The Raven Collection

And in his eyes, she saw hate. Deep, brooding and cancerous hate. It came from him in waves. He had pursued her for more than six years, that much was now obvious; and safe in Dordover’s College for much of that time she’d never given it a second thought. Why would she? Gods she’d killed him, surely? But there he stood, her nemesis, with complete power over her, and it was that which truly terrified her. Because it gave the Black Wings the ability to destroy her family and her life a second time, and the very thought set her heart lurching painfully in her chest. Because she could see no way to stop them. Stop him.

What choice did she have? He would never let her go now, and to refuse to show Selik the way would condemn Lya

‘Well?’ she managed.

‘I have no intention of letting them die, Erie

‘What?’ And it all crashed through Erie

Selik smiled, his slack mouth stretching u

Erie

‘Don’t you touch her,’ she grated. ‘Don’t you lay a finger on her.’

‘I? Erie

‘Want to know why I’m still alive? Even after your spell froze my flesh? Your Raven friends dumped my body in the cellars to rot with my companions. They should have left me to burn in the tower, lying in the warm blood of your sons.’

At the mention of her boys, she hunched inwards, seeing their slaughter as if it were yesterday. Their sightless eyes, their torn throats and the red. The dark red that was everywhere.

‘Well, I haven’t finished with the Malanvai family just yet. There’s one left I want. You. And now you are mine for as long as I choose to let you live. And when you are dead, I can live again without your cursed shadow over me. Think on it, Erie

He spun her around to face the ship. It was quiet and through her tear-fogged vision she could see every face staring at her. One thought thundered again and again through her mind. She was lost but Lya

‘I pity you, Selik, still a lackey for others better than you,’ she said through a choked throat. ‘Because if you ever set foot where my daughter is living, the Al-Drechar will snuff you out as easily as you might squash a fly. Their power is like nothing you have even begun to conceive.’

Selik began pushing her towards the aft doors below.

‘If that’s what you believe. But my sources have seen the flares in the mana and say they are distressed in the extreme. And clearly, your precious Al-Drechar are not powerful enough to control your daughter. Still, I think it’s time you and I had a private word about them.’

The aft doors were opened for them as he marched her over. She lifted her head and looked straight into the eyes of the Captain of the Elm, whose humiliation was etched in his face. Behind him, a Black Wing held a sword to the elf ’s throat. He pushed it aside.

‘Harm her in any way and you will reach nowhere but the bottom of the Southern Ocean.’

‘Don’t presume to threaten me, elf. You are beaten.’ Selik didn’t stop moving.

‘It’s not a threat. Without us, you can’t navigate your way and you know it. And if Erie

Now Selik stopped, thrusting Erie

Erie

‘Now, ready your crew and this ship to sail on my order. When our guests arrive we will be leaving immediately. Ornouth is a long way, isn’t it, Captain, and I do so hate delay.’

Erie

Chapter 22

The Unknown sat with his face in his hands, trying not to believe what he was feeling. There was a closeness in his skull, a pressure he hadn’t felt for years. He’d known they were marching before The Raven had been caught in the forest by Darrick but he hadn’t dreamed they could make Arlen so fast. However, the Protectors should never be underestimated.

He snapped his head up. Ilkar was watching him.

‘You all right, Unknown?’

‘They’re here,’ he replied, rising.

‘Who?’ asked Denser from the opposite corner of the cell, only just visible in the light of the single guttering torch. He had been quiet since his admission, and their incarceration had gone on for hours now. Night was full and it seemed to The Unknown that he’d lost the will to act. It was as if he was beaten.

‘The Protectors.’ The Unknown strode over to the door and hammered on it with the heel of his palm. ‘Hey. Get over here.’ He continued the hammering until a middle-aged and scowling face appeared at the grille.

‘Do you have to?’ It was the night-watch jailer, a man who refused to give his name but was affable enough, given his prisoners’ identity, and irritated by the intrusion of the Lysternan soldiers and mage seated just outside in the guardroom.

‘Yes. Get me one of the others.’

‘Not good enough for you, am I?’

‘No, it’s just not your problem. Or it shouldn’t be. So, please . . .’

‘Well, what is it? After all, I am in charge here.’

The Unknown grabbed one of the bars on the grille, the jailer flinching.

‘There’s going to be trouble in the town. Very soon.’

‘Some sort of clairvoyant are you?’

‘Some sort,’ agreed The Unknown shortly. ‘Look, I don’t have time to debate this. Just get me one of the others.’

‘Not going to try anything fu

The Unknown snapped. ‘Yes, I’m going to tell a few jokes. Gods, man, just get me a Lysternan. Now!’ Another slap on the door which echoed through the jail.

The jailer backed off. ‘I’m only doing this because you shouldn’t be in here.’

‘Thank you.’ The Unknown watched him go. He felt a hand on his shoulder.

‘Feeling better now?’ asked Ilkar.

The Unknown turned his head, fighting down the smile that Ilkar’s expression had prompted.