The Raven Collection

by James Barclay

  Hirad lay back on his bed and closed his eyes, relaxing his body and opening his mind the way Sha-Kaan had taught him. He had missed contact with the Great Kaan and, as his Dragonene, should have made this effort before. It was possible that the hugely powerful mind of the dragon had probed his and discovered it not sufficiently at rest for him to risk communication. He wouldn’t be surprised. The last three days had hardly been his most restful. Nevertheless, he felt a nervousness. The Great Kaan wasn’t going to like what he had to say.

  ‘Sha-Kaan, can you hear me?’ he asked, letting his thoughts flow as though adrift on the sea.

  Almost at once, he felt the surge as Sha-Kaan’s mind touched his, filling him with a slightly piqued warmth.

  ‘My memories of you were dimming, Hirad Coldheart,’ said Sha-Kaan, his mood definitely light.

  ‘And mine of your poor jokes,’ said Hirad. ‘It is good to feel my mind touch yours again.’

  ‘And I yours,’ said Sha-Kaan. ‘You are troubled. You have a question for me?’

  ‘We need to know the progress the Al-Drechar and you have made with the Xeteskian researchers,’ said Hirad.

  ‘Ah,’ said Sha-Kaan. Hirad’s mind filled with intensified warmth and an emotion that was easily defined. Hope. Hirad’s heart beat faster. ‘The Ancients know so much. And the Xeteskians have sound theory on which to rely. I can almost smell the forests of Teras and see the mountains of Beshara.’

  Hirad bit his lip. ‘Have they told you how long?’

  ‘Half a season, they say, before they can be confident of the position of the dimensions again. But they are discovering much else in the meantime.’

  ‘Oh really?’

  ‘My hearing is a little more acute than the Xeteskians realise,’ said Sha-Kaan, and Hirad felt more humour. ‘After all, I am but a reptile, is that not right?’

  ‘Their mistake,’ said Hirad.

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Sha-Kaan. ‘Most humans are fools. But they believe they have isolated a power they can use in inter-dimensional space and they are excited at re-establishing a linkage to your closest relative dimension, though I am at a loss as to why. The Arakhe, the demons.’ He paused and Hirad felt the edge come off his mood. ‘You are keeping something from me. Do not.’

  ‘They are preparing to leave,’ said Hirad. ‘They want to use everything they’ve found to win the war on Balaia. We don’t think they intend to help you.’

  The silence in his mind was total, and for a time Hirad thought the dragon had left him. But a brooding fury grew in the space so recently filled with hope. He felt it like a weight, pressing down on his brain. It hurt.

  ‘You are sure of this?’

  ‘The Protectors are sure,’ said Hirad, his breath a gasp.

  ‘Then we will ensure they do not leave.’

  ‘Be careful,’ said Hirad. ‘They are a powerful group.’

  ‘Better to die fighting for a way home than slowly on an alien hillside,’ said Sha-Kaan. ‘No one uses Kaan dragons.’

  And he was gone. Hirad breathed easier, the pressure gone but leaving an ache in his head. The dragons were awesome fighters, but without their fire were weakened. He prayed that Sha-Kaan heeded him. If he didn’t, Xeteskian spells could finish what the Dordovans had started two seasons before.

  Denser slipped between the rough-woven but clean sheets and blew out the single candle that illuminated the small room. He lay on his back and Erienne moved across to him, putting her head on his chest. He stroked her hair and she breathed deeply.

  ‘It doesn’t get any easier, does it?’ he said.

  ‘No,’ said Erienne. ‘Though at least I can distract myself here. The dark though. That brings it all back.’

  ‘I know, love. I’m no different.’

  His heart was as heavy as the day they had left Herendeneth, and he knew Erienne’s must be too. And now here they were charged with something they didn’t expect. The elves were dying and Ilkar was at risk. And if he sickened, the only humane thing to do would be to kill him. More death of those they loved. They couldn’t let that happen. Bugger the rest of them but Ilkar deserved every day of his long life.

  ‘Funny though, isn’t it?’ he said.

  ‘What?’ He felt her head move as if she were trying to look up at him.

  ‘We came here to help Ilkar look for mages and now we’re off to fight at a temple to save the whole elven race. It’s horrible, I know, but I feel better for doing it.’

