‘We’re all alike,’ he said at length, indicating himself and the two warriors. ‘We’re just not quite so outspoken about it. Never speak of petty revenge where The Raven is concerned and particularly where Sirendor Larn is concerned. You seem to forget that he died in your place, and when that happened, Hirad lost his closest friend. You’re fortunate he didn’t hear you.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Denser. Ilkar nodded.
‘While we’re doing this,’ said Richmond, his tone gruff but not unfriendly, ‘perhaps we should clear up a couple of other things. Firstly, if anyone has the final say now The Unknown’s gone, it’s Hirad. It certainly isn’t you, Denser. Second, while we all understand what we are doing, or trying to do, we are The Raven first and your hired hands second. So, if Hirad wants to take the castle first, that is what we will do.’
Denser gaped inwardly, confused by a conflict he couldn’t untangle and was sure shouldn’t have arisen. The destruction of the Wytch Lords had to be their only goal but they couldn’t see it. Wrapped up in The Raven and its struggles, he was sure that they had no real conception of the disaster that would be visited on Balaia if they failed and the Wytch Lords won the ultimate battle. Xetesk would be gone, all realistic hope would go with them and The Raven would be blown away like so much chaff in the wind.
He drew in breath to speak but there was no point. Anyway, Talan got there first.
‘We all want to succeed. But you have to keep in mind that until you joined us, only three people had died fighting for The Raven in more than ten years.’ Talan glanced across at Richmond whose head was hung, eyes closed. ‘We trust to our ways and our instincts because they are nearly always right. You know we wouldn’t have taken this job if you’d been honest with us, but you involved us and two of us are dead in a week.
‘See it from our perspective and don’t try to comment on what you don’t understand. We’re alive because we’re good and if you keep your nose out, we’ll probably stay that way.’
‘I’m sure we can agree a compromise,’ said Denser evenly, beginning to see what he had taken on.
Talan’s face softened and he smiled, rose and clapped the Dark Mage on the shoulder.
‘That was quite a lecture, wasn’t it? Maybe you could similarly enlighten us some time soon, eh?’ He pulled down his jerkin where it had tucked up under his belt. ‘Right now, I think we should be on our way. Hirad?’ He walked off towards the barbarian. ‘Hirad! Horses, please, we’re leaving!’
Erienne felt awakened from a long nightmare. They were scared and a little dirty but her boys were fed and warm and had befriended one of their guards, a point she didn’t fail to note. The relief she felt as she held them close and the love that flowed between all three of them re-energised her aching body. This time they had not regarded her with any doubt in their eyes. The guard had given them an explanation of why she couldn’t see them that they had believed, and for that she was grateful.
The Captain had allowed her a full hour with them before coming in person to respectfully ask her to join him for some dinner, and so they had returned to the chairs by the fire in the library. This time, she allowed herself a glass of wine.
Now, as she regarded the slight smile that touched his otherwise serious face, she realised what it was she was about to do. She only hoped the Gods, or more accurately the Dordovan Masters, would forgive her for it. She didn’t hold out much hope.
‘Am I not a man of my word?’ The Captain spread his hands wide.
‘Don’t expect me to rush into your arms just because you’ve let me see my own children.’
‘Come now, Erienne, don’t spoil the moment.’
‘I am very happy they are alive and well and very unhappy that we are held here against our will. There is no moment to spoil,’ she said coldly. ‘Now tell me exactly how it is you want me to betray my own morals.’
‘I don’t want you to feel like that,’ said the Captain. ‘What I am doing is—’
‘Save it for people who swallow your stories. Just tell me what you want, then let me get back to my children.’
The Captain looked at her, sucking in his cheeks. He nodded.
‘Very well. It’s quite simple. I need you to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of artefacts and information that might come into my possession concerning Dawnthief. If I am to control this spell for the protection of Balaia, I must be on solid ground.’
‘You have no idea what you are dealing with,’ said Erienne. ‘This is a power far, far beyond your comprehension and if you are unfortunate enough to be successful, even in gaining key information, you and your monkeys will all be killed by those willing to do anything to get it.’
‘Erienne, I am well aware of the dangers, but it is up to me to face them. Somebody has to.’
‘Yes!’ she said, leaning forwards, threatening to spill her wine. ‘The four Colleges must guard this discovery, if such it is, collectively. It is the only way to ensure it is never used.’
The Captain laughed. ‘I cannot believe you want me to leave this spell with the very people who are capable of using it. If I hold it, we are all safe.’
‘If each of three Colleges holds a catalyst, it is safer still.’
‘And you expect me to believe your curiosity won’t lead you to experiment?’ He was dismissive. ‘I know mages. I know how they think, as do you. Only a non-mage can be charged with guarding Dawnthief. And that person will be me, with or without your help. Do you agree to do as I ask?’
She nodded, the fight leaving her. At least here she might exert some influence. She dropped her head. Control had nothing to do with it. She was helping him for one reason and one reason alone. And no magical moral was as important as the lives of her children.
The travelling was easy. Steering clear of the few hamlets spread thinly across the gently undulating forested and grassed terrain, The Raven stayed mainly under the cover of the often dense woodland, taking animal or seldom-used hunter and trade trails. Elsewhere, riding at the edge of the trees, Talan’s eye for the sun’s position and Richmond’s ground knowledge kept them moving in the right direction.
Hirad found his mind wandering ever more away from the events through the rip as they rode and he was able to dispel the memories with a lungful of pure Balaian air. He had never before appreciated its beauty. Not until he had tasted that of another world. Conversation rolled easily around The Raven as the mood lightened under a warm sky, light wind and rich forest vegetation, and talk around the camp fire led to exaggerated tales of fight and victory. Only the great absence of The Unknown brought a cooling of the spirit. As yet, stories of the big man brought only sadness and loss and were followed by long silences.
It was at worst a three-day ride to the Black Wings’ castle through the rolling hills and woodlands of Baron Pontois’ lands. They were lands well known to The Raven, and as they travelled further north-east, where the hills gave way to cliffs and rock-strewn barren peaks, and the verdant growth of trees and grass to tough shrub, bracken and moss, they’d know when they were nearing their destination.
On the afternoon of the third day, a change in the weather brought The Raven to a stop beneath a deep overhang on the right-hand side of a valley they had been climbing south to north.
In something less than an hour, the sun was eclipsed by dense thunderclouds blowing down the valley at them, whipped up by a wind made harsh and cold by the seas far to the north. The temperature plummeted and cloaks were thrown around shoulders, and then, as the deluge struck and the cloud obscured the apex of the valley, The Raven cantered to the shelter of the rock.