Demonstorm

Chapter 43

'1 have your signature, my Dragonene. We are coming.'

Sha-Kaan broke the contact with Hirad Coldheart and wheeled in the air. In the day since their last contact, he had probed the human's mind and found it stressed and active, denying him safe access. And during that same time the damaging battle in the skies of Beshara had finally burned itself out but the cost to the dragon population and that able to travel with him had been severe.

Almost four hundred dragons had perished in flame and fall, taking from him more than a fifth of those who had originally assembled on the plains and offered such hope. Now, they numbered a little over fourteen hundred. It would have to be enough.

Around him, the Kaan and most of the Naik circled, guarding against further trouble. Yasal was on the ground, talking with representatives of the recendy warring broods while those that had taken no part were flying distant defensive patterns. It would take time to gather them all and Sha-Kaan was not confident that all would come.

He rose high above the circling Kaan and Naik and gouted flame long into the clear sky. He roared and dived, pulsing out his message, demanding their attention and their respect.

'Our time is now,' he sent. 'Gather in the skies, my allied broods. Put aside your petty squabbles. We are already weakened and we cannot afford further diminution of our strengths. The battle for our futures and for all those of our melde dimensions begins for us.

'Fly, my friends. Fly to me.'

Sha-Kaan dipped below his brood who were forming up as they had drilled. Around them, Naik did likewise. From the ground, he saw the dust flood the air, a thousand wings beating skywards. The pulse message would be passed out among the Stara, Veret and Gost. Soon those that still believed would come.

Yasal-Naik barked his relief that the call had finally come through.

'So your human has survived and made his journey.'

Sha-Kaan pulsed feelings of warmth and pride. 'Did I not toll you he was tenacious? I never doubted him.'

'Then you were alone.'

'I alone understand his capabilities.' Sha-Kaan turned his head to Yasal as they flew side by side. 'And what were the results of your diplomacy, young Naik?'

'I have salvaged much of the support but none will fly with the Skoor. They are dismissed and with them must go an equal number of Kaan and Naik to ensure they do not abuse their temporary advantage in our skies.'

'It is as much as I could have hoped,' said Sha-Kaan. 'But it leaves us a further eighty mouths short. We take with us barely more than thirteen hundred to do battle with our enemy.'

'Then we must all fight as hard as two,' said Yasal.

Sha-Kaan inclined his head in respect. 'You have grown, Yasal. It makes me almost glad this crisis fell upon us.'

'And I, Great Kaan.' Yasal's mind pulsed regret. 'We have lost so many to each other over the cycles. Perhaps our future will be more productive.'

'We can rule the skies together.'

'Yes, we can.'

The two master dragons flew into the centre of the gathering. Though they were much reduced in number, the acreage of wing and scale remained truly awesome. The days of drills and organisation had benefited them in structure in the sky. Each brood was formed and solid. The outlying patrols swept and dove and the mass was prepared.

'Now is the time of greatest risk,' said Sha-Kaan. 'Now we will know whether our talk was believed.'

'Does it matter if it is not? If you see what I mean.'

'I do and to us perhaps it does not. But it matters to Hirad Coldheart. He expects and we must deliver.'

Sha-Kaan led Yasal high above the massed ranks of dragons. Beshara's last and only hope.

'Now is the moment of trust. You know me and you know my honour. Yes, many of us have battled in the past but now that must be consigned to history. Now we fight for our survival. And for that

I give to each of you the trace signature of my Dragonene who sustains me.' He pulsed the signature.

'And now, I exhort you all to follow me. Save us, save every dimension we hold dear. Be ready to fight.'

He switched out of Beshara and drove through the void to Hirad Coldheart.

Tessaya's warriors were holding but only just. Elves were with them, their fast blades and skilled movement disrupting the ul-karron attacks. Reavers and strike-strain concentrated on attacks from above, quick-fire strikes that dealt swift death to those snatched but cost the enemy more than the allies.

