‘I’m with you mother,’ said Keir.
‘Then return to the Holdings immediately. If not for my sake, then for your son’s.’
‘I will, as soon as there’s a ship able to take me.’
‘Is the Empress preventing your return?’
‘No,’ he said, ‘the weather’s been terrible. Storms. No boats have been able to leave the harbour in days, and the sailing season will be over soon.’
Karalyn said nothing, but she knew that he was lying, even though their mother seemed to believe him. For once, she sympathised with him a little; after all, he was only doing the same as she was: making excuses for why he wasn’t rushing to join her quest for revenge.
‘Don’t worry, though, mother,’ he went on. ‘I’ll make it back somehow.’
Daphne nodded. ‘This has been good, but it’s been a long time since I ranged so far.’ She glanced at Karalyn. ‘It was an excellent idea, to meet here. I wonder if the prime minister will have any odd dreams about a porch tonight.’
‘I’ll clean up her mind before I leave,’ said Karalyn.
‘Shall we meet again in ten days?’ said Daphne. ‘Same time, same mind?’
‘Alright,’ said Karalyn.
‘And next time,’ said her mother as her image began to fade, ‘I hope you can bring me more information, whatever your source is. Think deeply on it, daughter. If there’s any way that we can strike at those we seek, you must not keep it from me. Do you promise?’
‘I promise to think on it.’
Her mother frowned and opened her mouth to speak, but vanished before the words could come out.
Keir glanced at Karalyn. ‘I’d better head back to Rainsby.’
‘You’ve no intention of going to the Holdings any time soon, have you?’
Keir shrugged. ‘What was I supposed to say? You’re not going either. I’m needed here in Rainsby. If I leave, the Rahain could march in tomorrow, and then where would we be? I want vengeance over the bastards that killed our father, but you’ve met them, haven’t you? You’ve seen how powerful they are. That woman would have killed me and Kelsey as easily as lifting a finger.’
‘And they’re after us, you know that, aye?’
‘Yeah. She said she was going to kill all of the Holdfasts. Do you know why?’
‘Aye,’ she said, ‘because we’re the only ones who can stop them.’
Chapter 2
The Stormwitch
Rainsby, Imperial Plateau – 13th Day, First Third Autumn 525
Keir’s vision snapped back to his head and he groaned, a sharp pain growing behind his temples.
‘Well?’ said Kelsey. ‘How’d it go?’
He opened his eyes. His sister was sitting on his bed with her legs crossed under her, gazing at him in expectation. He picked up a glass of brandy from the small table next to him and took a sip, feeling the spirits slide down his throat. The flames from the fire roaring in the room’s hearth were sending waves of warmth over him and he relaxed, letting the headache pass.
Kelsey tutted. ‘I’m waiting, brother dear.’
He lit a cigarette.
‘Fine,’ Kelsey said. ‘So I’m guessing you weren’t able to make it all the way to Amatskouri. Should’ve known it was too far for you to range.’
‘You’re wrong.’
She smiled. ‘So you spoke to them?’
‘Yeah.’
‘And?’
‘And what?’
‘You’re just trying to annoy me now.’
‘Is it working?’
‘You know,’ said Kelsey, ‘this is why no one likes you.’
Keir laughed. ‘It was fine, alright? Mother was there, and Karalyn. We chatted about stuff.’
‘What stuff?’
He shrugged.
She shook her head. ‘Boys. Hopeless. Surely your baby came up in the conversation?’
His face fell. ‘Yes.’
Kelsey nodded.
‘It’s a boy,’ he said. ‘Cole.’
‘So everything went well? I’m an auntie? How exciting.’
‘I thought you didn’t like babies.’
‘I don’t,’ she said. ‘They’re all poop and yuck and noise. But from a distance of, say, hundreds of miles away, I can be a proud aunt. Cole, eh? I wonder if mother had a hand in the naming. He sounds like the rest of us; as if he’s from Kell. I assume that she asked you to go back home?’
‘She did. I told her it was too stormy for boats to sail, in case she asks.’
‘Did she believe you?’
‘I think so. Karalyn didn’t buy it, but she’s not going back to the Holdings either.’
