The Magelands Box Set

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Who’s “us”?’

  ‘Me. Bridget.’ He paused. ‘Daphne.’

  Draewyn’s eyes narrowed.

  ‘Daphne,’ he said. ‘That’s what I thought.’

  Draewyn said nothing.

  ‘You holding a grudge?’ he asked.

  ‘No.’

  ‘You just don’t like her, then?’

  ‘I’m sure she’s a lovely girl,’ she said. ‘And I’ve tried, Chief, I honestly have. But you can’t make me sit in the same room as her, it’s not fair.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘And I’m not the only one who feels that way,’ she said, her features hardening. ‘Many of the lassies here are scared of her. How can I ask them to go to a meeting when she’ll be there?’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘She reads minds, Chief,’ Draewyn said. ‘No one’s thoughts are private when she’s there. When you’re with her your mind goes blank, and all you can think about is that she might be inside your head, rooting through your secrets and memories.’

  Killop fell silent.

  ‘I would have thought, Chief,’ she went on, ‘that you’d know this better than most. Do you not think, after what happened over Larissa, that she’d want to see if you had any more secrets? If I had her powers, and I was with a man who’d lied to me, I don’t think I’d be able to resist. Would you?’

  ‘I didn’t lie to her.’

  ‘You omitted the truth. Much the same thing.’

  ‘I made a mistake.’

  ‘Aye, and now you’ve learned to tell the truth, because she’ll know if you’re lying.’

  He shook his head. ‘We trust each other.’

  ‘Trust means believing someone without any evidence. You take them on faith. How can Daphne take anyone on faith when she can easily check if they’re lying?’

  Killop said nothing.

  ‘I feel sorry for her,’ Draewyn said. ‘The urge she must feel to find out what folk really think about her must be overwhelming. It’s like she’s cursed.’

  ‘You’re wrong about her,’ he said. ‘She doesn’t abuse her powers.’

  ‘I don’t mean this the wrong way, Chief, but I’m not sure I believe that. She’d need to be strong-willed to resist the temptation, but she can’t stop smoking drugs, even around the baby, your daughter. I’m not sure she has the will-power.’

  ‘You’re crossing a line, Draewyn.’

  She lifted her palms. ‘You asked me to explain. I didn’t want to, because I knew it might hurt you. I know that you love her. That’s why I thought it best to stay away. If you order me to attend any meeting she’ll be at, I’ll resign my position as head of the nursery, and move out of the mansion. You’ll need to find someone else.’

  He stood.

  ‘If you’re not at tomorrow’s meeting,’ he said, ‘I’ll take that as your resignation.’

  He strode from the room before he could say anything else, his mind bitter with anger. The nursery staff were ushering the children back into the hall, but most averted their eyes as he passed. Outside, it was raining. Killop pulled his cloak around his shoulders, and walked from the hall.

  Killop threw off his boots and sodden cloak as soon as he entered his rooms at the top of the mansion. A fire was burning in the huge stone fireplace, where Bridget and Daphne were sitting.

  He walked over and warmed his hands.

  ‘You’re soaked,’ Daphne said. She put Karalyn down and went to a cupboard. She rummaged about, then brought out a towel and handed it to him.

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘How’d it go?’ Bridget said.

  ‘We might be needing a new nursery head this time tomorrow.’

  ‘That well?’ Bridget smirked. ‘What the fuck did you say to her?’

  ‘It was more what she said.’ He rubbed the towel over his long wet hair, the front of his clothes steaming from the heat of the fire.

  ‘Well?’

  He glanced at Daphne. ‘She doesn’t like you. Or, to be more exact, she doesn’t trust you. She thinks you’re reading everyone’s minds, finding out their secrets, and she’s refusing to come to any meeting you’ll be at.’

  ‘Fuck,’ said Bridget.

  ‘It might be difficult to find a replacement,’ he said. ‘Draewyn thinks the rest of the nursery staff feel the same.’

  ‘Aye,’ Bridget said. ‘No doubt she’s been spreading her shite to anyone who’ll listen.’

  Daphne sat, and lit a cigarette.

  ‘If you want me to stay away from these meetings, that’s fine,’ she said. ‘I don’t say much at them anyway.’

  ‘That’s not the point,’ Killop said. ‘We’re a team.’

