She paused, regaining her thoughts, and in the silence another voice shouted out, “Long live Queen Samantha!” The shout was taken up by the crowd, but Samantha held her hand up against it.
“I am no queen. I was brought here to free you, not to lead you. From this day, the empire Enchena holds will no longer exist. Each country shall find their true monarch and make their own choices. As for Enchena, the rightful heir will be crowned. The son of King Gearalt, the Royal Prince Lugal”
Lugal took his cue and stepped awkwardly up onto the cart. He otherwise made an impressive figure, with his tall stature and a metal crown already circling his helmet.
Samantha stepped up to him and hugged him close, “I cannot be your queen.” She whispered.
Lugal was taken aback by this, but with so many people looking on, he forced himself to appear unfazed. He said nothing, but let go of her and turned to his people. “People of Enchena, in due course I will prove in every way, that I am worthy of the crown, but for now, many have died and many more are injured. Let us tend to them first.”
Samantha started to head for the main gate of the city, but it was slow work. Every few strides, people stopped her to express their gratitude; to bow; or to just touch the shoulder of their saviour.
As much as she understood their desire to meet her; she was relieved when she finally caught sight of her horse. Legan pricked his ears and walked towards her. The gentle cream stallion looked to have gotten away unscathed. Not caring who was watching, Samantha threw her arms around his neck; he had been such solid companion, and she was glad he had made it to the end of their journey. Samantha pulled herself together and jumped into the saddle, there was one more ally she had to meet.
As she rode down the main street, drawing close to the golden gates, Samantha spotted Tobias, riding in on a bay horse, with Jemma behind him. It had taken so much longer to travel back on a normal horse, than when Alina had travelled with all the speed of Praede.
“All is well?” Tobias asked.
“Aye, everything is over.” Samantha replied, “Jillis is at the palace, along with the princes and Rian, if you are looking for them.”
Tobias’ face fell a little. “And… has it been announced? Do I have to bow and call you ‘your majesty’ now?”
“Now is hardly the time.” Samantha huffed, “Especially as I rejected the throne in front of half of Enchena. I turned down Lugal’s proposal.”
“Really?” Tobias sat straighter, finding the news more than he could have hoped.
Further words were halted by Jemma suddenly making herself known, jabbing her finger into an unarmoured section of Tobias’ torso. “If you two are gonna start spouting stuff that’s gonna make me uncomfortable, can you please wait ‘til I’m off the horse and have the ability to run away?”
Samantha laughed, “Sorry Jemma. Don’t worry, I’m leaving, I need to get on and see a couple of old friends.”
Feeling somewhat lighter, Samantha kicked her horse on and rode out of the gate.
The friends that she intended to meet were not hard to find. Caminus and Leukos were in the grassy plains to the south of the city. Samantha was relieved that they had not tried to stay within the city walls; as grateful as they were for the dragons help, the capital wasn’t built for anything their size.
The two dragons turned to face Samantha, and even Legan seemed to falter in his stride.
“My lords, I came to thank you, on behalf of the Gardyn. We couldn’t have won without you.” Samantha shouted up to them.
“No, you-”
“Could not.” The dragons answered.
“I didn’t know you were going to come.” Samantha said, still processing the fact that they were actually here.
“It was not supposed to be.”
“We were never supposed to be a part of it.”
“I don’t understand.” Samantha admitted.
“The oracle came to us. She-”
“Forced us to create a new future.” Caminus ended with a snort, flames flickering in his nostrils.
Leukos bared his teeth. “We do not-”
“Like her. She insulted us.”
Samantha paused, Jemma had insulted the dragons? The girl was certainly brave, or foolish. Samantha smiled, “She insulted me, also. Instead of telling me what I wanted to hear, she told me what I needed to hear in a moment of stubbornness.”
“Dragons are not stubborn, we-”
“Are merely experienced and know-”
“What is best.” Caminus finished with a stamp of his clawed foot, sending dirt flying.
“Except for this time. Wasn’t Jemma right?” Samantha asked, then realising it was likely a sore topic, she changed the subject. “What will you do now, return to your mountain?”
The dragons exchanged a look. “We have been in that mountain-”
“For so long. We forgot-”
“What the world felt like.”
“We think it is time,”
“To experience it again.”
Samantha bowed her head, “Then I wish you well on your adventures, dragon lords. I hope we will meet again.”
The dragons lowered their torsos in an odd bow, then turned away. They both opened their wings and, with a short run, they were airborne.
Samantha watched as they circled overhead, their might cry echoing over the city. They dipped their wings towards Samantha in farewell, then flew away to the horizon.
Samantha smiled, she had a feeling that Enchena would be abuzz with stories of the dragons, now.
*****
The death toll was great and terrible. The healing of the injured, even with Samantha’s magical influence, was a slow and steady process; but gradually the city began to stir and work toward their beautiful new world.
The Gardyn dead were carried out of the city and back to their home towns for funeral rites to be carried out by loved ones. As the pallets were drawn through the streets, flowers were thrown over them so they were adorned in bright colour.
