Vengeance

CHAPTER 44

‘What if they’ve blasted the city gates?’ said Rix. ‘They could be rampaging through Caulderon right now.’

Fear tightened his throat. A contagious pox could cripple Caulderon in a few days, then the enemy could march into the undefended city. Could Hightspall, after standing unchallenged for seventeen hundred years, be toppled that easily?

‘I don’t think so,’ said Tobry. ‘These attacks are just a warning, intended to spread as much fear as possible.’

‘I should be there. Who else can protect my family? Not Father.’

They had ridden along the edge of the Seethings for an hour, searching for any light or sound that might indicate Tali was nearby, but had seen nothing. Rix was so tired he could barely stay in the saddle and even Leather was reduced to a plod.

‘Look on the bright side,’ said Tobry. ‘Now we’re at war, they’re bound to postpone your father’s Honouring.’

‘They won’t,’ Rix said dully.

‘How do you know?’

‘It’s a secret.’

‘Oh, come on.’

‘All right.’ Rix took a sharp breath. ‘We need the Honouring, desperately.’

‘I don’t see why. House Ricinus has everything.’

‘Including more enemies than the rest of the great families put together — people who envy our wealth and despise us for rising so high. They can’t bear our successes, Tobe. There are moves afoot to have Father stripped of his title, lands, monopolies …’

‘What for?’

‘Behaviour unbecoming to the chief of a noble house.’

‘The chiefs of the noble houses invented bad behaviour,’ said Tobry. ‘It’s their art form.’

‘But in his drunkenness Father has insulted all the senior Houses, as well as their wives and daughters, households, dogs and chickens. And Mother — well …’ Rix could not say it aloud.

‘Lady Ricinus is not universally loved,’ Tobry said helpfully.

‘They bow and smile as they take her bribes and douceurs, then stab her from behind. House Ricinus is teetering under their malice.’

‘How’s the Honouring going to help? What’s your father done to deserve it?’

‘He’s personally paid for a new force of five thousand men, to be Hightspall’s Third Army. Wages, uniforms, weapons, training and supplies for up to a hundred days in the field — the lot.’

Tobry whistled. ‘That’s a generous act, even for one of the richest families in Hightspall.’

‘It was Mother’s idea, so generosity doesn’t come into it — she would have weighed the costs and calculated the benefits to the last penny. Without it, House Ricinus might have been toppled. But after he’s been publicly Honoured by the chancellor … and if Mother’s other surprises come off — ’

‘There’s more?’ said Tobry.

‘A couple of things she’s been scheming and plotting and bribing for, for years.’

‘I’m intrigued. Tell on.’

‘Only Mother knows what they are. But if they come to pass — ’

‘House Ricinus will be untouchable.’

‘We’d better be — the Third Army has almost bankrupted us. That’s why everything has to be perfect, including my portrait of Father.’

‘No offence to your artistic genius, but I don’t understand why the damn portrait is so important.’

‘Mother has been boasting about how her brilliant son has captured the perfect likeness of her noble husband. She’s built it up to be the greatest painting of the age, and if it’s not finished it’ll be a public humiliation. It’ll be as though I’ve spat in my father’s face.’

‘No matter how much we loathe each other behind closed doors,’ said Tobry, ‘in public the family must kiss each other’s bottoms.’

Rix looked out across the Seethings. Tali could be anywhere within that treacherous labyrinth, which stretched east all the way to Lake Fumerous and the Brown Vomit, and south for fifteen miles almost to the Crowbung Range.

‘Even in daylight it could take a week to find her,’ he said. ‘In darkness, there’s no hope. I’ve got to get home, while I still can. If they besiege the city …’

‘We might not be able to get in,’ said Tobry. ‘I know.’

Rix turned down the Caulderon Road, heading for Palace Ricinus and his crucifixion at Lady Ricinus’s hands. She might have already sent her seneschal out to drag him back. His cheeks flamed at the thought.

‘It’s for the best,’ said Tobry after they had gone a mile or two in silence. ‘Tali’s nothing special.’

Rix restrained the urge to punch his friend into next Tuesday.

‘I’ve always felt chivalry to be overrated,’ Tobry went on. ‘I mean, why should a woman be treated different from a man just because she’s small and curvy and vaguely decent on the eye?’

‘If you don’t shut it, Tobe, you’ll be excreting teeth for a fortnight.’

‘Actually, I found Tali to be rather plain. I mean, her skin is fine enough, if you like it the colour of paper, but those horrible blue eyes and golden hair. Uggh!’

