Goddess's Warrior Read online

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  Six days later… Olivia moved quietly between the assembled mercenary and Royal Companies without being questioned at first and approached the rear of the Ravens Company ranks. On her back was her quiver containing her bow, the Goddess’s Whitewood arrows and the Rod. Olivia could feel the evil that slumbered in the enemy camp awaiting the signal to attack. Also she was now sure there was something wrong in Prince Shaun’s camp. Olivia was certain there were several traitors - followers of Gloam- in the various Companies, including Captain Gordon. She could ‘sense’ their evil. As she was considering this, Olivia heard her name called from nearby. She turned round. Amelia was coming toward her on horseback.

  ‘Olivia! It is you. What are you doing here? You’ll be killed! There will be arrows here any second now. You’d better leave.’

  ‘I can’t Amelia. This is where I must be. It is the Goddesses wish. While you and the other companies face Danglish’s regular troops I am to try and stop Gloam’s priests calling up demons and dragons to destroy you.’

  ‘You can do that How?’

  Olivia reached into her quiver and drew the rod part-way out. Amelia stared at it in astonishment then looked at Olivia. ‘She made you a Guardian?’

  ‘Yes. But she said to keep it secret until now.’

  Amelia was silent a moment then, ‘Come to the supply wagon with me. I can at least give you a shield and some protection.’ Olivia let the Rod slip back into her quiver and followed Amelia as she rode to where the Raven’s supply wagon stood. Soon Olivia was wearing a metal helmet, leather armour, had a sword at her side and carried a shield. On her back was her quiver containing her bow, arrows and White Rod. Olivia now walked to the front ranks of waiting soldiers, Amelia riding at her side. Olivia was recognized and the jeering started. Olivia ignored it.

  She stopped and stared out across the ground at Danglish’s troops massed there. Then she looked back at the forces ranged under the banner of Prince Shaun. They appeared to be about equal in numbers.

  There had still been no movement from Danglish when there was a shout from behind them and Captain Gordon rode up. He was in full armour with his visor up exposing his face which was red with anger.

  ‘What’s she doing here?’ he snapped at Amelia.

  ‘Waiting, Captain. Just like the rest of you.’ replied Olivia politely.

  ‘Then do your waiting elsewhere, thief. GO.’ barked the Captain.

  Olivia stood her ground. ‘You have no right to give me orders, Captain. You lost that right when you threw me out.’

  ‘You will do as I say girl,’ he snapped. He drew his sword.

  ‘You sink lower and lower Captain. Drawing your sword on one, who is no threat to you,’ said Olivia calmly. She made no move to draw her sword.

  ‘YOU…’ Captain Gordon turned his horse and raised his sword. But before his horse moved more than two steps Amelia was blocking his path with her own horse.

  ‘CAPTAIN! We are here to fight the enemy not each other,’ she snapped. ‘Whose side are you on anyway?’

  Captain Gordon glared at her. ‘Girl! Just because your mother owns this Company….’

  ‘YES! This company is mine and I will not have my officers fighting amongst themselves,’ barked the Duchess. ‘Both of you get back to your positions NOW!’

  Captain Gordon glared at Amelia then turned and rode back to his position. Amelia looked at Olivia. ‘Will you be alright?’

  ‘Who is this woman, Lieutenant?’

  ‘This is the woman I spoke of Mother. This is Olivia. She is my cousin and your niece.’

  ‘Really!’ The Raven’s eyes ran over Olivia in a considering manner.

  ‘I wondered at first too, Mother,’ said Amelia calmly. ‘But now I’m sure of it. This is the woman I spoke of six days back. This is Olivia who joined our ranks last year and was on my patrol in Weldfore earlier this year. She found the hidden compartments in those wagons and after we returned was accused of stealing. Captain Gordon denied her a trial or any sort of hearing, gave her fifty lashes and threw her out. She went to Alanya’s Temple and now there are no whip marks on her back.’

