Forgotten Magic (Elementals Book 1)

by Vicky Garlick

  “Don’t worry, we’re all fine, nothing bad happened.”

  “But it could have,” Kiræ’s voice rose frantically, she got to her feet and began pacing away from him. She ran her hands through her long red hair and Tom heard her talking to herself in an angry tone. He walked over, put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes; they were full of fear.

  “This is about Tino isn’t it,” her eyes widened and she tried to shake herself free of his grasp. “Kiræ, Tino’s death was not your fault, you have to stop blaming yourself.” Tears pricked her eyes and Tom pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. “I don’t know why you think you have to protect us but you need to stop pushing yourself or you’ll be no use when we do need you.”

  She pulled away from him and he looked down at her, she sniffed loudly and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, “How can you be so strong?” she asked quietly.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve been so calm from the beginning, you’re practically leading us, while I feel like I’m falling apart. You’re stronger than me in every way.”

  Tom shook his head, “I’m only strong because I’ve got you,” she shot him a look, “I mean it Kiræ, if anything happened to you I’d fall apart, we’re a team.”

  Kiræ smiled up at her brother and hugged him tightly, “Tom?”

  “Yes?”

  “I think I should try and make the protection magic work,” Tom pulled away and looked at her with concern. “I promise I won’t overdo it,” she said quickly and he smiled at her.

  “I won’t let you, after all you can’t practice without my help,” he smirked at her and she returned it with a scowl, “come on, I suppose we should make a move.” They joined their friends who were folding up the tents and before long they had continued their journey towards Birrien.

  It was several long days before they reached the small town on the borders of the Orne Wood; the sun was high but storm clouds were rolling in and the group were thankful for the promise of shade and rest. The doors to the town were shut, which was unusual for the time of day, Tom rode towards them and banged loudly with his fist. There was a long silence, Tom turned to his friends and shrugged just as a face emerged from a slit in the door.

  “Who are you?” Came a gruff voice.

  Tom turned back startled, then smiled to indicate they were friendly, “My name is Tom and these are my friends and companions.” The gruff voiced man eyed them suspiciously, “we’re looking for somewhere to rest for the evening.” The face disappeared and they heard whispering on the other side of the doors, after a while the face reappeared.

  “You can stay for the afternoon, but you will leave by dusk.”

  Tom frowned, “We were hoping for a bed for the evening,” he indicated the menacing clouds, “until the storm has passed.”

  “You’ll be gone by dusk or you’ll leave now!” Tom looked at his friends and they shrugged, he turned back to the gruff voiced man and agreed. Slowly the doors rolled open and a group of heavily armed citizens eyed them and their weapons with distrust and hate. Kiræ felt incredibly uncomfortable but made the decision to look the armed citizens in the eye as they entered the town and dismounted.

  The gruff voiced man, who had pale shaggy hair and a weathered face stood before them and directed himself towards Tom, whom he supposed was the leader.

  “These men will escort you and your horses to the local Inn, there you can rest and have your horses tended.” He spoke as if giving them orders but rather than arguing Tom nodded and followed two of the armed men as those remaining encircled them as they moved.

  Kiræ’s sense of unease grew, she felt as if they were being led to their deaths and her free hand rested on the hilt of her sword. They walked for several minutes before they reached the Inn, the stable hands were also armed and Kiræ felt reluctant to leave her horse. The men watched them as they entered the small Inn and as Kiræ turned back briefly, she saw they had stationed themselves outside rather than returning to the gates.

  “I feel like we’re prisoners,” She whispered to Aurora.

  “I wonder what happened here,” Aurora whispered back. The Innkeeper smiled pleasantly enough at them as they entered the bar area, though Kiræ saw he held a crossbow loose at his side.

  “What can I do for you?” he asked with a slight edge to his voice and his grip on the crossbow tightened.