‘You’re a dead man, Tobe.’

Tobry grinned. ‘We’re doing the right thing, the sensible thing — ’

‘Since when did you ever do the sensible thing?’ Rix snapped. ‘You don’t believe in anything, you mock all that I hold dear and you think life is a joke at our expense.’

‘I’ve changed,’ Tobry said loftily. ‘I’ve achieved maturity and I’m closing in on wisdom.’

‘Well, change back. I only keep you on because you amuse me, and I’ve had precious few laughs out of you lately …’

Tobry had stopped. ‘What was that?’ he said, standing up in the stirrups.

‘Didn’t hear anything,’ said Rix dully.

‘Thought I saw a light.’

‘Probably another enemy attack.’

‘No, it was out in the Seethings.’

‘Bog gas catching fire, then.’

‘Bog gas burns blue. This light was pure gold.’

‘Lord Tobry, Lord Tobry?’ a child’s voice piped from the darkness.

‘Who the hell is that?’ said Rix.

‘At a guess,’ said Tobry complacently, ‘the slave girl, Rannilt.’

‘You don’t have to sound so pleased about it.’

‘You might turn Tali away, but you won’t abandon a child to certain death.’

‘Why would you even think I would?’ Rix snarled. ‘I may be a fool but I’m not a brute.’

‘Did I say you were?’ Tobry said innocently. He raised his elbrot and conjured light. ‘Come forward, child. We won’t harm you.’

Rannilt edged across the gravel road towards Tobry, keeping as much distance between Rix and herself as possible. She was an unprepossessing little urchin, thin and bruised and grubby, her skin tinged pink from sunburn and a dozen shiny streaks up her right forearm where she had wiped her nose.

Yet despite the late hour she moved lightly, bouncing on the balls of her feet, and there was a light in her eye and a set to her small, pointed jaw that spoke of considerable determination. It made Rix uneasy. Kids her age should be safely in bed, not lost in the middle of a war, begging aid from strangers.

‘Well, child,’ he said. ‘You called and we’re here. What do you want?’

‘It’s Tali,’ said Rannilt, speaking to Tobry. ‘They got her.’

Rix bit off the curse as it was bursting forth. He was not so far gone as to swear in front of a child.

‘Who’s got her?’

The girl moved closer to Tobry, as if for protection. Rix regretted his terseness, though not as much as he regretted the situation he was being manoeuvred towards.

‘The enemy. They’re takin’ her back to Cython and … and they’re goin’ to kill her horribly, for sure.’

‘How can you know that?’ Rix said uncomfortably.

‘It’s what they do to slaves with magery,’ said Rannilt, limping into the middle of the road. ‘If Tali hadn’t saved me, they would have cut my head off, hack! Just like that. Seen it done to other Pale,’ she added quietly. ‘The blood spurts up for six feet — ’

Rix blanched. ‘A child should not be dwelling on such things.’

‘How can I ever forget?’ She reached up with her grubby hands and snot-covered arm. ‘Tali is the kindest lady in the world and you’ve got to save her.’

‘Caulderon’s under attack, look.’ He indicated the glowing skyline. ‘I have to save my own people, child. How can I do both at the same time?’

‘You said you’d help her.’

‘How many of the enemy are there?’ said Tobry.

‘Four, I think,’ said Rannilt, though she did not meet his eyes.

‘Are you sure that’s all?’

‘There’s another squad somewhere, more than twelve of them.’

‘But not travelling with the first squad?’

‘The second squad doesn’t want to take Tali back. Just her … her head.’

Tobry exchanged glances with Rix, who scowled and looked away.

‘Have you had anything to eat?’ said Tobry.

‘Got no food,’ said Rannilt.

He took bread, cheese and sausage from his saddlebags. ‘Why don’t you sit on one of those rocks while Rix and I see what we can do.’

They walked down the empty road, out of earshot. The crimson-tinged plumes were dying away now, the fuel they fed on almost consumed. Soon, no doubt, the road would be thick with desperate refugees.

‘Two of us,’ said Rix. ‘At least sixteen of them. We’re both worn out and so are our horses. It can’t be done.’

Tobry looked at him.

‘What if the enemy has broken into Caulderon?’ said Rix. ‘What if they’re firing pox pins into the palace right now?

‘We’ve still got to try.’

‘Tobe, listen.’ Rix took a deep breath.

‘I know what you’re going to say.’

