Needs of the Empire

by Christopher Mitchell

  Kalayne shrugged. ‘She certainly distracted him, and that along with my tampering with Benel’s mind was enough to force him into making a mistake. Maybe if she’d arrived a day earlier, or if a few fireballs had been luckier and scored a direct hit, she might have got him, but then you’d be dead. We’re fortunate, under the circumstances.’

  ‘But the Creator is now the Emperor,’ she said. ‘With his power he can rule the world.’

  ‘I don’t think he’s interested in ruling, to be honest. He sees us as worthless worms, and he’ll use us to get what he wants without any consideration for our wellbeing.’

  ‘What does he want?’

  He stared at her, frowning. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘What?’ she said. ‘You still have no idea what he’s planning?’

  ‘No. My dreams have taken me into his mind more often in recent days, and I’ve caught glimpses of his plan as he was discussing it with the Lord Vicar. He needs the five different mages, and he wants to try again, but as to what his aims are, or what will occur if he succeeds, I have heard not a single word. The only thing I’m certain of is that it will destroy all life in this world.’

  She snorted. ‘Why the fuck would Arnault and the rest of them be helping him, if they know his plan will result in them getting killed?’

  ‘Decades of the Creator being in their heads,’ Kalayne said. ‘Dreams, visions, twisted versions of the truth, over and over, until their minds essentially belong to him. ’

  ‘So he’s going to try again?’

  ‘Of course. I doubt very much that he’ll decide to settle into his role as emperor and govern us all with a kind hand.’

  ‘How do we kill him?’

  ‘Funny you should ask,’ Kalayne smirked. ‘I may very well have concocted a little plan.’

  ‘A plan that involves us travelling to the far end of the world?’

  ‘Indeed.’

  Shella frowned.

  ‘Come now,’ Kalayne said, ‘I’m sure you’ll love Domm.’

  ‘Oh yeah?’

  ‘No, you’ll hate it. But we still have to go. There are people you need to meet.’

  ‘Like who?’

  Kalayne smirked. ‘Well, the fire mage for one.’

  ‘Keira? You told me she was dead.’

  ‘No, not exactly. I said that the Emperor stopped her heart. What I have been saving until we were out of the city is that it was restarted again. Rejoice, for the fire goddess lives.’

  ‘Rejoice?’ Shella cried. ‘Are you fucking joking? Do you think I have any desire to meet the mad bitch that murdered a hundred thousand of my people? What makes you think I won’t kill her the second I lay eyes on her?’

  Kalayne frowned. ‘We’ll sip that whisky when we come to it.’

  The morning sun shone down on them, and Shella felt a hint of warmth in its rays. She dozed for a few hours in the back of the wagon, huddled between the crates as the horses kept up a steady trot on the road. Kalayne woke her as they approached a junction. The way ahead stretched eastwards towards the wall at the border with Arakhanah, and a branch split off to the right and headed south, where it joined the main road that skirted the coast of the Inner Sea all the way to Rainsby .

  Next to the junction a small hut had been erected, and around it sat a squad of imperial soldiers, their shields piled up against a wall, and crossbows slung over their shoulders.

  ‘Back under the blanket,’ Kalayne said.

  She sighed and lay down, covering herself.

  ‘Halt,’ a voice cried, and she felt the horses come to a stop on the road.

  ‘Greetings, troopers,’ Kalayne said. ‘How can I help you this fine morning?’

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘Rainsby, my good sergeant.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Well let me see. It’s less… less burnt.’

  ‘Thinks he’s a smartarse,’ another voice said.

  ‘Shut up,’ said the sergeant. ‘On your way, old man, but watch out for rogue bands of Sanang. They’ve been spotted in the area.’

  ‘I thought the beloved Emperor had destroyed them all?’

  ‘He killed all the warriors, right enough,’ the sergeant said, ‘but there was a few up in their camp. Followers, whores, the crippled and a few slaves. Anyway, they scattered, those that could. We rounded up most of them yesterday, but a few are still on the loose.’

  ‘Thank you, sergeant,’ said Kalayne.

  ‘What’s going on?’ said a different voice.

  ‘I was just about to let these folks pass through, Father,’ said the sergeant.

