‘All right, let’s orient ourselves,’ continued Denser. Rebraal’s murmur could be heard, elven ears tuned to him. ‘This slope ends at a door beyond which is a store room for the Mana Bowl. The other side of the door is a basic illusion. The door is unlocked from this side but is locked and alarmed on the other. Once we go through, no one step back or you’ll trigger the bell ward. That’s very important.

‘The Mana Bowl sits just to the north-east of the tower complex and butts on to an administrative block. It is diagonally opposite the library, which also connects at one corner with the complex. I’ve explained to you the ways we can get in. Here is where we meet when we’re done. You’ll recognise the fallback positions if we encounter trouble. Let me remind you they are the banqueting halls which run south from the complex and the reception hall of the dome itself. Is everybody clear?’

Hirad scanned the TaiGethen. There was no doubting their readiness.

‘We won’t get in and out without encountering anyone so kill quietly,’ said The Unknown. ‘We only get one chance at this.’

Hirad walked to the end of the passage. A wooden door and frame were set into the stone surrounds of a building. There was no handle.

‘How do I—?’

‘I said it was unlocked, I didn’t say a non-mage could open it. Stand aside. I’ll have to lose the LightGlobe, sorry.’

The sudden dark was disconcerting. Hirad put a hand on the wall to steady himself. Next to him, Denser muttered under his breath. He could hear water dripping behind them, the scuttle of rodents and the ominous creak of the weaker timbers.

The hand on his shoulder had him jumping almost clear of his skin. He felt breathing by his ear and a voice spoke low, menacing and in elvish. It was Auum.

‘What did he say?’ Hirad’s voice sounded loud in the nervous quiet. ‘I presume you’re there, Rebraal.’

‘He said he will not let you risk his success. He says the TaiGethen are doing the work of Yniss tonight and any who threaten that work will be killed.’

Hirad bristled. ‘Well, you tell him his inspirational words need work. Tell him, The Raven do not make a habit of failure. And tell him if he threatens me again, he can have his fight.’

‘Hirad—’ warned The Unknown from close by.

‘He saw how you reacted,’ said Rebraal. ‘Your loss of control. He doesn’t believe emotion should guide you. He thinks that is weak.’

‘If I had no emotions driving me on, you couldn’t pay me enough to raid the Dark College. Don’t any of you ever presume to tell me how I should or should not act. I have nothing to prove to you, him or any elf, bar Ilkar.’

‘That’s not—’

‘Just leave it, Rebraal,’ said Erienne, somewhere to the left. ‘You don’t understand.’

Thraun growled his agreement. Hirad jumped again. Sometimes the shapechanger was so quiet you could forget he was there. It didn’t used to be like that.

‘Quiet!’ hissed Denser. ‘We’re in.’

A wan light washed down the passage from somewhere, soaking them all in grey, misty illumination as the door swung inwards. Hirad paused to lock eyes with Auum before a push from The Unknown sent him on to creep into the chamber beyond. It was small, too small to take them all at once. Shelves ran down two sides, forcing Hirad to edge sideways past ordered stacks of plain blue robes, simple sandals and cord ties.

‘Robes for the Mana Bowl,’ explained Denser.

‘Very nice,’ said Hirad, moving into the narrow gap between the shelves and looking up at windows in the ceiling through which the grey light was shining. He nodded at a door opposite. ‘What’s through there?’

‘A corridor leading to offices, other store rooms, changing rooms, a contemplation and relaxation chamber and the entrance to the Bowl itself.’

‘Thanks for the full tour,’ said Hirad. ‘Now, will there be anyone outside? We need to move ourselves.’

‘The Bowl doesn’t operate after dark, the focus is never right, strange as that may seem for the Dark College.’

‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,’ said Hirad. ‘I’m going out. Bring The Raven. We’re leaving first.’

Hirad marched to the door and put an ear to it. Behind him, the message was relayed back into the clay passage. Out came the rest of The Raven, Rebraal at their rear, keeping communication as smooth as he could.

‘Note these skylights,’ Denser was saying to the elf. ‘The library has the same ventilation and natural light source. If you’re going in from the top, that’s what you have to prise open.’

Hirad could hear nothing from the corridor. He laid a hand gently on the handle and pulled. The door swung open easily. Outside it was dark. Nothing moved. The barbarian moved out. The Unknown was immediately behind him, going left as he went right. Denser and Erienne followed them, spreading away either side with Thraun and Darrick in their footprints.

‘Hirad, head up the corridor. Door at the end. That’s our way out. We’ll be in the shadow of the Mana Bowl and follow it round to the tower complex offices. We break in, the elves carry on. Got it?’

‘Got it,’ said Hirad.

There was the unmistakable smell of age and reverence in the darkened corridor. Hirad didn’t feel he could have made a loud noise even if he’d wanted to. The atmosphere was oppressive, reminiscent of the rainforests of Calaius but without the humidity. He shook his head and paced on. The corridor had no windows, no skylights. Its only illumination came from behind and from under the doors of the rooms he passed.

He could feel the Mana Bowl to his right. It had a power all of its own. It was the place where initiate mages went to accept the mana or have it wreck their minds. A harsh but necessary test. Who’d be a mage?

At the door, Hirad stopped. The corridor was full behind him. Denser waved him on.

‘It’s all right. No alarms and no locks. We save those for the Bowl itself. That, the uninvited cannot be allowed to see.’

Hirad cracked the door and felt the dampness of the night air on his face. It smelled beautifully fresh after the underground passage. Orders were being shouted around the college. He could hear the sounds of running feet but felt they were above him, on the walls. He held up a hand and all movement behind him ceased. Rebraal came to his shoulder. They waited, listening, watching what they could through the crack in the door, which revealed nothing but a stone path, a hedge and a few manicured small trees.

Hirad turned to Rebraal who shook his head.

‘No one is near,’ whispered the elf.

‘Well, it’s now or never,’ said Hirad. ‘Come on, Raven.’

As he was instructed, Hirad opened the door just far enough and slipped out to the right. His heart was beating fast and reality hit him hard. He was standing in the grounds of the Dark College.

He closed his eyes momentarily, commended his soul to any God that was listening, and shifted crab-like along under the deep shadow of the Mana Bowl towards the towers of Xetesk.

Chapter 17

Lights burned in each of Xetesk’s seven towers. Six in the outer circle soared upwards one hundred and fifty feet, with the central, dominant tower’s peak at least a further fifty feet above them. A figure moved around that tallest tower, staring out from a balcony before disappearing from view.

Auum signalled that they could move again. All around them, the college was humming. Guards thronged the walls, walking their beats or staring out over the city. The two gate houses, east and west, were bright with lantern light, which spread pools over the courtyards within and, presumably, without. Up in the residential halls, light shone from many windows, indicating students losing a night’s sleep, ready should they be called upon.