The Terror of Thorn: Child of War: Book 2 (3 page)

              “Then we must hurry in our fight with Javik and bring our forces to the border, make that bitch pay if she sends troops.”

CHAPTER 5

Celeste

              Celeste had the three most important members of her Queendom in the room with her, forgoing the usual number of nobles who really didn’t want to be there. Her daughter Aubrey started coming into her own as a ruler, and she definitely showed the character to rule if how she dealt with the enchanter was any indicator. To the left of Aubrey was Elizabeth Brightly, High Witch of Rangel. She was directly in charge of the school of magic as well as the deployment of the witches throughout the Queendom. She was an ambitious woman who longed for the throne at one time but decided against it when it seemed her son was going to marry Aubrey. After Patrick’s defeat she had been cordial but notably distant. Finally looked upon Anaya Shield, High General of the Queens Armies. Anaya was directly responsible for the training and deployment of the military. Celeste trusted her counsel but it was Elizabeth who was the most daring.

              “Elizabeth, what do you think of the proposal those Thornish women gave” Celeste asked her high witch. Celeste stared at the High Witch knowing the woman was putting her thoughts together in order to not offend her, but Celeste was sure Elizabeth formulated a plan as soon as she heard what the Thornish women were offering.

              “I am sure we could bring our might to bear on Thorn and be successful if it we had just them to worry about. I am sure the men of Ingland would strike at us as soon as we committed ourselves. I have confirmed there is trouble brewing in Thorn, so invading would not be too much of a problem, only if we strike now. Waiting would only let Thorn increase her power, something we could not afford. That is only one of the problems we will face once we set foot in Thorn.”

              Queen Celeste mulled over what her High Witch was telling her, not wanting to give away she had come to the same conclusion and merely needed the witch to echo it. “You are talking about men defecting from our army, am I correct?”

              “Your Majesty we would be fighting on a land that is not ours with men forced into service” Elizabeth said before hitting home her point. “The enemy is not stupid, they would offer asylum to all that wants it. I do not see how we can get pass this.”

              “Your Majesty I believe I have a solution to that” Anaya began waiting until the Queen gave her the signal to speak her mind before continuing “This is what I would do, any sons of noble birth will be given some of Xander’s enchanted weapons and armor as well as any man married with children at home. Most men paternal instincts will kick in and not let them abandon their offspring. These men will be our vanguard into Thorn along with our witches and anyone who has less than five years remaining on their commitment. I believe this could be highly effective against defections. The witch speaks true though, time is our enemy.”

“That could work if I set Xander to start making these items immediately” the Queen started thinking about how long it would take Xander to make such items. “But what of the border with Ingland, I doubt they would stand idly by while we attack their ally.”

“I could send the Second or Third witch to see to the defense along with my son. They should be able to..” Elizabeth did not get a chance to finish as the Queen silenced her.

“Your son has a different mission Elizabeth” Celeste said watching what the witch’s reaction would be. “If I am to place my grip on Thorn I need a way to hold her after I reach her.”

“What my mother is trying to say is that Patrick should travel into Thorn along with the women going to reclaim their homeland” Aubrey spoke suddenly fearful of what the High Witch might do being ordered around by someone she considers a girl. “I will keep the rest of the entourage busy and Patrick will be assigned as the heir’s personal guard. He should use every trick he knows to get her on his side for the eventual match that will be made with Samantha and Patrick. If the she disagrees we will just take over very forcefully and start slaughtering the lot of them, an action I’d rather not take. When Samantha marries Patrick, you will be appointed her adviser, the power behind the face. You will be the only witch allowed in Thorn, as you must pick a replacement for yourself if our plan is successful.

Celeste could see the smile threatening to form on the High Witch’s face. She had always wanted to be Queen and this was the closest she would come.

“My Queen” Anaya began, “if we attack, the Thornish are excellent fighters. Our numbers would eventually prevail but it would change life drastically here in Rangel if most of our breeding stock is killed on a battlefield far from home. I have studied your enchanter and he at most can make two very good pieces of armor that could keep its charge for about six months. This would not do if we are counting on him, we need him on site. I have seen him make weapons and armor that has an enchantment that lasts no longer than a couple of days, these he can make at least 50 a day. I cannot see us swiftly defeating Thorn without the enchanter along for the invasion.”

Celeste looked at Aubrey and would swear she changed colors. Aubrey treated her man the way a woman should treat the inferior sex but Celeste could tell she loved him. Celeste could tell Aubrey wasn’t happy about her lover being taken away.

“You do not have the authority to take my consort anywhere” Aubrey said in a voice that could only mean she was barley containing her anger.

“Your Highness, I do not presume to have the power or authority over your man, he can stay if you want, but countless lives would be lost if he is not accessible. I do not think his staying here is in the best interest of the Queendom.” Anaya said looking away from her future monarch.

“We know Xander can teleport if he has tools to make his little designs. Xander will be traveling with the regular military along with some of the Palace Guard for protection. Every night he will teleport back here to lie in your bed Aubrey. This, my daughter is not up for discussion, remember this Queendom comes before any man.” Celeste said knowing any mention of the good of the Queendom would mollify her daughter.

“If Xander leaves with most of our military, who is going to protect our border with Ingland?” Aubrey said trying to change the subject but still fuming about Xander.

“His enchantments will not be missed” Elizabeth began. “Any student that can at least fling one attack spell will be leaving for the border along with the majority of our teachers. The remaining students will be accelerated to simply learning some offensive spells and sent up there as well. We will not underestimate them this time, any little transgression is going to be met with spectacular force.”

