Once Xander got closer to the border, he was greeted by three men on horseback who had a man tied up at their feet.

“We do not wish to fight Thorn” said the first man as Duke Best rode up behind Xander. “We were just following orders and now we want to escape with our lives. We offer you our commanding officer as a trade for our lives.”

Duke Best climbed off of his horse and picked the man up off his feet. I accept your trade and may the Gods be with you” was all he said as he walked the man back into Thorn.

“Enchanter I am reporting to the King all what I saw here, along with your escape into the countryside” Duke Best began. “You have my word that any man who took advantage of the populace will be disciplined harshly, and I will try to repay all debts caused by them. I will write a writ before I depart with my prisoner granting your lady friend an audience with me, and you have my word I will do what I think is right by her for her losses.”

“We may not be on the same side when we meet again” Xander said.

“You and your man saved my life this day” Duke Best began.  “Patrick, you may be the Champion of Rangel, but on this day let it be known you are also a Champion of Best. No matter what fate has in store for us, all men and women in this land will not forsake you or your trust, be it for the King of Thorn or anyone else in power.” Duke Best loaded his prisoner up on the horse he was riding and left the field to head back to the capital.

CHAPTER 23

CELESTE

              The Queen of Rangel eyed her daughter as she barely touched her food. Celeste knew her consort’s whereabouts had to be foremost in her mind. Celeste remembered how the enchanter ran and lived out his days in a forest of elves instead of accepting her hand and here she was worried sick about him. Aubrey was everything Celeste though a queen should be, she was tough but fair to everyone. Celeste had never been prouder when her daughter proved she didn’t play favorites by having the enchanter flogged then forcing him to go to her friend’s ball anyway and act like nothing happened. But here was her daughter, worried sick over a man.

              “Aubrey you have barely touched your food” Celeste began. “You can’t rule Rangel if you starve to death.”

              “My appetite is lost, this is my first war” Aubrey replied.

              “Well it is one we are winning, already Ingland has sued for peace and even gave us some land. The army of junior witches and soldiers came back triumphantly under the Second Witch.” Celeste said knowing the only thing her daughter cared about was the enchanter.

              “You know if they killed him mother there could never be any peace” Aubrey said in a voice Celeste was not used to hearing. “Any treaty you make will be held invalid until anyone who had anything to do with his death would be put to the sword.”

              “Aubrey, all of this over a man?” Celeste began wondering if she wasn’t missing something. “You can have your pick of bed warmers here in Rangel in all shapes and sizes. If red hair is your thing, you could search through the slaves that was sent back from your fight on the border before they meet the arena.”

              “He was not a man mother, he was my man!” Aubrey said as her voice started to grow louder. “No one takes anything from me which I do not give, I would not have this as my legacy. Right now my enemies yearn for their death but I am here, safe in Rangel.”

              Celeste smiled inwardly at her daughter, she had taught her well. Celeste tried her best to give Aubrey the qualities of a true Queen and she succeeded. Celeste was sure Aubrey loved Xander but that was only one of the reasons Aubrey was so upset. She wanted blood from all who was against her and would see her enemies dead. Just the thought of people who had wronged her surviving was sending her over the edge. “You know Aubrey, with the witches back from Ingland, you can take half of the army they traveled with into Thorn to hurry up and end this war. I can press the men into service temporarily just to deal with any uprisings we may have.”

              “Mother I would like nothing more than to go, but this course would likely make the people rebel.” Aubrey said hoping her mother had an answer.

              “I will give the wife of any man who have finished his commitment and choose to come back to temporarily protect Rangel three times the pay they normally receive. That alone should get men out of the house, I will even ask all the slaves that work in the mines if they would like a second chance, many would flock to join the military.” Celeste said thinking she would need to move quickly on such matters.