by Kai Widdeson
SMACK!
The colours in the room fade as the king backhands me with his sword arm. I throw myself against the door as sparks fly across my vision and the bedchamber tilts around me. Blood rushes in my ears and is accompanied by a high ringing. I can barely hear the rest of the room over the noise. My heart thumps aggressively against my chest.
King Breyden stands in the middle of the room, one hand holding onto his lowered sword whilst the other presses against his wound. Blood oozes between the metal fingers and trickles down his chainmail.
There’s a cry off to my right, Prince Arron is brought to the ground as Orrian’s sword pierces the back of his knee.
I use my sword to rise back to my feet, blinking rapidly as I try to clear the imaginary lights dancing around the room. King Breyden has placed his other hand back on the hilt, sweating profusely and already beginning to lose colour. He swings desperately, every move he makes is sluggish and off balance. I duck and roll between his attempts. I still don’t want to risk meeting the force of his blade and so I divert it off just enough to one side to miss.
Prince Arron shudders on the floor. Finally defeated.
King Breyden is slowing but still very much fighting. Orrian flies across the room and tackles him from behind, King Breyden manages to twist to one side and Orrian’s momentum carries him crashing into the bed. The young king’s head snaps back as he collides with the wooden frame.
The older king has a predatory look on his face as he prepares to put an end to his younger counterpart, releasing me from his attention as he turns to the greater threat. Orrian’s weapon has slid out of sight. He struggles to pull himself up with the quilts on the bed but no longer has the strength in his arms. He slumps back to the floor and faces his adversary.
King Breyden positions his hands over his shoulder as he aims the point downwards at Orrian. Orrian does not close his eyes or look away, he will look death in the face as he is taken.
I swing with one final effort.
The sword falls from King Breyden’s hands.
A crowned head leaves its golden body.
I hurtle into the wall opposite, unable to stop myself. The royals scream from their corner and Orrian kicks a body off him.
I did it. It’s over.
I stare into nothingness uncomprehending. Unable to accept what has finally happened. My vision finally clears and the roaring in my ears subsides. I am aware of my breathing, it’s fast, but I’m breathing. The deep gash in my side throbs more violently with each passing second, but I allow the pain to course through me. I am alive, King Breyden is dead, and I am alive.
Orrian is on his feet above. He extends his hand towards me and I let him pull me to my feet. He pulls me close and we lean into each other for support. The forest king’s head shifts by my ear and breathlessly whispers a single word.
“Akanian,” he says.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Orrian eventually leaves me and bends down the other side of the bed. None of the royals dare challenge him, none of them will ever challenge us again. When he straightens, a jewel-encrusted crown hangs off his fingers.
“Damion,” I realise, he never entered after us.
Orrian follows as I stagger out of the large doors. The wreckage of the king’s guards bloodies the hallway before us. Six armour-clad bodies sprawl across the floor, their king will follow them into the next life.
A much smaller body lies among them, I kick a fallen soldier aside as I kneel by Damion. I pull him onto my lap as his eyelids flicker feebly, he hasn’t got long. One of the soldiers managed to cut him deep, his blood mixes with the soldiers’ to flood the floor beneath our feet.
His lips move slightly, I have to dip my head lower to make out the words.
“Did you do it?” he asks.
I can only nod as my tears mix with the crimson below. Once the first droplet falls, I know that I’ll be unable to contain the rest. I cry not only for Damion, but for everyone. The war is finally over, we can finally mourn.
“It’s ok, we can get you help,” I say, but we both know that my words are empty.
“Promise me. Look after my dad. Promise me,” the dying boy’s eyes well up.
“I promise Damion, always,” I say.
Damion closes his eyes.
They find us some time later.
Footsteps and shouts coming from the hallway at the bottom of the steps. Orrian sits with me among the carnage, Damion’s head still rests in my lap. We had waited helplessly as they grew louder and louder, neither of us can continue. Our fight is over, when they find us, we will be able to do nothing to stop them.
A head begins to rise from below, something inside me crumbles. The man doesn’t wear a helmet, and I doubt he would fit into any armour.
Thoren leads the survivors towards us.
They won. We won.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The setting sun catches on the soft golden fields, rippled by a slight breeze in the air. Birds sing from the trees and fly overhead. I no longer wish I was one of them, after all, where would I fly to? There is nowhere else I’d rather be.
Mother still has her arm draped over my shoulder as we walk back through the fields towards Avlym. Alice runs off in front of us, her shoulders barely reaching above the barley fields. She has endured more than any child her age should, yet in these last few weeks her childhood has gradually been gifted back to her. She chases after her friends who all nip at Ida’s heels as she steers them back towards the village. Randall joins us as our fingertips brush the crops, this year will be a good harvest.
All the survivors surround us, none have a dry eye as we finish paying our respects. Here lies some of the most courageous people to ever gift Avlym with their presence. We have all lost someone, but none of them will ever be forgotten. We are born from the forest, and so it is among the trees where they have been lain to rest.
