‘Are you advising that I marry her?’ Agang said.
‘The crown would be strengthened immeasurably, your Majesty,’ Hodang said, ‘were you to unite the north and south of Sanang.’
Agang sat back, gazing at the cloth-covered figure sitting in silence before him. He could be Lord of Beechwoods, Broadwater, Mya and Oakenvale were he to wed this girl. Never since the time of the tyrant soulwitches would so much of Sanang be under one government.
‘The people would love a royal wedding,’ Hodang said. ‘It would take their minds off the setbacks in the south.’
‘How old is she?’ Chane asked.
Hodang glanced over at her. ‘Fourteen.’
‘What?’ cried Chane. ‘She’s too young…’
‘How dare you,’ said the older woman. ‘Her ladyship is not too young. She has bled. She is a woman.’
‘She’s a girl,’ Chane said. ‘She’s…’
‘Enough, Chane,’ Agang said. ‘You have our agreement on this. Her ladyship is too young to be my wife.’
The face of the older woman fell, shame filling her features.
‘However,’ Agang went on, ‘there is a solution. Someone who is closer in age to her ladyship.’
He turned and beckoned over his nephew.
‘Prince Gadang,’ Agang said as the young man approached. ‘Greet your newly betrothed, Lady Oakenvale.’
‘What?’ he gasped.
‘You do us great honour, your Majesty,’ the older woman said, bowing.
‘Hodang will get the wedding preparations underway.’ Agang stood and slapped Gadang on the back. ‘Congratulations, my boy. Stay here, get to know your new bride.’
‘When will the marriage take place?’ the older woman said.
‘Shall we say Autumn’s Day?’ Agang smiled.
‘Thank you, your Majesty.’
Agang, Chane and Hodang left the female enclosure and went downstairs to the king’s personal quarters.
‘A drink,’ said Agang, gesturing to a servant. ‘We should celebrate.’
Chane narrowed her eyes. ‘Celebrate what? Oakenvale is in ashes. You bartered that girl away while her father’s body still smoulders.’
‘Bartered?’ Agang said. ‘That girl will be Queen of Sanang one day.’
‘Don’t say that, your Majesty,’ Hodang said.
‘You know I have no desire to get married or have children,’ he said. ‘Gadang is next in line to the throne. He will inherit the realm after me.’
‘It’s difficult to think of children when we’re always fighting one war or another,’ Hodang said. ‘Maybe you’ll feel different once the rebellion’s over and the land is at peace. Then thoughts of a family might settle in your mind.’
‘I wouldn’t count on it,’ Agang said. ‘The idea of being a father fills me with terror.’
Chane caught his glance. She looked away, biting her lip.
Agang sat back and sipped his mead, blocking his mind to the last memories of his own father.
Chapter 8
Service
Slateford, Rahain Republic – 10th Day, First Third Autumn 506
Killop shielded his eyes. ‘Now, Lilyann.’
The young fire mage tensed, then swung her arm over her shoulder. A fireball a yard wide soared through the air and exploded against the towering walls of the deep quarry.
‘She’s not bad,’ said Bridget from where she sat cross-legged on a large fragment of slate. ‘Nowhere near as good as Keira mind, but not bad.’
‘She needs more practice,’ Killop said, as Lilyann scowled at the herald. ‘They both do.’
He glanced over to where Liam the old sparker was standing next to a roaring fire coaching Dean, the clan’s other teenage mage.
‘I’m not criticising,’ Bridget said. ‘I’ve think Liam’s done great to get them this good.’
‘This good?’ Lilyann spat. ‘I fought in the Battle for the Gates, I don’t have to prove myself to you.’
‘Calm down, ya wee radge,’ Bridget said.
‘Ye cannae speak to me like that, ya auld cow.’
‘I’ll speak to you any way I fucking like.’
Lilyann turned to Killop. ‘Can you not get rid of her? She’s putting me off.’
‘If you’re angry, use it,’ Killop said. ‘Show us what you can do.’
The young mage glared at Bridget, who smirked and winked. Lilyann turned to the fire blazing next to her on the floor of the cavernous quarry, and raised her hands. A giant mass of roiling flames lifted up in a roar. It hung over their heads for a moment, causing sparks to fall like rain upon them.
