The Twins of Tintarfell

by James O'Loghlin

  she do?

  The questions ran round and round until they started to crash into each other and create a babble of confusion. Eventually, one clear thought emerged. She was tired and afraid, but she had to keep going, because her brother needed her. Holding that thought close, she fell asleep.

  Edward lay near, wishing he was safe at home being cuddled by his mother. It was so unfair that she had died. Ever since, he had been so alone.

  He shook his head. He was being weak. He needed to be strong, like a king.

  At least his suggestion that they wait until dark had been adopted. Then he caught himself. He was glad that a servant had decided that his suggestion was of value? What was wrong with him?

  I should be the one giving orders, not Dani.

  The sooner this dreadful mission was over, the better. And it would be over as soon as either Bart or Dani were dead. Why not now?

  Quietly, he got to his feet, picked up his sword, tiptoed over to where they slept and looked down at them. It would just take one plunge of his sword into either of their chests, or one slash across one of their throats, and then he could go home. One plunge or slash and he wouldn’t have to worry about being eaten by soarers, or falling off the cliff, or any of the other dangers ahead. One plunge or slash and he would have fulfilled his mission, and would soon become King.

  But which one?

  Bart was brain-dead anyway, so better him. Silently he raised his sword. Then he stopped.

  If he killed Bart, Dani might wake and see him and . . . then what? Simple. She would surely kill him. Edward knew there was no way that he’d be able to defend himself against her. Even if Potjer awoke, he doubted he’d be able to stop Dani before she threw him off the cliff.

  That meant that if he was going to kill one of the twins, it had to be her. Then he could just lead Bart home.

  He turned to Dani. Again, he remembered his father’s words:

  If you want to be King, you must prove you can be ruthless.

  He raised his sword and stood over her. Do it, he urged himself. He stood, curling and uncurling his fingers around the hilt. His eyes blazed with determination, but still he did not move. He tried to will himself to plunge the sword into her chest, but then he remembered how, when he had got into trouble on the cliff, she had climbed down to him and helped him reach the ledge.

  Be ruthless.

  He stayed still, poised, and then eventually let his sword fall limply to his side. He turned away, silently cursing himself. Why couldn’t he do it? Why couldn’t he be the son his father wanted? His father was right. He was weak, and a coward. He didn’t deserve to be King.

  He lay down again, disgusted at himself. Maybe, he thought, it would be easier to kill one of them if he didn’t have to use his sword. Perhaps, while they climbed, he could give Bart or Dani a shove or a kick so that they lost their balance and fell. In the dark, trying to get past the soarers, anything could happen. Someone could easily fall.

  Doing it that way would be far easier than stabbing someone in cold blood. It would be more like an unfortunate accident. Surely he could do that?

  Dani awoke in darkness and shook Bart, Potjer, Boris and Edward. She didn’t much like the unfriendly way Edward looked at her when she did, but she didn’t much care either, as long as he did as he was told.

  ‘We should wait a while,’ said Edward. ‘The later we go, the more likely it is that all the soarers will be asleep.’

  Dani was impatient, but Edward’s suggestion made sense. So they ate and drank and waited, until Dani could stand it no longer. ‘Let’s go. Everyone load their pockets with rocks.’

  ‘Wait!’ said Edward sharply. ‘What if the soarers have a guard? Or if one of them is awake?’

  ‘Simple,’ said Boris. ‘Dash through their legs.’

  ‘That’s all right for you,’ said Edward. ‘We can’t do that.’

  ‘Hmmm,’ said Boris. ‘Well, we’ll overpower them then. But very quietly, so we don’t wake any of the others. Anyway, let’s not over-plan things. It takes all the fun out of it.’ With that he darted up the cliff.

  ‘Bart,’ said Dani. ‘Follow me.’ She climbed after the fox, Bart close behind her. The moon was bright, providing enough light for her to see that she was in a narrow semicircle-shaped indent in the cliff. On either side there were hand- and footholds, and whenever she couldn’t find one she was able to bridge her legs either side of the half-chute and hoist herself up. Bart imitated her every move.

  Edward reluctantly followed them and behind him came Potjer.