We say goodbye to too many, but we will be reunited with them eventually. They gave their lives so that we may live, truly live. Not under the fist of the colony, there will be no distant king who takes as he pleases, or sadistic collector taking advantage of us. We are free, finally.
Their names are scratched into the trees, alongside those who came before them and waiting for those to come. Bruce, his name will forever stand alongside his wife. Arthur, Damion, Landen, and so many others, we will remember them.
Avlym had been reduced to ash and rubble, but from the wreckage, the new village has been born. The first of us have already moved in, our family, Randall included, now reside in a two-story home with plenty of space for all of us. Wooden frameworks line Avlym’s old street, before long the village will be larger and more impressive than ever before.
I have made good on my promise to Damion, I have watched out for Bennie in case he strayed from the path. It had been torturous watching the man struggle with his demons, he had so desperately wanted to avoid the war and escape with his reacquainted son to the mountains. He had unsurprisingly struggled, but ultimately Damion needn’t have worried. Bennie leads Avlym’s expansion, taking it upon himself to lead a team responsible for creating our new homes. He has found something in his loss, Avlym has given him a new purpose. He had refused to touch another bottle, swapping the drink for his new beloved tools.
A wide path has been cleared which disappears deep into the forest. I know it goes far, I have made the journey to its end several times already. Avlym and the tribe may remain in different locations, but we are one people. We are one community, able to travel between each other as we please.
They too had started rebuilding. Bridges, pathways, and entire homes sit suspended high above the forest floor. It’s a truly incredible sight to behold. The tribe are bringing their home back under Orrian’s guidance, everything can be rebuilt.
The young king has finally found time to mourn his parents. He can sleep easy knowing that he will now lead their people into an age of peace and prosperity. The first thing he had done after
the battle was confess to my mother about my father. Of course, she had forgiven him. She had guessed as soon as Randall had walked into the dungeon with his spear. As busy as the rebuilding has kept him, he still makes time to visit whenever my mother invites him over for dinner. In fact, he should be here before the sun sets.
I had been with the tribe as they had mourned their own losses, Arys, Faelyn, Edwyn. Tharrin had of course been torn apart by the loss of his brother, but he would not suffer alone. Myself, Orrian, and Jaq had all sat with him through the night, a soft fire crackling at our feet. Some of the tribe had even ventured back out to the beach to bring their fallen back home. Why shouldn’t they? There are no Halpians to fear anymore.
The colony’s throne has been destroyed, Thoren had seen to that. The fighting had stopped, and the crown melted down, their city will never be ruled by another king. As planned, there had not been a single civilian casualty throughout the entire war, they have nothing to fear from us. The city will become a home to all communities, if all goes well, their gates should never need to close again.
The remaining village leaders have elected new representatives from their ranks. They will become one united council to watch over the city and the surrounding villages. There is no more colony, their land, their wealth, and their technology belong to everyone now. Growth will not be reserved for the select few. Together, we will come into a new age.
Thoren has finally hung up his sword. Even the tribe, impressed by his skills in battle, had voted for his seat on the council. Each time he has been elected, and each time he has politely declined the offer. His time for leading is over, now he can finally live in peace with his family. Nahia, I had discovered, was the large girl who had helped fight the soldiers on the way to the dungeon. Thoren’s family walks away from us now, hoping to reach Tarrin before the moon rises. His wife wraps Thoren’s large hands around her own as Nahia strides in front. The warrior’s daughter had insisted that she help Bennie with carving Damion’s name. I’m not surprised, the boy had died a hero. Thanks to him, so many lost children have been able to return to their families. An entire generation owes him a debt that they’ll never be able to repay.
I leave Mother and Randall to make their way back to our house as I head off in a different direction. A small pendant bounces against my chest as I walk, attached to a thin cord that loops around my neck. Orrian is king, but I am the Akanian. I had been reluctant to accept the responsibility at first but had eventually agreed to keep the pendant for him until he has a child of his own. Alice and the rest of the children continue to run through the fields as Ida calls nonsensically after them.
I pass the new bakery, rebuilt stronger and larger in the plot of the old one. Rhys gives me a nod from the doorway as I pass. No one has been denied entrance to the new village, even Cecilia. It’s time for everyone to start afresh, us, the tribe, even the remainder of the colony’s forces have integrated themselves into the new city life.
I now walk among all the wooden frames, promises of great structures to come. Bennie and the builders wake up even before Randall and me. Soon, there will be plenty of space in Avlym for everyone. They wave to us in the morning light as we head out to hunt together in the forest. Robyn joins us occasionally, but normally she prefers to hunt alone in the evenings after spending the day helping her mother.
Both of us were village hunters now, my coming-of-age celebrations had been tame but pleasant. I had spent the day itself in the colony, aiding in the efforts and completely unaware of the significance of the day. The others had already travelled back to Avlym and so the day had passed like any other, although they had made certain that I hadn’t forgotten as soon as I returned.
Orrian had given me a strong steed to take carry me back to Avlym. The stallion’s coal hide had disappeared beneath me as I had arrived home in the late hours. The streets had been empty and only the most resilient of flames still flickered, guiding me towards my new home. They had been waiting for me, all of them.
