The words felt sweet in her mind, and she felt her resolve fade, as if resistance was being drawn out of her. She stared ahead at where the Emperor stood. Next to him, Mirren was being shackled in heavy chains by Rahain soldiers.
‘Never,’ Daphne whispered. She drew on her battle-vision and stepped back off the edge of the cliff.
For a few seconds, she felt nothing but the air rushing past her, the roar it made almost drowning out the cry of rage from the Emperor. She hit the side of the ravine, and spun, falling deeper. She crashed into the shallow waters of the freezing cold stream, powering her battle-vision to its limits. Her armour pulled her to the bottom, but she struggled up, scrambling to the bank. She pulled her head out of the water, choking for air. Her legs felt numb from the cold, and she could see blood seeping from the wounds she had earned in the fall.
As she crawled from the stream, she glanced up at the narrow sliver of daylight at the top of the ravine. A figure was leaning over the edge, staring down into the darkness of the crevice.
It saddens me that you would rather die than surrender, Holdfast, the Emperor said, but if that is your wish, so be it.
He lifted his arms, and brought them down in a lunging motion, and Daphne saw the cliffside around her crack, and collapse. The rocks split, and boulders fell, splashing into the stream, and sending fragments flying. She saw a low lip of rock, and crawled under it, as the bottom of the ravine filled with rubble, and the light faded into darkness.
When Daphne regained consciousness, she couldn’t move. Rock and stone hemmed her in all on sides, but it was loose under the shelter of the lip of rock, and she could breathe. All around was the cold, damp darkness, and she heard nothing but the sharp ringing in her ears.
Mummy?
Daphne gasped, and tried to move her head.
I’m here, Kara-bear, mummy’s here.
Daddy.
Daphne fought back tears. I don’t know where daddy is, little bear.
It’s all right, mummy, don’t cry. Daddy’s here.
A shaft of daylight appeared above her head, and she blinked, blinded. A hand reached in and touched her face.
Killop.
Blood covered the left side of his head, and his armour was bent and blackened by fire. By him was a group of Holding troopers, helping to dig her out. Killop put a waterskin to her lips, his eyes never leaving her face. She drank as the rocks were lifted from around her. She was pulled from the rubble, clinging onto Killop’s neck as he held her close, her legs trailing.
He rested her against a boulder by the bank of the stream, and they kissed. He examined her for injuries, his hands unbuckling her battered armour. He stopped at her right leg and cut the ripped leather away, revealing an ugly wound, bloody and covered in river mud. He dipped a rag in the stream and began to clean the dirt and blood away.
‘You came for me,’ she said.
He gazed at her. ‘Karalyn led us.’
She looked up, and saw Celine hurry towards her, the girl in her arms.
‘Mummy!’ Karalyn squealed, as Celine handed her to Daphne.
‘Little bear,’ Daphne said, pulling her close.
‘We saw you fall,’ said Kylon, walking towards her. Behind him, Daphne saw Baoryn. The Rahain man was sitting slumped against a boulder, his head and chest covered in bandages. He nodded to her, a grim smile on his lips as Kylon approached. He handed her a lit cigarette.
‘Has the Emperor gone?’ she said, taking a smoke.
‘Aye,’ said Killop, as he cleaned the wound on her leg.
‘Hours ago,’ said Kylon.
‘How did you get away from him?’ Daphne said.
‘He didn’t look for us,’ Kylon said. ‘He was only after you and Mirren.’
Daphne nodded, then glanced at Killop. ‘What about you?’
‘He blasted the eastern end of the gorge with fire,’ he said. ‘Karalyn came to me when she was dreaming, and even though I was awake, I could feel her in my head, helping me.’
‘How’s the leg?’ said Celine.
‘Bruised,’ Killop said. ‘Nothing’s broken, but there’s a deep cut.’
‘I hit the cliffside on the way down,’ Daphne said.
‘Should heal in a few days,’ he said, wrapping a bandage around her calf. He turned to the small group of troopers. ‘Get a stretcher made up, and we’ll carry Lady Holdfast out of here.’
He stood, brushing the dirt from his battered armour, the dust billowing up in the breeze.
‘What now?’ said Kylon.
Killop glanced at Daphne.
