ride out against their enemy. They also knew the attack was coming. If the Gods were merciful the Abberdonians would not be ready. K’xarr knew he was taking a big gamble but it was his only chance. At least, the only one he could think of.
He remembered when he was growing up in Camir, the raids he went on with his father and the other warriors of his village; this cold was mild compared to the winter nights in the mountains of his homeland. He remembered how the blood had frozen on the dead and wounded and how you could watch the dying exhale their last breath into the cold night air.
It was on a night like that he had killed his mother and father, even now he pushed the thoughts from his mind, not wanting to remember the blood that stained his hands. He had never told anyone, even Cromwell knew nothing about the night he murdered his family.
It didn’t matter now, he was a general, at least in name. In a few hours he would see if he could earn the title. There was a battle to win and no time for thoughts of things he couldn’t ever change.
He would carry out his plan and damn his doubts to hell. He had never second guessed his instincts before and he wasn’t about to start now. If this was to be his only battle as a general, then he would make it a glorious one.
He turned and headed back down into the city. He had just enough time to eat and put his armor on. By the time the sun rose on a new day, he would know what kind of commander he was.
William Blackthorn sat in his room drinking a cup of warm wine with his feet in front of a nice fire. The man he knew as the Dark One stood before him with one hand on the mantle above his fireplace. “I have set things in motion in Turill, when this K’xarr attacks in the morning and I have it on good authority he will, events might not go as he planned.”
“How can helping Havalon help me?” the duke asked.
“I’m not helping Havalon. I’m making it hard for the little Queen to win. The only one that my actions will benefit is you.
“This Camiran, he is young and daring, a full out winter attack might truly hurt the King of Abberdon. Hopefully what I have done will hurt them both,” the wizard gurgled.
“I hope you’re right. I just don’t see how one man can do that much, even if he is a wizard.”
“All I had to do was deliver a message to your men in your name, the rest is up to them. I promised if what was in the tomb of the Phoenix Queen was useful to me, I would help you it was and I have. Now I must go. I have a mission of my own that will aid us both as well.” The wizard vanished without a sound.
The duke pulled his fur robe tighter, he had a chill and it wasn’t from the cold.
***
She pulled the last strap tight on her armor and picked up the helmet she had chosen from the armory, it was plain and unadorned, but it offered good protection with its cheek plates and nasal guard. Endra hoped it would do, she had never been in a battle before, unlike most of the Harsh Coast, the Sorrackans didn’t raid their neighbors’ villages or into other lands.
She could handle a weapon and defend herself, but this would be different. Before she had only fought to defend her children, now Endra would be among thousands of men trying to kill each other.
The very thought of it scared her a little, but she was determined to do her part. That was not what was really troubling her, it was what Rhys had told her the day before.
“Endra, you look a little pale, would you like me to give you a look over?” She had not felt well the last few days so she agreed. When he finished, he told her the news.
“You’re with child, my dear, I hope that’s good news, the baby should come in the early spring if not before.”
Endra looked at him eyes wide. “That can’t be, that would make the child born too soon, after only a few months.”
Rhys frowned. “Are you sure?”
She nodded frantically. “Yes, Kian is the only one I have been with.”
Rhys felt her