‘I’ll think about it.’
‘Rahain is turning,’ Ghorley said. ‘The people here have been blessed by the Creator, and are converting daily in their thousands. The freed slaves in particular have taken to it. The notion of the Creator loving each one of them has sparked a change in their hearts. The masses have given up their wicked ways, and are living pure, devout lives of worship, flocking to serve the Creator and perform the noble work of the church.’
He gazed into Daphne’s eyes, but she felt no power emerge from him.
‘Killop cannot resist this reformation,’ he said. ‘If he tries, it will sweep him away.’
‘I doubt the Kellach Brigdomin will be as susceptible to conversion as the Rahain.’
‘That may be true,’ he said, ‘but it cannot be right that they are forbidden to even consider it.’
Daphne said nothing.
‘Well,’ Ghorley said, ‘I tried. You said you would think about it, and so I must be satisfied with that.’
Daphne picked up Karalyn, resting her again on her hip.
‘Thank you for the tea.’
‘You’re most welcome,’ Ghorley said, sitting up in his seat. ‘One last thing. Be careful on the road. Old Free bandits and criminals lurk in the valleys, and have been known to strike out at innocent travellers.’
‘They’re getting this close to the capital?’
‘Unfortunately,’ Ghorley said. ‘However, we are recruiting and training a truly mighty army. The rebellion will be smashed, of that there is no doubt.’
Daphne nodded. ‘Farewell.’
‘Farewell, Miss Holdfast.’
Daphne turned and walked for the door, feeling their eyes boring into her back.
Bedig took Karalyn from Daphne and placed her into the back of the wagon. Daphne clambered up after them, and slumped down next to her daughter, her hand trembling with exhaustion.
The Brig man lashed the reins, and the horses moved off down the road in the direction of the setting sun.
‘How’d it go?’
Daphne smiled. ‘Made it back, didn’t we?’
‘I was worried they would try something.’
‘They were too surprised to know what to do.’
She sat Karalyn on her knee and gazed back up the road towards the gatehouse of the city as it grew smaller in the distance.
‘It worked, I think,’ she said. ‘It showed them I’m not afraid, but it took a lot out of me. Ghorley’s strong.’
‘Not as strong as you, though?’
‘Not as strong as me.’
‘Here,’ he said, passing her a smokestick.
She lit it and inhaled.
‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘I assume your day went well?’
‘Took me a while to find the place,’ he said, ‘but the old woman’s still there, and remembered you from when you used to buy off her. She said she was giving me a good price, but I reckon you were ripped off.’
He passed her a leather pouch from under the driver’s bench. She opened it, and saw a thick bundle of smokesticks.
She smiled.
‘No, Bedig,’ she said. ‘That’ll do.’
Chapter 11
Slow Burn
Broadwater, Kingdom of Sanang – 20th Day, First Third Autumn 506
Agang relaxed and lay back, gazing up at the patches of blue sky visible through the branches of the forest. Nothing reached his ears but the sound of birds in the trees, and the splashing coming from the little river close by.
‘Woah, that was a cold swim,’ said Giles, emerging from the water.
Agang watched the handsome young Holdings man clamber up the bank, his dark skin glistening with droplets. He reached down, picked up a towel and began drying himself, as Agang lit a stick of dreamweed.
‘Come and sit here,’ he said, patting the grass next to him. ‘We’ll share this before we return to town.’
Giles nodded, and walked over. He gathered his clothes and pulled a loose tunic over his shoulders.
‘Have you enjoyed this morning?’ Agang asked.
‘Yes, your Majesty,’ Giles said, sitting and taking the weedstick from the king. ‘Thanks for inviting me along.’
‘I needed a break,’ Agang said. ‘It’s nice to get away from all the stresses of politics, even if it’s only for a few hours.’
‘You picked a lovely spot,’ Giles said, gazing around at the forest clearing. The leaves of the seasonal trees were shaded red and orange, interspersed with green spruce needles.
‘Sanang is the most beautiful country in the world,’ Agang said, ‘and autumn is its most wonderful season.’
