Discovering Freedom

Chapter 1

I remove my twin swords from the rack, their hilts solid beneath my grip. Slowly, I go through the motions for my warm up exercises, their movements so familiar I do not have to think. I lose myself in the long fluid motions, as if the swords were extensions of my arms. This is what I love, the world fades and I am in my own bubble of isolation with only me and the intricately made blades beneath my grip.

Dripping with sweat, I spin to face a tall dark haired boy who pads grinning into the practice room. I glare at him in annoyance because he broke my concentration; however, I still feel the corners of my mouth slowly form into a smile.

“Hey sis, you working on any new moves?” he asks cheerfully, knowing he was interrupting me.

“Kayleb, I was warming up before you came in, and it’s not any of your business whether I am working on a new move.” I huff, trying to be haughty but failing miserably.

“Anyway, Dagon wants us in the herb room for lessons” Kayleb says, still grinning.

“Give me ten minutes so I can shower and change” I answer while casually returning the swords to the rack.

I jog to my room, looking forward to the feel of hot water washing away all the sweat and grime that has gathered. Once I've finished my shower I find myself staring into the mirror. Gazing back at me is a girl with raven black hair that's pulled into a ponytail, and eyes so dark they appear black. My eyes flicker down and follow the white scar that trails across the back of my hand and wraps itself along my right arm.  Almost like instinct my left hand reaches to my right shoulder to feel the letter carved there.  Flashes of memory pass through my mind.

Screams filled the air and the sound of fighting resonated through the night.  I fell out of bed and stumbled through the door of my room, only in time to see my father slaughtered. Grey smoke swirled and flames turned the sky blood red.  Silhouetted against the terrifying backdrop was a giant of a man standing over my father’s body.

My eyes were drawn to my mother. She lay there, unmoving, on the ground. In confusion I turned back to the big man. He pulled his sword from the body and stepped forward, his leering face oozing hate. I stood transfixed with terror as I slowly began to understand what had happened.  I heard weeping and more sensed than saw my mother fling herself onto my father’s body. I cried out. Her face was streaked with blood as tears ran in rivulets down her face.

“Stop!” she yelled with determination, “You have taken my husband from this earth you will not take my daughter’s. You will fight me, Tamarack.”

“Then so be it.” Tamarack replied calmly as he lifted his sword.

My mother took up my father’s sword, from his now lifeless grip and charged.

 The fight was short and bloody. Tamarack loomed over my mother, now lying on the ground, her life blood slowly spilling and soaking into the soil.

“I thought it would have never have had to come to this, or at least I hoped. I never wanted to hurt you Jaya but you forced me to. You ripped out my heart when you turned away from me and now I will rip out yours. ” He said sorrowfully.

He turned his attention from her to me and grabbed by my arm and cut, cold metal sliced and pain seared through me. I stare into my mother’s eyes, I saw apology and helpless anger and love for me. I could hear more screaming and realized it was me. I stopped and could see red painted my arm. Tamarack then flipped me and ripped the cloth that covered my shoulder and started to carve the letter ‘T’. More pain blasted through me and black fringed my sight. I collapsed as he dropped me.

“I see your pain. Now you will feel no more!” he cried angrily as he drove his blade into my mother.

All I could feel was pain becoming more and more intense. Then darkness.

I blink, tears pricking my eyes. I spin around and walk quickly to the herb room, knowing that Dagan would be wondering where I am.  Kayleb and Dagon were both deep in conversation as I enter.

Dagon’s head moves my way as he says “Ah here’s my other favourite pupil,”

“You mean your only other pupil” I counter, attempting to sound cheerful.

Dagon smiles and starts to show us how to make a poultice for treating festering wounds. Kayleb takes one glance at me and can tell I am not alright.  Reaching under the table he squeezes my hand whilst giving me a reassuring smile. It always annoys me how he knows me so well, but then again he is my twin so it can only be expected. Although, it is at times like these I am really glad he does. Feeling a bit better I start to concentrate on what Dagon is saying.

Sleeping is like a nightmare for me. Every time I close my eyes I repeatedly see my parents' deaths. I have not slept through the night since they died, I was six. Tonight is no exception. I wake up breathing heavily and anger surging through me. I swing my legs out of bed and pad into the corridor. The cool solid stone beneath my feet calms me as I walk aimlessly until ending up where I always do, the practice room. I start kicking, punching and moving in an angry erratic dance, losing myself in the motion and physical exhaustion that comes with it. Finally I stop, panting and sweating; I fall to my knees and close my eyes with tears trickling down my face.

After several minutes a woman with dark red hair enters the room, her face is set hard but softens when she sees me crying on the floor. She sweeps over and sits next to me. The first I am aware of her is when she gathers me into a tight hug and begins to rock me.

“Shhh, Kyra, I have you. “She whispers soothingly.

“Suri, I feel so useless, I couldn’t help them, I couldn’t help...” I sob.

Suri has found me like this several times before and so she says nothing and holds me until I cry myself out.  Gently she helps me to my feet and steers me to my room. I do not cry every night but I do wake from my recurring nightmares every night, cold and empty. Anger and despair my only companions.  I catch a glimpse of my eyes; they are like the abyss, dead and hopeless.

The dark claims me.