Sacrifice

by Christopher Mitchell

As Rosalind began to say something, a side door burst open, and Karalyn rushed into the dining room, wearing a princess outfit. Behind her, Jean was puffing, her arms stretching out for the girl.

  ‘Daddy!’ she cried.

  ‘Come now, Jean,’ Rosalind said. ‘I know that girl can be badly behaved, but surely it’s not beyond your abilities to keep her confined to a secure room?’

  ‘Sorry, ma’am,’ Jean said, as Karalyn ran to Killop and grabbed hold of his legs.

  ‘What is it, wee bear?’

  ‘Daddy, daddy,’ she said, hiding her face and clinging on.

  Jean began to pull her away, but the girl wriggled and held on tight.

  Killop leaned down. ‘What’s wrong, wee bear?’

  The bad man, daddy, he’s coming.

  He gasped.

  Celine got off her seat and knelt by Karalyn, as Killop froze, his mouth hanging open.

  ‘Come on, little bear,’ Celine said, trying to prise Karalyn from Killop’s leg, ‘we’ll take you back to play with Teddy and Lydia.’

  Killop stood, and turned to where Godfrey and Rosalind sat. They frowned up at him.

  ‘We need to leave,’ he said. ‘We have to get out of here.’

  Rosalind laughed. ‘You’re rather excitable today.’

  ‘I’m serious,’ he said. ‘We need to go.’

  ‘Whatever are you talking about?’ Godfrey said. ‘We don’t finish meals because of an upset child.’

  Killop picked up Karalyn, and held her close. Celine raised an eyebrow.

  ‘What’s going on?’ she said.

  He leaned next to Karalyn’s ear. ‘Wee bear,’ he whispered, ‘show me the bad man.’

  In a second his eyesight distorted, as colours whirled and whipped across his vision. It cleared. He was looking out of small, round porthole at the plains rushing by a hundred feet below .

  Someone next to him coughed.

  ‘Five minutes, your Majesty,’ said the officer.

  He glanced over the interior of the flying carriage at the dense ranks of Rahain soldiers strapped to their seats, and smiled.

  Killop’s vision snapped back to his body, and he staggered.

  ‘Are you well?’ Godfrey said. ‘Jean, fetch the doctor.’

  ‘No!’ cried Killop. ‘The Emperor, he’s coming.’

  Godfrey stood. ‘I’m sorry?’

  Killop stared at him. ‘Use your vision powers.’

  ‘There’s no need, old chap,’ Godfrey said. ‘Our intelligence has the entire imperial army well within the bounds of the River Holdings.’

  ‘Look to the skies.’

  Godfrey strode to a large bay window, and opened the sliding door to the balcony. Jonah and Ariel followed, while Rosalind sat back and sipped her water.

  Killop whispered to Karalyn. ‘Find Kylon, wee bear, tell him to get ready.’

  ‘Aye, daddy,’ she said.

  Godfrey stumbled back into the dining room, his face distraught. He put a hand onto the back of a chair to steady himself. Jonah and Ariel gathered next to him.

  ‘What did you see?’ said Ariel.

  ‘Killop’s right,’ her father said. ‘A dozen flying carriages from Rahain are approaching from the south. They’ll be here in minutes.’

  Rosalind rose. ‘What? Here? They’re coming here?’

  Godfrey looked like he was about to explode at her, but his features softened, and he took her hand.

  ‘I’m afraid so, dear.’

  ‘Oh, Godfrey.’

  Jonah ran back out onto the balcony, and Killop followed, holding onto Karalyn. Jonah leaned over the railings.

  ‘Alarm!’ he cried. ‘Sound the alarm! The Emperor’s coming!’

  Down below, the workers close to the mansion looked up.

  ‘Sound the alarm!’ Jonah cried again, and some of those below reacted, running in the direction of the Old Tower. Killop gazed into the south, and scanned the horizon.

  ‘I see them,’ he said. ‘Coming in low.’

  Jonah stood next to him, and squinted into the distance.

  ‘How did you know?’ he cried.

  ‘The wee girl can sense things,’ he said. ‘Like her mother.’

  ‘I have to go,’ Jonah said. ‘With the Hold’s militia down in the capital, someone has to rally the workers.’

  ‘Tell them to run.’

  ‘No,’ Jonah said. ‘I’m not giving up Hold Fast without a fight.’

