The Oracle

by K. S. Marsden

  “Might I carry your bag for you, Lady Samantha?”

  Samantha scrutinised the handsome face and intelligent brown eyes of the prince. “It’s alright, I can manage. But you are welcome to ride with me, if your brother has abandoned you.”

  Cristan gave half a smile, “My brother has always followed his head.”

  “Does that make you the heart?” Samantha asked, conversationally. “I would have thought the heart to be more distracted by a pretty girl, than the head.”

  “Perhaps; alas my brother was the first to claim Lady Jillis’ attention today. Which may yet work in my favour, he is a dreadful bore and I can’t imagine her wanting to speak to him twice.”

  Samantha chuckled as she threw her bags across her horse’s back. She mounted Legan, and waited for the prince to get on his borrowed horse. “Ah well, you have the consolation prize of accompanying me.”

  Cristan froze, “Oh. I meant no offence, Lady Samantha, I am of course very honoured-”

  Samantha waved for him to stop. “Enough, I am not offended. Jillis is as good on the inside, as she is beautiful on the outside. Not I, nor anyone else, can compare.”

  “I actually wanted to thank you for supporting us at the council last night.” Cristan added, “My brother and I will serve the Gardyn in any way we can.”

  “That’s alright, I-” Samantha froze, then smiled as sweet thoughts reached out to her. She was filled with excitement as she turned back to the prince. “Forgive me, Prince Cristan, but Alina has returned from Autumn. I have to find out any news from the herd.”

  Samantha nudged her horse into action, leaving Cristan feeling quite deserted.

  “I am sorry your highness, but unless you have four legs, you won’t keep her attention.” Tobias remarked as he walked closer after witnessing them, “I should know.”

  As they walked through the forest, drifting away from the main army, Samantha and Alina were quickly joined by Siabhor.

  The grey unicorn kept jogging along as she rejoiced in returning to her home forests. Alina practically hummed with joy as she tilted her head to look up at the tree boughs, looking towards the mallus. “We feared we would never see you again.”

  Siabhor’s hairy head hung down from the canopy momentarily. The mallus was confused at his own feelings – he was the natural predator of unicorns and humans and had always lived by his hunter’s instincts. Last year he had found it unnerving that he could be friends with such creatures. When they left him behind, he was surprised to find that he actually missed them, and now he appreciated their return more than he would ever admit.

  “I be here because of my old pack.” He said, as he set off again, his claws clacking against the wood of the trees. “No other pack would take me in, but I find mallus of old pack – Sahr’s pack. The ones that live, they still be hurt from the battle and in winter would die, but for a time we all run together, they all follow Siabhor.”

  Samantha looked up at the fleeting shadow with surprise, “But... males never lead mallus packs!”

  Siabhor gave a throaty bark of satisfaction. “They all follow Siabhor. And as winter comes, I do not be wanting them to die. Then that Rian-man come; I be trusted by both humans and mallus, so we make deal. They heal mallus, we help them hunt and wait for Samantha to return.”

  Siabhor shot a more than usually sly look at the glittering unicorn below him. “But Siabhor did not get to meet junior unicorn, Sundance. After all he be annoying me last year, he left fast.”

  Alina kept going straight on, getting her thoughts in order before she shared them with her friends. For all her effort, she couldn’t keep the hint of worry from her words. “It was very hard for Sundance – coming of age in a world without unicorns. For all that the people of Caelum meant well, he was overwhelmed by the humans’ curiosity and constant presence. He has long been desiring our return home. We will probably find him in the Valley, or at Wentra.”

  It took several hours to get to the Valley, the original Gardyn sanctuary in the forest. It was a large, open area that had once been the home of Autumn and his herd of unicorns.

  When they passed through the natural defence of high, impenetrable brush, Samantha noted the absence of the unicorns with some distress. She had brought the problems of the human war to their forest; and she felt that it was her fault that Autumn felt driven from his home to the hide in the unicorn sanctuary of Wentra.

