Nightchild

'Excellent tact, Hirad, well done,' said Ilkar, when the door had closed.

'What?'

'You and your "we are The Raven" lecture. Doesn't work any more. All you've done is irritate her and we need her on our side.'

'She needed to know how it is with us.'

'Belligerence in the face of desperation is not how it is with us,' said Ilkar sharply. 'Doing what it takes is right but there are ways and ways.'

'And you think I took the wrong way.'

'Strangely, yes.' Ilkar sighed. 'Still, it's not like you've become different overnight, is it?'

Hirad smiled, knowing the gentle chiding was over. 'No. Sorry, Ilks, it's just that this isn't how it's supposed to be.'

'What do you mean?'

'Us. The Raven. Gods burning, Ilkar, we're a complete mess. The Unknown's crippled, Erienne's a captive, there's Thraun… But the worst of it is that Denser's about to sacrifice his life and there's nothing we can do. It's wrong.'

Ilkar pursed his lips. T know. But we can still win this thing.'

'It won't feel like winning. Denser will be dead.' He shrugged, the words he'd just spoken sounding strange, like they came from someone else's mouth.

'It won't be like death, though,' said Ilkar, his words hollow but reflecting his sincere hope. 'A part of him will survive inside Lyanna.'

'He'll be gone,' said Hirad. 'That's all I understand.'

They fell silent, listening to the creaking of the ship, the sounds of feet overhead and the muted rush of the wind. Hirad felt tired. He hadn't slept properly for days. His body ached, his lower back and shoulders particularly. It hadn't always been like this but days of sleeping rough in the barely sheltered open, and eating only what he could catch or pick had brought home to him the reality of his age. He had come off the peak of his fitness and that meant long fights would be a struggle. Grudgingly, he had to admit that their enforced inactivity might be a blessing though his mind would continue to churn.

To his left, Darrick had maintained a studious silence for much of the discussion, contenting himself by listening and, by and large, avoiding Denser's potentially caustic tongue. Hirad smiled inwardly. The capture of Erienne hadn't even been his fault.

'Hey, Darrick, cheer up,' said the barbarian.

'If you don't mind, I don't think I will,' said Darrick, not lifting his head.

'We know it's not all your fault, all this mess. So does Denser, when he thinks about it.'

'But it is,' said Darrick. T should have listened to my heart before I ever rode to Arlen. If I'd let you go, you'd be on the Elm and

sailing now. The Unknown wouldn't be injured. I'm a fool and I could have stopped the worst of it. I should have refused to take you.'

'I don't think so,' said Ilkar. 'Any hint of insubordination and you'd have been replaced.'

'Can we talk about something else?' Darrick's tone was sharper than he probably intended. His mouth tugged up just a little. 'What about Thraun?'

It had been Hirad's next burning question. Thraun. More extraordinary than anything he had seen for a very long time. He nodded and looked across expectantly at Ilkar. The Julatsan sucked his lip and sat back in his chair.

'He's in a bad state too. He's been a wolf a long time now. Too long to be returning to human form, that's clear. You've both seen the hair on his face; well, it's all over his body. But that's the simple part. He's lying like an animal. His arms are locked straight, his legs likewise but bent in at die knee. His musculature is unbalanced, his feet still have claws and his heart is far too large. And those are just the effects we could detect easily.

'The point is that he may look more like a human but, frankly, he's not. Not yet, anyway. Now we're hoping that his physique and organs will revert further but we don't know they will.'

'Can you keep him alive?' asked Hirad.

'That's no problem. All we have to consider is what sort of life it's going to be. Gods falling, but his mind'll be a complete shambles. How much of his human psyche and memories he's retained is anyone's guess. He's going to need a lot of help.'

'Then we'd better make sure that some of us stay alive to give it,' said Hirad.

'That we had,' agreed Ilkar.

'It's unbelievable isn't it?' said Hirad. 'Thraun back amongst us. Like it was always meant to be that way.'

'What do you mean?' asked Ilkar.

'For weeks now, we've been reforming The Raven very slowly and in a lot of ways it feels like we never went away. But I never thought we'd see Thraun again and he followed us from Thornewood, he must have done. And now he's changed back. Hard to credit, isn't it?'

'You said it,' said Ilkar. 'If only I could offer you good news aboul him. Or any of us for that matter.'

'No,' said Hirad, and his momentary lightness disappeared. 'So what's to do now?'

'Well, I don't know about you, Hirad, but it's the middle of the night and I'm shattered,' said Ilkar.

Hirad nodded. Despite the movement of the ship, he felt he could sleep anywhere. The very thought made him yawn broadly.

T see you concur,' said Ilkar.

'Yep,' Hirad said, rising and stretching. 'C'mon General, you too.'

'Good idea.'

As Ilkar passed by him at the door, Hirad grinned, a sudden thought striking him. He grabbed on to the chance to change the mood.

'Tell you what, Ilks, that Ren'erei. Not bad-looking, eh?'

Ilkar stared at him. 'Not bad,' he agreed.

'You could be in there. Y'know, good-looking elf like you, famous, head mage in Julatsa. Could make the trip south more entertaining for you.'

Ilkar shook his head. 'Only you, Hirad Coldheart,' he said. 'In a situation like this, only you could think of sex.'

Hirad shrugged and moved along the corridor to their cabin and bunks.

'Sweet dreams, Ilkar.'

Chapter 29

Throughout the next day, the Calaian Sun struggled against strong winds whipping up the sea into a swell that reached almost thirty feet at its peak. Carrying more sail than he should, Jevin didn't leave the wheel deck all day, his eyes searching the lightning-lit, roiling dark cloud for clues, scrutinising the sails for trouble, or worrying at the wind which had precious little direction.

Ren'erei had been with him much of the time, cajoling and encouraging. Darrick was lost in his own thoughts, a lone figure on deck or lying on his bunk in the forward area originally set aside for the Dordovan command. Of the Protectors, there was little sign. The Xeteskians stayed in the hold, only one ever appearing to ask for food or hot water. For them it was a time of rest.

It was the middle of the afternoon. Hirad gripped the forward rail with one hand, his other arm supporting Ilkar who was leaning out again over the side of the ship, retching, his body shaking with exertion, his face wet from spray and sweat. It had been a miserable day for the Julatsan but the worry wasn't his immediate condition. The elf had already voiced his concerns about the effect this would be having on his mana stamina and on his ability to concentrate and cast effectively. And they couldn't do without him if they were to stand any chance of rescuing Erienne.

For Hirad, it was just one more problem on a mounting list. His idea that Ilkar and Denser would be able to assign ShadowWings to Protectors had already been dismissed. Even without Ilkar's seasickness, the drain from keeping Thraun and The Unknown alive and asleep was high. At best estimates, the two mages could cast their own wings for the journeys to and from the Ocean Elm and cast limited shield or offensive spells during the rescue attempt. But that

was it. They were left relying on Erienne and what condition she was in was anyone's guess. Hirad wasn't getting his hopes up.

The Sun pitched into another wave, the impact shuddering through her hull and sending a wash of spray over the foredeck and soaking them once again. Despite the constant drenching, it was where Ilkar said he felt most comfortable, though that was clearly a relative term.