‘Gold is not revenge,’ Badranga said. ‘We came for revenge.’
‘Then be prepared for a long wait,’ Agang said. ‘I estimate it will take six thirds to bring this city to its knees through a land blockade alone.’
‘We cannot wait that long!’
‘Those are our choices,’ Agang said, amid cries from the chiefs.
‘We should attack,’ Badranga said. ‘The wall that joins the new to the old is the weakest part of their defences. If we mass our warriors and strike there…’
‘Come, my good man,’ Hodang said. ‘To get to that section of the wall, we would need first to clear the camp that lies in the way.’
‘Then we clear it!’ Badranga called out, to cheers from the allies. ‘We push those savages aside. Most of them are old, and many of their warriors are women.’
‘We have no fight with the Clackdomyn people,’ Agang said.
‘They are obviously allies of the Holdings.’
‘Then why are they outside the protection of the city walls?’ Agang asked. ‘Whoever they are, it’s clear that the Holdings do not regard them as equals. And in any event, we don’t need to assault them. They will be the first to suffer the deprivations of our blockade. We can look again at our options in a third, once hunger has bitten deep.’
‘Very well, my lord,’ Badranga said. ‘A third is about as long as it will take to raid the surrounding area, and keep the boys busy.’
‘Then we are agreed,’ Hodang said, bowing to the chiefs.
Most of them nodded and departed. Drechtan remained, taking a mug of ale from a servant.
‘Well handled, my lord,’ he said, as the last of the allies left the tent.
Agang said nothing, cursing himself. He knew the army couldn’t wait six thirds, but if the Holdings sat tight, and refused to pay, then he would have to assault the walls to appease the other chiefs. And this time they would insist that he joined in.
‘My lord,’ a regimental officer bowed to him from entrance of the tent.
‘Speak.’
‘Three of the giants have left their rampart, and approached our lines, unarmed and with their hands raised. They weren’t speaking a tongue we understood, but they signalled to us that they wished to see you. We are holding them under guard, shall we allow them into your presence?’
Agang looked up at the officer.
‘Send them in.’
Agang turn to glance at Lomecht, Hodang and Echtang beside him. ‘This could be interesting.’
They waited a while, until the entrance flap was pushed aside and a pair of warriors backed into the chamber, spears held out. Following them came three of the Clackdomyn, flanked by more Sanang warriors.
Everyone stared at each other for a long, silent moment. The three tall, pale-skinned Clackdomyn stood a dozen paces from Agang. Two were female. One was an old woman, and even with her shoulders hunched over she was taller than any Sanang in the room. The other was younger, not far off middle age, a sturdy, broad woman, with fists the size of rocks, and scars down her hard face. The male was wide-shouldered and the tallest man Agang had ever encountered. His age was somewhere between the two women, and his beard and hair reached his waist.
‘Are you in charge?’ the Clackdomyn man called out in the Holdings tongue.
‘I am Agang Garo,’ he replied, ‘High Chief of the Sanang. Have you become on behalf of your people?’
‘Aye, we have,’ he replied. ‘I’m glad you can speak Holdings, you’re the first Sanang to have understood us since we walked into your camp.’
Agang turned to Echtang. ‘Go fetch Chane.’
His nephew nodded, and went off through the back of the chamber.
‘I’ve sent for another who can speak Holdings and Sanangka,’ Agang said. ‘Would you care for a drink while we wait?’
They nodded.
Agang gestured for servants to give mugs of ale to the Clackdomyn, and they drank until Chane and Echtang appeared by his side.
Chane’s eyes widened at the sight of the Clackdomyn.
‘Translate everything I say for the others,’ Agang said to her.
‘Yes, my lord.’
Agang turned back to face the three Clackdomyn, a ring of warriors surrounding them.
‘So,’ he said. ‘What have you come to say?’
‘Is it not obvious?’ the old woman said. ‘We saw what you did to the folk on the far bank, and we want to know if you’re going to try the same with us.’
‘Would we have cause to attack you?’ Agang said. ‘Are you allied to the Holdings Realm?’
