‘Aye?’
‘You disobeyed an order from the company leader,’ Kylon said, ‘and even though you ended up saving his life, that fact stands. Do you have anything to say?’
‘No.’
‘And you, Kelly,’ he said to the other sister, ‘I understand your pain, and your anger at Kallie, but she was caught between her sister and her lover. Show some empathy, think of what you would have done. Imagine she’d stayed with the squad, and Killop had been killed. Would she be looking at you with the venom I see in your eyes?’
‘We all loved Calum and Clara,’ he went on, gazing at them with his dark eyes, ‘and we’re all broken and fucked up because they’re dead. And the deaths of those close to us keep coming and coming, and yet here we sit, alive, filled with guilt and regret. There’s more to come though. The lizards will be back. If you two can’t make your peace then I’m disbanding the squad, and everyone will be sent to other units. You’ll be separated if you can’t be together.’
Conal gasped, and Kalma turned to stare at Kylon, a look of alarm on her face.
Kallie stood.
‘Sister,’ she said, tears rolling down her cheek, ‘I’m sorry I chose Killop over you, but I love him, and I knew he would need his back watched. You had the rest of the squad looking out for each other, but he had no one. I’m sorry.’
Kelly walked round the fire and faced her sister.
‘You left me, Kallie,’ she said, ‘and Calum’s gone. I don’t know if I can forgive you.’
She turned to Kylon.
‘I don’t want the squad to split up, boss,’ she said. ‘You’re my family and I promise to try. That good enough?’
‘Aye, Kelly, that’ll do,’ Kylon said.
They sat, and a low noise of conversations began.
Kylon grunted, and picked up his ale.
Four days later, while they were returning to the camp at the foot of the pass, they were overtaken by messengers running from the east.
‘Any news?’ Koreen shouted as they passed, but they continued on towards the large pavilion where the combined clans met.
‘You appointed a crew leader yet?’ Killop asked Kylon as they walked up the road to the pass. ‘I want you to come with me to the moothall, and you’ll need somebody to take charge.’
The young man looked around. ‘Aye,’ he said. ‘Her.’ He pointed at Koreen.
‘Me what, boss?’ she said.
‘You’re crew leader.’
‘Me?’ she said. ‘Ehh, thanks, I suppose. What do I have to do?’
‘First job,’ he said, ‘take this lot back to the camp. I’m going with Killop to the moothall.’
‘Mingling with the high and mighty, eh?’
‘At the rate we’re being killed off,’ he said, ‘you’ll be up there yourself soon.’
She laughed, then frowned, as Killop and Kylon split off onto another road, towards the pavilion where the messengers had gone.
‘I heard,’ Killop said, ‘that the fourth will be getting reinforced to bring it back up to two hundred. Only, and don’t mention this to anyone, but the extra soldiers will be made up of Lach who had their own squads chewed up in the battle. The clan chiefs have an idea of making us the first company with mixed clans. Your squad will be due another six warriors to get your numbers up. Organise them any way you see fit.’
Kylon nodded, and spat.
They approached the gates of the pavilion, and the guards let them through. The main area was taken up with a large hall, with four long tables arranged in a square, one side for each clan. The hall was packed with people, and the air was filled with shouting. Someone was banging a staff off the flagstone floor, calling out that moot was beginning, but no one was paying her any attention. Killop and Kylon strode into the confusion, and made for the Kell contingent.
Kyla and Kelpie were there with Keira, who was sitting on the table.
‘Wee brother,’ she said as he approached through the crowd.
‘Is it always like this?’ he asked over the noise.
‘No,’ said Kyla, turning to face him, ‘you just missed the news.’
‘What’s happening?’
‘The pass to Northern Kell has fallen,’ Kelpie said. ‘We know this because ten thousand Rahain have been seen marching from the north-east.’
‘They joined up with the main lizard army a few days ago,’ Kyla continued.
‘And now,’ Keira said, waving her arms, ‘the Brig and Domm want to clear out, get there arses up to the forts they’ve built along the pass.’
‘Any news of the Kell who were guarding the Knuckle?’ Killop asked. ‘Clewydd?’
