“I guarantee you’ll retract that statement once you get to know me,” they laughed again as Yana continued to scowl.
In the other room the short man was taking Tom’s measurements and chatting happily to them.
“First year of training it is boys?” he asked measuring Tom’s arm and they nodded. “Ah yes, every year lots of bright new faces,” he continued, pulling the tape across Tom’s shoulders. “You’ll make lots of friends I’m sure” he added knowingly, “learn plenty too.” They both nodded as he continued to chatter at them and Tom looked at the other boy who had entered. He was much shorter than Tom and quite skinny with short messy blonde hair; he couldn’t believe this boy wanted to be a warrior. He looks more like he should be waiting on the king rather than fighting for him. Tom smiled to himself as he stepped down from the stool and the other boy took his place. He suddenly felt far more confident about his own decision to enrol. The stout man was quiet now, having apparently run out of things to say. Tom seized the opportunity while the man was humming, to introduce himself.
“I’m Tom,” he said with a smile, which the other boy returned nervously.
“Tino,” he replied, “and I have no idea why I’m here, I certainly don’t fit in but my family seemed certain it was the best thing for me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m from Xitol,” Tino explained sighing, “my parents are the stewards of the country and I’m the youngest of five. Do you know much about Xitol?” Tom shook his head. “Everything is centred around wealth,” Tino explained bitterly, “my parents want me to have land and wealth but the only way I can achieve that is if I marry well. They wanted me to train so I’d be desirable and I want to be as far from them as possible so I suggested Caan. I’m more of an academic really.”
“If you’re an academic then why didn’t you continue to study?”
Tino laughed, it wasn’t a kind sound. “The citizens of Xitol care nothing for academia, despite the fact that’s how their wealth was formed; they’re a bunch of idiots really.”
Tom smiled as he saw the potential Tino had, “Sounds like you made the right choice in leaving.” Tino stepped down from the stool and Tom clapped him on the back making him relax.
“Thanks,” he replied as the girls emerged from the hidden door. The four learners were to return in two days to collect their altered uniforms and they agreed to meet up. Kiræ and Aurora hugged as the four parted ways and the twins heading for home.
The twins returned to the tailor’s workroom two days later and found Aurora already waiting outside with her new uniform.
“Hi,” Kiræ said as they approached, “you remember Tom.”
“Of course,” she replied smiling. The twins quickly received their uniforms and returned to Aurora.
“Shall we head to the training ground and receive our room numbers?” Aurora asked.
“Sure,” Kiræ replied, “are you coming Tom?”
“Not yet no,” he replied sounding suddenly annoyed, “might catch up with you later.” Kiræ nodded and the two girls headed towards the training ground leaving an irritated Tom behind.
It didn’t take long for them to arrive at the training area, which consisted of a large sandy square surrounded by the dormitory buildings and the Great Hall. They were appointed their rooms by a tall well-built man with dark hair, speckled liberally with grey. He explained the rules concerning their rooms, training, and classes and Kiræ noticed his light brown eyes were bright and hard like Vala’s, like a warrior’s.
They received room numbers and directions, headed over to one of the large three storey stone buildings next to the training ground and climbed the stairs to the second floor where the girls’ dormitories were located.
“Our rooms are opposite” Kiræ said happily.
“Thank the Gods,” Aurora replied almost in relief, “you can make sure I actually get up on a morning.” They laughed but quickly fell silent as a loud noise caught their attention. They turned and saw a figure marching towards them.
“Tom where have you been?” Kiræ asked.
“I was waiting for Tino at the tailor’s workshop! Why didn’t you wait for him?”
“I’m sorry,” she replied with a stab of guilt, “I must have forgotten.”
“The Gods Kiræ! You can be so selfish sometimes!” Tom sent a final angry scowl her way then stomped back down the hall, round the corner and out of sight. The two girls stared silently after him, mouths open in astonishment before heading a little awkwardly into Kiræ’s room.
Later that evening as Kiræ was washing her face ready for the evening meal she heard a loud knock at the door.
