The Magelands Box Set

by Christopher Mitchell

  Daphne felt her will begin to crumble.

  ‘Let the bastard sit on his throne and fester,’ Keira said. ‘Ten days he’s been back, and not a fucking peep from him. There might be plenty of soldiers in the city, but it’s a fucking illusion, he lost his Holdings army in Frogland, and most of his lizard soldiers in the Holdings. He’s spent.’

  ‘It sounds like a reason to strike now.’

  ‘No, Daphne,’ Keira said. ‘Like a bear with his paw in a trap, he’ll be most dangerous cornered. Let’s leave him be. There are plenty of places in the world where we can hide, and live in peace. Fuck, with me and you side by side, nobody’ll fuck with us. I hear yer quite a fucking fighter, and yer not bad with yer vision tricks. I keep forgetting yer not really here.’

  Daphne chewed her lip. ‘How early in the morning could you be ready?’

  ‘Fuck it, dawn? That’s when the gates open. Where are you?’

  ‘At a farmhouse a mile off the road to the Holdings, about four miles altogether.’

  ‘We’ll be there an hour after dawn. Wait in sight of the road, you’ll see us.’

  Daphne nodded. ‘I have to go soon,’ she said, ‘I’m running low. Walk with me through to Karalyn’s room.’

  Keira got to her feet and they went to the bedroom, where Flora was on her knees playing with the girl.

  ‘Mama!’ Karalyn cried when she saw her.

  Daphne crouched down as her daughter drew near. She paused in front of the apparition, smiling.

  ‘I’m here, Kara-bear,’ Daphne said.

  Flora stood, and gazed about.

  ‘See mama soon?’ Karalyn said.

  ‘Very soon,’ she said.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Flora said. ‘Who’s she speaking to?’

  ‘Her ma,’ Keira said.

  ‘Daphne’s here?’

  ‘Aye, but she’s in my head, so ye cannae see her.’

  ‘Karalyn can.’

  Keira shrugged. ‘She’s a fucking mage.’

  Daphne glanced up at her. ‘Do you always swear in front of my daughter?’

  ‘Keiwa say silly things,’ Karalyn said.

  ‘You’ve got that right, kid,’ said Flora.

  ‘I have to go, little bear,’ Daphne said, turning back to her daughter. ‘Daddy and I will see you tomorrow. We love you.’

  She blew her a kiss and disappeared, as Daphne pulled her vision back the long miles to where her body sat motionless on the grassy bank. She blinked open her eyes, a headache pounding behind her temples. With nothing to take the edge off, her mind felt flailed and raw. She lit a cigarette, and sat for a few more minutes, stretching out her limbs as her headache grew.

  She got to her feet, and stumbled down the grassy bank in the darkness, towards the farmhouse. Inside, Killop and Chane were sitting round the stove, where a hatch was emitting a low light from the fire within.

  ‘Shit, you look rough,’ Chane said.

  Killop stood, and gave Daphne his seat.

  ‘Did you see her?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Daphne said, sitting as Chane thrust a mug of lukewarm tea into her hand. ‘She’s doing well. Up and about, playing with the Holdings girl we saw her with.’ She smiled. ‘I spoke to her, told her we were going to see her tomorrow.’

  ‘So we’re not going in tonight?’ said Chane.

  ‘The city’s changed,’ Daphne said. ‘It’s much more secure now. And I had a chat with Keira.’

  ‘You did?’ said Killop. ‘How is she?’

  Daphne glanced at him. ‘You were right, Killop. I’m sorry for doubting. Your sister’s not part of any conspiracy with Kylon, in fact she’s got him tied up in a room in their apartment. She’s also got a wagon, and supplies, and I arranged to meet them tomorrow morning by the northern road.’

  ‘So we won’t have to go into the city?’ Chane said, puffing her cheeks out. ‘Thank fuck for that.’

  ‘What else did she say?’ Killop said. ‘Keira, I mean.’

  ‘You look nervous, big man,’ said Chane.

  ‘I’ve not seen my sister in years.’

  ‘She was in good spirits,’ Daphne said. ‘She got annoyed that I had my suspicions, but we worked it out.’

  ‘Did she seem like a crazed mass murderer?’ Chane said.

  ‘You don’t know anything about her,’ Killop scowled.

