Kiræ nodded eagerly, “We should probably do that first thing so I have plenty of time to finish my work.”
“Don’t you mean so you can get distracted and forget about it,” Tom corrected and his sister grinned mischievously.
“It’s hardly my fault if I get caught up helping Sara.”
“Things really must be bad if you’d rather help Sara with her work than do your own!”
“What about the rest of you?” Kiræ asked looking round the table.
“Gary and Hazime have offered to give me some extra training,” Keolan said.
“Extra training?” Aurora queried, “but we’ve only just started.”
“And given how much Sir Nyme berates me I needed to improve, yesterday!”
“You can’t be that bad Keo,” Tom said and Keolan raised an eyebrow.
“Clearly you’ve not been watching me,” he said laughing, “I feel like all Sir Nyme does is stare at me and shake his head.”
“Don’t worry,” Hazime said, “he used to do that with me too and now I often assist him with demonstrations.”
“That’s because he likes throwing you on your arse,” Gary pointed out.
Hazime shrugged and smiled, “I think you’re just jealous.”
Gary snorted, “Not even slightly!”
Kiræ woke excitedly the next day, forced Aurora from her bed and dragged her to the Great Hall where they saw they were the first ones down from their group. Although Kiræ struggled to get up for her classes, she found she couldn’t wait to get back to training.
Tino joined them soon after trying to stifle a yawn, “We’re with the horses again today aren’t we?”
Kiræ nodded, “Sir Nyme will probably have us galloping straight away just so he can laugh at us when we fall off.” They laughed as Tom and Keolan joined them.
“I’d never been near a horse until I moved here,” Aurora said, “the thought of riding one is terrifying.”
“Don’t worry,” Keolan said smiling, “I think most people are in the same boat, these two,” he indicated the twins, “clearly have an unfair advantage.” Kiræ opened her mouth and he winked causing her to close it again. “Just remember, no matter how bad you are you can always count on me to be worse.”
The learners collected their mounts and lead them to the outdoor arena where Sir Nyme instructed them to tack up; it was his way of seeing how much they remembered. Once he was satisfied – and at least half of the learners had to start again – he allowed them to mount their horses.
“Now then,” Sir Nyme began, looking at the nervous group in front of him, “first things first, you must learn how to walk, watch what I do.” He gathered the reins in his hands, gently dug his heels in and made a quiet clicking sound. His horse obeyed instantly and walked forwards, though Kiræ didn’t think there would be anyone or anything that wouldn’t do what Sir Nyme said. He continued walking until he reached the end of the arena, turned round and looked at them expectantly.
Nervously they began to mimic his actions with varying degrees of success. About half managed to make their horses move forwards, though several broke excitedly into a trot causing their riders to fall. Another group – Kiræ included – had somehow managed to make their horses move backwards; despite her familiarity with Safaya, she had actually ridden very little.
The final group, which included Tom, seemed to be struggling to move at all. Kiræ heard Tom cursing as he desperately urged his horse, Myran to walk, and stopped her own attempts as Myran appeared to slide forwards. She blinked hard at her brother, who seemed just as confused, then Senna began walking in the right direction and the event slipped from memory. By mid-morning, when Sir Nyme was fully satisfied they were in control, he showed them how to break into a trot, something some of them had accidentally achieved.
“There are two ways to do this,” he explained, “you can remain seated, though I warn you it can get a little uncomfortable, or you can rise and fall with your horse’s steps. I suggest you experience both and see which you prefer. Start with a walk, then repeat the same motions and your horse will do the rest.” The learners looked at him, uncertain but his gaze remained impassive and eventually then had to obey. Inevitably, several of them fell but Sir Nyme didn’t laugh as Kiræ thought he would and instead encouraged them to try again. They continued walking and trotting for the rest of the morning, with Sir Nyme saying little but watching them with hawk-like eyes.
