Fragile Empire Read online

  ‘Thank you, my dear,’ he said. ‘And is the master of the house present?’

  ‘I’ve let him sleep in this morning,’ Celine said. ‘He had rather a late night.’ She signalled to a servant. ‘Please awaken Lord Holdfast, and let him know that his elder daughter and Lord Laodoc are here, and that lunch is ready.’

  The servant bowed and went into the house through a set of high doors.

  Karalyn caught her eye. ‘He’s drinking too much.’

  ‘What?’ said Celine. ‘But how did you…? Of course.’ She frowned.

  ‘I haven’t been spying on you,’ Karalyn said, ‘but I can’t help my dreams.’

  Celine nodded and smiled, but Karalyn could see the fear in her mind; the rise in anxiety that her presence at the mansion had reawakened. Even though Karalyn wasn’t trying to read her thoughts, her connection with Celine went back to when she had been a young child, and sensing what the woman was feeling was as inescapable as the need to breathe.

  ‘We won’t be staying long,’ she said. ‘Just a few days. We’re going to Plateau City.’

  Celine smiled again. ‘I am glad to see you, you know,’ she said. ‘It’s just… well, it’s been a long time.’

  A servant emerged from the house.

  He bowed. ‘Lunch is served.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Celine. She turned to Laodoc and Karalyn. ‘Before we go in, there is something I must tell you, and it may come as a bit of a surprise.’

  ‘Really?’ said Laodoc.

  ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘It’s Keir. Just a few thirds ago, he discovered that he’s a vision mage, like his mother.’

  Karalyn’s mouth opened.

  ‘I see you didn’t know,’ said Celine. ‘Good.’

  ‘Is Daphne aware?’ asked Laodoc.

  ‘Of course. She was here when it came out. She seemed very pleased, and was talking about enrolling him in the academy before she had to go back to the capital.’

  Karalyn said nothing, her mind turning over. While it was clear than none of her siblings had the same powers as she did, she had wondered if other skills would reveal themselves when they got into their teenage years. Fifteen was late though. Had her actions when he had been a baby stunted his development?

  ‘Let’s go in,’ said Celine, and led them through the tall, wide doors into the house. It was in the same location as an earlier mansion that had burned to the ground when Karalyn had been a child, but was a completely new building. Despite being smaller than the original, the walls and floors of the interior were adorned with marble, and pink, yellow and green panelling reflected the glow of gold-trimmed wall-lamps.

  ‘This is a little different from the desert cabin,’ she said as they walked down a long hallway.

  ‘The Holdfasts are probably the richest family in the country now,’ Celine said, ‘and your mother is probably its most popular person. The peasants adore her.’

  ‘I’m sure we’re all very proud of her,’ said Laodoc. ‘The first elected leader of the Holdings. Quite an honour.’

  ‘It’s just a shame that her work keeps her away from home for such long periods,’ Celine said. ‘Lord Holdfast misses her terribly.’

  They came to a large door, which a servant opened for them. Karalyn glanced inside. Around a dining room table sat her three siblings, who rose to their feet as she entered. Her eyes went straight to Keir. He was as tall as she was, and looked like he was still growing. His skin was as dark as anyone from the Holdings, but his physique was developing into that of a Kellach Brigdomin. He was also handsome, more than she remembered, though his eyes were cold.

  Kelsey stood by his side, looking small next to him. She was Holdings through and through, and had been the only child of the four prone to getting ill when she had been younger, a fact she had been remorselessly teased for. On Keir’s other side stood Corthie, the only one of her siblings who was smiling. Unlike the others, Corthie was pale-skinned, and could easily pass for a Kellach Brigdomin boy. He had a sweep of untidy brown hair and his green eyes were shining in joy at the sight of his big sister.

  ‘Hello,’ she said.

  Keir smirked at her. ‘Hello.’

  Karalyn felt it. A stream of vision power streaked out from Keir towards her. He was powerful, she could sense it, but he was inexperienced and crude, and she blocked his attempt to enter her mind as easily as brushing a crumb off her sleeve.

  His smirk fell away.

  ‘You’re going to have to practice a lot more for that to work,’ she said to him.

