The Oracle Read online

  Torment looked away, his sharp eyes catching the movement of the herd shifting in the rainy night. He did not feel fear, he never had. Not when his father’s herd was attacked; or when faced with the mallus Siabhor; not even when an unknown world called to him.

  That fearlessness was still there; in fact it was more obvious, now the softness was washed away. No, all he felt now was a throbbing curiosity, and a desire to test himself. If he won Odile in the process, that was a benefit.

  He turned his handsome head back to the black mare. “He has yet to fight me.”

  Thirteen

  It was the middle of the night and Jemma must have fallen into a dreamless sleep at some point. There was a clamour in Treefort and the sound of people running and shouting.

  Jemma dashed outside to see people congregating at the edge of Treefort. Jemma pulled a shawl about her shoulders and walked towards them curiously, hopefully - had they found Russit?

  The trees had parted, but the crowd was too thick for Jemma to see the focus of their attention. She glanced along the border, surely all trees would part to give passage to the Gardyn and their allies?

  She snuck away and moved along the border. Checking that no one was watching, she stepped closer to the huge trunks of the tightly packed trees. The leaves rustled and the trunks shuddered, then slowly drew apart, leaving a gap just wide enough for Jemma to squeeze through. The passage closed behind her with a small thud, shutting out the friendly firelight of the Gardyn camp.

  Jemma made her way back along the border to a place where torchlight flickered. A strange and unexpected sight met her eyes.

  A patrol stood in a large circle, swords in hand, and bows ready for use. On an inner circle, several spindly mallus crouched, hair bristling as they growled. All for a single prisoner.

  A man knelt in the very centre, hands tied behind his back and a blindfold covering half of his face. He wore a black uniform with a vivid red stripe down one side. Jemma vaguely remembered the uniform from the King’s men that had almost caught when she had first arrived in Enchena. Jemma squinted to try and make out his features in the bad light, but the thick blindfold hid everything but a scar that crossed the man’s cheek and cut into his lip.

  “This is too big for us to deal with. Get a message to the Valley immediately, we need Captain Rian.”

  Jemma jumped as she heard someone speak out from the shadows.

  “Hey, what are you doing here?” The patrol leader moved towards her, his eyes moving up to her bright hair, “You’re that oracle, aren’t you? Get back inside, it’s too dangerous out here.”

  Jemma glanced towards the prisoner, wondering how a single man could be so dangerous that he merited such a guarding. But Jemma obediently moved back to Treefort, opting to go through the already open passage and push through the crowd.

  *****

  Captain Rian and Lady Samantha travelled through the dark hours to arrive at Treefort at dawn. Both found the news hard to believe, but outside the border was the prisoner, still in the same position as he had been all night.

  Samantha took one of the soldiers aside, muttering instructions to him. The man rushed away and soon returned with Jemma, Saxton and Siarla Marsh. Siarla’s eyes were red with crying and her husband looked equally terrible for his sleep-deprived nightmare of a night.

  Meanwhile, Rian marched through the rings of soldiers and mallus, his sword drawn and ready in his hand. He reached down and roughly pulled away the blindfold.

  The prisoner blinked in the light that now clearly showed his features, the long scar along one side of his face, cutting across the rough skin that was starting to betray his age, his eyes staring fearlessly ahead.

  Eyes that Jemma had seen before. “Orion,” she breathed.

  “Get up!” Rian barked fiercely.

  The man started to stand, but his legs were numb from hours of kneeling on hard ground, and he staggered, unable to balance himself with his hands tied behind his back. Rian grabbed his uniform at the shoulder and dragged him upright.

  “Now tell me, “Rian hissed, laying the edge of his sword against the prisoner’s neck. “Where is the boy, and why was Orion Losan wandering the forest alone?”

  Orion Losan... A shiver went through the gathered humans and Siarla Marsh bit back a sob. None had doubted that this was Captain Orion Losan, the leader of the King’s army, friend and advisor to Hrafn and the murderer of thousands of rebels. But the name had its own power and spoken aloud, made fear flicker through those present.

