by G S Banks
However, not one of the Snake Apprentices so much as look at him, they don’t look at any of us. From the moment we walk in, greeted by a coiling snake painted on the wall that stares at us with bloodstone eyes, it is all dark and moody and they practice their ancient fighting style in near total blackness, in temperatures that make me sweat, practicing thermal imaging which basically means they can see in the dark, which is creepy, because we can barely see them, we can just hear the swoosh of their dark green clothes as they move.
I am relieved when we pass along to the House of Foxes because the atmosphere is entirely different in here: luxurious and civilised. They all stand around, listening to their Trainer, a silver-haired man in a sharp suit, who looks like he should be the hero in some stylish old movie. They wear fine, tailored outfits and coolly inspect various objects in front of them – necklaces, cameras, purses, sunglasses, bags – concealed weaponry of all kinds. Perfect for close combat, Artemiz explains, which is the only kind of combat a Fox needs because they are more than capable of getting up close to whoever and whatever they choose, on account of their remarkable persuasive abilities. This immediately becomes evident when one of them, a handsome Indian guy with thick hair styled back from his face, catches my eye and just looking at him makes me fall in love a little bit, much to my embarrassment. When Artemiz notices, she swiftly guides us out of the building, clearly annoyed that Foxes ‘can never be trusted to leave Trainees alone!’
We soon find ourselves at the front of the main building, with the lake spreading out gloriously to one side and the thick forest to the other. High up along the edge of the roof, we see a collection of small blonde girls, in grey and pink tracksuits, blindfolded. ‘Perception training,’ Artemiz tells us. Learning to rely on all their senses, not just their sight. Doing what Kelci should be doing. There are more Rabbits than any other Anitar type, she tells us, and they can be found in all areas of the island, right through the forest, up into the mountains, always on the lookout for danger.
As we move through the huge round courtyard we pass a group of Horses, each with their intricately carved bows, just like Artemiz. They shoot at targets, whilst constantly moving – running, jumping, tumbling, wearing coffee-coloured shirts and trousers with the symbol of the Horse on their chest. They each stop and bow their heads towards Artemiz as she passes and when Lucy exclaims how amazing it would be to hear everyone’s thoughts Artemiz is quick to tell her that such a skill may not be as thrilling as it first sounds. It is very hard for Horses, at the outset, because they can hear everything, all at once – a kind of insanity that can spin out of control. Without care and guidance some have been driven mad by the voices. For a Horse, she explains, it takes a huge amount of training to block out the noise and tune in to what they want or need to hear.
We move deep into the dark, luscious forest. We keep going until we reach a clearing with a shaft of light that highlights a small group of boys and girls dressed in plum robes trimmed with silver, kneeling amongst the ferns. Young wolf-dogs, just like Shadow, one for each Apprentice, encircle them. Deer. A feeling of calm washes over me. Artemiz puts her finger to her lips and we stay silent, watching. A few glance towards us with blinking brown eyes but nothing seems to take their full attention away from whatever they are focusing on, down there in the undergrowth. One of the girls leans forward towards a long plant that lies dead on the ground. As the group kneels around her, she pushes back a strand of tawny hair, then reaches down to touch the plant softly. She closes her eyes and holds the stem with both hands.
‘Restore, renew, revive,’ she whispers.
A few moments later the bottom of the stem starts to turn from dusty brown to bright lime-green. Slowly but surely, vitality imbues the length of the stem. The branches turn green too, the brittle leaves spring back to life, and lemon-yellow flowers begin to pop. Soon the entire plant is springing into the fullness of life, blooming and abundant. I can’t help but feel a burst of joy. Once the plant is standing tall the girl opens her eyes and the other Deer gently pat her on the back, murmuring congratulations. We watch, in awe, as Artemiz tells us that Deer must be protected, that’s why they have their guardians, the dogs, because they cannot heal themselves or be healed by other Deer. They can easily become weak too, if they practice too much healing at one time. All a Deer wants to do is help others, she says. But they must learn to look after themselves too, otherwise they become useless to everyone, including themselves.
