‘And remember, when the soldiers pull back, they ease pressure at two gates, allowing reinforcement of the others, probable resultant victories east and south, and therefore a lessening of our strength.’
‘Assuming we don’t pull back with them,’ said Blackthorne.
Darrick ignored him, standing and pacing.
‘What are they thinking of? Keeping Dystran’s forces split is the only way. The consequences of defeat in open field are staggering. He would march unopposed all the way to Julatsa. And that would be just the start.’
‘They are thinking of self-preservation,’ said Blackthorne gently.
‘By abandoning their most defensible positions? By dismantling siege coordination? They are panicking. If it were Lystern, we would stand and face them, outnumbered or not.’
‘But it isn’t Lystern,’ said Blackthorne. ‘And that is the point.’
‘I should talk to them,’ said Darrick. ‘They have to see sense.’
‘Sit down, Ry,’ said The Unknown. ‘You’re under sentence of death, remember?’
Darrick paused in his pacing. ‘But there’s—’
‘No,’ said The Unknown. ‘You are not the man to negotiate. You’re Raven now. Sit down.’
Darrick sat reluctantly, unused to taking orders but unwilling to challenge The Unknown’s authority.
‘We’re trying the same arguments,’ said Izack. ‘All they can see is their north gate forces being overrun and Xetesk still having a clear run north.’
‘What can be done?’ asked Blackthorne. ‘This is no longer purely a military decision. Politics is involved and relative strengths of surviving college forces. No college will leave themselves open to future attack at their own gates. Nor should they.’
‘I know, I know,’ said Darrick, waving a hand in a resigned gesture. ‘Remember when we were all together against the Wesmen? That’s the template and it kept us alive. Right.’
Darrick lapsed into thought. Around him, the triumvirate of senior Balaian warriors watched on in silence. He wasn’t long in reaching a conclusion.
‘All we can do is appease the Dordovans. What we can’t do is let Xetesk know we’re anticipating a breakout - and that’s what a reformation to the north will do. It will also leave them with no doubt in their minds. They will attack and hope to end it there and then. Effectively win the war for Balaia at a stroke.
‘Here’s what I suggest. And it’s a risk worth taking. We strip all the reserves from the south and east gates and move them north, leaving just a skeleton Lysternan fighting force here, supported by Baron Blackthorne’s men and the Al-Arynaar now they’ve had a day’s rest. We can do that quietly and over the course of the night. Izack, you know how it’s done so I won’t lecture.
‘Baron, I think it’s down to you to talk to the Dordovan command and make our case. They will respect you and, most importantly, if you can take an idea of numbers to them, it’ll mean that Lystern and Dordover are truly standing together to counter Xetesk. You have to make it stick, my Lord.’
Blackthorne smiled. ‘I can be very persuasive.’
‘We’re all counting on it,’ said Darrick. ‘Meanwhile, the sooner we can get in and get out of Xetesk, the more chance we have. I suggest we don’t waste time.’
‘No doubt the TaiGethen will agree with you. Right, are we all set and clear?’ The Unknown looked around the fire, saw the nods in response. ‘Baron, Izack, do the best you can. Darrick, let’s go.’
The quartet stood up and shook hands, wishing each other luck and strength. The Unknown walked over to The Raven, sitting together at the edge of the firelight. All had been watching and listening intently.
Hirad stood up as he approached and strapped his sword belt around his waist. The talking, the resting, the frustrating watch of the day’s battle was done.
‘Our turn now,’ he said.
The Unknown nodded. He’d felt like a caged animal all day, anxious to get over the walls but knowing he had to wait his time to begin the process of protecting his family, hundreds of miles to the south across the Southern Ocean.
‘Everyone’s clear about everything, aren’t they,’ he said.
‘We could be little else,’ said Denser. ‘But however tight our plan, I can’t stress enough how dangerous the college will be. Dystran is not stupid. The Protectors may all be outside but he’ll have considerable defence in there.’
