Needs of the Empire

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘I promised not to interfere, if the church stayed out of my life. May I ask you a question, Father Ghorley?’

  He smiled at her. ‘Of course, my dear.’

  She lit a cigarette.

  ‘Say the New Free are victorious,’ she said, ‘and the church take over the administration of Rahain.’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Then what happens to Slateford?’

  ‘You said no political interference,’ snapped one of the staff at her.

  ‘No,’ Ghorley said. ‘She has a point. Slateford is her home.’ He gazed at the staff around him. ‘Miss Holdfast is, of course, threatening us. She means us to understand that any interference in the lands of the Severed Clan would absolve her of her promise, and allow her to take action against us.’ He smiled at Daphne. ‘Is that not correct, miss?’

  ‘The truest thing you’ve said all day.’

  The guards in the room tensed, and the black-robed staff formed a barrier between her and the priest.

  ‘You are my biggest regret,’ Ghorley said. ‘The things we could have achieved together, with you at my right hand, Daphne. I have argued on your behalf countless times with the leadership of the church, urging them to give you another chance, but every time we reached out you would spurn us, and I would be the one left looking foolish.’

  He shook his head.

  ‘So here it is, Daphne, your last chance,’ he said. ‘Work with us. Swear an oath of allegiance to the Emperor and church, stand by my side and together we will win this war.’

  Daphne kept a mask of calm on her face, but her heart was pounding. The guards lining the walls were clutching their crossbows and staring at her. She kept still, giving them no excuse to shoot.

  ‘Or,’ Ghorley went on, ‘you could go back to Slateford, and live on your farm with your Kellach man and your daughter. But don’t get too comfortable. There are forces at work that no one can stop, and the spread of the faith is one of them. Rahain will be united in one religion, of that there is no doubt. A lasting peace with the Slateford enclave is possible, but first they must open their hearts to the Creator.’

  Daphne clenched her fist.

  Joley stepped forward.

  ‘It would probably be best if I escort you to your quarters, Miss Holdfast.’

  She glanced at him and saw the pleading in his eyes.

  Daphne said nothing for a moment, then nodded.

  ‘Good day, father,’ she said, then turned and walked to the door, Joley hurrying after her.

  Guards stepped out to block her way, their crossbows levelled.

  ‘She can go,’ Ghorley said, staring at her. ‘You have until the end of the day to decide.’

  The guards opened the doors and Daphne walked out, with Joley next to her. They squeezed through the packed corridors, and went up a flight of stairs. As soon as they were out of earshot, Joley let out a choked moan.

  ‘Could you not have shut up in there?’ he spat. ‘Of all the stupid things I ever heard. You threatened the man who will soon be ruler of Rahain, and in front of the One True Path. You’ve never been able to control that tongue of yours, not since I first met you. ’

  ‘I remember thinking like that,’ she said, ‘but I got fed up biting my lip when I wanted to speak out. Seems a long time ago.’

  They reached her quarters.

  ‘Could you stay for five minutes while I get my things together?’ she said.

  She opened the door and went in.

  Joley hesitated at the entrance, then sighed and joined her. He closed the door as Daphne reached for a pack that was lying against a wall.

  ‘You’re leaving?’

  She nodded. She went to the wardrobe and began throwing her clothes onto the bed.

  Joley lit a cigarette. ‘There’s ten feet of snow outside.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Slateford is surrounded by an Old Free blockade.’

  Daphne shrugged as she examined her small collection of possessions. She would need to travel light.

  ‘What will you eat?’

  She selected some warm clothes, rolled them up and placed them in the bottom of the pack.

  ‘You’ll either starve or freeze.’

  She looked up. ‘You’d rather I wait for Ghorley to try to kill me?’

  ‘Swear allegiance, Daphne,’ he said. ‘There’s no fighting the church, not any more, not in Rahain.’

  ‘What about the army?’ she said. ‘Ghorley doesn’t trust them. There must be a reason.’

  Joley shook his head. ‘The soldiers may be loyal, but their officers are riddled with Old Free sympathisers. It makes no difference either way. Did you not hear him say that he’s found a use for them?’

  ‘Do you know what it is?’

  Joley frowned. ‘Yes. You are aware that a Sanang force has broken through the frontier wall, and is marching on the Plateau?’

