‘They’re searching for someone,’ Lola said.
‘Us?’ said Dean.
‘Unlikely,’ said Bridget. ‘Why would they bother with us? I mean, they’ll rob us if they get the chance, they’re hungry and pissed off, but they’re not going to send out half the army to look for us.’
‘So we just have to avoid them,’ Laodoc said, ‘until we’re out of Kell.’
‘I hate this place,’ Dean said. ‘It’s an ugly wasteland.’
‘It used to be beautiful,’ said Bridget. ‘I’m glad Killop’s not here to see it.’
‘What has happened here is a terrible crime,’ Laodoc said, ‘carried out by stupid people who thought they were better than everyone else.’
‘I don’t want to argue with you, Laodoc,’ Bridget said, ‘but as chancellor of Rahain, you didn’t exactly do much to fix the situation.’
‘I inherited it, as you know,’ he said. ‘The old regime had been spending a huge amount for the upkeep of the garrisons here, but the treasury was empty when I came into power. Most had gone on the siege of Akhanawarah, and the rest was stolen by a certain Sanang gentleman sitting not too far away.’
He smiled at Agang, who shrugged.
‘So there was no money to pay for the operations in Kell,’ Laodoc went on, ‘and the garrisons and mining communities effectively became self-sufficient, and looked to their own needs. And without any government cash, they began selling the coal directly to the cities, moving further beyond my authority, until they became in fact, if not in law, an independent little state.’
‘You’re saying it was out of your control?’ Bridget said.
‘Indeed. What could I have done? To re-assert authority I would have needed to send in more troops, and I was rather occupied with fighting the New Free rebellion at the time. And if I had ordered the garrisons to withdraw from Kell, they would have ignored me, just as they ignored the general order to emancipate their labour force. Certain elements among the Rahain leadership in Kell have become exceedingly wealthy from the coal, and have no desire to give it up.’
‘So you abandoned Kell because it was too complicated to deal with?’
‘I was working night and day to prevent Rahain from splitting apart. I failed, I know I did, but I did my best. I apologise if my performance fell short of your expectations, Miss Bridget.’
‘We were never equal partners in the alliance,’ she said. ‘From day one the Kellach Brigdomin were sidelined, their conquered territories administered by the same army that did the conquering, while that arsehole Duncan sat up in Plateau City pretending he represented us all. The sad fact is that we were sold out for coal. Keeping the cities of Rahain warm and lit was more important than seeing justice done.’
‘I accept that I played my part in that,’ Laodoc said, his voice low as everyone in the cave watched him. ‘I’m sorry. I believed at the time that a mere handful of Kellach Brigdomin still lived in your lands. I didn’t imagine that so many would return home.’
Agang glanced at him. ‘I’m surprised that the Kellach forces haven’t tried to kick the Rahain out of Kell.’
‘The Domm Council isn’t stupid,’ Dyam said. ‘They know that any disturbances in Kell might bring them to the attention of the Emperor.’
‘Their priority is the safety of everyone in Domm,’ Bridget said. ‘I think they’re happy to keep the border at the Brig Pass, with Southern Kell as a buffer between them and the Rahain.’
‘Something will have to change soon, though,’ Dyam said. ‘The speed the Rahain are stripping the coal out of the ground, they’re going to run dry as some point.’
Laodoc shook his head. ‘Unfortunately, that is not so. I have read the detailed geology reports from Kell, made by the expedition undertaken by my son Likiat. At current rates of consumption, there’s enough coal in Northern Kell to supply Rahain for hundreds of years.’
The others stared at him.
‘Not only that,’ Laodoc went on, ‘but there are untapped reserves of iron, copper, silver, lead and other minerals, and plentiful supplies of timber. I fear that without intervention, the occupation will remain in place for a considerable time yet. The biggest risk to their existence is the gradual depletion of their reserves of slave labour. Unless a fresh source of workers can be found, then they will run into difficulties in a decade or so.’
Bridget shook her head. ‘Once we’ve sorted everything out with Shella and the Emperor, then we can fix Kell. Until then, we get the fuck out as fast as we can.’
‘Makes me feel sick, boss,’ Bonnie said. ‘Skulking our way across our own lands, and hiding from those we should be fighting.’
