The Fire Mages' Daughter

by Pauline M. Ross

  He paused, lifting his head to look directly into my eyes. His face, usually so expressive, was filled with something I couldn’t interpret at all. For once, I was the first to look away.

  “We brought them here,” he went on. “There is something wholesome about this place. The beasts are manageable here, and the injured – they do not get better, but they do not sicken and die. But I began to have concerns about what I was doing. And then I learned that not all the women who came to me for my seed did so willingly. Their clans sent them, for the honour of bearing the byan shar’s child. But even when they are unhappy about it, they are drawn to me, and…” His face twisted in anguish. “It is not right. Such things should be a matter of pleasure not duty. So what had always been a delight to me became a burden, a great wrong I was inflicting on my people. And then there was you, Princess. That first time, I realised that… my blood is corrupt. Evil. I determined not to pass my seed any more, even if the woman was willing. But then…”

  He hung his head, and I stroked his hand, helpless to give him any greater comfort. It was clear what had happened. Without any outlet, his magic had built up to intolerable levels and tipped him into war. Poor Ly. Perhaps he truly was an abomination. But no… he was just a man, with powers he couldn’t fully master, no different from these children with their blood-spirits.

  “I could not prevent myself from summoning the war clans. I tried, but… And then I thought, perhaps if we have a little war now, when my power is still weak, and the war clans are small, perhaps it will not be so bad and… and the anger will be all used up and we could start again. But it grew too much, Princess. It was terrible, terrible, and I never meant it to happen, never.”

  He was shaking, rocking from side to side, and his voice wavered. What could I say to him? It’s all right, don’t worry about it, it wasn’t your fault? But it wasn’t all right, because however little he’d intended it, he’d caused immense devastation to Bennamore. Countless good men and women had died, on both sides, because of Ly. Whatever his motives, he’d done great evil.

  He clung to my hand as if he’d never let it go. In all this mess, I was the one good factor for him, someone who could take away his blood magic so that he could be whole and himself for a little while. And truly, as I gazed at his thin, pale face, it struck me how young he was to be burdened with such responsibility. Where were the wise elders to guide him to maturity safely?

  I knew where one of them was. She watched me now in silent hatred.

  “Your mother advised you very badly,” I said loudly, looking her straight in the eye so that she must know I was talking about her.

  Startled, Ly glanced at her, then back at me. “She advised me to do my duty, in the traditional way. The injuries, the deaths – that is how it is supposed to be. Only the strongest survive, and so the byan shar breeds an army which has no weakness. She thinks I should let them fight, that I should do my duty and breed my army and in time be a great war leader, because I am byan shar, and the gods have selected me for this task. It is my destiny. I do not know how she could have advised me differently.”

  “Oh, Ly. It’s for you to make your own destiny. You don’t have to be a war leader if you don’t want to be. You know how to keep your blood magic levels low. Your mother should have helped you find a nice young woman who would take your seed and not get pregnant.”

  “Oh… but she would never do that. She would think it quite wrong.”

