‘This is better than lunch,’ Daphne said to Killop. ‘I must admit, I was a bit bored.’
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘We like to get the formal stuff out of the way early, so when dinner begins we can all just relax, and nobody has to worry about making a speech or anything.’
‘And Draewyn hasn’t annoyed me once.’
Killop nodded. ‘I had a word with her.’
‘You didn’t, did you?’
‘I couldn’t let her speak about you like that.’
‘Thanks for sticking up for me,’ she said, ‘but I can handle Draewyn. Now she’ll think I actually care what she says.’
‘Maybe you don’t, but I do.’
She felt a wave of tiredness come from Karalyn. Bedig glanced at her.
‘She’s getting sleepy,’ he said. ‘Do you want me to take her in?’
‘Thanks Bedig.’
She leaned forwards and kissed her daughter.
‘Nighty-night, Kara-bear.’
Killop came round and held her for a minute, then passed her to Bedig, and they watched the Brig man carry her away.
‘I envy him,’ Killop said in a low voice as he sat back down.
‘You’re the one she decided to link minds with,’ Daphne whispered. ‘I think she knows who her father is.’
‘Bedig’s great with her.’
‘Bedig is that way with everyone,’ she said. ‘He’s naturally cheerful and good-natured. That’s why so many girls chase after him.’
‘But not any more, I hope?’
‘We’ll see.’
Kalden came over to the table, and caught Killop’s attention. Daphne nudged him, signalled that she was going for a smoke, and stood. She dodged the serving boys and girls, and the more enthusiastic dancers, and made for a patch of trees near the gardens to the north of the courtyard.
Taking shelter under the bare branches of a tree, she lit a small stick of keenweed, and watched the festivities.
‘What did you really do, Daphne?’
‘What?’ Daphne said, turning. ‘Oh, it’s you Lilyann. You’re not on about the Creator again are you?’
‘I need to understand,’ the young mage said, coming forward.
‘Why?’
‘If the Creator loves everyone, then what did you do to make him hate you?’
‘Does he hate me?’ Daphne said. ‘Or is it the One True Path that hates me?’
‘Deacon Millar said that the Creator had spurned you.’
‘Did you know,’ Daphne said, taking a draw, ‘that the church has made it illegal for anyone to marry or have a relationship with someone from another race? They say it’s wrong, that Holdings should stick with Holdings, Rahain with Rahain, and Kellach with Kellach. Now, laying aside what business it is of the church who people sleep with, did this new law come from the Creator, or the Lord Vicar?’
‘It must have come from the Creator, I suppose.’
‘So why is it a new law? If the Creator is all wise, it would have always been wrong. Why has he changed his mind?’
Lilyann paused, her eyebrows furrowed. ‘Karalyn?’
Daphne shrugged. ‘Whatever the reason, do you think someone should go to prison for loving the wrong person?’
‘I don’t know,’ Lilyann said. ‘I’ve never met anyone from Rakana, but I’ve heard they look pretty weird. And I can’t ever see a Kellach getting together with a Rahain or a Sanang. Maybe we’re not meant to interbreed.’
‘I reject that,’ Daphne said. ‘No one tells me who I can or can’t love. And no one can tell me that Karalyn’s life is worth less than anyone else’s.’
‘I’m confused,’ Lilyann smirked. ‘You know the Creator is real, and you reject what he says?’
‘You’re damn right I do,’ Daphne said. ‘He’s got no more say over my life than you or anyone else.’
‘You’re putting your soul in danger.’
Daphne snorted. ‘My soul?’ She shook her head. ‘A bedtime story that the church invented to control the peasants. Suffer in this life, do what you’re told, and everything will be great in the next.’
‘You’re a liar.’
Daphne straightened. ‘Steady,’ she said. ‘Just because we disagree, doesn’t mean I’m lying. I’ve been having debates about the Creator all my life. With my family, at university. I’ve met lots of enthusiastic believers. You though, I think are just rebelling.’
‘What?’
‘Where I’m from,’ Daphne said. ‘To rebel meant to go out to parties and get drunk. But here, to rebel means to give up drinking, never go out and stay in all the time praying.’
