The path led down into a sheltered valley, where the mansion of Slateford Estate sat, boarded up and empty. In the courtyard before it, stood the gaien carriage that had brought them from the Severed City that morning, while its four beasts circled overhead in the sunshine.
‘It was blowing a blizzard when I was here,’ Killop said. ‘Didn’t see much except for the inside of that cottage.’ He pointed at a row of out-buildings near the mansion. ‘I had no idea how large the estate was.’
They paused before heading down the slope, to catch a last view from the hillside. The entire valley now belonged to the Severed Clan, from the spring and rocky cliffside at the southern end, right up to the broad arable plain to the north. A river ran through the centre of the valley, and the terraced slopes were covered with olive trees, orchards and vineyards. There was a settlement on the road at the northern boundary of the estate, with houses to fit over four hundred people, and there were several more farmsteads and hamlets dotted throughout the valley.
‘This is all ours,’ Larissa said, taking Killop’s hand.
‘My head is whirling with ideas,’ Bridget grinned. ‘Doing up the mansion, building more houses… Did you see the quarry out by the waterfall? We can build villages out of that stuff. But before we think about that, we’ll have to get everybody out into the fields right away. With so many emancipated Rahain having left the estate, we’ll have to plough and sow the fields ourselves, as well as finding places for everyone to stay…’
‘Shut up and enjoy the view,’ Larissa said.
Bridget smiled. ‘I’ll give you two a moment,’ she said. ‘I’ll head down to that cottage you pointed out, see if it’s in a fit state. We might have to live there until the mansion’s ready.’
She turned and headed down the path.
‘I’ve never seen her so excited,’ Killop said, his eyes following Bridget down the hillside.
Larissa frowned. ‘I’m still a bit jealous of you and her. Are you sure you never went with her?’
‘Very sure,’ he said. ‘Can a man not be friends with a woman?’
She kissed him. ‘Friends don’t do that.’
He smiled, holding her round the waist.
They gazed down onto the valley.
‘Look at the size of that house,’ she said, pointing at the mansion. ‘Larger than any chief’s hall back in Kellach. And just imagine when this valley is filled with our folk. Freed slaves from all over Rahain will come here, not just from the Severed City, and you’ll be chief of them all. And when they get settled, babies will come, and our life here will begin.’ She looked up at him. ‘This is all every Kellach slave has dreamed of.’
His thoughts raced to Daphne, and the dreams he had lost.
He forced himself to smile. ‘It’s been a long struggle, but we made it.’
Another carriage appeared overhead, its gaien descending towards the open courtyard in front of the mansion.
‘Laodoc,’ Killop said.
They watched as the carriage was lowered to the ground, and secured by its pilots. The winged gaien were released, and they flew up to join their brethren in the skies, wheeling and circling under the sun.
Killop and Larissa walked down the hillside path, passing through a short strip of pine trees, erected as a wind barrier. At the bottom of the slope, they saw Bridget approach the new carriage. A few others from the clan were also present, having arrived that morning in the earlier carriage.
The side door fell open, and a couple of Rahain guards got out. Laodoc followed, accompanied by a small retinue of assistants.
The old man looked around, and Bridget rushed forward to embrace him.
‘Is that him?’ Larissa said as they got closer.
‘Aye,’ Killop said.
‘Maybe you shouldn’t tell him,’ she said. ‘Does he really need to know?’
Killop said nothing.
They emerged into the courtyard, and Laodoc caught his eye. Smiling, he disentangled himself from Bridget’s hug, and Killop stepped up.
‘Good to see you again, Laodoc,’ Killop said.
Laodoc embraced him. Killop felt awkward, but patted the old man’s back.
‘My boy,’ Laodoc said. ‘How wonderful that you’re here. I hoped you’d come, but knew how busy you must be.’
‘Not as busy as you, Laodoc,’ Killop smiled. ‘Chancellor of the Republic.’
‘Officially only from the day after tomorrow,’ he said. ‘I have two final days as a private citizen to enjoy.’