  “And you have to do what she says.” I grunted in disgust. “She has a lot to answer for.”

  ~~~~~

  At dawn I summoned Sunshine and prepared to fly to the fortress. I couldn’t even wait to eat morning board, I was so avid to be gone. I had paced all night, so desperate was I to know if Arran was well or injured or – the gods forbid! – dead.

  Ly gazed at me with huge eyes, but said nothing. I’d said nothing of Arran to him – it was too complicated to explain, and I had no time to spare. Mother had chained Ly to the wall again, or rather, to a large pillar, for in this strange glowing place nothing would embed in the wall itself. None of us thought it was necessary to restrain him. It was symbolic, and effective, for his people went about their morning rituals with eyes averted. Even his mother, speechless no longer, had abandoned him.

  Mother and Cal tried to persuade me to wait, protesting that it wasn’t safe yet. But I had another reason for urgency. I was still over-full of Ly’s magic. I needed to relieve that pressure, but it had to be Arran this time. I was determined not to succumb again to my previous weakness.

  “I’ll send a troop of soldiers to escort you and Ly,” I said. “We’ll all be safe inside the fortress before noon.”

  “Not me,” Mother said firmly. “I still have scores of injuries to examine. I couldn’t possibly leave yet.”

  “Kyra, you can’t,” Cal said. “It’s not allowed, and it’s not safe.” But she had that mulish look on her face, and he knew better than to argue any more. “Well…” A heavy sigh. “If you must, then I’ll stay, too. But you should get him out of here as soon as you can, Drina.” We were agreed on that. “What exactly are you going to do with him?”

  “Do with him?”

  “Yes. He’s your prisoner, a conquest of war. It is for you to determine his fate.”

  I hadn’t thought much beyond finding Ly and taking his magic. If I’d considered the matter at all, I expect I would have envisaged him going home to his island on the great lake where his people lived. But of course that would never do, because his magic would regenerate. I’d refused to kill him, but what was to be done with him now? What was the best punishment? But I didn’t have to decide that. I could let other, wiser minds, more learned than I, decide his fate.

  “I shall take him to Kingswell and put him on trial so that he may answer for his crimes against us.”

  Ly smiled.

  Outside, I scanned the skies carefully, but saw no sign of other birds. Even so, once aloft I circled the island once, twice, to check again. Near the black-bark forest, a small group of beasts – blood-spirits, as Ly called them – were clustered at the water’s edge, drinking. Their riders huddled nearby, talking calmly together. If their mounts had been horses, there would have been nothing remarkable about them at all. No sign now of the violent aggression that had driven them in war. As I watched, they mounted up and rode into the black-bark forest. The trees would part for them, even with their small magic, it seemed.

  The skies were empty, so I directed Sunshine to the fortress. Even from a distance, the blackened stripes of firestones were visible on the lower walls. No one from inside had ventured beyond the gates yet, and many huge carcases still littered the base of the walls. Amongst the larger bodies, many smaller ones, crumpled and immobile, the tragedy of war. I saw no one moving. I hoped the Clans had carried away their own injured.

  Inside, all was bustle, the yards a swirl of horses, riders, wagons and soldiers moving here and there, and the battlements still lined with archers. The watchguards were paying attention, though, for the welcome bell clanged from its tower as I swooped in to land. Scores of figures running towards my landing place. Commanders’ uniforms, soldiers, low-level workers – where was he? He wasn’t there! My heart dipped in sudden fear.

  No, there he was! Running, running, his face alight with joy. I could barely scramble off the eagle’s back in my eagerness to be with him. Then he was there, and I was safe in his arms, crying from fear and relief, and all was well again.

  “Thank all the gods!” he said into my hair a dozen times. “I have been so worried for you, my love, out there in the centre of this terrible war. But you are so brave, so good, so… wonderful! And the gods have protected you, and brought you back safe to me.”

  The commanders stood in a wide circle, waiting politely until I was done weeping and exclaiming with delight and kissing. But I had no time to waste.

  “It’s over,” I told them. “Their boy god is in chains on the island. Send a troop or two across to
escort him here.”

  I grabbed Arran’s hand, and would have run off, but the Acting High Commander coughed. “The island, Most Powerful?”

  “Yes, the island in the lake. The tower in the middle. He’s there, with Lady Mage Kyra and Lord Mage Cal. Off you go.”

  “Is there a boat?”

  Ah. Demons, I’d forgotten about that. “Oh. Bother. All the boats are on the island.”

  “No matter. We will build a raft.”

  I laughed delightedly. “Excellent. Do that, High Commander. I will hold a full planning meeting in… shall we say three hours? I need to bathe and change and… erm, rest.”

  “Of course, Most Powerful.” He bowed – they all bowed or saluted – and finally I could skip away with Arran to our room.

  Long before we got there, my happiness had drowned in guilt. I had done something bad, and it was only right to tell him about it. But I couldn’t bear it if he hated me for it.

  As soon as we were alone, he swept me into his arms. “Mmm, my little flower, back safe at last. Sweet Drina…”

  I pushed him away. My arms were weak and trembling, and my stomach was painfully knotted, but it had to be done.

  “Arran… I have a confession to make.”

  His face changed, and I read uncertainty there. “You had better tell me everything, then.”

  “I… when I was on the island…” A long pause. My hands rose to cover my mouth, as if they wanted to choke back the words. But I couldn’t avoid the confession, and there was no way to paint this to look pretty. I dropped my hands, clasping them meekly in front of me, and lowered my eyes.

  “I lay with him,” I rattled on in haste. “It was his magic, I took it all and there was too much and… and you weren’t there and I had to, I couldn’t help it and I’m so sorry.” Tears dripped down my cheeks, but he said nothing. I dared not look at his face. “Please… please don’t be angry with me. I didn’t mean to do it. I didn’t want to. Please…”

  “Hush, sweetheart,” he said, gathering me back into his arms. “Hush now. I am not angry.” His voice was so soft I could barely hear him. “We all make mistakes. Sometimes… sometimes we do things that are wrong, even though we know we should not. Even though we know we will regret them afterwards. These things happen. Then—” His voice cracked. “We just have to resolve to do better in the future.”

  “Yes! Yes, exactly! And I will, I will do better. I’ll never let it happen again, I swear it. I’m so sorry.”

  “Shh. No more tears. Would you like to go to bed now, my love?”

  I would. And we did, and Arran was wonderful to me, sweet and gentle and tender, and I loved him so much I thought I would die.

