Fragile Empire

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘The latest report,’ said the cavalry officer, her grey hair tied back in a long ponytail, ‘is that at least sixty Rahain are dead, killed by Kellach Brigdomin in imperial armour. We think all four assailants have been killed, by the local militia, and by angry mobs of citizens.’

  Nyane nodded. ‘Thank you, Major. I want troops moved to two locations. First, I want to block Cavalry Road, all the way from the compound to the southern gates of the city. I don’t want the disturbances spreading beyond the Rahain quarter. I also want troops along the river front, sealing off the four bridges upstream of here. What are my military options to achieve this?’

  ‘Are we planning for containment only?’

  ‘At present.’

  She glanced at another officer. ‘Map, Lieutenant, please.’

  The major waited while a large plan of the city was handed to her. She pointed to Duncan Gardens. ‘We could deploy a squadron of cavalry by the old rampart, with troopers on foot to occupy the three bridges that lead from the park, and a detachment to hold the fourth bridge by the city walls. A company will be enough to seal off Cavalry Road. I recommend we keep another two squadrons ready to go if required.’

  Nyane nodded. ‘Please see to it, Major. Our aim is to prevent conflict between the Rahain and Kellach quarters. Violence must be used sparingly but firmly, if the situation warrants it.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am. Where will I be able to find you? I suggest we set up a temporary headquarters by the statue of Duncan.’

  ‘I shall accompany you there. When will you be ready?’

  ‘I already have a squadron equipped and mounted, ma’am. We can leave in ten minutes, after I’ve given the orders concerning Cavalry Road.’

  Nyane nodded. ‘Thank you.’

  The officer turned and entered the cavalry compound through the large gates. Nyane swallowed, her nerves rising. Another sixty dead, slaughtered with the same callous intent that had nearly killed the Empress’s children. How could you fight an enemy that targeted not your soldiers on a battlefield, but the young, the old, the defenceless? She watched the cavalry in the marshalling yard beyond the gates. They were forming up, troopers in shining breastplates with lances and swords, riding armoured beasts – the great warhorses from the plains of the Holdings.

  Behind her, a low chanting in her native language lifted into the air.

  Death, it said.

  She shuddered. Her people wanted revenge, and she was about to use force to stop them. She squelched down any feelings of guilt. She was doing the right thing; not only her duty, but the right thing. That’s what mattered.

  The cavalry squadron began emerging from the compound, trotting four abreast through the gates. They soon filled the street, and the major joined her, leading a horse by the reins.

  ‘Do you ride?’ the major said. ‘I can find you a mount.’

  ‘I’m afraid not,’ Nyane said. ‘I’ll walk. It’s not far to the gardens.’

  The major gestured to a lieutenant. ‘Walk with her.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am,’ said the young Holdings officer as the major jumped up into the saddle.

  She turned to him. ‘Apologies if I’m keeping you from your horse, Lieutenant.’

  The officer frowned as he watched the lines of cavalry trot by.

  ‘Shall we?’ said Nyane, and began striding to the middle bridge, that led to the southern edge of Duncan Gardens. They were out-paced as they walked, the horses’ hooves clattering on the cobbled road, sending up spirals of dust into the air. They crossed the long, stone bridge, keeping to the railing as the cavalry passed. The river was wide but fordable under them, with rocks jutting up above the surface of the water. From the centre of the bridge, the next crossing upstream was visible, and on it Nyane could see a crowd, heading out of the Rahain quarter towards the gardens. The lead riders in the squadron must have also seen the danger, as horses began to move swiftly up the river bank to intercept them.

  ‘Faster,’ Nyane said to the lieutenant walking next to her. ‘Come on.’

  They picked up their pace and ran across the bridge, entering the gardens through their southern gates. A large crowd of Kellach Brigdomin civilians were gathering on the other side of the park, forming a line before the Rahain crowding over the upper bridge.

  ‘Shit,’ said the lieutenant, his eyes wide. ‘The Rahain have brought the corpses of the attackers with them.

  Nyane peered ahead. At the head of the Rahain mob, several naked and mutilated corpses were being displayed, strung up on poles and held aloft by many hands.

