He glanced at Niall. ‘Your squad was here first. You can come with me.’
‘Where are we going, sir?’
‘To do as the blonde lady suggests,’ he said. ‘Look for a way round.’
Niall nodded to his squad, and they left with the mage, picking up Leah and Bronald on the way.
Benel led them running through the forest to the west of the river, moving fast over the frozen hillside, under the cover of wide stretches of pine and spruce. He turned left, and they climbed a steep slope, scrambling over icy boulders and scree until they reached another line of forest.
Benel raised his hand, and the squad stopped, panting and sweating in their thick clothes.
‘I’m going to take a look,’ he said, looking fresh and unflustered. His aide ran forwards, her cheeks puffing.
Benel sat, and gazed at the top of the mountainside, and his eyes went blank again.
This time he was gone for longer, and when he came to he vomited, and had to rest. His aide kept him supplied with cigarettes, and something that smelt to Keira’s nose like rum.
‘Check him drinking,’ she whispered.
‘He’s the elite,’ Niall said. ‘Mages like him get to do whatever they want.’
Benel looked over, as if he had heard them.
‘I’ve found a way through,’ he said, getting to his feet. He walked over to where Niall, Keira and Kylon crouched under the trees. ‘It’ll be hard going, and there’s only a few of hours of sunlight left.’
He pulled a flask from his coat, and passed it to them.
‘You probably need this more than I do.’
Keira took her turn, and swigged down a gulp of fine rum.
‘That’s the best I’ve tasted in a long fucking while.’
‘Gather the squad,’ he said. ‘It’s time to go.’
They needed their ropes and climbing gear to traverse some of the torturous route that Benel led them on, across razor-sharp ridges of rock and ice, where a fierce mountain wind blew. The Sanang, though hating the cold, were better climbers than the others, their long, thick arms powering them up cliff sides and steep slopes. The Holdings troopers fared worst, except for Benel himself, who seemed unaffected by the exertion.
‘The prick’s using battle-vision, isn’t he?’ Keira whispered to Kylon, as they sat with their backs to a giant boulder, sheltering from the wind while they took a rest.
Kylon nodded.
‘That’s a skill I’d like to have,’ she said.
‘Right now I’d rather he had your fire mage skills,’ Niall said.
‘I don’t have any mage skills,’ Keira said, her eyes wide.
‘Not you personally, you idiot,’ he replied. ‘The Kellach skills. If we had a fire mage up here, we could just blast the Rahain off the mountain side. Job done.’
Benel stood.
‘We’re nearly there,’ he said. ‘Down that valley, and we should come out on top of the Rahain position. Are you ready, boys and girls?’
They followed Benel down the icy slope, and through a stretch of pine forest. He stopped them when they reached the edge of a low cliff, and they crouched at his signal.
‘See them?’ he whispered.
Niall nodded.
Keira scanned the valley. A hundred yards below them, she could see the backs of Rahain soldiers, squatting in the undergrowth, watching the area around the waterfall at the top of the ridge.
Niall nudged her. ‘See what I mean?’ he whispered. ‘One fire mage, and whoosh.’
She smiled.
Benel leaned over to Leah, and spoke in her ear. She nodded, and got her longbow ready, unwrapping the skins protecting it from the frost.
‘The rest of you,’ Benel hissed, ‘as quiet as you brutes can manage, after me.’
He climbed over the side of the cliff, and dropped six feet to the bottom, the others following. Keira gestured to the Sanang for silence, and the squad unsheathed their weapons. Benel nodded, and they sprinted down the steep slope, charging towards the Rahain.
An arrow whistled past, striking the first Rahain to turn his head to see what the noise was. Keira leapt into the undergrowth, Kylon by her side, her sword bared. She swung down, scything through a soldier as he tried to get up. The cold and lack of movement made them stiff and slow to respond, and the squad ripped through them, arrows hitting any who were able to level their crossbows.
Benel fought like he was possessed, a short sword in each hand, spinning, rolling, and cutting through a dozen Rahain.
