The Raven Collection Part 316

'Sol, no one is asking you to. Suarav and that Wesman with the long and involved name are doing what's necessary. We've not had a raid in Xetesk for, what . . . a season and a half? Like I said, hear me out.'

Sol shrugged. 'All right. Sorry.'

'I've just come from the Balaia reconstruction council meeting and we're starting to run into some problems. With Dystran being forced to step down, there's a vacuum building. Whether or not I take over is neither here nor there. The trouble is that some of the Barons are talking about reinst.i.tuting the Korina Trade Alliance. While that's not a bad thing in itself, it starts to divide eastern Balaia.

'Tessaya doesn't like it and neither does Rebraal. I can see their point. After all, Tessaya speaks for the whole of the Wesmen, Rebraal for the elven nation. But here, we're all of a sudden going to have mage and non-mage power blocks. It smacks of the past.'

'So find yourselves someone to unite you. Everyone respects Blackthorne. He's perfect.' Sol drank more wine, washing down his bread.

'But like you say, he doesn't really like to leave Blackthorne and we have to be honest, he's not quite the man he once was.'

There was a long pause. Sol didn't like the way this was heading at all. He stared at Denser, daring him to speak.

'Sol, don't make me say it.' Denser had read his expression.

'You want me to speak for Balaia? Come on, Denser, I'm no diplomat.'

'No, you're not. You're thinking too small. I know you see yourself as the quiet man running his bar with his family in Xetesk. But to everyone of influence in Balaia, and for that matter, the Weslands and Calaius, you're the voice and presence of the East. You survived the demon dimension; you've led the hunt into the Blackthornes; you've been at the centre of so much of the reconstruction planning; you aren't a mage. And you were the centre of The Raven. There's not a man or woman that wouldn't accept you.'

'All right, all right, enough ma.s.saging of my ego. You're making me blush. Accept me as what?'

Denser leaned forward and placed his gla.s.s down on the table.

'I've been asked to come down here after a unanimous vote of the council meeting. Sol, this country doesn't need a diplomat or a representative. It needs to follow Calaius and the Wesmen. For the first time in our history, we need a leader. You.'

Sol almost dropped his gla.s.s. He felt his face flush and his heart race.

'That's quite a step up from bar owner,' he managed.

Denser didn't smile. 'I'm not joking, Sol. Balaia needs stability. We're in danger of reverting back to the old schisms. We have to be united or what we've been building will be wasted. What The Raven achieved will be wasted.'

'Don't you bring The Raven into this,' snapped Sol.

'Doesn't stop it being true. You are the man who can keep it all together. You know you can. Come to the Mount. Talk to us. Please.'

'I've got a bar to run and a wife to look after. I have a new child on the way and a son who needs me by him right now, I don't have the time and I don't have the energy.'

'And they all need to have a secure future.' Denser poured more wine into Sol's gla.s.s. 'Talk to us. See what we have in mind. Think about it.'

Sol looked at Denser and allowed a smile across his face. Anyone else and he would have dismissed the notion out of hand. To this man, though, he owed more than to anyone alive.

'Tomorrow,' he growled. 'Now drink up and get lost. I've got to open up in a couple of hours.'

'Thank you, Sol. You won't regret it, I promise you.'

'Denser, I already am. What the h.e.l.l do you think I'm going to say to Diera?'

'You'll think of something suitably pithy and persuasive, I feel sure.'

'Go.'

Denser drained his gla.s.s and walked back to the door, opening it on the rain sheeting down, pounding on the street. Sol wondered if Jonas had actually gone out. The two men shook hands and Sol pulled Denser into a brief embrace.

'See you tomorrow,' said Denser.

'After lunch, when I've closed.'

Sol watched Denser walk away up The Thread and back to the Mount of Xetesk, pulling his cloak close about him. He shut and bolted the door and walked back through the bar towards the stairs. He paused by Hirad's picture. The barbarian gazed back at him, eyes intense and full of belief, that d.a.m.ned smile on his face.

'What on earth would you think, Coldheart?' he said. 'Probably nothing. Too busy laughing I expect. How does it sound . . . Sol, The Unknown Warrior, Ruler of Balaia. Daft, eh?'

And as he turned away, he could have sworn he saw Hirad nod.

Acknowledgements.

At the risk of repeating myself for the sixth book in a row, I'd like to thank those who have supported and cajoled me through the writing of this book. Peter Robinson, John Cross, Dave Mutton and d.i.c.k Whichelow for their criticism, suggestions and encouragement. David Gemmell and Rob Grant for sound advice at a time of great change. Robert Kirby for helping me to another level and Nicola Sinclair for keeping my feet firmly on the ground.

And my family for just being brilliant.

Ravensoul.

For Oscar, who brings such joy to my life.

Cast List.

Chapter 1.

