The Magelands Box Set

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Who?’ Kallie said.

  Laodoc glanced at Agang.

  ‘An emperor rules the world,’ Agang said, ‘and he wields power beyond mortal imagining. He will destroy everything unless he’s stopped.’

  Kallie raised an eyebrow. ‘I don’t care about what goes on in the outside world. I’m only interested in clearing Kell of Rahain soldiers.’

  ‘But there are thousands of them in Kell,’ Laodoc said. ‘How many are in your armed company?’

  ‘Fifty,’ she said, ‘but it doesn’t matter. We’re only keeping the flame alive until Keira returns to leads us.’

  ‘What?’ Bridget said.

  ‘The fire goddess,’ Kallie said. ‘She will return. You remember the other part of Kalayne’s prophecy, don’t you? That I would be reborn when the fire goddess returns? And when she does get back, how do you think she’ll react when she sees the state Kell’s in? She’ll go mental.’

  The room fell silent.

  Kallie gazed at them. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Miss,’ Laodoc said, ‘Keira is already in Domm. She passed through Kell on her way there some time ago.’

  Kallie’s mouth fell open. ‘You’ve seen her?’

  ‘I travelled with her,’ Agang said, ‘all the way from the Plateau. We tried to persuade her to come with us, to carry on the fight, but she refused.’

  Kallie shook her head. ‘But what’s she doing in Domm?’

  Bridget frowned. ‘Getting drunk, mostly.’

  Chapter 12

  Hitting Home

  Holdings City, Holdings Republic – 13th Day, First Third Autumn 507

  Daphne rose before dawn. She made no sound as she put on her uniform, kissed Karalyn and Killop and left their room. Chane was sitting waiting for her in the reception chamber, drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette.

  ‘Morning,’ she said.

  ‘Hi, Chane. I didn’t think you were getting back from the River Holdings until tomorrow.’

  Chane downed her coffee and stood. ‘I rode through the night.’ She gestured to the heap of boxes and luggage sitting on the floor. ‘You going somewhere?’

  ‘Killop’s taking Karalyn back to Hold Fast today,’ Daphne said, lighting a cigarette. ‘We’re making sure she’s somewhere safe before the Emperor gets here.’

  Chane nodded. ‘I thought you’d be taking the morning off, then.’

  ‘I just need to get a couple of hours of work done before they wake up.’

  They walked to the front door of the apartment, and descended the stairs to Holders Square. The sun was rising over the eastern horizon, and the clear sky promised another warm day. Across the square, companies of Holdings cavalry were out training, and the air was filled with the clatter of hooves on cobblestones.

  ‘How’d it go?’ Daphne said as they walked towards the palace.

  ‘All right,’ Chane said. ‘The preparations are as advanced as we could hope for. All the roads to the Plateau have been blocked, and the majority of the bridges over the Lesser River have been dismantled. I met Weir, by the way.’

  ‘Yeah? How’s he doing?’

  ‘Fine,’ Chane said. ‘He’s a good leader. His teams have been working all hours, collecting weapons, drilling recruits, holding practice evacuations. Most of them are too old, or too young, but they’re keen, I’ll give them that.’

  ‘Do they understand the role they have to play when the Emperor invades?’

  Chane nodded. ‘They do, but they don’t like it. Asking them to destroy their homes and farms as they pull back will hurt, but they’ll do it.’

  ‘Forcing the Emperor to lead his army onto the plains is our only chance,’ Daphne said.

  ‘Are we going to have enough cavalry, though?’

  ‘We’ve bought every horse left in the realm.’

  Chane smiled. ‘The republic, you mean?’

  ‘Yes, the republic,’ Daphne laughed. ‘I’m still not used to calling it that. Especially as we have a queen back in the palace.’

  ‘Yeah, but she’s not the same as the old queen.’

  ‘No,’ Daphne sighed. ‘She’s not.’

  ‘We didn’t realise how lucky we were, back then.’

  ‘That reminds me,’ Daphne said, stopping. ‘Don’t repeat a word of this to anyone, not that it would make any difference now, but while you were away the Prophet told me everything he knew about the plot against the old queen.’

