‘It’s a little early for that, isn’t it?’ said Karalyn.
‘I don’t care,’ said her mother, filling a glass. ‘This is my last day here, so I’m going to sit in your father’s chair and drink his whisky.’
Karalyn smiled. ‘And smoke?’
‘Yes. How he’d hate that.’ She sipped the whisky. ‘I miss him.’
They sat in silence for a moment, the smoke from their cigarettes entwining as it spiralled up to the ceiling.
‘Can I ask you something, daughter?’
‘Aye.’
‘It’s about Cole. You’ve looked into his mind. I know you have; I’ve watched you quieten him down when he’s crying.’
Karalyn nodded.
‘Is there any sign of him being a dream mage? From the moment you were born I sensed power from you, but I don’t sense it from him. Do you?’
‘It’s difficult to say. He’s not an active dream mage, but he has the power within him to be one, only it’s, I don’t know, dormant? Like it’s waiting for something to switch it on.’
‘I hope you weren’t tempted.’
‘Of course not. Do you think I’d wish that on a child? I’m not even sure I could; it might just be that he needs time.’
Her mother frowned, and sipped her whisky. ‘It appears that your father and I have created an entirely new mage line. You were simple enough, my daughter – a dream mage like Kalayne was; but Keir and Corthie? And now Cole as well. We’ve added an unpredictability to what the world expects from mages.’
‘Kelsey too.’
‘The only power she has is to block vision mages from reading her mind; unless you know more?’
‘I’m not sure, but I’ve always suspected that there’s something else about her. You know that Corthie has some dream powers; enough to help him block the attack that killed Laodoc. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kelsey’s the same. I would need to see her again to check.’
‘And it’s because of these powers that the monsters that murdered your father are trying to kill us all?’
‘It seems so.’
‘You know more than you’re letting on, my dear. I can see it in your face.’
‘Alright. Because it directly affects our family, there are some things I should probably tell you.’
Her mother nodded, her fingers clasping her whisky glass.
‘I was in Rahain last summer.’
‘What? When Ghorley was assassinated?’
‘Aye. I watched it happen. Anyway, that’s not the important part. There’s another power at work in Rahain, controlling the government. I met their leader.’
‘Excuse me for interrupting, my ladies,’ came a voice from the door.
Karalyn and her mother turned to see one of the staff standing by the entrance.
‘Yes?’ said the First Holder.
‘My apologies, ma’am,’ he said, ‘but a visitor has arrived from Holdings City.’
‘I wasn’t expecting anyone. Who is it?’
‘A Lady Asher, ma’am. She has requested to speak with you. As she was tired from her long journey, I saw fit to show her to the west reception rooms.’
Her mother glanced at Karalyn. ‘Do you know of this woman?’
‘The name’s not familiar.’
Her mother put down the glass and got to her feet. ‘This was supposed to be a private holiday. If this is another damned royalist come to harangue me with complaints, then I shall strangle whomever leaked my whereabouts.’ She turned to the butler. ‘I hope you offered her refreshments.’
‘I did, ma’am.’
‘Good.’ She sighed and glanced at Karalyn. ‘I suppose I’d better deal with this.’
Karalyn watched as the butler led her mother from the study, then stubbed out her cigarette and stood. She strode out of the room and walked along the hallway to her own quarters – a comfortable bedroom with views south through tall windows. She thought about her mother, and the number of times her work had prevented her and her daughter from getting close. Karalyn didn’t blame her for it; she knew the demands of being First Holder were heavy, and, after working for the Empress, had no desire to emulate them.
She sat by the window and gazed out. Below, she saw a large carriage parked by the front of the mansion, its wheels and sides covered in dust. It belonged to Asher, she presumed; the woman who had distracted her mother just as Karalyn was about to divulge some of her secrets. She grew impatient, and wondered how long the meeting would take. It was the last day with her mother, after all. Maybe could gently persuade the woman to leave. She smiled, and sent her vision out from her body. It flew down the hallway and descended the master staircase to the ground floor. The door to the reception room was closed, so Karalyn slid her vision through the keyhole.
.’…absolutely none of your business,’ her mother was saying.
