Camaro's Tale

Part 4 Written by Lady Isolde   She awoke to see once again Liam making ready their mount. Bread and a light tea were all that there was to break their night long fast. She stretched to get the kinks from her body as it adjusted to the life of the saddle. Taking a small brush from her bag she worked out the knots from her hair till it shone with health and tied it in place with the small ribbon she had worn the day she had flown from her home. Splashing water to her face she then bent to the task of eating and drinking to still the protest from her hungry belly. Liam had eaten with the dawn and was leaning against the tree with his one foot propped up on the stump as he awaited the girl. His grey eyes darted to the shadows of the trees constantly. Though he could see nothing, his keen sense of what was right and what was wrong was screaming to him that all was not as quiet as it seemed. Taking the blade of grass that he had been working on in his mouth he announced to the girl to make fast, and with quiet urgings had her mounted and away from their campsite within minutes.   He pressed the mount to put many miles between them and the camp they had left, the girl clinging to him could feel his uneasiness and did not break the silence by asking why they rode so hard. The morning found them making their way upward. Constantly climbing now, the air was lighter and fresher. The great trees gave way to smaller pine and Cedar with more brush then full bushes to mar their way. Liam became more and more urgent as the morn gave way to full day. And he could be heard cursing under his breath as he coaxed the mount to climb faster. The girl said nothing but would now find herself looking continuously behind them to see if anything did indeed follow. Nothing but their own mounts heavy breathing and hoof steps were all that could be heard. As well as the occasional muttering from Liam. They stopped not for lunch and when thirsty drank from the bladder while still in the saddle. Liam pressed the mount onward at as best a pace he could without harming the animal they rode. Perhaps the horse itself knew of the urgency, or perhaps it could catch the scent of death in the air. Either way it seemed to want to cover as much ground as possible itself. Ever higher it climbed, and ever oppressing was the doom that seemed to follow them. Black crows now could be heard screaming in the distance behind them. They always heralded armies and camps. Carrion and death, for they did not discriminate against good or bad, pure or evil, only that food was near, or shall be. Liam could tell the mount was tiring and so he stopped and dismounted. Not waiting to hear the protests of the girl he grabbed the reigns and led the horse himself up the steeper slopes. Pulling it as much as leading it.   Panic began to invade the girl. Her head was always looking behind her now. No backward glances but steady gazes for anything that followed. As they stepped from a small clump of pine she heard Liam exclaim in surprise and turning her gaze forward she was greeted by a shimmering curtain of magic. Transparent colours that caught the eye like Mother of Pearl shimmered before them. And behind that, a giant gate to a castle. They were almost there. A mile of so more and all would be well. No evil could e'er penetrate the curtain that surrounded the castle. Soon, they would be safe. She tossed back her head and laughed in relief and delight.   And they came........   Butchers in dark bloodstained armour and gear. Brandishing sword and pike, axe and cudgel as they streamed from the treeline to their left. She screamed as they looked at them with soulless eyes. So close and yet, too far they were to reach the gate   Unless.......   Liam screamed in an ancient tounge and pulled forth his bow, with the flat of his hand he slapped the mount hard, and it reared in fright before springing away. The girl held tight to the mane as it whipped at her face. The mount with only the girl upon its back ate the distance to the curtain with ease. She closed her eyes as the curtain loomed before her, and then they were through. Girl and mount. The sounds of screaming behind her was muted as if one yelled into a bottle. She spun the mount around by sheer force alone and stood in the stirrups looking for Liam. The distance was remarkable. She was surprised to see how much the mount had indeed covered in such a short time. Above the fighting, looking down, she could make out Liam in his light greys. Small darts would streak from him to one of the dark warriors only for them to fall a moment after. His arrows were indeed finding their mark. He was backing up towards the pine as the Dark ones beat him back. They were now between her and Liam. She screamed his name and watched as he looked up to her. She thought she caught him flash a smile. Perhaps he was happy to see her safe behind the curtain, perhaps he smiled for the battle itself. Perhaps he smiled because his name was ushered from her lips. It matters not, for he then raised his bow, waved to her one last time. And dove for the cover of the shadows. She could see trees shaking from the dark armies approaching him from lower ground. And the ones betwixt them could be seen to spread out. He was trapped. And no matter how good his arrows, no matter how true. It seemed there was little or no hope for the silver haired Lord that had rescued the girl.   Tears stained her eyes. She knew she could not help. Her hands shook as a few of the dark warriors looked to her then away. For they knew they could not enter the shimmering curtain themselves. She wiped her nose with a kerchief as she watched the last of the dark figures enter the tree line. Cheers and gloats carried up to her on the wind. She bowed her head, and remembered his grey eyes. Then turning her mount........entered the gates of the Enchanted Castle.....safe.......in her new home.   If she had a name before coming to the castle...I do not know it. As long as she entered the gates she was known by her name she now answers to. If there is meaning to it....I know not that as well...   But I do know her....the girl who fled from conflict and anger. The girl who lost so much.   For she is Lady Camaro.......Lady of the Twin Serpents.   and friend to all.......