Taqgrin's Quest Part One

By Paul Stadinger

All his life Michael Taqgrin wanted to be a merchant like his father. That dream was shattered when enemies of his family murdered his father and had Michael accused of a crime he did not commit. Sentence to be a slave, his enemies thought that was the last of Michael Taqgrin. They did not figure he would survive the toils of slavery and save the life of Prince Stanna of Pangoria. Freed from slavery and unable to become a merchant, Taqgrin became a soldier, a very good soldier. Through the various wars, Taqgrin rose to become Pangorian greatest general and hero. His enemy feared the one they called the King’s Hangman. Taqgrin with the help of his men the Unwanteds save Pangoria from internal and external threats. Because of his action in stopping the Xanian War, Michael Taqgrin was given highest honor his nation could bestow on a person, the Hero of the Nation Award. With that Award, the recipient could ask the king for one thing within reason. Now Taqgrin could get his desire to be a merchant. Instead King Karl made Taqgrin Lord of Westforia, Pangoria’s most western province, a land full of problems. Not afraid of his new task, Michael Taqgrin gathered men from his former command and their families to trek across to their new homeland. The trek will not be easy, as Taqgrin’s enemies will use everything at their disposal to destroy him including a dragon. Taqgrin has a further problem of a dream of four women. These four women from different walks of life nobles, magic user or pleasure slave could be the one to share his life with. One of those possible women is on the wagon train, but she might also be there to destroy him. Will Taqgrin be up to his greatest test?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Stadinger
• Release date: Jun 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301078356

Book preview

Part 1

By

Paul Stadinger

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 Paul Stadinger

Cover by Marcus Boas

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Prologue

A group of four former Paragonian soldiers were sitting at the Two Rock Tavern swapping stories. The youngest of the four, Centra Rhonix, after putting down his mug of ale said, Six months ago I was sitting in a dirt hole waiting for the Xanians to kill me. Now here I am drinking ale with some friends and laughing about it.

The man on his left, Hugo, who was slightly older replied, I was waiting there too, waiting see what the Xanian bastards had cooked up to surprise us.

Centra answered back, You king’s men had it nice and cozy in your digs. I heard you had carpets and servants to bring you food.

Hugo laughed, Who told you that story? I hope it was not one of those stupid Renwal histories on the general that you may have read it in. We were right in the front. Our accommodations might be a little better than yours because we had the best engineers in the army to make them so. As it was we had to deal with Xanians’ elite demon riders unit called the 500. Now that was a scary bunch! They made the man monsters look like a cake walk. The other two men at the table shuddered when hearing the words man monster. We got hit by the 500 three nights before the end and if you had not been an Unwanted, Redeemer or Justified of the King’s Elite Army, you would have pissed in your pants as they cut off your head.

The third man at the table, an older man with several scars on his face, was Tefa Yona, You must be thinking of Lord Faunton, another pompous, noble bastard. His emplacement was decorated with art and other crap that should not be on a battlefield. He was hoping to become Lord General after Lord Sidetop died. At that point everyone at the table spit on the floor to show their contempt of Lord Sidetop except Centra. When the king found out about Faunton’s abode he kicked him out of it and sent the art and other treasures to the charities. Then he sent that little bastard right to the front of the defense where, bless my heart, he got his head blown off.

I have no use for nobles, but I thought Sidetop was a great hero? Centra asked.

Lord General Sidetop was the biggest pain in the ass that ever walked this land. Hugo responded spitting again on the floor. We were doing well in Westforia, and then Lord General Rufus Sidetop shows up and takes over and nearly mucks it up! It took the genius of our generals to out maneuver him and the Xanians to save Westforia. The other men agreed with Hugo. I know each of them wanted to take on Sidetop personally. Sidetop knew he could not win in a duel so he had a small army of bodyguards to protect him. Though I thought Taqgrin was going to take them on single handed, and the way that man knows the sword, he would have won.

He would have his brother generals, Tegli and Gerstein, along with two sergeants, Asher and Tanner ready to help him plus the rest of the king’s elite army. Getra Whiten, who was Centra’s cousin, said looking at Centra, Two great guys to back you up, Asher and Tanner, but don’t play three dice with them. They cheat!"

Centra, realizing he had men here, who could answer his questions, asked why do they call them the brother generals?

The other men looked at Hugo to answer but a voice from behind the table spoke. They are not brothers from birth but brothers from the sword. They joined the Prince Stanna’s army at the same time Arna Tegli was a stable boy. Dasta Gerstein had worked in his father’s pastry shop and Michael Taqgrin had been a slave who had saved the prince’s life. They shared the same three man tent and learned their skills together. Each helped the other and they rose through the ranks. They worked as a team even when they got separate commands. Where other generals tried to push others aside, these three helped each other. The idea of working as team saved our hides and the country, while fools like Sidetop nearly destroyed it.

