Awakening

by Phoebe Brown

  “I got you.” A voice whispered from deep within her, “Never be afraid”

  Chapter 11

  The sun was rising slowly over the sea as they all gathered in the courtyard awaiting the headmistress. Gaia was so anxious that her hands began to sweat and so she tucked them into the pockets of her hunting gear. Each student was decked in their training clothes which made them seem more elaborate than necessary. While hers were more modest than that of the other girls, she had to admit that they looked like a fearsome bunch gathered together like this. Unlike the dresses they wore to ceremonies and around the palace, the Cenobytes were dressed in dark green cotton pants and shirts that were built to withstand all weather conditions and move with them as they fought. There were no dresses for them especially because they were expected to do twice the work of any warrior.

  Gaia scanned the room and took note that Kirk was the only one who hadn’t arrived on time. He walked into the courtyard looking every bit as princely as she had ever seen him. He wore the gold colours of his guild beneath what looked like a thin armour worn by all the Mistrals.

  “Charges,” the headmistress said coming in behind him, “stand at attention.”

  They all shuffled together in rows and waited for her instructions.

  “You’re all new here.” She said, “Which means we will need to test your skills before we begin teaching.”

  Gaia was eager to find out what test they were about to walk into.

  “Today we will be sending you into the mainland of Kent.” She said, “We will drop you in the wilderness and you will have to find a way over the Pomac Mountains before high tide tomorrow.”

  She heard the gasps all around, but the test was nothing to her. If what she knew about Kent was true, the landscape was flat in comparison to Tyre.

  “It is important that you all work together in your teams. If you leave one behind, you will fail this first test and be sent home immediately.”

  There was silence all around and Gaia saw the determined looks on the other students’ faces.

  “You depart separately in your teams.” The headmistress said, “Follow me.”

  They followed her towards the patio where Gaia and the other Cenobytes had arrived. She saw carriages waiting eagerly to take them away. The massive beasts looked formidable from where they stood. On the ground were sacks each student could throw over their shoulders.

  “In these bags are the things you will need to survive the night.” Adilade said, “Use them wisely.”

  Each person went forward and took one of the packs and examined it. She did the same. There were a few apples, a few slices of dried meat, a small blanket, and other supplies inside. It was much more than she needed to survive a night.

  “I wish you all the best.” Adilade said finally, “The team leads will select their vessel. Each will be taken to a different location on the mainland.”

  Kirk walked over to the first carriage and motioned for the rest of them to follow. It was similar to the one she had arrived in except this time she knew better than to try and pet the animals.

  “I’m so nervous,” Tafari said flashing his usual confident smile.

  “Me too.” Gaia replied automatically, “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

  The others were silent, and she wondered if it was because they had experienced it before or if they were too nervous to speak. As they journeyed to the mainland, she felt a sense of unease build within her. The idea of a challenge should have motivated her, instead, it felt terrifying.

  “Are you alright?” Khar asked.

  “I’ll be fine,” Gaia replied trying to calm herself.

  The nervousness was unusual for her. It was a deep sense of foreboding that threatened to unnerve her. They soared through the sky and over the rolling mountains. The farther they drifted away from the palace, the more her unease grew. Soon the carriage slowed and began to descend. She realised then that they were much farther inland than she had anticipated.

  “They’re joking.” Helen said, “This mission is impossible.”

  Gaia nodded and suddenly the feeling of unease grew more terrifying.

  “Let’s go,” Kirk said without flinching.

  She didn’t oppose him. At that moment, she was too busy trying to tamper down her sudden fear to do much else. They streamed out of the carriage and the moment her feet touched the ground she knew something was wrong. She had felt the same connection to the earth when Master Morrel had taken her to the top of the mountain. It was as if she could feel the earth and everything that moved on the land. This feeling made her instantly sick. After several deep breaths, the feeling disappeared, and she felt centred once again.

  She made a note to keep track of these symptoms. It would be useful to figure out if it was common for her to lose her confidence during times of stress.

  “We need a plan,” Kirk said looking at them.

  “I can find a path,” Helen said, “the fastest way to the sea.”

  “I can summon beasts to guard us as we travel.” Khar said looking around suspiciously, “I hear they have massive cats on the mainland.”

  Kirk nodded and turned to Tafari.

  “I need you to lead from the back.” He said, “Keep track of our movements and hide our trail in case we’re followed.”

  Tafari nodded and smiled.

  “Gaia,” he said.

  The sound of her name sent new chills through her. Why was she so terrified?

  “I need you to examine the plan and tell me what’s wrong.” He said.

  Suddenly they all looked at her with hopeful eyes.

  “Uh, I.” she stumbled over her words wondering what she could offer.

  “There are no immediate holes in the plan,” she whispered, “but I have a feeling that there might be something at work that’s out of our control.”

  Kirk nodded and then turned away.

  “Let’s move.” He said.

