The Magelands Epic: Soulwitch Rises (Book 7)

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Wait here a moment,’ Lennox said. ‘Let me speak to Dommek. He owes me a few hours. I can get off early, and we can talk.’

  He pulled away from her and ran back to the building site.

  ‘Congratulations,’ said Carrie, kissing Karalyn on the cheek. ‘It’s a bit sudden, but you know…’

  ‘You never heard of fennel-wort?’ said Cain, chuckling.

  ‘Cheeky bastard,’ said Karalyn. ‘We’ve been using it. We weren’t exactly planning for this to happen.’

  ‘You going to get married?’ said Carrie.

  ‘I haven’t even thought of that.’

  ‘Aye, right,’ said Cain.

  Lennox returned. ‘Listen, Dommek wants me to help him with the alignment of the foundations, but that’ll only take twenty minutes or so, and then I’ll be done for the day. Shall I meet you in Donnie’s tavern?’

  ‘Aye, sure,’ she said.

  He smiled again, then ran back to where Dommek was waiting.

  ‘We’ll walk you there,’ said Cain. ‘We’ve got half an hour for lunch, anyway.’

  Karalyn, Carrie and Cain left the Maltings and walked for a few hundred yards to the green-doored tavern where the work crews often met. Cain pushed open the door and they stepped inside, feeling the warmth from the fires burning at either end of the long hall. They found a table and sat.

  ‘I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling,’ said Carrie.

  ‘Aye,’ said Cain. ‘I’m so happy for you guys.’

  A serving-girl came to their table and took their order.

  ‘I’m just popping to the washroom to get cleaned up before eating,’ said Carrie, standing.

  ‘See you in a minute,’ said Karalyn.

  ‘You’re some woman,’ said Cain, once Carrie had left. ‘I have a lot of respect for you.’

  Karalyn raised an eyebrow. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Not many folk would be able to look past what Lennox has done, but you’ve managed it.’

  She shrugged. ‘All that’s behind him now.’

  ‘Aye. You’re right. I mean, he didn’t know it was a hospital.’

  ‘A hospital?’

  ‘Aye, in Rainsby. When he torched the harbour, he didn’t realise that the hospital was there.’

  ‘In Rainsby? Cain, what are you talking about?’

  ‘I thought you knew he was a fire mage?’

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Well, you must have heard what a fire mage did to Rainsby? It was back in the middle of summer, when the Army of Pyre raided the harbour.’

  She fell silent, trying to recall what she had been told. She had been in Rahain when Rainsby had been attacked from the sea, but had heard about it when she had returned to Plateau City. Thousands had been killed in the slaughter, and a fire mage belonging to the Army of Pyre had been responsible. A cold dread shivered down her spine, and she felt sick again.

  ‘That was him?’ she whispered, feeling all life drain from her. ‘That was Lennox?’

  ‘Oh, aye,’ he said. ‘Lit the place up like a fucking bonfire. Women, children, not to mention the hospital. Pyre’s arse, you should have seen it. Folk running around screaming, their hair and clothes on fire. I was proud of him that day.’

  ‘Why are you telling me this?’

  Cain laughed. ‘You’ve no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this moment. Make sure he knows it was me who told you.’

  Karalyn stood, her knees wobbling. She clutched her chest as if she couldn’t breath, Cain’s words echoing through her head. She felt defiled, used, lied to; and the thought of her unborn children having been fathered by a mass murderer made her want to throw herself in the river. She stumbled to the door and rushed back out onto the street. Maybe Cain had a twisted sense of humour, or was holding an old grudge, and was trying to trick her into doing something she would regret. She stared up at the blue sky, tears falling down her face.

  She needed to know the truth, she thought, forcing herself back down the road towards the Maltings.

  There was only one way to be sure.

  Chapter 23

  Duty

  Rainsby, Imperial Plateau – 20th Day, Last Third Winter 525

  The cavalry grounds thundered with the sound of hundreds of horses, out for their morning drills and exercises. Among them, Nyane could see both Belinda and Thorn, each upon their own mount as they made their way round the long, oval track. The two young women were racing each other, determined expressions on their faces.