The raiding party was gathering as dusk gave way to night. The TaiGethen had been resting and praying all day. Four cells of the elite elven warriors would be taking part, along with Rebraal and six Al-Arynaar mages to supply shield and offensive support. ClawBound pairs were approaching the city to assess the strength on the walls, using the cloud cover that had prematurely darkened the sky. They would direct the elven warriors where to scale the walls and provide what diversion was needed.
‘There’s something else,’ said Denser. ‘Though I may be speaking to the deaf in the case of the TaiGethen. And that is that we aren’t looking to destroy Xetesk and its mages tonight. We need them in the future if there is to be any balance.’
‘I’m not running in there just circling my fists,’ said Hirad. ‘It was bad enough in Lystern.’
‘That’s not what I’m saying,’ said Denser. ‘And I will spare no one who threatens our lives. Just nothing indiscriminate, that’s all I ask. Xetesk is still my college.’
‘A college that would see you dead in a heartbeat,’ said The Unknown Warrior. ‘As they would all of us.’ His face was grim in the firelight. ‘Don’t expect mercy from me.’
The big man checked the edges of his long sword and daggers yet again, walked slowly to Thraun and Erienne while he rebound the weapons in their sheaths. ‘Erienne? You’re quiet. Tell me.’
‘I’m scared,’ she said, her eyes confirming it.
‘So you should be,’ said The Unknown. ‘We’re about to break into the Dark College.’
‘No, it’s not that . . . well, it is but that fear I can deal with. It’s what’s inside me. Every day I have to fight to stop it dominating me and it’s tiring. Consuming. Because one day I might fail.’
‘But the Al-Drechar help, don’t they?’
‘Without them, the power would swamp me,’ admitted Erienne. ‘But they’re so weak. Only one can help me block the One’s force while the other rests. What if one of them dies. Or both?’ She shuddered.
The Unknown frowned. ‘But it will ease, won’t it?’
‘It gets harder and harder to believe that,’ said Erienne. ‘Right now, the One is a barely contained power in an uneducated mind and body. I have so much to learn. Dordover awakened the One prematurely in my daughter and all of us may still pay the price of that stupidity. If the Al-Drechar can’t teach me how to restrain the One on my own before they die, I dread to think of the consequences. ’
‘Shouldn’t you be with them, then? The Al-Drechar, I mean.’
A smile touched Erienne’s lips. ‘And be away from the only people who keep me believing there’s an end to it? Look, Unknown, the Al-Drechar do what they can before I fall asleep, before I get up, and they talk to me in my dreams. It’s enough. It’ll have to be. Anyway, The Raven never work apart.’
‘Music to my ears,’ said Hirad from across the fire. ‘Glad someone listens to me.’
‘We rarely have a choice,’ said Denser. ‘That voice could knock holes in solid rock.’
Erienne put a hand on The Unknown’s arm.
‘I’ll be all right,’ she said. ‘I can suppress the One and cast Dordovan magic. I won’t let us down.’
‘I never doubted you would,’ said the Unknown.
‘They will have watched,’ said Thraun abruptly. ‘They will know we’re coming.’
‘Not The Raven, the elves maybe,’ said Hirad. ‘We’ve thought of that.’
‘No.’ Thraun growled. ‘Beware.’
Around the periphery, the TaiGethen were waiting for them. Two figures moved into the firelight.
&nbs
p; ‘Are you ready?’ asked Rebraal. ‘We need to leave as soon as we can. The cloud cover is breaking to the south already.’
‘You are sure you must come?’ Auum had been unconvinced of The Raven’s participation all day. Despite his rather grudging respect for them, he hadn’t changed his opinion that they would be a liability, particularly in climbing the walls.
‘Yes,’ said The Unknown. ‘With us, you are stronger.’
‘And we have business to attend to inside,’ said Hirad.
Denser chuckled. ‘A couple of trifling matters, that’s all.’
Darrick cleared his throat. ‘It’s not a laughing matter.’
‘Ilkar wouldn’t have agreed with you,’ said Hirad.
‘No,’ said Darrick. He smiled quickly, embarrassed.
‘Come on Raven, time to go,’ said The Unknown.
The Raven moved to join the elven raiding party. Hirad paused by Blackthorne.
