She walked out from Blackrose’s lair, and when she was halfway to Hilde she noticed Buckler appear down the high tunnel that led to the red gate. Further caverns and tunnels stretched out behind his bulk, as if his lair was considerably larger than where Blackrose stayed. Maddie halted as she watched Buckler. He had always seemed like such a huge dragon, but after being at close quarters for so long with Blackrose, she estimated that he was about half her size. Even so, the stone floor was shaking at his approach. He leaned his long neck into the cavern, and glanced towards the open black gate.
‘Hello, Buckler,’ she shouted up. ‘I’m Maddie Jackdaw.’
His eyes flickered down for a moment. ‘I hope Blackrose is treating you fairly, girl, but I know her well, so I doubt it.’ He laughed at his own joke, but the sound felt weak compared to the noise Blackrose made. He glanced back up again, a hint of wariness in his eyes as he peered past the black gate. ‘Blackrose, are you there?’
A dark shadow loomed behind Maddie. ‘Of course I’m here. What do you want, child?’
‘It’s been a while. I’ve been thinking about you, stuck down here. I wanted to see you with my own eyes, to make sure you were alright.’
Blackrose lifted the thick, heavy chain that bound one of her rear legs to the wall of her lair. ‘Do these shackles not tell you everything you need to know?’
Buckler’s large, snake-like eyes narrowed at the sight of the chains. ‘It doesn’t have to be this way.’
‘If this is the point where you’re going to attempt to convince me to fight for the insects of this world, then save your breath. If you couldn’t persuade me on the dozen occasions you’ve tried before, what, apart from your stupidity, makes you think I’ll change my mind now?’
For a moment, Maddie thought Buckler was going to attack. He tensed his forelimbs, his claws scratching the flagstones, scoring them deeply. The temperature in the cavern rose as smoke emerged from his open jaws. Blackrose laughed, and this time the cavern echoed with the thundering sound. Buckler lowered his head, calming himself, as Maddie crept away from the area between the two dragons.
‘For a start,’ he said, ‘you would be free to fly again, every day. I kill greenhides for the people of the City, it’s true, but for most of the time I can fly where I will, for as long as I wish, and feel the air over my wings. Don’t you miss the clouds, and the stars? The rain? Seeing the frost on the ground shimmer a hundred feet below you? And the killing is good. The greenhides have no nets or spear-throwing ballistae; they don’t even possess the capacity to make simple bows. And the people, they’re grateful for what I do. I have all the food I require, and company, and an airy, warm lair. They even built me an eyrie, from where I can see almost the entire City. They treat me like a king.’
‘You are a slave!’ Blackrose roared, making Buckler flinch back a yard. ‘A pampered pet, a tail-wagging poodle begging treats from your master for performing tricks for him. You are no dragon; you are a disgrace to the name. If the high dragons of our home were to see the way you have abased yourself for these worthless humans, they would rip you limb from limb.’
‘Your home,’ Buckler said. ‘It was never mine. I have never seen the home you talk of. You are blaming me for not living in a manner that I have never known. I was born in chains, and raised as a slave-mercenary, but I am still a dragon. You, though, are a coward.’
Blackrose pushed her head through the gate, her teeth bared as her jaws opened. Buckler faced her, and adopted the same pose, and the two dragons stared at each other, separated by a few feet. Hilde grabbed Maddie’s arm and pulled her back.
There was a roar of fire as Blackrose sent flames out to engulf Buckler. His neck darted forward, and his jaws closed on the older dragon’s left shoulder. Blackrose let out a roar of pain, and brought her right forelimb down, its claws ripping deep scratches across Buckler’s left flank.
‘Stop!’ yelled Maddie, running out towards them, her hands waving in the air.
Blackrose’s forelimb was still raised, and it swung towards Maddie before the dragon had even glanced at her. At the last second, the claws were retracted, but the force of the blow sent Maddie flying across the length of the cavern. She crashed into the floor and skidded and bumped another few yards before coming to a halt. She opened her eyes but could see nothing, and her chest and limbs were screaming in agony. She tried to move her legs, but nothing happened. Someone was calling her name, but her mind fell into oblivion before she could tell who it was.