‘You don’t know me,’ Lilyann said. ‘Deacon Millar was right, you’re an evil cow.’
She turned and walked away through the snow, which was lying thick on the ground.
Daphne sighed, her breath forming a cloud. She wasn’t making many friends. She dropped the end of the smokestick, and trod on it.
She heard a loud yell from the front of the mansion.
‘You fucking prick!’ screamed Bridget.
Daphne hurried towards the mansion. The noise from the party was echoing round the courtyard, and no one else seemed to have noticed Bridget’s cry. The keenweed, she smiled, it had its uses.
Light was shining through the big bay windows at the front of the building. On the steps, Bridget and Bedig were rowing. As Daphne approached, Bridget swung her arm and punched Bedig on the chin. He slipped and fell back, landing in the snow.
‘Oww, Bridget,’ Bedig yelled. ‘I didn’t do anything!’
‘You’re a fucking arsehole,’ Bridget said. She paused, seeing Daphne.
‘What did he do?’
‘I went looking for him,’ she said. ‘Found the dipshit in the mansion, groping some blonde lassie, his hands all over her…’
‘I wasn’t!’ Bedig cried, rising to his feet.
‘We’re finished,’ Bridget spat at him. ‘Stay out of my sight. I’m away to get reeking.’
She stormed off down the stairs and disappeared into the snow.
‘I did not deserve that,’ Bedig said, brushing dirt off his clothes.
‘Are you sure?’ Daphne smiled.
‘That lassie in there was all over me,’ he said. ‘I was trying to push her off.’
‘Right,’ Daphne said. ‘You know that cabin up the mountain? Maybe you should think about…’
‘No way,’ he said. ‘I’m staying here. I’m going to win her back.’
There was a huge crash, as if tables were collapsing, and drunken yells of surprise and mirth.
Bedig winced. ‘There’s a good chance that’s Bridget going mental.’
‘Let’s go see.’
They walked down the steps through the thickening swirl of snowflakes, towards the nearest fire and the sounds of laughter.
Chapter 19
Speaking to Power
Mya River, Kingdom of Sanang – 15th Day, Last Third Autumn 506
Agang lay in darkness, listening to the rain pounding on the canvas a few feet above his head. He felt the wagon come to a halt, and voices approach.
The flap at the rear was pulled open, sending grey light into the interior where Agang lay. Arms reached in, and he was hauled out, his feet sinking into the thick mud by the gates of a fortress, the rain pelting down upon him. Warriors gathered round, and a hood was tied over his head. His arms were twisted behind his back, and he was bundled through an entranceway, and pushed up a long and narrow flight of wooden stairs. He stumbled in the darkness, landing heavily. Warriors cursed, and pulled him back to his feet. At the top of the flight he heard a door open. He was shoved through, and fell sprawling across the cold wooden floor.
The door was slammed shut behind him.
He raised his hands and ripped off his hood, his eyes blinking into the dim light of a small room.
‘Are you all right?’
He glanced over, and saw Hodang sitting cross-legged on the floor, shivering in the cold.
Agan
g nodded, and got to his feet. Seated by either side of the door were the two Holdings he had seen at Broadwater, the woman with the white face-paint, and the older man, their crossbows trained on him. At the other end of the cell crouched the girl. Her face was visible, but she kept her glance down to avoid eye contact.
Agang walked over to a narrow window and stared down at the forest.
‘Anganecht’s old fortress on the Mya,’ he muttered.
‘Yes,’ said Hodang. ‘Though from the state of it, I would guess that it hasn’t been occupied since the old chief was killed in the Plateau last summer.’
‘How long have you been up here?’
‘A couple of hours,’ the old man said. ‘I must have been near the front of B’Dang’s army when it arrived at the river this morning.’
‘It’s good to see you.’
‘And you,’ Hodang said.
‘How long’s it been? I’ve been kept in a covered wagon, and lost track of time.’
‘Well,’ Hodang said, ‘it’s been twenty days since Broadwater fell, and we were separated when the army moved out on the third dawn after that.’
