'He has been walking with my Familiar.'
'Enough said. Go on.'
Denser shifted his position slightly and brushed some grit from beneath him.
'Well, our decision not to talk about Dawnthief at this stage, and we will announce it when the time is right, has given us another problem.'
'Why are The Raven working for Xetesk?' Ilkar framed the question.
'Exactly. And this gives us a big problem where we're going next.'
'Dordover.'
Ilkar pursed his lips.
'If you, Hirad or I are seen in the City it will trigger untold problems with the Dordovan College. We can't afford a split because if we don't stand together, the Wytch Lords will trample us underfoot.'
'We're going to have to be incredibly lucky in there not to be spotted.' Ilkar shook his head, wondering how the Colleges would ever stop bickering long enough to stand together. He tried to believe Denser a liar but somehow, given that he was as much at risk as The Raven, he couldn't. The actions of Xetesk, though, were despicable.
'We aren't going in at all. Will, Thraun and Jandyr will have to do this alone.'
'And Erienne?' Ilkar was uncomfortable with trusting the theft of the Lore Master's ring to untried and unknown people. Yet he knew Denser's solution made sense.
'We can certainly trust her not to betray us.' Denser's eye had a twinkle. 'But that's not the problem. She's not exactly Dordover's favourite daughter and if we have to send her in, well . . .'
'I don't like the feel of this at all,' said Ilkar. 'I need to think. I'm going to check on Hirad.'
Selyn awoke with a start, the sound of running feet jerking her to instant wakefulness. It was late afternoon and she would have normally remained asleep for another two or three hours before casting her ShadowWings for the journey to Parve. She lay concealed in a dense area of shrub midway up a crag that overlooked the road from the Torn Wastes to Terenetsa. She was still four days from Parve.
Moving carefully to avoid rustling the foliage all over her, she edged her head above a rock formation and looked down on the road. Wesmen were jogging past, thousands of them, punctuated by Shamen on horseback. She watched for five minutes, trying to gauge the strength of the unbroken line of armed and fur-clad men running towards Understone Pass.
By the time the last riders were through, she estimated she'd watched the passage of around seven thousand. And at that speed, they would reach the pass in approximately six days.
'Gods, it's happening,' she breathed. She wasn't due to make another communion until reaching Parve but she couldn't let that many men surprise the Understone Pass defence. And assuming more were taking the southern trails from the Heartlands, they meant to throw a massive force at eastern Balaia. Shaking her head, she lay down and probed the mana for Styliann.
Chapter 18.
The morning began calm. Dawn broke to the sound of people checking horses, stowing equipment and preparing food. The weather was fine and cool, ideal conditions for riding. Nonetheless, there was a storm about to break.
With horses saddled and castle rigged, most of The Raven, old and new, had gathered in the courtyard. Talan was astride his horse.
'Second thoughts?' probed Hirad. He was feeling good, strong. A few practice moves with Talan had revealed a dull ache and nothing more. Erienne said the ache would be with him for ever.
'With every breath I take,' said Talan.
'And?'
'I'm still right to go.' He shrugged.
'Where?'
'Never you mind, barbarian. Least said, least knows, never does find.'
'What?'
'My mother used to say it. God knows why, but it sounds right.'
Hirad raised his eyebrows and offered Talan a hand which the other shook. 'You'll always be Raven,' he said. 'Don't forget.'
'Thank you. Gods, Hirad, I-'
'It's done, Talan. We wish each other life and luck. It's all we can do now.' He smiled. 'See you in Korina when it's all over.'
'Depend on it.' Talan turned his horse and trotted towards the gates. As he neared the walls, Sol stepped squarely into his path.
'I think you'd better stop, Talan,' said Denser, emerging from the house, cat in his arms.
'What's up?' Hirad turned to the Xeteskian.
'I didn't really believe he'd go. I was trusting you to change his mind.'
Hirad felt a chill through the warmth of the morning.
'This is Raven business. It's his choice,' he said. 'It's his right.'
'No, it is not,' said Denser, his voice calm and cold. 'We cannot take the risk of his capture. He cannot be allowed to leave.'
'Don't do this, Denser,' urged Ilkar.
Denser ignored Ilkar. 'Reconsider.'
Talon shook his head. 'No.'
At a signal from his Given, Sol snapped the axe from his back to the ready.
'Reconsider,' Denser repeated.
Another shake of the head.
'You'd kill him?' Hirad's face darkened.
Denser shrugged. 'It's what Sol does best.'
Hirad didn't even think about it. He covered the ground to Denser, locked an arm around his neck and pushed a dagger under his chin.
'Reconsider,' he grated.
Sol broke towards them, his movement measured, implacable.
'Not another step, maskman, or this whole thing ends right now.'
The point of Hirad's dagger drew blood. Sol stopped dead. 'And don't even think about a spell. You aren't quick enough to beat me,' said Hirad into Denser's ear. He looked over at Talan. 'Get out of here.' Talan nodded his thanks, spurred his horse and galloped away. 'Like I said, it's Raven business.' He released Denser and sheathed his dagger. 'Now you can either kill me or we can get on with our job.'
