‘What is it, Ilkar?’ asked Talan.

‘You don’t know what he’s talking about, not really. I do,’ said Ilkar. ‘I’ve studied Dawnthief - it’s a required text. Put in simple terms, technically, depending on quality and length of preparation, it can destroy everything - and by that I mean the world.’ He shrugged. ‘That’s why it’s called Dawnthief. It means the “stealer of light” because it can take the sun from the sky.’

‘If it’s so important that you find and cast this spell, shouldn’t the Witch Hunters understand that?’

‘You think they’d believe us?’ Denser spread his hands wide. ‘Don’t be naïve, Richmond. All they know or care about is that I’m travelling, they don’t want Dawnthief found, and killing me seems the simple solution.’

‘So,’ said The Unknown. He drained his glass, refilled it and passed the bottle around the circle. ‘Now we’ve established that you are a marked and dangerous man we shouldn’t even be speaking to, why don’t you confirm what it is you are trying to hire us for?’

The atmosphere in the room cooled. Denser looked around at the angry faces.

‘We have to recover the catalysts and I want you to help me.’

‘Why us in particular?’

‘Why does anyone hire The Raven?’

‘A few more details wouldn’t go amiss.’

Denser drew breath, finding the questioning from The Raven suddenly intense. He pulled the amulet out again.

‘Assuming this works and we find information on the Dawnthief catalysts, we have to act to recover the catalysts themselves. I need protection plus fighting ability and defensive magical skills. I also need people who can be trusted completely. As far as Xetesk is concerned, The Raven is the only choice.’

There was a short silence.

‘I’m not sure I’m getting this,’ said Hirad. ‘Why not just bring in a load of Protectors and Xetesk mages? Surely you can trust them?’

‘It’s not that simple, unfortunately,’ said Denser. ‘There are political issues to consider, and if Xetesk was seen to be mounting any kind of action, we’d have the agents of the Wytch Lords on to us straight away. This has to be a clandestine action as long as possible.’

‘And that’s not to mention the trouble it would cause in the College Cities,’ said Ilkar.

‘And the Witch Hunters,’ added The Unknown.

‘Bring them on,’ growled Hirad.

‘Oh, we’ll be going to them, don’t worry,’ said Denser.

‘So much the better.’

‘Seriously,’ continued Denser, ‘they have to be silenced. What they know, or even think they know, could prove disastrous for the whole of Balaia if the wrong ears hear it.’

‘Is it stupid of me to suggest a four-College alliance if this is really so critical?’ asked Richmond.

‘Not at all,’ said Denser. ‘In fact, a four-College meeting has been called, although it is to deal with the Wesmen threat, not the search for Dawnthief. We can’t afford for the other Colleges to know about our search, not yet. Ilkar will tell you, they would interfere in the search and place impossible conditions on the spell’s use. It must be kept quiet as long as possible.’ He paused. ‘Do you believe me, Ilkar?’

The elf gazed at him coolly. ‘That’s not a question I’m ready to answer. This has severe implications for my relationship with Julatsa. I’m honour-bound to tell them everything. You know that.’

There was another silence. Richmond added a log to the fire.

‘I know. And all I ask is that you give me time to prove my intentions. But I do need an answer,’ said Denser at length.

‘To which question?’ muttered Hirad.

‘Will you help us?’

‘How much?’ asked Talan.

‘Five per cent of the agreed value of each artefact, same idea as before.’

‘I cannot believe you just asked that,’ snapped Hirad. ‘What does it matter how much? We already have a job to do.’ Hirad indicated Sirendor’s shrouded body.

‘It always matters,’ replied Talan. ‘No decision will be made until all conditions are known. That’s how it’s always been.’

‘We’ve retired, Talan, remember?’

‘Balaia cannot afford for you to retire,’ said Denser.

‘Shut up, Xetesk man. This doesn’t concern you.’ Hirad didn’t look round.

‘Hirad, calm down,’ said The Unknown. ‘This is already difficult enough.’

‘Is it? We find the Witch Hunters, we kill them. What’s difficult about that?’

The Unknown ignored him. ‘One more question, Denser. Assuming we recover the catalysts, what then?’

‘You help me take them into the Torn Wastes and cast Dawnthief against the Wytch Lords in Parve. That is, if you want to.’

‘Well, we aren’t about to just hand them over to Xetesk,’ said Ilkar.

‘I didn’t expect you would,’ countered Denser.

‘So has everyone heard enough?’ asked The Unknown.

‘Ages ago,’ said Hirad.

‘Right.’ The Unknown rose and opened the door. ‘Denser, it’s time you left. We need to talk, and we have a Vigil to observe.’

‘I need an answer,’ repeated Denser.

‘First light tomorrow,’ said The Unknown. ‘Please . . .’ He gestured through the door.

Denser paused before leaving. ‘You can’t refuse,’ he said. ‘This means everything to all of us.’

The Unknown closed the door behind Denser and refilled all the glasses before returning to his seat.

‘So, who wants to go first?’ he asked.

‘This is a nightmare,’ said Ilkar. ‘I’m not sure what to say.’

‘Sirendor Larn is dead because of him, it’s obvious that Ras’s death had nothing to do with our last contract, and yet we’re chatting about working for him!’ Hirad was shouting. ‘What are we debating this for?’ He got up and strode to the fireplace. ‘It’s quite simple. We go and kill the Witch Hunters. Denser can stick his spell up his arse, and this—’ he tore the code from its frame on the wall and ripped it in two - ‘this is gone.’

They were all staring at him, or rather at the ruined parchment in his hands, eyes wide. He became very aware of his own quick breathing, the thudding of his heart and the sound of the fire behind him. He stared back, daring them to criticise or disagree.

‘Sit down, Hirad,’ said The Unknown quietly.

‘Why, so you can—’

‘I said sit down!’ thundered the big man.

Hirad, still clutching the two pieces of the code, did so.

‘We all know how much this is hurting you,’ The Unknown’s voice was calm once more, ‘and we will deal with Sirendor’s murderers, believe me. But what we’ve just heard, which you didn’t seem to take in, has changed everything.’

‘Really?’ Hirad sighed.

‘Really,’ affirmed The Unknown. ‘I expect Ilkar can explain it better than me. Ilkar?

The Julatsan raised his eyebrows. ‘Putting it bluntly, the two worst things I can imagine have both happened at the same time. Or so Denser claims. The Wytch Lords are free and Xetesk has found the link to Dawnthief.’

‘And?’

‘Gods, Hirad, I wasn’t joking earlier. Dawnthief can destroy everything. Literally. In theory at least. What that means is that if Denser succeeds in destroying the Wytch Lords - and we must pray that he does - the ultimate weapon will be firmly in the hands of the Dark College. And what do you think that’ll mean for the rest of us?’

‘So we kill him and take the spell after he’s cast it.’

‘Yes, but we have to be standing next to him to do that.’

‘We could kill him now and take the amulet,’ said Hirad evenly.

Silence. Richmond nodded.

‘It could certainly save time,’ he said.

‘And what if he’s right about the Wytch Lords?’ asked Ilkar.

‘Get somebody else to cast the spell,’ said Hirad.

Ilkar snorted. ‘Of course. I’ll go and ask Tomas if he can spare us the time, shall I?’

‘You know what I mean.’

‘It’s not that simple, Hirad. Denser will have been training all his life in the theory of Dawnthief casting. And if he is Xetesk’s principal Dawnthief mage - and I have no reason to doubt that he is - then he is the man with the best and perhaps the only chance of casting it effectively.’