Chapter 10

Fallout

Holding the torch high over his head, Thaler walked before them. If Regis was right, he would be a fool not to worry, and Thaler didn't seem to be foolish. Sirendor glanced at his right. Will was holding himself well, but the hand with which he brushed his hair back more often than necessary was trembling. Sirendor couldn't blame him. He had never fought anything that wasn't human before his death and the thought that for the rest of the Raven that had become something close to normal made him wonder if he could still adjust.

The darkness beyond the reach of the torch was so complete Sirendor doubted anyone could see here. 'From what I know,' he said, and his voice penetrating the silence seemed like a violation, 'you need some light to see anything. Mutant or not.'

'What the mutations don't do for them they compensate with potions. Potions toxic enough to kill anyone else. I would, however, suggest that we delay further discussion of the matter. Silence is a good idea.' His entire demeanour had changed, Sirendor noticed. For the first time he felt he was facing a man he could respect. It wasn't the change in his language and tone as much as the calm he radiated. Sirendor nodded his agreement.

The catacombs were a system of narrow hallways, labyrinthine and by the looks of it designed on a drawing board. They followed the same corridor for a while before Thaler turned left. The walls exuded cold moisture, and Sirendor wondered if the place would be flooded if someone attacked them with a chisel. He sincerely hoped that Thaler knew where he was going. He wanted to ask, but wouldn't risk speaking.

Thaler stopped so abruptly Sirendor and Will nearly walked into him. The corridor opened into a wider hall. The Temerian entered cautiously and gestured to them to stay behind. There was another corridor leading out of the room, but it seemed they were where they wanted to be. Thaler vanished into the passage but came back after less than a minute. 'Right,' he said quietly. 'That entrance is in a much better state, so I think it's the one used by the organisation. I don't know where it reaches the surface, so we'll go out the way we came. Let's search this place, but we shouldn't make more of a mess than we have to.'

Will unlocked a single cabinet holding vials, probably with potions. All of them, about twenty, were greenish. Thaler took one from the back of the cabinet. The rest of the contents were parchment. Uncountable scrolls, books, and scraps of parchment that had been written on in various different hands. They were all dated, and they took some of the scrolls with them. Only then did they look at the other things stored in the room. There was a strange device they tried to get to do something without any success. The construct was made of metal and a crystal, and Sirendor strongly suspected it belonged to a mage. There was also a large still, a smaller one, a collection of herbs and substances that would make Regis envious, and a small stove with a pot with the residue of something unknown. Will scraped a bit of it onto his knife and smeared it to a cloth he then carefully stashed away.

'Right,' said Thaler. 'Let's see where these things leave us. We've lingered long enough.' Will had removed the pot from the stove and was investigating the burner. 'Will. Come.'

The thief looked at Thaler. 'What's your hurry, all of a sudden?'

Thaler shrugged. 'We don't know how often and when these people meet. We should get out.'

Will put the pot back and came, albeit unwillingly. Thaler looked towards the way into the catacombs and froze. The two Raven men followed his gaze and swallowed.

Something was coming through the corridor they had used, making slow but steady progress. It moved completely soundlessly. Thaler swallowed. 'Run,' he said, his voice rough. 'Run for your lives.' Sirendor grabbed Will's arm and dragged the frozen man towards the other exit and after Thaler, who was pale with fear but waited rather than bolting with their only light. Sirendor made a mental note to thank him when they got out. He refused to think if.

Unlike their way into the hall, this passage had a tiled floor and smooth walls that didn't look like you could bore a hole into them with your bare finger. Urn niches and side passages flew past. They always slowed slightly at the latter, making sure they were heading the right way. Their flight ended abruptly before a door. Thaler swore, pressed against the wall and let Will through.

The little man's hands were shaking. The creature following them was no longer trying to move quietly. They couldn't see it, but it could be heard all too clearly, every sound magnified in the narrow space. It clicked, the door opened outwards, and Will all but fell out of the corridor. Thaler and Sirendor were on his heels, slamming the door shut behind them.

They were in another crypt, whose door was open, allowing in the moonlight. They ran out as fast as they could. 'No resting. That door won't hold it.' Still running but less frightened in the light, they headed through the labyrinth of crypts to the fencing, climbed over it, and found themselves at the edge of the city. Only now Thaler flung the torch away and they allowed themselves to catch their breaths.

'What was that?' Will asked. His voice was awed but firm. Sirendor still didn't trust himself with speech. Thaler looked back behind them, but his searching eyes found nothing.

'A ghoul. Or something more sinister I do not wish to contemplate.' The spy rubbed a hand over his face. 'I'm certain this thing has destroyed the door. They'll be more careful. We cannot go back there.' He leaned forwards, supporting his hands from his knees. 'I'm getting too old for this.'

'How did it find us?'

