Battle For Arohanui: Arohanui, #1

By Amanda van Vliet

In the magical kingdom of Arohanui, ruled by the wise and gentle Wolfhounds of the royal house of Kuri te Aroha, a dark force rises. The Queen's daughter, Bridie, commands the guard at the only passage into the kingdom, but as vigilant as she and her ladies are, evil finds its entry into their stronghold. They must forge unexpected alliances with the magical and unusual creatures of the kingdom if they are to defeat this evil.

The battle for Arohanui will be fierce, an age-old conflict between good and evil. From the mountains, across the plains, and to the shores of the lake, blood will be shed, and lives will be lost. They will rediscover their ancient bonds with the very land itself and learn that their greatest weapon lies within themselves. Great feats will be achieved, and things once thought mythical will again be seen upon the land. With the strength of their inner belief and their commitment to their Queen, they will learn to conquer the five-headed venene and perhaps even the Shedragon herself.

The evil that stalks this land, though, is far greater than the Shedragon. Bridie and her friends will discover they are merely pawns in a far greater battle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda van Vliet
• Release date: Jun 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227843227

Amanda van Vliet

Amanda van Vliet, an enchanting storyteller residing in rural Canterbury, New Zealand, conjures magic with every word she pens. Amanda's life with her Irish Wolfhounds infuses her writing with a unique authenticity and warmth. This profound connection between her real life and her storytelling brings unparalleled depth and sincerity to her work; inviting readers to embark on a journey of wonder and discovery, to lose themselves in worlds where magic is real and the power of love and friendship triumphs over all. Her stories are a testament to the boundless beauty of imagination and the enduring magic that lies within us all, they are not merely adventures but poignant explorations of the human experience, touching on themes of love, loss, and the indomitable spirit of hope.

Book preview

Chapter One

Bridie and Liffey arose before daybreak. The news they must bear to the Queen weighed heavily on their minds. Bridie wanted to get an early start as there were many miles of travel to reach the palace. Only she and Liffey would make the journey, Bridie did not want to pull too many ladies away from the guard of the gate. It was imperative now for them to increase their vigilance, once bitten, twice shy as the adage goes. As they made to take their leave, Verity spoke softly from her place by the ashes of the campfire.

I am truly sorry Bridie, the fault lies on my shoulders. Perhaps it should be I who takes this missive to the Queen.

No Verity, the responsibility is mine. My mother has charged me with keeping the gate and it was ultimately my decision to be swayed that lead to this tragedy, Bridie said as she rested a comforting paw on Verity’s shoulder.

But I was the one to persuade you, Verity insisted.

"But my dear-hearted friend it is I who should have said no. I will hear no more of this, you are not to blame for Autumn’s death and must not carry the guilt upon your shoulders." With that Bridie and Liffey took their leave, choosing to take the most direct route down the mountain and forego the trade path which winds its way from the gate to the palace.

Do you truly feel the weight of responsibility is entirely yours? Liffey asked, having waited until they were out of earshot of the camp before she spoke of the matter again with Bridie.

Yes, I do, Bridie sighed sadly. I knew better, I felt it deep in my being to be wrong. In spite of that, I allowed myself to be coaxed into permitting the knights entrance. My mother entrusted me with this duty. I have let her down and my actions cost a beautiful being her life.

Bridie’s eyes were full of regret and sorrow. Both she and Liffey fell silent after this anguished admission as they continued their wretched journey, each lost in their own personal misery.

As dawn broke over Arohanui it became obvious the day would be as grey and sombre as the mood which lay upon it. As the two friends travelled on in the dim light of the overcast day they were overcome by an eerie feeling. The darkness of the day was oppressive and there was a stillness to the air which lent

itself to the feeling of impending doom. The mountains seemed larger than ever and loomed over the pair as they continued their way down from the foothills to the flat lands of the plains.

They did not have many miles more to travel to the palace when they entered a meadow of shoulder high grasses. The seed heads stood unusually still, not a breath of wind to disturb them. Bridie and Liffey stopped abruptly. Just to their right was a little eddy of movement in the grasses, the whisper of a rustle caught their ears.

Something rushed out of the grasses and they were set upon, it was biting furiously at their legs. Just as Bridie was about to bite back at the attacker, she recognised the ragged little rapscallion and picked him up by his scruff.

