‘One’s bad enough, believe me,’ Daphne said. ‘I hate being pregnant.’
‘So you keep saying,’ Shella said. ‘Listen. I know this is absolutely none of my business, but I think I have to tell you something.’ She paused.
‘What?’
‘One of my powers,’ she said, ‘I mean, all Rakanese high mages can do it, not just me. Anyway, I mean, one of the things we were sometimes asked to do, back in Arakhanah City…’
Daphne leaned up on her right elbow, listening.
‘Sometimes women would ask us,’ Shella went on, ‘if we would end their pregnancy, you know? If they didn’t have a spawning licence or if they just didn’t want to have children.’ She looked into Daphne’s eyes. ‘If you want, I mean if you really hate being pregnant, and want it to stop, then I can do it for you.’
Daphne said nothing, her mouth opening in surprise.
‘Don’t answer right away,’ Shella said. ‘Think about it. Think about what’s right for you.’
‘No,’ Daphne said.
‘Okay,’ Shella said, raising her hands. ‘No problem, I just wanted you to know you have the choice.’
Daphne put her hand to her stomach. Did she want to have the baby? Killop’s baby? She dreaded the thirds ahead, carrying around an ever-growing burden, and being tortured by unending nausea. As for the birth itself, she refused to allow herself to think of it. As a teenager she had been at the birth of her sister Ariel’s son, a terrifying and bloody experience, and she would never forget her sister’s screams. She shuddered at the thought of going through it herself.
‘I’m going to keep the baby,’ she said. ‘I have no idea where Killop is. There’s a good chance I’ll never see him again, I know that. This baby might be the only thing I ever have of him. I don’t want to lose it, and I don’t want to face Killop, if he does show up, only to tell him that I…’
‘I understand,’ Shella said. ‘I can help you, just like I used to help Noli. In fact, let me check you now, after you’ve smoked almost a whole stick of weed.’
Daphne nodded. Shella rested her hand against her abdomen, and closed her eyes.
‘I can feel it,’ she said. ‘I can sense its heart beating, and the blood flowing through its tiny body. Ha,’ she laughed. ‘It’s squirming around like a tadpole.’
She took her hand off. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Two things. First, I can’t sense any direct damage being done by the smoking, but I’m cutting off your supply. One now and again might not be too bad, but I’m not taking the risk of you becoming addicted again.’
‘I wasn’t addicted.’
‘Don’t bullshit me,’ Shella said. ‘I saw the state you were in the first time you went without a smoke, right when we started this journey. Just how much were you using when you were living in the Rahain capital?’
‘Not that much.’
Shella cocked an eyebrow and shook her head.
‘I’ll be keeping hold of it for now,’ she said, patting her robes where the wallet lay.
‘You mean you’ll be smoking it yourself.’
‘Yeah, that too,’ Shella said. ‘There’s easily enough to last us to Rainsby, and anyway, I’m not the pregnant one.’
Daphne took a final draw from the smokestick, and stubbed it out on the wooden floor.
‘What was the second thing?’
‘You’ll have to stop using your powers,’ Shella said, ‘unless it’s an emergency. At least until your period of sickness is over. Leave the killing to me for now, if any has to be done.’
Daphne lay back again, sighing. She hated when Shella was right.
Chapter 4
Fallen
Mountains east of Rahain Capital, Rahain Republic – Summer’s Day 505
Killop crouched in the thick undergrowth, his eyes scanning the deep blue sky above. A few paces to his right Larissa knelt among the brambles, her eyes gazing upwards. In her hands she held a shortbow that she had fashioned herself. Behind her huddled Dominic, grasping a sack, half-filled with the bodies of several plump birds that Larissa had shot.
Killop nodded. ‘We’re clear. It’s gone.’
‘That’s three winged gaien in the last few days,’ Larissa said, pulling herself free of the thorns. ‘Reckon the lizards are on to us?’
They scrambled loose and stood on the stony hillside.
‘Maybe they discovered the remains of the slave-hunters we ambushed,’ Dominic said, emerging from the bushes with the sack over his shoulder. ‘And well spotted, Larissa, you’ve got good eyes. For a Lach.’