Thaler shrugged. 'I don't know that much about monsters, but I assume it heard or smelled us. The mage probably shielded their meetings. Well, at least we have something. Let's go back. I have a sinking feeling this isn't over.'

Ϡ

Sleep wasn't an option, so they sat in the common room of the inn, all very tired, but none willing to leave. Regis and Shani were with them, the former radiating a calm none of the Raven felt. It was like Hirad had said: They didn't work apart. Whenever they had, things had gone wrong. When Regis broke the silence, they jumped. His voice was very quiet.

'I have very good ears, you have to know. And I hear the group in the back room. One of them is a mage, I assume, and something has alerted him. I assume it's your men and Thaler. We should wait for them outside and ask politely.' Without waiting for a reaction, he rose. 'We should leave. It's getting dark and we have far to go.' This time he spoke normally.

The Unknown nodded. 'Right. Let's walk, Raven.' They stepped outside into the darkness. 'Now what?'

Regis led the way past the yew trees and to the left. 'Now you listen. The men in the back room got a signal, an alarm of some description. They also seem to think that the intruders will be sorted out, but they do not want to rely on it.'

Hirad glared towards the door. 'What do they mean?'

'Monsters, Hirad. But we cannot do anything about that right now. We have to make sure they aren't overrun by a very human enemy.'

'How do they even know?' The Unknown asked.

'I assume there was some alarm system that went off and informed the mage in charge.' Regis smiled. 'Ironic, really, that I didn't want to go because I wanted to avoid mages.'

'Where do we wait for them?'

Hirad answered at once. 'The graveyard. There we attack anything that doesn't belong there.'

Regis nodded. 'I'm afraid I don't have a better plan. Shani, I ask you to stay at an old friend of mine near it. Again, we might need a medic, and I am going to help the Raven.'

'Why?' The Unknown asked.

Regis looked at him. 'I have my own reasons, but this isn't the time to discuss them. Please follow me.'

They did. Shani waited in the house of a middle-aged-looking woman Regis told her was a vampire too. They kept their eyes outside the window, but saw nothing past the wall of the graveyard. Shani had to swallow her fear of her but promised Regis she would stay.

'The catacombs,' Regis told the Raven outside, 'have several entrances. I know about four, but there are probably more. We haven't the faintest idea where Thaler entered. We haven't any idea how he intended to navigate, so I suppose we'd best remain outside.'

'This is a large graveyard,' The Unknown said.

'It is. I am very glad that I do not have to decide tactics. I do as you tell me.'

The Unknown folded his arms. 'I'll ask again: Why?'

Regis smiled. 'If I'd refused to come, Shani would have. And weakened or not, I'm tougher to kill.'

The Unknown nodded. 'Right. Tactics. We fan out. No one ever goes alone. That's for you too, Regis: Don't do anything alone, and don't kill someone who has nothing to do with this. This is a public place, we cannot go and slaughter people for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.'

'I agree.'

'Good, but this wasn't a question. Our goal isn't to kill but to help. We watch and attack when challenged. We want to find our people once they come out of this damned place and make sure they get back to the inn safely. We also make sure no one can enter the crypts. That's all.'

'Unknown, a suggestion,' Ilkar said. 'These entrances, I assume they are all within shouting range?' The vampire nodded. 'Good. I think we should guard these four entrances. If no one comes it's just as well. If they do we stop them. We just have to assume they won't use an entrance we cannot spot. How many can they be, really?'

The Unknown nodded. 'Good idea. Erienne, you go with Thraun. Hirad and Ilkar, you two. Denser, you're with me. Jandyr, Regis, you take the last crypt. Where are these entrances?'

Regis indicated them quickly and they split up.

Ϡ

Regis and Jandyr headed to the farthest crypt. 'They can't hear us from here.' the archer asked.

Regis smiled grimly. 'No. But I can hear them and they can hear each other because the other entrances are closer. If you need to rest, do that. I'll stay alert.'

Jandyr looked at him. 'Promise to wake me if something happens?'

Regis nodded. 'Of course.'

Ϡ

'Right. This must be it.' Ilkar stopped next to the crypt.

'Ilkar?' The elf looked at his friend. 'I'm scared. I don't know why.'

'Because it's just the two of us, and I'm no good.'

Hirad bridled. 'Don't underestimate yourself. You're good with a sword.'

Ilkar raised his eyebrows. 'I thought you didn't remember.'

'I was kidding, Ilks.'

The Julatsan sighed. 'You're scared for them, not us, right?' Hirad merely nodded. 'They'll be all right. They must be. Thaler doesn't seem stupid, and they all know how to defend themselves.'

'You're not trying to cast, right? Don't take a risk.'

'You know me, Hirad. I'm not reckless.'

Hirad looked at him hard. 'Promise me. I can't watch you die ever again. I just can't.'

Ilkar returned the gaze. 'I promise.'