‘Hey!’ cried Bridget. ‘Watch it!’
Lilyann grinned, then flung her arms ahead of her. The fireball followed, arcing through the air before crashing halfway up the side of the quarry-face, sending shards of slate flying amid a cloud of dust and smoke.
Killop gazed down at the extinguished fire as Lilyann crowed in delight.
‘You used all the fuel in one go,’ he said. ‘You’re getting stronger.’
‘All brute force,’ Bridget said. ‘Nae finesse.’
Killop frowned. ‘I’ve heard you say that’s how I fight.’
‘Did ye see that, Dean?’ Lilyann called over to the boy mage.
‘Tell you what I can see from here,’ Dean shouted back. ‘Your fucking big head.’
Lilyann cackled, and ran over to join him by the other fire.
Bridget jumped to the ground, wiping flakes of ash from her hair. She stood next to Killop.
‘I still don’t like her,’ she said. ‘Too much lip.’
He shrugged. ‘She’s a fire mage.’
‘It was a good idea to bring them to the quarry.’
‘It’s the safest place for it. Didn’t want them burning the forest down, or accidentally torching some farmer’s cottage. And, no one will see them.’
‘Good,’ she said. ‘Pity we can’t make them stay here.’
‘Keeping them locked up in the mansion’s bad enough,’ he said. ‘I feel sorry for them. They’re young, they need their freedom.’
‘But we have to keep them out of sight,’ she said. ‘The less folk know about them the better. Have you read the latest letter from that idiot Duncan in Plateau City?’
‘Not yet.’
‘Well, aside from the usual shite about acknowledging him as chief of all the Kellach Brigdomin, he wants us to send him any mages we have.’
‘What does he want with our mages?’
‘Something to do with the Holdings religion, I think. Duncan was vague on the details.’
‘There’s no way we’re giving up Lilyann or Dean, or Liam for that matter. We’re not handing them over to a bunch of Holdings priests.’
‘Then we have to be extra careful,’ she said. ‘Recruitment officers from the alliance army are on the estate, and if they see the mages, or hear folk talk about them, they might tell the priests back at the fort.’
‘Most of the alliance soldiers I’ve met don’t seem to give a shit about the priests.’
‘Aye,’ Bridget said, ‘but the new lizard units coming in are made up of converts to the creator-faith.’
‘Why would any Rahain take up the Holdings religion?’
Bridget sighed. ‘They’re desperate. Their land has been conquered, when they’ve been told for ages that they’re the masters of the world. The creator-faith is giving them hope.’
‘A fool’s hope,’ Killop said. ‘Coming back to life after you’re dead?’
‘You know what I think?’ Bridget said. ‘The lizards have been slaves so long they just want someone to tell them what to do.’
They walked over to the other fire. Liam was close to Dean, holding his hands and gesturing with them, going over the same patterns. Lilyann stood by, arms folded, grinning.
‘Chief,’ Liam said.
‘It’s time to go,’ Killop said. ‘The workers will be coming back from the vineyards. They’ll no doubt be hungry.’
‘Haven’t
you got people for that?’ Lilyann said. ‘Why do you have to serve labourers?’
‘The grape harvest brings in most of the money we need to live here,’ Bridget said, as they started to walk across the quarry basin towards a path down to the river. ‘We can just about feed ourselves from the crops we grow, but we need gold for everything else. I think it’s right to help those working to bring in the harvest.’
Killop glanced at Lilyann. ‘I’m thinking of making it a clan tradition. Every year when the grapes are brought in, the leaders of the clan will serve the workers.’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘I’m not doing it.’
Killop laughed. ‘As much as I’d love to see you in an apron serving bread and ale to folk, you won’t be needed. You and Dean are going back to the big house.’
‘Aw,’ said Dean. ‘I’d rather put on an apron than sit inside all day.’
‘It’s just until the harvest’s over. A few more days.’
‘You know Dean,’ said Lilyann, ‘I heard a rumour that all slaves were supposed to be freed. Obviously no one’s told our great chief.’
