Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1) (40 page)

“Of course, I will help anyway I can,” Endra said.

“Good. I have only one question. Do you think it’s safe for me to be alone with him?”

“Rhys.”

“I don’t want to be eaten during the process.”

Endra scowled at the healer. “I don’t think he would try to eat you, Rhys.”

The physician raised his eyebrows. “That’s my problem, Endra; you don’t “think” he would do it.”

Endra just shook her head. “He might try and eat you, Rhys.” Cromwell blurted out. “I saw him run a deer down and kill it on the way back from the forest, and I know you’re not that fast.”

Endra slapped the Toran’s chest with the back of her hand. “I told you not to say anything about that.”

K’xarr nodded, ignoring his two companions. “It’s up to you Rhys. Do you feel up to it?”

“I promised to help anyone I could when I became a healer and I like Kian. I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t at least make an attempt. So, yes, let’s do it.”

Endra went and got Kian from the front of the stable. She led him by the hand over to Rhys. “You need to go with him, Kian. Rhys is going to try and help you, he is a very good healer, remember? Don’t harm him, nothing he’s going to do will hurt you.”

Kian looked at the healer as if he was straining to remember. Rhys started up the ladder into the loft. Kian followed, looking back over his shoulder at Endra. The two disappear into the top of the stable.

“I hope he can do something,” Endra whispered as she stepped onto the ladder.

K’xarr stepped over close to the woman. “If he can’t, I don’t know what we are going to do with him.”

It was obvious the man was trying to avoid her. Raygan knew who he was when he walked in with the others. Did he really think she wouldn’t recognize him, even with those silly clothes and that awful beard?

He stood stock still as she approached. She tried to remember how long it had been since she had seen him. “Are you trying to hide from me, Ansellus?”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t recognize me, Highness. I wanted to clean up a little before I revealed my presence to you, and frankly I didn’t know if you would even remember me.”

“How could I not remember the man who helped me pick out my first pony and taught me to ride?” She hugged the big man around his waist and he stroked her hair. A tear ran down into his thick red beard.

“I thought you left Bandara forever after you and father had that fight?”

“I did for a while, but I could not stay away for too long. I came back a few years ago and have been staying up near the Adorn Forest. Living like a commoner and pouting like a fool. My pride wouldn’t let me come back. Now it’s too late to make amends with your father.”

“He always loved you, Ansellus, he would have forgiven you in an instant. He was troubled for a long time after you left. My father was just not a warrior and he didn’t understand your ways or how you military men think. He never understood the violence in men’s hearts.”

Ansellus nodded his agreement. “Your father was a kind and gentle man. I wish I didn’t have my family’s hot temper. Things might have been different if I would have listened to your father. I just had to have my way.” Ansellus stepped back holding the Princess by her shoulders. “Let’s not talk about past regrets. Tell me what has happened since your father’s death, is Cain doing well as King?”

“Oh, Ansellus, you have no idea what has happened. It has been a nightmare for me.”

“Tell me and start from the beginning.”

“Father got sick and I had been taking care of him.” She stopped and looked around. “Let’s find a place to sit, this might take a while.”

K’xarr was staring out the stable door into the pouring rain when Cromwell walked up. “Seems we are sharing the stable with royalty, how do you like that? Did you ever think we would get within spitting distance of a Princess?”

K’xarr looked back over his shoulder where Ansel and Raygan sat talking. “She and Ansel seem awfully friendly. She acts like she knows him, don’t you think?”

Cromwell studied the two for a moment. “I would say yes. Princesses like her don’t usually sit down and start talking to strangers, especially ones that are wearing kilts.”

K’xarr looked at his friend, “When did you become versed in what Princesses do and do not do?”

Cromwell shrugged.

K’xarr glanced at the stall that held the two wounded men. “Do you know who that is with the skillet?”

Cromwell looked over where Rufio and Vandarus rested. A young man had brought the two some water and was talking quietly with them. “You mean the beefy one?”

K’xarr sighed. “Yes, the beefy one, do you see anyone else in here with a skillet?”

Cromwell looked around. “No, I don’t.”

K’xarr hit his head with the palm of his hand. “Do you know who he is?”

“Rhys said that Vandarus recruited him to be our cook. His name is Nock or something,” Cromwell said rubbing his head.

K’xarr looked at the young man sitting quietly in the stall. “So we have a cook. I will take that up with Vandarus later.”

The Toran leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “What are we going to do now K’xarr? Our plans have seemed to have gone straight into the black pit of hell.”

K’xarr continued to watch the rain. “I know Kian is crazy and I’m sure Endra will not agree to leave him. Rufio and Vandarus are wounded and Rhys is tied up with this damn Princess somehow. Things were much simpler when it was just you and me, my friend.”

“They were simpler, but not as exciting,” Cromwell said with a half grin.

K’xarr pulled his sword out and began to look it over. The rain had washed it clean but he would have to oil it before the rust set in. “That is true enough, I don’t know if exciting is the word I would use though. I thought that maybe we should just ride out on our own and leave the others. At least get out of Turill. If we stay here I think things are going to get bloody and I hate to spill blood for free. We seem to just keep getting in deeper and deeper Cromwell. We’ve angered a wizard, the city watch wants our heads, and we’re trapped in a barn with a runaway Princess.”

Cromwell chuckled. “Maybe we should see if the Princess needs some help? I wouldn’t mind helping her at all. She must be rich and did you see the way her hips move when she walks?”

“Leave her alone. I doubt she likes Torans and besides if you bedded her, you would most likely kill that young girl, but you might be right about her needing a couple of extra swords though. It seems like there has been a little trouble in the palace, and like you said she has to have some coin.”