  Daphne nodded, keeping one eye on Karalyn as she sat down next to the fire. ‘Maybe we should let Draewyn win this one. Tell her I’ll stop going, and you won’t have to look for anyone else.’

  ‘No,’ he said. ‘She wins this, folk’ll think she’s right.’

  ‘In the Holdings,’ Daphne said, ‘the powers of the high mages are kept quiet, to stop these sorts of rumours. I understand why Draewyn doesn’t trust me. People with secrets fear those who can reveal them, and most people have secrets.’

  ‘Have you ever looked inside my head?’ Bridget said.

  ‘No, never.’

  ‘And would you?’

  ‘Maybe in an emergency, like you were dying and I needed to know what poison you’d taken, something like that.’

  ‘Have you ever looked into Draewyn’s mind?’

  Daphne laughed. ‘Why on earth would I do that? I don’t care what she thinks.’

  Bridget nodded, and raised an eyebrow at Killop.

  ‘I don’t know why you’re looking at me,’ he said. ‘We were on the mountain for twenty days, and she never once went into my head. And I know that, because if she had, she would have found out about Larissa before Lilyann told her.’

  ‘Fair point,’ Bridget said. ‘But let’s face it, it’s all very well the three of us sitting here agreeing, but we’ve got to convince everyone else. It’s not something we can prove.’

  Killop sat, his clothes dried. They gazed at the fire.

  ‘She also brought up the drugs,’ he said.

  ‘That’s none of her business,’ Daphne said. ‘And it’s double standards. The Kellach drink more than the rest of the world put together. I smoke. So what?’

  Killop said nothing. He could hardly disapprove, as he had taken to having one or two puffs of Daphne’s weedstick before bed. It had given him six peaceful and dreamless nights, and he was starting to believe it was preventing Karalyn from entering his mind while he slept. He knew Daphne was doubtful. She claimed that smoking enhanced her vision powers, but he was always asleep within a few minutes of having a smoke.

  ‘Maybe a wee bit of discretion?’ Bridget said. ‘Smoking seems foreign and weird to most folk.’

  Daphne nodded. ‘All right. If it’ll keep them happy.’

  They turned as a door opened and Lilyann walked in, wearing a bedrobe.

  ‘Afternoon,’ Bridget said.

  The young mage grunted.

  ‘That you just up?’

  ‘Aye, so?’

  ‘Are you not supposed to be at lessons?’

  ‘I wasn’t feeling well, Bridget. Stop nagging me.’

  ‘Are you better now?’

  ‘A wee bit.’

  ‘Then get dressed and get your arse down to Dyam.’

  ‘That’s what I’m trying to do!’

  ‘Don’t you shout at me.’

  Killop shared a glance with Daphne as Lilyann strode over to the sidetable and poured herself a mug of water.

  ‘What you all doing?’ she asked.

  ‘Talking,’ said Daphne.

  ‘What about? Your wedding?’

  ‘No, but we should,’ Bridget said. ‘We still need to pick a date and the venue.’

  Lilyann smirked. ‘Don’t you care that it’s illegal?’

  Killop frowned. ‘No.�
�

  ‘You should,’ Lilyann said. ‘The Old Free rebels have cut off Slateford from the capital. We need the republic’s help, but they won’t help us if you brazenly flout their laws.’

  ‘The empire’s laws, you mean,’ Daphne said.

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘We’re not part of the empire,’ Bridget said.

  ‘You’re living in a dream,’ Lilyann said. ‘There’s no trade coming in or out of the estate while the Old Free rebels control the roads. We need imperial help.’

  ‘With rebellions in Sanang and Rahain,’ Bridget said, ‘I think the Emperor has more to worry about than Daphne getting married to Killop.’

  ‘But if you renounce the wedding and let the missionaries in, then alliance troops would be on their way here to protect us.’

  ‘We don’t need them,’ Killop said.

  ‘You think Kalden’s militia will stop the Old Free army?’

  ‘Aye.’

  Bridget nodded. ‘Slateford will be their grave if they enter.’

  Lilyann shook her head, a look of disbelief on her face.

  ‘It’s not safe here anymore.’

  She put down her mug and crossed the floor. The others watched her enter her bedroom and close the door.

  ‘Wee cow,’ Bridget said.

