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  Stumbling to his knees and crying out, assuming a more severe wound, the man whined. Kai grunted and relaxed his arms by his sides; upset his opponent hadn’t lasted longer, he turned to Sabe, scowling disappointedly.

  ‘It’s not my fault!’ Sabe rolled his eyes before his expression changed to one of concern. ‘Look out!’

  Kai spun on his heels and leaned backwards. His arms opened wide as he avoided the sword thrust at him from his supposed disabled opponent. The crowd gasped.

  ‘Coward!’ Kai spat.

  He stepped forward slowly, angling his head from side to side, both eyes focused on his prey, then attacked. Pivoting, arms outstretched, his knives sliced through the air like a propeller across flesh and bone; blood sprayed everywhere. The man stumbled and sank to his knees. Calls from the crowd for Kai to finish him, rang through the yard.

  Wounded hands reached to hold the gaping wound in his throat, but a knife arrived first. The people cheered louder when his head spun through the air before finally landing next to his fallen corpse.

  Raising his blood-soaked knives into the air, Kai saluted the roaring crowd. But his moment of victory was reduced, when the remaining thief tried to run; managing only a few yards before one of Kai’s knives slashed across the back of his legs. It spun and sliced across the runaway’s thighs, cutting the arteries on both legs showering the crowd with blood. He fell to the floor and screamed; but all calls for mercy were ignored and drowned by the crowd.

  ‘You should have run faster!’ Kai laughed.

  Blood soaked into the dry soil around the crying man, rapidly changing the color as it thirstily absorbed the moisture. Some covered their mouths in shock, while others laughed. The ones nearest the front regretted the charming words from Sabe when they’d first arrived; next time they’d stay at the rear. There was a brief silence as they watched Kai stride forward and drag the man up by his hair. He ignored the screams for mercy and rested his knife across his victim’s throat, while looking to his audience for his next move.

  Someone called out, then another. ‘Finish him! Kill the pig!’

  Those nearest caught the initial shower of blood when the knife-edge sliced through his throat. Quickly and without hesitation, Kai ran it down his chest and stomach, opening him up. Some managed to turn away; the grisly finale was too much for their weak stomachs. The most squeamish, vomited. Kai pushed the body forward, letting it fall to the earth. Placing his long knife to the bloody corpse he lectured the crowd.

  ‘This here…’ Pointing with his knife, ‘…is what happens to thieves.’

  Kai spat over the body then shouted to Sabe. ‘Hang the bodies on the wall by the gate.’

  He recovered his other knife from the floor and gave the crowd one last salute with his knives. Almost everyone cheered before dispersing to go about their daily business. Quickly sidestepping the bloody bodies, Kai felt nothing but loathing and contempt.

  Kai marched towards Sabe and the other warriors, handing his swords to an awaiting young boy for cleaning, he grinned when the boy gasped at the blood covering the knives.

  Sheltering beneath the terrace Sabe followed Kai. Fresh water, in a large bowl waited on a nearby mesa; reaching behind his neck, Kai tugged at the back of his shirt and pulling it over his head, cast it to the side.

  Sabe stared at the scars that covered Kai’s back and winced. No matter how many times he’d seen them, he cringed, and wondered what else he endured at the hands of the slavers. Spreading from the top of Kai’s muscular shoulders to below his waist; red and swollen in some places where the whip cut deep, the wounds hadn’t healed completely. He couldn’t imagine what pain he‘d lived through; they reminded him of how thankful he was to Kai for freeing him and his sister.

  Wetting a cloth in the basin, Kai wiped away the blood and sweat. After grabbing a fresh, dry cloth, he turned and watched Sabe, who had made himself comfortable at the table.

  ‘Not a good start to the day, but eventful at least.’ Sabe chuckled as he casually rested his boots on a stool and crossing one foot over the other, he poured wine from a pitcher on the table, ‘And there I was, thinking it would be a quiet morning.’

  Swapping the drying cloth for a clean shirt; handed to him by craggy hands of the house worker, Kai kicked the nearest chair out from under the table and sat heavily with a grunt. Weary from the oppressing heat, he blew out a long sigh while he searched for the opening of his clean shirt.

