Escape from the Barrki.

By Catrina Faye

The city is already lost, the people dead or dying from the dreaded Brakki's deadly onslaught. Saddened he walks amongst the devastation, a sense of hopelessness overwhelming him. However he is able to save one of his people, a young woman, Liras. Together they escape Galgaran through an underground tunnel. They decide to travel to the beachside town of Baray which is hundreds of days walk away. Walter finds new strength after a wild dog attack that almost kills him. Although they have trouble in almost every community along the way from friend and foe alike, The Skymen of Lofthavan, Karrif at Luka oasis, Giants of Bargal and even Gordon his childhood friend is looking for him in Jemin, they do have many happy adventures on their travels.
Will they make it to Baray the peaceful beachside community? Read on to find out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catrina Faye
• Release date: May 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005869137

Catrina Faye

With the SILLY SEASON over and done. It’s back to the grind.I am a multi genera Author who writes stories in many differing categories for people of all ages. New stories coming!I am back at my desktop now creating new stories for somebody like you to enjoy.If you haven’t begun reading my books yet, please, treat yourself to a free download of my previously published titles.Select me as you’re 'FAVOURITE' in settings and follow me to be given a heads up on new publications as they appear on eBook stores worldwide.If you have enjoyed one of my books, please, tell your friends, tell the world. ?⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ you have my permission to hit the stars, leave reviews.

Book preview

Escape From The Barrki.

by Catrina Faye.

COPYRIGHT:

This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of, Catrina Faye.

DISCLAIMER:

The following work is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person living or deceased or any location is completely coincidental.

Dedication Page.

Gregory Bryans, a great friend,

Dale Davidson, a great listener,

John Richards, thanks for the parties,

and last but not least,

Anthony Peacey, the encourager.

About the Author.

Catrina Faye completed a two year creative writing course in 2000. Catrina has written for magazines and has had several short stories and novels published. Catrina lives in Australia with her two pet birds surrounded by her permaculture garden.

I enjoy writing and hope that you find some pleasure in reading my stories. If you have enjoyed this book you may also enjoy my other books available on most eBook stores. I am currently working on more stories and hope to have another ready for publishing soon.

Prologue:

Galgaran, poor Galgaran, she was a city of beauty, education, of light hearted people, now she was gone. The attack was quick and well planned, very few people escaped the dreaded Barrki rage, they killed, looted and burned as they went throughout the city. Walter was in his tower asleep when it began. He awoke and walked over to his window to watch the harvest festival parade. But instead he witnessed the deadly swarm of invaders reeking havoc upon his precious city. There was nothing that the old campaigner could do but watch his fair Galgaran burn. Should he just walk amongst the mayhem and die with his people, or use the little remaining time to escape? Still undecided he went down the steps to his front door and paused. Then taking his heavy coat off the peg, he gathered his staff, knife and flint. Habits, years of going through that door had created habits, he didn't even notice that he had picked up the long knife. As he exited to the street he realised he was armed, he laughed at himself, huh, what could one old man do against thousands. My time has come and gone and what do I care now. Fifty years ago things would have been different and even twenty years ago he had strength, but now he was a frail old man. Fifty years ago Walter had carved out this city from the forest and protected it from any attack. He had formed armies and taken the fight to the attacker, won, and created an empire. Now though he was tired, tired of life, worn thin and tired from age. Once a commanding giant now a recluse as the daily city duties were done by a council. He wandered aimlessly around his burning city in grief as it burned down.

His wandering through chaos brought him to the main square where a lone teen stood defending herself in her ball gown, she swung a picked up sword back and forth at the laughing soldiers. These three Barrki were tormenting her before they killed her or worse. A rage came to Walter at this ugly sight and as he ran toward the fight drawing out his long knife, he didn't really care what happened, he may as well die in battle, after all it was battle that had created his empire. He closed in quickly on the Barrki, who distracted by their own nasty pleasures, didn't see him until the first man lay bleeding to death from Walter's blade. The quick slash to the throat had dropped him to the ground and from there his last vision was of his comrades in arms dying from Walter's raging onslaught. The big man gave them no quarter, slashing bloody death was all that was good enough for them.

