Demonstorm

'And then you come from a blue morning and for a moment, we are reborn. Feel the energy from our victory if you will! But the reality is that we lost four mages and seven soldiers bringing you in and now I've heard you I'm not sure whether you are here as our saviours or to read us our last letters before death.'

His eyes glittered as they welled up.

'I want so much to believe you can save us. Can you really?' It ended as a hoarse whisper.

Hirad looked around the table. At Auum who would have understood only snatches but who reflected the mood in his eyes. At Thraun who took it all in without a flicker of emotion but who he knew would be replaying the run in here as a wolf and living the nightmare afresh. At Denser on whose shoulder Erienne rested her head, the two of them reflecting Blackthorne's pain as if it were their own. At Darrick whose eyes displayed fierce determination and the indomitable spirit that made him such a leader of men. The spirit that Blackthorne would never let fail while he was with his own people. And finally at The Unknown who understood the Baron perhaps better than any of them. He nodded at Hirad.

'Tell him,' he said and the ghost of a smile touched his lips. 'You know. In your own words.'

Hirad knew exactly what he wanted to say. He wasn't exacdy sure how it would come out but he was certain he'd get his meaning across.

'The only reason we are here is because men like you never give up on what you believe. You remind us of us. And that means we can win, but only because you're behind us, fighting all the way.

'Baron, outside of The Raven, you are the bravest man I know and we need you to help us. Every demon you kill makes our job more possible. Every demon you occupy here is one less that can strike north, and so you help the colleges to survive, and survive they must.

'Everything you have done has been right. You've got people who love you and will die for you. You and I know how valuable that is. And there will be others like you. There must be resistance in Korina

and the Baronies. Baron Gresse is surely still alive - he'll be taking this as a personal insult. But everyone has to believe like The Raven do that these bastards can be destroyed. If you let go that hope for a moment, we are all lost.

'Look around this table, Baron. Do you see anyone who doubts that we will eventually triumph? This is our land. And no one is going to take it from us.'

Blackthorne did look around. He searched all of their faces carefully. Hirad could see it in Blackthorne's face. This wasn't any sort of bravado. He absolutely had to know.

'When you say it, it all sounds so simple,' he said.

'He does simple very well,' said Denser.

There was a burst of laughter. Hirad pointed a finger at the Xeteskian.

'Now that was almost worthy of Ilkar.'

'I'm honoured you think so.'

'You should be.'

The Unknown held up a hand for peace.

'All right,' he said. 'Down to business. Baron, we wouldn't be here if we didn't think we could turn this around. I've left my family behind and I will see them again.'

'Of course,' said Blackthorne. 'Now, what is it you need from me?'

'Later, Darrick will need to visit the armoury for weaponry but right now, there are two things. First, you've fought and studied the demons for two years now. Anything you can tell us, no matter how insignificant, could help. Not necessarily now and not necessarily you. Throw it open to your warriors, mages, everyone. Anyone can approach any of us with information.'

'No problem,' said Blackthorne. 'Luke, handle that for me, will you?'

Luke nodded. 'Now?'

'Time is short,' said The Unknown.

Blackthorne smiled at Luke's retreating figure. The young man was upright, confident and full of energy despite everything.

'I don't know what I'd do without him to run the place.'

'He's why you can't ever give up,' said Hirad.

'I know. Now, you said there were two things?'

'Yes. Well, clearly the demons feel they have us trapped. So we need a way out.' The Unknown had the decency to look apologetic.

'Now there I can help you. As you know, our cellars are particularly extensive and we've extended them further.' He allowed a smile. 'Actually, we've built quite a network of tunnels to exit points beyond our ColdRooms, like I'm sure anyone else still holding out must have done. We rotate their use and close sections from time to time and as it happens have just completed another. You could be its first users. When do you want to leave?'

'Good question,' said The Unknown. 'Short answer is, soon. More helpfully, I think it rather depends on how we all feel tomorrow, Thraun in particular.'

T can run,' said Thraun.

'We may need more than that, old son,' said Hirad.

'Ideally, we'd like to leave tomorrow night. There's a favourable tide early the next morning and we should be on it,' said The Unknown.

'It'll give us time to sort out a few things for you,' said Darrick. 'We've been working on some tactics I can adapt for you.'

'Well, it'll give our warriors something to tell their grandchildren, won't it? Taught batde tactics by General Darrick of The Raven,' said Blackthorne.

'And the more they listen, the more likely it is they'll actually be able to relate it,' said Darrick. 'I'll need them in squads of twenty or thirty or it'll get too ungainly.'

'I'll see it's organised for you. Or rather, Luke will.'

'There is one more thing,' said The Unknown.

'Really. That makes three, doesn't it?' Blackthorne was smiling a litde more easily now.

'He never was too good with numbers,' explained Hirad.

'Gods drowning, hark at that,' said Erienne, stirring herself from Denser's shoulder. She looked very tired. Her eyes were a little sunken but they still held their mischievous spark. 'The barbarian looking down on another's numeracy.'

'Isn't it time you turned in?' said Hirad. 'I'm sure you and Cleress have much to talk about.'

'I don't think she can hear me, Hirad,' said Erienne, sobering. 'I can't feel her in my mind.'

Hirad frowned. 'But I thought . . . ?'

'I was on Herendeneth for two years, Hirad. I wasn't tending the garden all that time. I learned things.' Erienne's tone was testy, impatient. 'I can hold it back without her now. It's hard but I can do it.'

'What else?' he asked.

'The rest we'll just have to wait and see, won't we? You'll know if I do it wrong, that's for sure.'

Hirad shook his head. T don't understand.'

'No, Hirad, you don't.' Erienne rose and moved towards the doors of the hall, all eyes on her. 'You don't know what it's like to go to sleep at night and wonder what state your mind will be in when you wake. You'll never have to experience the dread of using a magic you barely comprehend and that has the capacity to destroy you utterly. And you'll never once wonder, when you uncap the power, if the casting you make will help the people you love the most or instead kill them in an instant. That's me, Hirad. Me.'

Hirad listened to her footsteps echoing away towards the stairs to their two small rooms; all that Blackthorne could spare.

'Sorry, Denser. I didn't mean . . .'

'It's all right,' said the Xeteskian. 'She's finding it difficult right now. When she gets used to Cleress not being there, I'm sure she'll be less moody.'

'Sure?'

Denser looked squarely at him and sighed. 'Actually, Hirad, I haven't got a clue. That's the most she's said about the One for ten days. I think you might even have done me a favour.'

'We're all here for her, you know,' said Hirad, feeling guilt grip his heart.

'She knows that. But sometimes I think she's so alone in her mind that not even we can be of any real use. That's hard.'

'Here,' said Blackthorne, pushing the decanter across the table. 'Fill your glasses. I don't pretend to understand any of what I've just heard so I'm going to change the subject in as obvious a fashion as I can muster.'