Samantha mourned the friends she had lost. Captain Philip had died in the first attack, a sorry fate for such a good and kind man. Half of the mallus had been killed, as they pushed through the legs of the enemy lines, relishing in the attack, and many falling. Luckily Autumn had not lost any more of his kin, but there was hardly a unicorn that didn’t carry some injury from the battle.
Then there was Captain Losan. Witnesses had reported that Losan had been stabbed in the back by Prince David. Despite her mixed feelings for the enemy-turned-ally, Samantha was sorry that his legend should end in such a way, and swore that she would see his funeral carried out with respect.
A great pyre was built outside the city’s wall and it burnt throughout the night. But even with the warmth of the flames, Samantha felt cold. She had dealt death to so many, she hardly deserved to be here. She kept glancing to the Great Forest, something strong was drawing her, and she knew that she had to go.
Strong arms wrapped about her supportively and she finally found some comfort; but even Tobias’ embrace couldn’t distract her from the call of the night-time forest. When everybody else had settled down to sleep, Samantha crept away into the welcome shadows of the trees...
Twenty-Three
Creatures of the forest felt the subtle shifts, they were aware of the mass human departure, and they were tuned into the sudden darkening in the future of the unicorns.
Alina felt a sense of foreboding, knowing that she had to find Sundance; and equally knowing that she wouldn’t like what she found. It pained her to travel to Nmirr’s old herdlands. She was accompanied by Samantha, who felt the restlessness of the forest and insisted on coming.
Torment had waited alone in his father’s clearing for nearly a day, weighing up his options. He had tried to find the Valley, to offer the Dark Being something of value; but he couldn’t find his old home. The trees and trails twisted him, until he was fully lost.
He remembered being told that the Valley had once belonged
to Praede, and would always protect those within from their enemies. Torment had always thought that Autumn was boasting and exaggerating, but it turned out the dull stick-in-the-mud had been telling the truth.
Now he had to come to terms with the fact that he had failed the Dark Being. The master would punish him; and the rest of the herd would take it as proof that he didn’t belong, deserving nothing but pain. Worst of all, he was further away from being able to claim Odile.
He could run, and get hunted down; but Torment had a much better idea...
The forest always became eerily quiet when the Dark Being was close, the creatures fearing the one unicorn that broke nature’s law at every turn. On his heels, the herd followed him, keen to see the punishment of the upstart intruder, who dared to call himself Torment.
The black unicorn moved ahead, appearing beside Torment with a grace that defied his age. “Where is Alina?”
“I tried, sir, but I could not find the Valley.” Torment replied.
“Could not find...” The Dark Being’s thoughts curled and teased, “It is not a hard task, to find your old home. If you are really this incompetent, I’m afraid I can’t ignore this-”
There was a hum of excitement from the unicorns that encircled them, all waiting to finally break the son of Nmirr.
Torment raised his head and met the Dark Being square in the eye. He didn’t hide his intentions, his thoughts clear. He was going to kill him, and take his place.
The Dark Being read Torment’s plan with patronising disinterest. He had lost count of how many young stallions had come of age, and thought they could defeat him.
Before Torment could make a move, the Dark Being lowered his horned head and charged. The palomino leapt out of the way, delivering a stinging kick as he did.
The two began to circle, assessing the other for weakness, then attacked. It was a blur of hooves, horn and teeth, black coat against gold.
Finding his opponent stronger than he had expected, the Dark Being gave an equine scream of fury and lunged forward with horn lowered. Torment hung back, dodging again at the last moment and placing an infuriating kick in the ribs. The black stallion reared and turned, his forelegs cutting down on golden hide.
The fight drew on through the night as the two stallions circled again and tested each other, or came together in cruel grips and struggled for dominance. The thud of hoof against ground and flesh echoed through the forest. In the darkness, the Dark Being faded to nothingness, but Torment’s white mane and tail attracted any existing light.
Those gathered to witness the battle noticed the Dark Being slowly becoming less willing to start an attack, waiting instead for the younger stallion to make all the moves. The young Torment was still moving lightly on his hooves, possessing the stamina of Praede.
Perhaps he was ensuring that the Dark Being was truly tiring, or perhaps he was enjoying the prolonged torture the old stallion must be enduring. By the time the sky was lightening, Torment had still not ended it.
Torment paused as the first ray of sunlight crept into the forest, throwing away the memories of a better time when he would dance to welcome the sun. Now he would kill instead.
“A new day, a new leader.” Torment projected his thoughts to the Dark Being alone, before lashing out.
The old stallion crumpled to the churned ground. Torment looked away from the black heap and glared at the gathered herd.
“By our lore, you are all mine.” He stated solidly. “Any who think they can flee will be hunted down and killed.”
The palomino stallion stood in his powerful glory in his father’s clearing as the sun became stronger. As one body, the herd members dropped their head in deference to their new leader. Only one black mare stood tall, brazenly walking up to Torment’s side.
“Odile.” Torment greeted.
“My lord.” She replied in amusement.
Torment snorted, for the briefest moment, he thought he saw his aunt hiding in the trees. She had seen what he had become. Good.
He called to the herd, and led his unicorns back to the shadows where they belonged.
