The Magelands Box Set

by Christopher Mitchell

  Keira had set up her command tents in a circle, with Agang positioned on the western edge by the road. When they had arrived, Agang had watched as the leadership council had gathered in the firewitch’s tent. There they had remained all morning, while the warriors of the huge army moved round them like a river, to enclose the city on its landward side.

  Agang stared at the city gates. ‘Do you think they’ll talk?’

  Flora turned to him, her face-paint masking her emotions. ‘I doubt it. What could the Emperor possibly offer that Keira would accept?’

  ‘But the people trapped inside,’ he said, ‘are they all doomed to burn?’

  Flora shrugged. ‘Didn’t seem to bother you when you were besieging the city.’

  ‘But I didn’t have a firewitch with me,’ Agang said. ‘And my army was a quarter the size of hers, maybe smaller. I knew we didn’t have a chance of getting through those walls, I just wanted to force the king into recognising us as equals.’

  ‘By trying to starve the city to death?’ Flora said. ‘Think I’d prefer being burned. At least it would be quicker.’

  Agang frowned at her. ‘Tens of thousands of your Holdings kin are in there.’ He pointed at the city. ‘Do you feel nothing for them?’

  ‘I just want it to be over.’

  ‘And what will you do then, Miss Flora? Where will you go?’

  ‘I’m trying not to think about what happens after.’

  ‘That’s the problem with you lot. You’re not thinking of the future.’

  He gazed out over the hordes of warriors swarming past the firewitch’s wagons and tents. Almost every eye among them was directed at the high walls of the city. Some walked with their mouths open, the imperial capital being the biggest settlement they had ever seen, its towers and battlements dwarfing the highest structures in Sanang.

  Leah walked out of the command tent, her face closed. She saw Agang and Flora, and approached the wagon. She pulled a flagon of ale from under the driver’s bench and took a drink, eyeing the army as it passed.

  ‘They should all be in position by sunset,’ she said. ‘The Emperor has built new walls since we were last here, enclosing the old Kellach camp.’

  ‘So your kin are also inside the city?’ Agang asked.

  ‘Forty thousand, apparently,’ Leah frowned.

  Flora blinked. ‘That sounds like all of them.’

  ‘What’s Keira going to do?’ Agang said. ‘She can’t be thinking of killing her own people.’

  Leah nodded at the command tent. ‘That’s what they’re arguing about in there.’

  Flora lit a cigarette, her head bowed.

  ‘When will it all end?’ Agang said. ‘Every land in this world has seen pain and destruction, and here we are, waiting while the army commanders discuss how many thousands of civilians to butcher. What is there that can be worth all this death?’

  Leah snorted. ‘And you think you’re blameless? You’ve caused your own share of suffering.’

  ‘I’ve changed.’

  ‘How convenient for you. You found wisdom just when you lost the power to do anything about it.’ She leaned back on the wagon. ‘And now you sit there and preach to us about right and wrong. Pity you didn’t learn that while you were still king.’

  Agang scowled.

  ‘But,’ she went on, ‘you have a point. There’s been too much death. Plateau City is where it ends.’

  ‘Or where the world ends,’ Flora said, ‘if Kylon’s right.’

  ‘Aye.’

  Raised voices came from the command tent, and B’Dang stormed out, Echtang trailing behind.

  ‘Stupid fucking bitch,’ B’Dang ranted.

  ‘Hoi!’ Leah shouted. ‘Watch yer fucking tongue.’

  B’Dang glared at her, then turned his gaze to Agang. He swaggered forward.

  ‘Very soon,’ he said, ‘you will watch what you were too cowardly to do.’

  ‘And you’re leading the charge, are you?’ said Agang. ‘I’d like to see that.’

  B’Dang laughed. ‘I’ll be thinking of you when I’m pissing on the Emperor’s corpse. Because, once we’ve fucked the city over, I’m coming for you, slave.’

  ‘I’ll be waiting.’

  ‘I’m going to enjoy hurting you,’ B’Dang grinned. ‘Watching you beg and scream and weep like a woman.’

  Leah tutted. ‘Haven’t you got anything better to be doing?’

  B’Dang leered at her. ‘I’d like the chance to make you beg and scream.’

