Gods Of Blood And Fire (Book 1) (9 page)

“Then why do I hear he will hold court himself day after tomorrow? It seems to me that a man that could die at any moment would not be able to hold court?”

The Bishop could feel the sweat start to run down his body under his heavy robes. “I had not heard that, but I’m sure that Princess Raygan is somehow behind that foolish aspiration, you know how she fawns over her father.” The Bishop brought his hands up and formed a steeple with his fingers and touched them to his lips. “I’m sure the Princess wants her father to stay alive as long as he can, Prince Cain is not overly fond of her excesses. She may be trying to show everyone that the King is still capable of making decisions.” The Bishop chuckled. “Perhaps she’s afraid Prince Cain will pull the purse strings of the Kingdom closed once he’s its King.”

Lord Blackthorn frowned as he stepped close to Lyfair and put his finger on the Bishop’s chest. “This ends now.” Lyfair could see that Lord Blackthorn was seething with anger and he had no idea why. What had he said?

“There is nothing funny about this situation; I want that incompetent fool dead by the end of the week. You told me that if we just helped his illness along and let the whole thing look like a natural death it would be easier than trying to cover up a messy death and it would be just as quick. The boy has returned and you’re out of time, Father. I don’t care if you have to put a pillow over his face yourself. I want him gone by the end of the week. I will wait no longer. You said you could handle this end of things, now handle it.”

Lord Blackthorn walked over and poured himself a cup of wine. Lyfair could see the anger slide off the Lord like a serpent. William Blackthorn was a man of many temperaments. The Bishop had watched him over the years in council meetings. He could go from furious to jubilant in the blink of an eye. Many of the council members were wary of the many moods of William Blackthorn.

“Do you have all the others prepared to play their parts, Father?” Bishop Lyfair sat down in his chair. He hated talking to Blackthorn, the old Lord was cunning. If the truth was known the Bishop was more than a little afraid of what William Blackthorn was capable of. The Lord’s arrogance knew no bounds, the man was an elitist in the extreme, he was not someone the Bishop wanted as an enemy. “They are prepared I believe but are as impatient as you are. When the time comes they will play their parts. Of that I have no doubt.”

The old Lord swallowed down his wine and sat the cup on Lyfair’s desk. “They dammed well better for what they are being paid and the concessions I have made. You’re the only one with any wit, Lyfair, that’s why I’m so short with you. You know what hangs in the balance, I can’t have you getting squeamish about things now.”

The Bishop sighed. “I know it has taken longer than expected, but I wanted no accusations or inquiry made after the King is dead. It will be better for all of us that way.”

“Do what you must, Father, kill the King, you have my word there will be no accusations. The new King will be crowned and this Kingdom will once again know greatness,” Blackthorn said.

“Your son has secured his appointment then?”

“When Cain takes the throne he will give Talorn command of the armies of Bandara, and now that I have given him my seat on the council and named him my successor at Braxton Bluff. He will be a very powerful man in Bandara.”

“You’re sure of this? Have you spoken to Talorn?” Lyfair asked.

Blackthorn smiled. “I have not spoken with Talorn as of yet, but I have it on very good authority that Cain will give him whatever he asks for. What choice does the Prince have anyway, without our help he is finished.”

Lyfair shifted in his seat. “Are you at all concerned about your son? With that much power in such a young man’s hands, won’t that make him very hard to control?”

“Make no mistake, Lyfair my son will do what I tell him and being that he loves God so much you can help with that. If we need him to do something and he questions it, just tell him God has need of him and he will jump down on his knees and ask what part of God’s ass he can kiss.” The Lord laughed and poured himself another cup of wine. “My son is a master at arms and the joust, aside from that his mind is, should I say not as sharp as his father’s.”

He laughed again. “Don’t worry about my son or my end of things. You just take care of what you need to, Father. See to it he dies by the end of the week.”

Lord Blackthorn got up from his chair pulled his cloak on and started to walk out.

“What about the King holding court day after tomorrow?” the Bishop said.

“That is perfect opportunity for you, Father,” Lord Blackthorn said with an evil grin. “The stress was just too much for him. He died still trying to serve Bandara.” Blackthorn pulled on his gloves.

“And you do understand what I want you to do?” Lyfair reluctantly nodded his head.

“Yes, Lord Blackthorn. I believe I do.”

“Now I have pressing business elsewhere, Father.” The Lord turned to go. “Then by this time next week Bandara will be free of King Aaron’s nonsensical leadership, Lyfair, and you and I will both have what we want,” he said over his shoulder. “Good night, Lord Blackthorn.”

The Lord held up his hand as he walked out the door.

He had one week. The King would last that long at least. Murder that was what Blackthorn had just told him to do. Murder the King. Letting the old fool die of his illness was one thing, killing him was another. Lyfair did not know if he could go that far, he was a man of God after all. He knew one thing for sure: if he didn’t kill the King, Blackthorn would, and if the former Lord of Braxton bluff had to do it himself, the King might not be the only one they would have to bury.

***

He was tired from hunting all day and had gone to bed early. He and Cain had killed two large boars late in the afternoon and they had drunk too much wine afterward. Bed was all he could think of when he had returned to his room at the palace. He was dreaming of Raygan when he was awoken by someone knocking on his door. Talorn put on a robe and stomped to his door irritated by the disturbance. He jerked open the door to find his father standing there smiling. “Son, did I wake you? We need to talk. I know it’s late but it can’t be helped.” His father brushed past him and right into his room. He eased down in a chair and appeared to be almost out of breath.

