‘The good news,’ she said, ‘is that with less folk, our food reserves should last the winter, but if the situation’s not improved by then…’
‘Then what?’
‘Then we might have to face facts, Killop,’ she said. ‘The way things are going, the Rahain will be slaughtering each other for a good while yet. And we’re stuck in the middle, like the band in a fight between families at a wedding.’
‘No,’ he said. ‘We’re not giving up.’
‘But neither side wants us here,’ she went on. ‘Ghorley ripped up our sovereignty agreement, you heard what their delegates said. As far as they’re concerned, this is imperial land. It’s only a matter of time before they organise themselves and come after us.’
‘Then we fight them.’
Bridget sighed.
‘I can’t believe you’re saying all this,’ Killop said. ‘Have you lost faith in what we’re doing?’
‘It was fine when Laodoc was in charge,’ she said. ‘Since then…?’
Killop narrowed his eyes. ‘If it gets really bad, we could go back to the Severed City for a while.’
Bridget gave him a look of disbelief. ‘Sure, let’s go even deeper into Rahain.’ She shook her head. ‘The uprising’s over, Killop. The slaves have been freed. We don’t need to keep fighting their war.’
‘It’s our war too.’
‘No it fucking isn’t.’
Karalyn cried, and Bridget fell silent. Killop took the child in his arms, calming himself and removing the anger from his mind.
‘All right,’ he said, ‘then where are you suggesting?’
‘Home,’ she said, ‘our real home.’
He closed his eyes. ‘I couldn’t bear seeing Kell broken.’
‘We go to Domm,’ she said, ‘that’s where the Kellach are. Isn’t it, Bedig?’ She nudged him.
‘Eh?’ he said, blinking.
Bridget sighed. ‘You dozy bastard.’
‘We can talk about it another time,’ Killop said. ‘We’ve enough reserves for the winter. We can discuss it again in spring.’
Bridget’s eyes narrowed.
He stood, holding Karalyn.
‘It’s time for her bed,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you later.’
He turned from them before his anger upset the child. He had felt himself starting to be enraged by Bridget’s words. How could she be thinking of leaving, after all they had done?
He opened the door to the bedroom, and shut them out of his mind.
‘So where are you going?’ said Daphne between mouthfuls of pastries.
‘Kalden wants me,’ Killop said, pulling on his leathers. ‘There’s a crowd of peasants at the border trying to get into the estate.’
Daphne drew back the sheets of the bed and stood, stretching.
‘I’ll come.’
He watched her standing by the bed in her loose white nightgown, the bright light of dawn shining through the window. He paused.
She caught his eye and smiled.
‘How you feeling this morning?’ he said.
Her green eyes held his gaze. ‘Come over and find out.’
Two hours later, Daphne walked alongside Killop and Bridget as they made their way towards the town. The snow had been cleared from the roads, and a hard frost glittered on the ground. The sun remained low in the sky as it approached noon, and the town came into sight.
Killop glanced at Daphne, who was wrapped up well against the freezing temperatures.
‘You warm enough?’ he said.
‘Yeah,’ she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a bag of nuts.
‘You’ve been eating all morning,’ Bridget said.
‘I was asleep for two days,’ Daphne said, munching, ‘and I was travelling light from the city. Wasn’t exactly eating three meals a day.’
‘You’re making me hungry.’
‘Think about something else,’ she said. ‘Bedig, for example. How’s it going? You two getting along again?’
‘Aye. He’s an idiot, but.’
‘He’s not. He’s just… easily distracted.’
‘Aye,’ Bridget frowned, ‘by boobs, mostly.’
They reached the southern outskirts of the town. It was quiet at first, but grew busier as they reached the centre. Folk nodded and waved to them as they passed, and a few raised their eyebrows at Daphne’s return.
‘You should probably know,’ muttered Bridget, ‘a rumour went about that you’d run off, after dumping your daughter with Killop.’
Daphne shrugged. ‘They can think what they like.’
‘Lies spread and grow if you leave them,’ said Killop. ‘I don’t want people lying about you.’
