The Severed City

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Tahrana City was never designed for defence,’ the major said, ‘and we attacked it from three sides at once. Their army knew it was only a matter of time. The peasants started looting, and they lost control.’

  Agang nodded. ‘What will we do with the civilians?’

  ‘There are far too many for us to police,’ he said. ‘We’ll set up a secure area for the alliance forces, and let the Rahain devour each other.’

  Agang had Mandalecht clear and guard a route out of the city, through the main boulevards and tunnels, and brought the rest of his army into the Merchants’ Hall. He set up his headquarters in a ransacked row of large gilded offices on the ground floor of the central building, while his regiments took over whole blocks of plush accommodation. Vast stores of supplies were found, a mountain’s worth compared to the haul they had captured at Rainsby, and Agang let his men take their pick of the treasures.

  All Rahain were kept out of the great cavern, and away from the safe routes out of the city, but Agang could hear the looting continue through the unguarded districts. After hours of work in the offices organising the occupation, Agang yawned and walked outside for a break.

  He blinked in surprise, as he saw daylight come streaming through great apertures in the ceiling. The sky was a deep blue outside the cavern, and Agang longed for a glimpse of the sun, realising he had lost all track of time underground.

  ‘It’s about noon,’ Mandalecht said, coming out after him. Following behind was a servant with a tray.

  Agang took the small cup of coffee, and drank it in one gulp. He picked up a stick of keenweed, and held it to his lips as the servant lit it.

  ‘I’ll pay for this later,’ he said, as his tiredness vanished.

  ‘We all will, my lord,’ Mandalecht said. ‘We’ll sleep well tonight.’

  Drechtan and Lomecht approached.

  ‘Congratulations, my lord,’ Drechtan said. ‘A great victory. The boys have enough loot to last them a lifetime.’

  ‘And the fighting,’ Lomecht said, shaking his head. ‘How did these snakes ever become so rich and powerful? They’re even feebler than the Holdings folk.’

  ‘Is Hodang here, my lord?’ Drechtan asked.

  ‘No,’ Agang said, ‘not yet. Echtang was bringing him and the others in from the old camp once the route was secure.’

  ‘He’ll want to attend the gathering in the Council Hall, my lord.’

  ‘I know,’ said Agang, ‘but we’ve waited long enough for him. The Clackdomyn sent word over an hour ago that they had secured the last central cavern.’

  ‘Shall we then, my lord?’

  ‘Mandalecht, you stay here,’ Agang said. ‘Lomecht, Drechtan, let’s go.’

  A detachment of guards peeled off and accompanied them as they walked towards a great tunnel that linked the three central caverns. The wall carvings and statuary were of an epic scale, with towering figures of Rahain warriors and leaders lining the tunnel. At the end was a round chamber, with a fountain marking the very centre of the city, and two other great tunnels, one leading to the Hall of Learning, the other to the Council Hall.

  A troop of Holdings soldiers were stationed by the fountain, and they saluted Agang as he passed.

  By now he was getting numb to the over-sized grandeur of the city, and barely skipped a pace as they walked through to the Council Hall. The rocks here were grey, from light to charcoal, a heavy brooding architecture of power. The buildings were square cut and sharp edged, unlike the sinuous twists and curves of the Merchants’ Hall.

  A perimeter of Clackdomyn was guarding a great crowd of Rahain in the square before the most impressive building, which had a dome so large it would have covered the whole of Broadwater. The captives within the circle were well dressed, with no cheap brown tunics visible.

  Agang walked to where a massive Clackdomyn woman was talking to a Holdings captain.

  ‘Greetings, allies,’ he said.

  The Clackdomyn nodded, a look of satisfaction on her face.

  ‘My Lord Agang,’ the captain said. She too looked content, though tired.

  ‘Who do we have here?’ he said, nodding at the crowd of captives.

  ‘The councillors of Tahrana City,’ the captain said.

  ‘What are we doing with them?’

  ‘Almost every councillor is a mage, or is related to one,’ the captain said. ‘We have orders to isolate them, and send them back in chains to Plateau City.’

  ‘How are you distinguishing the mages from the rest?’

