The Magelands Epic: Soulwitch Rises (Book 7)

by Christopher Mitchell

  As screams began to rip through his ears, Keir felt hands grab his shoulders.

  ‘Time to leave, sir!’

  Keir stumbled backwards as the marines bundled him out of the apartment and down the stairs. Another boulder struck the tenement, ripping away a whole flank, and exposing the marines on the stairs to the open air. Keir stared at the sight before him. Thousands of Rahain were burning, their heads and shoulders on fire, their features charring and melting from the flames that clung to them. The marines dragged him onwards, and they burst out onto the street and into the chaos. Burning Rahain soldiers were fleeing; running from the walls and the fires, their screams drowning out every other noise. The marines formed a tight circle round Keir, and they charged, barging their way through the thinning crowds as they approached the walls. Someone on the battlements called down to them as they sprinted towards the gatehouse, the marines keeping Keir on his feet; and the gates began to open. They were half-blocked with Rahain corpses from the earlier attack, and the marines piled in, dragging them away by the ankles until the way was clear.

  The marines pulled Keir through the entrance, and they slumped to the ground, panting and exhausted as the gate was closed and barred behind them. Cavalry troopers and other marines gathered round, their eyes wide.

  ‘Hail the Stormwitch!’ someone cried.

  A great cheer went up, and it echoed round the battlements. A path opened up through the crowd of imperial soldiers, and Thorn appeared. Her eyes scanned the small group who had entered, and she smiled when she saw Keir, and increased her pace. He staggered to his feet, and swept her up in his arms, holding her tight.

  They kissed.

  She laughed. ‘What kept you?’

  Chapter 30

  Second Thoughts

  Westgate, Domm Pass – 18th Day, First Third Spring 526

  ‘Goodbye Domm,’ said Daphne, her eyes on the sun setting over the lowlands to the west as their carriage climbed the steep road to the pass. The sky was lit by a cascade of peaches and reds, spreading out along the horizon, while below the shadows were lengthening.

  ‘We’re leaving just as the weather’s getting better,’ said Jemma, holding Cole on her knee. ‘It’s a pity, I would have liked to have seen the place in summer.’

  ‘It’ll be a while yet before you get out of Kellach Brigdomin,’ said Carrie, squeezed in at the end of the seat. ‘You still have Brig, and then the whole of Kell to travel through.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Jemma, ‘that’s what I meant.’

  Carrie frowned. ‘Depending on what happens, I might be leaving you when we arrive at the pass. Thanks for the lift.’

  ‘You’ve been good company,’ said Daphne. ‘It’s been our pleasure.’

  Karalyn watched them chat, her eyes half-closed. Her mother’s barely-disguised glee at almost reaching their destination had been grating on her for days, competing with the loss she felt in her heart. With every mile they had travelled from Severton, her resolution that she had done the right thing had been fading, and doubts nagged away at her. Her thoughts went to Lennox; his eyes, the way he never gave up on something once he had started, and his love for her. Despite how it had ended, meeting him had been the best thing that had ever happened to her; their natures meshed as if they were meant to be together, and without him she felt bereft. She glanced down at her middle. She was starting to show, and although she had yet to feel the twins kicking, she felt their nascent, weak, dream powers flutter like butterfly wings.

  ‘Don’t you think so, Karalyn?’ her mother said.

  ‘What?’

  Her mother shook her head. ‘Lost in your own world again? I was just saying to Carrie that she has a reasonable chance of finding Lennox, if she searches for him at Threeways before the spring caravans leave.’

  ‘But we’re all heading in the same direction,’ said Carrie; ‘why don’t we travel there together?’

  ‘I think we’ll stay in the World’s End for a day or two,’ said Daphne. ‘I don’t think my daughter wants to take the risk of bumping into him again.’

  Carrie frowned at Karalyn. ‘You should be helping me look for him; if not for you, then for the children you carry. Surely Lennox has a right to see them? Surely you want them to have a father?’

  ‘He killed children,’ Karalyn said, her anger growing. ‘How can you think I want him to be near my own?’

  ‘You always come back to that,’ Carrie said. ‘You’ve defined his whole life by what he did for less than a minute of it. A terrible minute, I know; it will remain in my memory forever.’

