in the boy’s eyes and his lip quivered as Kian approached. He could tell the boy was scared, but to the young man’s credit he did not run away. “They won’t be back for the horses.”
The lad said nothing.
“They tried to kill me even after I gave them the coin.” Again the boy didn’t respond.
Kian reached out and took the reins of the horses out of his shaking hand; the boy offered him no resistance.
“What is your name?” Kian asked.
“Julian,” the boy answered quietly.
“Did you know the men well, Julian?”
Tears rolled down his red-chapped cheeks. “They were my family, my uncle and cousins.” Julian wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. “Are you going to kill me now?”
Kian felt disheartened, the boy thought he was nothing more than a common criminal or brigand. “No, Julian, I would never harm a defenseless boy, you have nothing to fear from me.”
Kian left the boy standing there, chest heaving, his tears coming now like a hard spring rain. The swordsman couldn’t tell if they were tears of relief, because he hadn’t been killed or tears for his slain family.
He walked the three horses away and tied their reins to one of the trees in the tiny grove where the boy was hiding, and he set to work building a small fire. This would be as good a place to camp as any. Trees and cover were meager in this part of Trimenia. The winter snows had only melted a few weeks ago and the night would be cold.
He watched Julian out of his peripherals as he made camp. The boy had sat down with his back to a tree, head down his arms wrapped around his legs. He would give the boy time when night came and he grew hungry and cold. Julian would come closer to the fire, and he could offer him food and water. Kian had no intention of leaving the boy out in the middle of nowhere to freeze or starve to death; he would try to see him safely to a town or village if the child would allow it. The warrior sat down and leaned back against a small oak tree and put his hands behind his head and waited.
As night crept closer, Julian began to get cold. He had started crying when he realized the swordsman was not going to kill him. Most of his tears had been because he was scared. Very few were for his dead relatives; he remembered all the times his uncle and cousins had been cruel to him. Nonetheless, the fact was, bad or not, they were all he had and now he didn’t know what he would do. Trimenia was a grim land in which a boy his age wouldn’t last long on his own.
He looked at the stranger. The man sat with the long sword he carried across his knees rubbing it with an oily rag. The traveler must be a great warrior, the young man thought, he had easily killed his uncle and cousins and they were the toughest men Julian knew.
His father and Uncle Raul had been farmers once, until their land was taken by Baron Serban. Serban was the nobleman that governed the land where his family had once lived. He had killed Julian’s father and taken his mother away. After she was taken to the Baron’s castle, Julian never saw his mother again. That’s when he had moved in with his uncle. The Baron had taken his uncle’s lands a few months later, and his uncle had blamed Julian for it. That’s when they all had become bandits. Julian didn’t want to be a bandit, but his uncle said there was no choice if he wanted to eat. His uncle had grown mean and bitter after that. When he was drunk, he beat Julian and treated him little better than a dog. His cousins were no better. They too took their frustrations out on Julian. The boy realized that he wasn’t really sad his cousins and uncle were dead; he was sad because now he was alone.
The sun was going down. Julian knew there were many wolves in the Kingdom of Trimenia and the Warrior’s fire looked very inviting. He got up and slowly walked over to get warm. Julian thought if the man was going to hurt him, he already would have. Besides this, Kian had said he meant him no harm. And he had spoken with such certainty
Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 1 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 2 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 3 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 4 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 5 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 6 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 7 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 8 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 9 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 10 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 11 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 12 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 13 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 14 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 15 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 16 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 17 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 18 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 19 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 20 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 21 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 22 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 23 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 24 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 25 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 26 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 27 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 28 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 29 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 30 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 31 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 32 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 33 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 34 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 35 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 36 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 37 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 38 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 39 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 40 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 41 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 42 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 43 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 44 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 45 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 46 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 47 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 48 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 49 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 50 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 51 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 52 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 53 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 54 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 55 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 56 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 57 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 58 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 59 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 60 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 61 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 62 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 63 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 64 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 65 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 66 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 67 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 68 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 69 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 70 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 71 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 72 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 73 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 74 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 75 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 76 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 77 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 78 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 79 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 80 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 81 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 82 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 83 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 84 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 85 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 86 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 87 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 88 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 89 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 90 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 91 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 92 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 93 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 94 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 95 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 96 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 97 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 98 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 99 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 100 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 101 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 102 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 103 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 104 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 105 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 106 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 107 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 108 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 109 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 110 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 111 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 112 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 113 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 114 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 115 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 116 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 117 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 118 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 119 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 120 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 121 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 122 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 123 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 124 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 125 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 126 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 127 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 128 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 129 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 130 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 131 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 132 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 133 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 134 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 135 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 136 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 137 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 138 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 139 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 140 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 141 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 142 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 143 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 144 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 145 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 146 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 147 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 148 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 149 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 150 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 151 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 152 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 153 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 154 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 155 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 156 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 157 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 158 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 159 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 160 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 161 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 162 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 163 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 164 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 165 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 166 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 167 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 168 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 169 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 170 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 171 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 172 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 173 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 174 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 175 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 176 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 177 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 178 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 179 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 180 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 181 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 182 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 183 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 184 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 185 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 186 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 187 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 188 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 189 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 190 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 191 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 192 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 193 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 194 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 195 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 196 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 197 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 198 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 199 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 200 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 201 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 202 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 203 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 204 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 205 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 206 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 207 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 208 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 209 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 210 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 211 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 212 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 213 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 214 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 215 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 216 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 217 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 218 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 219 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 220 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 221 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 222 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 223 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 224 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 225 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 226 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 227 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 228 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 229 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 230 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 231 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 232 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 233 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 234 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 235 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 236 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 237 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 238 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 239 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 240 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 241 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 242 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 243 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 244 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 245 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 246 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 247 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 248 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 249 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 250 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 251 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 252 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 253 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 254 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 255 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 256 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 257 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 258 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 259 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 260 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 261 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 262 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 263 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 264 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 265 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 266 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 267 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 268 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 269 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 270 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 271 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 272 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 273 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 274 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 275 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 276 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 277 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 278 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 279 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 280 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 281 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 282 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 283 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 284 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 285 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 286 Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler - Page 287