The Severed City

by Christopher Mitchell

  He shook his head, his eyes torn with conflicting emotions. ‘At least you’ll have Celine, and I’ve set up an allowance for you. You’ll be comfortable.’

  ‘I’ll have Bedig as well,’ she said, ‘and Princess Shella will help when the baby comes.’

  ‘By which point I hope to have returned,’ her father said. ‘Faden, Ariel and baby Lydia will be travelling by wagon, but I will be riding as fast as I can. I can make the estate in a little over a third, and if your mother is fine, I shall come back immediately.’

  Daphne smiled.

  ‘I’m not sure it will be that simple,’ she said. ‘Mother will find a way to keep us apart.’

  ‘Oh Daffie,’ he sighed, ‘don’t say that. Your mother loves you.’

  ‘She gave up on me the moment she discovered I was a vision mage.’

  ‘No,’ he said, ‘she felt that she’d lost you. She never gave up on you. It goes two ways, Daffie. When was the last time you made an effort to see or speak to her? You’re so sure she doesn’t like you that you don’t even try.’

  Daphne stared out at the grey skies. It had been years since she had said a word to her mother, before she had left the Holdings for her second tour of Sanang, when she had been twenty-one. She would be twenty-four in winter. Her father was right. She had been away for most of that time, and had been imprisoned on her only trip back to the Holdings, but she had never written, or passed on any message to her mother.

  ‘After the baby’s born,’ she said, ‘I’ll try to make it right.’

  ‘You’ll come up to the estate?’ he asked, his eyes lighting up.

  ‘Maybe,’ she said. ‘I’m not making any promises though.’

  Her father sipped his tea in silence.

  ‘Everything packed up?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Ariel and her family will be leaving on the wagon in an hour or so. I will accompany them to the city walls, then strike out on my own.’

  He took her hand. ‘Everyone is gathering for breakfast. Come and join us.’

  ‘In a minute.’

  Her father nodded, and stood.

  Daphne watched as he left the balcony, then turned her gaze back out to the grey, endless sea.

  ‘You look knackered,’ Shella said. ‘Family get away okay?’

  ‘They left just after dawn this morning,’ Daphne replied.

  ‘I’ll miss your dad,’ Shella said.

  ‘You mean you’ll miss his constant supply of alcohol?’

  ‘That as well. You still up for going to the palace today?’

  Daphne nodded. ‘The fleet sails tomorrow. We can’t leave it any later.’

  ‘Okay, if you’re sure it’s a good idea.’

  ‘It’s probably a stupid idea,’ Daphne said, ‘but I have to try.’

  Shella smiled. ‘My carriage awaits then, Miss Holdfast.’

  Daphne and Shella dodged the rain falling from the grey overcast skies, and climbed on board the carriage. Shella nodded up to Jayki, and they set off.

  They left the aristocratic quarter, and trotted up the main boulevard through the city. The lines of tents to their right looked dank and miserable in the autumn rain, but building work had restarted despite the weather, and more houses were being erected every day. Mud-covered workers were clambering over construction sites like ants. A great hole had been knocked through the Emergency Wall, and the Kellach camp was now back in contact with the rest of the city. Surveyors had already been out, marking the extent of a new set of walls to encompass the refugee camp, and link up with the abandoned wall on the far bank. Soon, it would be as if the Sanang siege had never happened.

  The carriage halted to allow wagons laden with building stone and timber to cross the road.

  ‘The king is throwing money around,’ Shella said. ‘Paying for the invasion of Rahain, finishing the city as fast as he can. What’s the rush?’

  ‘The plateau gets very cold in winter,’ Daphne said. ‘The king just wants the people to be living indoors by then.’

  Shella raised an eyebrow. ‘No more doubts about Guilliam?’

  ‘I’ll always love the old queen,’ she smiled, ‘but the king’s not as bad as I’d feared. I don’t agree with everything he does, but the way he handled the Sanang invasion? He turned a siege into an alliance, and an alliance into an invasion of Rahain. Whatever else he does in his reign, the people will love him for that. Barely a third ago everyone was worried about starving. Now, all they can think about is glory.’