Tefa gave up his seat and gave it to the Tapa. I need to use the refresher Tapa. How is your wife doing?

Better since she found some other women in the next room to talk with. She always takes it hard when she visits our son’s grave. Who would have thought that there would be some Demon riders in this area? Once Taqgrin found out we cleared them out for good.

Centra go get the sergeant some ale and one for me ordered Tefa. As soon as Centra were away, Tefa said He will make a good soldier for Tegli. He was a sergeant in his unit. I should get him a corporal’s post with Tegli. Tegli has offered me a lieutenant’s post.

Getra looked at Tapa, Gerstein has offered me a lieutenant post too. While it is good for me it is a sad time. We are losing so many good men from the army. I am sure you could get a lieutenant’s post with either of the generals. Hugo could get a sergeant’s.

Tapa shook his head, I know, they already offered me that. I’d rather become a sergeant again with Taqgrin than an officer with someone else. Nothing wrong with either of the generals, it is just that I owe Taqgrin too much. He helped my wife through her sickness and the loss of our son. Those demon riders! Curse the day Taqgrin got them! He can be one mean bastard.

So why are you heading for the Capitol?

Tapa pointed to Hugo, This fool was one of 100 that followed Taqgrin into the caves of Zahrite. He was one of the lucky ones.

By this time Centra had returned with the drinks and heard Tapa, Hugo, I never heard you boast about being one of the heroes of Zahrite.

Hugo took a drink of his ale, wishing it was something stronger, You don’t talk about it my friend.

I heard there was gold, jewels and other treasures.

That there was, and every monster imaginable. If it had not been for Taqgrin and book knowledge on that damned place we would not have gotten through and got the Xanian Emperor.

Getra joined in, You did not try to grab some jewels?

Those that did died. Some of the jewels turned into poisonous spiders. Hugo pulled out from his pouch a copper coin. All I got was a copper coin with some writing on it and I only got it when I fell trying to get out of that miserable place. It slipped into my boot and I only found it after we got back.

So what kind of reward do you think you will get? Centra asked.

Hugo shrugged, The king will give me land in some forsaken place that Almighty Dogoh has forgotten he created. The king is tight with his money.

Getra nodded, The king gave a friend some land near Gobla City. You have to buy some special powder to feed horses and cows so they do not get sick from the grass. He gave the land up in a year.

As Tefa was returning to the table, a man two thirds the size of Tapa entered the tavern. His hat and cloak were soaked from the rain. He put the wet garments on a hook and headed for the table. As he approached the table the soldiers got up and saluted.

Sit down gentlemen. I am no longer in the king’s army. The man responded, I am just Iagon Breton, another freeman like you.

Hugo spoke up for the group, You will always be captain to us sir. Are you heading for the festival and ceremonies?

Iagon nodded. After what Taqgrin has done for my family, I felt it was right for me to be there to represent the family. I was there when he got his first ‘Hero of the nation’. Not many get one let alone two.

The men knew well the hero of the nation award. It was the highest award anyone could win in Pangoria. With the award came the privilege of asking the king for one wish within reason, some had asked for money, others for a title.

Tapa spoke up, Do you think he will ask for his merchant’s license? Iagon nodded.

Centra were in disbelief when he heard this. Merchant’s license, I would be asking for gold or a title.

Tapa looked at Centra, ready to slap him, but held back, Not everyone wants gold or title! The merchant’s license means he can return to what he started in life, to be a merchant like his father.

Iagon filled in some of the details, Taqgrin was falsely accused of stealing and was made a slave. He got his freedom back when he saved the Prince from drowning, but could not become a merchant again so he became a soldier. He got the evidence to prove he was innocent but still could not get his merchants license. He had planned to get it with the first Hero of Nation, but he had to use it get the wercreatures their own homeland.

Centra were still not convinced. Think of all the money you could have from his wish. I could live like a lord.

Hugo laughed. He lives like a lord now from all the money he got over the years in his share of the booty. That man is smart. He took his money, bought property and made more. The nice thing is that we all shared.

You Unwanteds were not the only ones to share in the wealth. Tegli and Gerstein followed his lead and we took our rewards instead of pissing it away. I have a nice pot to look at when I retire from the army. Getra replied.

Tapa nodded, "I did not have a chance to save money until joining up with Taqgrin. We will be able to expand Hugo’s lot and live like country gentlemen and have others till the land. Though I wish the missus would have let me buy one of the wagon master’s wagons instead of that heap of junk we have.

Everyone laughed as they knew Elyria Tapa was frugal with her money. Iagon walked away from the men and went to the bar to order ale. As he was waiting for his drink, one of the men bumped him. Iagon checked to make sure his pouch was not stolen. The man saw Iagon’s action and did not take kindly to it.

Do you think I am a thief little man? The man bellowed.

Iagon shook his head, Just a force of habit, friend.