K’xarr stopped and thought a moment. “Cromwell, you’re a genius. I bet she just might need an escort out of town or a few bodyguards. That might make us a little coin. Then we can ride up and see if this King Cain needs a couple of good men. The others can stay here if they want or go with us, it doesn’t matter, by the Gods, we might make a little gold yet.”

Cromwell puffed out his huge chest. “See Torans are not just mighty warriors, we are thinking men as well.” K’xarr laughed harder than he had in a long time.

Ansellus looked at the little Princess. “If your father said you were to rule then it matters not what anyone else says and that includes William Blackthorn and your brother. Aaron was King, sick or not, his word was law. By right you are the Queen of Bandara.”

He knelt down before her. “If you would have a self-exiled old man, I will swear my allegiance to you and see that you get your birthright if it’s with in my power. It’s the least I could do after leaving your father’s service and allowing Bandara to come to this sorry state.”

Raygan was very moved by the old general’s gallant gesture. It had been a long time since anyone had treated her like royalty. “Of course. I am honored. I would consider myself lucky to have a man like you serving me, Ansellus. I don’t know about reclaiming throne though. I just don’t see any way it can be accomplished.”

The old general looked up at the Princess. “Let me worry about that, Highness.”

Raygan felt much better now. She didn’t think she would ever be Queen, but it was nice to imagine. If Ansellus wanted to play at restoring her to her rightful station then she would go along.

The old general stood back up, he hoped the Princess didn’t hear his knees pop. “I did warn your father about Havalon, that old villain has always wanted Bandara. The Abberdonians can wait though. First, we have to put you in power.”

K’xarr and Cromwell walked over to where the older man was talking to the Princess. “Is he giving you a hard time Princess?” K’xarr asked.

“No, no, we are old friends.” Ansel cleared his throat “They don’t know about my old life, Highness.”

He faced K’xarr and Cromwell. “I used to serve Princess Raygan’s father.”

Raygan giggled. “He was once the general of the Bandaran army. Ansellus you make it sound like you were a washer woman.”

Ansel looked sheepishly at K’xarr. “I guess I forgot to mention that.”

Raygan stepped up beside the former general. “He didn’t tell you who he was?”

“No, Your Highness, he said his name was Ansel and he was a woodsman. He took us into the Adorn to find our friend,” K’xarr said with a look of irritation.

The Princess smiled. “Let me introduce you then, this is Ansellus Fox, former Lord of northern Bandara. I don’t believe we have been formally introduced either. I am Princess Raygan Albana Blackthorn, and you sir?”

“I’m K’xarr Strom and this big fellow is Cromwell Blood, the woman over there with the children is Endra Korlest. I think you know Rhys and the man up in the loft with him is Kian.”

“Yes, I know Rhys very well, and I have already met Rufio and Vandarus. I’m so glad that all of you are going to help me.”

K’xarr’s frowned. “I never said I was going to help you, Highness, but we can talk about that and come to some kind of arrangement. I’m sure we could see you out of town safely, if that’s what you wish, of course?”

Raygan’s smile fled her face. “Ansellus pledged to help me and you being his men are required to assist me and I have no plans to leave Turill. Ansellus wants to put me on the throne like my father intended.”

“Ansel or Ansellus is my man, unless he forgot he joined my mercenary band. It is I who command him, so if you want any kind of help from him you can ask me. You may be his Princess, but you’re not mine and aside from Vandarus none of the rest of us are Bandaran subjects … Highness.”

Raygan was aghast; this man had no right to talk to her that way. “Ansellus is a Bandaran noble and I relieve him of any obligation to you.”

K’xarr just laughed at the diminutive woman’s haughtiness.

Raygan stomped her foot. Did this K’xarr think he was going to command her? He was just a mere savage as were his men and they travelled with a Half Elf. She had tried to overlook that fact for Rhys’s sake. Just harboring one of those abominations was unthinkable to her. Bishop Lyfair would be terribly upset if he knew she was even in the same building as one of those creatures.

“Highness, I don’t think you have the power to relieve any one of anything, else you wouldn’t be in this stable smelling of hay and horse shit.” K’xarr said smugly.

“How dare you use that kind of language in front of a Princess?”

“At least I do not cavort with inhuman monstrosities,” the Princess fired back.

“What the hell did she say?” Endra questioned from across the stable. K’xarr held his hand out to the female fighter commanding her to stay where she was.

Ansellus stepped forward. “K’xarr, it was I who lied to you, don’t take it out on her. This is just a minor misunderstanding.”

“Easy there, Ansel,” Cromwell said. “I would take care on what you are about to say.”

Ansellus nodded. “I’m just saying let’s talk, I will explain things to the Princess and we can work all this out without any hard feelings.

“Don’t talk like I am not standing right here, Ansellus, and I don’t think I need anything explained to me. Maybe your friend K’xarr needs some things explained to him. I am a Princess of Bandara and…” K’xarr and Cromwell turned and walked back to the doorway of the stable before she could finish.

“How dare they turn their backs to me. Ansellus, do something. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior.”

The old general sighed. “Highness, you will need them. I might remind you from what you told me you have no power and are in fear of your own life. Don’t you think you should excuse their lack of civility, at least for now? We need all the friends we can get, especially ones that know how to handle a sword.”

“I think they are rude and uncultured savages, but you may be right, if you say we need them then so be it, but some decorum and protocol must be maintained. They need to be reminded I’m a Princess.”

“Of course, Your Highness, I had forgotten how important proper etiquette is to you. Let me think on things a while and see what I can come up with. K’xarr and his men can be a help to us. We have very few choices, Highness, you said so yourself.”

Raygan smiled at Ansellus. “I know you will find a way to fix things and I will try to stay out of the way. You will just have to pardon me, Ansellus. I have been told I can be a little hard to deal with sometimes.”