Demonstorm

Chapter 18

The Raven lengthened their stride with the demons screaming in. The Unknown's sword thumped onto the ground, keeping time with their footfalls, chinking on shale. Beside him, Hirad readied himself, circling his arms, sword in his right hand, its weight feeling good for the fight. It had been too long.

'On my mark, Raven!' he shouted. 'Denser, you have Erienne.'

Fifty yards distant and the demons dispersed, scattering into the sky and making flanking moves. A core of eight came straight on. Immediately the elves responded, falling back to protect the mages.

'Looking, Raven. Mages, targets and hold.'

Hirad's voice sounded above the calls of the demons and the rush of wings. He could see three coming directly for him, another trio just to the left moving hard at The Unknown.

Twenty-five yards and closing.

'Brace and hold. Let's take these bastards down.'

Elven arrows streaked out. Hirad didn't see them strike but he heard the squeals of pain and surprise. He smiled. Deep blue and bright yellow flashes lit the sky. FlameOrb and Ice Wind scoured the air. Demons screeched. Hirad focused ahead. The Unknown's blade struck the ground twice more and the demons were on them.

Hirad knew the impact would be hard. He half-crouched. Watching the trio closing. Their speed had tempered after they watched others pierced by arrows that should have had no effect. But still they were confident. Mottled green and with vein-etched wings they attacked, claws outstretched and jaws agape, calling their fury.

Left side was on him too early. Hirad ducked and struck, feeling his blade bite deep. Dark fluid gushed from the wound and the demon yelped and spiralled away. Centre and right were in concert and he was barely ready for them. One came in, reversing its body to

aim its feet at his chest. The other cocked its hands to slash on impact. Hirad ignored it for the moment, concentrating on the other. He squatted and rolled, feeling the creature part his braids, and was up in the same movement, swiping at empty air. The other demon lashed out a claw, snagging his armour and half turning him round.

Both beasts climbed to turn back to the attack and it gave Hirad a moment to orient himself. He was facing The Raven now. The air seemed full of the deep-coloured shapes of demons. His ears rang from their calls. To his left, Auum and Duele wove death at great speed, their backs to Erienne and Denser. Auum faced two. He lashed a roundhouse kick into the first's chest, sending it sprawling. He continued his spin, short blade flashing in the sunlight and carving into the second's neck. It howled and dropped, fluid sluicing into the dry earth.

Right by Hirad, Darrick and The Unknown fared well. The General fenced with a single assailant who was already bleeding from several cuts and weakening fast. The Unknown had one by the throat at arm's length and, with Hirad watching, drew back his blade and plunged it into the creature's stomach, casting the corpse aside.

Hirad's two demons rushed back to the attack, one from either side. He took a two-handed grip on his sword and waited, seeing both close from steep angles. They had reached the point of no return when he spun on his right leg and carved the air above his head, turning two revolutions. His blade cut into the face of one and took the arm from the other at the elbow. Both thundered into him, bowling him from his feet.

Half-dazed, he struggled to strike again. One of the demons was on top of him. He could taste the rank stench and feel its blood running across his armour. He scrabbled backwards, keeping hold of his sword, and tried to shovel the beast from his legs. From nowhere, a claw whipped into his face. He reacted fast but the nails dragged at his cheek. Cold pain fired into his head and he was knocked back against the ground. He felt faint for a moment, his vision dimming for a heartbeat. Fear flashed through his body and he grabbed at his chest as if that alone would keep his soul in place if the demons could really touch it.

He saw more spells detonate and heard the heavy thud of steel against flesh. A hand gripped his shoulder. The Unknown hauled him upright. At his feet, the bodies of two demons. One moved feebly, the other had been decapitated. Dark gore ran down The Unknown's sword. He shrugged.

'I think we frightened them off,' he said.

Hirad breathed deep, feeling blood on his face. He wiped at it gingerly with a gloved hand. The demons were retreating, those that could. The ground was littered with their bodies. Twenty, perhaps more.

'We'd better get moving. Anyone else hurt?' he asked.

Shakes of heads greeted his question. He nodded. Erienne smiled at him, looking a little tired but satisfied.

'I'd call that a successful test,' said Denser, hugging her to him.