This annoyed the man more. I don’t like your attitude. You think my friends and I are thieves.

Before Iagon could respond, Tapa who had seen what was going on, got up and was behind Iagon and the men. My friend did not mean any harm.

The man did not take to Tapa’s interference. Look old man, the problem is with your stubby little friend, not some washed up soldier scum.

A voice spoke up from behind. Brandon, let these men be if you want to save yourself from harm.

The man now known as Brandon turned to look at the new voice. He saw a man, wearing sword and dagger on his belt. Both of the man’s hands were on his weapons. Stay out of this Rall! The problem is with me and the pipsqueak!

There is where you are wrong Brando. The two men in front of you are members of the Sword Brotherhood like me. Also behind them are four more king’s army men.

Brandon sneered. I don’t give a damn about the sword brotherhood. It is over rated. As the King’s army men are scum, I handled them before.

These men are of the King’s personal army. Each one is the elite of the army. They can easily kill you as I can Brandon.

This last statement gave Brandon a pause to think. He could see his friends were having second thoughts as they knew well the ability of the King’s elite army. Without saying another word, Brandon and his men left their drinks and grabbed their cloaks and hats and were out the door.

You came in at the right time Rall. Iagon said, I was not in the mood to do some killing tonight.

We are all tired of the killing we had to do in the war. Rall responded, They will not be any trouble. They will go to another tavern where they can take advantage of someone.

Iagon asked, "how is it that the sheriff has not put them in their place?’

Rall left out a sigh, Brandon’s father is the big wheel here and he is as corrupt as his son. He has the sheriff and most of the other officials under his thumb.

Iagon smiled, I will see a friend in the capitol and he will not be happy about this and will take care of it.

That would be welcome news as the people are tired of their games.

Iagon joined in the conversation, I did not see you come in.

I came in the ladies entrance as I am taking my mother back from seeing one of those magic users you called a healer. She has a bad leg and from the money in my pension I was able to get it fixed. The trip was long and we will rest here before going home.

Just then Tapa noticed someone standing beside him. He realized the woman was his wife Elyria. She had a looked on her face of what did you do now?’ Your side of the woods got quiet. She said, I hope that you were not starting a fight."

We were trying to stop getting into a fight. Rall Diefon got the men to see the right path. Tapa responded, We usually do not start the fight.

Elyria shook her head, But you will finish it. I remember the time Taqgrin took me to a tavern and all he wanted to do was read a book. Before you knew it he ends up in a nasty fight.

Three of the men ended up in our army after that mess. They were good men we lost in the war. Iagon answered.

Elyria decided to change the subject. Iagon how are your parents and sister?

My father passed away last year but at least he got to see his grandchildren. My mother is doing well. My sister Isobel has two lovely children.

Elyria seemed pleased to hear the news. Her husband is a good man. If he had not returned, I thought she would have married Taqgrin.

I did too. I think she was getting tired of getting mixed up in his adventures and wanted a normal life, which around Taqgrin is impossible. Seeing that Centra, was not familiar with the stories about Iagon’s sister, Iagon explained. My sister ended up the personal slave of Taqgrin’s former Sergeant Bear. Bear lived in Taqgrin’s home and did his cleaning until my sister took over. She was treated more as family than as a slave.

Centra surprised by this news asked, you were not upset that he had your sister as a slave?’

No, I was not because my parents were slaves as well at the time and I had nowhere to send her. He got me into his army so I could be close to her and then he found my parents. Iagon stopped and raised his mug. Gentlemen I propose a toast. To Michael Taqgrin the man who beat the Helmores and the Xanians. Taqgrin is a man that you want to call as friend.

The men stood up and drank to Taqgrin’s health. With that toast the men headed to their rooms for the night. Iagon ended taking the floor of Hugo’s room as the tavern was full. Hugo offered his share of the bed, but Iagon decline and took the floor. In the morning after a first meal, the former soldiers headed on their way. Iagon went along with Tapa and his party to the capitol. The others rode toward Rall’s home first to make sure he had no problems from Brandon and his friends. Centra had been amazed how the men bonded together to defend each other, not like his old unit. There the noble took care of himself and left the scraps for the men. What amazed him more was the respect that the men had for their leaders, especially Michael Taqgrin.

The trip to Bitten, the Capitol of Paragonia, for Tapa and his party took three days. The last day the crowds coming in for the Peace festival clogged the road. On the road Tapa and his party had met more of Taqgrin’s former Unwanteds and others of the King’s Elite Army, who joined them for friendship and protection. Three hours before the gates of the capitol, a large band of thieves came upon the travelers. While other travelers panicked, the former men of the king’s elite army stood their ground and pulled out their three shot crossbows. As the thieves attacked, they found themselves under a barrage of arrows. Not use to the well-disciplined soldiers and their three shot arrow crossbows, the thieves quickly broke off their attack, only to run into a force of the King’s Personal Guards. The King’s Personal Guards also carried three shot crossbows and made quick work of the thieves. Seeing no chance of escape, the thieves surrendered or died between the two forces.