‘The horsefolk helped us when we arrived,’ the old woman shrugged. ‘Gave us food, and work, and allowed us to settle here in peace, which is more than anyone else has done for us.’
‘Yet you are outside the walls.’
‘You arrived before the walls could be finished,’ the old woman said. ‘We don’t blame the Holdings for that.’
‘And would you stand in our way if we asked you to clear a path,’ Agang said, ‘to allow us to attack their new wall?’
‘We would,’ she replied. ‘After what your men did this morning to the peasant camp, we don’t believe you’d be able to control your forces. If you cross our rampart, we will fight.’
‘Then you would all die.’
‘Maybe,’ she said. ‘Who knows? We’d certainly put up a better fight than the folk your men slaughtered over the river. Why don’t you try it? There’s plenty of us who’d be more than happy to kick your monkey arses for you.’
Agang simmered with rage. He could hear Chane repeat everything they said to the other officers and advisors, and he was humiliated that a Clackdomyn woman was speaking to him in public in such a manner.
‘Do not test me, woman,’ he said.
‘Now that you mention it,’ she said, ‘where are all the women? Do the big boys of Sanang not let the girls play with them? The only woman I’ve seen in your camp is your pet Holdings traitor, standing by your shoulder.’ She looked over at Chane. ‘Hey you,’ she cried. ‘I thought you were meant to be a soldier? The rumours say that you’re a lieutenant or something. Now you’re all dressed up, like a perfumed princess. Did you watch your new friends rape and murder your own folk, or did you look away?’
Chane fell silent at the old woman’s words, her mouth open.
‘We will not attack you,’ the Clackdomyn man said before Agang could respond, ‘if you do not attack us first. You have our word. But if you decide to assault our rampart, then know that, while you may win in the end, after all many of us are old, or crippled, the Kellach Brigdomin will chew your army up. The Holdings have given us plenty of swords and crossbows to defend ourselves. By the time we’re through you’ll have no one left to attack the walls, and you will have to skulk off home, with empty pockets and shame in your hearts.’
‘The Holdings invaded our land,’ Agang said, his face red with anger. ‘Four times! Each time they killed our people, stripping our land bare. They humiliated us, until we learned to fight back. These are the people you’ll be defending.’
‘We know about your troubles with the horsefolk,’ the old woman said. ‘We know you have a case against them, just as we do with the Rahain, who ravaged our lands. But if you attack us, you’ll be fighting folk who have never done your people any harm.’
‘We’re here to negotiate,’ the man said. ‘And offer a truce.’
‘That is the only reason you’re still alive,’ Agang said. ‘You’re my guests, and I would be shamed if I had you torn to pieces.’
The old woman smirked.
‘We agree to your offer,’ Agang said, forcing the words out. ‘We will not attack for a third from this day, unless you initiate hostilities.’
The Clackdomyn nodded. ‘We swear the same,’ the man said.
‘Now,’ Agang said, his eyes dark, ‘get out of my sight.’
He switched to Sanangka.
‘Guards, escort them back to the rampart.’
The guards moved forwards, and they herded the Clackdomyn out of the tent.
The hall fell into silence.
‘Those filthy swine,’ Drechtan said. ‘If they hadn’t been your guests my lord, I would have struck them down myself.’
Agang ignored him, and stood.
‘Chane,’ he said, walking to the rear of the tent, ‘with me.’
He didn’t wait to see if she followed him, and went through the outer tent to his quarters. Once there, he picked up a bottle of looted Holdings rum, and poured himself a drink.
Chane came in and sat on the bed, her legs crossed beneath her. Agang passed her his drink, and got himself another.
‘They are nothing but savages,’ he said, ‘they don’t know anything about you.’
She snorted, her face twisting in anger. ‘Really? Let’s see. I’m your pet, I’m a traitor, and you’ve dressed me up like a princess doll. They said I was a soldier, they got that bit wrong. After all, you made it clear this morning what you thought of that idea.’
Agang clenched his fist, but Chane didn’t flinch.
‘You are in the court of the most powerful lord of all Sanang,’ he cried, ‘who will one day be king. I have raised you higher than any other woman, and you’re still not satisfied. I should give you to Lomecht and have done with you.’