‘I wish I could have been there,’ Kelsey said. ‘It’s not fair how our powers have been distributed. One dream mage, one with vision and fire, and one with battle-vision. And then there’s little old me. Can’t fight, can’t burn things, can’t even see into anyone’s thoughts. Nothing but creepy old prophecies.’
‘Right,’ he said, standing, ‘my headache has lifted. Let’s go downstairs and get a cold ale.’
Kelsey jumped off the bed, smiling. Even though they were young, no one in Madden’s Tower stopped Keir or Kelsey from drinking or smoking or staying out late. Keir knew that would change if the Rahain army approached, but they hadn’t been seen close to the walls since a few days following the last assault. Even better, all their drinks in the bar were free.
They came out of Keir’s room into a hallway where four marines were waiting.
‘Evening,’ said Sergeant Demi. ‘Where to?’
‘I’ll give you one guess,’ said Keir as they began walking towards the stairwell, the guards close behind. The marines were still embarrassed about the abduction of the hedgewitches during the attack by the Army of Pyre’s fire mage, and remained nearby at all times of the day and night. They descended the steps to the mid-levels of the tower and entered the large wood-lined bar. Most of the marines were in Stretton Sands, and of the few that remained, many were sitting in the booths that ran along the rear wall. Keir and Kelsey were greeted with smiles and waves, and a serving boy ran up to them.
‘Shall I get you a booth, sir?’
‘Is Acorn here?’ said Kelsey.
‘No, ma’am,’ said the boy. ‘Neither of the hedgewitches have been in this evening.’
He showed them to the only empty booth in the room, a place kept clear for them. They sat, the sergeant squeezing onto the bench next to Kelsey, while the other guards stood close by.
‘Shall I bring over your usual drinks, sir?’ said the boy.
‘Yeah,’ said Keir.
‘Thanks,’ said Kelsey.
The boy ran off, and Keir lit a cigarette. He glanced at the sergeant. ‘Want to know what I was up to this evening?’
‘Do I have a choice?’
Kelsey laughed. ‘I like you. Do you know why? You’re one of the only people in Rainsby who doesn’t fawn over every word my brother says.’
The sergeant shrugged. ‘I was with him the night he destroyed the Rahain army. I saw enough of him to get an idea of what he’s like behind all the boasting and swagger. He wasn’t quite as brave as he makes out; well, not at first. He did alright later.’
‘”Alright”?’ said Keir, frowning. ‘I harnessed the power of a fucking storm.’
‘Aye, so ye did. Fine, then. What did you get up to tonight?’
He grinned. ‘I visioned all the way to Amatskouri.’
The sergeant raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
‘It’s hundreds of miles away,’ Keir said, ‘on the other side of the Inner Sea.’
‘I know where it is.’
Keir smothered a scowl. Did the woman not realise how difficult it was?
‘And,’ he went on, ‘once I was there, I went into the head of… eh, someone, and in there I held a conversation with my mother and big sister. I might be wrong, but I think that’s the first time anyone’s ever done that.’
The sergeant narrowed her eyes. ‘So th
e three of you chatted inside someone else’s head?’
‘That’s what I said. It was easy for us, we’re high mages after all. My sister constructed a replica of our back porch at home; it was just like being there.’
‘And how is the First Holder of your homeland?’
Keir paused for a moment. The sergeant looked like she was almost impressed. ‘She wants revenge.’
‘For Chief Killop?’ the sergeant said. ‘Good. I remember when you told me you were a Holdfast. Not knowing a lot about Holdings politics, I admit that the name didn’t mean much to me. If you’d told me you were the son of Killop ae Kellan on the other hand… well, I might have reacted differently. He was a great man, your father.’
Keir resisted the urge to disagree. The Kellach Brigdomin soldiers and marines in the city had learned about his parentage since the Rahain assault, and almost every one he had met had said the same thing about his father. Had Keir been wrong about him? He knew the talk of the old wars; had heard the stories often in his youth. He had always admired his Aunt Keira; and had loved to listen to the tales of her exploits, but next to her his father had seemed dull and domesticated, setting aside his past to raise his children in the best way he could. And they had been awful children. Karalyn had been a nightmare; so bad she had been sent away several times, while Keir hadn’t been much better himself. Kelsey too had tried their father’s patience to its limits on many occasions; only Corthie had been well-behaved, and for that he had been mercilessly bullied. Keir frowned, as a trickle of guilt shivered down his spine.
