Hirad and Ilkar. He slammed shut the door after them and stood ready again, impassive, unmoving, the gale picking at his clothing as he stood just within the boundaries of the shield.
'Where is she, Ephy?' moaned Myriell. 'We can't hold this.'
'Outside,' gasped Hirad. 'They're still outside.' He looked down on Ilkar who was mercifully still breathing and ran for the door into the dining room.
'Hurry, Hirad,' said Ephemere. 'Hurry.'
But he had no need to. Falling almost into his arms, a Protector stumbled in with Lyanna. He sprawled into the compass of the shield and the howling, splintering and tearing stopped as if someone had cut a rope and dropped a curtain. The Al-Drechar's shield had stopped the mana pouring into Lyanna, her mind not schooled enough to evade the lattice they had made.
Footsteps could be heard, gathering in volume and, as the shout to arms rang around the wreckage of the house and the Dordovans
gathered themselves for one last surge, The Unknown hobbled in with Denser and supported by Aeb. They were followed closely by a pair of Protectors carrying Erienne.
On the ground in the kitchen, the tortured Protector was dead, killed by a brother. For him and his soul, it was blessed release.
'Get these doors blocked,' said The Unknown. 'We're out of time.'
'It has to be now, Erienne,' muttered Denser. 'Goodbye my love.'
The Unknown put him down and started to haul the table to block the ballroom entrance. Denser crawled over to Erienne who pushed herself groggily up on her hands. The pair of them looked at Lyanna, who lay stiff as a board in the arms of the Protector who'd saved her.
'Leave her, defend us,' said Denser.
'Yes, my Master,' said the Protector, laying her on the floor.
'Erienne?' said Ephemere gently. 'You know what it is you must do.'
Erienne nodded, pulled her child into her arms, lay back against Denser and prepared to enter the mind of the One, knowing she would never return.
Darrick ran right towards the north doors to the orchard, keeping below window level and in the deep shadows cast by the flames that still ripped through the trees. All around him, the quiet after the mana gale heightened every sound and he heard Dordovans shouting from behind but nothing from ahead. He reached the doors, which had splintered from their hinges, and crept into the blazing quadrangle, running to the right-hand wall which had been blown apart by Lyanna's brief but devastating mana gale.
Darrick's crouching run took him swiftly from shadow to shadow, his eyes fighting to focus in what was an alien landscape. Most of the trees were down, many turned to ashes by the Flame Orbs, and the fires still ate into the wet bark all over the orchard. The blue-tinged orange and yellow light leapt and danced in the natural wind that blew across the big open space. Already, he had seen the charred and twisted bodies of four mages and a male elf.
To his right, Dordovans ran up the ruined corridor towards the ballroom. Too many of them. Even given the Protectors in the
kitchen and The Raven going to join them, there were too many enemies. It was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed.
Darrick cursed himself for a fool. He had seriously underestimated the weight of mage attack that the Dordovans had thrown into the orchard and now it was up to him to change things. Until the orchard was taken, they'd been holding the first perimeter comfortably, wearing the Dordovans slowly down. He had really felt they could win and leave Erienne clear to do what she had to do. But now, it was desperate. And if the Dordovans broke through into the kitchen, everything would be in vain.
The Lysternan General carried on to the south doors. Five more Dordovan mages lay dead. Arrows had brought them down and their throats had been cut before the fires took their bodies. Darrick knelt by the last one, looking around. At least one elf had survived to wield the knife.
He waited, watching for movement, and felt the edge of an arrow against his neck.
'I should teach you some tracking skills,' said Ren, removing the arrow. 'What are you doing here?'
Darrick looked round. Ren was right behind him with another elf just behind her. She had an ugly burn across her right cheek and blood ran from a deep cut by her left ear. She was shivering.
'Looking for you,' said Darrick. 'The Dordovans are at the third perimeter. The Raven can't keep them away for long. We have to do something. Any ideas?'
Ren nodded. 'Just one.'
The surviving six Protectors went three to a door. The Unknown had dragged the table over to block one, its broad top covering it completely. Two of them leant against it, leaving the entrance from the dining room the only option for attack. The Dordovans took it. Blow after blow splintered the timbers and the Protectors stood waiting, Hirad behind them. His lungs felt fit to explode, a piece of plaster had smashed over his head and his skull ached. But behind him, Erienne was sacrificing her life for her child and he was prepared to do the same to allow her to complete the job. Next to
him, he heard tile tap of a blade on the cracked stone flags. He looked across and met The Unknown's determined gaze.
'Ready for this?' asked Hirad.
'What do you think?' said The Unknown.
'What happened to Darrick?'
'He shouted something about going to find Ren. So he should. He put her out there, after all.'
'Oh,' said Hirad. 'He'll make a fine member of The Raven.'
'If he lives,' said The Unknown. 'Which I doubt.'
The Unknown's blade ceased tapping. Aeb was at his left, Hirad his right and Protectors made up the rest of death's welcome. The kitchen door splintered and in they came.
Darrick, Ren, and the other surviving Guild elf, Aronaar, ran across the eerily empty hallway and up to the main entrance. Bodies lay where they had fallen, puddles of blood left the way underfoot treacherous and the sounds of fighting echoed from the direction of the kitchen.
Ren put a hand out and stopped them just inside.
'There, under the trees opposite, like the coward I thought he was.'
Darrick strained his eyes and could see Vuldaroq, flanked by three mages and two soldiers. He was seated, apparently unconcerned by the death he had set in motion, just waiting for the outcome.
'You need to take the mages,' said Darrick. 'Make sure Vuldaroq is incapacitated as far as casting is concerned. They look like they escaped the gale out here. I'll take the swordsmen.'
'Both of them?'asked Ren.
'No problem,' said Darrick.
'Be ready,' said Ren.
She signalled Aronaar and the two elves slipped soundlessly out of the entrance, disappearing immediately into the shrubs to either side of the door. Darrick scoured the area for more Dordovans. He couldn't see any but the cover behind Vuldaroq about thirty yards away was deep. He'd have to trust the elven eyes.
He drew his blade, checked its edge and watched. Vuldaroq was talking to one of his mages, who turned and pointed down towards
the beach. A birdcall sounded from the left, bow strings thrummed and two of the mages fell, arrows taking both in the eye.
Darrick ran out.
'Vuldaroq!' he shouted, deflecting attention for a vital moment.
He closed the gap quickly, watching the two soldiers move forward to block him while Vuldaroq and his surviving mage began casting. The bow strings sounded again. The fat Dordovan Tower Lord shouted in pain as an arrow burrowed into his right arm at the shoulder. His mage was not so fortunate.
Darrick ran on, aiming a blow at the first enemy who blocked clumsily and fell back a pace under the weight of the strike, sword jarring from his hand. A pace further on, the General clashed blades with the second soldier, a scared young man not ready for the fight. Darrick had no compassion. Able to keep an eye on the other soldier as he stooped to grab his blade, Darrick swung left to right, his opponent leaping back, hanging his sword out in a