  ~~~~~

  Half the fortress, it seemed, accompanied us back to Kingswell. The war was over, the extra soldiers were no longer needed and everything could return to normal. Some of the mages, too, were to make the journey, but several had gone to join my mother on the island, although they were more excited about the prospect of a new scribery than healing the Blood Clans. There was much muttering about improper use of magic, for it was illegal to heal foreigners, or without the payment of silver, but no one would dare to argue with my mother about it.

  As well as Ly, five eagle riders had been captured alive during the final battle. They were all of them transported in a wagon fitted with metal rings so they could be chained to it, and they wore heavy manacles on both arms and legs. The others grumbled about it, but Ly never did.

  Every second sun his magic had increased enough for me to detect it. I was adept now at taking it from him. I didn’t even need to be near him, but he always knew, and smiled at me afterwards.

  We were about halfway to Kingswell when we encountered the remnants of Ly’s army making their slow way home. They kept to the woodlands away from the road, but here and there we caught a glimpse of tawny fur or mottled hide. Sometimes I could detect their magic, but I left them alone. The beasts were safer directed by a human rider than they would be if I broke the connection between them.

  Following behind them was a large contingent of Bennamorian troops, monitoring the enemy retreat. At their head, I recognised the beaming face of Axandor.

  “Well, sister, this is a happy meeting! As you can see, we have driven the enemy off. A fine victory! It is a pity you missed all the action. I am just ensuring these foul creatures leave our lands once and for all. And the border is secure, I hear.”

  “It is. We are just conveying some prisoners for trial.”

  “Trial before execution, eh? Novel. Well, your prisoners, sister dear.”

