by Den Patrick
‘So we’re friends now, are we?’ said Marozvolk, eyeing Tief with a wary expression.
‘Friends,’ said Tief. ‘You fought to keep Taiga safe?’
‘I did.’
‘Then we’re friends. And I’m a damned fool for ever doubting you.’
‘Where are we?’ asked Marozvolk, looking up at the roof of the cavern.
‘We’ve been captured by Veles himself,’ said Tief. ‘My sister is still out there, somewhere in the swamps, fighting for her life, and he has close to thirty gholes coming and going.’
‘We seem to be royal guests, rather than prisoners,’ added Kimi.
‘Oh. That’s good,’ said Marozvolk sleepily. ‘Less chance of being eaten.’
Veles slept at the mouth of the tunnel, his huge body an ample impediment to even the idea of escape. The gholes surrounded him, sitting against the cavern walls, cowled heads bowed in the imitation of sleep.
‘They’d only track us down if we did manage to leave,’ said Tief. ‘We’ve no chance of reaching Taiga, even if we could find her.’
‘She may have survived the poison,’ replied Kimi, but in truth she thought it would be kinder to pass away in the shadows of the standing stones. At least Veles wouldn’t raise her as one of his gholes that way.
They’d found a dry, flat space in the cavern and a clutch of gholes had brought more peat, but it was too damp to burn. Marozvolk slept soundly while Kimi and Tief watched the slumbering creatures with disgust and fascination. They huddled together for warmth and Kimi was acutely aware she hadn’t bathed in weeks.
‘I don’t understand how he missed the standing stones,’ said Kimi, her thoughts lingering on Taiga.
‘Not exactly an abundance of landmarks in Izhoria,’ said Tief. ‘And a circle of upright stones nearly the height of a man is difficult to miss.’
‘Perhaps the mist …?’ Kimi shrugged. ‘And those eyes of his. I’m not sure how clearly he sees.’
‘He sees you clearly enough, your highness.’ Tief smirked. ‘I think he likes you. Me, not so much.’
The pale serpent had presented gifts soon after discovering Kimi was royalty. Every last thing had belonged to the people he’d killed; all spotted with rust, waterlogged or broken.
‘He gave you a blanket, didn’t he?’ said Kimi.
‘A dead man’s blanket.’ Tief wrinkled his nose. ‘Enough to make your skin crawl. Still, it was good to eat the Okhrana’s food. Frøya knows they won’t be needing it.’
Kimi watched the dead Okhrana, now gholes, sitting obediently by their master. They were barely distinguishable from their unholy kin. She thought one of them had gone missing, but it was hard to tell in the mass of bodies.
‘I don’t want that to happen to me, Tief. I don’t want that for any of us.’
‘I’m not sure there’s much we can do to prevent it, besides being eaten.’ Tief clutched his stomach, grimacing as it rumbled. Kimi couldn’t miss the sound.
‘Hungry?’
‘Ravenous. We used up the last of the Okhrana’s food last night, or morning, or whatever time it was.’
‘I think they sleep during the day,’ said Kimi, indicating the gholes. Time was meaningless in the cavern. The only constant was the sound of dripping water and the bitter chill. Veles shook his great wedge-shaped head and the gholes stirred, jumping up and hopping about like a flock of carrion birds.
You are not the only ones who are hungry.
Kimi looked at Tief in surprise. The serpent was able to project his words a considerable distance. She worried how much of their conversation the serpent had heard.
‘This can’t be good,’ whispered Tief. ‘It’s not as if Izhoria is teeming with animals. I’m likely to be the main course.’
‘It will be fine,’ said Kimi, though in truth Veles’ unpredictable nature brought a terror all of its own. The pale serpent stirred and slunk across the cavern. The gholes banded into groups of threes and fours and departed.
I have been sending my children out into the kingdom to look for both food and these standing stones you speak of, your highness. Three nights now I have sent my children. Veles reared up and Kimi shrank back on instinct. They have found nothing.
‘The swamps are treacherous and confusing,’ said Kimi, standing up in an effort to feel less small. ‘I wouldn’t know how to get back to our camp.’
