The Oracle

by K. S. Marsden

  Jemma gave a dramatic cough, before it could get any more embarrassing. “Can I have a word, Angrud?”

  The young man looked less than happy at the interruption, and stared at Jemma, willing her to go away. The girl that was with him blushed, and pulled away, suddenly nervous. She made her excuses and left.

  “What?” Angrud barked. “By Minaeri, what is so important?”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your... canoodling.” Jemma apologised, gesturing towards the girl, before she realised she still had a kettle in her hand. “Who was she?”

  “I want to say... Emelia? She came to confess her feelings before I went to war.” Angrud said dismissively, “So why are you ruining it?”

  Jemma took a deep breath and explained about Saxton. “Do you think there’s a way you can stop him fighting?”

  Angrud looked down at Jemma with honest pity. “Jemma, I wish I could; but short of tying him up against his will... He’s already lost his son, do you want him to lose his honour, too?”

  “I just... I can’t bear the thought of Siarla and the girls losing him. They are such good people, and they don’t deserve any of this.” Jemma blinked back the tears that were always threatening to fall these days.

  Angrud looked uncomfortable at her sign of emotion, and crossed his arms before he was tempted to give her a hug. “They’re the best, which is why we are fighting against Hrafn’s rule. He and his heir are responsible for the Marsh family’s pain, and hundreds of others, too. Saxton will want to be a part of that fight.”

  Jemma bit her lip, none of it seemed very fair. “Can you... can you promise to stay with him? To protect him? And bring him home?”

  Angrud gave a crooked smile, “Yes, yes, and I will do my damnedest.”

  “You know, I’m starting to think that you might actually be a good person, Angrud.”

  “And you are still a pain in the arse, Jemma.” Angrud teased, “Now bugger off, so I can find Saxton.”

  Jemma grinned and hurried away, nearly swinging her kettle into a group of approaching soldiers.

  *****

  “This is the most dangerous thing we’ve ever attempted.” Tobias muttered quietly to Samantha as they walked through the assembling ranks, each person kitted out with their new armour and weapons.

  “Isn’t every battle we’ve fought been dangerous?” She questioned, before answering herself, “But you’re right, these brave men and women face their biggest challenge, all to get me close enough to kill Hrafn.”

  “You admit I’m right? Are you feeling unwell?” Tobias teased.

  Samantha ignored his comment and looked directly at Tobias, “I don’t want you to fight. I mean it, I’m on the verge of losing your sister; I can’t bear to lose you too.”

  “All my friends march to war and this is my last chance to be with you.” Tobias replied with a shake of his head. He quickly glanced up, the familiar figures of the princes were coming towards them.

  “You don’t understand,” Tobias continued hastily, “If we fail, we all die. If we win this war I still lose you - you become Queen Samantha and I go back to being nobody.”

  “Samantha.” Lugal greeted, “I was hoping to find you, I thought it would benefit the troops’ morale to see us together.”

  Prince Cristan coughed, to get their attention. “Well, Captain Rian was looking for you, Samantha. So, I would recommend the royal couple go find him.”

  “Ah yes, quite right. Shall we?” Lugal offered his arm to Samantha, and nodded to Tobias, “Lord Deorwine, we will see you later.”

  Tobias watched solidly as Samantha walked away with the man that may become king.

  Captain Rian was surrounded by Gardyn, preparing for the mass exodus of the army. When he glanced up and noticed that Losan and Samantha were heading towards him, Rian made his excuses and left the group.

  “It looks like we’re all going to get our moment of glory.” The Captain said, as he led to the armoury. “And I have to show you something that may help.”

  “I don’t want glory, I just want to save Jillis.” Samantha replied, “Although I admit that I am looking forward to finally ending this thing.”

  “Siabhor and his pack have already agreed to fight alongside us.” Rian said, “Have you spoken with the unicorns?”

  Samantha sighed, the unicorns could help to drive their victory, but the alliance was weaker than ever before. “Alina will be there. Autumn feels indebted to us for saving his herd, so he will fight. I guess we’ll find out how many of his herd join him when we head out; half of them are still convinced that I orchestrated the attack from the Dark Being.”

