Behind Erienne, Thraun was standing on the edge of the jetty sniffing the air. Darrick was by him, looking about, before shouldering his pack and wandering off towards the warehouses. Aeb, as always, stood silent and close to Denser and The Unknown, his axe and sword crossed over his back in their snap fastenings.
Another boat nudged against the jetty. Al-Arynaar and TaiGethen jumped out and jogged away to join their brothers and the ClawBound where they were gathering on a rise. Ilkar and Rebraal were with them, the two brothers deep in yet another heated conversation. Hirad watched as one of the Al-Arynaar mages spoke to them briefly, nodded curtly and moved away as if being near Ilkar upset her somehow. More words were exchanged before Ilkar clutched Rebraal in a half-hearted embrace and Ilkar strode over to The Raven, shaking his head.
‘Another happy family discussion?’ asked Hirad.
‘Oh, it’s not him,’ said Ilkar. ‘Not this time. Come on, let’s go.’
He cast about for his pack and picked it up off the jetty, throwing Hirad’s to him at the same time.
‘And are they coming with us?’ Hirad jerked a thumb at the elves.
‘No,’ said Ilkar. ‘Come on.’ He set off along the rutted wagon trail that cut into the soft earth. ‘I presume this is the quickest way to Blackthorne.’
‘What’s got into him?’ asked Denser.
Hirad shrugged. ‘Them, I expect.’
The elves were all knelt in prayer, a low murmuring drifting across on the wind. It was going to be a fine if cool afternoon. Hirad felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He’d forgotten what it was to see open land and not be hemmed in by impenetrable forest.
Out in the bay, the Calaian Sun’s sails billowed. Jevin was heading for Arlen, hoping to pick up a cargo and news of Xeteskian strength. He’d be returning to the bay in twenty days.
The Raven set off after Ilkar. Simultaneously, the elves stood and headed away north and east, splitting as they went. ClawBound pairs ran alone, TaiGethen trios likewise, with the main body of the Al-Arynaar following.
‘Trouble for someone,’ said Hirad.
‘You’re not wrong,’ said Darrick. ‘Glad we’re not in the firing line.’
They caught up with Ilkar quickly and walked in a loose knot around the Julatsan mage, who explained as he pushed on.
‘They don’t feel they can wait,’ he said. ‘Not for information from Blackthorne and certainly not for us. I’m just worried they’ll run into more trouble than they can cope with.’
‘So what were you talking to Rebraal about?’ asked Denser.
‘I was warning him about the power of Xeteskian magic and what a Protector army can do. Not that he really wanted to listen. I mean they all saw Aeb in action but they don’t understand what two hundred at once really means. They’ve never seen a true college battle line - you know, properly organised cavalry, foot soldiers, mages. They won’t know how to handle it.’
‘But they’re confident all the same?’ said Darrick.
Ilkar shrugged. ‘It’s more the pressure of time. Three TaiGethen died on the voyage. So did four Al-Arynaar, along with a couple of Jevin’s crew. You can understand it.’
‘But there’s a problem,’ said The Unknown. ‘Or you wouldn’t have been so irritated.’
‘They still don’t think we can help,’ said Ilkar. ‘They don’t understand this place - the politics, the factions, who they can trust - though they think they do. They just assume people will be sympathetic or stand aside because we have a common enemy. I only just managed to persuade one of them to give me her Communion signature.’
‘And do you expect to hear from her?’ asked Denser.
‘No, but she’ll be hearing from me. Us. They may not care what they’re getting themselves into but I care about the effect it has on what we’re trying to do.’
‘So what are they planning?’ asked The Unknown.
‘Well, remember Rebraal and all the Al-Arynaar mages know something of Balaia. They’ve all spent a lot of time here. ClawBound are going to scout the likely route from Arlen to Xetesk. TaiGethen will be close and will gather any information they can.
‘If the Xeteskian force is too big to attack when they first find it, they’ll wait for the rest of the elven army and then attack. That’s it. No talking, no discussion.’
‘Bloody hell,’ said Hirad. ‘This is going to get messy.’
‘Quite,’ said Ilkar. ‘So we need to get hold of the thumb before the elves launch a war on Xetesk.’
‘How?’ said Erienne.
‘Right now I don’t know, but we’d better come up with a plan quickly. I’m rather hoping Blackthorne will be able to provide some good intelligence.’
‘May I speak, Master Denser?’ Aeb’s voice, deep and powerful, rolled over them.
‘Of course,’ said Denser.
‘I am a risk to everything you do,’ said Aeb. ‘You should dismiss me immediately.’
His voice was neutral but Hirad knew what dismissal meant; the Unknown had been very clear about it. Though not under punishment, Aeb would be bereft of his link to a mage. The demons in the chain linking his body to his soul would torment him until he made it back to Xetesk. If he made it back.
‘I can’t do that,’ said Denser. ‘You know why.’
‘Recovery of the statue fragment is more important than my discomfort,’ said Aeb. ‘Xetesk can track all of us through me.’
‘Discomfort is an understatement,’ said Denser. ‘But there’s more than that. You’re one of us. You’re my bodyguard and The Unknown’s left-hand defence. The Raven do not send their people away because it’s more convenient that way.’
‘I could bring about your deaths,’ said Aeb. ‘This is bigger than The Raven.’
‘Nothing is that big.’ Hirad locked eyes with the huge Protector. ‘Nothing.’
Aeb said nothing in reply, merely switched his gaze back to Denser.
‘Master?’
‘Subject’s closed, Aeb,’ said Denser. ‘You stay.’
‘I understand,’ said Aeb, and there was no disguising the relief in his voice.
‘What ties us together isn’t dissimilar to what binds the Protectors, ’ said The Unknown. ‘If Denser dismisses you it is a betrayal of us. You do understand that?’
‘Yes,’ replied Aeb. ‘But I also understand the Elfsorrow and what it will do if not checked. I risk that.’
‘We’ll have a better chance of reclaiming the thumb and returning it to Calaius if you’re with us,’ said The Unknown. ‘The only thing that worries me is Dystran rescinding the Act of Giving.’
‘Unlikely at the moment,’ said Denser. ‘While he thinks he can track us and keep us at a distance, he’ll see Aeb as an advantage.’
‘What happens if he does rescind it, though?’ asked Hirad.
‘Well, Aeb would no longer be under my control. He could be assigned to another mage or returned to Xetesk.’
‘But I will never fight against The Raven,’ said Aeb. ‘No Protector will bear arms against Sol.’
‘Still, Aeb, you’re only a risk if you know exactly what it is we’re planning to do, right?’ said Denser, a twinkle in his eye.
‘Yes,’ agreed Aeb.
‘I mean it’s all very well knowing where we are in Balaia but quite another thing knowing where we’re headed, would you agree?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, you may not be able to lie but I intend to exercise my imagination to its fullest,’ said Denser. ‘And clearly you’ll have no choice but to report it as the truth.’
‘Yes,’ said Aeb a third time, and there was the faintest trace of humour in his normally impassive voice.
‘Excellent,’ said Denser. ‘Could be fun, this.’
‘Fun, he calls it,’ grumbled Ilkar, but there was a smile on his face. ‘The whole elven race is under threat and he’s about to engage in a game of bluff with the Lord of the Mount of Xetesk.’