The Lord of the Wesmen, flanked by four lieutenants, strode into the tower complex and demanded audience with Dystran and whoever else commanded the eastern forces, such as they were.

'They are in conference,' he was told by a callow youth, barely strong enough to hold the sword scabbarded at his waist. 'They cannot be disturbed.'

Tessaya hefted his axe meaningfully. A silence had descended on the complex, punctuated by the muted sounds of batde without and the rhythmic dripping of demon blood from his axe to the marble floor.

'And on what do they confer, boy?' he said quiedy.

'The defence of the college,' said the youth. His face was red with anxiety and he couldn't keep his hands still.

'The defence which I alone conduct while they cower in their towers!' Tessaya's voice rang around the complex. In front of him, the youth jumped backwards. 'Get them down here now or so help me, boy, I will take my warriors and leave the demons to feast on your rotting souls.'

The youth hesitated.

'GO!'

The youth ran through into a curtained passage. Tessaya let his gaze travel around the people sitting in the complex. Some with swords resting on walls beside them. Some plainly mages, wringing their hands in their impotence.

'Is there not one of you with the desire to stand by me and live or die a hero? Yes, that's it. . turn away. Block your ears to what happens beyond your cocoon. The Wesmen are dying for you. And this is how you demonstrate your gratitude?' Tessaya shook his

head. 'There are those who have travelled the path of banishment by choice because they believe it the only way to victory, Each one of you I would gladly consign there as cowards in the lace of battle.'

There was a rustling of bodies and the odd mutter.

'So prove me wrong,' said Tessaya. 'Stand with the Wesmen. Fight for your lives.'

Movement from the passage revealed itself to be Dystran and the Dordovan, Vuldaroq. Behind them came two women, one an elf, and two more men, both soldiers, both scarred from battle. Tessaya recognised both women and one of the men. All three should have been resting after their ordeal in the playhouse and before on the road from Julatsa. He had heard their stories.

'Lord Tessaya, you asked to see me,' said Dystran, smiling and opening his arms in welcome.

T need support out there,' said Tessaya. 'You have men and mages idle. Give them to me. Right now, Wesmen and elves are keeping you alive. You have had your rest. It is time to fight.'

'Now we need to keep reserves and ensure the sanctity of the Heart. Our involvement will and must be on need alone.'

'That need is now,' growled Tessaya. 'My warriors die to protect you.' He pointed at Dila'heth and Pheone. 'Their people die to protect you. Be visible or we will leave you to your fate.'

'And what exactly do you suggest?' asked Dystran.

Tessaya sniffed. 'Spells will kill more enemy than swords ever will. We have seen that. Warriors will occupy their ul-karron, you must cast to destroy their commanders and their reserve.'

'My Lord Tessaya, you must know that we cannot cast inside the ColdRoom shells,' said Dystran.

'You must think me an ignorant savage,' said Tessaya, carefully holding onto his temper, 'if you think that pathetic excuse will impress me.'

'Now listen-'

'The elven mages stand at risk in the spaces between the castings they have made so we can fight and they do what they can. But they are not enough. Mages must travel outside the college. Come into the back of the demon lines and kill them where they wait the order to attack. Defence alone is no longer enough. It will not give The Raven time enough to act, should they be able to do so.'

Dystran paused and held up his hands in a placatory gesture.

'Now let's not get carried away. What you suggest sounds plausible but surely mages scattered outside the college will be committing suicide, not supporting the defence.'

'And is what we do for you any different? It is slow but we will be overwhelmed eventually. That is, unless we disrupt their chain of command and damage their morale and belief now. Now.'

'I'm sorry, Tessaya, but I will not commit my mages and warriors to battles they cannot win. Their souls are vulnerable in a way yours are not.'

'Vulnerability is no excuse for cowardice.' Tessaya took a pace towards Dystran, feeling his anger infuse his body. 'And that is what you are. You and all those that follow you and do your bidding. Cowards deserving of nothing but my contempt.'

