The Terror of Thorn: Child of War: Book 2 (11 page)

              “Priscilla, you said the Duke’s men took your weapons and armor, did they leave anything?” Xander said as he thought about how to best outfit everyone.

              “They only left the junk, my father often accepted trade ins with poor villagers, taking their junk in exchange for so-so pieces of equipment. It was his good deed; the stuff I have is cracked swords and shoddy armor that is missing pieces, nothing anyone would use except in the direst of circumstances. We do have the weapons of the Duke’s men though”

              “We are in those circumstances” Patrick said. “Show us what you have, if what you said earlier was true, I don’t think we have much time before we have company.”

              Xander examined his armor as the rest went outside the small forge, presumably to look for weapons and armor. Xander could see where his father placed many different enchantments all over this armor, the legs and arms had strength attached to it, giving whoever wore it immense power in those limbs, the breast plate including the back and hardening enchantments placed on it, Xander doubted anything other than siege equipment could puncture it. The thing that peaked Xander’s curiosity were the gauntlets, Xander could read elfish and saw they were inscribed with fire. Xander placed one on his hand and let his power flow through it, Xander could feel his hands get a little warm then a fire ball shot out of it and exploded on the wall, burning even though it landed on solid stone. After a minute or so the fire went out, leaving Xander with a huge smile. Xander had just fished putting on the rest of his father’s armor when Patrick came through the door holding the worst looking equipment Xander had ever seen.

              Of the two swords he brought, one was cut in half leaving it with no point and much shorter than a normal sword. The other one was oddly made; it had the length but looked like more of an oversized dagger than an actual sword. Xander wasn’t sure if it would break while he was inscribing it, it was so shoddy. One set of armor was rusted through to the point you could see actual holes throughout it, not huge holes but the fact there were any wasn’t a good omen. The rest of the stuff looked to be mixed and matched possibly making about three incomplete suits of armor. The only this he saw that he could use definitely was the Morning Star Patrick was carrying.

              “Enchanter I know this is not much to work with, but I am familiar with your skill set. The enchantment need not last longer than a couple of days until we can secure better equipment. If that is not possible you can just enchant these again.” Patrick said as he handed Xander a breastplate that was obviously too small for the huge man to wear.

              Xander pulled out his old dagger and started with the Morning Star. Patrick could wield the morning star pretty deadly in its present condition, with the weight it had behind it, but then Patrick could wield a tree branch and still be a formidable foe. Xander enchanted the weapon to be lighter, so that anyone of them women could use it with deadly effect. The gauntlets he inscribed with strength, they were too big for both of the women but in a pinch they would help out. After Xander finished enchanting everything he was amazed he did not feel drained, his father must have planned this armor really well, whatever Magics that was sustaining it was something Xander would love to know. After salvaging everything he could, the women were missing big parts of their armor; none of them had protection below the waist. The swords from the earlier attack were put to use, Xander had them imbued with speed, the women were already reasonably strong with their gauntlets, to attack a foe with more skill, strength could be overcome, speed was something that could not. The morning star Xander kept, for no reason other than he had never really seen anyone use one, its short length was more for close quarters. A sword on the other hand had a speed and length advantage making it a safer bet.  Patrick was much too big for anything but a custom designed suit, so he received no armor. The only thing Xander could do for him is add weight to his swords, that combined with Patrick’s inherent power would absolutely crush any swordsmen that even attempt a defense. They had finished suiting up when the sun was no longer in the sky. It was decided they would sleep in shifts in the forge, as the house was deemed too dangerous in case they were surrounded.

CHAPTER 19

              The night passed without incident as they all were well rested. After talking to Priscilla, it was decided that they should head north walking along the road. They would most likely run into a patrol but at least they could have the time to turn and run. Xander and his group went walking along the road and before long they heard the unmistakable sound of hoof beats. It was decided that Priscilla should do the talking for the group as her way of speak was less likely to cause suspicion.

              “You there where are you headed” said one of the three horsemen.

              “We are heading to the duke, I am Priscilla, I came home to find my family slaughtered and need his guidance.”

              “The Duke cannot be bothered with one such as you. Besides if your family is dead, then who are your companions?”

              “They are my body guards, they cost be a lot of money for their service so the same calamity that happened to my family doesn’t happen to me” Priscilla said as she walked along.