  Soon Boris stopped at a small ledge just wide enough for them all to squeeze onto. When the others had bunched up behind him he whispered, ‘This is our test, humans. The soarers’ ledge is just ahead. Stay close and be brave.’

  Dani turned to Potjer and Edward. ‘We have to be quiet. If I tap you once, that means stop. Two taps means run fast. Three taps means attack. If I tap you three times, don’t hesitate. Just attack. Bart, when we get to the ledge, walk quietly behind me.’

  Boris climbed on and disappeared over the edge of the ledge. Dani followed and cautiously poked her head over the top. The ledge was about twenty steps wide and flat. Behind it the cliff rose, smooth and vertical. She could dimly see the entrances to some caves. Of the soarers themselves, there was no sign.

  The fox turned right and slowly padded along the ledge. Dani followed as quietly as she could, with the others behind her. They crept on, as close to the edge of the cliff as they dared to maximise the distance between themselves and the caves, and passed a circle of small rocks inside which Dani could see ashes from a recent fire, and animal bones.

  She heard something to her left and turned to see a soarer walking out of a cave. Dani froze, but Bart kept walking and bumped into her. The soarer turned towards them and for a moment they stared at each other. Then the soarer screeched so loudly that Dani flinched.

  ‘Bart. Run,’ shouted Dani, and took off along the ledge. The soarer screeched again and more of the creatures emerged from caves. Ahead, three of them ran out onto the ledge and blocked Dani’s path. She pulled a rock from her pocket, ready to hurl it, but before she could the soarers ran to the cliff’s edge and leapt off.

  Why? wondered Dani. Are they afraid of us? She hoped they were, and kept running. Ahead she saw Boris dash behind a rock near the cliff and take cover. Suddenly she sensed something to her right and turned to see the soarers who had jumped off the cliff gliding in towards them. One crashed into Bart, a second into Edward and the third into Dani, knocking her to the ground.

  The soarer sat on Dani’s stomach. She still had a rock in her right hand, so she threw it at the soarer’s face. It hit the creature in the mouth and it fell back. Dani pushed it off, jumped to her feet, and reached for another rock.

  To her right, Edward was lying on his stomach, a soarer sitting on top of him.

  The soarer that had attacked Dani dragged itself to its feet and faced her. Dani brandished her rock, ready to throw. Suddenly, the soarer put its head down and charged. Dani threw the rock. It hit the soarer on the shoulder, but it kept coming, driving into Dani’s ribcage and knocking her over. The soarer punched her in the cheek and her head rolled to one side. She saw Bart a few steps away on his back, a soarer sitting on his chest. Her brother was pumping his legs and arms like he was sprinting. Dani realised that he was still trying to follow her most recent command, which was to run.

  ‘Bart. Fight them,’ she shouted.

  Instantly, Bart stopped his lying-down running and flung himself at the soarer, taking it by surprise and knocking it off him. Bart scrambled to his feet and dived at the soarer on top of Dani, bumping it off her. More soarers appeared out of the darkness. Edward was now held down by two soarers, and Potjer by three. About a dozen others fanned out in a semicircle around Dani and Bart.

  ‘Bart. Follow me,’ said Dani, and ba
cked up towards the cliff until she felt it behind her. At least none of the soarers could get behind them now. She slipped a rock into Bart’s hand. ‘Bart. Hold this rock. When I say “now”, throw it at one of them.’ She grabbed another rock. First throw the rocks, she told herself, then run. It was as good a plan as she could think of, but she knew there were too many of them. Maybe they should just give up, and they might have a chance to escape later.

  ‘Dani,’ called Edward from the ground. ‘The horn.’

  Of course! Gildarin hadn’t promised that blowing the horn would instantly fix everything, but she had said that if she heard it she’d try to help. And they needed help. Dani pulled it from her satchel and blew as hard as she could.

  The noise was deafening, far louder than she expected. The soarers took a step back in surprise, but after a few moments moved forward again. Dani blew the horn again, but they kept coming, fanning out so that they blocked any escape up or down the ledge.

  Dani raised her rock. The soarers edged forward, tightening the semicircle around them.

