Demonstorm

Rebraal all but jumped out of his skin. 'Auum, my place is here, with the Al-Arynaar. They need their leader.'

'Tessaya will use them effectively.' Auum turned to Dystran. 'See the message is relayed.'

Hirad waited for Rebraal to protest but the elf s expression was

not one of irritation, it was one of honour and pride. He simply nodded and joined them in new prayer.

'Will you look at that,' breathed Denser.

Arnoan's incense smoke was taking on form in the air. Grey wisps gathered and appeared to harden into a long shallow oval. Inside it, the view of the barracks room faded to be replaced by a flat grey. It rippled once and was still. The Shaman's eyes opened.

'The gateway is prepared,' he said. 'Use it quickly.' He paused. 'I think it is traditional for Easterners to wish each other luck. So, good luck.'

'Thank you.' The Unknown shouldered his pack. 'Come on, Raven, no sense in delaying.'

'Keep in physical contact with one another,' said Arnoan. 'Or you will be lost on the journey, scattered about the banished lands.'

Vuldaroq helped Erienne on with her pack. She nodded at him curdy.

'Could have all been different you know,' she said. 'All you had to do was leave me to educate my daughter in my own time.'

Vuldaroq raised his eyebrows. 'Sad history now.' He moved away to stand by Dystran. 'Tell me one other thing. At Triverne Lake when you passed through it. There was no one there?'

'There had been,' said Hirad. 'But whoever they were had been killed by demons. Why, people of yours?'

'We had to try,' said Vuldaroq.

'Try what?' demanded Dystran.

'Later, my friend. Much later.'

The Raven gathered in a line two abreast. Behind them were the elves.

'What happens in here?' asked Hirad.

'I don't know,' said Arnoan. 'Often the warrior screams but I suspect that to be more in anticipation of the arrival than the journey.'

'I hope you're right.'

The Unknown spoke. 'Remember. We're going somewhere we know nothing about. We don't even know we'll be able to breathe. But presuming we can, we first need a place to hole up so Hirad can call in the dragons. I need to know if mages have access to the mana spectrum for casting. Erienne, your condition is vital to us as you

know. Don't keep it a secret. We're relying on all three of you to tell us where the mana is flowing out because that's where we're head ed.'

'Let's just hope we appear somewhere relatively close by,' said Denser.

'If we don't we have ShadowWings and we have rope. We can ride dragons.' The Unknown paused. 'Are we set?'

He and Hirad locked their arms around each other's shoulders. Behind them, the other pairs did the same and with free hands grabbed the belt or wrapped around the waist of the person in front.

'Keep fighting,' said Hirad. 'We aren't doing this for nothing.'

'Don't fail us, Raven,' said Dystran.

'One thing, Dystran.' Hirad couldn't help himself. T have not and will never forgive you for the death of Ilkar and every other elf you sentenced to death when you unleashed the Elfsorrow. So let's get this straight. I am doing this for him, then for the elves, then for the rest of Balaia. Even Vuldaroq. But not you. Understand?'

'If it makes you happy.'

Hirad laughed. 'It's almost a shame we aren't coming back. At least then I'd have the opportunity of killing you myself.'

'Good luck, Raven,' said Vuldaroq. 'Make me proud, Erienne.'

'Don't push your luck.'

'Raven! Raven with me!'

Hirad stepped into the gateway.

He felt the drag almost at once. It was like the tide, slow but undeniable. There was an absence of anything and yet it wasn't dark. A pale light surrounded them. He tried to look in the direction they were being taken but could see nothing. He looked down too. It was the same. He noticed he was moving his legs as if he was walking but there was nothing solid beneath him. He stopped.

'We all here?' His voice sounded muffled but at least he could speak.

He heard murmurs and presumed they were assent. He tightened his grip on The Unknown and felt the reassuring tug on his belt that meant Erienne was behind him still. It was an odd sensation. A controlled fall. It was just a pity he couldn't see the destination. But perhaps stranger than that was the realisation that he wasn't at all fazed by the experience. His life had been punctuated by extraordinary events. Dimensional travel, links with dragons, speaking with the dead . . . and this was just another. To be endured and remembered.

Abruptly, their path was buffeted. They were flung from side to side and only then did they realise they were within walls.

'Hold on, Raven!' he called.

He heard wind whistling outside the confines of the tunnel, as he now thought it to be. And he fancied he could hear the calls of demons but it was probably just his imagination. He fended off the wall once more, feeling it give like taut cloth, and felt a surge of energy through his body. He jerked.

'Hirad, you all right?' asked The Unknown, his voice distant despite his proximity.

T think so, I . . .'

There was a presence in the tunnel witli them. No, two of them. Hirad had the sense that they were floating ahead. He fancied he could see something in the pale light, like shadows of shadows. Indistinct yet with purpose. He felt a warmth, like die touch of one thought lost.

'Do you see it?' he shouted. 'Ahead. Do you see it?'

Clearly, no one did. But the voice was something all of them could hear.

'You're going the wrong way, Coldheart. As usual.'

Hirad heard laughter behind him. Erienne closed and hugged him widi her free arm. Her lips were at his ear. 'It's him. It's really him.'

Hirad wiped at eyes suddenly brimming witli tears. His heart surged in his chest and he was infused with pure elation. He could feel him too. Almost smell him.

'Where are you, Ilks?'

'You're looking straight at me, idiot,' said Ilkar. T am a little insubstantial as far as you're concerned but I'm hurt you don't see me.'

'A little? I can see a ghosting ahead. Nothing more.'

'Well, it'll have to do. I've brought a friend. He hasn't worked out the talking bit yet but I'm showing him. Thanks for sending him, Auum. I wouldn't be here without him.'

'I said for you to get somewhere safe,' said Hirad. 'This doesn't seem much like it.'

'Begging your pardon but I thought dead would be safe. But apparently, the living have screwed that up too.'

'Xeteskians,' said Denser.

'Might have known. Never trust a Xeteskian, eh? That's why I'm here. Gods, Hirad . . . Raven . . . but we're in trouble. The enemy are inside. We know the source of their energy but we can't reach it. So far we can hold them off but they're growing so fast.'

'Well, that's why we're here,' said Hirad.

'I knew you'd come. I knew you'd help. The Raven never leave their own to suffer. But you have to be quick.'

Hirad felt the emotion wash over him. The relief and the love mixed with the fear of threat.

'Hey, Ilks, we're going as fast as we can. Haven't tried this sort of transport before.'

'And like I say, taking it in the wrong direction. Gods drowning, but I can't leave you alone for a moment without you taking a wrong turn, Hirad.'

'Ilkar, if it is you, stop this and tell us what to do. What do you mean wrong direction? We weren't offered a choice.'

'Ah, Unknown, although I feel I should call you Sol now. It is me. And believe me, this is as weird for me as it is for you. This isn't possible, you understand, but for the fact that the fabric of my world is weak and I can feel you enough to be with you. Now you're here, anyway. Don't think it'll last.'

'And where are we?' asked Erienne.

'At the junction of every dimension, or three of them at least. Yours, mine and the demons'. The Wesmen portal sends you to a single point in the demon dimension but you don't want to go there. They'll be waiting for you like they have all the lost souls banished there.'