  Losan didn’t reply, but continued to stare stubbornly, fearlessly ahead.

  “Co-operate an I’ll make your death more pleasant than you deserve.” Rian growled, more furious and darker than any had seen him, his blade now pressing harder into his enemy’s neck.

  Losan ignored the blood that trickled down to his collar, his eyes moved about the circle, finally settling on Samantha. When he spoke, his voice was strong and clear, “Ochata q’uen gardyn, i banyen t’Minaeri.”

  Only one person understood. To Samantha the words held meaning, as they had once before. ‘I protect the oppressed, if Minaeri commands it.’

  “Ich behan Minaeri.” She found herself saying. “Minaeri commands it.”

  “The boy has been taken to the King for questioning. I am here because it is time.” Losan answered immediately.

  Rian’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he took a step back. “I don’t understand, what is going on?”

  Samantha walked slowly forward, her eyes fixed on Losan; she had not been this close to the Captain since she was Hrafn’s captive in the palace. “He has come to help the Gardyn.”

  “I don’t believe that for a moment.” Rian snapped.

  “H-he’s been helping the Gardyn for most of his life.”

  At the sound of the meek voice, everyone turned to face Jemma. The attention made her cheeks flame as red as her hair, but she hesitantly continued. “He is the informer, the cloaked man at my first council. He has always been helping the Gardyn...”

  Rian grunted, “I doubt that very much.”

  Losan stood tall, his gaze turning to the rebel Captain, “It was I that directed the move of the Gardyn to the forest.” He began to reel off dispassionately, “I presented the map of the secret tunnels to the Deorwine boy. And I was the only one to argue against sending the Gardyn force into battle when Hrafn took the throne.”

  Samantha suddenly remembered something, “You helped me escape the palace, you cleared the way.”

  Losan nodded gently in acknowledgment and a surprised muttering went through the Gardyn soldiers.

  Rian glared about the circle of soldiers, suddenly realising that this interrogation should have been conducted in private.

  “Quiet.” He barked at his men, then turned back to Captain Losan. “You work with the King to destroy the Gardyn, not help us. Do not think to deceive us.”

  Losan didn’t reply, knowing that words weren’t enough. He looked over his shoulder, to Treefort, then without warning he marched up to the border, passing the dazed mallus and soldiers.

  “Stop him!” Rian yelled.

  The humans hesitated, still fearful of Losan, but the mallus leapt forward.

  The trees shook and the very ground rumbled. An opening appeared, revealing the Gardyn camp.

  Knowing that the trees would instinctively crush any foe of the Gardyn, Losan stepped calmly into the gap, and turned to face them. The trees quivered violently, but held their place.

  “Now will you listen?”

  *****

  By the horse corral, six figures gathered away from the rest of the camp.

  “We should have kept him tied up.” Rian muttered, refusing to sit down, and never taking his eyes from Orion Losan.

  Samantha tutted, “give over, I could have him dead before he could do anything.”

  “Actually, I could probably kill you all and escape if I so wished.” Losan said quietly. “Time is running out, and now that I am uncloaked, you m
ust trust me still.”

  “Then get on and tell us what is happening.” Rian snarled.

  Losan looked up at him almost pitifully, “You must learn to control that temper of yours, boy.”

  Captain Losan then looked to Siarla and Saxton Marsh who were huddled together next to Jemma. When he spoke again, it was with surprising sympathy.

  “I was with a contingent of mounted soldiers. We had been sent by Prince David to travel in the direction of your camps where we would meet one of his informants. Navigating the forest is becoming harder for enemies of the Gardyn, the tracks and trees seem to change of their own accord, but luck had it that we spotted a fresh set of tracks – four or five ridden horses – and we followed, hoping to be led to a stronghold.