  Leah punched him in the face, sending him sprawling backwards onto the dirt.

  She turned to Echtang, who was standing open-mouthed. ‘Get that arsehole out of here.’

  Echtang said nothing. He glanced at Agang, then bent over and picked up B’Dang’s unconscious body. Agang watched him carry the chieftain away, wanting to say something, but afraid that any words of his would only drive the young man further away.

  Flora nodded at Leah. ‘Nicely done.’

  ‘Fuckwit had it coming.’

  ‘He did indeed. Got any food?’

  The canvas doors of the command tent were flung open and Keira strode out. Kylon was walking after her, with a countenance as grim as ever, his long black coat trailing in the dirt. Fern got up from where she had been sitting by the entrance, and followed the firewitch.

  Keira gazed out over the mass of Sanang warriors flooding past, and they began a low chant of ‘kill-kill’ as they marched. The river of bodies stretched back along the road for miles, and ahead, the masses of warriors that had already passed were following the route round the walls to the south, sealing the fate of the city with every step.

  Every hundred yards along the path they were taking, great unlit bonfires rose above the heads of the warriors. The closest was being built twenty yards to the side of the command tent, growing higher as warriors added the bundles of wood they had been carrying for days.

  Out on the waters of the Inner Sea, to the west of the great gates where they were camped, there were no ships or vessels to be seen. The wind was throwing up torrents of spray onto the city’s sea walls, and the leaden clouds overhead were casting the stormy waters in grey shadows flecked with white.

  Hodang emerged from the command tent, and hurried to Keira’s side.

  ‘My lady,’ he bowed, ‘I would be honoured if you would allow me to organise the herald for you.’

  Keira smirked at him. ‘Aye. Go for it, wee man. Remember to put in everything that I said.’

  ‘Of course, my lady,’ Hodang bowed again. ‘I’ll see to it at once.’

  He turned and ran off to another tent.

  Keira shook her head, and glanced at Agang.

  ‘Did he behave like that when you were king, eight-thirds?’

  ‘Mostly,’ Agang said. ‘Has he started whispering in your ear about how magnificent you are?’

  She laughed. ‘Aye. I nearly smacked him one. He’s fucking lucky to be alive.’

  She walked over to the wagon and picked up the flagon of ale.

  ‘You sending a herald to the city?’ asked Leah.

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Waste of time,’ muttered Kylon.

  ‘Fucking shut up,’ Keira spat. ‘We’ve got all day, haven’t we? It’s not like we’re going anywhere. We may as well see if they want to talk.’

  ‘Are you offering terms?’ Agang said.

  ‘I just want to see if…’ Keira paused, and frowned.

  The others stared at her in silence.

  Kylon stepped forward. ‘She wants to offer the city the chance to let the civilian population evacuate before she unleashes her might upon the Emperor and church.’

  ‘Aye,’ Keira said, her eyes defiant. ‘So?’

  Kylon shook his head. ‘And how many priests and One True Path would slip out with the genuine civilians? There would be a flood of refugees, how would we know who was hiding among them?’

  ‘So we slaughter them all?’ Keira said. ‘Fucksake. That can’t be right.’
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  ‘We must prevent the Creator’s plan,’ Kylon said. ‘We can’t take any chances, otherwise all of this will have been for nothing. But this is where it finishes, Keira. After this, we’re done. We can go home, or wherever the fuck you want. But we have to do this first.’

  Hodang appeared back in the clearing.

  ‘My lady,’ he said, bowing, ‘a herald is being sent to the gates of the city as you requested.’

  Keira smirked at Kylon.

  ‘It’s done now,’ she said, ‘and you can fucking lump it. Let’s see if they want to talk, and we’ll take it from there.’ She turned. ‘If anyone wants me, I’ll be in my tent getting drunk.’

  Twenty minutes later, Agang and Flora watched as a lone figure emerged from the mass of passing warriors, heading towards the great gates of the city.

  ‘There he goes,’ Agang said.

  They were too far away to hear the message that the herald shouted up to the battlements, and after a few minutes the herald turned, and hurried back to the command tents. He arrived in the clearing, and reported to Hodang, who was standing waiting for him.

  ‘I delivered the words you asked for,’ the herald said.

