‘Lord Tessaya, you asked to see me,’ said Dystran, smiling and opening his arms in welcome.
‘I need support out there,’ said Tessaya. ‘You have men and mages idle. Give them to me. Right now, Wesmen and elves are keeping you alive. You have had your rest. It is time to fight.’
‘Now we need to keep reserves and ensure the sanctity of the Heart. Our involvement will and must be on need alone.’
‘That need is now,’ growled Tessaya. ‘My warriors die to protect you.’ He pointed at Dila’heth and Pheone. ‘Their people die to protect you. Be visible or we will leave you to your fate.’
‘And what exactly do you suggest?’ asked Dystran.
Tessaya sniffed. ‘Spells will kill more enemy than swords ever will. We have seen that. Warriors will occupy their ul-karron, you must cast to destroy their commanders and their reserve.’
‘My Lord Tessaya, you must know that we cannot cast inside the ColdRoom shells,’ said Dystran.
‘You must think me an ignorant savage,’ said Tessaya, carefully holding onto his temper, ‘if you think that pathetic excuse will impress me.’
‘Now listen—’
‘The elven mages stand at risk in the spaces between the castings they have made so we can fight and they do what they can. But they are not enough. Mages must travel outside the college. Come into the back of the demon lines and kill them where they wait the order to attack. Defence alone is no longer enough. It will not give The Raven time enough to act, should they be able to do so.’
Dystran paused and held up his hands in a placatory gesture. ‘Now let’s not get carried away. What you suggest sounds plausible but surely mages scattered outside the college will be committing suicide, not supporting the defence.’
‘And is what we do for you any different? It is slow but we will be overwhelmed eventually. That is, unless we disrupt their chain of command and damage their morale and belief now. Now.’
‘I’m sorry, Tessaya, but I will not commit my mages and warriors to battles they cannot win. Their souls are vulnerable in a way yours are not.’
‘Vulnerability is no excuse for cowardice.’ Tessaya took a pace towards Dystran, feeling his anger infuse his body. ‘And that is what you are. You and all those that follow you and do your bidding. Cowards deserving of nothing but my contempt.’
‘I will not stand by and let that slur stain me,’ said the soldier Tessaya didn’t recognise.
‘And who are you, hiding behind your ruler’s platitudes?’
‘I am Chandyr, commander of the Xeteskian armies, such as they are.’
‘Then stand by me, Chandyr. Fight for your freedom. You are clearly no stranger to battle. And you, Captain Suarav, my words do not apply to one such as you.’
‘Chandyr, you will not walk outside of this complex without my express permission,’ spat Dystran. ‘I will not have this man making demands in my college.’
Chandyr walked calmly in front of Dystran. ‘Go ahead and hide, Dystran. I will not do so. The fact is that Tessaya speaks wisely and you know he does. All stood here know that your decisions are based on your fear of the order of power should the demons be defeated and you will risk all of us to hang onto that power.’
‘Commander Chandyr, I will say this just once,’ began Dystran.
‘Save it for someone who will listen,’ said Chandyr. He tore the insignia from his chest and arms. ‘I resign my commission and fight as a free man. And I encourage any who despair of your weakness to do the same.’ Chandyr smiled. ‘What of your power now? To cast to stop me you will have to place yourself at risk. I would like to see that, I really would. At least it would show some courage.’
Behind Chandyr, Tessaya nodded, knowing this man had true spirit. Here was a man he could respect and trust to fight next to him. Chandyr turned to him.
‘Lord Tessaya, I place myself at your command.’
‘As do I,’ said Suarav.
‘And already you are heroes. Come, let us do that which your leader dare not and try to save us all.’ He jabbed a finger at Dystran. ‘You have until dawn to schedule your remaining warriors and mages to the defence of this college or I will do it for you. Pheone, Dila’heth, I urge you, work with me.’
He turned and strode from the dome, his heart swelling with new belief and his brain racing with the possibilities. Should they defeat the demons, he would be the most powerful man on Balaia. He roared a battle cry and charged back into the fray in the dying light of a freezing day, his warriors at his back.
‘How long is the journey?’ asked Denser.
‘I don’t know,’ said Hirad. ‘But they are coming. We’ll have warning, I’m sure.’
He turned his head to the scene outside the cave. Demons crowded the entrance. Some strains he recognised, some he did not. In the darkening sky, he saw reavers hovering, screeching orders at the lesser demons in front of them. He saw ul-karron beating on the face of the Cone; and there were other, smaller wingless demons, completely hairless and pure white. Their thin fingers leeched into the Cone, trying to disrupt the construct. So far it was holding but there were signs of stress on Eilaan’s face.
‘How long can he hold on?’ asked Thraun.
‘Hard to say,’ said Erienne. ‘He will let us know if he comes under serious threat.’
The cave was quiet and warm. They were trying to relax. Erienne had slept for a long period and looked a little refreshed. Ark and The Unknown also slept as did the elven warrior trio. Outside, the cacophony would be undimmed but Denser’s casting of a SoundBell had shut off the din, leaving them in a bubble of relative calm.
‘We know Denser can cast the same spell. What can you do?’ asked Hirad.
‘Something similar but I’d be loath to try it. I need my strength, Hirad, and I don’t need to experiment with new castings right now.’
‘But if we had to call on you?’
‘Hirad, do you really have to ask?’
The barbarian smiled. ‘No. Just making conversation. All right, let’s try something else. How far does Eilaan reckon the power source is?’
‘Close. Probably no more than a short run,’ said Denser. ‘It’s impossible to say after that.’
‘What will it be?’
Denser scratched at his beard. ‘Gods, Hirad, how the hell do you expect me to know that? All we can tell is that it’s a massive mana construct and it is driving mana out of this dimension and obviously into ours. There’s still a significant density here but it’s interesting that where we landed there was a relative lack. Whatever it is they have done, it is attracting mana into a huge concentration to pump it out.’
‘What’s interesting about that?’
‘Well, that as far as our writings are concerned, what is happening is impossible. That makes whoever is doing this very powerful indeed. And we have to kill it or them. And that’s after we get through the hordes waiting outside our front door.’
‘Should be fun.’
‘I very much doubt it,’ said Erienne.
‘Now, surely it’s your turn to get some rest, Hirad,’ said Denser.
‘What makes you say that?’
‘Because your inane questioning is setting my teeth on edge.’
Hirad thought to retort but when he considered it, was too tired. The hours they’d had behind the ForceCone had allowed Denser and Erienne to deliver a few key healing casts and they were as fit as they would ever be. But nothing was going to take away the raw fatigue.
Hirad lay back on his pack, punching it into an acceptable pillow and trying to ignore the stink. He closed his eyes and was immediately suffused by feelings of warmth and speed.
‘No time for rest, my Dragonene. We are come.’
Hirad shot to his feet. ‘Game time, everyone. Hope you’re feeling good. We’re about to get help.’
Chapter 44