by Ross Turner
Behind them their horses rested and Ayva’s rock pool glistened in the moonlight. The few visible clouds above thinned and caringly parted to allow the moonlight to illuminate where they sat. Ayva had been right. It would be a clear night. Sheltered between rocks and trees they were comfortable and secure. They all felt very safe. Only Isabel had become aware of the presence she felt lingering on the edge of her consciousness.
She stood up and took a slow walk round the camp. The others stopped their conversation as they saw the concerned and abstracted look of concentration on her face. The all went very quiet for a few minutes, watching Isabel’s eyes gloss with concentration and thought. Zanriath eventually interrupted her thoughts.
“Isabel?” he whispered, standing slowly. “What is it?”
“It’s the boy.” She replied coldly. “He’s looking for me.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s out on Warrior’s Plain. He must have followed us from Kilkaw.” She surmised.
“How do you know?” Ayva then whispered, also silently rising to her feet.
“I can feel him, he’s looking for me.”
“But if you can sense him, can’t he sense you?”
“Yes, usually, but I sensed his thoughts scanning the area and hid myself.”
“You hid your mind?” Zanriath asked moving towards her.
“I can sense his mind because he has demonic power, and he can do the same - like I did looking for those demons the other day. All I’ve done works the same as the barrier; he can’t see me because I can subvert his search. Though, if I hadn’t realised as quickly as I did, he would have found us and he could have done the same. I wouldn’t have known he was coming.”
“So you’re faster than him?” Ayva interjected.
“Not necessarily. It’s very hard to scan a large area without anyone realising, he’s sacrificing a lot of subtlety looking over the huge, flat plains. I suppose he’s either desperate or underestimating me. We’re safe don’t worry.” Isabel spoke louder now and moved back to the fire, her worried look dissipating. “We should probably get some sleep if we’re going to leave early tomorrow morning.”
“She’s right.” Zanriath agreed. “If there are demons sneaking around looking for us maybe it’s a good idea to put another barrier up…” Zanriath said suggestively. Isabel agreed kindly and closed her eyes. Ayva and the boys watched with fascination as Isabel’s face creased with concentration once again.
Little more than moments later those same brilliantly white rings beamed out from where Isabel sat, racing out into the night, through the trees and the rocks and the darkness. They pulsated out in protective circles and encased the five as they sat comfortably in the warmth of each other’s company.
Had Ayva known what to expect she wouldn’t have been as alarmed as the rings shot through her. Isabel relaxed and tested her barrier for a brief moment.
“That should do just fine.” She announced with a smile, growing more confident every time. “We’ll be safe tonight.” Zanriath concealed a smile at Isabel’s growing self-belief.
Soon enough everything was finished and cleaned from their meal and one last check of the horses was all that remained before the now five companions settled for the night. They were snug and comfortable, and content that nothing could harm them, they all slept easily. Even Zanriath slept well, where he would normally lay awake in restlessness.
And indeed for that night they did sleep safely.
Miles off to the north the boy searched for Isabel, growing angry at his continuing failure. As she drifted off to sleep Isabel smiled as she felt his thoughts becoming increasingly frustrated, growing more and more obvious with each clumsy attempt to locate her. Was it the amulet that was helping her grow steadily stronger? She touched the jewel at her neck and felt it pulsate slightly in response. Zanriath had created it to help her, and it was doing just that, in fact magnificently so.
She lay next to him, but no closer. She wouldn’t be able to keep this up for much longer. She hoped it wouldn’t interfere with what she would have to do. What if something happened to him? Her heart skipped a beat at the sudden thought and she dismissed it just as quickly.
That wouldn’t happen. She wouldn’t allow it. She couldn’t.
18
He howled with frustration as one by one his every attempt to locate Isabella failed. Every thought he cast scanned an empty wasteland, finding only a few of his own scattered about. Where was she? She’d probably found the fifth and final member of their party by now, but he still had no idea who it was or where they had gone.
He grew suddenly enraged and cast yet another more powerful thought out across Hinaktor’s endless plains…still nothing. He’d even felt the search parties he’d sent to the far reaches of the south coast, but no Isabella Ta’ Quedara.
Soon his scattered demons would have to return to intercept the advancing troop of the Southern Armouries. He hadn’t been worried initially, at first the march had been little more than an inconvenience. But now it was gathering in both strength and numbers, and the few demons that had already crossed from his realm were spread too far and too thin.
He had underestimated Isabella. He had not expected her to hide herself so well, and it was causing problems he hadn’t expected. Demon-Lord Depozi would be very unhappy if she wasn’t purged before leaving Hinaktor, and if he upset Depozi there was no guarantee that He would keep His side of their deal. And he couldn’t afford to take that risk. This was worth far too much.
His best chance was the march. He was certain Isabella hadn’t left Hinaktor, and if the island’s best were all gathered there, then surely the one they’d been looking for would be drawn there too? He doubted that a rogue ranger would come to their aid. And besides, there was no way he could avoid the march now with Isabella still on the island. He couldn’t find her, yet he couldn’t leave without her. His frustration worsened.
