Night Calls the Raven (Book 2 of The Master of the Tane) (61 page)

Ask
.

He glanced down at the passing grass and dirt as they sped on, the wolgs again at their heels.

Earth child
.
Ask
.

Not really thinking about what he was doing, he put his trust in Chtey that his friend would carry him and make certain he didn’t fall off his back as he turned his concentration to the ground. Sending his senses out as they passed, he called to the dirt, to the rocks, to the hard ground searching for something that he could use; something that would answer his call. His mind was suddenly filled with many voices, not just one, but as if a chorus was answering back. He tried to make his needs known, but as soon as he felt there was a connection it slipped away and was filled by another. He was going too fast. He wasn’t even certain of what it was he did or who it was that answered his call, but he knew that racing along on a horse was not going to allow him to complete and maintain a link. He had to stop.

Bumping his legs against Chtey’s sides, he willed his horse forward. Chtey responded immediately, no longer staying with the other horses, he kicked forward and was suddenly pulling ahead of the others, outrunning the wolgs as he left them all behind. He wanted to go further, but at a hundred yards ahead he knew he had to make his stand or the following wolgs would soon overtake the others. Pulling slightly back on Chtey’s mane, his horse responded, planting his hooves into the wet dirt. Thane used his forward momentum to jump forward off his horse and landed softly on his feet. Not wasting time to see how fast the others came up, with the jaws of death moments behind, he sent his senses plunging into the soil, letting his need be known as he went.

Almost immediately he was met by what he thought were voices instantly responding to his call. But they were not voices at all. They were feelings, wisps of memories, ancient wisdoms but without a voice as one used to converse. They were the essence of life itself. He felt foolish and insignificant in their presence yet they did not push him away or show anger at his intrusion. On the contrary, they cradled him, welcomed him, and whispered millennia of history and experience to his mind and heart. He suddenly felt as if he were falling into deep pools that continued through time without end. He felt he knew the reaches of eternity, understanding its immensity.

A tremor suddenly crossed over the voices and Thane could hear the distant sounds of horses and men. He felt he should know something about them, but the voices kept caressing his mind, calling him deeper, and showing him more. Then there was another sound; this one not as loud as the thunder of a horse, yet far more dark and foreboding. It approached quickly. He could feel its hatred, its yearning for blood, its need to taste flesh and he suddenly felt rising in his breast a great sense of need.
Hold it back
, he thought, conversing with the voices.
Protect me
!

With a jerk, he felt himself cast away from the essence that had seized and cradled him as he came to himself staring at the ground and surrounded by horses. He looked up and saw the others around him, their swords at the ready as the wolgs closed the last few feet to reach them.

Thane shook his head, brushing away the last sweet feelings of eternity as he reached for his swords, knowing he had not the time to regain Chtey’s back before they were once again engaged in battle. One of the wolgs leaped, honing in on the easy prey that was Thane now standing, no longer perched on his horse. He could see the certain death in the wolg’s eyes as it stretched out its claws, its muzzle pulled back in a wicked sneer of teeth, the drool for the kill spraying against its fur. Jne, who sat mounted at his side, was already moving her sword down to intercept it while Erl’s equally wicked and fierce growl emitted from his throat, preparing to spring to Thane’s defense. The wolg reached its peak and then started its descent of death.

The ground suddenly erupted under Thane’s feet pushing him and his friends gently back on a wave of dirt, while a large hand made of rock, soil and grass rose out of the plains and grabbed the wolg right out of the air, pulling it down and disappearing with it back into the loam. Thane watched in astonishment as a second hand shot up and grabbed another one pulling it under to quickly stifle its yelps. Undeterred by the strange demise of two of their own, three more wolgs shot forward, their target still the easy kill that Thane should have been.

Thane and the others watched in amazement, as the ground seemed to scream its anger at the wolg’s impunity in the face of its majesty. But this time, no hand shot from the ground to snatch the wolgs from their prey. Instead, the plains shook as a giant head rose from the soil, roaring its challenge as it did so, catching all three wolgs in its mouth before diving back down into the dirt. The other wolgs suddenly stopped, many growling their disappointment while others howled to the air their rage.

Thane jumped back onto Chtey’s back, not willing to wait and see how much more help the ground would be; convinced that now was their chance to finally get away. Calling to the others, he pushed Chtey into a fast gallop that all could match and they raced headlong toward Haykon.
Everyone followed, many heads turning back as they did so to see more hands reaching out of the ground to take down any that dared try and follow.

Soon the sound of frustrated howling was left far behind.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Thane slammed his fist onto the council table. They had been at it for at least an hour now and still he had not been able to convince them of reason. The same members were there as were present when he’d revealed himself and his friends as Chufa excepting for Ranse and Jace. Why they had not arrived yet he could only guess.
Probably still in bed
, he thought when he came in.
Which is really where I should be
.