  Beside me, Arran rolled his eyes, but I was seeing Axandor in a new light. Strutting about the lushly carpeted halls of Kingswell, he’d always cut a ridiculous figure. Out here, on his horse and with sword and helm and mail that had obviously seen real service, he looked a great deal more impressive. He was still an idiot, but perhaps the army could turn him into a useful one.

  ~~~~~

  Yannassia was well enough to attend the trial, presiding with her usual impassive calm over proceedings. The law scribes paced up and down, asking their questions and making their arguments. The mages looked on without emotion. The nobles, who had rushed back from their country estates to enjoy the spectacle, ogled and whispered. No doubt some of them remembered entertaining Ly the previous year.

  Ly himself watched everything with lively interest. Occasionally he would translate for the others, but mostly he sat, a little apart from his country-people, listening intently. His friends were subdued, perhaps expecting the worst, but Ly never showed the slightest fear.

  The trial was mercifully brief. In truth, there was little to say. We were the victors, and could say what we liked. Ly and his comrades had no defence against the accusation that they had invaded our borders, to the grievous destruction of life and property. And no one mentioned that only a few scant moons ago, we were the invaders.

  I had said nothing the entire time. Only when all the talking was done did they turn to me. I was war leader, and the prisoners were captured during the war, so they belonged to me. Courtesy dictated that I relinquish my rights to Yannassia. Very politely, she returned them to me.

  “How speaks the Most Powerful Lady Axandrina, Drashonor of all Bennamore and its dominions, in the matter of prisoner number six?” intoned the senior law scribe.

  One of the eagle fliers. I had no interest in her. “Prisoner number six is to be transported securely to the northwestern border and there released to return to her home. If she enters Bennamore in the future, she will be subject to summary execution.”

  A buzz around the room, as Ly translated rapidly in an undertone. The other four received the same. But then we came to the crux of the matter. Prisoner number one. Ly-haam. He watched me calmly, not afraid.

  I took a deep breath. “Prisoner number one is to be committed for life to my sole custody.”

  Silence.

  Yannassia frowned. “What exactly are you planning to do with him?”

  “I am going to marry him.”

  44: Leadership

  Yannassia stormed about the room. I’d never seen her in such a towering rage. She’d charged out of the hearings chamber, skirts flying, with clouds of servants, scribes and mages scampering along behind her, but she had sent them away with an abruptness I’d never heard from her before. Only Arran and I, and Torthran, remained in the antechamber with her.

  “You are insane! What are you thinking, marrying this boy? I cannot understand you, Drina, I swear it. By all the gods, you cannot be love with him.”

  That brought a little smile. “Of course not.”

  “How can you possibly be Drashonor now? This is your revenge on me, I suppose. Are you still looking for ways to pay me back? Do you hate me so much?”

  Torthran shadowed her anxiously. “Yannassia, dearest, please sit down. This is doing you no good.”

  And then, as he helped her to a chair, she burst into tears. That was worse than anything. Her
anger I could cope with, and even her cold contempt would have been better. But tears – I couldn’t deal with that.

  I knelt at her feet. “Yannassia, please don’t be upset. This is not because of you and it’s not a choice from the heart. You know me better than anyone, and you know where my heart lies. Do you really think I would tie myself to this man if I saw any other option? I’m sorry it was such a shock, but if I’d told you what I was planning, you would never have left his fate to me to decide. But truly this is for the best.”

  “You will never convince me of that, never. There are only two options, Drina, execution and locking him up for life. Anything else is madness, total madness.”

  “Well, call me mad, then, for I can’t find it in me to kill him, and he hates stone walls around him, he would go out of his mind locked away.”

  “Who cares if he does? He is evil! Please reconsider. I have already lost Zandara, I could not bear to lose you too.”

  Her vehemence shocked me. “You will not lose me,” I said gently. “He’s perfectly harmless without his magic. I’m the only one who can keep him that way, so he has to be near me, always. And I need his magic. It fills the emptiness inside me. This way, we both get what we want.”

  “But you do not have to marry him! Drina, is this your way of escaping me? You never wanted to be my heir, and now you have made it impossible. But I never believed you would go to quite such extraordinary lengths to avoid the possibility.”

  I sat back on my heels. “No! It’s nothing like that. In his culture, a man must be obedient to the woman in his life. His mother, if he is unmarried. His wife, if he has one. If I marry Ly, he will be bound to obey me.”

  She was quieter now, interested. “How does that help?”

  “Because he is byan shar, the leader of his people. He can negotiate with all the clans. He has something we want – access to the black-bark forest. We cannot harvest it, but his people can. What I propose is that we take the new scribery, the lake and all the land up to the fortress back into Bennamorian control, as it once was. That way there will be mages there. Ly can make a trading agreement to give us the black-bark in exchange for silver. He can use the silver to buy spellpages for his people when they need them. Because he will be married to me, he will be a Bennamorian, so he will be able to do that. It will be legal. Do you see? Everybody will get what they want.”