Duncan, Chief of the Plateau Clan
Rakanese
Shella, Flow Mage and Princess
Sami, Brother of Mage Shella
Thymo, Noli's son
Chapter 1
Sidelined
Hold Fast, Realm of the Holdings – 20th Day, First Third Summer 507
Killop brought his left index finger and thumb close together, and concentrated.
A crackling spark of white fire arced across the gap.
‘Daddy burn!’ Karalyn cried. ‘Again!’
He laughed, watching the delight in his daughter’s eyes.
‘Maybe later, wee bear,’ he said. ‘I’m hot enough as it is. Let’s see if we can find your mummy.’
They gazed out from the shade of the wagon at the endless plains of Daphne’s homeland. Killop felt almost dizzy at the sight. No mountains were visible, and not even a hillock ruined the perfect flat line of the horizon. The world was divided by that line. Greens and browns below, a vast sky of blue above. Another cloudless day, in the land where the sun ruled from its burning throne as it scorched the earth below. Dust billowed up from the wheels of the wagon trundling down the road, drying their throats and covering their skin and clothes.
He gripped the reins in his right hand and reached under the driver’s bench for the water bottle, sweat streaking the dirt on his arms.
‘Mummy there,’ Karalyn pointed.
Killop stared into the distance, following her finger, but could see nothing.
‘Are you seeing her in your mind, wee bear?’
‘Aye, daddy. Mummy on the horse.’
He took a large swig of lukewarm water. The closer they had got to Hold Fast, the more Daphne had gone out on her stallion. Though she did her best to hide it, her growing anxiety was clear to him.
Karalyn pointed again, and he looked up. Ahead was a small cloud of dust, moving towards them. Half a minute later, the rider beneath became visible, racing across the green pasturelands. He half-filled a mug with water and passed it to Karalyn.
‘Drink,’ he said.
She took the mug and slurped the water, much of it going down her chin.
The horse and its rider grew closer. Killop smiled. Daphne never looked more beautiful than when she was in the saddle, as if she had been born to be on the back of a horse. He gazed at the expression on her face as she guided the stallion towards the wagon, trying to fix it in his memory.
Daphne slowed the racing beast to a trot as she came alongside.
Killop threw her the water bottle, and she splashed a handful over her face, wiping the dust from her dark skin.
‘We close to Hold Fast?’ he asked.
‘Close?’ she smiled. ‘We’re in it.’
‘I didn’t notice any signs.’
‘You passed a marker stone about a mile back.’
‘We did?’
She nodded, and took a drink.
‘Welcome home,’ he said. ‘Feel good?’
She threw back the bottle, and jumped across to the wagon, the reins looped round her crippled left hand. She tied them to the side post by the driver’s bench, and sat down next to Karalyn and Killop under the shade of the canopy.
‘A bit nervous,’ she said.
‘There’s still time to use your powers to let them know we’re coming.’
She shook her head. ‘I’ve checked to make sure they’re all at home,’ she said, ‘but I still want our arrival to be a secret.’
‘Word will get out,’ he said. ‘Once you’re home, the church will know you’re back.’
‘I know, but it’s important that they find out after I get there, so they can’t try to stop me.’
‘The roads you’ve led us,’ he said, ‘hugging the coastline, we’ve barely seen another person in days. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the Holdings was empty.’
‘I didn’t want to risk the crowds in the River Holdings,’ she said, ‘not when the imperials are out recruiting.’
‘You think they’ll come up here?’
Daphne glanced over the empty lands on either side of the road.
‘Looks like they’ve already been.’
Killop frowned.
‘These plains should be teeming with horses,’ she went on, ‘but I haven’t seen one since we crossed into Hold Fast. That usually only means one thing, that the army have come. Traditionally, the cavalry gets its troopers from the River Holdings, its officers from the noble estates, and its horses from Hold Fast. Presumably the imperial army is doing the same.’
‘What’s the Emperor wanting with another army?’
Daphne raised an eyebrow. ‘After your sister killed so many soldiers, there are barely enough left to form a regiment.’
