The Magelands Box Set

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Yes,’ she smiled, then glanced down. ‘What’s in the pack?’

  ‘Some gifts,’ the man said, ‘for whether you say yes or no.’

  He leaned over and passed her the bag.

  She opened it and laughed. ‘Coffee, sugar and cigarettes.’

  ‘Some chocolate I think also.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘May I ask then, Miss Holdfast, if you accept our offer?’

  She glanced over to Killop, who nodded.

  ‘All right,’ she said. ‘I’ll do it. We’ll leave tomorrow.’

  They left the two agents in the office with the promise of rooms and a good evening meal, and went upstairs.

  The sitting room was quiet. The fire was burning low, and only one lamp was lit as evening fell. Killop poured out two measures of ale while Daphne went into their bedroom.

  She came back out. ‘Karalyn’s in her cot.’

  ‘Sleeping?’

  ‘Yes. No sign of Bedig, though.’

  ‘Or Bridget…’

  Daphne rolled her eyes.

  ‘So they’re back together,’ he laughed.

  ‘Or they’ve murdered each other.’

  They pulled their chairs closer to the fire. Killop threw on a few logs, and Daphne lit up a smokestick and drank her ale.

  ‘When I get to the capital,’ she said. ‘I’m going to try to contact Karalyn. I’ve never made it that far before, but my connection to her is strong.’

  ‘What is it, about eighty miles?’

  ‘I think so. I’ll miss her. I’ve never been away from her before.’

  He nodded.

  ‘And I’m going to miss you,’ she said. ‘Stay off the keenweed tonight, I don’t want you falling asleep too early on me.’

  He smiled.

  The door opened.

  ‘I’m not interrupting, am I?’ said Dyam, walking in.

  ‘It’s all right,’ Killop said, smothering a frown. ‘What are you up to?’

  ‘Just here to see Lilyann,’ she said. ‘Ask her why she didn’t turn up for lessons today.’

  ‘I thought she left about noon.’

  Dyam shrugged. ‘Well, she didn’t come to class.’

  The Domm woman strode over to the young mage’s door, and knocked on it. When there was no reply, she opened it and walked in.

  Daphne glanced at Killop. ‘Try not to shout at her.’

  ‘I think I’m past that stage,’ he said. ‘I could just about put up with her when she was a cocky smartarse, but I lost her when she found religion.’

  Dyam came out of the bedroom, clutching a scrap of paper to her chest, tears flowing down her face.

  ‘You need to read this.’

  Killop took the paper. He held it before him and groaned as he read the words.

  Daphne raised an eyebrow.

  He glanced up as Bridget emerged from her room, Bedig close behind.

  She gazed around, then paused when she saw the expression on Killop’s face.

  ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘Lilyann,’ Killop said. ‘She’s gone.’

  Chapter 21

  Full House

  Plateau City, The Plateau – 25th Day, Last Third Autumn 506

  ‘Look at those walls,’ Jayki said to Thymo as they hung out of the carriage window. ‘The highest and strongest of any city in the world.’

  ‘My turn,’ Shella said, tugging at Jayki’s belt. ‘Move.’

  The boy paid her no attention as she took Jayki’s place at the window, keeping his eyes fixed on the view. The road from the east wound down a gentle slope, and the imperial capital was spread out before them.

  It was a blustery autumn morning, with clouds scudding across the sky, allowing shafts of sunlight to illuminate different quarters of the city. The great silver dome of the palace shone, and Shella noticed several high towers and spires that had been constructed in her absence.

  ‘What do you think?’ she asked Thymo.

  ‘Arakhanah is bigger.’

  ‘Yeah,’ she laughed. ‘It is.’

  She gazed over the city, then noticed something. She sat back in the carriage.

  ‘They’ve finished the walls,’ she said. ‘The whole Kellach quarter is now enclosed.’

  ‘Really?’ Jodie said, leaning up to the window to look.

  ‘Why have they done that?’ said Jayki. ‘I thought work on the wall had come to a halt. I mean, who’s going to attack?’

  ‘Probably just being cautious,’ Jodie said, sitting back down.

  ‘It was still summer when we left,’ Shella said. ‘A lot could have happened since then.’

