‘Looks clear,’ Chane said. ‘We’ve lost them, for a few moments at least.’
She pulled a hipflask from her armour, and took a swig.
Daphne called over the officers present: two lieutenants and a handful of sergeants.
‘Get everyone through the barricade,’ she said. ‘Split up into squads and run for the garrison bridge. Horses will be there for you. Good luck.’
‘Are you not leaving with us, my lady?’ said a young lieutenant.
‘I’ll wait until we’re all through, but I’ll be right on your heels.’
The officers and sergeants nodded. They began to lead their squads into a house flanking the main barricade, where a path had been kept open through to the other side.
Chane offered Daphne a cigarette.
She took it and leaned against a wall, watching as the remaining Holdings soldiers lined up by the fountain, queuing to enter the house.
‘All going to plan, then,’ said Chane.
Daphne laughed.
‘How you feeling?’ Chane said.
‘I’m going to kill him, just not today.’
‘And I’ll be by your side when you do it.’
‘Thanks, Chane. You know, I’m sorry about everything that happened between us. We shouldn’t have left you in Sanang. It was a mistake.’
‘Yeah, well, it was a long time ago,’ she said. ‘I hated you for it. I mean, you took that arsehole Mink along with you.’
‘Did you know he testified against me at my appeal?’
‘No, but it doesn’t surprise me. He probably got a cushy job, somewhere safely behind the lines. It’s always the same. The competent get punished, and the idiots get rewarded.’
The last of the soldiers entered the house and Daphne stubbed out her cigarette. Down the street towards the southern gate she could hear the noise of the approaching Rahain.
‘Come on,’ she said. They sprinted across the square and entered the house. At the end of a dining-room, a large hole had been knocked through the wall, and a half-squad stood on the other side.
‘My lady,’ said the sergeant, ‘are you the last?’
She nodded, and they passed through the hole and into the back room of a shop.
The sergeant raised his arm, and the other members of the squad kicked away a series of wooden supports that were braced against the wall. There was a loud crash as the ceiling fell, blocking the way. They emerged from the house into an empty street, the enormous barricade behind them. Empty houses and shops flanked either side of the road, and a light breeze was blowing rubbish across the deserted cobbles. The city felt cold, despite the warm autumn sunshine.
‘To the cavalry garrison, everyone,’ Daphne yelled, and they set off.
After twenty minutes of hard running, Daphne, Chane and the squad neared the long walls encircling the garrison. The gate to the river was lying open, and they sped through.
‘Holder Fast!’ an officer cried out. She approached. ‘You’re safe, thank the Creator. Come this way, your horse is ready. The rest of the company has already departed, except for us, who were awaiting your return.’
There were a few dozen soldiers and horses clustered by the gate, preparing to depart.
‘Did Chancellor Holdwick and Queen Mirren get away in good time?’ Daphne said.
‘Yes, my lady. They requested that I pass on their thanks for standing fast at the southern gate while the rest of the city could finish evacuating. They also said that they hope to see you soon at the Red Hills assembly point.’
Daphne nodded. ‘And the Prophet?’
The officer stopped. ‘He refused to leave the citadel, my lady.’
‘Damn,’ Daphne muttered. She gazed at the Upper City. ‘He’s up there on his own?’
‘Yes, my lady.’
A soldier led out Daphne’s white stallion, saddled and ready to go. Daphne rubbed his flank with her right hand, then mounted. Around her, the last members of the Hold Fast Company still in the city climbed into their saddles. They formed up with Daphne in the centre. Chane manoeuvred her mare to Daphne’s right. The officer whistled, and they began to troop out of the gate. They turned right, and trotted onto the bridge leading to the royal ramp. At the other end, a new gate had been punched through the city wall, and a road had been laid to connect it to the ramp. On the far side of the gap stretched the endless Holdings savannah, and in the distance Daphne could see thin trails of dust made by those who had evacuated before them.
As the officer spurred her mount towards the new roadway, Daphne paused.
‘Wait,’ she said.
