‘Of course,’ said Killop. ‘The fewer folk know about what Karalyn can do the better.’ He bit his tongue to prevent himself from saying more, still rankling that Kylon had seen fit to inform Chane of everything Kalayne had told him about Karalyn.
‘Daphne’s mother could be a problem,’ Kylon said.
‘I don’t think she’s a threat to Karalyn,’ Chane said. ‘She actually seems to be afraid of her.’
‘I wasn’t meaning that,’ Kylon said, ‘I was referring to her professed love for the Emperor and his holy church.’
‘Daphne thinks she’s just putting it on,’ Killop said. ‘If her father says white, she’ll say black. They oppose each other in everything apparently.’
‘Why?’ Kylon asked.
Killop tried to remember anything Daphne might have said.
‘I think there was a rumour going around that Daphne’s father was having an affair with the old queen, Guilliam’s sister. Daphne said it wasn’t true, but maybe her mother believes it.’
‘I can believe it,’ Chane said. ‘Her father’s eyes do have a tendency to wander, and if I had to put money on it, I’d be prepared to bet he’s having an affair with Annifrid, the commander of the local guard.’
‘Nah, you think?’ Killop said. ‘He seems like a good guy. Always treats me with respect.’
‘Well, no offence, but he doesn’t want to fuck you.’
Kylon’s eyes darkened. ‘Has he behaved in any way dishonourably towards you?’
‘And what would you do if I said yes?’ Chane smirked. ‘Would you rush to protect my fragile honour, and challenge him to a duel, or would you just punch him in the face? And here I thought you were Kellach, not Sanang.’
Kylon took a draw of the weedstick. ‘I would punch him in the face.’
Chane laughed. ‘My hero. But the answer is no. Dear old Godfrey has been nothing but a gentleman, aside from the half-dozen times I’ve caught him checking me out.’
‘You are an exceptionally beautiful woman,’ Kylon said.
‘You know,’ Chane said, ‘I used to fancy a guy like you. He always said that I was beautiful, but whenever I tried to get him into bed he would push me away. Turned out in the end he preferred guys.’
‘My heart belongs to someone else,’ Kylon said. ‘The woman you referred to moments ago as a mass murderer.’
‘You told me she dumped you.’
‘She did. It didn’t affect how I feel about her.’
‘In that case you shouldn’t be calling another woman exceptionally beautiful.’
‘But you are.’
Chane sipped her rum and turned her gaze out over the plains before them, the last light of the day fading. The temperature was starting to drop, and Killop relaxed in the cooler air.
‘Kylon of Kell,’ Chane said, ‘you’re not right in the head.’
Killop stood. ‘I’d best be off, I’m meeting Daphne.’
‘Yeah?’ Chane said. ‘What’s she been up to?’
‘More meetings with the Holders. More plotting.’
‘Good,’ said Kylon. ‘We should all be preparing.’
‘Unless you’re Rakanese,’ Chane said, ‘then you should be running.’
Killop nodded, and left the terrace by the sliding doors into the guesthouse. Apart from Kylon and Chane, the large building was empty, another sign adding to the sense of anxiety evident in Hold Fast. When the imperial army had left Plateau City, the Holdings had held its breath, and when they had turned east towards Arakhanah City, the relief had been palpable. And then the nervous rounds of chatter started all over again, the worry that sent Godfrey, Daphne, and whichever other aristocratic Holder was visiting, into endless secret meetings. Everyone came to Hold Fast, Killop had noted. Godfrey never left to visit anyone, his seat was the centre the others attended.
Lamps were being lit along the main street as Killop stepped outside. To his left, the fountains glistened in front of the mansion, and he began to make his way there. An old woman curtsied to him as he passed, his position as Miss Daphne Holdfast’s consort long established among the estate workers.
To the right of the mansion, Killop noticed a cluster of carriages parked along the route to the market square. Handlers were out, leading the horses to the nearby guest stables. Killop smiled. Another Holder must have arrived, filled with their tales of woe and outrage at the Emperor’s latest unreasonable demand.
At the back porch Celine was playing with Karalyn. The woman was holding onto the girl’s arms and spinning, so that Karalyn was flying through the air, screaming with delight.
