by Ian Irvine
“See how it’s done?”
“Was that necessary?” said Tali.
“It’s the only argument they understand. You should try it.”
“I’ll leave it to you. You’re so much better at it.”
“Yes, I am,” said Radl. “I’ve been planning this day for a very long time.”
“Really?”
“I love my people,” said Radl. “And I burn to see them delivered from slavery.”
“But for as long as I’ve known you, you’ve treated them badly.”
“They’re so cowed, nothing else would work.”
Radl proceeded along the rows of cells, beating and bullying selected male and female Pale, and ordering them to do the same. After fifteen minutes, a little over three thousand slaves stood in the assembly area, in groups of a hundred, each behind their captain. Radl went from group to group, giving them soft-voiced instructions emphasised with a punch here, a slap there. Tali could not hear what she was saying, but judging by Radl’s hand movements she was telling them how to fight.
She came back. “There, I’ve done your job for you.”
“But there’s only three thousand. What about the rest?”
“You know what they’re like,” said Radl. “Heads in the sand.”
“We have to save them all.”
“This is all you’re going to get.”
“What about the children, the nursing mothers, the old folk?”
“They can’t fight armed guards. If we win, we’ll come back for them.”
Tali swallowed, stared at the taller woman. Clearly, Radl had decided to take over, but Tali didn’t see how this new plan could succeed. “But… we’re not supposed to be attacking the enemy – just making a run for the exits.”
“That can’t work,” said Radl.
“Why not?”
“Thousands of Pale can’t run for the exits in secret – the enemy would know about it in seconds. They’d signal the exit guards to lock the exits, then they’d attack from behind and butcher us. There’s only one thing to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Attack the enemy, right now, and defeat them. Then lead out everyone who wants to go.”
“That’s not my plan,” said Tali.
Radl knocked Tali onto her back with a blow to the belly she did not see coming, then put her foot on Tali’s chest, holding her down. “I’ve changed the plan.”
The blow had winded Tali. “Have you – ever – led an army – to battle?”
“Have you?” Radl retorted. “I’ve been planning a rebellion ever since they killed my man. This is the only way that has a hope of working.”
Radl thought for a moment, then removed her foot and offered Tali a hand. She took it and Radl lifted her to her feet. Tali studied the taller woman from under her lashes. She would never understand Radl, but if this was the only way to save the Pale, she would find a way to work with her.
“What’s the matter with your wrist?” Radl said suddenly.
“A bad wrench.”
Radl took it in both hands; her lips moved in a healing, and the pain eased.
“Thanks,” said Tali.
“I did it for them, not you. Once we’ve armed everyone,” said Radl, “we’ll attack the enemy in their quarters. Nearly everyone will be there at this time of night. If your magian can blast down the gates and kill their guards, we can take them by surprise. We’ll try to bring the entrance roof down with heatstone and trap them in their quarters. Then we can get everyone out.”
“It’s a better plan,” Tali said grudgingly.
Radl grinned. “Of course it is.”
“But the matriarchs could be issuing the death order by now.”
“Then we’ve got nothing to lose, have we? Lead the way.”
“Three thousand Pale aren’t enough to attack ten thousand armed enemy. Not nearly enough.”
“They will be if we can catch them in their beds. Come on.”
CHAPTER 93
“A fight?” said Tali.
“Right here, right now.”
There wasn’t time to debate the matter. The enemy could be on their way, and the moment they entered the Empound every slave would denounce Tali.
“All right,” she said.
Without warning, or any hint of what she had in mind, Radl struck Tali across the face so hard that it knocked her sideways. She staggered a couple of steps, her head ringing. The low buzz of talk throughout the assembly area stopped. Radl had everyone’s attention. The slaves loved a fight, loved to see someone else’s blood, and loved a winner, too.
Tali hurled herself at the taller woman. Radl struck at her again but this time Tali was ready. And she had learned a lot about fighting since her escape from Cython. She caught Radl’s arm, yanked her forwards and brought her knee up into Radl’s belly, driving the wind out of her. Radl stumbled backwards, fell, and Tali went after her, realising too late that it was a trick. Radl thrust two long feet into Tali’s belly, snapped her legs straight and catapulted her ten feet backwards, knocking down half a dozen staring Pale.
She rose, hurting all over. She’d landed on the wrist she had wrenched earlier and it was throbbing mercilessly again. Was Radl genuine, or was she planning to kill her? It wasn’t uncommon for slaves to be killed in fights.
Tali moved forwards, reviewing the lessons Nurse Bet had taught her and all the dirty fighting she’d learned since. Though how could she fight with only one hand?
Think, think. And then she had it.
“Throw the match,” said Tali quietly as they circled each other, “and I won’t kill you the way I killed Banj.”
“You can’t. Your power comes and goes.”
Tali extended her right hand, the fingers pointing at Radl’s throat. “Want to bet your life on it? I’ve been schooled by some mighty magians in Hightspall.” It was almost true. “I’ve learned a lot from them.”
After a long hesitation, Radl said, “All right.” Then added, nastily, “I was going to let you win anyway. It’s the only way you could ever beat me.”