‘Sorry,’ said the sergeant. ‘Didn’t mean to bring you down. Are they any closer to finding his murderer?’
Keir shook his head.
They all glanced up as the serving boy returned with a full tray. From it he unloaded ale, wine, brandy, and a large bowl of crispy deep-fried squid. In front of the sergeant he placed a cup of water.
‘Thanks,’ said Kelsey, catching the boy’s eye.
‘I saw that,’ said Keir as the boy left the booth.
‘What?’ said Kelsey.
‘The way you looked at him.’
‘You think that because I have manners, I must fancy him?’
Keir smirked. ‘It’s obvious you fancy him, I can see it written on your face. Poor little Kelsey, never been kissed.’
‘Shut up.’
‘Probably never will.’
‘I hate you.’
‘Leave her be,’ said the sergeant. ‘You’re behaving like a bairn.’
Keir flushed. The sergeant was only three years older than him, but she looked at him like he was a boy, even after all he had done to defeat the Rahain. He had a secret crush on her; she seemed like a proper, grown-up woman compared to the girls he had dated back in Holdfast, and her eyes always seemed to be shining, as if she were thinking of something funny that only she knew about.
‘Hey, Demi,’ cried a burly marine from the floor of the room, waving at the sergeant.
‘Aye?’
‘You free later on for a drink?’
‘Got duty tonight,’ she said. ‘I’m off in a couple of days, I’ll catch up with you then.’
The marine nodded and turned away.
Kelsey nudged her. ‘He looks like he could wrestle a bear. And you have a date with him.’
‘It’s not a date,’ the sergeant said, her cheeks reddening.
Kelsey laughed.
‘It’s true I’ve been getting more attention since I started guarding you two,’ the sergeant said, ‘but he’s an old mate. And to be honest, most of the folk approaching me have been lassies, trying to get their paws on your brother.’
‘What?’ said Keir. ‘Girls have been approaching you about me? Why didn’t you tell me?’
The sergeant shrugged. ‘I’ve kept them away for your own good. The lassies I’m talking about are marines. They’d eat you alive.’
Keir scowled at her. ‘Maybe you could let one or two through. At the same time if, you know, they were up for it.’
‘Brother, please,’ Kelsey said. ‘I hadn’t planned on vomiting this evening.’
‘I’ll be doing no such thing,’ said the sergeant.
‘Come on,’ said Keir, ‘that’s not fair. Why do you get to interfere?’
‘Because I’m in charge of your personal guard, and I get to decide who gets access and who doesn’t.’
‘But it’s none of your business!’
The sergeant glanced at Kelsey.
‘What’s she got to do with it?’ Keir cried.
Kelsey shifted in her seat. Keir glowered at the two of them sat opposite him.
‘What’s going on?’ he said.
‘Dearest brother,’ Kelsey said, ‘do you believe in true love?’
Keir squinted at her. ‘What kind of stupid question’s that?’
‘Now,’ Kelsey went on, ‘you would be the first to admit that not every one of your romantic choices has worked out for the best, aye?’
Keir put down his glass, his heart freezing. He would strangle his little sister if she had mentioned that he was a father. ‘Did you tell her?’
‘Tell me what?’ said the sergeant.
‘Of course not, you oaf,’ Kelsey said.
‘Tell me what?’ the sergeant repeated.
‘Nothing,’ said Keir.
The sergeant frowned, glancing from Keir to Kelsey.
Kelsey cleared her throat. ‘If I may continue?’
Keir grunted.
‘As I was saying,’ Kelsey went on, ‘in light of your previous relationships, and bearing in mind the vision I had, I asked the sergeant here to keep the girls away from you.’
‘Vision?’ he said.
