A sob came from a corner of the room.
‘We’re Army of Pyre,’ he called out. ‘If you’re civilians, you’re safe.’
‘I told you it wasn’t those Sanang bastards,’ a voice whispered.
‘Light the candle,’ Lennox said.
There was a fumbling sound, then a match was lit. Lennox shielded his eyes as the match was put to the wick of a candle set onto a table. Several Kellach children were huddling together in the corner of the room, their faces and clothes filthy.
Lennox lowered his crossbow. ‘Is there anyone else in this apartment?’
One of the girls shook her head. ‘No, mister.’
‘Where are your parents?’ said Carrie.
‘Some are dead; others were taken by the Sanang.’
‘And the block?’ said Lennox. ‘Are the other apartments occupied?’
‘There are a few folk,’ said the girl. ‘Old folk and bairns.’
‘Alright,’ Lennox said. ‘You lot are going upstairs to join them.’ He turned to Denny and Carrie. ‘The squad will take this apartment, and the civilians can have the upper levels. Denny, go and fetch the others.’
‘Aye, boss,’ he said, and hurried off.
Lennox took off his helmet and sat at the table, while the children stared at him.
‘Do you have any food, please?’ said a boy.
Lennox said nothing. He had rations in the wagon that would last the squad ten days or so, and knew that he couldn’t give it all away to the hungry children of the occupied town, yet his pity was roused by the sight of the small group crouching before him. Bedraggled and thin, their sunken and wary eyes bore witness to the suffering they had endured.
Libby walked in carrying a lantern, which she fixed to a wall, lightening up the room. There were a few scattered pieces of broken furniture, and a row of blankets stretched out by a wall.
‘Denny told us about the children,’ Libby said. ‘Look at the state of them. What are we going to do with them?’
‘We’re moving them upstairs,’ Lennox said.
‘Can I ask something, mister?’ said the young girl.
‘Aye.’
‘If the Sanang come back, will you and your soldiers stop them from going upstairs?’
‘Aye, you’ll be safe.’
The girl stood. ‘Come on, then,’ she said to the other children. ‘They won’t hurt you; they’re Kellach Brigdomin like us.’
Lennox nodded to Carrie. ‘Escort them upstairs, then come back and tell me who’s in the rest of the block.’
‘Aye, boss.’ She waited for the children to gather up their blankets, then walked them to the door and out of the room.
Libby glanced at Lennox. ‘You alright?’
He shook his head, and gazed at her. ‘What have we come back to?’
The rainstorm continued throughout the night. The squad brought in their supplies and piled them onto the floor of the apartment. They dragged the wagon through the torrential rain to a yard at the rear of the block, then went back inside and barred the doors. Lennox sat by a window all night, watching the street outside through the cracks in the shutters, the lantern turned down low, while Libby slept in the seat next to him, her head resting on the table. Around midnight, by Lennox’s reckoning, more soldiers appeared on the street: Army of Pyre units, patrolling and securing the Kellach district. Several bands of unhappy Sanang were escorted past the tenement, evicted by the newly arrived soldiers. A few scuffles broke out, but the heavily armoured Kellach kept order among the drunk and half-dressed Sanang.
The rain cleared as the sun rose over the eastern horizon. A wind was blowing from the west, scattering the grey clouds in the direction of Anamindhari.
‘Here,’ said Cain, handing Lennox a small, clay pipe.
Lennox stretched his arms and took it. Libby was still sleeping by his side, curled up on the chair with a moth-eaten blanket covering her. Lennox sniffed the pipe.
‘Keenweed,’ Cain said. ‘I noticed you’d been up all night. Got it from the squad next door.’
Lennox took a draw, and the aching exhaustion lifted from his limbs. He took another, and felt ready for anything.
‘Thanks,’ he said, handing it back. ‘I guess I should go and find an officer from the regiment and report.’
Cain snorted. ‘They’re probably all lost.’
‘Somebody organised patrols last night. They threw the Sanang out of the district and set up roadblocks. There’s one out there now.’