“Father, what brings you here so late? I thought you were still in the Bluff? You should not be up so late let me get you a cup of water.” Talorn poured his father some water from the pitcher on his dresser. The old man took it his hand shaking just a bit.

“I needed to see you, my son, and talk over what happened with you and Cain. Did the Prince agree to our offer?”

Talorn went over to his bed his head was still foggy from the wine and sleep. “Yes, Father he agreed to all of it, even the marriage. Cain said he would grant everything you asked for once King Aaron has passed away. Tell me you didn’t ride here alone, Father? I told you to take some of your guards with you if you planned to visit the capital.”

The older man rubbed at his leg like it was sore. “I did come alone; do you think me so old I don’t know the way anymore?”

Talorn sighed. “That’s not what I meant. It’s your health. What if you had taken ill on the way?”

“Yes, my health, well it’s a risk I had to take. I fear the King has little time.” Talorn shook his head and poured himself some water; the wine had made him thirsty. “That’s what Cain said as well. Selmac told him too, how long you think it will be?”

Lord Blackthorn rubbed the back of his neck. “If I had to guess, Son, I would say the King won’t last out the week. We are very lucky that the Prince has a good head for politics. I knew he would jump at the chance to have a man like you leading his army as well as bedding his sister,” the old Lord said smiling.

Talorn’s face turned red. “She is beautiful, Father, as far as I’m concerned she is the best part of the bargain. I don’t know Raygan well. Cain never let her come around us much when we were younger. I hope we will get along and at least share a few common interests. It will make the marriage much more agreeable.”

Blackthorn slowly rose from the chair and walked over to his son and pulled him into a fierce hug. The old Lord pushed him back and looked at his son with pride. “If you want to get on with the Princess just give her a good dose of cock every night and that should interest her and make her more agreeable.”

“Father please, you know I don’t like it when you talk like that, and I don’t want you saying anything lewd about Raygan. She is to be my wife and I want her treated with the upmost respect.”

“It was just a jest, Son, I see you’re tired and I have disturbed you, get some sleep we will talk tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know I was here, and I would be in the capital for a while with the King so ill I may be needed.” The old Lord walked slowly to the door and patted his son on the cheek. “Talorn, you should see Bishop Lyfair. He was asking about you.”

“Of course, Father, I will see him first thing in the morning.”

“That’s a good lad. Now it’s time for this old man to get some rest.”

“Good night, Father. Make sure to get plenty of rest, we don’t need you taking ill.” The old Lord smiled at his son and slowly made his way down the hall. Talorn closed the door. Good thing that his father said something about Bishop Lyfair. It reminded him he had not said his evening prayers.

William Blackthorn stood in his room looking out the window clad only in a robe. He had left it open. The night breeze felt good on his skin. He hated lying to his son, but what he hated more was playing the sickly old man, but he could not lose his best cat’s-paw. Talorn was the key to it all, if he didn’t play the sickly old Lord with Talorn his son might suspect his true agenda and he was lucky no one else had. Talorn’s love of the Church and his love for his ailing father would be the easiest way to control him. The boy took too much after his late mother. William had not thought of her in years. It was a wonder that he got along so well with his son, having the same temperament as his late mother. His relationship with the woman had turned foul when Talorn was a very small boy. Blackthorn had strangled his wife to death on her birthday. Of course no one knew the truth; the story had been that Lady Blackthorn had hung herself, and no one had ever questioned the Lord’s word on it.

He heard a very light knock at his door. “Come in.” A young girl, maybe twelve or thirteen, came in. She was dressed in a simple robe and her hair was down just as he had ordered. William could see she was scared. “Close the door, dear.” She obeyed. “Now lock it,” the Lord said. The girl’s hand shook as she tried to lock the door finally using two hands to make the lock snap shut. He stood before her with his robe open, his manhood hanging out. He looked at the girl, apprising her as if she were a horse he was thinking of buying. “You will do just fine, my dear. Take your robe off and climb into bed then get on your hands and knees. I will be there in a moment.” The girl did as she was told. She began to softly weep as she crawled on to the bed. They always cried. The sound was something he enjoyed a great deal. “Save your tears, little one. You will need them later,” William said. He turned back to the window and took a deep breath. Tonight was going to be a goodnight after all.

Chapter 5

K
ian and his brother Tavantis had come into the world in an old bed on the third floor of the Heavenly Hole, a brothel not a stone’s throw from Grey Harbor in the free city of Thieves Port.

His mother had never told anyone how she had come to be in the foul city. The women of the brothel had found Kia one cold winter morning behind the whorehouse starving and in labor. The courtesans of the house took pity on her and brought her inside and helped birth her twin sons. After the twins were born the courtesans told Kia she could stay if she wished and his mother accepted the offer. The fact that Kia was Elven didn’t concern the women of the house. They knew all too well the pang of society’s cruelties and prejudices, besides they thought that Kia was the most beautiful woman that had ever graced Thieves Port. She was built athletic and slim like most women of the Elven race, but her looks were dazzling Hair was like black velvet, eyes like emeralds Kia’s face was so inhumanly flawless it could have been sculpted by the hand of a God. People were drawn to his mother and not just because of her beauty it was her kind nature and soft heart as well. She had a gift for making people feel good about themselves when they were around her. A man once told him that his mother’s smile was so intoxicating it could make flowers bloom. Kian had no doubt of it.