He held out a bottle of Rahain brandy.
‘A gift,’ he said. ‘I have a feeling you may need to bribe somebody when we dock.’
‘Thank you, Captain,’ Kylon said.
The old Rahain nodded and turned to his men.
‘Ready the ship,’ he yelled.
Sailors rushed around the deck, and up the masts, and the vessel pulled into an empty space on a pier crowded with enormous grain ships.
‘The Sanang won’t be starving them out any time soon,’ Leah said, as they gazed up at the huge vessels.
‘Just as long as the fuckers are sharing it with the Kellach,’ Keira said.
Ropes were flung from the decks down to the pier, and the ship was pulled in close, and tied up. The four passengers picked up their packs and walked to the side of the deck, where a gangplank was being put in place.
Great gulls circled overhead, their raucous cries mingling with the sound of bustle and work from the docks. Keira looked down at the Holdings workers, and noticed many among them of a shorter stature.
‘Rakanese,’ Leah said. ‘I wasn’t expecting to see any of them here.’
‘Won’t their mage be in the city?’ Keira asked. ‘The one you rescued?’
‘This is where she was heading,’ Kylon said, ‘but remember, no mention of her if we’re asked questions. Keeping your identity hidden is more important.’
With the gangplank in position, a sailor gestured, and the passengers made their way down to the stone pier. From amid the crowds emerged a squad of Holdings soldiers, led by an officer.
‘Welcome to the Realm of the Holdings,’ she said to them in fluent Rahain. ‘I am Captain Suthers, of the Plateau City Port Authority.’
‘Let me guess,’ Keira said, ‘you want to check our papers.’
The captain smiled. ‘We are under siege, ma’am. Security at the port has been stepped up, and everyone who arrives by ship has to have their background and identity examined.’ She looked around. ‘Do you have any luggage?’
‘Just what we’re carrying,’ Kylon said.
The captain nodded. ‘Then if you would please follow me.’
She turned, and strode down the pier towards the city wall, where it was pierced with a row of large archways.
Kylon shrugged, and they followed, troopers flanking them as they walked through the crowds of dock workers. They were led to an entrance in the side of the city wall, and into a large chamber. The captain spoke to a group of other officers, and they approached.
‘You will each be taken to a different room for questioning and documenting,’ Suthers said.
Two officers walked up to Keira, a young man, and an older woman.
‘This is Lieutenant Corby, ma’am,’ the woman said to Keira, ‘and I’m Captain Gunn.’
She gestured to a side door.
Keira nodded, and they went into a small room, a barred opening in the stone wall letting in the afternoon light. She sat at a table, while the two officers followed her in and closed the door. They sat opposite her, and Corby took out a ledger book and a quill and ink set.
‘We’ll start with your name, ma’am,’ Gunn said.
‘Do you read Rahain as well as speak it?’ Keira asked.
‘We do.’
Keira reached into her pack and pulled out a folded sheet of card. She tossed it onto the table, and Gunn leaned forward, squinting.
‘Ah,’ she said. ‘A Rainsby identification form. This should save some time.’
Keira sat back and looked out of the window as the Holdings officers examined her card. She could see the main road passing under a high arch. Wagons, horses, carts and people streamed by in both directions, generating a busy background rumble of noise.
‘Miss Keilyn?’ Gunn said.
Keira turned. ‘Aye?’
‘This document doesn’t mention any tattoo.’
‘I had it done on the boat,’ Keira said. ‘It’s Pyre, the fire god.’ She pointed. ‘Look, there’s the wee volcano.’
‘The one that the Rahain destroyed?’ Gunn said. ‘Many refugees have spoken of this.’
‘Aye,’ Keira frowned. ‘Thanks for reminding me.’
‘And how do you feel about the Rahain now?’
Keira scrunched her face up. ‘Are you joking?’ she said. ‘I fucking hate them, what do you think?’
Corby continued to write in the ledger.
‘Then why,’ Gunn went on, ‘is there a Rahain travelling in your group?’