'Just about,' said The Unknown, leading them on towards Black-thorne. 'What was that pirouette?'

'Something Auum taught me.'

'I'd have preferred it if you'd just ducked and rolled.'

Hirad smiled. 'I'm still learning.'

'Hmm.' The Unknown pointed at his cheek. 'You were lucky. If you hadn't turned your head, it would have had your eye. You feeling all right?'

'A little cold around the wound but otherwise fine.' He chuckled, though his body trembled along its length. 'Can't just grab our souls, can they?'

'Fortunately not.'

They crested a rise and looked down the last mile to Blackthorne. The town was teeming with activity. Demons on the ground and in the sky hurried about tasks. Many were headed towards the castle where Blackthorne's flag still flew proudly. There was a gathering of people, clearly none were demon captives. They held weapons and the bark of orders carried across the quiet space to The Raven.

'Welcoming committee?' said Darrick.

'Reckon Thraun must have got through safely,' said Hirad. 'What next?'

The Unknown began trotting down the slope, the others following him. Left and right, the elves moved further ahead. 'Let's not

keep them waiting. I hardly think the demons are going to usher us in. Can you hang onto that wound until we're inside?'

'It's not so bad,' said Hirad.

'Good. Erienne, ready for a repeat dose?'

'No problem.'

'Let's go, Raven.'

Wary now, demons flew high, tracking them all the way. Dead ahead, a formation was building above Blackthorne. It was large, over a hundred, and spread like a net over the town, covering their route in. The Raven were committed now but Hirad shared an anxious glance with The Unknown at the scale of the force laid out before them. Whatever it was that Blackthorne had planned, it needed to be effective.

The Raven ran on, having no option but to trust themselves and their friend on the other side of his ColdRoom protection. Hirad found himself trying to look everywhere at once. Left and right to check the elves, about and behind him to make sure The Raven were one, and ahead and above him to try and second-guess the next action of the demons.

But it was quickly clear that the demons were unsure. The slaughter of twenty-plus of their number by The Raven had undermined their sense of automatic domination and inside Blackthorne the Baron was making no secret of the fact that he was ready to strike out. It bought The Raven the time to make over half the distance to relative safety. It was a hiatus that couldn't last and duly, with The Raven and elves passing the outlying farm land, the demons moved.

'Watching, Raven,' warned The Unknown. 'Let's try and keep moving. Erienne, you're up.'

The hoots and croaking cries of demons choked the air, echoing across the open space. Hirad felt a chill down his body and gripped his sword tighter. His cheek burned where he had been caught, a numbness spreading to his jaw. Moving in towards the outskirts of the town, the Raven line tightened appreciably. Auum and Duele fell in behind the mages, leaving Rebraal and Evunn scouting ahead, bows in hand.

'We're moving too fast,' said Denser. 'Erienne can't hold this pace and cast.'

They slowed. Darrick dropped back to the other side of her, Hirad and The Unknown directly in front. From above, the cries of the demons intensified to a stunning crescendo. They packed and attacked.

'Dear Gods.' Hirad almost froze. 'We're in trouble.'

'Holding positions, Raven. Spells at full spread!' shouted Darrick. 'Let's give ourselves a chance.'

They stopped again, needing the cohesion of a static formation to give them any chance at all. Hirad could hear Denser murmuring words of encouragement to Erienne.

'We can't afford that, Denser. Cast. They're on us.'

'Can't afford for Erienne to fail either.'

'We can't afford that for any of us. Please, Denser, not now.'

'Got it,' said the mage, an edge to his voice.

'Come on, Baron,' whispered Hirad. 'We need you.'

He couldn't count how many demons were coming at them this time. It had to be twice the number of the first probing attack. Enough to overwhelm them if they weren't all right on their game.

From the direction of the castle came simultaneous deep orange and blue flares. The sound of a detonation and the cries of hundreds of men followed it. More spells struck out, tearing at the demons still hovering over Blackthorne. They were joined by those of the elves. DeathHail flayed across the clear blue sky, more IceWind surged behind it, catching the leading edge of the demon attack. But still they came on and Blackthorne's intervention was too late.

Sudden calm fell in the air, pressing on Hirad's ears. Behind him, Denser swore.

