The Raven Collection

Denser looked at her askance. ‘Something of an expert, are you?’

‘No, but it pays to have a little knowledge of your contemporaries, ’ said Erie

Ilkar walked back into the main body of the Temple.

‘Any idea what happened here?’ asked Hirad.

Ilkar shook his head. ‘There are a couple more bodies of guards back there but nothing’s been touched. What I don’t get is that those dead around the stone had to be mercenaries, and I’m certain they wouldn’t be hired by the Wrethsires.’

‘So you’re saying they weren’t defending the stone?’ asked Denser.

‘Well, no, I mean, it’s still here, isn’t it?’

‘Does it matter?’ asked Will. ‘Let’s just grab it and go.’ He was standing right over the case.

‘Don’t touch it!’ snapped Denser. ‘Sorry, Will. We haven’t checked it for traps or wards yet.’

‘I thought you said they had nothing to do with mana,’ said Will.

‘They don’t. But you can hire it in if you want to.’ Denser took in Erie

The mages tuned to the mana spectrum and examined the plinth and its case. It was a brief investigation.

‘It’s clean of mana traps,’ said Erie

‘And what about the Wrethsires’ own magic?’ asked The Unknown, taking a pace back into the Temple.

Denser huffed. ‘They have no static magic capability.’

‘You’re sure?’ said Hirad.

‘There’s nothing over the stone,’ said Denser deliberately.

‘Nothing we can detect, anyway,’ said Ilkar.

‘All right,’ said Hirad. ‘Are we secure?’

The Unknown nodded, turning back to the path outside. Will hunched low over the case, examining its edges and panels, barely even letting his breath fall on it. The rest of The Raven stood in loose formation, watching, Thraun smiling to see Will’s hands so steady.

‘It’s sealed, not trapped as far as I can see. Access is through the top, or do you want me to smash it?’

‘No,’ said Denser. ‘We can’t risk damaging it in any way. Take your time and lift the lid. If even a shard of glass were to scratch its surface, it would affect Dawnthief.’

Will inclined his head and fished out his tools. He sorted through the intricate pieces and selected a flat-headed wedge of metal, which he inserted gently into the seal of the case lid.

There was a whispering in the Temple. A breeze blew from nowhere, taking the doors and slamming them, the sound reverberating through the building. The Unknown was caught a glancing blow. He staggered but kept his feet. The braziers blew out, leaving only Erie

The whispering gained in intensity, multiple voices swirling in the air, unintelligible, malevolent. The Raven grouped, swords clear of scabbards, the whispers becoming a noise like rushing wind, though the air was still, warm and cloying, the smell of the dead rising to assault the nostrils.

‘Ideas, anyone?’ asked Hirad. The Unknown pulled at the handles of the main doors. They were stuck fast. ‘Try the others. Try the shutters. Thraun, take the opposite route.’ Hirad was forced to raise his voice over the clash of hundreds of voices from nowhere threatening to drown him out.

He checked either side of him. The mages were unfocused, preparing spells, but the deep frowns suggested they were struggling. Jandyr, scared and wide-eyed, looked everywhere. Will worked furiously at the stone’s case. Hirad was dimly aware of the hammering of Thraun and The Unknown on shutters and doors, the dull thuds merely background to the increasing intensity of the whispering voices.

Erie

Abruptly, the whispering ceased. The light from Erie

Erie

‘Ilkar, Jandyr, Thraun, tell us what you see. Erie

The sound of metal scraping on stone rang around the Temple.

‘Anybody?’ Hirad asked of the dark. To his right, he felt Denser lifting Erie

‘Yes, yes.’ Will’s tone was edged with desperation. His swords rang back into scabbards; he scrabbled to find light. The scraping sounded again, this time accompanied by a series of heavy thuds that rippled though the floor.

‘Oh, no.’ Ilkar’s voice, laden with dread, cut through the tension.

‘What? What?’ Hirad was shouting. There was a clang. Then more. Another scraping and metal-shod footsteps.

‘The statues are moving. This way,’ said Ilkar. ‘We’ve got to form up. Fast. Unknown, Thraun, to the centre.’

‘Where the hell’s that?’ snapped the big man.

Ilkar could see him stumbling in vaguely the right direction. ‘Keep coming dead ahead. Thraun, give him a hand.’ He watched Thraun guide the big man quickly past the scattered bodies of the Wrethsire guards.

Hirad looked right, seeing nothing but sensing Erie

‘I can’t get the mana shape.’ Her voice shook.

‘Calm.’ Denser’s voice held steady. ‘It’s all right.’

‘No it isn’t,’ said Ilkar. ‘Something’s disrupting the mana flow. I can’t shape anything. And we’ve got less than a minute before they reach us. Will, get back to the circle, we need that stone.’

‘Yes,’ said Will. ‘Jandyr, guide me.’ He sounded calmer now.

Soon, The Raven was complete. The Unknown stood next to Hirad, Ilkar next to him. To the right of the barbarian, Jandyr, Denser, Erie

The clang of metal on marble, the scraping of stone on tile came closer with every heartbeat, and Hirad could sense them. Looming presences, huge in their invisibility, terrifying in their quiet. He moved his blade to ready.

‘Ilkar . . .’

‘Gods, it’s the Temple itself.’ Ilkar’s sudden shout made Hirad jump.

‘What?’ said Denser.

‘We were blind before the lights went out. Denser, think. Circular building, domed roof, sealed absolutely, needle point spires . . .’ Ilkar trailed off; he could see realisation cross Denser’s face like the knowledge of guilt.

‘We’re in a Cold Room.’

‘Hirad, we’ve got to get a door or shutter open. Trust me on this. They’re on us in twenty seconds.’ Ilkar swallowed hard.

A clashing sound signalled eight axes brought to the ready on gauntleted hands. Hirad shook himself, fighting to hang on to his senses. Around him, The Raven stood ready. At least they would die working to save each other. He made his decision.

‘Ilkar, Erie