Sacrifice

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘he might, and we’ll fight him again if he does.’

  An older trooper raised her arm. ‘Ma’am?’

  ‘Yes, sergeant?’

  ‘I just wanted to pick you up on something you said. You mentioned earlier that our fealty to you was at an end. Excuse me ma’am, but that’s bullshit. You’re Holder fast, and the oath I swore was to you and your family. That oath doesn’t break because we got beaten, ma’am. If anything, it makes it stronger.’

  The other troopers nodded and murmured their agreement.

  Daphne sat in silence, her face calm, but Killop knew her heart was racing.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘It means more to me than I can say.’

  Killop glanced around. ‘Anyone else wish to speak?’

  No one replied. ‘Alright, time to vote. Those in favour of Lady Holdfast’s plan, say aye.’

  ‘Aye,’ roared the thirty voices.

  ‘Carried,’ Killop yelled over the noise. ‘We leave tomorrow, and head down to the plains. ’

  The troopers cheered, and settled back to their meals and rum.

  ‘I think I need some fresh air,’ Daphne said, standing.

  ‘I’ll keep Karalyn here,’ Celine said, as Killop got to his feet as well.

  ‘Thanks,’ Daphne said. She waited for Killop, and they began walking up the trail to the ridge. When they were out of sight of the camp, Daphne stopped. She put her right arm round Killop, and started to cry. He held her close, saying nothing as her tears fell.

  He gazed out over the rough, jagged mountains as the last light of day faded in the western sky, and thought about Daphne’s plan. Somewhere safe with his family, that’s all he wanted, and if it had to be on the edge of a desert, then so be it.

  He heard a cough, and turned.

  ‘Sorry for interrupting,’ said Kylon, standing in the darkness of the trail. ‘May we speak?’

  Daphne wiped the tears from her face, and faced the Kell man.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I didn’t want to say anything in front of your troopers,’ he said, ‘but I disagree.’

  ‘I thought you might.’

  ‘Then you know what I’m going to say.’

  ‘I think I can guess,’ Daphne said. ‘You want to stay in the mountains. You think it’s too dangerous down on the plains. Too much of a risk for Karalyn.’

  Kylon said nothing.

  ‘Am I close?’ she said.

  ‘The plains are too risky,’ he said. ‘If anyone recognises you then the Emperor will be back as fast as a flying gaien can carry him. And return to Hold Fast? I saw what he did to it the last time he visited.’

  She shook her head. ‘You only saw a tiny fraction of the estate. Hold Fast is huge, one of the largest in the country. There are areas up by the desert where we’ll able to disappear.’

  ‘Maybe, but you’ll have to get there first. It’s a long walk.’

  ‘But down there is where the food is,’ she said. ‘We have nearly forty mouths to feed. ’

  ‘Then maybe we should cut those numbers down. Send the troopers on their way, we don’t need them.’

  ‘I’ll not abandon those who’ve proved their loyalty to me. And with the devastation the Emperor brought to the land, there might be groups of bandits roaming the Holds. We’ll need the troopers then.’

  ‘As I said, the plains are too risky.’

  Daphne frowned. ‘But you’ll be there to protect her, won’t you?’

  He glared at her. ‘I will always protect her.’

  ‘When we head down to the plains tomorrow, you’ll be by her side, protecting her with your big, brooding presence. And if anything happens to me and Killop, I know you’ll be there to look after her.’

  ‘Of course,’ he said.

  ‘Then this conversation is over. Thank you for raising your concerns.’

  Kylon chewed his lip, his eyes smouldering. He nodded, then strode off down the path in the darkness.

  ‘We should get back,’ Killop said. ‘Get some sleep before tomorrow.’

  Daphne nodded. She took his hand, and they walked down the slope to the camp. Most of the troopers were still up, though they had put down their rum, and were cleaning their equipment, wiping the old blood and rust from their swords.

  Killop and Daphne sat by Celine, who was cradling Karalyn next to the fire.

  ‘She been sleeping long?’ Daphne said.

  ‘Ten minutes or so,’ Celine said.

  ‘We should get her to bed.’

  They got up and headed for their tent. Killop crouched as he went in, and followed Daphne to a curtained-off section at the back, where Celine put Karalyn into her makeshift cot. They kissed her goodnight.

  Kylon appeared.