  ‘What happened?’ said Kelsey.

  Keir frowned at his younger sister. ‘Nothing. Shut up.’

  ‘Children, come now,’ said Celine. ‘Everyone, sit, and we’ll all be civil. Remember that your great-uncle Laodoc is here, so be polite.’

  Karalyn led the old man to the table and helped him sit. She took the chair to his right, opposite Keir and Kelsey. Servants poured iced apple juice into tall glasses and began laying down plates and bowls of food.

  ‘What did you eat in the desert?’ asked Corthie.

  ‘They got the same as us here,’ said Celine. ‘Did you think we would let them starve?’

  ‘Corthie’s not too bright,’ said Kelsey. ‘He probably thought they were eating insects like the Rakanese.’

  ‘Don’t say things like that,’ said Karalyn.

  ‘You don’t live here,’ Kelsey said. ‘You can’t tell me what to do.’

  ‘Are you not coming back here to live?’ said Corthie, his face falling.

  ‘They’re going to Plateau City,’ said Celine, ‘to see the Empress.’

  Corthie lowered his eyes and put down his fork.

  Kelsey laughed. ‘What? Did you think she was coming here to look after poor little Corthie?’

  Karalyn opened her mouth to speak, but noticed another surge of vision power emerge from Keir, heading in the direction of their younger brother. She erected an invisible barrier around Corthie, and glanced at Keir.

  ‘No,’ she said.

  Keir glared at her. ‘I don’t care. You’ll be gone soon anyway.’

  She turned back to Corthie. The boy was staring at the plate of food in front of him. She entered his mind for a second, and saw the worry and fear he had of his older brother, and memories of the long years of torment at his hands. The weight of it was heavy, and she could feel it crushing his spirit.

  ‘There you are,’ said a voice, and she froze.

  ‘Killop, my boy!’ cried Laodoc.

  Her father approached. He was a bear of a man, towering over the Holdings servants. He was washed and dressed in a clean outfit, but his eyes betrayed his hangover. She stood.

  ‘Father.’

  ‘Daughter.’

  He smiled, and opened his arms. She reached for him and they embraced.

  ‘It’s good to see you.’

  ‘I wasn’t sure you’d be happy about me coming here,’ she said, as his big arms squeezed her.

  He gazed down at her. ‘All that’s in the past. Let me look at you. You’re as beautiful as your mother. It’s been too long, wee bear.’

  She smiled.

  Her father took Laodoc’s hand and shook it. ‘Thank you for being with her these past four years, old friend. Knowing you were there helped.’

  ‘It was no trouble at all.’

  Killop sat next to Karalyn and took a plate. ‘How was the journey?’

  ‘Five hours in a bumpy wagon,’ Karalyn said.

  ‘You can exchange it for a proper carriage when you leave.’

  Karalyn narrowed her eyes. ‘How did you know I was leaving?’

  ‘You’re eighteen,’ her father said, ‘and Hold Fast estate is too small to contain you now. I also remember Bridget’s promise to you. Is that where you’re going?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You’ll visit your mother on the way, won’t you.’

  ‘Yes.’

  He nodded. ‘Thank you. Now, how long will you be staying? You can take your old room
.’

  ‘A few days.’

  Killop frowned, but said nothing.

  ‘May I be excused?’ said Keir.

  ‘I’ve only just sat down,’ said their father.

  ‘I started before you got here. I’m not very hungry anyway.’

  Killop glanced at his son, and Karalyn saw Keir reach out with his powers towards him. She sighed, and blocked him again, this time a little more forcefully.

  Keir let out a cry and fell to the floor, his hands clutching his head. Kelsey jumped to his side, then stared up at Karalyn.

  ‘Leave him alone!’ she cried. ‘Haven’t you hurt him enough?’

  Karalyn remained silent as every eye turned to her. She was sure that Keir was play-acting, trying to fool their father, but couldn’t enter his mind to prove it, the blocks she had placed there herself years before too powerful for her to undo.

  Keir quietened and sat up, tears rolling down his cheeks. Fear shone from his face, and he kept his eyes on the floor.

  ‘Come on,’ said Kelsey, helping him to his feet. ‘Let’s go before she does anything else.’

