The Enchanter of Rangel: Child of War Book 1 by Alonna Lissett Page B

fighting days were over, at least for a little while.
                  Xander hear thuds in what could only be arrows start hitting the carriage he was in, soon the bandits had all the windows smashed but they had to be surprised to see that their arrows did not go all the way through. From the number of arrows launched, Jack figured their couldn’t be no more than three or four archers in the woods and began to look for them. Before long at least two of the archers had arrows through them and the rest of the bandits lost their will to fight and ran off into the forest.
                  The men from Valley lost no one, but did have a three men seriously injured from arrow attacks but it was expected they would make it. The wounded men switched places with Xander and two other Valley archers in the carriage giving Xander his own horse to ride. The attack had to devastate the bandits small party, Xander could count at least nine bodies and was certain some of the survivors had wounds that would not make them effective in another fight for at least a couple of weeks. A rider was sent back to tell Mayor Shelia of the events as well as the pending attack on Valley. Old Jack reasoned they might as well just forge ahead and get some reinforcements from Meadow, rather than travel back since it was closer. The defenses Valley now had along with her small size made anyone without siege weapons easy prey for the defenders.
                  The rest of the trip was uneventful, although fast as Shelia’s party caught up them and she wanted to make haste for the reinforcements. The sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky when they could see Meadow on the horizon.
     
    Chapter
                  Xander and his party went through the gates of Meadow, and this was no Riley or Valley. Huge buildings towered above into the skyline, bigger than Xander had ever seen. Xander rode on his horse down the street and could see it must take a lot of people to keep this place clean. Instead of dirt or cobblestones, this road seemed to be made of hundreds of tiny rocks crushed flat making a much more improved surface. As their convoy proceeded down the main street, Xander wondered where he would be left at, now the trip was completed and he hoped the bandits were fought back in Valley.
                  “Hey boy let me show you where you are supposed to go, with any luck they will send you back with us!” said Old Jack as he led the way down a side street.
                  “Look another one, it’s almost like some sort of infestation” Xander could hear someone say.
                  Turning around Xander could see two older women walking down a connecting street.
                  “They should have just culled them all and ridded us of Thornian influence, it just isn’t proper to have them walking around decent people like that.” The other woman said as they walked passed Xander.
                  “Wow they don’t even attempt to hide the fact that they are talking about you, even to your face” Xander remarked loudly.
                  “Well why would they kid” Jack talked in a softer tone. “What could you possibly do about it that wouldn’t end you up in the mines or someplace worse?”
                  Xander continued to follow Jack until they came up to a big square where there were people up on a stage where a female with gaudy jewelry on began to cry out.
                  “Slaves for sale, slaves for sale! This is a new batch straight from the Willow, Ivy and Aqua mines! We have here a strong bunch looking to avoid the roar of the arena, and willing to prove it! Open up your purses ladies, all proceeds go to her Royal Majesty Queen!”
                  “Is that a slave sale?” said Xander.
                  “Yeah the poor bastards, that’s a bad job getting