  ‘Very good, thank you,’ Hodang said. As he turned towards Keira’s tent Agang caught his eye.

  ‘How’s life, old friend?’ Agang called out.

  Hodang looked embarrassed, but approached the wagon.

  ‘I’m still alive,’ he said. ‘As are you, I see.’

  ‘Making yourself useful?’

  ‘One does ones best, I suppose.’

  ‘Well,’ Agang said, attempting a weak smile. ‘All the best.’

  Hodang nodded, and dashed away.

  Flora glanced at Agang. ‘All the best? For fuck’s sake, man, the guy betrayed you.’

  ‘I couldn’t think of what else to say. That’s the first time he’s acknowledged me since we left Sanang. I didn’t think he’d actually come over.’

  ‘How the fuck did you ever become king?’

  Agang frowned, his anger rising. He stopped himself, the ridiculousness of his situation striking home. He started to laugh, slowly at first, but soon it was uncontrollable. He gripped his sides as tears streamed down his face, his laughter loud and sharp. Flora stayed quiet, an eyebrow raised.

  His laughter took a turn, and he sobbed, then quietened. He bowed his head, the depths of his humiliation threatening to drown him in self-pity. He stared at the tight leather and twisted cords that bound him to the wagon, the skin on his wrists and ankles smooth despite the constant rubbing.

  ‘Will Keira make the world better?’ he said.

  ‘She’ll save it, but it’s up to the rest of us to make it better.’

  The afternoon went by, and the light dimmed beneath the looming clouds overhead. The masses of Sanang warriors began to thin as they passed the command tents, and Agang could see the end of the line on the road to the west. For hours he had watched the high gates of the city, but there was no movement. Keira had emerged twice in that time to scan the walls and gate, and each time she had returned to her tent with a face like thunder.

  B’Dang returned to the clearing, bringing Echtang and a couple of other Sanang officers, and they sat by a small fire while servants offered them food and drink. Leah kept a silent watch on them from where she was reclining on the wagon’s bench, but the chieftain sat with his back to her and never once glanced in her direction.

  Kylon walked into the clearing, deep in discussion with more Sanang officers. He was giving them their orders, and Agang could see from the officers’ faces that they feared him.

  Agang frowned. ‘There he goes, the true architect of our despair.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, son,’ said a voice to his right. Agang turned. An old Kellach man was sitting next to him on the wagon’s bench.

  ‘What the fuck!’ Flora cried. ‘Where did you appear from?’

  ‘Calm yourself, lassie,’ the old man said. ‘I’ve been sitting here for ages. It’s not my fault you didn’t notice me.’

  Flora sat back down, saying nothing. Agang narrowed his eyes.

  ‘Who are you?’

  The old man gazed at him. ‘You are Agang Garo.’ He turned to the Holdings trooper. ‘And you are Flora, the white-faced witch. I am Kalayne.’

  ‘Kalayne?’ said Flora. ‘The one who…?’

  ‘Aye,’ the old man grinned, his eyes bulging. ‘I’m the bastard who planned all this.’

  ‘You mean that was true?’ Agang said. ‘You’ve been putting visions in Kylon’s head? But how? You’re not Holdings.’

  ‘Clearly,’ he said. He turned to face the city gates. ‘Now, what were you all looking at? You’ve been staring like fools at the gates for ages. What do you expect to happen?’

  Agang glanced at Flora.

  ‘Keira sent a herald to the city,’ he said.

  Kalayne frowned. ‘Why?’

  ‘She said she wanted to offer the civilians the chance to evacuate.’

  The old man glared at him like he was a misbehaving child. ‘Keira?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Keira the fire mage said that?’

  Agang nodded.

  ‘Was she drunk?’

  ‘For once, no,’ Agang said, ‘though she might be by now. She’s been in her tent drinking wine ever since she sent her message, waiting for a reply.’

  ‘She won’t get one,’ Kalayne said. ‘The Emperor and his priests are too focussed on the Creator’s plan to bother answering a herald. They won’t allow anything to distract them. They’re going as fast as they can, to bring about their plan before Keira can strike.’

  Agang froze as the old man turned to stare at him, his eyes boring through him.

