The Raven Collection

Sol stood near by, a statue of controlled power. His eyes, as ever, sca

‘Sol,’ said Denser softly. The Protector turned his head. ‘Catch.’ He tossed the badge and chain to Sol, who enclosed them in one gloved hand. ‘Keep it safe.’

Now Sol looked at what he held and his eyes widened. His gaze snapped back to Denser but the mage had already finished his incantation.

‘You know I had to do this.’ Wings of pure night appeared at Denser’s back, and with one lazy flap he shot into the air, orienting himself for Dordover.

‘No!’ Sol’s shout put birds to flight and shocked Hirad out of a doze for the second time. For a moment he was confused by the sound - it was the first word he had heard Sol utter. He sprinted to the Protector and, following the tilt of his head, could just make out a shape dwindling against the starscape.

‘What the—’

‘ShadowWings.’ Ilkar was at his shoulder.

‘That’s Denser?’ Hirad pointed at the smudge in the sky.

‘ ’Fraid so,’ said Ilkar.

‘Well, that’s just bloody great!’ Hirad hurled his sword to the ground at his feet, fury bringing heat to his cheeks. His hands clenched. ‘He threatens to kill Talan because of some imaginary risk to his precious quest and now he’s off to commit suicide in Dordover all because someone’s stolen his pet bloody cat!’ He flapped a hand in the direction Denser had taken, breathing out loudly through his nose. ‘I mean, just what does he expect us to do now?’

‘Nothing.’ Sol flicked the badge and chain to Ilkar, who caught it effortlessly. ‘Stay.’

‘Talking to me or to your dog, maskman?’ Hirad squared up, his blade still lying in the fallen leaves.

‘Hirad . . .’ began Ilkar.

Sol considered the situation briefly, Hirad half believing he could see the Protector frowning.

‘Stay, please,’ he said, then turned and sprinted for his horse. Hirad made to follow him, stooping for his sword on the way.

‘Don’t, Hirad.’

‘What?’

‘I think he’s right. We should stay.’

‘You’re agreeing with a Xeteskian?’

Ilkar gri

‘Why? Their recent record for decision-making is very poor.’ Another gesture in the direction of Dordover and the departed Denser.

‘Because if they all die, someone has to go on who knows the whole story.’

‘But without that flying prat no one can cast the spell, isn’t that right?’ Hirad pushed his sword back into its scabbard.

‘He’s the only chance right now, admittedly, but without any of us to report back to Xetesk, there’s no chance at all.’ Ilkar shrugged.

‘So we just sit and wait?’ Hirad was unused to being unwanted in what looked a certain fight.

‘No. We clear the camp and get ready for a quick exit. One way or another, we won’t be here long, I think.’

‘How will we know if he dies?’

‘We’ll know. Believe me, we’ll know.’

The library door opening shocked Erie

‘Gods, you scared me! How did you . . .’ She pointed vaguely to the outside.

‘By looking as if we owned the place,’ said Will. ‘You’d be surprised how often that works.’

‘Yes, but here?’ Erie

‘I have to admit the College was pushing the point, but seeing is believing.’ Thraun smiled. ‘Our only bit of luck was avoiding your friend the Tower Master. I thought we’d have to deck him.’

‘I beat you to it.’ Erie

‘One thing,’ said Will. ‘Someone here’s got Denser’s cat.’

‘Fool!’ spat Erie

‘Reckon we can take the ring?’ asked Will.

‘I’m not sure,’ admitted Erie

‘So . . . ?’

‘So until I can plot the mana shape, I don’t know what it does or whether I can move it. To do that I need to get near it.’ She walked to the door. ‘Let’s get moving.’

Thraun gave the all clear and they padded quietly to the crypt entrance.

‘Will?’ asked Erie

‘It’s a standard through-bolt operating a latch on the other side. Heavy but crude,’ he whispered. ‘I need to know if it’s spell-guarded or conventionally trapped.’

‘Neither,’ said Erie

‘Good.’ Will bent to his task, inserting a metal rod the size of his little finger into the lock. He probed briefly for the latch assembly. ‘Very crude.’ He withdrew the rod and fished in a belt pouch, taking out a flat piece of metal about one and a half inches wide, welded to a cylinder which slipped over the rod and clicked into place. He pushed the makeshift key into the lock, angling it slightly and manoeuvring it back and forth. Presently he smiled, turned the key and heard the latch slide up on the other side of the door.

‘Want to go first?’ he asked Erie

‘I think I’d better.’ She stepped past Will as he stowed his tools and opened the door. Inside, the weight of mana was heavier than ever, causing her to pause for breath. It was also pitch dark.

‘There’s a lot of static mana here, keeping the wards sound. I can navigate by the trails. What about you two?’

‘I’ll follow him, don’t you worry,’ I said Will.

‘No light?’ queried Thraun.

‘Not until we’re down the first steps. There’s a light-sensitive ward about halfway down the flight which activates at dusk. It’s an alarm.’ She began to move carefully down the stairs, Thraun and Will behind her, the latter closing and rebolting the door behind them.

To Will, the darkness was impenetrable, the mana-laden atmosphere cloaked him in anxiety and the air was musty and stale. He hooked the fingers of his right hand into Thraun’s belt and traced the near wall with his left, relying on his friend’s directions for his every footstep.

He was concentrating so intently, he hardly heard Erie

‘Easy, Will,’ said Thraun, his own voice hushed by the power all around them. ‘There are maybe a dozen more steps and then we’re down.’

‘I’m not enjoying this.’

‘Nor me. Just take it steady. Step down now.’

The descent of the thirty steps ended with a right-hand bend in a narrow passage and another door through which Erie

‘Illuminate,’ she said eventually, and light grew steadily. It came from a globe that expanded to a size approaching that of Will’s head, and at that moment it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

He noticed the chamber next. It was long, narrow and cold, stretching away into the darkness beyond the throw of Erie