The Raven Collection

by James Barclay

  ‘Raven! For all the times all we had was our belief, join me. For every moment we stared defeat in the face and returned victorious, join me. To avenge every one of us who has fallen, join me. You, The Raven dead. To believe is to prevail. To stand by those you love and pick up your swords one more time for Balaia and for The Raven.

  ‘I believe in you. All of you. Hirad Coldheart, you have never run away from a fight in your life. I believe in you. Ilkar, your shield never once failed. I believe in you. And you, Thraun, who stood by us man and wolf. Belief brought you back; it can do so again. Sirendor, the warrior with a blade to mesmerise. You were stolen from us too soon. I believe in you. Auum, your whole being is belief. Your Tai will never desert you. Stand with us.’

  Sol continued to turn. The Garonin continued to watch. Briefly, an image played out above. Korina under bombardment.

  ‘Raven, where are you!’ Sol shouted. ‘Past and present. Believe in me. Believe in you. Believe in our fight. For the dead of Balaia, for the living of Balaia, believe in victory. Hirad, Thraun, Ilkar, Sirendor, Ras, Erienne, Will, Ren, Ark, Aeb, Darrick, Richmond, Jandyr. Whoever you are, you are Raven. Wherever you are, come to me. Stand with me. Stand with me!’

  Nothing but his words echoing away into the ivory. Nothing but the susurration of the Garonin as their confidence grew. Sol narrowed his eyes and clung on to his belief.

  ‘Don’t you desert me now, you bastards. From wherever you are gone, I call you all. The Raven dead, the Tai of Auum. I call you. Stand with me. Fight with me. Raven! Raven, with me!’

  The Garonin tired of watching. Weapons were drawn. Sol could hear the buzz of the white light that ran around their blades. He brought his sword in front of him and gripped it in two hands. He glared at the Garonin walking directly towards him.

  ‘One at a time, if that’s what it takes,’ he said.

  There was a whisper in the air. Sol felt a presence standing beside him. He breathed in a huge, glorious breath. There was no need to turn to look.

  ‘Hirad. Just in time.’

  ‘Never a truer word.’

  In front of Sol the Garonin advance had faltered. Sol dared a glance at the barbarian. Hirad was gazing down at himself, his filthy, beaded and braided hair hanging in front of his deep-tanned face. The scar on his forehead and left cheek was plainly visible. His leather armour was a patchwork of repair. But the sword in his hand was sharp and held with total confidence.

  ‘Don’t worry about it; believe it. Work to do.’

  ‘Where’s Ilkar and Sirendor? Or Auum?’

  ‘Plenty of time, Coldheart,’ said Sol. ‘Until then it’s just us.’

  ‘Should be plenty enough.’

  The sound of a two-handed blade tapped rhythmically on the ground echoed across Ulandeneth.

  ‘What do you reckon, Hirad?’ said The Unknown Warrior. ‘One more time?’

  ‘You know you said that to me once before.’

  ‘Well, this time I really mean it.’

  Hirad grinned. The two men touched gauntlets.

  ‘One more time, Unknown. Sol.’

  The Unknown’s blade ceased its tapping.

  The Unknown thrashed his blade upwards two-handed. The edge ripped through his opponent’s guard, smashing his sword from his hand. The swing continued, connecting with the Garonin’s helmet. The heavy blade shattered the faceplate and tore through nose and cheek on its way out. The victim was cast back, a bubbling scream breaking from torn lips.

  Before the others had a chance to adjust, The Unknown circled the blade about his head and brought its tip crashing down on the head of another. The Garonin’s helmet crumpled under the force of the blow and his arms flew up as his body was driven to the ground. The Unknown roared and brought the blade through again, left to right. It buried itself in the hip of the third Garonin with a crunch of broken bone.

  Hirad stepped in to block a white-edged blade angling into The Unknown’s unguarded right flank. He forced the enemy sword down and away. Hirad adjusted his grip and reversed his blade high and across the Garonin’s neck, finding the gap between armour and helmet. He moved his blade to his left hand.

  The fifth moved in fast. Hirad spread his feet for balance and beckoned the man in. He moved to Hirad’s right and struck low. Hirad turned his body sideways. The blade fizzed by his thigh. He grabbed the enemy’s arm and pulled him off balance. Hirad’s sword cut deep into the Garonin’s back, sending him sprawling.

