The camp was nestled in a flat-bottomed ravine, where a patch of trees stood by a narrow mountain stream, which tumbled down from the grey slopes. A sentry greeted them as they approached, and Killop nodded.
They clambered down the steep slope of the ravine, and walked through the untidy rows of tents. Daphne’s tent was higher than the others, and stood in the centre, a cluster of soldiers on guard outside. They saluted as they saw Killop draw near.
‘Squad,’ he said, turning to face his raiders, ‘good work today, you’re learning. I’m going back out tomorrow, so be ready in case any of you are selected. Dismissed.’
He put his arm on Baoryn’s shoulder, and approached Daphne’s tent.
‘You’re back early,’ said Celine, who was standing outside having a cigarette.
‘Found this guy,’ he said, nodding to the bound and hooded Rahain. ‘Are the rest of them inside?’
‘Yeah.’
Killop called over a couple of guards.
‘Watch this prisoner for me,’ he said. ‘Keep him here until I call for him.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Killop glanced down at the hooded figure. ‘I’ll be back soon,’ he said in Rahain, then stepped into the tent. He went through a small hallway, and entered Daphne’s quarters.
Karalyn squealed, and ran to him, hugging his leg. He ruffled her hair.
‘Hiya, wee bear.’
Kylon grunted at him from where he sat in the corner of the tent. Daphne was sitting on a chair next to Chane, who was lying on a camp-bed, bandages still covering her ribs. They were smoking a weedstick.
‘I see you two are having fun,’ Killop said, smiling, ‘while I’m out doing all the work.’
Chane shook her head and started to laugh. ‘You’re in trouble now,’ she said. ‘Poor Daphne here’s been slaving her guts out all day.’
Killop slung his sword belt over a bench, and unbuckled his armoured chestplate.
Daphne glanced up at him, her eyes exhausted. ‘I thought you were going to be out longer, I wasn’t expecting you back until tomorrow morning. How did it go?’
He sat on a chair, and unlaced his boots. ‘Fine. Hit two patrols. Forty-seven Rahain killed. No casualties our end.’
She nodded.
‘What you been doing?’ he asked.
Daphne sighed. ‘Ranging,’ she said, ‘and checking in with the other detachments. Our positions to the south-west have become compromised and we’re going to have to move location soon, probably tomorrow.’
‘And the Emperor?’
‘A hundred miles to the east, burning the last of the mining towns.’
‘He see you?’
‘No, Karalyn shielded me. He had no idea I was watching him.’
‘Good.’ He paused. ‘There’s a reason I’m back early. I found someone.’
Daphne frowned. ‘Who?’
‘A man who claims to know us. Says we’ve met, and I think I recognise him, but I’m not sure. It was a long time ago.’ He glanced over at Kylon. ‘You’re going to want to see this.’
He got up and walked to the tent entrance.
‘Bring him,’ he called to the guards.
They all watched as the two Holdings troopers escorted the hooded figure in.
Thanks,’ Killop said. ‘You can go.’
The troopers saluted and left the tent.
Daphne leaned forward in her chair as Killop removed the captive’s hood.
‘Baoryn!’ cried Kylon, rising. He ran to the Rahain man and embraced him, holding him close to his chest. The two men began to weep.
Killop nodded. ‘Guess he was telling the truth.’
He stepped forward, and cut the cords that bound the wrists of the Rahain. Baoryn put his arms round Kylon’s back, sobbing as he hugged the Kell man.
Chane frowned. ‘Are they going to need their own room?’
Killop glanced at Daphne. ‘Do you recognise him?’
‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘He came round to see me once, when I was pregnant in Plateau City. He knew about Kalayne.’
Baoryn broke off, and stared at Daphne. He rubbed his eyes.
Kylon gazed down at him. ‘Kalayne’s dead, old friend.’
‘I know,’ the Rahain man said, ‘or, I guessed, when he didn’t send a vision when he said he would.’
‘He was putting visions into your head?’ Daphne asked.
Baoryn nodded. ‘Just once. He told me that Kylon was going to the Holdings, to look for you. He said he would let me know how to find him, but he never did.’
‘Was this last winter?’ said Kylon.