  ‘Now,’ she cried, and threw. The rock hit a soarer in the chest. Bart threw his and it hit another in the stomach. That stopped the others for a bit. Dani reached into her pocket. She had three rocks left. She pulled another out. Suddenly, a soarer yelled and all of them rushed forward.

  ‘Bart. Fight,’ Dani shouted. She threw her rock and then they were upon her. A soarer grabbed her arm and another one threw itself at her legs. Soon she was held firmly by several soarers, as was Bart. They were led along the ledge, back the way they had come. In front of her, other soarers led Edward and Potjer. Dani wondered where they were going and what would happen when they got there.

  Suddenly, something zoomed out of the air and into the head of a soarer, who screamed and grabbed its ear. Dani realised it was a crow. Soon the air was thick with them. They were hard to see in the dark, and they darted in and pecked and clawed at the soarers, who flung their hands up, trying to protect themselves, and in doing so let go of their prisoners. Dani felt a surge of hope. ­Gildarin must have heard the horn and sent the crows to help them.

  Dani struck out wildly, punching and kicking, and pushed away from the soarers. ‘Bart. Get yourself free, then follow me.’

  To her right, near the edge of the cliff, Edward struggled with a soarer. Dani pulled out a stone and threw it. It hit the soarer in the back and it reeled away. Potjer was near the edge of the ledge, slashing his knife at two more soarers, who turned and ran.

  ‘Great things, knives,’ Potjer said. ‘Really useful.’

  There were soarers and crows everywhere. Some of the soarers leapt off the ledge. Dani realised that the advantage of surprise the crows had enjoyed was now gone and, with some of the soarers in the air, the crows would pose much less of a threat. Soon the soarers would regroup and come after them again.

  ‘This way,’ she shouted to Edward and Potjer. ‘Bart. Follow me.’ She ran along the ledge, hoping that soon they would find the stream and, beyond it, the tunnel that led to the top of the cliff.

  Potjer ran next to Dani. Bart was just behind her and Edward behind him. Edward noticed that Bart was running just a step or two from the edge of the cliff.

  It’d be easy to bump him off, he thought. No one would see. I could just say he tripped and stumbled sideways. He increased his pace until he was beside Bart. Just one push and his mission would be accomplished.

  Again, he hesitated.

  They ran on, side by side, Edward knowing that at any moment he could do it. Ahead, he heard the sound of rushing water. It must be the stream they needed to cross to get to the tunnel that led to the top of the cliff. He glanced over his shoulder and could dimly make out several soarers chasing them. Ahead he could now see the stream, about ten paces wide, crossing the cliff. Bart was still beside him. Edward willed himself to shove Bart, but still something stopped him.

  Ahead, Dani plunged into the stream, and the others followed. Luckily, the water only came to their knees. Edward remembered that Boris had said that the tunnel was in the third cave past the stream. They dashed past one cave, then another, and came to the third. Dani peered in, and then disappeared inside. Edward reached the entrance. The cave was empty and its back right-hand corner sloped upwards into a wide chimney that led upwards. Dani was pulling herself up into it, Bart behind her.

  At the bottom, Edward hesitated. Even though he could see handholds and footholds, the chimney rose straight up and if he fell, he would crash to the bottom and probably die. But if he didn’t climb, the soarers would get him.

  Potjer had already started up. Edward cursed. Now, if the soarers caught anyone, it would be him. He grabbed a handhold and started to climb. Soon he was panting. He heard noises below, peered over his shoulder and could dimly see soarers coming after them. The space was too confined for them to use their wings, but they climbed quickly. Edward redoubled his efforts, and promptly got kicked in the face by Potjer, and nearly lost his grip.

  ‘Hurry up,’ he gasped. ‘They’re coming.’

  Edward looked down again. The lead soarer was only a few body lengths below. Above, Edward saw a circle that was slightly less dark than the darkness surrounding it. In the middle of it was a pinprick of light. A star! That must be the top.

  Suddenly, something grabbed his boot. He kicked back as hard as he could and heard a cry.

  Above him, Potjer climbed around the side of the wall.

  ‘Go past, your Highness. I will protect you.’

  Edward felt a surge of relief and climbed past Potjer. He scrambled higher, and then glanced back. Potjer was just ahead of the soarers. Suddenly, one grabbed his leg. Potjer kicked out, but the soarer hung on, and pulled down.