'I will not stand by and let that slur stain me,' said the soldier Tessaya didn't recognise.

'And who are you, hiding behind your ruler's platitudes?'

'I am Chandyr, commander of the Xeteskian armies, such as they are.'

'Then stand by me, Chandyr. Fight for your freedom. You are clearly no stranger to battle. And you, Captain Suarav, my words do not apply to one such as you.'

'Chandyr, you will not walk outside of this complex without my express permission,' spat Dystran. T will not have this man making demands in my college.'

Chandyr walked calmly in front of Dystran. 'Go ahead and hide, Dystran. I will not do so. The fact is that Tessaya speaks wisely and you know he does. All stood here know that your decisions are based on your fear of the order of power should the demons be defeated and you will risk all of us to hang onto that power.'

'Commander Chandyr, I will say this just once,' began Dystran.

'Save it for someone who will listen,' said Chandyr. He tore the insignia from his chest and arms. 'I resign my commission and fight as a free man. And I encourage any who despair of your weakness to do the same.' Chandyr smiled. 'What of your power now? To cast to stop me you will have to place yourself at risk. I would like to see that, I really would. At least it would show some courage.'

Behind Chandyr, Tessaya nodded, knowing this man had true spirit. Here was a man he could respect and trust to fight next to him. Chandyr turned to him.

'Lord Tessaya, I place myself at your command.'

'As do I,' said Suarav.

'And already you are heroes. Come, let us do that which your leader dare not and try to save us all.' He jabbed a finger at Dystran. 'You have until dawn to schedule your remaining warriors and mages to the defence of this college or I will do it for you. Pheone, Dila'heth, I urge you, work with me.'

He turned and strode from the dome,his heart swelling with new belief and his brain racing with the possibilities. Should they defeat the demons, he would be the most powerful man on Balaia. He roared a battle cry and charged back into the fray in the dying light of a freezing day, his warriors at his back.

'How long is the journey?' asked Denser.

T don't know,' said Hirad. 'But they are coming. We'll have warning, I'm sure.'

He turned his head to the scene outside the cave. Demons crowded the entrance. Some strains he recognised, some he did not. In the darkening sky, he saw reavers hovering, screeching orders at the lesser demons in front of them. He saw ul-karron beating on the face of the Cone; and there were other, smaller wingless demons, completely hairless and pure white. Their thin fingers leeched into the Cone, trying to disrupt the construct. So far it was holding but there were signs of stress on Eilaan's face.

'How long can he hold on?' asked Thraun.

'Hard to say,' said Erienne. 'He will let us know if he comes under serious threat.'

The cave was quiet and warm. They were trying to relax. Erienne had slept for a long period and looked a little refreshed. Ark and The Unknown also slept as did the elven warrior trio. Outside, the cacophony would be undimmed but Denser's casting of a Sound-Bell had shut off the din, leaving them in a bubble of relative calm.

'We know Denser can cast the same spell. What can you do?' asked Hirad.

'Something similar but I'd be loath to try it. I need my strength, Hirad, and I don't need to experiment with new castings right now.'

'But if we had to call on you?'

'Hirad, do you really have to ask?'

The barbarian smiled. 'No. Just making conversation. All right,

let's try something else. How far does Eilaan reckon the power source is?'

'Close. Probably no more than a short run,' said Denser. 'It's impossible to say after that.'

'What will it be?'

Denser scratched at his beard. 'Gods, Hirad, how the hell do you expect me to know that? All we can tell is that it's a massive mana construct and it is driving mana out of this dimension and obviously into ours. There's still a significant density here but it's interesting that where we landed there was a relative lack. Whatever it is they have done, it is attracting mana into a huge concentration to pump it out.'

'What's interesting about that?'

'Well, that as far as our writings are concerned, what is happening is impossible. That makes whoever is doing this very powerful indeed. And we have to kill it or them. And that's after we get through the hordes waiting outside our front door.'

