The Magelands Origins

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘You couldn’t wait then, eh?’ she said. ‘Fucking show-off.’

  The other four squads came jogging into the farmyard and gazed around at the carnage.

  ‘We missed all the fun, I see,’ said Budge.

  Killop shrugged. ‘You lot get to go first next time, I promise.’

  ‘Squad leaders!’ he called out across the yard. ‘Pull back to the next farm up the valley, set up camp, and send a runner to Kyla.’

  As the company sorted itself out, he jumped down, and Kallie came up to him.

  ‘Check the state of you,’ she grimaced.

  He looked down. His entire front was smeared in blood, and gore was stuck to the metal bands round his leather armour.

  ‘It’s in your beard as well,’ she said. She leaned down, picked up some crisp white snow, and started to wipe him clean. ‘I saw you fight,’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen rage take you like that before. It was a little terrifying. I’m glad I couldn’t see your face.’

  ‘We all saw you, boss,’ said Kelly, her blood-soaked face shining. ‘You were fucking incredible.’

  For the first time in a long while, Killop saw something like admiration in Kelly’s eyes.

  Kallie said nothing.

  ‘Ahh, Killop,’ Kyla said as he walked into the farmhouse where she had set up her base for the night. Her gaze was calm, but her eyes shone with anger. ‘I hear you personally cut you way through a hundred Rahain.’

  ‘You know how warriors exaggerate, Chief,’ he said, facing her as she sat in an old armchair.

  ‘At least you’ve cleaned yourself up before coming,’ she said, ‘but, really Killop, what were you thinking? I hear it was your idea?’

  He glanced over to where Keira was warming herself by the fireplace. She shrugged, and smirked.

  ‘We haven’t come all this way,’ Kyla went on, ‘to have our mage and best company killed just as we arrive. I’m told we lost seven warriors. We were lucky this time, but…’

  Someone coughed.

  Kyla glanced over to a man on her left, standing by a table. ‘Aye?’

  ‘If I may speak, Chief of the Kell?’

  She sighed and nodded.

  ‘I’m Braed, leader of the warriors those lizards were chasing. I’d like, at least, to offer my thanks. Without this warrior’s assistance, we would have been overtaken before too much longer. My lot are exhausted, we’ve just ran across half of Brig.’

  Kyla perked up. ‘You know what’s happening in Brig?’

  Braed stood in silence for a moment, looking over Kyla and her officers.

  ‘Just where have you lot appeared from, then?’ he asked. ‘You come down from the temple?’

  ‘No, we crossed over the mountain trails from the Brig Pass.’

  He looked at her as if she were mad. ‘In this weather?’

  ‘We had to get out of the pass,’ she said. ‘The Rahain had out-flanked us.’

  Braed frowned. ‘Brig is finished.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Forty thousand lizards arrived, just over a third ago,’ he said. ‘Stormed and razed Brigtoun, blocked the pass, and have been helping themselves ever since.’

  ‘They blocked the Brig Pass?’

  ‘Aye,’ he replied. ‘Was pretty much the first thing they did. They sent five thousand soldiers to the entrance of the pass, and a huge earthquake shook the mountains. It brought the cliffs crashing down onto Briggate Castle. The whole pass is sealed up tight. Nothing’s getting through there now.’

  ‘Then we did the right thing by leaving,’ Kyla said.

  ‘Aye, but you’re too fucking late!’

  ‘Mind yer manners,’ Keira snarled. ‘We came as fast as we could.’

  ‘Apologies,’ he said. ‘You Kell know what it feels like to see yer land ripped apart.’

  No one replied.

  ‘Without an army in the field,’ he went on, ‘Brig was defenceless. Anyone in the lizards’ way was cut down. It was all over within a few days, bar the mopping up. Roughly half of the lizards crossed over into Domm about ten days past. They’ve still got most of their army intact, they should be able to put up a fight.’

  ‘And that force pursuing you,’ Kyla said, ‘are there more coming?’

  ‘That was one of them mopping-up units I was telling you about. They send them out along with the flying snakes.’

  ‘The what?’ said Keira.

  ‘Those great beasts that carry them about,’ he said. ‘Look like flying snakes, except they’re as long as a house. If you see them, ye can be sure that lizards on foot won’t be far behind.’

