Demonstorm

distant.

'Down.'

More IceWind, blasting a path halfway across the edifice. The elves rushed into, the gap. Reavers closed in left, karron blocked them head-on. The winged soul stealers dropped on the trio, obscuring them from sight. Kicking out at albinos, Hirad saw Auum drag a reaver from Evunn's back. His knife flashed under its arm, killing it instantly. But more dropped down. Auum danced among them, Hirad saw reavers fall. He saw fists and feet fly, knocking them back, keeping open the merest of gaps.

'Move, Raven, move!'

Thraun, with Erienne in his arms again, dashed forwards. The Unknown was in front of him and past Hirad, crashing into the reavers and karron ahead, intent on forcing them back. Ark came behind Thraun, his axe slicing left and right in a fluid motion. Strike-strain were about his face and neck. He ignored them.

'Eilaan. ForceCone over the doorway. Keep the reavers back. Denser, keep the rear clear. I'm with you.'

ForceCones played out ahead and behind. Reavers were swept aside just to rise and run or fly back in. The pressure to the rear eased just a little.

'Hurry, Great Kaan.'

The doorway drew down the air inch by tortuous inch. At the front of the fight, Evunn was in trouble. Auum's roundhouse kick cracked a reaver from above his head but another two rushed in, one lashing claws into his side though he ducked the other. The

Unknown savaged his blade through waist-high, scattering albinos from the group around the elves. Evunn blocked away tail and claw. Reaver jaws closed on his shoulder. Auum's fists flew faster than Hirad had ever seen them. Strike-strain circled. Evunn thudded his knife again and again into the reaver's head, dislodging it. But so many were on him. Claws dragged into his back. Strike-strain were about his head, forcing it back. A reaver tail tore out his throat.

Hirad saw Rebraal and Auum diving on the collapsed body of the downed Tai; the next he heard were the screeches of agonised reavers.

The Raven line was compromised along its length now. Reavers fell on Thraun. Ark's powerful defence not quite enough.

'Unknown, behind!'

Nearly overbalancing on his damaged hip, he turned and chopped hard down, taking the arm from a reaver which collapsed, nerve ganglion punctured. Simultaneously, karron forced a blockade across them, cutting Hirad and Denser off. Hirad could barely see as strike-strain poured down from overhead.

From the left, reavers crashed in feet first. Eilaan was struck side-on and sent sprawling into the karron closing in right. Hammer and spike rose and fell. Blood fountained into the air.

At the doorway, the loss of Eilaan's ForceCone left the reavers free to attack in even greater numbers. Karron shoved their way forwards. From the mass, Auum and Rebraal shot back to their feet, drenched in demon blood. They stood back to back, defending themselves from the onslaught.

'Unknown, get forward!' yelled Hirad. 'I'll cover Thraun. Denser, clear these bastard karron. We need to get to Erienne.'

'Got you.'

The barbarian fenced away a ferocious reaver attack and ran headlong into the karron left while Denser switched his ForceCone half forward. Hirad thrust his long sword deep into the creature's gut. The two fell. Hirad leant on his sword. The blade screamed against the stone, bent and snapped. The karron howled in agony, thrashing uselessly. Hirad searched for the opportunity to kill, the creature's stench filling his head. He pinioned its spike limb away for a beat and drove his dagger in deep.

He rolled away, abandoning his shattered blade. A hammer struck the karron carcass where he had been lying. He scrambled to his feet, spun and smashed a kick into the karron's face, hurling it back. He ducked a reaver flashing over his head; it missed by a claw. Straightening, he stabbed the karron through one baleful eye, dragged his knife clear and moved a pace closer.

The doorway was complete. Light flooded the edifice as it opened.

'Inside. Inside.'                                     

Denser's ForceCone drove demons back left. Hirad ran into the space by Thraun.

'Go, Denser. I have to be last. Go.' He took in the situation in the moments he had. They weren't moving fast enough. 'Defend the door. Go, Raven.'

It became a headlong charge. The Unknown battered a karron aside. The elves fought with controlled rage. Auum backhanded a reaver in the face with his knife. Rebraal followed up, delivering the killing blow.

Denser was just ahead of Thraun now. Ark covered the shape-changer still, his axe cleaving into enemies right, but the karron were pressing hard now, filling the gaps, narrowing the path.

'Thraun. Down!'

The shapechanger dropped to his haunches. Reavers whipped overhead. The last of three flicked out its tail, catching him on the temple. He sprawled, clutching Erienne to his chest. A karron hammer came down on his legs, dashing his right knee. He roared in agony and tried to get up. The spike followed up and raked up his back. He fell again, Erienne spilling from his grasp; reavers pounced, claws poised to slash into her helpless body.

'No!' shouted Hirad. 'Denser, clear the karron left. Unknown, get inside. Ark, let's get them.'

Ark barrelled into the reavers threatening Erienne and stood astride her. Hirad forced a path to protect Thraun and his charge. Ahead, Rebraal and Auum were at the doorway, keeping it clear. Denser's ForceCone scattered demons from their left in a wide spread. He backed away, The Unknown shadowing him.

Hirad glanced down at Thraun. The shapechanger was still alive, clutching at the hem of Erienne's cloak. He was trying to drag

himself nearer to her. Blood puddled on the floor beneath him. His face was grey.

'All right, Thraun,' he said. 'We've got you.'

'Go,' said Thraun, blood dribbling from his mouth. 'Can't move, Hirad.'

'We'll take you.'

But he looked around and it was clear that he could not hope to fulfil that promise. Denser was trying his best to keep the demons away left and right but he could do nothing about the mass that packed in behind, out of the compass of the ForceCone.

'Hirad!' bellowed The Unknown. 'Come on. It's your only chance.'

'Hang on, Thraun,' he said. 'Ark, get Erienne away.'

'It is done.'

Hirad turned to face the enemy. Karron and reaver pressed in.

'Go,' said Thraun. 'Please.' Hirad felt the tears running down his face. 'Go.'

He turned and started to run. Reavers flocked down on Thraun. He died without a sound.

Hirad felt the demons closing in on his back. Ark and Erienne were just a few yards from the doorway. He could see The Unknown and Denser beckoning them all on. Rebraal and Auum kept the edges of the doorway clear.

'Run!' yelled The Unknown. 'Don't make me come out there. Run!'

But there was such despair in his voice. He made to move but Auum shoved him back hard. Hirad frowned. The claw of a reaver ripped up his back and into the base of his skull. He was pitched from his feet, tumbling head over heels. He scampered to his feet, a wave of nausea sweeping across him. He staggered, ran on a couple of paces. He heard the beating of wings close, so close. They were all around him. He felt the lash of a tail into his legs, claws grabbed at his back and shoulders and the hot breath of a reaver fired right in his face.

'Hirad!' cried The Unknown. 'Hirad. Get up. Get up.' He tried to push past Auum but again the elf knocked him back.

Hirad dragged himself to his hands and knees. They were all over him.

'Do something!'

Ark was moments from the doorway. A reaver exalted and buried its hand into Hirad's ribs. The barbarian gasped. He locked eyes with The Unknown briefly, favoured him with that damned smile and collapsed to the ground.

The doorway snapped shut.                 

Ark slithered to a halt as the doorway disappeared, clicking out of existence as if it had never been there. All