  ‘I guess we can ask Daly when we get to the embassy.’

  The road levelled off, and the line of carriages approached the great eastern gates. To their left, the new wall followed the extent of the Kellach quarter, jutting out where their old camp had been. Ahead, the gates were open, and pennants flew from the tall towers of the gatehouse.

  A company of imperial soldiers in grey armour halted their convoy on the road in front of them. Shella leaned out of the window and watched as an officer talked to the guard on the lead carriage. Next to the officer a soldier was writing in a ledger. The officer nodded, and waved them on. As each carriage passed, the officer took a look inside, and the soldier took notes.

  Shella sat back down as their carriage began to move.

  ‘Come inside,’ she said to Thymo. He frowned, but did as he was told.

  ‘Your Highness,’ the officer bowed when Shella’s carriage drew level with him. ‘Welcome back. The Lord Vicar is expecting you at the Institute.’

  ‘Thank you, Captain,’ she said, and the carriage moved forwards.

  They passed through the entrance gate and emerged onto a busy street, with tall stone buildings on either side. Shops lined the road, with houses piled high above them. Over the tiled roofs to their right Shella saw the top of the cathedral, and at a crossroads they turned towards it.

  Her nerves rose, and she kept her gaze out of the window. The street was busy with people, but had a subdued air, and no one was smiling. Ahead, she saw the cathedral. Not yet complete, it nevertheless rose to the same height as the palace, its three central spires rising above the vast body of the church. Next to it, and conjoined on one side, was a smaller building, with a high wall around it. A set of gates in the wall opened and the carriages were pulled into a large courtyard, where they halted.

  A black-robed church warden approached, and opened their carriage door.

  ‘Your Highness,’ he bowed as she stepped down.

  Shella nodded, then turned back towards the others in the carriage. ‘Stay inside.’

  ‘There you are, your Royal Eminence,’ Lord Arnault said, striding across the courtyard towards her. A large number of wardens from the One True Path were present, many armed, and they had surrounded the line of carriages.

  ‘Lord Vicar.’

  ‘My dear princess,’ he said, bowing and kissing her hand, ‘might I say how radiant you look with that crown upon your head?’

  She smirked and looked away, and saw the Rakanese mages being unloaded from the carriages. The young criminal was in chains, and the three others were gazing around in bewilderment as wardens led them away.

  Shella turned back to Arnault, a loathing for him filling her.

  He caught her expression.

  ‘On behalf of the Emperor and the holy church,’ he said, ‘I offer my sincerest thanks for what you have done. In bringing us these Rakanese mages you have proved your loyalty to the empire. Thanks to you, we can at last proceed with enacting the will of the Creator. I will forever be in your debt, your Highness.’

  ‘Fuck off.’

  Shella turned, and climbed back into her carriage.

  She leaned up to the driver. ‘Take us to the embassy.’

  The carriage lurched into motion. For a second, none of the wardens surrounding them moved, but Arnault raised his hand and the black-robes parted, allowing the carr
iage to pass through the gap.

  ‘What happened?’ Jodie said, as they went back out onto the street.

  ‘I think I’ve done a terrible thing.’

  ‘You had no choice,’ Jayki said.

  ‘They were volunteers,’ Jodie said. ‘Well, most of them.’

  ‘They looked scared,’ Shella said. ‘We handed them over as a sacrificial offering, to stop a fucking bully from pulling our hair in the school playground. Fuck knows what they’ve got planned for them. Fucking priest freaks.’

  Thymo stared at her, and she paused.

  ‘Sorry, little man,’ she said. ‘I know I shouldn’t swear like that, but I’m angry.’

  The boy’s eyes widened.

  ‘Not with you,’ she said. ‘With myself.’

  She looked away, gazing out of the window, her heart welling with bitterness.

  She felt a small hand take hers and squeeze.

  ‘This is your uncle Sami,’ Shella said, pointing at the drunk prince.

  ‘Well hello there,’ Sami slurred from the couch where he lay. ‘Who’s this again?’

  ‘One of Noli’s boys,’ she said, pulling her cloak off and handing it to a servant. ‘Thymo.’