  He ran back into the dining room, and disappeared through a door. Killop walked back in. Celine was comforting Ariel, who was weeping. Godfrey and Rosalind were still standing in the same place, saying nothing.

  ‘We must evacuate,’ Killop said. ‘There’s still a few minutes.’

  Godfrey put his hand on Killop’s shoulder.

  ‘Take Ariel, Celine and the children,’ he said. ‘Go to the stables by the square, and flee.’

  ‘And you?’

  ‘My place is here.’ He turned to Rosalind. ‘Our place is here.’

  Killop nodded, and began pushing Celine and Ariel towards the door. He turned to Jean. ‘You heard Holder Fast, get the children and meet me by the back porch in two minutes.’

  Jean swithered for a second, then ran out of the room.

  He leaned close to Karalyn. ‘Where’s Kylon, wee bear?’

  His sight blurred and flickered, as his vision was transported to a dark bedroom, where a man was scrambling to get dressed.

  Kylon , he said. It’s Killop.

  What the fuck’s happening? Kylon cried. I got a garbled message from the wee one. Trouble?

  Half a dozen flying carriages filled with imperial soldiers are about to land , Killop said. I’ve got Karalyn, Celine and Ariel, and Jean’s away to fetch the other children.

  Kylon frowned. Are we taking them along, boss ?

  Aye.

  They’ll slow us down.

  Don’t start , Killop said. We’re heading to the rear porch, get your arse there as fast as you can.

  Kylon nodded, and Killop’s vision zipped back to his own head.

  He turned to Ariel. ‘Listen to me,’ he said, looking into her red eyes. She was shaking, despite Celine’s arm over her shoulders. ‘We’re going to get out of here. You have to move. Your children need you.’

  There was a loud noise from outside, the sound of something heavy striking the ground. The floor shook. A second later, Rahain voices shouted, and someone screamed.

  Killop grabbed hold of Ariel’s right arm and, with Celine on the other side, they pulled Ariel out of the room and ran towards the stairs. He didn’t look back. They hauled Ariel down the steps, Killop gripping onto Karalyn at the same time, and raced towards the rear porch. As they reached the anteroom next to it, they skidded to a stop. Rahain soldiers were climbing the steps, armed with crossbows. The bodies of several estate workers lay sprawled across the gravel.

  ‘Back,’ Killop cried. ‘Through the kitchen. There’s a side exit.’

  He kicked down a door, and they bolted through a servants’ passageway, the sound of screaming coming from other parts of the mansion. They reached a large laundry room, which had a window facing the front of the great house. They ran to it, and peered out.

  Two flying carriages were lying within yards of the steps leading up to the main doors, and dozens of Rahain soldiers were running towards the great house. Among them walked a solitary Holdings man, in black armour.

  ‘Guilliam,’ Celine whispered.

  Ariel turned to Killop. ‘My children.’

  ‘Stay here,’ he said to them. He passed Karalyn to Celine.

  ‘Where the fuck are you going?’ she said.

  ‘To get Jean.’ He kissed Karalyn on the forehead. ‘Love you, wee bear. Back soon.’

  He gazed around the laundry room, picked up a long wooden paddle used for stirring the giant vats of washing, and ran to the door. He calculated the route from the children’s room to the rear porch, and sprinted down the corridors of the mansion, the noise of struggle
and terror all around.

  He ran out into a wide passageway, and stumbled to a halt as a squad of Rahain wheeled round to face him. He dived back as crossbow bolts flew past him and over his head. One glanced off his right shoulder, taking half an inch of flesh with it. He cursed his lack of armour or weapons, and retreated, slamming a door behind him and barring it with the paddle. He double-backed and sprinted down another passageway. He reached a door, and opened it a crack, keeping silent.

  The hall on the other side was clear. He went through, then ducked as he saw a large group of Rahain through an arched opening on the hall’s right. He crouched behind the base of a marble fountain and stole a glance at them.

  They had rounded up some of the staff, and were guarding them with crossbows. Killop swore as he saw Jean and the two children among them.

  Teddy and Lydia were both shaking, their eyes fearful as the soldiers lined them up against the wall. At the end of the passageway, the man in black armour appeared. Killop looked at him. He seemed like a normal Holdings man, though maybe taller than most. Apart from the blackened steel plate, he was unarmed. He approached the group of prisoners.

