Sarmatia. That was her home.
Archer lifted her head from the pillow and smiled, memories of her youth crashing through her as she pictured her mother, father, her tribe and her little brother. Though she could not remember his name, she knew that he was her sibling by the way she had brushed his hair and dressed him in the mornings when he was only a baby, how she had played with him through the tall grass and kiss his bruises better whenever he fell over.
Briefly she could see the image of a dappled grey horse galloping through the fields but returned to her at her whistle. She could feel the smile on her face as the gelding would nuzzle her face then snort at her with a mischievous look in his eyes.
Archer still remained public favourite and many had offered good money for her but they were always turned down, much to her relief as she brought in better money when competing for her current owners. They still had not marked her as a slave, perhaps they simply assumed she already bore the tattoos?
She looked to her team and smiled underneath her hood, watching them banter and eat an unusually better tasting meal. There was more meat than fat on the pork this time. "When I retire, I'm going to become a fat and drunken wine producer." Elyan declared, sniffing the sour ale suspiciously before taking a sip. "And wash away the taste of this horse piss."
"If you survive to retire, that is." Ywain said to him but he spoke with a little more lightness to his tone. "I'm yet to carry out my threat and kill you."
"True, but if you did that then who would send you free barrels of the finest wine in all of Rome?" Elyan replied wittily and Lamorak laughed.
"You could not make wine even if Bacchus himself showed you how."
"Bacchus?" Archer questioned, setting her bowl down. "Who is that?"
"The old Roman god of wine." Gaheris answered with a grin. "A man after my own heart." Archer chuckled then fell silent. Her hands went down as if to stroke an imaginary dog but she stopped, frowning at herself as an image of a great shaggy black dog filled her mind. Large brown eyes gazed up at her before all too quickly, the image was snatched away from her. She sighed.
"Do you think they'll cave?" Elyan asked slowly, glancing to one of the keepers who walked along the walls, watching as the gladiators all ate their meal. "With the offers I mean."
"No." Lamorak answered quietly with a shake of their head. "They will earn more gold by keeping us here for at least a year until we are no longer favourites, then they will sell us to an even higher price to another stadium where we will then become the favourites of a new audience." Archer felt sorry for Lamorak. This was the life he had always known. Fighting and killing.
"Well, who knows? Maybe we'll make it to the coliseum this time." Ywain and Gaheris shot him a dark look. "What? Might as well aim our sights as high as we can." Archer shook her head at the younger man then sighed, reaching up to rub her face under the hood.
"You ever going to take that off?" Gaheris asked her and she shook her head.
"No."
"You hiding something?" She did not answer, merely glared at him until he smirked then looked to Ywain.
"What do you think?"
"I think you're hiding something." He agreed, pursing his lips slightly. "Are you really faceless?" Just to save arguments, Archer shrugged then got up, taking her bowl back to the kitchen porthole and slid it towards the man inside, who whisked it away. Lamorak caught up with her.
"They are beginning to guess."
"Let them." Archer waved her hand dismissively. "I trust them, just not the ears that surrounded us." He nodded his head, following her back to their shared cell where she instantly lay down on the bed. "I am beginning to remember more. It might not be long until I can get us out of here."
"I cannot leave, Archer." Lamorak sighed, shaking his head. "This brand means the moment I am found, I will be killed. I have no papers to travel with, which means I must remain here if I want to live." Archer arched an eyebrow.
"This is hardly what I call living." She replied softly then closed her eyes, begging sleep to come so that she could work on retrieving her lost past. Archer caught about an hours sleep before they were called to fight and she awoke with the image of a face before her eyes.
A dark haired warrior with a bow in his hand and curved blade on his back, piercing eyes looking down at Archer with small tattoos on the high cheekbones of his face. At first he did not look to be one of the more handsome looking of men but Archer felt a strong tug towards him regardless, her own eyes seeing no equal in his roguish and dangerous looking features.
Carrying the man's face with her, Archer wished she could remember who he was and his name. There was something about him that screamed to Archer and she felt an overwhelming longing to be at his side. Shaking her head, Archer concentrated on what was happening.
She armed herself with her usual bow which had been newly stringed, added a quiver of arrows to her body then wriggled her toes in her boot, her dagger still there. She had never used it as had she exposed her possession, it would be taken away from her and as far as she was concerned, it could mean the difference between life and death when she was going to escape from this place.
Once everyone was armed, they walked out into the arena. As usual the crowds met them with a mighty roar. The only difference was that the fat lord who owned this place wasn't sitting in his usual seat. That was occupied by a tall, lean Roman with dark, calculating eyes. They fell upon Archer and she felt uncomfortable with the gaze but she did not back away from it.