  ‘You all going to bed?’

  ‘Aye,’ Killop said.

  Kylon nodded. ‘I might have a drink first. I managed to get my hands on one of the few bottles that Chane hasn’t drunk yet. ’

  ‘I might stay up for one,’ Killop said.

  ‘Alright,’ said Kylon. ‘I have one of Chane’s maps, we can look over the route to Hold Fast.’

  ‘Let’s all have one before bed, then,’ Daphne said.

  They ducked back through to where Kylon’s sleeping pallet lay by the tent’s entrance, and sat. Daphne lit a cigarette as Kylon laid the map on the floor. They gazed down at it. Daphne pointed. ‘We’re here, and Hold Fast is over here.’

  Kylon filled four mugs with rum, and passed them round.

  ‘Where on the map is Hold Clement?’ he asked. ‘Chane’s Hold?’

  ‘Oh,’ Daphne said, her finger moving south. ‘That’s way down here, we won’t be going anywhere close. I intend to take us this route, and stay up north, in case we have to get back into the mountains in a hurry.’

  ‘And the desert?’ Killop said.

  ‘Hold Fast goes all the way out to here,’ Daphne said, her fingers gliding across the paper to the far east, right up to where the great ocean lay. ‘This whole coastal strip is desert. Sand dunes and barren, dry wastes. The estate takes in hundreds of miles of it.’

  ‘Why?’ said Killop, sipping his rum. ‘What’s the point of owning desert?’

  ‘The hunting,’ she said. ‘All sorts of fabulous wild beasts roam the wastes. My father used to love going out there in spring with the Hold Fast Company. When he returned there was always another head to be mounted in his study. The bit I like best though, is the strip between the grasslands and the desert, where it’s not quite either, and where people can live if they’re careful. That’s where we’re headed.’

  ‘Show me where you’re from, Celine,’ Kylon said.

  ‘Me?’ she laughed. ‘I’m from over here.’ She pointed to the region south of the capital, by the great river. ‘Hold Castor, very minor aristocracy, as I’m sure Daphne would agree.’

  ‘You’re an aristocrat too?’

  ‘I’d have to be,’ she said, ‘to be allowed to marry the heir to Hold Fast. Daphne’s mother had me interviewed several times. I had to write an essay stating my reasons why I felt I deserved to wed her son.’

  ‘Vince was her golden boy,’ Daphne said. ‘She was never going to approve of his wife, no matter who he married.’

  ‘I can’t believe we’re all that’s left of the Holdfasts,’ Celine said. ‘I miss Ariel so much.’

  ‘Me too,’ said Daphne, ‘and Father, though I’m glad he’s not around to see what the Holdings has become.’

  ‘Hopefully the worst is behind us,’ said Kylon. ‘The Emperor’s gone, and tomorrow marks a new start.’

  Daphne nodded.

  ‘I’m knackered,’ said Celine. ‘I’m going to crash out.’

  She crossed to her own sleeping pallet, and got under the blankets.

  Killop finished his rum.

  ‘Another?’ said Kylon.

  ‘No,’ he said. ‘I’m pretty tired myself.’

  ‘See you in the morning, then,’ he said. ‘I might stay up for
one more on my own.’

  Daphne and Killop got to their feet, and went back to the curtained-off area. Daphne collapsed onto the bed. Killop sat and pulled off his boots. Across from him, Karalyn lay sleeping, a warm blanket covering her.

  He smiled. Even though the world was falling apart around them, he still had Karalyn and Daphne. The only two people in the world he cared about. He still loved his sister, and always would, but it had been so long and he had no idea what she was doing. Kylon remained his friend, but he was more distant than he had been back in Kell during the Rahain invasion, and sometimes Killop wondered if he really knew him at all.

  Who else was there? His mind floated over the faces of those he knew. Bridget, Larissa, Kallie. He fell back onto the bed. He shook himself and rubbed his eyes.

  ‘Daphne?’ he said, but she was lying fast asleep on top of the blankets .

  His head fell back against his pillow. He knew he should get undressed, get under the blanket, and get Daphne under it too, but he couldn’t move, he was so tired. A strange feeling that something was wrong crept over him, but he was so comfortable that his eyes closed, and within seconds he was asleep.

  ‘Killop!’ cried a voice. ‘Wake up!’