‘I don’t like it either,’ she said, ‘but we have to keep our eyes on the job, and remember what we’re out here to do. Now, eat your food, and get some sleep, we have another full day of skulking tomorrow to look forward to.’
They passed the night in the cave, cold but dry. In the morning Bedig cleared away the remains of the fire, and they packed up the wagons. The sun shone down from an almost cloudless sky.
‘The last days of summer,’ Bedig said as he helped Laodoc climb up onto the rear wagon.
‘Not sick of travelling by now?’
‘It all depends on the company,’ he said, ‘though I’ll be glad to get out of Kell. The place makes me sad.’
When the two wagons were ready, they set off along the path, flanked on either side by tall rocky escarpments. Lola held the reins of the rear wagon, with Laodoc, Dyam and Dean next to her on the driver’s bench.
‘Let’s see how many miles we can do today,’ Dyam said.
The lumbering oxen made hard work of the slippery path, labouring up long steep slopes, and through narrow defiles, following the course of a small stream northwards towards the mountains. They saw no one for the whole morning, just the land, broken as if from countless earthquakes.
After a short stop for lunch, they continued, and the path led down into a wider valley, where a road ran. Bridget called a halt.
‘Should we risk crossing in daylight?’ she said as they conferred together. ‘If anyone comes along that road before we reach the other side of the valley, we’ll be spotted for sure.’
‘How far is it?’ Laodoc said.
‘Three miles or so,’ said Bonnie. ‘Should only take us twenty minutes.’
Bridget scanned the road, chewing her lip.
‘Let’s do it,’ she said.
They got back into their wagons and set off. The ground was boggy, and more than twenty minutes had elapsed before they reached the road, which ran halfway across the valley. The road was carried on a broad causeway of packed earth and stones, and rose two feet above the level of the marshy path they had been following. The oxen pulled the wagons up the bank and Laodoc gasped. On the other side of the road, down a similar bank to the one they had ascended, lay dozens of bodies. Bridget, Dyam and the others leapt down to look.
They covered their noses from the stench.
‘Rahain,’ Bridget muttered.
Laodoc was the last to reach the side of the road and peer over. Flies buzzed in swarms over the muddy corpses of the Rahain soldiers. Sword wounds and arrow holes pierced their bodies, and some had been mutilated, their heads severed and lying in a small mound.
‘Looks like an entire company,’ Dyam said, ‘and their weapons have been taken.’
‘Rebel Kellach,’ Agang said. ‘It must be.’
‘The folk the army are out looking for,’ Bridget said. ‘Fuck. I always thought there might be a few rebels up here, living in the mountains, but if they’re strong enough to do this…’
‘Boss,’ said Bonnie, ‘I’m getting nervous. We’re sticking out like a prize cow, we should get going.’
‘Aye,’ Bridget said, ushering the others back to the wagons, ‘let’s go.’
The oxen hauled the wagons down the embankment, and began plodding across the sodden ground towards a gap in the valley side.
Time dragged. Laodoc
’s neck was hurting from turning to glance at either end of the road behind them. Dyam was staring ahead, silently urging them on.
‘We’re nearly there,’ Lola said.
‘Shit,’ said Dean. ‘They’re coming!’
The others turned. At the head of the valley a group of figures were moving down the road.
‘They haven’t seen us yet,’ Dyam said. ‘Keep going, Lola.’
‘What do ye think I’m doing?’
‘Well, keep fucking doing it.’
The figures on the road were marching east, toward the coastal region. Any moment, Laodoc realised, they would reach the bodies of their fallen comrades. He glanced ahead, his tongue flickering. The shelter of the narrow gap in the valley was still over a hundred yards away, and the oxen were toiling through the deep mud.
‘Come on, ya bastards,’ Lola grunted, lashing the oxen.
The figures on the road halted, and shouts echoed across the valley to the wagons from the spot where the bodies lay.
‘They’re looking over at us,’ Dean cried.
‘Quiet, Dean,’ Dyam said, staring back at the road as figures began clambering down the bank. ‘The mud’ll slow them down.’