Emmett you little menace! Liffey gasped in exasperation at her little brother. What are you doing so far from Lady Rose Glynanny’s care? Have you given her the slip again?

Lady Rose was the palace governess with many of the royal youngsters under her care. She was usually very effective at her job but Emmett was a law unto himself.

I am hunting wolves Liffey. I am Lord Emmet Wolfslayer of the High Court and I shall slay a wolf a day until there are no more wolves to terrorise the goats.

I will terrorise you if you are not careful you brat! Now is not the time to be out here without the protection of your Nanny. Evil is afoot in the land and you may just find yourself faced with a real wolf if you are not careful.

As if Liffey’s words held a portent the sound of a thousand wings was again whispering across Arohanui. The trio turned to look back into the foothills where they saw to their dismay a large silver cloud rising above the land. As they stared in horror, through the centre of the liquid silver cloud two rainbows rose into the heavens. Bridie, who still held Emmett by his scruff unceremoniously dropped him to the ground. Her horror filled words, 'Not again', still rang in the air as they raced as one towards the palace.

Even arriving at the palace out of breath and in such dire circumstances Bridie was as always struck by the beauty of the edifice. Sculpted by nature it grew out of the mountainside, the pink and white of its stone face truly dazzling to the eye even in this strange half-light. There was a hush upon the city and the guards at the palace gates leapt forth to challenge them as they approached.

I beg your pardon, Princess, the older of the two guards apologised as he bowed his head. Everyone is on edge M’lady.

No harm done sir. I would rather you challenge me than some evil gains access to the palace unnoticed. With that said Bridie made her way to Court and to her mother’s company where she would make her confession.

Master Emmett, you young scoundrel! You have had your mother quite out of her mind with worry over your whereabouts, Lady Rose Glynanny scolded. She had rushed over to chastise him as soon as they entered the palace, grabbing his ear she had marched him off to the nursery.

I have a feeling that will not be the end of the matter, Bridie said, looking at Liffey and raising her eyebrows on a wry smile. She fell silent now as she went over the previous day’s events in her mind, she wanted to have everything in order before she spoke with her mother. She did not wish to omit a thing in her report.

Chapter Two

Everything had begun to go wrong it seemed as she and several of her friends had made their way back to the camp at the gateway to Arohanui. They had been to their favourite watering hole to wash and refresh themselves. Verity sang while Liffey and Sapphire chatted happily as they contentedly ambled along beside Bridie.

The ladies of the gate always left the camp, situated at the top end of Waharoa Valley, in small groups so there was always a guard at the entrance to the kingdom. No one who wished to do harm in the kingdom had ever tried to enter, but a vigilant watch was kept anyway.

So, Boo, I have heard whispers that your brother Quinn is thinking of joining the Knights of the ’Stupid’ Order, Liffey said using Bridie’s childhood name. Bridie rolled her eyes and sighed.

Liffey! Did you have to spoil such a beautiful morning? He is such an eijit! He is going to call himself ’Sir Quinn the Mighty’

Hahaha ... Sir Quinn the Mighty ... hahahaha. Might he be a moron? Liffey laughed. Bridie giggled with her before becoming serious once more.

He has no idea what he is doing, you know. He just sees the glamour of being a knight and he has not stopped to think about what their great mission in life is.

You mean how they want to banish all of the goats? Verity asked as she paused mid-song.

Yes, Verity I do mean how they wish to banish all the goats. Why can they not see that it was banishing the goats from Taumaha which brought such desolation down upon them? Bridie was now onto her favourite subject.

Taumaha had become a forbidding place under the reign of King Bruce, dark and frightening where the howl of wolves and coyotes could be heard echoing in the dry, parched hills. Snakes slithered through arid desert sands and it was said dragons slept under the hills, waiting to fly the night skies once more. Food was not abundant in Taumaha as it was in Arohanui and it was as if joy had forsaken that land.

Without the magic of the goats Taumaha had become barren and its very soul blackened. King Bruce and his subjects blamed the darkness and barrenness on the goats, but they did not understand. To banish the goats was to forsake all that was good in this world, and to align oneself with death and destruction.