She turned back in the saddle, and gazed up the ramp to the Upper City.
Damn Prophet.
‘My lady?’ said the officer.
Daphne frowned.
I know what you’re thinking, said a voice in her head. Please don’t.
But I can’t leave you up there to die.
I’m staying in the Upper City so that you can all get away, the Prophet said. Don’t ruin my plan by trying to rush to my rescue.
Daphne bowed her head, a tear coming from her eye.
Don’t weep for me, Daphne dear. I don’t deserve it. I am responsible for much of the pain in your life, but please let me do this so I can pay back some of what I owe you.
But the Creator will kill you.
I know, but by staying here he will have to deal with me, instead of pursuing you. He will have to fight me. He will win, but I intend to make the price of his victory high. Now, go. Be on your way. And when you see your daughter, give her a kiss for me. And maybe, when she’s older and you mention me, I hope you will tell her about this day, and not about the times I let you down. Farewell, Daphne.
She wiped her cheek. The other soldiers were gazing at her, their horses stationary.
‘Are you alright?’ asked Chane.
Daphne nodded. She wheeled the stallion around, taking a good look back over the city, the capital of her nation, now under occupation.
‘I can’t believe we’re really leaving,’ Chane said.
‘We’ll be back.’
Daphne kicked her heels, and the stallion cantered forward. They raced down the new road, through the gap in the city wall and out into the plains. Low grass covered the land ahead all the way to the horizon. The hooves of their horses thundered over the hard ground, sending a cloud of brown dust into the air behind them. After a few miles, Daphne slowed. She brought the stallion to a halt, and turned, Chane and the others joining her.
Chane pointed. ‘Look!’
Tiny black specks were circling the Upper City in the distance, like files buzzing round a dungheap. Some swooped in, trying to land, but every time they got close, their winged gaien would wheel away, as if in terror.
‘The old bastard’s holding them off,’ Chane said.
The cycle repeated, but no matter how many carriages were brought near to the citadel, their flying mounts would turn back at the last moment, as if they were encountering an invisible barrier. After a few minutes all of the winged gaien flew away, except for one, which took up position hovering above the palace.
‘The Emperor,’ muttered Chane.
The Holdings stared at the Upper City from their horses, but for a long moment nothing happened, then the buildings crowding the surface of the tall promontory began to melt as if they were made of butter left out in the midday sun; their stone walls collapsing and toppling. Great chunks of masonry fell into the river below, as the palace and the cathedral disintegrated into rubble. A grey cloud of dust rose from the ruins, and the grinding noise of tortured stonework reached their ears across the plains.
Chane pulled her hipflask from her armour.
‘To the Prophet,’ she said, taking a swig and passing it to Daphne.
Holder Fast gazed up at the ruined palace and citadel, and lifted the alcohol to her lips. She passed it back to Chane, then turned her stallion.
She raised her right arm, the reins wound through the crippled fingers
of her left hand.
‘To the Red Hills,’ she cried. ‘Follow me.’
Chapter 17
A Dozen Days in Kell
Northern Kell, Kellach Brigdomin – 23rd Day, Second Third Autumn 507
‘Fucking weather,’ moaned Flora, as a gale threatened to send her off the narrow path and down a ravine.
Keira cackled, the sound of her laughter lost in the howling wind. The rain was driving hard, and the path slippery. Flora looked up at her and pointed at an old abandoned goat shed, halfway down the hillside.
‘We’ve got miles to go yet,’ Kallie said.
‘I need to get out of this rain,’ cried Flora, ‘just for a couple of minutes.’
Keira shrugged, and Flora ran down the slope and into the goat shed.
‘I like her,’ said Kallie, as they followed the Holdings woman, ‘but she’s slowing us down.’
‘Tough shit, Kallie-Wallie, she’s coming.’
They stepped into the rough stone building, and out of the wind and rain. Flora had already taken her pack off, and was drying her face with a towel. She was shivering.