She struck at Tali, missed. Tali struck back and also missed. Radl aimed a tremendous blow at Tali’s face. She ducked, took hold of Radl’s arm with both hands and, ignoring the excruciating pain in her wrist, threw the taller woman over her shoulder. Radl hit the floor hard. Tali sprang onto her chest with both feet, raised her arms to signal victory, then stepped aside briskly, just in case.
“Cheat,” muttered Radl, but she got up, came to Tali’s side and raised her arm. From the corner of her mouth she added, “In return for my support, I want your man.”
Tali ground her teeth. “I don’t have a man.”
“Well, if you ever get one, old or young, handsome young giant or toothless dwarf, I’m having him.”
“Whatever you say,” said Tali. It hardly mattered, since they were bound to die anyway.
Radl pushed Tali aside, faced the staring Pale, then spoke, just loudly enough to be heard by all.
“Only two hours ago, Lyf issued a death order – on all the Pale.” Radl paused. “If we don’t rise up against the enemy right now, they’re going to put every one of us to death.”
“When?” said a small, white-blonde woman at the front.
“Maybe tomorrow, Nizzy,” said Radl. “Or maybe tonight! They could come for us at any time.”
“We can’t stop them with our bare hands,” said Nizzy.
“Tali killed her overseer with magery and she’s got allies here who can arm us. Are you going to join us – or lie down and wait to die?”
They stared at her, unmoving. This had always been Tali’s greatest fear. Like mice trapped by a cat, the Pale were too cowed. After a thousand years of slavery, their natural instinct was to close their eyes to what was happening. Not even Radl could convince them to rebel.
“What are you going to do?” Tali muttered.
“Pick the best natural leaders.”
“And then?”
�
��You’ll see. You, Lenz,” said Radl, pointing to a stocky, brown-haired man. “Come here.”
He obeyed. If there was one thing the Pale knew, it was obedience.
“And you, Nizzy. And you, Balun.”
The small, white-blonde woman came down, then a middle-aged man followed, limping. He had big fists and a slightly twisted left foot.
Radl walked back and forth, picking out another dozen people and calling them forwards by name. When they stood before her, she walked up to Lenz, drew back her fist and punched him in the mouth, knocking him down.
She stood over him. “Round up your people. You’re going to war.”
He got up sullenly, but headed up to the cells.
Radl laid Nizzy low with a vicious blow to the belly, and was turning on Balun when he put his hands in the air. “I get the message.”
Radl dropped him anyway, though with less ferocity. “Bring down your men, and your fighting women. Don’t take no for an answer.”
Nizzy went cheerfully enough, Balun with a ferocious grin, and the other twelve leaders scattered to fetch their own people. Radl sent three of her own loyal followers to guard the exit, to prevent any slave from sneaking out and betraying them, then turned to Tali, rubbing her bruised knuckles. For a second Tali thought the tall woman was going to thump her as well. Radl laughed, showing strong white teeth.
“See how it’s done?”
“Was that necessary?” said Tali.
“It’s the only argument they understand. You should try it.”
“I’ll leave it to you. You’re so much better at it.”
“Yes, I am,” said Radl. “I’ve been planning this day for a very long time.”
“Really?”
“I love my people,” said Radl. “And I burn to see them delivered from slavery.”
“But for as long as I’ve known you, you’ve treated them badly.”
“They’re so cowed, nothing else would work.”
Radl proceeded along the rows of cells, beating and bullying selected male and female Pale, and ordering them to do the same. After fifteen minutes, a little over three thousand slaves stood in the assembly area, in groups of a hundred, each behind their captain. Radl went from group to group, giving them soft-voiced instructions emphasised with a punch here, a slap there. Tali could not hear what she was saying, but judging by Radl’s hand movements she was telling them how to fight.
She came back. “There, I’ve done your job for you.”
“But there’s only three thousand. What about the rest?”
“You know what they’re like,” said Radl. “Heads in the sand.”
“We have to save them all.”
“This is all you’re going to get.”
“What about the children, the nursing mothers, the old folk?”
“They can’t fight armed guards. If we win, we’ll come back for them.”
Tali swallowed, stared at the taller woman. Clearly, Radl had decided to take over, but Tali didn’t see how this new plan could succeed. “But… we’re not supposed to be attacking the enemy – just making a run for the exits.”
“That can’t work,” said Radl.
“Why not?”
“Thousands of Pale can’t run for the exits in secret – the enemy would know about it in seconds. They’d signal the exit guards to lock the exits, then they’d attack from behind and butcher us. There’s only one thing to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Attack the enemy, right now, and defeat them. Then lead out everyone who wants to go.”
“That’s not my plan,” said Tali.
Radl knocked Tali onto her back with a blow to the belly she did not see coming, then put her foot on Tali’s chest, holding her down. “I’ve changed the plan.”
The blow had winded Tali. “Have you – ever – led an army – to battle?”
“Have you?” Radl retorted. “I’ve been planning a rebellion ever since they killed my man. This is the only way that has a hope of working.”
