‘You’d better believe it,’ said The Unknown. ‘One to one as good as Protectors, in my opinion.’
‘And in Xetesk’s too,’ said Izack. ‘The Protectors are heavily committed against them.’
‘Are you in contact?’ asked Darrick.
‘Only by riders. Can’t spare mages for Communion.’
Darrick nodded. ‘We have to get to them. How’s the land in between?’
‘Safe enough,’ said Izack. ‘Don’t stray too far west, Xeteskian cavalry is moving out there.’ He smiled. ‘Go on, tell me what I’m doing wrong.’
‘Nothing,’ said Darrick. ‘But weight your left. Keep cavalry out there. We’ve seen an army on the march north. Don’t get caught.’
‘Know about it already,’ said Izack. ‘Black Wings. They’re here to attack Xetesk, I think. They might even help us.’
‘Not by choice,’ said The Unknown. ‘Don’t underestimate them.’
‘One other thing,’ said Darrick. ‘Their cavalry commander here isn’t confident. He sees things too late. Next time you see a breach, you might try riding through it, but take half of your men with you.’
The two Lysternans shook hands again.
‘You know I’m supposed to arrest you,’ said Izack. ‘Pity I didn’t recognise you.’
‘Another day,’ said Darrick. ‘I’ll come back, answer for my actions.’
‘Raven!’ Hirad took up his reins. ‘Raven with me!’
Taking The Unknown’s place at the head of the arc, he galloped away towards the east gate of Xetesk.
The dusk was deepening when The Raven finally rode into the allies’ forward camp on the eastern battle front. With the coming of night fighting had ceased, and the echoing memories of the battle clashed with the enforced calm of the aftermath.
The Raven had been forced to move slowly. Their horses’ exhaustion, marauding bands of Xeteskian cavalry and the deep suspicion of Dordovan patrols had all made for a circuitous and difficult passage. But a sympathetic finger had pointed them the way to the mess tents and the elven encampment. And although they drew glances that ranged from awe to open hostility, they had eaten and their horses were picketed, rubbed down and fed.
With Ilkar leading, they walked into the quiet of the elven camp. Most were already asleep, stretched out under the cloudy sky, but those still awake displayed the signs of people who had experienced their first day on the battlefield: shock, deep weariness, disbelief.
Hirad sympathised. They would have feared for their lives every heartbeat, and finished the day bruised, deafened, exhausted and guilty that they lived when their friends had died. And worse was to come. It would have to be faced all over again as dawn broke, but with every muscle screaming for rest and the risks as great, if not greater. But for these elves, there was also the fact that they would never have seen such a mass of humanity in one place all trying to kill each other. Never mind their willingness to fight and die for their cause and never mind their skill and mental strength. Nothing prepared you for that first day of mass battle. Nothing.
They found Rebraal and Auum together, cuts bathed and bound, sitting cross-legged near a fire discussing the day gone and the day to come. As The Raven approached, Ilkar ushering tired elves out of the way to let them sit to talk, Auum looked up, his distaste undisguised and eyeing Hirad with what amounted to contempt. The Unknown put a calming hand on Hirad’s shoulder and sat him next to Ilkar, who Rebraal had been plainly happy to see.
The conversation began, Ilkar translating the elven words.
‘So what brings you here, little brother? We thought you were in the city by now.’
Ilkar chuckled. ‘You know perfectly well why we’re here and not in Xetesk. The TaiGethen have recovered the Yniss fragment and we’re here to join you. Erienne has to travel with you to aid the binding, and where Erienne goes, The Raven go.’
That got Auum’s attention. His head snapped up and Hirad could see his eyes spearing Ilkar.
‘Wrong,’ he said. ‘We are going back in tonight to attempt entry into the college itself.’
‘I don’t understand,’ said Ilkar.
‘What is there not to understand?’ said Rebraal. ‘We don’t have it. And patently neither do you despite your grand words about The Raven’s skill. Why else do you think we’re still here?’
‘Aeb was in contact with the Soul Tank the day before we were due to raid the college. You remember I explained Protectors to you.’
‘And we fought them all day for very little gain,’ said Rebraal. There was a murmur around the fire.
‘Not surprising, really,’ said Ilkar. ‘The point is, two souls departing the Tank reported they had been killed by TaiGethen who took Yron, the man who holds the thumb.’
‘Which Tai?’ demanded Ilkar.
‘I don’t know. How could I?’
‘Where was this incident?’ Auum was sitting bolt upright now, an expression of anxiety across his face, his hands gripping his thighs.
‘Just outside the west gate of the college, right by the artisans’ quarter,’ said Ilkar.
Rebraal and Auum shared a glance. ‘Merke,’ said the TaiGethen. He looked back to Ilkar. ‘They have not reported back here. You are sure about this?’
Ilkar nodded. ‘Absolutely. Protectors are unable to lie.’
‘Then the Xeteskians must have retaken them,’ said Rebraal.
‘Not possible,’ said Ilkar. ‘Aeb would know. They escaped the city early this morning.’
‘They have not returned,’ said Auum.
Ilkar sighed. ‘I don’t believe it,’ he said, turning to The Unknown. ‘We’ve lost it again. Somewhere between here and the college. The Gods only know where it is.’
‘Well, we’ll have to search,’ said the big warrior. ‘Find out where this Tai went in and work back from there.’
Ilkar posed the question and didn’t like the answer.
‘South-west corner,’ he relayed. ‘Right where the Black Wings are advancing.’
‘Any chance they ran into a patrol?’ asked Hirad.
‘It would have to be a big one to stop a TaiGethen cell,’ said Ren.
‘How good is this Yron?’ asked Rebraal, dropping back into elvish to speak to Auum.
The TaiGethen snorted, getting his meaning. ‘Not good enough.’
‘It doesn’t matter anyway, he wanted to find them. It was Yron who stole the thumb from the college. The point is, they must be holed up somewhere, trapped maybe,’ said Ilkar. ‘Look, this is what we know. Merke’s cell got out of the city with Yron and now Xetesk will be looking for them and they have a head start. But coming at them from the south is an army of farmers driven on by Black Wing witch hunters. They are caught in the middle of it somewhere and we have to get them out fast.’
‘We will sweep from here to the coast,’ said Auum. ‘We will see everything. But first we have to rest. We’ll leave before dawn.’
‘You can’t do that,’ said Ilkar. ‘You can’t abandon this front entirely. Xetesk will know straight away what you’re doing.’
‘Then perhaps these Dordovans we fought for can return us the favour,’ said Rebraal. ‘Or perhaps you and your Raven. After all, what have you done so far?’
‘Got you here,’ said Ilkar. ‘And created the conditions for Yron to take the thumb and escape the college. And that’s just for starters.’
‘You have some great and better idea, do you?’ said Auum, his voice dismissive.
‘Yes, I do,’ said Ilkar. ‘What you’re suggesting is too slow and Xetesk will be able to track you all the way because the land is too open. All it’ll lead to is more mass conflict with Xetesk and Black Wings and you’ll get no nearer the prize. Do it The Raven’s way. Trust me, it’ll work.’