‘Oh yeah?’ Shella said. ‘Then how come the Creator didn’t warn them that the Sanang were going to invade?’
Daphne shrugged. ‘Maybe he did. Maybe the Sanang are exactly where the King wants them to be.’
‘Yeah right,’ Shella smirked. ‘Go on then genius, tell us why.’
‘I don’t know,’ Daphne said. ‘Alright, even if you don’t believe in the Creator, then you can’t deny the power of the Holdings mages. You know they can enter the minds of others from afar.’
‘Is that really true?’ Ariel said. ‘I’ve heard the stories, but…’
‘You mean,’ Shella laughed, sloshing drink over the lip of her glass, ‘that your own sister hasn’t told you what she can do?’
Ariel’s mouth opened.
‘Thanks, Shella,’ Daphne said.
‘Is it true?’ Ariel asked. ‘I know you have battle and line, I know that well, having heard about it every day since you found out. Do you have more?’
Daphne nodded, frowning.
‘How much more?’
‘This goes no further,’ Daphne said. ‘Do you all understand?’
Ariel nodded.
‘Celine?’ Daphne said.
‘I won’t tell anyone.’
‘Alright.’ Daphne paused for a second. ‘I possess six of the seven vision powers, all except being able to hear the voice of the Creator, though I did speak to him one time.’
Ariel stood, her eyes halfway between anger and tears.
‘Father knows, doesn’t he?’ she cried. ‘That’s why he’s been fawning all over you, that’s why he never stops talking about you. I’m so sick of hearing how wonderful you are, how damn perfect.’
She turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
‘Oops,’ said Shella.
Celine started to giggle.
‘I should have warned you,’ Daphne said. ‘Ariel has never forgotten the day the priests discovered I had powers. Up until then, my father had taken little interest in me, but from then on, I think I might have become his favourite. She’s never forgiven me.’
‘I can sympathise,’ Shella said. ‘Out of sixteen spawn siblings, I was the only one with any powers. I was singled out the day they discovered I was a flow mage.’
‘So I’m sitting in a room,’ Celine said, lighting another cigarette, ‘with two of the most powerful mages in the city, maybe the world.’
‘Your husband has powers, doesn’t he?’ Shella said.
‘Vince has battle-vision,’ she replied. ‘That’s why he’s been a cavalry lad since his teens. That’s why he’ll be on the front lines if the Sanang attack. Sometimes I wish he didn’t have it, but other times,’ she smiled at them, ‘well, it has its uses.’
‘You dirty bitch,’ Shella laughed. ‘What about you, Daphne? You ever used your powers in bed?’
‘It’s never occurred to me to try until now,’ she said. ‘It’s not like I’ve had much of a sex life recently. Once with Killop was enough for this.’ She pointed at her growing bump.
‘You only did the business with him once?’ Shella said. ‘Fucksake, I didn’t know that.’
Daphne stood. ‘I’d better go find Ariel.’
Shella and Celine nodded, and Daphne left her room, emerging into a well-lit hall at the top of a flight of stairs. She started to descend, when she saw her father coming out of a room.
‘Daphne,’ he said, ‘do you have a moment?’
‘I was on my way to see Ariel.’
‘Your sister can wait,’ he said. ‘This is important. It concerns Killop.’
She followed him to his study, where he closed the door and lit a lamp on the desk.
‘Sit,’ he said, pouring himself a drink.
She took a seat next to his desk, and waited, her heart pounding.
‘Father,’ she said, ‘if it’s bad news, tell me now.’
‘Are you aware,’ he said, ‘of Quentin of Hold Terras, our ambassador in the Rahain capital?’
‘Of course, yes.’
‘I’ve been keeping open a private line of communication with him,’ her father said. ‘I asked him to let me know if there was any word of Killop. Naturally, as the fire mage’s brother, finding his location has been a priority for the Rahain government.’
He gazed at her. ‘There has been word of him.’
‘Go on.’