‘Glad you dropped by, Baron.’
‘This conflict threatens us all now, Hirad,’ he said, eyebrows casting his eyes into deep shadow. ‘There is no strength in neutrality. Not any more. Any of us strong enough must fight to stop Xetesk achieving dominion.’
‘Remember there is more than one side fighting Xetesk,’ said Hirad.
‘I’ll continue to forgo the considerable bounty on your head if that’s what you mean.’
The two old friends clasped arms.
‘Be lucky,’ said Hirad.
‘Be careful,’ responded Blackthorne.
‘Hirad, move it.’ The Unknown’s voice came from the gloom.
‘Duty calls.’
Hirad trotted out of the camp. Ahead of him, the TaiGethen had broken into their cells of three. All but Auum’s cell were disappearing fast into the night, making no sound, leaving no clue as to where they had just been. Hirad couldn’t help but be impressed by their grace and speed. And when he turned to Auum, Duele and Evunn, he caught in their eyes exactly why they were so extraordinary, even among the ranks of exceptional elven hunter warriors like Rebraal.
From their black-and-green painted faces burned belief and determination, mixed with supreme confidence. Their faith in their Gods and in their own abilities precluded the notion of failure. And tonight, the Al-Arynaar and The Raven were similarly masked, all pale flesh covered in dark paint. But there the similarity ended.
‘Your weapons are secure?’ asked Auum, his accent thick, his command of the language uncertain.
‘Nothing will move,’ said Hirad. ‘We’ll be as quiet as you.’
A smile flickered on Auum’s face. ‘Do as we do. No talk until we are inside the city.’
He turned and set off at an easy trot, Duele and Evunn his shadows, The Raven following in their wake.
Chapter 13
They had travelled for around two hours, hidden in low brush and scrub and always at least half a mile from the walls of Xetesk. Hirad had kept up an easy stride. Being neither as fit nor as fleet as the TaiGethen he had accepted that he, like the rest of The Raven, would fall slowly but steadily behind.
Periodically, one of Auum’s Tai cell would appear to direct them or run with them. Their faces would betray nothing but Hirad could guess what they were thinking just the same. He smiled to himself. It was true, The Raven weren’t used to running any distance. But they had other strengths and he was determined to make them very apparent.
Now, they were facing the first major risk to the enterprise. Underneath the blanket of heavy cloud, which had just disgorged one heavy shower out of an almost constant mist of fine rain, they sat looking out at the four-hundred-yard wide stretch of open ground that ringed the walls of the Dark College. They had travelled slowly and quietly into the edge of the rough scrub and now all that kept them from a mage with augmented sight was patchy thigh-high grass and the night itself.
A ClawBound panther padded into their circle and nuzzled Thraun before eyeing the rest of The Raven with something verging on contempt and moving to its partner, who squatted next to Rebraal and Auum. Animal and elf gazed deep into each other’s eyes, their silent communication flowing between them. Hirad watched them intently, seeing nothing but the occasional flicker of their eyes. The ClawBound elf, the white half of his painted face unnaturally bright, turned his head to Rebraal and Auum only when he was ready.
Both warriors asked him questions, their elvish rapid and incomprehensible. Mostly, the ClawBound would reply with a nod, shake of the head or a hand gesture. Very occasionally, he would utter a single word, voice rough and unused to speech. And finally, he stood abruptly and led his panther away.
‘So what’s the verdict?’ asked Hirad.
‘There are more guards patrolling the walls than on previous nights,’ said Rebraal. ‘We will not get in without confronting some.’
‘That’s not good,’ said The Unknown. ‘We can’t afford our cover blown until we’re inside the college.’
‘We don’t see a choice,’ said Rebraal. ‘The TaiGethen will handle it. At least then we can ensure silence.’
Auum began to speak, lost his words and asked Rebraal a question which the leader of the Al-Arynaar translated.
‘Denser, your entry point to the college. Does it involve travel near the walls?’
‘It does not,’ said Denser. ‘I’ll show you the best route when we get inside, just like I said. If we die getting in, at least you know where you’re headed. Just as we agreed.’
