The Rise of Isaac, Books 1-3, page 44
"I think you just impaled yourself," Hector said, calling the dog off once more.
Oliver got to his feet and brushed the dirt from his knees more forcefully than was really necessary.
"Wanna give someone else a go?" Hector asked but Oliver shook his head, rubbing his bruised chin where it had hit the ground.
"Alright, one more go then," Hector said. "Attack!"
Oliver side-stepped the first lunge once more then swung about so he was facing the dog.
"Good!" Hector encouraged. "Always keep your eyes on the animal."
Drake dropped into a low bow, skirting left and right as he approached Oliver. He tried to keep one step ahead of the animal, stepping back as the dog stepped forward but the inevitable lunge came once more.
Oliver forced his mind to the rod in his hand as the dog's immense weight pushed him to the ground. He jabbed at its side and felt the flimsy wooden rod bend against its ribs.
"Good job!" Hector called and Drake leant down and licked Oliver's face.
Oliver laughed and pushed the dog away, patting him on the head as he got up. He walked back to his friends, holding out the rod toward Larkin with a swell of pride. "Your turn," he said with a grin and Larkin scowled as he took it.
"That was brilliant," Rogan said and Anna beamed at Oliver, making his insides do a backflip.
Larkin got a killing blow after the second round and Oliver felt a pang of irritation.
The others took it one at a time to have a go until they were all starting to get deadly blows nearly every time. It started to become more of a game and they were actually enjoying themselves by the time Hector called it a day. Drake was wagging his tail profusely but his heavy panting suggested he had had enough.
Despite the freezing air, Oliver was sweating from exertion.
"We head out tomorrow morning," Hector said as he gave Drake's lead to a stable boy who led the dog away.
"Tomorrow?" Quinn blurted.
"Yes, sweetheart. As in the day after today," Hector said.
Quinn scowled at him.
"Do you really think we're ready after one morning of training?" May asked in alarm.
"You're ready enough. I can't teach you a lifetime of survival skills even if I had a month to do so. You're gonna have six experienced hunters with you, including me, so as long as you do as we say, you'll be fine," Hector said.
Oliver glanced around at his friends, their mood clearly sullied.
"First light in the banquet hall," Hector confirmed.
"First light?! Again?" Quinn huffed.
"Yes. That gives you about sixteen hours before we leave. Do you think you can manage getting all your makeup packed up in that time?" Hector asked then strolled off down the hill toward the city.
Quinn blinked in surprise and Rogan barked with laughter.
"I like him," Rogan said.
Quinn punched him in the arm and stormed off towards the palace.
16
Into the Wilderness
Oliver and the others emerged in the banquet hall in the early hours of the morning. One of the princesses was standing at the head of the room talking to the group of hunters, amongst whom was Hector. She had short, black hair and piercing blue eyes like her mother.
The princess addressed them all as they joined the group. "Thank you all for volunteering to rescue my little brother, Kile."
The hunters shared disgruntled looks with each other at the word volunteered.
"We have supplied you with rations for your trip which you will find in these bags." She gestured to some linen sacks on the floor. "We wish you good fortune on your trip and hope that you return safely with the prince."
The hunters bowed and Oliver and his friends copied them a little too late. The princess exited the hall, leaving the hunters grimacing at their group.
An awkward silence hung between them for a moment then the hunters stepped forward and started passing backpacks out to their group.
Quinn whipped the gloves off of her hands, discarding them on the table with a satisfied smile. She raised her eyebrows at Rogan and he imitated her, looking almost as relieved as she did.
Oliver took the pack that was passed to him by a hunter and added his own kit to it. It was filled with camping gear, thick furs and dried food. He frowned. "How long do you think this is gonna take us?"
Hector looked up at him, shook his head and went back to talking to his men who he had pulled to one side.
Oliver frowned over at Rogan. "What's his problem?"
"He doesn't want us slowing him down that's what his problem is," Quinn said, evidently overhearing him.
