He hurried to his feet and looked around for The Unknown. The big warrior was already standing at a small window, Thraun and Darrick by his side, looking down onto the village’s single street.
‘Trouble?’ asked Hirad.
‘See for yourself,’ said The Unknown. ‘Dordover has arrived.’
Through the window, Hirad could see at least twenty horsemen in college livery. Next to them was the one impostor that had escaped the previous evening along with several villagers. They were grouped at the bottom of the path that led up to Ferran’s farm and there was no doubt at all where their attention lay. While he watched, Hirad saw small bags being tossed to the impostor and each of the villagers, who were then waved away.
‘They’re paying our ransom,’ he said.
‘Yeah,’ said The Unknown. ‘A little premature, don’t you think?’
Hirad heard the sound of a sword belt being buckled on.
‘Damn right,’ said Hirad. ‘Ideas?’
The Unknown looked out of the window once more. Hirad broke away to pull on his boots, and belt on his own sword. ‘Ferran isn’t with them, I see. We can presume he’s innocent. That means that while they know we’re in his buildings they won’t know who’s where necessarily. But we aren’t going to get to the farmhouse without being seen and I think a little surprise is what we need.’
‘I wonder if Denser and Erienne know what’s happening.’
‘I don’t doubt it,’ said Darrick. ‘What we have to worry about is that we’re unshielded. And I disagree with you, Unknown. Surprise is not what we need. After all, we’ve got a little help coming.’
He pointed to the left towards the southern edge of the village. Figures were racing in from the forest just beyond the last houses, disappearing into shadow to reappear far closer than they had any right to. And very much adjacent, a panther roared. The predatory sound scared the horses. A couple reared, the rest shifted, backing away. Riders began to dismount.
‘Well, even if our loving couple were asleep, they aren’t now,’ said Hirad. ‘Let’s go, Raven, there’s work to do.’
Thraun hung back. ‘I will run with the panther one last time on Balaia,’ he said.
‘You sure?’
The blond warrior nodded, his yellow-tinged eyes bright. Hirad didn’t wait for him but led the way down the ladder to the empty horse stalls. At the barn’s double doors, The Unknown halted them briefly.
‘Remember, if they want to arrest us, we can talk. Buy time. Just like last night.’
‘I doubt they’ll be as incompetent as last night,’ said Darrick.
‘Take my lead,’ said The Unknown.
He pulled open the doors and strode out into the cool air of early morning. Darrick and Hirad were at either shoulder. Thraun was still inside. Not two paces into the sunlight and FlameOrbs arced towards them.
‘Run!’
The Raven trio scrambled back inside, the Orbs crashing into the barn and the ground where they had been standing. Loose hay ignited, timbers flared and the ageing structure groaned and protested the impact. Fire took swift hold of the village side of the barn. It raced up the lintel where tongues licked down, daring them to attempt escape. It ate across the floor, finding ample fuel. Darrick, joined by the others, kicked a makeshift firebreak while behind them Thraun prowled, growling nervously.
‘How strong are the walls d’you reckon?’ asked Hirad. ‘You know, just in case.’
‘Not strong enough,’ said The Unknown.
Smoke fled across the underside of the roof, choking the timbers and carrying sparks to the hayloft. Already, flames threatened the thatch high above them.
‘We don’t have a lot of time,’ said Darrick.
‘Patience,’ said The Unknown, coughing.
‘Raven!’ came a voice. ‘Surrender immediately or we’ll burn you where you hide. You have—’ He made a choking sound. Hirad fancied he heard a dry thud.
‘Auum,’ said Hirad. The panther roared into the teeth of another spell detonation. Men shouted. There were running feet.
‘Hirad, shoulder at the edge of the flame, we’ll break through there. Roll and split outside. Don’t give them a target.’ The Unknown sheathed his sword. ‘Raven with me!’
Hirad and The Unknown sprinted for the fire’s edge which was advancing along the wall at frightening speed, its heat drawing sweat from their brows. The warriors launched themselves on the last pace, shoulders connecting with scorching timbers. The impact of their combined weight on weakened wood was predictable and they punched through to fresh air in a shower of sparks and splinters.
Both men rolled on the packed earth, drawing swords as they regained their feet and running at angles towards the enemy. Thraun howled and charged. Darrick moved up in their wake. From the left, the TaiGethen and Rebraal advanced carefully behind accurate bowfire that skipped off a HardShield but kept its caster concentrating hard. The ClawBound were sprinting in a wide arc to reach the back of the Dordovans, their horses beginning to panic and split.
Already, one of their number lay with a shaft through his throat. Others circled and ran to defensive positions. Mages, one still on horseback, were either casting or held shields in place. The Raven’s betrayers were backing off north. Hirad noted them and was just wondering if Denser and Erienne were with The Raven when the Xeteskian announced that he was.
Two focused columns of HellFire speared down from the clear sky. Rich blue and targeted at two standing mages, they struck with unstoppable power. A shield flared briefly orange and collapsed. Beneath it the two victims vaporised, not even having the time to scream.
‘Let’s take them, Raven!’ yelled Hirad, changing the angle of his run to strike the centre of the demoralised and confused Dordovan force.
Thraun was past him on the next heartbeat, leaping to take the remaining mage from his horse. Blood fountained into the air and his horse bolted.
‘They’re open!’ shouted The Unknown. ‘Keep firing!’
Arrows flew. Two men were struck. From behind, the ClawBound elf strode in and buried his fingers deep into the face of a terrified conscript. His panther was by his side.
Half the remaining Dordovans turned to run and found themselves facing The Raven. Hirad was in no mood for games. The man in front of him recognised him and had all but resigned himself to death before Hirad struck. He raised a guard. Hirad stepped inside it, blocked away the sword arm with his left and buried his blade deep into the Dordovan’s gut, driving up under the rib cage. Blood exploded from his mouth, spattering Hirad’s face. The barbarian dragged the blade clear, turned to find his next opponent and crashed a fist into his face above his sword guard. The soldier staggered back. Hirad paced after him, punched him again, square on the chin. The soldier’s sword dropped from nerveless fingers. Hirad growled and sliced out his throat.
Darrick had already downed two men who mistakenly thought him the easier target, while beside them one hapless soldier had met the full force of The Unknown’s sword and had been all but divided in two at the midriff. The sword had caught in his splintered ribs. The Unknown struggled to drag it clear, another soldier closing on him, looking to carve himself a piece of history.
‘Your right, Unknown,’ called Hirad, blocking away a quick attack from one of a duo he faced.
The Unknown swung round, straight-punched the soldier on the nose with his right fist, paced in and butted him hard. The man stumbled backwards and The Unknown finished him, driving his blade deep into his gut.
Hirad pushed away his closest attacker and backed off a pace, smiling.
‘Shame for you,’ he said. ‘Because you’ll never know what hit you.’
In front of him, the soldiers hesitated. And Auum’s Tai hit them with a speed that made Hirad gasp. Duele kicked head-high, snapping the neck of one man, Auum and Evunn scything into the legs and chest of the other. Hirad looked about him. It was over. The one remaining impostor leaped onto the back of a horse and kicked it into frenzied action. His limbs flailed as he urged it desperately towards a gallop.