Kyla shrugged.
‘We must assume the worst,’ Kelpie said.
‘What are we going to do?’ he asked. ‘Are we leaving Kell?’
Kelpie and Kyla glanced at each other.
Before they could respond, one of the Lach mages sent up a bright flash into the air over their heads, stilling the crowd.
Keira snorted. ‘Fucking party trick.’
‘To order!’ bellowed a tiny old woman. ‘This moot has begun. Lots have been cast. Domm to speak first.’
Dugald, the champion of the Domm, representing their chief in his absence, rose and took the floor.
‘To the Kell,’ he began, looking over in the direction of the Kylanna twins, ‘we owe our thanks. They have shown us the way to defeat the lizards. Their defence of the Northern Pass at the start of summer is our lesson. That is how we beat them. We will guard the Brig Pass in the same manner. We’ve been toiling in the mountains these last few thirds, and Kell’s sacrifice shall not be in vain. They, and the Lach, have given us the time we needed to complete these mighty works. The lizards shall never pass. The Domm force here, at the base of the pass, should withdraw to Netherfarm, where the first wall lies, fifteen miles hence. The other clans should follow us. That is the vote of the Domm.’ He sat.
Voices rose in response, and the old woman thudded her enormous staff down.
‘Lach to speak second,’ she cried.
A young warrior stood and addressed the crowd.
‘I am Loreli ae Lorach, standing in for the Lach chief, until another can be appointed. Our homeland remains untouched by the lizard armies, but if we withdraw, there will be nothing to stop them. Do you think they’ll assault the forts and walls of the Brig Pass while the farms and homes of Lach lie undefended to the south? If the Lach army hides behind the walls of the pass, our names would be cursed by our folk for all time. Therefore, if the other clans leave, the Lach will also withdraw, but to the south, to defend our homeland. Thus the Lach vote.’
Angry cries filled the air as she sat back down. Again the old woman banged her staff.
‘Brig to speak third,’ she screamed.
Brendan, commander of the Brig, got to his feet.
‘I’ve not much to add,’ he said. ‘I came here thinking we would defeat the lizards in the field, but having seen them fight, I am now of the opinion that we must move to defend the pass. I agree with Dugald in all that he said, and so the Brig cast their vote with the Domm.’
‘Kell to speak fourth,’ the old woman shouted over the noise, and the place quietened as Kelpie got to her feet.
‘Our duty now,’ she said, ‘is to protect the Kell survivors, gather them, and keep them safe.’ She turned to the Lach. ‘I am sorry, Loreli, but we must go to the pass, and shepherd the refugees safely to Brig. I urge you to send your people over the Fire Mountain Pass before winter.’ She paused, as if tasting something bitter. ‘Kell votes with the Domm.’
There were cheers from some, and banging of fists on tables, while others scowled and shouted. Amid the chaos, the Lach contingent, at a signal from Loreli, got to their feet and walked towards the doors, pushing their way through the crowd.
‘This moot has ended,’ the old woman yelled at the top her voice, and the roar of voices quietened to a low rumble. ‘The clans have voted, and the Domm motion to withdraw to the Bri
g Pass has been carried. Now clear off out of my hall!’
The crowds started to file through the main doors, and the Kell contingent waited for the press to clear.
‘I guess this means we won’t be getting those reinforcements,’ Killop said.
‘I wouldn’t be certain about that just yet,’ Kelpie said. ‘Loreli is in for some trouble if she thinks every Lach warrior agrees with her decision.’
‘Some of the Lach would betray their own homeland?’
‘You’re not thinking long term, son,’ said Kyla. ‘The Lach want to survive. How best to fulfil this want? March south, and wait for a Rahain army five times your size to follow and obliterate you? Or take to the passes? You heard my sister suggest they send word to their folk back home, telling them to leave by way of the Fire Mountain Pass over to Domm. That pass would be near impossible for the lizards to get over, especially as winter approaches. There are some in the Lach camp who agree. In fact, here is one of them now.’
Lacey came running out of the crowd towards them. She approached, a hand on her cheek, wiping away tears.
