Free How The Warrior Fell (Falling Warriors series Book 1) by Nicole René

his grasp on Xavier’s throat. “Now you die!”
    The man raised his sword high over his head, ready to cut Xavier in half when he suddenly jerked. Pain flashed across his face as he dropped Xavier.
    Xavier crumbled to the ground. He jerked back up, only to watch the man fall face forward as his uncle pulled out his sword from the barbarian’s back.
    Xavier scrambled to his feet and ran to his father, skidding on the grass to kneel in front of him.
    “Father?” Xavier asked shakily, putting his hand on his father’s shoulder.
    His father looked up at him weakly, blood soaked his chest and spilled over his lip.
    “Take care of your mother,” his father gasped out, blood spitting out with each word he spoke.
    “I will, Father,” Xavier promised thickly. He held his father’s eyes and watched as the life disappeared behind them, replaced with emptiness.
    Xavier bowed his head. A firm hand was placed on his shoulder, and he looked up into his uncle’s grave face.
    “Find your mother, and get out of here as fast you can,” Xavier’s uncle told him sternly. “Hurry!” he shouted, throwing Xavier forward just before he managed to block another sword coming down at them.
    Xavier raced forward, dodging fighting bodies in his search for mother.

    By the time the battle was over, all the invading men were either dead or driven away.
    Xavier stared down at the corpse in front of him impassively. The arrow protruding from the man’s throat was a sure sign he was dead.
    His mother’s bow was still clenched in his tiny hand. The battle won wasn’t without a price.
    That day, both of Xavier’s parents died.
    He failed. He broke the last promise he’d made to his father.
    That day, Xavier made his first kill at seven years old
    That day was the day Xavier lost his innocence and became the youngest and fiercest warrior in Izayges history.

H E HAD A FEVER.
    Leawyn stared at her husband as she lightly rubbed the cool cloth over his hot and sweaty forehead. His condition had grown progressively worse since he was brought in four days ago. The arrow wound was ghastly; the red and black edges of the burn inflicted by Tyronian and Tristan to stop the bleeding were now covered in green puss.
    Signs of infection.
    Though no one said anything, Leawyn could tell they did not think he would survive.
    It was all over their faces.
    She leaned back and wiped an arm across her forehead and sighed. Her eyes closed in exhaustion. She had been awake all night caring for her abusive husband. Why?
    She still had no idea.
    Her eyes opened at the sound of a low moan. Her attention turned back to Xavier.
    He was moaning in his sleep, his eyes flickering back and forth behind his closed lids. He was thrashing slightly, his hands clenched in tight fists.
    Leawyn watched him for a moment, her brows creasing. He gave another moan, jerking forward in the bed as if he were struggling against something. She leaned forward, tilting her head to the side to listen to his quiet mumbling, trying to make sense of the words.
    “Mother . . . !”
    She jerked in surprise at his coarse shout.
    “No . . . ! Please . . .”
    At that tortured whisper, Leawyn couldn’t take it anymore. She leaned back and softly ran her hands through his sweaty and matted hair. When he continued to moan and thrash, without thinking, she started to sing softly under her breath.
    Go home,
    be free.
    Like a swift breeze across the rolling green planes,
    to the mighty mountain range.
    Lay down the bloody blade of the dead,
    lay ye weary head.
    Her voice was very soft, whisper-like at first, but it seemed to be working. Xavier’s struggles lessened. She sang louder.
    Fight the wind and the rain,
    fight against the pain in your heart. Be strong, be smart.
    Fight, you’ll see. You will come home to your mountains.
    Stay here now, between the green trees, your home waits for thee.
    Be free.
    Go home.
    Home to me.
    Finally, he stopped struggling completely and his moans quieted on the