'No purpose would be served by killing you,' said Denser, rubbing his neck.
'I thought not. Let's go then.'
Ilkar let out his breath, paused long enough to glare at Hirad and walked back towards the stables. Thraun and Will disappeared into the house. Erienne was still at the grave of her sons.
Sol moved to stand at Denser's side, the cat now on the Protector's shoulder. All three stared at him.
'What is it? Surprised I care that much?' Hirad's anger had not entirely left him. 'You still don't understand us, do you, Denser? The few of us that are still alive. And though you are sworn to the Code, until you do, you will never be truly Raven.'
'No,' said Denser. 'I don't and I'm not, although I'm getting a better picture every day.' He paused. 'You would really have killed me?'
'It's what I do best.' Hirad smiled.
'And handed Balaia and Dawnthief to the Wytch Lords.'
'I will not let you use that as a weapon to dominate us. You had no right to stop Talan-'
'I had every r-'
'It was Raven business!' snapped Hirad. 'I won't repeat myself again. Now I know you're important and I know we need to keep you alive. But if you pull another trick like that, I will stop you any way I can. And if that means we both die and Balaia with us, so be it.'
Eventually, Denser nodded. 'But you understand my fears.'
'Of course. Ilkar shares them. But you should have spoken to us about them. Did you really think we were going to stand by and let your shadow chop down a member of The Raven?'
Denser was silent for a time. He breathed in deeply.
'In hindsight, no. Look, I wasn't thinking straight. We're in a lot of trouble-'
'Ilkar's told me.'
'-and I just saw it as one risk too many.' He paused. 'I panicked. I'm sorry.'
'Then it's forgotten.' Hirad accepted Denser's hand. 'As long as he realises it was nothing personal.' He switched his gaze to Sol. Behind the mask, the eyes stared back, betraying no reaction.
'He will not attempt to harm you unless you threaten my life,' said Denser.
'I think we both know how to avoid that, don't we?' Hirad turned at a sound from the castle. Will and Thraun trotted out.
'Fuses are lit,' said Will. 'They'll burn for around four hours. I hope we can find a convenient hill to watch from.'
'We'll see what we can do.' Hirad drew breath. 'Raven! Mount up, let's go. The sun won't stop moving!' He paused to grab Denser's arm. 'You'll see to Erienne?' Then he ran to his horse. Minutes later, the hiss and crackle of fuses was the only sound echoing around the stone walls of the Black Wings' castle.
The Raven rode along the trail from the castle for ten minutes before cutting away up a gentle incline into woodland. The ground was easy but rocks here and there dictated a measure of caution. It was three days' ride to Dordover; an injury to a horse would add delay and time was something The Raven simply didn't have to waste.
The first stop, earlier than Denser would have preferred, saw them on the slope of a hillside over three hours from the castle. Though not an ideal viewing point - the castle was partially obscured by both trees and distance - it was the best they could hope for and Will for one was not moving.
'Something wrong, old friend?' asked Ilkar.
Hirad looked away from the castle. 'I was just working out how long it was since I had a drink and I'm not happy with the answer.'
'It was in the ruins of Septern's house, wasn't it?'
Hirad nodded.
'Travers had a stock,' said Ilkar.
'I'd rather drink the contents of my own bladder,' replied Hirad.
'Very wise. It made a good antiseptic, though, so Talan said.'
Hirad raised his eyebrows. 'He'd better be all right,' he said. 'I'm going to miss him, I think.'
'Yes,' agreed Ilkar.
'Are you surprised he's gone?'
'Surprised and very disappointed. I really thought . . . you know, after four years . . .'
'Yes, I know. And talking of being disappointed, I'm beginning to lose faith in this great firework display of Will's.' He turned to where Will was standing, hands on hips, a few yards away. 'Hey, Will, any danger of this event of yours actually happening?'
Will tensed and shot him a sharp glance. 'Patience,' he said.
'Smoke!' said Jandyr immediately, pointing and standing up.
'Where?' asked Ilkar.
'Front door, all around the cracks.'
'Got it,' said Ilkar.
'Where?' And as Hirad strained to see what was visible only to elven eyes, the front door and surrounding walls blew out. A huge tongue of flame lashed into the courtyard, bringing with it a cloud of debris and smoke, causing him to shudder at the unwelcome reminder of his escape from Sha-Kaan.
The muffled thump of the first detonation reached them seconds later, moments before the two towers exploded in perfect synchronisation. One tore itself apart, collapsing inwards. The other's force was concentrated upwards, its ornately pointed top section spinning lazily into the air atop a plume of powdered masonry. Will shouted, delighted. Erienne burst into tears. Denser moved to her, held her and wiped dry her damp cheeks. She looked up at him and smiled.
And then, with the castle wreathed in flames and smoke, Hirad patted Will on the back and hurried them on their way under Denser's anxious gaze.
Understone.