  They began moving together and she shuffled in the middle with Helen and Khar who seemed excited to be outside the palace walls and on their own. She was doing the calculations in her mind, but the unease was unsettling her. No matter how many calming routines she did, the fear would not leave. They walked for another two hours before coming to a brook. It was the first of their breaks and she was grateful. The walk was torturous especially because the others walked much slower than she did. It had never occurred to her just how quickly she had been trained to move.

  “We’re making good time.” Helen said, “Before long we’ll be able to make camp halfway to the coast.”

  “It seems almost too easy,” Tafari said

  As soon as he said that something within her came to life and she felt herself standing. The movement was so swift that it startled her companions. She crouched instinctively into a fighting position. Kirk was on his feet and at her side in no time. It was as if he had read her mind and felt what she felt. Or maybe it was that he had heard the slight ruffling of leaves that did not match anything found in nature.

  “Up,” he whispered a moment before men cloaked in full black with their faces covered began surrounding them.

  The others barely had time to react before they were surrounded. Kirk moved from her side and dispelled some of the men with his sword before they landed. She began moving through the crowd of assailants like a knife cutting through grass. The blows she landed on each man weren’t overly forceful, but they were lethal. She was agile and purposeful.

  She had subdued over half the men before she paused to look around her. The others were looking at her in awe, but her unease didn’t allow her to pause. She continued moving until the cloaked men were littered on the wet grass around them. Still, she knew that this wasn’t the end, she could hear more coming and she knew that this was an ambush and they would be dead if they stayed any longer.

  “Move!” she shouted.

  Without hesitation, they took off running away from the brook. Kirk was nowhere to be seen but s
he could feel him as they ran.

  “Helen, where are we going?” She asked.

  “Over the hill,” Helen replied shakily.

  “Are you sure?” She asked.

  “It’s the only way out of here.” She shouted.

  Gaia turned and they ran towards the hill. She hung back just in case they were too slow to escape. She could fight off any number of men, but she didn’t think she would have the strength to do it alone when others were in danger.

  The further they ran, the more confident she was that they were not being followed. Still, she wouldn’t let her guard down just yet. As they began to slow, she began to wonder why the men weren’t chasing after them. It wasn’t long before she saw the tell-tale signs that they had gone the wrong way.

  “No.” she whispered.

  Kirk appeared from nowhere at her side.

  “What is it?” He asked.

  “Can’t you hear it?” She asked panting and trying to catch her breath. Her lungs were on fire, but she knew they were at a dead end.

  Kirk’s face twisted in surprise and she wondered if it was because she had heard it and he hadn’t or if he was as terrified as she would have been in this situation.

  “A waterfall,” Helen whispered.

  Gaia felt fear settle in the pit of her stomach.

  “They’re coming.” she said looking at Kirk who had fully materialized at her side, “They took another path. I guess they knew we would come in this direction. We can't outrun them; it’s an army coming after us.”

  He nodded.

  “I can get two across,” Helen said.

  “I’ll stay.” She heard herself and Kirk say in unison.

  She looked over at him and he nodded.

  “I should stay,” Tafari said.

  “You need to get to the other side.” Kirk replied, “You need to keep them safe, Helen can come back to get us.”

  He nodded, understanding just what he was being asked to do.

  There was a sudden jerk beneath her feet, and she watched in awe as Helen’s eyes changed from their vivid blue to green. As her countenance changed the ground beneath her feet began to come loose from the earth. Khar and Tafari moved closer and together they began to soar through the air with only the small slab of rock protecting them from tumbling over into the water.

  “Are you ready?” Kirk asked.

  She nodded and swallowed. The men came out of the woods with renewed numbers and she knew they’d never be able to take them and live.

  “Follow me.” She said.

  Kirk looked back at her quizzically.

  “There’s nowhere to go.” He said, “We have to fight them off, at least until Helen comes to get us.”

  “No.” She whispered, “Let’s go.”

  She tugged him backward and together they ran to the edge of the cliff.

  “We have to jump,” she said.

  He looked at her as if she had lost her mind and then looked down into the gushing white waters below them.

  “Trust me.” She whispered when he looked at her as if she had lost it.

  “I’ll take my chances with the fighters.” He said

  She shook her head as he began to turn away.

  “No, you won't.”

  With all the force she could muster, she tugged on him, pulling him back towards the edge of the cliffs and over. This was nothing like the other times. She had never been this terrified floating through the air. A second passed, and then two and then three.

  They were barrelling towards the water with no hope of being saved when she felt herself landing on something familiar. The cheer of triumph that erupted from her lips was nothing like she had ever heard before. Turning back, she realised that Kirk was just as surprised as she was.

  “Down there!” she shouted at Roc.

  She could see the others and from what she saw, there had been another set of masked men waiting for them at the bottom of the cliff. They had been waiting as though they knew where they would be going. Roc reared his head and for the first time in her life, she saw flames burst from his mouth towards where her friend stood. She watched as Tafari reached out to grab Helen and Khar to pull them into a cover of protection before the flames licked around them.

