The Enchanter of Rangel: Child of War Book 1 (19 page)

             
“Truth is my mother wants to either own that slave or match him up with me” said Mellony before continuing. “I would rather die than date a child of war, but he could have his uses. Not all of us are going to be the ruler of the realm, him being allied with my house would rid me of enemies.”

             
“Looks like we were both sent after the same thing” said Emma. “I was to sweep him off his feet tonight, make him want me in the worse way. Him being sick and all sort of put a damper on that and he is an enemy to the crown?”

             
“He is not an enemy, he is there for his own protection. I don’t think my mother wishes to sell him just yet” Aubrey said as she led the girls towards the dining hall.

             
Aubrey could see many guests had arrived and also counted at least 20 witches among this number, their young faces meant they more than likely were students. She could see the boys in their normal habit, playing hard to get giggling to themselves in a corner, trying to get a Lady to notice and hopefully marry them down the line, absolving their mothers of the problem of what to do with them. Aubrey stood at her chair as the Queen walked in. Aubrey took a seat as the first course was served.

             
The slave who brought the food smelled unbearably horrid, something that made her nose wrinkle. Looking up at him, she could see he was missing some teeth. All of the royal slaves were made to bathe once a day, failure to do so could earn them a whipping. Aubrey started breathing through her mouth to avoid the smell and noticed she did not know many of the servants bringing food.

             
As one servant bent over, Aubrey could clearly see the pommel of a sword. No one else seemed to notice, and everyone still looked very relaxed. Aubrey looked for Patrick and could see he was seated at the far end of the table, no doubt because of her mother. Having him closer would make her feel safer, especially since the guard was dressed only in their showy uniforms armed with only ceremonial swords, more for show than for go.

             
Aubrey saw her mother begin eating and started to eat herself. If they were poisoners, then the invaders would have no need for a sword. Aubrey ate dinner silently mostly avoiding the conversation of Toby Franks and looking at all the new faces. She did not drink any wine this day and waited to find an opportunity to tell her mother her fears. Soon the tables were cleared for the dancing as Patrick walked up to her.

             
“Oh Patrick, I think there is going to be an attack. I don’t recognize many of these servants and at least one of them is armed, I am going to tell my mother and alert the watch.”

             
Patrick silently cursed that she was so perceptive. The attack was to still be at least 30 minutes away where he could find be seen as a hero while all the others were drunk or to slow to know what was happening. Seeing his chance slipping away Patrick had to think quickly.

             
“Tell me where they are at Your Highness and I shall dispose of them immediately, no harm will come to you” said Patrick as he needed to tell his mother their plan was discovered prematurely.

             
“That one over there in the courner, he smells too bad to be a palace slave. Go check his belt and you will find a weapon, I am going to inform my mother.”

             
As Patrick walked towards the man, Aubrey could see one of the men making a move towards her mother with his hand in his coat. “Assassin” Aubrey cried out, “They are trying to kill the Queen!”

             
Hawk and Lucas instantly sprang into action surrounding the Queen, they did not know where the attack was to come from, but they were ready as they backed the Queen into a secret room with a passage leading to her quarters. Mayhem started to spread as Aubrey saw men coming for her while she could see her personal guards Max and Liano battling with the intruders. Aubrey ran off into a small side door and headed down the hallway with three men behind her.

             
Aubrey could hear them coming up from behind her just as she reached the door leading to the north tower. Aubrey struggled to push the heavy beam off of the door, just as it fell one of the men grabbed her.

             
“We should kill this bitch” said one of the men, a fellow who looked to be in his forties with balding hair followed by a scruffy moustache.

             
“Nah, keep the bitch. We need to get out of here first, she is insurance” said a younger man.

             
“Help, Help they have me” screamed the princess as she was backhanded into unconsciousness.

             
Frowley the guard had just come around the corner and could see the princess being taken out a side door close to where the boy enchanter was kept. As he ran towards the door, he could see the boy open up the door.

CHAPTER

             
Xander had a hard time sleeping and was still dealing with his massive headache. Taking out his book Xander opened it to talk to his father.

             
“Dad I tried enchanting today and passed out, what’s wrong with me.”

             
“
What enchantment did you use son?”

             
“I completed a two part enchantment, making a shield lighter only when lifted with a gauntlet. The strain from that wiped me out.”

             
“
I have never attempted such an undertaking. I think you depleted your supply of ether although I am not sure if it is because of your quantity you are capable of or inexperience.”

“Inexperience father?”

“Yes my son, your enchanting is like a muscle, the more you work with it, the better you will become. Do not worry, whether depleted or not, your stores will always return unless you have pushed a massive amount the way I did to create this book with the help of an artifact. I would only try to do half as much as you did today when you recover, then make sure to enchant every day.”

Xander suddenly heard a loud commotion at his door. Slipping on his boots, Xander tucked his book into them and activated his sword as he headed down stairs. Xander heard the heavy beam fall on the floor then followed by a woman screaming for help. Xander thought it was Princess Aubrey and opened his door to see Foul Mouth running towards him holding a weapon.

“You there boy, grab your pig sticker and follow me. Brigands have invaded the castle and three of them grabbed the Princess and headed this way. I’ll need all the help I can get, even from a child of war.” Frowley then departed out of the side door.

Xander quickly followed Foul Mouth outside where he could see the Princess slung over the back of a horse. Before he and Foul Mouth could reach them, they took off.

“Quick boy, follow me to the messenger stables” said Frowley as he took off outside of the palace.