  ‘So she was poisoned?’ Chane said. ‘I fucking knew it. Did that old bastard order it?’

  ‘He completely denies it,’ Daphne said. ‘He admitted that he approved the plan to frame me for the collapse of the front in Sanang, but says he knew nothing of the attempt to assassinate the queen until after it had occurred.’

  ‘And you believe him?’

  ‘Yes. I could feel his anger about it, even after so long has passed. He said Arnault was behind it.’

  ‘The Lord Vicar? Doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. It’s a pity the Prophet’s waited so long to tell the truth.’

  Daphne thought back to her time in prison. ‘Yeah.’

  They began walking again, strolling between the lines of drilling cavalry as they neared the front of the palace.

  ‘So it was Rijon, then?’ Chane said. ‘He put that vision of our fort into Agang’s head? The Prophet confirmed it?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Did you know he did it a second time?’

  ‘When?’

  ‘Outside Plateau City,’ Chane said. ‘Agang told me that the Sanang war god had appeared to him, and told him to join Guilliam’s alliance, rather than attack.’

  Daphne laughed. ‘What?’ She shook her head. ‘I did wonder what had changed his mind, everyone assumed it was the king’s diplomacy that had converted him.’

  ‘Deep down, I think Agang was relieved,’ Chane said. ‘He never really wanted to attack the Plateau. He wanted to build schools and roads, and bring civilisation to his country. He only invaded because the other chiefs pressured him into it. And even then he wanted a limited campaign, just terrorise some farmers, steal a few herds of cattle, and get back to Sanang as quickly as possible.’

  ‘Do you miss him?’

  ‘Sometimes. He could be a right arsehole, but I’m sorry he’s dead.’

  ‘His body was never found, you know.’

  ‘I heard they were burning piles of headless Sanang bodies for days on end outside the walls of the imperial capital. If he was there, he’s nothing but a pile of ash.’

  Soldiers saluted them as they ascended the steps to the main entrance of the palace.

  They went into a large chamber near the entrance, where a dozen tired-looking staff were standing around a long table, which was covered in maps and papers. More maps were hung up on the walls, detailing the countryside and towns of the River Holdings.

  ‘Ma’am,’ they saluted as Daphne approached.

  ‘Good morning,’ she said. ‘I’ll only be here for a short while, so Captain Chane will be looking after you today. Are your daily reports ready?’

  The staff shuffled their papers and nodded.

  Daphne smiled. ‘Let’s get started.’

  ‘I’m going to miss you, Kara-bear,’ Daphne said, holding her daughter close.

  ‘Mummy come too,’ the girl said.

  ‘I want to, but I can’t right now. Daddy’s going to be taking you back to the big house in Hold Fast, where you’ll get to see Papa, and play with Lydia and Teddy.’

  ‘I don’t want them, I want mummy.’

  Daphne crouched down and wiped the tears from her daughter’s face.

  ‘You can come and find me every night in your dreams,’ she said.

  Karalyn folded her arms and glowered. ‘No.’

  Killop picked her up. ‘She’ll be fine once we’re on the road.’

  Daphne stood, and embraced him. ‘I’m going to miss you as well.’

  ‘Me too,’ he said.

  Kylon coughed from the door leading to the stairs
. ‘Wagon’s ready.’

  ‘All right,’ Killop nodded. ‘We’ll be down in a minute.’

  ‘Sure, boss,’ Kylon said, leaving them alone in the apartment.

  ‘Are we doing the right thing?’ Killop said. ‘I know we agreed this, but I’m starting to have doubts. What if the imperial army moves between Hold Fast and Holdings City and cuts us off from each other?’

  Daphne shook her head. ‘The Emperor will head straight for the city, right through the River Holdings, and attack from the south. Hold Fast is too far to the north to be in the line of attack. If our plan works, we’ll draw his army out to the west of the city, and destroy it on the plains.’

  ‘You sound very sure about how the Emperor will act.’

  ‘The Prophet has seen his thoughts,’ Daphne said. ‘The Emperor may be powerful, but he is rash and careless. He lost over half his army in Rakana in exchange for a handful of flow mages. His over-confidence is our greatest weapon against him.’

  ‘I wish I was fighting by your side.’

