The Raven Collection

Erie

‘They were,’ came the delayed reply. ‘They could be treated and they responded. Still he died.’

‘That’s because they weren’t the problem,’ said Erie

‘Nothing,’ translated Ren. ‘He never regained consciousness.’

‘And what about the others who are sick?’ Erie

There was a longer delay, Ren listening to what she was hearing with a frown deepening on her beautiful features. She asked a couple of questions then took a deep breath and turned to Erie

‘It sounds horrible,’ she said. ‘Loss of balance, bleeding from ears, nose and anus, grinding pain in the gut and chest, loss of vision and hearing, muscle weakness and the clawing of hands and feet. I think there’s probably more but that covers the most common symptoms. The worst thing is, nothing seems to reverse or even ease the symptoms, and death has occurred in as little as four days. No one has survived yet.’

‘I’m not surprised,’ said Erie

‘A hundred and thirty-three.’

‘Oh no,’ said Erie

Erie

‘I’m sorry, Kild’aar,’ said Erie

Kild’aar nodded but didn’t understand her words, only her expression and the emotion in her voice. Ren translated Erie

‘She wants to know what you found.’

Erie

Ren was momentarily dumbfounded by Erie

‘Kild’aar asks if there is anything you can do.’

Erie

Kild’aar didn’t need her words translated. Beckoning them, she made to leave the room, only to stop at the sound of the door opposite opening. Leaning on the frame for support, a half-naked elf shambled out of the room and across the narrow hallway. His right hand was clamped over his left shoulder and his brow was furrowed and covered in a light sweat. His eyes burned as he took in Erie

Erie

The elf wasn’t letting up. Whatever Kild’aar said, it wasn’t mollifying him. Ren was following the argument. Again and again she looked about to jump in but something she heard stayed her. The noise in the room was intensifying, Kild’aar shouting now. In the end, Ren did finish it. Erie

The elf nodded, spoke two words and Ren moved aside. He walked slowly into the room, Kild’aar next to him, an arm about his back. He pulled the shroud aside and gazed down at Mercuun, Erie

Denser nudged Erie

‘Looks like a ta

‘There’s some resemblance,’ agreed Erie

‘So there should be,’ said Ren quietly from beside them. ‘That’s Rebraal, Ilkar’s brother.’

At the sound of his name, Rebraal pushed himself slowly and painfully back to his feet and turned to Erie

‘He says he has to go back to the temple. It must be returned to the hands of the Al-Arynaar. He’s leaving at dawn tomorrow.’

‘Tell him we’ll be with him,’ said Denser.

The mage tensed as Rebraal snorted in derision at Ren’s translation. Erie

‘Going to do it on his own, is he?’ asked Denser.

Rebraal snapped out some words. Ren held up her hands, replied and got a terse one-word answer.

‘He’s going to kill strangers. Why would he want more there?’

‘My question still stands,’ said Denser.

‘His brother Al-Arynaar will join him in a few days. He hopes it will be soon enough,’ said Ren.

‘And if it isn’t? He’s left the best chance he’s got here mopping sick brows. Put this to him. We’re coming. We can help, and whatever it is that’s got him so scared will be solved that much more quickly.’

Another short elven conversation.

‘He says the forest will kill you.’

‘I know I speak for us all when I say this. We want to help. We have to get mages back to Balaia quickly so anything we can do to speed that, to get the elves to trust us, we will do. And does he really have a choice? Right now, we’re all he’s got and, Gods burning, one of us is his brother.’

Erie

‘So we’re all right by him now, are we?’ Denser was terse.

‘No,’ said Ren. ‘You’re here, that’s all. The Raven. He knows that he needs all the help he can get. Ilkar is the key. Without him, you would not be allowed to travel with him.’

Erie

‘Rebraal knows what’s causing this. He’s studied the texts at the temple. He’s dedicated his life to preserving the harmony.’

‘And?’ pushed Denser.

‘Rebraal says the harmony has been broken. That the strangers who took the temple have done it, but he doesn’t know how. That’s why we have to go there. Because you can’t cure this sickness with magic or herbs, and unless harmony is restored the elves will die.’

Erie

‘All of us.’

Aeb was unsettled. Protectors were used to being alone, travelling with their Given Xeteskian mage. But in times of conflict the Soul Tank, deep in the catacombs of Xetesk, was always troubled. The souls of those Protectors who could not be physically together communicated their thoughts and their fears for one another. Aeb had been hearing much and the anxiety was rising.