Larissa glared at him.
‘I think we’ve enough for today,’ Killop said. ‘Let’s head back to the camp.’
‘I hope Draewyn has remembered to bring in the firewood,’ Dominic said. ‘It was freezing last night. I don’t understand why it’s so chilly. Summer must be starting about now.’
‘Colder up the mountains,’ Larissa muttered, shouldering her bow. ‘Idiot Domm.’
‘Better than being a lazy turnip-eating Lach,’ he called back to her.
‘I hope you get on better after I’ve gone,’ Killop said.
‘If you’re leaving him in charge,’ Larissa said, nodding at Dominic. ‘Then I might be coming with you.’
As Dominic was about to respond, he paused, his ear cocked.
Killop heard it too, a faint noise coming from a stand of trees a dozen yards away.
‘Get down,’ he hissed.
Larissa had her bow ready in a second.
‘Don’t shoot!’
A man emerged from the trees, his hands raised.
‘Kylon!’ Killop cried. He ran down the slope and the two men embraced.
‘What the fuck are you doing here?’ Killop asked, unable to keep a grin from his face.
‘Looking for you, boss.’
The trees rustled, and two more warriors strode out. The first was a tall blonde Kellach woman, armoured in plate and mail, with a longbow gripped in her hand. The second followed after her, a shorter man, holding an army-issue crossbow.
‘A fucking Rahain!’ Larissa shouted, aiming at the man’s chest. He brought his crossbow up, and the two squared off.
‘This is Baoryn,’ Kylon said. ‘He’s a friend. We’re all on the same side.’
‘I’ll never be on the same side as a lizard,’ Larissa said. At Killop’s nod she lowered her bow, but her eyes never left Baoryn.
‘Do you think Rahain slaves and peasants do not yearn for their freedom?’ Kylon said.
‘This an old friend of yours, boss?’ Dominic asked Killop, his hand on his sword hilt.
‘Aye,’ he replied. ‘We fought together during the war.’
‘How did you find us?’ the Domm man said.
‘Had some help.’ Kylon gazed up at the sky. ‘We should get into cover, in case any more flying lizards are about. Are you camped close by?’
‘We have a cave a couple of hour’s hike through the valley,’ Killop said. ‘Will you be staying?’
‘Not for long,’ he replied. ‘I have news.’
‘About what?’ His thoughts went to Daphne.
‘Let’s get to your place first,’ he said. ‘We haven’t eaten all day.’
Killop smiled. ‘Well, we can fix that.’
The group mingled and chatted along the steep path to their mountain camp. Larissa got involved in a long and intense discussion with Leah, the blonde warrior, about the longbow she carried, and about her plans for making her own. The renegade Rahain Baoryn said almost nothing the entire trip, despite Kylon stating that he understood the Kellach language. Instead of talking, he remained on his guard, cradling his crossbow and scanning the hillside. Dominic, Kylon and Killop talked about the war, the Domm man boasting of his escapades, while the two Kell listened. Dominic had been the notional leader of a band of slaves until Killop and Bridget had freed them, and was looking forward to resuming his authority once Killop had gone.
Kylon refused to answer any of their questions about what he
had been doing, saving it for the camp, so Killop told him his story, from their parting in the temple caverns under Fire Mountain, through their captivity and escape, and finally about the departure of Kallie and Lacey.
‘So you’ve broken up with Kallie for good, then?’ Kylon said.
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘After they left, me and Bridget ran into a wagonload of slaves, and freed them. We’ve been sheltering up in the cave for twenty days while they recover, and get used to being free again.’
‘What do you have planned?’
‘I don’t know what the rest of them will do, but I’ll be starting my search for Daphne soon.’
Kylon said nothing.
They passed through a narrow crevice, its entrance hidden by a mass of ivy, and came out into an airy cavern, lit by shafts that pierced the roof. Tunnels branched off from the area where they stood, while a large opening lay ahead of them.
‘Here it is,’ Killop said, gesturing. ‘Our refuge, home to nineteen ex-slaves from all over Kellach Brigdomin.’
Kylon shook his head. ‘I’ve been listening to foreigners call us that,’ he said, ‘but I didn’t think I’d ever hear you use their name for us.’
