Needs of the Empire

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘She has a child?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘and listen to this. The father is none other than a Kellach Brigdomin.’

  ‘Your races can breed?’ Hodang said.

  ‘Evidently,’ Pieper smirked. ‘Anyway, that’s another of the world’s most powerful mages on the loose.’

  ‘Is she likely to come here?’ Hodang said. ‘Bearing in mind her old association.’

  ‘No,’ Pieper said. ‘She’s off to Rahain, to find the father.’

  They slowed as they reached the gates of the town’s upper citadel, spread out on top of a low hill. It had a high stockade surrounding it, and they passed through a line of saluting guards.

  ‘Now that our little excursion’s over,’ Hodang said, ‘I’d better get back to work. Lord Badranga will be arriving from the south in a few hours, and there’s a feast to prepare.’

  ‘You worry too much,’ Agang said. ‘Come on, I need to get washed and changed.’

  They parted from Pieper in front of the Great Hall, as the priest had his own quarters in a small chapel converted from an out-building of a brewery at the other end of the citadel. Agang entered the hall and turned for a private set of stairs leading up to his apartments, leaving Hodang to organise the feast.

  Agang, a servant, and two guards ascended the narrow stairs, which led out to a long balcony, with a removable wall leading into a large reception room. Chane was sitting there, her legs folded under her, reading a book.

  ‘Good afternoon, Council Minister,’ Agang said.

  She looked up and gave him an amused glance.

  ‘Enjoy your trip into town?’

  ‘Hodang will no doubt tell you it was a disaster,’ he said, taking a cup from a tray held out by a servant, ‘but I learned a lot.’

  ‘Did that slimy priest go with you?’

  ‘Pieper’s all right,’ Agang said. ‘I find him quite entertaining.’

  ‘I can’t stand being around him,’ she said, swinging her legs off the comfortable chair and picking up a half-smoked weedstick. ‘He knows I’m not a believer.’

  ‘Did you hear his latest theory,’ Agang smiled, ‘about how the Sanang War God is a manifestation of the same Creator the Holdings believe in? It allows him to claim that I’m already a follower of his religion, and not only that, but also that I must be blessed indeed, to have the Creator speak to me twice in my dreams.’

  ‘And you believe that?’

  ‘It has a certain logic to it, I suppose.’

  Chane snorted.

  A door opened and Giles entered, wearing a thin robe.

  ‘I heard you were back, your Majesty,’ he said, bowing. ‘Will you be requiring anything? ’

  ‘A bath, Giles, if you please,’ Agang said, watching the young Holdings man, ‘and a set of fresh robes for our meeting with Lord Badranga.’

  ‘Very well, your Majesty,’ Giles smiled. ‘I shall prepare it at once.’

  He turned and left, while Chane glowered at his back.

  ‘Don’t be like that, Chane,’ Agang said. ‘I told you what the situation would be when we returned. You’re no longer my slave, but one of my chief advisors. I cannot share my bed with you as we once did.’

  ‘But to be replaced by him…’ Chane sneered.

  ‘Keep your voice lowered, woman,’ Agang frowned. ‘Must we go through this every time? What occurs in my private quarters is no longer any concern of yours, and I will not have you repeating gossip, understand?’

  She nodded, but her eyes were lit with anger.

  ‘It doesn’t mean that I no longer favour you,’ he said, sitting down next to her. ‘In fact, I value you more than ever.’

  Chane looked away. ‘Sometimes I wish I’d gone back with Rebecca and Gertrude.’

  ‘I’m glad you didn’t.’

  She sighed. ‘Alright then. Shall we go through what Badranga is probably going to say?’

  Agang nodded.

  ‘He’ll be wanting aid, first of all,’ she went on. ‘More soldiers to combat the raids in the south of his territories. B’Dang D’Bang…’

  ‘Is a fool.’

  ‘His attacks have been spreading,’ Chane said. ‘It might be time to take him more seriously.’

  Agang laughed. ‘He knows nothing of warfare, nothing of strategy or tactics. I’ve watched him several times on the battlefield. He can slaughter peasants, but he’s hopeless at being a general.’

  ‘But you’ll send Badranga reinforcements nevertheless?’