'Should be fun.'

T very much doubt it,' said Erienne.

'Now, surely it's your turn to get some rest, Hirad,' said Denser.

'What makes you say that?'

'Because your inane questioning is setting my teeth on edge.'

Hirad thought to retort but when he considered it, was too tired. The hours they'd had behind the ForceCone had allowed Denser and Erienne to deliver a few key healing casts and they were as fit as they would ever be. But nothing was going to take away the raw fatigue.

Hirad lay back on his pack, punching it into an acceptable pillow and trying to ignore the stink. He closed his eyes and was immediately suffused by feelings of warmth and speed.

'No time for rest, my Dragonene. We are come.'

Hirad shot to his feet. 'Game time, everyone. Hope you're feeling good. We're about to get help.'

Chapter 44

'Maces everyone, we aren't going to have spell back-up on the run. Mages, do whatever you can, just don't risk yourselves.'

The Unknown's words were bawled into the tumult from outside the ForceCone Eilaan still held. The Raven were formed up to run. Packs were discarded at the back of the cave, empty waterskins with them. The demons knew they were ready to break out. Their excitement had reached fever pitch and the thudding on the Force-Cone reached new pressure. Eilaan grunted.

'Just a little longer,' said Rebraal, his hand on the young mage's shoulder. 'You'll make a fine Al-Arynaar.'

'They have no idea what's about to happen,' said Hirad. 'No idea at all.'

He could feel the closeness of Sha-Kaan. The great dragon brought with him the largest assembly of his kind ever to fight together. It was going to be some spectacle. They were all homing in on Hirad's position and they all knew what they had to do. The only question remaining to be asked was whetiier they would prove to be enough.

They were just about to get their answer.

'Ready, Raven,' said Hirad. 'Here it comes.'

Hirad felt the jolt through him as Sha-Kaan entered the demon dimension. He heard the bark of die Great Kaan taken up by a thousand throats and the dragons joined the fight for survival. Shadows passed over the darkening landscape. Demon voices stilled then raised in alarm. Flame swept across the mouth of the cave and in a swath forty yards at least down the slope away from them. The demons in its path were simply obliterated, scorched to ash by the extraordinary heat. Never mind their mana protection, nothing withstood dragon breath.

'Yes!' Hirad punched the air. 'Come on Sha-Kaan.'

His mind warmed again. 'We are with you. You have safe exit.'

'Raven! Raven with me!'

Rebraal squeezed Eilaan's shoulder and the mage dispersed the ForceCone. He was dragged to his feet and the run began. Auum and Evunn sprinted from the cave and turned immediately right and away. The Raven followed in standard formation with Rebraal and Eilaan bringing up the rear.

The noise outside the SoundBell was a shock but not as much as the heat. Dragons had fired the air hotter than inside the cave. Rock was scarred black and smoking, dirt and stone had fused and where any vestiges of plant life had clung, they had been snuffed out in an instant. The ground was hot underfoot.

Of the demons who had been massed outside the cave there was no sign. Nothing at all. Hirad had time to shudder at the power the dragons generated and thanked the gods they were on his side.

Up in the skies the battle had already commenced. The heavens were darkened further by the mass of scale and wing that had appeared in the dimension and the element of surprise was being used to the full. Hundreds of reavers were in the sky with them but were being taken apart by flame and claw, crashing to the dead earth. And on the ground in front of The Raven, the demons were being swept aside as flight after flight screamed overhead, fire gushing from their mouths. Beyond the hills too, and out of sight, they could see the flare of flame brightening the sky. Dragons climbed above the horizon, chasing packs of winged demons, panicked into misguided attempts at escape. They might have been masters on Balaia but everywhere dragons went, they were undisputed lords of the skies.

It was glorious.

'Keep the pace up,' called The Unknown. 'They'll get themselves together sooner or later. Come on, Denser. This is what Darrick had you swimming round the ship for.'