‘The Rahain military picked up a few runaway slaves,’ her father said, ‘who claimed to have been freed by a Killop, brother of a fire mage. Then stories arrived in the capital, of camps being raided, Kellach slaves being freed. It seems that Killop is leading an armed rebellion in the mountains east of their capital city. In atonement, the prisoners told the Rahain, for the crimes of his sister.’
Daphne sat back in the seat and closed her eyes.
‘I was stupid,’ she said, ‘to think he would abandon his people for me.’
‘He’s the fool, Daffie,’ her father said, ‘but his rebellion might be the only thing stopping the Rahain from taking advantage of our weakness. For that, I can forgive his foolishness.’
Daphne glanced away, unable to decide if she agreed.
Chapter 16
Shafts of Daylight
Severed City, Rahain Republic – 18th Day, First Third Autumn 505
‘We built a cairn over his body,’ Killop said, keeping his gaze on Dyam, who sat motionless in the front row, her eyes red with tears. Draewyn crouched next to her, an arm over the young woman’s shoulder.
‘I fought by Dominic’s side a dozen times,’ Killop said, speaking to everyone in the hall, where his raiding officers and warriors had crowded in. ‘He was brave and loyal, and knew how to lead. He did the Domm proud, he did the Severed Clan proud, and he did the entire Kellach Brigdomin people proud. All over Rahain our folk are slaves, and it’s our job to set them free.
‘Four days ago Dominic fell fighting for our cause, and a part of him will live on in us forever.’
He raised his mug.
‘Let us mind Dominic ae Dominie ae Domm.’
He drained his ale, and watched as everyone else did the same.
When they had finished, he stepped down off the stone bench, and leaned over to Dyam.
‘Take all the time you need,’ he said, then backed away to allow the others to pay their condolences.
Bridget moved to his side, a mug of ale in her hand.
‘Poor lass.’
‘She’s strong,’ he said. ‘She’ll come back from this.’
‘Aye,’ Bridget said. ‘It’s being a single, it’s made her tough.’
Killop nodded. The idea of growing up in Kellach Brigdomin without a twin was almost unthinkable. Every aspect of their youth had been connected in some way to that of their twins. Childhood was spent in each other’s company, and Killop couldn’t imagine being alone, in the way Dyam must have been.
‘With my sisters being identical,’ Bridget went on, ‘even though I was part of triplets, I always felt like an outsider growing up. They would share everything, sometimes it was like they could read each other’s minds, and they made my life a fucking misery.’
‘I remember them betting,’ Killop said, ‘to see who could bag Conal first.’
‘And I stole him out from under their noses,’ Bridget grinned. ‘I can’t tell you how proud that made me, even though wee Conal followed me about for ages like a lost kitten.’
‘One of the worst days of captivity,’ Killop said, ‘was when the Rahain separated me, you and Kallie from Koreen and Conal. I miss those bastards.’
‘I miss them all,’ Bridget said, ‘but here, Killop, we’ve started again. I knew you’d make a good chief. All these folk, they love you, but they don’t know you like I do. We went through the war together, and then lived in each other’s pockets for a year in captivity. I know how hard it’s been for you losing Daphne, but since we got here, I think I’m starting to see signs of your old self returning.’
He shook his head. ‘I
still wake every morning thinking of her. Still run over my life as it should have been, with her.’
‘I’m not saying you’re heartless,’ she said. ‘It’s obvious you’re still mourning her. It’s just that this place has given you a purpose, and seeing that in you makes me happy.’
He frowned. ‘How much ale have you had?’
‘A fair bit,’ she said, ‘but it’s only bringing out the truth. You’re doing a decent job. Daphne would be proud.’
He looked at Bridget. ‘Thanks.’
The noise in the room dwindled away as his officers left to begin their day’s work. Someone opened the hall’s shutters, and the morning sun streamed in, sending a ray of light across Dyam, making her hair glow like gold.
Killop saw Larissa at the other end of the great table.
‘See you soon, Bridget,’ he said. ‘Don’t get too drunk.’
He walked towards Larissa. She saw him coming, and frowned.
‘Need to talk to you,’ he said.
‘I’m already late for a meeting with the hunters,’ she said. ‘I need to give them tonight’s routes.’
