‘Just an old bastard from Kell,’ Keira said. ‘Don’t listen to a fucking word he says.’

  ‘My name’s Kalayne, young lady,’ he said, staring at her. ‘You must be Lacey.’

  ‘Aye,’ the Lach woman frowned.

  ‘I’m moving in with you,’ Kalayne went on. ‘I’ll take the stall next to yours. And if you get lonely at night, I’d be happy to keep you warm.’

  Lacey pulled a face. ‘Eh, no thanks.’

  ‘Remember what I told ye,’ Keira said. ‘Keep yer hands to yerself.’

  ‘She’s a grown woman,’ Kalayne shrugged. ‘You don’t need to mother her.’

  ‘Aye, but yer a manipulative wee bastard,’ Keira said. ‘I don’t know how ye do it exactly, but yer good at getting yer own way.’

  ‘Thanks boss,’ said Lacey, ‘but there’s no way he’s persuading me.’

  ‘You mentioned something about helping us,’ Kylon said, frowning at Kalayne. ‘How?’

  ‘Would it not be useful to have someone who can see what the enemy is doing, someone who can see where the ambushes are, before you walk into them?’

  ‘Are you a mage?’ asked Baoryn.

  Keira turned. The Rahain man was sitting on the ground next to Kalayne, gazing up at him.

  ‘I am,’ the old Kell said. He gazed into Baoryn’s eyes, then shook his head. ‘What are you even doing here? You’re not a soldier.’

  ‘Got conscripted as a clerk,’ Baoryn said. ‘Not many peasants in Rahain can read and write. Then, once we got here, I was made to learn the Kellach Brigdomin language, so that I could communicate with the great number of slaves that were processed through the camps. About a third ago, the last of the slaves left for Rahain, and suddenly I was redundant, so I was sent to the front.’

  Keira laughed. ‘Tough shit for you. And now yer Kylon’s wee pet.’

  ‘Baoryn is a good man,’ said Kylon.

  ‘Is he fuck,’ said Keira. ‘He’s just playing you. He’s a sly wee lizard.’

  ‘I want to survive,’ Baoryn said. ‘I know the others hate me for speaking to you, but I don’t care. I don’t want to die here.’

  ‘They might hate you,’ Kylon said, ‘but they must realise that they’re only alive because of you.’

  Baoryn glanced at him. ‘That makes them hate me even more.’

  ‘No one likes a traitor,’ Keira said.

  Baoryn lowered his head.

  Kalayne looked up. ‘Big Lynn and her warband have arrived.’

  ‘Aye?’ Keira said, a grin appearing on her lips. ‘You seen them?’

  ‘I did, just now,’ he said. ‘A fine-looking woman.’

  ‘She’d break ye in half.’

  ‘Aye, but what a blissful way to go.’

  Keira shook her head. ‘Yer a mad old bastard.’

  She got to her feet and strode towards the barn’s large entrance doors.

  ‘Hey, Kalma,’ she yelled through the wooden beams.

  ‘There’s no need to alert the guards,’ Kalayne said. ‘We can slip out unobserved.’

  ‘Aye, I know,’ she said, ‘but then Kalma would get in trouble. Us Kell need to stick together.’

  ‘You’re lying,’ Kalayne said, approaching her. ‘You’re scared.’

  ‘Fuck off,’ Keira cried. ‘I’m not frightened of Brendan.’

  ‘Oh, I know that,’ he said. ‘You’re frightened of yourself, what you’re capable of.’

  She paused, her mind stumbling. She looked away.

  He smirked.

  ‘Aye?’ called a voice through the doors.

  ‘Have the Lach arrived?’ Keira said.

  ‘Aye,’ Kalma replied. ‘Brendan wants to see ye.’

  ‘Open up, then.’

  The bar was removed, and the doors swung open. Keira turned to speak to Kalayne, but the old man had gone. She frowned.

  ‘Morning, mage,’ Kalma said.

  Keira glanced outside at the grey clouds. The farmyard was busy, and she recognised several Lach, distinguishable in their dark blue leathers.

  ‘You lot wait here,’ she said to Kylon and the others, and stepped outside as Kalma’s guards re-barred the doors. To her right she noticed a few of her old squad by the corner of the barn.

  ‘What you doing here?’ she said.

  ‘Just paying ye a wee visit,’ Bedig said.

  ‘Miss me, eh?’

  He smiled. ‘You’re our mage.’

  She nodded to Kalma, and walked over to her old squad.