  ‘A few regiments,’ Agang said. ‘I was thinking of some of the new ex-slave companies. Get them blooded.’

  ‘You may need more than that,’ she said. ‘Badranga’s reports have stated that B’Dang is gaining recruits among the disaffected in his lands.’

  Agang nodded. ‘I’ll think about it. What else will he say?’

  ‘He’s bound to bring up his eldest daughter again.’

  He groaned.

  ‘She’d be a good match, politically,’ Chane said. ‘Bind the north and south closer together.’

  ‘Is that what you really think?’ he said, looking into her eyes.

  ‘You know what I think,’ she said, ‘but you should do what’s best for the kingdom.’

  ‘I’ll think about that too, then,’ he said, his mind starting to run through the excuses he might give the southern chief.

  ‘Lastly,’ she said, ‘he should be bringing with him the last of any Holdings slaves from south of the Tritos.’

  ‘Good,’ Agang said. ‘Once your people have been freed and sent on their way, I can use the money to buy out more Sanang slaves. Free as many as I can before I have to change any laws.’

  ‘Even if Broadwater was built from gold,’ she said, ‘it wouldn’t be enough to purchase every slave in Sanang. At some point you’ll have to use your authority, and back it up with steel if necessary.’

  ‘We have years before we are obliged to free every slave,’ he said. ‘We’ll have something worked out by then.’

  ‘On the subject of obligations,’ Chane said, ‘we still haven’t recruited any hedgewitches to send to the Plateau.’

  Agang shrugged. ‘The pressure on that has eased. The legate said that the institute in the capital has managed to enlist a couple of Sanang healers from alliance army units. If they find enough locally, they may even drop the demand altogether.’

  ‘That would be good,’ Chane said. ‘The amount of bad feeling the suggestion generated was an eye-opener. I hadn’t realised how attached you all felt to your hedgewitches.’

  Agang frowned. ‘Even the most meagre hedgewitch knows things. Things we would rather keep secret.’

  ‘The soulwitches, you mean? ’

  Agang nodded. He disliked her giving the name to his deepest fears, but kept his face steady.

  ‘I forgot,’ she smirked. ‘I’m not supposed to talk about them. It upsets you.’

  He stood. ‘I must get ready.’

  ‘See you down there,’ Chane nodded, a tiny smile on the edge of her lips.

  The Great Hall of Broadwater was filled with people, all awaiting the arrival of Lord Badranga. Black-armoured warriors lined the walls, while lords and merchants of the town were accepting drinks from servants on the main floor in front of the throne where Agang sat.

  To his right, one step lower than he, Princes Echtang and Gadang stood, dressed royally, with great decorative swords strapped to their waists. Hodang was on his left, chatting in a whisper to Chane. Behind them hung an enormous regal standard, depicting a golden tree on a green background, with a crown above. It covered the entire back wall of the hall, framing his throne in a reflected glow.

  The front doors were wide open, to allow in the humid summer air. Outside, a heavy squall of rain was hitting the streets and rooftops of the town, adding a low roar to the background noise of conversations. Dotted among the crowd were a fair number of folk from the Holdings: merchants, and officials belonging to the Imperial Legate’s staff, who lived and worked withi
n the guarded citadel of the town. They seldom left, and when they did it was always with a squad of guards. The legate himself was present, talking to a small group which included the priest Pieper.

  A soldier at the gates raised a staff.

  ‘Here they come, your Majesty,’ Hodang said.

  Agang nodded.

  The sound of drums and horns blared out, and the hall hushed, everyone turning to face the front doors. A herald walked in, holding aloft the banner of the southern lands, a black boar against a red field. Behind him strode Badranga and one of his sons, followed by a long retinue of advisors, guards and servants.

  The crowd parted to allow the party to approach the throne.

  When he was ten yards away, the herald halted.

  Hodang raised his arms. ‘Welcome to the court of his Majesty King Agang Garo of the Sanang Realm, Lord of Broadwater, Beechwoods and the lands beyond the Mya, Conqueror of the Rahain Republic, Royal Partner of the Alliance and Empire.’

  Badranga’s party bowed low.

  ‘Greetings to his Majesty,’ the herald cried, ‘from Chief Badranga Lecht, Lord of Oakenvale, Master of the Lands below the River Tritos.’

