‘No, I’m fine, thanks.’
For a moment Daphne looked like she was going to say something else, but instead she opened the door to her daughter’s room, and snuck in.
Killop poured himself an ale from a silver decanter.
‘What you reading?’ he asked.
‘A story.’
‘Aye? Any good?’
‘Yeah. It’s about a young Holdings girl who rises to become the leader of a band of ruthless mercenaries.’
‘Sounds a bit like my sister.’
Celine looked away.
‘Sorry,’ he said.
‘It’s alright. I’ve never blamed you for what happened to Vince. You weren’t in charge of what your sister did.’
Killop nodded, and took a drink of ale.
Daphne re-emerged from Karalyn’s room.
‘We’ll leave you to it, Celine,’ she said. ‘Help yourself to food, drinks, whatever you want.’
Celine went back to her book. ‘Night then.’
Killop and Daphne went through to their own large bedchamber, as big as the one they had shared in Slateford. Daphne went straight to her bedside table and extracted a pouch. She reached inside and withdrew a weedstick.
‘Join me on the balcony?’ she smiled.
Killop picked up a bottle of rum and followed her outside. He sat at the small table as Daphne leaned against the railings. He poured rum into two glasses and watched her, the smoke from the lit weedstick trailing up into the cold air. Overhead, the seven stars were visible in the dark, cloudless sky.
‘We came all this way to escape a war,’ he said. ‘Now it looks like we’re heading back into one.’
Daphne nodded, her gaze directed out into the darkness.
‘Do you wish we’d gone to Kellach Brigdomin?’ she said.
‘No.’
‘Good, because I’ll be needed here, to prepare for when the Emperor comes. My father can’t do this on his own. He’ll need my help.’
‘I know,’ he said. ‘We must try to do what Keira and an army of Sanang failed at, and defeat the Emperor, or whoever he is. Did you read the queen’s mind?’
Daphne nodded. ‘She wasn’t lying, about any of it. She’s genuinely scared of Guilliam, and beneath her calm exterior I could sense her desperation.’
‘She seems like a powerful ally.’
‘We’ll find it a lot easier to unite the Holds with Mirren alongside us, but we shouldn’t be in any doubt about what we’re doing.’
She bowed her head, a tear rolling down her cheek.
‘Many will remain loyal to the Emperor,’ she said, ‘and we will have to fight them.’
Killop nodded. ‘Civil war.’
Chapter 7
The Rat
Domm Lowlands, Domm – 25th Day, Second Third Summer 507
Laodoc’s eyes opened as the wagon went over a bump in the road. Overhead, the sky was grey, pricked in several places by glowing shafts of sunlight, illuminating the land below in a hundred shades of green from verdant summer to dark emerald. Low hills and gentle valleys were criss-crossed with drystane dykes, and crofter’s cottages dotted the landscape.
The twin pair of oxen lumbered along the road, oblivious to the flies buzzing around their heads.
‘You’re awake,’ Agang said, holding the reins next to him on the wagon’s bench. ‘Rain’s stopped.’
Laodoc peered up at the sky. ‘For now.’
‘You all right?’
‘Fine,’ he said, though he felt like he wanted to go into the back of the wagon and curl up into a ball rather than talk to anyone.
‘We’re nearly there,’ Agang said. ‘Just a couple more miles, according to Conal’s directions.’
The wind from the west picked up, bringing the scent of ocean salt.
‘This is truly the far end of the world,’ Agang said. ‘The furthest place from anywhere.’
‘Rahain soldiers made it here, once,’ Laodoc said, ‘back when we fancied ourselves an imperial power. Little did we suspect that the Holdings would so thoroughly outdo us on that score.’
‘We knew about them from the beginning,’ Agang said. ‘They did to us what you did to this place, only for a lot longer.’
‘Rahain forces still occupy Northern Kell though,’ Laodoc said. ‘They’ve managed to cling on by their fingertips, guarding their walled-off mines, so they can send home the coal to keep the city caverns warm in winter. You must have seen them on your way here?’
‘We didn’t see much of Kell,’ Agang said. ‘We stuck to the mountains paths, and avoided the lowlands. We were worried that the Rahain might recognise Keira.’