“Who is it?” she called from the wash room.
“Just me,” came Vala’s muffled reply.
“Come on in!” As Vala entered, Kiræ emerged in a green cotton dress and shoes; it was the tradition on the first evening that the learners dressed smartly for dinner. “What do you think?” she asked spinning round.
“You look lovely,” Vala replied, “I-I have some news,” she said glancing briefly at the floor.
“What’s happened?” Kiræ asked, knowing from experience what this meant.
“I’m leaving tomorrow with some warriors to help Lord Goliath.”
“Is it the mingual?”
Vala nodded looking weary, “It seems they’re not targeting the bordering countries like we first thought. We’ve had word that they’ve been sighted close to the Jelicæ border, though we don’t know how they’ve managed to travel that far without being intercepted. Jelicæ’s army won’t be enough to fend them off if what we’ve heard about the mingual numbers is accurate.” Kiræ nodded and Vala continued.
“I’m hoping we’ll be able to reach Denward before any real damage is done but if not, I could be gone a while. If you need anything, Sara will be around, okay?” She leant down to hug Kiræ and kissed her forehead. “Have fun and make lots of friends,” she said releasing Kiræ reluctantly before walking to the door. She smiled reassuringly before leaving and Kiræ prayed to the Gods that Vala would be protected. She had just finished when another knock came at the door and Aurora entered. Together they left for their first evening meal.
As they entered the Great Hall Kiræ stopped abruptly and stared round in amazement. The vast rectangular room had wall length rectangular windows along either side. Some were decorated with coloured glass, making the dying light change colour as it entered the room. Brightly decorated tapestries hung between the windows, telling stories of how the Gods created the world and of historic battles. As Kiræ continued to stare in wonder she was brought back to her senses by Aurora roughly nudging her shoulder.
“What?”
“You’ve been stood with your mouth open for ages and people have started staring,” Aurora whispered as Kiræ looked around at the faces turned towards her. She smiled and felt her cheeks go hot. They hurriedly received their meals and looked for a free table.
“Let’s go to that one,” Aurora suggested pointing to a half empty one at the far end of the room, Kiræ nodded and they walked over. They were about to eat, when the man who had issued their room keys addressed the learners. His crisp clear voice cut through the air like a knife creating a silence filled with nervous excitement.
“Good evening to you all. Those of you who do not know me, I am Sir Nyme the training master. I want to warmly welcome the new learners who I’ll be seeing bright and early in a few days!” There was a sly smile on his face and Kiræ thought she heard several people snigger.
“Anyone who has any worries or concerns is more than welcome to talk to me about them, if you can find me that is,” he said his eyes twinkling. “Now let us thank the Gods and the cooks for this wonderful meal.” There was a chorus of, ‘thank the Gods, we are truly grateful,’ and the room began to eat, the loud volume of chatter quickly returning.
Kiræ woke with the sun five days later on her first day of training; she looked outside as the pale light filtered in
to her room and noticed large storm clouds creeping slowly towards the city. Great rain. She sighed and slipped into her uniform, which consisted of a cotton shirt and trousers. She had started to wash her face when she heard a light knock at the door and the creak of hinges. She entered her bedroom armed with a bar of soap and came face to face with a slim woman with shoulder length mousy blonde hair; Sara. Kiræ breathed a sigh of relief and Sara winked.
“Hi,” she said casually, sitting on Kiræ’s bed, “just thought I’d see how you’ve been since Vala left.” Her voice was cool and gentle but slightly mischievous, which always made Kiræ relax.
“I’m fine,” she replied, “just worried as usual, I honestly don’t know how you manage to stay so calm.”
“It’s never easy seeing your baby sister go into battle but there’s not a lot I can do, except hope she makes it back safely.” Kiræ nodded as Sara got to her feet; she was shorter than Vala, her hair was a darker blonde and her eyes a more traditional hazel.
Sara smoothed down her casual dress, “When does training start?” she asked changing the subject.
“Today,” Kiræ replied excitedly, “and I’ve already met some new people.”
