Nightchild

The two mages, coming round after deep concentration from the shield they had held over Erienne, were easy prey. Denser and Ilkar took one each, showing no mercy for the Dordovan betrayers. Denser said something to the mage he killed but Hirad couldn't hear it.

Not waiting for them, Hirad kicked open the door and strode in, dagger ready. Erienne was crushed into a corner of her bunk, her mouth dropping open at the sight of him.

'Hirad! How-'

'No time, Erienne. Get prepared with ShadowWings. We have to get off here quick or not at all.'

Denser and Ilkar ran in.

'They're at the hatch,' said the elf as Denser stormed across the floor and picked Erienne up into a feverish hug and a kiss.

'And they'll be through it in a moment. Ideas?' He drew his sword, keeping the dagger in his left hand. 'Denser, put her down. Time for that later.'

'Killjoy.'

'Ideas!' he repeated.

A door was wrenched open nearby. Hirad stepped up to the corridor. As the guard's face edged round, he backhanded his dagger straight into it, taking the man through the eye. He jerked the blade clear, the Black Wing falling without a sound.

'Wrong place, wrong time. Ilkar?'

There was a heavy thud on the aft doors.

'They'll be ready with spell so we need a shield. Denser can take that. I'll prepare a ForceCone. We have to drive them back to give us space to run aft, assuming that's where we're going.'

'Agreed,' said Hirad. 'Everyone ready?'

'I'll HardShield,' said Erienne, feeling a surge of exultation at having back her power to cast. 'They've got crossbows.'

After a pause, Hirad nodded. 'Good, thanks. But keep the ShadowWings shape in mind. All of you, for that matter.'

They moved back into the corridor, Ilkar ahead with his Force-Cone ready, Denser and Erienne with their respective shields cast and Hirad bringing up the rear. Where one guard could have come from, there could easily be others. Ahead of them, the door still held. At the other end of the passage, a door opened. A man stepped out, a crossbow in either hand.

'That's far enough,' he slurred.

'Keep going,' said Hirad to the others over his shoulder. T can take him.'

'Come on, you're not going anywhere. I've got thirty men and a dozen mages on this ship. Good try, but it's over.'

'Selik, delighted to see what a mess Erienne made of you. Shame you survived.'

'Hirad Coldheart, isn't it? Yes. A lone swordsman. Give her up and I'll let you live.'

They were nearing the doors. Another heavy blow and they creaked, the bolt part giving way. Nails squealing as they were forced clear.

'Ready,' said Ilkar. 'Concentrate.'

'Die then,' said Selik.

He fired the crossbows together, the bolts flashing towards Hirad and bouncing off the HardShield, one burying itself in the wall by his head, the other clattering away across the floor.

'Oh dear,' said Hirad as Selik backed off. 'One lone swordsm.in. Three mages. No Raven is ever alone. Your turn.'

Hirad stepped back along the passage as Selik retreated towards his cabin, dropping the crossbows and reaching for his sword. In the same moment, the aft doors burst inwards.

'Hirad, get back under the damn shield,' hissed Erienne, her voice taut with concentration.

The barbarian paced back smartly, seeing Selik's eyes widen. The Black Wing dived left and out of sight, into his cabin and an IceWind roared along the corridor. The air froze all around them, white enveloping the spell shield, the supercooled mana whistling through the gaps between shield and wood. The spell dragged at the timbers, covering them in a thick film of ice and pounded into Selik's cabin, scouring through where his head had been and forging huge deep blue corners of frost on roof and floor. The shield held.

'Good work, Denser,' said Ilkar. 'Let's move, they're readying to cast again.'

Hirad sensed the ForceCone deploy, carefully and under total control, and The Raven started on up the corridor.

'Selik,' said Hirad. T can get Selik.'

'No. We have to go now,' said Ilkar. 'Ready Raven?'

'Ready.'

'Heading left at the deck, keep those shields up. Run!'

Selik appeared at the frozen cabin door, sword in hand. Hirad waved, turned and ran, shouting over his shoulder.

'Bye bye, Selik. 'Til next time. Push that Cone, Ilkar, there's trouble at my back!'

The elf released the Cone, flinging it full spread at the casting mages and Black Wings, punching them from their arc by the door.

'Ilkar sword, guard stern to starboard. Denser, Erienne, hang on to those shields. I've got the rear.'

The Raven burst on to the deck, Ilkar sprinting left, slithering on the greasy, wet timbers. Behind him came Denser, hand-in-hand with Erienne, daggers drawn, and finally Hirad, Selik at his back, the Black Wings dragging themselves to their feet in front of him.

The ship rolled and Hirad fell to his right, tumbling on to his back and around on to his knees, dagger sprung from his grasp and sliding away. Scrambling back to his feet, he raced back towards the

port side. Selik's head appeared at the aft doors. Hirad cursed, sword in his wrong hand to strike and instead lashed out with his left fist, catching the Black Wing leader on the side of the face, and hearing Selik's head connect with the door frame as he ran past.

'Yes!'

Steps behind him spurred him on, and ahead a Black Wing ran down the side of the wheel deck after the mages. Hirad slid into the rail to brake himself and charged after the soldier, striking overhead with his blade and slicing deep into the man's exposed neck and back. He pitched forwards, sword flying out of his hands and flipping just over Erienne's head and out into the raging ocean, his flailing hands catching her and dragging her over.

Denser slowed.

'Go!' yelled Hirad. 'I'll bring her.'

He kicked and hauled the body of the dying Black Wing aside, grabbed the elbow of the scrabbling Erienne and pulled her towards the stern.

'Shield down,' she said. 'Shield down.'

To illustrate, a crossbow bolt hissed past and thudded into the rail. Hirad ducked reflexively.

'Gods. Go!' He pushed her ahead of him. 'Go!'

Erienne turned the corner, Hirad right behind. As he slid to turn, a crossbow bolt tore into the flesh of his calf, the impact throwing him from his feet and he fell, hammering into the rail which cracked under the impact. He heard a cheer behind him and hauled himself out of immediate sight.

'Fuck it!' he said.

'Hirad,' said Erienne, turning back.

'No time,' he grated, dragging himself to his feet. 'Keep away from those windows. Denser, Erienne, get your ShadowWings sorted and go. Ilkar, what have you got?' The pain screamed through Hirad's leg as he applied weight to it, feeling the blood flooding into his boot. The bolt was lodged, which was a blessing, and hadn't struck his bone, which was close to a miracle. He hefted his sword.

'Unknown numbers running towards us this way,' said Ilkar. 'I'll keep them busy.'

In front of Hirad, the first Black Wings were coming down the port rail towards them. He hefted his sword, changing to his left

hand for a better angle and waited, knowing every bought moment was vital.

'I can cast Orbs,' said Denser.

'No, Xetesk man, get Erienne off this bloody ship!' snapped Hirad. 'Go before I pitch you over myself. We'll be right behind you.'

'You'd better be,' said Denser.

'Fly!' The first Black Wing paced around the corner, sword swinging round at shoulder height. Hirad blocked it aside then swept his blade back left to right, the man swaying backwards to dodge the blow, bringing his sword back in front of him and stabbing forwards. Hirad blocked easily and backhanded the man across the face with his right fist and lunged forwards, pain flaring from his calf and spearing up through his back. He took the man in the midriff, skewering through his leather armour. He felt the sword grate against the Black Wing's spine and wrenched it clear, the body collapsing to the deck.