‘They can still run faster than we’re going,’ Dean yelled. ‘They’re going to catch us up.’
Dyam frowned. ‘Lola,’ she said, ‘give me the reins and get yer longbow ready. Dean, light up the storm lamp, be prepared to do whatever ye can to help. Laodoc, stay down.’
Lola threw the reins to Dyam, and pulled the covering from her longbow. She sat still, taking care to string the bow and check it over.
‘They’re getting closer!’ Dean cried from the back of the wagon, where he was attempting to light the storm lamp.
Laodoc raised his head. Dozens of Rahain soldiers were splashing and running through the marsh they had just traversed. Some at the front were swinging their crossbows down, and loading them as they ran.
One fell, an arrow through his left eye socket.
Laodoc glanced over. Lola was on one knee, her longbow at an angle as she crouched. She notched a second arrow, aimed, and loosed.
‘Dean,’ Dyam yelled, ‘how’s it going with that lamp?’
‘It’s lit,’ he cried.
‘Good lad. We’re almost there.’
A crossbow bolt ricocheted off the iron rim of a rear wheel, causing them all to flinch.
‘More of them will be in range soon,’ Dyam yelled. ‘Keep yer heads down.’
There was a whoosh, and a cloud passed overhead. Laodoc looked up, and saw a dozen Rahain fall, arrows through their bodies. There was another whoosh, and more fell. The ranks of Rahain turned and began running back towards the road, leaving a score dead on the marsh.
The wagons pulled into the narrow valley, the oxen hauling them up onto drier ground. On either side tall cliffs shut out most of the light.
‘You all right back there?’ Bedig cried out from the lead wagon.
‘We’re fine,’ Dyam yelled. ‘Did ye see who…?’
Her voice tailed off as the wagons were surrounded by a group emerging from the shadows of the cliffs. All were Kellach Brigdomin, and all were aiming their longbows at the wagon’s occupants.
‘What the fuck are ye doing?’ a man cried at them. ‘Are ye trying to lead those lizard bastards right to us?’
‘Thanks for saving our arses,’ Bridget said. ‘We didn’t know you were here. We were trying to avoid the Rahain ourselves.’
‘Fucking amateurs,’ the man said. ‘Crossing Northern Kell with two fucking wagons? We’re taking them, by the way. And yer oxen.’
‘Boss,’ cried another warrior. ‘Look over here, one of them’s a fucking lizard.’
The man strode round to the rear wagon, his face reddening.
‘Ya fucking treacherous bastards,’ he shouted. ‘Ye’ve got a lizard with ye.’
He drew his sword.
Agang jumped down from the lead wagon, and several longbows were trained on him. He raised his hands.
‘This Rahain is a friend.’
‘And who, or what, the fuck are you?’ the man said.
‘He’s Sanang,’ Bridget said. ‘They’re both friends. We’re on the same side.’
‘I’ll never be on the same side as those lizard fucks, just look what they did to our folk, our land.’ He shook his head. ‘Ye don’t get it, ye’re not Kell.’
Bridget gazed at the warriors. ‘Are you all Kell?’
‘Fucking right we are,’ the man said. ‘While everyone else has fucked off, we’re still here, fighting. Fuck those arseholes down in Domm, they’ve forgotten all about us.’
‘No one has forgotten,’ Bridget said.
‘But they aren’t lifting a fucking finger to help us, are they? Not unless you lot are our fucking reinforcements.’
The warriors laughed.
‘No,’ the man went on, ‘this is your unlucky day. We’re taking the wagons and oxen, and killing the lizard. The rest of you can go free, as long as you don’t make any trouble.’
‘You’re not touching my friend,’ Agang said.
The man shrugged. ‘You can stand and watch, or you can die. Your choice.’
He reached up and grabbed Laodoc’s cloak. Dyam punched him in the face, and he stepped back, blood pouring from his nose.
‘That fucking hurt, ya cow,’ he said, then hauled Laodoc off the wagon. The old man fell, hitting the hard ground, and the man pointed his sword at him.
Laodoc raised his eyes at Agang and shook his head.
‘Wait,’ cried a woman’s voice, and a hooded figure stepped through the ring of warriors.
The man lowered his sword, watching as the woman approached.
