‘I’m almost out of bolts,’ said Leisha.
‘Me too,’ said Cain.
The Sanang warriors let out a cry and charged the squad. Lennox got to his feet with the others and they braced themselves. Lennox felt his connection to the fire fade as the dozen Sanang reached them, swinging their swords and axes. The squad kept their shields locked as the blows drove them back. Lennox tried to reach the flames with his mind, but his shield was taking a battering, and his concentration slipped.
A scream pierced the air, and Lennox watched as Thorn crawled from the flames and staggered to her feet. Her dress was in tatters and her skin was blistered and burnt.
‘Soulwitch!’ cried a Sanang, and those charging the squad hesitated.
Thorn placed her hand onto a warrior, and Lennox’s mouth fell open as the hedgewitch seemed to recover in seconds, her skin smoothing and healing; while the warrior writhed in agony in her iron grip. She released him, and the withered body fell to the ground. Every Sanang within a few yards of her started to flee in panic, rushing to get out of her reach. One was limping from a bolt in his leg, and Thorn leapt on him, pushing him to the flagstones. She placed a hand on his face and seemed to pull the life from him.
The warriors in front of the squad broke and ran, leaving the four soldiers with their backs against the tenement wall; their eyes never leaving the young Sanang woman.
Thorn stood next to the pyre, watching the panicking warriors. She raised her arms above her head, then she brought them down, her fingers gliding through the air, and every Sanang warrior within the courtyard crashed to the ground, convulsing in agony, their groans and howls rising into the lightening sky.
‘So that’s a soulwitch,’ whispered Leisha as the warriors withered and died. Lennox stared at Thorn; she was regal, and terrible; and he feared her.
The cries of the dying fell away, and the writhing ceased. Thorn walked across the courtyard, passing the smouldering embers of the pyre, and stepping over the bodies littering the ground. She approached the squad, who were standing frozen against the wall.
‘You came for me.’
‘Aye,’ said Lennox.
‘Did Sable order you to?’
‘No,’ said Carrie, her eyes wide. ‘It was Lennox’s idea. We had a bit of a falling out with Sable.’
‘My mother, and Bluebell?’
‘Sable took them,’ said Lennox.
‘They’ll be safe,’ said Carrie, as Thorn’s face fell. ‘They’re being taken to the Rahain capital, where they’ll be the healers of the Lord Protector himself, and all of the top people in the government. They won’t be harmed.’
Thorn frowned, and Lennox thought her eyes looked different from before; as if they were burning with a sad fury.
‘Where’s your sister?’ said Carrie.
‘Dead.’
‘I’m sorry.’
Thorn said nothing, her gaze scanning the four soldiers. Her eyes settled on Lennox.
‘It was your idea, was it? To come for me?’
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘After… everything, it didn’t seem right to abandon you.’
‘Trying to redeem yourself, beast of Rainsby?’
He shook his head. ‘I’ll never be able to take back what I did. I know that.’
‘Good.’
‘But that fact that we rescued you must count for something, eh?’ said Cain.
‘Rescued me?’ said Thorn. ‘I fell into the heart of the fire, and was nearly burned alive. When I crawled out, it was I who killed the Sons of Sanang. I think you’ll find that I rescued you.’
‘We saw what you did,’ said Lennox. ‘You could kill all four of us standing here with a flick of your hand.’
‘Yes, I could.’
‘Why didn’t you do it when we captured you in Rainsby?’
‘Truthfully,’ she said, ‘I didn’t know how. In Sanang, stories are told about high mages who can use their powers without having to touch anyone; I always thought they were legends, yet here I am.’
‘If you’re looking for revenge,’ said Lennox, ‘then take it out on me, not on my friends. I was the one who caused all this suffering; maybe I deserve it.’
‘Maybe, but I’m not going to kill you. I have the feeling that you’re going to spend the rest of your life burdened with the shame of what you did. You’ll try to redeem yourself in a hundred different ways, but none of it will lessen the guilt you bear. That sounds a more fitting punishment than death.’ She glanced at the others. ‘Thank you for coming for me.’
‘What’ll we do now?’ said Carrie.
Thorn turned back to Lennox. ‘I would be grateful if you’d escort me to the imperial marines, squad leader. When we reach their lines, I’ll make sure that you’re well treated as prisoners.’
The squad glanced at each other.
‘Prisoners?’ said Lennox. ‘No, thanks. Can you imagine what will happen the moment they find out who I am, and what I’ve done?’
‘But if you run,’ said Thorn, ‘then there’s a good chance you’ll be captured anyway, but I won’t be there to vouch for you.’
‘Don’t worry about us,’ said Cain. ‘We can run pretty fast.’
‘So it’s back to the Army of Pyre? I’m not sure I approve.’
‘We can’t go back to the army,’ said Lennox. ‘Do you remember that Carrie mentioned a falling out with Sable? She’s named us as deserters. They’ll hang us if they catch us.’
Thorn held his gaze. ‘But you’re a fire mage, Lennox; they’d take you back.’
‘Aye, maybe, but their price would be steep. They’d want me back out slaughtering anything that moved. I’m not going back to that.’
Thorn stared at him for a long moment, then nodded.
‘What about you?’ said Carrie. ‘What will you do, if you don’t mind me asking, ma’am?’
‘Lennox was right when he sensed revenge burning within my heart,’ she said, ‘and I shall have it. I’ll not rest until I’ve seen the Sons of Sanang utterly destroyed.’
‘I thought you were a healer?’ said Lennox. ‘Are you a killer now?’