Cain leaned over to the shutters and peered out. ‘Right enough. I’m amazed that anyone in command got their shit together. It was fucking anarchy last night.’
Lennox nudged Libby. She woke, smiled, leaned forward for a kiss then noticed Cain standing by the window. She flushed and looked away.
‘Morning,’ said Lennox.
She glanced around the room, her eyes bleary.
‘I’m going to get washed, then head down to the harbour to look for our officers,’ he said. ‘I’ll take Cain. You’ll be in command.’
She nodded.
He kissed her, not caring what Cain thought, then grabbed his crossbow from the table and walked through the apartment to the back door of the block. Loryn was on duty, guarding the barred entrance. She lifted the bar for Lennox as he approached.
‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ he said, pushing open the door.
He stepped out into the sunshine and took a long breath, then gagged on the smell. A sickly, rotten odour had fallen over the town, re-appeared after the heavy rain had suppressed it overnight. He slung the crossbow over his back and made for the outhouse. Tenements ringed the yard, and he glanced up at the jagged glass and broken shutters that marked the walls. A few faces peered down at him as he walked. He entered the outhouse and relieved himself, then washed in the rain overflow tank that sat in the yard. He heard a sound.
He pulled his head from the water and turned.
‘Good morning, Lennox,’ said Sable.
He stared at the Holdings agent, his mouth falling open.
‘You do remember me, then,’ she said, smiling at him.
‘Aye, ma’am.’
‘And you’re a squad leader now, I see.’
Lennox nodded, He pulled his tunic back over his head and glanced around. Apart from him and Sable, the yard was deserted.
‘You’re wondering what I’m doing here,’ she said, lighting a cigarette. ‘Is it not obvious?’
‘No, ma’am.’
‘I’ve been looking for you. You weren’t the easiest to find, in fact it’s taken me all night to locate you. I have a proposition to make. Actually, it’s an order and you have no choice, but let’s call it a proposition. The Lord Protector has asked me to carry out a task for him, and has given me free rein to assemble a team to assist me.’
He frowned.
‘The task is a difficult one,’ she said, ‘and I’ve been thinking about how best to carry it out. There is one thing which would help, I feel. Do you want to know what that is?’
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out, her eyes holding him transfixed.
She smiled. ‘It’s you. I want you, fire mage.’
He stepped back, his hand grasping onto the side of the water tank. ‘You know?’
‘I’ve known since I saw you in Silverstream. At the time, I assumed you were there to burn the town to the ground, and it was only later that I realised that no record of any fire mage by the name of Lennox exists within the Army of Pyre. Imagine my surprise.’
‘You’re a vision mage?’
She nodded. ‘Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone else your secret. Yet.’
He swallowed. ‘Why not?’
‘A few reasons. I’m curious as to why you would keep it quiet, when the life of a fire mage in the army is far more comfortable than that of a squad leader. Also, the task we are undertaking is a secret one, so there’s no harm in keeping your powers hidden, at least until it’s been carried out. After that, if we’re
successful, then I will see that you are suitably rewarded, and your rank changed to that of an officer, as befits your abilities.’
‘I need some time,’ he said. ‘I need to think about all this.’
‘Sorry, but this is not a matter for debate. You and your squad are now assigned to my personal command, effective immediately. I’ve already cleared the paperwork at your regimental headquarters down by the harbour. You are in violation of your code of conduct, Lennox, and have been since the day you realised you had mage powers. If I wanted to, I could ensure that the full weight of army discipline falls upon you. Do you know the punishments for fire mages that refuse duty?’
‘I…’
‘I don’t want to hear it,’ she said. ‘What I want is for you and your squad to report to my office in the harbour in one hour’s time. Bring your full kit; you and your squad will be staying there until the task has been completed.’
‘What will I tell them?’
‘Whatever you want, squad leader. I assume you’ve been keeping this a secret from everyone, including the girl that you’ve been seeing? Libby is her name, isn’t it?’
He lowered his gaze. ‘Aye.’