It was only the magic of the goats which spilt over into Agisumlond, from Arohanui, that kept it from the same fate as Taumaha. The knights under instruction from the King looked to banish the goats from their last bastion, Arohanui. If the knights should succeed then dark times should befall all the creatures of these lands. The wolves and other such creatures would rule the land and no one would be safe. And if the stories told of the dragons were true, then a terror greater than all others combined would rain down upon them and all should flee or fall in its path. Never could a future so desolate be foreseen.

They will not banish the goats from Arohanui. They will walk over my cold dead body before that happens. Bridie said. Sapphire sighed ... she had heard it all before.

Sorry, I am boring you Saffy? Bridie asked scornfully. Perhaps you will not be so bored when you are running from packs of wolves and trying to put dragon flames out in your beautiful hair.

"Well, you do go on and on about it, Bridie, and we have never seen a wolf here in Arohanui. And dragons are just kids’ stories."

Well, I for one do not wish to ever find out if they are just kids’ stories. I would rather try and keep Arohanui as it is.

Before it could descend into a full-blown debate their conversation was interrupted by a scuttling noise in the trees alongside the pathway. With a quick glance at Liffey, Bridie bounded off into the woods, her friends close on her tail. As their eyes adjusted to the shadows, they saw a grey figure leaping away in front of them. They picked up their pace and separated to surround the interloper. As they all slid to a halt the intruder lowered her head and looked furtively from side to side at them, muttering under her breath.

Goat lovers! She spat. Protectors of those cloven-hoofed devils.

It is just Mad Maisey Mayhem, Sapphire scoffed.

What are you doing here Maisey? Liffey asked, poking at her Are you playing mole for the knights? Well?

I am just hunting for food, Maisey whined as her eye twitched. "You cannot stop me from living here you know. I can live wherever I like. And I like to live far away from those stinking goat friends of yours. Dirty, smelly, nasty creatures."

Bridie looked sadly upon the poor wretched hound, her kind heart taking pity on Maisey, she called to her friends to come away.

Leave her be. She is quite mad. What trouble can she cause?

Mad Maisey Mayhem had long lived deep in the woods, as far away from the goats as she could get without leaving the protection of Arohanui. As a youngster her parents had fallen upon hard times and had lived for a while under a bridge. Poor Maisey had been driven eye-twitchingly insane by the constant tapping of goat hooves on the bridge above her, as they frolicked and played.

As she grew and she bore witness to the charmed life of the goats, she had compared it to her own life of hardship and her bitterness towards the goats had grown, as had her insanity. The ladies stepped aside and Mad Maisey darted away, zigging and zagging, deep into the woods at an alarming pace.

If she is not careful, she will run into one of those trees, observed Verity in her musical voice.

Might knock some sense into her, Liffey said matter-of-factly.

Or it might just get her other eye to twitching, Sapphire snorted.

Bridie and her friends settled back into to the camp at the gate. The Ladies who had stayed on to watch over the gate had nothing to report and the next group departed for their turn taking their ablutions. Bridie told them to keep an eye out for Mad Maisey, though she thought she would now be long gone, deep into the woods.

Talk turned to idle gossip. Bridie stood and wandered through the trees towards the gate, talk of what was happening in Court held no interest for her. It mattered not who was arguing with whom or who was stepping out with whom, the protection of Arohanui and the goats was her only interest.

From the cover of the shadows, she looked through the gap between the mountains which held the kingdom safe within their embrace. She could not tell why, but something had her feeling unsettled. Perhaps it was their run-in with Mad Maisey earlier, but Bridie felt uneasy. Listening carefully, she was sure she could hear voices which were not those of her friends. Just as she became convinced of someone’s approach, she saw the tip of a snout appear along the pathway.

Who goes there? she demanded. The snout stopped but was joined by more snouts, definitely wolfhound snouts.

I said who goes there? Show yourselves! she demanded again

How about you show yourself, the snout said.

Pardon! she said, somewhat affronted by the snout’s audacity.

You ... Show ... Your ... Self! the snout replied rudely.

I do not need to show myself. I am entitled to be here, you are not! Show yourself! Bridie demanded once more.

Entitled, are you? I am guessing I am talking with the legendary Princess Bridie then, the snout replied his tone becoming syrupy. Suddenly the snout became a knight and not just any knight. It became in fact Sir Dumfrees of the Agisum Order.

I see you there M’lady. Why do you not just come out so we can talk? he said winningly.

I do not see we have anything to talk about sir. You have no business here, Bridie said as she strode forth.