Once the thieves were stopped, the head of the King’s Personal Guard unit headed toward the party. As he arrived at the group, the former soldiers saluted as they knew the man well. It was Phineas Chesmire, once of the Unwanteds, now Captain of the King’s Personal Guard. As he got off his horse, the men gathered around their old friend and either shook his hand or patted him on his back. When he got to Tapa’s wagon, he took off his helmet to kiss the hand of Elyria.

I see you have a few flecks of gray in your black hair Phineas. Elyria said.

I am not surprised my hair has not gotten gray or bald from dealing with all of the demands of our good King Karl. Phineas responded which everyone laughed knowing how the king could be at times.

How is Queen Flavia? She was quite upset over the Quintas mess.

Phineas sighed on Elyria’s question, She is still not happy how that was resolved. I know that she still holds King Karl and Michael responsible for it. Right now, she is dreading that she will have to dance with king at the Heroes Ball in next six day.

Everyone knew that King Karl was the worst dancer in the realm. Many had tried to improve the King’s dancing but failed. Hugo spoke up, I know that Taqgrin had Nadol Nale try to teach the King how to dance, but I don’t know how it went.

Phineas shook his head, I don’t know, Nadol had everyone out of the practice tent except the musicians and they were blindfolded. All I can say is that there was a lot of screaming and cursing going on for most of the time.

By this time Iagon had rejoined the group, Good news. No one was seriously hurt. I am surprised to see you out leading the King’s Personal Guards.

"I have every man I can get to stop the thieves that are plaguing the roads. The gangs are coming from everywhere. I have reports of Dawkins gang that operates East of Dautria has been sighted. I have Geri’s troops on the east side of the capitol and I wish that I could have got to Tegli’s men as well, but he is up in Shauny trying to get his forces together to take on Fort Tobias.

It is about time we got rid of that vipers nest. Iagon replied, I am surprised that it took so long.

Tobias has some really powerful magic user that has let him hold on to power. The last group we sent against Tobias had three magic users besides Aldar’s Elite Troops. General Aldar thought the magic users and his troops would defeat Tobias’ army and get him the position of Lord General of the Army. Instead Aldar found a disaster even with Tom second in command. It pissed off the King! I thought he was going to hang Tom Bravata out of spite. It took the persuasion of a lot of people, including Taqgrin, to talk him out of it.

Iagon looked at Phineas, Tom was just a second in command in General Aldar’s army.

"He was, but he was the only one of the high officers that survived. Tom is staying at my place. Breton, I have place at my home for you as well. Maybe you can talk him out of his dark mood. Ronald, who is also staying with me, has tried all his tricks with no luck.

Elyria got into the conversation, How is Taqgrin?"

Phineas smiled, He is fine. I think he will be glad when this celebrating is over as he is bored at the parties. The only problem is it will all start again in three six days as Prince Stanna is getting married.

Elyria surprised by the news asked, "Who is he marrying and isn’t it sudden?

Phineas nodded, He is marrying Princess Meesha of Herzinga. The King Polenta of Herzinga exercised his part of the treaty to have the two wed. Thank Almighty Dogoh they both love each other and they are of the same religion. The communicators of both branches of Almighty Dogoh both have waived the one year waiting period.

Elyria said, If my cousin can put up with us, we will have to stay.

Phineas continued, Tell any of the Unwanteds if they want to make some money, I will be hiring extra men for the time. Tell them to show up at the Broken Axle Inn. I can use all I can get. I thought I would have peace when I got rid of The Patch. Now I have to deal with the Green Cloak Man. Unlike Patch, he has not taken the position of ‘King of Thieves.’ He lets that for others, but demands and gets tribute.

Tapa asked, Do you know who he is?

"I wish I did. Some reports have him tall, other have him short. Some report it is a woman.

Just then a lieutenant of the King’s Personal Guard pulled up in front of Phineas and saluted. Captain, the prisoners are rounded up and ready to take to the prison.

Phineas returned the salute. "Good work Lieutenant Sands, what about their leader?’

He is dead sir. Will we need to escort these people to the city?

Phineas laughed. These people can take care of themselves. These are former Unwanteds whom I served before becoming part of the King’s Guard.

Sands saluted. It is an honor to meet you. I have heard many stories about you and your leader Michael Taqgrin. I hope to meet him someday.

Well we better get going lieutenant. You know where my house is, Breton. Good I still have my servant Blasko. He knows you are coming and will have a room ready next to Bowers’ and Bravata’s rooms. We four captains can have a drink or two before the big day. Just don’t mention Taqgrin’s new servant Gomar. He is not one of Blasko’s people. They have been annoyed with Taqgrin for not picking one of their people after Benjamin left.

