He frowned from behind the long table where he sat with the other commanders.

  ‘Are we done?’ Keira said.

  ‘No,’ Brendan said. ‘You’re confined to your quarters, the rooms that were offered to you when we arrived. You are not to leave unless I summon you.’

  Keira grinned. ‘A barn. Great.’

  Brendan stared at her. ‘Dismissed.’

  Keira smiled at the other commanders, then turned and left the room. Her ex-squad was waiting in the dim evening light of the farmyard, where lamps were being lit.

  ‘Kylon, Lacey,’ she said, ‘you’re staying with me. The rest of ye can piss off, you’ve all been re-assigned.’

  Bedig’s mouth opened. ‘What?’

  ‘No fucking way,’ said Doreen.

  Keira shrugged. ‘It’s out of my hands. Brendan says I’m no longer fit to lead a squad.’

  The warriors started complaining loudly.

  She raised her hands. ‘No point moaning to me about it. Go talk to Brendan.’ She nodded to Kylon and Lacey. ‘Come on, they’ve stuck us in the old barn.’

  Kylon frowned. ‘What about the four Rahain?’

  ‘What about them?’

  ‘What happens to them?’

  ‘Don’t know or care.’

  ‘We’ll have to take them with us to the barn,’ Kylon said. ‘If we abandon them here, tied up in the yard, somebody will kill them.’

  ‘So what?’ Keira said. ‘Really, I mean so fucking what?’

  ‘I told Baoryn that as long as he kept helping us, then we would keep them safe.’

  Keira sighed. ‘Yer a gullible bastard at times, Kylon, yer always adopting waifs and strays. Alright, we’ll keep them, but you’ll have to work out a way of feeding them. They’re not getting a fucking crumb off my plate. And, you’re responsible for keeping them secure, I don’t want to have to watch my back every five minutes.’

  Kylon nodded. ‘Thanks Keira.’

  She smirked. ‘Ye can make it up to me later.’

  A couple of officers emerged from the farmhouse and began speaking to her old squad. Keira slipped away in the opposite direction, Lacey at her elbow, and Kylon behind, leading the four Rahain. They passed a row of cattle-sheds, and reached a crumbling barn. Its slate roof bowed inwards, and nests marked the eaves. Keira pushed the door open, and entered.

  Close to the doorway stood Kalma and a few warriors.

  ‘Mage,’ she nodded.

  ‘Alright Kalma,’ Keira said. ‘What ye doing here?’

  ‘Showing you yer quarters,’ Kalma said. ‘Got told ye were coming.’ She raised her eyebrows at the sight of the four captives. ‘I wasn’t told about them, though.’

  ‘They’re staying,’ Keira said.

  Kalma shrugged. ‘It’s your barn, I suppose.’

  ‘What?’ said Lacey. ‘Is the whole place ours?’

  ‘Aye,’ said Kalma. ‘Brendan doesn’t want ye sharing. He also doesn’t want ye leaving, did he mention that?’

  Keira nodded. ‘The prick did, as it happens.’ She gazed around at the interior of the barn. The floor was thick with mud and straw, while on the opposite wall was a row of stalls. A slim ladder led up to an attic level, which had been floored. She glanced at Kylon. ‘Stick the lizards into one of the stalls, and tie them up. Lacey, you’ll be sleeping down here.’

  ‘With the lizards?’ the young Lach cried. ‘Come on, mage.’

  Keira shrugged. ‘You’re not sleeping up there with me and Kylon. It’d be weird.’

  Lacey spat on the ground and stormed off to the rows of stalls. ‘Don’t be surprised to wake up in the morning to find out I’ve shot the fucking lizards, that’s all I’m saying,’ she yelled, throwing her shield and pack to the floor of a stall.

  Keira sniggered.

  ‘There’s food and water over there,’ Kalma said, pointing to a sack sat next to a large jug.

  ‘It’s funny,’ Keira said, ‘how Brendan chose a Kell to do his dirty work.’

  Kalma nodded. ‘He’s a prick, right enough,’ she said. ‘Good night, mage.’

  She walked to the entrance with her guards, and they left. Once the doors were closed, Keira heard the sound of a bar scraping across wood as they were locked in.

  ‘So you’re a prisoner now too?’ said Baoryn, glancing up at her.