He looked away, biting his tongue.
‘Sorry,’ Daphne said, ‘although, this is something we need to talk about. If we tell everyone who you are, then they’re going to know you’re Keira’s brother.’
‘I’m not responsible for her actions.’
‘I know that,’ she said, ‘but people are still going to make comments. You have to decide how you’re going to act when they do.’
‘I suppose punching them’s out of the question?’
She shrugged. ‘Depends who says it, and what they say. And you have to remember that you’re a Kellach Brigdomin. A punch from you could kill someone from the Holdings.’
He glanced down at Karalyn.
‘Maybe I could just think bad thoughts about them, and let wee bear fry their minds.’
Daphne frowned.
Killop suppressed a smile, and gazed ahead, as the sweltering horses pulled their wagon along the dusty road. Overhead, the sun bore down upon the land, and Killop felt the heat soak through him. It was hotter than he had ever experienced, and even under the shade of the canopy he could sense his skin burn. By the time the sun set each day his limbs and face had usually reddened, but when dawn came, his skin had turned a shade more tanned, and he guessed his natural Kellach healing abilities were keeping him from suffering too much sunburn.
Ahead, a whitewashed stone wall appeared, lining the road on the left, before turning and stretching across the plain. On the other side of the road a large building emerged from the heat haze, its high walls dazzling white, and its roof laid with deep-red tiles.
Beyond the line of the wall, the road became paved, and the wagon wheels clattered over the smooth flagstones as they left the dirt track behind.
‘We’re close,’ said Daphne.
Killop glanced at the building on their right as they passed it. Its windows and doors were boarded up, and no one was in sight. Along a flat, whitewashed section of wall was a sign painted in flaking red paint, Southern Troops 21-40. Behind the building stretched lines of stone stables, all deserted.
‘Usually this place is crazy busy,’ Daphne said. ‘I’ve only ever seen it like this when the first invasion of Sanang was being planned. Just about every horse troop in Hold Fast was involved in that. My father ended up paying for half the invasion force. Still, he forgot about that once the money started to pour in.’
She glanced at him. ‘Are you ready to practise your Holdings?’
‘I’ll give it a try.’
‘We’ll see how well I’ve taught you.’
‘I don’t know if taught is the right word for whatever it was you did to my head.’
She shrugged. ‘It worked on me when Kalayne put your language into my mind. I just tried the same on you, but in reverse.’
Killop nodded. Daphne’s native language tingled in his brain as if it had been burned into place. He hadn’t admitted to her how much the process had hurt, as night after night she had linked her mind to his and imprinted words and grammatical structures into him.
More buildings appeared through the haze, lines of cottages set back from the road, and a cluster of farm structures surrounding a well. A couple of men were standing, drawing water. They turned to gaze up at the wagon, their hands shielding their e
yes from the sun.
Daphne nodded to them as they passed, saying nothing.
The road grew wider, and the buildings larger, though all wore the same appearance, with whitewashed stone walls and red roofs. They passed a mason’s yard on their left, with an ironsmith’s beyond, while a pair of long, low buildings stretched away to their right. Outside were several Holdings men and women in light-green uniforms.
‘Members of the Hold Fast Company,’ Daphne said. ‘I used to ride with them before I went up to Holdings City to join the cavalry.’
A few curious glances were aimed in their direction, and Killop wondered if any had ever seen a Kellach Brigdomin before.
Karalyn pointed ahead. ‘Big house, mummy.’
Killop looked up. Two hundred yards in the distance loomed a great mansion, dazzling white in the sunlight, with balconies and terraces stacked up across its exterior, and fountains glistening and sparkling by the roadside.
‘Your home?’
Daphne nodded.
The road grew busier as they reached a long row of watering troughs on their right, as estate workers filled buckets and horses drank. A few glanced up at the wagon, but most paid no attention.
Daphne kept her head down as Killop steered the horses past the troughs. A large street opened up to the right, leading to a high tower and an enormous pavilion, with canopies like the sails on the ships he had seen when they had been travelling along the shores of the Inner Sea.