  A palm struck his cheek, and his head stung. He groaned. A mug of water landed on his face, and he spluttered and sat up. Daphne was on the bed in front of him, her eyes raw with tears.

  ‘She’s gone.’

  Killop focussed, the words taking time to make sense. He stared at the empty cot. ‘Celine? Kylon?’

  ‘She’s there,’ Daphne said. ‘He’s not.’

  Killop jumped out of bed, still wearing his clothes from the previous day. He charged through past the curtain. Celine was sitting on her bed, rubbing her head. Kylon, and his pack, were missing. Killop ran out of the tent, his feet bare against the rough ground. The sun was rising above the hills to the east, and the camp was busy with troopers preparing their breakfasts. There was no sign of Kylon, or Baoryn.

  ‘Sergeant,’ he said, trying to keep his voice calm.

  ‘Yes, sir?’ said the sergeant, getting up from the fire, and brushing crumbs from her uniform.

  ‘Get some troopers and search the camp. Find Kylon, and bring him here. And the Rahain, Baoryn, if you see him. Do it as quickly as you can.’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ she nodded, and pointed at a few troopers. ‘On your feet.’

  Killop turned, and went back into the tent. Celine was still sitting on her bed.

  Killop knelt by her. ‘Did you see or hear anything?’

  She shook her head. ‘I didn’t wake up. I feel like I’m still sleeping now. ’

  ‘Kylon drugged us,’ said Daphne, walking past the curtain while she buckled on her armour.

  ‘What?’ said Killop.

  ‘Chane didn’t lose her dullweed,’ she said, her face dark with fury. ‘He stole it. Get your boots on, we’re going after him.’

  He ran to the back of the tent, and pulled his boots from under the camp-bed. As he pushed his feet into them, his eyes caught sight of the empty cot, and a mixture of anguish and rage built up inside him. If Kylon had taken his daughter he would rip his head from his shoulders. He grabbed his sword and leather cuirass, and went back through to the other side of the tent.

  Daphne glanced at him, her right hand forming a fist.

  ‘Let’s go.’

  They walked out of the tent, leaving Celine sitting in a daze. The sergeant saw them, and hurried over.

  ‘No sign of them, sir,’ she said. ‘Kylon and Baoryn are not in the camp.’

  Daphne frowned. ‘They could be miles from here by now,’ she said. ‘They could have left hours ago.’

  ‘Have you questioned the night sentries?’ asked Killop.

  ‘I’ll do it now, sir,’ said the sergeant, and ran off.

  Killop heard Daphne’s breath quicken. Her eyes were screwed shut, and her right fist was trembling. He pulled the silver case out of her belt and lit her a cigarette.

  ‘We need to think,’ he said. ‘Where would he go?’

  ‘We need to get somewhere high,’ she said, her eyes snapping open. ‘Somewhere I can range for miles. We’ll find him.’

  She sprinted for a mountain track, and he ran after her. They climbed up the steep trail, leaping over rocks and leaving the camp far behind. They came to a rocky ridge, where a cold wind cut through their clothes. Daphne sat, and gazed around, smoking.

  ‘Alright,’ she said, as he knelt beside her. ‘I’m going to look for Karalyn. If she’s out there, I’ll find her.’

  They kissed, and her eyes glazed over .

  Killop watched her for a moment, then got to his feet. He stared down into the mountain wilderness. Lifeless, grey peaks were criss-crossed with deep gorges, where they had been hiding for so long. By now, Kylon knew the ways across the Shield Mountains as well as any. He could hide and never be found. Killop smiled, faint hope keeping his heart from despair. Karalyn would tell them where she was.

  He turned as Daphne let out a cry.

  ‘I can’t find her, Killop,’ she wept, as he crouched by her. She reached up and pulled him close. ‘I can’t find her anywhere.’

  Killop’s heart sank.

  ‘I’ve always been able to find her before,’ Daphne cried. ‘I searched for miles, nothing. She’s not anywhere.’

  ‘But Kylon wouldn’t hurt her,’ Killop said. ‘She’s not dead, she can’t be.’

  ‘How else could I not see her?’ she said, her eyes breaking his heart.

  Killop’s mind raced. ‘Maybe he’s drugging her too?’

  Daphne breathed, and her tears slowed. She frowned.

