‘In any event it appears action is imminent, and if that means damage to the wielders of magic, I count myself satisfied.’
‘Bloody right it’s a relative term,’ said Diera. ‘We’re talking about my family.’
Auum stared at her for a moment. He was unsure what he saw and felt a frisson of nerves.
‘Were you joking?’ he asked.
‘Kind of,’ she said. ‘It’s what I’d call executioner’s humour. At least it got your attention. What are you going to do about my husband and son?’
‘We have another problem,’ said Auum.
‘That isn’t an answer. What of it?’
Auum paused again, gauging her mood and likely responses to what he wanted to tell her.
‘The two are connected,’ said Auum carefully.
Down on the ground Gresse was chuckling away to himself. And patting the ankle of Blackthorne, who was standing by him and failing to get him to be quiet.
‘Are you drunk or something?’ asked Blackthorne. ‘We are in serious trouble here, Gresse. Laughter isn’t the answer. Not this time.’
‘Oh but it is, my dear Baron Blackthorne. Besides, whichever way this goes, I am soon to die. And is not the confusion of a male over a female always the most magnificent thing to watch. Even the great Auum squirms.’
‘I am not trying to confuse him, Baron Gresse,’ said Diera.
‘You never do, my dear, you never do.’
‘Patronising bastard,’ she said. ‘Go on, Auum, unless you’re too nervous to speak to me. What are we going to do? My family are in trouble and I will not stand by and wait for them to die. Do you understand me?’
‘We are all in similar trouble,’ said Auum.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘We have information that makes staying here impossible. It also makes leaving here extremely difficult.’
Auum felt the pressure of a dozen pairs of eyes on him. The two barons and their small retinues, Diera of course, and also Thraun, who had remained in earshot. Of his eight wolves, four were by him. Of the others, there was no sign. Auum feared for them.
‘Difficult how, exactly?’ asked Gresse.
Auum respected the old baron though their paths had barely crossed. Anyone who had survived the demon invasion, remaining free the whole time, was clearly worthy.
‘The ward grid, when it is activated, will not exclude human or elf. Neither will it exclude wolves and panthers.’
‘But we’re right in the middle of it, aren’t we?’ said Diera.
Auum nodded. ‘There are spells covering much of this area.’
‘We’re camping in a trap,’ said Blackthorne.
‘Well, there’s one way out of it,’ said Gresse, and he gestured at the rooftops. ‘Those who can’t fly will just have to climb and jump, won’t they?’
Auum nodded again and Gresse smiled at him, understanding very clearly what it meant.
‘There is one other possibility,’ said Auum.
‘Well there needs to be. Certain among our party of young rebels are not merely old and riddled with cancer, they also can’t walk.’ Blackthorne was glaring at Gresse. ‘I told you to stay behind.’
‘Right. To bring down the system from within. Not really my style, Blackthorne. Don’t worry about me. I’ll keep the place warm for you.’
‘I think when the God’s Eyes start firing you’ll find it warm enough,’ said Blackthorne. ‘Stupid old man. I bet you thought this might happen. I’m not leaving you.’
Gresse stuck two fingers in his mouth and made a retching sound.
‘Spare me the bleeding hero stuff, Blackthorne. I’m sure I can make myself a nuisance.’
‘It’s got nothing to do with that. I have hauled your wretched carcass from your own vineyards. You owe me.’
Gresse laughed out loud and clapped his hands. ‘Good for you.’
‘I’m sorry, I’m not finding this at all funny,’ said Diera.
‘When you get to our age, Diera, you are forced to see the funny side of most things.’
‘Well, right now, getting to your age seems a distant prospect, doesn’t it? And what about my son? He’s five years old. He deserves the concentrated effort of every one of us, don’t you think?’
Gresse reached out a hand, which Diera, a little reluctantly, took in both of hers.
‘Yes, he does, my lady,’ he said quietly. ‘And he shall get it. I’m sorry if I offended you.’
Diera shook her head. ‘No, it’s not that. It’s just, you know . . . all of you. You’re used to this. You’ve grown up with fighting and death and blood. I married someone who has too, but I’ve seen so little because he won’t let me see it. So I’m scared. And I’m terrified for my boys. Auum, please?’
For a third time, Auum nodded.
‘Miirt. Bring him.’
The mage was brought forward. Dressed in breeches and shirt both several sizes too big, he cut a ridiculous figure. He was deathly pale and the sight of the wolves caused him to jam his feet into the soft grass. Miirt’s hand in the small of his back kept him moving.
‘Name?’ asked Auum.
‘Brynar,’ said the mage. Young and scared. Good. And there was more.
‘You are apprentice to Densyr, aren’t you?’
‘And you are Auum.’
‘Neither of us wishes to die this night. Help us and we will not cause you harm. You know where you are?’
‘Hespyrin Square.’
‘Then you know that when the ward grid is activated, we are in a poor position.’
‘We’ll all die,’ said Brynar. ‘There are thirty wards in these gardens alone. And they will trigger the collapse of every building on the four sides.’
‘So, we are in agreement,’ said Auum. ‘I need options. Did Septern plan safe routes through the grid?’
Brynar shook his head. ‘The Garonin would probably divine them. Too risky. It’s complete blanket coverage.’
‘Second. When will the grid be activated?”
‘When all the mages return to the college, as I said. But not necessarily at that instant. Don’t get your hopes up, though. Any of us over an hour late will be assumed lost, probably to you as it happens, and therefore the grid will not be delayed.’
‘And how late are you, young man?’ asked Blackthorne.
‘I am well beyond my time already. I was late when I met Auum.’ Brynar shuddered.
The howl of a wolf sounded to the east. It was picked up by those in the park and joined by the granite growl of the ClawBound panther. Thraun calmed his pack as best he could but the four were on their feet, pacing and sounding anxiety deep in their chests.
Auum was still for a moment. He sniffed the air. Tension and magic, which was no surprise. But the agitation of the wolves and the guttural tone of the panther’s call were not to be ignored.
‘Thraun?’ he asked.
‘They’ve heard something. I don’t know what. I can’t sense anything.’
‘Well, let’s not hang about,’ said Blackthorne, and then he raised his voice. ‘Everyone. Prepare to leave. Gresse, you are going on a stretcher and I will drag you up the sides of buildings as and when I have to . . . I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. What did you say?’
‘I said, you are a stubborn old goat and you have the beard to prove it.’
‘Ungrateful wretch.’
Auum shook his head and turned back to Brynar. The young mage stared all around him, blinking and swallowing hard.
‘It is real,’ said Auum.
The wolves howled again, their voices rising quickly to a whine high in the throat. All four gathered in front of Thraun, staring up at him and backing towards the west.
‘Something’s coming,’ said Thraun.
There was a pressure in the air that hadn’t been there a few moments ago. And Auum could hear a low throbbing sound on the periphery of his hearing. He exchanged glances with his Tai. They felt it too.