  ‘I…see.’

  ‘She also says that Captain Gordon, Sergeant Crandall and Corporal Francis were bribed to allow weapons into Fenton and that Danglish’s troops are boosted by Gloam’s priests with their usual tricks.’

  ‘How would she know that?’

  ‘The Lady told her, apparently.’

  The Raven looked again at Olivia but before she could speak there were shouts from the front followed by trumpet calls. Danglish and his forces were moving.

  Prince Shaun’s troops prepared to receive the attack. Archers from both sides began sending showers of arrow sat each other. Soldiers on both sides’ immediately lifted their shields over their heads. Olivia did likewise. She sensed an increase in the evil emanating from Danglish’s lines. Then there were shouts from Prince Shaun’s troops as four big black smoke like clouds appeared over Danglish’s troops, one of which began moving towards Prince Shaun’s forces. As it approached Prince Shaun’s forces some archers sent arrows at it with no effect. Olivia called the Rod from her quiver and reached for the Power which the Goddess had shown her. She sent it through the Rod at the black cloud. The White-fire opened out and surrounded the cloud, closed on it and seemed to compress it until the White fire simply vanished taking the black cloud with it.

  Meanwhile the other three clouds began changing into large long black Worm-like creatures with bulbous eyes and huge open mouths exposing long sharp teeth and long forked tongues. They were accompanied by black lightning like bolts that crackled in the sky around the Worms. The Worms reached over Danglish’s forces for the troops of Prince Shaun. The Prince’s archers sent arrows at the Worms but they bounced off their bodies without effect. But before they could begin their meal Olivia set down her shield and Rod and drew three white-wood arrows from her quiver. She notched an arrow, drew and released. The arrow sped straight to the Worm and struck its body just behind the ugly head. The arrow seemed to slide into the Worm’s body then the Worm let out a roar and its body exploded into white flames which engulfed the creature. Some pieces fell onto Danglish’s troops who screamed as the burning pieces fell amongst them.

  When this happened the Prince’s archers ceased fire. Olivia quickly notched her second arrow and released, hitting the second Worm. Again the creature’s body was destroyed by White-fire, its fragments scattering and Danglish’s troops screaming as the acidic pieces fell upon them. As Olivia was notching her third arrow she spotted a shower of arrows approaching. She seized her shield and lifted it over her head, crouching so her body was better shielded from the shower of arrows. She saw that the soldiers in their ranks were also lifting their shields over their heads to protect themselves from the arrows. She felt several arrows strike her shield and others fell around her.Olivia gasped as one arrow tore into the leather armor low on her back and tore into her skin but not hitting anything vital. When, after three volleys the arrows ceased, Olivia immediately stood, notched and released her third arrow which struck the last Worm in an eye. The head exploded and the rest of the body broke up and fell on Danglish’s’ troops.

  Olivia looked around. The troops nearest her were staring at her in amazement as was the Raven. Amelia was grinning at her. The ground around her was littered with dozens of arrows.

  It was Amelia who broke the local silence. ‘Mother. Olivia must be shielded from those arrows!’

  ‘Yes. Corporal Manners take your squad and shield the Guardian from any more arrows. Quickly!’

  Olivia was soon surrounded by a squad of soldiers ready to shield her. Olivia felt better being with her company again but she had little time to enjoy the feeling. She could feel another buildup of evil but it was over to the right of where she stood. She picked up the Rod from where she had dropped it when she used her bow. Wait though – the evil - it was moving towards her. She peered out. Yes!

  ‘Wha
t is it?’ asked Corporal Manners. ‘You’re staring at something but I see nothing threatening.’

  ‘I see a priest carrying a Black-rod escorted by archers. But no one is attacking them. And you say you can’t see them either. It must be because the Black-rod priest is holding an invisibility shield around them.’

  ‘Would he know you can see him, Olivia?’ queried another voice.

