The Unknown could see Heryst and his adviser, Kayvel, walking in the centre of the quartet of swordsmen. Their weapons were sheathed but their eyes roved the crowd. The Unknown knew they were being monitored. It shouldn't matter.
Standing just behind the front rank of the loose crowd, The Haven waited. Heryst and his guard walked into the silence, the erowd closing around them as they came, no more than two paces away. Not close enough for The Unknown.
Standing to the left of the guard-flanked barracks door and looking across at the approaching entourage, he signalled Thraun with a slight nod. The troubled shapechanger made no sign he'd seen The Unknown but his feral eyes glittered in the light of a nearby lantern and the half pace he took was more than enough.
He nudged into the pair of soldiers in front of him, forcing both to take a balancing step forwards and bringing them very close to Heryst. Denser's similar nudge ensured the ripple continued and Erienhe's gave the move a momentum of its own.
'Shame on you!'
The Unknown heard Hirad's voice, turning the murmur of dis-quiet into more vocal opposition. Cries of 'Spare Darrick' and 'Crime' sounded and the crowd pressed in. Immediately, the guards upped their pace. Seeing the concern on Heryst's face, The Unknown moved.
He pushed hard into the backs of the two men in front of him, sending them stumbling into Heryst's guards. The reaction was as automatic as it was predictable. The soldiers were fended off roughly, sent spinning left and right and into the gap came The Unknown. He allowed himself to be helped by the agitated group behind, his shoulder thumping into the first bodyguard who sprawled backwards, arms cartwheeling and striking another man who lashed out instinctively.
The josding took on an edge, the atmosphere firing to tension in an instant.
'Get back, clear the path!' ordered one of the bodyguards.
The Unknown stepped round to face him, fist slamming into his gut. The guard's eyes widened. The Unknown's head connected sharply with the bridge of his nose. He fell.
Turning, The Unknown saw Hirad and Thraun closing in at the back. Denser had confronted another guard. He couldn't see Erienne. He forced his way towards the barracks door, meeting Heryst's eyes on the way. The Lord Elder Mage opened his mouth to shout but a hand clamped around his neck and dragged him back. The Unknown ploughed on, shoving soldiers aside, hearing the anger reach boiling point. The guards at the door had only just seen the danger to their Lord through the confusion of bodies in front of them. One had his sword half out when The Unknown straight- punched him in the face. His head hit the wall behind him. He sagged.
The other faced up, fists raised.
'Sorry,' said The Unknown and laid him out with a strike to the point of his jaw.
He headed for the door, sensing a change in the atmosphere. Behind him, Heryst called out for assistance and he heard Hirad's gruffvoice.
'Bodyguard's changed, big man.'
The Unknown opened the door quickly. It bounced against the wall. He ran in, knowing The Raven would be right behind him. The small hall was empty, so far. He swung round. Erienne had followed him in, Thraun and Hirad were forcing a protesting Heryst across the threshold. Denser came in last, already casting.
The barracks door was slammed shut, the fizzing of a WardLock echoed in the enclosed space and the sounds of the angry crowd were muted. There were a few thumps on the door but to no effect.
'Welcome to your new home,' said Heryst.
Hirad put a dagger to his throat. 'Don't try casting. You aren't quick enough to beat me.'
Heryst's face was flushed with anger and embarrassment. 'You won't get him out.'
'lust watch us,' said Hirad.
'How long will that lock hold?' asked The Unknown.
'Hard to say. They'll need magic. Good magic. But this is a college.'
'Point taken.'
The Unknown faced forward. Ahead of them, the stone-flagged hall had two doors either side, one straight ahead.
'Erienne?'
She was leaning against a wall as if to stop herself falling. Her eyes were closed and a fist clutched at thin air.
' Difficult,' she murmured. 'Men below. Swords and magic. Can't feeI anything up here.'
'There's too much focused mana,' said Denser. 'We need to get down to the cells.'
'What-?' began Heryst.
Time for quiet,' said Hirad. 'Let us show you what we can do. Stairs?'
Heryst eyed him briefly before gesturing ahead. They moved off, hurried by a heavy impact on the door behind. The Unknown strode ahead, Thraun hard on his heels. He slapped the door back.
It was a guard room. The Unknown made instant assessment. A desk stood against the far wall, weapon racks were right and two guards flanked a downward spiral stair left. Both men drew swords immediately. The Unknown raised a hand.
'We have Heryst and we've come for Darrick. You can make this easy or difficult. Your choice.'
The Raven and Heryst came in behind. Sword points dipped.
'My Lord?'
'Idiots,' muttered Heryst. 'Guard the prisoner!' He shouted. 'We're attacked. We-'
Hirad's hand covered his mouth and jerked his head sharply back.
'We'll carry you if we have to,' he said.
The Unknown's eyes did not stray from the guards. 'Weapons down. Please.'
They hesitated. Thraun growled. It was a sound from his wolven past, chilling as it echoed from the walls. The Unknown smiled thinly. The two guards dropped their swords, metal clattering against stone.
'Good choice. We aren't going to hurt you, that isn't why we're here. Denser, Erienne.' The two mages stepped up. 'But you can't take any further part in this. Like I say, you can make it easy or difficult.'
Two short incantations and the guards were cushioned to the floor.
'Right,' said The Unknown. 'Hirad, you're first. Heryst goes in front of you. I'm behind with Erienne so let me do the talking, all right? Denser, Thraun, you get the rear. Let's go, Raven.'
Hirad pushed a resigned and unresisting Heryst ahead of him, dagger ready, free hand on the Lord Elder Mage's shoulder. 'Not too fast. I'd hate you to fall.'
The spiral stair was wide and lantern-lit. No sound came from below.
'There is no one at the base of the stairs,' Erienne said. 'Further on, I don't know yet. The stair ends in two more full circles.'
The Unknown nodded. 'Hirad, keep a tight grip on him. This is where it gets interesting.'
The spiral stair unwound into a long corridor lined with blank walls and heavy wooden doors. A single iron-bound door stood at the end some sixty paces distant. The Unknown spoke for the benefit of the hidden guards.
'Lord Heryst is in front of us. You don't want him hurt any more than we do so I suggest that you stay wherever you are hiding. No one needs to be a hero. We're all on the same side. But we've come for Darrick and no one leaves here until we get him.'
Silence.
The Unknown smiled. At least they had some discipline. The Raven, Heryst at their head, moved slowly along the corridor, footsteps echoing loud from the dark stone walls and low ceiling. The cell block smelled damp and vaguely rotten, as if the filth of ages had pervaded the stone where no amount of scouring could remove it.
'Cheerful place.'
'Shut up, Hirad,' hissed The Unknown.
They passed the first doors, the cells they fronted dark and quiet. By the number and spacing of doors, the cells were very small.
'Stop,' said Erienne suddenly. 'Left and right, second cells. Swordsmen. Two each side.'
Heryst drew in a sharp breath.
'Not a word,' whispered Hirad.
The Unknown considered briefly. He indicated Thraun and Denser to the left door, moving to cover the right himself.
'Let's move on,' he said loudly enough.
Heryst opened his mouth but Hirad's dagger pushed into his neck, pricking the skin.