  Rian didn’t push the subject, knowing they couldn’t ask the unicorns to risk their lives. He stepped into the armoury, and led to a curtain that divided them from a section that Samantha didn’t even know existed. In the shade of the canvas, row upon row of gleaming armour lay prepared. Losan followed close on her heels, curious what the modern Gardyn had created.

  “When you returned from Caelum, I had the smithies work non-stop to fulfil the requirement. They finished the final two last night.” Rian lifted up two identical helmets, passing one to Lugal. It had a deep russet base with a silver metal crown encircling it, and the looping symbol of Minaeri engraved over the brow. “For your highness and Prince Cristan.”

  “What about the others?” Samantha started to move down the rows, inspecting some rather peculiar designs.

  “Each Gardyn has armour to protect the torso, and the arm pieces are designed in honour of the mallus.”

  Samantha picked up the gauntlet and slipped it onto her own arm, she tightened the leather straps and inspected the russet-coloured metal that reached from just below her elbow to her knuckles. Four silver spikes ran along her hand, reminiscent of the mallus’ claws. She flexed her wrist and fingers and the spikes remained straight and strong. A smile crossed her face.

  “I’ll take that as approval.” Rian added as he continued. “As for helmets, they represent the three sectors the army will be split into: the royal tined stag that will be led by their highnesses.”

  He picked up a helmet close to him. Out of the basic, russet-coloured cap rose light, yet strong silver antlers that reared up with presence.

  Rian spoke again as he walked down the rows, “Secondly, the majestic unicorn, led by our own Lady Samantha and Lady Ji-” He halted in his words, looking worried.

  Rian lifted the helmet to fill the silence. The base looked more flared than the stag’s and had the decoration of a single silver horn that shone brightly. Rian said nothing more until he had reached the furthest region of the tent and picked up the third style. It matched the colouring of the others, but this one spiked and bristled, the silver metal picking out slitted shapes that could be eyes, and a row of spiked teeth than ran across the brow and down the extended cheeks.

  “And this is my sector. It was supposed to be the strength of the bear, but Siabhor saw it and was so proud to have his kind immortalised and honoured that I couldn’t disappoint him. So… the mallus it is.

  Samantha still gripped the unicorn helmet in her hands, but looked steadily out across the red and silver gleam of armour. “We will be demons at dawn.”

  Twenty

  It was the darkest hour before dawn when thirty mallus clambered silently up the wall of the capital city, each carrying a lightweight man clad in black. Each mallus made several climbs, so that a hundred Gardyn fighters crept along the high path with stealth and silence. The Gardyn blended into the clinging night with their black clothes, and the mallus were natural creatures of shadow.

  Each of the King’s watchmen was dispatched without a sound, as the rebels moved swiftly along the wall, heading for the gatehouse and other watch towers. After a slight scuffle the Gardyn had control and their presence was still unknown.

  The signal was lit and the golden gates were pulled slowly open. Several thousand armed individuals entered, their silver horns, antlers and teeth gleaming as the sk
y lightened. The only sound was that of hooves and pounding feet, as the soldiers marched with grim determination. Amongst the horses, unicorns threaded their way over the rough roads.

  They flooded the streets of the city, overcoming any in their path.

  Finally, the shout went out, warning bells rang and horns sounded. The King’s army was sluggish at assembling, and the Gardyn was deep within the city before they met any real force.

  The first ray of dawn pierced the pastel sky, as the battle cry rang out from the rebels. The Gardyn warriors met their enemy with such fire that the first line of the King’s soldiers wavered, fearing these demons that had broken into their strong city.

  Chaos went through the ranks, as they discovered their Captain Orion Losan, clad in Gardyn armour and fighting for the rebels. The soldiers’ loyalty torn between their commanding officer, and their King.