  ‘The Raven needs a purpose,’ said Erienne. ‘Shepherd to a flock of reluctant Julatsan elves wasn’t enough, was it?’

  ‘No.’ Denser chuckled. ‘How was Rebraal?’

  ‘I don’t think he enjoys the touch of a human,’ said Erienne.

  ‘Good.’

  Erienne slapped his shoulder. ‘But he was fine. He’ll sleep till just before dawn. I only hope it’s enough. His determination is incredible. I think he’d have left tonight if Kild’aar and Ilkar hadn’t stopped him. And by all accounts two days ago he should have been dead.’

  ‘Like brother, like brother,’ said Denser. He paused. ‘And how are you?’

  Erienne didn’t answer immediately, just lay silent, listening to his heart beating and the sound of the rain hammering on the leaf thatch above.

  ‘I miss her,’ she said, her voice trembling but controlled. ‘Every quiet moment her memory floods me.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t quite what I meant though. How’s your head, the One?’

  ‘It hurts more every day,’ admitted Erienne. ‘Sometimes a pulsing pain, sometimes a dull ache. But it never lets me forget it’s there.’

  ‘And have you thought of opening yourself to it? And seeking the advice of the Al-Drechar?’

  Denser expected an angry response and was pleasantly surprised.

  ‘Every day,’ she said. ‘When the pain is bad and Lyanna fills my mind. Then I wonder if I shouldn’t get started.’

  ‘Then why don’t you?’

  ‘Because they are causing the pain,’ said Erienne, tensing suddenly. She pushed herself up on her arms and looked at him. He could just see her face in the dark, surrounded by her mass of long curls. Gods, but she was beautiful. ‘I know it’s them. Somehow, they’re putting pressure on me and I will not dance to their tune.’

  ‘If it is them, you’d think they’d have realised that by now,’ said Denser. ‘Didn’t take me long, did it?’

  He saw the flash of a smile. ‘But they’re old and fearful of dying before they can ensure the One survives. I’m just not ready and I wish they’d respect that. I could handle the learning; I just can’t handle them inside my head. Not yet.’

  ‘I understand. Just don’t do it on your own,’ said Denser, his hand rubbing her upper arm. ‘I’m here. We’re all here.’

  She lay back down, her fingers running up and down his chest and stomach. His gut muscles tensed.

  ‘That tickles,’ he said.

  ‘I know.’ She carried on. ‘It’s good to have something approaching a proper bed again, isn’t it? I bloody hate hammocks.’

  Denser laughed. ‘Can’t say I got used to them either.’

  ‘This feels great though.’ She raised herself up on her arms again. ‘Want to put it to some proper use?’

  He didn’t answer, just dragged her face to his, kissed her deeply on the lips and let the mana cocoon them and their passion sweep them away.

  Chapter 24

  The Raven, led by Rebraal and flanked by the mysterious painted elf and his companion panther, set off towards Aryndeneth as first light began to pierce the morning’s heavy cloud cover. Just before dawn, they’d witnessed a deluge harder than any they’d seen before, accompanied by a spectacular lightning storm and splitting reports of thunder.

  There was something indefinably powerful about the pair that Ilkar had named ClawBound. They were linked in mind, he’d said, and utterly dependent on each other. The panther had sized up and dismissed The Raven immediately. All bar Thraun. Shapechan
ger and panther had stared deep into each other’s eyes, Thraun crouching to stroke the animal’s head, the panther responding by licking his hand and face. An understanding passed between them, that was certain. And when Thraun had stood, Hirad saw the painted elf nod at him. Very slight, but there nonetheless. Thraun showed no emotion bar the slightest of smiles.

  Crossing the log bridge, they could see the trench had claimed the lives of many small rodents while the lizards and snakes kept their heads above water while they searched for a way out.

  Rebraal led them south, occasionally pausing to look over his shoulder, shake his head and offer prayers to whichever God he thought was listening before slipping away again through the dense forest, leaving almost no mark. The same couldn’t be said of The Raven. Rebraal had given Hirad and The Unknown a short, angled chopping blade each and told them in halting and very rusty Balaian that they should only use it when they ran out of room.

