Needs of the Empire

by Christopher Mitchell

  Agang knelt next to her. ‘He was a good man.’

  ‘Shut up,’ she said, tears smearing her white face-paint. ‘Just shut up.’

  He fell silent and looked away. On the other side of the bonfire Leah was talking to Kylon. They noticed him and walked over.

  Leah saw Niall, and bent down next to him, choking back a sob. Kylon frowned.

  ‘We shouldn’t have stopped,’ he said. ‘This little holiday has cost us a quarter of our army, who were killed while they slept, just like Niall. Hundreds were slaughtered for every minute it took to get Keira ready.’

  ‘How is the firewitch?’ Agang said.

  Kylon glared at him, then glanced at the wrecked remains of his old cage-wagon.

  ‘I saw you shoot at the imperial soldiers,’ he said, ‘but don’t think that means I trust you. I don’t. We’ll get you a new wagon prepared. You’re still a prisoner.’

  Agang said nothing.

  ‘Leah,’ Kylon said.

  The Lach woman looked up from where she was kneeling next to Niall. ‘What?’

  ‘Get up,’ he said. ‘We need to get the army moving as fast as possible. I need you to find B’Dang and the others and get them on the road.’

  Leah stood, and joined Kylon as he strode towards the command tents .

  Flora wiped her eyes and sat back. On the ground by her feet the fallen trooper’s pockets had spilled open, and a roll of weedsticks lay on the dirt. She picked it up and lit one.

  Agang sat down next to her. The day had come, and the sky was a pale grey, with just a few wisps of smoke remaining from the conflagration that had devoured the heavens.

  Flora passed him the smokestick.

  He took a draw.

  ‘She might be right,’ he said.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Keira. She might be a goddess.’

  ‘She’s not,’ said Flora. ‘She’s an illiterate pyromaniac with an enormous ego.’

  Agang smiled, and passed her the weedstick.

  Flora sighed. ‘But I love her all the same. Just as I loved Niall.’

  Agang said nothing, and they sat smoking next to the trooper’s body, his face lit by the embers of the dying bonfire.

  Chapter 28

  Disagreements

  S lateford, Imperial Rahain – 25 th Day, First Third Winter 506

  Killop sat by the bedroom window, scanning the report Bridget had prepared, detailing the latest mass departure of Kellach settlers from the estate. Two thousand had left within the last third, and they were facing a shortage of skilled labour in a dozen different areas.

  He glanced out of the open window. The day was ending, the light holding out for a few minutes longer than it had the evening before. The estate was covered in a thick blanket of snow, and he took a moment to savour the cold air.

  A noise came from the bed and he turned.

  Daphne groaned and rolled onto her back, her eyes closed. He gazed at her for a few seconds, then went back to reading.

  ‘Water…’

  He dropped the report, the pages falling like leaves to the floor as he ran towards Daphne. He picked up a mug of water from the bedside table and held it to her lips.

  She took a sip, and opened her eyes.

  ‘Killop,’ she said.

  ‘Drink more.’

  She nodded and finished the mug in slow gulps .

  ‘Karalyn?’

  ‘With Bridget and Bedig. She’s fine. I’ll get her in a minute after you’ve had a chance to wake up.’

  ‘How long was I out?’

  ‘Two days,’ he said, putting the mug back on the table and refilling it from the jug. ‘Do you remember getting here?’

  She shook her head, and pushed herself up into a sitting position.

  ‘No one saw you arrive,’ he said. ‘I came in the night before yesterday, and you were asleep in bed, with your pack and boots stacked up neatly by the door. We’ve no idea how you got past us, I mean we were all sitting next door at the time.’

  ‘Probably through the window,’ she said, a faint smile on her lips. ‘For the last few days of the journey I had to go into a kind of deep vision trance. It was the coldest I’ve ever been.’

  ‘You walked the whole way?’ he said, getting up. ‘Through the blizzard?’

  She picked up the mug of water as Killop walked over to the table. ‘I couldn’t exactly turn back,’ she said, drinking. ‘I saw the Senate burn.’

  ‘Aye, we heard.’

  ‘And I exchanged a few words with Ghorley.’

