The Raven Collection

‘And what are your plans, my Lord?’ asked Denser, still stu

‘You know why I am here,’ said Stylia

The atmosphere changed in an instant. Hirad shifted to a ready stance, sword still sheathed for the moment. The Unknown moved to stand beside him, as did Thraun. Ilkar and Erie

‘I’m not sure I understand,’ said Denser, though an awful realisation was flooding his heart.

Stylia

‘You can’t let him do this!’ hissed Ilkar.

‘He has no choice,’ said Stylia

Denser gaped at Stylia

Stylia

‘How did you get here before us?’ asked Hirad.

‘I was never very far behind you, Hirad. You chose to rest on your way here; I did not.’ He shrugged. ‘A pity I didn’t succeed. It would have made all of this so much easier.’

‘Yes,’ said The Unknown. ‘Because we hold the cards, don’t we?’

Ilkar fell back from Denser behind The Raven. His incantation was short. ‘Shield up,’ he murmured. The Raven’s swords were drawn.

Stylia

‘You wouldn’t do that.’ Denser moved back, Erie

‘Any reason why not?’

The Protectors came to ready. The Unknown tensed.

‘Because I represent the only realistic chance of casting Dawnthief with any hope of destroying the Wytch Lords while leaving Balaia still habitable.’ But Denser’s words held little conviction.

‘If you really are blind enough to think you are the only Dawnthief mage in Xetesk, I pity you,’ said Stylia

Denser looked about him at The Raven. At Erie

But opposite him, Stylia

Denser came to Hirad’s shoulder, his voice a whisper. ‘Do you trust me?’ he asked.

Hirad regarded him carefully, Denser watching the thoughts chasing themselves across his eyes. ‘You’re Raven,’ he answered, shrugging. ‘You risked yourself to release The Unknown. That is the act of one of us.’

‘Give me the chain.’ Hirad framed a refusal but Denser stayed him. ‘He can take them anyway. We can’t stop him.’

‘We can’t just give in.’ Hirad’s grip tightened on his sword.

Denser’s voice was barely audible. ‘No one is giving in. Trust me.’

Hirad switched his attention to Stylia

‘Give Denser the stone, Will,’ said Hirad. ‘We have nothing to gain by dying.’

Will paused in his tending of Jandyr and passed the Death’s Eye Stone to Denser. The Xeteskian smiled but, before walking to Stylia

‘Whatever you do, keep that shield up.’ He moved to stand in front of Stylia

‘And to think I have the fate of Balaia in my hands,’ he said.

‘Dangerous,’ said Stylia

‘Indeed it is,’ agreed Denser, a smile on his lips. ‘And I will now decide Balaia’s fate.’

The mana shape was formed and the command spoken before Stylia

‘I can’t let you return to the old ways, Stylia

‘You are a Xeteskian mage and you are my servant,’ said Stylia

‘No,’ said Denser. ‘I am Raven.’

Hirad’s smile was as wide as Understone Pass. He straightened from his ready stance.

‘Oh dear, Stylia

But Stylia

‘Ilkar has never lost a shield to magical attack,’ said Hirad. ‘And I can assure you that he doesn’t intend starting now. It’s over, Stylia

‘I hardly think so,’ grated the Lord of the Mount. He turned to his Protectors. ‘Kill them. Kill them now.’ But the Protectors did not move. ‘Kill them!’ he screamed, face red in the moonlight, fury blazing in his eyes. Hirad prepared to die.

‘Relax, Hirad,’ said The Unknown, and the depth of his smile at last touched his eyes. ‘I suggest you save your breath, Stylia

‘I beg your pardon?’ The words dragged from Stylia

‘It’s something you can never conceive, let alone understand. They will not attack us while I am here and we aren’t threatening your life. And in the same way, I will not let The Raven attack them. But I warn that should I die at your hand, your Protectors will turn on you.’

There was a shifting behind Stylia

‘You can choose not to believe me, my Lord.’ The Unknown walked forwards, out of the spell shield. ‘But you’ve already lost the spell. Why lose your life too?’

Stylia

‘But you have been released. You are no longer one of them.’