  Now, half the Valley was taken up by horse corrals that contained the bulk of the Gardyn cavalry and heavy horse. The rest accommodated the people, rows of tents and huts, some still being hastily erected for the army Samantha had brought from Caelum.

  Alina said her goodbye to Samantha and Siabhor and trotted away to find Sundance, before returning to visit Autumn at Wentra.

  As Samantha and Siabhor continued to the tents, people would stand aside to let them pass, saluting as they did so. A couple of years ago this would have startled Samantha, but she just nodded graciously and pushed her horse to keep up with her favourite monster.

  From one of the larger canvasses a familiar captain emerged. “Lady Samantha, welcome home.” Captain Rinar said formally.

  Samantha stopped her horse and dismounted, pleased to see the Gardyn. Rinar might not have the shining career of his cousin, Rian, but Samantha found he was one of the most trustworthy allies she had.

  “Thank you, Captain. I’m glad to be back” Samantha replied with a smile. Home. With a slight bitterness, Samantha acknowledged that her home was with the Gardyn in Enchena, more than it ever had been in Leeds. “How is everyone settling in?”

  Rinar sighed at the dull mechanics of settling an army. “Everyone is fine. We’ve sorted out Lord Mgair’s old accommodation for the princes to use. Everything will soon be on track for us to attack Hrafn.”

  “Good, an army this large won’t escape notice. I’d be surprised if Hrafn doesn’t already know of our return.”

  Samantha hesitated, looking uncertain. “I want to see it.”

  Rinar knew immediately what she meant. “The city? Of course, we’ll go first thing tomorrow.”

  Samantha nodded, “I want a small party. Include the Princes Lugal and Cristan – they have the right to see it. And I want the girl Jemma, to come with us. Have her sent for immediately.”

  *****

  “Jemma, can you come out here please?” Saxton asked from the tent entrance.

  Jemma stood up obediently; she had offered to tidy the tent and was glad to step outside into a fresh breeze on the hot summer afternoon. “What is it?”

  Saxton glanced at a man that Jemma didn’t recognise. “You’ve been summoned to journey with a small party led by Lady Samantha herself.”

  “Oh,” Jemma was surprised by the news, she was quite sure that Lady Samantha didn’t like her. “But, why?”

  “That’s not for us to know,” Saxton replied softly, “You have to go with the messenger to the Valley. I’m sure everything will be explained there.”

  “On my own?” Jemma asked, panicking. She had already gotten so comfortable with the Marsh family and Treefort, she couldn’t imagine being stuck in the middle of the Gardyn stronghold with only the daunting Lady Samantha as company.

  “Angrud and I will accompany you.” Saxton replied, glancing at the messenger for any sign of argument. “The Gardyn won’t want their precious oracle to go without an escort. Go pack a bag for the journey, I will get the horses ready.”

  Jemma managed a thank you, then ducked back into the humid tent. She immediately went to the corner that had been reserved for her few possessions since she had become a permanent guest of the Marsh family.

  “What are you doing?”

  Jemma glanced over her shoulder to see Russit staring at her.

  “I’ve got to go to the Valley.” Jemma replied truthfully.

  “Really?” Russit’s voice rose with the excitement of the idea. “That’s where the main army is. Can I come too?”

  “I don’t think so.” Jemma re
plied a little too quickly. She saw the sour look that preceded one of Russit’s tempers and added quietly, “You’re not thirteen yet, your parents are still in charge of you and I doubt they’d let you come.”

  “What if I asked them?” Russit asked, his face still dark.

  Jemma sighed, “Even if they said yes, you weren’t invited.”

  Russit was about to answer when the tent flap was drawn back and an impatient-looking Angrud looked in.

  “Are you ready, Jemma?”

  Jemma nodded and slung her bag over her shoulder. Once outside, she took the reins of the docile bay mare and accepted the offer of a leg-up.

  “I’ll see you when I get back, Russit.” She called down to the young lad as her horse began to follow the messenger’s steed; Saxton and Angrud quickly falling in behind them.

  *****

  Samantha strolled down to the far end of the Valley, where a handsome young palomino unicorn was pacing. Frustrated, his forelegs reared up to paw the air as he cast a spiteful glance at the forest.