  ‘There are more than four bodies,’ she said. ‘Looks like a dozen at least.’

  ‘The mob must have killed every Kellach they found in their quarter,’ the lieutenant said. ‘Guilty or not.’

  As the squadron rushed up the bank of the river, the Kellach crowds were beginning to react to the sight of their compatriots hanging from the poles, and a swell of angry shouting rose, filling the air. A horse cantered back down the line of cavalry towards Nyane. It was the major.

  ‘Ma’am,’ she cried. ‘One squadron won’t be enough to separate these two crowds, not now that the Rahain have already crossed the river. If you wish us to carry out your orders, we must summon the reserves at once.’

  Nyane gazed at the opposing mobs facing each other across the expanse of parklands. Weapons were being brandished by both sides – clubs, swords, crossbows.

  ‘Ma’am?’ the major said.

  ‘Do it,’ Nyane said. ‘Restore order. Separate the two sides and clear the park of civilians. Draw upon whatever reserves you need.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am,’ the major saluted. She turned to a pair of officers who had ridden behind her, and gave them their orders. The two officers nodded and galloped off in the direction of the cavalry base. The major turned back to Nyane.

  ‘I recommend you stay here, ma’am,’ she said. ‘Duncan Gardens are about to be bloodied.’

  Without waiting for a response the major turned her horse, and rode off towards the head of the cavalry.

  ‘This way, ma’am,’ the lieutenant said, pointing to a low podium, from which speakers were allowed to address the public. ‘We’ll be able to see better from up there.’

  Nyane followed him to the podium. From its top, she had a clear view down the river, and in the distance she could make out the high line of the old rampart, with the statue of Duncan close by. In the long space between, the crowds of Kellach Brigdomin and Rahain were approaching each other. Some in the front ranks fell, but the others charged forwards. Racing towards the narrowing gap between them was the squadron of imperial cavalry; only yards away from reaching the mobs.

  Nyane closed her eyes as the three forces collided, her ears filled with the sounds of screaming, steel and the roar of battle. Her mouth went dry, and she lowered her head.

  ‘Come in,’ said Dyam.

  Nyane opened the door and entered the herald’s office. Karalyn was slouched in a chair by the window, smoking, while Dyam was working through a tower of papers and documents on the desk in front of her. Neither said anything as Nyane walked forwards. She stopped before the desk.

  ‘I’m here to hand in my resignation, Imperial Herald,’ she said. ‘I failed you, and I failed the city. I’m sorry.’

  Dyam sighed. ‘Sit.’

  ‘I’d rather stand, if that’s alright.’

  ‘Fine,’ said the herald. ‘You fucked up, Chief of Intelligence. I assume you know that?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘The death toll runs into the hundreds. Civilians, troopers…’

  ‘I did what I thought was necessary at the time to restore order. I was wrong.’

  ‘Damn right you were!’ Dyam shouted. ‘The riots have now spread down the entire eastern bank of the city, and the gardens and Kellach quarter have turned into a battlefield. The entire garrison’s been deployed onto the streets. They’ll restore order all right, eventually, but at what price?’

  ‘She did what she thought was bes
t,’ said Karalyn.

  ‘Of course she fucking did,’ cried Dyam, thumping her fist onto the table. ‘I know she’s not a traitor, but you can be loyal and incompetent at the same time.’

  Nyane hung her head, shame coursing through her.

  ‘Despite all that,’ Dyam went on, ‘I refuse to accept your resignation. You’re still our chief of intelligence, but I’ll make sure I never ask you to perform those kind of duties again. This is my fault. Mine. I shouldn’t have asked you to go down there. I should have been patient, and sought out someone more suitable. I lost my temper with Lady Belinda and made a bad judgement.’ She frowned at Nyane. ‘Like you, I’ve already tried to resign today, but the Empress refused.’

  The Rahain woman hesitated, unsure of what to say.

  ‘Lady Belinda and the other nobles have petitioned the government,’ Dyam said, ‘demanding your immediate removal. Some want you arrested. I want you to continue with your duties, but keep out of sight for a while.’

  Nyane glanced up. ‘I need Karalyn for my duties.’

