The Terror of Thorn: Child of War: Book 2 (16 page)

“You are a lot stronger than you look, my poor blade however looks like it will need another edge put on it” The man said as he took his weapon from Xander. “Whoever taught you is a bit crude, but effective given your talents. You obviously saw you couldn’t match me in swordplay but instead went to fighting a different style. Let that be a lesson to all you men, there is no such thing as a fair fight when the witches come to attack, make no doubt about it, they are coming to enslave all the men.”

“Well exactly how far out are they my lord, what do we know about how the war is faring?” said the man Xander knew as Angus.

“Well better now, we were fighting a war on three fronts, but rumor has it we have only the Rangelians to beat back. I don’t know the details, but Frahse has been beaten back and it’s not likely they’ll attack again. The Duke of Best is on his way here with some men and Javik has been captured and every able bodied man is on their way to defend the capital. The only enemy we have left is our most dangerous, the damn Rangelians.”

“Don’t’ tell me you believe in them fairy tales about magic and such me lord” Alan began before finishing. “I hear the damn Rangelians all have men 18 ft. tall and the women all shoot fire from their fingertips. It’s all fairy tales me lord.”

“Not everything you men hear from Rangel is fairytales. The men are even bigger than our silent friend here” the well-dressed man said as he patted Xander on the shoulder. Not quite 18 ft. but I wouldn’t recommend in fighting hand to hand with any of them. The women are not all witches, but the ones you’ll meet likely are. There has been a new rumor though that I am going to believe until it is proven otherwise.”

“You mean about them somehow finding the armory of Erik the Red?” The older man Xander first met said.

“That is the rumor William” the well-dressed man said. “That is something that would explain many things I have heard about their army. Men capable of cutting another man in twain, it’s hard to know where the truth ends and the tales begin. No matter though, the Rangelians will meet the true might of our army at the capital.”

“Well we better cross that gorge when tha time comes, let’s make our way to the capital.” William said as he turned back to the road.

The march to the capital was uneventful for Xander, as many men were volunteered to join the King’s army. A lot of the men were very reluctant to be a part of it; they were loyal to Javik and had been mistreated under the current king. They saw a new regime as something that couldn’t be worse than being poor and starving to death.  Instant death under the well-dressed man, who Xander now knew as the king’s advisor Lord Brennan though, was a powerful reason to support the monarchy.  Xander reached the capital on the fifth day after his first encounter with Lord Brennan with rumors running rampant.

CHAPTER 26

JANUS

              “You all had better take your heads outta yer arses. Is no part of this war going according to plan? The only one of you worth anything is Brendan, and he’s not even here yet. Give me an update, and Best you better have a good reason why you are here instead of fighting Frahse.” King Janus fumed as he paced in his war room.

“Your Majesty, Frahse has been utterly defeated. That you already knew, but what I am about to tell you now I thought it best to be told face to face” Kevon Duke of Best replied.

“Enough with the show Best, the damn witches will be here before you finish” King Janus said becoming annoyed.

“I defeated Frahse alright, even took a high ranking officer prisoner where he is waiting for interrogation.” Best began unsure of how to tell the next part. “I had help; I met the son of Erik the Red a man named Xander and an enchanter in his own right.”

“Erik the Red has a son?” General McWilliams said as he stood up. “Preposterous, we would have known it before now if he sired anyone.”

“I thought it false too, but he slaughtered some men of mine who were raping and killing the peasants. The man shot fire at me and took off at a pace not even my horses could manage” The Duke of Best said knowing he would invoke his king’s anger.

“This is nonsense, Brendan told me about this fairytale, if this Xander person is an Enchanter, then why hasn’t he made it rich or tried for the throne?” The King asked Duke Best.

“Xander the Red is a Rangelian, married to the Princess of Rangel. He along with his army of elves and a Rangelian giant broke Frahses will for war. I was there as one of his men tore the legs off a horse.” Duke Best said still not believing what he saw.

“What type of jest is this?” Duke Bodders said as he walked around the table to get into the face of Duke Best.

“You expect us to believe Erik the Red has a son who travels with elves and giants all throughout Thorn and no one other than you has seen or reported on them?”

“He also had Javik’s daughter with them, I tried to take her prisoner but he had more men than I” Duke Best said.

“Your Majesty you should remove this man” the Duke of Bodders began. “We all know Javik’s daughter went into Rangel, how would she make it all the way to the other side of the kingdom with no one knowing along with an army made up of elves and giants?”

“The enchanter can teleport some way, he can move people with his powers over great distances in less time than it takes to blink your eyes.” Duke Best said realizing it sounded too unreal to be true.

“You spent a long time fighting the Frahsch my lord” General McWilliams said as he put his arm around the Duke. “Things could be getting to you, playing tricks with your mind. Why don’t you let one of the maids find you something warm to fill your belly and a nice soft bed to lie on?”

“I think that would be best general” the Duke said as he looked at King Janus.

“Just get out of here Best, you beat Frahse but now you are useless.” King Janus said as he slammed his fist down on the table. “How are our defenses going and has Earl Glou or Brendan sent any word on the fight with Javik?”

“Your Majesty, the Earl of Glou sent his messenger just moments ago” General McWilliams said hoping to alleviate the King’s mood. “Javik the merchant has been captured by Glou personally and is being brought to the capital along with all of his goods as we speak. The Earl sent Brendan on a mission to gather up anyone who can hold a sword to the capital to prepare to fight off Rangel. We have finished two of the wars we were in and would be in a good position against Rangel.”