‘The army would have benefited greatly from your powers,’ she said. ‘You’ve let us all down, Lennox. Today, you can start making amends. Don’t be late.’
Sable turned and strode off through the yard, leaving through a narrow alley. Lennox blinked. What had just happened? His secret, nursed so close to his heart for so many years, had been torn from him by a mind-reader. He picked up his crossbow and walked to the back door of the tenement block.
‘Well, boss,’ said Leisha, ‘you’ve gathered us all. What is it?’
Lennox glanced around the room at his squad. It had taken ten minutes to get them all assembled with their gear, amid hungry protests. Some were still stuffing bread into their mouths as they waited for him to speak.
‘We’ve been re-assigned.’
‘Aye?’ said Cain. ‘To where?’
‘The harbour.’
‘More training on boats?’ said Carrie, frowning. ‘Brilliant.’
‘We’re going to be staying down there,’ Lennox said. ‘We’ve been given a task.’
‘Doing what?’ said Leisha.
‘No idea, yet. Guess we’ll find out. I want everyone outside on the street in two minutes, with all your gear. Libby, stay here a moment.’
The squad dispersed, Libby remaining where she sat. She waited until everyone else had gone, then leaned forward.
‘What’s going on?’ she said. ‘When did we receive new orders?’
‘Do you remember that Holdings mage?’
‘What, the one that we saw riding by yesterday?’
‘Aye. She’s selected our squad to take part in something.’
‘Us? Why?’
He paused, gazing at her.
‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ she said. ‘You’re worrying me.’
‘She picked us because of me.’
‘You?’ Libby’s eyes narrowed.
‘Aye. Listen, you’re not going to be happy when I tell you this…’
‘Just shut up and tell me.’
‘Shit,’ he muttered.
‘Tell me!’
He looked her in the eye. ‘I’m a fire mage.’
Her arm flashed out and he felt the force of her palm strike his cheek. ‘You what?’
He said nothing, his hand holding his slapped face.
‘We’ve known each other since we were four, Lennox. I thought we had no secrets. You must have known for years. You’re a fucking Mage of Pyre.’
She collapsed into her chair, her head in her hands.
‘It was a secret I was never going to tell anyone,’ he said. ‘Not you, not anyone. I don’t want to be a mage, I never have. When I first found out, I was scared shitless that I was going to be taken away from the squad, that I’d never see you, or Cain, or Darine again, and I couldn’t face it, so I ignored it, pretended it didn’t happen. But the Holdings mage, she knew. She looked into my eyes and she knew.’
‘Rainsby?’ said Libby, her voice muffled by tears. ‘Was that you? Did you save us?’
His mouth dried up.
‘Answer me!’
‘Aye. That was me.’
Libby stood and, without looking at him, picked up her gear and strode from the room. Lennox remained where he was, his limbs frozen. He didn’t know if Libby would ever forgive him, but he was relieved that, finally, someone he cared about knew the truth. His life was now in the hands of Sable.
Chapter 15
Two Gins Too Many
Inner Sea – 21st Day, Second Third Spring 525
‘Aim along the sights,’ said Calder, the sea wind blowing through his long hair, ‘take a normal breath, then squeeze.’
Two bolts shot out. Belinda’s struck the target, a crudely shaped lump of wood sitting on the deck, while Thorn’s whistled over the side of the ship, disappearing into the swelling waters. Calder scratched his head.
‘Good shot, Belinda. Thorn, that was better, but you need to keep your shoulder higher.’
‘Can you show me?’ she said.
Calder walked over to her. He stretched his arms round her, positioning her hands on the stock of the crossbow, and adjusting her shoulder.
‘Like that,’ he said, his face an inch from hers.
‘Thanks, Calder,’ said Thorn.
The Kellach man grunted and stepped back. ‘Right. Again.’
Thorn and Belinda walked back to where a bucket of bolts rested by the base of the mast.
‘Oh, Calder, please help me,’ whispered Belinda. ‘Oh, Calder, you’re so strong and manly.’