He made his decision. The army was moving too fast and he was too short on time. The thought he sent out next was a message to his underlings. He called them back. They would move to the curve on the Great Road where it crossed Hinaktor’s northern-southern boundary, and wait there in ambush. He recalled a small forest, thick with pines and Wykvans, hardly more than a large copse really on these barren plains; there his demons would wait the Southern Armouries coming. If they changed course he would know Isabella was with them. And besides, they were on an island after all; eventually there would be nowhere she could hide.
His demons returned to him swiftly, making good time through the dark. Those from the south avoided the Southern Armouries encampment on the Great Road, taking care not to be seen. The march would continue heading north and then turn west to the bridge that led to Compii Tower.
Their main goal was to kill any and all demons they could find, and recruit anyone capable of wielding a sword or an axe. When they reached the bridge they would set up a barricade to ensure that no more demons could come on to the island, while they hunted the remaining ones that would no longer be able to escape.
Individually, these mercenaries would be no problem for his army, but it was their sheer numbers and aggression that worried the boy. His demons would be overwhelmed one by one, and if he allowed that to happen, Isabella would surely slip by unnoticed…and he didn’t know where she was going next. He had to stop her before she reached the Lair of the Demonic, not that he even knew how she would cross the ocean to get there.
Depozi had created the small island off the south of Land so that nobody would ever be able to reach Him, but the boy knew full well that Isabel would find a way. She wouldn’t be allowed not to, and by that time she would be very powerful. Demon-Lord Depozi would almost certainly never hold up His end of their bargain if that were to happen.
He sent out one last fleeting thought, again finding nothing but disappointment, not that he was expecting much else at that point.
She’d looked so scared when he’d first seen her, back in Aproklis,
cowering over her father. He’d been confident, probably even cocky, and now she was fooling him, not giving him anything. The thought of a now confident and powerful adversary struck fear through his heart more than he cared to admit. He would find her. She would not defeat him.
The hour was early and the air cool as daylight broke over the restless plains of Hinaktor. The gathering of the Southern Armouries awoke early and ate quickly, preparing for yet another day marching north; they were already just upon the west flank of Warrior’s Plain and would pass into northern Hinaktor within days. With so many men it made travel slow, but their pace was quickening as they marched, growing ever closer to the imminent battle that they all knew loomed just over the horizon.
Sunrise also stirred a small encampment shrouded by rocky outcrops and dense shrubs. The five there were also making preparations, quickly and quietly, knowing they had little time to spare. Their disciplined silence and routine paid dividend and before long they were moving hurriedly, but carefully, back through the narrow rocky pass and away from their idyllic campsite.
A lone demon raced north from the southernmost shores of Hinaktor, answering its master’s call in haste. It travelled at great speed, faster than a horse at full pelt. It ran on four legs and its immense power combined with a slender physique allowed it almost limitless stamina. It had passed lone warriors, small camps and had even sidled round the Southern Armouries’ watches further south on the Great Road. Its master would surely punish it for any delay, and it had already failed to find the eternal girl they were searching for.
Now it came to the main body of the march. Still moving swiftly it careered east towards the western boundary of Warrior’s Plain. It wouldn’t be able to slip past all those angry eyes so close, and so detoured further around. It kept running.
Suddenly the demon slowed to a walk. Its sharp eyes were well focused with the still dim light. Across the flat plains it saw to the west the torch-lit march beginning to head steadily north along the Great Road once more. To its east the boundary of Warrior’s Plain was clear, and not far. It could head north now and still manage to get past the march…there was really no need to go all the way to the boundary…
It looked more closely and saw a small rocky outcrop, carefully placed between two bouts of thick shrubbery. There was a narrow gap in the rock, extending deep into the outcrop. It felt a strange repulsion from the pass and an overwhelming desire to run north and never look back.
Every fibre in its being screamed to leave, to run north to the boy and forget this rock even existed, never to think of it again, and so the demon moved to do just that, continuing its run due north. Even within moments the whole strange event had been forgotten, but then it caught a scent on the air. It stopped and lifted its nose. Horse. They had a very particular scent that the demon was fond of and would make an easy meal; after all it had been running a long time, and it was very hungry.
It caught movement out of the corner of its eye and saw several dim shapes climbing slowly out from the narrow pass. The same repulsive impulse washed over the beast and it turned to leave once more. But then the shapes continued north also, out of the shadow of the rock and into the morning sunlight - five humans and three horses. That’s where the smell had come from. Their eyes were not sharp enough to see the creature lying perfectly still, watching them from a distance.
But then it felt a light push at the back of its mind, barely even a whisper, and the five humans turned sharply, scanning the area around where the demon lay. It was she - the eternal girl, the one the boy was looking for.
Suddenly it was very afraid. It had not felt true fear before. She was too powerful; it sensed her aura even from the distance. To have made it this far past the boy’s demons she must be.
It fled north. Charging as fast as it could away from Isabella and towards its master. He would want to know. And he would be pleased.