‘It’s over,’ she said, ‘the Emperor’s won. He captured Mirren, and even if she doesn’t tell him where the four mages are, he’ll scour it out of her head anyway.’
Kylon frowned. ‘Which means he’ll have the full set. The last time he had every type of mage he was able to grant himself godlike powers.’
He stared down at Daphne.
‘What will he do this time?’
Chapter 25
Two to One
Outside Plateau City, Imperial Plateau – 21st Day, First Third Winter 507
Keira frowned. ‘Sitting by the window isnae going to make her get back here any quicker.’
‘I know,’ said Kallie. ‘I’m just restless. I might go and check the traps.’
‘Again?’ Keira said. ‘Ye were only out there an hour ago.’
‘Anything to take my mind off food.’
‘Come and have a smoke,’ Keira said, holding out a weedstick. ‘Keenweed suppresses yer appetite.’
‘So ye keep telling me.’
‘It does, but.’
Kallie shook her head. ‘If only I had my fucking longbow.’
‘Aye, well, ye don’t, so stop whining about it.’
‘Whining? We’ve had no food for four days, Keira. The plateau’s a fucking wasteland. Every farm’s deserted, and there’s no animals or folk for miles around. Your invasion last year kicked the arse out of the countryside.’
‘A hundred thousand Sanang had to eat something,’ Keira said, ‘and anyway, it wasnae just me. Agang Garo brought an army up through the Plateau the year before I did, he started it.’
Kallie stared out of the window. ‘What was it like when ye arrived, at the head of yer great big army?’
Keira shrugged. ‘Wheatfields, cattle, vineyards, wee market towns…’
‘My point exactly,’ Kallie said. ‘Now look at it. No trees, just mud and stumps and burnt-out barns.’
‘I don’t know what yer fucking problem is, hen. It’s just land, it’ll recover. Shit’ll grow back, and before ye know it everything will be all nice and green again, and it’ll happen a damn sight quicker than it will in Kell.’
‘It’s not the land that bothers me, it’s the lack of food.’
‘Come and have a fucking smoke,’ Keira said.
Kallie sighed, and got up. She walked across the empty kitchen of the small cottage where they were staying, and sat down next to the warm stove, heated by burning what remained of the furniture. She took the offered weedstick.
Keira cackled.
Kallie frowned at her, and took a smoke. She looked confused for a moment, then her eyes widened.
‘This feels… different,’ she said, as Keira laughed. ‘Everything’s brighter, and sparkly.’
‘It keeps ye awake as well, does the old keenweed,’ Keira said. ‘The Sanang used to take it before they went into battle.’
Kallie leaned in closer to the stove, wrapping her cloak around her. ‘How much longer do ye think Flora’s going to be?’
‘How the fuck should I know?’
‘You’ve been to Plateau City before. You told me ye used to live there. You should know how long it takes to walk to the gates and back.’
‘Aye, but what about the bit in the middle? Ye know, the bit where she’s got to get inside the city and get us some food? Could take her days.’
‘We should have gone, not her.’
‘It had
to be her,’ Keira said. ‘We don’t know if Kellach are allowed in.’
‘I think we should go now,’ Kallie said. ‘See if she’s in trouble. She could be in trouble. I cannae stand sitting here doing nothing. If we left before…’
Keira plucked the weedstick from Kallie’s hand.
‘That’s enough for now,’ she smirked.
Kallie’s face reddened. ‘I feel funny. Anxious, like my heart’s about to burst. And my mouth’s all dry. I need something to drink.’
Keira chuckled as Kallie leaned over and picked up the large jug of water they had scooped from the nearby stream. She raised it to her lips, and glugged down half of it.
‘Steady,’ Keira said.
Kallie got up and paced about the small room, puffing her cheeks in and out, cradling the jug in her arms.
‘Maybe the keenweed’s not for you,’ Keira said. ‘Come and sit down. Talk to me.’
Kallie sat. ‘About what?’
‘Any old bullshit. I don’t know. What about Daphne? Tell me about when ye met her.’
‘No,’ Kallie said. ‘I’m not going to talk about her.’
‘Aye, but we’re heading up there, eventually,’ Keira said. ‘Once the Emperor’s gone. Daphne’s the mother of my niece and I’ve still never met her.’