Karalyn glanced around the room. Her mother was sitting in a chair, her eyes narrow. Across from her was a young woman in a white dress.
‘It matters not,’ Asher said. ‘I’ll find them regardless, just as I found you.’
Karalyn saw the confusion on her mother’s face, then turned towards the woman. She sped her vision at her eyes, but they were blocked, just as Agatha and Belinda’s had been.
‘Thank you for the tea, First Holder,’ said the woman, rising to her feet.
Karalyn rushed back to her mother and entered her mind.
Run!
The woman raised her hand and Karalyn strained her powers to their limit as a wave of death energy pulsed towards her mother. Karalyn formed her powers into a barrier as the wave struck; the force of the collision sending both woman flying backwards. The young woman was thrown against the wall, while Daphne went tumbling from her chair, skidding across the floor.
Run, mother, please! Karalyn cried. She’ll kill us all. Run to the back porch.
Her mother stared at the fallen body of Lady Asher as she began to stir. Karalyn pushed a command to run into her mother’s mind and she stumbled to her feet, and raced for the door.
Karalyn snapped her vision back to her own body and leapt from the chair, her nerves screaming from the exertion of defending her mother. She had never attempted to shield anyone from that distance before, and felt weakened. She fell to her knees and opened the trunk by the end of her bed; hurling aside her clothes until she found what she needed. She ran out of her bedroom and into the next door along, where Jemma was sitting on the floor sorting out baby clothes.
‘Quiet,’ she hissed. ‘Cole’s sleeping.’
‘Pick him up, now,’ Karalyn said. ‘Take him to the back porch.’
‘What’s going on? Is this a joke?’
‘Sorry, no time to explain.’
Pick up Cole and run to the back porch.
Jemma’s eyes glazed slightly, and she stood up, a pile of cotton bibs scattering onto the varnished floorboards. Karalyn ran from the room and down the passageway until she reached Corthie’s door. She knocked.
The door opened. ‘Aye?’
Karalyn smiled. ‘Come on down to the back porch with me.’
Corthie nodded. ‘Alright.’
‘Bring your knife; we might go hunting.’
‘Sure,’ he said, and rushed over to his bed. He returned in a moment, strapping a knife belt round his waist. They walked down the hallway, Karalyn trying not to panic. One of the housekeepers passed them and Karalyn gestured her to the side.
‘Get out of the mansion,’ she whispered. ‘Gather the staff and run. We’re under attack.’
The housekeeper stared at her, then Karalyn turned, and increased her pace. They reached the rear stairway, and Karalyn ran down, Corthie racing after her. The doors to the porch were on their left as they reached the bottom of the stairs, and Karalyn could see Jemma outside, holding onto Cole. There was a noise to their right, and they turned. Their mother was approaching, walking backwards in the direction of the porch.
She noticed them. ‘It’s alright, I killed her.’
> Corthie gasped. ‘Killed who? What’s happening?’
‘Are you sure?’ said Karalyn.
‘Don’t worry,’ her mother said. ‘I stabbed her through the heart.’
There was a crashing noise from further up the hallway.
‘Get out onto the porch,’ Karalyn whispered. ‘I can protect us.’
Her mother frowned at her, then turned as the women in white emerged from a doorway, the front of her dress soaked in blood.
‘You’ll have to do better than that, Holdfast,’ she laughed as she approached.
‘Like we did with Gregor, you mean?’ said Karalyn, edging back towards the porch, an arm shielding Corthie.
The woman spat onto the marble floor. ‘Yes. Just as I did with your father.’
Her mother’s face hardened.
‘Your two other children escaped me that day,’ Lady Asher said, ‘but I will deal with them, once I’ve finished here. Three Holdfasts in one day, no wait. Is that a baby outside? Does Daphne Holdfast have a grandchild?’ She laughed, and raised a hand.
Karalyn tensed her powers, ready to meet the onslaught.
‘Actually, no,’ said the woman. ‘I’ve learned my lesson. I was told it was only the Holdfasts who can resist our power and so it has proved.’
The woman leant down and took two blades from where they had been hidden under her dress, strapped to her legs, and Karalyn heard her activate her battle-vision.