  One man standing. The Unknown had dragged his blade from where it had lodged and began to move to the right. Hirad nodded understanding and went left. The Garonin inclined his head, lowered his blade and blinked out of existence.

  The Unknown didn’t pause to curse the cowardice. He ran over to his first victim and dropped down, one knee on the Garonin’s chest. He pulled away the remains of the faceplate and stared into deep, dark orbs. The Garonin was bubbling blood from the slit of his nose and his cheek pumped crimson onto the ivory floor, where it faded quickly.

  ‘You’re going nowhere,’ growled The Unknown.

  ‘Impressive,’ managed the Garonin.

  ‘Just wait till we’re all here,’ said Hirad. ‘And Unknown, we need to get the others here fast. The passageway is folding up behind them.’

  The Unknown jerked his head round.

  ‘What?’

  ‘It started when you left. Everyone is stuck but us.’

  The Unknown swore and turned back to his victim. ‘Talk quickly. You want something from me. Something more. What is it?’

  The susurration again. ‘You already know, Sol of Balaia. You are a light to follow. Cursed to lead us to where we want to go.’

  ‘And if I refuse to open the door?’

  ‘Your people are already dying. It is not an option, is it?’

  The Unknown stood. ‘No, it’s not. Hirad, join me. We can call them. Why did you come?’

  ‘Because I was born to stand at your side to fight. I could feel your soul.’

  ‘Exactly. Think that of the others. Bring them to us. Will you fail?’

  ‘I will not.’

  The two men spread their arms wide and called The Raven to them.

  Chapter 41

  Auum watched Miirt dispatch the three Garonin and felt almost sorry for them. The elves, like all of the dead, had nowhere else to run. The collapse of the passage was inexorable and unstoppable. It was folding in on itself, chasing towards where they were packed and trapped.

  The Raven’s dead had blinked away one by one and Auum had viewed this with some small satisfaction.

  ‘He calls them,’ said Ghaal. ‘The Ravensoul is a powerful entity.’

  Auum nodded. ‘And so are the elven Gods. Do you believe Yniss would abandon three of his chosen to a fate such as this?’

  ‘I do not.’

  ‘Neither do I. Miirt. Join us.’

  Miirt flew out over the heads of the dead and came to rest where her brothers were floating. The three shades bowed their heads, their arms about each others’ shoulders.

  ‘Tai, we pray,’ said Auum.

  ‘Much good will that do you,’ said a voice from the crowd.

  Their agitation had long since peaked and it seemed their energy had slipped away with the approach of what they assumed was oblivion. Even the sight of the quartet of Raven shadows departing had failed to lift their hopes.

  ‘Humans despair before all is lost,’ said Auum, his tone stilling the crowd. ‘And you have no Gods to protect you, nothing to which to anchor your souls. For elves it is different. We will not end our journeys here. Yniss keeps us for other tasks. Any who choose to believe that might do well to form a chain of touch that begins with us.

  ‘Tai, we pray.’

  Auum bowed his head again, hearing worthless scepticism, sarcastic comment and open insult from those about to becoming nothing whatever. Such it was with humans. Offer them their only possible means of escape and their ridiculous pride would still ensure their annihilation.

&nbs
p; ‘Yniss, hear your servants. From beyond the bonds of flesh, we call you. We seek that which all elves desire. To find a new place to call home. A place to bring our people where they might flourish in your glory. Where Tual’s denizens might run free. Where Beeth holds mastery over all that grows and where Gyal’s tears bring life. Where Shorth may speed our passing from one life to the next.

  ‘Hear us, Yniss, your servants ready to do your bidding. To serve the purpose for which we are chosen. Hear us Yniss. Spare us for greater tasks in your name. The enemy still fights. We will cast them down.

  ‘Hear us, Yniss. Use us, love us. Your servants ever.’

  There was a brief reverential silence, broken by ignorance.

  ‘Well, that got us precisely nowhere.’

  Auum raised his head.

  ‘If I did not respect those of your kind already fighting for you, I would cast you all aside to perish in this miserable void where your souls will find no rest for all of eternity.