Killop squinted as he caught sight of something on the other side of the wide street.
‘Trees,’ he said. ‘I didn’t think there were any here.’
‘That’s the family nursery,’ Daphne said. ‘I remember my father planting the first saplings, taken from Sanang about ten years ago. It’s too hot and dry for some of the species, but a few seem to have flourished.’
Killop gazed at the thin trunks and dust covered leaves, not recognising any of the varieties within the fenced enclosure. Beyond, the road opened up, surrounding the great mansion. Unlike the solid, simple block that had comprised the Slateford estate house, the Hold Fast home spread out on multiple levels, with colonnades down the sides, and squat towers on each corner. As they approached, he saw a large elevated porch at the centre.
‘Maybe we should have come by the main entrance,’ Daphne said. ‘The front of the house looks much more impressive.’
Killop said nothing, his eyes taking in the wealth and power symbolised by the great mansion.
He noticed Daphne’s smile fade. He glanced back at the porch, and saw a small group sitting out on the long chairs and benches. A tall woman stood as the wagon approached. She narrowed her eyes and took a step forwards.
Killop swung the wagon to the side of the porch, where polished marble steps led up to where the woman stood. He flicked the reins and brought the wagon to a halt.
He glanced at Daphne, waiting for her to say something, but she was sitting in silence, her right fist clenched.
‘You all right?’ he whispered.
She nodded. Killop jumped down from the wagon, a wall of heat hitting him as soon as he had emerged from under the shade of the canopy. He held up his arms and Daphne passed Karalyn to him. She climbed down, her riding boots crunching on the gravel in front of the marble steps. She gazed up at the porch.
‘Daphne,’ the tall woman said.
‘Mother.’
‘Welcome home.’
‘Thank you.’
An older woman, dressed in a plain grey tunic, came forwards, leading two small children by the hand. She glanced at Daphne’s mother as if awaiting instruction, but the tall woman said nothing, her face expressionless.
Daphne took Karalyn from Killop.
‘This is my daughter,’ she said. ‘Our daughter.’
‘I recall hearing the news,’ her mother said. ‘Congratulations.’
‘And this is Killop.’
‘How do you do?’ said Killop in accented Holdings.
The tall woman’s eyes flickered over him for a second, then her gaze returned to Daphne.
‘Your father will be happy to see you, I’m sure,’ she said. ‘Come out of the sun, and I’ll have someone fetch him.’
Killop followed Daphne and Karalyn up the wide steps, the sweat starting to pour from him in the scorching light. The porch was covered with a large white awning, and they slipped back under the shade.
‘Excuse me a moment,’ Daphne’s mother said, then glided through the open doors into the interior of the house, her long gown flowing.
The older woman smiled at Daphne.
‘Welcome back, miss,’ she said. ‘You’ll be needing refreshments?’
‘Thanks, Jean,’ Daphne said.
Jean walked to a nearby table, and Daphne crouched down next to the two children.
‘Teddy, Lydia,’ she said. ‘I’m Aunty Daphne. I’ve come from far away to see everyone.’
She stood Karalyn on the ground next to them.
‘This is your cousin, Karalyn.’
‘Hello Karalyn,’ said Lydia. ‘I’m nearly three.’
Karalyn buried her face in Daphne’s cloak.
Jean handed Killop a glass of a cold, golden liquid. Expecting a beer, he took a long gulp, and grimaced. Daphne took a glass, and drank it down in one long draught. She sighed.
‘That’s the best iced tea I’ve had in years.’
Jean gazed down at Karalyn.
‘And how old is your little girl, miss?’ she said.
‘One year and four thirds.’
Jean’s mouth opened. ‘But she’s bigger than Lydia, miss.’
The woman knelt down next to the children.
‘Come on, Karalyn,’ she said. ‘Let me have a look at you.’
‘Karalyn not like you,’ the girl replied in Kellach, one eye peering out from behind Daphne’s cloak.
‘What did she say?’ asked Jean.
‘She’s just being shy,’ Daphne said. ‘Kara-bear, say hello to Mistress Jean.’