‘Yes,’ said Baoryn, ‘just after the fire mage’s army was wiped out by the Emperor.’
‘Come and sit down,’ Daphne said. ‘We’ll get some food and drink, and talk.’
The Rahain man nodded. ‘From the moment I left your home, Miss Holdfast, I have been searching for Kylon. Thank you for welcoming me here.’
Daphne nodded.
‘By the way,’ said Chane, ‘it’s Lady Holdfast now.’
Baoryn bowed. ‘My lady.’
The sun was setting over the mountains to the west as dinner was prepared. Celine came in, and they gathered chairs and a table next to Chane’s camp-bed. A hot wood-stove was brought in to heat the tent, its chimney poking up through a slit in the canvas ceiling. Their rations were small and bland, but the ale was plentiful.
Baoryn stayed quiet most of the time, listening to Kylon tell the long tale of Keira’s invasion of the Plateau. Whenever Killop glanced at the Rahain he would be gazing up at the black-cloaked Kell man, his wide eyes looking like they wanted to consume him.
Daphne and Killop gave a shorter account of their lives, which entertained Chane and Celine more than Baoryn, whose attention remained fixed on Kylon. Chane passed round a few weedsticks. Killop abstained, preferring to keep his mind unclouded. He picked up Karalyn and sat her on his lap.
Baoryn glanced at her.
Karalyn smiled, and the Rahain man glanced away, his tongue flickering.
‘She’s beautiful,’ he said, ‘just like her mother.’
‘Thank you,’ said Daphne. ‘In your vision, what else did Kalayne say to you?’
‘He reminded me that many years ago I pledged my life and service to Kylon, and told me to help him in any way I could.’
Daphne turned to Kylon. ‘Did you know about this?’
‘No,’ he said. ‘To be honest, I had no idea that Kalayne was in contact with him.’
‘It was only one vision,’ Baoryn said. ‘I was in Rainsby at the time, on my way back from Rahain.’
‘What were you doing in Rahain?’ Daphne said.
‘After I left Plateau City, my lady, I discovered that Kylon had been enlisted in the alliance army, and was fighting down there. But by the time I got to Rahain, he was no longer with the army, and I lost track of him completely. I wandered through the Grey Mountains, thinking that maybe he and the fire mage had been living in the wild up there, but found nothing. When I got to Rainsby all everyone was talking about was the invasion of the fire witch from Sanang, and I realised what had happened.’
He glanced at Kylon. ‘I’m sorry it took so long to find you.’
‘I knew you would in the end,’ Kylon said.
‘And how did you find him?’ said Daphne.
‘I travelled up to Plateau City, though didn’t get too close to it. The Emperor was in Rakana, hunting for mages. I heard that a Rahain army had been summoned, so I walked up to the border with the Holdings, and waited. It was easy to fall in with the soldiers that arrived from Rahain, though I stuck out at the start. The rest of them were raw recruits, and most hadn’t been given any training, and I was about the only veteran who knew what he was doing. So I played dumb, and mingled in.’
‘Did you fight at Red Hills?’ Killop said.
‘I was there, sir, but I stuck to the back. I just wanted to survive. After it was over, we were led to the mountains, and I made sure I was sent out with th
e lead units, hoping that if I got to speak to the rebels, then I could talk my way here. I was lucky it was you that found me.’
Daphne narrowed her eyes and took a draw of her weedstick.
‘I’m going to look inside your mind,’ she said. ‘Nothing personal.’
‘That’s unfair,’ said Kylon. ‘I believe him, and I trust him.’
Daphne shrugged, and her eyes hazed over for a few moments, as Baoryn sat still. She shook her head and grimaced. She picked up a mug of ale and took a long swig.
‘Well?’ said Chane.
‘He’s telling the truth,’ she said.
Kylon glowered. Baoryn glanced at him. ‘It’s all right, I understand why they need to be sure. I’ve been away a long time.’
‘So he’s a good guy?’ said Celine.
‘Of course he is,’ said Kylon.
‘Don’t get your knickers in a twist,’ said Chane. ‘You’d have done the same.’