  “Hello, Sundance.” Samantha called out, trying to sound as though nothing worried her.

  Sundance suddenly turned towards her, horn lowered. Samantha was shocked by the intensely furious thoughts that seeped from the beautiful creature.

  Seeing that it was Samantha that approached him, Sundance relaxed and the fury that lit his eyes faded. “Samantha, I was not expecting to see you.” Sundance seemed once more the honest colt that Samantha knew, embarrassed and ashamed by his show of exuberance.

  “I came to see how you are.” Samantha explained, “I actually expected you to go with Alina and visit Autumn and the others.”

  Sundance snorted and glanced away to the looming forest. “I have no wish to see Autumn, he is only interested in my aunt.”

  The sorrow and confusion the young unicorn felt was suddenly expressed so strongly through his thoughts that Samantha felt suffocated.

  “I want to be with my friends, but I have changed so much and they have not. Everything about them seems almost... pointless.” Sundance couldn’t meet Samantha’s gaze. “I just wish my father was still here.”

  Samantha nodded sadly. She had briefly known Nmirr, a pale grey stallion who was respected throughout all unicorn herds for his wisdom and good natures; and the only unicorn that drove fear into the black hearts of the dark unicorns. It made sense that Sundance would want his guidance above all else. Unfortunately, the great Nmirr had been killed shortly after he had aided the humans.

  “I know, and I’m sorry for you.” Samantha replied quietly, “It would have been better if David and I had never come to Enchena. David is a plague to us all, including poor Nmirr.”

  “You mean, when David betrayed my father and his herd?” Sundance kept his thoughts steady to draw the truth out of the girl, but inside he was crumbling.

  “If only we hadn’t met your herd; Hrafn only killed them because he was afraid of Gardyn allies.”

  Sundance tensed, shock flooding his body. The young stallion suddenly shied away and ran to the border of the Valley and into the forest, racing away from the humans as fast as he could.

  Samantha watched and the heavy realisation dawned on her: what a terrible way for Sundance to find out the truth about his father’s murder.

  *****

  Elsewhere in the Valley, the two princes were being given a grand tour of the Gardyn camp. All that was left was the training grounds and, at the request of Prince Lugal, their guide took them first to the armoury so that they might kit up and test their reflexes after two hundred years suspended in stone.

  The armoury was one of the few permanent buildings that the Gardyn had taken the time to build from the abundant timber. The people were hardy and the large tents with heavy canvasses were enough for them. The store of weapons and armour that they had accumulated was important enough to deserve permanent shelter.

  The store was frequently used for training and scouting purposes, so it came as no surprise as the two princes approached the large wooden hut, that they heard the voices of recently returned scouts.

  “By Minaeri, I can’t wait to lay down and sleep for at least a week.” One man’s voice moaned, punctuated with a yawn.

  “I know what you mean, these shifts are murder. But what can we do, except keep looking for danger while the army sits on its fat arse-”

  “Don’t start that again, Teron. I’ve had two bloody days of your moaning.” The first voice cut in, annoyed. “Rian’s not going to move us just ‘cause you’re fed up.”

  “It’s not about me being ‘fed up’. We’re here living the free life while Hrafn forces the rest of the world to live in hell.”

  Outside the door of the armoury, Cristan and Lugal exchanged looks, their royal blood not interfering with their eavesdropping ability.

  Their guide looked sheepish overhearing his fellow Gardyn, “Um, perhaps we should...”

  Cristan ignored him and opened the door, walking into the large, dimly lit building. Lugal followed closely.

  “...a lot of the lads agree with me.” The second man, Teron continued, oblivious to the entrance of the two princes.

  “I know, you’ve told me, but I’m not changing my mind, nor will Captain Rian.” The first man to speak hesitated as he spared a glance at those coming in. Every soldier had heard the buzz around camp about the two princes, twin sons of the ancient King Gearalt It took a while for the facts to register, it had never occurred to the man that he would actually come across them. “Y-your highnesses, sirs!”

