The agent turned away as he was speaking, and gathered the dozen soldiers that had escorted her and the two prisoners.
‘I know another way,’ she said. ‘Stay close, and keep the captives safe. We’ll need to run.’
Her escort formed up on the platform. She turned to Logie. ‘Your squad takes the rear.’
She set off before Logie could reply, the escort following her as she raced east along the river bank.
‘Cow,’ he muttered, then turned to the squad. ‘Come on then, you heard her.’
The squad took off. They caught up with the escort and together they bounded across a succession of wooden walkways.
‘Why are we heading towards the flames?’ said Cain.
Lennox didn’t answer, his eyes busy watching for loose planks as he ran. Sable turned right, away from the river and they entered a wide tree-lined street, with firm ground under their boots. They slowed to a trot. The two prisoners were stumbling, and they halted for a minute so that Sable could check they were fine. Lennox could feel the heat from the fires. The flames were rising above the rooftops to their left, getting closer with every second. Houses, trees, buildings – all were being consumed in the inferno.
One of the escort cried out, clutching his neck, a crossbow bolt embedded in his throat. Lennox dived to the ground behind a tree as a hailstorm of bolts hit them from the row of houses to their left. Two others from the escort went down.
‘They’re aiming for Sable!’ Carrie cried out, kneeling behind her shield.
‘I thought we’d killed all of these bastards!’ yelled Cain.
‘They must have been hiding,’ said Lennox, ‘and the fires have flushed them out.’
Up the road, Sable was crouching beside a low wall, the two prisoners lying on the ground next to her. Her escort was fanning out, staying low, their shields out in front. Another was hit. They charged, their maces aloft, roaring.
‘Come on!’ yelled Logie, getting to his feet.
‘No!’ yelled Sable. ‘Leave them. The prisoners are the priority. Follow me.’
Lennox watched as the escort ran towards the row of houses. The crossbow bolts ceased and he sprang up, racing towards the Holdings agent. He picked up the male prisoner, and Logie took the female, and they set off, Sable in the lead as the buildings to their left erupted in flames. Lennox staggered under the sudden blast of heat, his feet slipping on the soft ground. Sable and the squad ran onto a long wooden walkway, and it swayed back and forth under the pounding of their boots. Behind them, flames ripped across the street, and began to devour the end of the walkway. The ground around them was marshy, but the fires were being carried by the branches of the tall trees that grew there, and in seconds both sides of the walkway were alight.
With a crash, the walkway collapsed, its burning planks hissing as they were plunged beneath the dark, muddy waters. The soldiers toppled in, their steel armour weighing them down. Lennox’s feet touched the bottom as the water lapped his chin, and he hauled the prisoner’s head above the surface. He ripped the man’s soaking hood off so he could breath, and caught his eyes for a moment, then looked away. There was a roar behind him and a building fell, sending tonnes of timber beams smashing into the flooded riverbank. Lennox was borne away by the powerful current, and pushed under the eaves of a house on the other side. He grabbed onto a post, gasping for breath, his helmet washed away.
‘I hope you’re worth it,’ he muttered to the bound prisoner, kicking his feet and swimming towards the far side of the house. The ground rose a little, and he began to wade. They reached a dry slope by the side posts of the house and Lennox set the prisoner down and checked his ropes were still secure.
There was a loud crack of splintering wood behind him.
‘I need help,’ called a voice.
By the far side of the house, Logie was in trouble. A collapsed wooden beam had fallen, and both he and his prisoner were pinned beneath it. The flames had reached the house they were under, and smoke billowed through the slats in the floor and sat heavy in the air. Lennox raced back down the slope, splashing through the deepening water. He reached out and gripped the beam, heaving it upwards, and Logie scrambled free, his arms clutching the prisoner. They ran up the bank and onto dry land as the rest of the house fell under the weight of the flames, crashing into the waters behind them. Logie lay his prisoner down next to the male Rakanese. The two of them were weeping, and babbling to each other in their own language.
Lennox and Logie got to their feet and the squad leader extended his hand.