‘Really?’

‘You’re going to say that you’ve neglected your responsibilities too long. That only you can pull the defences of Palace Ricinus together in time, but you’ve got to go now. That your highest duties are to your country and to your house, and it’s not in you to shirk them at such a time — no matter how worthy the individual might be.’

‘Well put. Let’s go.’

‘And I thoroughly agree,’ said Tobry. ‘Waste time trying to save Tali, and hundreds might die because you’re not there to rally your troops.’

‘Exactly,’ said Rix.

‘There is one thing, though,’ said Tobry.

‘I knew it.’

‘No one’s ever been inside Cython.’

‘So what?’

‘When the chancellor plans to counterattack, Tali’s knowledge of Cython’s layout and defences will be priceless.’

‘You might have mentioned this when we could have done something about it.’

‘Probably would have, if you hadn’t ridden off in such a tantrum.’

Rix let it pass. Tobry was right, and the chancellor would be doubly pleased if they could pull it off. ‘That was twelve hours ago. They’ll have her down the Rat Hole by now.’

‘Rannilt?’ Tobry called. ‘How long ago was she taken?’

Rannilt got up and trudged towards them, almost out on her feet but refusing to give in. ‘Just on dark, the first time. Evil Orlyk got her, the nasty old toad.’

‘First time?’ Tobry’s face lit. ‘You mean Tali escaped?’

‘’Course,’ said the girl with such glowing pride that Rix’s steely heart was touched. ‘I was watchin’ from the dark. Tali tricked Tinyhead into leadin’ half the guards across the crust over a hot mud pond … They broke through and fell in, and it cooked ’em like chickens in a pie. Cooked ’em good.’

‘That’s a very bloodthirsty attitude for a child,’ said Rix sternly.

‘They kill kids with the gift,’ said Rannilt.

‘But they caught Tali again?’ asked Tobry.

‘The other squad did, a few hours ago. Mad Wil led them to her.’ Rannilt caught her breath.

‘Who’s Mad Wil?’

‘No eyes. Sees the future. Pretends to be nice but he’s a nasty little man. Pinches when no one’s lookin’.’

‘And then?’ said Tobry.

‘Second squad was goin’ to kill her right away. I shouted and threw rocks and … and … but they came after me and I had to run and hide … They nearly got me …’ She shuddered. ‘The Living Blade was singin’, dyin’ to take her head …’ Rannilt faltered and tears appeared in her eyes. ‘Dyin’ …’

Rix realised that he was up on his toes, leaning forwards. ‘But it didn’t. What happened this time?’

‘Tali got to Wil.’

‘She’s a clever woman,’ said Tobry, admiringly.

‘Wil’s funny about Tali,’ said Rannilt. ‘He led the enemy to her but when captain was goin’ to kill her … Wil set fire to the ground and — ’

‘You can’t burn dirt, or salt,’ said Rix. ‘Tobe, I thought you said they don’t use magery?’

‘I didn’t think they did. What did Wil do, child? This is important.’

‘Wasn’t magery. In Cython, it’s called chymie.’

‘What’s the difference?’ said Rix.

‘It’s a kind of alchymie, isn’t it?’ said Tobry.

‘That’s right,’ said Rannilt. ‘Wil had some thick green water in a metal tube. He tossed the water on the ground … it was all yellow there — ’

‘Layers of sulphur fumed out of vents,’ said Tobry. ‘I know the place, it’s only a couple of miles from here. Treacherous country in the night, though.’

‘- everywhere the green water landed, it burned so high and fierce that the enemy couldn’t get past,’ Rannilt went on.

‘The “green water” must be an alchymical combustion agent,’ said Tobry. ‘Fascinating.’

‘Mad Wil ran off with Tali,’ said Rannilt. ‘But not long after that, Evil Orlyk whacked her on the head and took her away. Couldn’t do nothin’ so I ran for help.’

‘And there were four in her squad, you said?’

‘Think so,’ said Rannilt.

‘Four’s a lot better odds than sixteen,’ Tobry said, giving Rix a significant stare. ‘How long ago?’

‘Maybe two hours,’ said Rannilt.

‘They’ve got a long start,’ said Rix. ‘Could be halfway to the Rat Hole by now. If we can cut them off, can you stop them with gramarye?’

‘It’ll take more than my conjuror’s tricks,’ Tobry said with that hint of bitterness.

‘Do we have a garrison near here?’