              “You are the blacksmith’s daughter are you not? I am missing some men who went to pay your father a visit; you wouldn’t happen to know what happened to them now would you?” The horsemen said as Xander noticed he sent his men a signal.

              “I know what happened to them, they were killed in a most gruesome fashion by a superior opponent who has sworn vengeance on all of their kind.” Xander said as he stopped walking and let his hands go loose.

              “And who killed them” the horse man said as he visibly put his hand on his hilt preparing to draw it.

              “It was me, I killed them, one of them might still live, behind the blacksmith’s house, although he is missing his arms and legs and it is unknown if a wild animal has found him yet.” Xander said smiling at who he thought was the leader.

              “I should run you through right now” said the lead rider.

              “I will take that as a threat” said Xander as he pointed his gauntlet at the man before letting loose a fireball.

              The fireball struck the man in the chest, burning the clothes he had on and spooking his horse until it threw him. Patrick closed the distance and grabbed another off his horse as Priscilla took a shot with her crossbow and caught the final rider as he turned to escape in the shoulder, enough to hurt the man but definitely not kill as he abandoned his comrades. The lead rider was still burning as Xander pulled out the extra-long dagger and stabbed him through with it. The remaining horseman got to his feet after the initial shock of being yanked off his horse and could see he was surrounded. Judging his opponents he went after Samantha in some type of effort to escape, but due to her increased speed and power, in one strike she disarmed the man, taking his hand along with his sword. Priscilla made sure he did not rise again with a sword to the back.

              “They will be back soon,” Xander said as he grabbed the reins of a horse. “That rider that was wounded will no doubt alert the Duke to our presence, I think we should head up more by the border where the Duke will no doubt have other problems.”

              “Enchanter, I see your skills have grown somewhat” said Patrick as he placed Samantha on the horse.

              Xander said nothing as they made their way south to the Frahsch border. Xander thought Priscilla was holding up well with the pace they were setting when he heard the sound of hoof beats behind him. Xander turned to see no less than twenty riders behind him, all galloping at a break neck pace.

              “We have company, I am not sure how many they have behind them but I count at least twenty riders” Xander said as he slowed his pace.

              “There are troops stationed all in front of us on the border, not to mention the Frahsch” Priscilla said.

              “Enchanter, you and I together should be able to hold them off or at least slow them down, the troops on the border have no idea about our earlier attack” Patrick said as he pulled out both his blades.

              “You all go; I’ll meet you in Frahse. I am sure they have need of an enchanter after you all get captured. The enemy of my enemy is hopefully my friend. Patrick, I will hold them off as long as I can, now go.” Xander said as he ran towards the incoming riders.

              Patrick picked up Priscilla and took off with Samantha following close behind on horseback. Xander hoped they would be alright as he drew the morning star and started drawing a sigil on the road. As the riders drew near, he activated it, and fire came forth in a column, shooting straight into the sky, blocking the road and spooking the horses. Xander took that time and used his morning star to deadly effect, taking three riders before they knew what happened. The horsemen quickly realized there was an enemy in their mists and formed up around a figure in shining armor. The men pulled out crossbows which left Xander a little weary, since he had no protection for his head. Xander put out his hand and aimed fire straight for the cluster of horse causing them to rear up, throwing some of the riders. Xander took that moment to turn and flee when one of the riders called out to him.

              “Stop friend” Xander heard a voice say. “We are not your enemy, I only want to talk.”

              Xander stopped in his tracks and began tracing a light sigil in the dirt on the road, if the riders tried anything he would activate it and use that time to flee.

              “You are obviously a great warrior, born of Thornian birth. We could use your skill in closing off the Thornian border” the rider began before finishing. “The Frahsch are allied with elves and have started winning this battle. We need all the help we can get, as we are shorthanded as is.”

              “I am not of Thornian birth, you speak to Xander the Red of Rangel, son of Erik.” Xander began as he made his voice grow louder. “I would never fight for any of you, your Duke is preying on weak simple folk, already I have had to kill his men for slaughtering a family.”

              “I will make this simple then for you fool,” said the man in shining armor. “I am the Duke of this land, already I have 50 men on their way to this area. You can join me and fight the Frahsch or die here.”

              “I’ll see you again Thornian” Xander said as he set off his light bomb. When the Duke’s vision finally returned, Xander was gone.