  ‘Mage-priests have been checking them,’ the captain said. ‘They can see it in their eyes.’

  Agang frowned.

  ‘As for the rest, our friend Councillor Laodoc has already identified and picked out those he feels might be sympathetic, the others will be executed as warmongers.’

  ‘Laodoc is building up his own rule?’

  ‘He’ll be installing a new council for the city, once it’s calmed down.’

  ‘That might be some time,’ Agang said. ‘It’s anarchy out in the caverns where our soldiers do not patrol. Their peasants are taking out their revenge on the old elite.’

  ‘And the slaves too,’ the captain said. ‘As of now, there are no slaves in Tahrana City, all have been freed by proclamation. The king’s word has been nailed up all over the city, in three different languages, for all to read.’

  ‘Already?’ Agang said. ‘Without any transition? Is that not a little hasty?’

  The captain frowned. ‘Slavery is abhorrent. It will not be tolerated in any area we control.’

  Agang said nothing.

  ‘My lord,’ Lomecht said. ‘Over there.’

  He pointed at a group of officers walking towards them, Field Marshal Howie among them.

  ‘We were coming to see you, Lord Agang,’ she said as they got closer.

  Agang nodded to her.

  ‘I’m afraid we won’t be able to rest long,’ she went on. ‘The Rahain army has regrouped on the highway leading to their capital city. They’re digging in. The council of eight has decided to send the King’s Combined Battalion ahead, using Rahain winged gaien to get them behind the enemy lines.’

  ‘But Hodang wasn’t present,’ Agang said. ‘He still hasn’t arrived in the city.’

  ‘Under the circumstances,’ Howie said, ‘I gave two votes to your mage Badolecht. The decision was unanimous.’

  Agang frowned.

  ‘It’s imperative we keep the momentum going,’ Howie said. ‘The council also decided that the alliance armies should move up and engage the Rahain front lines as soon as possible.’

  ‘Tomorrow?’

  Howie nodded.

  ‘Very well.’

  Howie raised an eyebrow. ‘For us perhaps. For Tahrana City? Councillor Laodoc has his work cut out for him. Mobs will be ruling this place the moment we leave.’

  The Holdings officers nodded at Agang and his entourage, and departed back across the square.

  ‘They speak to us as if we were servants,’ Lomecht said. ‘What’s the point of having a council, if they’re going to take decisions without us?’

  ‘I too have some complaints,’ Agang said, ‘but we have to consider the whole alliance. It can’t be easy trying to get a quorum together if one of us is late. It would be different if I disagreed with their decisions, but their logic is sound.’

  Lomecht frowned, and the Sanang began walking back towards the Merchants’ Hall.

  As they passed the central fountain, they saw a pair of warriors running towards them.

  ‘My lord,’ one gasped, ‘Chief Minister Hodang has arrived. He’s wounded, and so is your nephew, Lord Echtang.’

  Agang picked up his pace.

  They reached the hall, and saw a line of wagons in front of the main structure, where a crowd had gathered. Several hedgewitches were present, tending to a line of injured warriors. Chane was talking to them, a sword in her hand, the front of her tunic covered in blood.

  ‘What happened?’
>
  Agang asked.

  Chane blinked, and he could feel Lomecht bristle beside him.

  ‘Where are Hodang and Echtang?’ Agang said.

  ‘I’m here, uncle,’ his nephew said. Agang turned and saw Echtang lying on the ground, a hedgewitch administering to his leg. ‘We were attacked in the tunnels. Swarms of Rahain swept over us. They got into our carriage, and I was wounded. So was Hodang.’

  ‘We lost seven warriors,’ his chief minister said, hobbling towards him, using a spear as a crutch.

  Hodang came up to Agang.

  ‘I was wrong about Chane, my lord,’ he said. ‘When Echtang fell, she picked up his sword, and fought off our attackers.’

  Lomecht snorted.

  ‘You may mock, young man,’ Hodang said, ‘but she saved us. She’s a better fighter than many in our own regiments. I daresay she might even be a match for you.’

  ‘I did what I had to,’ Chane said. She turned the sword in her hands and offered the hilt to Echtang.