She kept her gaze steady, a slow smile at the corner of her mouth.
An urge to strike her flashed through his mind, followed by a wave of regret at the folly of having told her some of the truth about his father.
He sat on the bed.
‘You should go,’ he said.
‘What?’
‘I’ll take you to the gates of the Holdings City, and let you go. You can return to your people.’
Chane moved closer to him.
‘Do you mean that?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I’ve tried to turn you into something you’re not. I’d rather release you than see you this way.’
She kissed his cheek, and put her hand onto his armoured chest. ‘I’m here for you, my lord,’ she said. ‘I’m going nowhere.’
Chapter 14
In Disguise
Holder’s Bay, Inner Sea – 24th Day, Last Third Summer 505
Keira spat over the side of the ship, in the direction of the high sea walls of Plateau City.
‘Today might be the day, Keilyn,’ Kylon said, ‘when we can finally get off this boat.’
‘You said that yesterday.’
‘And we would have,’ he said, ‘if those grain ships hadn’t arrived. You know the Holdings are letting all shipments of food through first. The rest of us just have to wait our turn.’
‘At least we’ve had decent weather,’ Leah said, glancing up at the deep blue sky, the sun an hour east of noon.
‘It’s too hot,’ Keira said.
Leah scowled. ‘Then why don’t ye jump off the fucking boat? Ye can cool down while ye swim to shore. All yer problems solved. And maybe you’ll give us some fucking peace at the same time.’
‘Sarky cow,’ Keira said. ‘You know I cannae swim. And anyway, even if I could, the closest land to here is infested with those Sanang bastards.’
They gazed at the shore. For several days their vessel had been anchored a hundred yards from the eastern coastline of the plateau, level with a stretch of abandoned wall on the river bank opposite the city. Three days previously, they had witnessed the arrival of the Sanang, and the bloody massacre of the Holdings peasants.
‘For those monkey-assed minks,’ Keira said, ‘I’m tempted to drop the disguise and torch the fucking lot of them.’
‘Cutting and dying your hair isn’t much of a disguise,’ Leah said.
Keira ran her fingers through her short blonde locks. The others had cropped her hair as soon as they had set sail from Rainsby and it now fell to just below her ears. They had then bleached it, turning her brown hair almost orange at first, though twenty days in the sun had since lightened it to blonde.
‘I got a tattoo as well,’ she said.
‘Aye,’ Kylon said, ‘of a volcano. No one will associate that with a fire mage.’
She looked at her upper right arm, now inked in black. Not far above her elbow, a small triangle symbolised Pyre, the Kellach Brigdomin fire god, and above it rose intricately weaved tendrils of smoke, rising up to her shoulder.
‘I like it,’ she said, ‘and nobody who knows me thinks I have a tattoo.’
‘I’ve seen priests with similar ones,’ Leah said. ‘People might think you’re a priestess of pyre.’
‘Aye,’ Keira laughed. ‘If any fucker asks, tell them I’m a holy woman.’
‘Don’t do that,’ Leah said. ‘There’s bound to be a group of religious freaks in the Kellach camp. I don’t want them hanging around.’
‘Look,’ said Kylon, pointing in the direction of the harbour.
Keira turned and saw a small, single-sailed vessel speeding towards them, skipping through the water.
‘That’s the Holdings harbour boat,’ Kylon said, ‘hopefully come to tell us it’s our turn.’
As the vessel pulled alongside, Kylon nodded to Baoryn. The Rahain walked across the deck, to join the sailors assisting with the harbour boat.
‘We’re going to have to learn to speak Holdings,’ Kylon said.
They watched as six dark-skinned folk climbed up onto the deck of the ship. The Rahain captain was waiting for them, and greeted the Holdings men and women like old friends. Baoryn lurked in the background, close enough to listen in.
‘I still can’t get over them,’ Keira said. ‘Dark-skinned folk, just like in Kalayne’s prophecy. I wonder if Killop has heard of them yet.’ She turned to Kylon. ‘Was Kallie there when you saw him?’
