It was only now that Darrick felt the enormity of his gamble. He knew the day was dawning with the noon shade over Parve completely covering the city, if the calculations had been correct. It was the beginning of the time when the Kaan would be too few to protect it effectively and when enemy dragons could potentially fly through to attack Balaia. But when or if The Raven would appear, he had no idea. If they didn’t, he supposed it didn’t matter, because it would mean the rip over Parve couldn’t be closed and, sooner or later, they would all die in flames anyway.

And if they did appear, what difference did it make if Septern’s rip was still in Eastern hands? The Raven were just a few when the opposing sides were drawn up and, good as they were, if the battle wasn’t going the way of the East by the time they returned, they would merely have saved Balaia for the Wesmen to rule.

He had always known it, he supposed. This wasn’t merely an exercise in stopping Wesmen from gaining the rip and the opportunity to defeat The Raven. It was a fight for Balaia. He knew exactly why he hadn’t communicated it. Something inside him had prevented him from believing it himself until now. While they had been trapped by Tessaya, he hadn’t wanted to let any desperation creep into his men. The desire to break through might have deflected them from the task of seeing at least some of the army through to the Manse.

But now they were largely all here, they should know the whole truth. Indeed they had to. If they were to fight and win against the odds they faced, they had to know what exactly was at stake. And Izack had to deliver the same message.

He got to his feet and went in search of a mage.

Sha-Kaan’s eyes blazed and he turned his head from Hirad who looked anxiously at The Raven gathered behind him.

‘Find another solution,’ said the dragon flatly. ‘This that you suggest will not happen.’

‘Great Kaan, there is no other solution. We are out of time. There is no room for more research. The rip has to be closed now or by your own admission it will be too large for your numbers to defend.’

Dawn had broken, though the fires still cast their mist-reflected light, and the day was beginning to warm.

‘No human will ever ride a Kaan dragon. It is submission. It is forbidden.’

‘It isn’t submission, it’s necessity,’ implored Ilkar.

Sha-Kaan’s head snapped back around, enormous fangs dripping fuel. ‘I do not recall inviting you to speak, elf.’

Hirad took a deep breath. ‘Sha-Kaan, I am your Dragonene. May I speak freely?’

‘It is your right,’ said Sha-Kaan.

‘Right.’ Hirad strode around to face the Great Kaan square on. ‘I understand your feelings about the situation but it is our only chance. I know it wasn’t your desire but, in killing Styliann, you removed a great part of our casting strength. Let’s face it, you created this mess.

‘But never mind that. Do you really think that we want to sit on dragons and fly into the middle of a battle to cast a spell? Do you think this is what we planned to happen? The furthest I have ever been in the air is as high as I can jump. Gods falling, Sha-Kaan, I can think of nothing worse than flying. Mages do it under their own power, warriors do not. And none of us, believe me, want to experience flight this way.’

Sha-Kaan regarded him solemnly. ‘And that is to convince me to accede to your request.’

‘Well, yes, but more than that, it’s to tell you that we none of us want this. Not you and certainly not The Raven. But it’s the only choice for your Brood and for Balaia. We’re prepared to try it. Are you?’

‘But the shame of the submission.’ His head dropped.

‘Damn the bloody shame!’ Hirad raised his voice. ‘If this doesn’t work, there’ll be none of you alive to feel the shame. And if it does, you’ll be strong enough to shove shame down the long neck of any Brood that taunts you. What in all the hells are you worrying about?’

‘I think there’s history here,’ said Denser, attempting to placate both parties.

‘At last, wise words from the thief,’ responded Sha-Kaan. Denser smiled thinly.

‘Yeah, and it’ll be us that’s history if we can’t get up to the rip,’ said Hirad. ‘Sha-Kaan?’

The Great Dragon closed his eyes and drew his head back, his neck making the formal ‘s’. For a time, he was silent, then he opened his eyes to speak.

‘No dragon will submit to being ridden by a human. It is the ultimate sign of defeat for it signals that the dragon has become subservient to the human. But the Kaan understand that it is not to rule us that you wish carriage by us. It is to save both our races. For this reason alone, we agree to this partnership. Three dragons will each carry one mage. Those dragons shall be Nos-Kaan, Hyn-Kaan and Sha-Kaan. Elu-Kaan shall remain in his Choul, to rule the Brood should I fail to return.’ It was a speech made in the language of Balaia but Hirad knew that his mind had pulsed the same message to every Vestare and Kaan dragon in the Broodlands. The total silence was testament to the enormity of what had been decided.

‘Great Kaan, your faith will be repaid by The Raven saving your Brood from destruction,’ said Hirad, bowing his head.

Behind him, he heard The Unknown relax and he turned, a smile on his face.

‘Calmer now, Unknown?’

‘Naturally.’ He frowned. ‘Missed something, have I?’

Hirad nodded. ‘Just a bit. I mean, we all know the mages have to go up there but who do you think’s going to hold them on while they’re casting?’

The colour drained from The Unknown’s face and beside him Thraun’s jaw dropped.

‘Oh dear Gods in the sky,’ muttered The Unknown. ‘I wondered why you kept talking about yourself and flying in the same breath. Is there no other way?’

Hirad shook his head. ‘Unknown, I am surprised at you.’ He winked at Ilkar. ‘And anyway, The Raven never fight apart, remember? ’

The Unknown cleared his throat. ‘I think I’d better go and find some rope.’

Chapter 36

Darrick’s men moved closer and his scouts reported via Communion that Senedai was again taking the fight to the Protectors. Dawn had cast its gloomy light across Balaia, illuminating a tableau of rock, brush and scrubland soaked by steady rain.

Darrick brought his men to a halt near the head of a gentle rise. And, with the sounds of many thousand Wesmen voices raised in chant just carrying on the wind, he jumped up on a rock and begged for attention.

‘You all know why we’re here, and I must first thank you all for the determination, faith and courage you have displayed ever since we came together on the shores of the Bay of Gyernath.

‘Our march has changed from one of liberation to one of revenge. It is now one of defence. But not merely defence of Septern Manse to thwart the Wesmen and give The Raven and Styliann the time they need. There is far, far more at stake and I need you all to understand this before we march to battle.’

Darrick saw a ripple pass through the small army, a murmur like wind across calm ocean. He had them. Now he had to inspire them into fighting for the lives of every man, woman and child east of the College Cities.

‘Consider our situation. Gyernath stands but it has no reserves. Blackthorne is gone. So too is Julatsa. The remaining Colleges face enormous threat from west of the Blackthorne Mountains and a Wesmen army stands ready to strike Korina. Unless we stop it.

‘Korina has a pitiful regular guard. It has no walls. Baron Gresse might have mounted resistance but he is here with us. The other Barons hide in their castles, defending what is theirs and fragmenting our defence by so doing.

‘Who is left? You. You are Balaia’s final hope of victory and salvation. Nothing else stands in the way of the Wesmen. And if you believe in your land and your people - your family and those who you will never meet - we will be victorious.