  ‘It’s good to see you, old friend,’ Agang said.

  Badranga bowed again. ‘The honour is mine, my king.’

  ‘Please refresh yourselves.’ Agang waved a hand, and servants approached from either side with trays of fine foods and cups of clear, flavoured spirits.

  ‘I‘d rather not, your Majesty,’ Badranga said, his head held firm, ‘if it’s all the same to you. I need to speak to you in council. The matter is urgent.’

  Agang shot a glance at Hodang. The crowd in the hall remained quiet.

  ‘Very well,’ Agang said.

  Badranga bowed again.

  Agang got to his feet, and turned towards a large door at the rear of the hall, his advisors and nephews following his lead.

  ‘Echtang,’ he said. ‘You stay here. One of us should be present when the hall is open.’

  His younger nephew frowned, but went back to where he had been standing.

  A guard opened the door to the council chambers, where carved wooden benches sat next to drinking tables. At one end was a raised platform, and Agang walked there, taking his seat at the head of the room .

  Badranga came in with the rest of the royal party, and sat with his son at the table closest to Agang, a servant filling their mugs with ale.

  Hodang, Chane and Prince Gadang took their places next to the king.

  ‘Speak freely,’ Agang said to Badranga.

  Badranga scowled, and lowered his head.

  ‘The south is in flames,’ he muttered.

  Agang narrowed his eyes. ‘What did you say?’

  Badranga lifted his head, his face contorted. ‘The south is in flames. Your Majesty.’

  Agang paused for a second. ‘If you’re referring to B’Dang D’Bang, then rest assured that preparations are in place. You will have reinforcements sent, to assist you in wiping out the bandits.’

  The chief shook his head.

  ‘Those bandits, as you call them, your Majesty, have already taken half a dozen forts along the Kahtar river, and burned countless farms and settlements in my lands. My warriors lie dead in their hundreds.’ He paused. ‘If it were only B’Dang, but…’

  ‘But what, man?’ Agang said. ‘Speak up.’

  ‘B’Dang may have the title of war-leader, but he’s not the one the rebels are following.’

  Agang stared down at the chief. ‘Then who?’

  ‘The firewitch.’

  The council chamber fell into silence.

  ‘A firewitch?’ Hodang said. ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘A Clackdomyn giant,’ Badranga spat. ‘She has set the forests of the south ablaze, and the folk are flocking to her banner. She speaks of overthrowing the empire. Of overthrowing you, your Majesty. She claims you are nothing but a puppet of the Emperor.’

  ‘And how do you know what she claims?’ Agang cried, anger filling him.

  ‘The lowly folk, your Majesty,’ Badranga said, matching his king’s stare. ‘Ones we’ve re-captured after they’d joined her side. They worship her as a god. ’

  Agang glanced at Chane and Hodang.

  ‘I seem to recall, your Majesty,’ Hodang said, ‘something about a Clackdomyn firewitch escaping the Rahain Capital after we had taken the city. Perhaps the legate knows more.’

  Agang nodded to a guard at the door. ‘Summon Legate Robban and Father Pieper.’

  The guard bowed and left the hall.

  ‘Your Majesty,’ Badranga said, ‘the rebels are spreading it about that you knelt before the Holdings and their Emperor to gain your crown. They have no place in our council meetings.’

  Agang frowned. ‘I don’t make a habit of inviting them,’ he said, ‘but they may be able to tell us more about your firewitch.’

  The door opened and Imperial Legate Robban entered, Pieper at his side.

  ‘Your Majesty,’ they bowed together.

  ‘Legate Robban,’ Agang said. ‘We wish to ask you a few questions.’

  ‘I will answer them if I can, your Majesty.’

  ‘It has come to our attention,’ Agang said, ‘that a Clackdomyn firewitch may be at large in the south of our kingdom, involved in the recent troubles down there.’

  The legate stepped forward.

  ‘Clackdomyn, your Majesty?’ Robban said, his long grey hair tied behind his thin head. ‘Do you mean Kellach Brigdomin?’

  ‘That is your name for them, I believe,’ Agang said.

  The two Holdings men shared a quick glance with each other.

  ‘Does this firewitch have a name?’ Robban asked Badranga.