  ‘I had a horse once,’ said Kelsey, sitting next to Nyane on a low balcony attached to the side of the fortress. ‘My evil brother abandoned her when he stole from some peasants and we had to make a run for it.’

  Nyane raised an eyebrow. ‘I assume you’ve never forgiven him?’

  ‘Never,’ Kelsey said, scowling. ‘I cried for days. Bastard.’

  ‘Sometimes, I find it hard to tell if you’re joking or not.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Nevertheless, I have become rather fond of you, and your brother. I think I may have been mistaken about him.’

  ‘Don’t be fooled by how he is now,’ said Kelsey, ‘he was a right sod for most of his life; up until, you know, we were murdered. I hardly recognise him any more.’

  ‘Thorn, too,’ said Nyane. ‘She’s not the arrogant young lady I met in Plateau City. Look at the way she acts with Belinda; they’re like a pair of schoolgirls when they’re in each other’s company. Then, mix her in with a group of officers and staff, and she transforms back into a leader, with more poise and confidence than any of the Holdings aristocracy I’ve had to deal with.’ She paused. ‘Apart from your mother, of course.’

  Kelsey picked up her mug of hot tea and took a slurp.

  ‘If only they would swear allegiance to the Empress,’ Nyane went on.

  ‘I notice you’ve stopped asking them.’

  ‘There seemed to be little point in repeating myself. They’ve made their decision, much to my regret.’

  Kelsey nodded. Nyane glanced over to her right, where the outer walls and piers of the harbour were visible, scanning the sea for any sign of movement. The ship bearing the message from the Empress was due to arrive any day, and with it her judgement on what was to be done with the two renegade mages. The hard-earned peace within the walls of Rainsby could rupture if the news was bad, but Nyane had hope. In her letter to the Empress, written a few days after the attack that had seen Kelsey and Keir killed and then reborn, she had pleaded with her Majesty for clemency. With Tabor unable to reach even Stretton Sands with his vision powers, and Keir deemed an inappropriate choice to be relaying his own fate from the court of the Empress, Nyane had decided to send a small boat up the coast to Westport, from where messengers on horseback would take her letter by road to Plateau City. In another third or so the Inner Sea would reopen for shipping but until then, that was the quickest route to get word to and from the capital. She could have attempted to summon a team of winged gaien, but playing for time had been part of her strategy; time to allow the Empress’s anger to fade.

  ‘What do you think will happen?’ she asked Kelsey.

  ‘What, me?’ the girl said, her eyes widening. ‘How would I know?’

  ‘I’m just asking for an educated guess.’

  ‘Oh. Right, of course.’ She took another sip of tea.

  Nyane glanced at her. ‘Well?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Never mind. You’re a strange girl, sometimes, Kelsey.’

  She shrugged. ‘Who wants to be normal? How dull.’

  The door to the balcony opened and Keir walked through, accompanied by Sergeant Demi.

  ‘Good morning,’ he said, gazing up at the blue sky. ‘What a beautiful day.’

  ‘Good morning. Keir,’ said Nyane. ‘Tea?’

  ‘No, thanks.’

  ‘Did you see anything to the south?’

  He shook his head. ‘The Great Tunnel is quiet. There’s no sign of any Rahain this side of the mountains.’ He l
it a cigarette. ‘Listen, I’ve been thinking. I’m going to tell Thorn about Cole today.’

  ‘About time,’ said Kelsey.

  ‘I agree,’ said Nyane. ‘We’ve done as you asked, and not mentioned it to her, but the longer it goes on, the more upset she’ll be with all of us.’

  Kelsey squinted at her brother. ‘Wait a minute. Does this mean you’ve given up trying to get her clothes off?’

  Keir took a seat and put his feet up onto the balcony railing. ‘She’s not interested.’

  Nyane frowned. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I’ve been by her side for thirds,’ he said. ‘If she wanted me in that way, she would have made some sort of move by now.’

  ‘And have you told her how you feel?’

  ‘Of course he hasn’t,’ said Kelsey. ‘He’s too much of a coward to handle the rejection. Remember, dear Governor, that this is the first girl he’s liked that he hasn’t been able to mind-read.’

  ‘So there’s a good chance, that both of you have been waiting for the other to make the first move?’ She shook her head. ‘Teenagers.’