After a few short minutes Frowley had him on the tallest horse he had ever seen, lean and graceful this horse must have been able to sprint great distances getting news to and from the Queen in the shortest time possible. Xander was expecting to ride a Rangelian Warhorse, but thought this horse was far better in the art of pursuit.

Frowley took off towards the nearest exit to the city with Xander not far behind. As they reached the gate, Xander could see the two men of the watch fighting off three times their number. Before Xander could reach them, both were stabbed in the back. One turned and alerted the others of Xander’s presence. Two of the men, including the one carrying the Princess rode out the gate to safety, while the other four blocked the exit.

Xander saw Foul Mouth jump off his horse and begin attacking. Three of them picked him out because of his size, figuring he was the toughest fighter by far. Xander could see out the corner of his eye the bandits were just trying to hold him up, not really attacking as they circled him but not letting him go on the attack either. They probably figured the swordsman Xander was fighting could finish him off then have a four on one advantage.

“A damn child of war wants to fight me, I wish I had the time to play, but I’m going to gut you you prissy noble.” The bandit said as he circled Xander.

Xander was focusing on his opponent but took it as an insult he was being confused for those who basically enslaved him. Xander thought about just abandoning the fight and running back to Riley, but he was sure he would be found or worse, his mother would be held accountable. Xander saw the brigand raised his sword for an overhand strike, Xander saw his opening and went for a cross strike, forgetting the much increased strength his sword gave him as he neatly cut the attacking Bandit in two.

Xander had no time to be in shock as he saw Foul mouth about to be overwhelmed. Xander swung at the back of his opponent and neatly cut his head off. The other bandits seemed shocked but it did not last long as Foul Mouth stabbed one through the stomach and pulled out his sword quickly and stabbed the other through the heart. Foul Mouth then sheathed his ceremonial sword, preferring the steel the bandits were using as he hopped up on his horse and raced out of the gate motioning for Xander to follow.

Xander and Foul Mouth raced on the road and before long Foul Mouth called a halt.

“The attackers went off the road a little while back boy” Foul Mouth said before continuing, “We are going to tether the horses here and walk back. I don’t know how many we are up against, so stay with me, be silent and keep your mouth shut.”

Foul Mouth and Xander crept through the woods until they reached a spot Foul mouth decided as the point they left the road. After walking for a short while, Xander and Foul mouth heard a woman’s angry voice that sounded like Princess Aubrey. Foul Mouth led them to a point where they could see their prey, and could clearly see the Princess with about 10 men around her, one holding a familiar long bow.

“Okay boy, it is ten of them and two of us, odds not in our favor. If I had my armor I could kill a few before the rest ran, but as is going in is a suicide mission. I want you to creep back to the castle and alert the rest to my whereabouts.”

“I don’t even know your name” said Xander.

“You have been around me for two days and don’t know my name? It’s Frowley boy.”

Just then Xander could see the bow man come towards their hiding place and began to answer the call of nature. Xander saw the bow was the one his mother gave him as the Princess started screaming again as one of the bandits backhanded her. She reached up and grabbed him by the hair as she was falling and snatched off his wig. Red hair started to tumble down as Xander looked into the face of Sam.

Xander bolted from his hiding place and gutted the surprised bow man as he continued to where Sam was. One unfortunate bandit was slow to draw his sword and was neatly cleaved in half by the incoming fury that was Xander. In out in, Dragonfly, butterfly, spin, Xander made short work of five of the men as he came upon Sam holding both swords his mother made for him.

“Now Xander, that was nothing personal between us, you wouldn’t kill a fellow red would you? We have it harder than anyone” said Sam as saw one of his
co conspirators sneaking up behind Xander.

“You stole from me and left me for dead. I’m a slave now, nothing but a pitiful slave because of you! My life is over all because of what you did to me, I was judged guilty of escaping my commitment and am now but a plaything to be used and discarded because of you. You will die here today Sam, my life ended the day you betrayed me, yours will end in moments” said Xander as he raised his blade.

“Not if yours ends first” said Sam as he saw his friend ready to attack.

Just then Xander heard a twang of a bow as the unmistakable sound of and arrow hitting
it’s mark thudded around him. Xander didn't budge as the man fell past him, with an arrow between his shoulders. Xander saw the fear in Sam’s eyes as he looked upon the man and used that delay as a means to attack, striking Sam between the eyes with a well-timed punch.

Sam fell on the ground as Xander dropped his sword and lay into him with his hands alone. Xander took all his frustration of being a slave out on Sam’s face, knocking the boy unconscious as he continued to wage his assault. Xander could hear the Princess screaming for him to stop and even the rough hands of Frowley attempt to pull him away as Xander picked up a huge nearby rock and delivered the death blow. Xander yanked away from Frowley and casually unstrapped his swords from around Sam.

“These swords are mine, given to me by my mother who I may never see again. As long as I have life no one is going to take them away from me again” said Xander in a voice so cold he did not recognize it as his. “As is that bow you are holding” he said pointing at the bow Frowley was holding.

“Boy I want no parts of what I just seen. Take this damn bow and may the Gods help whoever tries to make you part with them” Frowley said before finishing. “You killed most of these men, a couple escaped into the woods as I picked off that one there from finishing you off. You could say that was my payback from earlier” said Frowley as he held out his hand. Xander gave it a shake as they mounted the horses the bandits kept, figuring getting the Princess back to the palace as soon as possible held more precedence.