‘I beg your pardon?’
‘We have information that makes staying here impossible. It also makes leaving here extremely difficult.’
Auum felt the pressure of a dozen pairs of eyes on him. The two barons and their small retinues, Diera of course, and also Thraun, who had remained in earshot. Of his eight wolves, four were by him. Of the others, there was no sign. Auum feared for them.
‘Difficult how, exactly?’ asked Gresse.
Auum respected the old baron though their paths had barely crossed. Anyone who had survived the demon invasion, remaining free the whole time, was clearly worthy.
‘The ward grid, when it is activated, will not exclude human or elf. Neither will it exclude wolves and panthers.’
‘But we’re right in the middle of it, aren’t we?’ said Diera.
Auum nodded. ‘There are spells covering much of this area.’
‘We’re camping in a trap,’ said Blackthorne.
‘Well, there’s one way out of it,’ said Gresse, and he gestured at the rooftops. ‘Those who can’t fly will just have to climb and jump, won’t they?’
Auum nodded again and Gresse smiled at him, understanding very clearly what it meant.
‘There is one other possibility,’ said Auum.
‘Well there needs to be. Certain among our party of young rebels are not merely old and riddled with cancer, they also can’t walk.’ Blackthorne was glaring at Gresse. ‘I told you to stay behind.’
‘Right. To bring down the system from within. Not really my style, Blackthorne. Don’t worry about me. I’ll keep the place warm for you.’
‘I think when the God’s Eyes start firing you’ll find it warm enough,’ said Blackthorne. ‘Stupid old man. I bet you thought this might happen. I’m not leaving you.’
Gresse stuck two fingers in his mouth and made a retching sound.
‘Spare me the bleeding hero stuff, Blackthorne. I’m sure I can make myself a nuisance.’
‘It’s got nothing to do with that. I have hauled your wretched carcass from your own vineyards. You owe me.’
Gresse laughed out loud and clapped his hands. ‘Good for you.’
‘I’m sorry, I’m not finding this at all funny,’ said Diera.
‘When you get to our age, Diera, you are forced to see the funny side of most things.’
‘Well, right now, getting to your age seems a distant prospect, doesn’t it? And what about my son? He’s five years old. He deserves the concentrated effort of every one of us, don’t you think?’
Gresse reached out a hand, which Diera, a little reluctantly, took in both of hers.
‘Yes, he does, my lady,’ he said quietly. ‘And he shall get it. I’m sorry if I offended you.’
Diera shook her head. ‘No, it’s not that. It’s just, you know.. all of you. You’re used to this. You’ve grown up with fighting and death and blood. I married someone who has too, but I’ve seen so little because he won’t let me see it. So I’m scared. And I’m terrified for my boys. Auum, please?’
For a third time, Auum nodded.
‘Miirt. Bring him.’
The mage was brought forward. Dressed in breeches and shirt both several sizes too big, he cut a ridiculous figure. He was deathly pale and the sight of the wolves caused him to jam his feet into the soft grass. Miirt’s hand in the small of his back kept him moving.
‘Name?’ asked Auum.
‘Brynar,’ said the mage. Young and scared. Good. And there was more.
‘You are apprentice to Densyr, aren’t you?’
‘And you are Auum.’
‘Neither of us wishes to die this night. Help us and we will not cause you harm. You know where you are?’
‘Hespyrin Square.’
‘Then you know that when the ward grid is activated, we are in a poor position.’
‘We’ll all die,’ said Brynar. ‘There are thirty wards in these gardens alone. And they will trigger the collapse of every building on the four sides.’
‘So, we are in agreement,’ said Auum. ‘I need options. Did Septern plan safe routes through the grid?’
Brynar shook his head. ‘The Garonin would probably divine them. Too risky. It’s complete blanket coverage.’
‘Second. When will the grid be activated?”
‘When all the mages return to the college, as I said. But not necessarily at that instant. Don’t get your hopes up, though. Any of us over an hour late will be assumed lost, probably to you as it happens, and therefore the grid will not be delayed.’
‘And how late are you, young man?’ asked Blackthorne.
‘I am well beyond my time already. I was late when I met Auum.’ Brynar shuddered.
The howl of a wolf sounded to the east. It was picked up by those in the park and joined by the granite growl of the ClawBound panther. Thraun calmed his pack as best he could but the four were on their feet, pacing and sounding anxiety deep in their chests.
Auum was still for a moment. He sniffed the air. Tension and magic, which was no surprise. But the agitation of the wolves and the guttural tone of the panther’s call were not to be ignored.
‘Thraun?’ he asked.
‘They’ve heard something. I don’t know what. I can’t sense anything.’
‘Well, let’s not hang about,’ said Blackthorne, and then he raised his voice. ‘Everyone. Prepare to leave. Gresse, you are going on a stretcher and I will drag you up the sides of buildings as and when I have to… I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. What did you say?’
‘I said, you are a stubborn old goat and you have the beard to prove it.’
‘Ungrateful wretch.’
Auum shook his head and turned back to Brynar. The young mage stared all around him, blinking and swallowing hard.
‘It is real,’ said Auum.
The wolves howled again, their voices rising quickly to a whine high in the throat. All four gathered in front of Thraun, staring up at him and backing towards the west.
‘Something’s coming,’ said Thraun.
There was a pressure in the air that hadn’t been there a few moments ago. And Auum could hear a low throbbing sound on the periphery of his hearing. He exchanged glances with his Tai. They felt it too.
‘Quickly. Tell me. What is the trigger radius of a ward in this grid? Are we safe on the rooftops?’
‘Until someone triggers a cell of wards that brings the building down in a ball of flame around your feet,’ said Brynar. ‘I can’t overestimate the trouble we are all in.’
‘Then I am glad you are sharing that trouble with us.’ Auum stared at Brynar, looking for malice and trickery. The mage could not hold his gaze for long. ‘Do not think to walk us to our deaths. I will know your thoughts.’
‘If it’s any consolation, I think the Mount has got this all wrong. We should be heading west.’
‘Then you should have made your voice heard a little more clearly, shouldn’t you?’ said Gresse.
‘Why do you think I was dispatched to check on the ward grid, my Lord Gresse?’
‘It matters little to me,’ said Auum. ‘I do not trust you. My Tai do not trust you and nor do the ClawBound. I would have you understand that.’
Brynar nodded. ‘Not that we really need to head west. Septern told me he knew all about the Wesman ritual. He just doesn’t believe it’ll work.’
Auum pulled up short. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. He likes a drink and he likes to talk. Put the two together and all sorts comes out. Have I said something wrong?’
‘Does Densyr know about this?’ asked Auum.
‘Not as far as I’m aware. Septern told Sharyr about it and Sharyr told me. I have told no one until now.’
‘That changes everything.’ Auum waved his Tai to him. ‘Miirt. Contact the ClawBound. Ghaal. Run with Thraun. We need his wolves alive. I want a route to the college. Quickly. I’ll see you on top.’
‘You can get to the rooftops through most of the houses on this square. I’ll show you if you like,’ said Brynar.
‘Go,’ said Auum. ‘Tai, we move.’
Miirt grabbed his arm. ‘Look.’
Up on the rooftops immediately to their left, the ClawBound elf was standing and staring away to the east and high up into the sky. While Auum watched, the elf’s panther joined him and he laid a hand atop its head. The physical contact worried Auum more than anything he had seen this night that was bleeding away to a pale dawn in the eastern sky. The gesture was only ever for mutual comfort in the face of fear. And the ClawBound feared almost nothing.