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The Raven Collection Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Raven Collection novel. A total of 373 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : James Barclay.The Raven Collection.'Barclay writes with power, pace and a wonderful
James Barclay.The Raven Collection.'Barclay writes with power, pace and a wonderful sense of humour. Better than that, he creates novels you want to read again and again' David Gemmell.'A greathearted book written on a grand scale. An enthr
- 1 James Barclay.The Raven Collection.'Barclay writes with power, pace and a wonderful sense of humour. Better than that, he creates novels you want to read again and again' David Gemmell.'A greathearted book written on a grand scale. An enthr
- 2 'But you questioned my very existence,' said the Dragon. 'Perhaps you are lucky that I am slow to offend. Or perhaps that I am slow to question yours.' Hirad tried to slow his breathing and think, but there seemed to be no way out. The
- 3 'Make sure he drinks plenty of hot, sweet liquid,' said The Unknown as the friends shambled past. 'Nothing alcoholic.''Is the Xetesk mage still here?' asked Hirad. The Unknown nodded.'In Seran's chambers,' said
- 4 'I don't think I like the sound of this.' Whatever it was, it was serious. He hadn't seen Sirendor like this for years.'We're not getting any younger.''You what?''You heard.''Larn, I am thirty-on
- 5 'Do you have to go, Mummy?' asked Aron.'The sooner I do, the sooner we'll all be home with your father.' She hugged them again. 'Hey, I won't be gone long, I promise.' They both looked up at her. 'I promise,�
- 6 'Unless you chose to take one back by force,' said Hirad.'That is always an option. Expensive but an option.' Gresse's face hardened.'And yet you'll sit down with Pontois at the Korina Trade Alliance, ' said Talan.&
- 7 'The Unknown. I've known him ten years arid I still don't even know where he was born.''Or his name?' Denser asked.'No. Nor his name,' agreed Sirendor.'I thought you lot were the only people he told.''
- 8 'You don't know them.' Ilkar spoke slowly. 'I do. If he's involved us in something, we're expendable. Xetesk doesn't have any code and they don't follow any rules.' He paused. 'Look, all I'm saying is
- 9 Hirad beckoned him close.The Unknown Warrior leant against the bar, happy to watch the evening go by while he sipped his excellent Blackthorne red. He s.h.i.+fted slightly, moving the elbow of his white s.h.i.+rt out of a puddle of liquid on the bar top.S
- 10 At her insistence, the fire had been lit and the single window opened all day, though her request for the boys to be allowed to play in the inner courtyard was refused.She had spent some time calming their fears before they would listen to her words; and
- 11 'And the Witch Hunters,' added The Unknown.'Bring them on,' growled Hirad.'Oh, we'll be going to them, don't worry,' said Denser.'So much the better.''Seriously,' continued Denser, 'they hav
- 12 'Why don't you ask him yourself?' returned The Unknown. 'It's about time he joined up.' He turned in his saddle and beckoned the mage to join them, but it wasn't until Hirad turned too that Ilkar spurred his horse forwar
- 13 'So how come the Dragon had the amulet?' asked Talan.'Good question,' said Denser. 'Shortly after Septern announced the text for Dawnthief, he disappeared. We're guessing he went through his Dragonene portal, or one of his ow
- 14 With the day disappearing behind the tree line and late afternoon cloud, Thraun brought them to a halt on an area of flat ground by a stream's edge. It was lush and green and hemmed in by sharp slopes from which scrub and tree clung precariously. A l
- 15 'We're in trouble,' said Richmond.'Well spotted,' muttered Hirad, staring around him for a way out. There was none.'All right,' said The Unknown. 'Let's circle north and west and come to the buildings from anot
- 16 He could feel himself beginning to weaken. Denser was hauling the stamina from him as he drew on the magical force with ever greater urgency. And then it was done, the flow shut off, the channel closed, and Denser's hands were encased in a red-tinged
- 17 'Of course,' said Hirad.Ilkar chuckled and patted Hirad on the shoulder. 'I'm sorry. Look, here's a very brief lesson. College lore is something that is pa.s.sed down through the College over generations. It's not something y
- 18 Chapter 11.Styliann warmed his feet by the fire in his study and took tea from the mug on the table by his right arm. There was a knock at the door.'Come.'Nyer and Dystran entered. He gestured them to the other chairs and poured them each a mug