*****
Alina couldn’t stop the shiver that ran down her spine, as she witnessed her nephew fight the most feared unicorn in the Great Forest. Every strike and grunt of pain pierced her heart, and she was glad that Samantha kept her company.
“No.” Alina argued, “You cannot interfere. This is Sundance’s fight, he will never forgive us if we help.”
“I can’t stand by and watch my friend-”
“Samantha, if you ever loved him, you will.” Alina’s thoughts were hard, the closest she ever got to angry. “This is the way of unicorns, you have to stop humanising us.”
Shamed into silence, Samantha hung back and waited.
When dawn finally broke, Alina felt a swell of pride as she saw that her nephew had beaten the Dark Being, which surely proved that he would be greater than even Nmirr. Hope flared up for Alina, surely now that her nephew had removed the threat of the Dark Being, and shown the world that he would bow to no one; now he could find his way back to being the old Sundance.
The hope was short-lived. As soon as her nephew chose to kill the defeated black stallion, Alina knew he had changed. She barely breathed as she watched her nephew turn and claim the dark herd as his own, cementing his new place.
The brief moment their eyes met was almost enough to shatter her. Alina’s gaze followed her nephew’s departure, and stayed locked on the disappearing herd. She was vaguely aware of someone calling her name, and eventually snapped her attention back to her human friend.
Samantha placed a hand on her quivering grey coat, the silver mare unusually tense. “Alina, it will be alright, we’ll get him back.” Samantha said, unconvincingly.
Alina looked around her brother’s old herdland, the area still depressing and deserted. “We need to leave. Come, Samantha, it will be quicker if I carry you.”
Samantha obediently jumped onto Alina’s broad back, a feat that was now so familiar and easy. They travelled through the forest in an uncomfortable silence, and it was almost a relief to reach the forest edge, the capital city sitting ahead in glorious sunshine.
Samantha dismounted, not wanting to weigh Alina down longer than necessary. She took a couple of strides towards the city, before noticing that the unicorn wasn’t coming with her.
Alina stood firmly in the shade of the forest, her silver tail swishing in frustration.
“Alina? What is it?”
The silver mare tossed her fine head, glancing back into the forest. “I have to go back to the Valley, warn Autumn and the others.”
“Alright, will you be back for Lugal’s coronation?” Samantha asked.
“I won’t be returning.” She answered.
“What?”
“Your war is ending, but I feel that ours is just starting.” Alina replied. “At least with the Dark Being, we knew his tricks, and we knew his reign was coming to an end. The fact that the dark herd has been taken over by a young stallion with fresh ambitions... every unicorn needs to be warned. Old alliances have to be reformed.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realise.” Samantha apologised. “Once things are settled here, I’ll come help you.”
Alina’s grey ears flicked nervously, and she lowered her head sadly, “You will only make it worse, Samantha. Autumn’s herd are the most open-minded unicorns in the forest, and even they barely tolerate you. If you were present, we would be accused of being tame and pandering to human needs.”
Samantha wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around Alina’s neck, as she had done so many times before; but she felt a new distance growing between them. “Will I see you again?” She asked quietly.
“I hope so.” Alina replied warmly. “It has been an honour, Lady Samantha.”
The grey unicorn turned and sprinted silently back into the forest, her flashing silver hide fading from sight.
Samantha backed away, heading towards the city, and
blinking away the tears that threatened to fall.
Starting the slow walk back down the grassy slope that led to the capital, Samantha was surprised to see another unexpected friend,
A mass of dark shadows moved across the ground, the brown shapes easily distinguished as mallus, loping across the grass.
“Siabhor!” Samantha shouted, glad for a chance to see her steady companion.
The mallus in question skid to a halt, sitting on his haunches, letting the rest of his pack pass him by.
“Siabhor, I’m so glad to see you, I’ve just spent the night with Alina...”
After Samantha had finished filling him in, Siabhor cocked his head aside, curiously. “Annoying Sundance controls evil unicorns now?”
“Yes, it was awful. Alina has gone to warn the other herds, I don’t think she’ll be coming back.” Samantha looked away to the forest, and noticed Siabhor’s pack disappearing into the trees. “I’m sorry, were you going hunting?”
“No. We be going home. Human war is over.”
Samantha felt like the bottom of her heart had fallen out. “But you could stay, you helped us, you’re heroes!”
Siabhor grunted, “Samantha be stupid, we be mallus, nothing more. We not belong in stone walls, on stone ground. We belong in forest, where free to hunt; to run; to climb.”
“You could-” Samantha started to say something, but stopped herself. “You weren’t even going to say good bye?”
“Silly humans waste words, when result is same.” Siabhor grumbled.
Before Samantha could say anything else, the mallus dug his claws into the earth and shot off, after his pack.
Samantha could just about hear the clicking of nails against wood, that had once driven fear into her heart, and she smiled.
Twenty-Four
The streets milled with activity, the war was over, but now began the very long task of recovery.
The new king had ordered that tents would be erected in every town square, to cater for the injured; making every healer in high demand. Volunteers were welcomed readily.
The Oracle Page 20