19
Isabel threw foul curses on the wind after the demon that whistled rancid on the air, clenching and unclenching her fists with deep frustration. Her balled hands turned white as they all contemplated their next move. Eventually her fingernails were digging so painfully into her palms that she had to relinquish and breathed a deep sigh, closing her eyes for a moment to escape.
Zhack was the first to speak, followed closely by Ben.
“Why didn’t it attack us?”
“Are they afraid?”
“No.” Isabel replied quietly, waiting for the feeling to return to her fingers. “The boy’s desperate to find us. Some of the demons are more intelligent than the ones we’ve come across so far. He probably sent those ones out looking for us, and the others to fight the Southern Armouries. Or at least that’s my closest guess.”
“But now he knows where we are…” Zanriath left his sentence unfinished.
“I don’t know.” Isabel sighed honestly. “The demon went north, so the boy is between us and Kilkaw. So whether he comes to find us, or waits for us to go to him, he’s probably going to gather as many demons as he can. And we don’t have time…”
“Sounds like we need a better plan.” Ayva observed, running her hand lightly through her hair, still seeming relaxed.
“Sounds like you’ve already got one…” Zanriath replied looking suggestively at the beautiful blonde girl who had so recently joined their company. She crouched to the floor, clearing a small square on the ground and picked up a small stone the size of her fist. Isabel and the boys too looked in to their newest companion. She scratched in the soft dirt and roughly outlined Hinaktor.
“He didn’t know where we were, right? So we were just going to carry on lying low and avoid as many demons as we could?” Ayva began and she dug into the ground.
“Something to that effect.” Zanriath agreed. “Ormath told me our steps would be protected, and so far we haven’t fought any demons. But he also said that soon there would be lots more demons coming onto the island, so I don’t think we’re going to have the same luck leaving.”
“Right then. So, now they know where we are…” She said, indicating their position on the island, next to Warrior’s Plain. “Where we’re going,” pointing now at the start of the bridge to the northwest, “and how many of us there are. And let’s assume there’s more and more demons arriving by the hour? Ok?”
“When you say it like that Ayva it all sounds quite hopeless.” Isabel commented sourly, her tone clearly disheartened.
“Fear not my sweet Isabel.” Ayva chirped with a smile. “We just need to talk tactics for a small moment.”
“Tactics?” The boys asked. “But there’s going to be hundreds of them!”
“But what if there were hundreds of us too?” Ayva countered. “What if we outnumbered them?” A smile spread across her face now, but the others still stared blankly.
“I don’t quite follow Ayva.” Zanriath admitted.
“What if we join the Southern Armouries? We can tell them everything they need to know about the demons - how to fight them, what their next moves might be, and we could fight too. They’ll stand a much better chance with us helping, and then they’d be able to hold them off long enough for us to escape. They might even win!” Her excitement had been building to a crescendo as she’d revealed her plan and now her grin was broad and hopeful. The others said nothing for a moment and thought through her ideas. Isabel was first to speak.
“You know Ayva…that’s brilliant.” She admitted with a smile to match her new friend’s. “All this time we’ve been avoiding the march, knowing we didn’t have enough time, and we could have just used it.” The others agreed swiftly and before long it was decided.
“I think we’re all glad to have you Ayva.” Zanriath complimented her, much more merrily now, as they prepared immediately to head off once more. They mounted and this time headed due west.
“We’ll pick up their trail on the Great Road.” Ayva called out to her companions, riding with Isabel at the front of their party, her bow and blades strapped s
ecurely across her back. “If there’s tracks they’ll be to the north, and if not they’ll be here soon. We won’t be able to miss them. I’ll be surprised if they haven’t made it this far yet though.”
The day was still young and they rode quickly, making good time reaching the Great Road. Around them the landscape changed very little and the wide-open expanses of Hinaktor did little to comfort Isabel as the gravity of their new situation dawned on her. As she bounced in the saddle behind Ayva, she began to feel somewhat sick to the stomach.
As they rode they spoke very little. They were all wary that by now the boy would know that they were still in southern Hinaktor, and that they had no choice but to go north. They just hoped that Ayva’s plan worked. They had been so preoccupied with staying as far away from everyone as they could that they had completely overlooked how useful the march could be to them. It seemed it would no longer hinder their progress to swell the ranks for a short while.
They reached the Great Road soon enough and the tracks from the Southern Armouries march were obvious.
“Actually…” Ayva began, slowly surveying the ground from Isabel’s mount, a grin spreading across her face. “There are quite a few of them. Up in the hundreds easily.” She reported with a short laugh. “It looks like the demons are going to have their work cut out for them.”
“We’ll see.” Isabel replied throwing a still worried look across to Zanriath whose expression showed the same uncertainty. Would there be time to escape?
Ayva dismounted and studied the dusty tracks more closely. They covered the Great Road, which itself was almost ten metres across.
“They have horses, but not very many. They’re probably using them to draw the supply carts, so the troops will almost all be on foot.” She looked to the sky for a moment and then off to the north, following the line of the road.