Elfsorrow

'The TaiGethen have the skill. They will catch them,' said Rebraal.

'You can't take that chance,' said The Unknown. 'Believe me. Look, your TaiGethen can chase if that's what they want. But we have to get to the estuary. If a hundred and thirty came here to attack, you could be looking at a similar number held in reserve. We have to put ourselves between them and the runners. Close off their escape. That way, we can catch them. All of them. After all, they've nowhere else to go. The TaiGethen risk driving them into the hands of their helpers, don't you see?'

Rebraal did see. It was clear in the relaxation of his expression. 'What should we do?'

'Get there and get there fast,' said The Unknown. 'But be mindful the enemy reserve could be in the forest, not just confined to their ships. You need the TaiGethen and any other forces in the forest to try and slow up the runners. Catch and kill them if they can but not spook them into a dash because they might just make it. Now I'm praying you've got boats nearby because we need to be on them as soon as we can, with as many of your people as you can spare from here.'

Rebraal bit his lip. He could see the sense but his mistrust ran deep.

'You've got to make your people understand,' said Ilkar, dropping back into elvish. 'We want to help. Not just to save the elves but because Balaia needs mages freed so we can rebuild Julatsa for the future. You must trust us. You must.'

Roars of big cats, growing in volume, echoed through the forest, punctuated by growls, whines and almost dog-like barks. The Raven surged to their feet, spinning to find the source of the noise as two throats took up the calls from very close by. Across the apron and around the temple all work ceased. The Al-Arynaar, calm, stood listening and waiting as the sounds reverberated all around them, as did Thraun, that smile as if he understood on his lips. The calls cycled over and over before dying away, leaving a few moments of silence before the rainforest creatures rediscovered their collective voice.

Almost immediately a ClawBound pair emerged from the forest at their left. The panther trotted straight into the temple while its elven partner scanned the faces before him, passing briefly over The Raven, nodding at Thraun, before settling on Rebraal. He walked over to the Al-Arynaar leader and the two elves walked alone, talking quietly. As they did, the panther, muzzle soaked in water, walked from the temple and came to stand by The Raven – not threatening, just looking, gauging.

Ilkar couldn't help but be taken by the beauty of the animal and the power it represented. Like every elf, he had been taught total respect for both the ClawBound and TaiGethen elves but panthers held an almost mystical position in elven lore. Even so, he found himself moving slowly backwards into the protective crescent The Raven warriors had automatically taken up.

'She won't attack,' he said, as much for himself as for any who could hear him.

'She's beautiful,' said Erienne.

Thraun knelt by the panther, his hands rubbing her flanks, her head nuzzling into the shapechanger's chest, rocking him on his heels.

'Big teeth,' remarked Hirad. 'Thraun's got a knack, I'll give him that. Still, never mind that, I wonder what they're talking about?'

Attention moved to Rebraal and the ClawBound elf. The two had stopped. Rebraal was nodding. He bowed his head to the elf and walked quickly back over to The Raven, his hand trailing over the panther's back. She looked at him and licked his hand before rejoining her partner. Rebraal was smiling. Ilkar translated.

'It would appear the TaiGethen share our conclusion, so it's time to move. But remember, we're here under sufferance. We aren't welcome and our actions have to be careful and considered. Any perceived threat will put us with the strangers, whoever they are.'

'And you've got to wonder who, haven't you?' said Denser.

'We'll find out soon enough,' said Hirad.

Chapter 30

Auum led Duele and Evunn along a shallow stream bed into which a run of low waterfalls fed when the rains were at their height. The stream led through a series of gullies, and the crags and rock faces either side were slick with algae and moss. A heavy smell of damp hung in the air and birds circled ceaselessly, looking for stranded fish in the pools, which cut off quickly when the rains ceased.

The stream, which flowed eventually into the Shorth, made travel easy, and the Tai moved quickly, keeping up a run for hours on end, bows slung across backs, boots slapping down on the wet rock. Auum felt an exhilaration through him as he ran. He could feel his hair flowing out behind him, his heart beating hard and fast, his legs pumping, his arms the perfect balance. Even though the harmony all around him was torn and bleeding, he could sense the energy of the forest and the sounds of Tual's denizens filled him with hope and belief.

Trotting round a gentle left-hand bend, leaping a deep pool and splashing down into the ankle-deep water on a fine silt bed, Auum saw two from another Tai cell ahead. He recognised them instantly. Marack, the leader, stood over the seated form of Nokhe. Both her hands were on Nokhe's shoulders and she was speaking to him, or was she praying?

Auum spread his arms and his Tai slowed to a stop by their colleagues. As they did, Marack looked up, her face a picture of anguish. Auum's exhilaration drained from him and shifted his gaze to Nokhe. The chest of the TaiGethen's shirt was covered in a fine mist of blood.

'Yniss save us,' he gasped, dropping to his knees in front of the stricken elf. 'Nokhe.'

'It is the Sorrow,' said Marack, her voice quiet, robbed of its usual confidence.

'When did it start?' asked Auum.

'At dawn today,' said Nokhe, his breathing rasping painfully through ravaged lungs. 'It is a pain like no other, Auum. I'm dying and there is nothing you or Yniss can do.'

'I will do all that I can,' said Auum, fighting the urge to scream his frustration at Yniss and his hatred of the strangers. 'I will pray for you and all those afflicted. This is a test of our faith and I will not fail it.'

Nokhe's smile was bloody. 'Just find the desecrators. And their masters. Before the TaiGethen are gone and our people left defenceless. '

'Walk with me in the forest,' said Auum.

'I can sense all I need from here,' said Nokhe, his breath hissing suddenly, his face lined and his colour drained and weak. 'I cannot stand for now. My stomach is shivered and the pain is too much. I am so glad it is you I see with my last clear sight. You and Marack.'

Auum looked up at Marack. 'And Hohan. Collecting herbs for the pain?'

Marack shook her head and her face fell still further. 'He is not coming back,' she whispered. 'The Sorrow took him yesterday. He is giving himself to the forest while he still has the strength.'

Auum rocked back on his heels, stunned. Only now did he take in that TaiGethen would also die. No one was safe, not even Yniss's most faithful servants.

'And you, my brother?' asked Auum.

'I do not wish to die alone as Hohan,' said Nokhe. 'When the pain passes, I will walk the forest a final time with Marack. Soon, I hope.' His acceptance of his fate could not mask his fear.

'And I will also be at your side.'

'No, Auum. Only Marack may see me die. You must remember me in life.'

Auum nodded and leaned forward. He cupped the back of Nokhe's head in his hands and kissed his forehead, cheeks and finally, tenderly, his lips. 'May Tual choose you as her champion in paradise.'

He stood and turned to Marack. 'Strength,' he said. 'When you have walked alone and the contemplation is done, join us. I fear many Tai will be shorn of numbers.'

Auum signalled his Tai. Duele and Evunn paid their respects to Nokhe, exhorting Shorth to speed his passage to the heart of Yniss. But before they began to run again, Auum drew them close.

'If you should be taken by the Sorrow, I will not hesitate to escort you into the embrace of the forest. And you will do the same for me. Now come, we have work to do.' Yron and Erys supported Ben-Foran between them now but it scarcely made travel any quicker or easier. Moving away from the bank of the Shorth for the time being to avoid being seen from the other side, they had found no respite deeper in the forest. The lianas hung everywhere. Huge spiders' webs drifted in any clear space and the trees were so close-packed they had to back up and change direction constantly.