  ‘You should have seen her uncle,’ his nephew said, chuckling as he took the sword.

  ‘This is no surprise to me,’ Mandalecht said. ‘I watched her train my sword masters.’

  Agang slapped her on the back. ‘Well done. Thank you for saving my nephew and chief minister.’

  ‘She’s a slave and a woman,’ Lomecht said. ‘She has broken the law. Do none of you care?’

  Mandalecht shrugged and shook his head.

  ‘Maybe the law needs an exception,’ Hodang said. ‘I’d certainly not object to Chane being armed next time I’m waylaid by a mob.’

  ‘It goes against nature,’ Lomecht said. ‘Every one of us knows how devious women can be, what liars they are, cloaking their true intent behind silky words. And she is a slave, and everyone here knows the punishment for slaves who take up arms.’

  Agang saw nods of approval from many in the crowd.

  ‘There are always exceptions,’ Agang said. ‘The law may be sound, but Chane is an extreme case. I therefore declare the following.’

  He put his hand on Chane’s shoulder, and pushed her down. She knelt before him.

  ‘She fights like a man, and knows battle tactics and strategy as well as any warrior. Today she proved she also has the courage to match.’

  ‘Chane,’ he said, looking down at her, ‘I free you. You are a slave no longer.’

  Her eyes widened.

  ‘Hodang,’ he said. ‘Draw up the papers of manumission. Assign her to my personal guard.’

  ‘Yes, my lord.’

  ‘Lomecht, what do you say?’

  ‘You’re the chief,’ he said, bowing. He straightened, but kept his eyes averted, and walked away from the crowd round the wagons.

  Chane walked up to Agang and they watched Lomecht leave. A few others broke off from the group and followed him.

  ‘Thanks,’ Chane whispered, ‘but I don’t want to be in your personal guard.’

  He frowned. ‘You should have thought of that before you picked up a fucking sword.’

  Chapter 26

  Archways Gatehouse

  Rahain Capital, Rahain Republic – 4th Day, Second Third Winter 505

  ‘This is worse than being on a fucking boat,’ Keira said, hanging onto a leather strap as the carriage hurtled through the air.

  ‘We’re coming in fast,’ Benel cried, his eyes wild.

  She stared out of the narrow porthole. The side of a mountain was approaching, their pilots guiding the winged gaien in a sharp descent straight for a pair of large openings, one of the entrances to the great capital city of the Rahain Republic. Benel had been given a whole flotilla of flying beasts, but as soon as the Leftovers were in the air he had torn up his orders. Fuck landing behind the army lines, he had said to her, he had a far bigger prize in mind.

  They were flying in pairs, but the carriage next to them had no warriors in it, just a pilot on top, harnessed to the lead gaien. The carriage had been packed with jars of highly flammable oil. Benel was hoping it would explode on impact, but if not, he had told Keira what he expected of her.

  ‘There it goes,’ Kylon called out, as the pilot released the catches connecting the oil-filled carriage to its gaien. Keira gasped, her eyes wide, as she watched its trajectory. Their own carriage dived to follow, and her stomach rose.

  The loose carriage flew through the air and crashed into the right hand entrance to the city, smashing its contents over the area, but no fire arose.

  ‘You’re up,’ Benel frowned at her. ‘Hang on everyone.’

  At a lower height than the first, their carriage was released and it dropped hard, skidding onto the rocky surface in front of the entrance to the city. Keira heard the squads behind her cry out in terror as the carriage slammed across the ground, scraping and juddering. As soon as it stopped, a side flap opened, and the squads fell out, sprinting towards the gates, Benel in the lead with a lit torch in his hand, Keira at his side.

  Rahain civilians had gathered around the archway where the first carriage had hit, mixing with soldiers. They turned as they saw Keira and the squads approach, many crying out in alarm. The civilians started to run, while the soldiers reached for their crossbows.

  Benel threw the torch. He was too far away for it to reach where the jars spilled from the wrecked carriage, but Keira raised her hand, and as the torch soared through the air she sent a slim flame out from it, so slender as to be almost unnoticeable. She flung herself to the ground.