  Gaia watched as men crumbled to their feet. Roc landed safely, and they all scrambled unto it’s back. Without hesitation, it took off into the sky. She wanted to say something to her friends, but the rushing breeze muffled what she wanted to say. She looked back at Kirk who had managed to find his balance.

  “I don’t think the Veclantem have been seen in over a hundred years.” Tafari said coming to shout into her ear, “They originate from Mildac.”

  “I didn’t know.” She replied, “It’s been with me all my life. You’re immune to its burn?”

  He nodded and began stroking the animal’s scales.

  “You truly are a curious girl. One minute you’re as timid as a mouse and the next you’re a serpent. Or should I say riding one.”

  The word made her heartbeat pick up. The serpent on her necklace flashed through her mind and she felt the heat of it pressing against her chest almost instantly.

  “It’s different when you’re caught in it.” She replied, “I’ve had some practice over waterfalls. The thrill is what I like.”

  He nodded and continued to pet the beast.

  “We’ll have to tell the king about what happened today.” He said, “He won’t like that his heir was in danger.”

  She looked back at Kirk who was talking to Helen and nodded.

  “He was safe with us.” She replied, “He’s alive isn’t he.”

  Tafari laughed and shook his head.

  “Why do you think they attacked us?” Helen shouted. They were at a decent altitude and Roc had slowed his pace now that they were out of immediate trouble, “The place was deserted so nobody could have known we were there.”

  “Those people aren’t from the hills,” Kirk said speaking for the first time since they had jumped atop the bird.

  He looked as if something was going through his mind and she wanted to know what it was.

  “What are you thinking?” She asked.

  “I wonder how they knew we were there.” He replied.

  Her mind flashed back to a moment in the fight when she’d heard someone mention Kirk. “The prince!” The man had shouted seconds before she snapped his neck. It was clear they had targeted Kirk. If she hadn’t been there, they might have succeeded in their plans.

  “Do you think someone told them we were going to be in these woods?” Khar asked.

  “I think we have to assume that,” Kirk replied.

  There was something dark in his eyes. Gaia thought about the conversation she had heard between Kun Solomon and Lu Radock. Could the old man be trying to kill his grandson? The thought made her cringe because, as abhorrent as it seemed, she didn’t think he was incapable or unwilling.

  “Do you think it was the headmistress?” Khar asked softly, her eyes widening as the thought took root.

  “That would be too irresponsible.” Gaia replied, “If she wanted to get rid of us why would she use a method that would point directly to her?”

  The others nodded and Tafari smiled.

  “It could be anyone.” He said

  Kirk nodded but remained silent.

  “We could have all been killed today,” Helen said solemnly.

  “Your quick thinking saved us.” Kirk said, “All of you.”

  “Especially Gaia.” Khar said looking over at her, “You’re fearless.”

  Gaia blushed but there was nothing happy about this moment.

  “I’m more interested in who tried to harm us.” Gaia continued, “I think we need to make a plan before we get back.”

  “What sort of plan?” Helen asked

  “Well, whoever tried to have us all killed will be surprised to see us back and unarmed.” Kirk said, “We’ll still be in danger until they accomplish their plan.”

 
Everyone seemed to understand what he meant.

  “In the end, we are all still in danger.” Gaia continued.

  Looking around as they soared through the air, she realised something had changed between them.

  “The only people we can trust until we figure this out, are right here.” Kirk said, “We shouldn’t tell anyone about what just happened.”

  “Are you sure?” Gaia asked.

  “We can tell my father,” he said, “no-one else.”

  Chapter 12

  Half an hour later, Roc descended into the forests of the Tarion mountains. It was less than half a day’s journey back to the palace from here, so they decided to make camp and explore the mountains. Gaia concluded that because they were off any paths that could be used to track them, it was a safe bet that their would-be assassins were searching elsewhere. Kirk gave them a quick lesson on the Tarion mountains as they set up camp.

  “Nobody comes here.” He said as they cleared a few tall weeds from the mossy ground.

  They’d found the perfect place to settle down, the trees here were tall so that no-one could spot them from above, but the ground was mostly mossy and clear.

  “Are they haunted by the ghost of some mysterious being?” Khar asked.

  Kirk stopped working and looked around thoughtfully.

  “I guess you could say that.” He teased.

  He was smiling which made Gaia feel at ease. He’d been brooding the entire ride here and she was worried that his mood would eventually make everyone else pensive. Besides that, she didn’t like to see him frown so deeply.

  “I hope we get to see a ghost.” Tafari teased throwing a blade of grass at Helen who was watching him with horror.

  “Boys are truly a different kind of creature.” She said.

  “Agreed” Gaia replied enthusiastically.

  “I’m going to see if we can find some wood for a fire,” Kirk said motioning for her to follow him.

  Gaia nodded and together they left the small secluded area. From this high up, she could see the palace in the distance. She had never noticed just how far out into the sea it was. At the very edge of the mainland was a large city and she thought for a moment about the people who were cluelessly going about their lives there. It was eerie to be so far up looking down.