  ‘You’ve seen these creatures up close?’ asked Kyla.

  ‘Aye,’ he muttered. ‘Big ugly bastards. Snakes with wings.’

  Kyla sat back in the armchair, her expression grim.

  ‘We’ll need to alter our plans,’ she said. ‘Instead of turning north, and lending assistance to the Brig, we’ll stay in the mountains for the rest of winter. We can’t afford to meet the Rahain army down on the plains. Up here, we can harry them, ambush them. We can fight them on ground of our choosing, and hold them off.’

  ‘What will we eat up there, Chief?’ said Killop.

  ‘Budge,’ Kyla said, ‘are there farms all the way up this valley?’

  ‘Aye, boss, a dozen or so smallholdings and a couple of bigger settlements before the land gets too steep. After that there are, or were, the great sheep flocks.’

  ‘How far is it to the temple?’

  ‘About ten days, boss.’

  ‘All of you,’ she said to her assembled officers, and everyone else that was crammed into the small farmhouse. ‘This is our new strategy. We’ll move up the valley, strip it bare, and burn anything we can’t carry with us. We’ll make for the temple and use it as a base to assault any Rahain that come close, and to send out raids like the one that was carried out today.’ She looked at Killop. ‘In future, I expect company leaders to launch such raids only when ordered. Understood?’

  ‘Aye, boss,’ he replied.

  She smiled at him, and shook her head. ‘Though,’ she said, ‘it was a victory, and I’ll take any of those that come along. Over two hundred Rahain killed, for only seven on our side. Good job, son.’

  Killop earned a few rough slaps on the back as the meeting broke up.

  ‘Wee brother,’ Keira said, ‘just remember who’s the superstar of this family, and next time leave some for me.’

  Chapter 31

  The Sleeping God

  Temple, Fire Mountain – 1st Day, Last Third Winter 503

  Killop peered through the brambles, and looked across the loose scree littering the hillside. Below him, a narrow valley ran to the north. Beyond the high ridge to the east was the main road running to High Threeways.

  ‘Let’s go,’ he said, crawling out of the tunnel and pushing through the bushes. He skirted the scree, in case he set off a rockslide, and scrambled over icy moss-covered boulders until he reached the burn at the bottom of the valley. Bare-branched trees grew on either side, their roots visible through the frost on the stream’s banks. He leapt over the burn, and hastened up the steep ridge, the squad following.

  A detachment had been required to investigate a sighting of a Rahain column, and with Kylon off training a new crossbow company, Killop had assigned himself temporary squad leader and taken them out himself. After twenty days in the caverns under the temple, he had needed to get out.

  He reached the top of the ridge and looked over. The valley on the other side was broader, with a plain at the bottom. The road from Domm and Brig emerged from a patch of firs to the north, and it ran along the valley to their right, on the way to the temple, and the pass to Lach.

  Keira appeared on his right, and together they gazed out over the valley.

  ‘Tunnel hidden?’ he asked.

  ‘Of course it is,’ she said. ‘Do ye think I’m a fucking amateur?’

  ‘No, sister. Yer a professional arsehole.’

  ‘Shut it, y
a fanny,’ she muttered. ‘Hey, Lacey, over here, hen.’

  The young Lach approached.

  ‘You bring the lizardeye?’

  Lacey nodded, and reached into her pack. She pulled out the Rahain-made device, a wooden tube with glass fitted at either end, and handed it to the mage.

  ‘Cheers,’ she said, and put the narrow end to her eye. She squinted through the tube, scanning the plain below.

  ‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Empty as Conal’s head.’

  ‘The report said that the Rahain had been seen by Domsie Farmstead,’ Killop said. ‘That’s another six miles north of here.’

  ‘Well, the scaly wee fucks haven’t ventured up this way,’ she said. ‘Maybe they’re still at the farm?’

  He nodded. ‘Let’s go take a look.’

  They moved off, and went at a trot along the narrow valley, along a track beside the burn. A cold breeze was blowing, and there were patches of dirty snow here and there, wherever the sun couldn’t reach, but winter was passing. New Year beckoned, and Killop longed for lighter, warmer days.

  The valley veered to the west, and Killop led them up over the shoulder of a hill, through a forest of fir trees, and down a long slope to another valley, where the farmstead of Domsie lay.