  Through the morning, the heat grew and Hirad finally understood what Ilkar had meant by the sapping conditions in the forest. Sailing and rowing upriver, they’d been outside the oppressive heat-trapping weight of the canopy and a light breeze had kept conditions tolerable. Now though, only a few hours into their walk, he could see the wisdom of the light leather Ilkar had insisted they buy for armour.

  Sweat beaded and ran on his face, it dripped down his back and soaked the backs of his legs. He felt as if he’d dipped his head in a hot stream, and the more he wiped it away the more it came. They were plagued by clouds of flies the magnitude of which they certainly hadn’t seen when camping on the way to the village. For a brief moment, Hirad wondered if he shouldn’t wear the fine net that covered his hammock at night. Imagining himself dressed in it brought the only smile to his face the whole morning.

  Holding aside a draping plant, Hirad looked behind him. Denser and Erienne walked together, faces set and anxious, eyes darting everywhere, following every noise. But they’d drawn closer again and for that Hirad was grateful, even if the sounds of their love-making had kept him awake last night.

  Darrick looked miserable, waving incessantly at flies or scratching at his legs and arms, while Aeb betrayed nothing and Thraun, bringing up the rear, was smiling, loving every moment of it. He still hadn’t said much but Hirad could see in his eyes that he was coming back to them. And the way he’d formed up in The Raven’s line outside the village had set Hirad’s heart singing. There was still pain there, though. The pain of the loss of his pack and of his friend Will Begman’s death, for which he blamed himself so unfairly.

  ‘Come on, Hirad, keep up,’ called Ilkar from up ahead.

  Hirad turned to see Rebraal, Ren and Ilkar watching him. He held the plant aside until Denser reached it and then strode on, scowling.

  ‘God, I hate patronising elves,’ he muttered at The Unknown’s broad back.

  ‘Just don’t let it get to you too much,’ said The Unknown over his shoulder.

  ‘Too late. Just because they’re bloody born to it. I don’t have to be here, you know.’

  ‘Of course not, Hirad,’ said The Unknown. ‘After all, I’ve never heard you mention how The Raven never works apart.’

  ‘Some rules you live to regret, don’t you?’ he said.

  ‘No, you don’t,’ replied The Unknown. He upped his pace a little, Hirad responding. ‘What a place.’

  Rebraal kept up a hard pace all day. The going was difficult and in the afternoon they tired quickly. A brief stop for food after the third rain of the day hadn’t brought much respite. Interrupted by having to move smartly away to avoid a foraging mass of inch-long ants, the meal of cold dried meat and bread was as tasteless as it was hard to eat.

  Hirad had heard the sounds of water for some time before Rebraal brought them to a stop on the banks of a wide sluggish river. He could see the dirty brown water through the bankside vegetation and could just about make out the opposite bank some hundred yards away. Light was fading fast and he didn’t know about anyone else but he was exhausted. Soaked by sweat and rain and with blisters irritating in his boots, he was ready to string up his hammock, confident that nothing would keep him awake once he got his head down.

  ‘Which way?’ he asked.

  They’d gathered under the branches of a huge tree which soared up into the canopy and leaned out over the river.

  Ilkar pointed across the river. ‘That way.’

  ‘How, by boat?’

  Ilkar smiled. ‘No, a bridge.’

  ‘Really?’ Hirad peered through the leaves and branches again. ‘Where is it?’

  ‘Hirad, this isn’t Korina. You’re not going to find a stone arch across the river. You’re not even going to find lashed logs. You’re looking in the wrong place.’

  Ilkar tilted his head skywards. ‘We do things by rope here. That way, people that shouldn’t know crossing points don’t find them.’

  Hirad followed his gaze. He could see nothing. ‘How far up?’ Ilkar asked Rebraal. ‘About a hundred feet. It’s an easy enough climb. Rebraal will show you.’

  ‘Wait a moment . . .’

  But Rebraal was already climbing. Favouring his right arm, he stormed up the trunk, his agility leaving Hirad open-mouthed.

  ‘Hirad, light’s fading. We need to get across tonight. The opposite bank is far better for camping.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Less crocodiles, more space,’ said Ren. ‘And Rebraal doesn’t want to stop here. This is where Mercuun fell.’

  Hirad sighed and spread his hands. ‘Let’s do it. Anyone else not looking forward to it?’

  ‘Didn’t you ever climb trees as a child?’ asked Denser.

