But they did. All the rest of that day and on into the night. It was a very uncomfortable vigil. They had no relief, they had no time to eat anything other than dried meat and they had to ignore the inevitable host of insects as best they could. In the heat, humidity and rain it was a test of stamina and endurance. The TaiGethen and ClawBound were combing the forest but had so far found nothing.
Leaving Thraun, Ren, Aeb and Rebraal watching in all directions as the light faded to nothing, The Raven talked.
'It'll happen under cover of darkness,' said Darrick.
'No reason why,' said Ilkar. 'They'll know elves see just as well now as in daylight.'
Darrick tapped his head. 'The reasons are all up here. Remember, they're scared and tired. They want every advantage, real or perceived. '
'Think they're in contact with this lot ahead?' asked Hirad.
'Impossible to say,' said Darrick.
'I doubt it,' said Denser. 'Communion's a spell their mages can't afford. It's draining at the best of times. And thinking about how we were all beginning to feel just coping with the insect bites…' He shrugged.
'He's right,' said Ilkar. 'And don't forget, we've got one group apparently under some kind of moving illusion that's good enough to confuse elves and panthers. That's going to be one impressive spell.'
'Why don't they just come straight in?' asked Erienne. 'I mean, if that spell is so good, why are they worrying? Just wander up to the line and be safe.'
'Good point, but I suspect it's the terrain,' said Darrick. 'Splashing through that swamp will be like ringing warning bells, hidden by illusion or not.'
'Right,' said The Unknown. 'Here's what I suggest now.'
But he didn't have time to impart his idea because, a hundred yards to their right, the swamp exploded into life. Footsteps rushed headlong through water, plumes of spray scattering in all directions. There was the deeper splash of thigh-deep water and, from the lines ahead, the odd voice raised in encouragement.
'Raven!' roared Hirad. 'Raven with me!'
Hirad led The Raven out of cover, heading for their holding position on the left flank.
'HardShield up,' said Ilkar.
'SpellShield active,' said Erienne.
'Keep watching that left flank,' warned The Unknown.
'On it,' said Darrick.
'Denser, we need that illusion pierced,' said Hirad.
'Way ahead of you,' said the Xeteskian.
The Raven plunged into the swamp shallows, keeping their arc line as best they could in the heavy vegetation at its edge. Behind the hidden runners, the Al-Arynaar and TaiGethen were coming. The moon broke through the clouds, giving the swamp and forest an eerie luminescence; a multiple wailing pierced the air and Hirad saw the glint of metal in the sky. A panther roared, its voice taken up by a dozen more.
Denser came to a sudden stop, uttered a command word and shoved his arms out sharply. His ForceCone hammered away into the night, slapping into the roiling area of swamp where the runners had to be. Suddenly, men were visible, sprawling in the water, dragging themselves back to their feet. It hadn't been an illusion. Some sort of multiple target CloakedWalk. But now it was gone and that was all the TaiGethen needed. With extraordinary speed, three of them cut through the swamp almost as if they were skating across the surface of the water. Blades glittered in the moonlight.
The shouts from the estuary entrance became louder and more urgent. The thrum of bowstrings was plain. Arrows arced across the sky, falling behind the runners, slicing into the swamp waters. After them came FlameOrbs, four pairs, their orange glows like dying suns, throwing shadows into sharp relief and lighting up the faces of the TaiGethen, who scattered instantly.
'Ward!' shouted Denser.
The Raven stilled. FlameOrbs spattered down on them, fizzing and crackling over Ilkar's shield. It held. It always did.
In the afterglow of the spells, the runners saw their plight all too plainly. One threw a bag to another, the mage. He stood stock-still, desperately trying to cast. His three companions gathered in front of him as the TaiGethen tore into them. The first leapt high, left leg snapping out, taking his opponent in the chest. The man staggered back, sword swiping at empty air. The TaiGethen drove through his unbalanced guard, piercing his neck. The second and third elves flung jaqrui. They were knocked aside but their targets were distracted. With incredible swiftness, the TaiGethen blades whipped in. The expanding slick of blood was black in the moonlight.
ShadowWings sprouted at the mage's back. He shot skywards, a laugh of relief on his lips. Jaqrui wailed after him, none finding its target. He turned in the air, flying for the enemy line.
'Damn!' yelled Hirad.
Behind him, a bowstring twanged. The arrow speared the mage between his shoulder blades. He juddered forward and shouted briefly, arms clawing reflexively at his back. His wings vanished and he fell, momentum taking him just beyond the swamp edge. No-man's-land.
Hirad turned. 'Good shooting.'
The smile was back on Ren's face but there was no time for self-congratulation.
'We must have that bag,' said Rebraal in halting Balaian.
He set off, TaiGethen and Al-Arynaar two hundred yards behind him but sprinting through the swamp and gaining quickly. 'Leave the water,' he said over his shoulder. 'Piranha.'
But The Raven were already chasing after him. Hirad saw more arrows arc towards them and the elves from the estuary defenders. HotRain fell from the sky. Here was where it would happen. The sides closed on each other, the mage's body marking where the lines would clash.
'Watch that left flank!' he shouted as he raced on, sword raised high, running for the enemy. Erys hadn't the stamina to cast Communion again but ClearSight was far more simple. He'd related to Yron everything he could see through the darkness. TaiGethen and Al-Arynaar were on both sides of the Shorth, some closing in behind them now. As Yron had hoped, their reserve force was spread across the entrance to the estuary, unfortunately split by the Shorth and its channels, but so were the elves.
Yron, Erys and the miraculously still living Ben-Foran were an agonising three hundred yards from safety in the hands of the reserve. But Yron smelled a trap and he'd been alive too long to ignore his instincts. He put a hand on Erys's shoulder, staying the mage, who was preparing to run in.
'Wait,' he said.
'But…'
'Wait,' he repeated. 'This isn't the stroll it seems. Trust me.'
Almost at once he was proved right. A commotion on the other side of the Shorth shattered the relative peace of the rainforest. They could hear footsteps splashing through water and the shouts of men and elves. Arrows and spells flew, the TaiGethen pounced, panthers sounded from every angle. The ClawBound were near.
Erys grabbed Yron's shoulder and pointed into the sky.
'Stenys,' he breathed.
Yron followed his arm and saw the mage climbing into the sky. 'Go on.' Yron clenched a fist. 'Go on.'
Stenys wheeled and moved towards the estuary, getting higher all the time. Jaqrui wailed but missed. Yron's heart beat harder.
'Nearly there,' he whispered. 'Shit!'
He saw the arrow plunge into Stenys's back. Saw him fall from the sky and saw the elves move towards his body. Erys's grip on his shoulder slackened.
'Sorry, Erys.'
Erys shook his head. 'So close.'
'And we'll get closer still. Our chance is very soon.'
Yron focussed on the coming battle. He knew there were Al-Arynaar very close but in the confusion they might just get enough of a head start. If their luck held. He smiled grimly. This would not be a good time for it to falter.