‘I’ll not be meeting her,’ Kallie said, ‘or Killop.’
‘It’s too late for that, Kallie. We’ve come all this fucking way. Ye’re not bailing out now.’
‘I cannae handle this conversation, it’s doing my head in. Maybe you should talk. I want to know what happened with you and Kylon.’
Keira shrugged. ‘He became a right over-bearing wee prick. Zero fucking sense of humour, and he kept trying to tell me what to do all the time. I couldnae stand him by the end.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ Kallie said, shivering by the stove. ‘If he turned up here right now, ye’d wet yerself.’
‘Would I fuck, ya radge wee cow.’ Keira frowned at her. ‘Are ye cold?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Right, that’s it,’ said Keira, standing. ‘No more keenweed for you, ever.’ She grabbed a blanket, and threw it over Kallie’s shoulders, but she continued to shake.
‘I’ve got an idea,’ Keira said, reaching into a bag by her chair as she sat. ‘Dreamweed.’
‘Not more fucking weed, please.’
‘Aye, but this should counteract the other stuff, bring ye down again.’
She lit the new weedstick.
‘Are ye sure?’ said Kallie.
‘Aye, trust me.’ Keira took a long draw, and settled into her chair. She wished she had some whisky left, but they had run out of that days before. Maybe Flora would return with a few bottles of rum, or brandy, or any old shit, wine even. That’d be nice. She picked up her mug of water and noticed Kallie staring at her, her eyes bloodshot.
Keira laughed. ‘Fuck, I forgot all about ye for a minute, hen.’
She passed her the dreamweed. Kallie frowned at it for a moment, then took a draw.
Keira’s thoughts went back to Flora.
‘Annoying wee cow,’ she muttered.
‘What was that?’ Kallie said. ‘Who’s a cow?’
‘Eh?’ Keira said. ‘Oh, I was just thinking about Flora.’
Kallie nodded, and took another draw.
‘Feeling any better?’ Keira said.
‘Aye,’ Kallie said. Her shivering had stopped, and she was swaying gently in her seat. ‘Floaty.’ She started to smile. ‘Thinking about Flora? What kind of thoughts?’
‘Not those kind, ya cheeky cow.’
Kallie started to giggle. ‘She loves you.’
Keira frowned, watching as Kallie rocked in silent laughter.
‘It’s not even funny.’
‘Aye, it is,’ gasped Kallie, her laughter subsiding. ‘It’s a shame for Flora, but. I like her. She’s good company, and she doesnae take any shit from ye either. I hope she’s alright.’
‘Me too.’
Kallie started laughing again. ‘What was that? Keira actually admitting she has feelings? That’s a first.’
‘Fuck off.’
‘Admit it, ye like her.’
‘She’s alright, I suppose.’
Kallie leaned over, her eyes heavy, and pointed. ‘You love her.’
Keira shook her head. ‘I’m beginning to think the dreamweed was a mistake.’
‘No,’ Kallie said. ‘I feel fine, sitting here with you, just the two of us, talking. Ye know, ye can be a right selfish cow at times, stuck up and cocky as fuck, but right now I’m glad I’m with ye. Ye’ve given my life some purpose, after years of not knowing what the fuck to do with myself.’ A tear made its way down her cheek, and Keira groaned.
‘I’m serious,’ cried Kallie. ‘Don’t ruin it.’
‘Fucksake, don’t get all weepy on me.’
‘After we left Killop and Bridget in Rahain, all I wanted was to go home, as if that was even fucking possible. I mean I knew that Kell had been fucked over, but somehow I thought that if I could just get back there then everything would be alright.’ She paused, sobbing, and took another draw. ‘But then we ran into a group of bandits in the borderlands with the Plateau. That was fucked up. Bunch of nasty wee bastards. At first we were just happy to get fed, and speak to folk after so long on our own, but pretty soon we wanted to leave. Only they wouldn’t let us.’
She paused again, her features darkening. She wiped her cheek.
Keira watched her as she smoked from her own weedstick. The thought of Kallie in the hands of some arseholes made her angry, but she didn’t want to show it.