Once Phineas and his forces left the group headed into the capitol for the Peace festival.

Chapter 1

On one of the most important days of his life Michael Taqgrin took a nap. He had a good reason for taking the nap, for the last few days he had been going from one meeting or party after another celebrating the end of the war between Pangoria and the Xanian Empire. Taqgrin could not avoid any of the meetings or parties as he was the center of attention, as it was his actions which had brought the end of the war. He did not want to take a nap, but when he sat down in his favorite chair he became tired and fell asleep. As he slept, Taqgrin dreamt a strange dream. It was his life. The dream showed his happy days as the son of the house of Taqgrin, one of the leading merchants of Pangoria. He saw how he enjoyed being taught the ways of the merchant, waiting for that day to come when he could be a full- fledged merchant. It did not happen. Instead, his father took in a business partner, who killed his father then married his mother. Taqgrin’s step father played the part of a good father to Taqgrin until he was nearly of age to take over his true father’s business. Taqgrin’s stepfather conspired with others, notably the Krells, Taqgrin’s family major business rivals, to have accused Taqgrin of stealing, which sent Taqgrin into slavery.

It looked like Taqgrin would end his days as a slave until he saved the life of Prince Stanna. Because he had saved the prince’s life, Taqgrin was freed, and since he could not become a merchant because he was found guilty of stealing, Taqgrin became a soldier in the Prince’s army. Taqgrin took his merchant’s skills and learned skills from the soldiers around him. The soldiers first laughed at him, until they saw he did not boast, but quietly learned the soldier trade. Soon Taqgrin became as good as or better than them, but never boasted or gloated. The prince came to respect him when Taqgrin straightened his finances. It was also here that he would meet his long life friends, Dasta Gerstein and Arna Tegli. The other two had been his tent mates when he joined the army. They formed a bond as they helped each other with Taqgrin, the one doing the most to help with money, women or fighting. They relied on Taqgrin’s knowledge because not only did he know how to please the ladies, but he helped them make money on their meager salaries. By the time they were generals, they were wealthy men because of Taqgrin’s techniques of investing their money.

The next phase of his dream showed how Taqgrin rose in the ranks. When there was a dirty job to do, Taqgrin was the one to do it. He had nothing to live for as he could not become a merchant. No man who had been convicted of a crime of stealing was allowed to become a merchant. Each dirty task Taqgrin did without looking for rewards. Taqgrin soon gained the favor of the King when he volunteered to hang a popular officer. The officer had been popular with his men, but had a dark side. The officer had a habit of mistreating and killing women. The man had made the mistake of killing a noble woman who was masquerading as a pleasure slave. No one would hang the man, until Taqgrin stepped forward. Taqgrin hung the man without remorse. Because of the task, Taqgrin was made an officer, but disowned by others of the army. Six men tried to kill Taqgrin for his deed, but they died instead.

Because he was unwanted, Taqgrin took under his wing other unwanted men of the army. Taqgrin molded these men into one of the fiercest fighting forces in the army. If there was a dirty task, Taqgrin got it in hopes it would lead to his demise. Instead, Taqgrin survived because his men trusted him to get them out of death traps other men would fear. The names of his men became etched on their fellow soldiers’ minds. There was Calgon, who killed 20 men before he died in one of the border wars. There was Detnos, the thief who became an officer. Then there was the man called Bear, a mountain of a man. The man was as big as a strong old tree, and many thought not trainable, until Taqgrin got him. Bear became Taqgrin’s personal sergeant, who could toss two men at time. The dream showed the infamous scene of where Taqgrin and Bear cleared a tavern full of angry men who had not gotten paid. The men were holding the King hostage until they were paid. Taqgrin and Bear walked into the tavern and cleaned out the men until they got to the ringleaders. Those men who had taken the King for something more and Taqgrin and Bear killed them before freeing the King. After freeing the King they made sure the King paid the army. The King was not a happy man that day. Next, the dream took Taqgrin to the Northern Frontier, where gold was found. Men deserted their homes and families to strike it rich. The only army unit that did not have any desertions was Taqgrin’s. It was good that Taqgrin’s men were there, because the miners unleashed an evil called the ‘Helmores’. These creatures killed and destroyed the countryside, especially when they got under the control of the dark magic users of the Blue Rose. The whole Northern Frontier was in flames from these creature’s attacks. It took a mountain collapsing on the Helmores to stop the creatures from attacking the heart of Pangoria. The war came at a heavy price. Many friends like Detnos laid dead. The elves had closed off their country to humans and the Northern Frontier lost it contact with the heart of Pangoria, as the main road was gone with only a few minor roads left. The only good thing that came out of the war was while his stepfather lay dying he told that Taqgrin was innocent. This confession was done in front of the King and several others. Taqgrin could become a merchant again.