  The thin thread of flame hit the carriage, and there was an almighty roar as the oil ignited. The explosion ripped through the crowd at the gate, and brought down most of the masonry from the arch above in a deafening crash of rubble.

  Keira stood, and charged.

  Kylon ran by her side, and they sprinted up to the heap of rubble that was half-blocking the right hand entrance. No Rahain were on their feet, and several had been crushed or hit by flying shards of stone. Keira and Kylon scrambled up the pile of rock, and looked over the top.

  For a second she paused, trying to take in the vast hall before her. It was rectangular, with the twin entrances at one end. Down each side ran a colonnade of tall pillars, with graceful arches joining them. Between the columns were shops and markets, and hundreds of Rahain civilians were on the broad plaza, many staring wide-eyed at where the explosion had taken place.

  Rahain soldiers were pouring out from the columns to the left, over by the other gate, the Leftover’s next target. Without waiting to see if any of her squad were arriving behind her, she leapt down the mound of rubble, her shield swung round to her front. She drew her sword.

  The first Rahain soldiers approached, still bewildered, and she cut one down. Fang appeared at her left, wielding his short double-headed axe, and Kylon overtook her on the right, plunging into the ranks of the enemy.

  Keira cried out in delight, and laid into the Rahain before her. She slashed out with her Holdings longsword, and the lines of Rahain broke. Leftovers were now flooding into the hall through the ruined entrance, and in moments Keira had reached the other gate.

  Benel was standing there, smiling, four dead Rahain at his feet.

  Behind him, more winged gaien were delivering their carriages packed with warriors to the area before the twin entrances. Above, great bolts, like spears, were being fired from the city defences further up the mountain. Several gaien were struck, but most were able to release their carriages before turning, and flying away north.

  One carriage lost two of its gaien, and span out of control. Its carriage smashed into a ridge high to their left, and warriors fell out like rain from the wreckage.

  ‘Never mind them,’ Benel said. ‘Every entrance to the city will have a garrison. We need to find it.’

  ‘It’s that way,’ she pointed. ‘Where the soldiers are coming from.’

  ‘Take your squad in,’ he said, ‘and the others from the first company. I’ll deal with the hall.’

  ‘Aye,’ she said.

  ‘Good job before
,’ he muttered. ‘No one else was close enough to realise it wasn’t my torch that set it off.’

  ‘Aye, and I’m sure you’ll be really upset at getting the credit for it.’

  ‘A burden I’m prepared to bear,’ he smiled.

  She turned, and met with the officers gathered by the entrance.

  ‘First company,’ she yelled. ‘We’re taking the garrison. Come on you lazy bastards.’

  The Rahain had formed lines leading through the columns to the left of the gate, and were trying to break out through the alliance forces, who were now in the hall in their hundreds. Keira led the first company in a tight charge, right at the main Rahain lines.

  She felt exhilarated, alive. She left all sense of restraint behind and fought, heedless of her safety, fearless and terrifying.

  The warriors of the first company followed her. The more reckless she was, the more they surged forward to match her, and they smashed through the Rahain lines, Holdings, Sanang and Kellach Brigdomin together.

  The remaining Rahain turned and fled at the frenzied onslaught, and she set off to pursue them into the tunnels and chambers dug into the side of the hall.

  ‘Clear it out!’ she cried when she reached a crossroads. ‘Every tunnel, every chamber, kill them all!’

  She stood aside, and the company surged past her and into the Rahain barracks.

  Kylon walked up to her and shook his head.

  ‘That was fucking mental,’ she said.

  ‘You’re out of your mind.’

  ‘I’m a crazy bitch,’ she said. ‘That’s why you love me.’

  ‘What now, Sergeant?’ said Niall.

  She glanced at him. He had never commented on how she had been promoted above him after the opening of the tunnel. Maybe he was a natural second-in-command. The other survivors of the tunnel raid gathered around, ordered by Benel to stay close to Keira at all times. He had told them she had saved his life in the tunnel, and that he owed her. Only half of the original squad had made it back after she had used her powers to blow out the blockage. The Holdings troopers had suffered the most, of the allies, only Brecht and Bronald had been killed.