There was nothing but silence from outside, then a low, ‘So be it,’ came from Kano and he walked away.
Aila lowered her head, then glanced at Corthie. ‘Kill him if you have to.’
He glanced at her. She still loved her brother, despite everything, and he knew that killing him would leave a scar across the heart of their relationship that she would never be able to forget. He took a breath. With every moment that passed, it looked less likely that he was going to survive. Kano had been ordered to kill him, and without the ability to run, or even walk properly, he was never going to be able to flee. All that remained was ensuring Aila was alive, and that his promise to Blackrose was fulfilled.
‘Khora,’ he said. ‘If I die here, and you get away, I need to know something.’
‘Don’t say that,’ said Aila.
Khora glanced at her, then turned to Corthie. ‘What?’
‘I need to know that you’ll try to get Blackrose home.’
‘Blackrose? Is she another champion on the wall?’
‘She’s the other dragon, the one that’s been kept a secret.’
‘Oh. I didn’t ever learn her name. Yes, I will try, you have my word.’
Corthie began to smell smoke drifting through from outside. ‘Then get ready.’
‘What for?’ said Aila.
‘My wonderful plan,’ he said, trying to smile. ‘As you two haven’t come up with anything better, I’m going to do it. As soon as I’m out of the door, run for it, and don’t look back.’
Aila approached him. ‘No,’ she said, her eyes beseeching him. ‘There has to be another way.’
‘Do you smell the smoke? It’ll be getting warm in here soon; we’re out of time.’
She ran into his arms and he put his right hand round her, as his left was supporting his weight against the wall. He grimaced as he felt the wound in his thigh ache, but pulled her close, her head buried into his chest.
‘Listen,’ he said; ‘when my sister comes, tell her I missed her, tell her I thought about her every day. Tell her what I miss most is when I used to hide around the house, wait for her to pass, and then jump out and wrestle her to the ground.’ He laughed. ‘She always hated that.’
Aila pulled her head back and gazed up at him, tears coming down her cheeks. ‘You can’t die.’
‘I’m mortal, Aila. I can die.’
She leaned up and they kissed, and he forgot everything else for a brief moment, losing himself in the touch of her lips. He had few regrets, he thought, but leaving Aila would be his greatest.
Khora approached as Corthie looked up.
‘Thank you,’ she said.
He nodded, then picked up the poker and staggered towards the door. He threw down the beam that was barring it, and peered through the thin crack. Firewood from the garden was piled up outside the tower, and several patches had been lit, while Blades were standing back in a thick line, shields up, crossbows levelled. Kano stood behind them, his height towering over the mortal soldiers.
Behind him, he heard Aila and Khora by his back, ready. He turned and glanced down at them, so he could see Aila’s face.
‘Everything’s going to be fine,’ he said, then he burst through the door in an explosion of speed. He charged at the soldiers, roaring, and had crossed half the distance before the first crossbow bolts struck him. Right shoulder, left side, stomach. He clattered to the ground, skidding through the gravel, and trailing a smear of blood behind him. He gasped for breath, twisting his head to see if Khora and Aila had made it to the gap in the wall, but Aila was standing frozen by the tower door, staring at him, as Khora tried to drag her away. Soldiers rushed them, jumping over Corthie or running round him, and Aila went down, pinned by two Blades, as Khora was surrounded. Lord Kano stepped forward. He glanced down at Corthie lying on the dirt, and spat on him.
‘I’m not dead yet, you asshole,’ he gasped.
‘You will be soon enough, boy,’ Kano said. He looked around. ‘Secure my sister,’ he said; ‘bind her hands.’ He drew his sword and walked towards Khora.
‘I surrender to you, Lord Kano,’ she said, standing proud. ‘Let me speak to Duke Marcus.’
Kano raised an iron-clad fist and punched her in the face. Khora collapsed to the ground. Kano watched her groan in agony for a moment as she self-healed, then leaned over and took a fistful of her hair. He dragged her across the gravel and into the tower. The door slammed behind him, and Corthie heard Khora scream.
Aila was struggling in the grip of the two Blades, trying to reach where Corthie was lying, but the grip of the soldiers remained firm. After a few moments, the screaming from the tower cut off in the middle of a cry, and Kano emerged from the tower, the front of his armour covered in blood.
‘You’re not my brother!’ shouted Aila.
Kano approached her and slapped her across the face. Corthie tried to move. He lifted his arm an inch, and gasped. His sight was starting to swim, and the pain was almost unbearable.
A cry echoed from somewhere else in the garden, then another, from a different direction. Several Blades turned, and Kano glanced round. A third cry rang out, along with the sound of steel striking steel.
‘Whoever that is,’ cried Kano, ‘find them!’
The Blades began fanning out, moving between the high hedges into the thick dark fog, until only a handful were left by the tower. Kano walked over to Corthie.
‘Now it’s your turn,’ he said.
