The Creator waved his hand, and the dead turned to face him.
‘Take them,’ he said. ‘Alive.’
Without a sound, the raised dead lunged at Killop and Daphne, reaching with their arms to grab them.
Killop slashed out with his sword, severing hands and cleaving a man in two, as behind him Daphne did the same. The dead were slow, but had no fear, and advanced from every direction. Killop’s sword arm swung again and again, spraying blood across the ground and slicing the undead into pieces, but still they came. Unarmed, they clutched at his clothes and hair, some crawled and took hold of his legs. He kicked out, and struggled, picking one up by the throat and hurling him through the air.
At his back he could hear Daphne start to toil, and he remembered her words.
He turned, pushing away more arms as they reached for him, and saw Daphne two yards to his right, surrounded by raised Holdings peasants, drowning in their midst. At the edge of the mob he saw Chane. Her eyes were dead, and she was advancing like the others, scrambling over the bodies of those that Daphne had sent to their deaths for a second time. Daphne saw her too, and turned to face Killop. He caught her eye, and they stared for a moment at each other. Killop tried to lift his sword arm, but a dozen hands were pulling it down. He raged and writhed as more piled on top of him. His head hit the ground as he toppled over under the weight, and his eyes closed.
Killop felt a spark blast through his mind and he cried out in pain, awakening. He opened his eyes. He was hanging by his arms from chains attached to a hook in the ceiling, his feet inches off the ground. The room was small, and there were old stains of dried blood on the walls and floor. A window was lying open to his left and he glanced out. He was somewhere high up, overlooking the burning and ruined city. The upper floor of the fortress, it had to be. From the light outside it was still daytime, but there was too much smoke hovering above the city to be more exact.
He had failed Daphne, and allowed her to be captured alive, but at that moment he was glad. If she was alive then there was still hope. He remembered the way the Creator had been able to raise the dead, and hold them to his will, and any hope he had faded. The Emperor, or Creator, whoever the being was, it now had more power than every mage in the world combined. If he wasn’t a god before, he was one now.
He cursed Kylon’s name, and hoped his sister had killed him.
His chains rattled as he tried to relieve the pressure on his arms. His shoulders were in agony, and his wrists were on fire where the iron bands dug into his skin. He tried to raise himself, straining with the muscles in his arms, pulling his body up, and he lifted his head as far as his bending elbows, but it was too much, and he fell back, jolting his shoulders and back.
He heard a low laugh .
‘You are most amusing to watch,’ the Creator said from the shadows of the room. ‘Other races would weep or despair, but my mighty mountain warriors keep going, no matter how awful the odds. I made you well.’
Killop said nothing.
‘I can see the spark power burning within you,’ the Creator went on, ‘just as I can now see every mage in the world, wherever they may be. All except one.’
He emerged from the shadows, clad in a fresh set of shining black armour, the jet enamel tracery gleaming in the light from the window. He still wore the same mask as before, and Killop could see his bloodshot right eye through the ragged hole.
‘As you are her brother,’ he said. ‘I thought it prudent to read your mind, to see if you knew her whereabouts, but that only raised more questions than it answered. Questions that I need you to be awake for. Answer me, and your death will be quick. Obstruct me, and you will suffer.’
He came closer, to within a few feet.
‘Do you understand?’
Killop lifted his head, and spat at him.
The Creator laughed.
‘Someone has tampered with your mind,’ he said, ‘and made certain memories impossible for me to read. I see them in there, but when I try to grasp them, they slip from my reach like fish in a river, glinting just beyond my touch.’
Killop tried to blank his thoughts, but they flashed to his daughter, and how she had repaired his mind long before.
The Creator gazed at Killop and smiled. ‘You know of what I speak. Good. Yet even now, while your foolish mind is remembering it, I cannot read you. So, you must tell me. Who did this? And don’t say Daphne. I have already read her mind, and know she is incapable of such a subtle use of power.’
Killop laughed.
The Creator narrowed his eyes and lifted his fingers .