‘You’ve yet to see the Holdings, your Majesty.’
‘Very true.’
‘It’s also beautiful, but it’s a more austere beauty. The endless plains, and the vast open sky, and glorious sunsets that seem to last forever.’
‘And warmer too, I believe?’
‘Yes,’ Giles said. ‘Much hotter in summer. I’m from the eastern holds, where it hardly ever rains for half the year, and the ground gets dry and dusty. The first autumn showers should be arriving there about now.’
‘Do you miss it?’
Giles nodded. ‘Yes, but I want to be here, your Majesty.’
‘Even with all the recent troubles?’ Agang said. ‘Tension in the town is rising. The people are fearful with all the waiting.’
‘Commander Mandalecht will send news soon, your Majesty. I’m sure of it.’
‘I hope so. It’s been over a third. He should have reached the River Tritos days ago.’
‘There are many ways a messenger could have been delayed, your Majesty.’
‘Of course. I’m sure you’re right,’ Agang said. ‘I’m probably worrying over nothing.’
He stubbed out the weedstick and got to his feet. Giles accepted his offered hand and stood, his dark hair dripping.
Agang clapped, and a dozen soldiers emerged from the surrounding forest.
‘Your Majesty,’ their officer bowed.
‘We’re ready to return,’ Agang said.
‘Very well, your Majesty.’
The officer raised his hand, and the soldiers formed up into a flanking escort. He pointed forwards, and they moved off, Agang and Giles in their midst.
‘Father Pieper is attending court this afternoon,’ Agang said.
‘Thanks for the warning, your Majesty,’ Giles said. ‘I’ll stay well clear of him when we get back. He looks at me funny.’
‘He can be rather annoying at times,’ Agang said. ‘However, he may have performed the vision he was talking about, to see if he could find the army’s whereabouts. If he was successful, then I want to hear what he has to say.’
The path followed the bank of the stream for a mile, then turned north, where the first signs of habitation became visible. Fields and orchards ran for acres on the western side of Broadwater, and small farms and dwellings dotted the landscape. Oats, fruit and corn were the main crops grown next to the town, with cocoa and coffee plantations further along the Twinth. Agang gazed across the bountiful fields. Already the first harvests were beginning, and would intensify over the following days.
‘What’s that?’ Giles cried, and a few of the soldiers halted, their mouths opening.
Agang heard a scream and looked up. A great plume of smoke was rising from the direction of Broadwater, thick and black, carried by a light breeze.
He nodded to the officer, and they increased their speed.
Ahead, a new settlement had been built, nestled up against the western wall of the town. The road ran through its centre, ending in a large set of gates leading to the town. A crowd had gathered, looking up at the smoke.
‘The firewitch is here!’ someone cried, and the crowd froze for a second, then panicked.
Groups of peasants began running away from the town amid jostling, curses and shouts of terror. The soldiers bunched around Agang as the mob approached. More people were streaming through the gates ahead, push
ing aside any guards who tried to block their way.
‘Off the road,’ Agang shouted to his escort, and they piled down the bank to their right and into a ditch as the crowd swept past.
‘Keira kill-kill!’ someone screamed.
Fights broke out on the road, above where Agang crouched, as people shoved and punched each other in their haste to flee. Some fell, their cries cut out as they were trampled.
Agang got to his feet.
‘Come on,’ he yelled to his escort, and began running along the course of the ditch towards the town, his boots sinking into the soft mud. Giles slipped, and Agang pulled him up. Above, the crowds were thinning, and Agang ran up the bank and back onto the road.
‘Your Majesty!’ cried his nephew Gadang, who was ahead by the gates, an entire company of soldiers standing in lines behind him.
Agang’s escort formed up and they dashed into the safety of the ranks.
‘Are you all right, your Majesty?’ Gadang said, his eyes darting over the crowds still fleeing the town.
‘Yes,’ Agang replied. ‘What’s happening?’
‘A fire, your Majesty.’
‘I know that,’ he shouted. ‘Is the town under attack?’