‘You did the right thing,’ Laodoc said. ‘If she’d witnessed the full scale of what the Rahain have done to her land, she might have done something rash. The empire would surely take notice if the coal supply to Rahain was disrupted. I can sense it rankle in quite a few of the people however, the feeling that the war isn’t really over, and cannot be while a part of their land remains under foreign occupation.’
‘I’ve heard it from a few Kell and Lach,’ Agang said, ‘but the Domm don’t seem to care much. I did overhear Kelpie suggest to Keira that she should head north and clear their old clan’s homeland. You can imagine her response.’
‘She has certainly widened my vocabulary.’
Agang chuckled. ‘I wonder how she’s getting along in the tavern without you there to do most of the speaking. Five nights now she’s had to do it on her own, and it’ll be a lot more by the time we get back.’
The sun broke out from behind the thick, grey clouds, bathing the land around the wagon in golden light. To either side of the road were low walls and stone cottages, some lying derelict, while others had smoke billowing up from chimneys. Cattle and sheep filled the fields ahead, where lines of trees provided some shelter from the never-ceasing wind. Laodoc smiled, savouring the wild beauty.
‘I hope she’s expecting us,’ Agang said. ‘I know Conal said he would let her know we were coming, but I’m sure he had a hundred things to do when he got back.’
‘Does it matter?’ Laodoc said. ‘We’re about to disrupt her existence, try to persuade her to put her life in danger again. I doubt she’s going to welcome us with flowers and party favours when she learns why we’re coming to see her.’
‘You think we’re doing the wrong thing?’ Agang said. ‘My friend, we’ve been over this countless times. It’s our only option.’
Laodoc stared out of the wagon, as the clouds moved to cover the sun again, and the land was cast into shadow. He considered asking Agang for a brief healing, but knew the look the Sanang man would give him. He rationed out his powers like a miser, saving it for when Laodoc was at his lowest, and even then sometimes he would be loathe to help him, always worrying that he might become dependent on it, and urging him to try to work through it on his own.
Nothing felt better than when he had just been healed, but it only lasted for a few days before it began to wear off. After ten, and he was back where he started, and that was when he usually began to cast sideways glances at Agang, wondering how and when to ask him for more.
‘I think I can guess what’s going through your mind,’ Agang said.
Laodoc’s tongue flickered. ‘Do you now?’
‘I can see it in your eyes. Every day since we left the World’s End, the black cloud above your head has grown.’
Laodoc eyed him. ‘Is that it? No lecture this time?’
‘No,’ Agang said. He turned to face Laodoc. ‘I realise I might have been a bit over-bearing recently, nagging you about healing and depression and so on, but I’ve never done this sort of thing before. So, what I am saying is that I’ll try to be less judgemental.’
Laodoc turned away. He knew that Agang was trying to help, but still wanted to yell at him. He felt a rush of anxiety surge upwards through his body, and a sense of panic about nearing their journey’s end. He closed his eyes, taking control of his breathing as Dyam had taught him,
letting the wave pass through him and dissipate.
As he opened his eyes again, he saw Agang turn the oxen up a small lane to their right. The way was flanked with tall trees, heavy with thick, green leaves, and the sun split the clouds, lighting up the path.
‘It’s a very charming place in the sunshine,’ Laodoc said, glancing around. ‘So green.’
‘It’s a beautiful country, no doubt about it.’
The wagon followed the path for a few miles, up the side of a low ridge facing the west. As they mounted the top of the hill, Laodoc saw the vastness of the great ocean, just a few hundred yards ahead, where it crashed against the cliffs.
Agang stopped the wagon, put down the reins and stared out over the endless water.
‘Quite a sight,’ Laodoc said, taking in the great sweep of ocean before them. ‘It puts our troubles into perspective, I think. No matter what foolishness we do on the land, the endless sea will continue, oblivious to our petty lives.’
‘Is it really endless?’
Laodoc smiled. ‘My dear Agang, is that what you were taught in the schools of Sanang? The world is round, like a ball. That ocean in front of us stretches for thousands of miles, until it finally reaches the eastern coast of Arakhanah.’