Behind him, Naxor appeared from nowhere, a sword in one hand, and a copper-coloured metallic device in the other. Corthie’s eyes widened. The Quadrant. Naxor powered his battle-vision, and his sword flashed out, cutting down the two guards holding Aila.
‘You?’ cried Kano, his eyes wide.
Naxor glanced over to the tower, and saw the blood trickling through the open door. Kano raised his sword and charged at him. Naxor stood his ground, then grabbed hold of Aila.
‘No,’ she cried, ‘Corthie!’
They both vanished, and Kano ran through the empty space where they had just been standing. He turned, his mouth hanging open as he stared around the enclosure.
Sir,’ cried a Blade officer, ‘there’s no one out in the gardens. We’ve searched everywhere.’
Kano said nothing as he continued to stare at the spot where his sister had last been.
‘Sir?’ said the officer.
Kano blinked. ‘It’s done. Send a messenger to Duke Marcus that the High Guardian’s rule is over. Princess Khora was murdered in cold blood by Corthie Holdfast, and the criminal was apprehended and executed by myself, Lord Kano. Do you have all that?’
The Blade officer hesitated for a second, then saluted. ‘Yes, sir.’
‘Who killed the princess?’
‘Corthie Holdfast, sir.’
‘Dismissed.’
The officer turned and hurried away. Kano walked over to Corthie, then knelt down by him.
‘You lost,’ he said, ‘as I knew you would.’
Corthie tried to respond, but he was too weak, and could feel his life ebbing away as the blood flowed from his wounds. Of all the places to die, he thought. At least Aila had got away. He closed his eyes.
Kano stood, and walked away.
Darkness, movement. Pain. He tried to open his eyes.
‘Don’t move an inch,’ hissed a voice, ‘and make no sound.’
The bumping continued, and he realised he was lying on the floor of a wagon that was being driven at speed over cobbled streets.
He groaned, then a hand came down over his mouth.
‘Shut up,’ the voice whispered, ‘or we’re both dead.’
The carriage slowed to a halt, and Corthie heard voices; the gruff accents of Blade soldiers. The talking continued for a moment, and the wagon took off again.
‘Praise Malik,’ whispered the voice.
Corthie managed to turn his head, but his vision was blurry. He saw the rough shape of a man. ‘Who are you?’
‘You don’t recog
nise the man who has just saved your life?’
‘My eyes… not working…’
‘I’m Salvor.’ The voice came closer. ‘Now listen to me, mortal, very carefully. I saw what they did to my mother. They’re trying to spread the story that it was you, but I know. One day I shall have revenge upon Kano, and you are a part of that; which is why you must live, champion. Those fools left you for dead, and ordered me to dispose of your corpse.’ He laughed, but it was strained, and had a tinge of near-hysteria about it. ‘Imagine my surprise to find that you were still alive.’
Corthie spluttered, the agony rolling over him in waves.
A hand grabbed his shoulder. ‘Do not die, mortal, I forbid it. I’m sending you away, far away, and it’s not going to be pleasant, let me tell you, but it’s the only place out of reach of my cousin Vana. She can sense powers, and would be able to tell if you were alive and in the City, just as she will be used to track down my brother Naxor. The coward that I am, I will kneel and beg and swear whatever they want me to swear, but I will be waiting, waiting for news of your return.’
He came even closer, and Corthie could feel the demigod’s breath on his face.
‘And when you return; you will kill them all.’
This concludes The Mortal Blade
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The Nine Tribes of the City
There are nine distinct tribes inhabiting the City. Three were in the area from the beginning, and the other six were created in two waves of expansion.
The Original Three Tribes – Auldan (pop. 300 000) Auldan is the oldest part of the City. United by the Union Walls (completed in 1040), it combined the three original tribes and their towns, along with the shared town of Ooste, which houses the Royal Palace, where King Malik lives.
1. The Rosers – (their town is Tara, est. Yr. 1.) The first tribe to reach the peninsula where the City is located. Began farming there in the sunward regions, until attacks from the Reapers forced them into building the first walled town. Prince Michael ruled until his death in 3096. Queen Amalia governs the Rosers from Maeladh Palace in Tara.
2. The Gloamers – (their town is Dalrig, est. Yr. 40.) Arrived shortly after the Rosers, farming the iceward side of the peninsula. Like them, they fought with the Reapers, and built a walled town to stop their attacks. Prince Montieth rules from Greylin Palace in Dalrig.
3. The Reapers – (their town is Pella, est. Yr. 70.) Hunter/Gatherer tribe that arrived after the more sedentary Rosers and Gloamers. Settled in the plains between the other two tribes. More numerous than either the Rosers or the Gloamers, but are looked down on as more rustic. Prince Isra ruled until his death in 3078. Princess Khora now rules in his stead, but delegates to her son, Lord Salvor, who governs from Cuidrach Palace in Pella.