This is my kingdom, Your Highness. These are my lands, there are no mysteries for me here. Nothing! For over one hundred years I have roamed the mist and not once have I seen these standing stones you speak of.
‘I promise to you by my royal blood that I speak the truth,’ said Kimi. She fought down a fierce tremor of fear as the conversation soured.
The Ashen Torment here in Izhoria after all of these years. My brother’s greatest work. Veles’ tail swished behind him. Of course, even the Ashen Blades pale by comparison.
‘I’ve not heard of those,’ said Kimi, keen to keep the serpent talking lest he decide on another form of entertainment. Veles curled around, coiling, until the tip of his tail hovered in the air just an arm’s length from Kimi’s face. A dagger had been strapped into place at the tip, though the blade was dull and unremarkable in the gloom of the cavern.
And yet you have seen it in action. By the power of this blade do I keep myself young. It drinks the life of others so that I may remain in this world. The Ashen Blade is a prize beyond measure, though it can never give me the wings that Bittervinge so cruelly ripped from my back.
‘How awful,’ said Kimi, struggling to think of something more sincere to say. ‘Perhaps you could tell me more about your life before you came to Izhoria?’
The dragon’s tail whipped away, taking the Ashen Blade from Kimi’s sight. Veles lowered his head until his snout was just feet from her face. He sniffed and for a moment Kimi was sure he would consume her in a single brutal bite.
Your friend is thinking of escaping, your highness. It consumes his every waking minute. Perhaps you too are thinking it is time to take your leave.
‘I am,’ she replied. It seemed pointless to lie. ‘I seek to kill the Emperor.’
Veles retreated a dozen feet and clawed at the stones for a moment.
A worthy ambition. Why have you set yourself such an impossible task?
‘He kept me prisoner for five years. He’ll send his armies south to Yamal when he learns I escaped the island of Vladibogdan.’
I too sought the Emperor’s end. Even now he kills my children. These last three nights I have lost many gholes. It grieves me that they lie in the swamps, rotting and festering.
‘I think they’re already rotting and festering,’ muttered Tief. Veles hissed and turned his sightless gaze on the man. Tief shrank behind Kimi.
‘Sorry,’ he whispered.
‘You think the Empire is in Izhoria?’ asked Kimi. ‘Killing your … children?’
Who else would do such a thing? Who else would hunt my gholes?
‘Perhaps the armies are already on their way south,’ said Kimi.
Or perhaps they come looking for you, Your Highness. I think that it is time to withdraw my hospitality.
‘Let’s not be hasty,’ said Tief, holding out his hands to placate the vast serpent. ‘We don’t know for sure that it’s Imperial soldiers killing your gholes.’
Even so, you cannot give me what I want. I seek the Ashen Torment and you have not led me to it.
Veles slunk about the cavern, like a cat stalking prey. His tail moved with a mind of its own and Kimi’s eyes were fixed on the dull blade that would drain the life from her.
‘We could look for the standing stones with you,’ she said, desperate and afraid.
The standing stones that I have not once seen in over one hundred years. I think not, Your Highness.
‘Tief, what do we do?’
‘I was about to ask you the same question,’ he replied, taking her hand as they backed up against the rough, stony wall. Three gholes chose that moment to race into
the cavern and Veles whipped his head towards the source of the interruption. One of the gholes was missing an arm and another had been scored open, cut from sternum to gut. Such a strike would have meant death for any other creature. A dim light appeared on the far side of the cavern, emanating from the tunnel mouth, growing steadily brighter. A figure stood silhouetted there.
‘Taiga?’ Tief sounded as though he could barely bring himself to say her name.
‘I am the high priestess of Frøya,’ said Taiga calmly to the pale serpent. ‘All of your works are an affront the natural order of this world, and you will surrender to me or die, you gutless coward.’
Veles coiled back at such a rebuke, then hissed in fury. The serpent sprang towards Taiga, racing across the cavern with jaws stretched open.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Kjellrunn
Kjellrunn awoke in her own bed. Sunlight marked the deep brown floorboards in long slashes of gold from where it crept in through the blinds. Her body lay heavy and unresponsive under the thin sheet and flashes of the previous day came back to her in a jumble of shocking images. The leviathan of course, with its eyeless visage and vast maw, but also what had seemed like a constant rain of fiery lances, falling all around them. Kjellrunn made a sound, part gasp and part moan.