They were facing seasoned gladiators as well as three tigers, their bright pelts sweaty in the heat and Archer felt sorry for the creatures, knowing that they would have to die They pulled on their chains as Ywain spoke. "Hold this ground. Those beasts can't reach us here."
"Unless they let them go." Elyan mused cheerfully. "Which is always possible." They all glared at him. "Just saying. Be ready for the unexpected."
"Just shut up, you big mouthed runt." Gaheris growled before taking a stance, lifting his shield as the other three did the same. Archer remained standing upright, protected by the shield wall the four men formed in front of her. Anchoring her feet, Archer prepared to grasp an arrow.
The gong sounded at the nod of the refined looking Roman and all at once, battle commenced. This time, there was no charge. The gladiators smoothly began to prowl, fixing their eyes on a specific target and Archer held off simply shooting them as that way she would only lose the crowd's adoration and she needed to remain in good graces.
Just to make a movement, she shot one arrow but the shield blocked its strike, making the crowd gasp. It was the first kill Archer had missed. As they closed in, the first strikes were made. The teams were evenly matched, with one opponent apiece so when a gladiator came striding towards Archer, she shot another arrow then dived out of the way, rolling over her head then got to her knees, shooting another arrow but the warrior avoided its flight. Now she was irritated.
No matter how many arrows she shot, he was too quick and too focused for them to land and he was steadily getting closer. With a snarl Archer lifted her bow high into the air, bending her back then released an arrow into the sky, causing some of the crowds to laugh at her wayward shot.
A shield slammed into Archer's body and she gasped as she was dropped to the floor, her body frozen in a daze as images suddenly rushed through her mind, voices screaming inside her head. She could see the rolling hills of her homeland and then the glistening spires of Camelot. She saw her brother's face for the first time as a grown man and she felt the lips of her scout on hers, the power of magic flowing through her veins as it warmed her body to the core. The voice of her father bellowed at her to get up whilst training after he had thrown her to the ground and not for the first time whilst her mother begged him to be gentle whilst Archer laughed and declared that she could take it.
She remembered everything.
When she saw the sword descending above her, she stiffened and was about to roll out the way when Ywain leaped forwards and thrust his blade to shield her, his stronger arm lifting their blades back and he was about to strike when an arrow shot down and buried deep into the top of the opponent's head.
The crowd gasped before thundering with applause, cheering at Archer's impressive shot as the gladiator fell to the ground. "You alright?" Archer nodded her head.
"Yes." He offered her a hand and hauled her to her feet, smirking.
"Nice shot." He said and Archer chuckled, pulling back another arrow then released the final shot, shooting a gladiator in his rear. The man jerked in pain and cried out, howling as Elyan took the distraction and laid waste to him, finishing him off with a final blow.
Laughter still rippled through the crowd at the amusing shot to which Archer merely lifted her bow in salute. She felt no pleasure from the success, merely wanted to return so that she could begin planning her escape. She knew who she was now and where she belonged, which meant there wasn't an army on earth who was going to stop her now.
"I know how to get out of here." She said to Lamorak who lifted his head. "And you are coming with me." He went to argue but the woman pulled back her hood, revealing her face and narrowed her eyes at him.
"I knew it!" Ywain crowed then actually laughed, leaning against the cell as he looked at the woman. "I knew you were a…"
"Silence." Lamorak hissed so the gladiator merely rolled his eyes. Gaheris blinked then laughed as well.
"You're actually quite fine looking. I thought you were going to be some manly oaf." She rolled her eyes.
"My name is Amaya." She introduced finally, giving Lamorak a smile. "And my brother is Sir Galahad of the Knights of the Round Table in Briton. That is where I am going and that is where you four are coming." She turned her head to glance back at Gaheris, whose tattoo was visible by the arm he leaned on. "And I can remove your tattoos."
"How? We have no knife to skin ourselves." Elyan asked with a frown, still in shock about the woman he saw. "But wait, you're the archer? You're the one with unequal skill with a bow?" She chuckled.
"You should meet Tristan." Tristan, her heart began to hammer in pain. It had been six months since she had been taken away and now it was going to take her a further three weeks to journey back. It was agonising to be away from him and she prayed to whomever was listening that the time would fly away before she could return to her family. "But I can remove them." She paused. "With magic." They stared at her so she slowly stepped forwards and held out her hands to Lamorak, who slowly gave her his arm.
The familiar warmth spread through her hands, tingling slightly as she adjusted to the sensation of her magic rising to the surface. It had been a while since she had used it. Still she concentrated, focussing on the tattoos and willed her magic to let them fade away like scars, as if draining the ink from the bottle. Lamorak watched in spell binding awe as her hands glowed slightly but they were warm on his skin and his tattoos, the brands that named him a slave, washed away. When she stepped back, they were all gone.
