Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1) (37 page)

Chapter 15

T
he great tan and green pavilion had been set up in the middle of the three armies of Abberdon. King Havalon Taylin of Abberdon had called his sons to council.

Havalon was dressed in his plate armor, not gilded like many other Kings. No, his was servable like all the other knights in his army. His green tabard bore the coat of arms of Abberdon, a tan bull’s head flanked by two crossed war hammers.

He was no longer young, he didn’t possess the narrow waist of his youth, but his shoulders were broad and his arms strong. Havalon was still a very powerful warrior. Gray hair and thick beard, a distinguished looking man to be sure, but it was his icy blue eyes that saw his orders followed to the letter. He could make his servants quake in their boots with a dissatisfied gaze.

His servants were hurriedly setting up his war table and rolling out a map of Bandara on top of it. He hated the pavilion, the smoke from the braziers made his head ache. He should be on his horse out in the field fighting for the future of Abberdon, not cooped up in this silken den. He had to remind himself he was a King and had to project an image for his subjects or he would put a torch to the whorish pavilion.

Havalon had never thought of himself as a King, he had always pictured himself as a warrior or conqueror. He had never gotten used to the grandiosity that came with wearing the crown. However, he did love the power that the crown brought with it.

Griffyn and Donovan both entered the pavilion his sons were both dressed in the same armor as their father. “Hail Father, what news do you have?” Griffyn said. The King’s thin lips tightened, he was trying to suppress the smile that threated to spread across his face.

His wife had died when the boys were very young and he had raised them alone. No servants or nannies, he had done it on his own. His chest swelled with pride when he looked at the two fine warriors standing before him now.

Griffyn, the oldest, was carefree and fun-loving, but he was all business when it came to a battlefield, he had taken to combat like a duck to water. He had his father’s eyes but his mother’s straw-colored hair.

Donovan was younger but you couldn’t tell it. He was a serious young man and a good general. He was dark haired and powerfully built. Havalon knew he would make a fine King. He would just have to win a Kingdom for the boy to rule. Griffyn was his heir, but Donovan deserved a country as well and Bandara would do nicely. Abberdon was his pride, but his boys were his joy. There was nothing in the world he loved more than his sons.

“Come, look at the map, and I will show you how we will defeat young King Cain and his Bandarans.”

The Princes moved over to the table, one on either side of their father. “How long do you think it would take for your armies to drive the Bandarans to Northham?” the King asked.

“I’m not sure, Cain was just reinforced by Bradford and Fox, that will give him at least ten thousand fresh troops,” Donovan said.

“It doesn’t matter how many troops they give him, he is very predictable and any offensive he mounts should be easy to counter. The new King of Bandara lacks imagination, Father. I would not think it would take us long to herd him anywhere.” Griffyn said with confidence.

Donovan looked over the map then shook his head. “Why, Northham, Father? I don’t see the point of it, there is nothing in the town of consequence.”

The King glanced at his son. “Listen and I will tell you.” Donovan pursed his lips and looked at his brother. Griffyn shook his finger at him and smiled.

“I want you to press the attack. Cain has help now, Fox and Bradford are no fools and the young Blackthorn will also realize what I’m doing if he has enough time to think. So keep the pressure on them, attack, attack, attack and keep driving them toward Northham Fox’s castle near the city. If you can rout them and do enough damage, they will take to the castle. Lay siege to it and hold them there, you don’t even have to take the castle, just keep them inside until winter. They won’t move after the snows come.”

Griffyn folded his arms across his chest he looked at his brother then his father. “What will you be doing while we bottle up the King and his army?”

Havalon pointed to Turill. “I will take the capital. Old Lord Blackthorn hasn’t sent his army north or so our spies say. They are camped just north of the capital, ten thousand men just sitting there while we are chasing the rest of their army all over northern Bandara. I don’t know what he is playing at but his troops are all that stand between Turill and us, if you can pin down Cain’s Army at Northham. I will defeat Duke Blackthorn and take the city.

I have been told by our spies the King has sent for the Royal Guard to bolster his ranks, leaving only the city watch to take care of the capital. How many men will that give the boy King?”

“He lost four thousand in our last battle with Bradford and Fox’s men and the Royal Guard, if they arrive in time, may be twenty-five thousand, give or take a thousand.” Donovan replied.

The King picked up a jug of wine and poured himself a cup. His sons said nothing, they knew when their father was thinking.

“Take ten thousand men each. I will take the rest and the five thousand mercenaries we hired, that will give me well over twenty thousand men. I will head east and wait for word that you have trapped the King, then I will ride on Turill. We might even get lucky and Blackthorn will send his men to try and save his King and I will take the city with no resistance.”

“Cain will slightly outnumber us, Father,” Donovan observed. “I thought you said the Bandarans would be easy beaten?” The old King grinned. Donovan frowned and said nothing.

