East of Turill. I have gotten reports that Prince Cain is holding troops back somewhere. I suggest we regroup and do our best to find them,” Ivan offered.
K’xarr and Sir Ivan spent the next hour recalling the Asconans and the remainder of the Queen’s Bandarans just to the west of the palace. “K’xarr, look isn’t that Rufio coming this way?” Cromwell asked.
K’xarr watch as from the south Rufio and Endra came with what remained of their command.
Rufio was bleeding from a head wound, but he looked like he would live. “You better go find Rhys and get some stitches before you bleed to death,” K’xarr joked.
Rufio shook his head. “Can’t, Cain has gotten around us and is marching south. There aren’t many men between him and the southern gate. The men we left back to defend the Queen will never be able to hold.”
K’xarr seethed with anger. “We need to attack now. He means to take his sister. If he does, this is all for nothing.”
Rufio looked out at the smoke-filled city. “I don’t think we can get to her in time. He leads the bulk of his army and we still have troops scattered throughout the city.”
“General, we can attack with two thousand men now, it’s all we have here. It will at least slow them down,” Sir Ivan said.
“It will take time to cut through their lines, even if we start now, we won’t be able to get to Rhys and the Queen before Cain does. How did that bastard get around us?”
“His men know the city better than we do, General,” Sir Ivan said tight lipped.
K’xarr threw his helmet on the ground, he should have left more men with the Queen. He cursed himself for being so foolish. He didn’t think Cain could out maneuver him. He had wanted to put an end to the arrogant Prince quickly. He thought he could defeat Cain’s army before the Queen would ever be in any danger. He gambled leaving so few men to protect her, and he had lost.
“I will get to her.” Everyone looked across the street. Kian stood on top of a building, the fire from the city making him an eerie shadow.
“Don’t be a fool,” K’xarr shouted.”
“I will try to keep her alive until you come.”
The general watched as the Half Elf began to leap across the rooftops of Turill. Endra screamed out for him to come back, but he was gone into the smoke-filled night.
“Damn you, Kian,” K’xarr said as he kicked his helmet out into the street.
***
Raygan could hear them coming, her face was tear streaked, she had been weeping for her burning city. Now Cain was coming for her. She didn’t care, she would face her death like a Queen. It was Corwin she feared for. Raygan didn’t think Cain would spare her son. Her brother was mad, he would kill them both without hesitation.
“Majesty, you should come into the gatehouse now. The knights will do their best,” Isabella advised. The girl pulled her hair behind her ears, then warily put her arm around Raygan’s shoulders. The little Queen leaned against the younger girl and wiped her eyes.
Two hundred knights ringed the southern gatehouse. She knew they would fight to the death, they were men of honor, she had also kept one hundred of her loyal Bandarans. They would be her last line of defense. They stood the ground just behind the Asconans.
“I know they will do their best to defend me, Isabella. I cannot leave, but you should go, get a horse and ride out now.”
“I will never leave you again, Majesty, I mean… Raygan.” The two young women embraced each other as the sound of the enemy grew closer.
Cain’s soldiers didn’t even notice the Half Elf as he passed above their heads; he moved silently, landing on the rooftops like a cat.
Kian had only left the rooftops twice where the leaps would have been too far for him to make. He was far ahead of Cain’s soldiers now. They moved cautiously through the shadowy streets of Turill, fearful of an unseen attack. He would have plenty of time to get to the Queen.
If K’xarr and Endra thought he would stand by and let Rhys and the Queen die, they were wrong. Better to die with them, than live with that guilt. Rhys had done too much for him and he had made a promise to protect the Queen.
What no one knew was death had ceased to be a fear of his.