Sacrifice

by Christopher Mitchell

  Everyone gave Kylon a wide berth, his deep frown acting as a repellent to anyone wishing to engage in small talk. The queen caught Killop’s eye, and she approached.

  ‘Chief,’ she said, smiling, ‘and Miss Celine Holdfast.’ She gazed at Karalyn. ‘And the little one. What a beautiful girl, you must be proud.’

  ‘Aye,’ said Killop.

  ‘I hear you did a fine job in rescuing your daughter from that awful tragedy on the Hold Fast estate,’ Mirren said. ‘I hope today that the new Holder Fast is presented with ample opportunity for revenge.’

  ‘There’s only one person she needs to kill,’ he said. ‘Your husband.’

  A flash of sadness swept over the queen’s face. ‘Indeed. I wish it were not so. However, as you already know, I believe that the man out there leading the invasion of the Holdings is not my beloved Guilliam. I will not shed a tear when the Emperor falls today.’

  Faden walked up to Mirren’s side.

  ‘Ah, Killop, my good man,’ he said, swaying a little as if he had taken a drink.

  ‘Chancellor,’ Killop nodded.

  ‘May I say how sorry I am, Chancellor,’ Celine said, ‘about your loss.’

  ‘Thank you, my girl,’ he said, his features falling. ‘That terrible day of infamy was meant to scare the people of the Holdings, but rather than being cowed, the Emperor will instead find us steadfast and united against him.’ He turned to Killop. ‘So, what’s your prediction for today’s little set-to? Am I to assume that you’ve never seen the magnificent Holdings heavy cavalry in action before?’

  ‘I watched them charge the gates of the Rahain Capital during the alliance invasion,’ Killop said. ‘It was quite a sight. They were vulnerable to the catapults and ballista, but I’m told the imperial army have no machines with them today.’

  ‘Quite right,’ Faden said, his eyes bright. ‘Can you believe their arrogance? The Rahain armed forces have always been famed for their artillery, and yet here they are, marching towards us with nothing but shields and crossbows.’

  ‘Did you fight against the Rahain when you were younger, Chancellor?’ Celine asked.

  ‘No,’ he frowned. ‘The wars came at a bad time for me. I was nineteen and still in officer training when the great Rahain Wars ended, and then when the last queen ordered the assault against Sanang, I was too old to go. I spent my military prime during years of peace. My career in the cavalry consisted of nothing but exercises and getting rather drunk.’

  ‘My dearest Faden,’ Mirren laughed, ‘that’s why we keep reminding you to leave the tactics to our experts. I would imagine that Killop here far out-reaches your knowledge of warfare.’ She turned to him. ‘I believe you have led armies against the Rahain on multiple occasions, yes?’

  ‘Aye,’ Killop said. ‘I’ve fought and commanded in many battles.’

  ‘Well then,’ Faden said, stretching his arm out toward the plain below. ‘I’d be intrigued to hear your opinion of today’s engagement. Your critique, as it were.’

  Killop gazed down at the Holdings infantry in their positions, where they had been all morning. To their right the heavy cavalry had assembled, formed into four detachments. He couldn’t see where the light cavalry had been placed, so he guessed it was off to the left, to fend off any Rahain attempt to outflank the Holdings infantry on that side.

  Ahead, the sky was filled with dust. Now only two miles away, the imperial army was approaching them in a line twice as wide as that of the Holdings, and their ranks were deeper. At the front, their soldiers held out the great door-sized shields he had seen so many times before.

  He glanced at Faden. ‘It depends what you’re going to do with your heavy cavalry. I’d guess you want your infantry to hold theirs for as long as possible, while the cavalry does something else to win the battle.’

  Faden grinned. ‘And what would that be, do you think?’

  ‘If it were up to me,’ Killop said, turning back to face the armies below, ‘I’d ram them straight down the Emperor’s throat. Have them circle the flanks, find a gap, and strike for the centre.’

  ‘A rather succinct summation of our battle plan, don’t you think, Faden?’ said Mirren. ‘Perhaps we should find a job for this young man on the staff?’

  ‘It’s pointless,’ said a low voice to Killop’s right.

  ‘I’m sorry?’ said Faden. ‘I didn’t quite catch that.’