“I know he outnumbers you in men. He and his general are inexperienced and our troops are far superior. I have no doubt you and Griffyn can handle them. If you get into trouble send word and I will reinforce you.”

“Father, I have a question.” Donovan said grinning. “Ask it then Son, I am tired it has been a long day.” “When we defeat Cain and you take Turill, which one of us gets Princess Raygan?”

“Yes, Father.” Griffyn said, excited by the turn of the conversation. “She was quite attractive when we saw her at the joust two years ago. She was a bit young then but her breasts were almost as big as Donovan’s head.”

All three of them laughed, Havalon held up his hand. “I know the little Princess is beautiful and would give either of you a fine heir but there is not enough of her to go around and she has married the King’s general. So we will have a contest. Whichever one of you kills Talorn Blackthorn can have the girl.”

***

Her thin legs quivered only a little when he raped her now, and there was hardly any screaming when he hurt her. The girl was done. The rat bites on her body had begun to fester and her hair was matted and full of lice, he was finished with her.

The handmaiden had served her purpose. They needed nothing from her now anyway. Once Cain had been told the healer came poking around the palace looking for Raygan’s servant, it was all the reason he needed to order the foolish man’s arrest.

William had kept the girl for fun, besides Cain never said anything about releasing her. The King and his son were gone now and he could do as he pleased. Not that he couldn’t before, there was just little need to cover it up now.

He dressed himself and waited for Arn to come and unchain the girl, he thought he would let the executioner have her, no need to let the last bit of the little bitch go to waste.

He smacked the girl on the backside. “It’s been a pleasure, my dear.” The duke was ready to get out of the foul-smelling dungeon. He only needed to wait for Arn to come back from feeding the other prisoners, so he could award the executioner his prize.

“Still torturing and raping little girls I see.” William spun around drawing his dagger. The man grabbed his hand as he thrust his dagger and slapped him so hard across the face it knocked him to the floor. He noticed the man had taken his dagger away from him as well. The bastard was quick.

“It’s you … how did you get in here?” The Dark One offered his hand to William and helped him to his feet. “I come and go as I please, you know that, Willy.”

William gritted his teeth and said nothing. He wanted to live. This was the one man Duke Blackthorn feared. “I thought I was to contact you when things were settled here?”

The wizard handed William’s dagger back to him. “True, but you also said that Bandara would belong to you by now. I did my part, the Kingdom was ripe for the taking, but I have seen nothing you promised me for all my work.”

“It is all but mine now. The Abberdonians have invaded and that has to be dealt with before I can take full control.”

“I take it you have arranged for the Abberdonians to be defeated after they solve your problem?” the wizard asked.

“I have made a deal with King Braklan and the Illairians. If the Abberdonians defeat Cain, Talorn Havalon’s troops will be weakened from the war. On my order Braklan will attack with his allies and destroy Havalon.

“All I have to do is allow the Illairians to extend their border fifty miles into Bandara and the Abberdonian problem is solved.”

The wizard rested his hands on the two short swords that jutted from his cloak. “You must trust King Braklan, what would stop him from just taking all of Bandara with both armies decimated?”

“My agents acquired certain information about him that he doesn’t want his Queen to know or his people for that matter.

“What if, by chance, the King and your son win the war?”

The duke slide his dagger back in to its scabbard. “Well then, so much the better. I won’t need Braklan and I will take care of Cain myself. Talorn is married to the Princess now and he will rule alongside Raygan if Cain dies. Their child will begin the royal line of the Blackthorn family. So you can see, I have been dealing with several situations, but there is no reason for you to worry.”

The Dark One walked into the cell and lifted the girl’s head, he eased it back down and looked at William. “It looks like all your dealing with is your own perversions, Willy, and that causes me to doubt your commitment.”

Arn came down the stairs and into the light. “Arn, kill him, tear him apart.” William yelled pointing at the wizard. He was tired of being afraid of this sorcerer. He didn’t need him any more anyway, he hastily decided he should kill the man now while he had the chance to catch the mage unawares.

Arn lunged at the smaller man, arms out stretched to strangle the duke’s enemy. The Dark One pulled his twin short swords with practiced speed. The dark steel blades sliced through the air cutting both the hulking executioner’s hands off. The sorcerer twirled the blades in his hands and slammed them back into their scabbards.

Arn held up his stumps, blood pumping down his huge forearms. The Dark One stepped forward and delivered a sharp punch to the middle of the large man’s chest. The great hulking man made an odd gasping sound. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth and he toppled over. The executioner was dead even before he crashed to the floor.

“That was very foolish, Willy, and I do believe I take offence to it. Although I see you may at least have balls enough to finish what we have started.”

Lord Blackthorn had backed himself into the corner of the cell eyes wide and hands trembling. “Finish? Then you’re not going to kill me?”

The wizard made a sick gurgling attempt at laughter. “Of course not, I expect treachery from the people I work with. You could say it’s almost a requirement of mine.”