  Daphne narrowed her eyes. ‘Laodoc’s army is being sent north?’

  ‘To defend the great imperial capital of the empire,’ Joley said, ‘ using the fleet of winged gaien that the Old Free brought up from the south before the coup. Every regiment is being flown out as soon as they arrive, not one of them will be permitted to enter this city.’

  Daphne sighed. ‘Ghorley’s been planning this for days.’

  ‘For his entire life, I would imagine,’ Joley said. ‘The mobs will be reaching the Senate complex about now. No doubt word has been sent out to every cavern that the day has come, for among many other attributes, Ghorley is thorough. Soon there will be hundreds of thousands on the streets, and with blood in mind, there will be no stopping them. By the end of today Ghorley will rule Rahain.’

  ‘And you’ll be by his side?’

  ‘An oath is an oath.’

  She checked she had packed her weed-pouch and cigarette supply, and found room for an unopened bottle of brandy. She tied up the pack, and placed it by the door.

  Kneeling by a chest, she reached in and removed a blanket that was covering her weapons. She put a knife in her boot and another under her left shoulder. Her sword she slung over her back, tightening the buckle.

  ‘Let’s go,’ she said, grabbing a long overcoat and pulling the pack over her shoulder.

  ‘Where to, miss?’

  ‘I think I’d like to go for a stroll along the walls.’

  ‘And what is my role in your escape?’ he said. ‘You know I’ll have to tell Ghorley. He’d read it out of my mind anyway.’

  ‘I know,’ she said. ‘Can’t be helped. I just need you to escort me to the far end of the walls. I’ll get stopped by guards if I go on my own. After that you can do what you like. I can punch you if you want, and you can tell them I made you do it.’

  ‘Thanks, but no,’ Joley sighed. ‘I’m going to get my arse kicked for this as it is.’

  Joley led Daphne through the Church Mission and out into the large courtyard that surrounded the building. All around were the high walls facing the streets beyond. To their left the main gate was guarded by several dozen imperial troopers, all Holdings, and more were up on the walls, looking down at the New Free that were still on the streets. They ascended a flight of stairs up to the outer wall, and the guards at the top saluted them as they passed.

  Daphne paused for a moment and looked down at the streets. The barricades remained scenes of carnage, with hundreds of bodies piled up, and blood pooling on the road. The distant roar of battle from the other end of the cavern reached her ears, and up the long boulevard that led to the Senate the masses of ex-slaves had again gathered. Thousands upon thousands of protesters were now assembled around the high walls and towers of the Senate complex.

  ‘This is the greatest city in the world,’ Joley said, leaning on the battlements next to her. ‘The imperial capital might be where the Emperor lives, but it’s insignificant compared to this, and not just in size. Here there is history, and great beauty, the works of thousands of hands over long millennia. Before the
Migration, Arakhanah City might have had a larger population but it now occupies a fraction of its former extent. I fear the same will happen here. I love this city, it’s the reason I stayed all these years. After today it may never be the same.’

  They walked along the top of the wall, passing sentries and turrets until they reached a quiet stretch. With no guards in sight, Daphne peered over the wall, and saw that the road below was deserted, though littered with debris and stained in blood.

  She glanced at Joley, but he was staring in the other direction. His mouth was open, and tears were rolling down his cheeks. She followed the direction of his eyes.

  Flames and great billows of grey and black smoke were drifting up from the roof of the Senate building. Fire was racing up the domes and walls of the main structure, visible over the roofs of the buildings standing between. Daphne stared as the ages-old structure began to collapse beneath the flames. Somewhere under there, deep within the dungeons of the High Senate was where Simiona had been murdered, but also, she remembered, it was where Karalyn had been conceived.

  ‘Joley,’ she said.

  He turned.

  ‘Sorry.’

  She entered his mind, and blotted out his short-term memory, like wiping a wet sponge over chalk.

  His eyes glazed over and he slumped. Daphne reached out and helped him sit by the wall, pulling his legs in to keep him in the shadow of the battlements.

  Daphne stood, and gazed upwards, her eyes scanning the low ceiling above a neighbouring row of abandoned buildings, until she located a hatch that led into the service shafts.

  She smiled, pulled on a thread of battle-vision, and leaped over the wall.