  “We’re looking for somewhere to rest for the afternoon,” Tom replied

  The Innkeeper nodded, “Looking for nourishment too I suppose.” He said more to himself than to them, Tom nodded anyway, a scowl crossed the Innkeepers face.

  “I can bring you some bread, meat and cheese,” he said sounding almost annoyed as he walked away.

  “I’m not sure we should have come here,” Kiræ said quietly.

  “We needed to replenish our supplies,” Tom replied smiling again as the Innkeeper returned with a tray of food and several mugs of ale. They clanked down on the wooden table, he shuffled off back towards the bar and picked up his crossbow again.

  “I don’t think we should stay longer than we have to,” Aurora whispered as the Innkeeper continued to watch them like a hawk.

  “I second that,” Keolan said quietly, “I have a very strong feeling we’re not wanted.” Kiræ could tell Tom wanted to disagree, wanted to suggest they stay until dusk to allow themselves and their horses to fully recover but he could see he was in the minority.

  “Let’s eat, rest for a few hours, replenish our supplies, then get back on the road,” the group looked relieved and agreed a little too enthusiastically. A couple of hours later the twins were talking to the armed men about leaving the town early while the others retrieved the horses. The men seemed even more suspicious that they wanted to leave earlier than they had originally planned but at the same time seemed relieved at the possibility of getting rid of the strangers. They were escorted to the gates by the men where they mounted their horses.

  The gruff voiced man was still there and he looked at them accusingly, “What are you planning?” he asked coldly.

  “I don’t understand what you mean,” Tom replied calmly and evenly.

  “You seem rather eager to leave,” the gruff voiced man said curtly, Kiræ refrained from pointing out that it was a result of their hostility and allowed her brother to carry the conversation.

  “We haven’t planned anything,” Tom tried to look as open and honest as possible, “we're feeling refreshed and thought rather than trespass on your hospitality we would continue on our way.” The gruff voiced man stared at Tom for several minutes before he moved towards the gate to open it. At that moment there was a cry from one of the men patrolling the walls.

  “Sir! Rebels on the horizon!”

  The gruff voiced man turned sharply to face Tom and his eyes narrowed, “In league with rebels are you? I should have known! Seize them!”

  The armed citizens advanced as the twins and their friends drew their swords. No one moved. The twins and their friends sat mounted on their horses in a tight, armed circle; they seemed reluctant to advance further but another cry from the wall top set them on edge.

  Tom tried to reason with them, “Look, we’re not working with any rebels,” he said as calmly as he could but with an edge to his voice.

  “Liar!” One of the men shouted and raised his short sword as if to attack, the gruff voiced man raised a hand in warning to his men and looked at Tom with hard scrutinizing eyes.

  “Why are you lying boy?”

  Tom flinched, offended by the term, “We are not lying,” he replied through gritted teeth.

  The gruff voiced man snorted, “Five days ago our town was attacked by rebels, we managed to keep them out but they threatened to come back in greater numbers. We haven’t seen anyone travelling this way since then, until you and your friends arrived, and just as we are about to let you leave the rebels are sighted!”

  “That’s nothing to do with us!” Kiræ shouted but
Tom shot her a look and she silenced herself.

  “I understand it looks bad,” Tom said as the men glared at them, “but I promise you we are not affiliated with these rebels.”

  “We can help you fight them,” Tana urged and some of the men made as if to lower their weapons.

  The gruff voiced man snorted again, “And how would we trust you?” he sneered.

  “Take our weapons,” Kiræ said as her friends and the armed men stared at her open mouthed.

  “How will you fight?” the gruff voiced man asked slowly and with suspicion.

  “We’ll disarm them, then use their weapons against them,” she shrugged trying to sound calm and casual. The citizens slowly lowered their weapons as another shout came from the men above; the citizens around them stiffened.

  “What did they say?” Tom asked.

  “The rebels have arrived,” one of the men said, fear in his voice. Kiræ had heard stories about the rebels from Vala; they were almost as ruthless as the mingual.