The problem was that King Karl got stubborn and would not give Taqgrin his merchant’s license unless he used his ‘hero of nation’ privilege. Taqgrin could not as he promised the Wercreatures, an intelligent species; he would get them a protected home. The only way he could honor his pledge was to give up his dream and ask for his friends to have a protected home. Taqgrin also lost Bear, as he used his hero’s privilege to free himself of military service and return to the sea. While Bear said he was going to be a sea captain, others wondered if he was not going to be a pirate. Now new faces came into Taqgrin’s dream. It now showed his new sergeants, Asher and Tanner, who easily made up for the loss of Bear. The dream also showed his aides, Albert Sidewise and Tom Bravata, as Taqgrin was now a colonel. The peace they had thought they would have after the Northern Frontier was shattered by the Xanian Empire. The Xanian Empire thought Pangoria was weak from the problems in the north, and attacked Pangoria’s most western province Westforia. Xanians thought they had easy pickings, but did not realize that Pangoria was aware of their plans. Not through some spy, but because of the mysterious female magic user, Ishiera. This woman has the ability to see the different paths of the future. She had warned the king who had placed Taqgrin and his Unwanteds close by Westforia at Fort Reliance. When the warning came of the Xanian invasion of Westforia, Taqgrin and his men immediately headed toward Westforia. Taqgrin, now a general, entered into Westforia with 3,000 men. The only problem was that Xanian’s force was 25,000.

This did not upset Taqgrin as he knew that his brother generals were on the way with a larger force. In the meantime, Taqgrin increased his force to 8,000 men. He did this by gathering men from the local population to fight the invasion. Many came willingly such as Count Dorcos, while others like Baron Mundra, had to be forced to give up men. Baron Mundra and others had to be threatening with the noose if they did not agree. These people knew that Taqgrin would do it as he had been given the nickname the King’s Hangman.

For several months the Xanians were kept off balance as Taqgrin’s forces went up and down the province striking at the Xanians. Any cruelty that the Xanians forced on the people of Westforia was dealt twice over. The dream played the image of the one Xanian soldier who had been part of a party who had attacked a village. Xanians, used to having their own way, tortured and killed the men while using the women until Taqgrin arrived. Taqgrin taught the Xanians that day his kindness, as he returned like for like leaving only one Xanian alive. This Xanian was made deaf, speechless and blind and sent back to the Xanian camp with a sign that said, ‘For every cruelty you cause, I will give it back to you ten times over’. The Xanians laughed at the sign until it was followed by a barrage of cannon and catapults which quickly disappeared.

Another time, the Xanians attacked a sacred place and killed almost all of the Communicators of Almighty Dogoh. As they were enjoying the innocents left at the place, Taqgrin arrived and took all the Xanians and hung them the slow way. Only a holy one of Xanians was spared, as he had saved the life of a Pangorian Communicator. The holy one was given food and water and an escort back to his people. Taqgrin did the same for the Xanian physician who treated Taqgrin of a wound he had gotten in battle. When later other Pangorian forces wanted to kill the Xanian physician, Taqgrin used his wiles to save the man and send him to a safe place with the Okolnans, whose nation was next to Westforia and not involved in the war.

After several months, the needed relief arrived. A force of over 60,000 men arrived, including his brother generals and their forces, with replacements for his troops. The reinforcements also brought Lord General Ruffisha Sidetop, who had the overall command of the Pangorian army. Taqgrin never thought he would find someone he would hate equally or more than the Krells, the merchant family who had killed his father and had gotten him made a slave. Sidetop was the vainest, most arrogant man that walked the land, and it showed in the first battle against the Xanians. Despite warnings from Taqgrin that he was walking into a trap, Lord General Sidetop moved ahead. If it had not been for the resourcefulness of the brother generals, Sidetop would have had a defeat instead of a victory. Still Sidetop took credit for himself for the victory.

Sidetop grew to hate the brother generals, especially Taqgrin, and tried to remove them. Taqgrin stopped that with a paper stating that only the King could remove Taqgrin or his brothers. When that failed, Sidetop had one of his bodyguards, Sedia, challenge Taqgrin to a duel. Sidetop thought that Sedia would make quick work of Taqgrin as he was the best swordsman in Pangoria. The dream played that famous duel. There was just one problem, Taqgrin was superior to Sedia, and was able to defeat and kill him along with his partner Rock. Disgusted with his failures of trying to get rid of Taqgrin, he sent him, Gerstein and Tegli with their armies, to defeat the invading Xanian forces to the south. The city of Dentropolis had opened its arms to the invading forces through its leader, Count Zungo. Through its port, over 40,000 Xanians moved from the south to head toward Aben, the Capitol of Westforia. The Xanians, who thought that they would have an easy time, found instead that the King’s Elite Army was a force to deal with? Time and time again, the outnumbered forces broke the Xanians. Finally they reached the gates of Dentropolis, with the enemy gone, along with their supporters. The city surrendered to the generals only to have Lord General Sidetop show up and demand a high payment for their leader’s transgressions. The generals had to stop Sidetop from plowing the city to the ground and forcing the remaining population into slavery.