What was left of the men who had been at the wall and the two detachments that had been sent out to relieve them stumbled into Haykon just the night before. It was morning now and Thane had called them to council to address what they were facing. He was still tired. His use of the Tane had taken its toll on his body, sapping him of his strength and leaving him barely able to stay on Chtey’s back. He knew he’d have been left behind if it hadn’t been for his horse’s uncanny ability to keep him securely on his back.

He rubbed his hands across his eyes and refocused on the group. He caught Jne’s eye seeing the blank expression on her face and he somehow felt calmed by it. He was extremely happy to have her close by again to lend her steadying strength in times such as this when all he wanted to do was throw his hands up in defeat and lie down and let fate do with him as it would.

“I will say it one last time, Colonel. We need to start the evacuation now. You don’t understand what comes for us. We will not be able to hold the city.”

Myles Braxton regarded Thane with a stern look and then sighed. “And I will repeat myself one last time. I cannot move without the order of the king. And at this time, his orders are to hold the city and not evacuate unless we are overrun. I cannot disobey that order.”

“I understand that,” Thane continued, trying to maintain his patience. “But the question of whether or not we are overrun is moot. It is not whether, but when. The king will be none the wiser if we evacuate now or when those things come pouring over the wall like a flood. The only difference will be whether we get away with most or only some.”

“Thane is right,” Dor spoke up. “We failed at the wall. There is no hope of holding the city. We must get everyone out.”

“I can’t!” Braxton yelled, rising to his feet. “It is not my decision!” Looking to Jack for support he leaned on the table. “Tell them, Jack. Tell your friends what I’ve been trying to be polite about all this time. Tell them what we face at our backs.” He spit the words out like venom, the frustration and pressure he felt spilling out.

Jack stared at the table nodding. “I understand more than any, Myles. But the boy has a point.”

Just then the door opened and Ranse and Jace strode in and took their seats. “A point about what?” the prince asked, sliding into his chair.

“We need to get the people out now before the enemy gets here,” Dor volunteered.

Ranse glanced at Braxton sensing the discord in the room. “But your orders are?” he asked the colonel in a soft tone.

Myles dropped back into his seat and sighed. “To hold the city. To not evacuate until we are overrun.”

             
Ranse nodded and then took a deep breath. “Captain Dainz,” he called, “start organizing the evacuation of the city immediately. I want all non-fighters out of here now.”

Braxton looked up. “But…”

Ranse raised a hand to cut him off. “I will take full responsibility, Colonel. We all know my father is a…” He paused, almost as if he’d forced down what he was about to say. Then he sighed, unable to completely mask the anger he felt. “Let us take care of the living now and worry later about what it will cost us in the end. I think you would agree that the lives of our people are worth more than an order that is unfounded and ludicrous. I have witnessed firsthand the strength of our foe and I fear that none of us may live through this to even meet the anger of the king.”

The colonel smiled and then bowed his head, a deep sigh of relief escaping his lips.
“As you command, m’Lord.” Looking at Dainz, he nodded his head and the captain shot from his chair and quickly left the room. Thane, Jack and Dor all smiled, content to finally have a voice of reason, with the power to back it up, on their side. “Now,” Myles continued, looking at Jne, “maybe we could have your report on your people’s ability to help us?”

Jne’s face suddenly looked pale, raising a feeling of dread in Thane’s heart. Never had he seen her look so…so…afraid? “My people will not be coming,” she said simply, though Thane could sense there was more to it than that. Myles looked like he would ask for more information, at least a reason why, but Jne cut him off. “That is all I have to say. My swords are yours to fight for your people.” Myles looked to the prince and then to Thane but finally just nodded his head.

“Thank you, Mistress Jne,” Ranse said softly, “for your willingness and your speed to fulfill our request. We welcome your aid.” He then bowed his head slightly. Jne did not make any response.

*     *     *

Thane and Jne stood on the wall just south of the western gate and looked out onto the plains. The wind had picked up and a heavy rain was now falling mixed with low clouds that settled over the area where the enemy would approach. It made it almost impossible to see more than a hundred yards out. After being turned down by Jack to help with the evacuation—he felt that two Tjal would only add to the chaos—Dor and Tam had asked to come with them, but Thane held them off by telling them it was important that he speak with Jne alone. It wasn’t a complete lie, he did need to ask Jne about what had happened on her journey, but he really needed to be away from Tam right now so he could better settle his mind for the battle ahead. Part of him still wanted to keep her close at all times so he could protect her, but he knew that that was ludicrous. He had trained her well and his doting over her during a battle would only cause both of them to be easily killed. He’d thought of suggesting she leave with the long line of people now exiting the east gates and taking to the road headed toward Calandra, but knew better than to voice such a thought. The city was emptying quicker than he figured possible but it would still take some time before all of the people were out. And time was no longer a luxury.