  ‘I was in Sanang,’ Chane said, ‘when the firewitch was rampaging through the forest, slaughtering thousands. I heard the stories of the things she did, and saw with my own eyes the atrocities carried out by her worshippers.’

  ‘She was worshipped?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Chane said, ‘half of Sanang believed she was a goddess.’

  ‘I bet she believes it too. Her head will be the size of a fucking mountain,’ Killop said, starting to laugh. ‘Tomorrow’s going to be something else. Getting Karalyn back, and seeing Keira again.’

  Daphne smiled at him despite her pounding headache, and ignored his swearing. She had a feeling she would be hearing a lot more of it, once Keira joined them. It was good to hear him laugh; it had been a long time.

  ‘Does this mean that we’ve given up on trying to take the Emperor down?’ Chane said, lighting a cigarette.

  Daphne’s expression fell. ‘I don’t know. Let’s get Karalyn clear of the Plateau, and we can have another think about it. Having Keira with us will change things.’

  ‘No kidding,’ Chane said. ‘The two most powerful mages in the world together?’

  ‘You’re forgetting Shella,’ Daphne said.

  Chane shrugged. ‘You and Keira will have to do. Shit, we’ll be on the road again tomorrow.’ She turned to Killop. ‘Your arse will be back up on the saddle.’

  He shook his head. ‘If Keira has a wagon, then we’ll be going slow. I’ll walk.’

  ‘Let’s get some sleep,’ Daphne said. ‘We need to be up at dawn.’

  Chane nodded. ‘I’ll take the back room.’ She stood, and picked up her blanket roll from the pack. ‘See you in the morning.’

  ‘Night,’ Daphne said.

  Killop laid out their own blankets by the warmth of the stove.

  ‘Just one more night,’ she said, as they lay down. ‘One more night till we get our baby back.’

  He put his arm round her and kissed her.

  ‘One more night.’

  For much of the night Daphne’s sleep was dreamless, her exhausted mind and body resting in Killop’s warm embrace. A few hours before dawn she felt her senses stir, as her consciousness was nudged.

  Mama.

  Kara-bear? she said, her mind groggy and thick as it moved into a state of dreaming.

  Mama come.

  Daphne felt her vision dragged from her body, and pulled towards the city at lightning speed. Her sight hurtled over the walls and through the New Town, right up to the high towers of the Great Fortress. She blinked, and found herself in the mind of the Emperor, her daughter’s consciousness hiding alongside hers.

  He was gazing at a fire roaring in a hearth. No lamps were lit in the hall where he sat, and the only light was coming from the flames. His breathing was steady, but his heart was racing with anticipation.

  ‘Not long now, my darling queen,’ he said, his eyes never leaving the fire. ‘The time draws near when I will be bidding you farewell.’ He frowned. ‘If it works this time.’ Anxiety rippled through him, and he shuddered. Then anger, and hatred took over. How he loathed his creation. Miserable and weak; stupid creatures. He could kill them all as one stood on an insect. Only Keira had ever shown any real spirit, and she was dead. As for the rest of the mages, the Holdfast woman had revealed early promise, but had thrown it away to play at being a mother instead, before falling off a cliff. Shella, though… He smirked.

  There was a knock at the door. It creaked open.

  ‘Your Imperial Majesty,’ bowed Arnault.

  Daphne gazed at the Holdings man through the Creator’s eyes. He was stooping, and his face seemed to have aged by decades since she had last
seen him.

  ‘What is it?’ said the Creator, his contempt for the man seeping through his thoughts.

  ‘Everything is prepared, your Majesty,’ Arnault said, his eyes lowered. ‘The mages are ready.’

  ‘Good,’ he said, rising.

  ‘I’ve checked everything three times, your Majesty,’ Arnault said. ‘I know that this might well be our last chance.’

  The Emperor smiled, and began walking to the door, passing a long table on his left. Halfway along it, he paused, and turned to face the row of thrones.

  ‘Wish me luck, my darling queen,’ he said.

  The lifeless eyes of Mirren stared back at him, and Daphne grimaced. Her throat had been cut, and she looked like she had been dead for several days, as she sat slumped on the throne.

  Karalyn pulled their minds away, and Daphne felt herself hurtled upwards as the girl fled from the fortress, weeping.

  It’s alright, little bear, she said as her daughter slowed, far above the city.

  Aunty Mirrie, she sobbed.