Karalyn scowled at the Holdings woman, then noticed the doll that Lydia was clutching in her hands.
‘Mine,’ she cried, ripping it from Lydia’s grasp. The Holdings girl burst into tears.
‘You give that back to my sister,’ Teddy yelled.
Karalyn shot him a dark look, and the boy’s eyes widened, and he started to tremble.
‘Kara-bear,’ Daphne said, as Lydia continued to cry, ‘that’s not nice.’
Teddy let out a whimper and cowered backwards. Jean raised an eyebrow, glancing from one child to the next.
Killop heard a low cough, and looked up.
‘I’ve sent out a call for your father,’ Daphne’s mother said from the doorway. She looked down at the doll in Karalyn’s hands and frowned. ‘What’s going on here? Are you unable to control your daughter?’
Daphne’s eyes smouldered, but she said nothing.
‘We’ll make sure she gives it back,’ said Killop.
Daphne’s mother ignored him, and he fell silent as the two Holdfast women glared at each other.
‘Maybe I should take Ariel’s children inside, my lady,’ Jean said.
‘Why on earth would you do that?’ Daphne’s mother said. ‘This is their home. They are not the strangers here.’
She reached down to take the doll from Karalyn, but froze when her hand was an inch away. She swayed, then put her hand to her forehead.
‘My lady, are you all right?’ Jean said.
‘A slight headache, that’s all,’ she said, straightening. ‘Lydia, would you please stop that wailing.’
The little girl quietened, though tears continued to run down her cheeks.
‘Daphne!’ a voice cried.
A man strode through the open doors and straight towards them.
‘Father,’ Daphne said, a tight smile on her lips.
‘My girl,’ the man said, embracing his daughter. ‘It’s wonderful to see you. Why didn’t you send me a message that you were coming?’
&n
bsp; ‘I wanted it to be a surprise.’
Her father turned to Killop, and extended his hand.
‘And you must be Killop of the Kellach Brigdomin. Chief of the Severed Clan, if I’m not mistaken.’
‘An honour to meet you, sir,’ Killop said, shaking the man’s hand.
‘The honour is mine, of course,’ Daphne’s father smiled. His glance lowered to Karalyn, and his features opened. A tear rolled down his cheek as he crouched down by her. ‘Little Karalyn, so pretty.’ He glanced up at Daphne. ‘What a beautiful girl,’ he said, his voice almost breaking. He reached out with his arms, and Karalyn smiled and approached. Daphne’s father wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug.
‘Really, Godfrey?’ Daphne’s mother said. ‘Tears? It’s a little early to have started drinking, is it not? Well, maybe not for you.’
‘I haven’t touched a drop,’ he said, beaming. He stood, picking Karalyn up. She smiled and cuddled into his shoulder. ‘You’re a big girl,’ he said. ‘I had wondered if the mixture of Kellach blood would influence your development, and I was right. You can call me Papa, like Lydia and Teddy do.’
He glanced down at the other children, both of whom looked terrified.
‘What’s the matter with you two?’
‘Perhaps you should ask your daughter,’ Daphne’s mother said.
‘Sister,’ said a female voice. Killop turned back to the door to see two more women approach. One looked quite similar to Daphne, though less athletic and a little taller, while the other was clad in black from head to toe.
‘Ariel,’ Daphne smiled, ‘and Celine, it’s good to see you.’
Ariel and Daphne embraced, while Celine stood back. Her eyes seemed empty and tired.
Daphne noticed a bulge at Ariel’s waist. ‘You’re not…?’
‘I am,’ Ariel laughed. ‘Number three is on its way.’
‘Congratulations. Is Faden here with you?’
‘He’s working in Holdings City,’ Ariel said. She glanced down at Lydia and Teddy. ‘I see you’ve already met my little monsters. Oh.’
She knelt, and her two children ran weeping into her arms. ‘Oh dear.’
‘How are you, Celine?’ Daphne said.
‘How do you think?’ Daphne’s mother said. ‘Are you blind? She’s in mourning, as are we all.’
The Magelands Box Set Page 145