  Killop gazed at the fire.

  ‘How many does Kalden have now?’ Daphne asked.

  ‘A few hundred,’ Bridget said. ‘Not enough, and folk keep leaving. The Old Free are happy to let them pass the blockades, they want us all to fuck off out of Rahain. But hey, we have a vision mage and a fire mage, it could be worse.’

  Daphne lit a smokestick.

  ‘If the Old Free attack,’ Bridget went on, ‘then every able-bodied adult is immediately enlisted. We’ve worked out a plan for Slateford’s defence.’

  ‘I should read it.’

  ‘I’ll give you a copy,’ Bridget said. ‘Basically, we split the estate into thirds, dividing…’

  There was a knock at the door.

  ‘Chief,’ a scout bowed. ‘A winged gaien has landed outside.’

  Killop turned. ‘Who is it?’

  ‘Two Rahain men, Chief. Say they’ve been sent by the chancellor of the republic.’

  ‘We’ll meet them in the office downstairs,’ Bridget said. ‘Bring them there, see if they need anything to eat or drink.’

  The scout nodded and left the room.

  Killop stood.

  ‘Should I come?’ Daphne said.

  ‘Aye,’ he said. ‘If it’s a message, it might be for you.’

  Daphne glanced at Bridget. ‘I’ll need Bedig to look after Karalyn, is that all right?’

  Bridget scowled. ‘He’s been looking for any excuse to get up here. He’s doing my nut in.’

  ‘I’ve never seen him this way before,’ Daphne said. ‘I’m not saying take him back or anything, but I think he’s genuinely sorry, and that’s a first for him.’

  Bridget narrowed her eyes.

  ‘Fucksake, all right,’ she said. ‘Go fetch the great eejit. Me and Killop will wait for you, but I’m not talking to him when he gets here.’

  Daphne got up.

  ‘Mama bye-bye?’

  ‘That’s right, Kara-bear, but I’ll be back in a minute, with Uncle Bedig.’

  Karalyn laughed and clapped her hands.

  Daphne smiled. ‘At least someone’s happy to see the big oaf.’

  The downstairs office had once been a study, and the walls were lined with shelves. Many of the books that had been there when the Kellach arrived had rotted away, but several old tomes remained, histories of the estate, and guides to the local fauna, that Bridget had cleaned and sorted.

  Two well-dressed Rahain men were sitting by a warm fire. A large pack sat on the floor between them.

  ‘Good afternoon,’ Bridget said as they entered. ‘This is Chief Killop and Miss Holdfast. I’m Bridget, the clan herald.’

  The Rahain rose to their feet and bowed low.

  They all sat. A tray of drinks and food had been set out on a table.

  ‘Please,’ said Bridget, ‘help yourselves.’

  ‘Thank you for your hospitality,’ one of the men said. He reached into his tunic, removed a rolled up document, and handed it to them.

  Bridget broke the seal and opened it.

  ‘Seems genuine,’ she said. ‘That’s the old guy’s signature.’

  She passed it back, and the man put it into his inside pocket.

  ‘So,’ Bridget said, ‘what can we do for agents of the republic?’

  ‘We need to discuss a matter with Miss Holdfast.’

  ‘Oh,’ Bridget said. ‘Well, I’ll leave you to it.’

  She stood.

  ‘Killop stays,’ Daphne said. ‘Anything said to me can be said to him.’

  The Rahain men nodded.

  ‘I’ll wait for you upstairs,’ Bridget said, and began walking towards the door.

  ‘Shit,’ she said, halting. ‘I forgot Bedig’s still up there.’ She sighed. ‘Well I knew I had to speak to him sometime, may as well get it over with.’

  ‘Good luck,’ Daphne said as Bridget left, closing the door to the office behind her.

  Daphne turned to the agents and smiled.

  ‘Miss Holdfast,’ said one, ‘as I’m sure you’re aware, the republic is under tremendous pressure at the moment, with religious fervour gripping the nation, and rebel attacks increasing in frequency. The army is hard-pressed, and there is worry in the capital that the Old Free will mount a coup.’

  Daphne nodded, and lit a cigarette.

  ‘We have intelligence that Lady Douanna is in the city, plotting against the chancellor.’

  Daphne’s smile froze.