  She turned to Aurora and lowered her voice, “Feel like making some noise?” Aurora grinned.

  Chapter 29

  Vala woke with a start from another nightmare; pale light illuminated her tent and she saw Alten sleeping next to her. He had taken to sitting outside her tent since the incident in Cronne and rather than finding him asleep on the frozen ground once again she had suggested he rest inside. She would never openly admit it but she was secretly relieved when he’d agreed. Alten’s presence was the only reason she felt safe at the moment and the nightmares seemed more bearable now that he was near her.

  Vala put her jacket on over her shirt and winced as pain shot through her arm where the mingual had bitten her. She pulled on her boots with difficulty; her left arm was healing slowly and she found it tricky and painful to move her fingers. Alten stirred and opened his eyes slowly, she smiled at him and he returned the gesture until he saw what she was attempting, then he sat up, wide awake and frowned at her.

  “Vala,” he said with the familiar tone of frustration, she ignored him, “you know you shouldn’t be using your arm.” He took the second boot from her grasp and put it on her foot.

  She sighed in exasperation, “Do you know how annoying this is?” she asked, running her good hand through her hair, “to be treated like an invalid, I’ve suffered far worse in battle you know, and it didn’t stop me.”

  “Vala you died!” she rolled her eyes, “whether you want to admit it or not your body has been through hell,” his eyes flitted to the bruises that still adorned her neck, “you have to let yourself recover.” She stood and walked out of the tent, Alten threw his boots on and followed her.

  “What I need is to get back to the rest of the warriors,” she said angrily, “Alten I can’t just sit here while they put their lives on the line, it’s not who I am.” She stared pleadingly at him until he sighed in defeat.

  “I’ll tell the warriors to get ready,” Vala smiled in triumph.

  They were moving within the hour, and although Vala felt relieved, Alten looked troubled and insisted they travel at a leisurely pace. They rode beside one another and after several hours of silence Vala began to feel guilty for forcing them to move.

  “Are you okay?” she asked tentatively and Alten nodded, though he continued to look straight ahead. “Alten I’m sorry,” he turned to look at her this time and on seeing the genuine regret in her eyes, softened his expression.

  “It’s okay,” he replied, “truth be told I thought you would have forced us to move a lot sooner.” She looked shocked and he smiled, “you seem to have forgotten that I know you and I know how you think. I knew you wouldn’t be able to sit still knowing your warriors were marching into battle without you, you’re a fiercely protective leader.”

  Vala blushed, “I really am sorry.”

  Alten shook his head, “No need to apologise, how are the nightmares?” he asked, bluntly changing the subject, she grimaced at the thought of them, “that bad?”

  “They’re okay,” she replied trying to sound convincing, “I think I’m getting used to them now, it only seems to be the same few repeated so they’re becoming predictable.”

  “Is that why you still scream every night?” he asked with a knowing smile.

  She looked at him indignantly, “I didn’t scream last-” she faltered when she saw the look on his face, “but when I woke you were still sleeping.”

  “I woke in the middle of the night, you were screaming and thrashing about as if you were being attacked, the warriors thought there was a threat to the camp.” Vala flushed, “it’s okay, it keeps them prepared,” he joked trying to lighten the mood.

  They rode in silence again and Vala tried to remember her dreams from the night before, she had been running through the woods, trying to escape the mingual who had been chasing her. She had woken from it, but what had she been dreaming before that. She thought hard for several minutes, chewing on her bottom lip as if that would prompt her; then she remembered the darkness, the glint of a smile, the stench of breath. Her heart quickened and her breathing faltered, she had dreamt about the attack in the cellar.

  Vala shuddered and tried to push the thoughts from her mind. She thought about Kiræ and Tom instead who were back in Caan. They would be learning how to survive in the wilderness by now and were no doubt improving their magical skills. She smiled at the thought and ignored the nagging feeling that they were no longer safe.