‘I don’t care.’
‘But I do,’ he said. ‘I mean I don’t mind what opinions folk hold, as long as they’re not built on lies.’
‘And are you a judge of what is true?’
‘I don’t claim to know everything,’ he said, ‘but I know when something’s wrong, and spreading bullshit about you is wrong.’
Bridget glanced at them and smirked. ‘Was that a row I just witnessed?’
‘A disagreement,’ said Daphne, as they squeezed through the busy town centre.
A squad of militia was waiting for them by the northern exit from the main square.
‘Chief,’ their leader nodded. ‘Kalden asked us to escort you to the border post.’
‘Lead the way.’
The squad about-turned and marched from the square, Killop and the others following.
‘Hopefully we can stop for lunch on the way back,’ Daphne said, as they passed a tavern.
‘Depends how long it takes,’ Killop said. He looked over at the squad leader. ‘How many peasants have gathered?’
‘Over a thousand, Chief.’
‘What?’
‘Over a fucking thousand?’ Bridget cried.
‘Aye,’ the squad leader nodded. ‘Kalden’s called out the entire militia.’
They picked up their pace, and left the paved streets of the town behind. Ahead, the dark mass of the forest loomed. In the wide, cleared space between the trees and the settlement two groups of people had assembled. On the side nearest the town, black-clad Kellach militia with shields were holding back a much bigger crowd of Rahain peasants. The peasants were pushing forwards, but the Kellach lines were keeping them from advancing. More Rahain were approaching from the road leading through the forest, adding weight to the jostling crowd.
Kalden and a couple of officers stood at the rear, directing the militia. He turned and saw Killop and the squad approach.
‘Chief,’ he said, ‘we have a little problem.’
‘What do they want?’
Kalden spat on the ground. ‘They say they want to pass through the estate, Chief. Apparently mobs of New Free have seized control of the bridges downstream from here, and the peasants want to use ours to cross.’
‘And then they’ll leave the estate?’
‘That’s what they say.’
‘Do they have a leader?’ Bridget said. ‘Someone we can talk to?’
‘I’ve spoken to a few at the front,’ Kalden said. ‘There’s no one in charge.’
Bridget glanced around. ‘Bring that cart over.’
Kalden nodded, and his two officers ran over and dragged the cart forward.
Bridget faced Killop as the cart was hauled into position. ‘What shall I say to them? Should we let them through? The bridge at the north end is quiet, though we’d have to guard that side of town if we decide to allow it.’
Killop gazed at the crowd of Rahain.
‘A hundred every ten minutes,’ he said, ‘if they agree to behave.’
Bridget nodded.
‘Kalden,’ she said, ‘send fifty to the bridge and fifty each for the roads on either side of it. Send a runner to the town, and get the streets cleared. Signal the call to arms, and have every route leading to the northern bridge guarded. You got all that?’
‘Aye,
’ he nodded, and went to his officers, who had shoved the cart right up to the line of peasants.
Bridget jumped up, and raised her arms.
‘Shut the fuck up and listen to me,’ she cried out in Rahain to the crowd of peasants.
They turned and gazed up at her.
‘Let’s make a deal,’ she said. ‘You don’t want to be here, and we sure as fuck don’t want you here. But we understand that you’re running for your lives, so let’s work something out.’
‘Let us through!’ cried one of the Rahain, and the crowd roared.
‘What the fuck do you think I’m doing up here?’ Bridget cried. ‘But we’ve got conditions. Break them, and the militia will break your fucking heads.’
The crowd quietened again.
‘First,’ she said, ‘we’ve marked out a route, and you’ll stick to it. No wandering off, unless you want a boot in your face. Second, not all at once. We’re going to do this properly. There’s no way on this fucking earth that we’re going to let you stampede through our town, understand?’
A low murmur came from the crowd, but no one cried out.
‘And last,’ she went on, ‘and we’re going to judge your good will on this, and your agreement that you’ll abide by the other conditions.’ She paused, staring at them. ‘I want you all to move back three paces. Now.’