  ‘The new governor of Rahain?’ Killop said, returning to the bed. He held out a bowl of dried fruit and nuts for her. ‘Laodoc has a few things to say about him.’

  ‘How is he?’ she asked, placing the bowl in her lap and eating.

  ‘Depressed. Angry. When word came that the Old Free government had fallen, he was expecting to be called back, but a delegation from the capital flew out, and forbade him from setting foot in any Rahain city, and telling him that he’d been stripped of all authority.’

  Daphne shook her head as she ate.

  ‘He’s desperate to speak to you,’ Killop went on. ‘He’s been camped outside the door ever since he heard you were back.’

  ‘Maybe later.’

  Killop nodded. ‘He wants to ask about his son. ’

  Daphne frowned. ‘Ruellap? I didn’t see him. I don’t know what happened to him.’

  ‘I’ll let him know.’

  Daphne sat back, and put the bowl down.

  He gazed at her.

  ‘What is it?’ she said.

  ‘Nothing, just good to see you.’

  ‘I’m glad to be back.’

  She yawned.

  ‘I’m still exhausted,’ she said. ‘I should be fine in the morning if I go back to sleep now. Could you get Karalyn for me?’

  ‘Aye.’

  He got up and lit a small lamp, then shuttered the windows against the evening sky. He went to the bedroom door and opened it a few inches. Bridget glanced up at him from where she was sitting in the living room. Opposite her Bedig was throwing Karalyn up into the air, while Laodoc sat by the low table.

  Killop’s eyes went from Bridget to Karalyn, and the Brig woman nodded. She leaned over and whispered something to Bedig, and he scooped the child up and carried her over to the door.

  ‘You after the wee one?’ he asked.

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Thank fuck for that,’ Bedig said. ‘I’m knackered.’

  He passed Karalyn to Killop, who took her and closed the door.

  ‘Kara-bear,’ Daphne said, and the girl squealed and wriggled as she caught sight of her mother. Killop sat her on the bed next to Daphne.

  Killop watched as the woman and girl gazed at each other in silence, envious that he wasn’t included in the mind-linking, but happy to see them smile. Daphne lay down, and her daughter cuddled in beside her.

  ‘I missed you both,’ Daphne said.

  ‘We missed you,’ he said.

  Daphne yawned again, and closed her eyes.

  He kissed her on the forehead. Karalyn sat up on the bed and did the same. He picked her up, then stole back to the door and crept out .

  Laodoc was waiting for him.

  ‘Any news?’ he asked, his eyes alight.

  Killop nodded. ‘She woke up.’

  ‘Excellent. Do you think she’s in any condition to answer a couple of questions?’

  Killop shook his head and sat. He balanced Karalyn on his knee and poured himself an ale. ‘She had something to eat and drink, then fell asleep again. She’ll be up and about in the morning.’

  Laodoc frowned.

  ‘I asked about your son,’ Killop said. ‘Daphne didn’t see him. I’m sorry.’

  Laodoc slumped back into his chair.

  ‘I have to assume the worst,’ he said. ‘All the reports say that the mob that broke into the High Senate strung the bodies of the Old Free government up on the walls for everyone to see. I fail to discern any
reason why my son wasn’t up there with the rest of them.’

  ‘Maybe he wasn’t in the Senate at the time,’ Bridget said.

  ‘Then Ghorley will have hunted him down and had him executed. The destruction of my family is complete.’

  Killop and Bridget shared a glance.

  Laodoc stood. ‘I might go to my room.’

  They watched as the old man walked away.

  ‘Poor bastard,’ Bridget whispered.

  Bedig got up and squeezed onto the seat next to Bridget, who shifted along.

  ‘Did you get a chance to read my report?’ she asked Killop.

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Grim reading,’ she said. ‘The folk that left once the blizzard stopped included smiths, carpenters, millers, you fucking name it. The average age of folk in the estate has gone up by a decade in the last third. And the Old Free blockade may have gone, but there’s still no trade.’

  Killop frowned.

  ‘The good news,’ she said, ‘is that with less folk, our food reserves should last the winter, but if the situation’s not improved by then… ’

  ‘Then what?’

