The Magelands Epic: Soulwitch Rises (Book 7)

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘If she does, she’s too proud to admit it. The problem is that I know too much; about our defences, our plans, and our secrets; and that’s why I’ll probably be convicted. She can’t risk me running off and giving everything away. You’ve seen the guards posted at the entrances to the university? They’re not there for the security of the students; they’re there to stop me leaving. I made few friends in the palace, and my best one, Karalyn, has been missing for thirds.’

  ‘Another Holdfast?’ said her father.

  ‘Yes. It’s funny how my life has intertwined with theirs.’

  Her mother glanced away.

  ‘The only person defending me in front of the Empress,’ Nyane went on, ‘is Karalyn’s little sister Kelsey, a fifteen year old. But she’s one voice against many.’

  ‘These Holdfasts seem to bring death and destruction wherever they go,’ her mother said. ‘Perhaps you should stay away from them.’

  Nyane shrugged. ‘I like them. Karalyn and Kelsey especially, but Keir too. And Corthie seemed like a nice boy.’

  ‘And their mother?’

  ‘Daphne? Let’s just say that I wouldn’t want to get on her wrong side.’

  Her father laughed. ‘You don’t seem too worried that half of them are missing.’

  ‘I’ve learned that they can look after themselves.’

  Her mother stood and went to the window.

  ‘Are you all right?’ her father said.

  ‘Fine. Looks like it’s going to be a sunny day. I like the spring here; it seems to come so much earlier than in Rahain. The trees in the quad are already starting to bud.’

  Nyane and her father shared a glance.

  ‘I might go for a walk,’ he said. ‘The morning classes will have started by now, and the quad will be quiet.’

  ‘I’ll join you,’ said Nyane. ‘I’m due to meet Ravi and Kelsey soon, anyway.’

  Her mother kept her back to them as they stood.

  ‘I’ll see you soon, dear,’ said her father.

  ‘Yes.’

  Nyane went out into the hall and pulled on a long coat. It might be spring, but the wind could still be chilly. Her father laced up his boots and put on a hat and coat, and they left the apartment.

  ‘Some days I think she’s completely better,’ he said as they descended the stairs, ‘and then, on others…’ He shook his head.

  They continued down the stairs. They passed the corridor leading to the library and hurried down it.

  ‘Poor Dean,’ muttered her father as the reached the next set of stairs.

  ‘You’re joking, yes? “Poor Dean”? After everything you said while we were seeing each other?’

  ‘As a father I’m relieved,’ he said, ‘but as a fellow creature with feelings I sympathise with him. He’s quite clearly devoted to you, and yet you treat him with disdain.’

  ‘I don’t want to give him any false encouragement.’

  They reached the ground floor and stepped outside into the large central courtyard. Nyane lit a cigarette as her father shook his head.

  ‘That Kelsey Holdfast is a bad influence on you,’ he said.

  ‘Maybe I’m having my teenage rebellion now.’

  ‘I’ll leave you here,’ he said. ‘Be good, little flower.’

  He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, then Nyane watched as he strode away, heading for his daily walk. She turned, and made for the eastern wing of the university, where the student coffee shop was located. The quad was almost empty of people; the morning hours being taken up with lectures and classes. A few auxiliary workers were around, delivering supplies, or running messages. Nyane nodded at a couple as she passed them. Despite her impending trial, most of the staff and students had remained polite to her; and some had even asked about Keir and Thorn; the stories of their daring exploits having spread throughout the city.

  The coffee shop occupied a long stretch of the ground floor of the eastern wing, and tables and chairs were sitting outside its doors. The morning remained cold, and the small number of patrons were all inside. Nyane stepped through the door and smiled at the manager of the shop, a young Sanang man, renowned for his coffee-making skills.

  ‘Good morning,’ he said, a broad smile on his face. ‘Your usual?’

  ‘Please. Has Ravi arrived?’

  ‘Not yet,’ he said. ‘I’ve kept you the alcove by the window; the one you like.’