  At the edge of the trees, he paused, and gestured to the squad to crouch.

  On the far side of an empty field were rows of tents surrounding a collection of farm buildings.

  Keira whistled.

  ‘An entire battalion, by the looks of it,’ Killop said.

  ‘Aye,’ she said. ‘What the fuck are they up to?’

  Killop looked at the hills around them. ‘Maybe we should get a better look.’

  They skirted back through the trees, and climbed a rocky hill to the west that looked down on the whole valley. They crept to the top through gorse and long grass, then looked over the edge. Killop gasped. The Rahain units they had seen at the farm were just the advance force of an enormous army, which stretched down the valley to the left and out of sight. Tents ran in long rows across the plain, and thousands of soldiers were visible. Larger command tents, and several of their giant throwing machines were dotted throughout the camp. Killop also saw one of the flying beasts he had heard about. It was squatting on its large reptilian limbs, and the green scales covering its elongated body glistened in the weak winter sun. Its monstrous head was eating food from the back of a cart, and its wings were folded back against its flanks. An iron collar was round its long neck, which was fastened via a chain to a post in the ground.

  ‘Fuck me,’ Keira said. ‘What an ugly bastard.’

  ‘Look,’ he pointed. ‘More of them.’ Over to the right, the heads of more beasts were poking out over the tops of the tents.

  ‘Suppose they don’t need to hide them any more,’ he said. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here.’

  As they started to scramble off the rockface, Kalma shouted ‘down!’ and everyone ducked. A shadow passed overhead, and Killop looked up. One of the flying beasts was above them, its giant black wings out-stretched. It opened its jaws and screeched, displaying rows of sharp teeth. A roar arose from the camp, from the other chained beasts, and from Rahain soldiers shouting.

  ‘Lacey!’ Keira yelled.

  She was crouching, while Lacey knelt next to her preparing her storm lantern. Killop caught her eye for a moment, and she nodded.

  He leapt down off the cliff onto soft moss, and called out to his squad.

  ‘To me! Run!’

  As the squad scrambled and jumped down the rocky slope, a large burst of flame shot up from the side of the cliff. It rose and enveloped the flying beast. The reptile screamed as fire scorched its flesh, and it rose, spinning and wheeling. Flames clung to its skin, and tore through its wings as though they were paper. As it burned, the other beasts in the camp screeched in rage and fear, creating a deafening roar of noise.

  Above, the beast cried its last, and fell from the sky, crashing into the fields between the squad and the Rahain camp in an explosion of fire and flesh.

  Keira stumbled down the cliff, falling at the bottom onto her knees. Kyleen ran to her side and hauled her up.

  ‘Into the forest!’ Killop cried, and they bolted through the firs. He looked over his shoulder, and saw the squad following, Keira supported by Kyleen and Lacey.

  He stopped, gesturing to the squad to keep going.

  ‘Back to the tunnel,’ he shouted as Koreen passed, and she nodded.

  He counted them as they passed. All there.

  Keira reached him and he set off again, close to her side. She seemed to be recovering faster every time she used her abilities. She looked tired, and dazed, but was moving without assistance. Kyleen was a few paces behind, protecting her back.

  Killop heard the screeching of more flying beasts. He looked over his shoulder. No sign of them yet.

  They climbed back up the forested slope to the ridge that led to the narrow valley, and halted close to the treeline. Several flying reptiles were circling above the open land beyond the trees, keeping watch over the routes out of the forest.

  ‘So what if they see us?’ Keira said. ‘They come any closer and I’ll fucking torch them.’

  ‘Aye,’ Killop replied, ‘but if they follow us to the tunnel, their mages will destroy it.’

  ‘We’ll be long gone by then.’

  ‘We might need it again.’

  ‘We cannae sit here all day, but.’

  ‘Boss!’ Conal shouted. ‘The lizards are coming!’

  They turned. Through the trees, some distance away down the hill, ranks of Rahain soldiers were advancing.