  ‘A monarch does get things done quicker,’ Shella said. ‘The Rakanese assemblies would probably still be debating what to do about the siege, while Guilliam acted. Still, that doesn’t prove anything. It doesn’t get round the fact that you can’t get rid of a bad ruler.’

  ‘The church would argue,’ Daphne said, ‘that as they are guided by the creator, there can be no such thing as a bad ruler. All are blessed.’

  ‘Do you really believe that Daphne?’

  ‘I believe that’s what they believe,’ she said. ‘And I know the creator’s real. What I don’t understand, is what the creator wants.’

  ‘Who can know the mind of a god?’ Shella smirked. ‘Aren’t you supposed to have faith that the creator loves you and so on?’

  ‘I spoke to him, remember?’ Daphne said, lowering her voice. ‘He seemed well, more like us than a god. Angry, proud. Because I thought I’d imagined the whole thing, I didn’t sit down and think clearly about his actual words to me.’

  ‘I thought you said he helped you?’

  ‘He did, but it was more of a deal, rather than through love or kindness.’

  The carriage halted as they approached the main palace gates, and a cavalry trooper took a quick look through the window.

  ‘Open the gates for her Royal Highness, Princess Shellakanawara,’ he called out.

  The wrought iron gates were pulled open, and the carriage went through, into the large open courtyard in front of the half-built palace.

  ‘Before we go anywhere else,’ Shella said, ‘we must first attend court, even if just for a few minutes. It looks odd if you come to the palace, and don’t pay your respects to the king.’

  Courtiers welcomed them as they dismounted from the carriage, and they were led through to the temporary throne room.

  Inside, the hall was bustling with merchants, soldiers, Rakanese diplomats and Sanang chiefs. There were lines queuing to petition the monarch, who was up on his throne, talking in hushed tones to his advisors.

  The courtier escorted Shella and Daphne up the main aisle, stopping halfway.

  ‘Your Majesty,’ he called out, ‘may I present her Royal Highness Princess Shellakanawara, and Miss Daphne Holdfast.’

  The king looked up, and smiled.

  ‘Miss Daphne,’ he said, breaking off his conversation, ‘how wonderful to see you again. You haven’t attended our court in some time.’

  ‘No disrespect intended, your Majesty,’ Daphne said, bowing. ‘I’m finding it harder to get about these days.’

  ‘Of course,’ he smiled. ‘We hear that Holder Fast has departed the city?’

  ‘Yes, your Majesty,’ she said. ‘This morning. My mother’s sick, and he’s travelling to be at her side.’

  ‘How unfortunate,’ he said, ‘for you. What with your elder brother Captain Vince already having ridden out with the main army, does this mean you are the only Hold Fast left in the city?’

  ‘Yes, your Majesty.’

  ‘And to think that it wasn’t so long ago that you were the talk of the town,’ he said, ‘and now you’re alone. It’s funny how things change, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, your Majesty.’

  The king nodded. ‘Carry on.’ He looked away, and resumed speaking to his advisors.

  Shella and Daphne bowed again, and moved to the side of the hall, several glances from others aimed in their direction.

  ‘What an asshole,’ Shella muttered. ‘You okay?’

  Daphne nodded, but said nothin
g.

  They waited fifteen minutes to be polite, then edged out of the hall and began walking back through the palace.

  ‘He was talking crap in there,’ Shella said. ‘You’re not alone. I’m not going anywhere. I promised I’d help with the birth, and I will.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Daphne said.

  ‘You don’t look very upset,’ Shella said. ‘If that had been me, I’d be raging.’

  ‘I stopped caring what people in authority thought about me a long time ago,’ Daphne said, ‘around the time they imprisoned and tortured me. I’m not likely to start caring now.’

  ‘I wish I could be more like that,’ Shella said. ‘I take everything people say personally. I guess that’s why I’m angry most of the time. Either that or I’m usually surrounded by stupid people, present company excepted.’

  They stopped at a crossroads, marble-floored corridors stretching out in four directions.

  ‘Do you know where we’re going?’ Daphne asked.

  ‘North wing, second floor,’ Shella said. ‘This way.’

  They came to a large wide staircase, where troopers on guard nodded them past. At the end of another passageway, they climbed a smaller set of stairs, and reached a double door.