“Then we are all agreed that we will invade Thorn. We will need to let the Thornian women know, Anaya start gathering your army and making whatever plans you need. Elizabeth, start rallying the witches. My daughter, go and fetch your husband, I want you both with me when the Thornian women walk in, any questions you need answered about our invasion will be given by them.

CHAPTER 6

              “So you have decided to side with those who took my mother” Xander said as Aubrey walked into the room.

              Aubrey sighed as she looked at Xander, she was unsure of how he had heard so quickly about her meeting with her mother but she would save that discussion for a later date. For the past year Xander had been nothing but a piece of wood when it came to his feelings, even when regarding her. The only other time she had seen him this passionate is when she had the guard give him a good flogging, a deed she immediately regretted when she saw the wounds afflicted upon his back. Aubrey knew she had to face him about the decision to aid Thorn and he would not be happy. His red hair seemed as if it had a life of its own right now and she could see his muscles tighten underneath his shirt. He looked so inviting right now she thought and after she settled this matter perhaps she would enjoy him in her bed.  First thing was first though, and that was showing him a man’s place in this woman’s world, she was heir to the throne after all. “My mother and I decided to expand this Queendom and now we can without risking a prolonged war” Aubrey said calmly, waiting for Xander to explode.

              “They killed my mother and took countless other lives, unprovoked and you talk to me of this Queendom? This Queendom can fester and rot all I care; you and your mother can have it. I have done everything you asked, made your army a fearsome monster that cannot be beaten and you betray me like this? You side with my enemies and conspire to destroy the elves who are only defending their homeland? You can consider this my good bye” Xander said as he started putting on his boots.

              “Enough of this, I will not be berated in my own palace by my own man. Your mother was killed doing her job, something everyone should aspire to. I will not be blamed for your mother’s death and whoever this Queendom allies with or fights against is none of your concern. We were a super power before you and long after you die, this Queendom will prevail. Now calm your ass down and remember your place or I’ll teach you again what it is” Aubrey said, angry that she had to argue with her own consort. Aubrey looked at Xander as he continued to put on his boots. She really didn’t want to have him flogged again but she had to get this leaving nonsense out of his head. Aubrey wanted power; she found a kindred spirit with Patrick but Xander gave her something new, something fierce. She loved the way his mind would try to be elsewhere but his eyes let her see to his heart, he loved her whether he wanted to admit it or not. At night when she came to him, she could see he tried not to enjoy it, but his body told a different story. He was always a bit more relaxed when they did anything physical, maybe that was what he needed to see the Thornians could extend the Queendom’s reach exponentially, giving her and their eventual children a lot more power.

              “Those I allied with Xander are trying to rid Thorn of the war mongers who killed your mother” Aubrey said as she noticed he slowed down a bit buckling his boots. “I am not allying with Thorn; I am allying with people in Thorn who want to see the current regime gone, you of all people should be happy we are going to war with those who made the decision to invade.” Aubrey smiled a little inside when she saw him stop altogether, but could not let his speaking to her as if they were equals go totally unpunished. “That is my way of thinking although I do not owe you any explanations for the going-ons of this Queendom. I treat you as if you were a king but you are forgetting your place as to who is the Queen. If you dare speak to me in that manner again, with that barely concealed rage of yours, I will remind you of that fact.” Aubrey watched the anger fade from his features followed by his normal look of acceptance. Although she wouldn’t mind at all satisfying her urges, she remembered her mother was the reason she fetched him in the first place. “Finish putting on your boots, the Queen has summoned you along with those Thornish women. While they are here, I do not want you and them alone together, come now.”

              Xander finished buckling up his boots as he watched his wife as she walked towards the door. He hated meeting with the Queen or even being in her presence, she was a meaner version of his wife, although with a sweeter voice. Xander walked out of the room and followed Aubrey, noticing she had more guards around her than normal. Although they were not in their armor, he could tell there was chainmail under their regular clothing, something someone who did not know them probably would not pick up on. If he were to haphazard a guess, the presence of Reds other than himself still had them on edge. As Xander got closer to the throne room, he could sense Aubrey was tense, as she inhaled deeply before going in.

              Xander entered the room and went to his knee until the Queen gave him permission to rise. He noticed the women from Thorn were in the room already and had gotten more than a few glances. Xander to his normal seat as his wife pulled out a chair for him to sit in, but noticed she angled it slightly so that he would face the Queen but have to turn his head to face the Thornians.

              “How are you doing today Xander” asked the Queen in her normal regal tone.

              “I am well my Queen” Xander replied as he focused on a spot on the floor.

              “Samantha, what troops can you provide us when we make our assault? We have the strongest army around without the help of the witches but I worry about defections when we reach your homeland” Queen Celeste said in a slight variation of her normal tone, Xander could tell she was thinking a couple of steps ahead.

              “I think the defections will be tempered by people joining your army, many women and I am sure men will more than make up for the number you lose, and that’s before any of my troops take the field” Samantha told the Queen, occasional stealing glances in Xander’s direction.

              “Our way of life isn’t perfect Samantha but it works. I see no reason why a great number of our troops wouldn’t try to escape the commitment, possible death or slavery. I would hazard a guess even a poorly ran propaganda attack would convince a sizable number.” Celeste asked Samantha, not sure the other woman realized the true nature of the commitment.

              “Your Majesty, your streets do not know the poor, the sick or the hungry. I have not seen one vagrant in Rangel, the men here do not know what life is like on the other side.” Samantha said as she thought back to women selling their babies for food, men killing each other over scraps or children stealing in the streets. “We have our affluent but they are few and far between as the rich is getting richer, the poor is getting poorer. Any struggling free man would gladly donate his labour if he knew the end result was a house and food for him and for his family.”