Elfsorrow

Ilkar didn't answer but grabbed Hirad's hands roughly, stretching his damaged skin.

'Ouch,' he said.

'Sorry,' replied Ilkar brightly. 'Right. It's not too bad but you've broken the skin in a couple of places. Assuming Ren brings back some rubiac, I'll make you a poultice that you should apply to each hand for an hour, all right?'

'Why don't you just do me a WarmHeal or something if you're that bothered? Can't imagine a few wet leaves is going to do much good.'

'They'll kill the infection and help the skin to heal over. Don't argue. Don't put your hands in the dirt if you can help it, and try not to row tomorrow.'

'Tell our great captain that,' said Hirad, pointing a finger at Kayloor. The elf said nothing, merely turned the fish skewered on the spit. Whatever Hirad thought of him personally, whatever the sort of fish he was cooking, it smelled fantastic. Hirad had forgotten how hungry he was. 'I just don't see why you're so concerned. They're just a few blisters.'

Ilkar breathed out loudly. 'I don't know why I bloody bother. Look – and I want you all to listen to this, not just cloth-ears, here. Worry about every cut, sore or blister you get. Worry about every rash, every stomach pain and every headache. For the last time, this is not Balaia. Infections are so easy to get, particularly if you weren't born here. Never drink water before you've boiled it or before a mage has cleansed it. But you must eat and drink well. I can see how tired you all are and you've been sitting in a boat all day. What if we end up having to walk? You have to give your bodies time to get used to the heat, the humidity, everything. Please tell me you understand.'

Ilkar's impassioned speech was met with a few muttered affirmatives.

'Two other points, if I may,' he said. 'First, Aeb, you need to bathe your face every night. Ren or I will make you a balm, though it would be easier if you'd let someone help you.'

'That is not possible,' said Aeb. 'I am the only Protector here. I will attend to myself alone.'

'Understood. The other thing, Erienne and Denser, is please look after your mana stamina reserves. No matter how hard we try, someone will most likely get sick and we will all get bitten to pieces. There are snakes that can kill in a couple of hours and anything that bites will infect you.'

'So glad you brought us here,' said Denser. 'I mean, is there anything we can do that won't result in death or serious illness?'

'Just take extra care. You'll soon get used to it,' said Ilkar. 'And I should remind you that no one was forced to come here.'

'Oh, really?' Denser raised his eyebrows. 'If you cast your mind back you'll find there was considerable pressure.'

'That's because we're The Raven. We work together and Ilkar needed our help,' said Hirad. 'I didn't hear you object.'

'But there was never any choice, Hirad, was there?'

Hirad snapped the twig he was holding and threw the ends into the fire.

'This again? Gods drowning, Denser but I don't remember you giving us any choice when you needed us to help find Erienne and Lyanna.'

'And look what good it did us,' whispered Erienne.

Hirad felt a pit open in his heart. 'Oh, Erienne, I didn't mean it that way-'

'I'm sorry we were such a burden on your time,' she said, voice rising. 'Perhaps if you'd stayed at home with your damn dragons all this wouldn't have happened. And perhaps if we weren't The Raven I could be where I belong. At my daughter's graveside.'

'It was no burden, Erienne,' said Hirad. 'You know that.'

'Let's just leave it, shall we?' said The Unknown. 'We're here because we're The Raven and Ilkar asked us. It's how we've always done things and how we always will. Choice does not necessarily enter into it.'

'Well, don't tell me that, tell him.' Hirad pointed at Denser.

'Grow up, Hirad, for Gods' sake.'

'I'm not the one complaining about choice or the lack of it, Xetesk man,' said Hirad. 'In case you hadn't noticed, none of us is exactly comfortable here but you don't hear us making smart remarks. Just deal with it.'

'What the hell have we come here for anyway?' asked Denser. 'Ysundeneth was full of mages.'

'Yes, Denser, busy ones,' said Ilkar. 'And I know none of them. I thought I'd explained that I had to go to my home village to start. Find contacts, establish a line. You have to understand how it works over here. Nailing up a sign offering money to lapsed elven mages won't work.'

Denser slapped at an insect that had settled on his hand. 'One more bite,' he muttered.

'Want me to show you all mine?' Hirad stood up.

'Hirad, enough.'

'No, Unknown, you know what he's doing. It's bloody typical,' said Hirad, feeling his muscles tense. 'When he needs us to find his daughter it's fine. When the position's reversed he'll go on letting us know it's all done under sufferance. Why can't you just do something for someone else for a change, eh?'

'For a change?' Denser gaped.

'Denser, please,' said Erienne, laying a hand on his arm. He ignored her.

'Who was it cast Dawnthief to save us from the Wytch Lords, eh? Who was it defied the Lord of the Mount to get The Unknown back from his Protector calling? Who was it lay with you and Ilkar to keep you both alive when you – you, Hirad Coldheart – were dying?'

'That's what being in The Raven is all about,' said Hirad calmly. 'Those are great things you did, Denser, and I'll love you for ever for doing them. But this is now. And I don't want to hear you bleating about how difficult it is for you.'

'Don't patronise me, Hirad.'

'Did you have anything better to do with your time?' snapped Hirad. 'Aside from sunbathing and gardening?'

'Stop it! Stop it!' yelled Erienne, surging to her feet, hands about her head. 'How dare you bring my child's grave into your infantile row! I came here to try and forget, don't you understand? Not for The Raven. For me. When will you let me start?'

She turned and ran from the camp, Denser making to follow her. Before she'd got five yards she ran into the hulking form of Thraun, who dropped his huge bundle of wood and caught her round the waist in one arm.

'Let me go, Thraun.'

The shapechanger just shook his head. He traced a hand down the side of her face and looked very deeply into her eyes.

'Not forget, Erienne,' he said, his voice rusty, gruff and croaking. 'Grieve. Live. Not forget.'

Chapter 16

The fish had been excellent but The Raven had paid little attention to its succulence, so stunned were they all by Thraun's words, his first in more than five years. Where they had come from and what barrier had fallen in his mind to let him form speech they'd probably never know but he had spoken and that was enough.

In truth he'd done much more. Not just understanding Erienne's feelings but defusing the whole stupid argument. Now, Denser and Hirad were chatting away like it had never happened and Ilkar looked at them across the fire and shook his head.

'I know what you're thinking,' said The Unknown next to him.

Ilkar had noticed him studying the ants that swarmed over the fish bones at his feet, breaking down anything useful and carrying it off. It was the way of the rainforest. Everything was used.

'I don't understand those two and I probably never will,' said Ilkar. 'What is it with them? Put them round a campfire and they're at each other's throats about something trivial.'

'It wasn't trivial, though, was it?' said The Unknown. 'Hirad's right.'

'But he can't communicate it, can he?'

'And Denser should know that by now and stop rising to the bait. You should have a word.'

'And do you think he's got the right attitude?' asked Ilkar.

'Who, Denser?'

'Who else?'

The Unknown shrugged. 'Hard to say. He was only trying to protect Erienne, I think. He's just looking for an outlet. He'll be fine when we get back to Balaia and he can feel more useful.'