They were heading up a steep slope. The stone was smoking from dragon fire and presented a hot and slick surface.

'Don't put your hands down,' warned Hirad. 'Keep moving.'

'Sound advice,' said Denser. 'You'll be sure and tell me when we get there just in case I don't realise.'

'Concentrate,' snapped The Unknown. 'No accidents. Not now.'

Reavers had gathered in the air ahead and they plunged Forty winged demons diving headlong, heedless of their lives, desperate to kill those that threatened them. Hirad raised his mace to a defensive position knowing it wouldn't be enough. He slipped almost immediately, planting the weapon in front of him to break his fall and push himself upright. He looked back to where the reavers were coming, saw the flash of scale to his right, and a blast of flame brushed them from his sight, squealing as they died, tumbling helpless from the sky.

The dragon pulled a tight circle and flew close, head snaking down.

'At the top of the next rise,' said Sha-Kaan. 'Where your elves have reached already. Wait for the signal. There are many enemies.'

And he was gone with a beat of his wings that almost knocked Hirad over. He reached flatter ground and looked after the mighty dragon, still in awe of his grace and speed. He ran on up the shallow slope to where Auum and Evunn waited, looking down.

'Right,' he said, reaching them ahead of the rest of The Raven. 'What have we. .'

His voice trailed away, caught in his throat. He sensed the rest of The Raven come to his sides and he felt their hearts sink.

'How the hell did we ever think we could achieve this?' asked Denser.

Hirad would have berated him for his lack of faith but couldn't find it within him to disagree. Stretched out below them, across a plain maybe half a mile long and four times that in width, was a carpet of demons. Tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, it was hard to tell in the half-light. It was a shifting mass, ordered and with one purpose. It moved towards a massive low edifice on which stood hundreds of spires angled out like the spines of a hedgehog. Each spike glistened and flashed at its end, and closer to the roots a maelstrom of colours danced and clashed.

The entire front of the edifice was open to the air. Hirad could see light within it and watched as demons entered its shadow and were lost in the brightness. Countless karron moved across the plain. Reavers flew in complex patterns overhead while strike-strain cavorted amongst them. The long-fingered albinos issued slowly towards the edifice, trailed by the mana gliders. And around the

periphery masters floated on their tentacle beds, directing the remorseless advance.

But there was consternation in the ranks of the enemy. Not every demon was intent on its goal and eyes had been turned behind from where a threat had risen quite without warning. Even now, cohorts of karron were racing for the rise on which The Raven stood. Great clouds of reavers chattered and grouped, flying high to assess, and strike-strain bunched and flocked.

'Dear Gods,' said Erienne. 'At least it'll be over soon.'

Above, the sky darkened and a wind blew straight down on their heads. Hirad looked back and a smile crossed his face. There they were, moving serenely across the heavens in drilled formations on two levels. He recognised Kaan colouring in the vanguard with Naik red flanking them. He saw Veret blue in the upper skies mixed with sand-yellow and deep green from broods of which he had no knowledge. They were poised.

'It's never over,' he said. 'Raven. Once again. Let's be ready to run. But first, I think we should crouch or we'll be blown away.'

The dragons attacked. Sha-Kaan's bark echoed loud and was washed away in the beat of three thousand wings. Hundreds of dragons power-dived down the slope, passing just a few feet above their heads. Fire belched from their mouths left, right and always down. The karron approaching up the slope were destroyed in the blink of an eye but the attack did not pause there. Sha-Kaan led his legions onto the plain and the demons scattered before them.

Fire gorged again and again. From every mouth, heat singed the flesh from demon backs, blew them aside in their hundreds and drove an expanding wedge all the way to the edifice. Above them, the second wave stormed into the attack. Keeping high, they took reavers and strike-strain from the sky, the bodies falling like rain on the packed earth.

