The Raven Collection

‘I see.’ Stylia

‘You know full well what the result would have been,’ muttered Vuldaroq.

‘Yes, I do, they would have initially refused.’ Stylia

‘I apologise for misleading you all about our ideas for the destruction of the Wytch Lords, but we are now in an advanced enough state to stand a realistic chance of success. Now you all know that your councils would have delayed the recovery of the spell, perhaps critically. And you also know that The Raven as it stands contains members of three Colleges, and that, with Heryst’s blessing, is a quorum.’ Heryst inclined his head. ‘Good. All that we need now is to facilitate The Raven’s entry into the west.’

‘And how might we do that?’ asked Heryst.

‘We’ll have to take Understone Pass,’ said Stylia

Vuldaroq scoffed. ‘Stylia

Stylia

Denser turned to Ilkar and Erie

‘Will they make it?’ asked Ilkar, uneasy at leaving The Raven to travel with no magical escort.

Denser nodded. ‘And so will you if you leave now. One of Laryon’s Protectors will take you to the City boundaries. If you ride through the night you’ll be there by dawn. I’ll join you as soon as I can.’

‘And where exactly is Nyer?’ Ilkar’s eyes shifted up and down the corridor. He half expected the Master to loom out of nowhere and attack them.

‘On his way to the farmhouse,’ said Denser. He chewed his bottom lip. ‘I can’t believe he is betraying me.’

‘Denser!’ Laryon called from inside the spell chamber.

‘I must go.’ He kissed Erie

‘I’ll bear it in mind.’ She smiled and stroked his face.

‘Get this right, Denser,’ said Ilkar.

‘If it is possible, I’ll beat you to Triverne Lake and The Unknown will be with me.’

‘Now that would be impressive.’

‘Then I’ll see it is done.’ Denser held out his hand. Ilkar hesitated a moment before shaking it.

‘Denser!’ Urgently.

Denser raised his eyebrows, stepped into the spell chamber and closed the door. Ilkar and Erie

‘Let’s go,’ said Ilkar. Erie

Inside the armoured spell chamber, deep beneath the Mount, The Unknown, Sol, blinked into the candlelight. Denser and Laryon talked at the foot of the slab on which he lay pillowed, clothed in traditional dark tunic and breeches.

‘What I require from you is a mana cha

Denser nodded.

‘Then let’s begin. I am anxious for the safety of The Raven.’

Laryon moved to Sol’s head, placed his hands over the Protector’s eyes and muttered a short prayer. Sol’s body relaxed, his eyes closed and his head fell to one side. He wasn’t breathing.

‘Time is short. Denser, prepare the mana cha

Denser breathed deeply and began to construct the shape of the cha

In essence, the shape was simple. It was tubular, with a spiral movement heading away from him. The difficulty was keeping both ends open and firm to accept and contain the DemonChain.

To Denser’s left, the mana shifted, sharpened and deepened in colour. Laryon was casting.

Almost immediately, the radiance encasing Sol rippled, pulling towards the shape Laryon was creating. It shimmered and sparkled, coalescing into something Denser couldn’t make out at first. But steadily, the form became clearer. The mana formed a conical shape, left Sol’s body and settled, one end in the centre of his torso, the other splashed through the floor of the chamber beneath the slab. Energy lines ran up and down its length, and suddenly the DemonChain was there. Faces, limbs, bodies, mouths, fingers, hair. All distilled from the cone. Voices hissed and individuals writhed, but the whole locked together in chaotic form.

One had hands lost in another’s chest. Another’s head melded to a third’s foot. Any combination, but all of them were alive, identical in every physical aspect and very, very angry.

From the centre of the chain, one locked its eyes on Denser and screamed its hate. Denser looked on unfazed.

He took in the beast with a body the size of a newborn child’s, arms long and wiry, legs stubby and malformed and a face full of evil. Blue drool ran from its lipless mouth, tongue licking at its cheeks, fangs tearing rents in its own being. The eyes, huge and slitted, were orbs of dark malevolence and its ears ran high above the crawling skull to meet in a spire over its head.

‘Time, Denser,’ said Laryon, his voice distant with effort.

‘Envelop,’ commanded Denser in response, and his mana cha

‘Excellent,’ said Laryon.

Denser felt him release control of the DemonChain. They turned their attention to the cha

‘They ca

Laryon breathed deep and prepared the path for The Unknown’s soul.

Chapter 25

The Familiar alighted on Hirad’s right shoulder. He winced involuntarily and pressed his lips together in irritation.

‘How did they find us?’ he asked.

‘Someone has betrayed us. Someone powerful.’ Anger and surprise edged its tone. ‘You must leave for Triverne Lake. Evanson will guide you.’

‘I’m not ru

The Familiar ignored him. ‘I will distract them while you get away.’

‘Why don’t we just stay and take them out?’

The Familiar regarded him blankly. ‘You do not understand. They are too powerful for you. And for me. They will kill me.’

Hirad started, and frowned.

‘Good luck, Raven man. Look after my master.’ The Familiar flew from the open window, high into the night sky.

The Unknown juddered violently and his soul scorched along the DemonChain into his body. Laryon smiled but was totally unprepared for the backlash. He hadn’t seen the possibility at all. The returning soul negated the DemonChain’s fastening to The Unknown’s being and the result was violent severance.

With howls of triumph, the Chain whipped away from The Unknown’s body, slashing in a wide arc at the two mages. Laryon was caught on the side of the head and slammed against a wall, groaning as he slumped, a trickle of blood ru