The Kingdom of Tamarack (Book One in The Tamarack Series)

by Ross Turner

  Looking more closely at the young girl’s armour Isabel noticed that it too was handcrafted and surprisingly elegantly so, being made up of lots of smaller plates of metal joined together rather than just one brash, inflexible plate. Bronze engraved vines stretched from the bottom of her breastplate up to her shoulders and toward the centre of her chest, forming a circle within which she proudly bore a golden gryphon, bold and brave. She wore a loose fitting skirt which was coloured to match her armour, and light greaves at her legs and arms. Her boots were sturdy but still somehow looked feminine.

  She managed to make Isabel slightly jealous at how well she pulled off her surprising outfitting. Argon, Welden and Ergon were all suddenly transfixed by her sleek, but far from in between figure.

  “Well don’t just stand there.” She instructed with a grin. “Either apologise or leave. Or do things have to get ugly?” And with that comment Argon snapped back to the situation at hand.

  “And just what are you going to do?”

  “Come now Argon.” She said feigning sympathy. “Probably exactly the same thing as I did before…and the time before that…” Once again her sharp comments cut to the core of the big-mouthed brute. “And what’s this about you having your eye on me? You’ll make a girl big-headed.” She said, winking to Isabel very obviously.

  “They were flukes.” He said through gritted teeth, his face flushing suddenly, the change in his attitude and manner surprising Isabel.

  “Ok fine.” She replied sighing theatrically. “Let’s go again. Get yourselves ready boys!” She declared still grinning as she walked past the three hesitant thugs and over to Isabel and Zanriath, emphasising her movements into an outrageous strut, turning Argon’s face even redder than it had been before. She extended a hand to Isabel and introduced herself. As she flicked her fringe from her eyes and ran her left hand through her long flowing hair Isabel realised just how beautiful this girl really was.

  “My name is Ayva.” She introduced herself pleasantly. “Please take no notice of my dear friend Argon. He’s dim-witted but he means no harm.” Argon stifled a few foul curses at that point.

  “Isabel. Not a problem. I’ve dealt with his type before.” She replied, casting a cold glance in Argon’s direction, making his blood boil.

  “A pleasure.” Ayva said smiling. She introduced herself one by one to Zanriath and Ben and Zhack, before turning to the three men now quietly talking amongst themselves. “Oh come now boys!” She ushered clapping her hands together. “Strategies? Mind you, you’re going to need one!” She said with a smirk. That appeared to be the final straw. They’d had enough and turned their swords on Avya, shields already raised. She casually looked back to the wide-eyed Isabel and winked again. “Excuse me darling. This won’t take long.”

  And with that she reached behind her back and drew both swords with a steely metal ring. They weren’t full-length, about twice that of a dagger, but then she wasn’t overly tall, a little shorter than Isabel, and they seemed to suit her perfectly, even just as she stood casually awaiting her opponents.

  Each blade had the same pattern of vines running from the tip to hilt, bronzed again, and the blades themselves were straight, narrowing slightly to a point at each tip. For some reason Isabel was reminded suddenly of the vines running up the archways in Compii Tower, and mentally added yet another coincidence to her ever-growing list.

  Ayva proceeded to shake her arms and legs as if to loosen them up and then suddenly she became incredibly light on her feet, springing to life, darting left and right in short, quick steps, taunting the men as they approached and putting considerable distance between Isabel and herself. That only made them angrier and they began to quicken their assault.

  “Did I tell you about the last time they tried this Isabel? They were terribly embarrassed!” Ayva called behind her laughing. “All their friends thought it was hilarious! They do all fancy themselves as knights though!” Argon let out an angry cry and charged the last five metres towards Ayva, sword raised and swinging for her head, closely followed by his brother and cousin after a moment’s brief hesitation. But she was ready, waiting, and that clumsy hesitation only made things easier for her.

