Their room was the first in the Guild wing and despite a little damp it had been comfortable enough. Outside, two Protectors had stood vigil and the windows were shuttered and locked, one of Denser's alarm wards placed across the frame. They hadn't been disturbed.
Lyanna opened her eyes and smiled blearily at her mother.
'Good morning, beautiful,' whispered Erienne.
'It's still dark, Mummy.'
T know, but there's going to be lots of danger here today and I do so need you to be a brave girl.'
'I'll look after you, Mummy.'
'Oh darling, I know!' Erienne crushed her into an embrace and Lyanna clung on. Erienne could feel her agitation and worry. This was no place for a young child and the effect on her of the terrors to come was something Erienne would never have the chance to deal with. But right now, all Lyanna knew was that something was wrong
and that everyone around her was feeling a deep tension. It would all make her very uncomfortable and insecure.
A knock on the door surprised her and she jumped, disturbing the moment. Lyanna pulled away and Erienne sat further up, pulling up the sheets to cover her breasts.
'Come in,' she said.
The door opened and Nerane came in carrying a tray on which sat two steaming mugs.
'Sorry to disturb you so early,' said Nerane. 'But The Unknown Warrior has asked that you raise yourselves.'
She smiled as she saw the family picture in front of her. Beside Erienne, Denser stirred and rolled over, grunting as he sat up.
'It seems such a shame to make you move,' said Nerane. 'You look perfect together.'
Erienne looked across at the half-asleep Denser. She saw his tousled hair, uncombed beard and his slack mouth open and laughed. 'Are you sure?'
'You know what I mean,' said Nerane. She left the tray on a table near the bed.
'What else did The Unknown say?' asked Erienne.
'The Dordovans are on the beach and spreading through the island. They'll encircle us soon. The Al-Drechar shield is up and steady, everyone is inside the house and you need to move from here soon because the doors to the wing need to be sealed and blocked.'
'Did he make you learn all that?' asked Denser, looking down and noticing his daughter. 'Oh, hello you.'
'Hello, Daddy.'
'At least I know why my back hurts so much,' said Denser.
T don't think it's got much to do with Lyanna,' said Erienne.
Nerane had blushed and was backing towards the door. 'The Unknown Warrior says that next time he'll send Hirad to make you get up.'
'Incentive indeed,' said Denser. 'Thank you, Nerane. Tell him it won't be necessary.'
The old elf left, closing the door quiedy behind her. Denser looked deep into Erienne's eyes and she felt a longing it would have been impossible to deny but for Lyanna between them. He
reached out and put a hand to her cheek, which she covered with hers.
'So this is it, then,' he said.
'Yes, I suppose so,' said Erienne.
He nodded, his lower lip trembling. 'Just remember how much I love you,' he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
'And I'll love you, wherever I am,' she replied.
Lyanna squirmed. 'What's wrong, Mummy?'
'Nothing darling, nothing at all.'
Hirad placed the last of the Al-Drechar's beds in the kitchen, near to the stove to enjoy its heat.
'So did they get any of the assassins?' he asked.
'Three,' said The Unknown.
'Good going,' said Hirad. 'And no one got inside?'
'Not that we know. But Ren thought she saw a flyer. We can assume they've seen the orchard and know the size of the house. The Al-Drechar said no one touched the shield.'
Hirad sat at the table and drew his blade, honing its edge on a whetstone he'd borrowed from the Guild elves. He felt alive. There was a fight to come, the odds were stacked against them but The Raven were always to be reckoned with.
'So how long before they attack?'
'Any time,' said The Unknown. 'They aren't massed yet but it won't be long. We should get to our places.'
Hirad checked the edge of his sword and, satisfied, stood and sheathed it, automatically checking his daggers were also in their sheaths. The door to the dining room swung open and the Al-Drechar came in, supported by Guild elves.
'All right, ladies?' asked Hirad.
Myriell gave him a withering look. T had thought my days in the kitchen well and truly over,' she said.
'Well, we'll try and keep it as brief as possible,' said Hirad. 'Then we can talk about my dragons.'
He smiled and waited for them to pass before walking into the ballroom via the dining room, a worry nagging at him. He'd tried to speak with Sha-Kaan but had found his mind closed. Either that or dead. He hoped their rest would save them but he remembered
Sha-Kaan's weary mind the last time they had shared contact and feared the worst. How the Raven could do with their power today.
He shook his head and moved on, The Unknown limping beside him, having checked that the blocked entrances were as secure as they could be. Through the ballroom and down the corridor, the door to the Guild wing opened and Denser appeared, belting on his sword.
'In your own time,' said Hirad as he strode past.
'Ha ha,' said Denser.
'I'll ask the Dordovans to wait for you,' returned Hirad.
'If you wouldn't mind.'
'Hirad,' warned The Unknown. 'Come on.'
They carried on down the corridor. The Protectors were already on station and in the near dark Hirad could pick out one of the elves in the orchard, hidden under a fallen branch that had made an arch with the wall. Further on down the corridor, they found Darrick prowling, his sword as yet sheatiied but his face taut with nervous concentration.
'Morning, General,' said Hirad, grinning, as they stopped by him.
'Is he always like this?' asked Darrick.
'Always,' said The Unknown. 'You get used to it. Sort of.'
'All ready?' asked Hirad, feeling he ought to bring himself to order. He felt strangely lightheaded, the thrill of imminent action charging his mind and body. But he knew he couldn't afford to be unfocused.
'Just the door to the Guild wing to seal and we're there. We've got a little breathing space, assuming we're right about the bombardment.'
'Should the elves be out in the orchard?' asked Hirad.
'The shield bleeds over the near edge of the orchard and it's a calculated risk we have to take. I can't afford to be surprised there and I don't want Dordovans seeing where our defenders are hidden.'
Hirad put out his hand and Darrick shook it warmly, doing likewise with The Unknown.
'Just shout if you need more bodies,' said Hirad.
'And you,' said Darrick.
The Raven pair moved on, walking as fast as The Unknown could
go, across the entrance hall to where Ilkar was already waiting with Aeb and the Protectors.
'We all ready?' asked Hirad.
'Spell shield already up,' said Ilkar, his voice reflecting his concentration. 'It's covering the door.'
'Good,' said Hirad. 'Now where the hell are Denser and Erienne?'
Lyanna sat on a chair at the end of the kitchen table looking awfully small and scared. Erienne was crouching by her, stroking her hair and whispering to her, trying to calm her. Lyanna was clutching her doll and, though she nodded occasionally, Denser could see her eyes darting continually to the Protectors, who stood stock still around the kitchen. He understood her fear.
He walked across to his family, past the sympathetic but slightly unfocused gazes of the Al-Drechar.
'How's she doing?' he asked.
'Just about all right,' said Erienne.
Denser leant in and kissed Lyanna's cheek. 'You'll be safest here, you know,' he said.