‘We got away in the end,’ Kallie said. ‘Ran as fast as we could, and made it back to Kell.’
Keira said nothing,
‘Look,’ Kallie said, ‘I know you had it worse. My story must seem like nothing compared to being forced to kill all those frog-folk, but it was a fucking rough time for me. I… It was bad.’
‘I didn’t say anything.’
‘I know, but I can see it in yer eyes, that smug look of superiority. You’ve done so much crazy shit that the lives of everybody else must look trivial. You actually think yer a goddess, don’t ye?’
‘Aye.’
Kallie stared at her, shaking her head.
‘There’s no fucking point in being modest about it,’ Keira said. ‘I’ve got folk in Sanang worshipping me in their wee temples and forest shrines, praying to me on their knees. I’ve got freaks in Domm who think I’m on this earth to save them all, and who follow me about like sheep. I’m the most powerful mage in the world. I’ve obliterated cities and brought down kingdoms, and I’ve come back from the dead.’
She shrugged. ‘I’m a fucking goddess.’
‘The fuck you are,’ said a voice from across the room.
‘Flora!’ cried Kallie. ‘Yer back!’
Keira turned. ‘Did ye bring any booze?’
The young Holdings woman raised an eyebrow, and slung her pack off her shoulder. She sat by the stove, dressed in an over-sized coat, and with a woollen hat pulled down over her ears.
‘I was worried about ye,’ said Kallie. ‘So was Keira.’
The fire mage snorted.
Flora looked from one to the other, her nose sniffing. ‘Let me guess,’ she said, ‘you’ve been smoking in here non-stop since the moment I left?’
‘Quite fucking possibly, hen,’ said Keira. ‘How long’s it been?’
Flora shook her head. ‘I’ve been gone for three days.’
‘Aye?’ Keira laughed.
‘I’ve not,’ said Kallie.
Flora turned to her.
‘I’ve not been smoking since ye left.’
Flora spotted the weedstick in her hand. ‘You?’ she said, her voice high. ‘Kallie?’
‘Keira said it would stop me feeling hungry.’
‘And has it?’
‘No,’ Kallie said. ‘I’m absolutely fucking starving.’
Flora leaned ove
r and opened her pack. She pulled out a paper parcel, and set in on the low table in front of them.
Keira stared, her stomach growling like an angry bear. Kallie leaned so far forward she nearly fell off her chair. Flora laughed, and unwrapped the parcel. Inside were dried old apples, a pound of hard-looking bread, some over-ripe cheese, and a curling slab of cured beef.
‘I think I love you, Flora,’ said Kallie.
‘Dig in,’ she said. ‘I’ve already eaten this morning.’
The Kell women were reaching for the table before Flora had finished speaking. They tore the food to pieces, stuffing their mouths.
‘Fucksake,’ said Flora. ‘It’s like watching wolves.’ She picked up Kallie’s discarded weedstick, and re-lit it off the stove. She pulled off her hat, and her long black hair fell down her shoulders.
She smiled. ‘I’m glad to see that you haven’t killed each other while I was away.’
‘It was close once or twice,’ Kallie said, her mouth full of food.
Keira took the last apple and devoured it in two bites. She sat back, rubbing her belly.
‘That was braw. Got any more?’
‘Fraid not,’ she said. ‘That’s all I could steal.’
‘Ye stole it?’ Kallie said.
‘We’ve got no money,’ Flora said. ‘What did you expect? Food’s hard to come by in the city. Scarce and expensive. There are a lot of people starving in the streets.’
‘Any Kellach about?’ said Keira.
‘A few. Nothing like before, though.’ She shook her head. ‘Plateau City’s in a right mess. Well, half of it is. All the rich bastards are doing fine in the New Town, but the rest of the city is lawless, run by gangs. The Kellach quarter, the Old Town, the peasant district, it’s all just one giant slum now. The gates to the New Town are locked up and guarded, but I heard rumours about tunnels under the walls.’
‘Did ye get in?’
‘Not into the New Town. I had no money to pay to use the tunnels, and the guards wouldn’t let me through the gates. No papers. I ended up staying in the Old Town. The great fortress there, that joins on to the New Town, is being used as the palace now, after you destroyed the old one.’
The Magelands Box Set Page 181