hip, a grimace on his face.
'I think it's time you told us how it really is,' said Hirad. 'We'll have to work it into our formation.'
'I want Aeb on my left,' said The Unknown. 'Aside from that, no special treatment, all right? We can't afford it.'
'You're not getting off that easily. Tell me how it feels.'
'Stiff and weak,' said The Unknown. 'I've had no time to build the muscle so what's there now is what Erienne patched up. It's locked up on me more than once and though Erienne says that'll pass, I don't have the freedom I need.' He chewed a lip. 'It's not going to be very easy to fight.'
'So?'
'So I'm not going to use the double-hander, I won't have the strength to brace it through any kind of swing. The elves have got some spare blades on board. Not exactly what I'm used to but what choice do we have? I'll use a dagger in my left hand, I suppose.' He shook his head. 'Sorry, Hirad. Looks like I'll be a bit of a liability.'
Hirad raised his eyebrows. Darrick couldn't stifle a laugh.
'Liability?' said the General. 'It may reduce you to the status of better-than-most rather than absolutely- everyone but that's about it.'
'Still, there's little we can do about that now,' said Hirad. 'Tell me, Unknown, what do you think are the biggest problems after what we've been hearing from Ren and Erienne?'
The Unknown blew out his cheeks. 'Well, they aren't going to all run up the path from the landing point, are they? Never mind the wards we think may be in place, they can fly and carry swordsmen short distances so we're going to have to expect attack from anywhere. If we can't block some of the potential entry points to this house, we stand to get swamped. Mind you, if we can't shield the house against a mage barrage, none of that will matter.'
'You think they'll do that?' asked Hirad.
'I would,' said Darrick. 'It doesn't risk any of their men and it could get them what they want quickly.'
'Anything we can do to stop that happening?' asked Hirad.
'Well that depends on how many Protectors you're prepared to risk outside the house,' said Darrick. T suspect that the Dordovans will expect us to be in a tight defensive formation wherever we are.
They know we only have one ship and that means there's a finite number that can be ranged against them.'
'Don't forget they have no idea what resistance to expect from the island itself,' said The Unknown.
'Agreed, but they'll realise soon enough that there is no meaningful force already there when they start to advance,' said Darrick. 'If we can hide Protectors outside of the house, they could attack mage groups while they're casting. The success of that will depend on the number of swordsmen they've brought and the risk they think we pose.'
'How many would you take from the house defence?' asked Hirad.
'Eight, no more. But it's so dependent on terrain. They must be invisible from above as well as at ground level. I just think it's something we should consider.' The General poured water into his goblet.
'Anything else?' Hirad was looking at The Unknown. T know we can't be certain of anything but we aren't going to have time to scratch our heads when we arrive.'
'We aren't blessed with many options,' said The Unknown. 'We shouldn't split our force unless we really have to but Darrick's idea could prove successful if we can guarantee surprise. So much depends on the health or otherwise of the Al-Drechar. We don't want The Raven's mages wasting their stamina on shielding the house but it could come to that. And if it does, we're going to have to think on our feet about how to keep the swordsmen out.'
The Unknown breathed heavily and stood up, wincing as he flexed his knee and hip.
'I've got to rest. I'm going for a stroll round the deck first to try and loosen this up. Anyone else?'
'Yes, why not?' said Hirad.
Darrick nodded and smiled. 'I'll leave you two to it. I fancy rolling off my bunk a few times while I try and sleep.'
'See you at dawn, then,' said Hirad. 'And try not to wake up too bruised, eh?' Hirad turned to The Unknown. 'Come on, old man, let's get those creaking bones up top.'
'See this fist? It still works, you know. I'm not so crocked I can't take you on, Coldheart,' said The Unknown.
'You'll have to catch me first.'
The two friends headed for the deck.
Dawn saw the Caiman Sun slowing. Wind howled around the islands of the Ornouth, sawing at the trees that covered the slopes, and forcing Jevin to reduce sail. Ahead of them, the Elm had done the same and no doubt when they encountered the vicious swirling gusts, the Dordovans would follow suit.
They were sailing down a wide channel between two of the larger islands in the inner group, the clouds lower than they'd ever seen them, obscuring the hills and mountain peaks, and sweeping into valleys, thick, fast- moving and heavy with yet more rain. The only respite was in the swell, which hadn't the power of the open sea and though waves crashed against exposed shores, spray flying in the wind, the narrowing channels were quieter.
Ren stood on the wheel deck as she had throughout the night, her eyes never far from the stern of the Ocean Elm, waiting for a sign that they should take to their boats. Every hour they could stay aboard would make their job that little bit more comfortable and she estimated they had a day's sailing ahead of them, travelling as slowly as they were. Though more tricky to handle in these conditions, the masted skiffs could probably travel more quickly.
Lining the decks were the off-duty crew, The Raven and the Protectors. No one was below decks apart from the cook and even he was required topside whenever he could leave his pots safely. Jevin was clearly nervous, wanting everyone ready to react should they run aground and beside the plumb-liners shouting out depths scant feet below their keel, teams of Protectors stood ready to lower boats, with elven crew standing by to direct.
Herendeneth was dead ahead. The beacon struck through the gloom of the grey morning, beautiful but disturbing, a demonstration of magical power that Ren knew was nothing to do with the Al-Drechar's will and everything to do with their diminishing ability to shield Lyanna. Ren feared what she would find when they reached land.
The ship shuddered suddenly, slowing dramatically. A grinding sound travelled all the way down the keel beneath their feet, agonisingly slow, its volume amplified as it reverberated through
the ship's timbers. Eyes scanned the seas, the plumb liners shook their heads. The vibration went on.
'Hold her steady,' said Jevin, his voice taut, his hands gripping the rail in front of him, his knuckles whitening.
Beside him, Ren waited for the sound to become the ripping, splintering one she knew he would be dreading. For an age, they dragged across the sea bed, sometimes heavily, sometimes almost lifting away on the slight swell. But there was no splitting of timbers and no rushing of water into a breach and the grinding sound ultimately faded and stopped altogether.
Jevin turned to Ren'erei, his face pale, breathing hard.
'Sand,' he said, his voice low. 'But maybe not next time. How much further?'
'Not far,' said Ren, though she didn't know and could feel herself shaking. 'We'll be all right, they won't let us down.'
'Assuming the skipper's still alive,' said Jevin. 'I'm not putting my crew through this much longer. Nor my ship. What sort of sign are you looking for, exactly?'
Ren was about to shrug but glanced back at the Elm and a smile lifted her features.
'That one,' she said pointing. 'That's it.'
Selik stormed up to the wheel deck, two henchman right behind him.
'You had better have sound reason to change the direction of this ship,' he grated, pushing the skipper away from his helmsman.
'You've seen the channels and you've heard the depths being shouted out,' said the skipper smoothly. 'And dead ahead is not the route to the destination for this ship.'
'You're lying,' said Selik. T can see it in your slanted elven eyes. Get this ship back on course. Do you think I