  ‘I hope this isn’t going to be a regular morning event.’ Puffing out, he threaded his arms through the shirt and pulled it over his head.

  ‘I thought you liked excitement.’ Sabe frowned, ‘Anyway, I’m sure it won’t happen again. Well, not for a week at least.’ Laughing.

  ‘We need rain. The heat is turning everyone mad.’

  Kai guzzled the wine the slammed the goblet on the table. ‘It's too hot for this work; I think we’ll just hang them up next time, let them bake in the sun on the outside wall.’ Kai chuckled.

  Cautiously Sabe smiled; right now he was joking, but in the future, that would be another matter.

  ‘How did you catch them?’

  ‘They were stupid as well as cowardly. I overheard them bragging in the tavern last night.’

  Sabe leaned over and reaching for a plate, he drew it closer and picked up a piece of salted pork.

  ‘They’d already stolen the grain; they were going to meet with the buyer from Longmeadow later that night.’

  His fingers poised at his mouth. ‘I let them make the sale before having them dragged to the cells.’

  Eating the pork overwhelmed his senses and he lost his train of thought briefly. A glare from Kai, awaiting the details, made him swallow. Taking a quick sip of wine to wash it down, he continued.

  ‘I sent a couple of men to take care of the buyer from Longmeadow; he won’t be continuing with nightly purchases in the future.’

  ‘Put a couple of men to watch the grain store, in case anyone else has the same idea.’ Kai said dryly.

  Still chewing, unable to speak, Sabe carried his reply with a nod. Across the table he spied a large fruitcake, and stabbed it with his knife to drag it nearer.

  The gruesome events of the morning had not affected their appetites. They gorged themselves heartily, enjoying the buffet laid out.

  Sabe chopped a large piece of cake. Cleaning his palette with a few mouthfuls of wine, before starting on the dessert, he changed the subject to something less serious.

  ‘I have to say though Kai.’ His elbow leaned on the table swirling his knife. ‘I’m excited about meeting your future bride.’

  Taking a bite of cake, he eyed Kai with a smirk. Kai scowled.

  ‘Are you sure I agreed to this?’ He watched Sabe’s dubious expression then added. ‘Was I drunk?’

  ‘Probably.’ Chuckling, ‘It will be good for you.’

  Kai shook his head slowly. ‘This is going to be a disaster, and if she resembles a cow’s backside in any way, I swear, I’ll pay your sister to slice off your balls.’

  ‘Whose balls am I slicing off?’

  Kiera appeared from the courtyard wearing tight, doeskin trousers and a white tunic. Kai’s eyes raked over her body. Shuffling in his seat, his pants suddenly became uncomfortable. Aware of the snug fitting fabric around her breasts; a man would need to be blind not to stare.

  Kiera pulled out a chair and joined them at the table. Silken black hair cut to her shoulders and intense dark eyes, made all men fall to their knees. Sometimes clutching their crotch; screaming in agony, while she stood with their testicles skewered on her sword. Untouched, Kiera intended to stay that way. There had been only one man she would give it up for, but he’d never asked.

  ‘Kai was just commenting on how much he’s looking forward to meeting his betrothed.’

  Kiera tried to hide a grin and lowered her head.

  Growling under his breath and throwing his knife down, Kai slammed his hands on the table.

  ‘I’m glad you two
find this amusing.’

  ‘Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll adore her’ Sabe chuckled, ‘The envoy assured me she’s a rare beauty.’

  A sarcastic glance from Sabe to Kiera caused her to giggle uncontrollably. Lowering her head, she tried to suppress her fit of hysteria.

  Kai shook his head and growled under his breath. Cradling his face, he rested his elbows on the table.

  Kiera grimaced. She leaned forward and touched Kai’s hands. ‘You don’t have to marry her. You can say no.’

  Kiera sat back in her chair and gave Kai a hopeful smile when his hands fell to the table. Hating the idea of Kai marrying, Kiera would be the first to celebrate if the Kings daughter did indeed look like the rear end of a cow.

  ‘Remind me again why I’m doing this.’ Kai asked.