  Olivia swung round. ‘Darra! It is good to see you again. And no he would not know for certain.’ Olivia wasn’t sure how she knew this but for some reason knew it was true. ‘But he will soon.’ Olivia turned back to face the oncoming priest. ‘Now, in fact.’ Olivia raised the White-wood Rod and pointed it at the approaching priest and his escort of archers and again reached for the Goddess’s power in the earth. A bolt of white-fire shot out of the rod and struck the priest holding the Black-rod. The shield of invisibility surrounding the Black-rod priest fell displaying the priest and his men to all. The Black-rod priest pointed his Rod at Olivia and the Black-rod spat a black flame at Olivia which was stopped by Olivia’s White flame. The two flames pressed at each other. Olivia concentrated, picturing the flame opening out and swallowing the black flame. The priest of Gloam did the same. It was a battle of wills. Olivia’s flame wavered as she struggled to overpower the Black priest. At a nudge in her mind Olivia pictured the passage through which the power came to her to widen and let more power pass through her and through the Rod to strengthen the White flame. This resulted in the Black flame being pushed back onto the Black-rod priest. The white flame opened up and enveloped the priest of Gloam. The priest and the rod both vanished in the blast as did two of the accompanying archers. The other archers were now fired on by the archers of Prince Shaun. As the arrows rained down on them the archers ran for Danglish’s lines. Several archers fell with arrows from Prince Shaun’s archers protruding from them.

  Danglish’s troops were in confusion after the loss of the Worms and the Black-rod. Prince Shaun realized this and ordered his forces to advance. Olivia and her shield-squad moved with them. Olivia intended to stay out of the fighting between the ordinary soldiers to save her strength for the next attack by the remaining priests of Gloam. It wasn’t long in coming.

  Before the two armies came together Danglish’s ranks opened and through them came two huge creatures. They were canine in appearance, similar to a wolf in shape but many times the size, their eyes were red and smoke streamed from their nostrils. As the path opened up in the ranks of Danglish’s troops the beasts charged at ranks of Prince Shaun’s forces. Each creature had a sword wielding rider wearing full armour.

  Olivia drew two more Whitewood arrows from her quiver. The first arrow struck the nearer beast in one of its front legs. The beast roared in pain and tumbled to the ground pinning its rider under it. As it’s body began to dissolve into pools of black acid the rider couldn’t fight clear and human howls were added to the beasts roars as both dissolved into a puddle. Olivia fired at the second creature, her arrow striking home in the creatures head. The head exploded and the rest of the body began to dissolve. Its rider however, managed to jump clear. He strode towards Olivia waving a sword and carrying a shield. Olivia reached for the Rod but a nudge in her mind stopped her. She dropped her bow and drew her sword and with her shield ready stepped out to face the priest of Gloam.

  ‘Olivia NO,’ screamed Darra. ‘Come BACK.’

  Olivia ignored Darra’s call, settled her shield and raised her sword. She was conscious that her opponent carried a long-sword and wore mail while she had only short-sword and leather armour. Olivia knew she would have to get in close to make effective use of the short-sword. With their first clash it was clear the Gloamish warrior was confident - and more experienced than Olivia. From the start he forced Olivia to give ground.

  ‘‘Give up female,’ he jeered. ‘Admit it. You have no chance of defeating me. Stay still and I’ll make it quick.’

  Olivia made no answer. She concentrated on staying out of reach of the long-sword, ducking and weaving continuously.

  ‘Stand still girl,’ snarled the warrior. Why delay the inevitable?’ he wheezed.

  Olivia realized that the warrior was tiring from the constant moving since he was on foot in heavy metal armour. She watched him carefully then suddenly jumped forward and struck, blocking his sword with her shield and pushing forward to drive her sword under his sword-arm where the armour joined. She quickly tugged her sword out and jumped back, conscious her shield was not responding properly. She looked at her shield. It was cracked and practically in two pieces. Olivia shook it off her arm and jumped aside as the Gloamish warrior attacked again. He was bleeding but the wound did not seem to be slowing his sword movements.