‘I’ve asked Brynt to go in your place.’
‘You what?’
‘Let’s take this somewhere more private.’
She scowled, but followed him into a side room.
‘You putting Brynt in charge of my hunters?’ she said, her face reddening.
‘I need you for something else.’
‘What?’
‘You’re taking Dominic’s place in my raiding company.’
Her face went through several emotions.
‘Oh.’
‘You’re the best I’ve got.’
She fell silent. He had barely seen Larissa in the third since he had starting raiding again. She had been out hunting every night, while he had spent long stretches away from the city.
‘When’s the next raid?’ she asked.
‘In a few days.’
‘Why not Dyam? She was next in line.’
‘Dyam’s in charge of the city defences,’ he said. ‘That’s her job, and she’s good at it. It’s time for you to move up, now that we have enough hunters out each night. Let Brynt handle it. I need you on the raids with me.’
She looked up at him. ‘Aye, Chief. I’ll do it.’
‘Thanks.’
She flushed and looked away. ‘Do you need me for anything else? I mean, are we going to talk about the next raid, or I am free for the rest of the day?’
‘I’m meeting my squad leaders tomorrow for lunch in the hall.’
‘I’ll be there, Chief.’
He nodded. ‘Go get drunk then.’
She smirked, and left the room.
As he watched her leave, he realised that if things had been different, he might have been attracted to Larissa. She was a couple of years older than him, and was good-looking, and strong-hearted, but the wound of Daphne still ached within him, and he knew it was pointless to even consider it.
He left the side chamber to see Bridget waiting for him in the hall.
‘You told her then?’ she said.
‘Aye.’
Bridget half-laughed. ‘I thought as much. I saw her face on the way out.’
‘She’s the right choice for the job.’
‘Raid Commander Larissa,’ Bridget said. ‘I wonder if she’s happy or terrified at the prospect of spending days and nights out in the open with you, facing dangers shoulder to shoulder, seeing each other every moment in the raw.’
‘I thought you weren’t going to get drunk?’
‘You told me not to get drunk,’ she said. ‘That’s not the same thing.’
‘But I asked you to come with me today.’
‘Aye, Chief,’ she said, ‘but it’s my day off. I’m only coming as a favour. Anyway, the minding’s over, and Brodie’s taken what’s left of the ale away. I’ll have a hangover in about four hours, so let’s get on with it.’
They left the hall, and walked through lamp-lit corridors until they reached the great boulevard, a hundred yards from where the rift sheared it away. Killop opened a door to a large cavern, lit by sunlight through rents in the side of its domed ceiling, and they went inside.
Warriors were training all over the floor of the cavern, the huge space allowing a multitude of different lessons to take place at the same time. It was large enough to be used as the assembly point for the whole army, over four hundred strong at the last count.
They passed lines of Rahain crossbow teams, practising with their great door-shaped shields. Tiel, the commander of the ex-slaves, saluted Killop as he went by. Beyond the Rahain, pairs of Kellach were duelling with swords and shields.
‘What is it we’re doing today, then?’ Bridget said.
‘Liam’s asked for some help.’
‘Shit,’ Bridget said, ‘you’re kidding me.’
He shook his head.
Killop turned towards a side entrance, and they ascended a long flight of steps. At the top was a door. He knocked and entered, Bridget following.
Inside was a long bare chamber, with a wide, broken window letting in the sun. At one end was a table, with a lamp sitting on it. It was of the Rahain type, with a ceramic base and upper glass globe, burning oil with a steady yellow flame.
At the other end of the room sat three people.
He heard Bridget sigh as the three turned to see who had come in.
Two were teenagers, a boy and a girl. The other was an adult, a white-haired old man.
‘Liam,’ Killop said, ‘thanks for inviting me to your teaching session.’
‘Thank you for coming, Chief,’ said the old sparker. ‘Please take a seat.’
‘How long’s this going to last?’ the girl said.
‘Quiet, Lilyann, please,’ Liam said.
‘But it’s pointless.’
‘Quiet I said, girl. The chief has come to see you, both of you.’ He looked at the boy, who sat sullen and glowering, his legs stretched out.