  Chapter 27

  Showing Off

  N orthern Plateau – 24 th Day, First Third Winter 506

  ‘Yer talking out of yer arse, B’Dang,’ Keira said. ‘The Sanang might be the second hardest folk in the world, but they’re nowhere near as tough as us. The Kellach are fucking number one.’

  B’Dang’s eyes darted at those sat around the low campfire, looking for support, but all of the other Sanang had passed out.

  ‘But the Rahain kicked your arses,’ he cried.

  ‘Sheer weight of numbers, wee man,’ the firewitch said, as Agang watched from the cage-wagon, which was parked alongside the tents of Keira and the commanders. He shifted his position on the layers of blankets, having lain awake for hours while they had got drunk.

  ‘We were out-numbered in every fucking battle,’ Keira went on, ‘and we still nearly beat the fuckers.’

  B’Dang scowled. ‘I reckon the Holdings are third hardest.’

  Kylon snorted. ‘You’re only saying that because they occupied your lands for years. I don’t think they’re any tougher than the Rahain.’

  ‘Hey!’ said Niall, puffing on a weedstick. ‘I think I might actually agree with B’Dang.’

  ‘That’d be a first,’ muttered Flora, who was sitting next to him, with Fern curled up at their feet .

  ‘The frog-folk are definitely bottom,’ Keira said, downing her mug.

  ‘The Rakanese,’ Kylon said.

  ‘Aye, them, whatever they’re called.’

  ‘Never met any,’ B’Dang said.

  ‘Wee folk,’ Keira said. ‘But they’ve got big eyes, like bairns. And they eat insects. Disgusting wee shites.’

  The others round the fire sat in silence as Keira and B’Dang laughed. Not many were still awake, Agang noticed, the drinking having begun at the huge feast with the army the previous evening, and continued on for hours by the fire through the night. Niall had slipped him a few sticks of keenweed, which had kept him awake as he had listened to them talk. The Holdings trooper had also brought him some food from the feast, earning a glare from B’Dang.

  Leah cracked open another of the small barrels that the army had secured the previous day when they had overrun a large winery about halfway to Plateau City. The wine was young and sharp, but the army had consumed hundreds of barrels throughout the day and night, as Keira had proclaimed a two-day break from marching.

  ‘Plus,’ Keira went on, ‘not only are the Kellach the toughest folk in the world, we also have the best mage powers. Fire beats fucking everything. The Holdings can see round corners, well so what? The Rahain can make wee earthquakes. That’s not bad, but a bit limited. The Sanang can heal, and that’s useful I suppose, but let’s face it, it’s a bit boring.’ She took a drink. ‘And I can’t remember what the frog-folk can do.’

  ‘They can move water around, I think,’ Niall said.

  Keira shrugged. ‘See? They’re all pish.’

  ‘You’ve no fucking clue what you’re talking about,’ B’Dang said, slurring and swaying from side to side.

  ‘Oh aye?’ Keira laughed. ‘Have you got more powers than healing bones and waving branches?’

  ‘Yes,’ B’Dang snarled. ‘Powers that make your fire throwing look like a children’s game.’

  ‘This sounds good. Go on. ’

  ‘Do you fear death, firewitch?’ B’Dang said.

  ‘No.’

  ‘You should.’

  ‘Are you fucking threatening me? I’ll kick yer head in, ya wee toerag.’

  Agang glanced up at the campfire. Of those awake, Keira and B’Dang were the drunkest. Leah had put back mug after mug, but always seemed in control, while who knew what was going on inside Kylon’s dark mind. Flora was sober, as was Niall, though he had been smoking various weed-strains all night.

  B’Dang was staring at Keira, but his face split in a grin, and he started laughing.

  ‘No, you crazy fucked-up barbarian,’ he said. ‘The Sanang powers, they are the powers of death. They’re so dangerous we kill anyone who shows even the slightest sign of higher powers.’

  ‘You kill your high mages?’ Kylon said. ‘Why?’

  ‘They used to rule us,’ B’Dang said. ‘Bastards the lot of them.’

  Agang leaned up towards the bars of his cage, as the Kellach glanced at each other.

  ‘What can they do?’ asked Leah.