‘What is it?’ he said.
The woman knelt before Laodoc’s shaking body.
‘Laodoc?’ she said, and pulled back her hood.
He gasped. ‘Kallie?’
After being blindfolded and made to sit in the back of the wagons, they were led by the warriors through the mountains for an hour. They were then taken deep within a network of caves, to a warm hall where a large fire was burning.
They pulled their blindfolds off.
Bridget’s eyes darted across the crowd of warriors in the room looking at them, until she saw Kallie, then rushed forwards and embraced her.
The leader of the warriors shook his head as the two women wept and hugged each other. ‘Ye know her too, eh?’
‘This is Bridget,’ Kallie said. ‘We were slaves together for a long time. And that man,’ she said, pointing at Laodoc, ‘was our master.’
‘More reason to kill him, then,’ the man said.
Kallie shook her head. ‘No. He was kind to us.’ She turned to the warriors. ‘Two of this group are old friends. I ask you all to accept them as guests, and do them no harm while they are here.’
‘You vouch for them all, eh?’ the man said. ‘Even that one?’ He pointed at Agang.
‘Bridget?’ Kallie said.
‘This is Agang Garo,’ she said, ‘from the forest nation of Sanang. I will vouch for him.’
Kallie turned to the man and nodded.
‘Alright,’ he said. ‘On your head be it if they get up to no good. Put them in the northern caves.’
‘Thank you,’ Kallie said. She turned to the group. ‘Follow me.’
She led them through a series of tunnels, past a sparkling waterfall and down a steep flight of stairs into a small cavern, with alcoves in the walls. She lit a lamp.
‘You can sleep here,’ she said. ‘There’s a hearth in the corner. You hungry?’
‘All our food’s in the wagons,’ Bridget said.
‘I’ll bring you some. Get yourselves settled.’
Kallie disappeared up the steps.
When she was out of sight Dyam nudged Bridget.
‘Can we trust her?’
Bridget nodded. ‘We parted badly, but we went through a lot together before that.’
‘She saved my life,’
Laodoc said. ‘That man was going to kill me.’ He glanced at Dyam. ‘My thanks for punching him, miss.’
Dyam shrugged. ‘Any time.’
Bedig built a fire from a stack of wood by the hearth, and they warmed themselves. Kallie returned down the steps, followed by three other women, all carrying baskets. They laid them down onto a table in the cavern, then the other women departed back up the steps.
Kallie smiled at them, and Laodoc remembered how beautiful she was.
‘Let’s eat,’ she said.
They sat round the table, filling their stomachs with meat, cheese and bread. Ale and whisky had also been provided, and the group relaxed as the drinks began to flow.
Bridget introduced everyone to Kallie.
‘And this is Bedig,’ she said, ‘my um, boyfriend.’
‘Nice to meet you, Kallie,’ he said. ‘Heard a lot about you.’
Kallie smiled and glanced at Bridget. ‘I suppose I should ask you what happened to Killop. We met a couple of Kell a few thirds ago, they said that he was the chief of a clan in Rahain.’
Bridget shook her head. ‘He was, but he chose to leave with Daphne.’
Kallie looked away.
‘So,’ Bridget said, ‘where’s wee Lacey?’
‘No idea,’ Kallie said. ‘Lost touch with her ages ago.’
‘What did you do?’
‘We walked as far as the Rahain border with the Plateau, then fell in with a group of bandits living in the hills.’
‘You were a bandit?’ Bedig laughed.
‘We didn’t intend to stay, but after a while it was hard to leave. The group didn’t want us to go, we had to slip away in the night and run like fuck for days. When we eventually crossed into Kell, we met a group of refugees heading for Domm. Lacey joined them.’
‘But you didn’t?’ Laodoc said.
‘I couldn’t,’ she said. ‘When I saw Kell, my heart broke all over again, and I knew I had to fight. I joined this group about a year ago, and have been fighting alongside them ever since.’
‘I understand,’ Laodoc said, ‘but you must see that if the coal supply from Kell ceases, then you risk bringing the wrath of the empire down on you, and those living safely in Domm. The Emperor is a dangerous man.’
The Magelands Box Set Page 160