After they had tended their horses and grabbed a quick bite to eat they were back in the training ground with their practice weapons. Sir Nyme had them practicing the moves he had already shown them, again to see how much they remembered. He then showed them a variety of other strikes based on the first group they had learnt and leant against the fence as they practiced.
“How are they doing?” a deep voice asked from behind; Sir Nyme didn’t even flinch.
“A bit rough around the edges Alten, but I’ve had worse.” The newcomer smiled and leapt the fence to stand by Sir Nyme, “you didn’t join the force heading for Denward then? No need to be so rough Aurora, it can’t actually hurt you.” He chuckled and glanced at the man next to him.
“My father didn’t think it wise, I tried to get Vala on my side but…” he trailed off.
Sir Nyme sighed, “You must see it from her side.”
“I do, of course I do, but if it were the other way arou–”
“But it’s not,” Sir Nyme cut in, “and you cannot force her to become comfortable with the situation, it was different before, but she has more responsibility now.”
“I don’t understand how being promoted has changed the situation so much.”
“Your parents–”
“My parents think she’s amazing Arthur, why else would they have promoted her?”
“It isn’t easy for her now she’s in this new position, she’s not just a faceless warrior, she has to make decisions, decisions your father may not agree with. Stay close to her Alten, but don’t push her.”
Alten sighed, “You’re right, you always are.”
Sir Nyme chuckled, “Not always.”
As the sun began to fall behind some low lying clouds Sir Nyme brought the session to a close and dismissed the learners. Kiræ found she was too tired to eat and after a hot bath she collapsed onto her bed and fell almost instantly asleep, thanking the Gods that tomorrow was a rest day.
Vala swung her sword at a mingual directly in front of her, killing him instantly and turned immediately to her left where a group of the foul beasts were shooting flaming arrows at a nearby building. From the smiles on their faces, Vala knew there were citizens still inside. Several of the warriors loosed arrows in retaliation and cantered towards them, drawing their swords as they rode. Vala instructed a group to remain and help the citizens and a tall man with long black hair nodded in her direction as he threw an axe at a snarling mingual.
The remainder of the army continued to pick their way through the debris strewn streets. The outskirts of the city were relatively empty but they heard the happy crackle of new-born fires and the ringing of weapons clashing in the distance. As they navigated through the wide streets, the number of fires and dying buildings increased. A volley of black feathered arrows flew towards them as they rounded a corner; Vala ducked in surprise and heard several yells behind her.
“Show them no mercy!” she yelled beheading the first mingual. Their enemy grinned at them, threw down their bows and drew large, chunky, blood stained swords from their backs. Vala said a silent prayer to Vulcan, the God of War, and swung her sword while her heart raced. Safaya reared as a mingual attacked her legs and Vala fell heavily to the ground. Her shoulder throbbed as a dagger had somehow managed to penetrate the plate armour of her right shoulder.
Thankfully her armour had received the brunt of the attack and the wound was shallow. She grabbed her sword and shield, scrambled to her feet and blocked an attack. Her sword locked with her enemy’s, their eyes met and for a brief second Vala
thought she saw a glimpse of someone behind those red eyes. The mingual growled and spat in her face, breaking their contact. He brought his sword onto her shield, sending a shooting pain down her left arm.
How are we going to stay together? she thought grunting as the mingual tried to force her to her knees, it’s not possible. The mingual tried desperately to sever her head but she blocked again with her shield, twisted to her right and plunged her sword into his side. She glanced briefly round as she noticed a number of her warriors chasing down their enemy.
“Secure the city!” she shouted after them, “protect the people and reach the castle! May the Gods be with you!”
It had taken them the best part of a day to reach one of the outer market squares and it hadn’t been easy. Vala had hoped they would be safe there, but mingual warriors swarmed like insects. She tried to take stock of the situation; her warriors were severely outnumbered and exhausted, while the mingual seemed to house an unlimited source of energy. The majority of the brick buildings around them were already in ruin, while others were boarded and impassable. They had managed to find temporary shelter in an abandoned blacksmiths but the enemy, seeing how desperate they were for rest, were constantly bombarding them.