  Keir turned to her. ‘Has she said something to you?’

  ‘I’m afraid not,’ Nyane said. ‘Relations between myself and Thorn may have improved, but she’s hardly likely to reveal the secrets of her heart to me. No, I imagine the only people she will have told would be Acorn, and perhaps Belinda.’

  She watched as Keir gazed out over the cavalry grounds. A good-sized crowd had gathered at the edge of the practice track, once word had spread that Thorn was there, while soldiers were keeping them from getting too close.

  ‘Our enemies will have no doubt realised by now,’ she said, ‘that you are still alive. Agatha will know that her plan has failed. And now that we know what this Witten fellow looks like, he won’t get close enough to try again.’

  ‘Maybe he doesn’t need to get close,’ said Sergeant Demi. ‘I thought they had flow mage powers? Couldn’t he just blow their heads off from a distance?’

  ‘What a delightful image,’ said Nyane, ‘but no. My guess is that if he could have done it that way, then he would have. He used battle-vision instead. So, either Witten doesn’t possess the full range of powers, or it seems all four of the Holdfast children can resist the powers of these archmages.’ She glanced at Kelsey. ‘Even you.’

  ‘Lucky old me.’

  Keir frowned. ‘Maybe,’ he said to his sister, ‘we should…’

  ‘Shut up,’ said Kelsey.

  ‘But it could be…’

  ‘I don’t care. I don’t give a rat’s scabby arse.’

  Nyane said nothing, watching the brother and sister glare at each other. They were hiding something, that much was clear, but she couldn’t begin to guess what it was.

  ‘Now I’m curious,’ said the sergeant.

  A loud whistle blew, and the cavalry practice came to an end. As the troopers dismounted, Thorn and Belinda urged their mounts over towards the low balcony. They were smiling and out of breath; and seemed relaxed, as if they were old friends.

  ‘Bravo,’ said Nyane as they approached. ‘I can see great improvements in your riding skills.’

  ‘You’re too kind,’ said Thorn. ‘Belinda is by far the better rider, despite the fact that she’s been learning for half the time that I have.’

  Belinda’s face reddened.

  Keir poured the two young women glasses of water from a jug and passed them over the railings to them.

  ‘Thanks,’ Thorn said, smiling. ‘I thought you might have joined us this morning.’

  ‘I was hoping to,’ he said, gazing at her, ‘but I got held up at the daily briefing; and Captain Greenhold seemed to be enjoying himself assisting you. I didn’t want to get in the way.’

  Thorn’s smile disappeared, while Belinda looked like she wanted to say something, but remained silent.

  ‘I assume,’ said Thorn after a moment, ‘that there’s been no sign of a boat today?’

  ‘I haven’t checked yet,’ said Keir. ‘I’ll do it now.’

  The young mage balanced his cigarette on the edge of an ashtray and turned his face in the direction of the sea. His eyes clouded over.

  ‘What an idiot,’ muttered Belinda.

  ‘Please don’t say that,’ said Thorn.

  ‘I’ve no idea what you see in him.’

  Thorn glanced away.

  ‘Are we entirely sure,’ said Nyane, ‘that he can’t hear what we’re saying when he’s in a vision trance?’

  ‘Nah,’ said Kelsey. ‘He’s completely oblivious. A fact, I might add, that I’ve often used to my advantage.’ She leaned over and plucked a packet of cigarettes from Keir’s shirt pocket. She took a few out, then replaced the packet, chuckling to herself.

  Keir shook his head, and his eyes re-focussed.

  ‘Shit,’ he said, glancing around the balcony. ‘I saw the boat. They’re coming.’

  Unable to bear the wait, Nyane took a carriage down to the harbour with Kelsey, leaving Keir and Thorn in the fortress with Belinda. The wharves were quiet, with the majority of the galleons and ships still tied up at the piers and quays. The fishing fleet had been out since the beginning of the third, supplementing the diet of the town’s inhabitants with fish, prawns and oysters; a welcome addition after so long on winter rations. Spring was in the air, she could feel it. It meant that supplies would soon reach Rainsby in bulk again, but it also heralded the beginning of milder weather in which to campaign. If the new Rahain army was going to come, it would be in spring. Nyane had sent fresh spies down to the Great Tunnel, to search the area beyond the range of Keir’s vision, and those who had returned had confirmed the enormous size of the army being marshalled in the valleys of the Grey Mountains.