‘It’s settled,’ Daphne said. ‘Baoryn can stay. Kylon, you look after him for now. I’ll have a think about where to assign him later.’
‘Thank you, my lady,’ the Rahain said, bowing.
Kylon stood. ‘I’ll get you kitted out, come on.’
Baoryn got to his feet, bowed at Daphne again, and they left the tent.
‘I don’t like him,’ said Chane.
‘Did you see the way he was looking at Kylon?’ said Celine.
Daphne frowned. ‘I said he could stay, but I’m not sure I want him too close, not yet at any rate.’
‘I thought he was telling the truth?’ said Killop.
‘He was,’ said Daphne. ‘All the same, let’s keep him at arm’s length for now.’
Celine turned to Karalyn. ‘What did you think of the Rahain man, little bear?’
‘Karalyn sleepy.’
Celine put down her drink and took the girl from Killop’s lap. ‘Bedtime for you.’ She stood. ‘I’ll get to my own bed as well, I want to be fresh in the morning.’
‘Night, then,’ Daphne said, kissing Karalyn.
Celine carried the child to a curtained-off section at the rear of the tent.
Daphne glanced at Killop and Chane. ‘Commanders,’ she smiled, ‘we need to discuss tomorrow.’
Killop refilled their mugs with ale.
‘Get the map,’ Daphne said, and Chane reached into a chest by her camp-bed. She unrolled a large scroll, displaying the region in fine detail.
‘Is that new?’ Killop said.
‘I made it,’ Chane said. ‘I was so bored just lying about all day. I put it together from all the routes the scouts have been marking out, along with some older charts I found.’
Killop examined it, bringing a lamp closer to read the neat script.
‘It’s beautiful.’
Chane laughed. ‘It’s a map.’
‘Still, I’ve never seen one like it.’ He pointed. ‘We’re here, aye?’
‘Yeah.’
He glanced at Daphne. ‘And the Emperor?’
‘Over there,’ she said, tapping the other end of the map. She picked up a pouch, and began to place small pebbles on the map to mark the different locations. ‘I think our next base should be at the mouth of where these two valleys split. It should take us two days to get there, so we’ll stop off halfway for the night.’
Killop nodded. ‘Shall we leave in the morning?’
‘Yes, although I want you to stay here with a couple of squads. Make sure no one finds the path we take.’
‘Send me a signal when you arrive,’ he said, ‘and we’ll pull out. We’ll cover the distance to the new camp in a day.’
‘I’ve ordered the other detachments to move as well,’ Daphne said, laying out more pebbles. ‘These are their current positions, and these are where they’re going. Annifrid’s unit will cover the gorge over here to watch our flank.’
Chane shook her head. ‘Every time we relocate, the Emperor gets a little bit closer to the mages.’
‘I agree,’ said Killop. ‘Next time we move, we should push everyone westward, including the mages.’
Daphne nodded. ‘I’ll send out scouts to find some suitable locations.’
Chane sighed. ‘It’s a game, isn’t it? A fucking game. Can the Emperor’s army catch us before they run out of food and supplies? No offence, Killop, but your raiding squads haven’t made much of a dent in their numbers.’
‘That’s not their purpose,’ he said. ‘They’re to sow fear and confusion. The more the enemy doubt themselves, the sooner they’ll want to go home.’
‘But the Emperor will just force them to stay.’
‘I don’t think he can,’ Killop said. ‘We know he’s powerful, and stronger than any normal mage, but he can only be in one place at a time. I want to speak to Baoryn about this, but from everything I’ve seen, the Emperor is running the army on his own, which is fine when he’s on the battlefield, but in these mountains? We keep hitting the Rahain, and some units are going to desert, and run home.’
‘You sound confident,’ Daphne said.
‘Back in Kell,’ he said, ‘the Rahain were a different army. They had discipline, and a rigid command, with officers everywhere. This lot are a rabble. Half have no boots or winter coats, and most seem never to have fired a crossbow before. In the patrols we’ve hit, there never seems to be anyone in charge, no sergeants, or anyone who looks like they’ve seen a day’s training. I don’t know how the Emperor raised them, but he scraped the bottom of the barrel with this lot.’
