Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler Page 0,250

fought off the powerful man’s ferocious assault. For a moment he felt young, he was once again the warrior he had been so many years ago. The great ax whistled at his head the old King raised his blade and blocked the titanic blow, but the Toran’s strength knocked his sword from his hand. The big man kicked him to the ground. It was over. He felt himself being pulled up to kneel before his killer. “Die in the mud on your knees, King of Dung.” The Toran’s words meant nothing to him. He would see his sons soon, he smiled.

King Havalon Taylin, warrior King of Abberdon fell beneath Cromwell’s ax late in the afternoon. After that it was a rout. By nightfall thousands of Abberdonians lay dead in the fields near Braxton Bluff. The crows feasted well and the God of War was pleased.

Chapter 31

Queen Raygan had ordered the remaining Abberdonian prisoners set free, provided they surrendered their weapons and swore to peacefully return home.

Ansellus and Eldon both felt they would do no mischief on the march back to Abberdon, they were defeated men. There was nothing left for them in Bandara, not even their pride.

The Abberdonians would also be followed by a company of Asconan knights to make sure they kept their oath.

The three watched as what remained of the enemy soldiers trudged back north with their heads down, they had lost the war and their King. The defeat would haunt them forever.

Eldon Cross shook his head in pity. “Havalon’s brother Hakan will be the only happy man in Abberdon when they return. With both Princes dead, the Kingdom will be his now. Havalon was at least a man of honor, Hakan is little better than a rat. I fear you haven’t seen the last of the Abberdonians, Majesty.”

“Well Grand Master Cross, I think it will be sometime before he will be able to convince his generals to invade Bandara again.”

The Master Knight nodded his agreement.

“I would like to hear the tale they tell when they return to their homes and families,” Ansellus added.

“They will be afraid of us now,” the Queen said, almost to herself.

“General K’xarr and his companions have seen to that, Majesty. At least the neighboring Kingdoms will not think the young Bandaran Queen is easy prey. The drawback is they will be very suspicious of you, and God only knows what the Church will do,” Cross pointed out.

The little Queen straightened her back. “I’m not truly Queen yet. I received word my brother controls Turill now and has reclaimed the throne, proclaiming himself King.”

Ansellus looked concerned. “When did you hear that?”

“The day after the battle, a courier arrived with a message from Cain, he wants to meet with me in Turill in ten days.”

“That gives us little time to get started. That is, if you plan to go? In my opinion it would be a mistake. Cain might try to imprison you or worse, Majesty. He needs you out of the way now. You’re the only thing that will keep him from consolidating his rule. It would be very dangerous to confront him.” Raygan could see Ansellus was troubled by Cain’s invitation.

The Queen flipped her hair back and a look of determination settled on her face. “If I don’t meet with him, my only other choice is war, and my people have suffered enough from Cain and I squabbling over the throne. Even if he had a hand in killing our father, I have to put that aside for the good of my Kingdom. A civil war could destroy Bandara. I will not have that on my conscious. I will go and try to settle this with him, but not alone.”

Ansellus folded his arms. “You have something in mind, Highness?”

“I do, but I have some reservations about it.”

Eldon Cross rested his big hand on the Queen’s petite shoulder. “Almost every decision I make I have reservations about. It is the fate of those who would command. Make your choice and stand by it, Majesty, it’s all you can do.”

***

Raygan dressed herself in a simple white dress and left her dark hair down. She turned her back to the mirror and looked over her shoulder. Her hair had grown long over the winter, almost down to the middle of her back. The long heavy curls were perfect. She gave herself a quick smile. God had truly blessed her.

She walked over to where Isabella sat with the little Prince. Raygan rested her hand on Isabella’s shoulder