  ‘People do bad things in war,’ said Daphne; ‘horrible things, but unless you’ve been in that situation yourself, how can you condemn others for their actions?’

  Karalyn opened the window next to Jemma and Cole and lit a cigarette. ‘I’ve been in those situations,’ she said. ‘I understand how it feels. I killed someone, mother, to save my life.’

  ‘You did?’ her mother said, her eyes widening.

  ‘I never told you this, but when I was in Rahain I was captured by the archmages.’

  Daphne put a hand to her mouth.

  ‘They had those things covering their eyes,’ Karalyn went on, ‘so I couldn’t go into their minds.’

  ‘You couldn’t what?’ said Carrie.

  ‘So, instead,’ Karalyn went on, ignoring her, ‘I went into the head of a soldier, and persuaded him to attack the two archmages, Agatha and Witten. He did, and they killed him for it, but only after he had injured them both long enough for us to escape.’

  ‘You didn’t really kill him, then,’ said her mother. ‘Agatha and Witten did.’

  ‘He died because of me. I forced him to attack them. He had no choice.’

  ‘Still,’ said Daphne, ‘it’s not quite the same as plunging a knife in with your own hand.’

  ‘What are you?’ said Carrie. ‘What kind of mage can force people to do things against their will?’

  ‘A dream mage,’ said Karalyn, ‘and aye; that’s what I did to Lennox. I told him to forget all about me and leave; so he did.’

  Carrie’s mouth opened, and she stared at Karalyn.

  ‘Stop the fucking carriage,’ she yelled. ‘That’s it. I said stop the carriage!’

  The driver pulled on the reins and the vehicle ground to a halt. Carrie opened the side door and jumped down to the ground, the last rays of the sunset falling on her.

  ‘I’m not staying another minute with you,’ she cried. ‘You make me sick.’

  She pulled down her bag from the rear of the carriage, spat on the ground, and strode away, her eyes simmering. Corthie leaned over from where he was sitting on the driver’s bench and peered into the carriage.

  ‘What did you say to her?’ he said.

  ‘Something,’ muttered Daphne, ‘that I thought we were keeping quiet about.’

  ‘Sorry, mother. It just came out.’

  ‘Is it true?’ said Jemma. ‘Is that why Lennox left?’

  Karalyn nodded, her eyes gazing at the darkening sky. Her mother closed the side door and signalled up to the driver. He released the brake and urged the oxen onwards, and the carriage began to crawl up the slope again.

  ‘She wiped his memories,’ said Daphne. ‘He has no idea who she is any more, or that he is to be a father.’

  Jemma said nothing, but Karalyn could see the way she was looking at her.

  ‘And what would you have done?’ said Karalyn to her mother. ‘Would you have just said, “That’s fine, dear, I don’t mind that you carried out a massacre”?’

  Daphne narrowed her eyes. ‘I watched your father kill unarmed prisoners. I never thought any less of him for it.’

  ‘Then that’s where we differ, mother. I understand kill or be killed; but slaughtering the unarmed, civilians, children? That’s not the same.’

  ‘But Carrie kept repeating that it was out of character for him.’

  ‘That’s ridiculous. If he did it, then it’s part of his character; his
nature.’

  ‘Who are you trying to persuade now? It’s sounds like you’re attempting to convince yourself.’

  Karalyn glanced at Jemma. ‘Stop looking at me like that. If you have an opinion, say it.’

  ‘And if I don’t,’ said the young woman, ‘will you make me?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  ‘But you have the power to?’

  ‘Aye.’

  Jemma shuddered. ‘Can Keir do it too?’

  ‘No,’ said Daphne. ‘He’s a vision mage. He can whisper in your head, but he can’t make you do anything against your will. That takes dream powers. Kalayne could do it too. He tried to show me how, but I could never quite grasp it. Maybe if I practised, but my own dream powers are weak; nothing compared to Karalyn’s.’

  ‘That’s a relief,’ Jemma said, ‘about Keir, I mean.’

