‘We are talking about a return to a more natural state of magic,’ said Ilkar. ‘And is that not better than certain extinction?’
‘I will not relinquish our only true chance of beating these bastards, Ilkar.’
‘No, what you won’t relinquish is Xetesk’s power over Balaia. And it’ll do you no good because they will simply come in here and take it. They make the demons look like a bunch of apple scrumpers. Why won’t you understand that?’
Denser was on his feet again and Ilkar stood opposite him. Both jabbed fingers and puffed out chests. Auum watched Ilkar with discomfort, the elf’s words coming from a youthful human mouth.
‘You fear that, don’t you, Ilkar? Xetesk being the only magical power remaining on Balaia. It’s pathetic.’
‘I’m dead, in case you hadn’t noticed. I couldn’t care less who is left and who isn’t so long as it means I can return to my rest. But you, you and your Circle Seven and that bastard snake Dystran, you desire dominion, don’t you? And that should scare us all. Because you’ll sacrifice the lot of us pursuing this folly. But you have to listen to what everyone bar your inner circle of power-mongers tells you: we have to run.’
‘Where, damn you, where? What do I advise my people? Follow these dead west but I don’t know where or why? Dear Gods falling, please throw me a scrap here.’
‘I know where,’ said Auum.
For a moment the noise of the argument continued but Auum’s voice had a way of leaching through even the most sewn-down of ears. One by one, they turned to him. He waited until he had the attention of them all.
‘And so do the Wesmen.’
‘You could have said so before,’ said Hirad. ‘Told you, Denser.’
‘But then, like all of you, I would have been speaking before I was truly ready,’ said Auum. He was staring at Denser. ‘I will speak without interruption.’
Denser spread his hands. ‘Help yourself.’
‘Then sit, all of you, and hear me because time runs short and your complaining brings all of our deaths closer. Denser, you are wrong. The Garonin are unstoppable but they are escapable. Their resources are stretched but this dimension is so dense with mana that they will pour what they must into it to gain it all. And they will come back time and again when the density builds. This world is no longer viable for man or elf.
‘Ilkar, you are wrong too. They will not stop after gaining the Hearts. The mana held in the soul of each man living and in each dead soul is too much to ignore. This is still a populous country. They will annihilate everyone while collecting their verrian. You should have read the lore of the Ynissul more closely while you still lived.’
Auum gestured at Septern. ‘And you, great mage returned, you have many of the answers but your memories are flawed. You have been dead too long. But even you are aware of the cost to some of our survival, as are all of the dead around this table though they hesitate to admit what they truly need. I see it in your eyes. In a moment you shall speak of Ulandeneth but first I shall say this:
‘Any who wish to escape the Garonin, and that is the only way to survive them, have two choices. The first and infinitely preferable, though terribly dangerous, is to travel west to the Charanacks, the Wesmen. They and their Shamen can open the first door. It is dangerous because such a concentration of souls will attract the Garonin and you will be beset.
‘The second choice is to try and hold the fastnesses of Julatsa, Xetesk and Korina for long enough to allow those who travel the first door to find the new home and open escape routes there for all remaining souls in this dimension. However, the Garonin are already too close and will overwhelm your cities within days. Far too quickly in any event for the corridors to be opened.’
Sol raised a hand. ‘Auum, if I may speak before you call on Septern?’
Auum nodded.
‘Thank you. One point of interest you raise is the concentration of souls. Surely if we break up those concentrations, we deflect Garonin interest or certainly dilute their attack front by spreading ourselves more thinly.’
Auum smiled. ‘That may be so but it merely delays the inevitable. The Garonin means of travel and detection of mana will bring them to their quarry in time.’
‘But surely worth a try,’ said Denser, staring squarely at Hirad. ‘Anyone who wants to run and hide in the Blackthorne Mountains and the Wesman Heartlands can do so. That will draw attention from those dedicated to the service and defence of Xetesk and Balaia.’
‘I may be dead, Denser, but I’m still quicker than you, all right?’ said Hirad.
‘Spare me, Hirad.’
‘You are betraying The Raven.’
‘I am trying to save my people,’ said Denser.
‘We are your people.’
‘Were.’
‘Enough,’ said Sol, resting a restraining hand on Hirad’s bunched arm. ‘Auum.’
‘You demonstrate further ignorance, Denser,’ said Auum.
Denser shook his head and sighed. ‘I will beat myself later. What is it this time?’
‘None of the dead around this table have the luxury of running to hide. Do they, Septern? Do they, Hirad, Ilkar?’
‘What is he talking about?’ asked Denser.
‘Ulandeneth,’ said Septern. ‘It is the place through which all souls are said to pass on their way to birth, and on their way to death. It is the only place that links every dimension in every dimensional cluster. If we are to escape the Garonin, those tasked with opening the corridors must travel there to seek the new home. I searched for it all my life. I found so many places and all spoke of it. But I never found Ulandeneth. That is the elven term by the way. The Soul Home. There are many others but it is perhaps the one that sits most easily on the tongue.’
‘Can we go back a bit?’ asked Denser. ‘Dimensional clusters?’
Septern nodded at Sharyr, another so-far-silent presence. ‘Go on. I like your explanation of it. You’d have made a fine student of mine, you know.’
Sharyr blushed. ‘When Sol described how the dragons were under attack, it led me to thinking. The demons have been destroyed, so we understand from souls claiming to have escaped them. The dead dimension has also been torn apart; Balaia is under attack; every place that we know, simultaneously invaded. To me, it means that the Garonin found them all at once.’
Sharyr crabbed his hand. ‘Imagine this to be Ulandeneth. It sits at the top of everything. It’s the hub of all life, like this tower is the hub of Xeteskian magic. Then imagine lines coming out of Ulandeneth, countless lines probably and each one leading to a cluster of dimensions.
‘What I think is that each cluster is self-contained. It has a place for the dead and a number, probably variable, of places for various living species. It’s a way of organising the vastness of creation, if you like. If you are able to travel dimensions, even in a limited sense like dragons and demons can, it is because you can sense some of the lines that lead between dimensions. And when you die, you are channelled back up to Ulandeneth and then down to your particular place of rest.’
‘You’re sure there is a place for the dead in each cluster, are you?’ asked Denser.
‘It’s just a theory,’ said Sharyr. ‘Nothing is certain.’
‘And Auum, you cannot confirm absolutely that your dead travelled to a different place in your former home than they do now, am I right?’
Auum inclined his head.
Denser glared briefly at Ilkar. ‘Go on, Sharyr.’
‘Thank you. Now because for every soul there is no pause, the transit through Ulandeneth is brief indeed. Rumours of seeing light, sensing others around you, helping hands, fleeting fear just as you die . . . all these things make sense if you believe in Ulandeneth. It provides for them all. And it is a safe haven. The only trouble is, it appears the Garonin have learned how to stop there.