believe to be right. Listen to your Shaman, Lord Tessaya. Give the order.'
'Arnoan? Speak.'
'My Lord, I cannot say if they will succeed but I, like you, know where they will travel. No Wesman will go there willingly and to be forced to do so would weaken them. We cannot afford to take an army. We have to defend while they make this attempt. I would say let them go. And should they not come back, we will still be here to fight. The Wesmen will prevail.'
Tessaya considered again. On the roof above them, the Al-Arynaar fought reavers trying to gain access to their prizes. A demon fist smashed a hole in the roof, scattering tile and plaster.
Hirad indicated above his head. 'The demons know we are a threat. They may not know what we intend but they want our souls. While we live, they cannot win because the will of our country cannot be broken.'
Tessaya chuckled. 'Your arrogance matches my own,' he said. 'But you are asking me to agree to something in which I can see no benefit. I agree the demons think you a threat. So surely you should fight by me. Show enemies and allies alike that we are unbowed.'
'Not this time,' said The Unknown. 'The Raven have a different path. You are critical to the worth of it. You must hold the college. Keep magic alive.'
This time, Tessaya laughed out loud. 'Save that which I despise. That I should stand here and be forced to agree with such a sentiment.' He sobered. 'You really believe this to be our only hope?'
Hirad nodded. 'And we will not be alone. While we have no army of Wesmen, which I would welcome, we have allies who will travel the dimensions to safeguard our path. Dragons, Lord Tessaya. You know their power and you met only three; This time, I can call on thousands.'
'A powerful ally. Perhaps they should be here with us.'
'They are not because they know what must be done. Their battle will not be fought here.'
Tessaya turned from Hirad to the quartet of elves. 'And you?'
Auum inclined his head. 'There is but one solution. I travel with them.'
And finally he settled on Dystran. 'And you, my Lord Dystran. How do you see this folly?'
Dystran smiled. T have learned over the years that The Raven are seldom mistaken and always victorious. I do not pretend to understand the links between the living and the dead and will be fascinated to research them at a later date. But for now, I need to know I have a chance of living long enough to indulge myself in a world free of demons. If The Raven feel this is the way, I will not dissuade them.'
Tessaya nodded. 'Very well. Travel where you will with the help of my Shaman. You have my blessing and my hopes travel with you though I believe you travel to your deaths. It is a wasted opportunity. I would have welcomed the chance to see you fight by my side.'
'We also,' said Hirad, the relief at Tessaya's acquiescence warming his body.
'When you return, there may still be time,' said Tessaya.
'No,' said Thraun, quiet until now. Until the reality of their decision had to be faced. T think we all understand that while your Shaman can send us to the demon dimension, he cannot bring us back.'
There was a pause. None of them could look another in the eye but the determination remained.
'Raven?' said Hirad. 'Unknown, you have family.'
'That is precisely why I am here,' said The Unknown.
'None of us will turn,' said Denser. 'Isn't this the ultimate ride for The Raven?'
'All the way there,' said Hirad, not afraid. 'No coming back.'
'Then my grief for the loss of General Darrick extends to you all. May the Spirits welcome you to your rest.' Tessaya picked up his axe. 'Now, I have a battle to win or as I understand it, your sacrifice will be meaningless. And that would be unforgivable.'
Chapter 41
The attack halted so abruptly that it was far too long before anyone spoke. The pressure was so intense in defence that it was hard to break out of the mind-set.
'Stand down, stand down,' said Heryst.
He lowered his own dripping sword and felt the shivering in his arms and legs and the heaving in his chest. Again they had beaten off the demons. Reavers had stormed through the windows and doors of the grand council chamber and tried once more to take out the two last remaining ColdRoom teams. The battle had been desperate but it had been successful.
Yet the cost, like always, was far too high. Bodies of demons and Lysternans mixed in the hall and would have to be cleared aside. The floor would have to be washed again of the blood and gore but the stench would inevitably grow. And the sickness would intensify in its wake. He stopped the thought. He saw the chamber afresh and knew there would be no time for new sickness to develop.
How quickly real hope was extinguished. So recently, they had been contemplating a break-out. They had laid plans to steal their wagons and their route from the city was known inside out by them all. They had bagged up provisions and filled waterskins. They had been set to go.
And then quite without warning the demons had launched an attack with numbers Heryst hadn't thought them able to bring to bear. It had been short but devastatingly effective before it was beaten off. Three successive attacks later and it took too little time to count up the survivors. They were less than fifty now.
Heryst looked around his people and still their spirit hadn't been broken though with every moment their inevitable deaths drew closer. He studied each of them in turn, seeing in their pale faces and their bloodied expressions the knowledge of their impending doom. Arabelle, Makkan, Terol, Renarn ... all still lived, all still fought. From soldier through mage to cook's runner, they stood proud but exhausted. All wondered how many more attacks they could resist before the ColdRoom mages were taken or killed.
'Why did they break off?' asked Arabelle. 'They had us, you know.'
'Pqrhaps they didn't realise,' said Renarn. 'Perhaps they were called to another battle.'
Heryst chuclded in spite of their situation. The filth, cold, hunger and thirst. 'Ever the optimist, Renarn. There is litde else, I suppose. I think that no matter their overwhelming numbers, they are still wary. They know we can hurt them as we have proved. They are many but finite.'
Heryst beckoned them all to him, but for the guard that stood on the council table and over the mages that gave them their remaining glimmer of hope. He felt a curious elation.
'My friends,' he said, and he meant that term with every fibre he possessed. 'We have held the enemy for so long. We have bought time for those who are stronger and who can damage the demons more severely. We have occupied so many and that has kept them from the souls of others. Never forget what you have achieved. Nothing you have done has been wasted.
'When next the demons come, we can expect it to be the last time. They have merely gone to report. Those who wish to surrender to them now, you have my blessing. It may be that you will survive with hope for your liberation. All I do know is that there is no hope for you if you stay here.'
Not a single person moved. Heryst nodded.
'I expected as much. It would be like betrayal, wouldn't it?'
Murmurs of agreement greeted his words.
'We want nothing but to stand by you until the end,' said Arabelle.
'Then now is the time to make your peace with the Gods if you believe in such and to say goodbye to those you have come to love. There won't be the opportunity later. I will see you all individually but you know where I must begin.'
Heryst walked to the quiet corner of the chamber. One of the five
who lay on makeshift beds there was Kayvel. His old friend and mentor was close to death and that was a blessing. He had lost his sight in the last day and his skin was sallow and cold to the touch. Heryst knelt by him and wiped the mucus from his mouth and nose.
'You heard what I said?' he asked, voice gentle and quiet.
'It was a fitting speech,' said Kayvel, his voice dry and cracked. 'You always did pick the right moments.'
'Then you know why I'm here.'