The Next Three Tribes – Medio (pop. 400 000) Originally called ‘New Town’, this part of the City was its first major expansion; and was settled from the completion of the Middle Walls (finished in 1697 and originally known as the Royal Walls). The name ‘Medio’ derives from the old Evader word for ‘Middle’.
1. The Icewarders – (their town is Icehaven, est. 1657.) Settlers from Dalrig originally founded a new colony at Icehaven to assist in the building of the Middle Walls, as the location was too cold and dark for the greenhides. After the wall’s completion, many settlers stayed, and a new tribe was founded. Separated from Icehaven by mountains, a large number of Icewarders also inhabit the central lowlands bordering the Circuit. Princess Niomi ruled until her death in 3089. Her daughter, Lady Yvona, now governs from Alkirk Palace in Icehaven.
2. The Sanders – (their town is Port Sanders, est. 1702.) When the Middle Walls were completed, a surplus population of Rosers and Reapers moved into the new area, and the tribe of the Sanders was founded, based around the port town on the Warm Sea. Related closely to the Rosers in terms of allegiance and culture. Princess Khora rules, but delegates to her daughter, Lady Lydia, who governs from the Tonetti Palace in Port Sanders.
3. The Evaders – (their town is the Circuit, est. 2133.) The only tribe ethnically unrelated to the others, the Evaders started out as refugees fleeing the greenhides, and they began arriving at the City c.1500. They were taken in, and then used to help build the Middle Walls. The largest tribe by population among the first six, though the other tribes of Auldan and Medio look down on them as illiterate savages. Princess Yendra ruled until her death in 3096. Lady Ikara rules from Redmarket Palace in the town’s centre.
The Final Three Tribes – The Bulwark (pop. 600 000) The Bulwark is the defensive buffer that protects the entire City from greenhide attack. Work commenced on the enormous Great Walls after the decisive Battle of the Children of the Gods in 2247, when the greenhides were annihilated and pushed back hundreds of miles. They were completed c.2300, and the new area of the City was settled.
1. The Blades – (est. 2300.) The military tribe of the City. The role of the Blades is to defend the Great Walls from the unceasing attacks by the Greenhides. Their service is hereditary, and the role of soldier passes from parent to child. Officials from the Blades also police and govern the other two tribes of the Bulwark. Their headquarters is the Fortress of the Lifegiver, the largest bastion on the Great Walls, where Duke Marcus is the commander.
2. The Hammers – (est. 2300.) The industrial proletariat of the Bulwark, the Hammers are effectively slaves, though that word is not used. They are forbidden to leave their tribal area, which produces much of the finished goods for the rest of the City.
3. The Scythes – (est. 2300.) The agricultural workers of the Bulwark, who produce all that the region requires. Slaves in all but name.
Note on the Calendar
In this world there are two moons, a larger and a smaller (fragments of the same moon). The larger orbits in a way similar to Earth’s moon, and the year is divided into seasons and months.
Due to the tidally-locked orbit around the sun, there are no solstices or equinoxes, but summer and winter exist due to the orbit being highly elliptical. There are two summers and two winters in the course of each solar revolution, so one ‘year’ (365 days) equates to half the time it takes for the planet to go round the sun (730 days). No Leap Days required.
New Year starts at with the arrival of the Spring (Freshmist) storms, on Thanalion Day
New Year’s Day – Thanalion Day (approx. 1st March)
-- Freshmist (snow storms, freezing fog, ice blizzards, high winds from iceward)
- Malikon (March)
- Amalan (April)
-- Summer (hot, dry)
- Mikalis (May)
- Montalis (June)
- Izran (July)
- Koralis (August)
-- Sweetmist (humid, stormy, high winds from sunward, very wet)
- Namen (September)
- Balian (October)
-- Winter (cold, dry)
- Marcalis (November)
- Monan (December)
- Darian (January)
- Yordian (February)
Note – the old month of Yendran was renamed in honour of Princess Khora’s slain son Lord Balian, following the execution of the traitor Princess Yendra.
Author’s Notes
August 2020
Thank you for reading The Mortal Blade! The idea of writing stories about a city besieged for thousands of years was one that had been floating around my head for a very long time, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to finish it.
It was written in strange circumstances, during the COVID-19 lockdown – an unsettling time, but on
e where I was suddenly presented with more time to write than ever before. It gave me a glimpse of what life could be like if I moved to becoming a full time author – a step I have recently taken.
This book also marked my first foray into a world away from the Star Continent of my earlier books – though I have no doubt that I’ll be heading back there at some point in the future!
The Magelands Series
The Magelands Origins
Retreat of the Kell
The Trials of Daphne Holdfast
From the Ashes
The Magelands Epic
The Queen’s Executioner
The Severed City
Needs of the Empire
Sacrifice
Fragile Empire
Storm Mage
Soulwitch Rises
Renegade Gods
The Magelands Eternal Siege
The Mortal Blade
The Dragon’s Blade
The Prince’s Blade
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