  She parried Argon’s first clumsy swing, deftly directing his heavy blade over to her left, and kicked him low in the side of the knee, forcing it to buckle inwards. With an anguished cry his shield hand went to clutch his injured leg, but as he did so, his momentum carrying him forward, Ayva tripped him and he crashed noisily to the ground, sending his sword and shield clanking off in front of him.

  The other two filed in behind swinging wildly. Ayva parried one blow with her left sword and swiftly sidestepped a second. These brutes were slow and she ran circles around them, evading the big looping arcs they swung at her and dodging left and right between shorter swipes, playing with them, only angering them further. Ben and Zhack watched the fight, mesmerised by her astonishing reflexes and Isabel was a little worried she might have to hold the twins back. Finally Ayva had had enough and put her foes down.

  One received a stout kick to the stomach, knocking the wind from his lungs, even through his thick armour. The other was a little quicker, managing to get in two more swings with his sword before Ayva spun on her heel and kicked him squarely in the side of the head. He stood for a second, his body stiffening as his eyes glazed over. He fell to the floor with a grunt accompanied by the loud clatter of metal.

  By this time Argon had dragged himself to his feet, holding most of his weight on one leg, he turned to Ayva, his sword raised. He hadn’t even bothered to pick his shield back up.

  “Now Argon. You know I don’t approve of cheaters. It’s over.” Her tone was oddly more serious now, but she received no reply.

  He was furious, maybe even rage-blind. He came at her once more, still limping, swinging his sword wildly. Ayva adopted a defensive position, balanced, poised. He drew his arm back and swung high over his head, meaning to come down on her unprotected temple. But she was far too quick. Flicking her right arm up, she caught his sword with her own, directing it to the right of her this time, the momentum of the swing taking the blade all the way to the floor and burying it a foot into the earth. In the same movement she stepped over the grounded blade with her left leg and spun on the ball of her foot.

  With astonishing speed and agility, before Argon had time to even consider reacting, she whipped her right elbow round through her spin and cracked the brute straight in the face, sending him reeling backwards, blood pouring from his broken nose. He looked at the blood dripping steadily on to the grass at his feet as he steadied his vision. “That’s enough Argon.” Ayva said quietly and seriously now. “We’re done here.” She replaced her blades and turned back to Isabel. But Isabel knew just as well as Ayva did that he clearly hadn’t had enough.

  He ran at her again, unarmed this time, fists raised. Ayva sighed a deep and genuine breath and darted towards him. In a single stride she sprung at Argon, kicking her feet forward and over his right shoulder, her body following with perfect posture, evading his slow flailing arms. In the air she spun left and whipped her right hand round to his right shoulder and grabbed the other with her left hand. She gripped tight with both and tucked her knees up to her chest. The momentum she’d created in her jump halted Argon in his stride and jerked his shoulders back, forcing him down to the floor with her. His armour was thinner and much weaker at his back and she drove her knees into it, using his own weight as a weapon as he crashed down on top of her. He grunted and arched his back painfully before toppling off to the side of Ayva. She stood up slowly, brushing herself off and looking down at the limp Argon Vichten beside her, obviously unhappy with what she’d just had to do.

  “He never knows when to quit.” She said solemnly to Isabel as she walked back over to rejoin them. “Sorry about that.”

  “Are they ok?” Isabel asked, looking at the three poor souls cast to the floor.

  “They’ll be fine.” She replied gesturing to Welden
and Ergon, who were slowly picking themselves slowly up from the dirt clutching their wounds and their pride. “Argon might take a little longer…” She added hesitantly.

  “Does everyone just challenge each other like that here?” Ben asked Ayva.

  “Loads of people must get hurt.” Zhack added.

  “You two are sweet.” She replied, her smile returning. “Only the best come here. And they know what they’re getting into.”

  “Were they the best then?” Isabel asked looking once again at the one man sprawled on the floor, unconscious and probably seriously injured, and the other two limping gingerly over to check on him.

