The Raven Collection

Leaving Thraun, Ren, Aeb and Rebraal watching in all directions as the light faded to nothing, The Raven talked.

‘It’ll happen under cover of darkness,’ said Darrick.

‘No reason why,’ said Ilkar. ‘They’ll know elves see just as well now as in daylight.’

Darrick tapped his head. ‘The reasons are all up here. Remember, they’re scared and tired. They want every advantage, real or perceived. ’

‘Think they’re in contact with this lot ahead?’ asked Hirad.

‘Impossible to say,’ said Darrick.

‘I doubt it,’ said Denser. ‘Communion’s a spell their mages can’t afford. It’s draining at the best of times. And thinking about how we were all begi

‘He’s right,’ said Ilkar. ‘And don’t forget, we’ve got one group apparently under some kind of moving illusion that’s good enough to confuse elves and panthers. That’s going to be one impressive spell.’

‘Why don’t they just come straight in?’ asked Erie

‘Good point, but I suspect it’s the terrain,’ said Darrick. ‘Splashing through that swamp will be like ringing warning bells, hidden by illusion or not.’

‘Right,’ said The Unknown. ‘Here’s what I suggest now.’

But he didn’t have time to impart his idea because, a hundred yards to their right, the swamp exploded into life. Footsteps rushed headlong through water, plumes of spray scattering in all directions. There was the deeper splash of thigh-deep water and, from the lines ahead, the odd voice raised in encouragement.

‘Raven!’ roared Hirad. ‘Raven with me!’

Hirad led The Raven out of cover, heading for their holding position on the left flank.

‘HardShield up,’ said Ilkar.

‘SpellShield active,’ said Erie

‘Keep watching that left flank,’ warned The Unknown.

‘On it,’ said Darrick.

‘Denser, we need that illusion pierced,’ said Hirad.

‘Way ahead of you,’ said the Xeteskian.

The Raven plunged into the swamp shallows, keeping their arc line as best they could in the heavy vegetation at its edge. Behind the hidden ru

Denser came to a sudden stop, uttered a command word and shoved his arms out sharply. His ForceCone hammered away into the night, slapping into the roiling area of swamp where the ru

The shouts from the estuary entrance became louder and more urgent. The thrum of bowstrings was plain. Arrows arced across the sky, falling behind the ru

‘Ward!’ shouted Denser.

The Raven stilled. FlameOrbs spattered down on them, fizzing and crackling over Ilkar’s shield. It held. It always did.

In the afterglow of the spells, the ru

ShadowWings sprouted at the mage’s back. He shot skywards, a laugh of relief on his lips. Jaqrui wailed after him, none finding its target. He turned in the air, flying for the enemy line.

‘Damn!’ yelled Hirad.

Behind him, a bowstring twanged. The arrow speared the mage between his shoulder blades. He juddered forward and shouted briefly, arms clawing reflexively at his back. His wings vanished and he fell, momentum taking him just beyond the swamp edge. No-man’s-land.

Hirad turned. ‘Good shooting.’

The smile was back on Ren’s face but there was no time for self-congratulation.

‘We must have that bag,’ said Rebraal in halting Balaian.

He set off, TaiGethen and Al-Arynaar two hundred yards behind him but sprinting through the swamp and gaining quickly. ‘Leave the water,’ he said over his shoulder. ‘Piranha.’

But The Raven were already chasing after him. Hirad saw more arrows arc towards them and the elves from the estuary defenders. HotRain fell from the sky. Here was where it would happen. The sides closed on each other, the mage’s body marking where the lines would clash.

‘Watch that left flank!’ he shouted as he raced on, sword raised high, ru

Erys hadn’t the stamina to cast Communion again but ClearSight was far more simple. He’d related to Yron everything he could see through the darkness. TaiGethen and Al-Arynaar were on both sides of the Shorth, some closing in behind them now. As Yron had hoped, their reserve force was spread across the entrance to the estuary, unfortunately split by the Shorth and its cha

Yron, Erys and the miraculously still living Ben-Foran were an agonising three hundred yards from safety in the hands of the reserve. But Yron smelled a trap and he’d been alive too long to ignore his instincts. He put a hand on Erys’s shoulder, staying the mage, who was preparing to run in.

‘Wait,’ he said.

‘But . . .’

‘Wait,’ he repeated. ‘This isn’t the stroll it seems. Trust me.’

Almost at once he was proved right. A commotion on the other side of the Shorth shattered the relative peace of the rainforest. They could hear footsteps splashing through water and the shouts of men and elves. Arrows and spells flew, the TaiGethen pounced, panthers sounded from every angle. The ClawBound were near.

Erys grabbed Yron’s shoulder and pointed into the sky.

‘Stenys,’ he breathed.

Yron followed his arm and saw the mage climbing into the sky. ‘Go on.’ Yron clenched a fist. ‘Go on.’

Stenys wheeled and moved towards the estuary, getting higher all the time. Jaqrui wailed but missed. Yron’s heart beat harder.

‘Nearly there,’ he whispered. ‘Shit!’

He saw the arrow plunge into Stenys’s back. Saw him fall from the sky and saw the elves move towards his body. Erys’s grip on his shoulder slackened.

‘Sorry, Erys.’

Erys shook his head. ‘So close.’

‘And we’ll get closer still. Our chance is very soon.’

Yron focussed on the coming battle. He knew there were Al-Arynaar very close but in the confusion they might just get enough of a head start. If their luck held. He smiled grimly. This would not be a good time for it to falter.

The reserve waited, just as they should. Hidden from view. Arrows and spells arced into the moonlit night. He saw flaring as shields took the brunt of the magic and explosions on the ground where the Orbs fell directly to earth. Behind him he thought he could sense something but he couldn’t see any movement. Perhaps the elves this side of the Shorth were distracted. He had to hope so.