‘No,’ he said, ‘but she’s still alive, as far as I know. She and Killop had split up.’
‘Fuck,’ Keira said. ‘Did Killop say why?’
‘It was after they escaped from prison,’ he said, ‘but I don’t know the reason.’
Leah scowled, and raised an eyebrow.
‘You fucking lying to me, Kylon?’ Keira cried.
‘All right,’ he said. ‘Your brother was sleeping with someone else.’
‘The wee bastard,’ Keira snarled. ‘Who? I’ll kill the cow.’
‘Nobody you know,’ he muttered.
‘Was it Bridget?’ Keira said. ‘I know that wee hussy was locked up with them. Was it her?’
‘No,’ he said, ‘but I saw Bridget. She stayed with your brother when Kallie left.’
Keira turned to Leah. ‘Is he telling the truth?’
‘As far as I know,’ Leah said, staring out to sea, ‘Bridget has never fucked your brother.’
Keira spat over the side and turned away. Stupid wee brother. Throwing away what he had with Kallie for some floozy. She looked across the deck of the ship just as one of the Holdings harbourmasters turned and caught her eye.
He stood still for a moment, gazing at her, then spoke to the captain.
‘Shit,’ she said. ‘Think they might have rumbled us.’
‘There’s nothing to rumble, Keilyn,’ Kylon said. ‘We’re paying passengers, we’re doing nothing wrong.’
Keira tried to look nonchalant as the party of Holdings looked in her direction. One of them wrote something down in a book, while the captain showed them documents.
After another minute, the Holdings shook hands with the Rahain captain, and the harbour party climbed back down to their boat.
Baoryn sidled back alongside them.
‘We’ll be docking today,’ he said.
Kylon turned to him. ‘And what were they saying about us?’
‘They were surprised to see Kellach aboard,’ Baoryn said. ‘The captain showed them your tickets.’
‘They’re probably not used to seeing Kellach folk who can afford to go by ship,’ Kylon said to the others. ‘We’re bound to be asked some questions when we land. Just stick to the story.’
Several hours later, as the su
n was westering, their ship weighed anchor, and they sailed towards the harbour, passing vessels on both sides. As they neared the breakwater, they got a close view of the Sanang warriors on the opposite shore. Keira saw they were pale-skinned, like her, but shorter, occupying the same range of heights as the Rahain and Holdings folk. Their shoulders however, were as broad as any Kellach, and their arms were as long and powerful, reminding her of tales of the mountain apes that legends claimed roamed the high peaks of Lach.
The sound of defiant cries rose to her ears, as the warriors on the shore raised their swords and spears at the passing ship, many making slitting motions across their throats.
‘I could shoot one from here,’ Leah muttered.
‘Go on then,’ Keira said. ‘I dare you.’
The Lach woman grinned, and pulled the longbow from her shoulder.
‘Absolutely no fucking way,’ Kylon said.
Leah ignored him and set an arrow to her bow. She pulled her right hand to her ear, leant back, aimed, and loosed.
The arrow arced high through the air, then fell. As the Sanang warriors gazed up, it struck one clean through his open mouth, bursting out the back of his skull, sending fragments of his head showering onto the rocky shore.
‘Fucking shot,’ Keira whistled, as the warriors on the shore howled and danced in impotent fury.
‘You two are fucking out of order,’ Kylon said. ‘We’re supposed to be discreet. The whole harbour saw that.’
Keira turned, and noticed the wharves to the left, lined with ships and dock workers. Many were watching their vessel as it passed, while others were pointing at the far river bank where the arrow had landed.
‘I like to make an entrance,’ she said.
‘This is a Rahain ship,’ she heard the captain shout. She turned and saw him approach, several armed sailors behind him. ‘And I am its captain. You have broken the laws of the sea, and fired upon a nation with whom the Rahain Republic is not at war.’
He stormed up to them. His stony face softened and split into a smile.
‘But what the hell, eh?’ he said. ‘I daresay that scum deserved it. And might I say, madam, a fine shot indeed.’
The Magelands Box Set Page 63