Radl thought for a moment, then removed her foot and offered Tali a hand. She took it and Radl lifted her to her feet. Tali studied the taller woman from under her lashes. She would never understand Radl, but if this was the only way to save the Pale, she would find a way to work with her.
“What’s the matter with your wrist?” Radl said suddenly.
“A bad wrench.”
Radl took it in both hands; her lips moved in a healing, and the pain eased.
“Thanks,” said Tali.
“I did it for them, not you. Once we’ve armed everyone,” said Radl, “we’ll attack the enemy in their quarters. Nearly everyone will be there at this time of night. If your magian can blast down the gates and kill their guards, we can take them by surprise. We’ll try to bring the entrance roof down with heatstone and trap them in their quarters. Then we can get everyone out.”
“It’s a better plan,” Tali said grudgingly.
Radl grinned. “Of course it is.”
“But the matriarchs could be issuing the death order by now.”
“Then we’ve got nothing to lose, have we? Lead the way.”
“Three thousand Pale aren’t enough to attack ten thousand armed enemy. Not nearly enough.”
“They will be if we can catch them in their beds. Come on.”
CHAPTER 94
The guard post was open, the guard lying dead inside. The Pale streamed out behind Tali, men and women both, barefooted and silent.
She led them along to the subsistery. Outside its grinning-eel-shaped entrance was an open assembly area, the roof of which was held up with a dozen slender, carved columns. It was about fifty yards by forty, barely large enough to accommodate the three thousand Pale who had followed.
Holm and Tobry were waiting in the service corridor beside the assembly area, with Tali’s pack.
“It worked, then?” said Holm.
“Not exactly. Radl’s taken over.” Tali explained the new plan.
“It’s better than the previous plan,” said Holm. “I can’t say I ever liked it.”
“Neither did I,” said Tali. She slipped her pack on; there wasn’t time to get dressed. She felt hideously self-conscious wearing only a loincloth in front of her friends, but arming the Pale was more important than her own modesty. “Any news?”
“Had to kill a few guards,” said Tobry. “No sight of a courier, though.”
“Doesn’t mean anything,” said Tali. “He could have come a number of ways.”
Tobry was looking better since he’d thrown up, though it aroused the old fear – if he’d thrown up the potion before he’d absorbed all of it, how long before the shifter madness rose again?
It was another pointless worry. She would keep an eye on him and be ready to use the emergency dose if he started to shift… assuming she could. Tobry was a strong man and, in shifter form, twice as strong again. With an effort she buried that worry as well.
“Take this with you,” said Holm, handing her a little brass implement on a lanyard; a stubby cylinder with lenses at either end, like an inch-long telescope. “It’ll help with that problem we talked about earlier.”
“What problem?”
“Getting an overview of an underground battle. Tobry and I put it together while we waited.”
“But what is it?”
“A mage glass,” said Tobry. “Focus it on any part of your map and it’ll show you what’s happening there.”
“More or less,” said Holm.
“Can I talk to our captains with it? Give them orders?”
“Of course not.”
Then it probably wasn’t going to be much use, but she hung it around her neck.
“Have you got the map?” said Holm.
“In my pack.” She looked around. “Let’s get the Pale armed.”
Tobry and Holm had cracked the locks on the armoury and the nearby storerooms and laid out crates of swords, knives, chisels, hammers and many other kinds of tools. They
had also broken into the heatstone store and opened boxes containing small cut pieces of heatstone, which were used for a myriad of heating purposes. As the last of the Pale collected their weapons, Tali’s head began to throb.
She was explaining how to hurl pieces of heatstone so they would break and go off like grenadoes when the clangours sounded from a dozen places at once, and a terrified cry echoed down the corridor.
“They’re coming!”
There was instant panic, Pale running in all directions, crashing into one another, jamming in the exits and trampling any who fell. Radl’s plan had failed before it began. The element of surprise had been lost, the guards at the exits were alerted, and now the little Pale army faced a greatly superior enemy.
“What do we do?” said Tali. They could not collapse the tunnel into the enemy quarters now – they could not get to it.
“Only two choices,” said Holm. “Attack or run. And I don’t like either.”
“We’ve nowhere to run to – if we can’t beat them, we’ll never get out. We’ve got to fight. Form up your ranks,” she yelled. “Weapons at the ready.”
No one took any notice. “This is hopeless,” said Tali, arming herself with more pieces of heatstone. “I don’t know why I came here.”
“At least they’ll die on their feet, not their knees.” Holm looked over her shoulder. “Here they come.”
A band of Cythonians were forcing their way in through the main entrance, at least fifty, though Tali wasn’t tall enough to see how many ranks there were behind the leaders. They were armed with short swords, the best weapon for fighting in confined spaces, and the officers among them wore leather armour.
Radl sprang up on a table. “They’re only a handful,” she bellowed. “We can take them.”
She leapt down with a chunk of heatstone in each hand, hurled them across the assembly area at the advancing enemy, and before the missiles landed she was racing forwards, armoured only by her loincloth and her amber skin.
Tali flung her heatstone at the same time. It burst at the feet of the leading rank of the enemy, the blast killing several and knocking others down, shrivelling their hair and setting their clothes alight. The Pale let out a ragged cheer.