‘She’s a good fighter, mother,’ she said. ‘Retreat with me to the porch.’
‘And then what? We run across the plains? With a baby? You’re forgetting something.’
‘What?’
Her mother smiled at her. ‘I’m a good fighter too.’
She whipped her hand out, drawing the knife from Corthie’s belt, then sprang towards Asher. They slashed out with their blades, their movements a blur; each spinning and ducking. The edge of her mother’s knife grazed the throat of Asher, who stepped back and put a finger to touch the line of fresh blood.
‘You’re good, Holdfast,’ she said, ‘but you’re old, and out of shape. I can see how tired you are already. Your end today will be a cruel one. After I have wounded you, I shall make you watch as I slaughter everyone in this house, and only then will your life be taken.’
‘Shut up and fight,’ Daphne cried, launching herself at Asher. The young woman danced on her feet and rammed one of her knives into her mother’s stomach. Daphne reached for the blade, in up to its hilt, then slumped to the floor, blood flowing from the wound.
Corthie escaped from Karalyn’s grasp and charged toward Asher, who was standing over the body of his mother. Asher remained still, then dashed out her hand, grasping Corthie round the throat and, despite his height and weight, lifting him off the ground. As she readied the knife in her other hand, Daphne’s arm rose, and she buried her blade into Asher’s left foot. Asher screamed, and dropped Corthie.
Karalyn visioned to her brother.
Corthie, bring mother here. Now, she ordered, leaving no space in his mind for a moment’s doubt.
Her brother picked up Daphne’s good, right arm and dragged her across the floor, blood trails smearing the marble slabs. Asher knelt down and pulled the blade from her foot as Karalyn helped Corthie over the threshold and onto the porch. Karalyn crouched down by Jemma as Corthie knelt close by, his arms hugging their wounded mother.
‘Hold onto me, all of you,’ Karalyn cried, pulling the Quadrant from her tunic.
Command me, Karalyn.
Somewhere safe.
Specify.
‘So you have it?’ cried Asher, standing in the doorway. ‘This day is getting better and better. Agatha will be delighted with its return.’ She shook her head. ‘Look at you all, cowering in front of me like slaves before their master.’
Somewhere in the mountains, or somewhere there’s a hedgewitch.
I must know where.
But you know everywhere.
No. For me to know a place, you must know it first.
Cole started crying, and Jemma was shivering in fear.
‘Don’t die, mother,’ Corthie whispered, his voice hoarse.
Karalyn stared up at Lady Asher, her mind in turmoil. What did the Quadrant mean? Could she only use it to travel to locations she personally knew? She tried to think of places she had been, and a memory from her childhood popped into her head, of somewhere far away, and safe.
‘For Belinda,’ the woman said, raising her knife; ‘for Gregor, and for the Creator.’
Karalyn closed her eyes as the blade flashed down.
World’s End, Domm Pass. Go.
Chapter 11
Finely Ground
Plateau City, Imperial Plateau – 15th Day, Last Third Autumn 525
‘Sanders, you’re late,’ said the Empress, her frown deep and cold.
‘Sorry, your Majesty,’ the mage bowed.
‘Well? What did Karalyn say about my proposal?’
‘I’m afraid I don’t know, your Majesty,’ said Sanders, bowing again. ‘The First Holder did not respond when I tried to vision to her. Perhaps she forgot we had an appointment this morning.’
‘Forgot? I doubt that. Are you sure your skills are powerful enough to reach the Holdfast estate?’
‘Of course, your Majesty,’ said Sanders, looking more than a little put out. ‘I even remained there for longer than I should have, hence the reason I was delayed.’
‘She was due to begin her journey back to Holdings City this morning,’ said Nyane. ‘Maybe she was distracted by that.’
‘Not good enough,’ said the Empress.
Nyane glanced at Mage Sanders. ‘You said you were there, in Holdfast. What did you see?’
The mage shrugged. ‘The mansion.’
‘Yes,’ Nyane said, ‘but did you recognise anyone? I assume there was no sight of the First Holder, but did you catch a glimpse of Corthie or Karalyn?’