CHAPTER 20

Xander

              Xander neared what he thought was the border judging from the harsh sounds of fighting. As Xander drew near he saw the Thornians locked in battle with what appeared to be elves, but this race was far lighter than the elves he had known in Norraya. Xander was amazed at the fluidity the elves contained with their swordplay, the men of Thorn were better than all he had encountered but the elves made them seem like they were moving in pond water. The men of Thorn were lucky these light elves were built like their darker cousins, very slight of frame and slightly shorter than a normal human. Behind the elves Xander could see what he thought were Frahchmen, since they did not have red hair and were on the wrong side of the fighting. Xander ran straight pass the fighting and was amazed he didn’t get even a single arrow tossed his way. Xander was unsure of where Patrick and the others were but figured he would find them sooner or later as he was sure a man of Patrick’s size was hard to miss. As Xander ran deeper into Thorn he heard a woman’s scream, a scream that sounded an awfully lot like Samantha when she scared the Thornians.

              Xander ran towards the scream and could see Priscilla on the ground holding her leg with an arrow sticking out of it, with men surrounding her. Xander could not locate the other two of his party but could see the men meant to do her harm. As one of the men raised his sword, Xander barreled into him dropping him instantly from the speed he was going. Priscilla took that time to right herself, still favoring the leg with the arrow as Xander kicked the man he barreled into with all his might, his magically enhanced armor sending him 10 yards before he landed against a tree with a resounding crack, never to rise again. The men from Frahse started to back up to focus on Xander when Priscilla saw they had stopped paying attention to her and caught a man in the stomach with her crossbow. Two men remained as Xander could hear fighting somewhere close and noticed he did not see the archer who had put an arrow in Priscilla. The two men circled Xander and Priscilla intent for a standoff as Priscilla started loading her crossbow again. Xander pointed his gauntleted hand at one and seconds later he was engulfed in flames. The remaining foe attempted to make a run for it as Priscilla caught him between the shoulder blades with a bolt. Xander looked around to find the other fight when Patrick came barreling out of the forest holding Samantha in one hand seemingly running for his life. Patrick barely glanced at Xander as he ran by and scooped up Priscilla with his free hand without breaking stride and continued on his run. Behind him Xander saw huge trees shudder as whatever caused Patrick to run was about to make itself known.

              Out of the forest came two of the largest creatures Xander had ever seen, both carrying what looked like fallen trees. They were at least a head and a half taller than Patrick but much wider around the shoulders with longer arms but had short legs in comparison. The bipeds had green skin with flat faces, what Xander thought could be a nose was nothing more than two slits, but that paled in comparison with their mouth. Each of the huge things had a lower jaw much wider and jutting than a normal human, with the bottom two canine teeth proudly on display. Xander thought they looked like the trolls out of fairytale books, if they were capable fighters or not Xander did not want to see, if they were scary enough to make Patrick flee, then they must be more than a match for him. Xander took off in the general direction he saw Patrick run, quickly leaving the slow moving creatures behind. Before long Xander caught up with Patrick as he began to tire holding both of the women.

              “Enchanter how far behind you are those things” were the first words out of Patrick’s mouth.

              “I think they have given up the chase” Xander said as he scanned for enemies before continuing speaking “What happened back there?”

              “We saw fighting at the border as we went towards it, Samantha’s horse took an arrow and fell on top of her” Priscilla said as she loaded another bolt. “I went to help her out and got an arrow for my trouble. Patrick lifted us up where we began to go deeper into the forest and now here you are.”

              “I think we need to leave this place, I have a cabin that should hold us” Xander said as he scribed a teleportation circle. Xander had all four of them inside it as he poured his aura into it. Nothing happened as realization dawned on Xander something must have happened at the cabin he stayed in before he was found last year by Rangelian bounty hunters.

              “It is not working Enchanter, we need another plan” Patrick said pointing out the obvious. “The island you marooned me on had no intelligent life on it, surely that circle is still intact. You did carve it in wood.”

              Xander thought about the symbols used for that circle, minutes later they were on an island in the middle of a vast lake, deep within the Rangelian forest surrounded by dark elves.

