Raven #01 - Dawnthief by James Barclay

Author:James Barclay [Barclay, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-04-14T21:00:00+00:00

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248

‘You don’t think you might have at least mentioned you’d requested a Protector?’ asked Ilkar. He had kept his silence on the subject throughout a rather tense afternoon, preferring to let Hirad believe it was part of a plan agreed while the barbarian was still comatose.

But now Hirad was asleep, resting under Erienne’s final WarmHeal, and the sun had disappeared behind night.

Ilkar and Denser were sitting alone on the front steps of the castle, taking in the warm late evening air. The Xeteskian’s pipe was, as ever, between his teeth. The cat was nowhere to be seen.

‘Would it have made any difference?’

‘Courtesy is such a simple thing to observe,’ said Ilkar testily.

‘Then I apologise. But I did not request the Protector. Xetesk believes he is necessary to my security.’

‘I bet.’

‘Why must you always take the negative view?’ Denser refilled the bowl of his pipe and tamped down the tobacco. ‘This has nothing to do with the ultimate return of Dawnthief to Xetesk.’ He lit the pipe, blew a smoke ring. ‘It would be easier for us all if it was.’

‘And how do you come by that conclusion?’

‘Well, things are getting more complex out in the big wide world we seem to have left behind.’

‘Complex.’ Ilkar was immediately worried. Denser had a habit for understatement. ‘Things’ were possibly very bad.

‘There’s something you have to know. I’ve had a report on the Triverne Lake meeting. There is a four-College agreement which deals with the raising of an army to defend Understone Pass and Triverne Inlet. Apparently, they are trusting Blackthorne and Gresse with the defence of the Bay of Gyernath.

‘Unfortunately, the rest of the KTA have chosen to ignore the warnings and it’s leaving the country largely undefended should the Wesmen break through our lines.’

‘Sounds about right. And how did they react to the news that we were after Dawnthief?’ asked Ilkar, imagining the sparks flying.

Denser said nothing.

‘Well?’

His smile faltered. ‘There was no news. We didn’t tell them.’

‘I beg your pardon?’

249

‘The other Colleges have no idea that we are looking for Dawnthief,’ Denser looked away.

Ilkar’s ears pricked and his eyes narrowed to slits, blood boiling in his head. He stood up, unable to sit beside the Xeteskian.

‘How stupid of me to think that Xetesk might consider a Wytch Lord-backed Wesmen invasion more important than their own advancement.’ Ilkar breathed deeply. ‘You know, I was beginning to believe that Xetesk had really turned the corner. And now it seems that their prime objective isn’t to see our country out of this crisis, it’s to be sure they are dominant should we win.’

‘But it isn’t the way I think,’ said Denser.

‘No?’

‘No!’ Denser’s face coloured. ‘Why do you think I told you in the first place?’

‘Because it would have been pretty bloody obvious when we got to Dordover and didn’t find them standing at the gates with the ring gift-wrapped for us, that’s why!’

‘I understand you must be angry,’ said Denser.

‘I don’t think you understand anything at all!’ stormed Ilkar.

‘Your College is expecting us to go on fighting and dying and not for the greater good of Balaia.

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