'Cover your eyes,' he shouted. 'Now!'

'Do it, Raven!' ordered Hirad.

He closed his eyes and put an arm across them. An instant later there was a flat crack. Searing light ripped across the sky. Hirad could see the glow through his squeezed-shut eyes as it flared through the flesh of his arm. Screams filled the air all around him.

'Safe!' called Denser.

Hirad looked up. The sky was a confusion of blinded demons. They crashed into one another, flew very high to escape the chaos or tried to land, tumbling. Some hovered where they were, their fists wiping at their faces. But most blundered on, trying to use other

senses to reach their prey but distracted by the pain that would be pounding in their skulls.

Hirad and The Unknown glanced at each other, The Unknown nodded.

'Raven!' roared Hirad. 'Raven with me!'

And they ran hard, all pretence at an organised fighting line gone. SunBurst was a spell rarely used and easily combated by area reverse castings. But when it worked, its effects were spectacular but, as they all knew, short-lived. The demons' sight would return and soon.

Auum's Tai and Rebraal took the lead, racing through Blackthorne's all but empty streets. In places, demons and humans alike clung to walls or sat with heads in hands, briefly united in their distress. Where they filled the road, the enemy were unceremoniously beaten aside.

Closing on the area of the town still under Blackthorne's control, Hirad had an idea. He sheadied his sword.

'Unknown!' He grabbed at the big man's arm as they ran. 'We can save some. One each.'

The Unknown nodded. 'The others will follow the lead. Take the young, we can carry them.'

Ahead, Blackthorne's men were beating a path clear for them among the disoriented demons who nonetheless tried to fight back. Spells roared out, engulfing hapless victims, and cudgels and clubs knocked sense from any who got too close. Hirad shot past an opening and saw a small boy, perhaps ten years old, yelling for his mother, his fists buried in his eyes. The barbarian slithered to a stop, darted back down the passage and grabbed him, throwing him over one shoulder, heedless of the knocks he'd take.

'Safer with me, boy,' he said.

Panicked, the child began to beat on Hirad's back, his frenzied screaming reaching new volume. Hirad didn't have time to pause. He glanced right at the end of the opening and saw the demons regrouping and charging through the air.

'Time to go.' He sprinted for safety. 'Come on, Raven!'

Erienne and Denser had picked up a mother and baby between them and were chairing her to the line. The Unknown, typically, had one infant over either shoulder. In the midst of the crowd of demons milling in their path, Auum and the elves got to work.

They were a blur, kicks, punches and pulls driving the demons back and away. The mages killed with FlamePalm and close-focused IceWind. Ahead, the humans had retreated to the safety of the ColdRooms, edges marked by stones in the earth, and were beckoning them on. Darrick was furthest ahead, carrying something in his arms. The Unknown was behind him. Hirad dropped his pace to see Erienne and Denser to safety.

With the enraged screeches of the demons closing in on them at frightening speed, The Raven reached the relative sanctuary of Blackthorne's domain. Hirad carried on running for thirty paces until a familiar voice yelled at him to stop.

Lungs labouring, chest heaving and sweat running down his face and mixing uncomfortably in his cuts, he pulled up and turned round. Blackthome was striding towards him, a broad smile on a face that couldn't quite believe what it was seeing. Hirad released the hysterical child into the arms of others and greeted the Baron with a long hug.

'Couldn't you have sent a note?' asked the Baron, stepping back. 'I'd have cleaned up a bit.'

'Well, we sent Thraun,' said Hirad. 'Clearly he got here.'

Hirad looked around for the wolf, a little worried he wasn't immediately apparent.

'He did but he was hurt,' said Blackthorne. 'Don't worry, we're looking after him, but it was a demon bite. He should be dead.'

Hirad chuckled. 'Like me, eh?' He pointed at his cheek. 'The Raven aren't that easy to kill.'

'So I've noticed.'

'Is he still a wolf?' asked Hirad.

Blackthorne nodded. 'But he's calm enough. I'll take you to him.'

'And at the same time you can tell me how you worked out from one wolf that we were coming. He's not exactly talkative like that.'

