The Magelands Epic: Soulwitch Rises (Book 7)

by Christopher Mitchell

  She kissed him, then whispered in his ear. ‘Can we go now?’

  Two hours later, Lennox and Karalyn lay together in the darkness of the room he had paid for, the only illumination coming from the glow at the end of her cigarette, and a dim light filtering in through the shutters from the streets below. He felt the warmth of her body next to him; his arm round her shoulder as she lay her head on his chest.

  ‘Is it too soon to move in together?’ she said.

  ‘It probably is,’ he said, ‘but I don’t care. We should do it.’

  ‘My mother would go crazy.’

  ‘My room mates wouldn’t be too happy about it, either, but this feels right.’

  ‘I know. Righter than anything else I’ve done. We can’t, though.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘There’s too much I haven’t told you. The Holdfasts come with a load of baggage attached. You’d need to know what you were getting into before you make any promises.’

  He kissed her, unable to imagine anything she could tell him that could change how he felt.

  ‘Dammit,’ she muttered. ‘Here goes. My family; we’re all mages.’

  ‘Aye? What kind?’

  ‘Well, my mother is a vision mage. Do you know what they can do?’

  He thought back to Sable and his heart froze. ‘Aye. Do you mean she can read my mind?’

  ‘Not since I blocked her; much to her annoyance. And Corthie has battle-vision.’

  ‘I think I guessed that, though I could hardly believe it at the time; he looks so Kellach.’

  ‘I have another brother, and a sister, too.’

  ‘And are you a mage?’ he said. ‘Wait, you must be, if you could block your mother’s powers.’

  ‘I’m a dream mage.’

  He frowned in the darkness. A what?

  ‘Back in the empire,’ she went on, ‘I used to work for the Empress, until assassins came for me and my family and we fled here for safety.’

  ‘They tried to kill you because of your powers?’

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘What can dream mages do?’

  ‘Among other things,’ she said, ‘it means that I can also read thoughts.’

  Lennox was glad she couldn’t see the expression on his face. ‘Have you read mine?’

  ‘No,’ she said, kissing him. ‘I trust you.’

  Chapter 21

  From the Darkness

  Rainsby, Imperial Plateau – 16th Day, Second Third Winter 525

  The frozen ground was beginning to thaw along the coastal road from Stretton Sands, and the heavy clouds rolling in from the Inner Sea held the promise of rain instead of snow. The hills to the south remained cloaked in a covering of brilliant white, but in the mildness of the Plateau, the winter already seemed to be passing.

  At the head of a long column of cavalry, Keir and Thorn rode side by side, an escorting guard keeping a respectful distance on either flank. Both leaders were clad in furs to keep out the chill wind, but were also armoured, with shining steel breastplates enclosing their upper bodies. They had left Anamindhari a third previously, travelling down the river to where it met the Inner Sea at Stretton Sands, before continuing along the imperial highway to Rainsby. Behind the cavalry marched a thousand marines, all that remained after Thorn and Keir had left detachments to garrison the two towns they now thought of as theirs. Would Rainsby be the third?

  Ahead bulked the great outer walls of the city, and beyond, the high turrets of Madden’s Tower could be seen in the distance. A scout had reached them while they had been passing through Stretton Sands, and they knew that Nyane, the Herald of the Empire, was ruling Rainsby as its new governor. She had sent them a message, ordering them to lay down control of the forces under their command, and surrender to the imperial authorities. Only that way, the message had stated, would leniency be shown to the two renegades.

  ‘I wonder if Nyane’s up there on the battlements watching us,’ said Keir, glancing at the high walls.

  ‘There will be soldiers waiting to greet us, I’m sure,’ said Thorn, ‘but I imagine the governor will be in her residence, or perhaps the fortress, planning her next move.’

  Keir’s fingers tightened round the reins guiding Monty down the road. He sent his vision out towards the town, lifting it high into the sky where he could get a good view of the walls and the Outer City. A vast amount of work had gone on in their absence, he noticed. Some of the ruined streets had been cleared or reconstructed, while many others were blocked with new walls and guard posts. The great outer walls had also been repaired. Their old towers still lay in ruins, but the breaches had been sealed, and the earthen rampart that ran behind it had been extended and fortified. Imperial troopers stood upon the battlements, watching their approach, but there was no sign of the governor.