With the defeat in the south, the remaining Xanians around Aben played a trick. They abandoned the siege and seemed to go away in their ships. Sidetop and his forces celebrated with the food and drink that was left. The only ones not to take in the partying were the brothers’ general’s armies. Each of the brother generals had read a book that talked about famous sieges. One of those sieges had been won by abandoning the siege and catching the enemy off guard. The Xanians tried that, but found they were met by the prepared armies of the brother generals and were defeated. Sidetop sobered up enough to claim false credit for killing the Xanian leader. He later said it was his plan, which was a lie.

Although the Xanians were defeated in Westforia, soon the troops were called back to Dautria, another city in the central part of Pangoria, which was being invaded by the Xanians. The war continued there, with Taqgrin nearly being sent to the gallows for injuring his brother in law. He found his brother in law, a friend of the Krells his family enemies, abusing his sister and gave him a thrashing for it. The Krells made the injuries worse and tried to pin everything on Taqgrin. Taqgrin was placed in the local prison where it was hoped that he would be killed. One problem was that Taqgrin had his two hammers. Asher and Tanner, who got into the prison as prisoners and between the three of them kept order until Phineas Chesmire, now the King’s spymaster and captain of the King’s Personal Guard, got them sprung.

Once the Xanians were defeated in Dautria, Lord General Sidetop proposed to take the fight to the Xanians. Taqgrin and his brother generals opposed the move as they knew it would be suicide to take on the Xanians in their homelands. Sidetop could not be stopped from his dream. Even the King was opposed to it, but then decided to let Sidetop go, if he could finance the expedition himself. Sidetop gathered an army of 30,000 and headed to attack the Xanians. He called Taqgrin a coward for not going, but Taqgrin ignored the insolent and let him go.

In the time that followed the departure of Sidetop’s expedition, Taqgrin used that time to build and expand his force as his brothers did. Taqgrin increased his forces until it was 10,000 men. In that time he had little time to relax, until Ishiera, the female magic user he had rescued years ago, showed up. She showed up in a heavy full length cloak which she dropped to the floor once they were alone. Once the cloak was off, Ishira stood in front of Taqgrin dressed in traveq, a pleasure slave’s dress. Taqgrin laughed and took Ishiera to bed that night and made love several times.

The dream switched again to Sidetop’s triumphant return from Xanian. He had returned to Pangoria with ships laden with treasures and slaves boasting how he had defeated the enemy. Taqgrin soon found out the truth, that expedition had been a disaster. Sidetop had lost about half his forces through stupidity and poor generalship. Sidetop had only been lucky because the Xanian Emperor Cheva Coba III was busy in another part of his realm with a major civil war. Because of the civil war, Emperor Cheva could not divert troops until the civil war was won. More information came out, when a ship laden with survivors lead by a Captain Zell Zephyr arrived. Zephyr had the proof of Sidetop’s negligence, but it was suppressed because of Sidetop’s popularity. Worse was that Sidetop had gotten a taste of being a king and he was planning to take over Pangoria. For the next nine months, Lord General Sidetop played a devious game of deceit to gain control of Paragonia trying to topple the government. Each attempt to topple the government, Sidetop was met by Taqgrin and his friends, who stopped him.

If the Xanians had not made their third invasion in Eteria, Paragonia would have exploded into civil war. Each side realized that they needed the other, as Emperor Cheva Coba III had sent his largest forces and was soon into the country in the Eastern Provinces at the city of Eteria. The third invasion pushed the Paragonia army back nearly 100 miles. The resources for Paragonia were strained especially when Xania did a fourth invasion at the same time as the third. The fourth invasion was at Dautria again. This time the city was taken. Being attacked at two places at the same time, forced Paragonia to look for allies. These allies cost a heavy price in money and other conditions including the agreement for Prince Stanna to marry Princess Meesha of Herzinga. The war was hard and bitter as they fought not only the Xanians but also religious fanatics who supported the Xanians and the Quintas Slave Rebellion. The only good things to come out of those battles were the death of Lord General Sidetop and Taqgrin’s brother, General Geristan, finding his true love, Ada.

With the defeat of the Xanians in Dautria and Eteria, it looked like the killing was over. Instead, Ishiera had a horrible vision of one more invasion between Bitten the Capitol and Dautria. Emperor Cheva was personally leading Xanian’s largest invasion fleet yet, that fleet would land to go up the valleys of Zahrite. It made no sense as this was a forsaken place where no one lived. Knowing where the Xanians were going to attack, Pangoria and its allies built a series of defense works that would stop, if not destroy, the enemy.