  ‘So do I, but if we can force a battle on the plains, it’ll be decided by cavalry. The Rahain army that the Emperor has assembled are all foot-soldiers. If we can get them to the plains, we can sweep them away.’

  He frowned.

  ‘I know you want to fight,’ she said, ‘but I need you to look after Karalyn.’

  ‘We have Kylon and Celine to help look after her now,’ he said, ‘just like we had Bedig in Slateford.’

  Daphne said nothing.

  ‘If Bedig was here,’ he said, ‘things would be different. You don’t completely trust them, do you?’

  ‘I trust Celine.’

  ‘But not Kylon?’

  ‘There’s something dark and empty about him,’ she said. ‘Something I can’t put my finger on.’

  ‘I trust him. He’s always been true to any purpose he’s set his heart on, and he’s devoted himself to protecting our daughter, so he can obey the last command that Kalayne gave him. I think we’re lucky to have him around.’

  ‘Well, you know him better than I do,’ she said, ‘but when the Emperor invades, I want Karalyn to be with her father. I know you’ll keep her safe.’

  ‘Alright,’ he said. He turned to their daughter. ‘Shall we go, wee bear?’

  ‘I want mummy.’

  Daphne took her from Killop’s arms and hugged her.

  ‘We’ll see each other soon,’ she said as they walked to the stairs. Outside, a large covered wagon was parked. Kylon was up on the drivers bench, while Celine was chatting to Chane at the rear of the wagon, where the luggage had been placed.

  Celine saw them approach, and held her arms out for Karalyn.

  Daphne kissed her daughter, reluctant to let her go.

  ‘It’ll be all right, little bear,’ Celine said. ‘We’ve got some snacks ready for you when we set off.’

  Karalyn sniffled, and Daphne passed her over, a tear escaping from her eye. She embraced Killop, then stood back as he boarded the wagon. He leaned over and helped Celine and Karalyn climb up.

  Kylon cracked the whip, and the wagon began to move, pulled by a twin pair of horses. Karalyn let out a wail, tears and snot running down her cheeks as she waved from the back of the wagon. Killop crouched by her, raising his hand in farewell.

  Daphne watched until the wagon passed from sight as it left Holders Square. She bowed her head, more tears falling. The thought of going back up to her empty apartment sent a wash of regret through her.

  ‘It’s for the best,’ Chane said. ‘You said it yourself, you don’t want them here when the Emperor arrives.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Do you want to get a drink?’

  ‘I can’t. I need to get back to work.’

  Daphne went to her office in the palace and worked through the afternoon and into the evening, organising troop movements and completing requisition and purchase orders for everything from grain to boots. Her signature sent convoys of wagons filled with food supplies out of the River Holdings heading towards depots in the safety of the western plains. She signed orders for squads of volunteer militia to stay hidden when the invasion came, so that they could harass the enemy from the rear, even though few would doubtless survive. Her right hand grew sore from holding the pen, as it flicked over documents, amending figures and correcting estimates, or scrawling revised orders across the margins in red ink.

  She picked up her cigarette case. Empty.

  Her mind was buzzing from the countless cups of tea and coffee, and her head was starting to hurt. She rubbed her neck. Lamps were burning in the room, and the shutters had been closed to keep out the chill night air. A junior staff officer leaned by the door, always ready to carry off her signed documents to wherever they needed to go, and always bringing her more when he returned. He straightened himself as he noticed her gaze.

  ‘That’s enough for today,’ she said. ‘Dismissed.’

  ‘Good night ma’am,’ he saluted, and departed down the corridor.

  She wondered if Chane was still up for a drink.

  There was a knock at the door, and a young officer peered in.

  ‘Major Holdfast,’ she said, ‘the chancellor requests your presence in the war room.’

  Daphne nodded and stood.

  The officer escorted her through the well-lit hallways and corridors of the palace, to the chamber close to the front entrance where Daphne had been that morning. Standing by the long table was Faden Holdwick, flanked by senior officers. The queen was a few paces away, gazing up at a large map of the Holdings on the wall.

  Daphne nodded to her staff officers as she entered. Chane caught her eye from across the room.