  Kylon glared at him. ‘I said it was fucking pointless. This whole battle, you’re just wasting time and soldiers. You should be hiding your mages away up the mountains, and sheltering your folk, not throwing their lives away. Look at you all up here, swanning about like you think you’re important. Don’t you realise that the Emperor is about to annihilate your entire army before your eyes? He killed a hundred thousand Sanang in front of the walls of the imperial capital. They had the greatest fire mage the world has ever seen on their side, and he still smashed them. Do you think he’s going to balk at a few horses?’

  Faden stared in silence, his mouth open, as several officers on the platform bristled and tensed.

  Mirren suppressed a smile. ‘It’s so refreshing to hear a contrary opinion. As queen, I always felt that people were too scared or sycophantic to truthfully express their inner thoughts, and I continually had a niggling feeling that I was being humoured.’ She stared at Kylon. ‘And what is your name?’

  Killop opened his mouth to speak. ‘He’s…’

  ‘My name is Kylon. I led the Sanang army that invaded the Plateau last winter, along with Keira the fire mage, Killop’s sister. ’

  There was a collective gasp from the officers on the platform, and Killop heard Celine groan.

  Mirren nodded, her eyes bursting with amusement.

  ‘A wanted man.’

  ‘Only under imperial law,’ Kylon said. ‘I have already faced the enemy your army is about to meet. I urge you to pull back, scatter, and flee for the mountains. The Emperor wants your mages, that’s why he’s here. He’s doesn’t care about your little rebellion; it’s the mages, that’s all he’s after.’

  ‘We are aware of that,’ Mirren said. ‘Our high mages have already been withdrawn. In fact, I believe the only one on the field today is Holder Fast, who unfortunately could not be dissuaded from donning armour and mounting her horse.’ She glanced at Killop. ‘I tried my best, believe me.’

  ‘All the more reason to call off the battle,’ said Kylon. ‘If there are no mages here to defend, then the Emperor will destroy your army for nothing.’

  Faden stepped forward. ‘Do not humour this man any longer, Mirren,’ he said. ‘Chief Killop, please escort your companion from the platform. His defeatism is souring the mood.’

  Killop nodded.

  He glanced at Kylon, and the two Kellach men walked away to the edge of the platform.

  ‘I’m only speaking the truth,’ Kylon said.

  Killop looked out over the plain. The heavy cavalry, Daphne among them, were preparing their lines, wheeling into formation, their hooves kicking up a cloud of dirt. Their armour glistened in the sunlight, and their long green pennants fluttered in the breeze. They looked as if nothing could stop them.

  ‘Are you sure?’ he said.

  ‘Aye, Killop. The Emperor will destroy them all.’

  ‘How do you know? I thought you’d left the battlefield before the Emperor made his appearance at Plateau City.’

  ‘You’re right, I wasn’t actually there,’ Kylon said, ‘but I saw what a hundred thousand Sanang looked like before the battle, and where are they all now? Every eyewitness account says the same thing, and Kalayne also vouched for the truth of it. The Emperor killed them, single-handed. That’s why he hasn’t brought any catapults or ballista. He doesn’t need them.’

  Killop nodded, his gaze on the plain. The imperial army was in the process of coming to a halt, a quarter of a mile in front of the Holdings infantry. Horns were blowing, and the front line of shields closed up into a firm wall.

  ‘Get horses pr
epared,’ Killop said. ‘Get ready to go. I’ll send Celine and Karalyn to you as soon as the battle’s underway.’

  ‘And you?’

  ‘Just concern yourself with getting Karalyn to safety,’ Killop said. ‘Don’t worry about me.’

  Kylon nodded, then turned and walked back down the path towards the tents.

  Killop re-joined Celine. Mirren and Faden had moved on, and were speaking to a small group of elderly officers by a table laid out with refreshments.

  ‘Daddy,’ Karalyn squealed, and he took her into his arms. She rapped her knuckles on his steel breastplate. ‘Shiny.’

  Celine raised an eyebrow at him. ‘Well?’

  ‘He’s gone back to his tent.’

  ‘And? Why did he tell them his real name, after we’ve spent thirds trying to hide it from everyone?’

  Killop shrugged.

  ‘He’s lucky he wasn’t arrested.’