  She laughed. ‘Aye, maybe. Difference is though, I could escape any fucking time I wanted. Brendan knows it, he’s just testing me. I could be out of here in ten minutes.’

  The Rahain man stared at her. ‘Do you plan on trying?’

  ‘No,’ she grinned. ‘I’ve got a jug full of whisky, and I’ve been trying to get Kylon alone for days. This is like a fucking holiday.’

  Baoryn frowned at her as Kylon led him into the stall with the other captives. Lacey came out of hers, to watch. She had her crossbow in her hands.

  Kylon emerged from the stall.

  ‘The prisoners are secure,’ he said, then noticed Lacey. ‘Don’t be tormenting them.’

  The Lach woman said nothing, scowling.

  ‘Never mind her,’ Keira smirked at him. ‘Get yer skinny arse up that ladder.’

  She rolled off him, sweating, and reached for the whisky. He pushed himself up, leaning on an elbow, his hand on her thigh.

  ‘Before ye ask,’ cried a voice from the floor of the barn below, ‘aye, I could hear.’

  ‘Good for you, wee Lacey,’ Keira yelled, ‘I hope ye fucking learned something.’

  She took a swig and passed the jug to Kylon. She stretched out on the pile of blankets, her feet intertwining with his.

  His eyes caught hers as he sipped. ‘Real whisky?’

  ‘Present from Big Lynn,’ she said.

  ‘We should keep some.’

  ‘Fuck that, it’s getting smashed tonight.’

  He frowned. ‘Ye never think of tomorrow, Keira, that’s your problem. Well, one of them.’

  ‘And having a miserable, grumpy, boyfriend’s my other one. Pyre’s bawsack, what are we doing here?’

  Kylon shrugged, his long dark hair half-covering his face. ‘We’re here because ye can’t follow orders.’

  ‘Not here in the barn, ya dipshit,’ she said, swigging from the jug. ‘Here in Netherfarm, the Brig Pass.’

  ‘You’re here to stop the Rahain getting back into Brig and Domm,’ he said. ‘That’s what we’re all here for.’

  ‘Aye, but what about Kell? It’s only a few miles away. We should be there. I should be there. Remember when my ma and da visited us in Domm, and I told them that Killop had died? My da said it was my job to get revenge. He told me to clear Kell of the lizards to avenge my brother, or die trying.’

  Kylon took the jug. ‘We don’t know for sure that Killop’s dead.’

  Keira glared at him. ‘Don’t bring that up again. I’ve told ye before, my brother’s either dead, or a slave, and there’s no fucking way he’s a slave. He was a hero.’

  Kylon said nothing.

  She gazed at him, and her frown lifted. Despite his constant moodiness, he was still the best-looking boy she’d seen, and his eyes were dark and piercing like he could see through to her innermost self.

  ‘Do ye love me?’ she said.

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘How much?’

  He stared at her, and her heart swelled.

  ‘I’d kill for you,’ he said. ‘I’d die for you. I’d follow you to the ends of the earth and back, and I’d never betray you, not even if the whole world was against us.’

  She smiled. ‘Lovers for life.’

  ‘Aye,’ he said.

  She shook her head, scowling. ‘You’re full of shit. If you really felt like that, then how come ye never share anything with me? How come I know fuck all about yer past?’

  He looked away, glowering.

  ‘I’ve told you everything,’ she went on, ‘every wee story about my life before we met. You know all about my family, and where I grew up, and every guy I’ve shagged, but you? Fuck all. Nothing. From the minute ye joined me and Killop’s squad, right up to today, ye’ve never said a single word about who you are.’

  He sat in silence for a moment, then passed her the whisky.

  ‘You know me better than anyone alive,’ he said.

  She snorted. ‘I don’t know you at all.’

  He said nothing.

  ‘Do ye not trust me?’ she said.

  ‘I trust you.’

  ‘Then tell me. Tell me something.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Come on, even the name of yer fucking village would do. Anything.’

  ‘No.’

  Her anger began to rise.

  ‘Yer a right arsehole at times,’ she said. ‘How can we be together if ye can’t talk to me? It’s fucking embarrassing. The folk in the squad are like, where’s Kylon from, and I’m like, I don’t know. Fucksake. They look at me like, “how can she be his girlfriend, if she doesn’t even know where he’s from?”’

  ‘Sorry.’