Excruciating pains ripped through Killop’s body and he convulsed, shaking like a ragdoll from the chains, his head lolling as every nerve within him burned.
The Creator lowered his fingers and the pain ceased.
‘Now answer me, or I will do that again. And again.’
Killop opened his mouth, blood and saliva rolling down his chin.
‘You lost Keira,’ he gasped. ‘That’s funny.’
He screamed as the pains shredded him again, and he longed to lose consciousness.
There’s no escape , the Creator said in his mind. I can keep you awake through the worst pain imaginable. Tell me who meddled with your brain, and it will end.
The agony eased, and Killop swung from the chains, his head bowed.
‘Well?’ said the Creator.
Killop said nothing.
‘I see that you think I need to keep you alive,’ the Creator said. ‘That is the hope sustaining you. You think I need you for the ritual.’ He smirked. ‘You’re wrong. I don’t need you or your sister. A young fire mage happens to be approaching the city at this very moment, along with the other mages I require. After scouring the earth for them, now I find I need only sit here, and they all come to me.’
The Creator stared at Killop. ‘Now that’s funny.’
He laughed. ‘And now you despair. I feel it. Good. Know that there is no hope. One more ritual, that’s all it will take. My mind encompasses all things, and so now I see how close I am to my goal, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop me. All you can do is lessen your suffering.’
He raised his hand.
‘So,’ he said, ‘are you ready to answer my question?’
Killop spat out a mouthful of blood. ‘I can take whatever you throw at me. You can burn me, flay me, shred my mind, but I’ll never help you. Deep down you know it’s true. After all, you made me, didn’t you?’
The Creator narrowed his eyes, and the pain began again.
Chapter 35
Down to Earth
O utside Plateau City, Imperial Plateau – 19 th Day, Second Third Winter 507
‘Dolphins,’ said Laodoc, gazing out of one of the carriage’s round windows at the waters of the Inner Sea as they sped past. ‘How wonderful.’
‘Why?’ said Shella, squinting through the glass. ‘Are they tasty?’
‘They are beautiful creatures,’ he said. ‘I can’t imagine eating one.’
‘I can,’ she said. ‘They’re huge. Could feed a family for a week. Maybe we could stop and try one.’
‘No,’ said Agang from the other side of the carriage. ‘We’ll be in Plateau City by this evening. We don’t have time to stop.’
‘I thought you were sleeping,’ she said, ‘or maybe I just hoped you were.’
Laodoc frowned. The bickering between the pair had increased since they had begun travelling within the close confines of the carriage. Although they stopped and camped each day at sunset, they spent most of their waking hours within the narrow wooden tube, hurtling over land and water. For the first couple of days, Laodoc had nearly exhausted himself by taking the controls, but the Kellach women were quick learners, and soon Bridget, Dyam and Lola were taking turns to pilot the vessel. They had also navigated, using the sun, and the position of the seven stars to plot their way north-west, towards the imperial capital.
Laodoc smiled. It was strange, but he felt free, as if
no matter what awaited them in the city everything would be alright. They would either defeat the Emperor or die in the attempt, and he was at peace with whatever fate ordained.
‘Maybe we should stop,’ Shella said, ‘then we’d be fresh in the morning when we arrived.’
Agang sighed. ‘What? You mean we’ve raced all this way, just to ease up at the last stretch? Every day matters, Shella. You know that.’
‘Oh shut up, you sanctimonious asshole,’ Shella said.
Laodoc heard Bridget chuckle from where she stood by the pilot’s controls at the rear of the carriage.
‘The sooner we get there,’ Agang went on, ‘the sooner we can put an end to the misrule of the Emperor, and bring peace to the world.’
‘Are you out of your ape mind?’ Shella said. ‘In the far from certain event that we do manage to stop that mad bastard, do you really believe that wars will suddenly end? We were fighting each other before the Emperor went nuts, and we’ll do the same after.’
‘You’re wrong,’ Agang said. ‘You’re missing the point. The empire was a success, if only for a short while. It points the way, it shows us what we need to do. Unite the peoples of the world under a single banner, with one law for all, and one government to rule fairly.’