‘No. It was very quiet, in fact, like everyone had gone out.’
‘Did you look in all the rooms?’
‘Eh, no, I did not, ma’am.’
‘Then go back,’ said the Empress, ‘and have a proper search. There must be someone there.’
Sanders gave a weak smile. ‘I will be ready to try again tomorrow, your Majesty.’
Rage passed over the face of the Empress and for a moment Nyane thought she was going to scream.
‘Dismissed,’ said Nyane.
Sanders bowed low, and made for the door of the Empress’s private council chamber.
‘Fucking Holdfasts,’ the Empress muttered as the door closed behind the mage.
‘I hope nothing bad’s happened,’ said Calder from his seat at the table. ‘It’s not like Daphne to miss a vision-meeting.’
‘You don’t know her like I do; she always puts the interests of her family first. Even her role as First Holder; she’s only doing it to stabilise the Holdings for her children to live in peace and to secure their inheritance, otherwise I think she’d be happy to watch the place burn to the ground.’
The council room sat in silence, each avoiding the Empress’s gaze.
‘With Karalyn gone from the north, and Keir from the south, we are now blind to the affairs of the empire. I should never have put my trust in ones so young.’
‘Circumstances forced your hand, your Majesty,’ said Nyane.
‘Everything will be fine,’ said Calder. ‘Karalyn will agree to the proposal, and will be back soon, I can feel it. She just needed a break, and no wonder. In hindsight, perhaps we should have sent her away on a holiday when we returned from Rahain, but any damage done can be repaired. And Keir is merely a high-spirited youth, carried away by his victory in Rainsby. He’ll return to the fold also.’
The Empress snorted.
‘They both disobeyed orders,’ said Belinda, who had been listening in silence up to that point. ‘Can they be allowed to simply “return”, as you put it, without facing some sort of reprimand or punishment? For if they are p
ermitted to rejoin imperial service unconditionally, then what is to stop someone else from feeling that they too can ignore a command from the sovereign?’
‘Because we need them,’ said Calder, his eyes narrow.
‘The marines are a bigger problem, in my opinion,’ said Nyane. ‘We can worry about the errant Holdfast children if and when they approach us.’
The Empress drank from her glass of ale. ‘At least my vision mage in Stretton Sands has remained faithful. Do you have his report?’
‘Yes, your Majesty,’ said Nyane. ‘He appeared in my mind this morning as scheduled. He didn’t have much news, though. The town remains severely under-garrisoned, with barely seven hundred active troops able to defend any attack from the Rahain. The marines also emptied the town of horses, wagons, and other supplies when they began their march up the river to Anamindhari. I told him that we were in the process of stripping garrisons along the coastline of the Inner Sea to send as reinforcements…’
‘And when should they arrive?’ said the Empress.
‘In three or four days, weather permitting. The fleet is hugging the coast from Amatskouri, so they should be able to avoid any early storms if they come.’
‘Any sign of the Rahain?’
‘None.’
The Empress sighed. ‘Our luck is holding, so far. Perhaps Ghorley’s death has delayed their plans; for if they knew of our difficulties they would be sure to attack right away.’
‘Keir was seen heading south from Rainsby with Thorn and the cavalry,’ said Calder, ‘for all we know, they might be kicking Rahain arses as we speak. There’s another reason why we should forgive them if they succeed – the peasants love them; they talk about them as if they’re heroes. And it’s not just the Holdings peasants. The Kellach too, and the conscripts in the army.’
‘Aye?’ said the Empress. ‘What else are they saying?’
Calder sighed. ‘You want me to speak my mind?’
‘Of course.’
‘It seems the people know the truth about the attack on Stretton Sands,’ he said, his eyes on the table, ‘word’s got out about how it was the marines that took the decision, without waiting for what would most likely be a refusal from you if they asked. Most of the regular forces I’ve talked to are pissed off with the marines for disobeying orders, but as I said, the ordinary folk and the conscripts, well, they seem to think the marines did the right thing; and, that Keir and Thorn are doing the right thing now.’
The Magelands Epic: Soulwitch Rises (Book 7) Page 16