'Don't push your luck, my King,' slurred the man.
Sol turned his head to stare at Denser. The Lord of the Mount was soaked through.
'And you.' Sol spat on the ground. 'You have betrayed me, Xetesk, Balaia and most of all The Raven. I no longer know you.'
Denser stalked in to stand a few feet away.
'I am doing what is right for our city and our country. You will not be allowed to fragment our defence by running off on your fool's errand. No one is leaving Balaia. No one needs to. I know what Auum and those foolish old men are planning even if you don't, and they will be stopped. We have the power and the strength to beat these Garonin. Xetesk will prevail.'
'You will all die and I will laugh in your faces,' said Sol.
'Lystern has fallen. Julatsa is under attack. Dordover is long gone. And that leaves Xetesk as the one power on this continent. Do you think I or any mage of my college would pass up the opportunity for us to take up our natural position as rulers of Balaia?'
Sol felt numb. He stared at Denser and searched his eyes.
'What's happened to you, Denser? All that we've done in the last ten years. Does it really mean that little to you? The deaths of your friends?'
'Until the Garonin came, it meant everything. But it's all been washed away now and I cannot have dissension. There is a single purpose, and it is the protection of this city and its college. You need to spend some time alone thinking about that and about why you should be protecting the living, not seeing them into the hands of the dead and a fool's march west.'
Sol shook his head. 'I would rather protect the dead than the living like you.'
'Right,' said Denser. 'Time for you to rest. We don't want a scene when we return up The Thread, now do we?'
Denser began to cast, Sol's eyes burning into him the whole time. And when the spell was done and the hands laid on him, Sol slipped quickly into unconsciousness, his head falling to one side and his eyes flickering closed. But not so quickly that he didn't see the door to the yard, which had been open a crack, closing quietly.
Above the mage college of Julatsa a dense, dark cloud exploded and evaporated. Rebraal stood with his primary mage, Dila'heth, five miles from the city yet still they could feel the heat and the vibrations through the ground. Their horses, bought from a farmer on the coast of Triverne Inlet, grazed nearby, showing little sign of nervousness.
Julatsa sat like a pearl on flat open ground below them. Even from this distance the elves could see the dust of the Garonin approach, the flash of spells and the damage the city had already taken. At its centre the college still stood proud. Banners from her masts fluttered and a constant stream of spells fled out from her walls, tower and other high places.
'The Garonin are in the city,' said Dila. 'It will soon be over.' Rebraal turned to her. 'I am sorry, Dila. Tual will give you strength. Ix will not desert you nor your brothers and sisters.'
Dila'heth fell to her knees.
'Tual help us,' said Rebraal. He crouched by her. 'Dila?'
She was not looking at him but past him. Down across the plain the sky was dark. A cloud wider and deeper than any they had seen before was building over the centre of the city. It was spiralling slowly and its core was dense with the yellow of Julatsan magic.
Dila retched and groaned. Rebraal put an arm about her shoulders and held her to him, feeling her trembling and gasping for breath as if her chest was constricted. The cloud was spinning and growing. The cracks of lightning sent echoes across the plain. Spells still flew from the college but nothing would save them now. A stillness fell, emanating from the centre of the cloud. The pressure built, pressing on Rebraal's ears like he had dived too far underwater. Dila was shuddering in his arms. He could feel her tears splash on his fingers and the low moan she uttered was strangling his heart.
Wider and wider the cloud spread. Faster and faster it turned. Yellow light shimmered all around and flashed dangerously within it. The stillness became a hum and the ground began to shake. Just a slight quiver through his feet but there all the same.
Rebraal saw buildings rocking. He saw slates fall and walls begin to collapse. From the west gates, people were running. Tiny dark shapes on the pale grass of the plain. The hum rattled the teeth in his jaws. Dila put her hands to her head and scratched at her skull. Her voice became a keening wail.
The cloud detonated.
A blinding yellow light flashed across the plain. Thick black smoke chased it away. The sound wave rolled out. Buildings shivered and fell. The tower of Julatsa exploded outwards. Stone was catapulted high into the sky, huge boulders turning lazy arcs to smash down on the city and the college. A massive column of yellow light streamed up, turning to smoke and haze before shutting off with the finality of a prison door slamming.
The force of the explosion swept out. Grass was flattened, trees bent, snapped, were uprooted or swayed back, scattering their leaves. Heat washed over the elven force. Rebraal turned himself and Dila away. The wave knocked them down. He breathed in hot air and choked out a cough.
Struggling to breathe for a moment, Rebraal dragged himself and Dila'heth to their feet. Across the plain was a sight that he could not take in and one that would remain with him until death closed his eyes the final time.
Half of the city was gone. Levelled. Dust was rising and billowing. Only the western edge of Julatsa remained, while beyond it the escaping Julatsans could be seen still running, protected at the last by the stone of their homes.