Thorn giggled, which set off Belinda, and the two of them laughed until tears started to roll down their cheeks.
‘Get a move on,’ called Calder from where he was standing.
Over by the deck’s railing, Karalyn was watching, a frown on her face. Bracken stood a few yards from her, looking equally miserable. Thorn didn’t care. The voyage had been the most fun she had ever had. The weather had been beautiful throughout the twelve days of sailing, and she had spent most of her sunlight hours up on deck. On their first day, she had seen Calder give Belinda a training session, and after an hour had asked if she could join in. She had been fairly hopeless at many of the exercises that Calder had put them through, but she had enjoyed herself so much that she didn’t mind.
‘Eyes on the target,’ said Calder.
‘Yes, Mister Calder, sir,’ Thorn said, raising the crossbow to her eye-level.
‘Shoulder higher, Thorn.’
‘Yes, Calder.’
‘Aim. Loose.’
Thorn pulled the trigger and felt the butt of the crossbow dig into her shoulder as the bolt flew away. Belinda’s thwacked into the centre of the target, right next to her previous effort, while Thorn’s glanced off the top of the target, twisted through the air, and fell into the sea.
Thorn raised her arms in triumph and began dancing.
‘Did you see that?’ she crowed. ‘I hit it!’
‘Aye,’ said Calder, rolling his eyes. ‘Well done.’
She beamed at him and he smiled back. She could tell that he found her attractive, but he had behaved like a perfect gentleman throughout the voyage, never once taking advantage of the situations she had repeatedly put him in. She liked him all the more for it.
‘Bracken,’ he said, glancing at her. ‘Do you want a turn?’
‘No,’ she muttered, her scowl deepening.
Calder shrugged, then glanced at the western sky, where the sun was lowering.
‘Well, girls,’ he said, approaching Thorn and Belinda. ‘That’s time up for today.’
‘But this is our last day on board,’ said Thorn, ‘and I still haven’t got the hang of swinging a sword properly.’
‘That might take longer than twelve days,’ he said, ‘but you know the basics; enough so you can practise on your own.’
‘It won’t be the same without you training us. Perhaps we could continue our lessons in Rainsby?’
‘You never know. Right, let’s get everything packed up for the day. We all need to be clean and smartly dressed for dinner with the captain this evening.’
‘I can’t wait,’ said Belinda. ‘A proper, civilised dinner party.’
‘I know,’ said Thorn. ‘What will you be wearing?’
Belinda frowned. ‘I don’t think I packed any dresses. Not anything fancy, anyway.’
Thorn put her hand on Belinda’s arm. ‘You can come with me. We can get ready together. I have a few spare dresses that you can choose from; we’re about the same size.’
‘Really? I can wear something of yours?’
‘Of course,’ Thorn said, leaning closer, ‘and let’s face it, you’re the only other woman on board who’d fit into one of my dresses. I can do your hair, too. I bet it’d look great up.’
Calder glanced over from where he was tidying away their exercise equipment. ‘A little help, maybe?’
‘Sorry, Calder, we need to go,’ Thorn said. ‘Belinda and I have plans.’
‘Hold on a minute,’ said Karalyn, striding over. ‘What plans?’
Thorn suppressed a frown, and lowered her eyes.
‘Well?’ said Karalyn.
‘Thorn has offered to lend me one of her dresses for tonight,’ said Belinda. ‘Do you mind if I go with her to get ready?’
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘Oh, go on,’ said Calder. ‘Let them enjoy themselves for one last evening before we get to Rainsby.’
Karalyn shot the Kellach man a mean look. ‘Fine,’ she said. ‘I guess I’ll see you all in the captain’s room later.’
Belinda grinned. ‘Thanks.’
Thorn grabbed her hand and pulled her away before either Calder or Karalyn could say anything else. They ran to the back of the ship and down the steep flight of stairs into the heart of the vessel. Chestnut was standing in the narrow passageway, and Thorn shoved past her, Belinda a step behind.
The Magelands Epic: Storm Mage (Book 6) Page 21