‘I’m afraid the chief will have to miss your inauguration,’ Bridget said, ‘though we’ll be sending a clan representative back to the capital with you for the New Year ceremonies.’
‘I understand,’ Laodoc said. ‘I’m just glad you’re both here for our own little ceremony today. And afterwards, I have some important news to share with you.’
Killop frowned. ‘Me too.’
Laodoc’s assistants removed several crates from the carriage, and began to set up a podium and lay out lines of chairs on the grass in front of the mansion. One aide opened a box, and filled a table with refreshments.
‘I took the liberty of bringing some wine,’ Laodoc said, as they walked to the table. ‘I wasn’t sure if you had much in the way of supplies.’
‘We only got here this morning,’ Bridget said. ‘More gaien are due to arrive over the next few days, bringing food, and more people from the Severed City.’
Laodoc smiled as drinks were served. ‘Will the entire clan be moving here?’
‘Most of them,’ Bridget said. ‘The clan’s Rahain can’t bear to leave, they see it as their home, so we decided to let them stay rather than force them to make the move. And messengers have been sent to all of the big Kellach refugee camps, offering them a place here if they want it.’
Laodoc’s face fell. ‘I have some bad news on that front,’ he said. ‘The Emancipation Board have been looking through the records of every Kellach slave. We have only been able to locate ninety thousand out of the original two hundred thousand that were brought here. We estimate there may be another twenty or thirty thousand still being held in the areas of the Republic that have yet to surrender, but we must assume that most of the rest have perished.’
Killop bowed his head.
‘Once we’re settled,’ he said, ‘we’ll be able to offer you help in rooting out the rebels.’
‘Thank you, Chief Killop,’ Laodoc said. ‘Calcite City is the key, that’s where the rebel committee has based itself after fleeing the capital. We take that, and the rest of the rebellion will crumble.’
Killop glanced at the old politician. The lines on his face were deeper, and his eyes lacked some of the light they had previously held, but his will seemed as strong as ever.
‘Would you be able to transfer copies of your slave records to Slateford, Chancellor?’ Bridget said. ‘Many of our folk will be travelling here looking for information about their loved ones, and we’d like to help as much as we can.’
‘Of course, Bridget,’ Laodoc said. ‘I’ll have them sent out by wagon once the holiday’s over. May I ask, what will your advice be if your folk want to return to Kellach Brigdomin?’
‘We weren’t planning on handing out any particular advice,’ Killop said. ‘They can stay, or they can go, it’s up to them.’
‘Why do you ask?’ Bridget said.
‘The alliance sees the province of Kellach Brigdomin as unfinished business,’ Laodoc said, ‘but they don’t seem to know what to do about it. There’s no government down there from what I’m told. When the old Rahain regime collapsed, many soldiers and merchants seem to have remained, despite orders to return. The situation is still volatile.’
‘But we’re one of the five peoples of this world,’ Bridget said. ‘Don’t we have a say in this?’
‘The King of the Holdings has proclaimed Duncan as the chief of your people. He will represent you in the royal court.’
Bridget frowned.
‘It�
��s a sad fact, Bridget,’ Laodoc said, ‘that currently the republic depends upon Kellach coal for heating. Most of the mines in Rahain are closed through lack of labour, and only the imports from your land are keeping the peasants from freezing. Hopefully, as it gets warmer come the New Year, we will need less.’
‘But until then we should stay away?’ Bridget said. ‘And let you dig up and despoil our land? Are you worried we might go home and put a stop to your pillaging?’
‘Bridget,’ Killop said, ‘you and I will talk about this later.’
Bridget pursed her lips, gazing at Laodoc. ‘We’ll continue this another time then, Chancellor.’
‘I look forward to our frank discussions, Bridget,’ he bowed.
An assistant raised his hand, and Laodoc looked up.
‘Ahh,’ he said. ‘The preparations are complete.’