The war culminated in the Valleys of Zahrite. On one side were Pangoria and its allies. On the other side was the Xanian Empire with its allies. Over two hundred thousand men waited to be slaughtered on both sides. While working on a defense works, Taqgrin and Phineas both noticed and found the lost caves of the magic user, Asauma. The caves had a unique feature of two openings. Taqgrin saw that the second opening was just below the Xanian command tent of the Emperor. Taqgrin proposed to take a hundred men and capture the Emperor. The King and Prince thought it was a risk, but they saw it was the only way to save thousands of lives. So Taqgrin took with him the most unwanted of his men and descended into the caverns.

Through the caves, Taqgrin lead his 100 men through a maze of deadly traps and creatures. Despite his best efforts, Taqgrin lost over half of his force. Still he was able to capture the Emperor and discovered that he was under the control of his head advisor, who was a magic user from the Blue Rose Cult, which had tried to gain control of Pangoria before. Once the advisor was killed, the Emperor regained his sanity and wanted to stop the war. The Emperor was killed by General Rasmoor, head of the Demon Riders, his elite troops, who wanted the war to continue. Taqgrin killed the General while protecting the first son of the Emperor. Because he lost blood protecting the new Emperor, Taqgrin earned the respect of the Xanian Empire. The war was stopped.

The next series of dreams were of the women that Taqgrin had loved and lost. He had forgotten the names of some of the women, like the daughter of the book seller he met as a raw recruit. The dream stopped at Ishiera. When he first met her she was an old woman who saved him and his brothers when they got caught in a snow storm in the Border Mountains. In return for saving their lives, she asked if one of them would sleep with her. Taqgrin volunteered as he felt there was much more to the old woman. Through his lovemaking she turned into a beautiful woman. Ishiera had been cursed to look like a hag until someone’s lovemaking would set her free. Ishiera gave Taqgrin a gift of immunity to poison which protected him many times in his life. He wanted to marry her, but she refused as she knew their life paths were different. Still they would meet many times over the years and had many enjoyable times.

Next to enter his life was Isobel. She had been a slave that Bear, his personal sergeant, had won in a three dice game. Taqgrin remembered the first time he woke up and found her kneeling in her pleasure dress, called the traveq, waiting to serve him. Isobel must have been surprised when he did not make her do Pentula or sleep with him, as was the custom as head of the household, but treated her as a person. Instead she gained back her dignity, and she became part of the household. She gave Taqgrin a sense of contentment. For the first time in his life he had happiness. If it had not been for her commitment to another, he would have freed her and married her.

More women pass through his dream. Then there was Queen Flavia, who came to him naked to have him free her lover Quintas, the leader of the slave rebellion. The Queen tried to use the custom of a noble woman sleeping with her rescuer. Taqgrin knew what was coming since he had hidden a communicator and a physician behind a curtain to protect him from the wrath of the King and the foolishness of the Queen. When that ploy did not work, Queen Flavia developed a hate for him. The Queen had Taqgrin date one of the ladies of her court, Lady Beatrice. Lady Beatrice used the custom of rewarding their rescuer, which Taqgrin took advantage of; to see what the Queen was up to and see if Beatrice might be the woman he might be interested in sharing his life. Taqgrin had found that the time with Beatrice boring, as he had nothing in common with the woman. The woman liked to have money spent on her for foolish items. It was a happy day when she expressed an interest in Baron Vadolsis, a wealthy noble man with lots of land, but a very poor swordsman.

The dream changed again. It showed Taqgrin dancing at tonight’s ball. One woman in blonde hair seemed to get his attention. The faceless woman showed up again in the waiting room of the Queen. Taqgrin saw himself leading a trek across the plains. The blonde faceless woman showed up again on the trek. Then another faceless woman in red hair appeared. She stood on a throne looking down on him. Later Taqgrin found himself making love to the woman before throwing her out. Another woman appeared in his dream. This one had dark hair and chained. From her dress, the dark haired faceless woman appeared to be a pleasure slave. This was odd, as Taqgrin was opposed to having a pleasure slave. Later this woman appeared in normal clothes. A final dark haired faceless woman appeared before him. First, as an old crone, who turned into a beautiful woman? Each woman showed with a single gold band crown on their head, which signified they were a great lady. This was odd as Taqgrin, not being a noble, would not be able to marry them, as he was a commoner, not a noble.

Before Taqgrin woke up, he found himself on a wooden ship. His arm was around a woman, but he could not make out who she was, her before the dream stopped.

As Taqgrin started to wake, his servant Gomar, was talking to him, Master, there is a General Dasta Geristan wanting to see you.

Send him in Gomar. He is an old friend, Taqgrin said as he got out of the chair.

Gomar let in a man of the same age as Taqgrin except his hair had started to turn gray, I thought you would be ready for the big ceremony. General Dasta Geristan said as he walked into the room and shook Taqgrin’s