‘No!’ shouted Hirad. ‘Denser, clear the karron left. Unknown, get inside. Ark, let’s get them.’
Ark barrelled into the reavers threatening Erienne and stood astride her. Hirad forced a path to protect Thraun and his charge. Ahead, Rebraal and Auum were at the doorway, keeping it clear. Denser’s ForceCone scattered demons from their left in a wide spread. He backed away, The Unknown shadowing him.
Hirad glanced down at Thraun. The shapechanger was still alive, clutching at the hem of Erienne’s cloak. He was trying to drag himself nearer to her. Blood puddled on the floor beneath him. His face was grey.
‘All right, Thraun,’ he said. ‘We’ve got you.’
‘Go,’ said Thraun, blood dribbling from his mouth. ‘Can’t move, Hirad.’
‘We’ll take you.’
But he looked around and it was clear that he could not hope to fulfil that promise. Denser was trying his best to keep the demons away left and right but he could do nothing about the mass that packed in behind, out of the compass of the ForceCone.
‘Hirad!’ bellowed The Unknown. ‘Come on. It’s your only chance.’
‘Hang on, Thraun,’ he said. ‘Ark, get Erienne away.’
‘It is done.’
Hirad turned to face the enemy. Karron and reaver pressed in. ‘Go,’ said Thraun. ‘Please.’ Hirad felt the tears running down his face. ‘Go.’
He turned and started to run. Reavers flocked down on Thraun. He died without a sound.
Hirad felt the demons closing in on his back. Ark and Erienne were just a few yards from the doorway. He could see The Unknown and Denser beckoning them all on. Rebraal and Auum kept the edges of the doorway clear.
‘Run!’ yelled The Unknown. ‘Don’t make me come out there. Run!’
But there was such despair in his voice. He made to move but Auum shoved him back hard. Hirad frowned. The claw of a reaver ripped up his back and into the base of his skull. He was pitched from his feet, tumbling head over heels. He scampered to his feet, a wave of nausea sweeping across him. He staggered, ran on a couple of paces. He heard the beating of wings close, so close. They were all around him. He felt the lash of a tail into his legs, claws grabbed at his back and shoulders and the hot breath of a reaver fired right in his face.
‘Hirad!’ cried The Unknown. ‘Hirad. Get up. Get up.’
He tried to push past Auum but again the elf knocked him back. Hirad dragged himself to his hands and knees. They were all over him.
‘Do something!’
Ark was moments from the doorway. A reaver exalted and buried its hand into Hirad’s ribs. The barbarian gasped. He locked eyes with The Unknown briefly, favoured him with that damned smile and collapsed to the ground.
The doorway snapped shut.
Ark slithered to a halt as the doorway disappeared, clicking out of existence as if it had never been there. All that was left was a memory of it in the air. In his arms, Erienne’s breath was ragged and faint. He closed a hand over her nose and mouth until it ceased altogether. He laid her on the ground and stood astride her, snapping his sword from its back mount. He turned, saw the faces of reavers look up from Hirad’s body and the whole room of demons focus on him and move in.
He lifted one hand towards them and beckoned them on.
‘No,’ said Denser, panic spearing his voice. ‘No. Open the door, open the door.’
He scrabbled at the blank wall. The Unknown fell back a pace, swaying. Rebraal and Auum were next to him. Supporting him.
‘Open this fucking door!’ screamed Denser. ‘She’s still out there. Sha-Kaan. Please open the door.’
‘Oh no,’ said The Unknown. ‘Not him. Not him. If one of us deserved to live it was him. Oh, Hirad, not you.’
‘Please open the door,’ mumbled Denser.
But it would not open. Hirad was dead and the link was gone. Denser slumped to the ground by the wall and was leaning against it, desolate, his body wracked with sobs.
The Unknown, his tears flowing free, shook off the elves and knelt by Denser, enveloping him in his powerful embrace. Behind them, the elves joined in prayer. And from the chamber behind them, they all heard the wailing of a dragon lost in grief for his Dragonene.
‘Please make him go back.’
‘They’ve gone, Denser. Dear Gods burning, they’ve all gone.’
The Unknown had no idea how long he sat with Denser. How long until he stopped crying and he could take control of his shuddering body. But when he did release the mage, when the poor man had sobbed himself out, he looked up into Rebraal’s eyes and saw the light of relief there.
‘You can feel them, can’t you?’ he said ‘Sense them.’
Rebraal nodded. ‘The fabric between worlds is thin here, I can feel so much of those I love who are dead. And he is with my brother even now. The spirits rejoice. They are only lost until we travel to be with them again. And he will be there, sensing you, with you. All the time.’
The Unknown managed a smile though it tore at his heart.
‘You know, Rebraal, that is a truly scary thought.’
He pushed himself to his feet, Auum stepping in to help him up. He was covered in blood and his body felt like he was still being attacked.
‘Thanks. I think it’s time we went and saw Sha-Kaan. Shared some memories and found out where it is this Klene is taking us. His world for now, I expect, until he can find himself a new Dragonene.’
He reached down a hand which Denser took and hauled himself upright. The Unknown threw an arm around his shoulder and looked into his eyes.
‘Raven,’ he whispered. ‘Raven with me.’
Epilogue
Sol unlocked the door of The Raven’s Rest in response to the insistent knocking. He cleared his throat irritably.
‘We aren’t op—Oh, if it isn’t the Lord of the Mount elect.’
‘Very funny,’ said Denser. ‘Mind if I come in?’
‘Be my guest.’ Sol stepped aside and let him in out of the chill rain. ‘Fancy a glass of wine? Just had some excellent young Blackthorne red come in.’
‘Sounds ideal.’
‘Hungry?’
‘I could eat a scabby horse.’
‘Sold out of that at midday. Still, I’m sure I can find something. Sit yourself down if you can find a seat.’ He gestured around the big empty room, clean for the evening traffic. He limped around the end of the bar and took a bottle from the racking beneath it. ‘Jonas, you in the kitchen?’
‘Yes, father.’
‘Bring in some bread and ham for two, there’s a good lad. Denser’s here.’
‘Oh, great.’
Sol fished in his pocket for a corkscrew. He watched Denser walking around the walls of the tavern, looking fondly at the paintings of The Raven hanging there. And like always, he lingered at the portrait of Erienne, reaching out to touch it, brush away an imaginary hair.
The cork pulled with a satisfying pop. He sniffed the bottle then set it on a tray with a couple of glasses.
‘You know,’ said Denser. ‘I’ve wanted to ask this for a while but don’t you think we should think about taking these down? You know. Let them fade naturally in memory?’
‘You cannot expect me to answer that question when you ask it wearing an expression like that. Besides, they bring in the punters.’
‘I’m not really sure what I’m trying to say. I don’t mean don’t display them at all. It’s just that The Raven isn’t for everyone. They’re ours.’
‘There are plenty who would dispute that,’ said The Unknown. ‘Are you saying that I shouldn’t profit from them?’