They walked over to where the podium and chairs had been set on the grass. Laodoc went up to the small platform, and turned to the little crowd as they took their seats.
‘Greetings to you all,’ he said, ‘to my fellow Rahain citizens, and to those from Kellach Brigdomin. Here, on the last day of winter, something long awaited has occurred. Those who used to be slaves will own a piece of the land that enslaved them. They will become masters of their lives again, able to exercise their rights as free men and women, reclaiming something that should never have been stolen.
‘In my capacity as chancellor-elect, and on behalf of the Rahain Republic, I apologise to the people of Kellach Brigdomin without reservation, and wish to share my deep regret at the suffering they have endured. I offer this estate from my own private resources, as my personal share of the compensation owed to them. I first saw this mansion, and the fine lands that make up the Slateford valley, when I was a young boy, when my father brought me here to view my inheritance. Since that time I have spent many wonderful days and nights here, and brought my own children when they were old enough.’ He paused, closing his eyes for a second.
‘Happy times,’ he said. ‘However, my interests moved on, and I stopped coming many years ago, choosing instead to devote my life to the politics of the republic. It is fitting I feel, that this generous and beautiful estate passes on to people who will use it well, who will develop it and become part of it, and love it as much as I.’
He nodded to Killop, who stood and approached the podium.
Laodoc removed a large set of keys from his long coat and held them up.
‘I present these keys to you, Chief Killop of the Severed Clan,’ he said, ‘and with them all claims, deeds and entitlements to the estate of Slateford in perpetuity.’
Killop took the keys, amid polite applause from the Rahain.
‘Thank you, Chancellor-Elect,’ he said, ‘your generosity will be celebrated among our folk. You’ll always be welcome to visit, and I hope that you’ll use Slateford as a retreat, somewhere you can rest from the pressures of the chancellorship.’
Laodoc extended his hand, and Killop grasped it. The Rahain and Kellach who were watching broke into applause and cheering. Drinks were served again, and food, and Laodoc and Killop shook everyone’s hands while they chatted in the noon sunshine.
‘I will have to depart soon,’ Laodoc said to Killop as the afternoon wore on. ‘I need to speak to you alone.’
He nodded, and they walked away from the small crowd. Laodoc dismissed his guards, and led Killop up a track by the little river, in the direction of the waterfall.
‘I wish I’d come here more often,’ Laodoc sighed. ‘I had almost forgotten how beautiful it is.’
‘It’s perfect for us,’ Killop said. ‘The altitude keeps it cool, but it’s fertile and sheltered, with a good bit of snow in the winter. It’ll feel like home for most of the Kellach.’
‘It does rain a lot,’ Laodoc said. ‘We were lucky with the weather today.’
‘Rains every day in Kell,’ Killop smiled. ‘Twice a day in Lach.’
They stopped as the track narrowed by the edge of a sharp ravine, where the river tumbled down over jagged rocks. Trees that were beginning to bud overhung the white water, while flowers dotted the grassy banks. Birds were singing in the branches, having migrated south from the Holdings where they flew each winter.
Killop closed his eyes.
‘I killed your son, Laodoc,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry.’
Laodoc blinked, and looked away. His mouth opened, but the roar from the river drowned out any noise he made. The old man seemed to shrink, his shoulders hunching, his head drooping.
They stood in silence for a long time, with the river and birds for company.
Without warning, Laodoc began striding back down the track. Killop followed, and they left the river behind. Laodoc kept a pace ahead as they walked.
‘Say something,’ Killop said.
Laodoc ignored him.
‘Say something!’
Laodoc turned. His face was red with rage, his tongue flickering.
‘Say what exactly?’ he cried. ‘What do you want me to say? “I forgive you”? I already knew the fate of Likiat, I already knew he died when he led an army to the Severed City. I already knew you killed him, Killop. What possible reason would you have for bringing it up now? It was a war, many died. How many deaths are on my conscience? Every decision I make as chancellor involves death. Which districts get heating, which areas get supplies, who gets conscripted into the army, and who is sent to fight rebels in the mountains…’
‘I wanted to be honest.’