Killop shrugged. ‘All the slaves in Rahain use it. It’s strange to think that we didn’t have a name for ourselves, just for our four clans.’
Kylon frowned as he looked around. ‘What is this place?’
‘We think it must have been built by the lizards,’ Dominic said, ‘though it’s not been used in a long time.’
As they walked through the cavern toward the large tunnel, Leah let out a cry.
‘Children,’ she said. ‘You have children here.’
‘Aye,’ Dominic said. ‘Four little ones. Three boys and a girl. Youngest is four.’
The group halted as a woman approached, two small boys tailing her wide skirts.
‘Killop,’ she nodded. ‘Who’s this you’ve brought us?’ Her mouth opened as she saw Baoryn, and her arm moved to guard the boys.
‘They’re friends,’ Killop said. ‘Donald, go fetch Bridget.’
One of the boys nodded and ran off.
‘This is Kylon,’ Killop went on, as the three visitors came forward. ‘He fought by my side in the war, and is like family to me.’ He paused as he noticed a small crowd start to gather around them in the centre of the cavern.
‘This is Leah,’ he continued, ‘and Baoryn. I don’t know them, but if Kylon vouches for their honour, then that’s good enough for me.’ He turned to the woman. ‘And this Kylon, is Draewyn, who minds the camp.’
Kylon nodded.
‘You’ll be wanting fed, I suppose?’ Draewyn said.
A younger woman cried out, and rushed at Kylon.
‘Bridget,’ he said, sweeping her up into his arms.
‘Good to see ye,’ she laughed. ‘You still a miserable bastard?’
‘Aye,’ said Leah.
Bridget disengaged, eyeing up the other newcomers.
‘How about we eat?’ Killop said. ‘I’m sure there’s plenty to talk about.’
‘And let’s get drunk,’ Bridget added.
‘You’ve got ale?’ Leah asked.
‘Well,’ Bridget replied, ‘Brodie’s homebrew. Pretty fucking disgusting to be honest, but it does the job.’
Leah shrugged. ‘It can’t be any worse than the piss-water I had to drink in Akhanawarah.’
They gathered in a low cavern at the rear of the tunnels, made comfortable by many days of use as the group’s communal space, where they ate, drank, mended their clothes, and passed the time. They sat on low stools made from thick slices of oak trunk, and cleared the long table.
They ate fish from the little burn that raced down the valley at the foot of the hill, grilled with pine nuts and mushrooms. Fresh water was plentiful, and Brodie, the camp’s brewer, opened up one of his kegs.
‘Tastes like pork,’ Leah grimaced.
‘Aye, well,’ the one-legged old veteran said. ‘That’s what was in the keg before. I gave it a scrub, but it does linger I’ll grant ye.’
‘Fuck it,’ Leah said. ‘As long as it gets me pissed.’
Killop smiled. He was seated next to Bridget and Kylon. He turned to his old friend.
‘Time for your story.’
Kylon poured himself a mugful of Brodie’s ale and drank.
‘Leah and Baoryn,’ he said, ‘are all that remains of the squad I took from Kell nearly a year and a half ago. We’d been fighting alongside Keira, when Kalayne had a vision, and we were sent to protect the Rakanese mage from the Rahain.’
‘You mean the migrant camp?’ Bridget said. ‘Daphne said she saw you there. How did you get out?’
‘The Rahain destroyed the camp,’ Kylon said, his expression dark. ‘We escaped.’
The table went silent.
‘The migrants are all dead,’ Kylon went on. ‘Poisoned, drowned. Burned.’
‘No,’ Killop said, his heart racing. ‘Please don’t tell me…’
‘It was her.’
‘What?’ Bridget said. ‘It was who?’
‘Keira,’ Kylon replied. ‘She burned the city to ashes.’
‘A third of a million people,’ Leah said.
The group around the table looked on in disbelief, stilled to silence.
‘It can’t have been her,’ Larissa said. ‘Why would our fire mage do the lizards’ work?’
‘They must have forced her,’ Kylon said, but his eyes were blank.
‘She has betrayed us,’ said Kalden, the only other adult Kell in the camp.