  The carriage began to level off as they approached the entrance to the pass. The cliffs rose in steep lines to either side of the switchback road, and Karalyn could see the lamps lighten the village at the top. They pulled into the main street leading through Westgate, then turned to the right down a narrow alley until they halted in front of a tavern.

  ‘Here we are,’ said Daphne, opening the side door. Karalyn put out her hands to take Cole so that Jemma could climb down, but the young Holdings woman ignored her, and passed the baby to Daphne. Karalyn said nothing, and jumped down to the ground in silence. She strolled to the cliff-edge and lit a cigarette as the driver and Corthie unloaded their luggage from the rear of the carriage. The sky in the far west remained a lighter shade of blue, but overhead the seven stars were visible. She wondered what they were, those silent pinpricks of light amid an ocean of darkness.

  A chill wind was blowing in from the west, and she fastened her coat up, shivering. She wished she had said nothing in the carriage, but she had opened her mouth and let it all spill out. No, not all. She had remained silent about how much she missed Lennox; how much she wanted to hold him in her arms again. She shook her head. She hated him; yet she longed for him. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she was glad she had her back to her mother.

  One more day, she thought. Have dinner, sleep, get the Quadrant, and go; and then there might be an end to the feelings tormenting her. She suppressed a laugh. Who was she kidding? Distance meant nothing to how she felt. She could be one mile or a thousand away from Lennox at that moment; they weren’t together, and that was all that mattered.

  ‘Is that everything?’ said a voice behind her.

  ‘Yes, Kendrie,’ her mother said. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘No bother. I’ll take the bags up to your rooms. Get a seat by the fire while I get them ready for you.’

  Karalyn flicked the cigarette over the cliff-edge and turned. Her mother approached.

  ‘You can have one long, last look in the morning,’ she said, glancing out over the dark lowlands spread out before them.

  ‘You’ll miss it too, admit it,’ said Karalyn.

  Daphne shrugged. ‘It’s not been as appalling as I’d expected. The people were friendly. Excellent gin, but I knew that already.’

  Karalyn smiled, but her heart wasn’t in it.

  ‘You can still change your mind, you know,’ her mother said.

  ‘I thought you were desperate to go?’

  ‘Oh, I am. But after you take us back, you can use the Quadrant to return for Lennox.’

  Karalyn shook her head. ‘Once we’ve gone, I’ll lose track of him. I might never find him.’

  ‘But you do want to look?’

  ‘No. Maybe… no. I have to move on.’

  Her mother nodded. ‘Come on, let’s get inside. I’m freezing out here.’

  They walked past the carriage and into the tavern. Corthie, Jemma and Cole were already sitting at a table by the roaring fire, and Kelpie was standing talking to them.

  Karalyn and Daphne walked over.

  ‘Good evening,’ said Kelpie, ‘and welcome back to the World’s End. Holder Fast, you’re looking much better than the last time I saw you.’

  Daphne smiled. ‘It was all the Domm air.’

  ‘And your boy seems to have grown another inch,’ Kelpie said, gesturing at Corthie. ‘A very handsome lad.’

  ‘He’s looking more like his father all the time.’

  ‘He’s got your eyes, though,’ Kelpie said, ‘and he doesn’t glower anywhere near as much as Killop did.’

  ‘He’ll always be my little boy.’

  Corthie glanced away, his cheeks reddening.

  ‘You’re embarrassing him, mother,’ said Karalyn, sitting. ‘He’s fourteen, not four.’

  Daphne stretched her hand out to ruffle her son’s hair, but he pulled away. Cole let out a wail.

  Karalyn glanced at Jemma. ‘Want me to soothe him?’

  The young Holdings woman held the child close to her. ‘I don’t know. I’m not sure I want you in his head any more.’

  Karalyn stifled an angry reply. ‘I understand.’

  Daphne frowned. ‘Come on, let’s go to our rooms. I have days of travel I need to clean off.’

  When the travellers had washed and re-dressed, they went back downstairs to the main tavern to find a long table had been prepared for them in a corner, close to the warmth of the fire. They sat, and serving-boys and girls brought out trays of hot food and jugs of ale. Koreen joined them as they were beginning to eat.

  ‘Do you mind if I sit?’ she said.

