Jack of Ravens

2

Church and Tom rode to the top of the rise and looked down on the Court of the Final Word. It was like a Roman temple, majestic in gleaming white marble, with Doric columns supporting a portico that towered over a pair of brass doors that could have admitted ten men standing on each other’s shoulders. The pure white light that reflected off the extensive complex spread for at least ten square miles across the floor of the sunlit valley. The court was so large that a river ran through the centre of it, and numerous smaller tributaries emerged from under the walls. At the point where the river flowed out of the court the waters ran red.

‘One entrance, see.’ Tom indicated the brass doors.

Church could see the Rhymer was shaking. ‘Are you all right?’

‘No,’ Tom snapped. ‘And if you ever get inside that place you’ll see why.’ With trembling hands he rolled himself a smoke and dragged on it to calm himself. ‘I don’t know if I can go any nearer. I don’t know if I can carry on doing this at all. There’s nothing written that says just because I can see what’s coming, I should have to play some part in preventing it. I could walk away. I might just do that. Make the most of what little time I’ve got left.’

‘It’s your choice, Tom. And nobody would think badly of you for doing that. But I’d miss your advice-’

Tom snorted.

‘When you actually give me any. You’re a cryptic, miserable bastard, but you’re the only person I can rely on round here.’

‘By default, then,’ Tom said. ‘And isn’t that a pathetic state of affairs. You’re a poor excuse for a king, and I’m a pitiable example of a wise man. We both have a lot to learn and we need to find some fast ways of doing it.’

Church looked back at the brooding presence of the Court of the Final Word. ‘There are too many priorities — get in there and retrieve my Pendragon Spirit, return to our world and destroy the skull and box, stop Veitch killing any more Brothers and Sisters of Dragons-’

‘That’s why there should be five of you. Can’t do it on your own.’

‘So there’s no other way in there?’

‘One door. Like death, once you pass through it you’re changed for ever.’

Reluctantly, Church turned his horse around and headed back down the rise. Tom followed. ‘So how am I supposed to do this without Shavi and Laura?’ he said. ‘And Ruth?’