  She felt an urge to slap him across the face.

  Kylon rose to a sitting position, and began rummaging around for his clothes.

  ‘Aye, run away,’ she smirked.

  He found his leather leggings and pulled them on. Without a word, he walked to the ladder, while Keira’s eyes burned holes in his back.

  He glanced at her as he swung his legs onto the rungs.

  ‘I’ll be back when you’ve calmed down,’ he said.

  ‘Calmed down?’ she cried, picking up the jug and hurling it at his head.

  His hand whipped up and caught it. Keeping his face steady, he placed it down on the wooden floorboards of the upper level, then began to descend the ladder.

  ‘Fucking prick,’ she muttered, leaning over and retrieving the jug. ‘Still, nice catch.’

  Chapter 4

  Confined

  Netherfarm, Brig Pass – 28th Day, Last Third Spring 504

  ‘But why does she have to leave?’ Killop cried, his cheeks red with anger.

  ‘You know why, son,’ their mother said, gazing at him.

  Keira cursed inwardly. This was supposed to be her day, yet her twin brother was stealing all of their parents’ attention. Typical of him.

  ‘Your sister’s a danger to the village,’ their father said, ruffling his son’s hair. ‘The chiefs and the priests say it’s for the best.’

  ‘But it’s not fair,’ Killop said, ‘she’ll be gone for years, until she’s fifteen, and I won’t get to see her, and…’

  ‘You’ll see her,’ their mother said, ‘on your birthday, every year. You can go up the mountains to visit her.’

  ‘But I want to go with her.’

  ‘You can’t,’ their father said, looking his son in the eye. ‘Do you understand the powers your sister has? She’s a Mage of Pyre, son, but she can’t control it, not yet. The priests will train her. We can’t risk something happening again.’

  Keira glanced away as her parents hugged their son. Her bags lay packed by the front door of the cottage, and she was wearing her hiking clothes, ready for the long journey to the mountain retreat where she had been instructed to go. It was before dawn, and the cottage was cold and dark. Since the incident with the Kalliver family, there had been no naked flames allowed anywhere in the village.

  ‘It was an accident,’ she muttered.

  ‘I bloody well hope so,’ her father said. ‘If the chiefs thought for one minute that you’d meant to kill the Kallivers you’d be banished forever.’

  ‘That’s why you need training, dear,’ her mother said, a slight look of fear in her eyes as she glanced at Keira, ‘so there will be no more accidents.’

  There was a low knock at the door.

  Her father went to the entrance and opened it. An old man was standing on the threshold, a cloak protecting him from the chill wind.

  He glanced up. ‘My name is Careen. Where’s the girl?’

  Her father nudged Keira forwards and she smelled spirits on his breath. She walked to the door and scowled at the old priest as he looked her up and down.

  ‘How old?’ he said.

  ‘Thirteen,’ replied her father.

  Careen nodded.

  ‘You can’t take her,’ Killop cried. ‘I won’t let you.’

  The old priest turned and stared at the boy.

  ‘Is he a sparker?’ he asked.

  Their parents shrugged. ‘We don’t think so,’ their mother said.

  ‘Keep an eye on him,’ Careen said, ‘just in case.’ He turned back to Keira. ‘Well girl, are you ready?’

  She nodded.

  Killop ran to her and put his arms round her, his tears hot against her cheek.

  ‘Get off me,’ she muttered, her face reddening. She picked up her bags, and started for the door.

  ‘All the best,’ her mother said, kissing her. ‘Make sure you behave yourself.’

  Her father snorted. ‘Little likelihood of that.’

  Keira paused at the door. She could hear the sounds of her brother crying, but didn’t want to face them, because then they would see the tears in her own eyes.

  She walked over the threshold, and followed the priest down the path.

  ‘Awww,’ said a voice in her head, as she watched the dream dissolve. ‘That was lovely. Do you dream that often?’

  She shrugged. ‘Can’t remember.’

  ‘Oh well. Anyway, it’s time for you to wake up.’

  She frowned. The voice in her head seemed familiar.

  ‘Kalayne?’ she said.

  ‘Aye,’ said the voice.

  ‘What the fuck are you doing watching my dreams?’

  ‘Just thought I’d see what was going on in your head,’ he said. ‘Got bored waiting for you to awaken.’

  ‘What? Where are you?’