‘Baoryn?’ Keira said. ‘He’s a scaly wee bastard right enough, but he’s alright. Kylon took pity on him back in the war. It was from him that we learned to speak the lizard tongue. He hates the Rahain government. He’s not a spy, if that’s what you’re getting at.’
Gunn nodded. ‘May I ask why you’ve come to Plateau City?’
‘Rainsby’s a hellhole,’ Keira said. ‘Plateau City can’t be any worse. Of course, we didn’t know there was going to be a siege.’
‘And has that affected your view?’
‘You saw what we did on the way in?’
‘The arrow?’ Gunn asked. ‘Was that you?’
‘Not me personally, but it came from us. We saw what those sick bastards did to your folk.’
‘And what about the ship, ma’am? I believe you are the first Kellach Brigdomin to arrive as private passengers on a Rahain merchant vessel. How did you pay for it?’
‘Kylon had the cash,’ she shrugged. ‘Never told me how he got it. He knows I only half-listen to him at the best of times, so he doesn’t bother giving me details if he thinks I’ll just mangle them anyway.’
‘Is it possible that the Rahain gave him the money so that he could enter Plateau City in order to do some mischief?’
Keira laughed. ‘Kylon wants to smash the Rahain as much as anyone.’
Gunn nodded.
‘One more question, ma’am,’ she said. ‘Have you seen or heard anything about the current whereabouts of Keira ae Caela ae Kell, the fire mage?’
‘Nope,’ Keira said. ‘I mean, I heard what she did, someone told me in Rainsby, but I’ve no idea where she is.’
‘Thank you,’ the captain nodded. ‘Now, I am required to search your pack.’
‘Go ahead,’ Keira said. ‘There are no weapons in there.’
‘None?’ said Gunn as she stood. ‘We must correct that.’
The officer walked to a cabinet against a wall, and opened it. She took out a sheathed longsword, and closed the cabinet door.
‘Here,’ she said, laying the sword on the table.
‘What the fuck?’ Keira gasped. ‘You’re giving me a sword?’
‘King’s orders,’ the captain said, picking up Keira’s pack, and placing it onto the table. ‘All Kellach Brigdomin who are able to fight are to be supplied with a weapon, so that they can defend themselves if the Sanang attack.’
Keira watched her open the pack.
‘Then what are you looking for?’
‘Narcotics,’ Gunn replied. ‘Sanang weed, to be precise. It’s illegal under Holdings law.’
‘I approve,’ Keira said. ‘I’ve seen what it’s done to the camp in Rainsby. Turned them into the living dead.’
‘Alcohol is also illegal,’ Gunn said.
‘What?’ Keira cried. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’
The officer smiled as she finished her search of Keira’s pack. ‘Don’t worry, the ban doesn’t extend to the Kellach Brigdomin camp. Don’t be too surprised if you see the occasional Holdings officer out in your camp getting drunk. The rest of the city’s dry.’
With the interview ended, Keira was escorted though a passageway running through the centre of the wide sea wall, to a hall. On the far wall was a guarded door.
‘Through there is the Kellach camp,’ Gunn said to her. ‘Good luck, ma’am.’
Keira nodded, and walked to the door, the new sword strapped to her waist.
A full squad of Holdings troopers watched her approach, then unbarred th
e large thick wooden door, and swung it open.
Keira stepped through, and the troopers closed the door behind her.
She looked out, the fading afternoon light casting the land ahead of her into shadow. She stood at the top of a flight of stone steps, the great Kellach encampment spread out before her. Unlike Rainsby, the camp had been ordered into neat lines of tents and huts, with several larger wooden structures dotted around. In the distance, she could see a great raised earthen bank enclosing the far end of the camp, beyond which she assumed the Sanang army lay.
‘Keilyn,’ she heard a voice cry, and she looked over to see Leah waving at her from the bottom of the steps, where several wagons were situated, distributing food and water to queues of Kellach.
‘Well that was fucking weird,’ Keira said as she went down the steps. ‘Fuckers gave me a sword.’
Leah frowned. ‘They congratulated me on my shot, and filled my pack with arrows.’
‘Any sign of Kylon?’ Keira asked. ‘Or our wee lizard pal?’