Shella laughed. She opened her flask and took a sip.
‘And I don’t suppose,’ she said, ‘that you have any suggestions about who should rule? Or were you thinking about constituting a democracy?’
‘I feel no shame in stating the simple truth,’ he said. ‘We should rule. After we have killed the Emperor, we will be in the heart of government, ready to take the reins.’
Shella started laughing again.
‘We each have experience of governing,’ he went on, ignoring her. ‘I was king of Sanang, while you, my friend, were chancellor of Rahain. Even Shella here,’ he smirked, ‘was a princess. We would make a formidable team.’
‘And Bridget too,’ said Laodoc.
‘Indeed,’ said Agang. ‘I include her in this also.’
‘What a fucking honour,’ Bridget said, rolling her eyes. ‘I get to be in Agang’s club.’
‘Think it through, Bridget,’ Agang said. ‘The four of us, we could rule the world.’
‘Being in charge sucks,’ said Shella. ‘I’d have thought being king would’ve taught you that.’
‘And how long were you king for?’ Bridget asked.
‘Eight thirds,’ he said, glowering. ‘Longer than you were chief.’
‘This conversation’s pointless,’ Shella said. ‘Let’s focus on beating the Emperor, not waste our time with this bullshit.’
‘Spoken like a true leader,’ Agang said.
Laodoc gazed out of the window. He could see land approaching.
‘We’re only a couple of hours from the city,’ he said. ‘Shella, you know it best. Where should we land?’
The Rakanese mage frowned. ‘Depends. We should take a quick flyover first, see what’s happening. The city might be armed to the teeth, ready to fight us off. I don’t know how many ballista it would take to knock out our flying snakes, in which case our flyover should be high.’ She shook her head. ‘Either way, we’ll be letting the world know we’re arriving or, well, they’ll know somebody’s arriving.’
‘We do have the option of landing further from the city,’ Laodoc said, ‘and travelling the final miles on foot. That way, we could enter the city unannounced.’
‘Speed and surprise,’ said Agang. ‘These are the most formidable weapons at our disposal. We land as close as possible to the Emperor, and unleash Shella upon them.’
‘Excuse me?’ she said. ‘Is that how you see me? As some sort of killing machine?’
‘I’ve witnessed your power with my own eyes,’ he said, ‘but you won’t be alone. When we land, I will be at your side, shielding you as I did at the camp, and ready to heal you if you are wounded.’
Shella frowned, and lit a cigarette. ‘And we’ll be doing this in a couple of hours? Shit.’
Lola switched places with Bridget, and the Brig woman came and sat next to Laodoc, who was gazing out at the green fields racing by beneath them. Bridget picked up a bottle of wine, liberated from a farmhouse they had passed a few days before, and took a swig.
‘I’ll watch your back,’ she said, ‘while they’re off doing their heroics.’
‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘It’s at times like this that I feel my age, while my younger companions are getting ready to fight. Are we being rash, Bridget?’
She laughed, then took another swig. ‘Laodoc,’ she said, ‘we’re about to fly right into the heart of the imperial capital, where the mad Emperor is either waiting for us or not, is weak… or not. Rash doesn’t even begin to cover it.’
‘Yet I feel,’ he said, ‘somehow confident.’
‘Aye,’ she said, ‘me too. Been feeling it all day. Like it’s what we’re meant to do.’
Laodoc smiled. ‘Maybe it is.’ He reached for his blanket. ‘I’m going to try to get some sleep now, or at least rest. I imagine we have a busy time ahead.’
‘No problem,’ Bridget said. ‘I’ll be sure to wake you when it all kicks off.’