  ‘Wait.’ Auum looked at the end of the passage, coming ever closer. ‘Believe.’

  Ilkar and Sirendor came across without difficulty. The elven mage took one look about him and sat on the ground, head in hands. Sirendor stood exactly where he had appeared, staring down at his perfect chain mail shirt and fine, tailored clothes. His blade rested in a delicately carved scabbard, its hilt freshly bound and its pommel buffed to a brilliant shine.

  ‘Admire yourself later,’ said The Unknown. ‘We need to get Thraun out of there.’

  Sirendor nodded. ‘And quickly.’

  ‘Ilkar. We need you.’

  Ilkar raised his head. His sharp features were drawn with sadness and his dark hair lay lank across his shoulders.

  ‘There is no mana here. Not a breath.’

  ‘We don’t need your magic right now, we need your soul,’ said The Unknown.

  ‘I feel empty.’

  ‘Well, Thraun is going to feel pretty flat too in just a moment,’ said Hirad.

  Ilkar nodded. He pushed himself wearily to his feet and stood with the three warriors. Arm in arm, they bowed their heads. Ilkar leaned gently into Hirad.

  ‘Good joke, by the way. Probably your first.’

  ‘Concentrate,’ snapped The Unknown. ‘Invest your faith in The Raven. Push out with your soul. Reach for Thraun. Reach for all The Raven dead. Remember Thraun. Loyal, great heart. Whether man or wolf, Raven born and ever one of us. Stand with us, Thraun. We need you. Fight with us.’

  Hirad sensed them all deep within him. The bond they had shared when they lived intensified now they stood together as souls clad in memories. The warmth and strength it brought suffused him. He cast his mind out, visualising the corridor. He thought one word and pulsed it through his soul.

  ‘Remember.’

  A wolf howled close by. The Raven quartet broke up. Thraun padded towards them, scenting the air. He was hunkered low as he came, semi-submissive and plainly anxious. Hirad moved to him, kneeling down in front of him.

  ‘You’re safe, Thraun. Among friends.’

  ‘Where are we?’ asked Sirendor.

  ‘Ulandeneth,’ said The Unknown.

  ‘I’ve been in some dull places but this beats them all,’ said Sirendor. ‘Which way is out?’

  ‘I don’t know. But we’re going to need more of us, to build the combined soul that has the power to sense our destination.’

  Hirad looked at The Unknown and wrinkled his nose. ‘I don’t want to doubt you or anything but how do you know that?’

  ‘I don’t. It’s a hunch. But feel us now, even with four and a wolf. You all came back to me, remember, and you were stronger when you were close to each other. Well nothing’s changed except I’m dead too. The Garonin have tried to get to me twice now. There’s something I can do alongside The Raven that bothers them. Something they can’t comprehend or control.’

  Sol had begun walking. The others fell into step with him.

  ‘The Ravensoul,’ whispered Ilkar. ‘They don’t possess souls. It’s our one advantage up here.’

  Hirad rubbed his hands over his face. ‘Have any of you taken a look about? There’s nothing here. I mean, I don’t see a whole line of doors, do you? Where are we headed, exactly?’

  The Unknown spread his hands.

  ‘Come on, Hirad, you can’t be that literal. For one thing, everything is here, we just can’t see it yet. And for another, there was never going to be a line of doors, was there? This isn’t one of Korina’s filthy brothels.’

  ‘Well all right then, smart-arse. What are we looking for?’

  The Unknown rounded on him. ‘I do not need your quick mouth and slow brain in my ear, Hirad. And aren’t these questions I should be asking you? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I died at your behest, you and the rest of The Raven, to help you find a new resting place. Right, well I’m here. You tell me what’s next. All the time we delay, the Garonin are slaughtering our people. So either make a positive comment or shut up.’

  ‘If that’s the way you want it.’

  Hirad turned and wandered away in another direction.

  ‘Gods drowning, Coldheart, you can be such a child,’ said Ilkar.

  Hirad’s frustration boiled over. He stalked back among them and none of them would catch his eye.

  ‘Think I want to be here in this miserable wilderness walking from one blank space to another? Seems to me I’m the only one brave enough to ask a few tricky questions. Sorry if I ask them in the wrong way but that’s me, isn’t it? None of us is real, all right? We do all know we’re not really standing here looking ten years younger than when we died and in our old armour, don’t we?