Blood sprayed across Geskard's chest. He grunted in satisfaction and stepped back out of range. He needn't have bothered. His strike had beaten his mark's defence and bitten deep into the shoulder, carving through leather jerkin and flesh before smashing the collarbone.

The uneven contest was done. Their eyes met. The victor and the unfortunate with too much money on his belt and too little skill with his blade. This city was no place for such imbalances. Never had been.

'You should have given me your purse when I asked you,' said Geskard. He smiled, recognising the dismay at approaching death that contoured the man's face. 'But I am much obliged you chose to fight.'

The man dropped to his knees, his sword falling from his right hand, which then clutched at the wound in his left shoulder. Nothing he could do would staunch the blood. His eyes dimmed and regret was his lingering, final emotion. He slumped forward, face in the dirt.

Geskard took a quick look about him. Again he blessed the chaotic sprawl of streets behind the north edge of Xetesk's central marketplace. A man of his profession had surely designed it. In the warm light of early evening, tenements threw shadows across the alleyway. Above him, tatty washing hung on rotting lines. The sounds of the market day winding down rolled gently over him. If anyone had heard the brief exchange, they preferred not to make themselves known.

'Very sensible,' said Geskard.

He cleared his throat then cleaned and sheathed his sword, humming tunelessly. He knelt down by the body of the erstwhile merchant who had been just too eager to make one more deal in the day.

'This wasn't the sort of killing you had in mind, was it, my friend?' said Geskard.

One big hand had reached for the man's belt and bound purse, the other for a knife to cut it clear when Geskard shivered and paused. He looked round. A shadow had moved across the light behind him, making a shape like a man tattered by wind. He had seen it quite clearly, though just for a heartbeat.

No one there. He shrugged and returned his attention to his prize. The merchant moved. A tiny twitch but there nonetheless. Geskard started then chuckled.

'Fight in you yet, is there? I'm impressed.'

Geskard felt for a pulse at the neck. Nothing. He moved his fingers and pushed harder. Still nothing. It didn't matter. The man wasn't about to offer any resistance. Geskard looked about him once more. He remained alone. He smiled to himself, shook his head and reached a third time for the purse.

The merchant abruptly pushed himself up on his hands, coughed and spat blood onto the hard-packed ground. Geskard scrambled backwards, his heart thumping. He dropped his knife and put his hand to his sword hilt.

'Why aren't you dead?' he asked, backing off a pace.

The man looked at him as if for the first time. Blank dead eyes met Geskard's. The merchant's body rose to stand, a little unsteadily at first. Geskard watched slack-jawed while the man looked himself over, sc.r.a.ped ineffectually at the blood soaking his clothes and rolled his good shoulder with a cracking sound.

'Hmm. It'll do for now,' said the merchant, light entering his eyes. 'I can't wait any longer anyway.'

'For what?' asked Geskard not knowing why he had uttered a sound.

'There are people I need to see,' said the man.

Geskard was not a man normally prey to fear but when those dead eyes fixed on his and the sagging mouth tugged into a smile, something let go inside. He could feel his legs shaking, his crotch warm.

'Oh. Dodgy bladder?' said the merchant. 'Now then.'

Geskard wanted to run. To scream his terror. But he still couldn't place why he was so afraid. The man was a head shorter than him and half as powerful. He posed no threat. And yet, and yet. Geskard drew his sword, watching the merchant stoop to recover his own, the wound in his left shoulder gaping hideously, exposing raw flesh, sinew and bone. Fresh blood ran over his jerkin.

'There is no honour in murder, so we will make this fight again,' said the man. 'But this time you will find out something new. That you aren't quick enough to beat me.'

'You're dead,' said Geskard. 'I killed you.'

He backed away another pace and swallowed on a dry throat. He'd have fled but he'd never run from a fight in his life. His reputation was based on it. So he brought his blade to guard.

'You murdered a man for a few coins, that's true. And now you face me.'

'What?' Geskard couldn't suppress the laugh. 'I don't have time for this.'

He already knew the man's weaknesses and they were many. He crossed the s.p.a.ce between them, a two-handed grip on his long sword, and wound up a strike to sever the left arm completely at the shoulder. But the merchant didn't try to defend like before. He merely swayed to one side and had jabbed his sword into Geskard's midriff even before Geskard's blade hit the ground.

Geskard gasped in pain and jerked back to give himself some s.p.a.ce. He clutched at his belly. The cut was not deep but it should have been. In front of him, the merchant smiled but the eyes remained so bleak.

'Told you,' said the merchant.

'Don't dare to toy with me, boy,' said Geskard.

'Hmm,' said the merchant, moving in. He switched his sword between his hands three times. 'I'm used to greater reach in my right arm.'

'Grea-' Geskard swallowed. 'What is this? A game?'

'No game,' said the merchant.