‘The world is round?’ Agang said.
‘The scientists of Rahain discovered this many years ago.’
‘And, apart from our piece of land, is the rest just sea?’
‘That is not known for certain,’ Laodoc said, ‘though we have no evidence of anyone else sharing this world with us. It has been many centuries since Rahain tried to explore the ocean. The storms out there are devastating, and too many ships did not return. It may have been different before the Collision.’
Agang nodded. He flicked the reins, and the oxen began pulling the wagon down the path on the far side of the ridge, towards a lonely cottage.
‘Something about the Collision bothers me,’ Agang said. ‘You say it happened ten thousand years ago?’
‘Indeed,’ Laodoc said, ‘our records detail it.’
‘But the five landmasses must have been moving before that?’
‘Indubitably.’
‘Then don’t you think it an unlikely coincidence that they all smashed into each other, as if they were attracted to a central point?’
‘A mystery, my friend,’ Laodoc said, ‘one that has exercised the best minds of Rahain for millennia.’
Agang frowned. ‘Does it not point to the Holdings’ Creator being real?’
‘I think chance just as likely. And if not chance, then perhaps some geological phenomenon currently beyond our understanding.’
‘Kalayne thought the Creator was real. He said that he could see into his mind.’
‘I would very much like to meet this Kalayne fellow,’ Laodoc said, ‘and put a few questions to him.’
‘Who knows, you might get the chance one day,’ Agang said. He pulled on the reins, and the oxen halted on the path before the lone cottage. ‘Here we are.’
Laodoc gazed at the low, stone structure. Signs of repair were evident on its roof, with fresh thatch covering one side. A thin trail of smoke rose from a chimney. Agang jumped down off the wagon and stretched his legs. He walked round to the other side and raised his arm for Laodoc.
‘Thank you,’ the old man said, taking Agang’s hand and climbing down to the ground. He wrapped his cloak around him as a blustery breeze came in from the ocean. They walked to the front of the cottage and knocked on the door.
It opened, and Bedig appeared in the doorway.
‘Laodoc!’ he cried, lifting the old man into the air and embracing him.
‘It’s nice to see you too, Bedig,’ Laodoc said.
‘What are you doing here?’ Bedig said, lowering Laodoc to the ground.
‘Didn’t Conal tell you?’
Bedig rubbed his chin. ‘Maybe. He was round a few nights ago.’
‘This is Agang,’ Laodoc said, gesturing to the Sanang man.
Bedig eyed him up and down.
‘I remember you.’
‘Have we met?’ Agang said.
‘No. But I was in Plateau City with Daphne when you and your army put it under siege.’
‘Before I joined the alliance,’ Agang said.
‘May we go inside?’ Laodoc said. ‘My old bones are weary from travelling.’
Bedig laughed. ‘Of course, sorry.’ He swung the door open, and they went into the cottage. There was a fire burning in a hearth on their left, and a single other door led off to the right. The interior was furnished with a few odds and ends, a couple of wooden chairs, a bench and a scarred old table.
‘Bridget,’ Bedig yelled, ‘we’ve got visitors.’
‘If it’s Dyam,’ a voice cried from behind the door, ‘just send her through.’
‘It’s not.’
‘I’ll just be a minute.’
Bedig turned to Laodoc and Agang. ‘Whisky? Ale?’
‘Water, please,’ Laodoc said.
‘I’ll have to go out to the burn for that,’ Bedig said, picking up a large jug. ‘Be back in a minute.’
He went out by the front door just as Bridget emerged from the other room.
‘Laodoc,’ she said.
‘Miss Bridget, a pleasure to see you again,’ Laodoc said, bowing. ‘This is Agang Garo.’
‘Aye,’ she said, nodding, ‘Keira’s friend.’
‘The way she behaved was reprehensible,’ Agang said. ‘I’m not here to defend her.’
‘Then why are you here?’
‘We’ll come to that soon enough,’ Laodoc said. ‘For now I just want to hear how you’ve been.’
Bridget shrugged. The lines under her eyes were deeper than before, though the bruising on her face had healed.
The front door opened, and Bedig came back in, splashing water onto the rug by the fire.