  ‘You all get re-assigned, then?’

  ‘Not really,’ Bedig said. ‘They kept us together. Doreen’s the new squad-leader.’

  The Domm woman shrugged. ‘Somebody had to do it.’

  Bedig’s eyes wandered as a tall blonde woman approached. Baillie glared at him.

  ‘Hi Leah,’ Keira said. ‘So ye came.’

  ‘Aye. Big Lynn was curious to see what was going on down here. She’s not going to be pleased to hear you’ve been locked up in a barn.’

  A small group of warriors strode across the yard towards them.

  ‘Come with us, mage,’ their officer said. ‘Brendan wants you.’

  Keira nodded, and walked with Leah through the yard, following the warriors. They entered the farmhouse, and Keira noticed that all the fires had been extinguished. She smirked.

  The warriors led them into the large command room.

  ‘See,’ said Brendan, pointing at Keira as she walked in, ‘she’s fine. Now, if we can be reasonable…’

  ‘Wait,’ said Big Lynn, standing a yard from the commander, her arms crossed. ‘I’ll be the judge of that.’

  She gazed at Keira.

  ‘You alright, hen?’

  ‘Aye,’ Keira said. ‘Fine.’

  ‘It’s not right,’ Big Lynn said, ‘those bastards locking ye up like that. It’s a disgrace.’

  ‘The mage is confined to quarters,’ Brendan said, ‘for disobeying orders.’

  ‘She saved our lives,’ the Lach woman shouted.

  ‘She’s endangered us all,’ Brendan spat back, his cheeks reddening. ‘She is utterly irresponsible. What do you think the Rahain will do if they discover a Mage of Pyre is here, at the entrance to the Brig Pass? Their army lies not twenty miles from this farmhouse. If they choose to attack in force, we won’t be able to hold them here, and they will break through to Brig again. I will not allow that.’

  Big Lynn shook her head. ‘Coward.’

  Brendan looked like he was about to explode, then paused, and took a breath. ‘I will ignore that comment, for the sake of harmony in the camp. You might think our strategy cowardly, but I am under the strict orders of the council in Domm. Hold this line, do not provoke the Rahain, and do everything possible to prevent a re-invasion.’

  ‘While Lach and Kell burn?’ Big Lynn cried. ‘The Domm council don’t give a shit about that.’

  ‘There are Lach on the council,’ Brendan said. ‘Four Lach, four Kell, four Brig and four Domm. They were unanimous when passing our orders. All of the Lach in the council agreed.’

  Big Lynn’s mouth opened.

  ‘Is this true?’ she said to Keira.

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Our own folk have abandoned us?’

  ‘The truth is,’ said Brendan, ‘that Brig and Domm are only free because the Rahain chose to withdraw. All Lach and Kell are welcome to join the other refugees in the Domm Pass, in fact, thousands are already there. But don’t doubt that their situation is precarious. We need to survive first, then we can re-build.’

  ‘And what if me and my fifty Lach want to fight?’ Big Lynn said.

  ‘I request, here and now,’ Brendan said, as his officers watched, ‘that you formally join our force here at Netherfarm. Fifty seasoned Lach warriors would be a valuable addition to the company. I’d be proud to serve with you.’

  ‘And presumably I’d have to accept you as commander?’

  ‘Aye, and you’d be one of my captains.’

  Big Lynn’s face remained expressionless.

  ‘I’ll think about it,’ she said. ‘I’m going to let my warband rest up for the day, they’ve had a tough time of it recently. They finished the mound at the Crags yesterday, you should know.’

  ‘My thanks for that,’ Brendan said. ‘I mourn the loss of Dee, she was a good officer.’

  ‘My folk are grateful for her sacrifice.’

  Brendan nodded. ‘I will find you suitable accommodation in the farmhouse.’

  ‘No need,’ Big Lynn said, ‘I’ll be kipping in the barn with Mage Keira. I want to speak with her, and if she’s confined to quarters, then I’ll have to go to her.’

  Keira frowned, thinking back to the previous evening with Kylon.

  ‘If that’s alright?’ Big Lynn said.

  ‘Aye, sure.’

  ‘Fine,’ said Brendan. ‘Enjoy your rest day. Shall we meet again tomorrow?’

  Big Lynn nodded. ‘Aye.’

  ‘Is that it?’ Keira said to Brendan. ‘Is that all ye needed me for? I got all excited thinking ye actually wanted my opinion on something.’