  ‘Shut your mouth, B’Dang,’ yelled Agang.

  The Sanang warlord turned round to face him, his eyes wide. He drained his mug of wine and staggered to his feet.

  ‘You disrespect me, you fucking slave?’ he cried, stumbling forwards. ‘I’ll kill you.’

  ‘Look at him go,’ laughed Keira. ‘He’ll never make it to the cage. Hoi, Agang,’ she yelled, ‘if he does, punch him in the nose. You can have that one on me.’

  Agang clenched his fist. He noticed Flora tense, her hand creeping towards her crossbow.

  ‘I’ll fucking rip you apart, you boy-loving…’ B’Dang cried, then tripped over a sleeping body.

  ‘See?’ cackled Keira.

  Agang looked down. B’Dang was sprawled out on the cold ground just a yard from the wagon, his eyes closed. Flora relaxed .

  The firewitch leaned back against the wheel of a wagon. ‘It’s been a good night.’

  ‘It’s nearly dawn,’ Kylon said. ‘We should get some sleep.’

  ‘Fuck that,’ Keira said. ‘I’m staying up. Got the day off tomorrow, not wasting that.’

  ‘Well I’m going to bed,’ he said, standing. He turned to go, then stopped.

  ‘We should have kept marching, we’re running out of time.’

  ‘Oh fuck off,’ Keira said. ‘The army needed a fucking rest. We’ll be at the capital in twenty days. One night off isn’t going to make any difference.’

  Kylon glared at her, then went past the guard post and into his tent.

  ‘Miserable bastard,’ Keira said. ‘Are the rest of you staying up?’

  Leah shrugged. ‘Bed for me.’

  ‘What about you two?’ Keira said to the Holdings pair.

  ‘Do I have any choice?’ Flora said. ‘I’m on duty tonight. So’s Niall. Watching Agang.’

  ‘I’ll stay up if I can have a drink and get tomorrow off,’ Niall said.

  ‘One of you will have to stay on duty at
least,’ Leah said as she got to her feet.

  ‘I have to babysit Fern tomorrow,’ Flora said.

  ‘All right,’ Leah said. ‘Flora, get some sleep. Niall, you stay up. You can have one drink, but no more.’

  ‘Thanks, boss,’ the trooper said, as Flora grabbed a blanket and curled up on the ground next to Fern and the warmth of the fire.

  Leah nodded at Keira, and went into her tent.

  ‘This is shite,’ Keira said. ‘I was up for another barrel.’

  Niall leaned over and picked up a stray mug. He filled it with the leavings from the other mugs sitting by the fire, and settled back.

  ‘Be light soon,’ he said. ‘No hills.’

  Keira frowned at him, and stood. She staggered by the fireside, almost falling into the flames, but righted herself, and made her way to Agang’s cage-wagon.

  ‘Want a drink? ’

  He looked up. ‘All right.’

  She gazed around. ‘It’s too cold out here, and there’s nowhere to sit.’ She gestured to Niall. ‘Come up here and let him out. If we’re going to get hammered, I want to be sitting by the fire.’

  Niall’s eyes widened, and he got to his feet, slinging his crossbow over his back.

  ‘Are you sure, boss?’ he said. ‘It sounds, I don’t know, a bit irresponsible.’

  ‘What’s the problem?’ she said. ‘You’re on duty, you can watch him.’

  Niall frowned.

  ‘But we’ve no chains or handcuffs or anything.’

  ‘Well, just make sure you watch him closely.’

  Niall rolled his eyes, and pulled a set of keys from his belt. He approached the cage.

  ‘Don’t make me regret this,’ he said to Agang. ‘I like you, but I’ll shoot you if you try something stupid.’

  ‘I’ll behave,’ Agang said, pulling himself up, his heart pounding. He had spent over thirty days in the cage, and a deep yearning for the open air filled him.

  Niall pushed the key into the cage door and turned it. The Holdings man pulled the bars, and the door opened. He swung his crossbow to his front, then gestured to Agang.

  ‘Come on,’ Keira said, turning and walking back to the fire. Agang jumped down, smiling and stretching his legs. He pulled a thick blanket from the wagon and threw it over his shoulders. Niall pointed with his crossbow, and Agang walked to the fire. He sat next to Keira, a yard between them.