  Edward saw the strain on Potjer’s face as he tried to hang on. Another soarer grabbed his other leg and pulled it. Potjer’s hands were being dragged from their holds. Edward stared at him, transfixed.

  Their eyes met. ‘Go, Highness. Go,’ cried Potjer. One of his hands lost its grip. For a moment the other held on, but then it, too, was ripped from the rock. Potjer screamed and fell tumbling down the chute, bouncing off the sides until he hit the ground with a dull thud.

  Edward pulled his eyes away and raced for the top. He could hear the soarers behind him. Above, Dani scrambled out of the chute, Bart behind her. Edward frantically reached for holds, sweat in his eyes, terrified that at any moment he would feel a soarer’s hand on his leg. He made it to the top and heaved himself out onto a flat piece of grassy ground. To his right was the cliff edge and to his left, only a few steps away, a forest.

  Dani stared down the chute. ‘Get something to block the hole,’ she ordered. Despite the danger they faced, and the fact that it was a sensible suggestion, Edward still had time to think, How dare she speak to me like that, before he rushed towards the cliff edge, hoping to find loose rocks. Near the edge he did, but none were bigger than his fist. They would have to do. He pulled up the bottom of his tunic to make a pouch and filled it with a dozen stones, then stumbled back to Dani and dropped them near the edge of the chute.

  A soarer’s hand reached over the rim and Dani stomped on it. There was a cry and the hand retreated. Two more hands appeared. She stomped on one and then the other, and they also withdrew.

  Dani glanced down at the stones. ‘We can’t block the entrance with those.’

  ‘No,’ replied Edward, ‘but we can do this.’

  He picked up a stone and, careful to keep his feet back from the edge so a hand couldn’t grab them, threw a

  rock at the lead soarer. The soarer wailed and started to back down. Edward threw another rock, and another.

  The soarers rapidly retreated. Dani, next to him, grabbed a few rocks and threw some herself. Edward ­realised he had another chance. If he shoved Dani, she would fall into the chute. Even if she survived the plunge, the soarers would finish her off.

 
; Edward threw another stone and heard a scream below. He took a step back and moved to his right so that he was nearly behind Dani. He stared at her back. Just one shove would do it.

  Dani threw her last stone and stepped back from the edge. Edward knew he had missed yet another opportunity. What’s wrong with me?

  Dani looked down. ‘Poor Potjer,’ she said. ‘I thought he was just behind me. How did they get him?’

  ‘He told me to go past him and then they pulled him down,’ said Edward slowly. He didn’t understand it. Why had Potjer sacrificed his life to protect him? It made no sense. Life was all there was. He couldn’t imagine ever sacrificing his for someone else.

  ‘Where’s Bart?’ asked Dani, looking around anxiously. Noise was coming from a nearby tree. Bart was three-quarters of the way up it, frantically climbing higher.

  ‘What’s he doing?’ she asked.

  ‘Was the last command you gave him to climb?’ asked Edward. ‘He’s still obeying.’

  ‘Bart,’ shouted Dani. ‘Stop climbing. Come down.’ Bart turned and released one of his hands, and then took a foot off the branch he stood on.

  Edward realised he was about to jump. Was this the opportunity he had been waiting for?

  ‘Bart. Stop!’ yelled Dani. ‘Bart. Climb down. Carefully.’

  Bart started to slowly make his way down. Dani watched him until he reached the ground. When he did, Edward felt a confusing mixture of disappointment and relief.

  ‘What happened to the fox?’ he asked.

  ‘He ran off as soon as we were attacked,’ said Dani. ‘He was all talk. At least with you . . .’ she stopped.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Well, you don’t pretend to be something you’re not, like he did.’

  Edward held her gaze for a moment and then looked away, wondering if that was a compliment or not.

  ‘The soarers might fly up and try to find us,’ said Dani. ‘If not now, then at daylight.’

  She faced the cliff and pointed to her left. ‘Gildarin said the castle’s this way, on the edge of the cliff. We should walk through the forest so the soarers don’t see us, but stay close to the cliff so we don’t miss the castle. Agreed?’