For some reason this girl was to be his saving grace, no army could ever save the empire it was completely over-run, but this young woman could possibly be saved. He led her through the well known back streets of his city, through to a secret underground escape passage that in the passing of time had been left, forgotten. How many years had passed since this building was the seat of power for Galgaran. The girl clip clopped along behind him teetering on platform shoes, her beautiful gala gown now soiled with blood and soot. Walter's decision to save her was already beginning to annoy him. Why had he decided to involve himself? He could have just fought it out until the invaders had overcome him and killed his ageing carcass. But he had saved her, and so he must continue with his unplanned escape. They entered the building finding only the dead in residence, there would be no friendly offers of tea and cake today. Walter stripped the clothing from a boy about the right size and told, what is her name, Liras, she said, as she protested swapping the dirty bundle of clothing for her precious shimmering green silk. But Liras did as she was told while pleading for Walter to save her family. Walter knew that it was to late to save anyone else, he had been asleep before the attack and in his isolated tower hadn't seen nor heard a thing until the Barrki invasion was well underway. His city was ransacked and almost completely destroyed by the time he had emerged from his slumber.

While Liras changed her clothes, Walter scavenged about for any supplies he could find. There wasn't much left to gather, a few days supply of food and a full water skin. As angry voices came from the street outside, they entered the passageway in haste and locked the secret doorway to the world outside behind them. The narrow passageway was long, twisting and dark with only a little light shining in from the stormwater grates above. Eventually the tight dark tunnel ended a mile from the city in a swamp. From here there was only one way to go, West, this route could take them through to the mountains and from there hopefully, to the safety of Baray.

After two days hiking they came to a lake, here they rested hoping to regain some energy. The old man sat down at the lakes edge, taking in the beauty of this place, once before he had sat here, but that was a different time, his now departed wife had been with him then, on their honeymoon. How long ago was that, years ago, everything was years ago, why had he lived while most people close to him had died. He reflected upon that long ago wonderful week, perhaps with just a slip of the knife he could return there. The shock and trauma of the Barrki attack and the aftermath played upon his mind. The knife seemingly had a will of it's own as it stealthy crept up towards his wrist. His fogged mind looked on with disinterest. Just before the moment of no return, a quiet voice spoke to him and a soft gentle hand touched his shoulder.

Walter, dinner is ready if you're finished bathing.

It was her the girl, what was her name, Liras, are yes, Liras the saved one, he was the saviour, but who was left to save him, nobody they were all dead.

Come on Walter, come over to the fire, eat, warm up.

The girl again, but something in her plain mannerisms seemed to speak to him, a gentle softness that was a deep, long ago memory. He stood up and put the knife away, there would be plenty of time for that later after the girl was safe.

Chapter One ... One Tough Hill.

Again Liras heaved, this time with all of the small amount of strength that she had remaining.

'Just a little way up the mountain path.' 'Beyond that ridge.' ' A little further on past the crowning of the next hill.'

The words the old man had said, five tortious miles and a whole week ago, drove her to rage, and she pulled the heavily laden stretcher over the rock that it's pole was lodged upon. She dragged the big heavy old man to a shady place that held the remains of a camp fire and a rocky outcrop to sit upon. Someone had camped here in the past. In the fire pit the coals and ashes had quite a significant coating of dust and debris. An old fire, perhaps a month old, the old man had taught her enough bushcraft to know that. So Liras felt it to be safe enough for them to stay the night. She had kept an eye on the back trail and saw no one, they were probably all dead, few would have escaped the carnage wrought by the Barrki that dreadful day weeks before. She cleared out the pit and set a new fire, she had to make camp and set out the snares, then cook yesterdays catch, a young male bustard.

This was indeed the most pleasant camp site this week. Though the mountains were beautiful, the views spectacular, the majority of their camp sites had been just makeshift trail side niches reached at the end of exhausting days. From her perch upon the ledge she could see forever, a two hundred and ten degree view to the past, or future. Below was a great valley that held within it a thousand shades of green. The slight tinge of autumn colour amongst the green jogged her back to reality, the cold frost of night would descend soon enough without her daydreaming. Liras thanked the ancestors when she found the small hand carved water cistern within a cleft just to the left of the campsite. A small seeping spring from the cliff keeping it full. She even had time to cast a pot from some clay she found. Liras had never made a pot before, so she plastered a round stone with thick grease and packed clay around it then placed it in the fire. It worked, surprising her. So with all the preparation done she set about caring for the old man. She picked up the strange arrow and looked at the unique flights, puzzled, ho hum, still