‘He’s safe. Thraun is showing him not to be scared of wolves. As for you, well you were complaining of a headache, and the next we knew, you’d collapsed. You muttered some strange things about dragons and your son. You said they were coming. You said that over and over. Who did you mean?’
Diera shook her head. ‘Can you help me up?’
Blackthorne supported her to a sitting position and waited while her blood settled and the faintness passed.
‘I don’t remember too much. It was just a dream. Jonas and Sha-Kaan being attacked somehow. There was wind and darkness. It’s nothing. Just a mother worrying about her son.’
‘I don’t think so. Neither does Auum. He is out there now, looking for Jonas and Sol. You said they’d come for you. We believe they have.’
‘Based on a dream?’
‘And elves know the perspicacity of dreams.’
Diera hugged her knees. ‘I hope they’re right.’
‘And let’s hope they get to them before the guards do. Altogether too many roaming the city right now.’
‘Will they find us here? The guard that is?’
‘Eventually,’ said Blackthorne. ‘But we’ll be ready for them.’
‘I don’t really understand what we’re doing here. Shouldn’t we be going west?’
‘Auum has high ideals and I share them until my courage falters.’ Blackthorne chuckled at his own joke. ‘He aims to break the college hold and get people away from here before it’s too late.’
‘He doesn’t have much time and very few here to help him. What can he do?’
‘He is waiting for an opportunity to present itself.’
‘And will it?’
‘When the battle starts.’ Blackthorne raised his eyebrows.
‘But surely that will cut things too fine.’ Diera searched her memory. ‘Sol wanted everyone away days ago. You know what he’s planning to do, don’t you?’
‘Rumour has it that there is some thought we can escape to a new home. Seems a distant prospect to me. But I know that staying here is folly. I’ve seen this enemy, and a few spells set about the city will not stop them.’
There was a brief commotion at the gates to the garden. Auum barked an order and ran in. Diera had never seen worry on his face before. Blackthorne stood.
‘Auum?’
‘We have a problem.’
Away to the south and east of the city, a ClawBound panther called out. It was a disquieting sound. Auum listened to it and his frown deepened.
‘Two problems.’
Chapter 24
The awful truth about the fate of Julatsa had dampened hope three days before. The fleet had been sailing out of sight of the north Balaian coast and there had been no encounters nor indeed any sightings whatever of the Garonin. The ships were scattered over a wide area, attempting to diminish the density of souls for the enemy to sense. There had been an uneasy quiet across the whole fleet. It felt like the absence of belief.
And now, approaching Wesman territory at North Bay, with the hard grey peaks of Sunara’s Teeth dominating the near horizon, trepidation reigned. Mage reconnaissance had revealed no evidence of Garonin activity but neither had it revealed any sign of the Wesmen.
Rebraal was not unduly concerned by that. This desolate, dangerous coast had been largely abandoned since the storms of the Night Child had swept away the bay’s lonely fishing village over fifteen years ago. They were a superstitious race, the Wesmen, and Sunara’s Teeth were cursed.
‘I’ll drop anchor half a mile from the shore,’ said Jevin. ‘Well before we get snagged in the currents close in.’
He and Rebraal were standing in the prow of the Calaian Sun, staring at the coastline and searching for any sign, good or bad.
‘Let’s hope your plan works. I feel nervous at the thought of three hundred ships crowding in here, even in rotation.’
‘We’ve had plenty of time to plan,’ said Jevin. ‘Weather conditions and tides are both in our favour to begin right now. Have faith.’
‘It’s still going to take three days to disembark. We’re exposed the whole of that time.’
‘I do not rule the tides. It’s the best I can do.’
‘Forgive me. I’m not being critical. I’m just… well.’
Jevin nodded and slapped Rebraal on his back.
‘So are we all, Rebraal.’
‘Indeed.’
Rebraal looked back to the beach and wished it four miles long rather than the four hundred yards afforded them. North Bay was a funnel trap for the unwary sailor, an invitingly broad shelter that narrowed quickly into rock- strewn shallows around which the water eddied and surged, denying escape for ocean-going vessels that strayed too close to the shore. Multiple wrecks beneath the waves only added to the risks.
Three TaiGethen cells had already landed to scout the immediate area and secure the path away from the beach. One cell waited on the beach. The other two would be looking for shelter and cover. They would not find a great deal of either outside the lee of the mountains.
The Calaian Sun was leading the first twenty ships into the landing area. The decks were crowded with evacuees, who had now been joined by all of the TaiGethen and Al-Arynaar warriors. Half their mages too. It had been a risky transfer. Jevin kept a tight grip on the ship’s progress from his forward position. Topsails hung from two masts, giving a speed of little more than one knot. Periodically, Jevin would hold out his right or left arm to direct the helm to starboard or port. He would also display a number of fingers to indicate the degree of turn he desired.
The flagship of the elven exodus slipped into the wind shadow of Sunara’s Teeth, which ringed the entire bay and glowered down on all who sailed within their compass. Immediately, the topsails flapped. Here the eddies in the water and the currents that drove them played havoc with the handling of the vessel.
Jevin held up two fists to signal steady as she goes. Any desultory conversation died in throats. People lined the rails, staring down, looking for disaster to loom up at them. Plumb lines in the water spoke their depth. The beach crawled closer.
‘That’ll do, I think.’ Jevin began striding back towards the wheel deck. ‘Helm, bring her up into the wind. Bosun, make our masts naked. Stand by, anchor. On my order. Signals, fly the all stop. This is as far in as we dare go. Oars, ready the boats. Rebraal, get your people organised. I want out of this bay in two hours or I’ll not get another squadron in before the tide moves against us.’
Rebraal nodded. The ship had exploded into activity. Al-Arynaar and TaiGethen assembled by their boats. Refugees were herded this way and that as crew set about their tasks. Blocks and tackles were set up to winch out cargo. Nets were filled with crates and barrels.
In the hold of the Calaian Sun was the statue of Yniss that bound the elves to life on Balaia. He would not be coming ashore. When Jevin’s work with the refugees was done the captain was to perform one last task. To scuttle his ship and send the statue to the bottom of the ocean, far from the destructive hands of the Garonin. Jevin had expressed his intent to see Yniss all the way down.
‘Anchor away,’ called Jevin to an accompanying rattle of chain.
Rebraal checked his armour and weapons. He stood before his warriors and the TaiGethen. To their left another ship had dropped anchor about fifty yards away. ClawBound crowded the deck. Panthers growled. Bound elves sniffed the air.
‘They, like us, desire the ground beneath their feet,’ he said. ‘My brothers and sisters, now we reach the