Keira and Kylon followed in his wake, keeping his back clear. Fang and Brecht were causing bloody havoc with their axes, and no mercy was shown. The squad stopped when the last Rahain had been cut down.
Benel sat on a rock, his aide assisting.
‘I will be out for a while now,’ he said to them. ‘Send someone to the waterfall, tell them it’s safe to come up.’ He looked at the squad, a faint smirk on his face. ‘Good job everyone.’ He nodded to Kylon and Keira. ‘Thanks for watching my back. Actually, you were all rather useful. I may have another job for you tomorrow…’
His head slumped, and his eyes closed. His aide lowered him onto a blanket.
‘We need to light a fire,’ she said. ‘We must keep the mage warm.’
Niall pointed at a trooper. ‘Get to the waterfall, let the others know.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Don’t call me… never mind. Off you go.’
He rubbed his hands together. ‘Let’s get a fire going, before we all freeze.’
The next morning, the squad were awoken by Benel calling out to them.
‘Wake up, boys and girls,’ he singsonged.
He smiled as heads began to poke out of their tent.
‘Get some breakfast, then we’ll be off,’ he said. ‘And wrap up warm.’
Three hours later, the squad were scaling the face of another ridge, ten miles from the waterfall. The rest of the Leftovers were making their way along the valley floor, but Benel had led the squad away from the main path, and across wild and barren mountain slopes, heading further east, towards the summit.
The wind had picked up, and was blasting snow across the mountain. They were now above the treeline, and had only rocks and cliffs to shield them from the elements. Keira pulled her scarf closer to her face, her eyes squinting from the alternating dark and light patches, rock and snow. Even Benel was looking tired, his efforts of the previous day having a lingering effect.
By noon, they had started their descent, coming down the southern flank of the mountain. In the distance Keira could pick out the valley below, where thirds before she had hidden in Leon’s wagon. Down there lay a fort, she remembered, and a labour camp filled with clansfolk.
The weather eased as they re-entered the treeline, and went through a still forest, where the wind dropped. They stopped for lunch, then walked in silence for the rest of the afternoon, making their way down the snow-covered slopes.
The sun dipped below the high horizon to their right, casting the valley into shadow. Benel halted the squad when they reached the edge of a line of trees.
‘I suppose you want to know why I’ve dragged you over the mountain today,’ he said. He pointed at the bottom of the slope, where a track was visible, running along a wide ledge. ‘That path is where the rest of the battalion will appear, probably this time tomorrow, after they have gone the long way round, and if they can get through the thousand Rahain soldiers that are blocking the pass.
‘Before you ask, we’re not going to their assistance. Instead, we’ll snatch this opportunity to strike while the eyes of the enemy are on the pass and the three thousand Leftovers that are approaching it. Directly below us is the entrance to the tunnel that has been blocked at the other end. I intend to unblock it.’
‘How, sir?’ Niall asked.
‘We’ll see when we get there,’ Benel said. ‘The garrison of the fort guarding the entrance is considerably bigger than our little band of twenty. I need you to distract the
m, while I go ahead into the tunnel. You must hold them off so I can get to the other end, a distance of about six miles. Once I’ve opened up the far entrance, alliance troops will flood through, and relieve you.’
Niall looked away, his face bitter and angry.
‘So you brought us up here to die?’ Keira said.
‘Don’t be foolish, blondie,’ he said. ‘The squad will have the element of surprise, and will only need to draw the enemy’s attention while I slip into the tunnel. After that, Niall can lead them a merry dance through the forest. I’m not asking the squad to just stand there and get killed. Do you think I’m a savage?’
‘Not sure yet.’
He smirked. ‘I’m getting to like you.’
He knelt on the icy ground and with a stick drew out a plan of the fort and the tunnel entrance.
‘We can get down here,’ he pointed, ‘but sentries will see anyone past this point. I suggest that you create a diversion on the other side, over here, near the remains of a shanty village and labour camp.’
‘Remains?’ Keira said. ‘Is no one there now?’