‘I don’t know.’
Agang shook his head. He strode to the front of the company of armoured soldiers.
‘We’re going in,’ he cried. ‘Secure the streets, find the source of the fire, and kill any rebels you see.’
He turned, and drew his sword.
Behind him, he heard two hundred soldiers get ready.
‘Clear the way!’ Agang bellowed, and started for the gate.
Peasants scattered at the sight of the company charging towards them, some throwing themselves off the side of the road, others sprinting back into the town.
Agang passed through the cleared gates and into Broadwater.
The smoke was coming from the area beyond the market, in the direction of Temple Square. The main street was filled with running townsfolk, screaming and shouting, but Agang could see no enemy warriors, or any signs of organised fighting.
The company formed a wedge, and rolled through the crowds towards the source of the fire. They reached the market, which was deserted, and continued on, past the front of the courthouse, and down towards Temple Square. The crowds had fled from the vicinity of the fire, but up ahead Agang saw more soldiers, barring the road in a thick line.
At their rear, an officer stood, directing the soldiers as they faced down the street.
‘Captain,’ he said, striding towards the officer.
‘Your Majesty,’ the officer bowed.
‘Report, please.’
‘House-fire we think, your Majesty,’ he said. ‘Spread to a whole block. Folk were shouting about the firewitch, and started running. I ordered my men in to restore order, but we encountered opposition up ahead. Seems a crowd of pro-rebels also heard the shouts, and thought it was the signal to start fighting. We have them sealed up in the square, your Majesty. Shall we move in?’
Agang gazed down the street, but couldn’t see past the wall of soldiers’ backs. To their left, more soldiers stood in a long chain, passing buckets of water down to the block of houses where the fire burned.
He nodded.
‘Shall we show any quarter, your Majesty?’
‘Take a few captives for later. Kill the rest.’
The captain nodded, and signalled to a young herald, who raised a horn and gave a sharp blast.
The soldiers ahead roared and charged down the street. There was a crunch, followed by the sound of steel and men dying.
Next to him, Giles flinched, and Agang put his hand on his shoulder.
‘There is one good aspect to this ugly business, your Majesty,’ Hodang said, as he and Agang strode through Temple Square an hour later, stepping over the broken bodies of dead rebels and soldiers. The fire was out, though the housing block to their left was still smoking.
Agang frowned.
‘The panic flushed the rebels out early,’ Hodang said. ‘We knew there were more of them in the city, laying low and biding their time. They showed their hand, and we destroyed them. Imagine, your Majesty, what damage they could have caused had they risen up while Broadwater was actually under attack.’
They stopped in front of a line of soldiers, who were guarding a small number of prisoners. Agang gazed at the faces of those who had been captured. Defiance and fear mixed as one in their eyes. Many had injuries, but were being denied access to the hedgewitches that were attending his own soldiers.
‘Your Majesty,’ the captain said, ‘shall we organise more crucifixions?’
Agang opened his mouth to speak, when he saw Father Pieper approach, his face strewn with tears.
‘Your Majesty!’ he cried. ‘Please, I beg you to come with me.’
‘What is it?’
‘Something your soldiers have just discovered, your Majesty. Something unholy has occurred.’
Agang nodded, and he and Hodang followed the priest to the front of the small temple to the old gods that sat along one side of the square. There, on the steps leading up to the entrance, lay scattered limbs and body parts, hacked and bloody. Dark-skinned heads, arms, legs and torsos were mixed in with strips of torn black cloth, covering the wide steps.
Agang recoiled.
‘Witness,’ Pieper cried. ‘Witness this atrocity. Unarmed preachers, men and women beloved by the Creator, ripped to shreds by those savages.’
He knelt, sobbing, and put his hand on the head of a Holdings woman, the rest of her body strewn in pieces with the others. He closed her eyes.
‘Deacon Julia,’ he wept. ‘Twenty years old. Martyred for the faith.’
‘There must be at least a dozen bodies lying here,’ Hodang said, ‘maybe more. Is this all of the missionaries that were in Broadwater?’