“That’s good, how’s Tom getting on?” she asked as if already knowing the answer.
“I’m not sure, I haven’t seen him lately,” Kiræ stared at the ground, “I’m sure he’s okay though,” she finished, trying to convince herself as much as Sara.
“He is,” Sara replied, “but maybe you should talk to him, he’s the one person who will be there for you no matter what.” She hugged Kiræ tightly, “come see me in the old library sometime,” she called as she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. As Sara left the first morning bell tolled, which alerted the learners to their morning meal; Kiræ rushed out to meet Aurora.
Vala and the three hundred warriors that could be spared had been riding for several days through a harsh spring storm. The rain lashed at their faces while the wind snapped greedily at them like a hungry canine. The warriors and horses were soaked as they fought their way through the energetic storm that managed to creep under their plate armour and clothes, coating their skin with an icy layer of moisture. They had stopped briefly to camp on their way to the town of Rosas but without a fire for warmth there was little cheer.
“This isn’t natural!” one of the men shouted through chattering teeth.
“It’s just a bad spring storm,” Vala tried to reassure them but in her heart she knew the man was right; this wasn’t a natural spring storm. The sky around them was so thick with mutinous clouds that someone waking wouldn’t know if it were day or night. A distant rumble of thunder lowered their morale further as a bolt of lightning shattered the sky and struck a nearby tree causing many of the horses to start. The warriors stared at Vala as if challenging her previous statement and a young woman, with short curly black hair, finally spoke up.
“Just a spring storm?” she challenged, “when have you ever known spring storms to be this aggressive? Autumn maybe but never spring!” Vala who had been pacing heard several murmurs of agreement, she stopped and turned to face then.
“Does it matter?” she asked calmly, staring stony faced at the woman who had spoken, “are you going to turn back? Abandon the people of Denward to the mingual?” There was another bright flash that illuminated the warring sky around them and a deeper, louder growl of thunder.
“If you want to leave then fine! If you are easily beaten by a little rain, scared by a little noise, then leave! Because the people of Denward are fighting a far worse foe and they deserve more than frightened children to help defend them!” She began pacing as the warriors watched her in silence while the rain continued to drum loudly around them.
“They will fight to their last breath rather than surrender! So what will you do? Will you turn back? Run to Caan, your tails between your legs? Or will you stay with me and fight for these people?” Vala stopped and faced them once more as another flash illuminated her against a black canvas. “Will you help defend them against an evil far worse than any of us have ever encountered? It won’t be easy, the Gods know it won’t! The mingual are a formidable enemy, but in the end they are nothing more than the puppets of a woman too scared to face us herself! So I ask again, will you fight?!”
Vala stared at the faces before her, daring them to challenge her again. The rain slackened and another deep rumble shattered the silence. Finally the young woman who had challenged Vala stood and faced her, smiling apologetically.
“We will fight!” she shouted as a loud cheer combined with another rumble of thunder rang out. Vala and the woman clasped hands.
“Forgive me Vala, it was a moment of weakness,” she said looking into Vala’s pale violet eyes.
“There is nothing to forgive Climaya,” Vala replied. The young woman smiled as a black feathered arrow plunged into her neck.
Chapter 4
Vala stared as the lifeless body of Climaya slumped forwards, an everlasting look of surprise and pain etched on her face. There were yells amongst the warriors as they grabbed for their swords and Vala spun round staring intently into the darkness. Another black feathered arrow flew past her cheek and embedded itself into the sturdy trunk of a nearby tree.
“It’s the mingual!” she yelled, reluctantly letting Climaya’s body fall from her grasp as she drew her sword and searched frantically for signs of the foul creatures. An ambush! I should have known! Several more arrows flew past them in the darkness and she heard a grunt as one managed to penetrate the pauldron of a tall, muscular warrior. He looked confused at the arrow protruding from his armour, broke the shaft and pulled his own bow from his back. He fired into the darkness where a piercing screech was followed by the illumination of flames. Through the steady curtain of rain they began to see the outlines of the mingual who towered above them; menacing grins etched upon their faces.