  ‘Then we might have to face facts, Killop,’ she said. ‘The way things are going, the Rahain will be slaughtering each other for a good while yet. And we’re stuck in the middle, like the band in a fight between families at a wedding.’

  ‘No,’ he said. ‘We’re not giving up.’

  ‘But neither side wants us here,’ she went on. ‘Ghorley ripped up our sovereignty agreement, you heard what their delegates said. As far as they’re concerned, this is imperial land. It’s only a matter of time before they organise themselves and come after us.’

  ‘Then we fight them.’

  Bridget sighed.

  ‘I can’t believe you’re saying all this,’ Killop said. ‘Have you lost faith in what we’re doing?’

  ‘It was fine when Laodoc was in charge,’ she said. ‘Since then…?’

  Killop narrowed his eyes. ‘If it gets really bad, we could go back to the Severed City for a while.’

  Bridget gave him a look of disbelief. ‘Sure, let’s go even deeper into Rahain.’ She shook her head. ‘The uprising’s over, Killop. The slaves have been freed. We don’t need to keep fighting their war.’

  ‘It’s our war too.’

  ‘No it fucking isn’t.’

  Karalyn cried, and Bridget fell silent. Killop took the child in his arms, calming himself and removing the anger from his mind.

  ‘All right,’ he said, ‘then where are you suggesting?’

  ‘Home,’ she said, ‘our real home.’

  He closed his eyes. ‘I couldn’t bear seeing Kell broken.’

  ‘We go to Domm,’ she said, ‘that’s where the Kellach are. Isn’t it, Bedig?’ She nudged him.

  ‘Eh?’ he said, blinking.

  Bridget sighed. ‘You dozy bastard.’

  ‘We can talk about it another time,’ Killop said. ‘We’ve enough reserves for the winter. We can discuss it again in spring.’

  Bridget’s eyes narrowed .

  He stood, holding Karalyn.

  ‘It’s time for her bed,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  He turned from them before his anger upset the child. He had felt himself starting to be enraged by Bridget’s words. How could she be thinking of leaving, after all they had done?

  He opened the door to the bedroom, and shut them out of his mind.

  ‘So where are you going?’ said Daphne between mouthfuls of pastries.

  ‘Kalden wants me,’ Killop said, pulling on his leathers. ‘There’s a crowd of peasants at the border trying to get into the estate.’

  Daphne drew back the sheets of the bed and stood, stretching.

  ‘I’ll come.’

  He watched her standing by the bed in her loose white nightgown, the bright light of dawn shining through the window. He paused.

  She caught his eye and smiled.

  ‘How you feeling this morning?’ he said.

  Her green eyes held his gaze. ‘Come over and find out.’

  Two hours later, Daphne walked alongside Killop and Bridget as they made their way towards the town. The snow had been cleared from the roads, and a hard frost glittered on the ground. The sun remained low in the sky as it approached noon, and the town came into sight.

  Killop glanced at Daphne, who was wrapped up well against the freezing temperatures.

  ‘You warm enough?’ he said.

  ‘Yeah,’ she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a bag of nuts.

  ‘You’ve been eating all morning,’ Bridget said.

  ‘I was asleep for two days,’ Daphne said, munching, ‘and I was travelling light from the city. Wasn’t exactly eating three meals a day. ’

  ‘You’re making me hungry.’

  ‘Think about something else,’ she said. ‘Bedig, for example. How’s it going? You two getting along again?’

  ‘Aye. He’s an idiot, but.’

  ‘He’s not. He’s just… easily distracted.’

  ‘Aye,’ Bridget frowned, ‘by boobs, mostly.’

  They reached the southern outskirts of the town. It was quiet at first, but grew busier as they reached the centre. Folk nodded and waved to them as they passed, and a few raised their eyebrows at Daphne’s return.

  ‘You should probably know,’ muttered Bridget, ‘a rumour went about that you’d run off, after dumping your daughter with Killop.’

  Daphne shrugged. ‘They can think what they like.’

  ‘Lies spread and grow if you leave them,’ said Killop. ‘I don’t want people lying about you.’

  ‘I don’t care.’

