Elfsorrow

'Tight!' roared Izack. 'Tight!'

The cavalry kept close form, dodging their own men as best they could, angling in steeply to avoid the worst of pike and spear to thump into the Xeteskian lines, driving men back, trampling those who failed to react, using their swords to fend off and scatter.

Behind them, the allies regrouped as arrows peppered the momentarily disordered Xeteskians. Izack's cavalry withdrew and both sides ran in again, marshalled by the calls of field captains and lieutenants. Izack was now clear, cantering past the next section of Lysternan horsemen who took orders, wheeled and rode hard on a flanking manoeuvre.

The Unknown led The Raven across the back of the fighting line, cloaks flowing, arrows falling around them but bouncing off the HardShield lattice covering much of the allied rear.

'Izack!' bellowed Darrick as they approached.

The cavalry commander hauled his horse around, his face splitting into a broad smile in recognition of the voice of his erstwhile general. He leaned out of his saddle and clasped hands with Darrick. The Raven stopped and surrounded him, well out of spell and missile range.

'Dear Gods, General, it lightens my heart to see you!'

'And I you, though I'd wished for kinder circumstances.'

Izack nodded, glancing quickly over The Raven, his eyes never straying too far from the battle.

'What brings you here?' he asked. 'I'd heard The Raven were near. Blackthorne told us as much but I thought you'd be headed back south again by now.'

'So did we,' agreed Darrick. 'But we need to find the elves. We believe one of the TaiGethen cells has recovered something vital to them.'

'I've heard nothing,' said Izack. 'The elves are all fighting further east. They're with a Dordovan force trying to reach Xetesk's east gate. They're incredible fighters, so they say. The painted ones particularly.'

'You'd better believe it,' said The Unknown. 'One to one as good as Protectors, in my opinion.'

'And in Xetesk's too,' said Izack. 'The Protectors are heavily committed against them.'

'Are you in contact?' asked Darrick.

'Only by riders. Can't spare mages for Communion.'

Darrick nodded. 'We have to get to them. How's the land in between?'

'Safe enough,' said Izack. 'Don't stray too far west, Xeteskian cavalry is moving out there.' He smiled. 'Go on, tell me what I'm doing wrong.'

'Nothing,' said Darrick. 'But weight your left. Keep cavalry out there. We've seen an army on the march north. Don't get caught.'

'Know about it already,' said Izack. 'Black Wings. They're here to attack Xetesk, I think. They might even help us.'

'Not by choice,' said The Unknown. 'Don't underestimate them.'

'One other thing,' said Darrick. 'Their cavalry commander here isn't confident. He sees things too late. Next time you see a breach, you might try riding through it, but take half of your men with you.'

The two Lysternans shook hands again.

'You know I'm supposed to arrest you,' said Izack. 'Pity I didn't recognise you.'

'Another day,' said Darrick. 'I'll come back, answer for my actions.'

'Raven!' Hirad took up his reins. 'Raven with me!'

Taking The Unknown's place at the head of the arc, he galloped away towards the east gate of Xetesk. The dusk was deepening when The Raven finally rode into the allies' forward camp on the eastern battle front. With the coming of night fighting had ceased, and the echoing memories of the battle clashed with the enforced calm of the aftermath.

The Raven had been forced to move slowly. Their horses' exhaustion, marauding bands of Xeteskian cavalry and the deep suspicion of Dordovan patrols had all made for a circuitous and difficult passage. But a sympathetic finger had pointed them the way to the mess tents and the elven encampment. And although they drew glances that ranged from awe to open hostility, they had eaten and their horses were picketed, rubbed down and fed.

With Ilkar leading, they walked into the quiet of the elven camp. Most were already asleep, stretched out under the cloudy sky, but those still awake displayed the signs of people who had experienced their first day on the battlefield: shock, deep weariness, disbelief.

Hirad sympathised. They would have feared for their lives every heartbeat, and finished the day bruised, deafened, exhausted and guilty that they lived when their friends had died. And worse was to come. It would have to be faced all over again as dawn broke, but with every muscle screaming for rest and the risks as great, if not greater. But for these elves, there was also the fact that they would never have seen such a mass of humanity in one place all trying to kill each other. Never mind their willingness to fight and die for their cause and never mind their skill and mental strength. Nothing prepared you for that first day of mass battle. Nothing.

They found Rebraal and Auum together, cuts bathed and bound, sitting cross-legged near a fire discussing the day gone and the day to come. As The Raven approached, Ilkar ushering tired elves out of the way to let them sit to talk, Auum looked up, his distaste undisguised and eyeing Hirad with what amounted to contempt. The Unknown put a calming hand on Hirad's shoulder and sat him next to Ilkar, who Rebraal had been plainly happy to see.

The conversation began, Ilkar translating the elven words.

'So what brings you here, little brother? We thought you were in the city by now.'

Ilkar chuckled. 'You know perfectly well why we're here and not in Xetesk. The TaiGethen have recovered the Yniss fragment and we're here to join you. Erienne has to travel with you to aid the binding, and where Erienne goes, The Raven go.'

That got Auum's attention. His head snapped up and Hirad could see his eyes spearing Ilkar.

'Wrong,' he said. 'We are going back in tonight to attempt entry into the college itself.'

'I don't understand,' said Ilkar.

'What is there not to understand?' said Rebraal. 'We don't have it. And patently neither do you despite your grand words about The Raven's skill. Why else do you think we're still here?'

'Aeb was in contact with the Soul Tank the day before we were due to raid the college. You remember I explained Protectors to you.'

'And we fought them all day for very little gain,' said Rebraal. There was a murmur around the fire.

'Not surprising, really,' said Ilkar. 'The point is, two souls departing the Tank reported they had been killed by TaiGethen who took Yron, the man who holds the thumb.'

'Which Tai?' demanded Ilkar.

'I don't know. How could I?'

'Where was this incident?' Auum was sitting bolt upright now, an expression of anxiety across his face, his hands gripping his thighs.

'Just outside the west gate of the college, right by the artisans' quarter,' said Ilkar.

Rebraal and Auum shared a glance. 'Merke,' said the TaiGethen. He looked back to Ilkar. 'They have not reported back here. You are sure about this?'

Ilkar nodded. 'Absolutely. Protectors are unable to lie.'

'Then the Xeteskians must have retaken them,' said Rebraal.

'Not possible,' said Ilkar. 'Aeb would know. They escaped the city early this morning.'

'They have not returned,' said Auum.

Ilkar sighed. 'I don't believe it,' he said, turning to The Unknown. 'We've lost it again. Somewhere between here and the college. The Gods only know where it is.'

'Well, we'll have to search,' said the big warrior. 'Find out where this Tai went in and work back from there.'

Ilkar posed the question and didn't like the answer.

'South-west corner,' he relayed. 'Right where the Black Wings are advancing.'

'Any chance they ran into a patrol?' asked Hirad.

'It would have to be a big one to stop a TaiGethen cell,' said Ren.