She awoke in her own bed, her head throbbing with a dull pain. She felt groggy and nauseous, and half of her body seemed to be wrapped in bandages or strapped to splints. She took a breath, and her chest heaved in agony.
‘Malik’s ass,’ she groaned.
Captain Hilde lifted her head from the chair where she had been reclining. Her eyes widened and she rushed over. ‘Don’t try to move.’
‘Water.’
‘Sure; of course,’ Hilde said as she glanced around. She reached out and picked up a mug from the small bedside table. ‘Here.’ She held it out so Maddie could take a few sips. ‘The good news is; you’re alive! Hurrah. I really thought Blackrose had done it again, though yours would have been the first accidental death so that’s something, I suppose.’
‘Being alive is good,’ said Maddie; ‘what’s the bad news?’
‘You can still talk. Only joking, that’s good news as well, of course. I look forward to hearing all of your many irritating questions while you convalesce. The real bad news is that your recovery may take some time. Your left leg’s broken in two places, as is a bone in your left forearm. That was from hitting the floor. You’ve also broken several ribs, and your collar bone; that was from Blackrose hitting you.’
‘What happened to Buckler? Is he alright?’
‘Not really. They separated after you were almost killed, and he went back to his lair, dripping blood along the way from that wound she gave him down his flank. I doubt he’ll be in the air for a few days after that.’
‘Was he not burnt as well? I remember fire.’
Hilde shrugged. ‘Dragons are very resistant to fire. It would have hurt, but it didn’t do any lasting damage. To seriously wound, they use their jaws and claws against each other. Blackrose took a nasty bite to her shoulder, and you saw what her claws did to him. You were lucky; if she hadn’t retracted her claws when she swung at you…’
‘Why did she?’
Hilde sat on the edge of the bed. She glanced down at Maddie, and moved a strand of hair that had fallen over her face. ‘Apart from me, in the last ten years you’re the only person she’s known for more than a few days.’ She smiled. ‘I guess the old lady has a heart after all.’
Chapter 12
The Leopard and the Honeybee
Roser Territory, Auldan, The City – 10th Izran 3419
Dust was rising along the entire length of the road that ran from the suburbs of Tara to the ancient castle of Torwood on the Union Walls. It was a six-mile march from the first town of the City to the fort; the first three miles of which traversed a built-up area of streets and buildings, while the second half was through the peaceful fields and farms of Outer Tara.
Daniel and his company moved to the side of the road as another pony-carriage trotted by, carrying high-ranking officers to the castle. As a junior officer, Daniel was marching with the regular soldiers of his regiment, and his sole duty was to ensure none of them absconded along the way. He wasn’t worried about the prospect of that; judging from their faces, the Taran militia were keen to get involved in what was developing into a crisis in Medio. Daniel didn’t know much about what was going on. He had heard the rumours of riots in the Circuit, and knew that the governing authorities of the Sander tribe had officially requested assistance, but no explicit orders had been given, except to report with his company to Torwood along with the other regiments that had been called up.
Wheat fields stretched out on either side of the road, their stalks still g
reen in the warm sunshine. Any spare water was directed to the irrigation channels, and the road was a dry, dusty mess, trampled by the boots of hundreds of militia over that day and the previous one. On their left, the wheat fields were coming to an end, replaced by enormous paddocks holding the herds of Roser ponies, while on their right the fields extended to the base of the Sunward Range of hills. The lower slopes were crowded with terraced olive groves and orchards, while the higher land was reserved for the great vineyards and estates that produced the finest wine in the City. Only a tenth of Roser territory was built-up, the lowest proportion of any tribe except the Icewarders, but as most of their land consisted of the barren mountains of the Iceward Range, it was hardly a fair comparison. Nowhere else in the City had such an abundance of green spaces and quiet meadows; woods, glades and gentle hillsides where one could walk and not see anyone else for an hour; the contrast with the concrete slums of the Circuit could not be starker. With half of the City’s food supply coming from the Cold and Warm Seas, the other half had to be grown somewhere, and Daniel knew he was lucky to live in a place that seemed almost rural within the heart of the vast metropolis.