“Stand together,” Vala called to the warriors as she swung her sword, ready for the inevitable fight and prayed they would all survive.
They didn’t advance as the mingual swaggered towards them, they formed ranks; shields were raised against the oncoming rain of arrows, while the archers behind retaliated. The mingual paused, seemed to take a deep breath, then charged. Vala had never actually seen one of the creatures run, they were faster than she expected, pumped full of adrenaline and foaming at the mouth in excitement. As they approached the warriors, those at the front leapt into the air – far higher than Vala would have thought possible – and crashed down amongst the army.
Vala raised her shield to block an attack, trying to prepare for the impact that had caught her off guard in Olai. She felt further pressure as the mingual attempted to overpower her and she rolled to the side causing him to stumble forwards. She stabbed him through the back and watched as he burst into flames. She was smacked in the face as she straightened, which threw her backwards onto the ground. Vala shook her head, wiped blood from her nose and raised herself up on her elbows as a mingual warrior bore down on her.
She fumbled for her shield and held it above her just as his weapon smashed into it cracking the surface. Vala kicked at his legs and eventually managed to take them from under him; she pulled herself up, grabbed his own axe and beheaded him. She scanned about for her sword as she swiped at another mingual with the borrowed axe. Their weapons became locked together and as Vala was about to let go she was knocked onto all fours by a large dark fist. She spluttered and found a heavy unshod foot pushing her into the muddy ground, as if hoping to suffocate her.
The pressure suddenly lessened and she heard a loud scream. She was pulled to her feet, then spun her helper round, throwing the axe at another mingual. Her sword was thrown to her and she instantly struck at another of the creatures who blocked with his own monstrous broad sword. He snarled at her through his smile before black blood sprayed from his neck. He burst into flame and she saw the same warrior who had helped her when the smoke had cleared.
“Thanks Rip,” she said grimacing.
“No problem,” he replied grinning, “shall we take on that lot?” he gestured to a small group of mingual who looked to be revelling in the chaos. Vala nodded, grabbing her shield from the mud as they moved. The ground squelched underfoot as they jogged and the sky was momentarily illuminated by a flash of lightening. The rain hammered around them even harder and Vala found it difficult to see. She heard the ring of Rip’s sword as he reached the mingual first and she sped up, slipping several times on the muddy ground.
She arrived in time to throw herself into the path of two mingual warriors who were approaching Rip from behind. Vala used her instincts to guide her attacks in the gloom and luckily only had to endure a couple of hits that cracked her armour, in order to kill the first. The second was larger, he threw his weight into his attack and she felt her muscles scream in protest from his blow. She saw Rip from the corner of her eye; he had managed to kill two of his three mingual.
Vala swiped at her enemy’s face with the edge of her shield and left a large gash in his cheek; he didn’t flinch, he simply stared at her with those red eyes, ran a finger through the thick, black blood that trickled from his wound and licked it. She shuddered, kicked him hard in the hip and swung her sword towards his ribs; he blocked easily. She breathed heavily, wiped the sweat from her brow and dared a glance at Rip, he had dispatched with his final enemy and was making his way towards her. She sighed internally in relief and thrust her shield once again towards her foe.
Rip had almost reached her when a large sword, almost as tall as Vala somehow sliced diagonally through his plate armour, killing him instantly. Vala screamed in protest and found a new surge of energy; she dispatched with her current enemy quickly and turned on Rip’s killer, throwing her shield at his face with all her strength. As he gasped for breath she hacked away at his weapon holding arm causing him to drop the monstrosity. He launched himself at her, fangs bared, and his one good clawed hand grabbed for her neck. She anticipated his movement and rammed her sword up into his ribs, causing him to falter before dropping to his knees where she left him to die slowly. She stared briefly at the remains of Rip, said a silent prayer, then turned, anger fuelling her and scanned the battle.
Forgotten Magic (Elementals Book 1) Page 3