Hector stopped talking to his men and they parted. One of them, who was twice as wide as a normal man and almost twice as high, with a bushy, red beard and missing teeth lifted a pack up like it was made of air and tossed it at May. She gripped the straps but was pulled down with the weight of it.
"Oi, watch it!" Rogan snapped before Oliver could.
"Sorry," the man growled, looking at May like he was surprised she couldn't carry it.
Rogan ran a hand over the gear and blue light emitted from his palm. He held the bag out for her and May tentatively took it.
She grinned and lifted it onto her back with obvious ease. "Thanks."
"Anyone else?" Rogan swung around with a grin.
"Yes," Anna gasped, dragging her bag over to him. He laughed as he ran his palm over the bag. Quinn did the same for Larkin but when he tried to engage her in conversation she turned on her heel and headed toward Oliver.
"Are you still mad at him?" Oliver asked her in a quiet voice.
Quinn bent over his bag, her dark hair falling forward to conceal her face as she ran a palm over his gear. "I haven't forgotten what he did back in Aleva. I've been nice to him because of what happened to Arrow but I'm still angry about it."
Despite not warming to Larkin himself, Oliver couldn't help but feel that he seemed different after everything that had happened. He glanced over at Larkin who was standing close to Anna. Larkin reached out a hand and unhooked a strand of hair that was caught under one of her bag's straps.
Oliver's stomach clenched tightly and he suddenly didn't feel so forgiving. "I know he lost his friend but he's still the same person." He felt a pang of guilt at the dig but his blood was boiling as he observed Larkin's casual closeness with Anna.
Quinn stood and crossed her arms. "There, it won't weigh anything now." She followed his line of sight and tutted. "He flirts with anything that has a pulse."
"She's not just anything with a pulse though," Oliver muttered.
Quinn raised her eyebrows at him. "If you're into Anna-"
"I didn't say that," Oliver cut her off sharply.
"I'm just saying if you are you'd better move fast. Girls like her fall for his crap all the time."
"What do you mean girls like her?" Oliver asked as he glanced at Anna over Quinn's shoulder.
"Pretty but she doesn't know it." Quinn shrugged.
"Oh." Oliver frowned, lifting his empty-feeling pack onto his shoulders. "Thanks for this." He signalled to the bag.
"No problem." She turned and stood beside him.
The youngest boy amongst the hunters was watching them wistfully as he shuffled his heavy pack further onto his shoulders.
"You don't need to cheat with magic, Chip. You can manage," Hector told him, narrowing his eyes at Quinn.
"But it'd be so much easier," Chip complained.
"Yes and then you won't build any muscle," growled the large man with the missing teeth as he clapped him on the back, sending Chip stumbling forwards.
Hector stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled, grabbing everyone's attention. "Right, listen up! We're going to head to the base of Mount War where we'll camp tonight. I wanna be there by sundown so that means we need to make reasonable time." He cast his eyes over Oliver and the others as if visually assessing their ability. "This isn't going to be some camping holiday in the woods. It'll be gruelling at best and downright dangerous at worst. But I don't wanna hear a word of complaint, got it?"
Their group nodded vaguely and amused looks passed between the hunters. Oliver glanced at Quinn who was frowning so hard that sharp lines had appeared on her brow.
"Let's go," Hector said.
"Er, Hector. Maybe some introductions?" the huge man prompted.
Hector grunted. "Right yeah. This is Marley," he gestured to the man who had spoken,"that's Chip," the youngest boy with a freckly face and hazel hair grinned at them, "Billy and Havid," a short, stick-thin man and a broad-shouldered man with a mop of strawberry-blonde hair and an off-centre nose nodded to them. "And Hannah." She was almost as burly as Marley and much more so than Billy or Chip. Her mousy-brown hair was braided tightly to her skull, emphasising her masculine jawline. "Let's go."
"What about their names?" Marley asked with a grin but Oliver could see his teeth were clenched.