We trek a good distance through the forest, before arriving at another clearing which is decidedly noisier and busier than the last one. We hear the bellowing way before we arrive. It’s a group of large, strong-looking Apprentices, so obviously Bears Artemiz doesn’t even need to tell us. Some are chopping wood, some are pulling great logs along the ground and hauling them onto piles. As I stare at a mighty looking girl with black hair and rippling muscles, hacking away at a log sending sprays of woodchip into the air, Artemiz tells us that Bears are the most soft-hearted of all the Anitars. When a Bear loves, they really love, apparently, which makes everyone turn to Ben whose cheeks turn a shade of pink.
We eventually come out into the valley that lies between the two mountain ranges, heading away from the Academy, towards the coastline, alongside the Emerald River which connects the lake to the mountains and the sea. Artemiz points out a bunch of rocks that look like God has thrown them down from heaven, with the sea lying just beyond – ten of them, different heights but all sharp and fearsome – with wide spaces between each one. Tiger’s Claws, she calls them. As we draw closer I see dark dots bouncing from one rock to the next. One foot wrong and those dots would be dead. The sound of hollering echoes through the air. As we get closer we see one of them, a boy, shout then catapult himself high into the air, tumble mid-arch, straighten up then pound on to the next rock.
‘It’s always a party when the Frogs are around,’ says Artemiz, before leading us out towards the edge of the island.
The land tapers downwards until the grass turns into sand and we find ourselves on a wide beach with great rocks sitting here and there, white waves crashing onto the shore. In the space between two of the largest rocks there is a group of Apprentices, barefoot on the sand, wearing wrapped white cloth suits, belted at the waist with orange and black stripes down the sides, moving in perfect Kung Fu unison. Not one of them turns towards us as they keep their eyes fixed on the water in front of them, moving from one beautiful pose to the next. They are precise and fierce and graceful all at the same time. I think of when I used to practice Kung Fu every night in front of my mirror. The last time I ever did that was before I tried to help Terence… Before the black clouds came. Back then, I wanted to manifest for me. Not for Mum, not for Kelci. I wanted it for me.
We continue along the coastline which takes a steep turn upwards. We pass a bunch of Apprentices in sea-blue swimming gear who run, one by one, to the side of the cliff and without pause glide over the side, spinning, before landing in the water feet first, leaving bubbly white circles behind them. They could be under there for hours, says Artemiz. As we head inland towards the mountain range I can’t help wondering if Dad ever jumped from this cliff, into these waters.
It is a long, arduous trek up the side of the mountain but it’s worth it when two Eagles swoop by – a dark-skinned boy and a caramel-haired girl – majestic against the backdrop of the entire island. They can fly, of course, Artemiz tells us, but they are also good fighters, and they are able to see things hundreds of miles away, once trained. The skies belong to us, is their motto. Those words stick in my mind as we climb higher, in search of the elusive Snow Leopard. I am the first to spot her. A girl, hanging to the side of the rock in a grey outfit with a white furry hood, cropped champagne-coloured hair framing her radiant face. She will most likely become a Paladin, Artemiz tells us. Like the majority of Snow Leopards: no marriage, no children. The girl has the same icy blue eyes as Alisdair, and she is every bit as beautiful as he is too.
16.
Ice Hell
Seven days since Kelci was taken, Muldoon Academy
Today was the first day I woke up wide-eyed, with a feeling of anticipation for what the day might hold, and a sense that maybe, just maybe, I can make something good happen. I find myself wearing an all-in-one rubber suit, navy blue. Every one of us wears the same thing, forming what looks like a troupe of divers. We are piled into the back of two massive black trucks with monster wheels. The suit covers our heads so it is hard to tell who is who. I pick out Alisdair from his height and Ben from his width and Heather from the fact that she is stood so close to Alisdair and the fact that she pulls the rubber suit look off like no one else ever could.
I try to focus on what skills I have that might be called upon to help me. What am I good at? I hark back to those days with Kelci, battling our way through our self-made challenges. The trouble is we never focused on any one thing in particular, leaving me, well, not that good at anything. Apart from that I’ve read quite a few books, not as many as Kelci, but I was pretty good at school, apart from Geography, and I do have impeccable taste and I’m great with all things fashion. Ha, as if that’s of any use. I look at the rubber-clad bodies around me and am filled with doubt. I try to ignore my palpitating heart.