A slight smile appeared on her lips. ‘It appears so.’
‘And what about us?’ said Carrie.
Thorn shrugged. ‘You can leave, I won’t stop you.’ She gazed at each of them in turn. ‘You risked everything for me, and I’m grateful. Goodbye.’
She turned and began walking across the courtyard, her hair gleaming in the dawn’s first rays.
Cain grunted as they watched her go. ‘So, thanks to us, the imperials have now got a soulwitch on their side.’
‘That’s fine by me,’ said Lennox. ‘It’s not our war any more.’
‘What?’ said Leisha. ‘Don’t you care who wins?’
‘No, I don’t. The Army of Pyre has been my life, and I don’t know any other, but look at what it’s done to us; look at what’s left of us. Our squad, the Fifth; the best in the company; no, the best in the fucking regiment.’ He shook his head. ‘And now there’s four of us left. The war has ripped the heart out of the army. Darine was right; we were bred by the Lord Protector to do his dirty work for him, and if Sable hadn’t already chucked us out, I’d leave anyway.’ He glanced at them. ‘You with me?’
Carrie and Leisha nodded, but Cain looked away.
‘I don’t know, boss,’ he said. ‘The Army of Pyre is my family. It’s a lot to give up.’
‘You’re a deserter, Cain,’ said Carrie, ‘like us. You gave it up when you decided to defy Sable.’
Cain said nothing, then spat on the ground. ‘Alright, fuck the army and its orders. I’m with you.’
The four soldiers set off, retracing their steps through the tenement and back into the street. Most of the courtyard had been drenched in shadows, but the morning light was shining down on the town, and the blue sky augured another fine day. Ahead of them, the roads were quiet, but the sound of the approaching marines from the other direction was unmistakeable. Lennox ran down the street, going as fast as he cou
ld, the rumble of boots growing louder. The four soldiers sprinted through the deserted district, covering the distance to the River Gates in a few minutes. Out of breath, they paused by the open entrance. Crates and boxes were lying abandoned across the ground, alongside a few Sanang corpses. Cain rifled through their pockets as the others drank from water-skins. Lennox gazed out of the gates at the open road beyond. Their run had bought them a few minutes, but they needed to be moving.
‘Imperial standard’s flying from the castle,’ said Leisha, pointing up at the high battlements.
‘I wonder how many Army of Pyre got out through the northern gates?’ said Carrie.
‘The poor bastards will be stranded up there; cut off by Stretton Sands with no supplies, while the Sanang will be headed back to safety in Anamindhari.’ She smirked. ‘Still, I wouldn’t want to be there when Thorn arrives.’ She turned to Lennox. ‘Which way next, boss?’
‘South,’ he said, leaning against a gatepost. ‘Across the river.’
‘Aye?’ said Cain, peering up from the body of a warrior. ‘Then where?’
‘To the Seablade.’
‘What?’ said Carrie. ‘We’re going to sea?’
‘Aye.’
‘Reckon it’s still there?’ said Leisha.
‘The weather was fine last night,’ said Lennox, ‘and Sable had no time to go back. With any luck, it’ll be right where we left it.’
Cain stood, his pockets bulging. ‘Then what? We can’t sail the Inner Sea forever.’
‘No, but we’ll need a boat to get round Rainsby. We can’t go by land, the place is crawling with Rahain soldiers.’
‘Round Rainsby?’ said Leisha.
‘Aye,’ Lennox said, ‘then on to Kellach Brigdomin.’
The others stared at him.
‘It’s ideal,’ he said. ‘Both sides will be looking for me, but they’ll never think to search down there. And I’ve always wanted to see it.’
‘But there’s nothing there,’ said Cain. ‘It’s a deserted wasteland.’
‘Exactly,’ said Lennox. ‘That’s what makes it so perfect.’
‘Our homeland,’ said Carrie.
‘Aye.’
The four soldiers looked at each other then without a word, they set off, racing through the gates and down the road. They turned at the deserted fords and splashed across the shallows of the river, the rising sun on their left. They were in clear view of anyone up on the town’s eastern battlements, but no sound came from Stretton Sands as the soldiers ran down the road beyond the river, their boots pounding on the dirt track.
Lennox tore the Army of Pyre sash from his armour as he ran, and threw it away, the breeze catching it, and sending the ripped fabric fluttering out of sight.
This concludes Storm Mage
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Author’s Notes
June 2020
With this book I did something I’d not attempted before: introduce point of view characters younger than eighteen. In the first four books, Killop, Daphne and Keira were 22, Shella and Agang were in their thirties and Laodoc was an elderly gentleman.
I went a bit lower with Fragile Empire - Karalyn was 18 while Ravi and Lennox were 19.
In Storm Mage, I’ve gone even younger - Thorn starts her story aged 17, and Keir only 16.
The reason for this is not because I’m aiming these books at a younger audience - it’s because the story of the Magelands has a long way to go yet, and I want to see these new, younger characters grow up within it.
I hope you enjoyed it.
About the Author
Christopher Mitchell is the author of the Magelands epic fantasy series.
For more information:
www.christophermitchellbooks.com
[email protected]
The Magelands Series
The Magelands Origins
Retreat of the Kell
The Trials of Daphne Holdfast
From the Ashes
The Magelands Epic
The Queen’s Executioner
The Severed City
Needs of the Empire
Sacrifice
Fragile Empire
Storm Mage
Soulwitch Rises
Renegade Gods
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The Magelands Epic: Storm Mage (Book 6) Page 44