Leah shook her head. ‘They asked me a few questions,’ she said. ‘Mainly about how Kylon got the money for the voyage.’
‘Me too,’ Keira said. ‘Looks like they aren’t interested in us two, just the boys.’
‘That might have been Kylon’s plan,’ Leah said. ‘Get the attention away from you.’
‘Hello, girls,’ said a voice.
They turned to see a man approach, his long brown hair hanging in braids.
‘Two pretty blondes,’ he said. ‘My lucky day. You new?’
‘Aye,’ Keira said, her eyes narrowing. ‘What’s it to you?’
He held out his empty hands. ‘Just trying to be friendly. I can show you round the camp.’
‘Don’t listen to that bawbag, girls,’ another man said. ‘Come with me, I’ll buy you both a drink.’
A few other men walked over, trying to get their attention.
Leah nudged Keira, and motioned with her eyes to the top of the steps, where the postern gate was opening again.
‘Got to go, boys,’ Keira said. ‘Our man’s here.’
The Kellach turned and watched as Kylon came down the steps.
He glared at the other men as he approached, and they backed off.
‘What were they wanting?’ he asked.
‘What the fuck do you think?’ Keira said. ‘Did ye not realise that ye were going out with a fucking sex goddess?’
Kylon frowned. ‘The Holdings are detaining Baoryn.’
‘Why?’
‘Let’s walk,’ Leah said. ‘Too busy round here.’
Each woman took one of Kylon’s arms, and they turned from the wagons and began walking between the rows of huts and tents.
‘The Holdings found it hard to believe that we’d be friendly with a Rahain,’ Kylon said. ‘They think Baoryn might be up to no good. They also asked me a ton of questions about the money.’
‘What did you tell them?’ Keira asked.
‘That I robbed a Rahain merchant.’
‘And was that the truth?’
‘No,’ he said, as they approached a large muddy crossroads, ringed with wooden buildings.
‘Well?’ Keira asked.
‘Well what?’
‘Where did you get the fucking money?’
‘Holdings embassy in Rahain gave it to me for handing the Rakanese flow mage over to them.’
‘What?’ Keira said. ‘The Holdings gave you the money? Then why the fuck did you not just tell them that?’
‘Because then they would know who I am,’ Kylon said, ‘and through me, they might get to you. A lot of Kellach know I was your man, back when we were leading the resistance.’
‘So because of me,’ Keira said, ‘Baoryn’s locked up.’
‘He won’t talk,’ Kylon said.
‘I never said he would.’
‘Come on, let’s see if we can get a drink.’
‘What happened to the brandy?’
‘I gave it to the Holdings officers.’
‘Fuck.’
They walked to a noisy building, long and low, and entered, passing a pair of mean-looking guards on the door. Inside, the place was littered with tables and chairs, with a bar at one end. Serving staff carried plates of food and jugs of ale to the patrons, while large open windows let in the evening light.
They sat at an empty table, and an old woman approached.
‘What can I get for you, my dears?’
‘Ale, and whatever food’s hot,’ Kylon said.
‘No bother,’ she replied. ‘What unit are you with?’
‘What?’ he said.
‘We’re new,’ Keira said. ‘Just arrived.’
‘Oh,’ the old woman said, smiling. ‘Well, I suppose you can pay in coin, if you have any.’
‘I have Rahain gold,’ Kylon said.
‘That’ll do,’ she said. ‘Though if any Holdings troopers ask, don’t tell them. Food and drink are only meant for those belonging to a unit.’
‘What do you mean?’
The old woman sighed. ‘You have to work for supplies in the camp, unless you’re ill or crippled. Either that or you join the militia defending the rampart.’
Keira glanced at Kylon as the old woman walked away.
He shrugged. ‘We knew we wouldn’t be getting anything for free.’
Their ale arrived, followed by food, three steaming bowls of thick vegetable soup, with chunks of oily fish floating on the surface.
As they were eating, Keira noticed smoke coming from another table.
‘Look,’ she said, ‘they’re smoking. Thought it was banned.’
Leah sniffed the air.