  ‘Can you smell the paint?’ Shella said. ‘Agang’s so-called court moved in here as soon as the rooms were ready. The new wing beyond these doors might be interpreted as Sanang territory, so we’ll have to behave.’

  Daphne nodded.

  ‘Here we go then,’ Shella said, and thumped on the door.

  Moments later, the door opened a crack, and a Sanang warrior peered out.

  ‘What do you want?’ he said in Sanangka.

  ‘We wish to see Chief Agang Garo,’ replied Daphne in the man’s language.

  ‘The chief is out.’

  ‘We’re happy to wait.’

  The warrior looked up the hallway to see if any others were there.

  ‘This is Princess Shellakanawara,’ Daphne said. ‘Rakanese royalty. I’m sure your chief would like to speak with her before he departs.’

  ‘Princess?’ He closed the door.

  Shella and Daphne glanced at each other. They were about to knock again, when the door re-opened, and another man appeared, dressed in robes rather than war gear.

  ‘I am Hodang Tipoe,’ he said, studying the two women, ‘Chief Minister of Sanang.’

  ‘Good day to you, sir,’ Daphne bowed. ‘May we come inside, and wait for Chief Agang to return?’

  He looked at Shella. ‘I recognise you from court, your Highness,’ he said. ‘What can we do for you?’

  ‘The princess wishes to discuss the relationship between the Sanang and Rakanese nations,’ Daphne said, ‘as one royal to another.’

  ‘And who are you?’

  ‘I am her embassy liaison officer,’ she replied, ‘and her translator. The princess speaks no Sanangka.’

  Hodang pursed his lips, then nodded.

  ‘Very well,’ he said. ‘Please come in, your Highness, and welcome to the court of Agang Garo, king-in-waiting of the Sanang Realm.’

  He bowed low as Shella and Daphne crossed the threshold, and entered the wing of the palace taken over by the realm’s new allies.

  ‘I will take you to one of our more informal meeting rooms to wait,’ he said, as he led them down the corridor. ‘Chief Agang may be another hour or so. I’ll see that refreshments are provided.’

  ‘You are very kind,’ Daphne said. ‘Thank you.’

  He opened a door, and they went into a room with a large bay window, which overlooked the courtyard in front of the palace.

  ‘Please take a seat,’ Hodang said. ‘I’ll inform Chief Agang that you’re here when he arrives.’

  Daphne and Shella sat by a table next to the window as Hodang left.

  ‘So he bought it, then?’ Shella said.

  ‘Just like we said.’

  ‘Old Agang’s a sucker for royalty.’

  ‘It’s what’s always obsessed him,’ Daphne said. ‘The need for Sanang to be recognised as an equal, and for him to be king.’

  ‘And would he be a good king?’

  ‘I don’t know. When I knew him, we used to talk for hours, but I got the feeling he was only interested in the information I was giving him, not in my company. I don’t know what he’s like as a person, he was always closed when I asked him, like he has secrets to keep.’

  Shella frowned. ‘Why didn’t you just read his mind?’

  ‘That was before I knew how to do it.’

  The door opened, and two Sanang servants entered, with trays of food and drink. They set them down on the table, bowed and left.

  Daphne got to her feet once the door had closed.

  ‘Do you want me to come with you?’ Shella said.

  Daphne shook her head.

  ‘Remember, Daphne,’ Shella said, ‘short bursts only.’

  Daphne walked to the door of the room, and knelt by the keyhole. She sent out a quick shot of line-vision, bending her sight into the corridor. It was clear.

  She opened the door, and crept out.

  If the layout of the rooms was patterned on the floors below, then she had a good guess where she needed to go. She sprinted down the passageway, then took a left, and a right. She heard footsteps, but had reached the door she was looking for before anyone was in sight. She pushed it open, and entered.

  The room was in near darkness, with thin streams of light filtering through the tall shutters on the left wall. A large throne was sitting empty at one end of the room, and Daphne stole her way to the wall behind it, finding another door.

  She took a breath, and opened it.

  Ahead of her, sitting on a chair by the window of the bedroom, was Chane.

  She turned her head, and saw Daphne.

  The women stared at each other for a long moment, then Chane was up off her chair. She ran at Daphne, and hugged her tight, laughing.