Hirad could only stand and stare at the extraordinary force ranged above him. Flame banished the dark, orange after-echoes ringing his vision. The sky was full of the huge bulk of dragons, die roar of a thousand mouths and the panicked cries of demons being slaughtered in their homeland. The fight in the sky waged as far as he could see in every direction until the dark swallowed it. The stench of burned flesh assaulted his nostrils.

On the ground the demon armies were scattered and running and watching it all, The Raven and a handful of elves. Pitifully few looking for a way through this battle of ancient enemies. Two species locked in war across dimensions and the centuries, facing each other in mass conflict for perhaps the first time.

Hirad felt indescribably small. He shivered despite the heat beat-ing in from all around him and brought himself back to their immediate situation. Reavers were flying in from every point of the compass, rising from hiding places surrounding the plain. And despite the dragons' awesome power, their flame without fuel was finite. The time to move was now.

'Go! Go!'

The Raven and TaiGefhen surged down the slope at full tilt. Ahead, the dragons had reached the end of their run and already the demons were crowding back into the centre of the plain, running for the only safety they could see. The Kaan led the glide up into the air and down they swooped again. More fire, more death, more screams of demons echoing unheeded into the air.

Hirad felt the heat on his face. His legs and arms pumped and his eyes scanned the ground ahead, looking for anything that might trip him up. Occasionally, he glanced upwards and each time he did, he saw the fight beginning to balance. Reavers had organised themselves into attack groups and were falling on dragons from above and behind. Ten and twenty on a single back, clawing and biting. They tore scales out by the root while strike-strain confused their prey, clawing at muzzles, necks and softer underbellies. He saw his allies begin to falter, attack runs break up as thousands more reavers appeared from hiding behind the edifice, screaming challenge.

They hit smouldering flat ground. Sha-Kaan and his wave soared over their heads and climbed again, themselves the targets of reavers now. Karron closed on the ground. Albinos sprinted in front of them, scampering stride driven on by powerful hind legs.

'Don't look back!' yelled Hirad, doing exactly that.

The ranks had closed behind them but above, dragons were coming in. Sha-Kaan had broken his wave into three. One shot straight overhead, scouring the path clear once more. The beat of wings weighed down the runners, the heat from dragon fire burned into their lungs. Each of them stumbled more than once but always there was a Raven hand to keep them up and forward.

The second and third waves passed by left to right, one in front, one behind. Fire lashed across their path and Hirad felt the heat bloom behind them as well. He didn't risk a glance back this time, imagining the carnage that would have been created in an instant.

They were closing on the edifice but now the dragons were beginning to fall. A mournful roar to their right and a Veret thudded into the ground, sending vibration through their feet. Nearby another flew low, spiralling in the air, trying desperately to shake off the reavers that tore at its body and wings. It failed, ploughing into the earth and sending up a spray of mud, stone and demons. A third plummeted straight down, landing just off the path ahead. Too many, too regular.

The flame was guttering now. Less and less, the night was lit by new fire from dragons' mouths. More and more they were fighting with tooth, tail and claw. And that was a fight they would not necessarily win.

Hirad upped his pace, gaining a little on Auum and Evunn who ran at the periphery of the fire-blasted path, blades out and held against an onrushing enemy. Again, the dragons came in. Fewer this time as more were tied up in the battle overhead. Sha-Kaan was still there. Hirad saw his mouth open and fire lash ahead. He saw demons flung burning into the sky, others disappear in the melt of the flames and still more dive aside, rolling and burning.

He could make out the detail of the edifice now. Its open front was crowded with demons, looking out at the destruction wreaked by their enemies. The stone above the wide entrance was decked with swirls and scratches, as if some great claws had raked across it while it was forming. The spines atop it throbbed and glowed, attracting mana to them. He could see clouds of the fuel coalescing in the air and felt swaths of cold in between the heat of dragon fire.

But one thing was absolutely certain. They weren't going to get inside.