‘Just tobacco,’ she said. ‘Doesn’t do fuck all to you, compared to Sanang weed.’
‘And how the fuck would you know?’
Leah shrugged. ‘I needed something at night to blot out the noise you two were making.’
Keira frowned. ‘What’s it like?’
‘Dreamweed gets you high and giggly,’ Leah said, ‘dullweed numbs you, and keenweed wakes you up. There are others apparently, but they’re the ones you can get in Rainsby.’
‘You thinking of trying some?’ Kylon said.
‘I wouldn’t do that,’ a voice said. ‘Not in here, at any rate.’
They turned, and saw a pair of older men sat at a table, watching them.
‘And why’s that?’ Keira said.
‘Holdings troopers raid this bar regularly,’ one said, ‘and all the others. Anyone caught with weed gets their rations cut. Caught twice, and you get a week in the cells.’
‘This is fucked up,’ Keira said. ‘We’re outside the walls, but Holdings soldiers come into the camp? And they just hand out food and weapons? Why don’t they just let us behind the walls, if we’re all friends?’
‘No room, apparently,’ the old man said, ‘though they took in five thousand of our fittest and best, enrolled them into the proper Holdings army. As for the rest of us? Well, the camp is right next to the weakest part of the city walls, so basically we’re a big buffer, protecting the crappy section of wall from the Sanang. The Holdings give us food, medicine, weapons, tools, building supplies…’
‘They’re feart,’ the other said, ‘that we’ll switch sides, help the Sanang.’
‘Is that likely?’ Kylon asked.
‘Not a fucking chance,’ he said, ‘not after what those bastards did to the peasants across the river. The Holdings are far from perfect, but I’d rather them than that mob of monkey-arsed savages.’
The doors to the tavern opened, and a group of armed Kellach walked in. An officer looked around. She caught the eye of the old serving woman, who pointed at their table.
‘Old cow,’ Keira said. ‘She’s fucking grassed us up.’
‘Was going to happen at some point,’ Kylon muttered as the group approached.
The officer stopped at their table, and gazed down at them.
‘Can we help you?’ Kylon asked.
‘Yo
u lot new?’
‘Aye.’
‘Why haven’t you reported to headquarters?’
‘No one told us to,’ Keira said.
‘Don’t give me your bullshit,’ the officer said. ‘How long you been here? And you’re telling me you never knew?’
‘We only arrived today.’
The woman blinked, and frowned. ‘How did you get past the Sanang?’
‘We came by boat,’ Kylon said, ‘from Rainsby.’
‘Well, fuck me,’ she said. ‘Fair enough.’ She gestured to the others. ‘You heard them. Stand down.’
The warriors relaxed.
‘I guess I won’t be arresting you then,’ she said. ‘You’ve got until nightfall to report.’ She squinted out of the window. ‘Another hour or so. Unless you want to come with me now.’
Keira looked around the table, and the others nodded.
They got up, and followed the woman out of the bar.
‘What are our choices?’ Kylon asked her as they walked outside.
‘You three look fit,’ she said. ‘You any experience of fighting in the war?’
‘A bit,’ he replied.
‘Then it’ll be the militia for you,’ the woman said. ‘Defending the rampart.’
Keira looked up to her right, where she could see the line of the great earthen bank above the roofs of the buildings.
‘Has there been any fighting?’ she said.
‘None so far,’ the woman said. ‘Our chiefs went and spoke to their leader, and got a deal that we wouldn’t assault their lines, unless they attack us first.’
‘How many Sanang are out there?’ Leah asked.
‘We reckon about twenty thousand,’ she said. ‘The warriors clad in black seem the best. They were the only ones that didn’t take part in the massacre. Did you see that?’
‘Aye,’ Keira said, ‘our ship was anchored off-shore at the time.’
The woman stopped.
‘Wait a fucking minute,’ she said, looking at them again, her eyes widening when she saw Leah’s longbow.
‘Aye,’ Leah said, ‘that was me.’
The officer laughed. ‘Nice shot. You’ll fit right in.’
Chapter 15
Trade Winds
The Magelands Box Set Page 64