‘Anyone spoken to you?’
Hodang shook his head.
Agang picked up a cup from the floor and stretched his arm out of the window. He waited until it had filled with rainwater, then turned and offered it to Hodang.
‘Thank you,’ said Hodang, sipping. ‘Is anything happening out there?’
‘Just the rain,’ Agang said. ‘And tents, mud and thousands of wet warriors.’
Hodang passed him the empty cup, and he held his arm out into the rain again. He glanced down the hill to the banks of the Mya river, where masses of warriors were still crossing.
‘Fifty, sixty thousand?’ Agang said. ‘Too many to count.’
‘Before we left Broadwater,’ said Hodang, ‘I overheard the Clackdomyn man say that every Sanang male had been ordered to assemble.’
Agang shook his head.
He brought the full cup back inside and walked across the cell to the girl.
‘Here,’ he said.
She ignored him.
‘You need to drink.’
The girl shook her head.
‘Suit yourself.’ Agang walked back to Hodang, and sat next to him on the cold floor.
Hodang nodded over to where a small slops bucket sat in the corner of the cell. ‘I’m not sure a princess would be happy about using that in front of strangers.’
‘She’d rather die of thirst?’
Hodang shrugged. ‘She’s probably hoping it doesn’t come to that.’
Agang tutted and shook his head. ‘Stupid girl.’
The door was pushed open.
‘Morning,’ said Leah, entering. The two Holdings guards by the door sat up straight.
Leah wiped strands of wet hair from her face.
‘It’s pishing it down out there,’ she said. ‘Like a summer’s day in Lach.’
‘How can we help you, madam?’ Hodang said.
‘I’m not a fucking madam. I’m the poor bastard who got the job of looking after you arseholes.’
She scanned the room.
‘You cold?’
‘Yes,’ Hodang said.
‘Hungry?’
They nodded.
‘Right. I’ll sort it. You’ve got visitors coming soon to ask you some questions, better get some food in you first.’
She clicked her fingers, and a pair of Sanang trotted into the cell, carrying blankets and a box of food. Agang noticed that they diverted their glances from the white-faced Holdings woman, and stayed clear of where she sat by the door.
‘And some more seats,’ Leah said.
The Sanang nodded and left, returning a moment later with a stack of wooden chairs.
‘I’ll be back soon,’ Leah said. She left with the Sanang, and closed the door. The Holdings guards relaxed, but kept their crossbows trained on Agang and Hodang.
Agang rooted through the box of food, while Hodang took a blanket for himself, and threw one to the girl, who wrapped it round her shoulders.
Hodang looked at the guards.
‘What are your names?’ he said.
The Holdings glanced at each other.
‘I’m Niall,’ the man said. ‘She’s Flora.’
The white-faced woman scowled at him.
‘What?’ he said. ‘No one told us we weren’t allowed to speak. Way I see it, we’re going to be stuck together for a while. We may as well talk to them.’
The white-faced woman shook her head.
‘Come on,’ Niall said. ‘We get all the shit jobs these days. Guarding these guys is bad enough, but having to keep quiet at the same time?’
‘All that weed, Niall,’ Flora said. ‘It’s messed up your head.’
Agang sat back against the wall, clutching the food he had retrieved from the box. Hodang remained standing.
‘It intrigues me,’ the old man said, ‘to see two Holdings assisting the firewitch. From your uniform Niall, I would guess that you’re ex-alliance?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Then am I correct in assuming you were in the Rahain capital when the firewitch escaped?’
‘You heard about that, eh?’
Hodang nodded, while Agang sat and ate in silence.
‘Keira pretty much won the war for them,’ Niall went on, ‘and they stabbed her in the back.’
Agang snorted.
‘You got something to say, big fella?’ Niall said, his fingers drumming against his crossbow.
Agang looked up. He wanted to cry out, shout at the stupid Holdings traitor sitting before him, scream that Keira was a war criminal and a savage.
He shook his head.
‘Good,’ said Niall.
Hodang took some bread from the box and sat. ‘Do you know what Keira intends to do with us?’