  ‘Blast you,’ said the priest. ‘You know you’re supposed to wake me. Every traveller needs to be checked.’

  ‘I tried, Father. You were gone to the world.’

  The priest tutted, and Shella heard his footsteps approach.

  ‘This boy’s Rakanese,’ the priest said.

  ‘You’re a clever fellow,’ Kalayne said. ‘Are you going to try to read my mind?’

  ‘Be quiet, old man,’ the priest said. ‘I don’t need to read your mind to know that you shouldn’t be transporting a Rakanese child across the Plateau.’

  There was a long pause, and Shella lay still and strained her ears to listen. She clenched and unclenched her fists, readying her powers.

  ‘I have papers,’ said Kalayne. ‘Just give me a moment…’

  There was movement at the front of the cart, and the sound of a crossbow thrumming.

  Shella leapt up from the blanket as Kalayne toppled out of the wagon and fell to the ground, a bolt between his eyes.

  The priest staggered back a step, his eyes wide, while the soldiers stared open-mouthed at the body of the old Kell man sprawled on the road.

  ‘I thought he was going for a weapon, sarge,’ a trooper shouted, his voice wavering.

  Shella gripped Thymo by the shoulder and pushed him down into the back of the cart.

  ‘Close your eyes, little man.’

  She raised her hand, rage coursing through every nerve. The faces of the soldiers gazed up at her. Some reached for their crossbows, but were too late. She swept her arm in their direction and they fell like reaped wheat, their eyes and ears pouring blood.

  She turned to the priest.

  He stared up at her, frozen in terror.

  Shella flicked her hand, and his head disintegrated in a flash of red, showering the bodies of the fallen soldiers.

  She jumped off the wagon, and knelt by Kalayne. She closed his eyes and bowed her head, numb to his death, as if she were watching from afar.

  Thymo knelt down beside her, crying silent tears. He reached his arms around the old man.

  ‘Grandpa.’

  Shella rubbed his shoulders.

  ‘It’s going to be okay. ’

  Her eyes welled up and she began to weep, breaking down over the body of the dead Kell, sobs wracking her body.

  Thymo hugged her, and they wept together as the sun rose higher in the sky.

  Without Kalayne she had no clue what to do next. She dismissed the idea of travelling to Kellach Brigdomin, but could think of nowhere that would be safe for her and Thymo. She gazed at the boy. He had relied more on Kalayne than on her during his stay in the embassy, and fear coursed through her as she realised she was now the sole adult responsible for him. Jayki was gone. And Kalayne.

  ‘You stupid bastard,’ she said, wiping her tears away.

  ‘Come on Thymo,’ she said. ‘We’ve lots to do. Let’s get grandpa’s body up onto the cart, we’ll bury him when we stop tonight. Then I need to clear up the soldiers.’

  She glanced at the boy and forced herself to smile.

  ‘It’ll be alright.’

  Thymo said nothing. He got to his feet, his face streaked with tears.

  ‘Will you help me lift grandpa onto the cart?’ she said.

  He nodded.

  ‘Good. Then we can be on our way as soon as I’ve cleared the road.’

  ‘Where are
we going, auntie?’

  She got to her feet, and gazed at the mountains on the eastern horizon.

  ‘A little town,’ she said, ‘where they might remember me. Somewhere we’ll be safe.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘Silverstream.’

  Chapter 38

  Family

  S outhern Plateau – 7 th Day, Last Third Winter 506

  Daphne gazed at her daughter. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Aye,’ Karalyn grinned.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Aye.’

  Daphne glanced at Killop, who was holding onto the reins of the wagon. ‘You’ve done this to her.’

  ‘I need to teach her a bit of Kellach if we’re going to the Holdings.’

  ‘I know what you mean,’ she said. ‘If we were heading to Domm, I’d be teaching her to speak like a proper Holdings lady. Although I hope you draw the line at some of the more colourful language your people use.’

  Killop laughed. ‘I’ll save that for when she’s a bit older. Look.’ He nodded up at an inscription on the ceiling. ‘One mile to go. We’re nearly there.’

