The Magelands Epic: Storm Mage (Book 6)

by Christopher Mitchell

  Their carriage pulled out into the wide main road through the town. Market traders and stalls lined the streets, and the people of Broadwater were out, shopping and working. Thorn gazed at the sight of so many men. They were still out-numbered by the women, but not by the same ratio as in Greyfalls Deepen. Many were in the uniform of the Sanang Guard, the Matriarch’s armed force, serving in the ranks alongside female soldiers. Thorn liked the look of the Guard; their smart appearance and neatly groomed hair, but then most of the men in the town were well dressed. She could live in Broadwater, she decided.

  They turned right and headed up the long slope towards the citadel, a fortified compound at the top of a low hill within the boundaries of the town where the Matriarch lived in her great hall. Thorn loved the hall. Everything and everyone in it exuded class and beauty, as well as luxury and wealth.

  Their mother sighed. ‘I’m going to miss this journey; climbing the hill every day to see the Matriarch.’

  ‘Soon, we’ll be seeing the Empress,’ Thorn said.

  Clove nodded ‘And then, finally, we might be able to do some actual work.’

  ‘Who knows?’ Acorn said. ‘The war might be over by the time we arrive.’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind,’ said Thorn. ‘For me, the journey’s the thing. Castles, empresses, palaces, cities; that’s what I want to see.’

  Their mother smiled. ‘I’ll miss the forest. I already miss Lichen and Greyfalls Deepen and we haven’t been away two thirds. I’m happy for you girls though, it’s good to be excited.’

  The carriage was pulled between the open gates at the entrance to the citadel, and they halted in front of the great hall. The side door was opened and a tall man in butler’s uniform bowed.

  ‘My ladies,’ he said.

  Thorn beamed at him.

  He held out his gloved hand and helped the four women disembark from the carriage. Thorn was the last to climb down, and she managed to keep the smile on her face despite the pain. She straightened her back and walked with as much grace as she could muster.

  ‘If you would please accompany me,’ the courtier said.

  Their mother took his arm and allowed herself to be escorted towards the great hall, her daughters following behind. They ascended a short flight of wide steps and entered the hall. Rich tapestries hung from the walls, and the floors were strewn with petals. Bright garlands and banners hung from the ceiling beams, while the hall itself was filled with people. Servants mingled between groups of lords and ladies, offering drinks and re-filling glasses, as a musical band played gentle melodies from the corner. At the far end of the hall stood a long table and seated at the centre was the Matriarch.

  The courtier led them towards the high table. He stopped before it and bowed. Ivy signalled to her daughters and they curtsied together, inclining their heads towards the ruler of Sanang.

  ‘Great Mother,’ the courtier said, ‘Lady Ivy of Greyfalls Deepen and her daughters are here to present themselves to you on this, the final morning of their stay here in Broadwater.’

  Thorn raised her eyes as the Matriarch glanced at them. She was tall, with strong arms and a regal bearing that exuded authority. She was dressed in black, as she always was; a colour that no other woman in court was permitted to wear. Thorn would do that if she ever became a ruler, she decided, though she would pick a brighter colour than black to monopolise. Blue, possibly.

  ‘Lady Ivy,’ the Matriarch said, a hint of a sparkle in her eye, ‘so good to see you and your beautiful daughters here at my court again. I hope you have enjoyed your stay?’

  ‘Yes, Great Mother,’ Ivy said, bowing. ‘Your generosity has been overwhelming.’

  ‘As it should be, for you are undertaking a brave and possibly dangerous commission on my behalf. Making your stay here pleasant was the least of the ways I will reward you for your service. When you return, a celebration feast will be held in your honour, and I will be pleased to bestow land and riches upon you, and all of the other hedgewitches that are travelling to the Plateau.’

  She paused, to allow a long burst of polite applause at her munificence.

  ‘Before you go,’ the Matriarch said, ‘I would like to introduce you to someone.’

  Thorn’s ears pricked up. Usually at that stage, once pleasantries had been exchanged, the family would be released to mingle with the people in the hall, which was the part Thorn liked best – talking to the lords and ladies, and flirting with the young men over a glass of honey-wine.

