The Enchanter of Rangel: Child of War Book 1 Read Free

The Queen decreed that she along with any other had to give their sons up for service. After Xander’s mother became pregnant and saw that child was a boy, upon registering him as such she vowed never to have another child and had been raising Xander to be a warrior ever since.
    “It’s hard to believe my little man is now 16, I know you wish for a world different from the one in which you were raised but things are tough out there for a male, you won’t have the protection of my magic once they come for you.”
    “I’ll be fine mom; I can take care of myself.”
    “I know baby, it’s just that life isn’t easy out there and there are a fair number of people out there who will hate you just for being mine.”
    “Well just let them try, I’ll cut ‘ em all down!” Xander laughingly screamed as he stood up and started making slashing motions while pretending to hold a sword.
    “Oh no look at the sky it’ll be sunrise soon, Xander, hurry up or you are going to be late.” Screamed his mom as Xander struggled to put on his sword belt.
    “Mom, it’s just sparring practice , I go every day. I don’t know why you rush me all the time.”
    “You are going and will go every day, unless you want to be in some Lady’s mine or farming her field for hours at a time.” Xander’s mother reminded him. “You already know you wouldn’t be treated well, and you can’t hide that mop of red hair on your head or your body type. People already hate Thornians as is and you wouldn’t be treated well in the mines out of eyesight.”
    Xander sighed to himself as he headed out of the door o f their home located in the outpost of Riley. Xander had never visited anywhere outside of Riley but knew he was different than the other males he knew. While Xander was not as tall or broad across the chest, arms and legs as many Rangelians he was much faster. The soldiers stationed at Riley changed every year and as long as he could remember he could outrun all of them and his reflexes were on a level above almost all but the most skilled swordsman. Still even with the difference in body size his hair was something he could not really hide.
    Every time new soldiers were stationed in his outpost the first thing he had to get used to were the stares. Some people were just curious since they had never seen red hair before since most Rangelians had either brown or black hair. Older soldiers though whispered rumors that he was of Thornian birth, tales they would never tell to his face for fear of his mother, the only permanently stationed Rangelian in Riley.  Xander never met his father but often wondered if he had red hair, since his mother never spoke of him only saying he was a man who made his own destiny.  Red hair or not, Xander wondered why he needed all this practice, he was already the better with the bow than any at the outpost and was equally skilled with the sword. Xander thought about this as he left the gates surrounding Riley and headed into the morning sunrise in the small clearing overlooking Thorn.
    Xander walked down the muddy path leading into the clearing and took in the springtime air, heavily scented with pine from the forests of Thorn. He could see many soldiers already stretching preparing to spar with each other. Xander unleashed his sword from his side and went into his forms thinking about how he would miss his mom and couldn’t wait to get out of Riley. Other than his mother, many who have been stationed at Riley neglected to talk to him, they weren’t really rude just distant. After 16 years Xander was excited to finally meet someone his age that would treat him as a peer, no someone to avoid. And with all the stories Xander read he couldn’t wait to meet another female other than his mom.  Xander unsheathed his sword and began his forms, this was one thing that cleared his mind.
    In, out, in, step left, out, step right, this was the butterfly, one of the most advanced forms Xander knew, difficult due to the