‘I figured you’d be asleep for at least another three days, right.’
Kjellrunn lifted herself onto her elbows. Romola was sitting on a chair at the foot of the bed with a book in one hand and a half-eaten apple in the other. She was wearing cream-coloured robes, clothes more common to Dos Khor, rather than her usual flamboyant attire. For a moment Kjellrunn thought she saw a grey cat sitting beneath the pirate’s chair, but decided it was a trick of the light when she looked again.
‘You’re alive,’ breathed Kjellrunn.
‘I washed up on the shore just after you passed out. Good thing I did or Sundra might not be in the land of the living any more. She was a touch outnumbered.’
‘How many people did we lose?’ Kjellrunn blinked and for a brief moment she was back on the beach, kneeling beside Mistress Kamalov, the stench of burned flesh overpowering.
‘A few of the novices died on the beach. About a third of my crew never made it ashore.’ The pirate grimaced, then shook her head. ‘But that’s a whole lot better than I was expecting, right. I’d have lost everyone if we’d tried to fight them at sea.’
Kjellrunn sat up and swung her legs out of bed, then pressed a hand to her mouth to hold back her sobs. ‘Mistress Kamalov.’
‘There was nothing anyone could have done.’ Romola sighed. ‘She was a force of nature, but they had so many Vigilants aboard their ships. Powerful Vigilants.’
‘So much fire,’ said Kjellrunn, remembering the bombardment.
‘So much fire,’ agreed Romola. ‘We managed to save the hull of the Wait, but the masts are all for shit and we’ll have to salvage the sails from the Imperial galleons. Looks like you’re going to have a lot of guests for the next few weeks.’
‘Why did you lead them here?’ said Kjellrunn, her expression hardening, loss shifting to something darker. ‘This was supposed to be our hiding place from the Empire. We were supposed to keep the novices safe here. I was supposed to be safe here.’
‘You’re right to be angry,’ said Romola softly. ‘But I was desperate and we had a run of bad luck. We were taking on water as we passed Dragon Tear Island heading south. That’s when they spotted us, and that’s why I headed here. I’m sorry.’
Voices echoed up the stairs from the temple below as Kjellrunn struggled to accept Romola’s apology. She pushed herself off the bed and opened the window shutters. Two crows perched on the roof of the building across the street. They called out noisily and fussed at their tail feathers. Kjellrunn nodded to them as if meeting old acquaintances. The sound of people at their chores drifted up to her. There would be a lot to organise with so many dead.
‘You hungry?’ Romola stood up and flashed an awkward smile. ‘I don’t know too much about summoning sea monsters, but I’m guessing you might have an appetite.’
‘I’m not sure I can walk far,’ said Kjellrunn. ‘I feel like I’m dreaming. My legs are … numb?’
‘I guessed that too,’ said Romola, offering her hand.
‘And I’m seeing things.’ Kjellrunn shivered. ‘Are there two crows on the roof across the street?’
Romola nodded. ‘Nothing wrong with your eyes. Unless I’m seeing things too.’
‘And a grey cat? It was here just a moment ago when I woke up.’
Romola shrugged. ‘Come on. Time for you to meet your petitioners.’
‘What are petitioners?’
‘Worshippers of Frejna, come to pay their respects to the goddess and her prophet. They’ve been outside since about midday.’
‘What prophet?’
‘You, of course.’ Romola smiled. ‘They’re calling you the Stormtide Prophet. The wounded girl who summoned a leviathan to protect the town from the Empire.’
‘I’m not wounded.’
‘You were shot by a crossbow just days before. Remember? Maybe you hit your head in all the fighting.’
Kjellrunn pressed her fingers to her side. The crossbow wound was all but healed. She’d leapt towards the slaver to prevent him shooting Mistress Kamalov but now her teacher was dead.
‘I can’t meet anyone right now,’ said Kjellrunn, misery a cruel weight on her every breath. ‘It’s all I can do to speak. So much has happened. Mistress Kamalov …’
‘Mistress Kamalov would be proud of what you did and everything you’ve achieved. You’ll feel different after some tea. Proper Shanisrond tea, mind. None of that Yamali filth.’ Romola pulled Kjellrunn to her feet and wrapped a firm arm around her shoulders.