Dean spat on the ground.
‘Once the harvest’s done,’ Killop said, ‘you can have the run of the big house and all the grounds up to the waterfalls.’
‘I want to go into town,’ Lilyann said.
‘No.’
‘I hate you.’
Killop took a breath.
‘He’s the chief,’ said Bridget. ‘You’ll do as he says.’
‘He talks to me like he thinks he’s my father. I feel sorry for that daughter of his who’s meant to be coming here. And for his Holdings woman, although maybe she likes hairy brutes for all I know.’
‘Watch your tongue Lilyann,’ Bridget said, before Killop could lose his temper. ‘Say what you like about us, but don’t speak about Daphne and Karalyn.’
‘We give you a lot of leeway,’ Killop said, ‘because we know it’s hard for you. I know you don’t want to be shut up in the big house, but there are too many folk around. Just be patient for a few days, until the alliance recruiters leave.’
Lilyann scowled, but fell silent.
They reached the edge of the river, and filed down a narrow path past a waterfall. The leaves of the overhanging trees were red and orange, and glowed in the mid-morning sunshine.
‘I’m not going to join the army,’ Dean said.
‘You’re too young anyway,’ Lilyann said. ‘They wouldn’t take you.’
‘Why did you let them in?’ Dean said.
Killop drew alongside the others as the path widened.
‘Laodoc asked me,’ he said. ‘Sent me a personal letter. He told me that the fighting in the south is not going well, but the empire’s pulling more Holdings troopers back to the Plateau. They’re getting replaced by the new army of freed slaves that Laodoc’s government has created, but they’re desperate for experienced warriors to fill the gaps.’
He shrugged. ‘I couldn’t say no. As Laodoc reminded me, there are still thirty thousand Kellach slaves in the south. We need to do something to help them.’
‘How many will join up, do you think?’ Dean asked.
‘A couple of thousand, maybe,’ Killop said. ‘The restless, and those still bearing a grudge against their old masters. I took my own share of revenge after I escaped. I won’t judge anyone else who does the same.’
Killop sent Liam to escort Lilyann and Dean back to the mansion, and walked with Bridget to the settlement at the foot of the vineyard terraces. Draewyn greeted them in the courtyard in front of the winery, where a long line of tables had been set up.
The Domm woman put down the jugs of ale she had been carrying, and strode towards them.
‘Here at last, Chief,’ she said.
‘I thought I’d fit in a quick training session with the mages,’ he said. ‘They’re fed up being stuck in the house.’
‘At least it keeps them out of trouble,’ she said. ‘Come on, get stuck in, there’s still plenty to do. You as well, Bridget.’
‘Stop nagging,’ the young Brig woman said. ‘Just tell me what to do.’
‘Ale and food are over there,’ Draewyn pointed, ‘in the shade of that tree. We need it all up on the tables. The first labourers will be here in a few minutes.’
Killop and Bridget walked over and picked up baskets of bread, pork slices and olives. When they got back to the tables, others were there, setting out rows of ale mugs.
‘Hi Chief,’ Conal said, a long apron covering his front.
‘How you getting on?’ Killop said.
‘Great,’ Conal said. ‘Busy. It’s going to be a hectic few days.’
‘You heard from Koreen?’ Bridget asked.
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘She’s settling into her wee place up the hills. I went to see her the other day, she’s loving the peace and quiet.’
‘Does she not like us?’ Draewyn said.
Conal’s face fell. ‘She’s had a rough time.’
‘So has everyone else in the clan,’ Draewyn said, ‘but if we all went to live in the hills, there’d be no one left to do the work.’
‘Leave her be,’ Dyam said. ‘She’ll come down in her own time.’
Draewyn frowned.
Bridget strode over to Killop. ‘Remember we’ve got those Rahain merchants coming tomorrow. We’ll need to go into town to meet them.’
Killop nodded. ‘When?’
‘Early.’
Draewyn raised an eyebrow. ‘You two spend a lot of time together. You’d better watch your Holdings woman doesnae get too jealous when she arrives.’
‘I’m looking forward to meeting her,’ Conal said.
‘You’ll like her,’ said Bridget.