In the midst of the devastation he could hear exultant voices raised to the sky. In his arms Dila was reduced to wracking sobs, the centre of her life stolen away. He rocked her there for a while until she had calmed. She pulled away from him a little.
'Nothing left for us here now,' she said, her voice empty. 'We should get back to the ships. Time is against us.'
Ilkar pulled himself upright and leaned back in the deep armchair. The nausea passed but the gulf in his body remained. He met the barbarian's even gaze and could see the old Hirad shining through the unfamiliar face he now wore.
'It's over,' he said, feeling a strange sense of relief. 'Only Xetesk left now. And I think that should worry us.'
Hirad stretched over from his chair and patted Ilkar's knee. 'Well it would if it weren't for the fact that the Garonin are going to roll over here in a few days too. How are you feeling?'
'Like I've been robbed. I can't touch anything that is mine, if you see what I mean. The house is empty and will never be refilled.'
He smiled but was aware how hollow it must look. Hirad rubbed a hand over his chin.
'So is that it? End of you as a mage?'
'Well, some would argue that happened when the Elfsorrow killed me.'
'You know what I mean.'
'Yep, sorry. And no, it isn't the end, but you have to understand the mechanics of spell casting.'
Hirad's face fell. 'Must I?'
Ilkar laughed. 'Gods drowning, I'm glad you're with me. This is the most depressing day in the life of any Julatsan mage but at least I can console myself that I am not you.'
'Mechanics,' said Hirad.
'Look, until the Garonin take every bit of mana, then any mage can still cast, sort of. What a Heart does is concentrate and feed out mana. It brings consistency to the mana density and each college's Heart balances the others. Or used to. Now, if I try and cast, I'll find it hard to drag enough mana in to construct my casting. It'll take a whole lot more effort too and the outcome will be less certain.'
'So, more difficult, more tiring and more dangerous to cast.'
'Nothing gets past you, does it, Hirad?'
'Fu-'
The door to the frugal student chambers that the two of them were sharing with Sirendor opened with some vigour. Denser stood in the doorway. Dystran was at his back and a cluster of other men could be seen in the corridor outside.
'Come in,' said Hirad. 'Oh, I see you already have.'
Ilkar stood slowly, a crawling sensation in his gut. 'What's going on?'
His tone was picked up by Hirad, who tensed and let a hand drop to his sword hilt. Denser walked in and let the room fill behind him. Ilkar nodded at Dystran and counted the number of guards with him. Too many.
'Ilkar, I am deeply sorry about what has happened to Julatsa. We were tracking the battle by Communion Globe but of course there was little we could do.'
'Any idea how many escaped?' Ilkar raised his eyebrows. 'Or who in particular?'
Denser shrugged. 'They had begun an evacuation when it was clear all was lost, but who actually got out is anyone's guess.'
'Pheone?' Ilkar didn't really want to utter the name of his former lover, now High Mage of Julatsa, lest it damn her.
'Like Heryst she was in the Globe chamber until very late on. Heryst did not try to run, we know that. As for Pheone . . . I'm sorry, I think you have to assume the worst.'
'The good news keeps on pouring in, doesn't it?' muttered Hirad.
'It does rather,' said Denser. Ilkar saw him shift uncomfortably and redden a little at the neck. 'And that's kind of why I'm here. Why we're here. There's been a change of plan.'
'Oh?' Ilkar did not like the way Dystran was smiling.
'With Julatsa fallen it rests with Xetesk to rise to the challenge as the last bastion of power on Balaia, the last chance to save our country for all who survive the Garonin. We cannot countenance desertion. So many people in far-flung parts of the country will be untouched by the enemy but will feel the effects of their passing. For the greater good of Balaia, for her people and for the continuation of magic, Xetesk must and will survive. No one is going to the Wesmen. Here we stand and here we fight. I am closing the gates to the city.'
'Have you completely taken leave of your senses?' asked Ilkar, disbelieving what he had just heard for a moment. 'I mean, no doubt you are about to deliver that same great leader speech to the masses or something, but this is me. This is Hirad and Sirendor. You know you can talk to us person to person. We're friends, remember? And we all agree we need a way out of here should you fail. Right?'
Denser shook his head. 'Wrong. We will not fail. We have the means and we have the ability. Xetesk will stand and will rule the new Balaia.'
Hirad's mouth hung open. It was almost comical. Ilkar cleared his throat and rubbed his face.
'I know you aren't wild about our escape plan but you can't just put a stop to it. It doesn't make any sense. What does The Unknown have to say about this?'
Denser looked at the ceiling. 'Our king is currently indisposed.'
Hirad exploded across the room. Two of Denser's guards got to him. Just. He jabbed a finger between them as they pushed him back away from their Lord of the Mount.
'Fucking idiot. Fucking betrayer. You'll kill everyone. Are you blind? I am coming for you, Denser. You can't do this.'