  ‘Now I have you girl,’ he snarled. And he nearly did. As he swung Olivia dodged but her foot slipped and she fell as he swung. His stroke missed as Olivia rolled clear but he tried to get her with a back-stroke which she just stopped with her sword as she rose to her knees. As she climbed to her feet she realized his body was open to her. Still blocking his sword with her own she drew her knife with her left hand and lunged forward, driving it into his thigh through a join in the armour then pulling it out. The man began to swear as his leg gave under him. He staggered and fell to his knees. Olivia leapt forward and plunged her sword into an eye opening in his visor then pulled it out. She staggered away from the body as it jerked, then toppled over and lay still. Olivia stopped and looked around. There was almost complete silence from the troops on both sides as the Gloamish warrior died, then there was a great cheer from Prince Shaun’s troops as it was realized that their (the Goddess’s) champion was the victor.

  Next minute there was a great rush as the forces of Prince Shaun charged Danglish’s disorganized army which was soon in flight. It was as if the remaining priests of Gloam had lost their spirit for the battle. Danglish was seen trying to rally his troops but without success. Finally he fled the field as did the Priests of Gloam.

  Olivia was gasping and shaking as she watched the charge of Prince Shaun’s troops. She looked down at herself. Her leather armour was in shreds, hacked and sliced by the Gloamish warrior’s sword. She saw she was bleeding from wounds she had not realized she’d received from the warrior’s sword. Next minute there was a hand on her shoulder ‘Olivia… Olivia are you all right? Come … we’ll get those wounds seen to.’ It was Darra. She slipped an arm around Olivia and guided her off the battlefield to the Healer‘s tent. Olivia felt so dizzy after the fight with the Gloamish warrior she was hardly aware where Darra was taking her. As they moved the rest of her shield squad closed round her. It was only as they arrived at the entrance to the medical tent that Olivia realized where she was. At that moment Amelia caught up with them.

  ‘Olivia, are you all right?’

  ‘I will be, Amelia. Can you see that our people are warned not to touch the bodies of any Gloam priests they find nor should they touch any wagon or other equipment bearing Gloam’s mark until I come and make it safe? Touching any of their gear could be fatal.’

  ‘I’ll spread the word.’ Amelia rode off.

  In the Healer’s tent the remains of the leather armour was cut from Olivia along with her slashed shirt. The Healer wanted to sew the wounds closed but Olivia, after feeling a nudge in her mind, shook her head. She closed her eyes and pictured the rod in her hand. It appeared much to the astonishment of all present. As soon as it settled in Olivia’s hand it began to glow and her wounds began to close. Within minutes they were all closed and Olivia felt strength flow into her.

  ‘Was that the Goddess’s work?’ asked Darra in astonishment.

  ‘Yes. Err… can I borrow a shirt?’ replied Olivia. Turning she moved to the nearest pallet on which a wounded soldier was lying, his eyes closed, and touched him with the rod. Olivia felt power go down her arm through the Rod and into the man. After a moment his eyes opened and he looked about, a startled expression on his face.

  ‘W…what happened? I felt something
touch me… what happened?’ he asked. He sat up and stared at his bandaged middle. ‘The pain has gone,’ he said. Then he yawned.

  ‘She did,’ replied one of the surgeon’s assistants, gesturing at Olivia who had moved on to the next man on another pallet.

  ‘Who is she? Why is she shirtless… not that I’m objecting, mind?’

  ‘Her shirt was in shreds when they brought her in. Suddenly there was a rod of whitewood in her hand and she was healed. Now she’s started to heal you all. Word is she’s the recruit Captain Gordon flogged and tossed out for stealing. She has been appointed Guardian by the Goddess. Guess she was innocent after all.’