  ‘About two yards from where you’re sleeping.’

  She awoke, her eyes peering through the dim light of the barn. Opposite her an old man was sitting cross-legged on the straw, watching her. He smirked.

  ‘Fucking pervert,’ she cried, pulling the blanket over her. ‘You been gawking at me with my bits on show?’

  He sniggered. ‘You have to grant an old man some pleasures.’

  ‘If I catch ye doing it again I’ll rip yer fucking eyes out.’ She sat up and rubbed her head. ‘Fucksake, another hangover.’

  She reached over to her pile of clothes and pulled her long tunic over her head, conscious of the man’s eyes on her the whole time.

  ‘You’re out of order, coming up here like this,’ she said. ‘I should punch yer face in, ya dirty old bastard.’

  Kalayne laughed. ‘You’re not my type. Too violent. That wee lassie in the stalls below us, on the other hand, I wouldn’t mind a roll in the hay with her.’

  ‘You touch Lacey and I’ll put my sword through yer throat, old man.’

  ‘Protective of her, eh?’

  Keira shrugged. ‘She’s my fire-starter.’

  ‘I know. I looked into her mind as she slept.’

  ‘Yuck. Ye need to learn some fucking boundaries.’

  Kalayne shook his head. ‘Is that all ye have to say to me? Are you not curious about why I’m here? It’s almost a year since we last saw each other.’

  ‘Is it? So?’

  ‘You’re hopeless,’ Kalayne said, frowning. ‘Honestly, you have no clue who you are, or any inkling of what you’ll become. Still, at least you have Kylon with you, he’s going to be useful, that boy.’

  ‘Aye? Well he’s not much use at keeping old bastards out of the barn. And how did you get past Kalma and her guards?’

  ‘Easy,’ he said. ‘The same way I walked through Kell without being noticed by a single Rahain.’

  ‘You finally left your cave then?’ she said.

  ‘Ran out of booze,’ he said, ‘so I thought it was time so see how my fire goddess was doing.’

  She shook her head, pulled her boots on, and made for the ladder. She peered over the edge of the upper floor, and gazed down. Lacey looked to be still sleeping in her stall, while Kylon was sitting next to the Rahain, talking to Baoryn. She scrambled down the ladder, the old man following. At the bottom, she walked to the table with the water jug, and poured herself a mug. Kylon poked his head out of the stall.

  ‘You’re up,’ he said, then noticed Kalayne standing next to her. His eyes widened.

  ‘We’ve got a visitor,’ she said.

  ‘So I see,’ said Kylon. He got to his feet and walked towards them. ‘Kalayne.’

  ‘Stop scowling boy,’ the old man said. ‘Get me some food.’

  Keira started to laugh then stopped as Kylon nodded. She frowned as he walked to the table and began preparing breakfast.

  Kalayne winked at her.

  ‘Miss?’ said Baoryn.

  Keira turned. The Rahain man was standing at the entrance to the stall, the ropes attaching him to the wall trailing on the ground.

  ‘What is it lizard-boy?’

  ‘Is there any breakfast for us?’

  She shrugged. ‘Fucked if I know. Or care.’

  Kalayne walked up to Baoryn, and fixed him with a stare, his eyes bulging.

  ‘My,’ the old man said, ‘that is interesting.’ He glanced over at Kylon, his lips pursed.

  ‘What is?’ said Keira.

  ‘Never you mind.’

  ‘More of yer cryptic bullshit, eh?’ Keira said. ‘Any more crappy prophecies for us?’

  Kalayne’s brows furrowed. ‘Crappy? You vulgar little wretch. Every word I said to you that night is true.’

  ‘Aye, right.’

  Kalayne rolled his eyes. ‘Why did it have to be her?’

  Kylon returned with a plate for Kalayne. The old man grinned, and sat on a low bale of straw.

  ‘Now listen,’ he said, ‘I’ve come here to help you, whether you like it or not. There’s work to be done.’

  ‘I’ve already got a job,’ Keira said, sitting on a milking stool.

  ‘And it’s going so well,’ Kalayne smirked. ‘Confined to a barn for misbehaviour?’

  ‘Who’s this?’ said Lacey, emerging from her stall, her hair wild and tangled. She picked up a hunk of bread from the table and walked over to where they sat. Kalayne leered at her, licking his lips.

 

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