"Er." Hector looked between them all then pointed at Larkin. "That's Herman."
"Larkin," he corrected, sounding irritated.
"Right yeah," Hector said then shrugged. "Come on, we don't have time for this."
Rogan stepped forward and introduced them all.
"Nice to meet you," Chip said, his eyes gleaming as they flicked between Rogan and Quinn.
The hunters led the way out of the palace and they crossed the narrow bridge toward the stable courtyard. The air was freezing and dark clouds hung in the sky, threatening to unleash a snowstorm.
"Shouldn't we wait for the storm to blow over?" May called as she gazed up at the heavens.
The hunters laughed and Marley dropped back a little to fall into step with her. "Snowfalls can last days here. Ain't no point waitin' for 'em to blow over, little miss."
"Oh." May's cheeks coloured slightly.
The road wound down into the city. Snow was cleared to the side in heaps and a layer of grit was scattered across the cobbles, keeping the ice at bay. They passed a sword-smiths where the clang and clash of metal against metal sounded out into the air. A sharp gust of wind made Oliver shiver and he buttoned his coat up higher to shut out the cold.
The streets became less steep and they dropped down into a stone passage which passed beneath the town. A market had been set up along the sides and corridors led off into a labyrinth of stalls. Voices echoed all around calling out to passers by to buy their products.
The air was surprisingly warmer in the tunnel due to the throng of people that milled along the dark walkways and burning torches on the walls.
Oliver smelt something smokey cooking in a large wok and glanced over to see what it was. Large, scorpion-like insects were frying in a thick layer of black oil. His stomach lurched as someone plucked one out on a skewer and started eating it.
"Spined Crawlers! Get ya deep fried spined crawlers here!" a greasy-looking man shouted from the shadows behind the flaming metal drum that he was cooking them over.
Their group slowed as the crowd thickened and the sound of Hector's annoyance travelled back to them as he cursed and swore. "Damn people. We shouldn't have taken this route out of the city."
"It's market day, what did you expect?" Hannah asked, pausing to buy herself some sort of jellied fish.
"I forgot, alright?" Hector responded.
"We're almost out, I can see the light changin' up ahead," Marley said, his frame towering above everyone.
The ground raised beneath Oliver's feet and they moved toward an opening at the end of the tunnel. The drab, grey light leaked in from above and he instantly missed the warmth of the tunnel as they exited into the freezing air. It seemed somehow icier than before and the clouds had darkened further so they looked almost black as they swept over the world.
The houses thinned as they approached the base of the mountain until only the odd stone cottage was dotted about, surrounded by pens for livestock.
Under the bent porch of a farmhouse was a brown and white dog watching them from its kennel. It stood and barked a loud woof that echoed off of the surrounding hills. A woman exited her house, wrapped in a brown, woollen shawl.
"Ye off ta them grolls?" she called.
"Aye," Billy replied.
"Be wary ya'll. Stronger men than ye ain't returned from them Nosics," the woman said, her grey hair dancing around her shoulders in the wind. She eyed the girls. "An' them caves ain't no place for young women."
Anna turned and caught Oliver's eye, looking amused. He gave her a smile as the wind picked up and whipped her hair behind her in a flutter of strands.
Quinn glared at the woman and cast a burning glow between her hands, twirling it in front of her to show off her magic. The hunters shied away from her like she was infectious.
"Curse ye, heathen! I pray ye don't return! Away wit your witchcraft." The woman hacked loudly and spat on the ground. The dog barked once more, sensing the change in his owner's demeanour.
Quinn halted and the magic died in her hands as Rogan took hold of her arm.
"What did she call me?" Quinn said in outrage.
"Leave it," Rogan said through gritted teeth.
Hector laughed, angering Quinn further.
"I think it's just the culture, Quinn," May said.
"I don't care if it's the culture, I'm a Thorn." She visibly bristled but let Rogan lead her onward.
The hunters had already moved ahead, walking off down the road that wound toward a series of snowy hills.