  The two of them walked across the chamber while the rest of the table sat in silence. A servant opened the door for them and they left. Killop turned to her.

  ‘Well?’

  ‘He was putting it on,’ she said.

  ‘What did you do?’ said Celine.

  ‘Three times he tried to read someone’s mind. Mine, then Corthie’s, then father’s. The first two times I was polite, but the third time I gave his knuckles a rap.’

  Killop groaned.

  ‘I thought you were blocked from his mind,’ Celine said.

  ‘I am,’ she replied. ‘I can’t read him. I just sent his own power back into him, that’s all.’

  ‘You can’t,’ her father said. ‘Please. Leave the boy alone.’

  Karalyn pushed her plate away. ‘You don’t care that he’s reading your minds without asking?’

  ‘He’s always in my head,’ said Corthie, his voice little more than a whisper. ‘I can’t hide anything from him.’

  Anger rose within Karalyn. ‘I can fix that.’

  ‘You can?’ Corthie said, his eyes lifting. ‘You can stop him?’

  ‘I can.’

  ‘Wait!’ said Killop and Celine at the same time.

  She ignored them and closed her eyes. Her power enveloped her younger brother, and she weaved a wall around him, sealing every entrance that a vision mage could use to access his mind. She anchored it deep within him, so that it would continue to work as he grew into a man.

  ‘Ow,’ he said, rubbing his temples. ‘That tingled a bit.’

  She smiled. ‘It’s done. The next time Keir tries to get into your head, he’s in for a shock.’

  Killop’s frown deepened and he got to his feet. He strode from the room without a word.

  ‘My dear Karalyn,’ said Laodoc. ‘Perhaps that was a little hasty.’

  Celine snorted. ‘Wait until your mother hears about this.’

  ‘I’m visiting Holdings City soon,’ Karalyn said. ‘I’ll tell her myself. I’ll tell her that none of the adults seemed to be standing up for Corthie, so I did.’

  She stood.

  Celine frowned. ‘You have no idea what your parents have done for these children, how hard your mother and father have worked, and how difficult things have been for them. Maybe if your lies hadn’t driven a wedge between them…’

  ‘Thank you for lunch, Aunty,’ Karalyn said, and walked from the room, her head held high.

  Her proud demeanour slipped as soon as she reached the hallway, and she stopped, leaning against the wall as tears threatened to come.

  Couldn’t she do anything right?

  Servants bowed as she made her way to her old room, up on the second floor. She climbed the grand staircase, passing her father’s suite of rooms. Like Celine, she had been linked to him for so long that she could sense his feelings even outside the door to his chambers.

  Frustration, anger, loneliness.

  She lowered her gaze and kept walking.

  Servants had already brought her things up to her room, so she took a hot bath then lay down on her old bed. She pulled a dressing gown from her baggage, wrapped it round her and closed her eyes.

  When she awoke it was dark outside, the open shutters showing nothing but pitch black. She lit a candle by the bedside.

  There was a soft knock at the door.

  The noise must have been what had dragged her out of her light sleep, she thought..

  ‘Kara bear?’

  She got up and opened the door.

  ‘Hello, father.’

  ‘Were you still sleeping?’ he said. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘It’s alright. What is it?’

  ‘You missed dinner,’ he said. ‘Are you hungry?’

  ‘Not really. I had a big breakfast this morning before we left the cabin.’

  He smiled. ‘Do you want to join me for a drink, then?’

  ‘I don’t drink.’

  ‘You can have tea, or water; whatever you like.’

  ‘Can I smoke?’

  ‘I suppose,’ he said, frowning. ‘If you must.’

  ‘Alright then. Give me a minute to get dressed.’

  She closed the door and lit a couple of lamps. Her baggage was piled on the floor by the wall, and she hunted for a few minutes until she found a pair of leggings and a warm tunic, then picked up her cigarettes and turned out the lights.

  Her father nodded to her as she came back into the hallway, and they walked in silence to his small study. It looked more like a place for entertaining than studying, she thought, glancing at the drinks cabinet and a pair of plush armchairs. There was a handful of books up on a shelf, with a layer of dust coating their covers, and a large, framed oil painting of Kell up on the wall.

