Elfsorrow

'You don't perform this spell, great mage?'

Ilkar ignored the jibe. 'Not like Erie

The brothers walked from the fire, one driven by a fervour that would never be extinguished, the other by a growing sense of guilt that he might just have been wrong and let down not just his family and his calling, but the entire elven race. Hirad lay back on his bed and closed his eyes, relaxing his body and opening his mind the way Sha-Kaan had taught him. He had missed contact with the Great Kaan and, as his Dragonene, should have made this effort before. It was possible that the hugely powerful mind of the dragon had probed his and discovered it not sufficiently at rest for him to risk communication. He wouldn't be surprised. The last three days had hardly been his most restful. Nevertheless, he felt a nervousness. The Great Kaan wasn't going to like what he had to say.

'Sha-Kaan, can you hear me?' he asked, letting his thoughts flow as though adrift on the sea.

Almost at once, he felt the surge as Sha-Kaan's mind touched his, filling him with a slightly piqued warmth.

'My memories of you were dimming, Hirad Coldheart,' said Sha-Kaan, his mood definitely light.

'And mine of your poor jokes,' said Hirad. 'It is good to feel my mind touch yours again.'

'And I yours,' said Sha-Kaan. 'You are troubled. You have a question for me?'

'We need to know the progress the Al-Drechar and you have made with the Xeteskian researchers,' said Hirad.

'Ah,' said Sha-Kaan. Hirad's mind filled with intensified warmth and an emotion that was easily defined. Hope. Hirad's heart beat faster. 'The Ancients know so much. And the Xeteskians have sound theory on which to rely. I can almost smell the forests of Teras and see the mountains of Beshara.'

Hirad bit his lip. 'Have they told you how long?'

'Half a season, they say, before they can be confident of the position of the dimensions again. But they are discovering much else in the meantime.'

'Oh really?'

'My hearing is a little more acute than the Xeteskians realise,' said Sha-Kaan, and Hirad felt more humour. 'After all, I am but a reptile, is that not right?'

'Their mistake,' said Hirad.

'Yes,' agreed Sha-Kaan. 'Most humans are fools. But they believe they have isolated a power they can use in inter-dimensional space and they are excited at re-establishing a linkage to your closest relative dimension, though I am at a loss as to why. The Arakhe, the demons.' He paused and Hirad felt the edge come off his mood. 'You are keeping something from me. Do not.'

'They are preparing to leave,' said Hirad. 'They want to use everything they've found to win the war on Balaia. We don't think they intend to help you.'

The silence in his mind was total, and for a time Hirad thought the dragon had left him. But a brooding fury grew in the space so recently filled with hope. He felt it like a weight, pressing down on his brain. It hurt.

'You are sure of this?'

'The Protectors are sure,' said Hirad, his breath a gasp.

'Then we will ensure they do not leave.'

'Be careful,' said Hirad. 'They are a powerful group.'

'Better to die fighting for a way home than slowly on an alien hillside,' said Sha-Kaan. 'No one uses Kaan dragons.'

And he was gone. Hirad breathed easier, the pressure gone but leaving an ache in his head. The dragons were awesome fighters, but without their fire were weakened. He prayed that Sha-Kaan heeded him. If he didn't, Xeteskian spells could finish what the Dordovans had started two seasons before. Denser slipped between the rough-woven but clean sheets and blew out the single candle that illuminated the small room. He lay on his back and Erie

'It doesn't get any easier, does it?' he said.

'No,' said Erie

'I know, love. I'm no different.'

His heart was as heavy as the day they had left Herendeneth, and he knew Erie

'Fu

'What?' He felt her head move as if she were trying to look up at him.

'We came here to help Ilkar look for mages and now we're off to fight at a temple to save the whole elven race. It's horrible, I know, but I feel better for doing it.'

'The Raven needs a purpose,' said Erie

'No.' Denser chuckled. 'How was Rebraal?'

'I don't think he enjoys the touch of a human,' said Erie

'Good.'

Erie

'Like brother, like brother,' said Denser. He paused. 'And how are you?'

Erie

'I miss her,' she said, her voice trembling but controlled. 'Every quiet moment her memory floods me.'

'I'm sorry,' he said. 'It wasn't quite what I meant though. How's your head, the One?'

'It hurts more every day,' admitted Erie

'And have you thought of opening yourself to it? And seeking the advice of the Al-Drechar?'

Denser expected an angry response and was pleasantly surprised.

'Every day,' she said. 'When the pain is bad and Lya

'Then why don't you?'

'Because they are causing the pain,' said Erie

'If it is them, you'd think they'd have realised that by now,' said Denser. 'Didn't take me long, did it?'

He saw the flash of a smile. 'But they're old and fearful of dying before they can ensure the One survives. I'm just not ready and I wish they'd respect that. I could handle the learning; I just can't handle them inside my head. Not yet.'

'I understand. Just don't do it on your own,' said Denser, his hand rubbing her upper arm. 'I'm here. We're all here.'

She lay back down, her fingers ru

'That tickles,' he said.

'I know.' She carried on. 'It's good to have something approaching a proper bed again, isn't it? I bloody hate hammocks.'

Denser laughed. 'Can't say I got used to them either.'

'This feels great though.' She raised herself up on her arms again. 'Want to put it to some proper use?'

He didn't answer, just dragged her face to his, kissed her deeply on the lips and let the mana cocoon them and their passion sweep them away.