‘Plegm is the closest, but they’ll be out hunting enemy by now. Besides, if we rode after Tali with a squad of soldiers …’

Rix ran through half a dozen plans, but they all ended the same way. ‘Orlyk would cut her throat. She’s doomed if we attack, doomed if we don’t.’

Rannilt let out a little cry. ‘You’ve got to save her.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Rix, and he was. Tali was brave and determined and wholly admirable, and even if the Pale were traitors, about which he now had serious doubts, he could not bear to think of her killed like a chicken for the pot. ‘I don’t see what we can do.’

He climbed into the saddle and closed his eyes, the better to think, but imagined Lady Ricinus’s icy rage. House Ricinus can’t afford a hint of scandal until the Honouring is over. Association with a despised Pale could be ruinous. Forget the scrag and do your duty!

Rix’s fingers tightened on the reins. He was tempted to go after Tali out of sheer defiance. But how could he, with war raging and Caulderon under threat?

Do your duty! Rix tried to focus on the portrait of his father, but all he could see was the bloated drunkard’s nose. He opened his eyes and Rannilt was staring up at him, reproachfully. He looked away.

‘Tobry?’ Rannilt was swaying, almost out on her feet but refusing to give in. ‘You’ve got to — ’

‘Hush, child,’ said Tobry. ‘It can’t be done. Hop up here, in front of me.’

‘No!’ She turned and walked into the Seethings.

‘What the blazes is she up to?’ said Rix.

‘How would I know?’ snarled Tobry. ‘Rannilt? Where are you going?’

Rannilt’s face was wet and her nose was running. She wiped it on her crusted forearm. ‘Goin’ to save Tali.’

Tobry took hold of handfuls of his hair as though planning to tear it out. He glared at Rix, then dismounted and ran after her. Rix followed.

‘Rannilt,’ said Tobry, ‘they’ll kill you too. You can’t — ’

‘Tali risked her life to save me,’ said the girl, over her shoulder. ‘ I don’t desert my friends.’

The reproach stung. Rix wanted to scream, I’m not like that. You don’t understand. It’s not that simple.

‘She’s right,’ said Tobry, quietly.

For the first time Rix saw that his friend was in pain and doing his best to cover it up, but he had no idea what to say to him. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘The bravest and cleverest girl we’ve ever set eyes on is in mortal trouble and we made a commitment to her.’

‘What would you do?’ said Rix.

‘I wouldn’t be running home to paint my father’s poxy portrait.’

‘Easy for you to say, since you’ve got no responsibilities.’

‘That’s the wonderful thing about losing my house and all my family,’ said Tobry. ‘I’m free! Free as a bird.’

‘Sorry,’ said Rix. ‘Didn’t mean it that way. All right — how would you rescue her?’

‘Haven’t got the faintest.’ Tobry took the reins. ‘Come up here, Rannilt. We’ll do what we can.’

Her eyes lit up like twin full moons. ‘You’re goin’ to save Tali?’

‘We’re going to try. But we might all be killed.’

‘Could have died four times since I met her,’ said Rannilt.

Tobry heaved her into the saddle. Rannilt looked around in amazement, and not a little terror, at being so high on such an unfamiliar beast, then threw her skinny arms around him and burrowed her snotty nose against his chest.

‘We’re goin’ to save Tali,’ she murmured.

She closed her eyes, sighed, and within seconds she was asleep. Tobry enclosed her with one arm, looked up, and his eyes were suspiciously shiny. ‘What are you staring at?’ he muttered to Rix.

‘The way you’ve gone all protective,’ said Rix, ‘you’d think she was your own daughter.’

After a long pause, Tobry said softly, ‘I wish she was.’

‘But you never get involved. You don’t believe in anything.’

‘It’s amazing how the end of the world gives you focus. I recommend you try it.’

Rix nudged Leather forwards. ‘How do we find Tali?’

Tobry waved his elbrot and a handful of golden motes sparkled in the air. ‘Rannilt came this way.’

‘What are you doing?’

‘Her gift is uncontrolled — it leaves traces that gramarye can read for a little while. If we backtrack her, we’ll discover where Tali was taken.’

‘We know where she was taken — near where the ground is made of sulphur.’

‘So we do,’ said Tobry, consulting the map. ‘From there, they’d take this path back to the Rat Hole. Come on.’

A weight had lifted from Rix’s shoulders but, as they rode on, the familiar burden settled on him. He was neglecting his responsibilities, and if this went wrong, as it probably would, House Ricinus might well come tumbling down.