  The tunnel widened, and along each side a line of workshops and stores had been dug out of the rock. Traffic increased, with wagons parked in deep alcoves, and shoppers milling around on foot. In the centre, the road carried on, leading to a huge arched gateway in the distance, through which Daphne could glimpse daylight shining .

  ‘I can’t wait to see the sun again,’ she said, ‘but first, I’d like to stop here for a bit. I want to see if I can get any presents for my family. Things they wouldn’t be able to get in the Holdings.’

  Killop grimaced. ‘Sure.’

  He manoeuvred the wagon into a space in a nearby alcove, and brought the gaien to a halt.

  ‘Tell you what,’ he said. ‘Take your time shopping, and I’ll get an ale in that tavern we passed, and see if there’s any news from the Plateau.’

  She raised an eyebrow.

  ‘I’ll take Karalyn,’ he said.

  ‘Into a tavern? No, I’ll take her.’

  He jumped off the wagon and tied the reins to a post.

  ‘Are you sure you’ll be all right?’ he said. ‘Your leg’s not fully healed.’

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘I’ll take my crutch.’

  Killop frowned. He held his hand out for her to step down.

  ‘I’ll come shopping with you,’ he said, ‘but I’ll need an ale by the end of it.’

  ‘All right,’ she said, as she took his hand and lowered herself to the ground. She reached up and took hold of the crutch lying by the driver’s bench, and placed it under her right arm. Killop lifted Karalyn off the wagon and put her down on the ground.

  ‘Up, up,’ she said, stamping her feet.

  He sighed and picked her up again.

  They paid the guard watching the alcove, and headed out to the busy shops and bars lining the main road near the end of the tunnel.

  ‘How many are we buying for?’ he asked as they walked.

  ‘Mother, Father,’ she began, ‘Ariel and her children, Teddy and Lydia. And Jonah.’

  ‘He’s your brother, aye?’

  She glanced at him.

  ‘You don’t talk about him much,’ he said. ‘You’ve spoken about your father, and Ariel, and your older brother Vince in the army, but you never mention Jonah, or your mother.’

  Daphne frowned. ‘I idolised Vince when I was growing up. Ariel and Jonah were just mean to me all the time, although I was probably a horrible brat to them as well. Maybe it was because Vince was the eldest, that he saw me as the baby of the family, and protected me from the other two. It took me until I was an adult before I got on with Ariel, but I’ve not seen Jonah since I left home. My memories of him are of a great big bully, who hated me from the moment I developed battle-vision, and he had to stop pushing me around.’

  They stopped at a jewellery shop, and Daphne gazed through the glass window at the gold and silver on display.

  ‘And your mother?’ Killop said.

  ‘I haven’t communicated with her in five years,’ she said, her eyes scanning the necklaces and earrings. ‘Most of this stuff’s too expensive. I left a fortune back in the wagons with the clan. If Bridget finds it, she’ll be able to live like a queen when they get to Domm. And we didn’t find much money in Douanna’s luggage.’

  ‘We have enough supplies, but,’ he said. ‘At least we won’t starve.’

  She nodded. ‘Still, I don’t want to turn up empty-handed.’

  Killop frowned. ‘But you’re fleeing a civil war. It’s not like you’re returning home from a trip.’

  Daphne pictured her mother, standing at the entrance to their estate house in Hold Fast, frowning at her. She shuddered.

  ‘I could always look through Douanna’s things,’ she said. ‘She had a box of jewellery, and a few dresses. There’s bound to be something in there I could give as a present, at least to the women in the family. That still leaves Father, Jonah, Teddy and baby Lydia.’

  Killop nodded, but she could sense his impatience.

  ‘You go and get that ale,’ she said.

  ‘No, it’s fine.’

  ‘Go. Really, I’ll be all right. Karalyn seems happy to stay close to me. I’ll only be half an hour, we’ll come and get you.’

  He leant down and kissed Karalyn. ‘See you soon, wee bear.’

  Daphne watched as he headed for the tavern.

  ‘Dada no like shopping,’ Karalyn said.

  ‘I don’t think there are any shops in Kellach Brigdomin, Kara-bear. ’

  ‘Dada like ale.’

  She lit a cigarette. ‘Yes, but so does mama.’ She scanned the line of shops, pondering what to get her father. She saw a store selling ornately carved hip flasks. ‘Come on, Kara-bear. Let’s get granddad a present.’

