To the west and south of The Raven, the black enormity of Balaia’s dominant mountain range scaled to the heavens, mesa, peak and slide punctuating its descent into rambling foothills and finally the fertile lowlands of the East. Close to, its power was staggering and Hirad wondered whether Baron Blackthorne, whose family took their name from the range, ever felt as he did now. Small in the presence of extraordinary might. While the mountains stood, Balaia lived. But if dragons flew through the rip in numbers large enough to overwhelm the Brood Kaan, the Blackthornes would be laid waste, shattered. He couldn’t let that happen.
Close to, it was clear that the vegetation either side of the Tri, while excellent cover, was poor walking country. With Thraun on not necessarily unwitting point duty, The Raven drove as far inland as they dared, with the light of day flying across the sky to meet them. Eventually, tired and in the open, they worked towards the water’s edge, finding enough of a clearing to set up Will’s stove, which The Unknown still carried, yet remaining hidden from both the south bank and their immediate north. Thraun had disappeared but none doubted he knew exactly where they were.
‘It’s good to be back this side of the Blackthornes,’ said Hirad, relaxing against a tree, rubbing his back on it and feeling the bark dig into the stiff muscles of his back through his leather armour. He loosened the jerkin straps and breathed deeply. The Unknown said nothing, merely stared into the woods surrounding them. Denser shook his head and Will said:
‘It isn’t worth the price we seem to have paid.’
It wasn’t exactly the reaction Hirad had envisaged. He sniffed and looked across at Ilkar whose glum face carried no surprise at the muted, if not depressed, expressions surrounding the stove.
‘Perhaps we should sleep on it a while,’ ventured Hirad.
‘We need Thraun,’ said The Unknown. ‘We need his tracking and his sense. If this area is patrolled, and I expect it us, we could hit big trouble without warning.’
‘Can’t you track?’ asked Erienne.
‘Not really,’ said The Unknown. ‘And certainly not as unerringly as Thraun.’
‘What did you do before we joined you?’ asked Will, his eyes never still, scouring the undergrowth for his friend.
‘Nothing quite like this,’ said Hirad. ‘Generally, we rode into castles or on to battlefields in broad daylight, fought all day, collected our money and that was that. Avoiding being seen wasn’t an advantage.’
‘Well, we’ll just have to be careful, won’t we?’ said Denser, his voice flat.
‘We don’t have time to be careful,’ said Ilkar sharply. ‘If the Library in Julatsa is destroyed before we get there—’
‘I know, I know,’ said Denser. ‘You don’t have to keep lecturing about it.’
‘Why not? You don’t seem to have any sense of urgency.’
‘I’m just saying there’s no point in getting ourselves killed because we’re in too much of a hurry. That would be just as bad.’
‘Voices down,’ snapped The Unknown, his voice quiet and powerful. Their progress had been slower than he’d hoped, Denser’s attitude affecting them all. That had to change before they fought again. Focus was everything and, right now, The Raven lacked it. ‘If you’ve all finished stating the bloody obvious, we’ve got to find the best solution.’ He turned his head to Will. ‘Will, how well does Thraun understand you?’
The wiry man shrugged. ‘It’s hard to say. He recognises my voice, that’s certain, but how much he actually understands is anybody’s guess. Words like “no” and “stop” and “run”, I think he does but I couldn’t hope to persuade him to track for us, for instance. Particularly now. This is the wildest he’s ever been and he’s not even been changed that long.’
‘Well, we have to get him to change back,’ said Ilkar.
‘You can’t. I’m not even sure that I can now. He’s not listening.’ Will bit his lip.
‘In that case, we have to assume he’s gone. Sorry Will, but you know what I mean.’ The Unknown unbuckled his chest plate. ‘Is there going to be a time when he’ll attack us?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Will. ‘I want to believe that he’ll recognise me however long he’s changed for. But he said himself that, ultimately, he’ll just become a wild animal.’
‘Except much harder to kill,’ said Denser.
‘Much,’ agreed Will. ‘But it won’t come to that. Wolves aren’t killers. They hunt for food and we aren’t first choice.’
As if he’d known they were talking about him, Thraun padded into the camp, his sudden appearance at Will’s shoulder causing Erienne to start. Will himself turned and draped an arm across the huge wolf’s neck and pulled his head close.
‘Glad you could be here,’ he said. Thraun nuzzled his cheek then lay down facing the stove, snout twitching at the smells of wood, coffee and hot metal.
‘Like I say,’ said Will. ‘Ultimately, he’ll do what he wants and if any of you think you can stop him, well . . .’ There was a dry chuckle around the stove.
‘All right,’ said The Unknown, his face blank. He hadn’t joined the brief mirth. ‘At walking pace, we are six days from Julatsa. We need to liberate horses quickly but we can’t risk running into a large Wesmen force. Are there any local farms or villages the Wesmen may not have found?’
‘No,’ said Ilkar. ‘The nearest settlements that might just have escaped are Lord Jaden’s to the north but that’s two days extra over hostile country in the wrong direction. Our only chance without fighting or stealing is Triverne Lake, as Styliann said.’
‘Surely the Lake will be taken,’ said Hirad.
‘I wouldn’t be quite so sure,’ said Ilkar. ‘It’s the seat of ancient magic and a place of the most base evil if you’re a Wesman. There’s a standing guard of two hundred protecting the Shard at all times. They might still be there. And don’t forget, Triverne isn’t the most direct route to Julatsa from where the Wesmen landed a little north of here.’
‘Communion?’ suggested Erienne. Denser shrugged.
‘If I must. I need to rest first, though.’
‘I’ll do it,’ said Erienne. ‘I am capable.’
‘Whatever,’ said the Xeteskian.
‘Fine.’ The Unknown stretched his legs out in front of him, trying to push his own problems from his mind while clutching at the threads that held them all together. ‘I’m sceptical, I must say, but if we can find out through Communion, that’s fine. Otherwise, I’m not sure the detour is worth the risk. We also need to contact the mage outside of Julatsa, assuming she’s still there - get ourselves the latest position. But first, Denser’s right, we should rest. I’ll watch and so, no doubt, will Thraun. We’ll push on after midday.’
Dawn in Julatsa on the eleventh day of the siege of the College brought the first open conflict within its walls. Two hundred and fifty innocent Julatsans had just perished. Those first to die were rotting in the Shroud. Barras could feel the tension. It had been in the air since the first confrontation but now it had real menace to it as the Council stepped away from the gatehouse, saddened, disgusted and scared. This time there had been no show of strength or solidarity, no songs and no bravado. Just weeping, screaming and angry accusation before the agony.
The city’s people issued from the buildings all around the courtyard as the Council walked slowly to the Tower, heads bowed, each lost in their own thoughts. Kard had been alert, as always, and his shouted commands to his men ensured a significant protective guard for the Council by the time the mob had surrounded them.
‘Oh dear,’ muttered Kerela in Barras’ ear. The old elf Negotiator looked quickly about him. The clamour hurt his ears, the fury of the Julatsans edging towards the precipice of violence. Weapons were brandished, fists shaken and everywhere red faces spat anger and belligerence.