  ‘She’s been busy,’ he said, bringing his vision back to his body. ‘Entire stretches of the wall have been fixed, and the Outer City’s defences have been rebuilt.’

  ‘Excellent,’ Thorn said. ‘It’ll save us having to do it. We must remember to thank her.’

  ‘What, right before we kick her out of Rainsby?’

  ‘We might require patience, Stormwitch. We could risk everything by acting prematurely. It will not be forgotten if we strike the first blow against imperial forces; the Empress would use that as propaganda throughout her domains, and we would struggle to raise the soldiers we need to fight the Rahain.’

  He scowled. ‘You mean we should compromise with the governor?’

  ‘We shall see. We need to appear reasonable and, above all, not lose our tempers. Remember that our sisters are somewhere inside these walls. If I were the governor, I would have taken steps to secure their whereabouts, so that they could be used as hostages if necessary.’

  They glanced up as the eastern gates of the city began to open a hundred yards in front of them. Keir and Thorn continued on until they had covered half the distance, then slowed to a halt as three mounted figures emerged from the gates. One was carrying an imperial banner, while the other two wore officer uniforms.

  ‘Our welcoming committee,’ said Thorn, her eyes on them. ‘Are you ready?’

  ‘Yes.’

  She raised a hand, and the column of cavalry came to halt on the road behind them. Colonel Falstead and Captain Greenhold urged their mounts forward until they were level with Thorn and Keir.

  ‘Gentlemen,’ she nodded.

  ‘My lady,’ said Barnaby, bowing. He scanned the three figures approaching them. ‘I see Commander Nykka herself has been sent to speak with us. We are honoured indeed.’

  Keir said nothing, concentrating on the task ahead. The three figures got to within a few yards and stopped.

  The commander was a tall Holdings woman, her years of cavalry experience evident in her eyes. She directed her gaze onto Keir and Thorn, an expression of masked contempt on her lips.

  ‘If you’re here to hand yourselves in,’ she said, ‘then you have chosen wisely.’

  ‘You seem like an intelligent woman,’ said Thorn. ‘I’m sure you know exactly why we’re here. No one has done more to defend the empire in this last year that the Stormwitch and I, and those we led into battle at Anamindhari. The southern Plateau has been cleared of Rahain, and the Sons of Sanang have been vanquished, as we promised. We have returned to defend Rainsby for we know, as you do, that the Rahain are merely biding their time and replenishing their losses. They will come. Now you must ask yourself; when that happens, do you want us on your side, or not?’

  She moved her fingers and at that signal, Keir entered the mind of Commander Nykka. He kept his presence unknown to her, and began to lower her mental defences, smoothing out her anger and undermining her pride. He looked into her memories, and found the doubts she had felt when Keir and Thorn had departed Rainsby; they were slight, but he amplified them, making her question her orders to have them arrested. He and Thorn were the empire’s only hope, he whispered in her mind.

  He signalled to Thor
n, and the soulwitch’s power surged into the commander. Keir felt it overwhelm her, washing away her resistance and at the same time filling her with a euphoric glow of well-being. Keir withdrew from her mind, and re-focussed his sight.

  Commander Nykka was staring at them, her eyes wide.

  ‘With the Stormwitch and I defending the walls,’ Thorn said to her. ‘Rainsby will never fall. Join us, or stand aside.’

  The commander remained frozen in her saddle as her two colleagues frowned at her.

  ‘We have our orders,’ said the officer to Nykka’s left.

  ‘Silence,’ said the commander. She hesitated for a moment, then guided her horse to the side of the road. ‘Let them pass.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘Do not question my orders again, do you understand?’

  ‘Yes, ma’am,’ said the officer.