'Sha-Kaan!' he yelled, pulsing simultaneously, trying to hang onto his limbs and keep running. He stumbled. Thraun caught his shoulder and steadied him. 'Sha-Kaan! The entrance. You have to clear the entrance.'

Karron closed in. Ahead, Auum swayed left and struck out, sending an enemy sprawling. On the next pace he leaped into the air, coming into a full tuck and rolling over the karron's head. He landed behind it, spun and kicked out, catching the back of its head. It fell flat on its face and the TaiGethen turned and ran on. In his wake came Hirad. The karron raised its head only to take the barbarian's mace square-on. He felt the satisfying crush of bone.

'Don't stop. Keep running!'

Hirad felt a warmth spread across his mind.

'Be ready to duck,' came the voice of the Great Kaan.

Six dragons flew overhead, Sha-Kaan leading them. His fire scorched the ground and he pulled up, the last remnants of flame shrivelling spines on the roof of the edifice. But the other five had no such intentions. They drove on, unflinching. Mouths open, disgorged killing fire into the entrance. And in they followed it. Wings caught in stone, bodies connected with the massive lintel and they crashed hard, sliding inside, bellowing pain. Stone shivered and fell. Wrecked spines were shaken from the roof to shatter on the ground. Dust filled the air. They had almost done too much. Five Kaan all but sealed the entrance. Up in the sky, Sha-Kaan barked respect for their sacrifice.

'Do not let it be wasted,' he toned in Hirad's mind.

'Raven let's go!'

More fire swept across and behind them. Right above his head he felt the beat of wings and the snap of jaws. A Naik dragon soared away, reavers in its mouth. It bit down and spat the pieces to the ground. But while it flew free, so many of its brethren were weakening under the concerted attack of many thousands of reavers.

Auum and Evunn had made the entrance. They found a path through broken dragon bodies and picked their way through the fires that pitted it. Inside, Hirad could see demons moving but he wasn't sure how many.

'Mages, we're going to need you.'

One last glance behind. They were all with him. The Unknown and Thraun either side of Erienne. Rebraal with Denser; and Ark, a flap of skin hanging from his cheek, shepherding Eilaan. Hirad ducked inside the edifice. He squeezed by the flanks of two Kaan, letting his hand trail across their cracked scales, feeling their lives ebb away. He whispered words of thanks but had no time to stop to pay them proper respect. The Raven followed him in.

Inside, it stank of burned flesh and dragon, sharp oil and wood. It was thick with smoke and he coughed each time he drew a heaving breath. He took quick stock of direction but there was only one way to go.

The edifice was one huge room, dominated by the shimmering brightness they had seen from the rise. It cut a slash clear across the bedrock floor, wall to wall. Light danced in the air and off the crude murals that adorned every vertical surface. He didn't need to be told what the shimmering was, that much was obvious. All he cared about were the two stone pathways that crossed its centre and the sight that greeted him on the other side.

'My friends, you are in big, big trouble.'

He turned and yelled for Erienne but behind her every demon left standing was trying to get inside.

The light was fading but the ferocity of the demon attack had not abated. The Wesmen had been driven back across the courtyard and were now in possession of just half of it. They had lost both barracks and long rooms plus the ColdRoom mages therein and now the library was once again threatened as was the mana bowl on the other side of the complex.

Dystran watched from his tower while his fury turned to admiration and his arrogance to shame. Down in front of the steps, Tessaya, Chandyr and Suarav fought side by side. The Wesmen lord was indefatigable. His axe in both hands, he chopped an ul-karron in two, shoulder to waist, and had turned to strike at the next before it had directed its pincers to hold him.

Suarav was a man possessed. His head was a mass of blood but he fought like a fresh entrant. His sword snaked out, piercing karron eyes, his dagger weaved in front of him, chopping at pincers. He ducked, twisted and swayed, defying hammer or spike to touch him, and he roared his disdain at them. Put furs on him and you would have sworn he was a Wesman.