‘Light the storm lamp,’ Keira said to her, then gazed around the interior of the shed. Old, rotting heaps of straw covered most of the floor, and a wooden workbench sat in a corner. She pulled her pack off and released the handaxe from its straps. She hacked the workbench to pieces, then turned to see Flora lighting the lamp she carried everywhere. Keira threw the wood into a pile and shot a flame out from the lamp, igniting it.
Flora put her hands right next to the roaring fire, smiling. ‘Thanks.’
Keira gazed at her hand.
‘There, that wasn’t so hard now, was it?’ Kallie said, unwrapping food from her pack, and laying out cheese, dried beef strips and hard bread onto a cloth on the ground.
‘Using fire to get warm is one thing,’ Keira frowned. ‘Using it to massacre folk is another.’
‘Baby steps,’ Kallie said. ‘When we left Domm you insisted that you wouldn’t use your powers for anything.’
‘It’s because I’m lazy, but,’ Keira said. ‘I mean, I could’ve spent ten minutes carefully building the fire up by hand, but I couldnae be arsed.’
‘All I’m saying is…’
‘I know what yer fucking saying, and all I’m saying is that it’s not the fucking same.’
‘It’s not exactly the same, but it’s a start.’
‘Stop fucking saying that,’ Keira yelled.
‘You know,’ said Flora, looking up, ‘you two argue like sisters.’
Keira snorted.
‘It once felt like we were,’ said Kallie.
‘Before my wee brother dumped yer arse,’ Keira smirked.
‘Before he betrayed me by sleeping with that Holdings woman.’
‘Her name’s Daphne, have ye forgotten?’ Keira said. ‘Daphne fucking Holdfast.’
‘You ever met her?’ Flora said.
‘Who, me?’ said Keira. ‘Nope.’
‘I have,’ said Kallie. ‘She rescued us from a Rahain prison. I didn’t know it at the time, but she and Killop had just been together before they turned up.’
‘Been together?’ Flora said. ‘You mean?’
‘Aye,’ laughed Keira. ‘They stopped off for a quick shag on the way before rescuing Kallie, can ye fucking believe it?’
‘Fuck you,’ said Kallie. ‘She was lucky I didn’t know. I would’ve ripped her head off.’
‘No chance,’ Flora said. ‘She’s a high mage, from what I’ve heard about her. A battle-vision specialist. She’d have cut you up into small pieces if you’d tried.’
Kallie frowned. ‘She was pretty handy with a blade, right enough.’
‘Beaten in every department,’ Keira chuckled.
‘In every department?’ said Flora. ‘She must be gorgeous.’
Kallie shrugged. ‘I’m not one to judge folk from the Holdings, but she seemed pretty ordinary to me. Lacey kept saying that she’d put some sort of spell on Killop, used her vision powers to make him love her.’
‘And do you believe that, Kallie?’
‘No. Killop wasn’t bewitched, he was besotted. Anyway, can we stop talking about it now? It took me ages to get over it.’
‘Ye know they’ve got a bairn, though eh?’ Keira said.
Kallie frowned. ‘No.’
‘A wee lassie.’
‘That’s nice.’
‘I’m an auntie.’
‘So ye are.’
‘Auntie Keira.’
Kallie gave Keira a cold stare, then got up and left the goat shed.
‘You shouldn’t do that,’ said Flora.
Keira shrugged. ‘She dragged my arse all the way up here, and anyway, I’m only telling her the truth, it’s not my fault it hurts.’
‘That’s bullshit, Keira. You found a weakness, and you just enjoy poking at it.’
‘And you’re some sort of expert, are ye?’ Keira said. ‘If yer so packed full of wisdom, how come I’ve never seen ye with anyone? Your problem is that ye think yer smarter than everyone else. Puts folk off.’
Flora scowled, but said nothing. She picked up a stick and prodded the fire.
The door opened, and Kallie came back in. She crouched by the flame.
‘We should get going,’ she said. ‘Got another eight miles to go before we hit the road to the coast. From there, our camp’s a twenty-minute hike up the glen.’
‘If yer friends are still there,’ Keira said.