  Brendan frowned. ‘Stay ready, mage. If the Rahain decide to attack, then you’ll suddenly become the most important person in the world again.’

  There was a commotion by the door, and a warrior burst in.

  ‘Flying lizards overhead!’ she cried.

  Brendan’s frown gave way to a look of fury, and he strode towards the entrance.

  ‘Are they troop-carriers?’ he asked.

  ‘No, Commander,’ the warrior said as they squeezed out through the door. Keira was one of the first outside, and she peered up into the dark clouds. She counted three flying beasts, circling above them.

  ‘Spying on us,’ Leah muttered to her right.

  ‘I want the watch on the walls increased,’ Brendan said to his officers as he emerged into the busy yard, ‘and more scouts sent out. If the Rahain start marching up the pass I want at least two hours notice.’ He glared at Keira. ‘See what you’ve stirred up?’

  ‘We’ll be in the barn if you need us,’ Big Lynn said. She frowned at him, then turned and strode away. Keira smirked at Brendan and followed, Leah by her side.

  Kalma opened the doors of the barn as they approached.

  ‘Keep them open,’ Big Lynn said. ‘I’m moving in with a few others, and I’ll not be locked up.’

  ‘Brendan said it was fine,’ Keira said as Kalma raised an eyebrow. She noticed Lacey sitting alone by the entrance to the Rahain stall, a crossbow over her knees.

  ‘Where’s Kylon?’ she asked.

  ‘He’s away with…’ Lacey said, pausing as she noticed Big Lynn enter. ‘Away.’

  The Lach leader pointed to a pile of hay bales beneath the upper level.

  ‘We’ll take that space over there,’ she said. ‘It’ll be me, Leah and a couple of others. Just enough to remind Brendan that he can’t mess with you.’

  Keira smiled. She still had the attic for herself and Kylon. Lacey beckoned her over as the Lach got settled. Kalma had closed the barn door, but left it unbarred.

  ‘Boss,’ Lacey said, ‘are there flying lizards? Are the Rahain coming?’

  ‘They’re just taking a look,’ Keira said. ‘Brendan’s blaming me of course, as if I had any choice the other day. What would he have preferred, that I let all the Lach die?’

  ‘Probably,’ Lacey muttered.

  ‘What did ye mean earlier, by the way?’ Keira said. ‘Kylon. He went away with…?’

  ‘He was talking to that old bastard, Kalayne,’ Lacey said. ‘They were getting all close and whispering, then I turned, and they’d gone. Just vanished. That was about twenty minutes ago. Not seen them since.’

  ‘I’ve been here all the time,’ said Kylon from behind them.

  They turned. Kylon was sitting on a hay bale by the stalls, his eyes as dark and stern as Keira had ever seen them.

  ‘What’s up with you?’ Keira asked.

  ‘He believes me now,’ said Kalayne from over her shoulder.

  ‘Would ye stop fucking doing that,’ Keira cried.

  Kalayne chuckled.

  ‘But I was watching the whole time,’ Lacey said.

  ‘Just a little trick of mine,’ Kalayne said. ‘Anyway, as I was saying, Kylon believes me now, in other words he believes I speak the truth.’

  Keira glanced at Kylon. ‘The old bastard get in your head, did he?’

  ‘I did,’ Kalayne said, ‘and in there I found a well of pain.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Kylon’s life,’ Kalayne went on, ‘a cruel and miserable…’

  ‘Shut your mouth,’ Kylon cried, springing towards Kalayne, his hands reaching for the old man’s throat.

  ‘Woah,’ said Big Lynn, coming up behind him and hauling him back with her huge arms. ‘Steady.’

  Kalayne gazed at him, a puzzled expression on his face.

  ‘He told you his past?’ Keira said.

  ‘No,’ Kalayne replied, ‘I read his thoughts and memories. I was intrigued to see if his demeanour was warranted. It is.’

  Big Lynn pushed Kylon back into his seat, where the Kell man remained motionless, his head downcast. Keira stared at him, his long dark hair hiding his features.

  ‘You shouldn’t have done that,’ she said to Kalayne. ‘That was fucked up. Ye can’t go raiding other folk’s minds.’

  ‘Hold on,’ Big Lynn said. ‘Read folks’ minds? What are you talking about?’

  ‘Nothing,’ said Kalayne. He waved his hand, and Big Lynn blinked. She looked around, as if surprised.

  ‘I’m Kalayne,’ he said to her, ‘an old friend of the mage.’

  She shook his hand. ‘Uh… nice to meet you. I’ll… I’ll go and unpack.’