  Vala woke just after midnight and lay for several minutes before she decided to take a walk. She wasn’t sure what had woken her, she hadn’t been dreaming and Alten’s still form told her she hadn’t been screaming. There were several warriors on watch around the camp as she walked and they nodded to her respectfully as she passed.

  She found a quiet place on the edge of the camp and sat on an old tree stump, enjoying the quiet. There were a few half dead trees to one side and the ground was covered in a layer of fresh snow. The air was icy, the stars were twinkled through the broken clouds and only one of the moons shone over the landscape.

  Vala sighed peacefully and lifted her head to the dark sky as two rough hands gripped her neck. She yelled and tried to turn to identify her attacker, the grip tightened and she choked as she tried to take a deep breath. Her own hands flew to her neck and her left arm screamed in protest.

  She heard someone calling her name and she tried to shout to them in reply but her voice came out in a hoarse gasp. She heard the voice grow louder as she fell off the stump and onto her knees, still trying to pry the hands away with her only good one.

  Alten dropped down beside her and she heard his muffled voice tell her to breathe. She looked at him wildly, wondering why he wasn’t fighting her attacker, she fell awkwardly onto her side and continued to stare in disbelief at Alten. He was talking to her in a soothing voice and stroked her hair as if trying to calm her. I trusted him, how can he sit there and watch me die?

  Panic bubbled inside her, she could feel her heart pounding in her ears and as her vision began to cloud the grip round her neck slackened. Vala drew in several long, rasping breaths, closed her eyes and listened as Alten continued to talk to her soothingly, running his fingers through her hair.

  After some time she opened her eyes again, she was alone with Alten in the semi darkness, he was quiet now, staring down at her with worry.

  “What happened?” she asked sitting up slowly.

  “I don’t know,” he shook his head, “I heard you screaming but when I woke you weren’t next to me and when I found you here…”

  “I thought I was being attacked,” she said slowly, “I felt hands round my neck, I couldn’t breathe.”

  Alten looked at her with concern, “Vala, when I found you, you were alone.”

  “Then what happened to me?”

  “I don’t know,” Alten replied his voice laced with worry, “perhaps you had a waking dream?”

  “Nothing like this has ever happened before. Alten, what’s wrong with me?”
<
br />   Alten helped Vala to her feet, “Don’t be so hard on yourself, you’ve been through something-”

  “What I went through is no different from any other time I’ve been in battle, or been attacked or beaten or anything!” Vala’s voice rose towards the end and she looked frustrated with herself, “why in the Gods is this any different?”

  “I don’t know,” Alten admitted failing to comfort her as they walked back towards the tent, “I wish I had some magical explanation for you but I don’t.” Vala sighed as they reached the tent and Alten insisted she try to rest while he settled himself to keep watch. Vala looked towards the inviting mess of blankets, then turned and placed her head on Alten’s shoulder, closed her eyes and fell asleep.

  The weather finally worsened as they continued their journey to Kurbarr and it felt like seasons had passed before they finally saw tents on the horizon. Vala could see that Alten was exhausted; he had taken it upon himself to watch her most nights in case she had another waking dream. She was relieved they had finally caught up with the army so he could rest; her guilt was eating away at her. As they drew nearer, Vala noticed there was an unusual amount of activity in the camp and her brow furrowed; she had expected the camp to be deserted. She looked across to Alten and saw the same confused expression on his face.

  “Can you see any activity in the town?”

  Alten shook his head, “From here the place looks deserted, I can’t see anyone on top of the walls either.” Vala realised they were both thinking that this town might be an exact copy of the other and a knot formed in her stomach.

  They entered the camp and approached the nearest warrior, “What’s the situation with the town?” Vala asked sliding from her saddle.

  “Approximately half of the warriors are inside Vala,” a young female warrior replied, “they’re battling the mingual and the citizens.”

  “Half?” Alten asked.

  “Julen felt we might gain the upper hand by switching out our warriors periodically.”