Niall shrugged. ‘Nah. Though you’d be dead by now if she didn’t have some use for you.’
He looked over at the girl, who hadn’t moved all morning.
‘Hey you,’ he said. ‘You should eat something.’
The girl said nothing.
Niall glanced at Hodang. ‘Is she all right in the head?’
‘I think so.’
Niall squinted at her. ‘What’s your name, love?’
The girl gave him a look of scorn.
‘Girls aren’t named in Sanang,’ Hodang said. ‘She is the widow of Prince Gadang Gabo, that is her title.’
‘Yeah,’ Niall said. ‘I remember hearing some bullshit along those lines. Can’t get my head round it. How can somebody not have a name?’
‘Typical Sanang chauvinistic crap,’ Flora muttered, her white face almost glowing in the dim light of the cell.
‘It is a very outdated tradition,’ Hodang said, making Agang want to get up and punch him.
‘One that you did nothing to change,’ Flora said.
Hodang smiled. ‘Do you think that B’Dang D’Bang will usher in an era of enlightenment? Do you think he cares about the plight of women?’
‘Doesn’t matter what he thinks,’ Niall said. ‘Keira’s in charge.’
Flora grinned, her face-paint cracking.
‘May I ask, Miss Flora,’ Hodang said, ‘why do the warriors fear you?’
‘None of your business.’
The cell door opened and Leah walked in.
‘All eaten?’
‘She’s not,’ Niall said, pointing at the girl.
‘Leave the food out, she might get hungry later,’ Leah said. ‘First visitor’s here so be on your best behaviour.’ She turned and left the cell, and Kylon entered, holding a sheaf of papers, with maps and lists of figures. Flora and Niall straightened up and fell silent.
He set a chair down in the middle of the room, and Leah closed the door.
‘I want to ask you some questions.’
‘About what, may I enquire?’ said Hodang.
‘About where we’re going.’
‘And where would that be?’
‘The frontier wall.’
Agang glanced up at the black-clad Clackdomyn man. His long dark hair hung like a sheet, partly obscuring his clean-shaven face. He looked young, but his eyes were distant and grim.
Kylon stared at the two Sanang men.
‘Agang Garo,’ he said, ‘you’ve been to the wall, haven’t you?’
‘I’m sure there are many in B’Dang’s army that could tell you all about the wall.’
‘And I’ve spoken to them. I want to hear what you have to say.’
‘You want me to help you?’ Agang laughed. ‘You think I’ll betray Sanang?’
‘We’re bringing the empire down,’ Kylon said, ‘with or without your help. There are over a hundred thousand warriors gathered here. We’ll be at the imperial capital in a few thirds, ready to do what you couldn’t last year.’
Agang gasped. ‘A hundred thousand?’
‘Keira is persuasive.’
‘You fools,’ Agang said. ‘I brought peace to Sanang, and you’re destroying it. You only want our warriors as fodder for your mad plans against the empire.’
‘You’ve been deceived.’
Agang fell silent, worried that somehow the Clackdomyn man knew of the fake vision of the war god.
‘How?’ said Hodang.
‘The empire is not benevolent,’ Kylon said. ‘Everything is being ordered to follow the plan of the creator-faith, and its church. A plan that will destroy us all.’
‘And how do you know this?’ Hodang said.
‘I’m in contact with a mage who can see the mind of the Creator.’
Agang and Hodang caught each other’s eye.
‘It doesn’t matter that you don’t believe me,’ Kylon said. ‘Will you help us?’
‘I will,’ Hodang said before Agang could answer. ‘I could draw you a decent map of the whole frontier region, including the positions of the forts on the wall. I also know the best places this time of year for the army to find food supplies during the march.’
Kylon gazed at Hodang, nodding. He stood. ‘I’ll be back when I’ve got some time. We’ll go somewhere, and you can draw out a map for us.’ He turned to leave, then noticed the girl in the corner. He walked over and crouched down to her eye level.
‘What’s your name?’
‘She hasn’t got one, apparently,’ Niall said.
The Magelands Box Set Page 117