Needs of the Empire

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Alas,’ the priest said, ‘the Creator sees no boundaries, and the word of his glory must be spread wherever there are people to hear it. Moreover, the One True Path greatly honour those who are martyred for the faith. The chapter here are already singing the names of the fallen. The first martyrs of the forest.’

  Hodang coughed. ‘Contractually,’ he said, ‘the Realm of Sanang cannot be held liable for these deaths. Our agreement with the Emperor specifically excluded any guarantee that we would be able to protect every missionary who decided to wander off into the forest.’

  ‘Have you no sympathy, Chief Minister?’ Pieper said. ‘I am simply relaying information to the royal court, not trying for legal advantage.’

  Hodang scowled. ‘Apologies.’

  ‘I have a further message, your Majesty,’ Pieper said to Agang, ‘from the Lord Vicar. The empire is recruiting a new army, an imperial force made up of, and open to, every one of the peoples that inhabit this world. The first units are being formed out of old Holdings cavalry companies, along with Kellach Brigdomin volunteers. In Rahain, new divisions formed of ex-slaves are being enrolled, and in Arakhanah City the call has gone out for recruits. Emperor Guilliam would like to know what contribution to the imperial army the King of Sanang will make.’

  ‘We shall need to consider this,’ Agang said, catching a look from Hodang. ‘If we offered soldiers, would they be transferred to the Plateau? Whose command would they be under?’

  ‘The Emperor hopes that, one day, there will be only one army in the world,’ Pieper said. ‘A grand force capable of keeping the peace on the entire continent.’

  ‘With him in charge, I suppose?’

  ‘He is the blessed Holder of the World,’ Pieper said, ‘chosen by the Creator. But as I said, this is a long-term aim of his Imperial Majesty. The Lord Vicar also asked me to enquire if the Realm of Sanang needs any material assistance with the quashing of the revolt in the south.’

  ‘He can send troops?’ said Hodang. ‘I thought the bulk of the alliance forces were still tied up fighting rebels in Rahain.’

  ‘The process of withdrawing from Rahain has begun,’ Pieper said. ‘Policing is gradually being taken over by the new ex-slave divisions I mentioned before. The empire can re-route these returning alliance forces to come to your aid, if you deem it necessary and appropriate.’

  ‘You mean alliance soldiers entering Sanang?’ Agang said.

  ‘Only if you request it, your Majesty.’

  ‘Things would have to be desperate indeed if it came to that,’ Agang said. ‘Thank the Lord Vicar for the offer, but I’m confident that Mandalecht will be able to deal with B’Dang’s firewitch.’

  ‘As you wish, your Majesty,’ Pieper said. ‘Now, about our request for mages…’

  The door swung open and a soldier wearing scout’s insignia entered.

  ‘Your Majesty,’ he bowed. ‘Apologies for intruding, but I bear urgent news.’

  Agang glanced at Pieper. ‘We shall discuss mages at another time, priest.’

  Pieper hid a frown, and bowed low.

  Agang nodded to the scout.

  The man came forward and prostrated himself in front of the throne.

  ‘Speak,’ Agang commanded, as the scout trembled.

  ‘Oakenvale has fallen your Majesty,’ he said. ‘Lord Badranga and his entire family are dead. The firewitch razed his homestead to the ground, and B’Dang D’Bang’s rebel army is on its way to the River Tritos.’

  Agang said nothing, horror drying his mouth.

  ‘How can that be?’ Hodang said. ‘Lord Badranga had over four thousand warriors defending Oakenvale.’

  ‘I was not there to witness what occurred, Chief Minister,’ the scout said. ‘I was stationed at Juniper Fort when survivors of the massacre arrived, and have run all the way to bring you this news.’

  ‘Do you wish to reconsider, your Majesty?’ Pieper said with smug eyes. ‘The Lord Vicar’s offer of alliance reinforcements still stands.’

  ‘Thank you, no,’ Agang said. ‘We have the utmost confidence that Commander Mandalecht shall prevail over these treacherous criminals. They will pay the ultimate price for this foul act. ’

  He glared down at the scout. ‘Fetch Prince Gadang from the Great Hall.’

  ‘At once, your Majesty,’ the scout said, scrambling to his feet and sprinting for the door.