Laodoc stretched out on the wooden bench and lay down. He closed his eyes, feeling the rocking of the carriage, and hearing the low chatter of the passengers. He tried to sleep, but his head was full of thoughts. Although Agang’s enthusiasm hadn’t spread to Shella, Laodoc felt it seep through him, and he day-dreamed about the benevolent rule they would bestow upon the empire. Power held no interest for him, and he agreed with Shella’s remarks regarding being in charge, though he might have expressed it in a less vulgar manner. He had no desire to be the sole ruler, but Agang’s idea of the four of them acting as a team was worth considering. He allowed himself to picture them basking in the roars and cheers of a liberated and free populace, waving at them from the steps of the palace, then remembered that Keira had destroyed it.
He frowned.
He had failed as chancellor of Rahain. He had tried to please everyone, and had ended up despised by all. The Old Free, the New Free, the Holdings church, they had all been happy to see him go in the end. And now Governor Ghorley ruled in the Emperor’s name, with an iron fist, crushing all dissent and heterodoxical thought, transforming Rahain into an obedient and subservient colony of the empire.
Things would be different once they had secured power in Plateau City, he was certain of it.
Laodoc felt a hand shake his arm.
‘We’re nearly there,’ said Bridget.
He opened his eyes and sat up, feeling groggy. Bridget was dressed in her patched-up and worn fighting leathers, a sword at her belt, and a crossbow over her shoulder. She was eating from a dish with her fingers, and his stomach rumbled.
She handed him a bowl.
‘Eat up,’ she said, ‘then get yer boots on.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ he smiled. He glanced around the carriage. Agang was pacing back and forth, mouthing words to himself, lost in his thoughts. Shella was frowning at him while she smoked another cigarette and supped from her flask. She seemed confident, but there was a slight twist under her left eye. Lola was sitting next to Dean, checking her longbow as the boy stared at the book lying open in his hands. Dyam was at the rear of the carriage, handling the controls, and maintaining a long glide.
Laodoc took some food and gazed out of the window while he ate. In the distance he could see the imperial capital, bathed in the red glow of the sun as it lowered in the western sky .
‘This is the first time I’ve seen it,’ said Bridget as she sat on the bench beside him. ‘Not as big as I thought.’
‘The seven cities of Rahain are all much larger,’ he said, ‘but the Holdings are a young civilisation, new to building cities. It’s not bad for a first attempt.’
‘If the Holdings are barely civilised in the eyes of the Rahain,’ Bridget smirked, ‘no wonder you thought the Kellach were tree-climbing savages.’
Shella g
lanced over. ‘I knew you’d see sense in the end.’
Bridget laughed.
Laodoc’s smile fell as he stared out of the window.
‘The city,’ he said, ‘I think it’s burning.’
The others gathered round the windows and peered out. What Laodoc had thought was the reflected glow of the sunset was more than that. Flames were raging throughout the city, and what lay above was not a cloud, but smoke.
‘Fuck,’ said Shella.
‘Maybe Keira arrived before us,’ said Agang, his eyes wide. ‘Maybe she attacked first.’
‘The walls look damaged too,’ Bridget said. ‘Something’s fucked the place up.’
They gazed in silence at the flying carriage approached. Dyam pulled on the controls, and Laodoc lost sight of the city as they gained altitude, climbing upwards. He felt his stomach lurch, and he put down his bowl of half-eaten food.
‘I hate this bit,’ Bridget groaned, gripping the sides of her seat.
They levelled out, and the city came back into view. He could see the outline of the great walls, and began to understand the extent of the devastation wrought below. Entire streets appeared to be nothing more than piles of rubble, and half a dozen huge fires were consuming about a quarter of the area within the city boundaries. As he expected, the palace and cathedral were hollowed-out ruins occupying the northern section of the city, but south of that, only the Great Fortress seemed to be standing. Its high towers and walls were gleaming orange and red in the flickering light of the fires raging around it.
‘Pyre’s bawsack,’ muttered Bridget. ‘What a fucking mess.’
Agang nodded over to Dyam.
‘Take us down.’
‘Alright,’ she cried out. ‘Strap yerselves in!’
The passengers settled into their seats, and pulled the leather belts over their shoulders. Laodoc sat back and took a long breath as the carriage began its descent, lowering through the air in wide, lazy circles. Laodoc could see the city every time they banked and turned, getting closer with every second.
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