‘Thanks, Lennox,’ he said. ‘I owe you for that.’
Lennox took his hand. Logie smirked and head-butted him, striking his nose. Pain shot through Lennox’s skull and his vision blurred. A punch landed in his abdomen and he doubled over, falling to the wet ground, where he received a heavy kick to his stomach. He opened his eyes, but he was seeing only sparks and shadows, and the hazy glare of the inferno burning behind them.
‘You thought you could fuck with me?’ Logie said, laughing as he planted another kick into Lennox’s healed ribcage, breaking a couple of bones. ‘Nobody fucks with me, boy.’
Logie looped his mace-strap round his wrist.
‘I’ve been waiting for this,’ he said. ‘I want you to know that I’ll be taking good care of Libby when you’re dead. I’ll let her keep her hair long if she’s good to me, and I’ll make that little arsehole Cain watch. Picture it. I want that to be your last memory.’
He raised the mace above his head.
Lennox lifted his hand, his will joining to that of the raging fires surrounding them. For a second he felt as if he were in the flames, and that he was one with them, then he shot out a tight arrow of fire. It streaked through the air like a spear, striking Logie’s head and incinerating it in a burst of blood and flames. His body remained where it was for a moment, then toppled backwards onto the ground, the waters lapping at the smouldering space on his shoulders where his head had been.
Lennox groaned, his body aching but his sight clearing. He stumbled to his feet and gazed around. The two prisoners were staring at him from where they lay on the ground, while fires were burning the buildings surrounding them. Looking at the flames, Lennox felt a sense of peace. Logie was dead, and the fires caused him no fear. He moved his fingers, and the flames drew apart, opening up a path ahead.
He threw down his shield and picked up the prisoners, one under each arm. He gave a final glance at Logie, then began running, his boots sinking into the soft mud by the house. The walkways had all been destroyed, and he moved out into deeper water to avoid the burning buildings, wading through the thick mud and gasping from the smoke that obscured everything. He heard voices, and struggled towards them.
Lennox pushed his way through the water. The fires were all behind him, the size of the marshy pool too wide for the flames to cross. He saw dry land, and soldiers, then Sable came splashing through the mud towards him.
‘Are they alive?’ she cried.
Lennox staggered up the bank. Soldiers took the prisoners from him, and Sable rushed to their side as Lennox lay down on the ground, panting, searing pain shooting through his ribs and nose. Sable checked the prisoners and placed fresh hoods over their heads.
She glanced at Lennox. ‘Thank you, soldier. What’s your name?’
‘Lennox, ma’am.’
Sable stood, and ordered the soldiers to lift the prisoners onto stretchers. She smiled at Lennox, then they left, walking through the smoke of the crowded field, where dozens of soldiers were standing or sitting, watching Silverstream burn.
He felt arms around his neck, and turned to see Libby next to him, her face grimy and red hair stinking of smoke.
‘Who else made it out?’ he said.
‘All of us,’ she said. ‘Except you and Logie. We got cut off from you when the house fell into the street, and the flames pushed us back. Agent Sable was just about to send squads in to look for the prisoners.’
‘I carried them out.’
Lennox glanced up to see the rest of the squad looking down at him.
‘Well?’ said Carrie.
‘Well what?’
‘What the fuck do you think?’ said Cain. ‘Where’s Logie?’
Lennox went from face to face. Some were expectant, almost hopeful, while Kallek’s lip was trembling.
‘He’s dead,’ Lennox said. ‘The fire got him.’
The squad glanced at each other.
‘Did you see it?’ said Loryn.
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry. The bastard’s definitely dead.’
‘Shit,’ Libby smirked. ‘We’d better tell the captain.’
Lennox stood, and shook his head at the sight of the burning town.
‘We lost more soldiers trying to get out than we did in the taking of it,’ he said.
‘Aye,’ said Carrie, ‘but Logie was one of them, so it’s not all bad.’
‘Shut your mouth,’ Kallek snarled.