  Daphne felt terror surge from the girl, and tried to radiate love and reassurance, but her own fear was rising. She gazed down at the Great Fortress. Somewhere in there, the Creator was about to re-enact the ritual that had granted him more power than any other being in the world. What would it do this time?

  Go back to your bed, she said, and wake up Keira.

  No. Stay with mama.

  Daphne’s heart tore as Karalyn wrapped her thoughts close to hers, and all her instincts cried out to hold onto her and protect her.

  I’m sorry, little bear, she said, but you have to wake up Keira, and tell her to get you all out of the city as quickly as you can.

  Karalyn said nothing, but clung on tighter.

  Daphne sighed. Alright, we’ll go down together.

  Daphne pulled her daughter down over the city, gliding past the Great Fortress and over the Kellach quarter. The city was quiet and dark, with only a handful of windows leaking light onto the streets. She found Keira’s apartment block, and went through a shutter and into a dark room. The Kell fire mage was lying asleep on a large bed, her chest rising, and a pool of saliva seeping from her open mouth.

  Daphne hesitated for a second, then went into her mind.

  Fire. The skies burned, and falling wreckage was striking the blackened land where Keira stood, her arms raised. All around trees were burning, and scorched corpses littered the ground.

  Keira, said Daphne.

  The fire mage turned, tears and ash streaked down her face. She frowned at Daphne and Karalyn as the background faded out to nothing.

  We’ve just seen the Creator, Daphne said. He’s re-enacting the ritual.

  Now?

  You need to get out of the city.

  Fuck.

  And I need to get back to the farmhouse and wake up. We’ll head for the gate into the Kellach quarter. I’ll contact you again once we’re there.

  Keira nodded.

  Daphne turned to Karalyn.

  Keira will look after you, she said. Do what she says, and be a good girl. I’ll see you soon, I promise.

  No! Don’t go!

  I have to, little bear. I’ll see you soon.

  Daphne pulled herself free of Karalyn and soared away, blocking her daughter’s cries from her ears. She surged over the city. As she was reaching the walls a booming wave of power burst out over the streets, from the direction of the Great Fortress. Tenements crumpled and fell in the surge of energy, and Daphne’s consciousness tumbled through the air. She gazed out in panic as the ground under the city rippled and buckled, sending houses, towers and walls crashing to the ground. Above the half-ruined streets rose the Great Fortress, the largest building left standing in the city. She stared at it and in an instant her vision power ceased, and she was back in her own head, a flashing pain surging behind her eyes.

  She got to her knees, her right hand covering her face, her head feeling like it was about to explode.

  The ground rocked under her as the shock waves reached the farmhouse. The roof fell in on top of them, and a swinging beam struck the stove, driving it into the wall in an explosion of fire and sparks. Killop grabbed hold of her, and they ran from the building, falling onto the grassy bank.

  Daphne lay on the grass, clutching her head in agony, Killop’s hand on her shoulder. He stood, and she watched him race back into the farmhouse, before her eyes closed.

  Chapter 33

  Last One Down

  Plateau City, Imperial Plateau – 18th Day, Second Third Winter 507

  ‘I have to go, little bear,’ Daphne said, turning to her daughter. ‘Daddy and I will see you tomorrow. We love you.’

  The Holdings mage blew her a kiss, and disappeared.

  Keira shook her head. ‘Fucking show off.’

  ‘Has she gone?’ Flora said.

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘What did she say?’

  Keira rubbed her chin. ‘We’d better get Kallie.’

  Flora wandered out of the room, and Keira knelt down by Karalyn.

  ‘Ye’ll see yer ma soon,’ she said. ‘Play here for a bit, while the rest of us talk, aye?’

  Karalyn picked up her toy horse as Keira walked from the bedroom, and entered the living-room. She poured herself a large rum and lit a stick of keenweed. It felt good to be going. Fuck, she was going to see her wee brother soon.

  Flora and Kallie came into the room.

  ‘Flora tells me ye’ve been hearing voices in yer head,’ Kallie said. ‘I knew it was only a matter of time.’

  ‘Ye better sit down,’ Keira said. ‘Cause ye won’t be laughing when I tell ye who it is you’ll be seeing tomorrow.’

  Kallie frowned. ‘Daphne’s close?’

  ‘Aye,’ Keira grinned, ‘and my wee brother too. We’re meeting them in the morning.’