  ‘Of course not,’ said Daphne. ‘We Slateford exiles must stick together.’

  Koreen smiled as she took a seat. Karalyn poured her an ale.

  ‘Thanks. Are ye staying just the one night, then?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Daphne.

  Karalyn hovered the jug over Corthie’s mug, which he was holding out with a pleading look on his face. She glanced at her mother.

  ‘Go on, then,’ Daphne said. ‘It’ll be the last time for a while though.’

  ‘Thanks, mother,’ Corthie said as Karalyn poured.

  ‘Are ye going home?’ Koreen said.

  ‘Yes,’ said Daphne. ‘We have a long journey ahead of us.’

  ‘I’m sure it’ll fly by,’ said Corthie, slurping his ale.

  ‘I’m sure,’ said Daphne, frowning.

  ‘A toast, then,’ said Koreen, raising her mug. The others at the table lifted their drinks, apart from Karalyn, who scanned the table looking for water.

  ‘You not drinking?’ said Koreen.

  ‘Eh, no,’ said Karalyn.

  ‘It’s cause she’s pregnant,’ said Corthie.

  Karalyn and Daphne glared at him, while Jemma smirked.

  ‘What?’ he said. ‘I’m fed up with secrets. What good have they done us?’

  ‘That’s enough, son,’ said Daphne. ‘It’s Karalyn’s business if she wants to keep it to herself.’

  ‘It’s alright,’ said Karalyn. She glanced at Koreen. ‘It’s true. Twins.’

  Koreen slapped Karalyn on the back. ‘Congratulations, lass. Pyre’s sake, that must have been some holiday in Domm. I’ll keep it quiet, but,’ she smiled. ‘Well, at least until yer gone. Ye’ll be home in time for the birth, aye?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ said Daphne, picking up a fork. ‘We should make it in plenty of time.’

  After they had eaten, Koreen got up to go to the toilet and Daphne lit a cigarette. She leaned close to her daughter.

  ‘It’s probably time to collect the thing.’

  ‘We can get it later,’ Karalyn said, ‘when it’s time to go to bed.’

  ‘I want an early night,’ said her mother, ‘and when I fall asleep, I want to know it’s safely in our possession.’

  Karalyn nodded.

  ‘I could dream-vision tonight,’ her mother went on, ‘to see if I can find Lennox before we go. Do you want me to?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Maybe you could join me, and we could look for him together? It’s been a long time since we shared a dream-vision.’

  ‘Aye,
maybe.’ She stood. ‘I’ll be back soon.’

  She walked across the tavern, trying not to think about the question her mother had asked. Kelpie was standing by Kendrie at the bar.

  ‘What can I get ye, dear?’ said the old woman.

  ‘Could I speak to you for a minute?’ Karalyn said.

  ‘Aye, sure, hen,’ said Kelpie, wiping her hands on a towel and removing her apron. ‘This way.’

  They walked into the quiet stairwell by the tavern’s side door.

  ‘If it’s about paying for tonight, you can forget it,’ said Kelpie. ‘It’s all covered.’

  ‘Thanks, but it was about something else.’ You were looking after a bag for me. Take me to it.

  Kelpie blinked. ‘We’ll need to, eh, go to my rooms.’

  Karalyn gestured to the stairs. Kelpie started to ascend them, and Karalyn followed. They made their way past the rented accommodation and went up to the top floor, where the tavern owner had her own quarters. Kelpie unlocked a door and they went through. She lit a lamp, and laid it down on a table next to a bookcase. She knelt, put her hand round the back of the bookcase, and brought out a thin bag.

  ‘Here,’ she said, rising and passing the bag to Karalyn; her eyes glazed over.

  Karalyn opened the bag and saw the dull metal of the Quadrant gleaming back in the lamp light. Without thinking, she reached out with a finger and touched it.

  What is your will, Karalyn?

  She pulled her finger back, and glanced up at Kelpie, but the woman’s eyes remained blank. Karalyn flattened the bag and slipped it beneath her woollen coat.

  You will forget why we were here, and everything about the bag and the object inside it. When you awake, you’ll remember that you asked me here so you could offer me a book to read on my journey.