There was a sheen of oily sweat covering the demon's body now. It was weakening quickly. The burns covering most of its torso were still bubbling and oozing. It regarded Heryst anew, forehead creasing slightly. A most human expression.
'Mages keep the Hearts beating,' said Heryst. 'No mages. No Hearts.'
'Liar.'
Arabelle wasn't sure but she thought the ghost of a smile crossed the creature's face.
'I cannot prove it, of course, but I have spoken nothing but truth to you so far. Perhaps you should have studied Julatsa's problems more closely.'
'Your lies will not buy your life.'
'Nor will yours save you, my enemy. Now. One last time. How long before you attack the colleges?'
'I do not know.'
Heryst straightened. 'A shame.' He nodded at Kayvel. 'And this time, only stop when it ceases breathing.'
'No! No!' The demon's anguish echoed through the chamber, its eyes sought allies.
'Then answer me,' snapped Heryst, raising his voice.
'Soon. It will be soon.'
'Not good enough.'
'All I know. Please.'
Kayvel's palm rested flat on the creature's chest. It jerked violently, a gurgle dragging from its mouth.
'Tell me.'
'You said you would let me go. Please.'
'After you answered my questions. After. Speak. While you are still able.'
The demon juddered, tried to speak but only succeeded in gargling deep in its throat. It mouthed the word 'please' once more and tried to frame other words while its body melted away and Kayvel's hand sank lower. Smoke poured from its wounds, the stench worsened. The demon convulsed, spat black gore from its mouth and lay still, eyes milking over.
'Keep a hold,' said Heryst to those pinning it down. 'Don't relax.'
Kayvel dismissed his spell. There was a muttering around the hall and an air of shock pervaded the chamber.
'Brutal, wasn't it?' said Heryst, addressing them all. 'Cruel even. Speak if you feel the need.'
There was a pause and a shuffling of feet.
'You didn't have to kill it,' said one.
'Maybe it was telling the truth,' said another.
A louder murmur accompanied this last utterance and heads nodded around the hall.
Heryst sucked his lip. He took a long slow stroll around the periphery of the clear area, taking in all those standing inside the ColdRooms.
'And is that what you think?' he asked, pointing at one. 'And you? You?Hmm.'
Heryst swung by Arabelle and she could see the set of his face and the disappointment in his eyes.
'Been comfortable in here, hasn't it?' he said. There was a ripple of laughter. 'Funny, is it? In here where the demons can't pluck you like ripe fruit and you don't even have to admit what is happening outside. Any here think they are unfortunate? You have my permission to go and join those beyond these walls. You have become distanced, soft. Complacent. Weak.
'Perhaps I should send a few of you outside who haven't been, eh? Outside where there is nothing but fear and the certainty that one day they will come for you. Where you exist only to serve the invaders. Where every day you would gaze at the college and curse your misfortune while you wonder why we sit here and do nothing to help you. Where creatures like this wretch at my feet have your life or death literally in their hands.
'And you want me to show mercy? Damn you for your weakness. We cannot afford it. The day is coming when they will try and destroy us and I will do anything, anything to give us a chance.
'Never show these bastards mercy because believe me they will show us none.'
He took them all in again.
'We are the lucky ones. But with that fortune comes the responsibility for the survival of our entire dimension. We have worked hard to earn what little we have today but it is clear we have been too slow. Soon we will have to fight and any of you who shirk from what you must do I will feed to the demons myself. You heard him. They want the Hearts. So we have to defend with all we have to stop them and give those with the strength the time to beat them.
'I hope you are scared. You should be. The fate of Balaia rests with each one of us. Now harden your hearts. Because if you do not, we are already lost.'
Chapter 17
There was little hint of what had befallen Balaia when the Catalan Sun sailed easily into coastal waters and headed slowly up the Bay of Gyernath. It had been a voyage free of troubled waters, but approaching the southern coast of their homeland, The Raven had gathered often to see it growing on the horizon and wonder what they would find there.
Now, with the sun climbing high into a clear sky and a cool breeze speeding them up the bay, they assembled on the deck once more.
'You know, I've assumed Blackthorne has survived but we have no hard evidence,' said The Unknown.
'We'll get some soon enough,' said Hirad.
Each of them was scouring the shoreline at a mile distance, searching for any sign of demons. They shouldn't find any. Everything they knew about the race told them that they would stay close to centres of population. Much as any predator likes to stay close to its prey.
'Jevin's information states that Blackthorne is still alive and kicking,' said Darrick.
'Yes, but it's old news. A season and more since he's been this way.' The Unknown shook his head. 'It worries me. Gods burning, he's not a college, his mage strength will be minimal. It's a miracle he survived at all but it's a situation with only one outcome, surely.'
'That's why we're here, isn't it?' said Hirad. 'To make sure there's another option.'