‘How’s your elite squad coming along?’ Daphne asked.
‘I’ve taken over a hundred out on raids now,’ he said, ‘and I’ve made a list.’ He pulled out a scrap of paper from his pocket. ‘Fourteen names so far.’
‘Good. Select them as part of the force that stays here in the morning. As usual, we’ll keep this to ourselves until then, and issue the orders at dawn.’
Chane and Killop nodded, and the map was put away, Daphne sliding the pebbles back into the pouch.
‘I think I’ll have one last smoke, then get to sleep,’ Chane said.
Daphne glanced at Killop. ‘Want some fresh air?’
‘Aye.’
Killop pulled on his boots and they left the tent, nodding to the guards at the entrance. They walked through the bottom of the valley, among the trees and lines of tents. Many soldiers were still up, sitting round small fires smoking, or drinking rum from mugs. Daphne and Killop came to the edge of the cliff, and she took a narrow path upwards, their way illuminated by the glow of the campfires. They reached a quiet spot, and halted, gazing into the darkness of the mountains. Above, the seven stars shone bright and clear. Killop put his arms round her, and she leaned back into him.
He kissed her on the neck.
‘I love you.’
‘I love you too, Killop.’
They stood a moment in silence.
‘Daphne,’ he said, ‘this war…’ He paused, unsure how to form his thoughts into words.
She remained quiet.
‘I think I’m…’ he went on.
‘What?’
‘Changing. When I led the slave revolt in Rahain, I used to kill unarmed soldiers who’d surrendered, I didn’t even think about it, I just did it. But when I saw the Sanang slaughter hundreds of prisoners outside the gates of the Rahain Capital, my heart broke, and I swore I’d never do it again. Today I killed five unarmed prisoners, one of whom was injured, while the others were on their knees, begging for mercy. I wanted to shield the squad from having to do it. They’re so young, Daphne. I looked at them, and I remembered what I’d been like, before the wars started. So I killed the prisoners myself.’
He paused, closing his eyes. ‘I remember my sister used to say that I was self-righteous, that I thought I was better than everyone else. Maybe I did back then, but now I know it’s bullshit. I’m not a good man.’
She turned in his arms to face him, her body close.
‘Killop, what are you fighting for?’
‘You,’ he said, ‘and Karalyn. And for the hope that one day we might be able to live in peace.’
She leaned up and kissed him. The fingers of her right hand traced a scar down his cheek, and her green eyes gazed up at him.
‘We will, Killop,’ she said.
Chapter 23
Trading Secrets
Silverstream, Imperial Rahain – 29th Day, Last Third Autumn 507
‘How much longer do I have to fake it, do you think?’ Laodoc said.
‘A while yet, I’m afraid,’ said Agang, sitting by the old man’s bedside. ‘It’s only been nineteen days since you broke your leg.’
‘And eighteen since you healed it.’
‘Would you rather I hadn’t?’
Laodoc shook his head. ‘No, I’m grateful not to be in pain. It’s just that I’m not a good liar.’
‘I thought you used to be a politician?’
The old man frowned. ‘That’s completely different. When I was a city councillor I may have exaggerated, reinterpreted, or even twisted the truth on occasion, but it was still the truth. I never used to tell flat-out lies.’
Agang raised an eyebrow. ‘I lied all the time as king, and as chief before that. Sometimes the Sanang people weren’t prepared for the truth. For example, I was never honest about my plans to free the slaves. If I had, I probably would have been lynched.’
‘But, my friend,’ Laodoc smiled, ‘you were lynched by Keira.’
‘Eight-thirds, she used to call me,’ he glowered. ‘That’s how long my reign lasted.’
‘Maybe being more honest would have helped?’
‘Against the fire witch? No. Only one thing would have worked against her. Running.’
There was a loud cheer from outside, and they paused to listen.
‘I wish we could see what was going on,’ said Laodoc. ‘This damnable house, so cramped and lightless. How I long for some fresh air.’
‘We all do,’ Agang said. ‘You might be stuck in this bed, but we’re all stuck in this house. It could be a lot worse, I suppose. It’s clean, we have our own rooms, and the food’s plentiful, if not particularly appetising.’
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