Laodoc shook his head. ‘I have lost both my sons. Likiat to you, and Ruellap has fled with the rebel committee and is as good as dead to me. Neither loss comes close to the pain I still feel over Simiona. The last time I was here, with you and her, was the closest I’ve been to feeling happy in many years.’ He sighed, his anger seeming to leave him. ‘I do forgive you Killop. But I never want to talk about this again.’
Killop nodded, and they resumed walking.
They got in sight of the mansion, and Laodoc turned to him.
‘There is something I must tell you too.’
Killop nodded, his attention distracted by the sight of Larissa walking up the path towards them.
‘Are you listening?’
‘Aye.’
‘Kylon lied to you.’
‘What?’
‘He told you Daphne was dead. That was a lie.’
Killop’s mouth dried up. He faced the old man, staring. Laodoc’s tongue flickered.
‘Daphne is alive.’
Killop gasped. ‘You know this?’
‘Know it? She escorted me all the way to Plateau City. I saw her nearly every day, watching as her pregnancy progressed.’
‘Are you playing with me?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Pregnant?’
‘Yes. If everything went well, you became a father nearly two thirds ago.’
Killop staggered. He put his hands on his knees, his breath coming fast.
‘She’ll be travelling here in a few thirds,’ Laodoc said, ‘as soon as the baby’s old enough.’
‘Kylon,’ Killop groaned. ‘You fucking bastard.’
Larissa reached them.
‘What’s up?’ she asked, glancing at Killop and Laodoc, the lines on her brow crinkling.
Killop looked up at her, unable to say anything, his eyes red.
He fell to his knees and vomited onto the grass.
Chapter 33
Conditional Offer
Rahain Capital, Rahain Republic – New Year’s Day 506
‘It’s not fair,’ Hodang said. ‘In fact, it’s a blatant insult.’
‘I assure you, Chief Minister,’ the Holdings courtier said, ‘no insult is intended.’
‘We demand the same attendance at the coronation as is currently sat in there now,’ Hodang went on, his face reddening. ‘If they can watch Laodoc become chancellor, then they can stay to watch Lord Agang Garo become king.’
The courtier opened his palms.
‘Unfortunately, several of the high-ranking officials are required elsewhere once the inauguration is over. Nevertheless, Field Marshal Howie, and Chancellor Laodoc himself will both be there, along with many other notables, cavalry officers and priests.’
Agang sighed, watching the pair bicker. Now that his day had come, he just wanted it to be over. He fidgeted in his seat, the long regal robes uncomfortable and making him sweat. Echtang stood to his right, dressed as a prince but looking bored and fed up. Chane was pacing. He had dismissed her from his guard, in anticipation of appointing her to his royal council, but she had chosen to wear a military uniform rather than one of the dresses he had picked out for her. Mandalecht was standing stiff, as if on parade, although Agang could tell from his expression that the man was sleeping on his feet, an old trick of his, perfected over countless hours of dull meetings.
His high mage Badolecht was two rooms away in the main senate chamber, witnessing the promotion of Laodoc to chancellor, the first in a series of elaborate ceremonies planned for New Year’s Day. Agang was next, followed by a long Holdings religious ritual he was already regretting having agreed to attend.
The door to the chamber opened, and Drechtan entered.
‘My lord,’ he said, bowing with a flourish. He was dressed in rich robes that seemed a size too large for him, and his hair was tied back and shimmering with oil. ‘Soon to be our king.’
Agang nodded.
A servant passed him a glass of water, and he drank a little, not wanting to need a piss when a crown was being lowered onto his head.
‘I thought you were watching Laodoc get inaugurated?’
‘I slipped away quietly,’ Drechtan said. ‘The ceremony is all but over, and I wanted to make sure I was ready to join you as you enter the hall.’
He pulled a hipflask from his robes and took a sip. The Holdings courtiers looked the other way.
The Magelands Box Set Page 89