Blackthorne put an arm around his shoulder and began to lead him back to the rest of The Raven who were standing or sitting in a group, drinks in hands, looking back at the demons clustered outside the ColdRooms.

'Later, Hirad. First of all, you should rest. We'll talk later over food and wine and you can tell me what by all the Gods falling you are doing here. But let me tell you this one thing. However much a

wolf Thraun is, his eyes are still human. I recognised him straight away and where he goes, The Raven go.'

'My Lord!' A young man ran towards them from the periphery.

'Luke,' said Blackthorne. 'Meet The Raven.'

Luke stood confused for a moment before nodding at them all. 'I'm glad you're here. Please excuse me, though.' He paused and Hirad could see the conflict in his face. He was trying not to be overawed and mixed with it was the reason he stood in front of the Baron in the first place.

'Tell you what, Luke, join us at dinner. Now, what is it, you look flushed.'

'It's him, my Lord. He wants to speak with you.'

Baron Blackthorne nodded. 'As expected but perhaps rather sooner than ideal.' He took in The Raven. 'You should come with me.'

'To see who?'

'Head demon of hereabouts. We call him Fidget.' He smiled enigmatically.

Erienne spoke for them all. 'Why, and what is his real name?'

'Come and see.'

Blackthorne strolled across the open space towards the periphery for all the world as if it was a lazy afternoon and he had not a care in the world. The Raven followed him, the elves in close attendance.

'I had this area cleared of buildings to give us a sight zone all around the casde. The demons own everything beyond it and they know where our ColdRooms start. We understand each other. We're still thinking of building a stockade, a physical barrier would be good for morale, but raw materials are hard to come by.'

'It would make the place almost comfortable,' said Hirad.

Blackthorne shot him a dark glance. 'Never that, Hirad.'

Mages and soldiers were grouped near an area of the perimeter, facing several dozen demons. They moved aside as Blackthorne and his retinue approached. Standing with wings furled in front of them was a demon of better than eight feet in height and jet black in colour but with veins pulsing blue across his skin. His face was human-shaped but his features were anything but. He had a flat lipless slit that was his mouth, above which a single dark oval was presumably his nose. He appeared to have no ears at all and his eyes

were huge, yellow orbs covering much of his forehead. His hands ended in long-boned fingers which clicked incessantly.

'Ugly bastard, isn't he?' said Hirad.

'I'm sure he feels the same way about you,' said Denser.

'Does he really do that all the time?' asked Erienne.

'Hence the name,' said Blackthorne. He strode up to the perimeter, standing only two paces from his enemy. 'What do you want, Fidget?'

'I am Ferouc,' stated the demon looking square at The Raven, fingers increasing their speed temporarily.

'Of course, how forgetful of me,' said Blackthorne. 'What do you want, Fidget?'

'You harbour that which we want and that which we own,' said Ferouc, his voice whining, sibilant through lips unused to framing human words.

'You own nothing in this world. Theft does not denote ownership.'

'Those behind you took six who are ours,' said Ferouc. 'They will be returned or others will suffer.'

'Come in and get them,' said Hirad.

'Quiet,' snapped The Unknown.

'Brave out there, aren't you?' said Hirad, feeling his anger rising. He took a pace forward and began to unsheathe his sword. 'Come on in, let's see how big you are.'

Blackthorne waved him back. 'As you will gather, we will do no such thing.'

Ferouc looked past Blackthorne. 'Raven,' he hissed. 'In my trap now.'

'Is that how you see it?' Blackthorne raised his eyebrows and idly scratched at an ear. 'We rather think that this is a place you are unable to breach. A place that strengthens every day.'

Ferouc's laugh, if such it was, resembled the rumbling of phlegm. 'We wait. We grow. You weaken. Your soul will be mine, Blackthorne.'

'Is there anything more you wish to say?' asked Blackthorne. 'I'm a busy man.'

'Return the six to me. Give me The Raven. You will lose six of your fellows for each of those who stays in your shell.'

Blackthorne shook his head. 'The Raven do what they will and are not under my control. Something you would do well to remember. And of those in your thrall, to me they are already dead. Nothing you can do to them affects my heart.'

Blackthorne turned smartly away and it wasn't until Ferouc couldn't see his eyes that they filled with tears.