Killop sat. ‘I’ve brought Bridget with me. We’ve come to see how your lessons are going.’
Liam snorted. ‘As you know, Chief, they’ve had no training up to now, and are well behind where they should be. Both discovered they had powers in the camp where you found them, but they’ve had little chance to use them, or experiment under any sort of guidance. Also,’ he frowned, ‘neither of them have been particularly cooperative.’
Killop glanced at the two young mages. The girl sat examining her nails, while the boy stared into space.
‘Lilyann,’ he said. ‘Dean. You are the fire mages of the Severed Clan. Soon, I’ll be leading the largest rebellion the Rahain Republic has ever seen. You can help us, if you listen to Liam, and learn to control your skills.’
‘I’ll never be like Keira,’ Lilyann said. ‘Not that I’d want to.’
‘Mages like my sister come along once every hundred years,’ Killop said. ‘That doesn’t mean all other fire mages are useless. I’ve seen many battles where throwers turned the tide.’
Lilyann shrugged. ‘I don’t care.’
‘Ya whiny wee toerags,’ Bridget said. ‘You’ve no fucking clue what we do for you, or what the chief has done for you.’
‘I don’t see much difference,’ the girl said, ‘between being imprisoned back in the camp, and being trapped here.’
‘Don’t be stupid,’ Bridget said. ‘You ungrateful cow.’
Lilyann stared at Killop. ‘Great Chief,’ she said, ‘am I free to leave the Severed City?’
Killop shook his head. ‘We can’t allow the Rahain to capture a fire mage.’
‘Because of what your sister did,’ Lilyann said. ‘I’m stuck here because you think I’d behave like that murdering bitch if the lizards captured me.’
Bridget rose to her feet, her fist raised.
‘Leave her,’ Killop said. ‘She’s fifteen. You were probably just as bloody-minded at that age.’
He turned to Lilyann. ‘Some of what you say
is true. If the Rahain captured you they might try to force you to use your powers to help them, but it’s more likely that, after Keira, they would just kill you out of hand if they found out you were a mage.’
‘I’d rather take my chances.’
‘Why don’t you show the chief what you can do?’ Liam said.
‘No.’
‘Dean?’
‘No.’
They all sat in silence.
‘Maybe she’s right,’ Bridget said. ‘It’s a waste of everyone’s time and energy looking after them if they aren’t going to help. We’ve no room for anyone who doesn’t make an effort.’
‘Then you’ll let me go?’ Lilyann said.
Bridget glanced at Killop.
‘But…’ Liam said.
‘All right,’ Killop said. ‘We’ll remove them both at night. Each in a different direction, blindfolded. Scouts will take them a hundred miles from the Severed City, then dump them in the wild. Then, if the Rahain pick them up, they won’t be able to lead them to us.’
Lilyann stared open-mouthed, while Dean turned, his face reddening.
‘If they’re captured, Chief,’ Liam said, ‘the Rahain may discover they’re mages.’
‘How?’ Killop said. ‘If they won’t show us, they’re not likely to show the Rahain. I doubt they have much to show, anyway.’
Killop stood.
‘I’ll make the arrangements,’ he said. ‘Don’t blame yourself, Liam. You tried.’
He nodded to Bridget, and they started to walk to the door.
‘Wait,’ said Dean.
They turned. The boy was sitting up in his chair, his eyes wide.
‘Aye?’ Killop said.
‘This isn’t fair,’ he said. ‘I didn’t say I wanted to leave.’
‘What’s fair,’ Killop said, ‘is that everybody who lives here is willing to help.’ He pointed to the table. ‘The lamp is there. Come and show me what you can do.’
Dean’s face went red, and he looked down.
‘Come on, Dean,’ Bridget said. ‘Please.’
He got to his feet, and walked over. He stood awkwardly by the table, avoiding their gaze, while the old tutor joined them.
‘Now remember,’ Liam said, reaching forward and removing the glass globe from the top of the lamp, ‘find the flame in your mind’s eye first.’
The Magelands Box Set Page 66