  The Emperor stopped when he reached Jean.

  ‘Where is Holder Fast?’

  His voice was strong, and almost caused pain to Killop’s ears. The prisoners cowered.

  Jean shook her head.

  ‘He’s upstairs, in the dining room,’ cried one of the staff, his eyes wild.

  The Emperor pointed at him, and the man’s head disintegrated in a flash of red. The body toppled to the floor, amid screams and wailing from the staff. The two children wept, near hysterics .

  ‘I hate telltales,’ the Emperor said, ‘but I hate having to listening to this racket even more.’ He glanced at the Rahain soldiers. ‘Kill them all.’

  He strode from the passageway, and walked past where Killop was hiding. Killop kept himself low until he had gone, then sprang to his feet. He ran heedless towards the passageway, as the soldiers aimed their crossbows at the prisoners.

  Killop roared as they loosed. He reached the first soldier and throttled him, cracking his neck. He gazed down at the fallen bodies of the prisoners, then punched the next soldier, breaking his nose into his face. The other soldiers were reloading, and the thought of Karalyn swept over his mind. His red rage receded, and he ran back the way he had come. Crossbows bolts hit the wall next to his head, and he felt a sting in his left thigh. He crashed through a doorway, and ran for his life, barrelling through storage rooms and empty corridors. The smell of smoke reached his nose.

  As soon as he knew the pursuit had ceased he fell to his knees, and vomited over the floor. The imprint of what he had seen shone in his mind, and guilt surged through him. He had been too slow. He had frozen when the Emperor had walked past his hiding place. He should have acted sooner.

  Teddy and Lydia.

  He imagined how he would feel if it had been Karalyn, and he almost broke. Instead, he hauled himself to his feet, and began running back towards the laundry room. As he approached, there was a great roar from above, and the ceiling over his head burst into flames. He ducked down, and kept running, the heat intensifying. In every room and corridor he passed through, the wooden beams holding up the floor above were burning, as if a great inferno had consumed the upper storeys of the mansion.

  At last, he reached the corridor leading to the laundry room. As he was about to sprint across the gap, the door to his left flew open, and the Emperor strode through. He walked into the laundry room, and paused.

  Killop could see Celine, Karalyn and Ariel huddling in the corner as the Emperor approached them. He clenched his fists, rage taking hold of him. He ran into the room, whispering a silent apology to Daphne. He had failed, but at least he would die defending his family.

  The Emperor’s glance passed over the group crouching in the corner, and he strode from the room.

  Killop stopped, his mouth open in disbelief.

  ‘Daddy,’ Karalyn cried, and ran to him, hugging his leg.

  Celine rose to her feet. ‘Did you see that?’ she sobbed. ‘He walked right past, like he didn’t even see us.’

  ‘Karalyn hide from the bad man,’ the little girl said as Killop picked her up and hugged her.

  Ariel glanced over. ‘My children? Did you see them?’

  Killop swallowed. ‘They’re waiting for us at the stables.’

  Ariel nodded, and got to her feet.

  Celine took Karalyn, and they left the laundry room, keeping silent as they headed towards the kitchens. They passed the bodies of two young servants lying dead, bleeding from their vacant eye sockets.

  ‘Bastard,’ Celine muttered. ‘Why’s he doing this? If he’s after mages, he must know Daphne’s in the old capital.’

  Ariel shook her head, her eyes tired and red. ‘Revenge against the Holdfasts. The Emperor’s always hated us. Daddy’s rebellion has given him the excuse he needed.’

  They crept through the kitchens, past abandoned pots bubbling on the stoves, and a dead servant lying sprawled among a pile of broken dishes.

  ‘There’s the door,’ Celine whispered, pointing ahead.

  They ran into the deserted hallway. The side door was lying open, letting in a shaft of sunlight. Killop peered through the gap. Across the gravel was the market square, its canvas covering aflame in a sea of fire. To the left, the stables were also burning. Dozens of Rahain soldiers were outside, corralling a large group of workers. Killop squinted through the smoke. There was no sign of Kylon.

  ‘We can’t leave this way,’ he said. ‘Too many soldiers.’

  ‘Let me look,’ said Ariel as she leaned towards the door.

  ‘What’ll we do, boss?’ Celine said, clutching on to Karalyn .

