A piercing howl split the air. The Raven turned to see Thraun sitting by the prone form of Will, one paw resting on his chest, deep sorrow and blind fury clashing in his feral yellow eyes.
‘Oh no,’ breathed Erienne.
Will was not moving.
Chapter 23
Barras imagined rather than heard the clang as the crown closed the DemonShroud but the wails of frustration and fury that diminished to nothing in a few heartbeats were real enough.
The Council had deployed the spell and with their release from its construction, came an intense relief and the briefest moment of euphoria. Vilif swayed and would have fallen but for the strong arms of Cordolan who was none too steady himself. Torvis, Seldane and Kerela all rushed to the crumpled but breathing form of Endorr while Barras kept the presence of mind to stumble across a line of books to the door to the Heart, pulling it open on to the pale, anxious face of Kard. A face that broke into a relieved smile on seeing him.
‘Gods Barras . . . the sounds I was hearing.’
‘We’re all right. Endorr’s hurt. Bring the Communion mages, the Shroud is down.’
Kard hesitated. ‘Endorr?’
‘There’s nothing you can do. See to the defence. Go. Go.’ Barras watched Kard go, then turned back into the Heart.
Kerela stood up and passed a hand over her forehead, her face grim. She caught Barras’ eye.
‘It isn’t good. He’s comatose.’ She patted Cordolan on the shoulder. ‘Take him to the healers, all of you. I’ll wait for the Communion mages. Hurry.’ Cordolan, Torvis and Seldane picked up Endorr’s limp body between them and carried him out of the door. Vilif, still unsteady, walked behind them. Outside, Barras heard Cordolan order assistance.
‘Thank you, Barras,’ said Kerela.
‘For what?’
‘For showing us the way. All of us.’
Barras shrugged. ‘It would have made no difference. If it hadn’t—’
A square outline of light appeared near the door to the Heart. Kerela opened her mouth but Barras raised a hand to stop her speaking.
‘It’s all right, Kerela. I think you’re going to learn something about me you never suspected.’ With a whisper, the outline became solid and a figure stood silhouetted against the torchlight behind. He walked quickly forward, followed by others, one, a huge man, carrying a body in his arms and trailed very closely by a large dog or . . .
‘Great Gods—’ began Barras.
‘Barras, don’t worry,’ said Ilkar. ‘The wolf is a shapechanger. He’s with us.’
He hadn’t seen The Raven since their meeting at Triverne Lake before the casting of Dawnthief and assumed them trapped to the west of Understone Pass. But their bloodied appearance from what was, without a shadow of a doubt, a Dragonene portal threw him completely. None of them was Dragonene, he had known that when he met them, yet only a Dragonene could facilitate the opening of a portal and it was not Elu-Kaan who awaited him inside.
‘How did you get here?’
‘It’s a long story,’ said Ilkar, ushering The Raven straight out of the Heart, the non-mages struggling with the weight of mana and the Xeteskian and Dordovan unwelcome inside of it. ‘But it’ll have to wait. Two things first. We need immediate access to the Library and some urgent healing help for Will.’
Light dawned for Barras. ‘You came through the Shroud?’
‘Yes, but please, there isn’t much time.’
‘Indeed not,’ said Kerela. ‘But there is always a moment to welcome back a favourite son.’ She kissed Ilkar on either cheek and squeezed his hands. ‘As you can see, some of the Library is here because the Wesmen are at our gates. We’re soon to engage in a battle we can’t hope to win but The Raven always help the odds. We have to clear the Heart now to start our Communion preparations. Come, we’ll get your sick man to the infirmary and take a few minutes to talk in the Council chambers.’ She gestured for Ilkar to precede her, turning to look at Barras, her face not unkindly. ‘You could have trusted me.’
‘We can tell no one. It’s not a question of trust.’
‘Later,’ said Kerela. Hirad Coldheart passed her, coming back into the Heart despite the discomfort caused by the mana.
‘Sha-Kaan needs to speak to you,’ he said, addressing himself to Barras.
‘You? Dragonene?’ Barras frowned.
Hirad nodded. ‘Come on. Elu-Kaan is badly hurt. He needs your help.’ He led the way back into the melde-corridor.
General Kard walked quickly to the kitchens at the base of the Tower and ordered the Communion mages to stand by outside the Heart. Immediately afterwards, he walked out a few steps into the silent courtyard, nodding his approval at the discipline of the Julatsans who had heeded the order to remain quiet after the Shroud was dispersed. He glanced up at the Wesmen’s mobile watch-tower, which was lit by torches all night long. He couldn’t believe that the guards inside had not noticed the disappearance of the Shroud but, by their silence, he assumed they had not. On the other hand he had noted before that, in the dark, it was very hard to see the swirling grey of the Shroud and there was no doubting that people saw what they expected to see. But the feel of evil was gone and the Wesmen had so far missed that too. He only hoped that it stayed that way for another hour. By then, not only would the tower attack mages be fully prepared, their preparation for casting had already begun, but the rest of his pre-emptive strike force would be completely ready to enter the streets of Julatsa.
He stood for a moment, knowing that all around the walls his men were primed and ready, having seen and, more than that, felt the Shroud disperse. Behind closed doors, his army, such as it was, waited for the order to attack and were receiving their final briefings. Elsewhere, the mages who would fly point and those who would cover the run back inside the walls from the ramparts were resting and practising the shapes that would release death over the Wesmen.
A commotion behind him in the Tower had him turn, then take two paces backwards in complete surprise. A huge warrior came striding towards him, bearing the body of another, much smaller, man in his arms. He was trailed very closely by what had to be a large wolf and, behind them, two of the Council hurried alongside soldiers carrying the limp body of Endorr. His jaw dropped and his hand strayed reflexively to the hilt of his sword.
‘We’re friends,’ said the warrior brusquely. ‘Now, which way to the infirmary? Quickly man, Will doesn’t have much time.’ Kard found himself pointing vaguely across the courtyard to the left. The warrior nodded and ran in the indicated direction, the wolf at his heels. Just behind them, the soldiers carried Endorr. Cordolan stopped briefly.
‘The Raven are here, Barras is a Dragonene, or so it seems and . . . well, go to the chambers, Kerela is talking to them, I think.’ He hurried after Endorr. Kard cast his gaze heavenwards and ran back inside, pausing only to speak to a Lieutenant.
‘You know the drill,’ he said. ‘The orders haven’t changed, just that things have moved very slightly in our favour. If the alarm sounds before I get back outside, take the tower and start the attack. Do you understand?’
‘Yes sir.’
Kard made for the chambers.
Hirad joined the impromptu meeting between Kerela and The Raven’s mages after acquainting Barras with Sha-Kaan. The Great Kaan was to return immediately to Wingspread, leaving the corridor open for Elu-Kaan to receive the aid he needed in the interdimensional streams under the watchful eye of Barras. He was introduced quickly to Kerela, Julatsa’s senior mage, and General Kard, the middle-aged soldier in charge of the College’s military defence. The Unknown would stay with Will and Thraun.