‘Oops,’ he said. He put the jug down, and scooped a mugful. ‘Here you are,’ he said, handing it to Laodoc.
‘Thank you,’ Laodoc said.
‘What were you after, Agang?’ Bedig said.
‘Could I have a whisky and some water, please?’
‘Sure,’ Bedig said.
Bridget took a seat while Bedig prepared the drinks.
‘Sit down,’ she said.
Laodoc perched on the end of the bench, Agang sitting a foot to his left.
‘I’m not as busy as I used to be,’ Bridget said. ‘Draewyn and Dyam are pretty much handling the settlement by the clan, distributing houses and farms, and using Daphne’s gold to purchase whatever we need.’
‘So you’ve been taking a well-deserved break,’ Laodoc said. ‘You’ve been working hard for years, you should enjoy your time off.’
Bedig passed out drinks to Agang and Bridget, and sat, holding a giant mug of ale.
‘We’re going to be farming this land,’ he said, ‘Bridget and I. We’ll have to learn how first, of course.’
‘It sounds fascinating,’ Laodoc said. ‘Were you thinking of cattle, or crops? Perhaps a vegetable garden? I tried my hand at growing, when I was staying in Slateford in my youth.’
‘The last people to live here had sheep,’ Bedig said, ‘but we haven’t decided yet.’
Laodoc glanced at Bridget. Her face was relaxed, but she was gripping onto her cup of whisky.
‘How you been getting on with Keira, then?’ Bedig said.
Bridget muttered something under her breath.
‘I have been learning,’ Laodoc said. ‘Keeping my ears open, to the fire mage, and to what Flora and Agang have told me.’
‘Have you seen much of Dean?’
‘Yes,’ Laodoc said. ‘He has a girlfriend. Dora, a young woman his age.’
‘Good for him,’ Bedig laughed. ‘Is she cute?’
‘She’s a delightful young lady.’
Bridget sighed.
‘What’s up with you?’ Bedig said.
‘They’re not here to chat about Dean’s fucking girlfriend,
’ she said. ‘They’re here because they want something.’ She faced Laodoc. ‘Is that not correct?’
‘We should have a few more drinks first,’ Bedig said, ‘and some food. Then get all their stuff brought in. I take it they’re staying here? Get that out of the way before we start on some heavy discussion, where we’ll probably shout at each other and fall out.’
‘I certainly hope that isn’t the outcome,’ Laodoc said, ‘but what we have to talk about is serious, so perhaps you’re right.’
‘I just want to get it over with,’ Bridget said.
Bedig stood. ‘I’ll make a start on dinner.’
Laodoc glanced at Agang.
‘Miss Bridget,’ the Sanang man said, ‘have you ever heard of a Rakanese high mage called Shella?’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘Aye. Daphne rescued her from the refugee camp in Rahain, the one that Keira destroyed.’
Agang nodded.
‘What about her?’
‘Do you believe in the prophecies of Kalayne?’
Bridget frowned. ‘I remember the name from somewhere.’
‘I know him,’ Bedig said from the stove, where he was stirring a pot. ‘He helped us when we were fighting in Kell. I believe in his visions. He always knew exactly where the enemy was, and what they were going to do.’
‘Was he the one who saw Killop and Daphne getting together?’ Bridget said.
‘Aye,’ Bedig said.
Bridget nodded, and glanced back at Agang. ‘All right, so I know of Kalayne.’
There was a knock at the door, and Dyam peered in.
‘Smells good, Bedig,’ she said, then noticed the others. ‘Visitors.’
‘Hi, Dyam,’ Bedig said. ‘You eaten? It’ll be ready in twenty minutes if you can wait.’
‘If that’s alright,’ she said, coming in and closing the door.
Laodoc stood. ‘Greetings, Dyam. Have you met Agang?’
‘I have,’ she said, glancing from them to Bridget. ‘Am I interrupting something?’
‘They were just about to tell me why they’re here,’ Bridget said.
Dyam chuckled. ‘I thought getting away from Keira would be reason enough.’
Laodoc sat again. ‘It’s certainly nice to have a break,’ he said, ‘but there is something we need to discuss with Bridget.’
The Magelands Box Set Page 154