  ‘I mean, we’re here, but this is all a figment of memory or something like that. It has to be. I’ve just killed three Garonin with this sword and I don’t want to think too hard about how that could possibly be. After all, they were actually alive, they actually bled and lost limbs, and I’m just a floating soul. Is anyone else finding this just a little bit odd? And that’s even though it is unbelievable to be standing with you, fighting with you and arguing with you, and I never want it to end.

  ‘The fact is that none of you has the first fucking clue what to do, have you? We’ve lost all the dead we came with. We can’t help the living by standing with them any more and we haven’t even got an enemy to fight. I’m happy to admit I do not know what we are supposed to do here. The rest of you seem to be relying on blind faith. Stupid. It really is.

  ‘Well. Has any one of you got anything to say?’

  Hirad’s voice boomed around them as if they were in an enclosed space. Ilkar and Sirendor both looked at their boots. Thraun was prone, watching Hirad’s outburst with his head cocked to one side and ears pricked right up. The Unknown had stopped his march too. He didn’t turn for a while and Hirad saw him shaking his head. When finally he faced Hirad there was a smile broad enough to relax the most tense of muscles. He walked to the barbarian, took the sides of his face in his hands and kissed his forehead.

  ‘And I love you too, Unknown, but I think the others will get jealous that you only have lips for me.’

  ‘Hirad, as usual, in your random and confused fashion, you have come up with the answer.’

  ‘I have?’ Hirad raised his eyebrows. ‘Care to point me at the cleverest bit of what I said?’

  ‘Shouldn’t be too hard,’ said Ilkar. ‘It’ll stick out like a mage at a Black Wing party.’

  ‘Actually, it’s most of what you said in one way or another,’ said Sol. ‘But, in a nutshell, blind faith is exactly what it’s about. Look, they had me here once before tied to a chair and I couldn’t see the bonds. Only when I believed I could stand up was it possible to do so. Same as when I decided I wanted to come home. I had to know that was what I wanted above all else. And I had to visualise it to make it happen. This is a place beyond life or death. It’s both and neither. Stop believing and you’ll fade. Believe utterly and there’s nothing you can’t do.’

  ‘But it doesn’t get
us to the door, does it?’ asked Hirad.

  ‘That’s because we’re trying to find it rather than let it bring us to it . . . Is anyone getting this?’

  ‘Yes, I think I am.’ Ilkar was scratching at an ear. ‘After all, when you die, you travel to the last resting place without thought, it’s just where you go. And when the Garonin threw us all out, we travelled back to Balaia in pretty much the same fashion, didn’t we? All of us drawn by Sol or Densyr, bless his Xeteskian intransigence. And what you’re saying is the same, isn’t it?’

  ‘That’s about the size of it.’ The Unknown frowned at Ilkar. ‘You all right?’

  Ilkar shrugged. He was shivering. ‘I’ll be fine.’

  ‘What, so we lie down, smoke something interesting and let it happen, is that right?’ said Hirad. ‘Bit dull, isn’t it?’

  ‘I’m sorry but you can’t always wade through rivers of blood, all right?’ said The Unknown. ‘And yes, we do let it happen in a sense but more along the lines of opening our souls to where the doorway is and then making our way to it.’

  ‘Open our souls to what? When I died, I travelled, just like Ilkar said. No choice. When I came back, I recognised you, Unknown, and could follow your soul all the way home. But this new place, we know nothing about it. It’s hidden from everyone and for a good reason, assuming it even exists. How do we open our souls to it?’

  ‘I’ll concede that’s a good question,’ said The Unknown. ‘Any thoughts?’

  ‘I’ve got another good question. What are they all doing?’

  The Raven followed the direction of Sirendor’s index finger. Indistinct, like figures in a heat haze, were people. Quite a lot of them.

  ‘How long have they been there?’ asked The Unknown, already walking towards them.

  ‘Just caught them out of the corner of my eye,’ said Sirendor. ‘What are you thinking?’

  ‘I’m thinking it looks bad. If I’m right, Garonin can travel here at will but they are also sensitive to what happens here and are drawn to opportunity,’ said The Unknown.