‘None,’ he replied. ‘Presumably they moved on when the tunnel was completed. There’s only the garrison left, along with the reinforcements watching the pass.’
‘How many are in the garrison, sir?’ Niall asked.
‘A full Rahain regiment,’ Benel said. ‘Two thousand. And a squadron of winged gaien, so stay under cover after you have grabbed their attention.’
‘They have winged gaien, sir?’ Flora asked, her eyes wide.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘This may be the first time some of you have seen them. Try not to be too scared of their appearance; they’re only about as clever as horses. If you keep under tree cover, they’ll find it hard to spot you.’
‘Are you doing this for your own glory?’ Kylon asked.
‘Not at all,’ he said. ‘It is a risk, I grant you, but one must seize even the tiniest opportunity. If we’re successful, we’ll have won a great advance for the alliance. But don’t worry, Kylon,’ he went on, ‘you and blondie will be coming with me into the tunnel. You did a good job watching my back yesterday, you can do the same today.’
Without another word, Benel began jogging down the slope to the track, and the squad followed.
‘He’s crazy,’ Niall muttered as they clambered down the hillside.
‘He must have some sort of a plan,’ Kylon said.
‘I think he’s just making it up as he goes along,’ the corporal said.
They reached the track, now shrouded in shadow, and trotted along the ledge, until they saw the top of the fort, a high tower rising above the tiered stacks of walls and battlements.
Benel halted, crouching by the cliffside to their left.
‘Niall,’ he said, ‘here’s where we leave you. Carry on past the fort, there’s a path that leads down the other side, through some woods. About halfway down, there’s a terrace, where gaien and other livestock are held. It’s the best place for a distraction. Make it loud, make them notice you, and then flee when you’re sure you have their full attention.’
Niall nodded, his face resigned.
‘Creator’s blessings on you corporal,’ Benel said.
Leah nodded to Keira and Kylon, and the squad moved on down the track.
Keira watched them until they disappeared into the shadows.
Benel nodded, and turned off the track, scrambling down the uneven slope, the two Kellach following. They came to a path, and ran down it until the walls of the fort came into view. The stronghold was built on several levels, jutting out from the side of the cliff-face, and there was a sentry tower overlooking the path ahead.
‘We’ll wait here,’ Benel said, keeping close to the rockface.
He passed round his flask of rum, and they sipped while they crouched. The temperature plunged as it got darker, and frost glittered on their clothes.
After an hour, Keira heard the sound of raised voices, and steel striking steel, coming from the other side of the fort. Benel got to his feet, and began sprinting down the path, without looking to see if the Kellach came after him.
Keira sighed and stood, her legs stiff from the cold. They ran after Benel, right under the sentry post, keeping close to the cliff. They reached a turn, and saw Benel in the distance, still running down the path as it made a steep descent to the valley floor.
They nearly crashed into Benel as they got to the bottom, the Holdings mage ducking as Keira skidded past him on the ice.
‘Did you get seen?’ he said.
‘Didn’t hear any alarms,’ Kylon said.
Benel nodded. ‘We’re close. Look.’ He pointed up the valley, and Keira recognised the ramp that led to the tunnel entrance. She remembered Leon, whipping the gaien on as she had lain hidden in the wagon. Poor bastard.
‘There will be lizards guarding the entrance,’ she said.
‘Of course,’ Benel replied. ‘We shall just have to kill them.’
He pulled out a little box from his belt, and opened it.
‘What the fuck is that?’ Keira said.
‘Keenweed,’ he replied, lighting the small, thin smokestick, keeping the lit end in the shadow of the rocks. ‘I suggest you have some too.’
Keira took the weedstick, and inhaled. As before, she felt her senses expand, and her tiredness vanish, the false energy of the drugs making her feel like she could run all night.
She passed it to Kylon, who finished it off.
Benel stood, and they took off again, until the noise from Niall’s distraction faded into the distance behind them. It was dark, but the Holdings mage ran as if he could see as well as the Kellach. They reached the ramp, and saw the lamp-lit tunnel entrance ahead.