“That’s what I want to hear, how goes our defenses, are we ready for those bitches yet?” King Janus asked, finally smiling and alleviating the mood of all present.

“Your Majesty, we have sent out anyone who cannot help with the war effort. Arrows have been made by the thousands and our regulars are well armed and ready. The conscripts we have brought in have been drilling nonstop in an effort that they can be useful. Any building not made of stone has been torn down to avoid a fire hazard. Archers have been hidden all over the city just in case the rumors about witches flying are true. Right now we have a good mix and work the men in two shifts. If we could get enough men for a third shift and perhaps a quick reaction force, we could hold out indefinitely.” General McWilliams replied hoping he answered all of the King’s unasked questions.

“What else do you need to ensure your victory McWilliams?” asked Duke Bodders.

“I need the people to see each of you nobles walking around them, a face to the name” McWilliams said wishing Brendan the King’s advisor was here to say the last part. “Right now all of you in this room could be more popular, people seeing you are willing to get your hands dirty may give them the boost they need.”

“Have you been drinking with Best?” the King asked the General. “Me out there with the common riff raff? That is no place for a king!”

CHAPTER 27

XANDER

              Xander smiled when he was given the job by the king’s advisor to be an archer based on his skill. Brendan probably figured him to be slow witted despite his skill and wanted to give him a relatively easy task. Xander was very close to the castle and he could tell the fighting had started. The air was electric as he could hear the witches wreaking havoc upon the gates of Thorn but the defenders were giving as good as they got.

              Xander could see witches try to float over the wall to begin raining down fire but the archers made quick work of them. Rangel’s regular army was having a better go at it with their siege machines and many heavy boulders were seen raining down from the sky but doing no real damage as Xander could see. Xander wanted to focus on the fight going on but knew his battle was less than 50 feet away behind the walls of a castle. Xander left his designated place inside the church’s tower and walked over to the gates of the castle.

              “Do they make weapons for men where you bought that armor?” A palace guardsmen said who Xander figured was the captain since unlike the Palace Guard in Rangel, this one had it engraved in gold on his breastplate. Xander smiled and started squirming, a universal indicator that he needed the loo.

              “What are you slow in the head or something?” The man said as he looked at Xander. “Why don’t you ask to relieve yourself?”

              Xander pointed to his throat and moved his lips, hoping the man was smart enough to get what Xander was trying to tell him.

              “I don’t this one can talk sir” another guardsmen stated. “It is probably the reason they stationed him slow close to the castle, hoping we will protect him if the fighting gets this far.”

              Oh we’ll protect him alright, we’ll protect him from the safety of the castle!” the Captain cried out eliciting laughter from his guards. Go over in the bushes idiot, slow headed ones like you are not allowed to go in doors!”

              Xander walked around the castle until he found some bushes he was sure would hide him. Xander made a circle and teleported back to the camp he had set up with Patrick, Samantha, Priscilla and their new army.

              Xander looked around as he was first noticed by Priscilla.

              “We had been a wondering what happened to you Xander, thought you might have gotten yourself killed.”

              “Not yet Priscilla, where is Patrick?” Xander asked.

              “He went off with your cousin, Javik’s daughter to parts unknown” Joveon spoke. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

              “I need a fighting force right now to help end this war, I am but feet from the castle and King Janus himself.” Xander said as he looked at the men gathered.

              “Hell it is at least fifty of us here and we all got our weapons on us, we were just practicing.” Joveon said as he gestured to the men around him.

              “They will have to do, we must strike fast and hard.” Xander said as he teleported the first ten people with him.

              “Stay down while I get the rest” Xander began as he pointed towards the front of the castle. “There are at least five guardsmen out front and although they are not wearing their armor, they are heavily armed.”

              Xander took more trips and brought back the entirety of the force he was going to use, disappointed Patrick or Samantha would not be there for this battle. Xander walked out of hiding and gave a signal as he ran around the side of the building and charged the unaware guards. Xander put his arm up and shot fire at the captain who reflexively put his arms to his face. Xander put all the power he could muster into the kick he delivered to his groin as he sped past him into the castle with his rag tag army in tow.

              Xander searched the castle wondering where the rest of the guardsmen were at until he spotted a large and ordinate door from which several voices could be heard coming from the other side of it. Xander kicked down the door of the throne room to find several people there, one of which had to be King Janus, as he had a crown on his head. Xander smiled as the men looked at him first in annoyance, then in fear all except Brendan who did not recognize the danger Xander possessed.

              “King Janus, the great betrayer!” Xander began as he drew his weapon, not minding the palace guard since it was likely they would give him a wide birth after what had happened with their captain. “I have been waiting for this longer than you know.”

              “It’s Erik the Red back from the dead” said General McWilliams as he stood up and began to back away.

              “That is not Erik the Red” Brendan said wondering why everyone was freaking out. “That is a farm boy that’s a bit slow in the head, I found him on Javik’s estate.”

              “I am neither” Xander said as never took his eyes off of Janus. “I am Xander, son of the protector of Riley and I seek my vengeance!”

              “Vengeance for what? I have never heard of this Riley person! Guards! Guards!” screamed King Janus.

              “My mother was in charge of the outpost closest to Thorn. She was killed and then desecrated; I will not have her unavenged!” Xander said as he began walking across the room.

              “This is preposterous, if your mother was some type of Soldier, then she was just a casualty of war, it was nothing personal” Henry the Earl of Glou said.

              “Then consider Janus, pretender to the Throne another casualty. Your death is at hand!” Xander said as he continued getting closer to King Janus.