But M’lady, surely you would not deny me a chance to look upon your beauty, it is after all legendary, Sir Dumfrees said in a voice that would charm the birds from the trees.

So too is your reputation as a ladies’ man, Sir Dumfrees, Bridie sighed.

Me? A ladies’ man? My fair lady I think you have me mistaken for someone else, Sir Dumfrees said as he feigned innocence.

I hear told you have a lady in every village sir. I do not think I am mistaken, Bridie said, refusing to be wooed by his charm.

You cut me M’lady. I wish only to speak with you and to be graced for a little while by your charms. Sir Dumfrees was not one to give up on a challenge easily.

"Or do you wish to distract me while your pack of rats’ scuttles past my guard. Halt! You rats! Do not take a step further," Bridie ordered as the knights started to walk further into Arohanui.

Princess. Surely you would not deny my men rest and respite? We hear tell of a lake of mirrors not far from here where we might refresh ourselves. Come, will you not show us your hospitality and let us rest? the knight wheedled.

Surely it would do no harm for them to just refresh themselves at the lake, Bridie. Verity’s voice behind her startled Bridie. She had not heard her friends come up behind her and she turned and scowled at Verity.

Lady it would do you good to remember who these vagabonds are and what is their intent, Bridie said. She loved Verity like a sister but there were times, like now, when her innocence was frustrating.

I am sure Sir Dumfrees and his knights would not be so dishonourable as to exploit your kindness, Verity gently insisted.

Your friend is right M’lady we would never take advantage of such kindness shown.

As Bridie turned to look back at Sir Dumfrees she caught a fleeting glimpse of the glance Verity gave to one of the knights. ’So that is the way of it,’ Bridie thought as she tried to catch to whom the look was given. Near the back of the group a young knight was shyly looking back at Verity. It was Sir Lennox Dragonheart no less. Born with the heart of a dragon on his chest, he had yet to live up to the sign and show any true courage. This would need watching closely, Bridie thought. A romance between one of her trusted ladies and one of the knights could spell disaster for the realm.

Well, M’lady may we pass? Sir Dumfrees asked, breaking into her thoughts.

Bridie, perhaps a little diplomacy might go a long way, you never know what will grow out of a kind deed, Liffey whispered softly in Bridie’s ear. Bridie raised her eyebrows but considered Liffey’s comment.

We shall escort you to the lake where you can refresh yourselves but you must then leave our lands, Bridie said. You are not welcome here, nor will you ever be until you change your villainous ways.

Not quite the way I would have worded it but a good deed nonetheless, Liffey sighed. She knew Bridie to be one of the kindest, most generous and caring hounds she had the pleasure of calling friend. Where the knights were concerned, though, and Sir Dumfrees in particular, she was cool and aloof never giving much of herself away. It always left Liffey wondering if there were not more to Bridie’s dislike of Dumfrees than just his attitude towards the goats.

Chapter Three

Sir Dumfrees continued to try and charm Bridie as they walked to the lake. Little black birds whose tails opened and shut like snowy white fans flitted around their heads, but this did not distract him from his chatter. Liffey had schooled Bridie to mind her manners and try to persuade Dumfrees that he was mistaken in his belief the goats were the root of all evil. Failing that she suggested Bridie try to finagle some information from him about his true intentions. Bridie’s mind was now so preoccupied with how to finagle information that she was not paying much attention to what Dumfrees was saying. Until that is, he mentioned the upcoming feast in honour of Koati, Goddess of Goats.

What did you say? she demanded.

I said M’lady, you will have to let us into the kingdom on the day of the dual moons as we are to attend the feast your mother is holding, Dumfrees replied

You cannot come to the feast in honour of Koati, Bridie said

I beg to differ M’lady. Your mother the Queen has extended an invitation to the Knights of the Agisum Order and I have accepted, he replied with a superior tone.

The feast is in honour of the Goddess of Goats, and you wish to attend? Bridie asked, completely perplexed as to the knights’ intentions.

A feast is a feast M’lady. And of course, it will allow me to spend more time in your charming company, said Dumfrees, whose tone had regained all its syrupy charm.

I shall not be at the feast and neither shall you. I shall talk sense to my mother, Bridie said with finality.

You shall talk sense to the Queen? Ha, now that I should like to see, Dumfrees