by Jenny McKane
“What should we do?” beamed Escolen, staring at the group. “Will we go back into the house and build a fire for the night? It is getting cold.”
Avalon looked at Skyresh and Everard. Then, almost as one, they shook their heads. They never wanted to go back into that house again.
“Fair enough,” laughed Escolen. “It looks appealing to me, standing out in the cold, but I can see your point! Will we find a spot to camp for the night? We have brought tents, just in case.”
Avalon nodded, relief flooding through her so intensely she almost swooned.
Suddenly, she was knocked down on the ground and enveloped by fur. Hansa! The wolf pinned her down, licking her face and whining. Avalon laughed, hugging the animal fiercely.
“It is good to see you, too, Hansa,” she whispered into the wolf’s fur. “Thank you, my friend, for what you have done for us. You are the mightiest wolf in the realm.”
It was my pleasure, my queen, replied Hansa. You have triumphed over the sorceress.
Avalon hugged the wolf tightly, and then she stood up. Sidsel approached her, neighing gently. Avalon hung her arms around the horse’s neck and pressed her face against Sidsel’s white face, stroking her mane softly.
“You are magnificent, Sidsel,” she whispered. “I will never forget the vision of you, galloping through the snow with snowflakes falling upon you. Thank you.”
The horse nudged her, nickering.
“I hate to break up this reunion,” laughed Escolen. “But we should set up the tents for the night. It has been a long day’s travel, and I am tired. We should have a good night’s sleep after all the excitement and set out at first light for the camp.”
***
The first rays of the sun enveloped the sky, turning it a rosy hue. Avalon thought that she had never seen anything more beautiful in her life.
They had all talked for a while after they had set up tents for the night, catching up on news, but after half an hour, Avalon had felt her head begin to droop. She was so tired that she felt that she could have slept where she sat.
“Go to bed, Avalon,” Mother Asta had told her. “You are so tired after the spell. I feel it, too. It drains us, performing the magic. We can catch up on everything and make our plans when we get back to base camp.” The old woman paused. “I have a feeling that there is now a window of opportunity to scale the High Wall with what has happened here, but we will talk of it later.”
Avalon had crawled into her tent, trying hard not to look at Skyresh, who was sitting next to Minna. The lover’s reunion. Minna was not as effusive toward him as she would have thought though. In fact, Minna seemed strangely pensive. And she couldn’t help but notice the glances that she cast Everard’s way. Glances that Everard returned.
Skyresh had been glad to see her but hadn’t acted like an overjoyed lover at the reunion with his sweetheart either. Avalon had felt his eyes on her, several times, questioning.
But it was all too much for her, that night. She couldn’t think about any of it. She had fallen asleep as soon as her head had hit the pillow and hadn’t woken until she had heard people moving around, just before the sun had risen.
When she first opened her eyes, she couldn’t remember where she was, and then it all came flooding back. They were free! The reversal spell had worked!
And now she was riding through the woods on her beloved horse. She felt the soft rush of the breeze against her hair, lifting it behind her. The urge to simply spur Sidsel on and ride like the wind was almost overwhelming. This first taste of freedom was intoxicating, and she savored it, almost like a sweet taste on her tongue.
Hansa was running ahead, as was her wont. Avalon felt another burst of happiness, watching her beloved wolf. She knew that when they got back to the base camp, reality would intrude once more. Plans had to be made and war declared.
But for now, she put it all firmly out of her mind. She was simply a woman, on her horse, riding through the stunning winter wilderness. Free and unfettered by anything.
She gazed at the mountains, whizzing past her, marveling at their snow-topped beauty. The trees were like friends that she had not seen in a long time. And the snowflakes were welcoming her back into the world once more.
***
Avalon watched Everard, sitting near the fire at base camp. She could sense how uncomfortable he was.
They had made it back in good time. The whole camp had come out to greet them, amazed and shocked by what had happened. Everyone had glanced at Everard but not said anything.
There had been tears and grieving, too. They had brought back the bodies of Brunn and Niko, which had been buried in the snow outside the house, just as Skyresh had vowed. Tomorrow, they would formally farewell them. Preparations for the ceremony were already underway.
“Are you alright, Everard?” she asked softly.
He smiled. “Of course,” he replied. “I am just getting used to freedom, I think. And being in your camp.” He hesitated. “I am an outsider here, Avalon. People don’t know what to make of me, and I don’t blame them. They think that I will betray them to the Jarle, I am sure of it.”
“It will take time,” she advised, smiling. “But they will come around. It took them a long time to accept me, and I am their queen. However, they are good people, Everard. If you work hard and prove yourself trustworthy, they will accept you as one of us.”
He nodded, sighing.
Avalon saw him looking just beyond her, his dark eyes suddenly shining. She turned her head around, following his gaze.
Minna was walking toward a group of people. She had changed out of her travelling clothes and had put on a long, yellow dress. The color of it contrasted with her auburn hair. As if she felt his gaze, she turned her head and stared at Everard.
Avalon watched them, gazing at each other, and then Minna blushed and kept walking.
“Everard,” Avalon whispered. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you are smitten with Minna.”