‘Evening,’ Killop said as he ascended the steps.
‘Hi, Killop,’ Celine said, coming to a stop, and swaying.
‘Should you be getting her all excited before bedtime?’
‘She’ll be fine,’ Celine said. ‘Do you want to do her story?’
‘Celine do story!’ Karalyn yelled.
‘I don’t mind,’ Celine said.
‘I should do it.’
Karalyn started to cry. ‘Daddy not do story. I want Celine do story.’
Killop sighed.
Celine went down on one knee. ‘You know your daddy has been looking forward to telling you a story all afternoon. I would be very happy if you were a good girl and listened to daddy tell you a story.’
Karalyn sniffled.
‘I’ll be in the next room,’ Celine said, ‘and I’ll come and see you before you fall asleep.’
Karalyn smiled, and took Killop’s hand.
‘Come on, wee bear,’ he said, ‘let’s get you to bed.’
Daphne flicked the ash from her cigarette over the edge of the balcony into the dark night air.
‘I need to spend more time with Karalyn,’ she said. ‘I seem to sit all day in stupid meetings, or doing the paperwork my father can’t be bothered to look at. How did she go down?’
‘Fine.’
‘And did you see Kylon?’
‘It was Celine,’ he said. ‘They’d swapped shifts.’
Daphne shook her head. ‘They’re both insane.’
‘Kylon thinks that Karalyn has changed Celine’s mind.’
Daphne took a large sip of rum. ‘He’s right. Our daughter has bonded with her. Celine’s mind was a mess, she was overwhelmed with guilt when Vince was killed, and tried to blot it all out with dreamweed and alcohol. Karalyn’s been in her head. She saw that Celine was in pain, and I guess she’s trying to heal her.’
‘Like she healed me?’
‘Emotions are different from memories,’ Daphne said. ‘With you she was helping you remember, but with Celine?’
‘She does seem devoted to Karalyn.’
‘And knowing Celine’s vulnerability, how much of it is due to her own free will?’
Killop said nothing, not wanting to imagine his daughter capable of what Daphne was suggesting.
He frowned. ‘Guilt?’
‘What?’
‘You said Celine was overwhelmed with guilt. What did she have to feel guilty about?’
Daphne frowned. ‘She’d been having an affair with Bedig, back when we lived in Plateau City. At the time I’d hoped that she and Vince would get back together when he returned home after his service, and it would all be forgotten about.’
‘I assume your parents don’t know?’
‘No one else does, I think, apart from a few servants at the old Holdfast townhouse in Plateau City. Celine was as down as anyone I’ve ever seen when we got here, but now she’s like a blinding ray of sunshine whenever she’s in the company of our daughter. I wish I knew what to do, but Karalyn’s powers are beyond my control. She can break through any protection I put over Celine, they don’t even slow her down any more.’
Daphne bowed her head.
‘I worry about my own thoughts. Whenever I feel annoyed at Jonah, or my mother, I picture what Karalyn could do to them if I allowed my anger to develop. It frightens me.’
‘What’s the alternative?’ he said. �
�We go and live in the mountains until she’s old enough to control her powers?’
‘She’s never going to fit in, is she?’ Daphne said. ‘She’s never going to have a normal life.’
Killop gazed at her, his heart aching as he thought about their daughter’s future.
There was a knock on the glass door, and Godfrey stepped out onto the balcony.
‘Apologies for interrupting,’ he said.
‘That’s all right, Father,’ Daphne said. ‘Is the meeting ready to restart?’
Godfrey closed the door behind him. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Something rather curious has occurred. A new guest has arrived at Hold Fast.’
‘Not just another Holder, I presume?’
Godfrey smiled. ‘We’ve arranging a spot of late supper for them in the old library. I think you should attend. In fact, you should both come.’
‘All right,’ Daphne said. ‘Who is it?’
‘Why,’ Godfrey said, ‘only the queen.’
Queen Mirren Blackhold was seated in the high-backed chair usually reserved for Holder Godfrey. She was clad in long black robes, and a hood half-covered her face. To either side stood stern-faced guards, while Faden Holdwick sat a few seats down.