  Thorn nodded to the commander, then spurred her mount onwards as she raised her hand again. The column began moving down the road, the iron shoes of hundreds of horses clattering off the icy road. Keir and Thorn reached the great gatehouse and passed under its wide arch, then entered the Outer City. Troopers watched them from either side of the road, their shields and crossbows clutched in their hands. None of them said a word, but every eye was upon them. Some looked pleased; others angry, but not one of them moved, each waiting for orders from Commander Nykka.

  The cavalry followed through the gates behind them, over six hundred strong; their lances pointing at the sky, and their armour shining. The Outer City was at its narrowest on the eastern flank of Rainsby, and the Old Town walls were visible at the end of the wide thoroughfare. The gutted shells of shops and tenements flanked the street, with barricades and new, brick walls sealing off many of the alleyways. On their right they passed a large battery of stone-throwing catapults, protected by a high barrier. Their crews were standing by the great machines, watching Keir and Thorn lead the cavalry towards the Old Town.

  Keir glanced up at the battlements of the walls before them; they were crowded with people, each staring down. Slowly, a hubbub of noise grew as they approached the open gates to the Old Town; a swell of anticipation as the civilians awaited their arrival. Keir searched the faces of the troopers by the gate, looking for signs of hostility, but he saw only confusion and uncertainty.

  A captain was standing in the middle of the road ahead of them, his back foot in the shadow of the walls.

  ‘Where is Commander Nykka?’ he cried as they halted a few yards ahead of him.

  ‘She let us pass,’ said Thorn. ‘She knows we are only here to assist in the defence of this town, and mean no harm to anyone within its walls. We wish to speak to the new governor of Rainsby. I would be obliged if word were sent.’

  The captain hesitated, one hand on the hilt of his cavalry sabre. Behind him, through the opening to the Old Town, the noise of the populace was increasing. A mass of civilians could be seen, and many were pointing at the sight of Keir and Thorn. The sound grew into a roar, and a bead of sweat rolled down the captain’s forehead.

  ‘Your orders, sir?’ said a trooper standing next to him.

  The captain looked down. ‘Let them through.’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ the trooper said. He raised his voice, ‘You heard him. Let them through!’

  At this, the noise from the civilians exploded into a great cry of joy. Thorn smiled, and spurred her horse on, passing through the gates and into the narrow streets of the Old Town, Keir by her side. The welcome from the crowd was deafening. Thousands of civilians were crammed together by the sides of the street, and hanging from windows and balconies; waving flags and throwing flowers down onto the returning mages. Keir took hold of Thorn’s hand and raised it, and the screams roared through his ears. He grinned.

  Petals swirled through the cold air as they processed down the street. Troopers were stationed by the side of the road, and were straining to keep the crowds back as Keir and Thorn rode onwards into the heart of the town. They came to a crossroads, the road to the right blocked by a barricade guarded by marines from Madden’s Tower. They let out a great cheer as they saw the two young mages, raising their swords into the air. An officer hurried forwards from their lines.

  ‘My lady,’ she said, bowing amid the cacophony, ‘my lord. We are here to escort you to Madden’s Tower, where all those loyal to you are gathered.’

  ‘We were intending to see the governor,’ said Thorn.

  ‘You must not, I beg you. Governor Nyane has proclaimed you rebels and renegades, and intends to have you both arrested and sent to the dungeons of the Empress.’

  Thorn raised an eyebrow. ‘Does she not know what we achieved? We sent a messenger.’

  ‘She knows, my lady,’ the marine officer said, ‘but she doesn’t care.’

  The soulwitch turned in her saddle and raised her arm to the crowd. Keir felt her send out her powers in a wide arc, calming the crowds, who quietened until the street was in near silence.

  ‘We have driven back the forces of our enemy,’ she cried, ‘and the Sons of Sanang are no more; wiped out just as the Army of Pyre was destroyed six thirds ago. Stretton Sands and Anamindhari are in our hands again, but this town of Rainsby is where the next fight will be. The vile Rahain fanatics are rebuilding their strength, and will return. When they come, do you wish for the Soulwitch and Stormwitch to be here?’

  The crowd released a wave of joy and longing like waters bursting through a dam, and Keir felt his ears ring. Thorn smiled, and waited for the crowd to quieten again.

