Shadowheart

'Go Raven!' Hirad's call sent The Raven running through the broken line towards the doors.

The Unknown turned to the two mages, beckoning them on. 'Rebraal. Keep your mages up. We can't afford them to lag, this is going to be tight as it is.'

'Right at the doors!' Denser's voice rose above the turmoil of shouts of pain and warning coming from the Xeteskians and the sound of The Raven charging for the outside. 'Follow the dome to the Mana Bowl.'

'Raven!' roared Hirad. 'Raven with me!'

Dystran heard the impacts of spells, felt a faint vibration through his tower walls. He increased his pace, Myx stepping in front of him to lead the way.

'What the hell is happening in my bloody college!'

'Protectors are moving from the walls. Suarav has been summoned. The Circle Seven are gathering themselves to be with you in Lord Ranyl's tower,' replied Myx smoothly.

'Damn that. Gods burning, Myx, who the hell is tearing up my dome! Right under my bloody feet!'

'It must be the elves, my Lord.'

'Yes,' snapped Dystran. 'Yes. Hurry up.'

'My Lord.'

They made the base of the tower and Myx led them unerringly through the maze of corridors and passages beneath the dome that led to the other towers, to the banqueting halls and to the catacombs. Since the incident with Captain Yron, Dystran had insisted alarm wards be reinstituted and guards be doubled for all the Circle Seven. Not that they had stopped the raiders reaching Ranyl. He had also closed off the known route to the reception chambers from his tower. Too many people knew about it. Too many chances to be betrayed.

The two men chased up the stairs, Dystran muttering at the sight of the bodies they passed on the two landings.

'Worse than bloody useless. What have I done to deserve this?'

'My Lord?'

'Never mind. Let me through.'

Myx paused and Dystran passed him. Ranyl's bedchamber door was open and he could hear low voices. He strode in without bothering to knock.

'My Lord Ranyl, are you hurt?'

'Only my pride.' Ranyl was sitting in his favourite chair by his fire. The familiar, much calmer now though veins stilled pulsed anger in its bald head, sat on the back of the chair, stroking the old master's head.

'No injuries? What did they want?'

'The research of course. They want to send their dragon home, same as ever.'

Dystran paused, frowning. 'The what…? What do elves care about Sha-Kaan.'

Ranyl laughed. 'Oh no, my Lord. The elves already have what they came for, or so I'm told.'

'So who…?'

'Who else? The Raven.'

Dystran started violently. 'What?' For a moment, he couldn't believe what he was hearing and then the thoughts started to cascade through his head. 'Gods falling, the bolt hole.'

'My Lord?'

'Denser knows it exists. Think, Ranyl, he was the Dawnthief mage, he had to know.' He spun to Myx. 'Drive them away from the Mana Bowl. No wait.' He swung back to Ranyl. 'And she is with them?'

'Of course she is,' replied Ranyl.

'Where's Suarav?'

'On his way, my Lord,' said Myx.

'Can't wait for him. Look, get this word around,' said Dystran. 'I want the Mana Bowl sealed up so tight a mouse couldn't squeeze its arse in. And when you find The Raven, it's very, very important that Erienne is not harmed. Is that crystal clear?'

'Yes, my Lord. And the others?'

'No one leaves here. Not an elf, not a Raven,' said Dystran. 'And since Erienne is the only one I want unharmed, if I'm not mistaken that means every other enemy of Xetesk dies. Got it?'

Myx shifted uncomfortably. 'I understand your desire.'

Dystran passed a hand over his face. 'And if you and your questionable alliance of Protector brothers don't feel you can fight against your dear departed colleague, Sol, don't. There are plenty of elves out there, I am sure.'

'Yes, my Lord.'

'One more thing,' said Dystran. 'Get me a Protector on Heren-deneth. I want to talk to one of my mages. Time to turn the heat up, I think, see if our all-but-caged bird really is the one we think she is.'

The windows were opaque with age and the shifting lantern and torch light did nothing to help Auum see what was immediately below him. He didn't have time to worry. One TaiGethen elf stood on the wide and ornate frame surrounding each of the library doors. All weapons were stowed, each elf held a heavy book.

'You know what to do, you know where we are spreading. Al-Arynaar, care. Shield us if you can. Tual will see us from this place.' He nodded. 'We move.'

Auum straight-armed the spine of the book hard into the window. The ancient glass and lead fell outwards in large pieces. Another strike and the window frame was clear. He dropped the book, grabbed the base of the window and turned a tight roll through it, straightening his legs when they cleared and landing in a crouch, hand already unclipping his jaqrui pouch, the other grabbing at a short sword.

Direcdy ahead of him, Xeteskians were running towards the library along the side of a long low building. Far enough away for now. He spun on his heel, taking in the Tais, all of whom had landed and moved. There were three guards in front of the library doors, already dragging swords from scabbards and forming up a defensive trio. He ran at them, Duele and Evunn were with him.

The TaiGethen cell tore in. Auum flicked out a jaqrui. It keened through the air, the ghostly sound echoing from the library walls, and ripped into the sword arm of a guard who grunted and clutched at the wound. Both Duele and Evunn favoured dual short swords. Evunn surged up the steps, ducked a blow, spun a roundhouse kick into the chest of his target and followed through with twin chopping strikes, left to right, biting deep into neck and shoulder. Immediately, he turned and backhanded the next guard, Duele burying his sword deep into the same unfortunate's chest. Before Auum could finish off his wounded man, his Tai had completed the job.

'Go,' said Auum.

The Tai sprinted left around the library walls, across the way of the soldiers closing in. They would be on Marack quickly. Auum increased his pace. The gardens where Porrack and Allyne were hidden were close by.

'Tais, move!' shouted Auum. 'We are discovered.'

The enemy were closing on them from ahead and right. Perhaps twenty swordsmen and crossbowmen appearing from around the sides of more of the long rooms in which their mages' spells were tested. Ahead, he could see his brothers move fluidly to their feet and begin to run. Like spirits rising from the ground they came and he could hear the whine and whisper of jaqruis and the thrum of bowstrings through the growing clamour bouncing from the walls of every building.

Auum's Tai split, creating a wide front and narrow targets. Auum whipped out two more throwing crescents. Left of him, Duele hugged the walls of the library in deep shadow, closing on men who could barely see him approaching through the gloom. Right, Evunn had sheathed a short sword and his jaqrui howled away. The enemy were scant yards distant and the crossbow bolts started to fly.

Auum zig-zagged into the centre of them, diving forward to turn a roll across the ground, coming to his feet and driving his blade into the groin of an enemy. He leapt away, Duele now in the melee with him, drop-kicking into a face and carving a deep cut across a throat.

Now, Porrack and Allyne hit the rear of the Xeteskians, taking the crossbowmen apart. Auum ducked a blow, raised his sword to parry another and smashed the base of his left palm up into the face of his attacker, punching him off his feet. He danced backwards, assessing his next target. Three men rushed him. He grabbed out his other short blade, backed off a pace and let them come. To the right, one crumpled and fell, a jaqrui thrown by Evunn buried in his mouth, blood pouring from his ruined face.