  ‘Do you remember when I was given that?’ he said, catching her glancing at the picture.

  ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘When you took me to Kellach Brigdomin.’

  ‘Aye,’ he said. ‘That’s right.’

  ‘Are they still supplying you with whisky?’

  He smiled and nodded. ‘Every autumn a cart arrives, bringing cases of bottles all the way from Domm, more than enough to last me the year.’ He shrugged. ‘I was their chief.’

  She sat as he opened the drinks cabinet and withdrew a bottle of whisky. It had the familiar label in red and gold – Severton Distillery – Ten Years Old – Bottled 522. He poured himself a measure, then placed the bottle, glasses and a jug of water onto a low table, around which clustered the armchairs.

  Karalyn lit a cigarette, and watched him sit.

  ‘So, wee bear,’ he said, ‘what are your plans?’

  ‘I’m not completely sure yet. Go to Plateau City and present myself to Empress Bridget. Ask her if she still wants me to work for her.’

  ‘Why wouldn’t she?’

  ‘Well, the last time I saw her was when we were on our way back from Domm. That was before I ruined everything.’

  He took a sip of whisky. ‘We’re all still in one piece. You didn’t ruin everything.’

  ‘I convinced you that mother was having an affair. I went into your mind and implanted the idea so firmly that you believed it.’

  Her father looked away, his eyes lowered.

  ‘You nearly killed that stable-hand,’ she went on. ‘It took four men to pull you off him. I was there. I saw your face. The rage…’

  ‘What I did that day still shames me.’

  ‘Shames you?’ she said. ‘You have nothing to be ashamed of. I used you, to get back at mother.’

  ‘You were thirteen. You were troubled.’

  ‘Why don’t you hate me?’

  ‘I love you. I’m your father.’

  She shook her head. ‘I can feel the anger and pain coming from you. Don’t lie to me.’

  ‘I’m not lying to you,’ he said, frowning. ‘You feel my anger and pain? You’re right, but they’re not directed at y
ou. My heart fills with joy to have you here.’

  ‘You stormed out of the room after I tried my best to help Corthie.’

  ‘Because I was angry with myself. For years Keir and Kelsey have been making Corthie’s life a misery, and you come along and do more to help in ten minutes than I’ve managed in a decade.’

  ‘But why don’t you just stop them bullying him?’

  ‘You say it like it’s easy, but Keir is… is…’ He sighed, and took another sip of whisky.

  She glanced at him, tempted to look into his thoughts. He was a big man, the strongest she had seen. How could he not control his own son?

  ‘I love him,’ he said after a while, ‘but Keir is not a nice boy. He’s vindictive, cruel and has a mean, spiteful edge to him. He doesn’t listen to a word I say. And Kelsey follows him in everything he does, no matter how badly he treats her. And then they both torment Corthie. Punishments don’t make any difference; Keir wears them as a badge of pride.’

  ‘He’s always been like that,’ Karalyn said. ‘It’s my fault. I made him that way when I scoured him as a baby.’

  Her father shrugged. ‘Maybe. It doesn’t matter now. He is what he is.’

  ‘And now he’s a vision mage.’

  ‘Aye, just like his mother. She hopes it will be the making of him.’

  ‘And you?’

  He laughed. ‘Well, I hope she’s right. At the moment though, I fear for Corthie, even with your powers protecting him. I could send Keir up to the desert cabin when you leave, but I know he’d just run away.’

  ‘I have an idea,’ she said. ‘What if I take Corthie with me? That way he’ll be safe, and Laodoc will have something to do. I know the old man. He’s starting to feel useless again, just like he did when he first went blind. He could tutor Corthie when we get to Plateau City, and I could get to know my little brother again.’

  Killop drained his glass and poured himself another generous measure.

  ‘Do you drink up here every night?’ she said.

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Mother wouldn’t be happy.’

  ‘Mother’s not here.’

  ‘I’m not happy.’

  ‘In a few days you’ll be gone too.’

  ‘I worry about you.’

  ‘Don’t.’

  She frowned, and lit another cigarette.