‘Aye, you pillock. Do you not remember? I had a prophecy of you and… someone else; someone very beautiful. Someone you should be saving yourself for.’
Keir frowned, trying to recall what Kelsey meant.
‘The Queen of Stretton Sands,’ said the sergeant, grinning.
‘The hedgewitch?’ said Keir.
‘Aye,’ said Kelsey. ‘Thorn.’
The sergeant laughed. ‘You’re in for a shock, boy. If you think you’re popular in Rainsby, then you should hear what the marines think of her in Stretton Sands. According to the rumours coming in, she practically runs the place. The marines adore her, and she has the new governor wrapped round her little finger.’
‘Wait,’ said Keir, ‘let’s go back a bit. My sister told you she has visions?’
‘Aye.’
‘I needed to,’ said Kelsey. ‘I’ve seen Sergeant Demi in one of them. I thought she should know. And then I thought, well, I should also tell her about you and Thorn.’
‘Aye,’ the sergeant said. ‘The last thing you want, believe me, is for Thorn to get here and find you’ve slept with half the garrison.’
‘But when’s she going to get here? How long do I have to wait?’
‘I have no idea,’ said Kelsey. ‘No one was holding up a placard with the date on it in the vision.’
‘But it could be years.’
Kelsey nodded. ‘A calculated risk.’
Keir blinked. So much made sense to him; how every young woman he had approached had made her excuses, even those that he had caught gazing at him. He was used to girls glancing at him in a certain way; in Holdfast he had been quick to learn what those kind of looks meant, but in Rainsby he had been rebuffed every time. As the mage who had saved Rainsby, he had been expecting to be fighting off attention, and now he understood why every girl had run away as soon as he had opened his mouth. And some of them had been gorgeous. He felt cheated.
He glared at the sergeant. ‘What if I order you to stop?’
‘I’d ignore it,’ she said. ‘Even if it wasn’t for your sister here, you’re the son of a powerful politician, and I don’t want to get tangled up in any nonsense. You’re only sixteen, for Pyre’s sake.’
Keir shook his head and picked up the brandy. ‘This Thorn had better be worth it.’
<
br /> After breakfast the following day, Keir, Kelsey and their guards boarded a carriage bound for the harbour district. A team of four brown mares pulled them through the cobbled streets, passing soldiers and workers. The market stalls were opening in the central square of the Old Town, their tables displaying a wide range of goods shipped in from the imperial capital. Supplies had been short for a while after the destruction of much of the merchant vessels in the fire mage attack, but since then fully-laden ships had been arriving with regularity, re-stocking the city’s granaries and stores.
Keir yawned, his head throbbing from the night before. He gazed out of the window as the streets went by. There had been rain overnight, and the cobbles were slick and wet; and Keir laughed as a carriage wheel went through a large puddle, soaking a couple of workers who were standing on the pavement.
They went through a fortified gate in the town walls and emerged onto the wide wharves of the harbour where the carriage came to a halt.
‘Remember to smile,’ said Kelsey as their guards opened the doors for them. Keir stepped down from the carriage and within a few seconds a murmur went through the crowds working by the docks as he was recognised. A cheer rose up, and a few cries of ‘the storm mage!’ echoed across the harbour.
Keir waved as the guards escorted them through the crowds. A few threw flowers at his feet, chanting his name as the crowds pressed round them.
‘Clear the way!’ cried the sergeant, as she and the other marines in the escort shoved through the mass of people. They came to a small stone building, and squeezed through a guarded entrance. The doors were closed behind them and the roar of noise subsided.
‘I wish he’d wear a hood or something,’ said the sergeant, shaking her head. ‘One of these days the crowd will crush us, I swear.’
‘Don’t bring that up again.’ said Kelsey. ‘It’s good for the folk here to see their storm mage out and about.’
‘Aye, but in the harbour? By nightfall I guarantee that there’ll be a rumour that he’s sailed away.’
‘Then we show him off again tomorrow.’
‘I’m right here, you know,’ Keir said.
‘Hush, hush,’ said Kelsey. ‘Let the grown-ups talk.’
The Magelands Epic: Soulwitch Rises (Book 7) Page 3