And lastly Chandyr. He was the skilled fighter. The one in Ry Darrick's image. He and three other Xeteskian soldiers fought as a tight quartet, each targeting a separate point in the enemies they

faced. Chandyr focused on the killing thrusts while his men blocked pincer and limb with axe and mace. It was mesmerising but ultimately it would be futile. Above the shell, the masters floated, directing their forces in ever more focused attack. Reavers were taking their toll on the back of the lines now, looming out of the gathering darkness to split skulls, rake throats and steal souls. And outside what was left of the walls, Ul-karron paced forwards while more of their number spilled from the gap in the sky to glide quickly down on gossamer wings that stowed in folds of flesh as they landed hard.

A single shout of alarm echoed up the tower. It was Chandyr's voice. Dystran's gaze snapped round and down. One of his men had taken a spike through his head. He was stuck on the limb and his corpse was thrashed through the air. It swept into another of Chandyr's men not fast enough to duck. Cruelly exposed, Chandyr bounced to his feet, blocked away a second enemy but, with Tessaya's axe slicing through the air to his defence, was unable to escape the third. The hammer came down on top of his skull and drove his body to the ground. The ul-karron exulted; and died.

Dystran tensed. 'All my fault,' he muttered.

He looked across to his left around the balcony where Pheone and Dila'heth stood. Their mages were already outside the college backed by elven warriors. He had seen spells light up the evening. IceWind and FlameOrb destroying enemies only for more to take their place. No, something more drastic was called for.

Dystran looked right instead. 'Sharyr, who's the heavier, me or you?'

Sharyr dragged himself from the fight below. He was living every' sweep of Suarav's sword. 'You, I think.'

'I agree. Then I will carry you. Pheone, go and tell the ColdRoom casters to lower the shell to below the level of this balcony. Just for a short time. Dila'heth will tell you when it should be reverted. Sharyr, we're going flying. I'll take you places, you kill what's in front of you. All right?'

A smile spread across Sharyr's face. 'Yes, my Lord.'

Pheone was already on her way. Dila'heth raised her eyebrows.

'Are you sure that's wise?' she asked.

'Never order that which you would not do yourself,' said Dystran.

'That's what Tessaya says, as I understand it. Time to admit he was right, I think. Sharyr, stand in front of me.'

Mana played over his face and imbued his veins with energy. He felt awakened. Free. He cast quickly, the wings at his back in moments. He put an arm under Sharyr's knees, the other across his back and under his arms, and took off, hearing Dila'heth shouting Pheone's name as he did so.

'Time to bring down one of the big bastards,' he said to Sharyr. 'You comfortable?'

'It'll have to do.'

'Focused Orb, my friend. I'll get you in close. Tell me when you're ready.'

He flew straight up and looked all around him. Even though Shaiyr was lighter for the lack of food over two years, he was still a weight in Dystran's arms for the same reason. They were only going to get one chance at this. He could see no one rising to attack him. It was hardly a surprise. Every demon eye was focused on the battle they were winning in the college courtyard. He circled, picking out the demon master, Drenoul, silhouetted in the light of Wesmen fires below him. Perfect. He wondered why they hadn't thought of this before but then Tessaya hadn't been in the college grounds before.

'Ready.'

'Cast on my command then we're away. We'll drop to the balcony. It'll hurt but at least we'll be alive.'

'You're in charge.'

'Correct.'

Clutching Sharyr as tight as he could, Dystran moved almost directly above Drenoul. Still unseen, he dropped, feet first and fast, coming to an abrupt halt next to the demon master.

'Surprise,' he said. Drenoul swivelled, eyes widening. He reached out his hands but Dystran was carefully out of reach. 'Tut, tut,' he said. 'Now. Die.'

Sharyr cast. The deep blue focused Orb seared across the short distance and took Drenoul in the face. He screamed and shot straight up, the flame spreading quickly over his body. Dystran was already powering away back towards die tower when Drenoul's tentacles caught fire and he plunged to die ground, howling all the way.