Havalon could attack in the morning, we have a city to defend, don’t you understand that?”
Cromwell bowed low and swept his arm out in a grand fashion. “Of course, General, I hear and obey. Tell me, my lord, have you seen my comrade K’xarr anywhere? I need to find a man to drink with.”
K’xarr’s hand balled into a fist and he slammed it into Cromwell’s face, breaking his friend’s nose.
The Toran staggered back and wiped the blood from under his nose with the back of his hand. “Oh wait, there he is now.”
K’xarr looked at him perplexed. Cromwell grabbed him by his cuirass and slung the general across the throne room.
K’xarr got to his feet and saw the giant Toran charging toward him. “Oh hell” was all he got out. Cromwell hit him like a battering ram and both men landed in a heap on the floor, fists flying.
“Enough, I yield,” K’xarr said. They locked eyes and both burst out laughing.
“Let’s go get another bottle of wine and I’ll help you drink it,” K’xarr said.
“You’re a hard man to talk into having a drink, General.” Cromwell grunted as he rose to his feet.
He helped his friend up and they walked towards the great doors of the throne room, both heard a commotion in the hallway and saw Rhys burst into the room. “The Queen has been taken.” The healer held out his hand, in it was a black leather mask.
Chapter 21
The room was quiet; the crackling of the fireplace was the only sound. All the authority left in Turill had been brought to the council room. Everyone was just looking at one another, at a loss on what to do or say. K’xarr could see none of them had any idea what should be done about the Queen.
“Someone say something. I don’t have long to decide, Havalon is bringing his catapults into range and positioning his siege towers, do any of you have any suggestions on what we should do?” K’xarr asked the silent table.
“We have to go after her, there is no decision to make, we just have to find her as quickly as we can. We have already seen what that evil man is capable of,” Rhys said giving Kian a brief glance. The Half Elf had told them whom the mask belonged to.
K’xarr knew the healer was dead on his feet, they all were. Rhys’s feelings for Raygan would not allow him to be objective. The healer’s usually brilliant mind would be little help to him this time.
K’xarr shook his head and gave the healer a stern look. “We all just can’t leave the city to search for the Queen, Rhys. The weather is terrible and there is an army out there bent on taking Turill.” K’xarr gave Rhys a look of resignation. “We don’t even know where he has taken her.”
Endra put her hands on her hips. “We damn well know where she is, that evil bastard took her right back to that tower of his. She’s in the Adorn. I would stake my life on it.”
“Are we sure of that?” Bishop Lyfair asked.
K’xarr nodded. “If I had to guess, I would have to agree with Endra, but we don’t know for sure it would be a foolish to just charge off to the Adorn Forest without even knowing if she is there. It could cost us the city as well.”
“I’m afraid someone must retrieve her, without the Queen we might be in a bit of trouble here. Even if King Havalon is defeated, we could never hold the city without her. I hate to say it, General, but if the people find out she’s gone you will have no authority. They will never listen to a foreigner without her backing. The people wouldn’t have it, and neither would the Church for that matter. The Pope would order Prince Cain crowned King if his sister cannot be returned to us.”
“I thought he was already claiming to be King?” K’xarr asked puzzled.
Lyfair chuckled. “Without the Church’s blessing, he cannot be King. Not in the Eyes of God or the Pope. Cain was never officially crowned, his sister was. According to Church law, she rules Bandara, no matter what her brother might think.”
Cromwell was leaning back in a chair with his feet on the table. The Toran took a big draught of ale from a tankard that looked like it was made for a giant, and then he belched. “Who gives a stray dog’s ass what the Church