‘You should probably ask for a transfer,’ said Lennox. ‘We won’t stand in your way.’
‘Some of us would have a party,’ Carrie muttered.
Lennox turned away from the flames and looked over the field. Officers were organising their companies, and squads were being marched away to the west, where the winged gaien had brought them in that morning.
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s find the rest of our company.’
They followed him across the field, until they saw where their company standard had been planted in the ground.
The captain watched them approach.
‘Fifth Squad reporting, sir,’ Lennox said, saluting.
‘Where’s Logie?’
‘He died trying to save the Holdings agent’s prisoners, sir,’ Lennox said. ‘The flames took him.’
The officer frowned. ‘And you are?’
‘Lennox, sir.’
The officer’s expression changed. ‘Ah. Lennox. That agent you mentioned, she spoke to the officers on her way out of here. Your name came up. Well done, lad; the Fifth is your reward. As of now, you’re squad leader.’ He stuck out his hand.
Lennox shook it, the pain in his nose making it hard to think.
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘Right, squad leader,’ the captain said. ‘Get your squad off to the carriages; the regiment is pulling out of Silverstream. We’re going back to the base in Tahrana Valley, but not for long. Spread the word; the invasion of the empire is about to begin.’
Lennox saluted.
Libby nudged him as they walked towards the field where the carriages were being boarded. ‘Squad-fucking-leader.’
He grinned, but the shooting pain in his nose made him flinch.
‘That’s quite a knock you got there,’ Libby said. ‘How exactly did you get it?’
‘I’ll tell you later,’ he said. ‘Oh, you’re my second.’
‘What? Do I have to?’
‘Aye, you do.’
Libby frowned, then smiled. ‘Does it mean I get to tell everyone else what to do?’
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘Everyone except me.’
They joined a queue by a loading carriage. All around them stood the soldiers of the Army of Pyre’s Fourth Regiment – boarding carriages, stowing equipment, or waiting, and all of them talking about the word they had received from the officers.
‘Is this really it?’ said Cain as they clambered aboard the carriage. ‘Are we actually going to invade the empire?’
Lennox gazed at his squad as they sat on the benches. ‘Aye. I think we are. All of you, listen. You know me. I’m not the same as Logie, but one thing I do share with him is the belief that the Fifth is the best squad in the army. You are my family, and I’ll lead you the best I can. If we’re going to war, then we’ll fight together, shield to shield, and bring honour to the Army of Pyre.’
‘There was no honour in what we did today,’ said Libby.
‘None,’ said Lennox. ‘This day has brought us nothing but shame. But this is where we make a new start, this squad, together. If we invade the empire we’ll be up against the best soldiers the Empress can throw at us, and then we’ll show everyone our true spirit.’
Libby nodded. ‘Alright. After today I’m looking forward to being a proper soldier again.’
The hatches were closed and locked, and the carriage began to lift into the air. Lennox glanced out of the window at the burning town below, watching the flames consume the streets and buildings; the glow of the conflagration rising high into the night sky. The carriage banked away, taking the soldiers west, to war.
Chapter 30
Reprise
Plateau City, Imperial Plateau – 25th Day, Last Third Spring 524
Karalyn’s mother was dreaming about Killop, and at first she was reluctant to enter her thoughts. Her dream-vision drew further into the dark bedroom. Her mother looked at peace. Maybe she shouldn’t disturb her. In all the time Karalyn had been living in Plateau City, she had never used her powers to communicate with her mother, but after all the practice runs to the Grey Mountains, flitting the hundreds of miles north-east to Holdings City had been easy.
Somewhere in a small corner of her mind she was aware that her body was hurt, but she felt no pain when using dream-vision. If anything, it made her feel more alive than when she wasn’t using it.
She glanced back to the sleeping form of her mother. She hadn’t come all that way for nothing.
Karalyn entered her mind.
‘Killop!’ Daphne cried, her thoughts full of rage and hurt. ‘How can you believe her? How can you believe I would be unfaithful? Do you think I would throw away everything we have?’