  ‘They weren’t miles in the sky and full of snakes,’ said Hirad. ‘What are you two smiling about?’

  Erienne and Denser had the look of people reprieved from execution.

  ‘Tell you what,’ said Denser. ‘I’ll try and catch you if you fall.’

  Hirad frowned. ‘You’ll what?’

  And then they were casting. So was Ilkar. In moments, all had ShadowWings at their backs.

  ‘Bastards.’

  Erienne laughed, her fear of the forest forgotten for a moment. ‘One clear patch of bank is all we need. You should learn a bit of magic, Hirad.’

  ‘I should choose new friends.’ Hirad shook his head. ‘You’d better have a good fire going by the time I get across. Make yourselves at least a little useful.’

  ‘What, and miss the chance to see you wobbling on the rope bridge?’ said Ilkar.

  Hirad ignored him, turning instead to The Unknown. ‘Who’s first?’

  ‘Don’t be an idiot,’ said The Unknown. ‘Denser, Ilkar. Carry us. Let’s show your brother we aren’t so helpless.’

  Hirad smiled. ‘Great idea.’

  ‘It was always the plan,’ said Ilkar. ‘And so was winding you up.’

  Hirad laughed as he was lifted from the ground, arms locked around Ilkar’s waist.

  ‘What is it?’ asked Ilkar

  ‘Thraun,’ said Hirad. ‘Just look at him.’ The shapechanger was scurrying up the tree, his agility a match for Rebraal’s. ‘Your brother’s got a lot to learn about us.’

  Yron was woken by distant thunder and opened his eyes on a day kept dim by heavy cloud. He could see a swathe of blue over to the north but didn’t hold out any hope of avoiding a soaking before the break arrived. Not that it would make much difference, given his plan for the morning.

  As if to prove him right the heavens opened, drowning out the dawn chorus he had come to expect and now didn’t disturb him at all. He shook Ben-Foran, the youngster coming to wakefulness with a start and groaning as he stretched his limbs and back, stiff after an uncomfortable night on the rock. He eyed Yron with a scowl but managed to force a smile onto his face as he stood up.

  ‘What’s for breakfast?’ he asked.

  Yron patted him on the shoulder. ‘You know the rules of my army. Exercise before nourishment.’

  ‘Why am I not surprised, Captain?
’ said Ben. He got to his feet and stretched again, arms high and back arched. ‘Which way are we walking, then?’

  ‘Same direction as yesterday. But there’s nothing better than a healthy swim first thing, I always say. What say we race to the other side?’

  Ben looked at him in total disbelief. ‘You are joking, I hope, sir?’

  Yron shook his head. ‘Got to put something more impressive between us and them than distance, if we’re going to survive this.’

  ‘Captain, if I may make a couple of points that may have slipped your mind,’ said Ben, face pale in the falling rain. ‘First, I’m scared in open water, and second, when we hit this calm stretch, you said we had to get out quickly to avoid crocodile attack. And now you’re suggesting we jump back in? Are you really sure?’

  ‘If we don’t, they’ll track us down and kill us before we get to the ships, unless we are incredibly lucky.’

  ‘And if we do, we’re breakfast for crocodiles.’

  ‘Not necessarily,’ said Yron. ‘It’s all a question of timing and appearance.’

  Ben shifted and frowned. ‘You’re really scared of these elves aren’t you?’

  ‘More scared than I am of a crocodile or a piranha shoal,’ said Yron.

  ‘How can they be so good?’

  ‘When we get across to the other side, I’ll tell you,’ said Yron. ‘It’s time you knew what we’re up against.’

  ‘What about the others, then?’ asked Ben, jerking a thumb back into the forest.

  Yron smiled. This boy would go far if he survived. About to risk his life in the water, he still had enough wit to be worried about the other men.

  ‘They had a good head start,’ said Yron. ‘They have a chance.’

  ‘Really, Captain?’

  ‘Don’t stop believing,’ said Yron, though inside he had very little hope left, none for the groups travelling without mages. ‘Come on, let’s find ourselves a float and a place to cross.’

  Yron led the way back down the short climb, dropping the last couple of feet to stand ankle deep in the water. He cast an eye over the river, looking for telltale ripples or the eyes of a crocodile just above the surface. Ben was descending slowly, favouring his left leg. He looked clumsy.