The Raven Collection

Chapter 30

‘Get me some strong spirit.’ Densyr snapped his fingers at Dystran.

‘Quickly. Same cabinet where you kept it.’

Dystran huffed and walked across the room. Densyr squatted back down by Septern. He had long ago turned from the sounds of combat emanating up from below.

‘Hey. Snap out if it. Don’t lose yourself in there.’

‘Safe i

‘What the hell is he muttering about?’ Dystran poured a clear oily liquid into a goblet and handed it to Densyr. ‘Just don’t let him lose the grid.’

‘I’ll do my best,’ said Densyr.

He tuned into the mana spectrum. The shapes that signified the Heart and Septern were no longer distinct. Like the Heart had reached out and grabbed him, part-consumed him. Or that he had decided to become one with it. The Heart itself appeared normal in terms of flow and density but Septern’s mind map was confused and flickering.

‘Septern. Septern, can you hear me?’ Densyr laid a hand on Septern’s arm. ‘Dystran, I think you might want to join us. Is Vuldaroq anywhere nearby?’

‘In the catacomb chambers, working on resonance theory with Sharyr,’ said Dystran. Densyr heard him kneel down. ‘Are you going to use that spirit or . . . ? Oh dear Gods drowning.’

‘Septern, what are you doing?’ demanded Densyr.

‘I didn’t even think this was possible,’ said Dystran.

Densyr shook his head. At least the remnants of the ward grid appeared to be calm. He’d done something to stop the loose ends flailing. A gentle blue pulse was ru

‘Nor me. Septern?’

‘Mmmm . . . ore control. Beauty. Form fails.’

Septern’s breathing was shallow and rapid.

‘He’s pouring himself into the Heart,’ said Dystran.

‘He can’t,’ hissed Densyr. ‘It’s like making yourself the wind or fire or something. Can’t be done.’

‘Can we be sure?’ asked Dystran. ‘On the point of death, when our soul is about to leave our body, who’s to say what is possible?’

Densyr heard wonder in Dystran’s voice. ‘I think you’re missing the point, rather. He’s supposed to be buffering the failing grid from feeding back into the Heart and blowing it to smithereens.’

‘And who’s to say he isn’t doing just that? Presumably you want to know whether we should try to bounce him out using the spirit.’

‘And?’

‘I have no idea.’

‘Smashing,’ said Densyr. ‘Septern. How long can you survive like this?’

‘Approaching . . . near. Survival no. Change. Have seee

‘Septern, you are making no sense. Can you keep the grid secure any more?’

‘Always always. Housssseess safe.’

‘He’s delusional, Dystran. If he loses his mind, he loses any hold on anything.’

‘Can you be so sure? Really sure, I mean.’

‘I hardly think this is the time for research and experimentation concerning the soul’s ability to fuse with mana on death. We have to know if he’s secure. Xetesk depends upon it.’

Dystran remained calm. ‘Look at the Heart. Look at the ward grid. Steadier than you or I could achieve, no?’

‘I’m aware of that,’ said Densyr through gritted teeth. ‘But he is surely close to death. When that happens, we might lose the college.’

‘You can step in, Densyr. I can help you. What other duties must you be free for?’

‘Nothing much. Organising my guard, directing my mages, securing my college and defending what remains of my city and hence Balaia. Trivial, really.’

‘But nowhere are your talents more useful than in saving the Heart. Is there really anything more important than that?’

Densyr dropped out of the mana spectrum and looked at Dystran hard, searching for signs of duplicity. Any senior mage had to be considered a threat, even one who had willingly stepped aside from his post.

‘It is one of a number of key areas,’ fenced Densyr.

‘Let me command the defence. I do have certain experience in that area.’

‘Following my orders?’

‘Naturally, my Lord Densyr.’

‘Knowing I could pull the plug on any opportunist ambition by simply disco

‘That is a comment unworthy,’ said Dystran.

Densyr shrugged. ‘I’m Lord of the Mount. I can suspect who I damn well choose.’

Dystran chuckled. ‘And a fine one you are too. And thinking clearly at last.’

Densyr was interrupted by a commotion a little way down the wide spiral stairway leading up to the chambers that had become his centre of operations.

‘Ah, excellent. At least someone is capable of following my orders. I do believe the reluctant Raven are about to be presented to us.’

There was no knock on the door. Rather it flew back against its hinges so violently that a cracked decanter was upset on a nearby table, crashing to the ground and spilling fine wine over a priceless rug. Glasses rattled on the tray and a bookend fell over, disgorging some rather ancient texts onto the floor, mercifully clear of the pool of vintage red.

Auum, Ghaal and Miirt issued across the floor to stand far too close to both Densyr and Dystran. Following them came the bizarre menagerie that was The Raven, Sol’s family, a trio of wolves and a ClawBound pair. Thraun pushed his way to the front and laid Hirad on the table, taking a cushion from a chair for his head.

Densyr’s mouth dropped open, and when he closed it, he had to suppress what would have been an ill-timed smile.

‘How did you . . . ? Oh, need I really ask; I know already. Three elves and a few dead people are plenty enough to breach Xetesk’s i

‘And we should not have been forced to try,’ said Sol, unhitching himself from Diera and Sirendor and moving painfully to a free armchair. His sons sat one on each of the leather arms and Sol put an arm around each one’s shoulders. ‘Ilkar, can you help me with a little pain relief? My back’s the worst. Followed by my hip and then everything else.’

‘What do you want?’ asked Densyr. ‘I haven’t time to chat right now. We are unsure if the enemy are defeated.’

‘You can be assured they are not,’ said Auum, standing less than a pace away from Densyr and piercing his skull with those cold, hard eyes.

‘All the more reason to let me get on with defending what little we have left,’ said Densyr.

‘You can do what you like. We only want Septern.’ While Sol was speaking, he was looking at the master mage, his frown deepening. ‘Is he all right?’

‘That depends on your—’ began Dystran.

‘No. He’s dying,’ said Densyr. ‘He’s currently engaged in stopping the Heart of Xetesk from exploding. So you can’t have him. Sorry.’

‘But we must,’ said Ilkar.

He moved towards Septern, and Densyr tensed to stop him. Auum shook his head minutely. Densyr backed off. He watched Ilkar tune into the mana spectrum and saw the disbelief register on his face.

‘I think we have a problem here,’ said Ilkar.

‘Why?’ asked Sol.

‘Septern appears to be inextricably melded to the Heart of Xetesk. It’s like he’s poured his soul into it.’

‘Is that possible?’ asked Sol.

‘Apparently.’

‘So what do we do? We have to get him out of there,’ said Sol. ‘I doubt very much that we have a great deal of time.’

‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. No one is getting anyone out of anywhere.’ Densyr tried to talk around Auum. ‘Please try to understand. Simply wrenching Septern back would be like setting the tower complex atop an erupting volcano. Ilkar will confirm, I’m sure.’

‘Then you do something,’ said Sol. ‘Now.’