  ‘Thanks,’ she said. She crossed the shop floor, passing the neatly laid out tables, and nodding at a couple of the patrons she recognised from her frequent visits. She reached the alcove and sat, flicking her cigarette into the ashtray on the table. She glanced out of the window. The alcove had a perfect view of the quad, and the tall towers and spires of the university surrounding it. She wondered if her cell would have a view. The dungeons beneath the fortress were all below ground-level, and if she were put there, she would be shorn from sunlight for possibly years.

  Would the Empress do that to her? Nyane frowned. Despite being one of the few people who knew her well, she still had no idea what the Empress would do.

  ‘Why are you always here first?’

  ‘Good morning, Ravi,’ she said, turning as the Rakanese man sat.

  ‘I got up early this morning,’ he said. ‘I was trying to surprise you by being here when you arrived, and you still beat me.’

  ‘Do you have much scheduled for today?’

  ‘Nothing in the morning,’ he said, ‘but I’m tutoring that young clay mage after lunch. You?’

  ‘I have to give a lecture on geological formations before noon, then not much else.’

  ‘You getting paid for that?’

  ‘No, I’m covering one of the professors who’s sick.’

  Ravi shook his head.

  ‘I’m just banking some favours,’ she said. ‘I don’t need the money. Yet.’

  ‘I feel like I’m drifting,’ he said. ‘Like my life’s waiting for something to happen. I’ve thought about going back to Arakhanah.’

  ‘Really? Why?’

  ‘To look for my family. I thought you knew about that. Half of them are stuck there. I promised my sister that I’d try my best to get them out, and I’ve done nothing about it since getting rescued from Rahain. Sable was meant to pass on a message, asking for the Empress’s help in finding them, but I don’t suppose she ever did.’

  ‘Not that I know of, sorry. If you do decide to look for them, could I help in any way?’

  ‘Maybe, I’ll think about it, thanks. Might depend on whether either of us is locked up by then, eh?’

  ‘There is that,’ she said. ‘Have you thought much about Kelsey’s vision?’

  He squinted at her as if she were crazy. ‘Thought about it? I’ve thought of nothing else. I spent a whole year in a Rahain prison; do you think I want to back?’

  ‘I wouldn’t imagine so.’

  ‘That’s partly why I was thinking about going to Arakhanah, so I could put a little distance between me and Kelsey.’

  ‘She told me there was no point in trying to avoid her visions,’ Nyane said. ‘She thinks it only makes it worse.’

  ‘Morning, you two,’ said Kelsey’s voice from across the coffee shop.

  Nyane glanced over. Kelsey was striding towards them, a cigarette hanging from her lips, as half a dozen guards followed behind. The shop’s patrons ignored them, having become accustomed to their presence since the Holdfast girl had started frequenting the place.

  ‘Good morning,’ said Nyane.

  The guards took over two tables close by, and Kelsey sat down next to Nyane and Ravi. They waited as a waiter brought over a tray with a coffee pot, and cups, milk and sugar. He set it down on the table and poured.

  ‘Thank you,’ said Nyane.

  Kelsey picked up her coffee. ‘I have news, and it’s not great. That Calder can be a right bawbag at times, but he knows a shitload about the law. He took me aside yesterday and we went over the statute on treason. You’re fucked, basically. If it goes
to trial, you’ll be found guilty. They have the written orders as evidence, and your own confession.’

  ‘So what does Calder suggest?’

  ‘That you plead guilty.’

  ‘Shit,’ said Ravi, whistling. ‘That’s harsh.’

  ‘If I do so,’ said Nyane, ‘would a trial be avoided?’

  ‘Aye. The case will move directly to sentencing. Death is the usual punishment, but the law clearly states that the Empress can use her discretion.’

  ‘And did the herald intimate what that discretion might entail?’

  Kelsey raised an eyebrow. ‘Your words get longer the more stressed out you are. Is it because you’re trying to suppress your tongue-flicker?’

  Ravi laughed.

  ‘You find that funny, frog-boy?’ Kelsey said, then glanced back at Nyane. ‘Ten years.’

  Nyane’s face fell. She was thirty-five years old. Ten years? A decade alone in a dark, cold dungeon would see her emerge a changed woman. How would she tell her parents?

  ‘It’s bullshit,’ said Kelsey. ‘I’ll help you fight it all the way.’

  Ravi frowned. ‘That’s outrageous. Ten years? What did you say to Calder?’

