'These men are dangerous. They have mages working for them. I'm just imploring you to be careful. You're a good friend, Ren. Don't go getting careless. My daughter's at stake here.'
Ren'erei nodded. 'I'll never forget that. And I'll mind what you say. We'll find Denser, don't worry.'
Erienne's next words were cut off by a shout from the wheel deck. They turned to see the Captain pointing away to the east bank where the trees were slowly thinning to lowland plains on the approach to the lake's mouth. Ren'erei followed the lookout's arm, staring intently into the trees. Erienne could see nothing. They were over one hundred yards off the bank, right in the centre of the Arl's flow. To Erienne, the shadow under the canopy obscured whatever it was the lookout had seen.
'What is it?' she asked.
'Riders.' Ren'erei continued to stare, unmoving. 'Four of them. Scouts.'
Despite herself and her knowledge of these elves, she had to say it.
'I can't see a thing.'
Ren'erei turned to her, her eyes alive, her face brimming with patience.
'Erienne, they are scouts because they ride horses with both short-sprint speed and long-ride stamina. They wear little armour and carry light weapons. But mostly, they're elves and they know we've seen them.'
'They're looking for us?'
'Who else?' Ren'erei's smile was forced.
'How?' Erienne felt suddenly exasperated, her fleeting good humour gone, her heart rate racing. 'And who? Who knows we're coming?'
T expect we'll find out in Arlen,' replied Ren'erei. The elf looked back across the shore, tracking the riders Erienne couldn't even see.
She felt more helpless than ever and scared for all their lives. Their docking at Arlen was suddenly so much more risky and people, maybe even Black Wings but more likely Dordovans, would be after them. But there was support close by. She wanted Lyanna but Lyanna wasn't near.
Fortunately, The Raven were.
By next morning, with Arlen less than a day's ride away, The Unknown had managed to persuade the Lysternan guard that he posed no threat to Darrick and the two men rode side by side at the head of the column. For once, the wind wasn't blasting across Balaia and there were breaks in the cloud, allowing precious spears of undiluted sunlight to fleetingly caress the ground.
The mood throughout the cavalry was lighter following another drenching night spent huddled under leather and leaf bivouacs. Around them, the gentle undulating moorland that led inexorably down to Lake Arlen's west bank seemed less bleak and The Unknown felt some small relief, though Denser's scowl had not eased.
'Some prisoner you are,' said Darrick, picking up another confused gaze from one of his men.
'I'm sorry you even think of me that way,' replied The Unknown.
Darrick chewed his lip, unable to meet The Unknown's gaze for a moment.
'You have to believe me that it's for your own protection,' said Darrick. 'And I'm sorry too. For the necessity to take your weapons and for keeping Ilkar and Denser under mage guard. None of us like it.'
'Just orders, eh?' Try as he might, The Unknown couldn't work up any anger towards the General. He just had to understand what it was all about.
'I was advised that your reaching Arlen might be precipitate,' said Darrick carefully.
'Gods falling, really?' The Unknown couldn't help but smile. 'What did your adviser think we might do?'
'Get yourselves killed trying to get to Erienne, what else?'
'We aren't known for getting ourselves killed,' said The Unknown. 'And anyway, we expected you to be behind us. Hardly a threat if you're not in town, are you?'
Darrick turned in his saddle, frowning under his helmet. 'Unknown, I would never have ordered my men to fight The Raven. You misunderstand.'
'No, I don't. We're aware there may be a few Dordovans scouting Arlen, trying to pick up the mana trails. We just think we can avoid them.' The Unknown shrugged.
'A few? You've been out of touch too long. There are three hundred-plus there now, and more coming if I understand the Dordovan messaging right.'
The Unknown's heart skipped a beat. 'Three… What are you expecting to happen down there? I mean Erienne's hardly an army, is she?'
'It's not Erienne we're worried about. Or her elven guardians. You know as well as I do that Dordover and Lystern are not the only parties interested in securing the child.'
Even as Darrick was speaking, The Unknown was going cold all over.
'Dear Gods, I should have guessed, shouldn't I?'
T beg your pardon?'
T felt them a couple of days ago. I knew they were close. I can't believe I didn't make the connection.' He looked into Darrick's blank face. 'The Protectors. They're coming to Arlen, aren't they?'
Darrick nodded.
'How many of them?'
'We have to assume all of them,' said Darrick.
'Then they'll slaughter you. Three hundred plus your two hundred? You'll be throwing your life away, Darrick. Even with more
support from wherever. You must see that.' The Unknown's pulse had quickened and he could see in Darrick's eyes that he didn't see at all.
'I've watched them fight. And we aren't Wesmen, Unknown. We have mage support. We can beat them, I'm sure of it.'
'Then you'll be killing my brothers. You understand I'll do everything I can to stop you.'
T have my orders.'
'And I have my loyalties.' At last The Unknown could feel some anger. It was just sad it was in response to a threat against the Protectors.
He found Darrick's confidence both arrogant and ignorant. He had watched the Protectors, maybe, but he didn't understand their minds, their drive and their devotion, the things that made diem so utterly different from mere soldiers. Tactics were great, but people feared Protectors and Darrick's men would be no different. And Xetesk would have sent mage support too, and plenty of it.
This was all getting completely out of hand.
'Why do you think Dordover are so keen to recapture Lyanna?'
Darrick chuckled. 'Come on, Unknown, you don't have to ask me that. She's out of control. Just look around you. Her powers are destroying Balaia. I'm sure it isn't her fault but it does have to be stopped. I take it we're agreed on that point?'
'Yes,' said The Unknown.
'But…'
'But it was Dordover that awakened her. Erienne took Lyanna because they could no longer control her. She's gone to the Al-Drechar.'
'And you call this control?' Darrick waved his free hand about him. 'I've heard the stories and I've seen Greythorne and Thorne-wood. Look, Unknown, I'm really sorry. I have such sympathy for you, all of you. And I know that you think you're doing the right thing. So did I at first but I've seen and consulted too much. Erienne has made a mistake. Lyanna has to be under College control. It's the only way.'
The Unknown was in no doubt about Darrick's belief. The General was not given to frivolity, or to making rash statements.
'Is that what you believe Dordover will exert? Control? They
mean to kill her, Darrick, and you're being used to deliver her to them. They won't murder her in cold blood but they'll see to it she dies. I know you don't want to let that happen.'
'And it won't. Not while I have a breath in my body,' said Darrick.
'Then look out for your own back, too.'
Darrick nodded and looked up at the sky. It was still flecked blue but rain-bearing cloud was again bubbling up from the east. Korina, Balaia's capital, would be suffering another storm already.
The General turned to his second.
'Izack, order slow to walk. We'll dismount in a mile.'
'Yes, sir.' Izack raised a flat palm above his head. 'Walking!' he shouted, the order relayed throughout the column. Darrick's well-drilled cavalry responded immediately.
'You know the Black Wings are in on this too,' said The Unknown as they moved more sedately through the moorland, purple heather blowing in waves across the gentle slopes.