  Forty minutes later, Daphne emerged from a shop on her crutch, a bag bulging with purchases slung over her shoulder. Karalyn walked by her side, clutching a wrapped box to her chest. The traffic on the road was busier, with Rahain, Holdings, and a few Kellach mixing in the cavern. Imperial soldiers stood around, looking bored or chatting to people in the street.

  A Rahain woman yelled to her right, and Daphne glanced over. It was a news-teller.

  ‘This way, Kara-bear,’ Daphne said, and led the girl over to where the Rahain woman was stepping up onto a crate. A small crowd was gathering as the woman began to speak.

  ‘Listen all, listen to the words I have to tell. Listen to my words.’

  She waited as the crowd grew a little larger. Daphne took Karalyn’s hand in the press of people.

  ‘Let it be told that this day, the seventh of the last third of winter, the blessed Emperor and saviour has proclaimed a universal day of celebration across the empire, to be held this New Year’s Day, to commemorate his glorious victory over the Sanang rebel hordes.’

  ‘This is old news,’ someone shouted. ‘You’ve been telling us this for days.’

  The woman frowned.

  ‘Shall I tell you of the destruction of the vile horde? Or the tale of the fall of the fire mage?’

  The crowd started to drift away.

  ‘We’ve heard all this shit before,’ someone else said as they wandered back into the busy street.

  ‘I’d quite like to hear it,’ Daphne said .

  The Rahain woman’s eyes lit up. She raised her hands.

  ‘At dawn that fateful day, the malevolent mage had sent her slavering hordes of bloodthirsty warriors to encircle the high walls of the fair capital. For hours, she bombarded the holy city, hurling fireballs onto the terrified citizens…’

  ‘Skip to the end,’ Daphne said. ‘What happened to the fire mage?’

  The woman frowned. ‘She fell.’

  Daphne sighed. ‘A little more detail. Please.’

  ‘After the Emperor-Saviour had ascended the walls,’ the woman went on, ‘he wrought blessed destruction upon the enemy ranks with fire and slaughter, and a whirlwind of pow
er that left the invaders bereft of their heads…’

  ‘Wait,’ Daphne said. ‘Who was doing this, the Emperor?’

  ‘Indeed, young lady,’ the woman said, ‘the Emperor, who, after being bestowed every mage power by the holy Creator, turned his hand to the annihilation of the bestial Sanang. The fire mage was forced to stand and watch as her army was wiped from the face of the earth. Only then did the Emperor strike her down.’

  ‘She’s dead?’

  ‘The crows have picked her flesh.’

  Daphne glanced across the street to where the tavern was located. She squeezed Karalyn’s hand, and walked away from the news-teller without a word. She crossed the busy road, dodging the heavy wagons passing north towards the Plateau. She pulled on a thread of battle-vision, and her hearing picked up the sounds of a brawl.

  ‘Stay behind me, Kara-bear,’ she said as she approached the door to the tavern. She pushed it open and walked inside.

  Killop was facing a group of Kellach, brandishing a table leg in his right hand. The rest of the tavern had cleared a space around them amid toppled tables and broken glass.

  ‘That cow was no fucking goddess,’ shouted a tall Kellach woman. ‘She was a fucking traitor.’

  ‘Come here and say that,’ Killop cried. ‘And the same goes for the rest of you. I’ll end the next bastard that says a fucking word against Keira.’

  Daphne sized up the group facing Killop. Nine large Kellach.

  ‘She’s dead,’ shouted one of them. ‘Now, that’s the fucking truth.’

  Killop said nothing.

  ‘The Emperor killed her,’ yelled another.

  The rage in Killop’s eyes boiled over and he tensed, ready to spring.

  Daphne raced forward. As she pulled on her battle-vision, she felt a surge of raw emotions coming from Karalyn, directed at the Kellach facing Killop.

  The nine men and women staggered, clasping their heads, then collapsed to the floor of the tavern. Someone screamed.

  Daphne stared at the bodies. ‘They’re only sleeping,’ she cried. ‘Look, their chests are moving. They’ll be fine.’

  She glanced at Killop, her eyes wide.