Her father said nothing, standing with his fists clenched, his face twisted in violent anger.
Karalyn felt her mother’s body thrum with a low current of battle-vision, and the young mage nearly cried out. Had her parents come so close to violence?
‘I want you to get out,’ Daphne said. ‘You’re not thinking straight.’
Killop spat on the polished floor. ‘Who was it? Tell me his name.’
‘Damn you,’ Daphne said, her eyes narrowing. ‘There is no name.’
‘You’re lying,’ her father growled. ‘I know who it is, and I’m going to rip his fucking head off.’
Killop stormed from the room, leaving Daphne standing alone, tears falling down her cheeks.
Mother, wake up.
The scene dissolved.
Karalyn?
Aye, it’s me.
What are you doing here? What time is it?
Karalyn’s image appeared in front of Daphne as she sat up on the bed rubbing her face.
‘I don’t know,’ said Karalyn. ‘Near dawn, I think.’
Her mother frowned, then took a sip from a glass of water by her bedside.
‘I just wanted to see you,’ Karalyn said.
‘It’s good that you can range this far,’ her mother said, ‘but please, next time, give me a little warning.’ She lit a cigarette. ‘So, tell me, how is everything? How’s the Empress? We heard about the attack on her a few days ago.’
‘She’s recovering.’
‘Good. I hope Dyam’s keeping a close eye on her.’
‘You know the herald.’
Daphne smiled. ‘Yes. Have you made many friends?’
‘One or two.’
‘Any boys?’
She cringed. ‘No.’
Daphne nodded. ‘So, are you up right now, or are you dreaming?’
‘Dreaming,’ Karalyn said.
‘You would tell me,’ her mother said, looking at her closely, ‘if something was wrong?’
Karalyn looked down at the floor, unable to think of what to say.
‘Is something wrong?’ her mother said.
‘Lady Belinda’s taken the Empress’s body,’ Karalyn blurted out, ‘and then she, she…’
‘What?’ said Daphne. ‘Slow down. Who’s Lady Belinda?
’
‘She arrived at court a while ago, fooled everybody, but she’s a liar, and she’s got Bridget. She can use vision powers, and flow, and stone…’
‘I don’t understand. You mean the same woman used all those powers?’
‘Aye, I saw her do it.’
‘Wait,’ said Daphne, ‘are you alright? Did she hurt you?’
Karalyn paused. ‘Aye.’
‘How badly?’
‘I… I don’t know. I’ve been ranging since I lost consciousness. I don’t want to go back.’
Her mother’s face froze, her eyes wide, and for a moment she said nothing.
‘Mother?’
‘You’re a Holdfast,’ Daphne said. ‘My daughter, you’re stronger than you know. Your father and I treasure and love you more than words can convey. You will go back to your body, and you will do the best you can. If the Empress is in danger, and you have it within your power to help her, then you must do it. Have faith in yourself. Now go.’
Karalyn lingered for a minute, her eyes on her mother, then pulled her vision away. In an instant she was back in her body. Pain screamed through her. She opened her eyes but could see nothing. She was lying down, her head resting on cold, wet rock. There was no sound except for the drip of water onto the ground. The pain was spread over her, but centred on her left leg and right shoulder. A dull ache was pounding in the back of her head and she moved her left hand to check if she was bleeding there. It came away dry, but the bottom of her hair was wet. As she pulled her hand away it touched water and she realised that she was lying by the edge of a pool. She cupped her fingers and drank, the cold liquid soothing her throat.
She heard a voice approach, and then a dim glow appeared in the distance behind her, sending light flickering around the walls of the low cavern. A lamp emerged from the gloom.
‘Here she is,’ said a young voice. ‘I dragged her out of the pool when I was fetching water for breakfast.’
Two figures got nearer to where Karalyn lay, but she couldn’t see anything beyond the glare of the lamp.
‘Hmm,’ said an older voice. ‘Ah! Her eyes are open! Is she dead?’
‘She must have woken up, Gran,’ said the boy.
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