  ‘But I do,’ he said. ‘I mean I don’t mind what opinions folk hold, as long as they’re not built on lies.’

  ‘And are you a judge of what is true?’

  ‘I don’t claim to know everything,’ he said, ‘but I know when something’s wrong, and spreading bullshit about you is wrong.’

  Bridget glanced at them and smirked. ‘Was that a row I just witnessed?’

  ‘A disagreement,’ said Daphne, as they squeezed through the busy town centre.

  A squad of militia was waiting for them by the northern exit from the main square.

  ‘Chief,’ their leader nodded. ‘Kalden asked us to escort you to the border post.’

  ‘Lead the way.’

  The squad about-turned and marched from the square, Killop and the others following.

  ‘Hopefully we can stop for lunch on the way back,’ Daphne said, as they passed a tavern .

  ‘Depends how long it takes,’ Killop said. He looked over at the squad leader. ‘How many peasants have gathered?’

  ‘Over a thousand, Chief.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Over a fucking thousand?’ Bridget cried.

  ‘Aye,’ the squad leader nodded. ‘Kalden’s called out the entire militia.’

  They picked up their pace, and left the paved streets of the town behind. Ahead, the dark mass of the forest loomed. In the wide, cleared space between the trees and the settlement two groups of people had assembled. On the side nearest the town, black-clad Kellach militia with shields were holding back a much bigger crowd of Rahain peasants. The peasants were pushing forwards, but the Kellach lines were keeping them from advancing. More Rahain were approaching from the road leading through the forest, adding weight to the jostling crowd.

  Kalden and a couple of officers stood at the rear, directing the militia. He turned and saw Killop and the squad approach.

  ‘Chief,’ he said, ‘we have a little problem.’

  ‘What do they want?’

  Kalden spat on the ground. ‘They say they want to pass through the estate, Chief. Apparently mobs of New Free have seized control of the bridges downstream from here, and the peasants want to use ours to cross.’

  ‘And then they’ll leave the estate?’

  ‘That’s what they say.’

  ‘Do they have a leader
?’ Bridget said. ‘Someone we can talk to?’

  ‘I’ve spoken to a few at the front,’ Kalden said. ‘There’s no one in charge.’

  Bridget glanced around. ‘Bring that cart over.’

  Kalden nodded, and his two officers ran over and dragged the cart forward.

  Bridget faced Killop as the cart was hauled into position. ‘What shall I say to them? Should we let them through? The bridge at the north end is quiet, though we’d have to guard that side of town if we decide to allow it.’

  Killop gazed at the crowd of Rahain.

  ‘A hundred every ten minutes,’ he said, ‘if they agree to behave.’

  Bridget nodded.

  ‘Kalden,’ she said, ‘send fifty to the bridge and fifty each for the roads on either side of it. Send a runner to the town, and get the streets cleared. Signal the call to arms, and have every route leading to the northern bridge guarded. You got all that?’

  ‘Aye,’ he nodded, and went to his officers, who had shoved the cart right up to the line of peasants.

  Bridget jumped up, and raised her arms.

  ‘Shut the fuck up and listen to me,’ she cried out in Rahain to the crowd of peasants.

  They turned and gazed up at her.

  ‘Let’s make a deal,’ she said. ‘You don’t want to be here, and we sure as fuck don’t want you here. But we understand that you’re running for your lives, so let’s work something out.’

  ‘Let us through!’ cried one of the Rahain, and the crowd roared.

  ‘What the fuck do you think I’m doing up here?’ Bridget cried. ‘But we’ve got conditions. Break them, and the militia will break your fucking heads.’

  The crowd quietened again.

  ‘First,’ she said, ‘we’ve marked out a route, and you’ll stick to it. No wandering off, unless you want a boot in your face. Second, not all at once. We’re going to do this properly. There’s no way on this fucking earth that we’re going to let you stampede through our town, understand?’

  A low murmur came from the crowd, but no one cried out.

  ‘And last,’ she went on, ‘and we’re going to judge your good will on this, and your agreement that you’ll abide by the other conditions.’ She paused, staring at them. ‘I want you all to move back three paces. Now.’