  Agang stood, and walked across the council chamber to a large map of the Realm of Sanang that hung across one wall, one of Chane’s most beautiful works. He gazed up at it, following the line of the mighty Tritos, from the Black Mountains in the east, all the way to the great ocean in the west.

  Pieper appeared at his side.

  ‘It seems, your Majesty,’ he said, ‘that the southern half of your kingdom is in rebel hands.’

  ‘Not so,’ said Hodang, joining him. ‘The old Holdings fort where Lady Chane once served lies on the southern bank, and remains garrisoned by loyal warriors.’

  ‘We must send a warning to Drechtan in Beechwoods,’ Agang said. ‘My old homestead lies north of the only river crossing in that area. The road from Oakenvale leads directly to it.’

  ‘Mandalecht’s army will be at the bridge by Autumn’s Day, your Majesty.’ Hodang said.

  Chane shook her head. ‘He’ll need to hurry. If B’Dang’s left Oakenvale, he’ll reach it first.’

  ‘Your Majesty,’ Hodang said, lines furrowing his forehead, ‘if the firewitch breaks into northern Sanang…’

  ‘We must not allow that,’ Agang said. ‘Have scouts catch up with the army. Instruct Mandalecht to send his fastest units ahead, to secure the bridge over the Tritos as quickly as possible. Or destroy it if necessary.’

  ‘I’ll see to it immediately, your Majesty.’ Hodang bowed and left the room, passing the prince as he entered. His nose was swollen, and there were purple bruises under his eyes.

  ‘Father Pieper,’ Agang said, ‘your audience is at an end.’

  ‘As you wish, your Majesty,’ he bowed, ‘although if I could humbly request that I remain at your side, in case my advice is needed? ’

  Agang shook his head. ‘You are forbidden to enter where we must go.’

  ‘Your Majesty?’

  ‘We have a duty to perform,’ he said. ‘The late Lord Badranga’s younger daughter lives in the Great Hall here in Broadwater. Her father left her for safe-keeping when he last visited, entrusting us with the guardianship of her honour. We must inform her of the sad news concerning her father.’

  ‘Am I not allowed to see her, your Majesty?’ Pieper said.

  ‘You are not. The female enclosure is no place for a foreign man to be.’ He glanced over to the others. ‘Gadang, Chane, you shall accompany us.’

  Hodang appeared back at the door.

  ‘A scout has been sent to Mandalecht, your Majesty.’

  ‘Good. Let us go and inform Lady Oakenvale of her loss.’

  The girl sat on a low couch, fully covered in a long robe, with only a slit for her eyes. An older woman sat on her left, frowning at the king and his companions. Female servants crossed the carpets of the plush reception room, serving mead.

  Agang took a chair opposite the girl, while Chane and Hodang sat close by. Prince Gadang hung in the background, holding a fresh handkerchief to his nose.

  ‘Lady Oakenvale,’ Agang began.

  The girl sat in silence.

  ‘Her ladyship does not speak to men, your Majesty,’ the older woman said, ‘except for her noble father and brothers.’

  Agang nodded. ‘Lord Badranga was a traditional family man.’

  ‘Was, your Majesty?’ the older woman said.

  ‘Yes. I regret to inform her ladyship that her father and brothers are dead, slain by the firewitch as they defended their homestead. Her elder sister also perished in the flames. ’

  From behind the cloth covering her face the girl let out a sob. The older woman looked stricken. She reached out and took the girl’s hand.

 
; ‘We are sorry for your loss,’ Agang said. ‘Lord Badranga was a great friend and loyal ally. I swear to you that we shall avenge his murder. We shall lay the corpse of the firewitch before you, that you may spit on it.’

  The girl said nothing.

  ‘You are now the Lady of Oakenvale,’ Agang said. ‘Please know that you remain welcome to stay here in the Great Hall of Broadwater, as our honoured guest.’

  ‘Guest, your Majesty?’ the older woman said.

  ‘She has a point, your Majesty,’ Hodang said. ‘I’m not sure “guest” is appropriate. With the deaths of all other heirs to Oakenvale, her ladyship now holds her father’s lands in lieu.’

  ‘In lieu of what?’ said Chane.

  ‘In lieu of her marriage,’ said Hodang, ‘when her husband will take over the lordship of the lands south of the Tritos.’

  ‘Marriage? Is she betrothed?’

  Hodang shrugged. ‘Not yet.’

  ‘Are you advising that I marry her?’ Agang said.