Vala and a handful of others were outside the building trying to fend off the enemy in the darkness while others worked on the barricade. No matter how many of them burst into flame, more took their place and Vala could feel herself getting weary.
We won’t last much longer like this, she thought blocking another attack. She took out her attackers legs and stabbed him, then felt a sharp pain in her right cheek. She lifted a hand as blood trickled down her face, she cursed and looked up to see the culprit grinning in front of her. Shield out, sword in hand she advanced angrily and wearily. A look of surprise crossed his face and moments later he was consumed by fire. Vala looked confused as several more mingual warriors went up in flames. She assumed the warriors behind her must have shot the arrows but a brief glace back disproved that theory.
Vala frowned and turned again to face the mingual when a group of heavily armoured warriors leapt from an abandoned building and charged. Vala recognised the Jelicæ insignia and together they managed to drive their enemy back across the square and to the hovel they were temporarily calling home. As they made their way quickly towards the blacksmiths, one of the men, his once neatly tied blonde hair now desperately trying to escape its prison, hurried towards her.
“Vala, thank the Gods!” he said embracing her, “we had heard rumour you had arrived and the Gods know we’re grateful you’re here.”
“Cal, I wish we were meeting under different circumstances,” she replied wearily, “but I’m so glad you found us, I don’t think we could have held out much longer!” While her warriors allowed themselves some rest and nourishment, Vala discussed the present situation with Callaghan, the head of Jelicæ’s army.
“We managed to get the majority of the citizens inside the castle grounds,” he explained, “but we’ve been going out in patrols to find anyone who didn’t make it. Yesterday one of the patrols said they thought they’d seen warriors in Baja armour but I didn’t dare believe it to be true.” He embraced her again and she forced a smile,
“Vala you should rest, my warriors and I will keep watch,” she nodded, barely registering what he said and moved to the back of the room where makeshift beds had been made. She lay down and quickly fell into an uneasy sleep.
Vala stood atop a large stone temple. A woman in black stood before her, facing away. She looked around and thought her surroundings looked familiar. The woman laughed and Vala felt as if it were cutting into her skin. She noticed the woman was looking into a basin of liquid and considered moving towards her. Wisps of mist began to form around the woman and she was engulfed in a violent whirlwind. Vala was alone. She moved tentatively forwards, edging closer to the basin until she was able to peer inside and view its contents. It showed a city. It showed Denward. It was falling.
Vala woke in a panic, sat up, and breathed deeply as she scanned her surroundings.
Callaghan glanced at her, “Vala? Are you okay?”
She forced a weak smile, “I’m fine,” she reassured him, “how long have I slept?”
“Almost five hours,” he replied, “it’s nearly dawn.” She dragged herself from the bed and peered through one of the gaps in the barricade. The sky was thick and heavy with rainclouds and the ruined market square was deserted.
“I don’t like it,” she said sitting back, “it’s too quiet, it feels like a trap,” Callaghan nodded, “is there a way out of the back?”
One of the warriors shook her head, “They may not have attacked again but they’ve been busy,” she explained, “they’ve completely blocked off the alley behind the square, the only way out is through there.” She pointed at the boarded doorway.
“Right,” Vala said taking charge, “they’ve obviously set some kind of a trap, and I for one do not want to get caught in it. It was dark last night, they may not know how many of us made it in here, so let’s try to gain the upper hand.” She slung her shield onto her back, buckled her sword round her waist and began rousing her warriors.
A small group emerged cautiously from the barricaded building and, shields raised, began moving carefully round the exterior of the square. They paused by each building and after a moment moved on. When they were six buildings in, the arrows began to fly, clinking harmlessly off their shields. Warriors behind the group sent several volleys towards the building, with many arrows slipping through gaps between the hastily affixed boards. The warriors lifted their shields and shoved a makeshift battering ram into the mingual’s defences, there were more screams as the battering ram pierced the exterior and mingual leapt from within. The warriors dropped the ram and drew their swords as several more volleys flew past them and into the enemy ranks.