Rebraal held up his hands. ‘Auum just wanted to know. In that case, our entry into the city being discovered at some point before we reach the college may work in our favour.’
‘You’ve lost me there,’ said Erienne.
‘No, he’s right,’ said Darrick. ‘If they know we’re inside the city but not yet in the college, they’re bound to increase patrols on the streets and strengthen guards around the college walls. Only we aren’t going in the front door and all those men will be outside.’
‘To begin with, at least,’ added Denser.
‘Any advantage we can gain is good enough for me,’ said Hirad. ‘So what’s the plan?’
‘You wait here with me until the TaiGethen have cleared passage to the base of the walls,’ said Rebraal. ‘There’ll be a diversion as well and we’ll make a run. If you get seen and challenged it’s down to you.’
‘And what about you, Rebraal?’ asked Hirad.
The elf shrugged. ‘I’m Ilkar’s brother. I owe it to him to help you get there unharmed.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Believe me, I’d rather not have to. You are putting yourselves in great danger and risking our mission.’
Hirad bridled but The Unknown spoke up quickly.
‘We understand your feelings but we have to do this as much as you do. Those we love are at risk.’
Rebraal nodded. Next to him, Evunn and Duele had come to Auum’s sides. The cell bowed their heads in prayer, acknowledged Rebraal with the briefest of hand contact and ran away into the dark towards the walls of Xetesk.
Hirad sighed. There wasn’t even going to be anything to see. Right now, all he could do was wait.
Auum led his Tai into the thick stalks of the plains grass and dropped immediately to his haunches. Evunn was five yards to his right, Duele the same distance left. The rest of the Tai cells were spread in a loose arc with Auum as the centre point. All had the same brief. Reach the walls unseen, unheard. Once there they were temporarily safe; the outward slope of the walls ensured that. It had made climbing a little more tricky but nothing a TaiGethen elf couldn’t deal with. About certain members of the Al-Arynaar and the Raven, Auum wasn’t quite so sure.
While he wouldn’t normally give chance any credence, Auum confessed to himself that they had been lucky thus far. Tonight was as perfect a night for the raid as they could have wished. Above, the cloud was deep, lowering and unbroken. The rain that fell light but steady added to the gloom and a breeze ruffled the grass around him, further masking his progress from watchful eyes on t
he walls.
He became still and listened to the sounds around him as he knew his Tai would be doing. He tuned into the low ambient noise that surrounded him; the rustle of the wind through the grass, the movement of animals within it, the buzz of night’s insects. He concentrated on the movement of the grass itself, the waves that spread across it, their frequency and scale.
And then he began to move himself, matching his low crouched steps with the grass, and stopping as it stilled. All the time, his eyes never left the walls as they grew closer, rearing into the sky, bleak and tall. He could see the light from torches and lanterns hung on their parapets or carried by guards. Away to the left, one of the dozens of small guard towers that studded the circumference was lit up by braziers within, luminescence spreading out from the narrow arched windows and the open door, picking out the mist of rain.
The ClawBound had been very accurate in their summation of the extra presence on the walls. He could see lights moving at intervals more regularly than at any other time. There was no doubt that there would have to be an entire stretch cleared to allow them all enough time to lower themselves to the other side and get to the relative safety of the muster point which was an empty house crushed between a bakery and a small disused stable block.
Closing on the base of the walls, Auum slowed still further. His pin-sharp eyes could make out the features on the faces of the guards walking seventy feet above. He could hear snatches of conversation above the susurration of the grass all around his head. And he could smell the stone and the city beyond. It was a mix of age and smoke, cold and fire, life and death. Ahead of him, shapes moved against the dark grey stone. ClawBound. The panthers padded noiselessly up and down the base of the wall, their partners shifted minutely, noses sampling the air, eyes sweeping the grass, watching the TaiGethen approach.
Soon, Auum was standing with them. They had briefly acknowledged his presence. Two of three pairs had set off along the walls, one left, one right. The third remained, the panther now sitting, licking its paws, growling quietly in its throat. Evunn and Duele emerged from the grass.
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