  ‘We and the governor may have our differences,’ she went on, her voice clear, ‘but I swear to you that neither I nor the Stormwitch will be the first to raise a hand against her. I plead for peace between us, and an understanding; let us fight the Rahain, not each other.’

  The crowd roared again.

  ‘We shall go to Madden’s Tower,’ Thorn said, ‘and there await word from the governor.’

  She signalled to the lines of cavalry behind her, and pulled on the reins, guiding her mount down the street to the right. Keir rode by her side, giddy from the noise and press of people round them. The marines pushed the barricade aside, and flanked the horses of the mages as they led the column down the street.

  Keir glanced up at the high turrets of Madden’s Tower and smiled. It felt like coming home.

  If Keir had harboured any thoughts that he and Thorn’s popularity had won over all of the inhabitants of Rainsby, the view from the top of Madden’s Tower soon dispelled him. While crowds of supporters had flooded the streets next to the tower, beyond, there were clashes between them and others; civilians armed with axes, cudgels or whatever came to hand. At the fringes of the crowd, several fights were going on, and streets and alleyways echoed to the cries of the wounded.

  Keir and Thorn had watched as their cavalry column had trooped through Madden’s Tower, entering the walled compound of the imperial harbour. Their thousand marines followed, marching into the wide courtyard by the great piers, before taking up residence in the long, deserted barracks belonging to the Imperial Marine Division.

  Several officers from the marines and cavalry had accompanied Thorn and Keir to the battlements, and Keir lit a cigarette as they gazed down upon the city.

  ‘The governor has been very thorough,’ said a marine major, one of those who had remained in Rainsby while Keir and Thorn had been away.

  ‘So it seems,’ said Thorn. ‘She has done a good job of preparing the town’s defences, which is all the more reason why we should be open to negotiating with her regime.’

  ‘She has us at a disadvantage,’ said Captain Greenhold. ‘All food stocks are under her control.’

  ‘As are our sisters,’ said Keir. ‘I’ll kill her if she’s hurt Kelsey.’

  ‘Your sister will be fine,’ said Thorn. ‘As will Acorn. Nyane isn’t stupid; she would never damage such useful bargaining chips.’ She glanced at the major. ‘How long has the fighting between our supporters and hers been going on?’

>   ‘It’s been mostly peaceful, to be honest, ma’am,’ he said. ‘There have been a few scuffles, and the odd riot whenever rations have been cut, or more work orders were issued, but overall I think the town’s been waiting for this moment. Your arrival is the spark that has set everything off.’

  Keir frowned as he watched the chaos in the streets below. ‘How do we make them stop?’

  ‘The cavalry could clear the roads in minutes,’ said Captain Greenhold.

  ‘I don’t doubt it,’ said Keir, ‘but all that will do is force Nyane to send out her forces, and there would be carnage in the streets. How many soldiers does she have?’

  ‘Two thousand troopers,’ said the major, ‘twelve hundred cavalry, and three hundred marines from the imperial capital.’

  Keir shook his head. ‘So between us we have just over five thousand under arms? It’s barely enough to defend Rainsby; we can’t waste any squabbling with the governor.’

  ‘We must find a way to speak to her,’ said Thorn, glancing at him.

  He took a draw of his cigarette. ‘Yeah. Where will she be?’

  ‘In the fortress by the cavalry grounds,’ said the major. ‘That’s where she’s lived since arriving here.’

  Keir turned his gaze towards the west, his eyes picking out the tall keep of the central fortress of Rainsby. He had been there many times, and knew its interior well. ‘This might take a minute or two.’

  ‘Her quarters are in the south bastion,’ said the major.

  Keir nodded, and dropped the cigarette; grinding it beneath the heel of a riding boot. He took a grip of the battlements and sent his vision out, flying over the narrow, twisting streets of the Old Town, above the blood-soaked cobbles where the two factions fought, and towards the fortress. He veered south, entering the large, round bastion through a slit window in the thick stone walls. He searched through the dark hallways and corridors, rising a floor to where guards were posted by the doors. He went through the narrow gap under a door, bending his range vision with ease. His powers were improving, and the expedition to Anamindhari had honed them to a keen edge.