‘You’re right,’ Kallie said, ‘they might have been discovered while I was gone. We’ll need to be careful. We’ll be passing close to a mining compound on the way, so we’ll have to keep our heads down.’
‘Why?’ said Keira. ‘I thought we were here to fight.’
Kallie raised an eyebrow. ‘The compound covers hundreds of acres, Keira, and is guarded by an entire battalion of soldiers. Their camps are ten times the size of the old ones you fought after the invasion. You must have seen them on the way in, they’re too big to attack on our own.’
Keira frowned.
‘We stuck to the mountain trails on our way south,’ said Flora. ‘We didn’t see any Rahain.’
Kallie nodded. ‘Makes sense.’
‘What does?’ said Keira.
‘I’ve often wondered how you were able to pass through Northern Kell without stopping to fight. You still haven’t seen what the Rahain have done to it.’
‘But we’re in Northern Kell now,’ said Flora.
Kallie laughed and shook her head. ‘We’re still in the mountains, away from the nightmare the lowlands have become. We even avoided the garrisons on the main pass to Southern Kell. We haven’t seen anything yet.’
‘So we’ll need help?’
‘Aye, Flora,’ Kallie said, ‘we’ll need to sit down and make a plan. Rally every rebel in the hills, and then choose where to strike.’
‘Sounds too fucking complicated,’ Keira said. ‘Just point me at the lizards. The sooner we’ve burnt them out of Kell, the sooner I can go back to Domm.’
Kallie got to her feet, shaking her head. Flora stood, and slung her pack back over her shoulder.
‘Back into the sideways rain,’ she said. ‘Oh joy.’
Keira extinguished the fire and they left the goat shed. The wind and rain had eased, and thick grey clouds covered the sky. They followed the path down the narrow glen, then through the shelter of a long stretch of trees, their brown and faded leaves piled deep on the wet ground. Moss covered every rock next to the tiny burn. Keira smiled. Home.
Kallie led the way as they emerged from the trees. They came out onto a high platform, the lowlands of Northern Kell spread out before them. Keira stood by Kallie’s side and gazed out.
She squinted through the murk. The land was unrecognisable. Mountains of ash and slagheaps littered the landscape. There was still some green patches here and there, but the ground was mostly broken rock, with landslips and giant, jagged crevices crossing the hillside. Every tree
had gone, and smoke rose from a dozen locations. In the distance Keira could see lines of high walls, enclosing an enormous camp, where row after row of squat buildings were laid out, amid guard towers and hills of mined coal.
Kallie spat. ‘Now do you see?’
Keira said nothing. She wanted to look away, to pretend she had never seen it, but remained frozen where she stood. Her anger began to grow.
‘The Rahain did all this?’ asked Flora.
‘Aye,’ said Kallie. ‘Their stone mages levelled every village and opened up the hillsides to reach the coal easier. The whole land’s been ripped apart by earthquakes and mining. And they chopped down all the forests and woods, and dumped their mining waste into every river.’
Keira felt her fists clench.
‘This,’ Kallie said, stretching out her arm, ‘is what we’re up against. That compound there is one of the largest in this area. There are a couple of bigger ones further north, but that’s the main one here. It sits where the old village of Dropbottom used to be, about thirty miles from the pass to Southern Kell.’
‘Aye,’ muttered Keira, ‘I remember it.’
‘Where’s your camp from here?’ Flora said.
Kallie pointed to a range of hills to their left. ‘That way.’
She turned, and began walking down the path. Flora glanced at Keira.
‘The Rahain really fucked you guys over.’
‘Aye?’ Keira said. ‘Now it’s my turn.’
It was dark when Kallie led them up another narrow glen. Flora struggled with the lack of light, and they had to take their time as she stumbled over every rock and tree root on the path. When they reached a waterfall, Kallie told them to wait, and she continued up the track on her own. She returned a few minutes later and gestured for them to follow her.
They clambered up a steep incline to the mouth of a cave, where a Kellach was guarding the entrance. He nodded at Kallie and moved aside to let them pass.
The Magelands Box Set Page 168