  ‘Say?’ Kelsey shrugged. ‘I didn’t say anything. I punched the prick on the nose.’

  A laugh escaped Nyane’s mouth then she started to cry. To hide her embarrassment, she lifted her hands to her face, as a veil of dread and fear gripped her.

  ‘You should try to keep out of trouble,’ she said.

  ‘It’s too late for that,’ Kelsey said; ‘I remember the vision.’

  Nyane frowned. ‘What, so you’re making it come true?’

  ‘Could we not talk about it, please?’ said Ravi. ‘This is fucked up. Nyane’s about to be sentenced to ten years, and Kelsey has a vision where it’s me and her locked up? Have you got any more details?’ he said to the girl. ‘Could you see where we were? Was it the dungeons under the Great Fortress?’

  Kelsey smirked. ‘I thought you didn’t want to talk about it?’

  There was a noise outside the coffee shop, and they turned to watch several soldiers rush past.

  ‘Go and see what’s happening,’ said Kelsey to one of her guards.

  ‘Aye, ma’am,’ said one, getting to her feet. She went outside, and Nyane could see her talking to some of the soldiers. The guard returned after a minute.

  ‘There’s been word, ma’am,’ she said to Kelsey; ‘more attacks in the city, like before the war started.’

  ‘Where?’ said Nyane.

  ‘The Rahain and Rakanese quarters,’ the guard said. ‘Small groups of two or three armoured Kellach, running amok.’

  ‘Army of Pyre terrorists,’ muttered Nyane. ‘But why now?’ She glanced at the guard. ‘Have the cavalry been called out?’

  ‘Don’t know, ma’am. The troops based here are being moved to the bridges by Duncan Gardens.’

  Ravi smirked. ‘This is your opportunity to do a run for it,’ he said to Nyane. ‘With all the soldiers away, no one will notice if you slip out of the university.’

  ‘And where would I go, Ravi?’ she said. ‘And would I live as a fugitive?’

  ‘Better that than ten years in a dungeon.’

  ‘Ahem,’ said Kelsey. ‘Are you forgetting that there are guards sat right here in the coffee shop?’

  ‘You could tell them to look the other way,’ said Ravi.

  ‘I could,’ said Kelsey, ‘but I don’t think they’d listen. It’s not like they’re under my authority or anything; they just follow me about like baby sheep.’

  The guards glanced at each other, shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

  After an hour had passed, Kelsey stubbed out her cigarette and stood. ‘Best be heading back to the palace.’

  Nyane and Ravi got to their feet.

  ‘I do love our coffee mornings,’ Nyane said as they walked to the door. The Sanang manager held it open for them as they went out into the quad. A large wagon was parked by one of the archways leading from the university, and a group of students were gathered, their long academic gowns trailing across the flagstones.

  ‘Same time tomorrow?’ said Nyane.

  ‘Aye,’ said Kelsey. She turned to gesture to her guards, when there was a loud cry, and the thrum of crossbows filled the air. Ravi dove to the ground, pulling Nyane with him as she turned to see who was shooting. By the wagon, the group was approaching, some with bows, others with swords or maces. Kelsey’s guards tried to form a protective ring around her, but three had already fallen, their leather armour riddled with crossbow bolts.

  ‘We need to run!’ cried Ravi.

  ‘They’re after Kelsey, not us,’ said Nyane, pushing him away and stumbling to her feet. Around the quad, students were staring, or running away from the vicinity of the coffee shop, scattering in panic. Nyane raced towards Kelsey, who was sheltering behind the last two guards as the group closed in. One of the assailants was struck in the chest with a sword blow, and fell; but the others charged, and the last of the guards were killed. Nyane pushed herself in front of Kelsey, her right arm shielding the girl.

  ‘Get away!’ she cried.

  A cloaked figure approached from the wagon, a sword in her hand. The attackers cleared a path for her and she emerged in front of Nyane and Kelsey, with Ravi just behind them.

  ‘You should have stayed on the ground,’ the figure said.

  Nyane gasped. ‘Sable?’

  ‘I’ve come for the Holdfast girl, and now that I see him, I think I’ll take the diamond mage too.’

  ‘Fuck you, Sable,’ said Ravi.