  “Oh no, not at all. But they like to think they are. They just have lots of money.” She said with a chuckle. “And they know it.” Ayva knew Zanriath’s question before he even had chance to draw breath. She turned to him and winked before answering, forcing Isabel to hide a sudden jealous flush rising inside her. Whether Ayva noticed or not she wasn’t sure.

  “I’m the best.”

  17

  “So, Isabel, how much did you travel in Land?” Ayva posed the question as they continued steadily south. Zanriath had protested at first but she was adamant that if she was to leave with them she must make preparations beforehand and collect her equipment. She had given them little choice in the matter and now led them onwards as they walked with their horses, bantering as they went. Zanriath had briefly explained the situation to Ayva and that she was to become the fifth member of their party, and she had taken to the idea with much enthusiasm.

  “From Aproklis? Not much. I lived there my whole life. What about you?”

  “Your whole life?” She asked, a little shocked, thinking for a moment “I travel all the time. I like to move from the south coast up to the north on foot. Not even once?”

  “A few times.” Isabel conceded with a wry smile, wondering if she’d missed out on much.

  This adventure of yours intrigues me though.” Ayva continued. “I haven’t yet fought any demons.”

  “I’m certain you will don’t worry.” Zanriath assured her almost under his breath. She flashed him a smile that he returned and Isabel felt that same surge of jealousy that she was once again forced to suppress.

  Then Ayva turned off the track quite suddenly and headed for a small rocky outcrop bordered on both sides by thick undergrowth. They had remained on the west flank of Warrior’s Plain and walked south for a few hours but were still a long way from the southern coastline.

  “Where are we going?” Isabel asked, running to catch up with Ayva.

  “There’s a hidden route through the rocks. I’ve set up shop just through there. It’s useful and not too many people know about it.” As they squeezed through the narrow pass in the outcrop Isabel could see exactly why. It took them almost a half hour to get the horses through that difficult corridor alone. The day was wearing on and Isabel knew they would not make it back to Kilkaw in time.

  A gentle wind whistled through the pass. It sped up between the rocks and cooled Isabel as they clambered through. She looked up briefly for a moment at the slowly darkening sky. The cool light blue sea above her was slowly fading away and thousands upon thousands of twinkling stars appeared as beacons to guide her. Her thoughts were cast to Depozi and how he awaited her, doing everything in his power to stop her inevitable coming. And though she was afraid, for this briefest moment that childish human emotion was cast aside and she saw the simplicity of what lay ahead through entirely rational eyes.

  She broke the trance and felt Zanriath’s eyes upon her. She looked at him with yearning deep brown pools of free emotion and he smiled lovingly back, his eyes too filled with simple adoration.

  Finally they passed through and out of the other side of the narrow corridor and straight into the thick undergrowth they had seen surrounding the rocks beforehand.

  “How much further?” Zanriath called ahead, at the same time attempting to steady his oversized mount. “It’s getting late!”

  “Not but a stone’s throw my love!” Ayva called back in her theatrical tone. “We’re very close.” She said nothing of it, yet Isabel was disheartened at how quickly Ayva had taken to Zanriath. Not that there was any reason for her to feel threatened, but the fact that she and Zanriath weren’t a couple didn’t change the way she felt, and the knot that formed in her gut when Ayva flashed her cheeky smiles and called him pet names was something quite unbearable. She knew it wasn’t Ayva’s doing; the girl was lovely, in more ways than one, light-hearted and optimistic, and so far, she seemed to raise everyone’s spirits. But jealousy is a weapon far greater than any man could possibly hope to forge.

  “Here we are!” Ayva exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air in exultation and turning to face her four new companions. “Home sweet home!” they were all surprised at just how quickly Ayva had warmed to the idea of leaving her homeland and coming with them, but then, that probably had something to do with the lifestyle she’d chosen for herself - the brave, lonesome adventurer, travelling in search of exciting escapades. Though, somehow Isabel gathered there was a bit more to Ayva than just her exciting exterior, and undoubtedly even more to the reasoning behind her seemingly hasty decision.