He halted and turned to gaze back down the road, making sure his company was keeping together in marching formation. The soldiers’ eyes avoided him as they passed. To them, he was just another useless aristocratic officer, untried and junior; a liability to their cohesion rather than of any benefit. He didn’t care; he felt much the same way about his own commanding officers. All he could do was his job, and make sure the same number of troopers returned to the base in Tara when the mission was over as set out in the first place.
In the distance, he saw another junior officer leading the next company along the road, but he had no desire to wait to speak to them. Since his confrontation with Gaimer, his peers had avoided him as his reputation had altered in a few well-aimed punches from mummy’s boy to reckless thug. No one had taunted him since then, Gaimer’s broken jaw had made sure of that, but none had said a friendly word to him either. Even Todd had been distant, though whether it was due to peer pressure or the fact he was genuinely disgusted by Daniel’s behaviour was unclear.
He turned back to the road ahead and continued the march. Each trooper was weighed down by the huge amount of equipment they had been issued with; not only weapons and clothes, but tools, tents, cooking utensils and enough food and water for several days. Their shields and mailed armour were strapped to their packs along with their helmets, and many were sweating under the hot sun of Izran. Daniel was fortunate; his equipment had been put onto the back of a wagon and would be awaiting him in his new quarters, wherever they were.
The line of the Union Walls grew steadily closer as they marched. It was the most dilapidated section of the ancient defences, and had seen no major repairs in centuries. As the land it straddled had Rosers on one side and Sanders on the other, many had even campaigned for a two or three mile stretch to be demolished, to allow the two neighbouring tribes more freedom to move between the two territories.
Conversely, Torwood Castle had been renovated several times, and was kept in a high state of repair; and Daniel noticed its tall towers as they approached. Roser and Sander standards were flying high from the battlements; the black leopard and the honeybee. In many ways, the Sanders were seen as a junior branch of the Rosers, and their family and trading connections went back to the younger tribe’s foundation. Formations of Taran troopers were standing in the open areas by the Roser side of the massive fortress, waiting for officers to assign them to their positions. A captain on the road signalled to Daniel as his company arrived in front of the gatehouse.
‘Report, Lieutenant.’
‘Third Company of the Queen’s Own, ma’am.’
‘And you are?’ the captain said as her eyes scanned a scroll.
‘Lieutenant Daniel Aurelian, ma’am.’
She glanced up at him, and he could see that she was debating whether or not to make a comment about his name. ‘Park your company somewhere close by where I’ll be able to see them, Lieutenant, then make your way inside. The Major-General is expecting you.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Daniel saluted, then walked back to his troopers. He found the company’s sergeants and gestured to them.
‘Sir?’ one said as they gathered by him.
Daniel glanced at them, seeing the contempt they held for him in their eyes. ‘I’ve been told to go inside, presumably for our orders, so sit tight out here for now.’ He glanced around and saw a clear space fifty yards away. He pointed. ‘Over there will do. Don’t let the troopers wander off; I might need to find you again in a hurry.’
‘Yes, sir.’
He turned away and strode towards the gatehouse. The entrance was heaving with troops and wagons, and he squeezed past. Another captain was directing traffic beyond the gates, and he pointed over to the tall keep when Daniel asked where he should go. He approached the keep and entered through the guarded gates. The ground floor was bustling with staff officers and porters carrying luggage and crates, and Daniel ascended a series of stairs until he reached the top storey, where an orderly directed him to the commander’s briefing room. He knocked and entered, coming into a crowded hall packed with officers. Maps were spread out over tabletops, and were hanging from the high walls.
‘Can I help you?’ said a colonel.
‘Yes, sir. I was asked to report to the Major-General.’