The crowd stayed motionless.
Bridget folded her arms. ‘If you don’t, you’re not getting through.’
One by one the peasants began to edge backwards, until there was a yard clear between them and the line of Kellach militia.
‘More,’ Bridget cried.
The crowd obeyed.
‘Good,’ Bridget said. She glanced at Killop. ‘We ready?’
He nodded.
She looked over the crowd. ‘Right. The first will be from here.’ She pointed ahead. ‘The front ten rows from here. Step forwards.’
The Kellach lines parted, leaving a gap ten yards wide, and the chosen peasants jostled through.
‘Enough,’ Bridget cried, after the first batch of peasants had passed. The militia re-formed, pushing the crowd back.
‘Move back!’ Bridget yelled. ‘I don’t care if we’re here all day, you’ll do what you’re fucking told.’
The crowd swayed and roiled, and crept back a few yards.
Killop watched as the first batch of peasants ran down the road towards the bridge, militia posted along the route.
‘Kalden,’ he said, ‘get your officers to take over from Bridget.’
He nodded and turned away.
‘She’s good,’ Daphne said, as Bridget clambered down from the cart.
Killop nodded, still rankling from the previous evening’s argument.
She grinned at him as she approached.
‘Nice job,’ Daphne said.
‘Cheers,’ Bridget replied.
‘Come on,’ Killop said. ‘Let’s go to the bridge. I want to make sure everything’s fine.’
Daphne glanced at Bridget as they walked towards the road. ‘Is he in a bad mood with you?’
‘We had a disagreement last night.’
‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ Killop said.
‘Will you tell me later?’ Daphne said.
‘Aye. Just let me focus on getting a thousand peasants across our land without any bloodshed.’
Killop walked on, the two women silent beside him.
They reached the northern bridge. It was on the edge of town, and was the smallest of its three river crossings. A few farmhouses were the closest buildings, while the paved streets of the town began fifty yards to the south. Killop saw that the word had spread. Folk were assembling, having dusted off their old swords. The roads leading into town were each blocked, thick with armed Kellach.
The first batch of peasants had crossed when they reached the bridge. The militia saluted and they stopped. Daphne lit a cigarette.
‘It was about leaving,’ said Killop, his voice low so the militia couldn’t hear. ‘Leaving Slateford and going back to Kellach Brigdomin.’
‘What?’ Daphne said.
‘That’s what our disagreement was about.’
‘If things don’t get better,’ Bridget said.
Daphne looked at her. ‘Kellach Brigdomin?’
‘Aye, Daphne,’ Bridget said, ‘the arse-end of fucking nowhere. Away from all this… all this.’
She gestured as the next batch of peasants came into view, running down the road from the border post.
‘That’s more than a hundred,’ Bridget said, ‘and less than ten minutes.’ She looked at Killop. ‘Do you want me to take over back there? Kalden’s guys are all right, but I’m not sure they’re up to managing that crowd.’
Killop nodded, and Bridget ran back up the road, passing the band of Rahain as they charged towards the bridge.
The militia readied themselves on the approaches to the crossing, flanking both sides of the road, as the peasants neared. Killop and Daphne watched as they passed, their boots thudding over the wooden planks of the bridge, onwards and along the road to the west, where more militia were positioned, guiding them to the far border.
The sun came out from behind a cloud, and the day brightened.
‘Your plan seems to be working,’ Daphne said.
‘So far.’
‘It’ll take a couple of hours. Shall we get some lunch?’
He smiled, and took her hand.
‘We’ll be in the nearest tavern,’ he said to the officer at the bridge. He and Daphne started to walk for the town. Killop paused, and turned to the officer.
‘Keep me updated every half hour.’
Killop sat back, his hands behind his head, the fire at the end of the tavern warming him. His empty plate was on the table before him, while Daphne sat on the bench to his right, still eating. The officer at the bridge had sent him two runners so far, each saying that the plan was working, and the numbers at the border post were beginning to thin.