  ‘Major Holdfast,’ Faden said as she approached. ‘Thank you for joining us. I understand that Killop and Karalyn departed the city today?’

  ‘They did, Chancellor.’

  ‘A wise move,’ he said. ‘I’m glad Lydia and Teddy are safe up there with Godfrey. And with dear Ariel so far on in her pregnancy I would rather she was as far away from danger as possible.’

  Daphne gazed down at the map Faden had been studying. It showed the border area between the Holdings and the Plateau.

  ‘Your staff have done a remarkable job of organising the defence of the republic,’ Faden said. ‘I’m told that the Emperor has moved his army close to the border. Some sixty thousand Rahain infantry are preparing to invade, with the Emperor himself at their head, but the work you have done here fills me with confidence that we shall prevail.’

  ‘Thank you, Chancellor.’

  ‘Do you have a tally of current troop numbers?’

  ‘Of course, Chancellor,’ she said, gesturing to one of her staff officers, who rose from her seat with a sheaf of papers.

  ‘Six thousand heavy cavalry,’ Daphne went on, reading from the documents the staff officer was holding out for her. ‘Two thousand light cavalry, and twenty thousand heavy infantry.’

  Faden stared at the map on the table. ‘So we still only have half the enemy’s numbers?’

  ‘Yes, Chancellor. However, they have no cavalry, and our regular infantry are far better equipped and trained. And as well as these official numbers, we estimate somewhere in the region of ten to fifteen thousand irregulars are armed and ready in the River Holdings, under the command of local militia.’

  Faden raised an eyebrow. ‘The bait?’

  ‘I wouldn’t quite use that expression, Chancellor,’ Daphne said, ‘but their job is to lure the imperial army on towards Holdings City, where the regular army will be waiting for them.’

  ‘And that will be our cue to evacuate?’

  Daphne nodded. ‘Yes, Chancellor.’

  He frowned. ‘This is the part of the plan that irks me. Having to give up the River Holdings and our capital city without even putting up a proper fight.’

  ‘I understand, Chancellor, but the cavalry would be useless in the towns of the River Holdings. We need to meet the imperial army on the open plains.’

/>   ‘Yes, yes, but it looks bad. It will appear to outsiders that we are running away.’

  ‘Forgive me, Chancellor,’ Daphne said, ‘but that is precisely the impression we wish to create. If the Emperor thinks we are in disarray, he will be more likely to do something rash.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Faden said. He pointed at the map. ‘Perhaps we should move our light cavalry here.’

  ‘Right down to the border, Chancellor?’

  ‘As you said, they have no cavalry of their own. If we strike when they first invade, we can give them a bloody nose, and show the Emperor we’re not afraid.’

  ‘But, Chancellor, we cannot afford to throw away one quarter of our cavalry strength simply to make a gesture.’

  Faden narrowed his eyes.

  ‘Now, now, Faden,’ the queen said, walking over. ‘We talked about this. Major Holdfast has the best officers in the republic at her disposal, and we must trust their judgement.’ She smiled at him. ‘Let’s leave the tactics and strategy to the experts, shall we?’

  ‘Very well,’ Faden frowned.

  ‘I would like a moment with Major Holdfast if that’s all right, Faden,’ the queen said, glancing at Daphne. ‘Walk with me.’

  Daphne nodded. ‘Yes, your Majesty.’

  The queen tutted, but smiled at the same time as they walked off together towards the door. ‘First Minister, please.’

  ‘Apologies, First Minister, I keep forgetting we’re a republic now.’

  The queen laughed as they left the chamber. ‘It’s all nonsense really. Now that we’re out of earshot, you can call me Mirren, and I will call you Daphne.’

  ‘All right.’

  ‘Follow me,’ she said. ‘I want to show you something.’

  The queen led Daphne up a long spiral staircase, into one of the palace’s many towers. At the top they came into a beautiful chamber, filled with elegant furnishings and art.

  ‘This was going to be my favourite place,’ Mirren said. ‘I had it decorated after Guilliam’s coronation, but no sooner was it completed than we were on our way to our new city in the Plateau. Do you like it?’

  Daphne nodded, strolling to the narrow windows. ‘Nice view.’