  ‘Thymo?’ Sami said. ‘Named after that dickhead she’s married to?’

  ‘Noli’s husband’s dead, Sami.’

  Sami laughed, then stopped and began to weep.

  Shella shook her head.

  ‘That’ll be all, Jodie. Thanks,’ she said, turning to the secretary.

  Jodie bowed. ‘See you in the morning, your Highness.’

  She got down to one knee and gave Thymo a hug. The boy squirmed, and Jodie laughed and gave him a kiss on the top of his head.

  ‘See you later, little prince.’

  Shella caught Daly’s eye as Jodie left her quarters.

  ‘And how have you been, Daly?’

  ‘Very well, your Highness, thank you.’ He gazed down at the boy. ‘We got advance notice of young Thymo. A Holdings mage relayed the information to the palace some time ago, and a courtier let us know.’

  Shella sat on a couch opposite Sami, who had fallen asleep, and poured herself a drink.

  ‘I see the authorities have relaxed the alcohol ban.’

  ‘Not exactly,’ Daly said. ‘I’m not sure how his Highness procured the bottle. He has become rather… resourceful in your absence.’

  ‘You mean sneaky?’

  ‘Quite. Of course, I informed him that church agents would be keeping him under surveillance, but he’s managed to slip out at night sometimes. He always returns by dawn, and refuses to answer any questions as to his whereabouts.’

  She took a sip, then spat it back into the glass.

  Daly raised an eyebrow. ‘It must be bad.’

  Shella glanced over at a servant. ‘Water, please.’

  ‘As I was saying,’ Daly went on, ‘the church authorities are aware of the young gentleman here.’

  Thymo looked up at the old secretary.

  ‘Oh yeah?’ Shella said. ‘What’s their angle?’

  ‘Some are saying that he is a prince, others that such talk is premature. I’m confused, your Highness. Did you not sign a disclaimer, promising not to take an heir?’

  ‘I did.’

  ‘Have you changed your position?’

  She shook her head. ‘I can’t control what goes on in the minds of the church. If they start calling Thymo a prince, then we can deny it, but I’m not sure it’ll make much difference. I suppose it depends what Guilliam does.’

  ‘I’m sure he’s got more on his mind, your Highness.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘I thought you’d met with the Lord Vicar this morning, your Highness,’ Daly said. ‘Didn’t he fill you in on what’s been happening?’

  ‘I may have been a little curt with Lord Arnault.’

  ‘I see.’ Daly pursed his lips. ‘Well, it seems that the empire is fraying a little at the edges. The rebels in Rahain have won a few victories, despite the fact that the chancellor of the republic has been claiming for thirds that he is on the verge of defeating them.’

  Shella nodded. ‘I hope Daphne’s all right down there.’

  ‘There is worse news from the Sanang Realm,’ Daly said. ‘The king has been toppled by the insurgents. Apparently they are being led by a renegade fire mage. The imperial army has been rushed to the frontier, to prevent them from entering the Plateau.’

  ‘That’ll be why they finished the wall.’

  ‘Indeed, your Highness. Work began in haste as soon as the news arrived from Sanang. There have been reports of massacres and atrocities committed by the rebels, and the populace of the city got the new wall put up in no time at all.’

  ‘A fire mage, eh?’ Shella said, sipping her water. ‘Presumably the same one that escaped from Rahain last winter?’

  ‘Presumably, your Highness.’

  Shella smiled. Killop’s sister was leading a rebellion. She wondered if Daphne knew.

  ‘Anything else?’ she said.

  ‘Taxes are up,’ he said. ‘Church wardens are still cracking down on alcohol and other banned substances, though the prince has proved that no law is infallible.’

  ‘What he’s drinking barely counts as alcohol.’

  Thymo yawned.

  ‘Sorry, little man,’ she said. ‘Almost forgot you were there. Are you hungry?’

  He nodded.

  Shella glanced at Daly. ‘Would you, please?’

  ‘Of course, your Highness,’ he bowed. ‘Shall I have dinner sent up to your apartment?’

  She stood, taking Thymo by the hand. ‘Thanks, Daly.’

  ‘Good to see you back, your Highness,’ he said, a faint smile on his lips.