  Olivia went from pallet to pallet, touching each wounded soldier with the Rod. Within minutes the soldiers were sitting up and saying they felt better but tired.

  Olivia was given a shirt and she left the Healers tent. Amelia was waiting for her with the rest of her shield escort, Darra carrying Olivia’s weapons. Olivia accepted her weapons and settled them on her person after slipping the Rod into the quiver.

  ‘Olivia. Mother would like to see you in her tent when you are free,’ said Amelia. She spoke formally but her eyes were twinkling and her mouth was curving up at the corners.

  ‘Certainly, Amelia. Err… Does it have to be now? I must heal the other companies’ wounded and make the gear left on the field by Danglish safe.’

  Amelia grinned. ‘I told Mother you would probably say something like that,’ she replied. ‘Go on. But take your escort with you in case of trouble. Not that I expect any. Word of your actions is spreading. Carry on.’

  Olivia went from Company to Company healing the wounded. She found she need only point the Rod at the wounded in the Medical tents and call White Fire. The Fire would open out and cover the wounded with healing flame. Most were healed imediately although many were left exhausted. Those not healed were the ones with missing limbs. Olivia told the watching audience to find the missing limbs and those that were found were reattached.

  When the healing was completed Olivia headed out onto the now silent battlefield seeking the bodies of the priests of Gloam and also any equipment left by them. Olivia didn’t have to ask where they were, she could sense their location from the Evil emanating from them. Olivia was pleased to find many had sentries posted to keep people from touching then. One-by-one the bodies and equipment were dealt with. When Olivia touched the bodies with the White-Rod they immediately flared up in White-flame and when the flames died away there was only ash left behind. Tents, wagons and other equipment when touched by White-fire would glow briefly then when the flame died away the wagon or tent would be undamaged but now free of the odour of Evil. These items could now be taken as loot by soldiers. Finally all the gear left by the escaping forces of Gloam and Danglish were made safe and Olivia and her escort headed back to the camp accompanied by the last stragglers of the looters. The sun was going down and the soldiers were celebrating as soldiers do after a victory. Olivia noted that all of her escort had collected loot/souvenirs and appeared content with their assignment as her escort.

  As they returned to the Ravens camp they were met by Amelia. ‘Olivia! You’re just in time. We’ve been called to dine with the Prince and I know he’ll want to meet you.’

  ‘Me?’ squeaked Olivia in horror. ‘But I’m no officer or noble! I mean…’

  Olivia saw Amelia was grinning at her. ‘Actually you are, cousin,’ she replied.

  ‘Cousin! Is it true, Ma’am?’ asked Darra, her eyes moving from the blushing Olivia to the grinning Lieutenant Amelia and back.

  ‘Yes. It’s true. Olivia is the daughter of Mother’s younger sister who went missing along with her husband and baby twenty years ago,’ replied Amelia. She grinned at Olivia. ‘Now come, Olivia, you can’t escape it you know.’

  Olivia groaned and followed Amelia into Amelia’s tent. There she was quickly stripped of her dirty clothing and supplied with hot water soap and sponge. She was given a clean uniform and found her boots now polished as well.

  When she went to put on her weapons though, Amelia (in her best uniform) shook her head. ‘Swords are not worn at the Princes’ table, Olivia. But he can’t object to your Rod. Here, put it in this bag. See, it can be clipped on the belt. I read once that this was how previous Guardians carried their Rods.’

  ‘I see. Thank you, Amelia.’ Olivia clipped the long narrow bag to her belt and slipped the Rod into it. It felt a little strange hanging on her right hip but she knew she would soon get used to it. *I guess there are many things I’m going to have to get used to now the Duchess has recognized me as her niece.*

  When they were ready Amelia and Olivia went to the Raven’s tent where the other officers were also gathering. Olivia was immediately conscious of their curious gaze on her and especially of Captain Gordon’s glare. Olivia struggled to hide her reaction to the Evil she felt radiating from him. Was now the time to unmask him?