  Flora poured Kallie a drink and handed it to her.

  ‘Where?’ the Holdings woman said.

  ‘Out of the city,’ Keira said. ‘A few miles up the road towards the Holdings. We’re getting out of here at last.’

  Flora sat.

  ‘Let’s put some distance between us and that mad bastard in the fortress,’ Keira went on. ‘This has fucking worked out perfectly. Instead of wasting time searching for them, Daphne and Killop have come to us. All we need to do now is get you back to Hold Cane.’

  Keira hesitated, as she remembered.

  ‘What is it?’ said Flora. ‘What’s wrong?’

  Keira gazed at the Holdings woman. ‘Daphne said that the Emperor had been in Hold Cane when he was rampaging through your country. He didn’t leave much behind.’

  Flora clenched her fists. She got up from her seat and walked to the window facing the Great Fortress, and gazed out into the evening sky.

  Keira turned to Kallie. ‘Ye look like someone’s taken a shit in yer breakfast.’

  ‘I don’t think I’m ready for this, Keira,’ she said. ‘Seeing them together, I don’t know how I’ll react.’

  ‘Ach, come on,’ Keira said, taking a swig of rum. ‘It’ll be awkward for the first five minutes, then it’ll be fine.’

  ‘I thought we still had a third or so before I had to decide,’ Kallie said. ‘Tomorrow’s too soon. I might stay here.’

  ‘What? No way, Kallie, not a fucking chance.’

  ‘I couldnae take seeing Killop with his new family. Sorry.’

  Flora walked over. ‘If she’s staying, then so am I.’

  Keira gawked at her.

  ‘Yer giving up looking for yer family?’ she cried. ‘Just like that? They might still be alive, fuck it, it’s worth a shot.’

  ‘I am going to look for them,’ Flora said, ‘but I’m not travelling to the Holdings with Daphne Holdfast. I’ll wait a couple of days, then go by a different route.’

  ‘I’ll go with you,’ said Kallie, ‘if you want.’

  Flora smiled. ‘Yeah, that’d be great.’

  Keira narrowed her eyes. ‘Ya back-stabbing wee cows. After
all we’ve been through, yer abandoning me because ye might feel a wee bit awkward? Look, come with us, even for a few days, try it at least before ye fucking quit on me.’

  They said nothing.

  Keira felt her temper close to exploding.

  ‘Sorry, Keira,’ said Flora.

  ‘Fine,’ Keira snarled. ‘Fuck the both of ye. Ya pair of useless tossers. I don’t care about yer personal bullshit, Daphne’s ma fucking sister now, so if ye fuck with her, ye fuck with me.’ She stood. ‘Flora, do something useful for once and get yer lazy arse down to the tunnels. Let them know I’ll be needing the wagon at dawn. And make sure ye pick up the keys.’

  Flora stood. ‘Alright, but you’ll have to put Karalyn to bed.’

  Keira frowned. ‘How hard could it fucking be?’

  Flora smirked, and walked to the front door of the apartment. She pulled a long cloak from a hook, and left, slamming the door.

  ‘Ye can’t blame her,’ Kallie said. ‘The Holdfasts are responsible for destroying her home.’

  Keira turned to her. ‘Yer a fucking eejit. The Emperor destroyed her home. The Holdfasts were only doing the same as what I did last year, and fighting the bastard. He kicked their arses, just like he kicked mine, but at least they had the guts to try.’

  She downed her rum.

  ‘Ye turned her against me,’ Keira went on. ‘Ye knew she liked me and ye couldnae handle it. Ye wanted her for yerself, well now ye’ve fucking got her.’

  ‘What the fuck are you talking about?’ Kallie muttered as Keira stormed from the room.

  She walked into the bedroom and saw Karalyn playing on the rug with her wooden horses.

  ‘Bed,’ she said.

  The girl ignored her.

  ‘Bed.’

  Nothing.

  Keira frowned. She didn’t have time for this. She needing to be packing, so she could squeeze in a few rums and a smoke before bed. Shit, why had she promised to leave at dawn? She wondered if Daphne would object to the still considerable amount of weed she was carrying. She snorted. Killop would be more likely to find some pious reason to complain about it. Daphne seemed alright. A better fucking sister than Kallie anyway. She’d better leave her some, she thought. Enough to see her by for a while.