  “Unfortunately, we lost all tracks and signs of the group as we neared this place. We were about to retrace our steps when we saw a young boy wandering the forests alone. The lieutenant ordered my men to take him, before I could intercede. The soldiers began to ride back to the capital. I waited a few minutes then shouted, commanding my men to finish their task, then race back to the city, as were under attack. The lie worked and I was left behind. Everyone would assume that the great Captain Orion Losan had finally fallen. I let my horse loose, then waited for your scouts to find me. The boy...” Losan glanced to Russit’s parents, “He will have been taken to the city for questioning.”

  The only sound was Siarla’s crying.

  “We might still be able to save him.” Samantha was the first to speak, almost scared of breaking the woeful silence. She ignored the credulous look from Rian and continued, “Siarla, you have daughters, don’t you? I want you to go and keep them comforted. Saxton, Jemma, you’ll come to the Valley with us. I want both of you to be a part of this. Go get ready and we’ll send for you when we are ready to leave.”

  Samantha waited for the three to walk away, then spoke to Losan. “Now, tell us what you could not in front of them.”

  “Hrafn will execute the boy once he has extracted all useful information.”

  “We could have guessed that.” Rian stated.

  “Really? Then you have also guessed that Hrafn expects your Lady Samantha to carry out an ill-devised rescue and plans to capture her, hopefully destroying whatever unorganised and hastily assembled army that accompanies her.”

  “How do you know this?” Rian asked, “Kidnapping Russit can’t have been anticipated, and you have no means to contact your King.”

  Losan looked away, feeling torn. “You cannot be friends with a man for as long as I have, see his reactions in so many situations, without knowing his mind.”

  “How did Hrafn know that I was back?” Samantha asked.

  A silence descended. How did the King know that the lady he had chased into another world at the edge of a sword had truly returned?

  “We have an insider in your army.” Losan replied calmly, “He has been feeding the King with information for many months.”

  “That’s impossible.” Rian interrupted, “No Gardyn would dare betray us. Besides, no traitor would get away undetected for long.”

  Losan grimaced, looking at the tall trees that made the border of this safe haven. It was an impressive bit of magic, blessings, curses, or whatever Samantha had done. “He could be undetected if he had never come to Treefort. The Valley has no such security.”

  “Leave it, Rian.” Samantha stopped the Gardyn Captain from whatever snide comment he was about to make. “We will deal with our traitor soon enough, first we have more important things to see to. Get your captains to arrange immediate evacuation of Treefort. We plan for the worst. Get the families back to the Valley.”

  “Woodvale would be better, it is easier to defend. Even Treefort is more secure than the Valley, as even he pointed out.” Rian argued.

  “We know where Woodvale is,” Losan interjected, “And have you forgotten the girl’s vision of this place destroyed? The Valley is still a mystery to us... to them.”

  “How? You’ve a bloody spy nestled there!” Rian shouted.

  “We cannot locate it.” Losan replied quietly, his tone almost embarrassed. “The forest is impossible to navigate, every time we have a bearing or set a route it vanishes or shifts... probably thanks to your Lady Samantha.”

  The Captain nodded his head in recognition to Samantha’s skill with the forest. But the girl sat stunned; she had done nothing of the sort. At least not knowingly. But that was a year ago, when her powers were only just awakening and none of the peculiar events had been attributed to her. Her instinct told her it was something bigger than her.

  “It wasn’t me. The Valley is a very old area, Autumn told me how it was once the home of Praede, the first unicorn. Between him and Minaeri, no enemy will ever find the Valley.” Samantha informed them, “Now, are we going to keep arguing, or shall we get moving before Hrafn’s army falls upon us?”

  At that moment, Jemma came running up, out of breath and her orange hair a wild mess.

  “Samantha, Rian, there’s trouble at the Valley.” The girl shouted, “I saw fighting. It’s happening now.”

  “How...”

  “Don’t, we don’t have time.” Jemma flapped, “You need to go. Now!”

  The Valley was usually a haven of order, but the quiet air was disrupted by the shouts of many men as the Gardyn army was suddenly and violently split into two.

  Teron had done his job well and by the rising of the sun, several hundred men were armed and making their way to the edge of the Valley to join their new leader, Prince Cristan.