  The fray pushed steadily towards the palace, but the King’s soldiers kept coming, the weak lines getting denser and denser. The army might have many young and untrained soldiers, but sheer volume started to press the Gardyn and tilt the advantage.

  Towards the front of the rebel force, Lady Samantha urged her white stallion to move forwards, her sword rimmed with fire, slashing down on the opponents that dared face her. She looked up as she heard another horn sound, and she could make out drumming that accompanied more feet marching in time. She could see the left flank of the rebels struggling to keep their position, and tried to move her horse to go help them.

  Before she had chance to act, dark shadows raced between their legs, and the mallus set the enemy screaming.

  Samantha took a deep breath, then joined the fight again, her arms tiring from holding the sword, her every muscle aching, she couldn’t go on like this. The Gardyn couldn’t go on... they needed a miracle.

  “Minaeri, please...”

  Her words were swept away as another press of soldiers surged in, knocking her from her horse. The fight became a blur, and Samantha noticed fewer and fewer Gardyn surrounding her. Her allies were steadily falling, human, mallus and unicorn alike.

  Eventually her own sword was knocked flying from her aching hand, and Samantha felt herself being wrenched up unkindly.

  “Kill the rest.”

  She recognised the commanding voice, and looked up to see David holding her, before he dragged her away to the palace.

  Jemma snapped out of the vision, her limbs shaking and a sudden wave of nausea washed over her.

  Like most of the camp, Jemma hadn’t been able to sleep after the Gardyn army marched off to war, and in her restlessness, she had made her way into the healer’s tent. Nobody had tried to stop her, those left behind in the Valley had their own concerns, and paid little notice to their oracle.

  Jillis lay as though sleeping, the only person that looked peaceful and unworried. Jemma had slouched down at the foot of the bed, and quickly sought a vision of what the day would bring, desperate for some hope. Any at all.

  Unfortunately, it was not to be. She idly played with her silver necklace as she tried to settle her mind after the horrific scene of the battle. Samantha had ridden to war knowing this would happen, just as the dragons had said. The dra-

  A thought hit Jemma so hard she stopped breathing.

  She closed her eyes and tried to calm her excited pulse, focusing on the dragons. They were so rude to terrorise her in visions, it was time she returned the favour.

  Jemma opened her eyes to find herself somewhere dark and warm. A red light flared, revealing stone walls and a rubble floor. Jemma staggered towards the light source, and blinking, stepped into an enormous cavern. It must have been a mile wide; and the ceiling disappeared into darkness.

  As Jemma stepped forward, she heard the great clack of leathery wings overhead, and a flash of blue scales. With a few mighty beats of its wings, Leukos hovered 20ft above the girl, his frame huge and imposing. Even at this height, Jemma could feel the cold air washing over him, causing frost to form on the ground around her.

  “Why-”

  “Are you here?” The sentence was ended by Caminus, who came lumbering out of the darkness, counteracting the coldness.

  “I decided it was my turn to have a say.” Jemma said, crossing her arms and not being intimidated by the beasts. “And by the way, next time you jump in my head, can you please talk quietly? I thought I was gonna explode!”

  Leukos dropped out of the air, and made the cavern floor rumble violently. He clicked his sharp-looking teeth in thought. “We will try,” his voice like thunder.

  Caminus walked closer, his reptilian body swaying with each powerful stride. “Why are you here?” He repeated.

  “I want to change the outcome of the battle,” Jemma replied casually.

  “You are-”

  “The oracle. Your duty is to watch,”

  “As it is ours. We watch, we-”

  “Relay Minaeri’s plans and-”

  “Warnings. You cannot change what is set.”

  “I refuse to believe that. Every person can change their destiny.” Jemma argued. “Every dragon, too.”

  Having caught their attention, Caminus and Leukos

  both fixed their glassy eyes on the small girl, a curious hum rumbling up their throats.

  “You need to help the Gardyn, and I’m not talking about visions. You need to physically support them.” Jemma stated.

  “We have not-

  “Left this mountain for-

  “A thousand years.”