  ‘Yes, Great Mother?’ said Ivy.

  The Matriarch smiled, then turned to a man who was sitting a few places down the table to her left.

  ‘Please stand,’ she said, and the man rose to his feet.

  He was old, Thorn noticed, maybe fifty or thereabouts, judging by the grey in his hair. He was handsome for his age, and elegantly presented in dark red robes.

  ‘This is Lord Agang Garo,’ said the Matriarch, ‘former monarch of Sanang, and the governor of the semi-autonomous Mya region. He arrived in Broadwater this morning.’

  ‘My greetings, Lady Ivy,’ he said, bowing.

  Thorn narrowed her eyes. She had heard of Agang Garo, or maybe read about him somewhere. Wasn’t he meant to be a soulwitch?

  ‘Her Imperial Majesty the Empress,’ Agang went on, ‘has asked me to escort the volunteer hedgewitches from Broadwater to Plateau City. I shall be accompanying you all tomorrow when you leave.’

  ‘We would be honoured, Lord Agang,’ Ivy said.

  The Matriarch nodded, the signal that their audience was at an end, and the family backed away after performing another curtsy. While her sisters slipped into the groups of people, Thorn remained by the table, her eyes on Agang.

  ‘Can I help you, young lady?’ he said, noticing her glance.

  She walked over. ‘I’ve heard about you.’

  ‘Oh, really?’ Agang said. ‘And what are they saying about me in the far reaches of western Sanang?’

  She sat next to him. ‘That you were King when Keira Kill-Kill attacked the mad Emperor.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Did you really know her?’

  ‘I did.’

  ‘What was she like?’

  Agang frowned. ‘It was a long time ago, and I’m not in the mood to discuss it with you, miss…?’

  ‘Thorn,’ she said, ‘youngest daughter of Lady Ivy. I’m one of the hedgewitches you’ll be travelling with tomorrow.’

  ‘Yes, I saw you stand next to her a few moments ago.’

  ‘What was it like being king?’

  Agang frowned. ‘Brief.’

  ‘And the Matriarch? How do you know her?’

  ‘She used to work for my blacksmith here in Broadwater,’ Agang said. ‘He was a Holdings slave. He trained her as his apprentice, but she was spared when he was killed, and when the war was over she was the only smith left in Sanang.’

  Thorn’s eyes shone with delight. ‘I want to travel in the same carriage as you.’

  ‘Why, so you can ask me questions all the way to the Plateau?’

  ‘Yes. Don’t you like talking about yourself?’

  Agang blinked, and a smile crept over his lips.

  ‘Well?’ she said. ‘Can I?’

  ‘We shall see, young Thorn, we shall see.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, flashing him a wide smile. She stood, masking her discomfort, and glanced around the room. She spotted a servant with a tray, and walked over, taking a tall glass of honey-wine.

  ‘Might I say, Miss Thorn,’ said a voice behind her, ‘you are looking simply devastating today.’

  She turned, and smiled at a man wearing the uniform of an officer in the guard. He looked mid-twenties, and they had spoken together several times at court since she had arrived. She knew from his eyes that he found her attractive, and she wondered what he would be like in bed. Not that he would ever know what it felt like to have her in his arms; she was saving herself for someone truly special.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said.


  ‘Is it true that today is your last day here? Please tell me I’m mistaken; I do not think my heart could bear to see you leave Broadwater so soon.’

  ‘I’m afraid so,’ she said. ‘First thing in the morning.’

  ‘Then you have but a single evening left,’ he said. ‘May I be so bold to enquire if you would like to spend it in my company? Dinner, dancing, some drinks perhaps?’

  She laughed. Dancing sounded like it could be fun.

  ‘Here you are,’ said her mother, walking over. ‘I wondered where you’d got to.’

  ‘Lady Ivy,’ the officer said, bowing. He took her hand and kissed it. ‘My best regards for your journey tomorrow.’ He glanced at Thorn and winked, before turning and walking away.

  ‘I wasn’t interrupting, was I?’ her mother said. ‘He’s a bit too old for you anyway, dear.’