  She laughed. ‘So you do remember me? Once again you find yourself in my hands.’

  ‘There’s no fucking way you’re taking me back to Rahain.’

  ‘Of course not,’ she said. ‘I need funds, and diamonds make highly convenient units of wealth. You’ll be staying close to me.’ She turned back to Nyane. ‘What about you? Any reason to keep you alive?’

  ‘You should leave. Soldiers will be here any minute.’

  Sable shook her head. ‘There are no soldiers nearby; they’ve all been called away to the distractions I organised. I hear you’re on trial for treason?’

  ‘I am.’

  ‘Then we are the same. Perhaps we could find common cause?’

  ‘You are a murderer and a liar,’ Nyane said, ‘and you used your gifts to betray your friends. We will never be the same.’

  ‘Very well,’ said Sable, drawing her sword.

  ‘Don’t do it, Sable,’ said Kelsey. ‘There’s no coming back.’

  She nodded. ‘I passed that point a long time ago. Adding one more to the list won’t make any difference.’

  Nyane raised her head. ‘I’m not afraid of you.’

  Sable thrust her sword down, plunging it deep into Nyane’s chest.

  She held Sable’s gaze for a moment; then slid off the sword and fell to the cobbles. Her sight dimmed as the assailants grabbed hold of Kelsey and Ravi, and dragged them towards the wagon. Sable glanced down as she wiped her sword.

  ‘Nothing personal,’ she said to Nyane. ‘You were just in the way.’

  She turned, and ran to the wagon. Kelsey and Ravi were bundled into the back, and the group of assailants clambered in with them. They set off, a team of horses hauling the wagon through an archway and out of the university.

  Nyane rolled onto her side, her hand pressing against the wound in her chest; blood soaking through her tunic and pooling on the ground beneath her. The Sanang manager of the coffee shop ran across the quad and crouched by her side. He pushed a towel against the injury and called out for help. Nyane gasped in agony as she lay on the cobbles drenched in her blood, pinned down by the strong hands of the man trying to stem the flow. She sensed a crowd gathering; students and workers; faces peering down at her as she coughed up blood.

  ‘Call for a healer!’ someone cried, and the thud of footsteps on the cobbles reverberated through her skull. She tried to sit up, and arms helped
to raise her shoulders, as the man kept the towel against her wound.

  ‘You’re going to be all right,’ he said. ‘Help is coming.’

  ‘Who was it?’ cried a voice.

  ‘Kellach terrorists,’ one spat.

  ‘They took the Holdfast girl.’

  Anger surged through the small crowd surrounding Nyane and the dead guards, but despite the pain, she felt a deep calm. She was dying, she knew, but she was within the walls of her home, and if she were to die, she was glad it was there. A voice called out, loud and filled with pain, and a woman barged her way through the crowd. Arms reached out and embraced Nyane.

  ‘Mother,’ she gasped.

  ‘My girl,’ her mother cried, ‘No, this is not right; this wasn’t supposed to happen; you were supposed to be safe; she told me you’d be safe.’

  Nyane tried to focus on the words she was saying. ‘Who?’ she said, her voice a whisper. ‘Who told you?’

  Her mother grasped her daughter’s face in her hands, as tears streamed down her face.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean for this to happen.’

  ‘Who?’ Nyane said again.

  ‘Sable Blackhold.’

  Nyane felt the last of her defiance and resistance fade. ‘You betrayed us?’

  ‘She made me,’ her mother said. ‘It was her price for taking me out of Rahain. She told me to report to her if any Holdfasts arrived in the city, that was all; nothing to do with you, and I’d never even heard of the Holdfasts; I didn’t know you knew them…’ She wept, pressing their faces together. ‘Sable told me you wouldn’t be harmed. She promised me.’

  Nyane convulsed in her mother’s arms, choking and gasping for air as her life ebbed away. Gentle hands laid her back down onto the cobbles, and her mother leaned her head close to her daughter.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, kissing her forehead, tears spilling from her face.

  Nyane closed her eyes.

  Chapter 32

  Behind the Mask

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

  ‘Here’s today’s report, sir,’ said the young soldier, holding out a document. It was written on paper, a luxury in Kellach Brigdomin, but the Iron Brigade’s coffers seemed bottomless.