‘You staying, hen?’ Keira asked her.
‘Aye, mage,’ she wept. ‘I’m with you to the end.’
Keira embraced her. ‘Thanks, lass.’
‘She called me a traitor.’
‘Commander Loreli is hurt and angry,’ Kelpie said. ‘I’m sure she didn’t mean it.’
‘She said I could never come back, that I was dead to the Lach.’
‘You’ll always be welcome with us,’ Killop said.
‘Thanks, boss,’ she sniffed.
Over by the doorway, a fight broke out among the Lach contingent. Fists were thrown, and enraged threats shouted. It was over quickly, but a section of Lach broke away from the others.
‘Killop,’ said Kyla, as they reached the exit, ‘have all the company leaders gather at the command tent in an hour.’
‘Aye, boss.’
‘And,’ Kelpie said, ‘let it be known around the camp that the Kell will find a place for any Lach who so wishes.’
He nodded, and he and Kylon pushed their way outside and through the crowds.
In the end, the bulk of the Lach decided to leave the foot of the pass and two days later, on the twenty-second day of the first third of autumn, nearly three thousand warriors withdrew from the camp, and began their march south to Lach, taking their two fire mages with them.
The Kell absorbed those who remained, and Kylon’s squad received two new warriors, the twins Lachryn and Lyla. Both were veterans of Marchside, and were proficient archers. Kylon appointed Kallie as crew leader of the longbows, and the two new Lach were added to her team, bringing it back up to five.
Kylon still carried his lizard crossbow, along with his sword and spear, which he used to gesture his instructions out to his warriors. Koreen, as she liked to remind everyone, was now leader of a crew consisting of just one member: Conal.
On the last day of the third, a long column of loaded wagons and refugees approached from the south, the folk from the Kylanna lands, numbering about six thousand. The remaining Kell warriors were going to escort them over the pass, so they could join with the others who had fled. They stayed one night, and then, early the following dawn, with a freezing wind blowing off the mountains, the Kell left the camp at the base of the pass, and started the long ascent.
Two companies of Kell went ahead, with Kelpie leading the way, then followed the civilians, and the remaining companies held the rear, with Kyla the last to leave the camp. The column stretched for miles, snaking its way up the narrow defiles and ravines towards the first ridge, where the fortified homestead of Netherfarm stood.
The fourth were at the tail end of the column, with Keira there to protect the rear. There was no real danger, Killop knew, as the Rahain were days away, sitting in their camp, but it felt good to be the last to leave. The Domm had departed days before, not long after the Lach, and then the Brig had followed. It was right that the Kell should be the last to look upon their own green land.
The ravine was deep and steep sided, and they lost all view of Kell, as the path switched from bank to bank across a rushing burn, climbing all the while. The trees crowded around, their fallen leaves drifting and piling. The stubborn few left clinging to their branches were whipped around by the fierce wind.
The valley opened, and they came out onto a natural platform on the side of the hill, where the ground was rocky and treeless. Ahead of them lay Kell, grey, still and sombre under the heavy autumn clouds. The wind howled over the face of the hillside, biting into their hands and faces, as they narrowed their eyes and gazed upon their land.
Killop joined his old squad as they stood at the edge of the platform, and saw that Keira, Lacey and Kyleen were also there. He smiled. It was still his squad.
‘Boss,’ Koreen greeted him as he took a place in the line next to Kallie, bracing his feet against the wind.
For a long time they stared out over the damp grey lands of Kell. Killop tried to etch into his mind every field, farm, forest and river. It started to rain and, though it was still morning, the thick dark clouds made it seem like evening. Raindrops struck his face, rolling down his cheeks into his beard, and running down the back of his neck. He suppressed a shiver, and took Kallie’s hand.
‘Will we ever come back?’ said Conal.
‘Aye,’ Killop said, his voice carrying over the wind. ‘One day.’