  “Please, do not let us interrupt your conversation, sirs. We merely come to find things suitable for practice.” Cristan said with a slight amusement.

  “It is nothing sir, your highness, sir. My friend was just speaking inconsequentially.”

  “I wasn’t.” Teron dared to speak out, ignoring the terrified glances and obvious hint from his colleague. “Your highnesses, know that I am loyal to the Gardyn and I would never go against their leaders. But we have been waiting in hiding and preparation for nearly a year with no sign that this is going to change. We are Enchena’s only hope, yet we hide away waiting for nothing, while Enchena slowly dies under the tyrannical grip of Hrafn. I am a lowly soldier, but I would march into battle tomorrow, alone and unarmed, rather than wait and allow the suffering for one more day.”

  Teron’s friend blanched as he dared to speak out, but the princes stood quietly in thought.

  “The Gardyn are lucky to have a soldier as dedicated and passionate as you. Do not fear, I do not think the waiting will last much longer, now that your Lady Samantha has returned. Continue to put your trust in Captain Rian, he has not led you wrong so far.” Lugal replied sincerely and carefully, trying not to upset the man’s fervour. “Now, if you gentlemen would please excuse us, we have training to get to.”

  The two soldiers nodded, and gave clumsy bows before fleeing from the armoury.

  “He has a point, brother.” Cristan said quietly, after the two men had left. “From what I have heard, many of these men have been sitting around for months and are spoiled and rotten from not confronting their enemy.”

  Lugal shook his head, “Dear brother, he was bordering on treason. I cannot believe that this Captain Rian would sit around and wait if he had the means of destroying the current king.”

  “Treason or not, when a man speaks with such sense, he should be listened to.” Cristan replied, irritated by Lugal’s cool attitude.

  “We have been part of this era’s fight for a few days, what can you know? Come, Cristan, you are still compelled by our last battle. That was different, this will be different. The Gardyn have built a skilled fighting force and have the very blessing of Minaeri in Lady Samantha. Ah, brother, let us take a sword to the practising area and see if we can satisfy that fighting spirit of yours.” Lugal smiled knowingly at his impulsive brother. He picked up a sword and its scabbard from the nearest shelf and handed it to Cristan.

  Cristan took a deep breath and, as
much as he wanted to slap that patronising look off his brother’s face, he deigned to smile back. “Very well, let us see if two hundred years have improved you. By Minaeri, I can only hope it has!”

  Ten

  “Where is it...?” Samantha muttered as she searched the tent she was to share with the Deorwines, rummaging through more stuff than she thought she owned.

  It was late in the evening and Samantha wanted to be completely prepared for tomorrow’s journey, but she still couldn’t find Legan’s rug. Which was hardly surprising; they had only just arrived in the Valley, and all their belongings had been thrown into the tent and was yet to be organised.

  “Let me guess, you chose your own horse.” Tobias softly repeated chiding words from long ago, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

  Samantha spun round, trying not to seem to startled and trying to calm her racing pulse that had nothing to do with fright.

  Tobias seemed uncomfortable, but held up a murky-looking webbing. “Here, we borrowed it this morning.”

  Samantha took the rug that camouflaged her pale stallion and mumbled her thanks. She put it beside her sword and sat down on her bed. The silence stretched on between them, growing increasingly awkward. Samantha always used to be comfortable around Tobias, and she wondered when that had changed. They were close, and continued to live like brother and sister in Caelum. He knew her better than almost anyone, he always tried to support her mad ideas, he knew how to stop her arguments and how to react when she was upset.

  So why did it make her so nervous, when he looked at her now?

  “There was-”

  “I didn’t-”

  Samantha blushed as she blurted out at the same time as Tobias. “Sorry.”

  “It’s alright. What were you going to say?”

  Samantha shrugged, having nothing but nonsense and awkward small talk in her head. “Nothing important; just that it feels weird being back here.”

  Tobias sat on the bed next to her, sighing. “It’s hard to believe that a few days ago we were in a different world. It already seems like some strange dream. I imagine that is how you felt about your home world.”