  If Agatha unleashed the full force of Rahain against them, Nyane knew that Rainsby’s five thousand defenders would stand little chance, not unless Keir and Thorn were on the walls. Two long years of war had sapped the might of the empire, and the carnage at Rainsby and Stretton Sands had diminished their armed forces. In Plateau City, the fresh conscripts would have completed their training, and ships would have been outfitted to carry them south; but would it be enough?

  ‘Look at that,’ said Kelsey, pointing at the blackened ruins of a warehouse on the wharf. ‘It annoys me that the old hospital has never been knocked down. Every time I see it I start to feel queasy.’

  ‘It’s there to remind us,’ said Nyane. ‘All other evidence of that day has been cleared away, but the last governor decided to leave the ruins of the hospital exactly as they were, so that we’d never forget those who were slaughtered in the raid. I happen to agree.’

  ‘It’s morbid.’

  ‘It forces us to confront the fact that our enemy is evil. If they can massacre the patients of a hospital, what would they do to the population of a city that surrendered? Thorn knows this only too well, having seen what happened in Stretton Sands. It does the citizens good to see a small piece of that suffering here. It steels them.’

  Kelsey frowned. ‘And you said I was strange.’

  Nyane smiled. ‘Do you have a spare cigarette?’

  ‘I didn’t know you smoked.’

  ‘I don’t usually. I used to occasionally have some dreamweed with Dean in Plateau City, back when my life seemed so simple. Right now, however, I need something to calm my nerves.’

  Kelsey took two cigarettes from a case in her pocket and lit them both. ‘Come on,’ she said, passing one to Nyane, ‘are you telling me you’re nervous? I’ve never seen you so much as blink during a crisis, although your forked tongue has popped out now and again.’

  Nyane blushed.

  ‘Joking,’ said Kelsey. ‘Sorry, that was probably a bit off. Maybe I’m nervous too.’

  ‘I wish I knew what was going to happen,’ said Nyane staring out at the still waters of the harbour. ‘If I knew, then I could at least plan, even if the news was bad.’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. Somehow I feel free
to speak my mind in your presence. Are you sure you don’t have any powers?’

  Kelsey stared at her.

  ‘That was my little joke,’ said Nyane.

  ‘Ha ha.’

  ‘Sorry, I should be more sensitive. It must have been hard for you, being the only child of four with no mage powers.’

  ‘I got by.’

  ‘Tell me, what was it like growing up among the Holdfasts?’

  ‘Slightly crazy at times, with those times coinciding with whenever Karalyn was home. Imagine a teenager who can disappear at will. Huh. And there was the time she told my father that my mother was having an affair; and when I say “told”, I basically mean she forced him to believe it; she went into his head and imprinted it into him. He had no choice; no say in the matter at all. He nearly killed the guy. It was only when Karalyn admitted it, and went back in to repair what she’d done, that my father was free again. It was a fucking nightmare.’

  ‘I know for a fact that Karalyn is deeply sorry about all that she did. She spoke to me about it on more than one occasion. She carries a deep burden of guilt about many things; most of all for what she did to your brother when he was a baby.’

  ‘She told you about that?’

  ‘We were close friends for a while,’ said Nyane, feeling a sadness in her chest.

  ‘My mother was pregnant with me when she did that,’ Kelsey said, flicking ash over the edge of the quay into the dark waters below. ‘She must have been terrified; not just for Keir, but for me as well. That was the first time Karalyn was sent away. My auntie Celine took her to a cottage a few miles from the mansion, and looked after her there. The second time, my father took her all the way to Kellach Brigdomin, which took a couple of years, and the last time was when she went up to the desert with old man Laodoc. I loved those times. I loved her being away. She destroyed everything she touched.’

  ‘Much of it wasn’t her fault, Kelsey,’ said Nyane. ‘Imagine growing up with those powers; imagine if Keir had possessed vision and fire from birth.’

  Kelsey nodded. ‘Oh, I get it. Part of me doesn’t blame her; part of me knows that what you’re saying is true, it’s just… wounds like that take a long time to heal.’