  ‘The crown would be strengthened immeasurably, your Majesty,’ Hodang said, ‘were you to unite the north and south of Sanang.’

  Agang sat back, gazing at the cloth-covered figure sitting in silence before him. He could be Lord of Beechwoods, Broadwater, Mya and Oakenvale were he to wed this girl. Never since the time of the tyrant soulwitches would so much of Sanang be under one government.

  ‘The people would love a royal wedding,’ Hodang said. ‘It would take their minds off the setbacks in the south.’

  ‘How old is she?’ Chane asked.

  Hodang glanced over at her. ‘Fourteen.’

  ‘What?’ cried Chane. ‘She’s too young…’

  ‘How dare you,’ said the older woman. ‘Her ladyship is not too young. She has bled. She is a woman.’

  ‘She’s a girl,’ Chane said. ‘She’s…’

  ‘Enough, Chane,’ Agang said. ‘You have our agreement on this. Her ladyship is too young to be my wife.’

  The face of the older woman fell, shame filling her features.

  ‘However,’ Agang went on, ‘there is a solution. Someone who is closer in age to her ladyship.’

  He turned and beckoned over his nephew.

  ‘Prince Gadang,’ Agang said as the young man approached. ‘Greet your newly betrothed, Lady Oakenvale.’

  ‘What?’ he gasped.

  ‘You do us great honour, your Majesty,’ the older woman said, bowing.

  ‘Hodang will get the wedding preparations underway.’ Agang stood and slapped Gadang on the back. ‘Congratulations, my boy. Stay here, get to know your new bride.’

  ‘When will the marriage take place?’ the older woman said.

  ‘Shall we say Autumn’s Day?’ Agang smiled.

  ‘Thank you, your Majesty.’

  Agang, Chane and Hodang left the female enclosure and went downstairs to the king’s personal quarters.

  ‘A drink,’ said Agang, gesturing to a servant. ‘We should celebrate.’

  Chane narrowed her eyes. ‘Celebrate what? Oakenvale is in ashes. You bartered that girl away while her father’s body still smoulders.’

  ‘Bartered?’ Agang said. ‘That girl will be Queen of Sanang one day.’

  ‘Don’t say that, your Majesty,’ Hodang said.

  ‘You know I have no desire to get married or have children,’ he said. ‘Gadang is next in line to the throne. He will inherit the realm after me.’

  ‘It’s difficult to think of children when we’re always fighting one war or another,’ Hodang said. ‘Maybe you’ll feel different once the rebellion’s over and the land is at peace. Then thoughts of a family might settle in your mind.’

  ‘I wouldn’t count on it,’ Agang said. ‘The idea of being a father fills me with terror.’

  Chane caught his glance. She looked away, biting her lip.

  Agang sat back and sipped his mead, blocking his mind to the last memories of his own father.

  Chapter 8

  Service

  S lateford, Rahain Republic – 10 th Day, First Third Autumn 506

  Killop shielded his eyes. ‘Now, Lilyann.’

  The young fire mage tensed, then swung her arm over her shoulder. A fireball a yard wide soared through the air and exploded against the towering walls of the deep quarry.

  ‘She’s not bad,’ said Bridget from where she sat cross-legged on a large fragment of slate. ‘Nowhere near as good as Keira mind, but not bad.’

  ‘She needs more practice,’ Killop said, as Lilyann scowled at the herald. ‘They both do.’

  He glanced over to where Liam the old sparker was standing next to a roaring fire coaching Dean, the clan’s other teenage mage.

  ‘I’m not criticising,’ Bridget said. ‘I’ve think Liam’s done great to get them this good.’

  ‘This good?’ Lilyann spat. ‘I fought in the Battle for the Gates, I don’t have to prove myself to you.’

  ‘Calm down, ya wee radge,’ Bridget said.

  ‘Ye cannae speak to me like that, ya auld cow.’

  ‘I’ll speak to you any way I fucking like. ’

  Lilyann turned to Killop. ‘Can you not get rid of her? She’s putting me off.’

  ‘If you’re angry, use it,’ Killop said. ‘Show us what you can do.’

  The young mage glared at Bridget, who smirked and winked. Lilyann turned to the fire blazing next to her on the floor of the cavernous quarry, and raised her hands. A giant mass of roiling flames lifted up in a roar. It hung over their heads for a moment, causing sparks to fall like rain upon them.