  The small clearing she led them to was nothing if not picturesque. An almost perfect circle opened out from the thick shrubbery with a trickling stream collecting just to the one side in a glistening rock pool leading from the outcrop. Ayva’s tent was closed, erected tied to a tree on the opposite side of the clearing to the stream and a few scraps of evidence remained from a fire in the centre of the circle.

  “Isn’t it just the loveliest thing you’ve ever seen?” Ayva said beaming, proudly showing them round each feature of her makeshift camp. “I always stay here for a few weeks, sometimes even months. I love it so much!” Her tent was small and would not sleep them all, but then they’d been sleeping in the open so far without issue. “It should stay clear tonight, and the rocks and shrubs trap the heat from the day.”

  “It’s quite something Ayva.” Zanriath agreed quickly scanning the area. “Shall we get started?”

  “Yes.” Isabel agreed, taking more charge than she had done in the past. “Let’s get cleaned up and get some dinner going.” She smiled at Zanriath’s intrigued expression and Ayva seemed pleased to have new company. She soon began talking with Zhack and Ben, who were tired from the travel that morning, but still found the energy to interrogate Ayva on her unique fighting skills.

  Soon enough the horses were watered and fed, they’d cleaned up in the glistening pool that was very cold in the twilight and continually washed through, bringing a fresh supply of pristine drinking water, and were soon sat around a strong flame enjoying a meal that Ayva said she saved for ‘special occasions’. A stew consisting of boar, deer, vegetables and herbs, like nothing Isabel had ever tasted before, she complemented Ayva extensively.

  In Land most of the wild animals had been eaten by the demons, and so their range of meats had been greatly reduced to little more than herded cows, pigs and chickens, and more recently even those had become under greater and greater threat.

  They were all surprised at the organisation Ayva maintained in her makeshift home. Everything had its place and purpose and, as she told them very seriously whilst cleaning up after dinner, just because one doesn’t live in a castle, doesn’t mean one can afford to be messy and disorganised.

  For a good two hours Zanriath, Isabel and the boys filled Ayva in on everything that had happened of late, giving her much more detail than they had done previously on Warrior’s Plain. Isabel noticed that Zanriath took more of a backseat in the explanation, allowing her and the boys as much opportunity as they pleased to talk. As he had done with Ben and Zhack initially, he gave out no new information.

  It was dark now, but the light from the moon and the stars and their concealed fire kept them awake and before long Ayva was up to speed with the situation and flitted onto a new topic, never seeming to stop, her speeding brain movi
ng even faster than she did.

  “So, the twins here have been telling me that they’ve dabbled in a little close range combat…” Ayva began.

  “Yes.” Ben said.

  “But not hand-to-hand like you do.” Zhack continued.

  “Could you teach us?”

  “I certainly could.” Ayva said beaming. “And you haven’t even seen my bow yet.”

  “Bow?” Isabel asked.

  “Yes. I use a bow as well. I’ll teach you tomorrow when it’s light.” Zanriath cut in just as Ayva began to get excited.

  “We have to get to Kilkaw first.” He said. “We’ll be running tight on time tomorrow if we want to avoid the Southern Armouries’ March.”

  “We should be able to stay ahead of them. They set off almost a week ago and will probably be here soon - I have passed them a few times. If we leave early enough and we’re quick then we’ll be fine.” She assured Zanriath confidently. “Besides, those horses you picked up are magnificent!”

  “Yes indeed. A kind fellow named Thomis was more than accommodating in Kilkaw.”

  “Ah yes, Thomis is a lovely man.” She agreed smiling. “You were lucky to come across him.”

  By now Isabel was beginning to realise that these random bouts of good fortune were probably not random at all, but more likely set in motion many years, if not centuries or millennia ago, by some overwhelming force of nature. She was slowly beginning to comprehend that something greater than their creators, something that took no form, was actually directing their world, their universe. She doubted she would ever fully understand the meaning behind so many things that had happened, and that were still waiting to happen. Her epiphany sent her thoughts spiralling and she wondered how, or even why, she had come to think such things.