A servant held the door open for Godfrey, Daphne and Killop to enter, then left the room, closing it behind her.
‘Your Majesty,’ Godfrey said, bowing low, ‘welcome to Hold Fast. You do me and mine great honour with your visit…’
‘This is not a social call, Godfrey,’ Mirren said. ‘Please sit.’
Godfrey took a seat across from Faden. ‘This is my daughter, Daphne,’ he said, ‘and her companion, Killop, former chieftain of the Severed Clan.’
‘I recall Daphne from her visits to court,’ Mirren said. ‘I believe you were pregnant when you last attended?’
‘Yes, your Majesty. I now have a young daughter. Killop is the father.
‘Sit,’ Mirren said, ‘before my neck muscles cramp from leaning up to look at you.’
Daphne and Killop sat.
Mirren stared at Killop.
‘So you are the Kellach Brigdomin who intervened at the Battle for the Rahain Gates? An act which decisively swung the outcome, I believe?’
‘I commanded the clan forces that day,’ Killop said.
Mirren nodded, her fingers drumming the tabletop. ‘I had assumed I’d be speaking only to yourself and Faden, Godfrey. However, Daphne and Killop may remain. I will assume they are in your confidence.’
‘Please do so, your Majesty.’ Godfrey said. ‘Both have my complete trust.’
‘First of all,’ Mirren said, ‘my thanks to Faden for bringing me here, a duty performed without the slightest clue as to why.’ She smiled as she glanced at Faden. ‘I could see you bursting with curiosity for the entire journey. Well fear not, for now I will tell you all why I am here.’
She paused to light a cigarette, and on her cue, the other Holdings in the room also began to smoke. Godfrey opened a bottle of rum, and filled five glasses.
‘Thank you,’ Mirren said.
The others gazed at her, waiting.
‘As I’m sure you are all aware,’ she said, ‘the great imperial army has recently crossed the frontier wall into Arakhanah, with my beloved husband the Emperor at its head. Over one hundred thousand soldiers, did you know?’
‘We have indeed heard the news, your Majesty,’ Godfrey said.
‘The Emperor will remain in Arakhanah for several thirds, I would imagine,’ Mirren said, ‘which is why we must act now.’
‘Act, your Majesty?’
‘There is something I must tell you,’ she said, ‘something that you may find hard to believe. When the fire mage attacked the city, we had been evacuated to the Great Fortress in the Old Town, and from its rooftop battlements I watched fireballs destroy the palace.’ She turned to Killop. ‘Your sister was exceptionally thorough; I doubt one brick of the building now stands upon the other. My condolences for your loss, of course. When she had finished, she moved round to opposite the merchants’ quarter, and opened up a great breach in the walls. As the Sanang hordes began to pour into the streets of the city I genuinely felt for a moment that the capital was lost, and that that day would be my last.’
She took a sip of rum.
‘Then,’ she went on, ‘quite to my surprise, I noticed my husband standing alone on the city walls, just yards from the breach.’ She sighed. ‘Do I need tell of what he did then? I’m sure you’ve all heard. And no, the tales have not been exaggerated.’
The room fell into silence for a moment.
‘Afterwards,’ Mirren said, ‘I awaited my husband in our rooms in the Great Fortress. I was a little nervous, having not the faintest idea of how Guilliam had obtained such power. I waited, listening to the roars and cheers from the crowds in the streets outside the fortress, gathered in their thousands to give thanks to the Emperor. Eventually, the door to our bedchamber opened, and he walked in.’
She stubbed out her cigarette, and lit another.
‘It’s not him.’
‘What?’ said Faden.
‘Whoever that man is,’ she said, ‘it’s not Guilliam. It’s not my husband.’
Godfrey frowned. ‘An impersonator, your Majesty?’
Mirren shook her head. ‘That’s what the logical half of my brain is telling me, but if it is, then it’s the best impersonator in history. Every physical detail is accurate, except improved upon, somehow. His hair is softer, his eyes deeper, his skin smoother, I can’t explain it. But it’s not him on the inside.’
Godfrey and Faden glanced at each other.
‘You think I’m crazy,’ she said. ‘Of course you do. I would, were I in your position.’