  ‘Maybe he’s putting it in her water,’ he said. ‘Daphne, she’s still alive.’

  She wiped her face.

  ‘Kylon knows she would try to contact us,’ she said. ‘That bastard’s keeping her drugged.’

  ‘We’re going to find Karalyn,’ he said, their eyes locking in shared fury, ‘and Kylon.’

  ‘When we do, we’re going to kill him.’

  He nodded. ‘Together.’

  Chapter 27

  Sanctuary

  S ilverstream, Imperial Rahain – 23 rd Day, First Third Winter 507

  Snow blanketed the mountainside in a thick layer of white, and sheets of ice flowed down the river that wound through the small town of Silverstream. Smoke came from a hundred chimneys as the inhabitants kept themselves warm through the winter’s day. Agang, Laodoc and Bridget sat out on their veranda, drinking heated rice spirits, their breakfast bowls lying empty on the decking by their wicker chairs. The two men were wrapped up in coats and scarves, while the Brig woman sat bare-armed in her leathers, her feet up on the wooden railing. After several days of snow, the sky above was blue, and the sun was shining.

  The mountains in front of them shone bright as the sun rose into the sky behind them.

  ‘A fine morning,’ Laodoc said. ‘The town looks beautiful, now that the blizzard has stopped.’

  ‘It looks good,’ said Agang, ‘but it’ll be cold and wet to travel through. Still, we should be thinking of making our move, snow or not.’

  ‘Is there any point?’ Bridget said. ‘Shella’s not coming. And there are worse places to spend the winter than Silverstream.’

  ‘We’ve already stayed too long,’ Agang said. ‘I’m impatient to be off. ’

  ‘Off where, though?’

  ‘You know where. To the Holdings, to find Daphne’s child.’

  Bridget sighed.

  ‘Back through Rahain,’ she said, ‘then all the way up the Plateau? It’ll take us half the year to get there.’

  ‘We could try the tunnel through the Grey Mountains.’

  She shook her head. ‘Ye saw how heavily guarded it is now. There’s no way we’re getting through there without imperial papers. We’ll have to go the long way round, halfway back to Kellach Brigdomin.’

  Laodoc glanced at her. ‘Do you want to go home, Bridget?’

  �
��I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I mean, the whole point of us being here is so that we can get Shella and Keira together, only neither of the stubborn cows wants to budge. So now Agang’s got this new plan to go to the Holdings to search for Karalyn Holdfast, but… to be honest it seems like we’re clutching at straws.’

  ‘We can’t give up, Bridget,’ said Agang. ‘We must stop the Emperor, or he will destroy the world.’

  ‘Aye,’ she said, ‘that’s what we keep telling ourselves. But is it true? Let’s face it, all of our evidence comes from a dead guy who said he could see the future, who only one of here has met.’

  ‘I saw what the Emperor did to the Sanang army,’ Agang said. ‘Do you doubt the evidence of my own eyes?’

  ‘No,’ Bridget said. ‘From what you and Shella have said, I believe he has new powers, and he exercised them to defend his city.’

  ‘But Bridget,’ Laodoc said, ‘Shella also believes that Kalayne could see the future. If you believe her about the Emperor, then why would you doubt her about Kalayne?’

  Bridget scowled. ‘Oh shut up, lizardman.’

  Laodoc smiled.

  ‘Alright,’ she said, ‘say it’s all true, then what? We find Daphne, and just ask her if we can borrow her daughter? I’m sure she and Killop will be delighted about that.’

  The smile on his face faded.

  ‘See?’ she smirked. ‘Ye’ve not thought this through. Ye just can’t accept that we’ve failed, and are grasping at the first idea ye come across. Laodoc, you and me used to live with Karalyn. Be honest, did ye sense anything in Slateford that made ye think she was going to save the world?’

  He shook his head.

  ‘But it was you that told us she had powers,’ Agang said.

  ‘She does. But she’s a bairn, Agang. She can’t help us.’

  ‘I won’t accept that,’ the Sanang man said, leaning back and folding his arms.

  Bridget shrugged, and sipped her warm drink.

  ‘You don’t need to make any decision now,’ Laodoc said to her. ‘If we do travel to the Holdings, then when we reach the Plateau you can decide where you want to go next. It goes without saying of course, but I would very much like you to journey with us. I think Killop would be glad to see you.’