The festivities had gone long into the night, we were a family reunited, reluctant to let even sleep separate us again. I had awoken the following morning to Randall who grinned as he rolled me out of bed and shoved my dad’s hunting spear into my hands. I had joined him in greeting the rising sun every day since. As we headed out each morning, sometimes accompanied by Robyn, Manuel, or Devin, I finally know what it’s like to belong.
I stand at the edge of the village, I don’t have to wait long before a familiar figure appears up ahead walking towards me. He is slightly taller than I am, much more muscular, and has a nest of blonde hair barely hiding a discrete green mark around his left ear. To some he may look like a regular teenager, but he is the king of his people, a man of the forest, and my brother.
“Evening,” I say, patting him on the back.
“Am I the last one?” Orrian asks.
“Still got to get Robyn, but then we should be all set,” I say.
“How was it?” Orrian asks.
“Nice. Fitting,” I say, remembering the names carved into the bark.
“Good,” he smiles.
We walk towards Avlym’s centre, casually discussing Orrian’s plans for the tribe. Much may have changed in Avlym, but nobody’s going to be changing the old fire pits. The village has already gathered around the hearty flames, lounging on the grass and against logs.
Alice runs over as soon as she sees Orrian. He reaches down to scoop her in his arms and lift her high towards the stars. She giggles gleefully demanding that he goes again as he sets her down onto the grass. He feigns complaining before launching her skywards once more. This time he does not set her back down but instead sits her on his shoulders, she laughs as her friends run around beneath her.
“Mother and Randall are going to join us in a bit,” I say with a smile. “Want to go and get Robyn with me?”
Orrian gives me a knowing look.
“It’s alright, I’ll wait for her here,” he says. I nod appreciatively before leaving him to entertain my sister.
Robyn and her parents had, like us, been among the first to obtain a position in the new Avlym. They are over at the other side of the village, but I don’t mind, I enjoy the walk.
Her mother opens the door with a smile.
“Hello Dale, here for Robyn?” she asks, knowing my answer.
“Hey, you,” Robyn says as she edges past and leaps out towards me. Releasing me, she turns back to face her mother. “Are you going to be long?”
“Not at all. Your dad just needs to finish up and then we’ll be on our way,” her mother answers to Robyn’s delight. Robyn closes the door behind her and together we begin our walk back towards the fire.
This is the part I’ve really been nervous for. After the war had been won, there has been so much to do, and everyone had travelled back to their homes at their own pace. Robyn’s family had accompanied Bennie back here while I had volunteered to stay behind with Orrian as the new council was formed. We had met a few times, in the aftermath of the battle and as she set off from the city gates, but now we’re finally alone.
I remember a promise I made to myself, all the way back near a ruined shack on the edge of Tarrin. I cannot put it off any longer or I fear I’ll never ask.
“Robyn,” I start, interrupting the comfortable silence between us. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”
“What’s that?” she says, she continues looking ahead.
“Well, I-” I stammer, how had my speech been so clear in my head only moments ago.
“You what?” Robyn says.
“I was wondering-” I begin again.
“What were you wondering?” she interrupts.
I turn to her, her lip curls slightly upwards as she tries to continue staring ahead.
“You’re messing with me!” I grin.
“Of course, I am,” she bursts out laughing. “Do you want to ask me out now that you’re some big-time hero, is that it?”
“No, o
f course not-” I blurt out, why won’t my words come out as I want them. They’re right there, on the tip of my tongue, but as soon as they leave my mouth, they come out all mixed and jumbled.
She finally stops and turns to face me, she doesn’t try and hide her smile anymore. Her hair glows in the firelight and her leafy green eyes stare into my own with a new intensity.
“You’re doing it again, aren’t you?” I say, unable to keep my relief from showing.
“Always,” she whispers.
She leans forwards. Her lips find mine. Everything else slips away around us. Her fingers lightly brush the still healing wound in my side. I ignore the small jabbing stings as her hands gently bring me closer until we are pressed against each other.
She pulls away much sooner than I’d like. Then again, if it were up to me, we would stand here for the rest of eternity. She teases me with a beautiful smile before starting back towards the gathering in front of us.
Avlym’s feast is waiting, I jog a few steps to catch up with her. We walk towards the fire, the conversation, the drinking, the laughter. Mother and Randall have joined now and sit next to each other, it’s perhaps the first time I can ever remember seeing my mother truly happy.
Orrian has saved us a spot next to him, he’s already tucking into a large piece of meat. I watch as he rips off a chunk to give to my sister.
As we approach, something brushes against my side. We don’t look at each other, neither of us need to. Robyn warmly squeezes my hand as my fingers find hers.
Together, we join our people.
Acknowledgements
First I would like to thank my parents. Dad, this is all thanks to you sharing your love of books with me and I could never have done this without all of your support, proof-reading, and general idea-bouncing. Mum, this is for your endless supply of creativity and inspiration (and of course teaching me how to read in the first place). You were the one to give me the imagination needed to create this world through these pages.