CHAPTER 21

Rain Water

              It had been three days since the iron covered men came with the bone breakers, taking her people hostage and destroying her home. Most elves saw the island on the great lake as an evil place, home of the great water lizards known to eat elves and fish alike. She had been placed in charge, their leader refused to hear a message from the light elves about needing help. The light elves had been their adversaries for longer than anyone could remember, why would they help them. Rain though knew better, she could still hear the fear in the messenger’s voice as she told stories about the bone breakers coming with men in metal skins. How the arrows would not work on them and how their best warriors could not fight off the men, their swords doing little damage. Their warriors were being taken hostage and the men were killed. Rain listened to her and sent warriors to the fire hair house and cleansed it of the mark fire hair used to travel, not wanting him to come back into an ambush. Rain gathered up her mates and all who would listen as she boarded boats leading her to the island. Their Chief stayed behind on the belief that her warriors were better than those of the light elves. Just as Rain took off she could see the men as they came, the bone breakers killing elves nonstop.  Many eleves saw the fight becoming one sided and they boarded the last of the boats and followed Rain, but not before one of the bone breakers tore the head off of their chief. The remaining elves looked to her as their leader, and she only had one plan. Hope fire hair would come. Rain looked as the men gathered their prisoners and tried to build boats to bring them out on the water. Many of their ships sank and the men in metal skins went with it to the bottom never to rise again. Those who did not wear their metal skins were set upon by the water lizards, who had been eating nonstop since the battle began. It was only a matter of time before the metal skinned men figured out a way over. For now Rain was content with the fact the island held plenty of food. Rain walked over to the magic circle just as fire hair appeared with three others.

             
“Are you friend still fire hair or do you come with metal skin men and bone breakers”
Rain asked Xander.

              “I am still your friend Rain, I came here because I am being pursued and this is the only safe place I can think of” Xander replied.

              “
We too are under attack fire hair”
Rain said as she walked up and gave Xander a deep kiss on the mouth.

              “Enchanter, exactly how well do you know these elves” Patrick said as he noticed the elves still had their bows drawn.

              “Apparently well enough that he can understand their language and still have his way with them” Samantha said as she held Patrick close, afraid of the elves.

              “Rain these are my friends, war has broken out in the world of woman” Xander began. “We are hiding here so we can regroup.”

             
“I heard your mate had finally caught you, good for her. Do you belong to one of these women” Rain Water said looking at the women.

             
“None of these women is the one I told you about Rain” Xander said as the elves lowered their bows.

              “The elves can understand our speech enchanter?” Patrick asked after seeing that Xander was obviously communicating with them.

              “They can Patrick and I can understand theirs” Xander began. “We have tried to speak each other’s language but it is no use, for now I communicate in mind and she communicates in hers. All of the dark elves for the most part can understand me.”

              “Then what are you talking about” Samantha said as she looked around at the elves. “I cannot understand any of them and I am nervous about all of their weapons.”

              “Rain Water is asking about Aubrey, she wants to know if one of you are her.” Xander said as he pointed to Rain.

              “You told the elves of Aubrey, I thought you couldn’t stand to be in her presence.” Patrick said amazed Xander knew the elves enough to talk about personal matters.

              “The women here are sympathetic to Aubrey. Although slight by the standards of womankind, the female elves are larger than the male elves. The elves have a matriarchal society, the females are in charge of the government, they are the warriors and the hunters. The males’ job is to take care of the home and the children. Females are allowed to have as many mates as they can take care of. Males are expected to be bonded to a female on the day of their 21
st
summer. Many males who are unwilling to go through the bonding process or who do not like the females available tend to disappear deep into the forest before their day comes. The females who want that male are expected to give chase for their mate. The male is caught and brought back as the prize of the female who caught him. Each male is expected to have their own living quarters, it is up to the female to build such a dwelling.”

              “So they see your living in the forest as you running from the women of Rangel” Samantha said.

              “That is correct, I was nearing my 21
st
summer and as a part of the forest I could have been expected to be bonded also, that is before Rangel caught up with me” Xander said.

             
“Fire hair, nice to see you again” the elf Xander knew as Running Water said as she gave him a kiss. “Rain Water is now big Chief, men with metal skin take tribe hostage, kill many men and warriors.”

              “The metal skin men want to come over here to capture our warriors” Rain Water began, “We need plan to beat men and bonebreakers, pray for Fire Hair and now you here.”

             
“What are the Bone Breakers?” Xander asked, unsure if he had ever seen such a creature.