  ‘Then move in upstairs with her. You can work in the palace. Just stay out of the public reception areas.’

  ‘I will, Herald. Thank you.’

  Dyam frowned. ‘Go up there now and get settled in. We’ll send a carriage to the university to collect your things.’ She turned to Karalyn. ‘Go with her. You’re done for today. Get some rest.’

  Karalyn got to her feet and left the study with Nyane. The moment the door was closed Nyane began to cry. The young mage put an arm over her shoulder and led her towards the stairs. They passed numerous sentry points, where the soldiers on duty looked away from Nyane’s tears.

  Karalyn took her into the Empress’ private quarters, and they walked to the room where the attempted assassination of her family had taken place. In a corner sat a low bed, squeezed between a table and a bookcase. The carpet had been cleaned of blood, and the room held a faint smell of stale smoke from Karalyn’s cigarettes. Karalyn sat Nyane down and went to a cabinet where she poured out two tall glasses of brandy from Stretton Sands. She passed one to Nyane and sat opposite her.

  Nyane sipped from the glass.

  ‘Thank you for not saying anything,’ she said.

  ‘I don’t know what to say,’ Karalyn said. ‘I can see how wretched you’re feeling. Any words from me would sound trite and useless.’

  ‘I can’t believe I was so stupid.’

  Karalyn shrugged. ‘I don’t think you were. I’ve looked through your memories and I don’t know what I would have done any differently.’

  ‘The herald called me incompetent.’

  ‘She’s just angry. She’s been keeping her temper all day while listening to some of the most idiotic folk I’ve ever heard. Not just Lady Belinda, but other aristocrats and officials, who all think they’re so clever, and I could see Dyam biting her tongue and having to be polite. She trusts you, respects you, and that’s why you got the brunt of it.’

  Nyane frowned. ‘That seems a perverse way to look at it.’

  ‘I’ve been in both your minds,’ Karalyn said, ‘and that’s the way I see it.’

  The Rahain woman nodded but said nothing. How could she argue with someone who could read minds? She suspected that the young mage was humouring her, but maybe there was a shard of truth in what she said. It didn’t matter, though – hundreds remained dead through the decisions she had made that day, and their kinsfolk were unlikely to forget who had commanded the intervention.

  ‘We’ll have to get you a bed made up,’ Karalyn said. ‘I hope you don’t snore.’

  ‘You’d have to ask Dean,’ she said. ‘I miss him, even though I saw him this morning. Today seems to have lasted forever.’

  ‘I’m sure we can get him up here,’ Karalyn said, ‘but no fooling around, at least while I’m in the room.’

  Nyane almost smiled, then her mind turned to what he would think of her. ‘I don’t know if Dean will be able to look me in the eye after what I’ve done.’

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ said Karalyn. ‘He’s besotted with you.’

  ‘I’ll need to send him a message.’

  ‘I can do that for you,’ said Karalyn. ‘Just tell me where he should be right now.’

  ‘I’m supposed to be at his apartment for dinner,’ she said. ‘He’ll be expecting me.’

  Karalyn nodded. ‘Alright. Give me a minute or two. I’ll let him know what’s happened, and that you’re safe here in the palace. And then I can invite him round, if you want?’

  Nyane frowned. As much as she longed to see him, she also needed time to think through who she was, and how she was changing.

  ‘Not tonight,’ she said to Karalyn. ‘Tonight, I just want to get drunk with you.’

  Chapter 25

  Release

  Liberton, Rahain Republic – 24th Day, Last Third Spring 524

  Six days after the Army of Pyre had stormed the mountain stronghold of the rebels, Lennox, Libby and Cain remained on the side of the hill. It had taken them several hours to walk from the tunnel entrance round to the western flank, where they had been arrested by guards; the shackles attached to their ankles saving them from being shot on sight by crossbows. The entire Second Regiment was camped out on the slopes, with lines of tents stretching down the valley. The soldiers had rooted through the caverns, killing any rebels that were hidden inside, while the three escaped captives had been questioned for days.

