Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler Page 0,225

from the throne of Bandara.”

Lord Justice Milara grinned. “If the charges are true I am sure she will be discredited and stripped of her title, maybe even imprisoned if her crimes are severe enough.”

Cain stood. “I thank you, Your Eminence, I knew I could count on the Church to see God’s will is done.”

Lord Justice Milara stood up slowly. “On behalf of the Holy Father, I thank you Prince Cain, now all you have to worry about is King Havalon and the Abberdonians,” Milara said as he walked out of the Prince’s tent.

“That bastard,” Cain whispered to William and Talorn.

“Eminence, wait, I have a question,” Cain shouted as he followed the Lord Justice out.

Talorn made to follow his King, he took two steps before his father grabbed him by the arm. “What is it, Father, I need to see to Cain before he insults the Lord Justice. We pledged to help him and we must, it is a Church matter and that must come before Bandara. I also must ask for his lenience with Raygan. I will not see her imprisoned.”

“That’s not what I want to talk to you about, this is more important,” William said, still not releasing his son’s arm.

“Father, let go,” Talorn said pulling at the older man.

“No, you must listen to me, Son.”

Talorn looked into his father’s eyes. There was something there he had never seen before, fear.

“What is it?” Talorn asked, as he pried his father’s hand from his forearm.

“The Half Elf or whatever it is, never cross swords with it, Son. If we go after it, never engage it in personal combat, let other men handle it.”

Talorn looked at his father like he was mad, he was by far the best swordsman in Bandara, Cain had become a distant second, but no one could match him. “Father, don’t be silly, I can manage one mongrel half-breed.”

William lowered his voice but the dread did not leave it. “I tell you, never go near it. It’s not natural. I have seen it for myself, Son, I ask this one thing of you, promise me you won’t face it.”

“Fine. I promise I won’t seek it out, but I don’t believe it can beat me and if God sets me against it, I will not shirk my duty.”

William looked into his son’s eyes. “It won’t just beat you, boy. God or no, if you fight the half-breed, it will kill you.”

***

Kian had pushed them until the horses were so winded Endra didn’t think they could go on much longer. Finally, the walls of Turill were in sight. Abberdonian banners flew from the battlements. It was over, the city had fallen.

“Do you think they might still be alive?” Rhys asked.

Kian scanned the wall. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. If they still live, it won’t be for long. Havalon will execute them.”

“Havalon may just hold them. He might want to question them about the Queen or something,” Endra said.

Kian looked at her and smiled, a rare thing these days. “K’xarr and Cromwell won’t be model prisoners, trust me, King Havalon will kill them eventually, they will make him.”

Endra sighed. “I have to agree with you. They would make very unpleasant captives. What do you think, Rhys?”

Rhys shrugged but said nothing, he seemed lost in his own thoughts.

Endra could tell he was nervous, she also knew he wanted to get back to the Queen as soon as he could. Kian should have sent him on to Braxton Bluff. Maybe he could have gotten there before the city was under siege. Havalon would most likely be marching on to the Bluff now that Turill had fallen. If he wanted all of Bandara, he would have to take Braxton Bluff and the Queen.

“We will leave the horse and move closer to the city,” Kian said. Endra and Rhys climbed down from the horse and the trio moved toward Turill under the cover of night.

There were few guards on the battlements and the night was dark, the moon was hidden behind a thick bank of clouds. “Wait here,” Kian told his companions.

He ran to the wall as fast as he could. He leaped up on to the wall and began to climb quickly towards the top. The sentries didn’t see or hear him and no alarm was raised. Rhys and Endra sat in the pitch dark waiting for him to return.

Endra could feel the tiny life inside her body move. She was growing more uncomfortable by the day. She tapped