  ‘She does,’ the old chief said. ‘Her warriors fall to their knees and chant it whenever she passes.’

  He looked at Agang.

  ‘Well?’ the king said.

  ‘Keira kill-kill.’

  Pieper gasped.

  ‘Your Majesty,’ Robban said, his right eye twitching, ‘we must get word to the Emperor as soon as possible. Fire Mage Keira is an exceptionally dangerous woman.’

  Badranga snorted, and took a swig of ale.

  Pieper stepped forward. ‘Are you aware of who she is, your Majesty?’

  ‘Vaguely. I know she escaped from the Rahain Capital.’

  Pieper nodded. ‘Yes, your Majesty. But did you also know that she was responsible for the deaths of a third of a million Rakanese refugees, whom she incinerated without mercy?’

  Agang’s eyes widened. ‘We were informed that the Rahain had carried out that atrocity.’

  ‘Keira was the tool they used, your Majesty,’ Pieper said.

  ‘And now she’s in Sanang.’

  ‘It seems so,’ the priest said. ‘I’m sure your Majesty understands the gravity of the situation. The Kellach fire mage represents a danger, not only to Sanang, but to the whole empire. She must be hunted down and destroyed.’

  ‘She will be,’ Agang said. He turned to Hodang. ‘Chief Minister, please summon Commander Mandalecht.’

  ‘Your Majesty,’ Hodang said, ‘Commander Mandalecht is currently in his village visiting his family, and the rest of the army is still resting from the march back from the Rahain Republic.’

  ‘Then send messengers out to every regiment,’ Agang said. ‘Their holiday is over.’

  Chapter 4

  Tolerance

  S lateford, Rahain Republic – 5 th Day, Last Third Summer 506

  ‘The first year was the worst,’ the young man said, as they walked across the long terraced hillside. The sun was in the east, burning bright against a blue sky, and though the hour was early, the day was warm. ‘They had us working in the tunnels near Tahrana City, excavating and clearing away rubble. Didn’t see the sun for a long time, and half the folk down there with us died.’

  Killop stayed quiet, letting the man talk as they passed between rows of vines.

  ‘After that it got a bit
better. We were transferred to a series of farms, because all the locals had been made to join the army. Back-breaking work, but at least we were outside again.’

  The two men stopped, to allow the woman following them to catch up.

  ‘This is amazing Killop, I mean Chief,’ the young man said, looking down at the valley. ‘Is all this really ours?’

  ‘Aye, Conal,’ Killop said, ‘as far as you can see in both directions.’

  He turned to watch the woman approach. ‘Come on, Koreen,’ he yelled .

  ‘Fucksake boys,’ the woman said, reaching them. ‘What’s the rush? My hangover’s raging.’

  ‘I’m not surprised,’ Killop said, ‘the rate you were knocking them back. Still, it was some night. Me and Bridget couldn’t believe it when you two showed up at the mansion.’

  Killop looked at his old friends. They seemed to have aged a decade since he had last seen them.

  ‘What you gawking at?’ Koreen scowled.

  ‘Just happy to see you.’

  ‘Well go and be happy some place else. My headache cannae take joviality at the moment.’

  Killop pulled a waterskin from over his shoulder and passed it round.

  They gazed over the landscape. The long valley spread out before them, over ten miles from end to end. Narrow where a cliffside spring became a cascade of waterfalls, it widened into a fertile plain, a river meandering through its midst. Fields covered the valley floor, and small villages were dotted by the riverbank. A town sat where the river met the main road leading to the alliance fort and the Rahain Capital.

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ Conal said. ‘You said your old master gave it to you?’

  ‘He gave it to all of us. It’s sovereign Kellach Brigdomin territory. He made a law so that the Severed Clan owns the whole valley.’

  ‘Our masters were arseholes,’ Koreen said.

  ‘I was lucky, I know that,’ Killop said, ‘but we’re all free now. The Rahain took three years of our lives, but here we can start a new one.’

  They set off again, following one of the long terraces cut into the side of the hill.

  Conal halted at the next row of trellises, and knelt. He took a vine in his hands, the dark fruit glistening.

  ‘We worked in a vineyard last autumn,’ he said. ‘Never thought I’d be happy to see a grape again.’