‘Kjellrunn. I’m sorry for leading them here, but you and Sundra and Mistress Kamalov were my best hope for getting my crew to safety. Thank you.’
Kjellrunn nodded, seeing the sense of it. ‘I’m having tea then,’ she said with a weary smile.
‘I’ll help you down the stairs,’ replied Romola.
‘The Stormtide Prophet,’ whispered Kjellrunn, trying out the words that came to shape the coming months.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Steiner
Steiner and Kristofine looked for Felgenhauer in the library but there was no sign of the Vigilant. A shaft of light shone from above, following them down the spiral stairs and into the dusty gloaming of the stacks.
‘Where did she go?’ whispered Kristofine. Neither of them strayed from the black iron staircase for fear of getting lost amid the dark maze of shelves.
‘I’m more curious why she left,’ said Steiner, ‘and why she left us without a lantern.’ A jingling sound could be heard in the darkness, muffled by countless tomes slumbering on their shelves.
‘Ving did say that even now men are coming to kill us,’ said Kristofine, straining to hear the sound.
‘I thought you said you didn’t believe him?’ replied Steiner quietly.
‘It was the only thing he said I did believe. I’ve heard some tall stories in my time but …’ Kristofine looked over her shoulder to the source of the noise. The sound of metal on metal drew closer and Steiner feared it was a prelude to soldiers wearing mail and plate.
‘Get behind me,’ he said, lifting the sledgehammer and rolling his shoulders. A soldier holding a lantern rounded the corner of the shelves ahead of them. He held out an empty hand to show he meant no harm.
‘Easy.’ Slowly he reached for his helm and removed it, revealing the face of the sergeant who had brought them to Arkiv.
‘Where’s Felgenhauer?’ said Steiner.
‘A message arrived that needed her attention,’ replied the sergeant. ‘Follow me.’
‘I should know your name if we’re to be on the same side,’ said Steiner.
‘Tomasz.’ The sergeant gave a curt nod, as if meeting them for the first time. ‘How did you like our guest?’
‘He’s an
insane old fool,’ said Kristofine with a scowl. ‘Tried to convince us he’s a dragon. How ridiculous.’
Tomasz said nothing and they followed him through the library. They had to hurry in order to keep up with the sergeant’s stride.
‘Let’s say he is what he says he is,’ said Steiner after they’d descended a flight of stairs. ‘Why doesn’t he simply walk away?’
‘Black iron,’ replied Tomasz with a grim smile. ‘They can’t stand being near black iron. It makes them sick and dizzy at a range of a few feet. Over a long enough period they lose consciousness entirely.’
‘The staircase to the cupola?’ said Steiner.
‘And the window frames,’ added Tomasz, ‘and the top of the dome. I imagine there’s a fair amount in that hammer too.’
Kristofine stared at the sledgehammer. ‘But I thought it was enchanted?’
‘It is,’ replied Tomasz. ‘Enchanted to strike true and find its mark, with black iron to smite the sense out of any dragon you cross paths with. It was that weapon that won the war over seventy years ago.’
Steiner, who had always borne the hammer with reverence, now looked at the weapon as if it were a new-found relative.
‘Frøya save me,’ he whispered. ‘Ving was telling truth about the hammer, and the staircase.’
‘That may be, but I still don’t believe he’s a dragon.’ Kristofine frowned. ‘Tomasz, have you ever seen him in his …’ She struggled for the word. ‘Other form.’
The sergeant shook his head. ‘Truthfully no, but soldiers older than me remember him up there when they were just raw recruits, and they say the veterans before them spoke of Ving too. Whatever he is, he’s been in that part of the library for decades.’
‘Only the Emperor could hide a dragon in plain sight,’ muttered Steiner. Tomasz led them past a clutch of students and the academics stared at the soldier with sullen expressions.
‘Why do they look so upset?’ asked Kristofine.
‘Soldiers only enter the library to arrest people caught in the forbidden sections, and all the students want to read the forbidden texts. Most likely they assume I’ve just arrested you.’