  ‘Still,’ Kalayne went on, ‘that is disturbing news about Keira. Can it be that the fire goddess has found a conscience? A day too fucking early, if you ask me.’

  He leered at Flora, as if he were a hungry predator about to pounce.

  ‘Stop it,’ she said. ‘Whatever the fuck you’re doing.’

  ‘Just examining what kind of person you are, Miss Flora of Hold Cane,’ he smirked, ‘and doing it in the most efficient manner possible.’

  ‘Were you in my head?’

  ‘Do you have a cigarette? Or anything stronger?’

  Flora glared at him, her fingers grasping her crossbow.

  ‘No?’ Kalayne said. ‘Never mind. It appears that I have arrived at the right moment, just as the fire goddess has started feeling compassion for the innocent. Not to worry though, I’ll fix her.’

  He turned to face the clearing.

  ‘Kylon,’ he cried. ‘Come over here, you miserable shite.’

  Kylon blinked, his mouth opening. The Sanang next to him gazed over at the wagon, puzzled looks on their faces, as if they couldn’t see who had spoken.

  Up on the driver’s bench, Leah jerked her head round. She saw the old Kellach man and her eyes widened. She rolled, and fell off the bench, landing on the back of the wagon next to Flora.

  ‘Ya auld bastard,’ Leah muttered. ‘Stop sneaking about.’

  Kalayne chuckled to himself as Kylon approached the wagon.

  Leah got up and rubbed her arm.

  ‘Kalayne,’ Kylon frowned. ‘I wasn’t expecting you.’

  ‘Why would you be? Now run along and fetch the fire mage, there’s a good boy.’

  Kylon scowled but said nothing. He strode across to Keira’s tent and went in.

  Leah sniggered.

  ‘What are you laughing at, blondie?’ Kalayne said. ‘Have you forgotten my prophecy for you? I do believe that’s Agang sitting on the opposite bench.’ He tapped his nose. ‘And I predict there may be a chance of fire later.’

  Leah’s mouth hung open. ‘Fuck you.’

  She jumped down from the wagon and stormed off to her tent, spitting on the ground near B’Dang as she passed him.

  Agang turned to the old Kellach man. ‘What prophecy?’

  ‘None of your business
,’ Kalayne said, squinting at him. ‘Do you want to see what your future holds?’

  Agang snorted. ‘You’re speaking nonsense, old man.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ Kalayne shrugged. He turned to Flora. ‘What about you?’

  ‘Not a fucking chance,’ she said, ‘and if you were in my head before, keep what you saw to yourself.’

  ‘If you say so,’ he said, ‘although I’m sure she wouldn’t care if you told her.’

  ‘That’s what I’m worried about, you arsehole.’

  Agang kept his face blank.

  Kalayne looked amused. ‘Ahh, the secrets in this wagon.’ He winked at Agang. ‘You have a fair few.’

  The blood drained from Agang’s face.

  ‘Oh yeah?’ said Flora, her expression lifting. ‘Like what?’

  Agang clenched his fists, his mouth dry. Was the old man bluffing? If he could go into Kylon’s head, then could he read what was buried inside his own mind?

  ‘It’s not my place to reveal those sorts of secrets,’ Kalayne said. ‘In time they’ll come out on their own.’

  ‘Spoilsport,’ Flora muttered.

  Agang tried to control his breathing, his heart pounding.

  Flora gazed at him. ‘I have a few suspicions of my own.’

  ‘Some of them are partly true,’ Kalayne said. Agang and Flora stared at him. He shrugged. ‘I’ll say no more about it.’

  Agang glanced at Flora, then looked away. The crowds of passing warriors had thinned to a slow trickle, with only the odd group still to join the rest of the army facing the walls. The unlit bonfires that ran behind the ranks of warriors were piled high, and oil was being poured on the one nearest the command tents. He caught sight of Kylon striding across the clearing.

  ‘She’s not moving,’ he said as he arrived at the wagon. ‘If you’ve got anything to say to her, you’ll have to go and see her.’

  ‘Bloody awkward cow,’ Kalayne said. ‘Still, look on the bright side, it’ll probably be a lot warmer in there. Lead on, my boy, and tell your fair mistress that we shall be along shortly.’