  ‘Careful with the arm,’ Daphne said. ‘Remember?’

  Chane took a step back, a grin splitting her face. ‘Yeah, I remember. Fuck me, it’s good to see you Daphne.’

  ‘You too, Chane. You’re looking good.’

  ‘It’s pretty much all I’m needed for nowadays.’

  ‘But you’ve done well,’ Daphne said. ‘You’re right next to Agang, the future king of Sanang.’

  Chane smiled.

  ‘And,’ Daphne said, looking at the bed, ‘you’re his lover too?’

  Chane’s eyes went down to Daphne’s middle, and her mouth opened. ‘You’re pregnant?’

  ‘Yes,’ Daphne said. ‘Six and a half thirds gone.’

  ‘Are you married?’

  ‘No,’ Daphne said. ‘The father’s not around. He’s a Kellach Brigdomin.’

  Chane laughed out loud. ‘Fuck, Daphne. So the two of us went for men from outside the Holdings?’

  ‘We have that in common.’

  ‘So what are you doing here?’ Chane said. ‘It’s good to see you, but how did you get in?’

  ‘I know you’re due to leave with Agang and the fleet tomorrow,’ Daphne said. ‘I had to come and see you, to ask if you’d rather not go. If you’d rather stay here.’

  Chane’s expression changed. ‘What makes you think I’d want to stay here? I know what everyone in the Holdings thinks of me, they say I’m a traitor. Agang’s whore.’

  ‘I don’t think that,’ Daphne said. ‘I just wanted to offer you the chance to get out.’

  ‘Fuck you Daphne Holdfast,’ Chane spat. ‘You think you can sneak in here, and try to save me? You arrogant bitch. I don’t need saving. And I don’t need you.’

  ‘Please Chane, I’m sorry…’

  Chane stepped up close to Daphne’s face.

  ‘You left me!’ she shouted. ‘When you escaped, you fucking left me behind. Do you have any idea what that did to me? And now, two years later, you turn up to save me. Too fucking late. Stupid bitch.’ She sat down by the window, her face lowered. ‘Go on, get out b
efore I raise the alarm. Do you know the penalties for breaking into the chief’s female enclosure?’

  Daphne stood in silence for a moment, then turned and left.

  ‘We can talk about it if you want,’ Shella said, as her carriage carried them through the streets of the city back to the townhouse.

  Daphne shook her head. She felt numb, as if she was incapable of feeling, like her heart had been ripped out. She looked through the window. The rain had stopped, but the clouds hung heavy overhead.

  ‘That Hodang guy looked a little put out when we left,’ Shella went on, ‘or maybe he always has a face like he’s swallowed a wasp.’

  Daphne could sense Shella’s gaze on her, but she didn’t turn.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ she asked. ‘About using your vision, I mean. How many bursts did you need?’

  ‘Just the two,’ Daphne said. ‘One in, one out. I feel all right, I suppose. They were both tiny bursts, just a second each.’

  ‘Good,’ Shella said. ‘At least we know you can do that, if you have to.’

  Daphne nodded, and continued to stare out of the window.

  ‘I’ve been thinking,’ Shella said. ‘Maybe it would be best if I moved into your big house, at least until the birth.’

  Daphne turned. ‘Do you mean that?’

  ‘If you’ll have me,’ Shella said. ‘I’m not easy to live with, or so I’ve been informed. More than once.’

  ‘Of course I’ll have you.’

  ‘I’ll get the servants to bring my stuff round,’ Shella said. ‘And just so you’re aware, the embassy will probably assign a few guards at the front door. I am a princess, you know.’

  The carriage pulled up outside the Holdfast townhouse, and they climbed down onto the street.

  Daphne pulled her scarf round her throat as a cold wind cut through them. A servant opened the front door to the house and they ascended the steps.

  ‘Miss Holdfast, Princess Shellakanawara,’ the servant bowed. ‘Miss, you have a visitor.’

  Daphne frowned as she took her overcoat off.

  ‘Councillor Laodoc, miss. He’s waiting in the front room.’

  ‘Damn it,’ Daphne said. ‘I forgot.’

  She rushed through to the large front room, and saw Laodoc sitting upright on a long sofa, holding a teacup.