He colored. “Don’t be silly. I know who she is. We were introduced last night, remember? Skyresh’s girlfriend.”
Avalon nodded slowly. “Yes, that is true, and yet, I think that she is just as smitten with you, as you are with her.” She shook her head ruefully. “The workings of the heart are a mystery, Everard. Am I right?”
He hesitated, staring at her. “Avalon, you know how I have always felt about you. I loved you for years. I even dreamt about you when my memory was wiped, although I had no idea who you were. But now…”
“Now?” she pressed, staring at him.
“Now, it is different.” He frowned, with the effort of expressing himself. “I will always love you, but it has changed. I see that we were never meant for one another. And as for Minna…I don’t know what to say. The moment I saw her, it was like I saw the world open for me. It was like I was gazing into my future.” He paused. “I know that it sounds crazy, especially in the circumstances. She is taken, and I have no right to feel the way that I do.”
Avalon sighed. Tears sprang into her eyes, but she blinked them away quickly. Was she disappointed that Everard’s love for her had changed? It had tormented him for so long. And she could never return it – not really.
Oh, she loved him, and she always would. The bond of what they had shared over the years was strong, but she realized that she had never loved him in that way. The love that she felt for him, she suddenly knew, was the love of a sister toward her brother. They were family, come what may. It was why she had responded to his cries in the house. And it was why she had wiped his memory.
“He loves you, Avalon,” whispered Everard, his dark eyes gleaming. “Skyresh. It is you that he truly loves. I don’t understand what has happened between you both, and why he is on the verge of formally committing to Minna, but I know that it would be the wrong thing.” He took a deep breath. “For all of us.”
Avalon smiled sadly. “It is so complicated between us,” she whispered. “It is like a wall has sprung
up between us. Sometimes, we can scale it and still see each other, but other times, it is so high that we are eternally on opposite sides of it.”
“Tell him,” urged Everard. “Tell him how you feel. I know that he feels the same way. It just needs one of you to be brave and make a stand.”
Avalon’s eyes widened. Was it true? Or was Everard pushing her for his own reasons now?
“Avalon.”
She looked up, shaking off her thoughts. Mother Asta was standing there.
“It is time.” The old Mother looked determined. “We must talk about the High Wall.”
Chapter Eighteen
The lament filled the air, the bittersweet notes snatched by the cold wind. Avalon thought that she had never heard a sadder song in her life.
She gazed at the bodies, raised on platforms on two rafts. Brunn and Niko. They were surrounded by twigs and branches. Winter blossoms. Their swords lay beside them, along with various personal items, which would stay with them for eternity. The flames from torches flickered in the wind.
The crowd of people were subdued, their heads lowered. Then, Mother Asta raised her staff, and her voice raised high in the air, imploring the Goddess to watch over the two men and carry them to their final resting place.
It was time.
A group of men came forward, pushing the rafts into the fjord. Skyresh was among them. Avalon watched him, lowering his head over the body of Brunn. He looked up quickly and met her gaze. She could see tears streaming down his face.
She sobbed, her heart breaking. These men had given their life for the rebellion. And they were being farewelled as warriors always had been when the Anasta had ruled the land, and it had been called Masgata.
Niko’s mother rushed forward and placed her hand on her son’s chest in farewell.
And then they were pushed out onto the waters, floating slowly away towards the mountains.
The crowd stood silently on the banks of the fjord, watching the rafts. Then, one by one, they headed back to the camp.
Usually, there would be a feast for the dead, which would go on long into the night. But it had been decided the night before that there was no time. The camp had to pack up quickly and start moving toward the High Wall. Escolen had already sent word to their other forces in the Far North and had even sent out birds to the South, telling the rebels there to start preparing.
Avalon walked slowly back to the camp, deep in thought. It had happened so quickly that her mind was reeling. They had been preparing for this for months, of course, but it had all depended on finding the spell that would defeat the force, which surrounded the High Wall. And suddenly that opportunity had fallen into their hands.
And it was thanks to her imprisonment in the house, and the fact that the sorceress had impersonated her.
Mother Asta had taken Avalon to the main tent the night before when she had insisted that they must talk. Escolen was already there and so was Skyresh. There was no sign of Minna.
“I know that we are all tired,” the Mother had said, settling into her chair. “We have only just got back to camp, but I am afraid that we must act urgently. We have a small window of opportunity to finally advance on the South, and we must take it.”
“The sorceress?” questioned Escolen, leaning forward. His eyes were gleaming.
Mother Asta nodded. “Yes. She has fled, and we don’t know where she has gone. Avalon, could you tell us all about the vision that you had in the village temple?”
Avalon nodded slowly. It all seemed so long ago now.
“The Goddess appeared,” she replied. “And then a woman emerged, who looked exactly like me. The Goddess said to breach the High Wall, I must confront the woman who walks alongside me, who will deceive a man I once called friend.”
Mother Asta nodded. “We know that this woman is the sorceress, who cast a spell to look like Avalon. And that the ‘friend’ the Goddess referred to is Everard, the former guardian who the sorceress used to lure Avalon into that house.”