He turned and showed the other three men who blinked in shock. "You're a witch?" Elyan whispered then drew back slightly in fear.
"I am harmless." Amaya soothed gently. "My bow is more dangerous than my magic to you. I can offer you freedom, it is your choice whether or not you take it but I have grown rather fond of you all, so I should like to pay you all back for all the times you have protected and shielded me."
"I'll take it!" Elyan cried then leaped forwards, thrusting his arm through the bars and Amaya stepped forwards, placing her hand on his wrist and did the same for Elyan as she had for Lamorak. Elyan admired the now clean arm, the burden having been lifted made him feel free and giddier than usual. Now all that remained was Ywain and Gaheris. They glanced to one another before looking at Amaya.
"This is the longest life I have known, I do not know how to live another." Ywain said slowly, shifting uneasily on his feet. "I would not know where to go or what to do."
"Come with me." Amaya told him softly, stepping towards him. "Arthur is a good man and king, if you were to ask for his aid, he would give it to you." She slipped a hand through and caught his shoulder before he could draw back and Ywain was slightly startled by the soft contact she offered him. "You could start a new life in Briton, where freedom is the foundation of every rock and stone." Ywain looked away, unsure.
"Well, if you aren't going to accept then I damn well will." Gaheris snapped, pushing his arm through and Amaya walked over to him, touching his arm and removing the tattoos with her magic. Once she was done, Gaheris sighed. "Feels good to be free again." Finally Ywain made his decision. Wordlessly he offered Amaya his arm and she placed a hand on his bicep, smiling to him as she removed all evidence of his slavery from him.
"Now what?" Elyan asked, kicking at his door. "We're still locked in here." Amaya laughed, lifting her hood.
"Not for long." She thrust her palms outwards without warning and a gust of wind flew up around them, the locks sparking as Amaya forced the doors open. The men blinked in shock as Amaya breezed forwards, gracefully gliding her way towards the armoury. The others followed, slightly in a daze at the powerful woman they now regarded as she led them. "I would arm yourselves." Amaya murmured gently, taking a bow and quiver. "We may run into trouble as we have a long journey to make until we reach Briton, if you all so desire to go that far."
"I'll go." Lamorak told her quietly. "There is no other place I call home."
"Me too." Elyan piped up, attaching some leather armour to his chest. "Got no family to miss me so might as well settle somewhere with people I know. Are the woman good looking?"
"Depends on your tastes." Amaya answered simply, going over to the door. She glanced to the sleeping forms of the other gladiators and wished she could free them all but the moment they would be free, they would tear back her hood as they had threatened, see she was a woman and then she would be at their mercy, as her magic could not harm them, not even in her own defence.
Quietly she pressed a hand to the lock, shifting the mechanism until it clicked free and she swung the door open. "Hurry." She whispered then slipped away, Lamorak close behind her followed by the others.
Instantly Amaya inhaled the clear night air, letting the stars shine on her face as the moon greeted her with a smile. It had been a long time since she had seen the stars. She had forgotten how beautiful they were. Blinking herself awake, Amaya bean to creep forwards, keeping low as some armed guards walked through the streets then headed their way.
She hid behind a wagon with the others then frowned, trying to think of where they were. Close to the port, that's where. "We need to board a ship." Amaya whispered to them and Lamorak nodded.
"That way." He pointed towards the east and Amaya nodded her head, lips set in a firm line as she waited for the guards to pass before lifting her hood over her head then raced forwards, quietly shooting across the ground like one of her arrows.
Together they ran form the stadium then headed for the port which was only just beyond the sloping hill the town rested upon. Amaya kept an arrow steady, prepared to shoot at a moment's notice whilst her ears and eyes remained alert like a hawk, constantly listening for the sound of guards.
When they reached the port town, Amaya led them to hide behind a tavern then lowered her hood. "Wait here, I'll go and ask about passage." She said, handing her bow and quiver over to Elyan who held them for her. She looked at Ywain and Gaheris. "Will you come or will you stay? You are free men now so the decision is yours." Unused to having to make such tough decisions, they both looked at one another. They had never led their own life before and the thought of them living by their own means was slightly daunting. Although raised from infancy as a slave, everything had always been provided and they had followed orders every day of their lives. This was all too new for them.
"This Arthur of yours." Ywain said slowly. "Does he need any guards?" Amaya chuckled and shook her head.
"No, but he needs knights." They stared at her. "I shall let you think a little more, I shall be back as soon as I can." She told them gently then dashed away into the night, her cloak disappearing around the corner.