The mingual eventually fell, but so did many of the allied warriors. Vala turned towards Callaghan and grimaced as the few remaining mingual caught fire and he glanced at her briefly before turning towards the castle.
Chapter 8
The sun was blindingly bright as Kiræ relaxed on the warm beach on the outskirts of Caan. It was the second of their rest days, Kiræ had actually managed to finish her work and she was now enjoying the comforting spring sunshine with her friends. She tilted her head back, allowing the sun’s rays to warm her face and felt a comforting shiver run through her.
Tino, Hazime and Tom were cooling off in the water while the others were meant to be unpacking the picnic they had brought. In reality Kiræ giggled as Gary and Aurora buried a sleeping Keolan, while she unpacked the bread and cheese.
“How has he not woken up?” she asked laying the food on a blanket.
“No idea.” Gary grinned, while Aurora finished compacting sand round his feet.
“So, what do we have to look forward to in our second year?” Kiræ asked pulling several flasks of water from the bag.
“How can you be thinking about our second year when we’ve barely started this one?” Aurora asked in disbelief.
“I know,” she replied grinning, “I’m just overly eager.”
Gary laughed, “There’s a lot more mixed weaponry combat exercises,” he explained taking a number of honey cakes from the bag, “and there are wilderness exercises, Hazime and I have one in a few weeks I think.”
“Wilderness exercises,” Keolan said causing them all to jump, “those sound cool.”
“I thought you were asleep,” Aurora said in surprise.
“All part of my cunning plan.”
“Which is?” Gary asked.
“No idea,” Keolan extracted himself from the sand, “now, these wilderness exercises?”
“They sound pretty fun,” Gary admitted, “a senior warrior will take us out and watch how we cope.”
“I think Vala has supervised a few of those,” Kiræ said.
“Probably,” Gary replied, “I remember being told last year that yo
u’re made to journey along the coast for a maximum of four days, depending on how well the warrior thinks you’re coping!” They laughed, “it’s probably what I’m looking forward to the most, I’m definitely happy we’ve gone down to two days of classes.”
“Rub it in why don’t you,” Keolan said shoving him into the sand as Tom and the others began to make their way back up the beach. A long shadow fell across the food and they looked up to see one of the city messengers before them. He bowed awkwardly, with a look of pity of his face. Kiræ got to her feet immediately.
“Miss Lengol?” he asked and she nodded slowly, not quite finding her voice.
“What’s going on?” Tom asked, putting a protective arm around his sister.
“We’ve had word this morning that Vala Lengol’s horse was seen roaming the countryside near Véde.” The messenger stumbled over the words. “There was a lot of blood in her coat and…” He paused for what felt like an eternity, “Vala was nowhere to be found.” A heavy silence fell and Tom jerkily nodded his thanks to the messenger who was clearly relieved to go. Kiræ remained frozen, she could feel tears prick her eyes and cursed herself internally.
“Come on,” Tom said pulling her away from their friends, who remained silent, “we need to see Sara.” They started towards the city and Kiræ felt warm tears roll down her face.
They found Sara at home; she was deep in conversation with an elderly looking man, who had shoulder length grey hair and a short grey beard. He wore a small pair of glasses and smart clothing. Kiræ thought she had seen him with Sara before but couldn’t remember his name. On seeing the twins Sara smiled, rose from her seat and opened her arms to hug them, but Kiræ’s tear stained face made her falter.
“What’s happened?” she asked, her light voice full of worry.
“They’ve found Safaya near Véde,” he explained, his voice cracking, “but there’s no sign of Vala.” Sara nodded silently and looked to her guest who had remained smiling throughout.
Forgotten Magic (Elementals Book 1) Page 6