  ‘We were just chatting.’

  Ivy frowned. ‘I saw the way he was looking at you. Ahh, you’re so naïve sometimes, and so innocent. I’ll have to keep my eye on you when we get to Plateau City.’

  ‘Mother, don’t embarrass me.’

  ‘I can’t help it; you’re my little girl.’

  ‘I’m a woman.’

  ‘You’re seventeen. Nearly a woman, but not quite. Not yet.’

  ‘You were younger than I am when you had Clove.’

  Her mother’s face darkened. ‘That was a different time. Back then, girls didn’t have a choice.’

  Acorn and Clove joined them.

  ‘Can we go now?’ said Clove.

  ‘Who were you talking to?’ said Acorn.

  ‘Me?’ said Thorn. ‘Just an officer from the guard.’

  ’No, before that.’

  ‘Oh. Lord Agang. I wanted to ask him some questions. I’ll be sharing a carriage with him tomorrow.’

  Her mother frowned. ‘Wait a minute. You’re what?’

  ‘Something wrong with that?’ Thorn said.

  ‘He’s a creepy old man,’ said Clove.

  ‘He is not,’ said Ivy, shooting a glance at her eldest daughter, ‘but at the same time, I’d like to be sure of his intentions before allowing him to share a carriage with my little girl.’

  ‘His intentions?’ said Thorn.

  ‘So innocent, my dear. Yes, his intentions. Did you perhaps lead him astray?’

  ‘What are you talking about, mother? Lord Agang prefers men.’

  Her mother’s eyes opened wide. ‘Are you sure? How do you know?’

  Thorn shrugged. ‘I can tell.’

  ‘You’re guessing, you mean,’ said Clove.

  ‘She’s always right about this stuff,’ muttered Acorn. ‘She notices things.’

  ‘Thank you, sister,’ Thorn smiled. ‘I’ve come to expect men to look at me in a certain way, and when they don’t, there’s usually a good reason.’

  Acorn shook her head. ‘You think you’re so superior.’

  ‘Would you prefer me to be this beautiful and not realise it?’

  ‘Don’t argue, girls,’ their mother said. ‘Let’s get our carriage home.’

  ‘But we only just got here,’ said Thorn. ‘I still have to mingle with those handsome gentlemen over by the window.’

  Her mother frowned. ‘I’ve think you’ve mingled quite enough for today.’

  Thorn sat in sullen silence for the journey back down the hill and through the town to their villa. It was mostly due to the severe discomfort the dress was giving her, but she wanted to make it seem as though she was disappointed to be leaving the court of the Matriarch so early. Her mother often indulged her if she seemed disappointed about something. Acorn and Clove chatted inanely, glad to be going back to their temporary home. Thorn struggled out of the carriage when they arrived, nearly falling down the steps to the ground before a butler caught her arm.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, smiling to cover her embarrassment as her sisters laughed.

  She hurried into the house and made for her bedroom, where Bracken was lying on one of the beds.

  Thorn closed the door and turned to Bracken.

  ‘Please help me get out of this fucking thing.’

  Bracken smirked and stood. Her fingers began to untie the score of knots that fastened the back of the dress as Thorn stood.

  ‘Did you have a good time?’ said Bracken.

  ‘No.’

  ‘How many times did you get asked out?’

  ‘Once.’

  ‘A slow day.’

  ‘Shut up.’

  Bracken stood back. ‘Do you want me to help you or not?’

  Thorn turned, her eyes cold and hard. ‘What did you say? I ask you for help, and this is how you treat me? Do you want to go back to Greyfalls Deepen? Just say the word. I have no problem leaving you here if you don’t want to come.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  Thorn sighed. ‘Just get on with it.’

  Bracken’s fingers returned to their work, and within seconds, the tight dress sprang open and Thorn was released from its confines. She let out a long breath, almost staggering in relief. She threw the corset onto the bed and slipped out of the rest of the dress, kicking off the uncomfortable shoes into a corner of the room. She lay down on the bed in her underclothes.

  ‘Thank you.’