The city was far behind and Oliver glanced back to take in the view. The palace was shrouded in shadow where cloud was hanging low over the peak of the mountain but he could still make out its glossy, blue exterior.
The hills were further away than they had seemed as they trekked on along the road, evidently cleared for horse and carriages. As they approached, Oliver could see a woodland concealed upon them, hidden beneath a dusting of white. The snowstorm had held off thus far but the darkness around them suggested it would begin at any moment.
"Halt!" Hector's voice drifted back to them, sounding distant in the vastness of the landscape.
They slowed and walked toward him until they were gathered together in a circle.
"We're about to enter the Pale Wood. It's none too dangerous but keep your wits about you," Hector warned.
"Could be red bears in there," Chip said in a low voice, touching the hilt of the blade on his hip.
A chill slipped down Oliver's spine.
"Red bears?" Anna inquired, wrapping her arms across her body.
Havid laughed energetically and his strawberry-blonde hair shook around his face. "There ain't no red bears in the Pale Wood. They live in the forests."
"There might be ice cats though," Hannah said, nudging Havid with her elbow.
Havid stopped laughing but an amused look remained in place on his skewed features.
Hector took the deadly-looking tactile knife from his hip. "Be prepared for anything, I've even seen a warwolf this close to the city before."
"Ha! Warwolves wouldn't come in ten miles of Galice," Billy said, placing his hands on his narrow hips.
"This isn't a bloody debate!" Hector snapped. "Arm yourselves."
Oliver felt for the dagger on his hip. He unsheathed it and held it before him, gripping the hilt tightly in his hand in the way Hector had taught them. May tentatively held her own blade ahead of her and Oliver felt a strange tingling inside his stomach. They were doing all of this so May would be safe but he was suddenly aware that they had walked willingly out into the wild where danger was lurking at every turn.
Rogan and Quinn left their daggers in place, flexing their fingers from time to time as they walked. Their group instinctively closed together while the hunters led the way forward.
The road narrowed to a dirt track where carriage wheels and hooves had churned up the mud. They skirted around the worst of it and closed in on the woodland where the trees pressed close together with the weight of the snow on their branches. A dark and forbidding path led between the bows of two ancient-looking trees.
Snow began to fall in a silent descent, dropping onto the ground around them and dissolving in the mud.
Hector was the first to disappear into the blackness as he passed under the tree canopy. Marley turned and waved a hand at their group to join him.
"Stick close," he warned as they integrated with the other hunters. "Ain't no point takin' risks."
Oliver looked up as they walked between the tree trunks, spying a small black mammal that was watching them with little red eyes. It made an angry chook-chook noise then scurried off into the dense foliage, dislodging a small scattering of snow from the branches so it rained down upon them.
"What was that?" Anna breathed.
"Just a little animal," Oliver said to calm her.
"Did you see it? Are you sure it was small?" she asked, drawing closer to him.
"Tiny," he said with a grin.
She smiled as they continued on, keeping close to his side.
The wood was silent apart from the crunching of twigs underfoot and the odd flurry of movement in the canopy above as birds and other small creatures moved about. Oliver could only see a few feet beyond the closest tree; a heavy darkness hid the wood beyond but the occasional flitter of movement kept drawing his eye.
He glanced back to see that they had left the entrance far behind so it had become a tiny dot of light. Their path was wide enough for a carriage and had remained dry under the cover of the trees. It was warmer too now that they were sheltered from the wind.
Rogan fell in to step beside him. "Was this a good idea?" he whispered, echoing Oliver's own thoughts.
"I'm not so sure," he said in a low voice, the wood somehow demanding quiet. "Maybe May should have stayed back at the palace? The whole point of this is getting her to Brinatin so your father can help her. Isn't this the opposite of looking after her?"
Rogan glanced back over his shoulder and Oliver mimicked him, spying the girls and Larkin walking close together and talking in murmurs.
"Maybe the hunters are just being cautious?" Rogan suggested.