‘But, your Majesty,’ Faden said, ‘if his skin and hair are different, then surely this man must be an impostor?’
‘I have an idea which may explain it, your Majesty,’ Daphne said.
All eyes turned to her.
‘If we imagine that the Emperor was granted all mage powers, as seems evident from what he did to the Sanang army, then presumably he also has the skills of a hedgewitch. If so, then he would have been able to heal every part of his body, make himself stronger, and appear younger.’
‘Yes,’ Mirren said, ‘I think that may be it. He looks like a younger, fitter version of himself. That would explain the physical differences.’
‘So he’s not an impostor, then?’ Faden said.
Mirren frowned at him. ‘At the risk of repeating myself, it may indeed be Guilliam’s body, but the man inside is not my husband.’
‘Then who is he?’
‘Someone… not very nice.’
‘Did he hurt you, your Majesty?’ Faden said, his eyes narrowing.
‘No, but I felt fear in his presence, which is something that I could never say about Guilliam.’ She glanced at the two men. ‘I am perfectly aware of your opinion of my husband, but you are wrong. Guilliam is a good man, who truly has the best interests of the world close to his heart. However, the being who resides within my husband’s body is a different matter. He is a monster.’
‘Two alternatives suggest themselves, your Majesty,’ Godfrey said. ‘One, that the process which granted the powers to the Emperor somehow changed him, made him into a different person. If that is the case, then the old Guilliam may be lost forever.’
Mirren shook her head.
‘Two,’ Godfrey went on, ‘a powerful mage has taken over the body of the Emperor.’
Faden snorted. ‘There’s no mage on earth who could do that.’
‘Then I’m at a loss, my friend,’ Godfrey said.
Mirren picked up her glass of rum. ‘So have you guessed why I’ve come here, to the Hold of the throne’s most outspoken opponent?’
Godfrey said nothing.
‘The Holdfasts have been a thorn in Guilliam’s side for years, plotting and conspiring behind his back at every opportunity. You were allowed to become too powerful under the old queen, and thought
you were entitled to have a say in the running of the realm because you used to be her favourite. My husband has never liked you, for reasons I am sure you are aware of. Nevertheless, it is to you that I have come. It is you I seek to ally myself with, as the only Holder capable of organising a rebellion large enough to succeed.’
Godfrey’s mouth fell open.
‘And it must be now,’ Mirren said, ‘while the creature inhabiting my husband’s body is occupied with the slaughter of recalcitrant Rakanese. We must unite the Holds and arm ourselves, ready to resist the Emperor upon his return.’
‘But if we do this,’ Godfrey said, ‘he will invade the Holdings.’
Mirren smiled. ‘My dear Godfrey, after the Emperor has finished scouring the Rakanese marshes for mages, the invasion of the Holdings is next on his list. Somehow he has the notion that high mages are being hidden in the old realm.’ She glanced at Daphne. ‘This is why I have come here, to warn you.’
Godfrey nodded. ‘You have given us much to think about, your Majesty.’
‘Don’t spend too long thinking,’ she said. ‘I must now depart for Holdings City.’
‘Tonight, your Majesty?’
‘Indeed, I am expected at the Lord Regent’s residence. Officially, I am visiting the old realm; my trip here was merely a long detour. But I’ll be in touch soon, Godfrey, and I’ll expect you to have a plan prepared. Now, if you would all please excuse me, I would like to eat in silence before I take my leave.’
‘Of course, your Majesty,’ Godfrey said, rising. The others did the same.
The Holdings men bowed, while Daphne performed a low curtsy. Killop nodded his head, unable to keep a frown from his lips.
Celine was sitting up reading a book by lamplight outside Karalyn’s door when Killop and Daphne returned to their chambers.
She smiled as she saw them enter.
‘Good evening, Celine,’ Daphne said. ‘I hope you remembered to eat something.’
‘You’ll never guess what Karalyn did today, Daphne,’ Celine grinned. ‘She managed to get her dress on this morning, all by herself. She’s so clever.’
‘That’s good,’ Daphne said. ‘Now that we’re back, you can go and relax, get some sleep.’
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