  ‘Hey!’ cried Bridget. ‘Watch it!’

  Lilyann grinned, then flung her arms ahead of her. The fireball followed, arcing through the air before crashing halfway up the side of the quarry-face, sending shards of slate flying amid a cloud of dust and smoke.

  Killop gazed down at the extinguished fire as Lilyann crowed in delight.

  ‘You used all the fuel in one go,’ he said. ‘You’re getting stronger.’

  ‘All brute force,’ Bridget said. ‘Nae finesse.’

  Killop frowned. ‘I’ve heard you say that’s how I fight.’

  ‘Did ye see that, Dean?’ Lilyann called over to the boy mage.

  ‘Tell you what I can see from here,’ Dean shouted back. ‘Your fucking big head.’

  Lilyann cackled, and ran over to join him by the other fire.

  Bridget jumped to the ground, wiping flakes of ash from her hair. She stood next to Killop.

  ‘I still don’t like her,’ she said. ‘Too much lip.’

  He shrugged. ‘She’s a fire mage.’

  ‘It was a good idea to bring them to the quarry.’

  ‘It’s the safest place for it. Didn’t want them burning the forest down, or accidentally torching some farmer’s cottage. And, no one will see them.’

  ‘Good,’ she said. ‘Pity we can’t make them stay here.’

  ‘Keeping them locked up in the mansion’s bad enough,’ he said. ‘I feel sorry for them. They’re young, they need their freedom.’

  ‘But we have to keep them out of sight,’ she said. ‘The less folk know about them the better. Have you read the latest letter from that idiot Duncan in Plateau City?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘Well, aside from the usual shite about acknowledging him as chief of all the Kellach Brigdomin, he wants us to send him any mages we have.’

  ‘What does he want with our mages?’

  ‘Something to do with the Holdings religion, I think. Duncan was vague on the details.’

  ‘There’s no way we’re giving up Lilyann or Dean, or Liam for that matter. We’re not handing them over to a bunch of Holdings priests.’

  ‘Then we have to be extra careful,’ she said. ‘Recruitment officers from the alliance army are on the estate, and if they see the mages, or hear folk talk about them, they might tell the priests back at the fort.’

  ‘Most of the alliance soldiers I’ve met don’t seem to give a shit about the priests.’


  ‘Aye,’ Bridget said, ‘but the new lizard units coming in are made up of converts to the creator-faith.’

  ‘Why would any Rahain take up the Holdings religion?’

  Bridget sighed. ‘They’re desperate. Their land has been conquered, when they’ve been told for ages that they’re the masters of the world. The creator-faith is giving them hope.’

  ‘A fool’s hope,’ Killop said. ‘Coming back to life after you’re dead?’

  ‘You know what I think?’ Bridget said. ‘The lizards have been slaves so long they just want someone to tell them what to do.’

  They walked over to the other fire. Liam was close to Dean, holding his hands and gesturing with them, going over the same patterns. Lilyann stood by, arms folded, grinning.

  ‘Chief,’ Liam said.

  ‘It’s time to go,’ Killop said. ‘The workers will be coming back from the vineyards. They’ll no doubt be hungry.’

  ‘Haven’t you got people for that?’ Lilyann said. ‘Why do you have to serve labourers?’

  ‘The grape harvest brings in most of the money we need to live here,’ Bridget said, as they started to walk across the quarry basin towards a path down to the river. ‘We can just about feed ourselves from the crops we grow, but we need gold for everything else. I think it’s right to help those working to bring in the harvest.’

  Killop glanced at Lilyann. ‘I’m thinking of making it a clan tradition. Every year when the grapes are brought in, the leaders of the clan will serve the workers.’

  She narrowed her eyes. ‘I’m not doing it.’

  Killop laughed. ‘As much as I’d love to see you in an apron serving bread and ale to folk, you won’t be needed. You and Dean are going back to the big house.’

  ‘Aw,’ said Dean. ‘I’d rather put on an apron than sit inside all day.’

  ‘It’s just until the harvest’s over. A few more days.’

  ‘You know Dean,’ said Lilyann, ‘I heard a rumour that all slaves were supposed to be freed. Obviously no one’s told our great chief.’

  Dean spat on the ground.

  ‘Once the harvest’s done,’ Killop said, ‘you can have the run of the big house and all the grounds up to the waterfalls.’