Escolen nodded. “Yes, that all makes sense. But how does that lead us to finally breaching the High Wall?”
“We know her now,” replied Mother Asta. “We know she uses water as her power source, and her herbs and oil. It has been proved that if we use the same methods, her spells are defeated. I believe that if Avalon and I use those things again, we can lower the force around the High Wall, and our forces can advance into the South.” She took a deep breath. “The sorceress is in hiding or running. Soon, she will gather back her power, but for now, it is as if the veil has fallen. The Goddess has returned to me and told me we must cast the spell now.”
Skyresh leaned forward, his eyes glittering. “It has finally come? The time to advance on the Wall?”
Mother Asta took a deep breath and nodded. “I believe so, Skyresh. We must trust it, of course. Avalon and I can work the magic, but we will have no way of knowing until our forces get there if it has worked or not. That is the only bit I am worried about.”
“What about if we send one of the winged creatures over it first?” said Skyresh, standing up in his excitement. “We know that the small birds can get through. We have been using them as messengers for years now, but the large winged creatures have never been able to fly over the Wall.”
Escolen frowned. “That is risky, Skyresh. If the winged creature does get through, the Jarle will be alerted that the force is no longer working, and they will be on high alert. They will rush to gather extra forces from the city, and we might not overcome them.” He paused. “The element of surprise will be gone.”
They were all silent, as they weighed up the pros and cons of Skyresh’s idea.
“I think that we should just risk it,” said Avalon. “Escolen is right. They will be alerted, and then they will be prepared. I am confident that the spell will work under Mother’s guidance.”
Escolen stared at her. “Will you do it now?”
Avalon turned to Mother Asta. “Mother?”
The Mother had nodded decisively. “We will prepare for it. Come, Avalon.” She stood up, and then she turned to the others. “Wait until we have finished to start your preparations. We don’t know yet what will come of it. And we still have the farewell ceremony for Brunn and Niko tomorrow before we leave.”
The two women had gathered what they needed and headed toward the fjord. Mother Asta had insisted that they needed to do the spell there to ensure its success.
It had been freezing cold, stepping out of their clothes and heading into the water. They each held a candle aloft and had sprinkled the herbs and oil on the water.
And then they had held hands and chanted.
Avalon had felt energy surging through her, crossing over from Mother Asta. Their voices rose into the night air, greeting the moon.
Avalon had opened her eyes at the end of the chant and had seen the Goddess gliding over the fjord toward them, as if on wings. In her hands, she held a ball of light, which rose as she advanced, shooting into the night air.
They had both gasped, knowing that they had witnessed something special. Almost like a miracle. The last words of the chant had died on her lips, and she had smiled, infused with love and joy.
It had worked. She just knew it.
“That was a good omen,” muttered Mother Asta, as they walked slowly out of the water toward the bank. They were both dripping and shivering with the cold. They dressed quickly and returned to the camp.
Escolen and Skyresh were waiting for them.
“Well?” said Skyresh, his eyes glittering. “Did it work?”
Mother Asta nodded slowly. “I believe so, Skyresh. We both saw the Goddess flying towards us, and she released a ball of light into the air. That is a traditional symbol of blessing amongst the Anasta warriors. Many books speak of it and have drawings of it.”
They had all sighed with relief. Then, Escolen and Skyresh had headed out to tell the camp. They would be leaving as soon as the farewell ceremony had finished.
Ava
lon looked at the sky now. She could almost see that ball of light, still hovering there.
They had just witnessed an ending. A formal ceremony to say good bye to two of their warriors, but they were about to journey toward something else.
She just knew, in her heart, that it was a beginning.
***
The creatures filled the sky, gliding through the air, as if being pulled on invisible strings. On the land, many more sprinted across the terrain. Beside them, the people marched, advancing on the wall. They had met up with other groups, as they had descended, and all together it was an impressive sight to behold. Man and creature about to fight, side by side.
Avalon had dressed carefully. She was about to go into battle, but she was also the Queen. She was a symbol to the warriors, and she had to look the part. She had worn comfortable black leggings and tunic for when she had to fight, but she had also worn her most elaborate cloak, made of black velvet and silk. It flew behind her as she rode at the front. On her head rested the simple gold circlet, which all the Anasta queens had worn before her.
On her face were painted the blue patterns of the Anasta warrior about to go into battle.
She glanced to her right. Skyresh was riding beside her, his eyes glued to the front. How proud he was, thought Avalon. But it was even more than that. She sensed an overwhelming ebullience in him, as if he was finally about to see the culmination of everything that he had ever hoped and dreamed. Defeat was simply not an option for him now that they were finally about to attack the Wall and put in place all the months of careful planning.
He turned to her, smiling broadly. His blue eyes dazzled in the winter sunlight. She caught her breath, just looking at him.
Minna rode just behind, as did Everard. Some had grumbled when they had seen him there, saying he had no right to ride so close to the leaders, considering his recent background. Usually Avalon would have listened to them and capitulated. She would have tried to please them, but not this time.
Everard deserved to be riding towards the front. He had been an integral part of all of it; sometimes willingly, sometimes not. But Avalon knew that she simply would not have come this far without him.