The Raven Collection

‘What’s wrong, Great Kaan?’

Sha-Kaan blinked slowly and breathed in, Hirad feeling the air flow past him.

‘This place ages us,’ he said. ‘It dampens our fire, dries our wings and starves our minds. The Brood psyche ca

A chill stole down Hirad’s neck and spread through his body.

‘You’re dying?’ he ventured.

Sha-Kaan’s startling blue eyes reflected the lantern light as he stared.

‘We need to go home, Hirad Coldheart. Soon.’

Hirad bit his lip and strode from the Choul, his anger brimming, his frustration complete. There would have to be action.

In the warming early morning, following a breakfast of fruits, milk and rye bread, Lya

The night had been quiet and peaceful. Lya

And last night, as she had sat alone in the dining room, sipping at her wine and thinking, she had reached an inescapable truth. Lya

‘Come here, my sweet.’ Erie

‘You promise me you’ll be good and listen to your teachers?’ she asked, stroking Lya

Lya

‘And you’ll try to do everything they ask?’

Another nod.

‘It’s important, you know. And I’ll be here if you need me.’ She looked into Lya

‘Of course I do, Mummy,’ said Lya

‘Oh, darling, I’m sorry. Of course you do. Tell me, then.’

‘The teachers will help me chase away the bad things. And then they will open the other magic doors and then show me how to hold the wind in my head.’

Erie

‘How do you know all that?’

‘They told me,’ said Lya

‘When?’

‘While I was sleeping.’

‘Oh, did they?’ Erie

The door to the orchard opened and Cleress stepped outside, a broad smile on her face. Gone was the tottering of the night before, replaced by an almost youthful stride.

‘Is she ready?’ she asked brightly.

‘Well, apparently you know more about that than I do,’ said Erie

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Next time you wish to invade my child’s mind while she sleeps, you will have the decency to ask me first, is that clear?’

Cleress’ smile was brittle. ‘We must prepare her, and there are many things she will not accept awake that her subconscious mind will.’

‘Cleress, you aren’t listening.’ Erie

‘Very well.’ Cleress scowled.

‘She’s my daughter, Cleress. Don’t any of you forget that.’

‘I understand.’ She nodded at last. ‘We’ve been alone a long time.’

‘Let’s just get started, shall we?’

Chapter 6

Denser had no trouble gaining access to the Dordovan College library despite it being after dark, when the grounds were closed to all but College mages and staff. Indeed, on The Raven’s arrival in the city the previous day, Vuldaroq had been anxious to help them in their investigations and offer any information available. He had even welcomed Denser and Ilkar’s suggestion that they read the Tinjata Prophecy but had extended his official invitation to Denser alone.

Denser was, of course, extremely suspicious. But, with The Unknown and Ilkar out combing the streets for contacts and anything the Dordovans had missed, there was nothing for him to do but read and hope it became apparent why Vuldaroq had been so accommodating.

The original Tinjata Prophecy was kept under airtight glass in another part of the College. What Denser’s assigned archivist produced for him was a large leather-bound volume, light brown and titled in embossed gold leaf. It contained upwards of sixty thick parchment pages, the left-hand pages being a transcript of the original lore, the right, a translation, which was incomplete.

Denser had asked why there were blanks in apparently random places, to be told that those parts of the lore were for the eyes of lore scribes only. He had frowned, curiosity aroused, and read what he could.

The early pages turned out to be a rambling account of the dangers of inter-College sexual union, the threat to Balaia of a return of the One Way of magic, and the importance of identifying and retarding the development of any such mage identified.

Denser raised his eyebrows. It seemed that Dordovan thinking hadn’t advanced too far on this subject in the intervening mille

He read on, past some blank and fractured passages of translation, the prophecy moving to encompass the likely results of ignoring the threat or of failing to control the developing mage. Denser’s heart began to beat faster, his mouth drying. Balaia had already been struck by tidal wave, hurricane and days of unbroken thunderclouds and here they were, all laid out. It was hard to believe it was a prophecy, not a diary because, not only did Tinjata foresee the weather systems, he also knew where they would strike.

‘ “The sea will rise and smite the mouth of the land.” ’ It didn’t take a genius to deduce that Tinjata had meant Sunara’s Teeth. ‘ “The sun shall hide its face and the sky’s smears will grow thick and deliver floods upon the earth. And when the gods sigh, the tall will be stunted where they felt most secure and the proud will be laid low, their stone temples the graves of their families.” ’

And further on, Denser shivered at what might be to come. ‘ “The beasts from below shall rise to gorge themselves and the mountains will crumble, their dust seen by none, for the eyes of the world will be blinded, awaiting the new light of the One. It shall be the light of hell on the face of the land.” ’

‘Dear Gods.’ He looked up and found the archivist looking at him. ‘It really is happening, isn’t it?’ The mage nodded. ‘Is there more?’

‘It’s worth you reading,’ said the archivist. ‘It might help you understand our fears more fully.’

Denser blew out his cheeks. ‘I already understand. I just don’t agree with your methods. This is my daughter we’re talking about.’

‘What can I say?’ The archivist shrugged.