Ϡ

Thraun knelt before the entrance and examined the ground. 'This is where they entered. Look.'

Erienne smiled. 'I'm no good as a tracker, but I trust you fully, Thraun.'

'Are you all right, Erienne? After what happened? You scared us all.'

'I feel … I feel wonderful. More in control of the One magic than I ever have before. I don't know what Regis did, but it was exactly what I needed.' She smiled. 'He'll come back safely. I'm sure he will.'

Thraun closed his eyes as if listening, then he nodded slowly. 'I'd feel it if something had happened to Will. I know I would. Does that sound stupid?'

Erienne reached up and caressed the tall man's cheek. 'No. Not at all.'

Ϡ

Denser saw them first. 'There.' He drew his sword. The Unknown mirrored him and tapped the blade rhythmically to the ground. Five men approached. Two figures with crossbows could be seen behind them.

'Halt.' The voice of The Unknown wasn't loud but had the authority to stop them. 'Have you come to mourn?'

One of the armed men folded his arms. 'There are intruders in our property. I assume they're friends of yours.'

'They are. I invite you to wait for them with us, then we can discuss the matter.'

'You're just two. Step aside or we'll walk over your corpses.' The man who had spoken now was tall and slim and looked rather grim. He had his hand on the hilt of his sword. He drew it and attacked without further warning.

Ϡ

Regis had heard the exchange. Jandyr was on his feet before he could say anything. 'I wasn't sleeping. You heard something?' Regis pointed to the other crypt. He wanted to leave the archer behind and make a break for them, but decided to follow The Unknown's order and stay close to him. As soon as they were within shooting range, Jandyr nocked an arrow but held the bow loosely while there was no immediate threat. Regis prepared himself for a fight.

Ϡ

Hirad and Ilkar saw them. 'You watch out, Ilks.'

The elf drew his sword. 'No confidence in me, after all?'

'I've got confidence in you all right, but you don't. That's worse. Now let's go.'

Ilkar stalled him. 'Wait. Let's surprise them if we must attack. Thraun and Erienne are coming, and Thraun's hard to overlook.'

'She casting?'

Ilkar watched her intently. 'Looks like it. Hirad, if you've ever felt like praying, now's the time.'

'Why?'

'Because I have no idea what Regis did to her mind, and neither does she.'

Ϡ

'HardShield up.' Thraun stared at her. 'What? I said I can cast. You go and fight. The crossbows can't get you. Trust me.' The big warrior nodded, drew, and approached The Unknown and Denser.

Later, none of them could say how it had happened. It had all gone too fast. The grim man, who had first drawn his blade, had launched himself at Denser and The Unknown, followed immediately by his men. However, halfway there, he had dropped his sword, grinned, and fire had erupted from his hands. His target was Denser, who had his hands full with one of the swordsmen. The Unknown saw the danger and darted towards him to ram him out of the way.

Thraun roared and launched himself at the enemy mage at the same time as Hirad, but Regis was faster than either of them. With inhuman speed he was there, threw one arm around the man's throat and used the other to lock both his hands close to him in a violent parody of an embrace. 'I don't think so,' he hissed at him. For a moment he struggled with the impulse to dig his fangs into the mage's neck, and the urge was so unexpected he nearly succumbed. The heavy scent of blood in the air didn't help. With a huge effort, he shook the thoughts of the warm liquid running down his throat away from his mind. 'You're too much trouble,' he told the mage conversationally. 'I'll take one for the team. If you meet Vilgefortz on the other side, send my regards.' With an almost casual gesture, he broke his neck. One of the crossbowmen was fleeing. Regis made sure the situation was under control before he followed and caught him by the scruff of his neck. He disarmed him easily, spun him around, and indicated the body of the mage. 'If you don't want to lie next to him, you cease struggling. You see, I'm not feeling that well, and when I don't feel that well, I'm not very patient.' He said all that very quietly, but it worked. The man stilled and was steered towards the abating fight meekly.

Regis didn't have much time to savour his victory over himself. He very nearly let go of his captive, stared at the body the Raven were approaching. He thought that the expression on Hirad's scarred face was very likely similar to what Geralt had looked like when Vilgefortz had launched his magical attack on him. But Regis wasn't human and beginning to wonder himself how hard it would be to kill him. This was a different matter.

The magical fire had only brushed Denser's shoulder, and the Xeteskian had patted it out quickly. But being magical fire, it had raged in his body, even if the only visible mark was where he had been struck. He was alive, but barely. Thraun and Hirad were helping him along the way, but Regis knew they were supporting a man who was as good as dead. He knew he should tell them, but he didn't have the heart. He let them walk to the house where Shani was waiting, while he said he would find Sirendor, Will, and Thaler. If the two Raven men wanted to say their good-byes, he would have to be quick.

((It's official: I'm evil. I hadn't planned this. Someone else got a reprieve, if that's any comfort. I wonder for how long.))