Keira felt her legs power up the ramp as if she were fresh, and hadn’t been running and climbing since dawn. Then she remembered how Benel had passed out the day before, and knew there would be a price to pay.
So swift and silent were they, that they were upon the Rahain guards at the tunnel entrance before any had a chance to raise their crossbows.
Keira slashed out, and cut down two guards. She turned, and saw that Kylon and Benel had between them killed all of the others. Kylon stood with a spear and longsword, Benel with his two short swords, smiling at her.
‘Fucking show offs,’ she said.
They entered the tunnel, under a huge arch lined with enormous stones, and smoothed by Rahain magery. It was wide enough for four wagons to fit side by side, and twice as high. To the left of the entrance were storage chambers and a gaien stabling yard.
Benel hitched a wagon to a pair of gaien, and they loaded it up with tools, pickaxes, shovels, and long metal bars.
Benel took the reins, and the two Kellach climbed up next to him as he urged the gaien into the tunnel. The lamps were lit for only a hundred yards, and then the tunnel ahead disappeared into darkness.
Kylon jumped down, unhooked two lamps from the wall, and brought them back to the wagon.
‘There’s no one here,’ Keira said, as the wagon lurched down the tunnel.
‘Of course not,’ Benel said, ‘there’s no way in from the other side.’
‘Then how the fuck are we supposed to unblock the tunnel if they can’t?’
‘Have some faith, blondie,’ he said. ‘I’ve studied the detailed plans made for us by a renegade Rahain. There are several weak points as the tunnel reaches the Plateau valley. They’re impossible to detect from the outside, but if we can find one from in here, we may be able to do something.’
For an hour, they made their way down the silent, dark tunnel, the only light coming from the small lamps hanging from the wagon’s sides. Mile marks had been painted onto the walls, counting down the distance to the Plateau. Five minutes after they had passed the last mile marker, openings began to appear in the sides of the tunnel.
‘There’s a little network behind the walls,’ Benel said. ‘Chambers, more tunnels, presumably for storage, and to link the tunnel
to the fort on the other side.’
Out of the gloom ahead emerged a great pile of rubble, towering up and filling the tunnel.
Benel stopped the wagon.
‘The last quarter of a mile,’ he said. ‘Completely blocked. I wonder if it pained the mages, to have to collapse their tunnel so soon after finishing it.’
‘Don’t feel sorry for those fuckers,’ Keira said.
Benel shrugged. ‘I feel there is a bond that connects all mages, even enemy ones. That reminds me, I have a confession to make.’
He climbed down from the wagon, and stood, his arms by his sides.
‘I know who you are,’ he said. ‘I could see it in your eyes the first time I saw you. I looked within you, right into your mind, and I saw fire.’
‘What the fuck are you talking about?’
‘I should have reported you to the alliance authorities, as was my duty,’ Benel went on. ‘But I didn’t. I am no ordinary battle or line mage, just as you are no ordinary fire mage, Keira ae Caela ae Kell.’
‘At least you got my name right,’ she said. She jumped off the wagon, Kylon a pace beside her.
Benel tensed. ‘You can attack me, or you can listen.’
‘Are you looking to make a deal?’
‘Why else would I have brought you here? I have a plan, and it may require a mage of your talents. If we succeed, I will keep your identity a secret, and I’ll have you and any that survive from your squad attached to me personally, and I’ll protect you from any prying questions.’
‘And what do you get out of it?’
‘Kylon was right,’ he said. ‘I’m only a man, and I hunger for the glory that victory will bring. And the money, and the power.’
Keira glanced at Kylon, who was staring at Benel as if he wanted to rip his throat out with his teeth.
‘Well, we’re here now,’ Keira said. ‘May as well give it a go.’
They unloaded the tools, and carried them through a twisting series of side tunnels, passing chambers and caverns cut into the rock on either side, lying abandoned and half-furnished. They reached a large square room, and halted.
Benel laughed, a grin splitting his face.
‘There it is,’ he pointed at the far wall, ‘our way to glory.’
The Magelands Box Set Page 75