  ‘Let’s watch the battle,’ Killop said.

  Celine frowned, and gave him a narrow-eyed stare. ‘What are you not telling me?’

  ‘Just stay ready, that’s all.’

  ‘Ready for what?’

  ‘Ready to get the fuck out of here, if what Kylon says turns out to be true. ’

  Her expression changed, and she nodded.

  There was a great blast of horns, and the imperial army began advancing, their great shield wall rumbling towards the lines of Holdings.

  Killop gazed over the field below them. The Holdings infantry remained where it was, their shields to the front, waiting for the Rahain to get closer, while the heavy cavalry was beginning to pull away to the right, the huge formations of horse-flesh and steel thundering across the plain, as if they were departing the battlefield.

  When the Rahain army had closed to a hundred yards, the Holdings artillery opened up, sending a shower of boulders raining down on the imperial lines, each one ploughing into the Rahain ranks.

  There was a series of horn-blasts, and the Rahain lines picked up speed. They ran forward ten yards, stopped and, as one, aimed their crossbows through the slits in their shields and loosed. A hailstorm of bolts flew towards the Holdings infantry, peppering their shields and felling several soldiers. The Rahain sprinted forward another ten yards, grounded their shields and shot again. Each time, more Holdings fell. Their soldiers began to shoot their own crossbows into the Rahain lines, but the door-sized shields absorbed the bolts with ease. The outer wings of the Rahain army began to swing round to envelop the flanks of the smaller Holdings force. Killop saw the light cavalry appear from the far left, charging at the right wing of the imperial army from the side and rear, darting back and forth with their lances. They were unopposed, and ripped through the rear of the Rahain units, but there were so many imperial soldiers that overall they were having little impact.

  There were a few concerned mutterings from the officers on the platform.

  ‘This is all part of the plan,’ said Faden, holding a glass. ‘A little patience, everyone.’

  They tensed as the front ranks of Rahain reached the Holdings infantry. Both sides were relying on their shield walls, and along the entire front the lines met in a crash of wood and steel. Killop tried to locate the position of the Emperor among the masses of soldiers, but the dust and dirt hung too thick in the air to be sure.

  The ground rumbled, and all eyes darted to their right, where the Holdings heavy cavalry appeared, split into its four divisions, each charging a separate area of the Rahain back lines. They had formed into thick wedges of lances and armour, and the leading edges pierced through the imperial ranks like an oar through water.

  There was a great cheer on the platform, and several glasses were raised.

  There were now two battles going on, and Killop’s eyes darted between them. Near the base of the hill, the struggle between the two sets of infantry was continuing, with the Rahain gaining ground step by step, while a hundred yards behind them, the heavy cavalry were ripping great holes through the enemy ranks, getting closer and closer to the centre of the imperial army.

  ‘Too noisy,’ said Karalyn, holding her ears.

  Killop leaned in close to her. ‘Is the bad man there?’

  ‘Aye, daddy.’ She pointed to the midst of the battle, where two of the heavy cavalry divisions were nearing.

  The nervous chatter among the officers on the platform grew.

  ‘Come on,’ cried a voice.

  ‘They’re going to do it!’ said Faden.

  At that moment there was a deafening cry, a sickening sound as thousands of horses reared up in agony, throwing their riders, or collapsing and crushing them. All over the battlefield the cavalry stumbled and crashed to a halt. Horses cried out as they fell, creating heaps of armoured flesh. In the midst of the carnage, a lone figure stood, clad in plates of black steel, with his arms raised.

  The voices on the platform fell silent. Someone sobbed.

  Killop passed Karalyn to Celine. ‘Now,’ he said. ‘Go.’

  Celine took the child, her eyes wide and staring, and ran down the path towards the tents. Killop turned. Faden was walking towards the edge of the platform, his mouth open, tears rolling down his cheeks. He stared at the devastation. The officers around him said nothing, weeping at the sight of thousands of slain horses clustered on the battlefield. Around them, Holdings troopers were staggering to their feet. Many had been killed or injured when their mounts had fallen, and Rahain infantry were moving in to surround the survivors.

  At the base of the hill, the Holdings infantry remained shield to shield with the Rahain, unaware of the disaster that had overtaken the cavalry. The two wings of the imperial army had now closed in on the flanks of the Holdings, and were beginning to push them back.