  ‘Follow me!’ Killop cried, and burst from the forest. He bounded down the slope into the valley, and started running west, away from the tunnel. Overhead, the beasts screeched as the squad sprinted up the valley, jumping over rocks, across the burn, and through patches of spruce. The sun came out from behind the low clouds, and the frost glistened in the pale light. The trees had thinned out, and apart from the large rocks around the burn, there wasn’t much cover in the valley as it reached its head. The steep slopes to either side were bare, except for clumps of fern and gorse. He knew there was another large stretch of forest over the hillside, but it would take a long climb and run out in the open to make it there.

  Killop ducked behind a huge boulder. The rest of the squad took cover next to him and caught their breaths. The Rahain force had fanned out through the valley, and was heading towards them, guided by the numerous flying beasts hovering and gliding above.

  Killop crossed the grass to Keira, where she was sheltering next to Lacey.

  ‘Do you think you could throw fire again?’

  ‘Aye,’ she said. ‘Feeling strong, wee brother, but there’s fuck all to burn. Lacey’s lamp was used up when I fried that flying bastard.’

  ‘I’ll spark you.’

  ‘What?’ Keira raised an eyebrow.

  ‘We need to hold them here for a few minutes while we get the squad over the ridge and into the trees,’ he said. ‘If I spark, can you hit them from here?’

  Keira gazed up at the circling gaien. ‘Aye,’ she frowned, ‘but ye said that ye’d never…’

  ‘I know,’ he said, ‘but it’s the only way we’re getting out of here.’

  Kallie walked over. ‘What’s going on? The lizards are halfway up the valley.’

  ‘Killop wants to spark me,’ Keira said.

  Kallie’s brows furrowed, but she said nothing.

  Killop glanced at the squad. Their faces were all turned to him, waiting as they hid behind the great boulders at the bottom of the valley.

  ‘Longbows,’ he said, ‘shoot anything that gets too close. Everyone else, get ready to run.’ He turned to his sister. ‘Do it.’

  Keira shrugged.

  ‘All right,’ she said, ‘but don’t blame me for how you feel afterwards.’

  Killop leaned against the cold surface of a boulder and braced himself.

  ‘I want
the squad over that ridge,’ he said, ‘as soon as Keira drops the flying beasts.’

  Kallie arranged her longbows in a line to his left, and they each drew an arrow. She caught his eye, and he attempted a smile.

  Keira stood a pace from him, her eyes scanning the clouds. The gaien were wheeling in the sky, out of bow range.

  He raised his hands, and held them an inch apart. He focussed on his fingers, and the small spaces between, feeling the energy build. White flashes of light sparked across the gaps, and he held his hands higher.

  ‘Now,’ he said.

  Keira stared him in the eye for a second, then lifted her right hand.

  Killop gasped as she drew power from him, the sparks rushing from his hands to hers, building into a tight ball of red flame. His legs began shaking, and his chest contracted, his breathing hoarse and painful as she pulled and pulled on his energy.

  She released him, and he fell to his knees, then toppled onto the frost covered grass.

  With half an eye open, he watched as his sister sent the ball of fire soaring into the sky. The clouds glowed bright for a moment, and he closed his eyes.

  Killop awoke with a headache, exhaustion lying on him like a weight.

  He opened his eyes. In the dim light of evening, three faces were peering at him.

  ‘Oh look,’ said Bridget, ‘he’s alive. You didn’t kill him after all.’

  ‘Shut it, ya wee cow,’ Keira said. She gazed down at her brother. ‘You’re one heavy bastard, by the way.’

  ‘How would you know?’ Bridget said. ‘You weren’t carrying him.’

  ‘I could see the effort you lot were putting in,’ she said.

  Kallie held out a flask to his lips, and he took a sip of whisky, feeling its warmth course through his body.

  ‘Where am I?’ he asked.

  ‘Back where the tunnel was,’ Kallie said.

  ‘Was?’

  ‘Aye,’ Keira said. ‘Lizards mages have done a proper job. Whole place is unrecognisable.’

  He glanced around. Even in the gloom he could see what his sister meant. Scree now stretched across the entire hillside, and mounds of broken stones and splintered rocks lay scattered. The bush that had marked the tunnel entrance was gone. Presumably the Rahain mages hadn’t known the precise location of the tunnel, so had brought the whole side of the hill down, reducing it to rubble. He gazed at the piles of shattered rock and crumbled boulders. What power their mages possessed, to rend the roots of the earth.