It takes an hour of jostling and bumping along to reach our destination. The scenery has turned from green to white and unwelcome memories of our first drill come to mind. I tell myself that today I will not be the idiot who falls asleep. I’m still trying to encourage myself as we pile out of the truck onto an enormous flat sheet of ice. I keep my mouth decidedly shut about the Arctic temperatures, while everyone moves from side to side trying to keep warm, like dancing seals.
Artemiz appears in her own version of the all-in-one and we form a line, we’re used to forming lines by now. We’re good at it. It’s harder on ice but our special gripping shoes seem to help. In the hustle and bustle to line up I find myself next to Alisdair. I feel his arm, solid against my shoulder. I remember what Lucy said about him. He doesn’t hate anyone, she said. But is that just a younger sister idolising her brother?
‘Today is the day you take on the famous ‘Ice Hell’,’ says Artemiz.
I refuse to groan. Alisdair seems unperturbed. I suppose this kind of thing is no problem for a Snow Leopard. He’s not even shivering.
‘Today is a race which you all need to embark upon as individuals – a race against each other – and you will be judged, amongst other things, on your finishing position.’
‘Yes,’ I mutter to myself. ‘Must get some points.’
Steamy air comes out of Alisdair’s mouth. I shift my eyes in his direction. Is that a smile on his face?
‘What?’ I say, under my breath.
He is smiling, sort of.
‘It’s just I don’t think I have any points yet.’
‘You may even be in the minus numbers,’ he whispers.
I glare at him and he looks down at me from the corner of his eye.
‘Not all of us can be expected to manifest straight away,’ I say.
I’m huffing, but I wish I wasn’t.
‘You’re above all that, anyway,’ he says.
‘Above what? If anyone’s above anything it’s you!’
That sounded weird. Calm down. I lower my voice.
‘What I mean is, you act like you’re above stuff all the time.’
He says nothing.
‘Well I’m not above anything,’ I go on.
He raises his eyebrows.
‘Oh yeah?’ he says.
‘Yes! I might just win this thing, I’m really good with ice and stuff.’
It’s a blatant lie. He looks down at me again.
‘Interesting,’ he says. ‘Well, I’ll see you on the other side.’
With that Artemiz blows her whistle and we’re off. I try not to let my annoyance show. I will channel it; use it to spur me on. I’ll show him, I’ll show them all that I am not just some wimpy female out of her depth. Immediately I realise that due to that little chat I didn’t hear what Artemiz said about the racecourse. She talked about ice… And water… Something about a maze? Just follow the blue bodies, I tell myself. The first thing we whizz into is an extremely high wall of ice, a perfectly carved block of it with bits of rope hanging down. I take a cue from the others who begin grappling their way up.
The first thing I notice is how incredibly icy the wall is. I then notice how difficult it is to climb. I bend my neck backwards to take it all in and as I do, Alisdair climbs up the wall next to me, making it look infuriatingly easy. I watch his movements and although they are quick I see that he is finding little indents in the wall upon which to place his feet and hands and so I begin to do the same. I am slow, but I’m doing it. I’m also not the last Trainee to scale the wall and get down the other side. I am delighted to leave behind a group still grappling behind me. Yet as I move forward I hear a little voice coming from behind, high-pitched and troubled. I spin round. It’s Linda. She’s got her leg tangled in the rope and she clings to the wall staring down at the icy ground below. Blue bodies are racing past me, and I see more moving off into the distance.
‘I’m stuck,’ she says.
‘Keep going, Linda,’ I call.
‘I’m stuck!’
Her face is turning purple. I let out an exasperated sigh and run back to the wall. I throw myself at it and struggle my way up to where she is, clinging on to one of the ropes.
‘Here,’ I say. ‘Hold on to me.’
Her teeth chatter. I try to look reassuring. She takes hold of my hand and I pull her towards me. She clings to me, pulling on my arm, heavily. I see the rope wrapped around her leg and begin to pull at it as she huffs and puffs. It is wedged in tight around her thigh.
