Takaar smiled. ‘You are my greatest triumph. Don’t let Auum dominate you. Follow your heart’s desires. Fight alongside Xetesk. Ally with anyone to break the Wytch Lords. They must not threaten Herendeneth; we’re vulnerable there.’
‘What about Dawnthief? Surely Auum was right: we must leave the spell hidden.’
‘From Xetesk, yes. But from me or you or the good souls of this college? No. Research makes us stronger and in that spell lies the sum of all magical knowledge for those capable of unpicking its secrets.’
‘Then you must not let them send you away. We’ll need you when this is done.’
Told you. Your authority is long gone.
Takaar picked at his arm, and the cacophony in his head meant he had trouble framing his next words.
‘S-send me away?’
‘Auum wants you to go to Korina to your ships. Drech has sanctioned it.’
Drech.
‘Drech!’
Betrayer.
‘Betrayer!’
‘Takaar?’
Takaar turned to Kerela and managed a smile though his hands were iron and he desired so much to indulge his rage. The cacophony would not die down.
‘Kerela, I am sorry. Those who once loved me are starting to desert me. You remain faithful, don’t you?’
‘Always,’ said Kerela. ‘But they are determined you should go. I will petition Sipharec to give you sanctuary here.’
‘The Senserii will not let me be put on a cart and carried away like some chattel.’
Kerela’s voice was a whisper. ‘I don’t think they will stand against Auum and Drech. Their greatest desire is to see you safe.’
‘I won’t hide here. I must join the fight and, when it is done, join the search.’
‘Patience. Please, Takaar.’
You have none of that.
‘I have none of that.’
Mages at the base of the city wall and behind the gates expended huge energy investing the stone and timbers with more and more strength. Arrows flew in volleys from the ramparts and castings kept the Wesmen back whenever it looked as if an assault might be imminent. But outside, on the trampled ground, the shamen stood in large groups protected by their warriors and out of range of spell and arrow, launching attack after attack on Julatsa’s defences.
Harild had explained that they had sent raiding parties to their deaths in pursuit of the shamen. The black fire ate through magical shields, and the Wesman warriors were quick and brutal. And so the stage was set and the end of the play was no mystery. Julatsa’s walls or gates would be breached. Not today and probably not tomorrow or the next day, but it was only a matter of time.
‘Still no word from Xetesk or the other colleges?’ said Auum.
Harild shook his head. ‘Our latest messengers say they are fully committed in the defence of Understone Pass. No aid is coming.’
They were standing in the main gatehouse. Fire picked at the great timber doors below and dislodged stone from wide areas surrounding the great hinges and braces either side. Shamen had tried to attack the gatehouse itself but Il-Aryn magic had turned the fire away.
‘You should have flown mages out under cover of darkness,’ said Ulysan. ‘Come at them from the rear.’
‘We discussed it but the shamen can sense the use of mana; it’s like they can smell a casting just like they can with your Il-Aryn. Trying it would have been suicide.’
‘But this is the time to attack, isn’t it?’ said Auum. ‘At night they’re scattered throughout the camp. Right now they’re gathered in five clear groups. Strong in magic but vulnerable to attack if we can get close enough.’
‘Aye, but there’s the problem,’ said Harild.
‘Hmm,’ said Auum. ‘Where’s Drech?’
‘Back at the college talking to the Il-Aryn and any of the Julatsan elves not on the walls. Why, got an idea?’
Auum looked back at the nearest shaman team plastering the walls with their black fire. There had to be close to fifty of them, closely guarded by two hundred Wesman warriors taunting the defenders, exhorting them to come out and fight.
‘I have, but the timing is going to be critical. I’m going to need every TaiGethen warrior ready and able to use their emergent speed. I’m going to need the Il-Aryn too, and the Julatsan mages and your cavalry.’
‘Auum?’ said Ulysan.
‘We’ll break them one group at a time.’
In the middle of the afternoon they were set. Auum had settled on sixty TaiGethen to go out, leaving twelve full cells plus the wounded inside the city as back-up. A hundred Il-Aryn prepared themselves for a single casting while the remaining twenty-seven would spot for weaknesses. Every elven Julatsan adept had volunteered to fly out, and Auum had let Kerela choose seventy of them. Eighty cavalrymen were mounted and ready.
‘Get this wrong and a lot of us will die,’ said Auum.
‘They know this casting,’ said Drech, still doubting. ‘It’s inconceivable that Ystormun hasn’t informed them about the weakness.’
‘I’m counting on it,’ said Auum. He turned to his TaiGethen, every one painted and ready. Prayers had been spoken and souls commended to Shorth. ‘Thrynn, Faleen, Hassek, Grafyrre, Merrat, Nyann, Merke, Vaart, Marack, Nokhe, Hohan, Oryaal. All of you survived Katura. We are veterans of battle, our brothers and sisters are not. Lead your cells but lead the others also. Die old, not today.
‘Harild, watch for the moment. I trust you and your cavalry.’
Harild nodded but his doubt was there, plain to see. ‘How can you get to them? I don’t understand.’
‘Trust me and look to your role. If you’re late, the blood that flows will be of elves and the men of Julatsa.’
‘We won’t fail them.’
Auum nodded. ‘Drech, ready your Il-Aryn. TaiGethen, form up.’
They were all mustered at the main gates, which still shuddered under the impact of Wytch Lord magic. Auum took a breath to ease the constriction in his chest as Drech and his Il-Aryn drew on the earth’s energies to form their grand casting. Just as on the ship, it came into place quickly, a shimmering barrier of air made solid. Auum could not deny the bitter taste in his mouth at the necessity. He didn’t think he would ever reconcile himself fully to the use of magic.
‘Open the gates!’ called Harild.
Auum could hear cheers from the Wesmen as the gates were hauled open, screeching and protesting against their winches and hinges. Black fire rattled hard against the timbers, the fingers seeking targets within the city, but Drech moved his barrier into place and the sudden quiet from the spell attack was distracting.
‘Forward!’ ordered Auum. ‘Drech, just hold it as long as you can and then get back inside.’
The TaiGethen moved behind the barrier, which Drech and his people held steady while the black fire moved quickly to its apex, picking away at the mana strands that bound it and were its weakness. Auum could hear free Il-Aryn shouting out warnings and he fancied he could feel the casters fighting to strengthen weak spots.
Beyond the barrier Auum could see Wesman warriors forming up to either side of the shamen, unable to see through the barrier but correctly identifying its intent. They began to advance, careful not to cross into their shamen’s line of sight. The shamen were positioned some hundred yards from the gates and dead ahead of them. Auum and the TaiGethen had moved twenty slow yards forward when the warning came from Drech.
‘We’re losing it.’
The barrier was twisting and shimmering violently. Shaman fire ripped at it in more places than Auum could count and holes were appearing through which the fire spat.
‘TaiGethen, be ready.’ Auum moved forward another three paces, seeing Wesmen advancing steadily, warily. ‘Drech, now! Tais, scatter!’
The barrier disappeared, and for a heartbeat the shaman magic was gone too. Auum let the power of Yniss flood him and the earth beneath his feet cushion him, and he ran. The TaiGethen broke apart, sprinting away hard at multiple angles designed to confuse and distract their enemy.