  “Then it’s about time you did.” Jemma huffed, “Aren’t you bored? Don’t you want to see the sun, to fly through the sky again?”

  “We have-”

  “Our visions.” Caminus snapped his teeth at her impudence. “A thousand-”

  “Years is a long time, and we have learnt many-”

  “Ways of experiencing the world.” Leukos’ tail slammed the floor in frustration, sending shockwaves through the ground. “We are the greatest lords-”

  “That ever lived in Enchena. It is-”

  “Only right the world comes to us.”

  “Sure it does; by Minaeri, don’t you want to actually experience these sensations, instead of existing in a dream world? Don’t you wish you could interact with these people? You spend so much time watching and guiding them from a distance; don’t you want to be a part of the history they make?” Jemma asked.

  The dragons growled, their fierce claws scraping up loose rock and dirt in their agitation.

  “Alright, clearly not.” Jemma shrugged. “Fine, forget about what you want. You have the ability to see what will happen if someone makes a certain choice – you got Samantha to stop the war and take the Gardyn the Caelum. Tell me, O mighty ones, what would happen if you left for the capital this very moment?”

  The dragons backed away from her, and Jemma thought they were about to ignore her, when Caminus let out a mighty blast of fire into the air above them.

  Leukos raised his head and wrapped it in ice, forming a golden sphere.

  The spectacle was brief, and the dragons soon had their answer.

  “We can overturn-”

  “The inevitable.”

  Jemma smiled, “Of course, knowing that you are the only ones that can save the people you have invested so much in... I guess the only question is: can those rusty wings get you to the capital in time?”

  Jemma jumped back as one Caminus thrust open his massive wings and roared his disapproval. The girl grinned at the reaction she’d caused. She could feel the numb sensation in her fingers and limbs that meant her vision was coming to a natural end.

  “You only have a few hours before dawn, fly fast, my friends...”

  Twenty-One

  “Minaeri, please...”

  Samantha saw another wave of soldiers moving towards them, when everyone froze. A terrible, guttural roar ripped through the air, and many looked skyward.

  “It can’t be...” Samantha muttered, recognising the sound. To her delight, she saw t
he two dragons fly overhead, and she cheered.

  Both armies seemed stunned at their appearance, not knowing what threat they posed, or to whom.

  An almighty cheer went up from the Gardyn, as Caminus swooped down and engulfed the approaching reinforcements in flame, sending the surviving enemy running for their lives.

  Leukos landed, his claws digging into the roof and wall of a large building, sending blocks and mortar tumbling into the ground. His icy breath froze the enemy in place, and sent others howling in pain.

  “Those are... dragons.” Prince Lugal appeared beside Samantha, trying to stem a cut on her arm. “How are there dragons? They are naught but myth.”

  “Aye, they are dragons. It’s alright, they’re on our side.” Samantha replied. “Order out troops to attack.”

  The Gardyn captains rallied their forces, and pushed the enemy back, driving them towards the palace.

  The dragons took to the air with a mighty crack of their wings, and swooped down, attacking where the King’s soldiers were heaviest. Everywhere they looked, men were laying down their arms and surrendering to the rebels and their allies.

  The remaining fray pushed steadily towards the palace, and the palace gates were flung open. The familiar figure of Prince David strode out, sword in hand. Behind him there surged a flood of soldiers, some fresh-faced and full of energy; and others that bore signs of wear.

  King Hrafn must have been pushing himself to the limit, as every fallen soldier twitched and stirred, as Prince David passed them. Many got unsteadily to their feet, the dead joining the living, to sweep away the rebels, at their master’s command.

  They crashed down upon the Gardyn, and the area became a chaotic mix of black uniforms, and red-plated demons.

  Caminus was the first to note the new attack, and he banked sharply, blasting their flank with fire. The soldiers screamed, and Prince David dived out of the destructive path. Once the fire died away, there was a grotesque scene of bodies rising, their flesh still burning, but ready to fight again.

  Samantha pushed towards the melee on foot, and found Captain Losan making his way towards her, his already-scarred face bearing a fresh cut.