Daphne wiped her mouth and sighed, sipping from a cup of wine.
‘We should head back,’ he said.
‘After this,’ she said, holding up her lit cigarette.
‘All right.’
Daphne frowned. ‘Do you think Bridget’s serious about leaving?’
‘No,’ he said. ‘She says that if things don’t get better she might consider it. We just have to make sure things get better.’
Daphne’s face went through several expressions.
‘You don’t think things will get better?’ he said.
‘Maybe eventually,’ she said, ‘once the civil war’s over. But it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better.’
‘You agree with her? You think we should go?’
‘I didn’t say that,’ she said. ‘I don’t give up just because things get bad for a while.’
‘Are you happy here?’
‘I’m happy to be with you and Karalyn. It feels like I’ve been on the move for years. Some stability would be nice for a change.’
The tavern door flew open and a scout ran in.
‘Chief,’ she cried. ‘Kalden and Bridget need you back at the border post.’
‘Why?’
‘A mob of New Free has arrived,’ the scout said. ‘They’re threatening to attack the peasants.’
Killop and Daphne got to their feet. The scout escorted them as they hurried back to the main road.
‘How many peasants have passed through so far?’ Killop said.
‘About half, Bridget thinks, Chief.’
As they left the town, Killop began to hear shouting. The sun was low in the west, and in the dim light he saw a separate crowd of Rahain gathered at the edge of the forest, about twenty yards from the peasants that still had to pass through Slateford.
‘Chief, over here,’ shouted Bridget.
He went up to the wagon by the border crossing, Daphne by his side. Bridget was perched on the driver’s bench, gazing out over the two groups of Rahain.
‘Do we keep letting them through, Chief?’ she said.
‘Are the New Free armed?’
‘Seen some swords. Only a few, but.’
Kalden approached.
‘Let all the peasants through,’ Killop said, ‘then seal the border.’
‘Aye, Chief.’
Kalden turned, and spoke to his officers.
Bridget jumped down.
‘We should get out of the way,’ she said. ‘There’s going to be a stampede.’
‘Better than a massacre.’
They backed off as the militia prepared to open their lines. Kalden was marshalling them, his officers taking a flank each. He raised his arm, and the ranks of Kellach militia split their lines in two, leaving a large gap in the middle.
The peasants sprinted for the opening, charging through, jostling and pushing. Lines of militia guided them onto the correct path, and Killop held his breath as he watched the mass of peasants squeeze through the gap.
When half were through, the pushing increased, amid scream and cries.
‘What the fuck’s going on?’ muttered Bridget.
‘I’ll take a look,’ Daphne said. ‘Hold my arm.’
Killop put a hand onto her shoulder, and her green eyes glazed over. As he held her, he saw Kalden climb up onto the wagon.
Daphne shook her head and coughed, and Killop turned back to her.
‘Crossbows,’ she gasped. ‘At least a company.’
Her eyes glanced over at Kalden, who was getting to his feet on the back of the wagon.
‘Get down,’ Killop shouted.
Kalden stood, then fell backwards, bolts slamming into his chest and abdomen. His body dropped into the sea of panicking Rahain, and disappeared. All along the line, peasants were falling, and the shields of the Kellach militia were struck in the hail of crossbows bolts.
Daphne drew her sword.
‘Shieldwall!’ Killop bellowed. ‘Charge!’
He drew his sword, and joined the right flank of Kellach as they bunched their shields into a tight wall. Killop kept his head down as they sprinted, his ears ringing with the guttural roar of the Kellach warriors, while the remaining peasants passed through the gap between the two flanks. Daphne stayed close, her eyes fierce.
Several Kellach were hit in the storm of bolts and though some remained on their feet, others fell to the ground. The lines of New Free began to disintegrate at the Kellach’s approach. Many turned and fled, as the first of the militia got within sword range. The Kellach smashed through the New Free, swinging their long swords and axes, cutting down any within reach. The Rahain scattered into the forest, and the Kellach pushed on after them.
The Magelands Box Set Page 131
