Part 37 (2/2)

'Particularly if they continue to neglect to free the Protectors,' added The Unknown.

'Still want to get the thumb by asking for it?' asked Hirad.

The Unknown shook his head. 'I really hadn't seen all these possibilities. Even if Denser's wrong, we can't afford to take the risk. No, this changes everything.'

'You really think Xetesk would willingly preside over racial genocide? ' asked Ilkar.

'Not Xetesk,' said Denser. 'Dystran. He's thirsty for power and wants to see Xetesk the dominant magical force, perhaps even the only magical force, no matter what he says to the contrary. And he won't even have to see or acknowledge the destruction his actions have caused. All he has to do is not listen to the truth. Something he finds very easy, believe me.'

The door to the Captain's room opened and Aeb walked in. Behind his mask his eyes sought Denser and The Unknown. He walked round the table to sit between them. Denser poured him a mug of tea.

'Thank you.' He sipped.

'What's up?' asked Hirad, seeing the tension in the Protector's shoulders.

'I am uneasy,' admitted Aeb. 'I need guidance.'

He looked square at Denser, who nodded. 'I understand you may have conflict in the Soul Tank. But remember you have done nothing bar protect me as you are directed and The Unknown Warrior as you desire. And while I remain your Given I will ensure you have all the lat.i.tude available to you.'

'I am humbled,' said Aeb.

'Don't be,' said Denser. 'We understand you, The Raven that is. We know something of the bond you share and the pain that you suffer every day.'

Aeb inclined his head and took another sip.

'My brothers know I travel with you. Soon they will know we fought Xeteskian forces on Calaius. They will not reveal what they don't have to, but at any time a mage might ask the question of my part in The Raven's actions.'

'Your unease is clear,' said Denser. 'We will have to keep you from direct conflict with Xeteskian forces on Balaia. But remember they cannot invoke punishment through the DemonChain unless the Act of Giving is rescinded from me. You are safe at the moment. We'll talk later.'

'All right,' said The Unknown. 'The central point to it all is this. We cannot risk Dystran finding out just how important the thumb is to the elves because if he is intent on damaging them, he'll simply keep it. Rebraal, you've got to impress that on your people. If they must fight, let it be for the writings. That means we have to get the piece back by some other means, the best bet being to capture this Yron that Denser recognised and hope he has the information that can help us.

'Bear in mind that once Yron reaches Balaia, or maybe before, he will be able to tell Xetesk that we are involved in some way and that will make us targets. Aeb is right to be concerned for himself and we will all have to tread very carefully. I suggest that we land near Blackthorne because at least we'll get a friendly reception there. I'd expect to know by then where Yron made landfall, although I believe we can a.s.sume he is heading for Xetesk via Arlen.

'The TaiGethen will help us by their actions whether they want to or not. Again, remember we're all on the same side here. Hirad, that means don't antagonise them, whatever the provocation. Anyone with any ideas, we'll talk again at dinner. We know what we're after, we know what the man we want to catch looks like and we know where he's going. That at least is good news. I-Erienne, are you all right?'

Hirad looked to Erienne, as did they all, and it was clear that she wasn't. Her face was sheet-white and she was rocking in her seat. Denser hastened to her side.

'What is it, love?' he said, as she half collapsed into his arms.

'I feel awful,' she mumbled.

'Your head?'

She nodded. 'Sorry to spoil the meeting.'

'Don't think about it,' said The Unknown. 'Denser, you know what to do.' The Xeteskian nodded and helped Erienne from the room. 'Look, I think we've done all we can here. Hirad, can you contact Sha-Kaan? I'm anxious for news. My family could become hostages in all this and I want to know if the Al-Drechar are still strong enough. Darrick, I want to ask you a few questions. Ren, Thraun, Aeb, hang on here. When we're done we need to go out on deck and work on our moves to get Ren into the line to fight. All right?'

Hirad nodded and stood up, catching Thraun's eye. He smiled. 'How much of that did you get, I wonder?' he asked.

'All,' said Thraun. 'Erienne has too much pain.'

It was a comment that took Hirad by surprise. 'What do you mean?'

'She must open to those she hates. It is hard.'

Hirad frowned. 'I don't-'

'It's to do with the One,' explained The Unknown. 'I think she's going to have to let the Al-Drechar help her now, and so does our quiet but very perceptive shapechanger.'

Thraun growled in his throat at the term, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng brief anger. There was much of the wolf still left inside him.

'Sorry, Thraun, but it's what you are,' said The Unknown. 'I meant no offence.'

Thraun shook his head. 'I am Raven.'

'You got that right,' said Hirad.

It was the most Thraun had said at any one time, and as Hirad left the Captain's room to go to his cabin he felt hope that the lost man wasn't too far from home.

Erienne lay down on the small cot with her head pounding like never before. It had come on so suddenly, though she'd been feeling rather elsewhere all day. She'd found it hard to concentrate, almost as if she'd drunk too much and was viewing events from a distance. And when, quite without warning, the pain had hit her like repeated and heavy blows to the back of her head, she'd struggled to remain conscious, too confused even to ask for help.

'This can't go on, love,' said Denser gently, his face near hers, hand stroking her thudding head, a cloth held to her nose, which had begun to bleed.

'But what if it's them causing the pain to make me need them?' she asked, fighting to think straight and glad of the gloom in the curtained cabin. She had her eyes closed and had managed to relax sufficiently to stop feeling nauseous.

'How else will you find out?' asked Denser. 'But you can't live with this pain. It was bad enough before.'

'I know,' said Erienne. 'But-'

'It's not like admitting defeat,' said Denser. 'Don't you think you've made your point?'

Erienne sighed. She knew he was right. But she hadn't won; rather just not lost by not acknowledging what she carried for so long. She'd repressed it so easily when all she could think of was her grief over Lyanna. But now that had eased slightly, now her mind was more open and her mood that bit more positive, it was as if the One was trying to a.s.sert itself.

'Will you stay with me? Help me?' she asked, opening her eyes and clutching his arm.

'Where else would I be but by your side?'

She felt a rush of love that swamped the pain for a moment. 'All right. If you think I should.'

'I do,' he said, still stroking her hair. 'But you must think so too.'

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