The sword hilt settled in the man's left hand. Geskard wasn't ready. The blade came across him, carving into his right shoulder and thudding into his neck. The pain was exquisite but brief. Warmth, then cold. Geskard felt himself falling.

Auum stared up into the rainforest canopy and let his gaze travel over the dripping foliage. The sun that had emerged from the latest bank of cloud would bless the treetops until the rains returned. A sniff of the air told him that time was already very close.

Everywhere, spears of luminescence bore down through the shadow, sparkling on raindrops and forming pools of bright light that warmed the forest floor. It was a time to drink in the glory of Yniss, G.o.d of all creation, Father of the rainforest and all that drew breath there, grew there and died there.

Yet Auum did not kneel to pray. Instead he listened to the sounds of bird, beast and insect. All muted, fearful. His gaze came to rest on the temple of Varundeneth, the last home of Shorth, G.o.d of the dead. The glorious structure sat in a clearing four days travel from the nearest settlement. Deeper inside the rainforest than any other. Hidden so completely from the unwanted eye that only those called, or those blessed like Auum, could ever find it.

A great hand, carved from a single block of marble, grasped at the sky. It sat atop the towering green dome of the temple and was protected by the statues of seated panthers set at each corner of the compa.s.s. Fashioned from obsidian, these sentinels had watched for enemies over the long centuries. No storm could etch them, no rain could wash the glint from their eyes. Thirty feet and more they rose, half the height and girth of the Hand of Shorth.

At the base of the dome, the stone doors were open on their wheeled rails and stood against the walls of the temple. Inside, darkness was broken by the flicker of lantern and brazier light. And from within, only silence. This was the time of Shorth, when he rose to bless the living and give succour to the dead; and when Communion between the living and the dead was eased and the pain of loss was lessened.

'So where is everyone? Where is the lament?'

Auum turned. Rebraal, leader of the Al-Arynaar, the army of Yniss, stood nearby with five of his people. Auum's TaiGethen cell were at his shoulders, both elves quiet and contemplative. Their faces were camouflaged with deep green and black paint.

Rebraal was showing the effects of his efforts to rebuild his people after the wars on Balaia and the scourge of the Elfsorrow that had claimed so many of the elven nation. Tall, powerful and quick, he was dressed, like the TaiGethen, in greens and browns. About his shoulders, he wore a cloak in the deep blue of the Al-Arynaar calling.

Auum sympathised with every line on Rebraal's once youthful face, the depth of the dark under his eyes and the vague tremble that occasionally afflicted his voice these days. Auum suffered the same way.

'If there is no call, then no one will come,' he said.

Rebraal stiffened. 'How can that be? Choice is not a word entertained by Shorth.'

'Nonetheless, the temple is empty of the summoned. And the wanderers too have found no path here. Call it what you will, the effect remains the same.'

'But what does it mean?'

Auum stared around him again. The rainforest and all its sounds and smells held a haunting quality, almost mysterious. He couldn't tell how far the strangeness extended into the canopy. The hairs stood up on the back of his neck. He felt uneasy. Not an emotion he had ever experienced before in this place that he knew so well.

'Shorth is silent. The temple carries no lament.' He shook his head. 'Elven eyes are turned from the triumph of death. And like Tual's children, they are afraid. It should never be this way.'

'I don't understand,' said Rebraal.

A cry torn from the heart of a terrified elf echoed from within the temple. Auum was running before the echo had died.

'Come with me and you will,' he called over his shoulder. 'Tai, Al-Arynaar, guard the entrance. No one enters until we return.'

Auum ran hard. The cry had turned into a wail and another voice had joined it, clogged and weeping, pleading. Auum's heart was pounding. The sounds from within were his darkest fears given voice. Rebraal fell into step behind him. Together they entered the cool of Varundeneth.

A short entrance hall led directly into the centre of the temple, beneath the dome. The vaulted ceiling sat high above them, the light from its multiple coloured windows casting gentle shapes and shadows on the stone-flagged floor. The walls were covered in murals of great deeds and heroism and of the path from life to death. The welcoming embrace of Shorth was depicted as glowing tendrils outstretched from the darkness of the unknown.

A round grey marble altar sat under the centre of the dome. It was placed on a circular marble platform with white marble rails and posts running around its edge. Two steps led up to a gap in the rail. Auum stopped short of the altar. A figure was slumped face down across it, arms thrown forward, hanging limp over the near edge, covering part of the carving of clasped hands that ran its circ.u.mference. The figure was in the grey robes and green sash of the temple priests. There was a slight tremble in her hands. Another priest was trying to swing her legs onto the altar, his grunts of exertion punctuated by sobs.

There was a smell in the air. A scorched smell. Magical, not mineral or wood. Auum held out a hand to stop Rebraal approaching further.

'Ryish,' said Auum quietly. 'What are you doing?'