‘We don’t know that,’ Killop said. ‘Nobody here knows why Keira did what she did. And I’ll have no one here question my sister again, not until we understand the truth.’
Kalden looked Killop in the eye for a moment, and nodded. ‘Alright, boss.’
‘Killop is right,’ Kylon said. ‘We mustn’t lose sight of the real enemy. The government of Rahain. Not the people. Baoryn is proof that the under-classes of this nation are ready to revolt. Many slaves have been deserting, fleeing the food shortages caused by their government’s siege of the Rakanese camp. Some are roaming the mountains, joining forces with other dispossessed folk: refugee clansfolk from the war, and Sanang warriors displaced by the Holdings invasions of their lands. The oppressed of this world are rising up. And you sitting here,’ he looked at the faces staring at him, ‘are part of it. You have thrown off the shackles of slavery. Now is the time to fight back, to bring the war-mongering Rahain government to its knees.’
‘Aye?’ Bridget snorted. ‘What are you suggesting we do? March on the capital?’
Kylon frowned. ‘Aye, in time. But to get there you’ll need to build up a bigger force, and I have a plan that will allow you to make a start.’
Dominic looked up. ‘If it involves taking the fight to the lizards, then I’m in.’
‘And me,’ said Larissa.
Kylon nodded, as the majority of the group added their own agreement.
‘We passed a mining compound on our way here,’ he said, ‘about twenty miles to the north. It houses about a hundred Kellach slaves at a guess. It’s surrounded by a high wall, but the Rahain guards are under-manned and bored, and I know a way we can get in.’
‘A hundred,’ Dominic whistled. Killop could see the prospect of leading such a number glimmer in the Domm’s eyes.
‘Aye,’ Kylon said, ‘and Killop will command the new force, and grow it, until it’s big enough to take part in the coming storm.’
‘What?’ Killop said. ‘Didn’t you hear me earlier? I told you I was leaving, and I am. I helped free the folk sat here, and am leaving them in safe hands. My job’s done. I’m going to find Daphne.’
Kylon took a long drink.
‘I told you we escaped the destruction of Akhanawarah,’ he said, his voice low. ‘It was Daphne, she came in and rescued us, and rescued Shella, the Rakanese high mage and princess.’
Bridget laughed. ‘I’m not surprised,’ she said. ‘I�
��ve seen what Daphne can do.’
‘Then my news is doubly sad,’ Kylon said.
The room quietened.
Leah put down her drink, stood up, and left the cave.
‘Daphne brought us out in a flying carriage,’ Kylon went on, ‘but she lost control of the winged gaien, and we crashed. Daphne was killed. I’m sorry.’
‘No,’ Killop said.
‘I saw her die with my own eyes, Killop,’ Kylon said. ‘We buried her in a grave in the Tahrana Valley, gave her a hero’s farewell. She was a hero. She saved us from the fires.’
Killop fell back, his heart pounding, his mind numb. No.
He felt an arm on his shoulder. Bridget.
‘No,’ Killop said. ‘The visions, what about Kalayne’s vision?’
‘I don’t know,’ Kylon said. ‘What were the words? That you would be together?’
‘Aye.’
Kylon shrugged. ‘Were you ever together?’
Killop’s mouth opened. ‘Once, but…’
‘Then maybe the vision turned out true,’ Kylon said. ‘Just not the way you expected.’
‘This is bullshit,’ Killop cried. He jumped to his feet and hurled his mug at the cave wall, smashing it and sending ale flying through the air. ‘Fuck this.’
The group watched in silence as he strode from the cave. He saw Leah at the entrance, who looked away. He kept going, ignoring the calls from those he passed in the caverns, until he had left their camp far behind, and was alone in the dark heart of the valley.
When dawn came Killop was sitting on the summit of a sheer ridge, watching the sunrise.
He hadn’t slept, just wandered until he was exhausted.
The prophecy. Just another load of crap.
He hadn’t realised how much he had centred his entire purpose around the words of crazy old Kalayne. He had been dreaming of a future that no longer existed, and the loss left a wound that was raw and painful. The moments he had spent with Daphne in his cell shone in his memory like gold among ash.
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