‘Every arriving officer is directed up here.’ He gestured to a clerk, who handed him a thick folder. ‘Name?’
‘Lieutenant Daniel Aurelian, sir.’
The colonel chuckled. ‘Ah, so we have been blessed by the presence of a great and noble Aurelian, have we?’
‘It seems so, sir.’
He skipped through the pages of the folder until he found what he was looking for. ‘Come with me.’ He walked over to a large table, where a map of the sunward half of Medio was displayed. Daniel gazed down, noting the thick black lines marking the Union and Middle Walls, and a red line that showed the frontier between Evader and Sander territory.
‘Let’s see now,’ said the colonel, as he glanced between the folder and the map. ‘You have been assigned to patrol and guard this section of the border here,’ he said, pointing at a stretch of the thick red line.
‘Which officer am I under?’
‘Captain Hallern is in overall command of the sector, but you shall be personally leading a detachment of forty troopers from your company. Is that a problem, Lieutenant?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Very good. Well, what are you waiting for? Take your detachment and go.’
‘May I ask, sir, what are our objectives?’
The colonel gave him a scathing glance. ‘Haven’t you been briefed on the situation?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Damnation, I haven’t time for this nonsense,’ the colonel muttered. ‘Very quickly, then; our position is that we, the Taran militia, have been asked to reinforce the frontier between the Evaders and the Sanders. Your objective, Lieutenant, is to prevent the recent troubles from spilling over into Sander territory. No one is allowed to cross the frontier from the Circuit without the express permission of Captain Hallern. You and your troopers will be quartered in local Sander housing on the frontier, and the length of border you are responsible for stretches for, let me see…’ He paused as he scanned the map. ‘About a quarter of a mile, I’d say. Now, get your Aurelian butt out of here and make your way to Captain Hallern’s command post. Check in with him before moving onto your quarters, understand?’
‘Yes, sir. What about my equipment and baggage, sir?’
‘I’ll have it transported to your location by wagon before the end of the day.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
The colonel turned away and began speaking to someone else, so Daniel took that as his signal to go. He retraced his steps down and out of the keep, then shoved his way through the press of people and carts in the fortress’s marshallin
g yard. He had to wait as a huge wagon made its way into the fort, then he hurried through the gates and emerged back onto the road outside Torwood Castle. He glanced over to where he had told the company to wait, and saw a far fewer number of troopers sitting or standing on the dusty ground. He frowned and walked over.
‘Where’s the rest of the company?’ he said to the nearest sergeant.
‘The other officers from the regiment have already been and taken most of the squads, sir.’
Daniel frowned as he glanced at the troops he had been left with. It was a mixture of the youngest recruits, with a smattering of very old hands. Two sergeants were present, along with thirty-four troopers.
‘Get them on their feet, Sergeant; we have another couple of miles to walk.’
Daniel led his detachment back through the packed castle. At the gatehouse at the far end, the guards let them pass, and they emerged into Medio. Torwood was located at the junction of three tribes. On the Auldan side, all of the territory belonged to the Rosers, but on the Medio side, the frontier between the Evader and Sander tribes ran practically from the fort’s entrance. A wide road led off in a straight line, with a deep ditch on the iceward side of it. The road was busy with troops and wagons, and Daniel led his detachment to a quiet spot by the ditch. He had the sergeants line them up in a double column as he waited.
‘Troopers,’ he said to them once they were in position, ‘in case any of you were wondering; yes, that’s the Circuit behind me.’ He gestured to the vast sprawl of grey concrete rooftops and narrow alleys, the sky above hazy with smoke. ‘The ditch marks the frontier, and we are going to be patrolling a section of it. Take a good look. Despite whatever you may feel, the Evaders are not our enemy, and I want no action taken that will inflame the situation. Treat the civilians with respect, and carry out your duty, and we will back in Tara as soon as the current troubles die down. Any questions?’
The Mortal Blade: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Magelands Eternal Siege Book 1) Page 17