  Sabe grinned. ‘You need a good woman to make an honest man of you.’ Raising his brows, ‘And you need a son.’ He paused, ‘And because their excess food will be sent to us, by order of King Garlan.’ He looked to the ceiling while he thought further, ‘And they’ll supply more weapons-’

  ‘Okay, I got it’ Kai interrupted with a raised hand then wiped the sides of his mouth with his thumb and finger. ‘Let’s get this over with.’ Rising from the table he spoke to Kiera. ‘I want to be at Littlewood early. We’ll leave mid morning tomorrow, rest the night a short distance away before continuing the following morning.’ His eyes locked with hers as she frowned.

  ‘Why so early.’ Kiera shrugged her shoulders. 'The journey will take only a day?’

  Kai leaned forward, his hands resting on the table. ‘I don’t trust Garlan.’

  Sabe sat up in his chair, pulled his shirt straight and thought for a moment.

  ‘I doubt he’d be stupid enough to try anything. The envoy said he’s keen to join forces with us. It seems he’s got some trouble brewing.’ His tone was serious. ‘He’s afraid of losing his throne; someone from Stonegarth in the Highlands is gathering forces and has eyes on his crown.’

  Sabe started picking at his fingernails with his knife. ‘Garlan thinks he’ll look elsewhere when he discovers his only daughter is married to the leader of the most feared army throughout Middenland and Wild Plains.’ Completing his manicure and raising his brow with a grin. ‘And of course he’d be right.’

  Kai laughed.

  ‘He’s not well liked by his subjects; they see him as a sniveling coward, marrying his daughter off, to a barbaric… to someone without royal blood, just to join forces with a stronger force.’ Sabe recovered his words quickly, and held up his hand to Kai, gesturing an apology.

  ‘My thoughts exactly, and no offense taken, I know what I’m not.’

  Sabe’s eyes lowered with embarrassment.

  Quickly rising, Kiera landed a punch on her brother’s arm.

  ‘What was that for?’ Sabe frowned until Kiera’s frosty glare caught him.

  Deciding the conversation was at an end, as far as she was concerned, Kiera left the room and headed back into the courtyard.

  Sabe quickly apologized to Kai. ‘You are more worthy of being a King than any royal I’ve ever met…not that I’ve met any royals.’ He grinned.

  Kicking the chair away behind him as he rose, Sabe edged towards Kai. He held out his hand and after grabbing each other’s forearms they touched heads. ‘You’re my friend and leader, I’d follow you to the ends of the earth and die defending you; you know that, right?’

  ‘I know you would.’ Kai snorted. ‘You just have to pray I don’t ask you to do it.’ His lips widened into a grin.

  Kai pushed Sabe away and slapped his arm. ‘Come on, sit down, I’m still hungry and that cake needs finishing.’ A brief silence was broken by Kai’s quiet voice. ‘Do you think she’ll like me?’

  ‘What’s not to like? You’re a constant delight!’

  Kai snorted; spraying wine over the table he started coughing. Hitting his chest while still laughing, he finally managed to speak.

  ‘Seriously, does she get to choose, or does it all rest on my decision?’

  ‘Her father wants this marriage, and I doubt she has any say in the matter. She’s a princess Kai, and forgive me for being blunt, but she’s an asset as far as her fathers concerned. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. I can only suppose the King’s been weighing up the alternatives for a stronger ally.’

  Taking a long drink, Kai thought about the other side of the arrangement; he knew it had benefits. His people would welcome the extra food supplied from Middenland, which in itself was a weight off his shoulders. His warriors could defeat any opposing threat, and he never feared invasion.

  Their lunch continued into the afternoon as the discussed the meeting. Kai expected an ambush or some form of trickery; he had trust issues, among many others. If a person prepared for the worst, then they couldn’t ever be disappointed.

  It’s how he’d lived his life, always expecting less.

  Chapter 2

  Eloise hissed when the wheels of the carriage hit another pothole. Sitting opposite her, Nissa’s face grimaced against the constant buffeting. Trying to steady herself, Eloise braced her arms to the sides of the carriage, and cursed when she fell forward with a sudden jerk.

  ‘There’s not a bone in my body that doesn’t ache, I’m going to soak in the bath for a full day when we get home. They’ll have to drag me out of it.’