'Shut up, Hirad,' said Denser. 'I can and I will. I am Lord of the Mount of Xetesk. This is my duty.'
Ilkar had his hands on his mouth. He felt detached. Like he was watching a play or something.
'You stand on the brink of annihilation and yet still you dream of power and dominion,' he breathed. 'I will not help you do this. No dead will help you do this.'
'That's not strictly speaking true but we anticipated such a reponse. We know what drives the dead. We know what you desire for yourselves and for those who brought you back. Did you really think I wouldn't get wind of your little plan to sneak my people out of my city?'
'You have no right-'
'Don't talk to me about rights, Sirendor. This is my city. I cannot, I will not have the dead poisoning the minds of my people any longer. There is fighting in the streets, there is tension where there needs to be calm preparation and there is divisiveness where there must be unity. But you can still help me. Your friend Auum has conveniently collected nearly every one of the dead in a single place. You will join them but you will not leave there. And when the Garonin breach the walls of the city, you will have your chance for revenge while we continue laying our plans for victory. Every moment will count. Fight hard.'
Ilkar sat back down. 'You bastard.'
'What?' asked Hirad, still restrained by the college guardsmen.
'You heard what Auum said. About splitting the density of souls to fragment the Garonin invasion force. That bastard wants to use us as a decoy.'
Hirad's face greyed. 'You traitorous little fuck.'
'That's enough, Hirad,' said Denser. 'I have to save those who can be saved. You are dead. It is already too late for you.'
'Have you listened to nothing?' Hirad's lunge forced his guards back a pace. 'There is nowhere for the dead to go. Nowhere for the living who die to go. You are betraying everyone. For fleeting power. You were a man I loved and trusted. A Raven man. What happened to you?'
'Goodbye, Hirad. Ilkar, I wish you well. And Hirad, don't make it hard, eh? You will leave the college right now or your soul will fly to the void.'
Chapter 20.
'It really is the only way,' said Dystran.
'Then why do I feel like I am the lowest form of life in this city?' said Denser.
'Feeling sorry for yourself won't help you.'
'It seems a good place to start, all right?'
Denser walked out onto the highest balcony of his tower. It afforded him unsurpassed views of his college, his city and beyond. It showed him the few remaining dead scattered about his city being rounded up and escorted to their desolate quarter of Xetesk. Easy enough to do. For the ones that weren't displaying the manner of their deaths like a badge, all that was needed was to shine a lantern on them and their shadow gave them away. No hiding place. No exceptions. Well, one.
'But you can feel the tension lifting, can't you?'
And he could. It was quite something. With his guards erecting barricades across all exits from the area of parkland and abandoned homes in which the dead were effectively corralled, the living were regaining control of their city. Already, they were beginning to gather in the college courtyard, on the apron outside the college's south gate and anywhere on the approaches. Denser was due to address them from the tower.
Denser turned. The exception, Septern, was at his shoulder. On the table behind them the master mage had overlaid a ward grid on a map of the city. It was a true work of art both aesthetically and technically.
'You had to do something,' added Dystran. 'The dead were dividing us just by their presence and the more dangerous souls were sowing rotten seed. Feel the mood of the city when our defence is organised. Think of the support when you remind them that hundreds and hundreds of mouths to be fed are gone. Never underestimate the greed of the individual desperate to survive.'
'I certainly won't do that,' said Denser.
Out in the city his mages were laying wards in locations matching Septern's exact specifications. Beyond the gates the horizon was obscured from north to south by the Garonin's expanding cloud of dust and burned mana. Korina was the only other major city still standing and was not as yet under concerted threat; it was as though the capital was being left until last.
What Denser really needed to know was when the new Garonin machine would achieve its critical mass and head back towards Xetesk. He had scouts tracking it and mages ready to fly in with any news. So far though, the Garonin were content to amble along in a seemingly random pattern about four days out. It was a hiatus that would not last for long.
More dead were moving along The Thread. Hirad, Ilkar and Sirendor were with them. He had acquiesced and let them say their goodbyes to Diera and her boys but had refused them leave to see Sol. At least they were causing no trouble. He bit his lip and swallowed a lump in his throat.
'They were fine people when they were alive,' said Dystran. 'But something changed in them when they died. The manner of their deaths, the places they died. Something. They are different. Not The Raven you remember. Don't be beguiled into remembering what you saw as your friends. They stopped being that the day they died.'
'What do you think, Septern?'
'If death changed me, then I do not remember my old life. But I care not for loyalties and guilt. Both are wastes of effort. I only care whether my grid will work. Let me take you through it.'
Denser moved to the table. Septern was right. And he was different from every other dead person that Denser had met. Completely consumed by himself and what he could do for magic on Balaia. Just like the stories about him when he was alive. And Hirad had been different from his old self, hadn't he? The old Hirad would have wanted to fight to the bitter end. Save his country and all that. It was not and never had been his way to run from his enemies.
'I'd better be right about this,' Denser said.