He took a look around the gathering. He knew every name, he knew all their family histories. He knew their strengths and their weaknesses and he knew their desire to live. He was looking at about a hundred people. All of whom looked back at him, desperate for answers. That wasn’t exactly what he was going to be giving them.

‘I’m not going to patronise you and I’m not going to pretend things are any less desperate than you already know them to be.’ Heryst smiled gently. ‘And things are extremely desperate.’

A dry chuckle ran around the chamber.

‘Kayvel and I have been talking and we are faced with a choice. Long ago, I stopped being the man who told you what to do and we have tried to do everything by consensus. This is why I am going to put this choice to you now. The demons are getting stronger and we are weakening though we are far from beaten. I look at all the faces assembled here and I see the will to survive burning bright. The question is, how will we best achieve our survival?

‘And so to the choice. It is stark. We can stay here. Defend more stoutly and pray for release because it is clear we will not beat them with the numbers and resources we have. Or we can leave. Head north for Xetesk where the rumour is that the last free Balaians are gathering to fight. But I must stress it is only a rumour. We have no confirmation from the dark college, they are silent.

‘You know what we face should we stay here. Making a run for it might seem attractive and indeed we will be in the open air, we will have access to fresh water and vegetables, perhaps even wild animals.’

He paused while the smiles spread through the gathering.

‘But we will also be vulnerable. There will be no walls to guard us, only the ColdRoom shell. And to maintain casting on the move will be difficult. We are going to have to steal our own wagons and horses before we start.

‘Now, again, before you decide for yourselves, think on this. If we strike out, we strike out into the unknown and we might be overwhelmed quickly. Here, we know how long we can hold out, health willing. And there will be those of us who will be unable to travel.’ He held up his hands. ‘Please. Hear me out. Those of you know who you are. You could not survive the trip and you would be a burden on the rest. It is harsh but we must face the full reality.

‘Among those who would not travel is Kayvel.’ Heryst had to pause, fearing his voice would crack. The sick mage gripped his hand tight. ‘It breaks my heart but he knows his condition and he still believes the fit should leave. He will be with those who have to remain behind. He knows what it means and he will not let any be taken by the demons.

‘Think on it, and we will talk at nightfall. Thank you. Thank you all for everything you have done so far and everything that you still have to do. We will prevail. We will survive. Balaia will rise from the ashes of this invasion.’

The babble of conversation that broke out was doused quickly by a screech from below. The demons were attacking again.

Chapter 27

Lord Tessaya was in the forward positions overlooking Xetesk when the demon master approached. Not for the first time, the creature came to speak to the Wesmen. Always feeding them their forthcoming doom unless they joined the fight to bring the colleges down.

Tessaya recalled the offer that had been made the day before. Something to do with the sanctity of the western lands should the Wesmen complete the job the demons had begun in Julatsa. The Wesmen Lord had spies in the field near each college and was not as blind as the demons liked to think he was.

He had his chair brought up for him. It was horse hide, padded and stretched across a hardwood frame. High-backed, it was stitched with the Paleon crest. He settled into it and accepted a mug of herb infusion. He cupped his hands around it gratefully, the warmth combating a little of the freezing midday air. His furs were gathered about his shoulders and he had let his beard and hair grow thick, covering much of his battle-scarred face.

Settling into his chair, his lieutenants around him and every warrior tasked to show nothing but strength and belief, he waited for the demon to issue across the ground. He watched its tentacles rippling beneath its torso and was pleased to see its colour brighten to a mid-blue, its temper already frayed by Tessaya’s lack of respect for its authority.

Closer to, he could see its brow was pinched in hard on its hairless head. Its nostril slits were flared and its long-fingered hands were clasped together in front of its writhing chest. It came to a halt about ten feet from him. It towered better than twenty feet above him, a fetid smell drifting on the light breeze. An imposing figure but impotent to do him harm.

‘You push my patience to its limit, Wesman,’ it said.

‘Let us at least use the names we know we have,’ said Tessaya, taking a sip of his drink. ‘Unless, Drenoul, you wish me to call you “demon”. Can I offer you a beverage?’

‘I would rather chew my own body than accept the filth you drink,’ replied Drenoul. ‘Enough, I have a great deal to do. I will hear your answer to my proposal.’

‘A moment,’ said Tessaya, raising a finger. He beckoned one of his lieutenants close. ‘Speak softly and make as if you are responding to my questions. I think this demon needs to understand its place in the eyes of Wesmen.’

‘Indeed, my Lord,’ said the warrior. ‘One thing that might interest you is that we have received a scout from the college of Lystern recently.’

‘Really?’

‘He reports the college is on the verge of breaking.’

‘Ah, something of a shame. I would hate to see the enemy forces able to divert north to join the Xetesk battleground. Is there any indication as to their ability to hang on for any length of time?’

The warrior shrugged. ‘They like all mages have proved themselves tenacious. It is inconceivable that they will simply roll over.’

‘We will talk more later,’ said Tessaya. He turned back to Drenoul. ‘My apologies, I was reminding myself of the detail of your offer.’

Drenoul breathed out in a snarl. Its fingers unclasped and grasped at the air in front of it. Its colour lightened a shade further.

‘As I understand it,’ said Tessaya, ‘you felt that we would best serve you by attacking Julatsa and its attendant elven defence under your local commander’s direction. The reward for this was a promise that you would not seek to enslave my peoples.’

‘That is an accurate summation.’

‘What I nor my ruling cadre can understand is why you would make this offer. You have consistently told me over the last two years that we could not hope to stand against you once the colleges had fallen and magic destroyed. Yet here you are plainly unable to complete your task and apparently needing my assistance. You’ll understand my scepticism and my reluctance to trust a race for whom utter dominion has long appeared to be the only conceivable goal.’

Drenoul was quiet for some time, forcing its colour back to a more palatable deep blue.

‘We would concede some surprise at the length of college resistance, ’ it said eventually. ‘And we want a swift resolution to allow us to take rightful control over the mage lands and the entirety of eastern Balaia. Those who aid us will be treated as allies in the years to come. Those who stand by or oppose us will be enslaved. There is your choice.’

Tessaya smiled, knowing it a patronising gesture. ‘Or perhaps the reality is that without us you do not have the strength to beat the colleges and never will have. Perhaps you have lost more of your minions than you expected and your forces, finite as they must be, are actually being stretched.’

Drenoul flashed bright sky-blue. ‘And perhaps you need a personal demonstration of our strength, Tessaya. The loss of Wesmen Spirits might serve to remind you of your tenuous hold on your own life.’