Amaya went down to the harbour and began to ask captains about their voyage and where their shipments were heading. She would smile coyly and lick her lips, drawing in their attention so that she practically drank the answers for her. None were going to Briton. They were all heading further east to Turkey, Egypt and Persia. The last ship, however, Amaya found was sailing to the south of Gaul. She asked how much passage would cost for her five companions, to which the captain leered at her.
"Well little lady, I'm a very lonely man." He said slowly, reaching out and tracing a finger down her cheek. "My wife is so far away and I need someone to keep me warm at night. I'm sure we could come to some…arrangement." Amaya arched her eyebrow.
"My companions shall work for their voyage." She began diplomatically. "Upon arrival, there will be a lady waiting for them and she shall pay you two hundred gold pieces and for boarding passage, I shall give you one hundred which I shall give to my companions to hand over to you." His eyes bulged at the sum and his jaw dropped.
"Deal." He snatched up the offer and spat on his hand, offering it to Amaya who shook it, hiding her grimace carefully. She returned quickly, lifting her hood to cover her face as she slipped into the alley.
"Well?"
"There is a boat going to Gaul." Amaya said to Ywain. "We can make our way across the land and then cross the Channel into Briton. He has agreed to let the five of us on, though I sold to him that we are five men and the rather pretty young lady who had struck the deal would not be accompanying you." She smirked at her cunning. "But your boarding fee is one hundred gold pieces." Their jaws dropped.
"We have nothing! How are we to pay such a sum?" Gaheris demanded. "You're mad, woman."
"Oh hush, I have it all under control." Amaya answered then rubbed her hands together, coaxing her magic to flow. Her hands glowed dimly and Amaya focused on the illusion she was casting. The purse of gold solidified in her hands and she locked the enchantment in place before letting her magic settle down again. Lifting her chin she tossed the gold to Lamorak who stared at it.
"How did you do that?"
"It is not real." She answered. "It is just an illusion. It will wear off soon if I do not keep the enchantment going so we had better hurry. They leave at dawn and it is not very far away." She turned her head to Ywain and Gaheris. "Have you made your decision?" They looked to one another then nodded at Amaya.
"We will follow you, Amaya. There is nothing left for us here or anywhere else in this world. We'll follow you and see where this new road takes us." Ywain said to her in a tender tone and she smiled softly to them.
"Well then, let's go."
The waves lapped against the side of the boat as the horizon spilled with colour as the dawn awakened. They would be arriving in Gaul any moment now. Five days on the sea had made the others, except for Lamorak, feel sick but Amaya always felt eerily soothed by watching the sea, its glittering depths a woven tapestry of secrets and age. It had been there a thousand years before and it would be here a thousand years to come.
She felt tired, the way a retired soldier did after years of endless battle. Visions plagued her mind and Amaya knew that there was still battles to come and she would have to find the strength from somewhere to lift up her arm and fight alongside Arthur.
Six months away, Guinevere would have had the baby by now. Amaya grimaced. If it was a son, she would have to tell Arthur of his wife's affair. Although he would not believe her by words, Amaya feared she may have to show him, even though she did not want to break his heart so cruelly.
Had Galahad and Maia married yet? She hoped they had otherwise she was going to box her brother's ears and direct them to marry before the day was out. Also, what of Gawain and Ragnell? Had she conceived a child yet? There were so many questions in Amaya's mind that she could not wait to answer. She wanted to be home, with Arluin and Demon, with Tristan.
Slowly her hand lifted to her lips and she brushed her fingers against them, imagining the tender embrace he was capable of and the ravaging claim he made on her mouth at other times. Most of all, she could not wait to run to his arms.
When Lamorak's slow but heavy footsteps reached her ears she glanced to the side, watching briefly as he leaned against the side of the ship beside her. "You are thinking of someone." He guessed and Amaya chuckled.
"Yes." Lamorak smirked.
"Is it a lover?"
"No." She answered truthfully. "But we are together." Lamorak frowned in confusion.
"How do you mean?" She shrugged.
"He was courting me and we fell for one another though neither of us have admitted it to each other." Amaya explained to him. "We were often together but he never asked that of me." A flicker of respect passed through Lamorak's eyes.
"He is a good man then."
"Yes. Though many are frightened of him." Amaya agreed with a sigh. "His name is Tristan, if you have heard of him."
"I have." Lamorak nodded his head. "I also heard of the Wolf Maiden of the Wall." She groaned aloud, tilting her head upwards.
"I hate those stories. They exaggerate everything." Lamorak chuckled as he shifted, turning to lean on one side so that he could regard her quietly. "But yes, that is who they named me." She answered for him, turning her head to regard him also. "Though not a word to the others mind."
"Do not fear." He assured her. "Not a whisper shall pass from me." Nodding her head appreciatively, Amaya looked towards the horizon then gasped, staring at the shadow of land which was swiftly approaching them. She was nearly home.
