Elfsorrow

'It'll be The Raven's business,' said Hirad. 'Anyway, those researchers could have brought back key information. About releasing the Protectors, I mean.'

'You can't really think that's likely,' said Denser. 'I mean, look about you. There's a war on. Think he's interested in releasing his most potent warrior force? Think it's even on his mind that he promised to send the Kaan home?'

'That'll have to wait.' It was Ilkar, propping himself up on his elbows, his expression one of deep concern. 'She's gone. My contact. She's just not there.'

'Dead?'

Ilkar nodded. 'Gods falling, Hirad, this is terrifying. Every moment that passes, more die. We've got to stop it.'

'We'll do it, Ilks,' said Hirad. 'I swear. We'll have to ride to find Rebraal. It's the only choice we've got, isn't it?'

'Where are the Al-Arynaar based?' asked Darrick.

'South-east of Xetesk,' said Ilkar. 'We'll have to ride across the lines to get to them.'

'Well, no time like now,' said Hirad, getting up and tipping the rest of his stew onto the fire. 'At least I can avoid eating that dung disguised as vegetables.'

Beside The Unknown, Aeb had already strapped his weapons over his back and was donning the riding cloak Darrick had given him.

'All right to ride?' asked the big warrior.

'Yes,' said Aeb. 'Fighting will be sore but not impossible.'

The Unknown nodded. 'Thank you, Aeb. For everything.'

'It is my calling to protect,' he said simply. 'Saving Ilkar and Ren protects you.'

'Look!' said Thraun suddenly.

The Unknown turned. The shapechanger, his sharp eyes focussed east, was pointing into the distance. Though the mist still clung to the bottom of the valley, further off it had burned away to a beautiful clear sunlit morning. Far away, where they knew Xetesk to be, they could see the faint lights of hundreds of spells in the sky. A pall of smoke was rising and they could imagine all too easily the suffering beneath.

The assault on the Dark College had begun. The ease with which the TaiGethen and he escaped Xetesk would have worried the old Yron. They simply scaled the western walls of the city and dropped into open ground, hurrying away under the shroud of night. Once clear of immediate pursuit, Merke had stopped to attend to his crossbow wound, removing the bolt, applying a dried herb pack and tying it down with a tough bandage. It served to ease the pain of the puncture in the muscle at the front of his thigh but didn't do a great deal to staunch the blood as he trotted along behind the Tai cell.

They were heading south-east as dawn touched the sky, looking to clear the college lines before joining up with the rest of the elven army. Yron had very mixed feelings about it all. While he was glad to have returned the thumb to its rightful owners, it was abundantly clear that neither Merke nor her largely silent companions had any idea who he was. This Auum, whoever he turned out to be, might have a much better idea. And if that was so, he could look forward to nothing but death, which by turn he felt he deserved and was equally sure he didn't. Funny old world.

Moving across open ground and making for one of the few surviving forest areas five miles south of Xetesk, they were seen by a group of twenty riders galloping across the tufted muddy plain crossed by a lattice of narrow streams. The horsemen had been heading north but turned when they saw the TaiGethen, moving to intercept. Immediately, the Tai unslung bows.

'Leave it to me,' said Yron. 'They could be friends.'

'They could be Xeteskians,' said Merke evenly.

'They don't have the look,' said Yron.

'We will be ready.'

'I don't doubt it.'

Yron faced the riders, the elves standing behind him in a loose group, bows pointing to the ground. The horsemen came to an orderly halt, one man trotting a little further forward. He took in Yron and the elven trio. Their faces were still covered in deep brown and green paint, having had no chance to clean them under prayer.

'Hunting?' said the rider abruptly.

'Escaping,' said Yron, knowing immediately they were not Xeteskians. 'Xetesk is an unpleasant place.'

'We are in accord there,' said the rider. He was a black-haired man, youngish, with heavy brows and a hard face. Yron didn't like him. 'Tell me your purpose.'

'It isn't my way to state my business to total strangers,' said Yron. 'Perhaps you'd like to tell me who I am addressing.'

'My name is Devun and these are men from the army of the righteous. We are the vanguard of thousands.'

Yron cursed under his breath. Black Wings. Not promising.

'Pleased to make your acquaintance, Devun. Now I would ask you to move aside and let us continue. My friends and I have pressing matters away from your battles with the colleges.'

'Not so fast, one of only four,' said Devun, and there was threat in his voice and posture. 'The only innocents fleeing the colleges now are refugees, hungry from seasons of deprivation. None of you have that look.'

He was looking past Yron again at the TaiGethen.

'And these are neither refugees nor college representatives,' said Yron, and he walked a little closer to Devun. 'My friend, you are among those who hate Xetesk with the same passion as you do. Let's not cause trouble here. These elves are not used to people standing in their way. It makes them nervous.'

'Well, since we are friends, there is no harm in you telling me both your name and your business.'

Devun had no interest in letting them go. Yron could see his posturing impressing those with whom he rode. But there was no harm in the truth; it might just do the trick. He drew himself tall, ignoring the blood running down his leg and the dull ache of the wound.

'I am Captain Yron, late of the Xeteskian college guard, now on the run for desertion and treachery. These are members of the TaiGethen from Calaius. Take me if you must but don't get in their way. You'll live to regret it. Or rather, you won't.' He spread his arms. 'Your move.'

Devun didn't even pause to think. 'Commander Selik will want to talk to you all.' He signalled to his men. 'Hold them.'

Yron sighed and ducked to the ground, rolling over and out of immediate trouble. Riders heeled their horses, moving to surround them, others began to slide from their mounts, drawing swords. The TaiGethen exploded into action.

All three elven bows drew and released, knocking three men from their saddles. The cell split. Merke threw a jaqrui ahead of her, drawing her sword, running and leaping in a blur of movement. She caught a rider feet-first in the stomach, knocking him from his horse to hang by one stirrup. She landed smartly, rose and slashed out his throat. More jaqrui wailed, more men died.

Vaart was surrounded by four. He feinted and ducked a straight blow, punching his sword clean through the eye of his attacker and following him as he went down, rolling over the corpse and dragging his blade clear. The other three came at him. He lashed a kick out front, winding one, caught a blow on his sword from another and swayed away from a reckless swing.

He rolled right, coming up and stabbing into the thigh of the nearest man, whose sword lashed out and caught him a glancing blow on his left shoulder, biting deep before swinging clear. Vaart rolled again with the blow, fending off the two who still came at him. He stood, drop-kicked one in the windpipe, a killing twist of his foot as he landed atop the Black Wing. He spun on his heel, hurled a jaqrui into the face of the man with the thigh wound but the last was just quick enough to bury his sword in Vaart's chest. The elf died silently.

Yron pushed himself to his feet, running to Merke's aid. To his left, Inell was backing away from three bowmen, eyeing up which to take first, the bodies of two in front of his dripping blade. Yron ignored him, drawing his axe and thrashing it into the back of a man attempting to flank the cell leader. At the same time, Merke thrust her sword up into the belly of a swordsman still on his horse, spun and almost tore Yron's throat out, just pulling her blow. She nodded and half turned but then stumbled forward, falling into Yron and bringing him down, an arrow deep in her back, puncturing her heart.