  The prince sat upon a stolen horse, his way out of the Valley blocked by the border guards, standing shoulder to shoulder, a human barrier to stop them leaving.

  “Let us pass, friends.” Cristan called out, trying not to sound as frustrated as he felt.

  The guards exchanged wary looks. “Sorry, your highness, we’re following orders.”

  “You know who I am, and no doubt you have heard of what we have seen. I am leading these true Gardyn to free the oppressed. Will you join us, or are you ignorant of their torture.”

  “We’re following orders.” The guard repeated firmly.

  There was an increase in noise behind him, and Prince Cristan turned to see more men running from the camp to swell the numbers crowded by the borders. He briefly hoped that they were coming to join his fledgling army, but that hope was short-lived.

  “Your highness,” Captain Philip called out as he ran up, “what is this madness? You must wait for Captain Rian. It would be disastrous for the Gardyn if you took half the army against King Hrafn: you would be slaughtered, and it would damn the rest of us.”

  “By Minaeri, my brother, listen to sense.” The far-too-sensible Prince Lugal followed the Gardyn captain, his eyes betraying shock at his brother’s rebellious actions.

  “I can wait no longer. All brave, true Gardyn will join me in this attack.” Prince Cristan replied sternly, his voice carrying out. He scanned the crowd, so far he and his faction outnumbered the soldiers and guards stopping them, but surely it wouldn’t be long before reinforcements came. “Don’t make us fight our way out, Captain Philip.”

  The men that assembled behind Cristan wavered at this threat. They were prepared to rebel against their leaders; fight and die in battle against the King, but none wanted to fight their own side.

  Prince Cristan drew his sword, the action echoed by many others. “Nothing you can say will make me turn back. I will lead any that follow me against King Hrafn, or I will go alone.”

  Captain Philip reluctantly raised his own sword and spoke again to the fervent prince, “Your highness, I do not wish to fight you, but if you continue like this, you leave me no choice.”

  Cristan moved forward, ready to put the captain’s convictions to the test. But it was not Philip’s sword that crossed his own.

  Prince Lugal stepped in, using his weight to throw Cristan back. “You must get through me first, Cristan. I order you to stand down.”

 
; Cristan hesitated, “I am not one of your subjects, brother. Do not make me fight you, for we both know that I am better with the sword.”

  The tension was broken by the sudden arrival of three riders, cantering through the crowd and forcing the men apart.

  Samantha reined in her creamy-white stallion close to the centre of attention, Rian pulling up beside her on his warhorse.

  As the third figure halted, those close enough to recognise him backed away, fear flooding their limbs.

  “Prince Cristan, you have no authority here. Gardyn; you will stand down.” Captain Rian shouted out across the gathered men and women.

  The soldiers were slow to react as the news of the new arrivals passed between them. All eyes turned to Orion Losan, a wave of disbelief and panic.

  One soldier in particular even felt faint at seeing Orion Losan, and he began to shrink back from his honoured place as Cristan’s right hand. The man shifted to hide amongst the soldiers he had spent all night rallying after many months of whispering poison and discord.

  “There he is, hold him!” The eagle-eyed Losan called.

  The Gardyn were surprised by his command, and it took a repeat of it by Samantha to get a reaction. Teron was brought to the front, to face the lady and captains.

  Captain Rian looked down at the man with disgust, “Soldier Teron, you are charged with entering the Gardyn army with the intention of brewing dissent in the ranks; and of betraying information to the King. Do you have anything to say?”

  “Sir, lady, please.” Teron stuttered, “I have done no such thing. I am a true Gardyn, I would never betray you. Are these his lies? You surely cannot believe him.” Teron gestured towards the silent Losan.

  “Orion Losan has proven his loyalty to myself and Captain Rian.” Samantha replied in defence of the King’s captain. “He has already informed us that you met frequently with the King’s soldiers, with the latest meeting happening last night.” Samantha turned to Prince Cristan, who appeared to finally be listening. “Did you know that, your highness? Did he tell you to delay the army ‘til today so that King Hrafn could be made fully aware of your secret attack?”