  ‘It’s over,’ cried someone. ‘We must order the retreat.’

  Faden said nothing. Mirren took his hand.

  Killop slipped off the platform, and ran straight down the side of the hill. He glanced over at the tents, but couldn’t see Celine or Karalyn. He hoped Kylon was getting them far away. He reached the foot of the hill and kept running, veering to the right to avoid the Holdings catapults and artillery, now lying abandoned, their crews gone. Ahead of him were the rear ranks of the Holdings infantry, pushing and shoving the backs of their comrades ahead of them as the Rahain forced them back. Killop ran past them, swooping to pick up a shield that had been cast to the ground. A small paddock was laid out to the side of the catapults, where the heavy cavalry had been based that morning, and Killop vaulted the fence.

  ‘Stop!’ cried a Holdings soldier. ‘You can’t come in here.’

  Killop pushed him aside, sending him flying to the ground. He picked up a saddle from a fence post, and prepared the largest horse in the paddock. He leapt up into the saddle. The beast reared, and stamped its hooves.

  ‘Come on, you stupid bastard,’ Killop muttered, kicking his heels and pulling on the reins. The horse took off, galloping across the paddock, and jumping over the fence. Killop pulled hard, and they skidded to the right, the horse kicking up great sods of earth as he clung on. He raced the horse across the length of the rear ranks of Holdings, and broke out past the advancing left wing of the Rahain, who dove out of the way of the charging beast.

  He burst through the remaining lines of infantry and wheeled to the left. Rahain soldiers turned to stare as he sped past, and a few bolts were aimed in his direction. Killop pointed the nose of the horse at where he had seen the figure in black, and urged it on. They approached the area where the heavy cavalry had attacked, and the ground became littered with dead horses, Rahain infantry, and Holdings troopers. A multitude of small confrontations were taking place, with pockets of troopers holding off attacks from larger Rahain units.

  Killop saw the Emperor. He was striding across the battlefield, surrounded by a tight bodyguard of Rahain soldiers, pointing his arm at any group of Holdings he approached. Killop dismounted by a piled mound of horse flesh, and drew his sword, crouching. The Emperor reached
a group of Holdings, who were fighting back-to-back against a circle of advancing Rahain. He flicked his wrist, and the troopers fell to the ground, their eyes bursting from their heads.

  Killop crouched lower amid the carpet of dead, and took a breath.

  Where was she?

  The battlefield covered a hundred acres; he was an idiot for thinking he would be able to find Daphne among such slaughter.

  ‘Killop!’

  He turned, and Daphne crashed into him from the other direction. She was shaking, blood coming from a wound to her left temple. Her sword was drawn, and was bloody and notched. She kissed him, and he tasted the blood on her lips.

  He stared at her.

  ‘Karalyn told me you were out here,’ she yelled, as they crouched with their backs to the mound of dead horses. ‘She wasn’t pleased you ran off like that.’

  ‘I’ll make it up to her,’ he grunted, ‘as soon as I get you the fuck out of here.’

  Daphne peered over the mound in the direction of the Emperor. ‘If only I could get close enough to him,’ she said, ‘then we could salvage something from today.’

  Killop leaned up next to her. The black-clad figure of the Emperor was now a hundred yards away. He was standing as a pile of wood was being built, made from discarded shields and broken-up wagons. Daphne withdrew a whistle from her belt, and let out a long, low blast. Within a minute, several other troopers had crawled out of their hiding places, and were assembling behind where Daphne and Killop sheltered. Groups of Rahain forces still scoured the area, but the great majority of the enemy was continuing to engage the Holdings infantry over to their left.

  ‘We’re going to give it one last try,’ Daphne said to the troopers, ‘while he’s distracted getting that fire ready. Split up into pairs, and make your way over there. Attack if you get close enough. Come on.’

  Daphne ran off, keeping her head low, and sprinted to another heap of corpses. Killop frowned, but followed, and the other troopers began to set off on their own routes towards the Emperor. Daphne and Killop dodged from cover to cover, running and crouching, until they reached a deep ditch. They clambered down to its bottom and looked over the edge. The Emperor had his back to them, a mere twenty yards away.