Chapter 29
Bittersweet
Fallsie Castle, Brig Pass – 30th Day, Last Third Autumn 503
Killop and Kallie trudged down the mountain path, the snow swirling in the wind. In the dim glow of afternoon, their world was reduced to greys and whites, and the dark clouds overhead held a promise of more snow to come. Though winter wasn’t due to begin until the following day, the weather was harsher on the Brig Pass than down on the lowlands, and the mountains around them were white-peaked for three seasons out of four.
Killop shifted the weight of the little tent on his back. He had been carrying it for a third, during his entire trip over the pass to visit the Kell refugee camps.
‘I’ll be glad to get rid of this thing,’ he said, pointing a thumb at it. ‘I’ve stitched it up so many times it’s more thread than canvas.’
‘I’ve got a few fond memories of it,’ she said, ‘though it stinks like there’s been a sheep living inside. You get lonely on your trip to Brig?’
‘I’d like to say aye,’ he said, ‘but no, unfortunately that’s all me.’
‘When we get to Fallsie Castle,’ she said, ‘you’ll be having a bath before I’m letting ye near me again.’
He shrugged. ‘I hope yer ma and da weren’t put out by me turning up like that,’ he said. ‘I heard ye were up at your folks when I was on my way back from Brig.’
‘They were happy to see you, but they were still sad that Kelly wouldn’t come up with me.’
‘Aye,’ Killop said. ‘Yer da asked me how she was doing.’
‘What did you say?’
‘That she was brave, and a great archer.’
‘Did ye say anything about us not getting on?’
‘Didn’t mention it,’ he replied. ‘Remember, I’ve been away for more than a third. I’m not sure how you and her are doing.’
The valley on either side of the path had been getting steeper since leaving Burnbeck Castle that morning on the way down the pass to Fallsie. It was narrowing into one of the tight corridors along the pass that the Rahain would have to dare if they attacked.
‘It’s been awkward,’ she said. ‘Since I was made crew leader for the longbows, she’s been taking her orders from me.’
‘She been giving you problems?’
‘No,’ Kallie replied. ‘In the squad, she’s totally professional. It’s just when we’re away from our duties, in our free time, that she’s not speaking to me.’
The narrow valley turned to the left, and they saw Fallsie Castle ahead of them. It was an old structure,
modified over hundreds of years as it had changed hands between Brig and Kell. At its heart was an ancient stone tower, built into the cliff side. Three new stockade walls extended from it to block the valley, spanning a distance of fifty yards at its narrowest point. Each wall was fronted by a deep ditch, and overlooked by archers along the walls of the tower.
The thick white blanket of snow got more trampled and muddy the closer to the castle they walked. On the northern side of the stockade, the Kell encampment was laid out, housing the warriors that answered to Chief Kyla ae Kylanna, who commanded from the tower. The tents were arranged in rough circles, each with campfires roaring into the cold air, as warriors stood around warming their hands.
Killop and Kallie made the way to where Kylon’s squad were camped, but their tents had gone and the hearth was cold and covered in fresh snow.
‘Hey, Kendrie,’ Kallie shouted over to a squad leader at the nearest campfire. ‘Where have Kylon’s lot gone?’
‘Evening, Kallie,’ he nodded over to her. ‘Back from yer wee holiday?’
‘Aye.’
‘Your squad’s been posted up to Nebbit Point.’
‘What? For Winter’s Day?’
‘Aye, nae luck, eh?’ he laughed. ‘We’ll be down here partying, and you lot will be freezing yer arses off up the mountain!’
‘Fucking brilliant.’
‘Yer sister said to tell ye that she’s taken all yer stuff on ahead for ye.’
‘Thanks Kendrie,’ she said, turning to Killop. ‘I’d better get up there before it gets dark.’
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘I have to go and report to Kyla, so I’ll walk ye to the castle.’
They left the camp and approached the old stone fortress. It was six storeys high, with each tier narrower than the one below it. On the fifth level, there was a gate leading out onto the cliffside, and a path snaked up the mountain to the small tower of Nebbit Point, perched on the crest of the ridge, from where one could look down at the whole next stretch of the pass, the ten miles to the Crags, the new fortress that the Domm had built and garrisoned.
The Magelands Origins Page 39