‘Get it off me,’ she says.
I pull once, twice, three times, as hard as I can. It comes loose, thank god, because I can barely hold on to her much longer. I place her hand onto a good bit of ice which she can hold on to. I move with her, step by step, all the way to the bottom of the wall. When we reach the ground she plonks herself down, looks up at me then puts her head in her hands. I’m unsure what to do until Artemiz appears behind me and places her hand on my shoulder.
‘I’ll take it from here. Continue with the race,’ she says.
She bows her head to me then crouches next to Linda. Once I see that Linda is ok, I turn again to the ice in the distance. I see a group of bodies. Alisdair is one of them, and he’s looking right at me. Then he disappears, into what I can only imagine is the maze Artemiz talked about. I start moving, as fast as I can on the slippery ice. It takes a while but eventually I plunge into the opening of the maze and am instantly disorientated by the cramped space. Blue and green lights glow from within the ice blocks. I try to tap in to some sort of sense of direction. That’s what Alisdair did on the mountain, isn’t it?
I turn left and find myself faced with more choices. I turn left again hoping for the best. I keep going and going, but in what direction I am soon not sure. I feel my claustrophobia rising. My throat gets tight. My hands ball into fists. I begin to believe I am the very last person in this maze, I haven’t seen another soul in here yet. Where is everyone? It must be massive! The random movements continue for what seems like an age. I am clinging to the walls and sweating by the time I see a slip of light. I follow it, muttering hopeful words to myself. Sure enough it’s the exit. Hallelujah. I throw myself out into the daylight, wishing I could rest for just a moment. But I see a couple of people way up ahead, running and so I follow them.
After manoeuvring over and around various obstacles I eventually end up in view of a hole in the ice with shadowy water bobbing below the rim. I see someone plunge in, swim across and clamber out the other side. Freezing cold water. Oh please. I force myself forward and stand at the edge of the hole. The water really does look menacing, I dread to think what might be lurking under there. I pause, but I shouldn’t because it makes me more nervous. By now a few others have reac
hed the pool as well but I am too concerned with the task ahead to see who they are.
I hold my nose and leap forward. I plunge into the cold. Into the freezing pain. I’m immediately bewildered as my ribcage tightens up so much it feels like I can’t breathe. Swim girl. Get to the other side. But my body isn’t listening. Move! After some floundering my legs start to kick and I flap like a panicked duck. My muscles are getting weaker. My energy is being sucked into the water. Despair rises. I can’t do it! I look at the edge of the ice. It’s not even that far away but it feels like miles to me right now. I plunge my arms towards the edge but I’m too weak, my arms are failing. I’m slipping from the edge. My chin is under the water, my mouth. My muscles won’t work. The voice in my head is getting smaller, desperate. I stop moving altogether.
Suddenly I feel a whoosh next to me, another body. It’s Lucy, her face pale and her eyes scrunched up. She pushes me forward, dragging my hands onto the side. She’s shaking. I force myself to move. She’s trying to push me up the side. She’s pushing, pushing. And I’m reaching, reaching. But I feel her arms start to slow, her breath getting shorter. We’re both falling back from the side, we’re moving slower, slower. We’re sinking! There are yelps all around then Alisdair and Heather appear in front of us. I feel Heather’s two hands on me, powerful, pulling me to the side. I check where Lucy is and see that Alisdair is doing the same to her. With great gusts of force they pull us out onto the icy bank.
I lie there, freezing cold, teeth vibrating.
‘Thank you,’ I mutter.
I am so relieved to be out of the water I feel like I could kiss Heather, but she looks down at me with one eyebrow raised.
‘You’re welcome, honey,’ she says, with a sly smile. ‘Just try not to drown next time.’
With that she races off, leaving Lucy lying next to me as Alisdair tends to her anxiously.
‘I’m fine, Alisdair,’ she says, her face an odd shade of blue.
He is scolding her but she won’t listen, she’s saying she wanted to do it, and he can’t stop her… I am so grateful to this impish little person I roll over and put my arm around her back.