‘I haven’t counted them yet,’ said Pieper. ‘I don’t know.’
‘For this,’ Agang said, ‘we will allow you to personally execute one of the captives we have taken.’
Pieper stared at Agang.
‘Your royal justice will suffice, your Majesty,’ he said. ‘Just make sure they suffer.’
‘They will,’ Agang said, ‘have no doubt about that.’
‘I curse that damn fire mage,’ Pieper said. ‘I fear this is the fate of all missionaries in Sanang, wherever that bitch rules.’
The priest stood, his eyes red, and his fists clenched.
‘You will grind your heel into her corpse,’ Agang said, ‘as I will do to B’Dang D’Bang. By now Mandalecht will be at the River Tritos. The rebels will find our army a different proposition from the farmers and missionaries they have slaughtered so far.’
Pieper nodded. ‘This evening I’ll look out with my vision to see if I can discover what’s happening. As you know, your Majesty, the forest cover can make it difficult to see anything, but I will try again for you.’
The sound of someone approaching reached Agang’s ears, and he turned.
‘Your Majesty,’ bowed Imperial Legate Robban. ‘The riot is over?’
‘It is,’ Agang said.
‘I heard the news about the missionaries,’ he said, gazing down at the gore-covered steps of the temple. ‘I came to see for myself.’
‘Killed by rebel spies and sympathisers,’ Hodang said. ‘A most tragic occurrence.’
‘The security of Holdings personnel within Broadwater is your responsibility, I believe?’ Robban said.
‘The citizens panicked,’ Hodang said, ‘and stampeded through the town. There was no way to protect everyone under such circumstances.’
Robban glanced at Pieper. ‘The Lord Vicar must be informed immediately of this massacre.’
‘Of course, Legate,’ Pieper said, ‘though I have promised his Majesty that I will try to find the Sanang army first.’
‘That will have to wait, father,’ Robban said. ‘I need word passed on today of what has occurred, and any news of the alliance army�
��s approach.’
Hodang frowned. ‘The location of the rebels and Mandalecht is the priority, I would have thought, Legate? If B’Dang is close, we need to know.’
‘Pieper’s vision is almost useless when scanning miles of forest,’ Robban said. ‘The rebels could be right under his nose and he’d never see them. No, his powers are under the authority of the empire, and since I speak for the Emperor the decision is mine.’ He nodded to the priest. ‘You will escort me back to the citadel, father.’
Pieper turned to Agang. ‘Your Majesty,’ he bowed.
Robban did the same, then the two of them turned and strode from the square.
Agang stared at them, biting his tongue.
‘They’re upset, your Majesty,’ Hodang said. ‘This slaughter has made the legate anxious. And he has a point you know, the chances of Pieper actually being able to…’
‘You can stop, Hodang,’ Agang said. ‘I know when I’ve been out-ranked. It’s happened to me for most of my life, after all.’
‘You are the King of Sanang, your Majesty,’ Hodang said, ‘but you have no power over those from other nations.’
‘It was much the same when I was chief of Beechwoods,’ Agang said, his face dark. ‘The other chiefs would say I had no authority. Where are they all now, eh?’
‘You desire to be emperor, your Majesty?’ Hodang whispered.
Agang said nothing, his heart racing.
He heard boots approach.
‘Your Majesty,’ the army captain said. ‘The prisoners?’
‘Something more than crucifixion this time,’ Agang said, glancing at the officer. ‘Burn them. Slowly.’
Chane paced the office, a written report in her hand.
‘Forty-seven rebels, sixty-three civilians, fourteen soldiers and nineteen Holdings missionaries,’ she said. ‘All over a fucking fire in a storeroom?’
Agang sipped from his cup of wine.
‘My mistake,’ Chane said, turning to face him. ‘Thirty-nine rebels. The eight prisoners haven’t been executed yet.’
‘They will be our spectacle for the evening,’ Agang said. ‘The seats are being set up in the square now.’
The Magelands Box Set Page 106