  A bitter wind from the west was scouring the mountainside as the three friends sat outside their tent. It was their first morning together since they had arrived in the camp, having been released by the military guards the previous evening. As the only captive soldiers found alive, each had been interrogated separately about everything that had happened. Before being arrested, they had discussed what they were going to say, and they had all stuck to the story that Darine had died in the earthquake, and none mentioned her turning to the enemy. On the third day of their questioning, they had been required to lead soldiers to the entrance from which they had made their escape, and Lennox had witnessed a furious Army of Pyre officer berate the Rahain scouts who had missed it.

  Lennox and the others had sworn that they hadn’t seen any rebels, but soldiers were quick to find the tracks leading down the hillside from the entrance to the tunnel, which proved that a substantial number had managed to flee. Despite this, the army were treating the mission as an unqualified success, and dozens of dead rebels recovered from the tunnels had been displayed on the mountainside by the edge of the camp.

  Lennox glanced at his friends in the thin morning light. They hadn’t spoken much since their release, and Libby looked exhausted and withdrawn. Cain seemed anxious, his left hand twitching as he stared up the rows of tents towards the main entrance of the ruined stronghold.

  ‘Looks like they’re starting to pack up,’ Lennox said. ‘We could be out of here soon.’

  ‘I hope so,’ muttered Cain. ‘But how are we going to find our own regiment?’

  ‘Leave that to the army,’ Lennox said. ‘They know we’re from the Fourth. We’ll rejoin them some way or another, even if we have to walk.’

  ‘I’d rather stay with the Second,’ said Cain. ‘That way we wouldn’t have to see Logie’s ugly face again.’

  Libby looked up. ‘But what about Loryn and Carrie? I couldn’t give a damn about that arsehole Kallek, but I miss the girls.’

  ‘Aye,’ said Cain. ‘I suppose.’

  ‘We’ll take it as it comes,’ said Lennox. ‘No point worrying about it. I’m actually looking forward to seeing Logie’s face when he realises we’re alive. We’re taking no shit from him when we get back.’

  ‘Easy to say now,’ said Cain. ‘Darine was the only one who used to stand up to him.’

  ‘Aye, but Darine’s gone,’ Lennox said.

  ‘Aye.’

  A tear rolled down Libby’s cheek. ‘This is something I could only tell you two,’ she said, ‘but I’m glad Darine got away. I even hope
that woman Koreen managed to escape.’

  ‘What?’ said Cain. ‘You? I thought you hated the rebels.’

  ‘I do,’ she said, ‘well, I hate what they stand for, but Darine was our friend, and Koreen treated us well. I kept thinking it was a trick, you know, them acting so kind to us, but it wasn’t. Compare that to the way we treat prisoners, if we ever take any. The rebels could have done that to us, but they didn’t. We’ve been made to go through worse since we got here, by our own side. Last thing I was expecting when we escaped was that we’d be treated like criminals when the army picked us up.’

  ‘Pyre’s sake, Libby,’ said Lennox. ‘I hope you didn’t say any of that to the folk questioning you.’

  Libby snorted. ‘Do you think I’m stupid? Of course I didn’t. I told them exactly what we agreed to say, despite the threats. They were right bastards.’

  ‘Aye,’ Lennox said, ‘they were. They kept telling me that you two had confessed to being spies.’

  ‘Same here,’ said Cain.

  ‘I can see why they’d need to check we weren’t rebels, or traitors,’ Lennox said, ‘but I never imagined they’d keep us caged like beasts for five days.’

  Something high in the sky caught Lennox’s eye and he glanced up. Dark specks were approaching.

  ‘Winged gaien,’ he said. ‘The Second are ready to pull out.’

  ‘Looks like it,’ said Cain, gazing upwards.

  The great reptiles circled the camp for a few minutes, lowering in stages until they landed near the bottom of the hillside. In strict formation, the closest tents were dismantled and soldiers began to board the large carriages that the beasts had carried beneath them. The hillside remained in the shadow of the mountain as the sun rose, and the temperature stayed low as the three friends sat and watched the camp slowly disappear. More winged gaien flew in, and the line of cleared tents crawled up the slope.

  An officer walked over to where they sat.

  ‘You three,’ she said, checking a paper in her hand. ‘You’re from the Fourth Regiment, aye?’