  Eloise leaned back her head, only to have it knocked forward. ‘I’d give anything to be home right now.’

  Nissa giggled at the thought of Eloise being dragged from the bath, as she kicked and screamed. Eloise scowled until Nissa conveyed the image to her, then she started laughing.

  ‘It’s no laughing matter!’ Eloise tried not to laugh, but even she saw the humor in the description.

  ‘I swear I’m going to kill Roulan for lying. He said we’d be stopping shortly.’

  ‘Your brother enjoys tormenting you.’ Nissa’s voice had a bitter tone. Hiding her dislike for Roulan was difficult.

  ‘I think you always see the bad in him, but this time, I agree.’

  In the early hours of that morning, they’d left Brightstone. It was now late afternoon, and they’d only stopped briefly to have lunch. Eloise had never been this far from home. Her whole life she’d kept within the boundaries of their lands, as ordered by her brother and father, King Garlan. Advised two days previously, to prepare for a journey, her first reaction had been excitement. She’d dreamed of traveling to one of the neighboring kingdoms, and smiled so wide her face ached. It disappeared as quickly as it arrived, when the reason became unveiled.

  From as young as she could remember, Eloise’s brother, a year older than her, had said their father blamed her for the loss of their mother. A difficult birth lead to her death; which Roulan learned from his father when he was old enough to understand. Eloise was gifted, like her mother, able to control the elements; making snow or hail, forming rain clouds or bringing wind. It was a rare gift from her mother’s line going back generations. Roulan had pressured her to keep the growing powers from their father; insistent it upset him to see her use them, because they reminded him of his beloved wife.

  If Eloise could have wished for anything now, it would be that she was never born.

  Eloise looked out of the window, but her glazed eyes didn’t linger on anything in particular. In a trance-like state, anxiety overwhelmed her. She’d never felt loved by her father, he’d always remained distant to her. But now, suddenly he needed her to help forge an alliance. Feeling hurt and angry; she served him as an item to trade, nothing more.

  ***

  Returning from his reconnaissance, after having found a suitable place to make camp, Leon cantered back towards King Garlan.

  ‘My Lord, there’s a clearing off to the side a few hundred yards ahead.’ Turning his horse he sidled up to the King. ‘There’s a stream to restock the water supplies and vantage points for the sentries.’

  In his late fifties Leon remained a handsome man and his once da
rk hair, now turned silver. The coordinated beard, cut close, stressed his neat and tidy appearance. He’d been a trusted friend to Garlan’s father before he passed, and transferred his loyalty to the prince when he became King. Trying always to guide, and show the best course of action, King Garlan trusted him and listened to his counsel.

  ‘That’s good news Leon, well done.’ Rising from the saddle, his feet dug into the stirrups and he rubbed his backside to get the circulation going. ‘I’m looking forward to getting out of this saddle. I wished we’d arranged the meeting nearer. Less traveling for us would have suited my bones better.’

  Wincing as he sat back, he’d wanted to ride in the carriage with the women, but Roulan said it didn’t set a good example.

  Leon’s eyes raked over King Garlan. Once a lean and fit man, he used to spend hours hunting or learning sword skills. Now, he’d become lazy; barely moved from the soft cushioned chair on the porch these past years. The death of his older brother in a hunting accident had promoted him to the heir when he was in his late teens. After Garlan’s father died, he ascended to the throne and took a wife immediately. Still in his early forties, although his appearance implied he was older than his years, he didn’t uphold a good form.

  ‘Would you let Roulan and the ladies know we’ll be stopping for the night, I’m sure they’re getting hungry by now.’ He gestured to the carriages behind him.

  ‘Yes, my Lord.’ Nodding then pulling on the reins, he pivoted his horse and rode towards the carriages.

  Roulan, riding behind his father and having watched the exchange, pulled out from the caravan and followed Leon.

  ‘Leon, a moment please.’ Spurring his horse forward, Roulan slowed as he reached the older man’s side.

  ‘You’ve found a safe place to stop I trust?’ He already knew the answer but didn’t want Leon to know he’d been eavesdropping.

  ‘Yes, my Lord. Not far. I’m advising everyone we’ll be stopping soon.’ He barely glanced at Roulan.