  There was a great roar from outside, and Killop edged to the door beside Ariel. A large group of armed Holdings was charging the Rahain. Several fell as the soldiers aimed their crossbows at them, but the Holdings soon reached the Rahain, and engaged at close quarters.

  ‘Leave them to me,’ a voice echoed, and Killop flinched from its raw power.

  The Emperor strode towards the fray. With a wave of his hand, the Rahain soldiers were flung backwards, leaving the Holdings exposed. In their centre stood Jonah.

  ‘A Holdfast,’ the Emperor said. He waved his other hand, and every Holdings fighter fell, their eyes bulging and bleeding, except for Ariel’s brother.

  Jonah stood alone and defiant as the Emperor smirked, and strode towards him.

  ‘Do you want to hear how your mother and father begged for their lives?’ he said, his voice like a razor through the mind. ‘How they pleaded on their knees before me? Your family has long been a hindrance to my plans.’ He stopped a yard from Jonah. He flicked his finger, and the Holdings man fell to his knees. ‘But the main reason I’m here,’ he said, ‘is to hurt your sister. She betrayed me, and I want her to know her family is dead before I kill her.’

  He raised his hand, and Jonah’s eyes burst from his head. His body collapsed to the ground.

  ‘No!’ screamed Ariel, and before Killop could grab her, she bolted from the door, flying towards her brother.

  The Emperor turned, and stretched out his arm. Ariel exploded into a thousand pieces of flesh, her remains covering the gravel outside the mansion in a circle of deep red.

  Killop fell back behind the door, as the Emperor stared in their direction. Karalyn burrowed her head into his chest.

  ‘Wee bear hide,’ she said, as Celine huddled in from the other side.

  ‘Come on,’ Killop said, getting up. He picked up a large knife from the kitchen counter. ‘Follow me.’

  They retraced their steps through the burning mansion, passing the corpses of dead servants, and skirting groups of soldiers. They reached the south wing, where the flames had yet to reach, and stole their way through deserted chambers until they came to Godfrey’s private study. Killop bolted the door, and Celine crashed down into an armchair, out of breath, Karalyn c
linging to her.

  There was an old sword attached to the wall above Godfrey’s desk, and Killop reached up and took it down. He strapped it to his belt, and walked to the balcony doors. The view from the study overlooked a steep slope, at the bottom of which were workers’ cottages, all aflame. Rahain soldiers stood before them, watching them burn. A pile of bodies lay in the middle of the road.

  He turned to Celine and Karalyn.

  ‘We’re getting out of here,’ he said.

  Celine nodded.

  ‘Help me,’ he said, and they began ransacking the room. Celine found a bag, and they packed it with the snacks they knew Godfrey kept in a drawer, along with a full water skin, and a bottle of rum. They shoved a map into the bag, and Celine slid an old hunting knife they found into her boot.

  Killop knelt by Karalyn.

  ‘Where’s the bad man?’ he said. ‘Is he close?’

  Karalyn shook her head. ‘The bad man is killing the horses in the stables.’

  Killop nodded. He got up, and gazed out of the window. There were at least eight soldiers at the bottom of the steep slope.

  ‘Wait here,’ he said, as Celine joined him at the balcony door. ‘Bring Karalyn when I signal.’

  Before she could respond, Killop slipped out of the door, and jumped over the balcony railing, landing on the gravel. He crouched in the deep shadow of the mansion, and began to edge his way down the slope. The soldiers were all watching the fires consume the workers’ cottages, and as Killop reached the bottom of the slope he drew his sword.

  He took a breath and crept across the gravel without making a sound. He slashed down, striking a soldier from behind, then jumped into their midst, swinging his arm at anything within reach. He felled another, then another, charging and rushing, before a crossbow bolt hit his right thigh. He sprang forwards, grabbing a soldier by the throat in his left hand, while he lashed out with the sword, killing another. He span round, and saw the remaining four soldiers aiming their crossbows at him.

  ‘Fuck.’

  The soldiers fell, their hands grasping their faces as their eyes rolled up into their heads. Killop blinked. His daughter?

  He looked up.

  ‘That was stupid,’ said Celine, reaching the bottom of the slope with Karalyn in her arms. ‘Are you trying to get yourself killed? You’re lucky little bear was here to save you.’