  She reached for the bedside table and took a stick of dreamweed from the drawer. She lit it off a match and inhaled.

  ‘Would you really leave me here?’ said Bracken.

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ said Thorn. ‘Of course not. I just said that because the dress was crushing my ribs.’

  ‘I don’t know why you bother if it causes you that much pain.’

  ‘If you don’t want to make an effort, that’s your business, but don’t mock me for trying.’

  ‘I’m not mocking you.’

  ‘Shit,’ said Thorn. ‘We should probably start packing.’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Though I’m just going to lie here for a while first.’

  Thorn set the weedstick down into an ashtray and closed her eyes. If she waited long enough, maybe Bracken would do the packing for her.

  Chapter 8

  Closing In

  Hold Fast, Republic of the Holdings – 17th Day, Last Third Winter 524

  ‘So I told him,’ Keir said, as the small group of listeners crowded round him on the grassy bank, ‘I said, “Teacher or no teacher, you speak to me like that again, and I’ll ram this fist so far down your throat you’ll be shitting teeth for breakfast.” That was all it took; the little piss-stain wet himself and ran away.’

  A few of the girls laughed, while some of the boys looked bored, their smiles forced.

  ‘He won’t be bothering you again,’ said one of the better-looking girls, who sat behind Keir in class.

  ‘Yeah,’ said one of the boys, ‘because as soon as the teacher complains, Keir’ll be expelled.’

  Keir shrugged. ‘What, with only half a third to go before we leave anyway? But, so what if I am? School’s for losers. I’d rather be free, and not have to sit at a desk every day, pretending that what they’re teaching us isn’t just a pile of boring old crap.’

  He took a stick of dreamweed from a pouch and lit it. A few of the other students glanced around, their eyes nervous as they scanned for the presence of any adults.

  ‘Relax,’ he said. ‘School’s done for the day. What are they going to do?’

  He flicked ash onto the grass next to where they were sitting. At the bottom of the bank was the schoolhouse, a new stone building close to the centre of the Holdfast estate. Behind him to the right was the mansion, and the whitewashed buildings around them were dazzling in the sunlight. Despite still being winter, the weather had been mild, and the students were already wearing their spring clothes. He glanced at the short skirts and bare legs on show. The end of year dance was coming up in a little over a dozen days, and he would have to decide which girl he was taking. So far, he had narrowed his options down to five.

  ‘What are you going to do after New
Year, Keir?’ asked someone.

  He smiled. ‘First, I’m going to party, hard, for at least half a third; get the school system out of my blood. After that I might go up to Holdings City, and enrol in the university.’

  ‘You won’t get in if you’re expelled,’ said a boy.

  ‘You do know who my mother is, yeah?’ Keir said. ‘One word from her, and my place at university or the academy is a sure thing. And then it’ll be time to tear up the city! I hear the bars and clubs are amazing, some stay open until dawn.’

  He passed the weedstick to a good-looking girl.

  ‘Hey, Keir,’ said someone, pointing, ‘is that your sister? What’s she doing?’

  Keir frowned. If Kelsey was embarrassing him again he’d knock her round the ears. He glanced over at where the boy was pointing. On the other side of the school’s exercise yards, his younger sister was struggling under the weight of several metal cages.

  ‘Who knows?’ he said. ‘She’s crazy.’

  The group of classmates sat and watched as Kelsey stumbled her way down the path leading to the mansion. She dropped a cage and it fell to the ground. Muttering something inaudible, she stooped down to pick it up, and the rest of the pile she was carrying slipped and rolled onto the grass. A couple of Keir’s classmates laughed.

  ‘Aren’t you going to help her?’ asked a pretty girl.

  ‘I suppose I should,’ he said, ‘before she makes a bigger ass of herself.’ He stood and brushed the loose grass from his clothes. ‘See you all later.’

  The group gave their farewells as Keir strode down the slope to the yard. Kelsey saw him approach and smiled.

  ‘Peer pressured into lending assistance, oh gracious brother?’

  ‘Something like that.’

  He glanced down at the empty cages lying on the ground. ‘Aren’t these from your room?’