  ‘There is reason to believe that the rebels are planning their coup imminently, now that the vast majority of alliance troops have left Rahain.’

  The man paused, but Daphne said nothing.

  ‘The chancellor of the republic has sent us here,’ he went on. ‘He has personally requested your assistance.’

  Daphne took a long draw. ‘To do what?’

  ‘To throttle the conspiracy and prevent the coup,’ the agent said. ‘Chancellor Laodoc believes you have the ability to take care of the matter, and he is prepared to offer you a free hand to do so. Of course, you’ll be well rewarded in gold.’

  Daphne chewed her lip.

  ‘The chancellor thinks that this task, if you accept it, should take no more than a few days, and for service to the republic, you will be paid two hundred thousand gold sovereigns, up front.’

  Killop spluttered.

  ‘That’s a very generous offer,’ Daphne said. ‘Be sure to thank the chancellor on my behalf, but I’m afraid I must decline.’

  The two men shared a glance. ‘If you wish more gold,’ said one, ‘please know that we’re authorised to negotiate.’

  ‘It’s not the money,’ Daphne said. ‘I have plenty. This is my life now, in Slateford. I have a family, and that’s what I have to concentrate on. I’ve no intention of getting back into Rahain politics, and I’ve no desire to kill again.’

  ‘Not even to save the republic, miss?’

  Daphne shook her head. ‘You can’t put this on my shoulders. If the republic falls, and I sincerely hope it doesn’t, it’ll be because of things far beyond my control.’

  ‘But you have an opportunity to make a difference, miss,’ the Rahain man said. ‘A chance to take control, and stop the rebels from overthrowing the chancellor, your friend. Lady Douanna has made it clear that she will have Laodoc executed if he is overthrown.’

  Daphne frowned.

  She turned to Killop. ‘I want to talk to you alone.’

  ‘I can’t believe you’re thinking about going,’ he said, leaning against the wall of the small chamber where they had gone for some privacy. ‘It feels like you only just got here.’

  ‘I know,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to leave. Believe me, I’d rather stay, but it would only be for
a few days, and I might be able to do some good. You and Karalyn could spend some time together. And you’d have Bedig to help.’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ he said. ‘I know how good you are, I’ve seen you fight, and I can see why Laodoc wants you for the job.’

  ‘But?’

  ‘You told me about when you were in the Rahain Capital before, and how much you hated it. You said that you didn’t want to kill any more, not unless you had to.’

  ‘Maybe I have to.’

  ‘It is because of folk like Draewyn?’ he said. ‘Is Slateford getting you down?’

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘Being with you and Karalyn, it’s been the best time of my life. Not being liked has never bothered me. If people think bad of me, that’s their problem. But Laodoc? I feel sorry for him. I can’t let Douanna beat him, not after everything that’s happened. You know she was responsible for Simiona’s death?’

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Can you imagine the Old Free back in charge?’ she said. ‘It would be a bloodbath. The New Free wouldn’t take kindly to being put back in chains, and the whole country would go up in flames, with Slateford stuck in the middle. If I can prevent a coup from taking place, then the estate will be safe. You and Karalyn will be safe.’

  ‘So you’re doing it for Slateford?’ he said. ‘Is that what you’re saying?’

  ‘If the Old Free rebels are defeated,’ she said, ‘we can get on with living again.’

  He said nothing.

  ‘I don’t want the money though,’ she said.

  ‘Then give it to Bridget. I’m sure she’ll find a thousand uses for it, our finances are in a bad way with the blockade. And I know you don’t care what Draewyn thinks, but she’ll treat this as a victory.’

  She nodded.

  ‘All right then,’ he said. ‘For Slateford.’

  They walked back to the office. The two Rahain agents looked up as they approached.

  Daphne smiled as they sat. ‘What arrangements have been made for me if I say yes?’

  ‘Then we’re at your service, miss,’ said one, his eyes wide. ‘We can fly you to the capital at your convenience, as soon as you’re ready to leave.’

  She nodded.

  ‘Upon arrival,’ the agent went on, ‘the chancellor would wish to speak with you. We have already secured an apartment, fully equipped with everything you should require. The two hundred thousand gold sovereigns would be flown here as soon you landed in the capital. I trust that the chief is an appropriate person to hold the money for you while you are away?’