The Severed City by Christopher Mitchell

Author:Christopher Mitchell [Mitchell, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912879052
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

The Leftovers

Outside Plateau City, The Plateau – 16th Day, Second Third Autumn 505

Keira looked up the length of the grassy field, aware that two burly Sanang were closing in fast.

‘To me!’ yelled Leah, her arms waving, the high walls of the city towering in the distance behind her.

Keira drew back her hand to release the ball just as the weight of the Sanang warriors hit her. She was flung off her feet, and slammed onto the cold earth. One of the Sanang rolled over her, his elbow digging into her side.

‘Ooft,’ Keira gasped. She swung her fist, and struck the Sanang in the face.

She got back to her feet, brushing the dust off her shorts and vest. ‘Fang, ya fucking wee prick, that was a foul.’

‘The Sanang’s tackle was a fair one,’ the Holdings referee shouted, as he stopped play. He picked up the ball as Fang groaned, holding onto his chin. ‘However, striking an opponent is against the rules. Keilyn, you’re off.’

‘No fucking way,’ she protested. ‘He hit me first.’

‘You had the ball,’ the referee said.

‘So it’s all right to tackle someone who has the ball?’

‘That’s correct,’ the referee said. ‘The rules state…’

Keira thumped him on the nose.

She stood and smiled as both teams began to fight each other. Holdings troopers ran onto the field, trying to pull apart the Kellach and Sanang warriors.

‘You!’ one of them shouted at her. ‘Get off the pitch. You’re a disgrace.’

‘Shite game anyway,’ she said, and walked from the field.

She approached Kylon in the line of spectators.

‘Don’t start,’ she said.

‘I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did.’

‘We’re leaving in two days,’ she said, ‘and this is what they’ve got us doing. Running around after a pig’s insides.’

‘I think the Holdings officers thought it would be fun,’ he said, glancing at her as she raised an eyebrow. ‘After all the training together, they probably thought we’d appreciate trying one of their sports.’

It started to rain, and a chill autumn wind gusted across from the Inner Sea. Enormous waves crashed into the city’s harbour walls, soaking the new Holdings vessels tied up at the docks.

‘It’s going to be winter by the time we arrive now,’ Kylon said.

Keira gazed off to the south, over the miles of wind-ruffled water. Half a third before, the main body of Holdings cavalry, Agang Garo’s Sanang regiments and the Kellach Brigdomin regular forces had left Plateau City, on their way round the coastal road, bound for Rahain.

‘Are we stupid for going back?’ she asked.

‘Maybe,’ he said, ‘but we have to. There are at least a hundred thousand of our people enslaved in Rahain. Freeing them is essential. We could start to rebuild.’

‘It’s too late, Kylon,’ she said, spitting onto the wet grass. ‘Our folk are spread over half the fucking world. How are you going to bring them all back together? Even if we destroy the lizards, what difference will it make? We can never go back to the way we were before.’

‘No, but we can make a new life.

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