The karron stormed in. Or at least, they began as karron. These were striding into the ColdRooms apparently unhampered by the lack of mana within. And they were growing with every stride. Seven and eight feet high now and they weren't finished. Bodies filled out with new muscle. The hammer and spike limbs lengthened a little, weapons developing, building. Halfway down their torsos, under their arms, more limbs were sprouting. Sinuous, long and pincered. True monsters, facing which the Wesmen sang defiance and courage. Unwavering in the face of a new and deadly threat.
'Gods burning,' breathed The Unknown.
'Reckon we've got time to have a little chat now?' asked Hirad. 'Darrick died to get us all in here. Let's not waste what he gave us.'
'Right,' said The Unknown. 'Rebraal, Auum, we need their head Shaman. And find Eilaan. Raven, with me to Tessaya. Meeting at the barracks, that's where their shrine is. Go.'
The Raven ran down into the maelstrom. They took up their
classic angled chevron but with Thraun at Hirad's right-hand side now Darrick was gone. The Unknown and Ark formed the forward muscle to the left. Behind them, both Denser and Erienne had blades in their hands. Al-Arynaar came to their sides, providing a flanking defence.
'Tessaya!' shouted Hirad. 'We need Tessaya.'
They could see the Paleon banner fluttering in the breeze towards the front of the line where the boosted karrons were engaging the Wesmen. Warriors turned to see The Raven approaching. Orders were shouted. Ahead of them, a path was created somewhat reluctantly.
Reavers dropped in front of The Raven. Strike-strain gathered overhead and dived.
'Keep moving, Raven!' called The Unknown.
'No problem,' said Hirad.
Holding his blade in both hands, he ran on. The first of the reavers were engulfed in a storm of Wesmen axes but others were heading in. Hirad, head cocked up, saw three coming in.
'Upwards, Unknown!'
Hirad ran on a pace, spun on his heel and whipped his sword in a circle above his head. The blade caught reaver feet, sawing through claw and bone. The demon screeched. It tried to regain some height but its momentum brought it on down. Thraun's blade chopped through its left wing, bringing it to the ground.
To the left, The Unknown had heeded Hirad's warning. The big warrior's mace dragged through reaver flesh and his sword took off its tail. Unbalanced, the creature crashed to the stone where Ark crushed its skull. The third flew in at a shallow angle, aiming for the mage targets. Hirad left Thraun to finish the first and moved fast.
'Erienne, down!'
She dropped to her haunches. Hirad's blade swept through, cutting to the reaver's spine. Gore flew and splattered. The reaver flew on a couple of beats and fell among the Wesmen.
'Moving on, Raven!' The Unknown's voice kept them focused.
Strike-strain rained down on them. More tenacious than they had been before but carrying no greater threat in reality. Hirad kept his sword up and forward, watching for reavers. He kept his free hand in front of his face, warding off the strike-strain trying to take out his
eyes. Wesmen and Al-Arynaar closed in around them. He could see the Paleon standard at hand.
Scant yards ahead, the new karron were deep in the fight along an expanding front. They moved at frightening speed against an unmoving Wesmen wall. Lord Tessaya's voice sang out, giving his people strength. Axes rose and fell. Warriors screamed. Karron died.
Hirad saw through the crowds a glimpse of the power of the boosted demons. A Wesmen axe flashed into a karron face. It fell back but another was in so quickly. A pincer limb whipped out, grabbing the warrior's axe arm. The spike limb thrashed across his undefended body and his corpse was hurled aside.
'Hold!' said The Unknown.
The Raven stopped and formed up to defend. Ahead of them, Tessaya roared more orders. Hirad saw his axe take the head from his enemy. The Wesmen pushed forwards, halting the karron advance. Hirad could feel their pure ferocity like a shivering in the air. He dragged a strike-strain from his shoulder and crushed it under his heel. By the time he looked up, Tessaya was standing in front of them.
'You come to stand with the Wesmen?' he asked.
His face was cut and bleeding but his eyes shone with his determination and energy. Warriors around him took the strike-strain from the air near him much as the Al-Arynaar did for The Raven.
'No,' said Hirad. 'Our fight is elsewhere but we need your help and that of your Shaman.'
Tessaya frowned. 'I do not understand.'
'We'll explain but not here. Please, come with us to the barracks where your Shaman is waiting.'
'I will not leave the battle with the ul-karron,' he said. 'I must stand and fight with my warriors.'
Hirad watched him square his shoulders. His eyes had barely left the fight to his right.
'Just for a few moments,' said The Unknown. 'It concerns the future of us all.'
Tessaya sized them up. Hirad felt like he was in a bubble. He was aware of the fighting all around him. The desultory spells working across the shell and the sound of reaver and strike-strain attacks. The
chants of the Wesmen as they drove hard at the ul-karron. But it seemed distant somehow. Almost unimportant compared to the workings of the mind of the man in front of them.
Tessaya turned and spoke quickly to his lieutenant. He nodded at Hirad.
'You have my attention,' he said. 'Don't waste it.'
Al-Arynaar and Wesmen rushed their charges to the barracks. The move had not gone unnoticed by the master demons and already the focus of reaver attacks was switched. It bought the Wesmen in the front line some respite but posed a new problem. Wesmen reserve were already organising themselves to ring the barracks building, while Rebraal, standing at the door, was overseeing his people scaling the walls to stand on the flat roof.
They were ushered inside to the officers' quarters. Arnoan was already there and with him were Auum, Evunn, Pheone, Dystran and Vuldaroq. Eilaan stood in one corner, looking nervous. With The Raven, Rebraal and Tessaya completing the complement, the incense-heavy room was crowded and hot. Hirad felt a rush of nerves combined with a sense of excitement and history. In this room were the men, women and elves on whom the fate of the entire dimension rested.
Tessaya, his presence the single greatest in the room, laid his axe on a table by the door and strode across to Arnoan. He took in the assembled company and was clearly impressed despite himself.
'We have a battle to win outside these walls,' he said, speaking in eastern Balaian for the benefit of those around him. 'Explain to me what is proposed.'
Arnoan had the look of a haunted man close to panic. His hands were shaking and his face was grey with exhaustion. Tessaya gripped his shoulders and his expression softened.
'My Shaman, calm yourself,' he said. T understand we have more problems than those immediately without. What has happened?'
'I was on my way to find you, my Lord,' said Arnoan. 'The demons have broken into the Spirits' resting place. They fight but they have no real weapons. The attack is confirmed by the elves. We have to act or our ancestors will be lost to us. We cannot let this happen.'
'How can this have happened?' demanded Tessaya. 'The Spirits are inviolate.'
'The incursion is as yet small but it will grow,' said Arnoan. 'I fear one of our Shamen must have been taken by demons.'
'Then we will find him and rescue him. Close this breach and continue our fight against the enemy on our own terms.'
'That is not possible,' said Dystran. 'Xetesk is a big city. The demons control both it and all the surrounding lands. You can never hope to find him.'
'But there is another way,' said Hirad. 'The Raven's way.'
'The only way,' added The Unknown.
Tessaya's head swung round to The Raven. 'Speak,' he said.