‘She must be something special for Killop to have dropped Kallie for her. I heard they’ve only met twice. Is it true?’
‘Aye,’ Draewyn said, rolling her eyes. ‘It’s a puzzle to us as well.’
‘Do we have to go over this again?’ Killop said.
‘What really gets me,’ Draewyn said, ‘is the face on poor Larissa when he told her. That lassie had chased him for ages, and when she’s finally got him, he tells her his long lost love is coming back, and bringing his child along with her.’
‘I hated doing that,’ Killop said, ‘but what was I supposed to do? Lie to her?’
‘I’m not blaming ye, son,’ Draewyn said. ‘Love is love, eh? But I cannae help feeling sorry for Larissa. I miss her, we all do.’
‘I saw the alliance recruiters when I was coming here,’ Dyam said, breaking the awkward silence. ‘They’re making their way to the winery, stopping at every village on the road so they could speak to folk. Their leader is a Holdings woman, but they have Kellach and Rahain soldiers along as well, all decked out in new armour.’
‘I can think of a few folk who’ll be happy to go back to fighting,’ Draewyn said.
‘The thought of it makes me feel sick,’ Conal said.
‘But what about all the enslaved Kellach in the south, son?’ Draewyn said.
‘Let the army deal with it,’ Conal said. ‘I’m not saying folk shouldn’t go, only that there’s no chance I’m putting on a uniform again.’
‘I thought about enlisting,’ said Dyam.
The others turned to her.
‘You’d make a brilliant officer,’ Killop said, ‘but you’re the clan’s schoolmistress, the best teacher we have. We need you here.’
Dyam glanced up, her pale features and blonde hair almost luminescent in the noon sunlight.
‘I know,’ she said. ‘That’s why I’m staying.’
Bridget looked up. ‘Here they come.’
From the road to their left a long column of labourers was marching, each carrying a heavy pair of filled baskets, hung from a bar across their shoulders. At their head was Brodie, looking both exhausted and ecstatic, his crutch hurrying him down from the terraced slopes.
‘Unload your baskets in the winery,’ Conal called out, walking over to meet th
em.
‘Aye,’ Brodie cried, ‘then it’s lunchtime.’
‘Got a good day for it,’ Bridget said.
‘Just in time, I call it,’ Brodie said, stopping by the line of tables as the column continued on behind him into the winery. ‘First frost is coming soon, and that would have been the end of us. We’re lucky the weather’s held out this long.’
Draewyn passed him a mug of ale. He leaned against the table and drank it in one long draught.
‘That’s the first terrace done,’ he said, wiping his chin. ‘Three days for the lot I reckon. You coming to the stomping party tonight?’
‘Oh aye,’ Draewyn said. ‘We’ll be there.’
Empty-handed labourers were emerging from the winery, and began queuing at the tables. Killop and the others handed out ale and plates of food, and the workers sat, filling the courtyard. As the last were served, Conal came back out of the winery, wiping his hands with a rag.
‘They filled two vats,’ he grinned. ‘If they get another two this afternoon, we’re going to be up all night.’
Brodie frowned. ‘I’m starting to worry we won’t have enough barrels.’
‘Relax,’ Killop said, pouring ale into a line of mugs. ‘One thing at a time. Let’s get the grapes in first.’
‘That was braw,’ a young labourer said, placing her empty plate and mug onto the table. ‘What are we getting for dinner?’
‘Roasting a few pigs,’ Bridget said.
The labourer grinned.
Brodie clapped his hands. ‘Right, break’s over. Back to work.’
After lunch was cleared away, Killop and the others began preparations for dinner and the grape stomping party. Kalden arrived with a few militia to help out, and by the time the sun was setting, everything was ready. The labourers returned from the terraces, again laden with heavy baskets, and dinner was served around a great fire in the middle of the courtyard.
When the last worker had been handed their food and drink, Killop took a mug for himself and savoured a cold ale. He watched the folk of his clan eating and laughing round the fire, and allowed himself a small measure of pride.
‘Remember,’ Brodie cried out. ‘Don’t get too drunk!’
The Magelands Box Set Page 102