  She watched as he left the reception room, surprised at the warm glow she felt at the old guy being glad to see her. She shook her head, and put her guard back up.

  She led Thymo to a side door, and they went up the back stairs. On the top floor, she took out her key and unlocked the door.

  They entered a small sitting room. Two lamps were already lit, and the fire glowed in the hearth.

  ‘Is this my new home?’ the boy said.

  ‘Yeah.’

  She began to point out the rooms. ‘That’s my bedroom, then the bathroom, a… spare room, and a study I never use. Let me clear it out, and you can have it as your room.’

  ‘What about the spare room?’

  ‘Out of the question!’ a voice barked.

  Shella looked up to see Kalayne stride across the floor, a stern expression on his face.

  ‘That’s my room,’ he said to the boy, ‘and you can’t have it.’

  ‘Hi Kalayne,’ Shella said. ‘This is Thymo.’

  The old Kellach man turned to her, scowling. ‘What’s he doing here? You know I don’t like children. He can’t stay.’

  ‘He’s staying,’ Shella said. ‘Get used to it.’

  She gazed down at Thymo, who seemed unperturbed by the old man, staring back up at him.

  Kalayne chewed his lip. ‘I’m not sure we’re all going to fit.’

  ‘Don’t pay any attention to this old basta… fool,’ Shella said to the boy.

  ‘To the contrary, madam,’ Kalayne said. ‘The boy should listen to every word I say to him.’

  He leaned over Thymo, his eyes bulging.

  ‘Be honest,’ he whispered. ‘What do you think of Shella?’

  ‘She scares me.’

  ‘What?’ cried Shella. ‘Kalayne, stop it!’

  ‘Go on,’ the old man said, his face close to Thymo’s.

  ‘But I think she likes me. She says funny things and makes me laugh. I like her.’

  ‘There you go,’ Kalayne said, straightening up, a grin on his lips.

  ‘You fucked-up old weirdo,’ Shella said.

  Thymo laughed.

  Shella flushed.

  ‘I need a drink,’ she said. ‘We got any?’

  ‘Do you think I’m some sort of amateur?�
� Kalayne said. ‘I knew you were coming, and stocked up.’

  ‘Not the dreadful shit that Sami’s been drinking?’

  Kalayne snorted. ‘Why are you insulting me?’

  He walked over to a cabinet, and opened it. Inside were racks of brandy and rum.

  ‘And,’ he said, pulling open a drawer and taking out a pouch, ‘plenty to smoke as well.’

  ‘You got this because I was coming back? You got me weed?’

  Kalayne shrugged, and grinned.

  ‘What’s weed?’ Thymo said.

  ‘Eh, it’s just for grown ups,’ she said.

  ‘None for you, my laddie,’ Kalayne said, ‘but if you’re a good boy I’ll let you have a sip of rum later.’

  ‘No you fucking won’t,’ Shella said. ‘He’s five.’

  ‘And?’

  Shella stared at him.

  There was a knock at the door.

  ‘Yeah?’ Shella yelled.

  ‘Dinner, your Highness.’

  ‘Wheel it in.’

  The door opened and servants entered, pushing a trolley filled with covered dishes and silver jugs.

  Shella turned, but Kalayne was already gone. She smiled.

  ‘Over by the table, please,’ she said to the servants.

  They nodded, and unloaded the trolley by a small table next to the window at the far end of the room. The shutters were closed, and a servant lit another lamp.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, following them to the door, and closing it. She turned the key in the lock.

  ‘Excellent!’ cried a voice.

  She looked over. Kalayne was sitting, a napkin around his neck, uncovering the silver dishes on the table. Thymo was sitting next to him, clutching a fork.

  Shella sat down, and poured a glass of scented water for Thymo and herself. She looked at the dishes, her stomach rumbling. Kalayne was helping himself, while Thymo started to narrow his eyes.

  ‘This is all Holdings food,’ she said to him. ‘Wheat bread, pasta, beef, tomatoes, strange vegetables, I think that one’s called a carrot. Or an onion, I can never remember.’ She pointed at a pot, where a wisp of steam was coming from a spout. ‘This is full of tea. Watch, it’s hot.’