  Keira watched as the Lach walked away. ‘What the fuck did you do to her?’

  ‘Just made her forget any mention of reading people’s minds. We really should be more careful.’

  She squinted at him. ‘See if I ever find out that you’ve fucked with my head, I’ll boil yours.’

  ‘Such an unimaginative savage,’ Kalayne frowned. ‘But don’t worry, I have no intention of entering your head any more than I have to. I enjoy watching your impulsive and reckless behaviour. It would be less fun if I knew what you were going to do in advance.’

  She punched him on the nose.

  After unpacking their things, Big Lynn, Leah, and the two other Lach captains approached Keira. She had been trying to get Kylon to speak to her about what had happened, but the Kell man had said nothing, just stared at the ground.

  ‘Interested in a wee drink?’ Big Lynn said.

  Keira stood, frowning at Kylon as he sat on the hay-bale in silence.

  ‘Aye alright,’ she said. ‘Lacey, watch the lizards.’

  Big Lynn glanced at the stall where the Rahain were penned.

  ‘Bring the talking one,’ she said.

  ‘I’ll get him,’ said Leah, entering the stall.

  ‘Yer not killing him, remember?’ Keira said. ‘We agreed that. He’s Kylon’s.’

  ‘I don’t want to kill him,’ Big Lynn said. ‘Well, alright, I do, but I want to hear if he has anything useful to say.’

  Kylon’s eyes flickered upwards, watching them.

  ‘Bit of a change of heart,’ Keira said.

  ‘I might have a wee plan,’ the Lach woman said, winking at her.

  Leah emerged from the stall, leading Baoryn by a rope, his arms tied behind his back. Kylon stood, and followed them as they went over to where the Lach had camped. Hay-bales had been positioned in a circle, and a slatted opening in the wall let in the brightening light as the sun peered through the clouds outside.

  ‘Ale?’ Big Lynn said.

  ‘Aye, thanks.’ Keira said as she sat. She was handed a full mug. She sniffed. ‘Brig?’

  Big Lynn sighed. ‘Aye. Picked it up off the supply wagons this morning. Was all they had.’

  Leah pushed Baoryn to the ground, and Kylon sat behind him. Ale was served, and Big Lynn glanced at everyone’s faces.

  ‘I don’t agree with Brendan and the council’s strategy,’ she said. ‘I think we’d best protect the survivors in Domm by taking the fight to the lizards. Not in battle, I want to make that clear, Pyre knows how many battles we fucked up against the lizards when they invaded. Every time we charged, they’d rip us to pieces with their damned crossbows and stone-throwers. The only big battle we won was Marchside, and that was only because of you and your brother.’ She gave a nod to Keira. ‘No, what I’m talking about is hit and run. Attack their supply lines and camps, in small groups, spread out.’

  ‘Aye,’ said Keira. ‘That’s what me and my brother were doing before Marchside. It was just the one squad we had, but we ran riot for a while.’

  Big Lynn smiled. ‘Then you know what I’m talking about. We tie down their forces all over Kell, maybe even entice them into Lach, hit them again and again. They’d never invade Brig and Domm if we did that. They’d be too busy trying to find us.’

  Leah shook her head. ‘Sorry, boss,’ she said, ‘but I agree with the gist of what Brendan said in the farmhouse.’

  Big Lynn shot her captain a fierce glare.

  Leah shrugged. ‘Ye want me to speak my mind?’

  ‘Aye, go on,’ Big Lynn muttered, swigging her ale with a grimace.

  ‘The lizards have got thousands of soldiers guarding the entrance to the Brig Pass,’ Leah said. ‘They have enough to hunt rebels and take the pass, if we send the warriors at Netherfarm out into Kell. And we don’t know how many more they’ve got in Kell, or Lach, that they could use to reinforce the garrison here.’

  ‘I do,’ said Baoryn.

  They all turned to him.

  Leah snorted.

  ‘Let him speak,’ Big Lynn said.

  ‘I know the strategy the Rahain army’s following,’ Baoryn said. ‘I’ve read the orders myself. Over a hundred thousand soldiers were used in the invasion, but only twenty thousand are still here. The rest have gone back home, accompanying the two hundred thousand Kellach Brigdomin they enslaved.’

  ‘Two hundred thousand!’ Big Lynn cried, her face scarlet. She got to her feet, her fists clenched, looking for someone or something to hit. Baoryn edged backwards towards Keira and Kylon, his tongue flickering.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11