- 19 'What are we looking for?''How many more times?' said Denser, moving away in a random direction. 'I don't know. Look, let's split up and see if anything is obvious. I don't know. I'm expecting it to be differen
- 20 Hirad heard a whispering sound behind him. Denser looked past him, his eyes widened and he shook his head. Hirad turned, removing his foot from the supine mage. Denser's cat bored a stare of undisguised malevolence into him. He flinched, then grunted
- 21 'Could you two talk about who-knows-what later?' Richmond had joined them. 'I'm interested in this thing of Denser's.''Right.' Ilkar glanced over at Denser again. The Dark Mage was apparently paying them no attentio
- 22 The travelling was easy. Steering clear of the few hamlets spread thinly across the gently undulating forested and gra.s.sed terrain, The Raven stayed mainly under the cover of the often dense woodland, taking animal or seldom-used hunter and trade trails
- 23 He still couldn't quite believe it, and his feelings were swamped by disgust that a mage from either college would work for the Black Wings. It had to be a Dordovan. A Xeteskian would choose suicide first.He breathed in and let his head fall forwards
- 24 'Stop,' ordered the other voice. It had a gentler tone, less aggressive. There was another silence.'It's been a lot of years, but you're Hirad Coldheart, no doubt about it.''That's right, now can we stop-''
- 25 'So what was your plan?' asked Richmond of the others.'Stealth,' said Jandyr. 'We've identified a way in through the back and were waiting for dead of night to go in when your friends were taken past. We'd just decided t
- 26 'What is going on?' demanded Hirad. 'That thing was eating him. I saw it.''Hirad, please,' gasped Ilkar. He was collapsed in a chair, trying very hard to remain conscious. The pain in his chest and his legs had grown to a new
- 27 Even if he and Denser had uninterrupted sleep for a dozen hours, it was debatable whether they would have the combined strength to heal him, such was the damage to all three of them.And so he knelt by Hirad, his hands on that awful wound, ignoring his own
- 28 'I know where it is.' Jandyr went in search of sustenance, partly in response to Denser's request but mainly to get out of the room. The intensity of hurt, of grief and of loss was all but tangible. He found it oppressive. Closing the door
- 29 'And how's she reacted to us travelling to Dordover to plunder one of her ancient's tombs?'Ilkar smiled. 'Good question. All I can say is that whatever deal it was they struck, it's important enough to her not to betray us.&#
- 30 'He has been walking with my Familiar.''Enough said. Go on.'Denser s.h.i.+fted his position slightly and brushed some grit from beneath him.'Well, our decision not to talk about Dawnthief at this stage, and we will announce it whe
- 31 Once the focal point of trade and travel both east and west of the pa.s.s, the town had fallen first to disuse, then to disrepair, following the surrender of the pa.s.s to the Wesmen. All that remained was a poorly provisioned garrison of first-tour caree
- 32 'You are impatient, Erienne Malanvai. It was always your weakness. ' He chuckled. 'Go and seek your knowledge. You have been absent from the library for too long. Perhaps age is finally bringing you wisdom.' He took a pace towards Thra
- 33 'Well, that's just b.l.o.o.d.y great!' Hirad hurled his sword to the ground at his feet, fury bringing heat to his cheeks. His hands clenched. 'He threatens to kill Talan because of some imaginary risk to his precious quest and now he&
- 34 'You'd better lock that door, Will,' she said. 'This may take some time.''What's the problem?' asked Thraun.Erienne favoured him with a sympathetic smile. 'I don't think it's something you'd unde
- 35 'The ward, Erienne!' shouted Will. Labouring under the weight of the mana, he was trailing her by a good many paces.'Too late to worry about it. That idiot's already seen to that.''Who?''You know who.' There wa
- 36 Chapter 22.'It's exciting being in The Raven, isn't it?' said Hirad, leaning back against his tree and stretching his legs in front of him.'Feeling more comfortable about it now, are you?' asked Ilkar.'No, I'm feeli
- 37 'What are you talking about?''He's in thrall, Hirad. His soul is held by the Mount of Xetesk. If he steps out of line, they will make what he's going through now seem like a Raven party. He'll be dying for eternity.'Hira
- 38 Ilkar said nothing, just stared back, impa.s.sive.'This is a fascinating debate I'm sure,' said Thraun. 'But tell me, is it how the Triverne Lake meeting will proceed? If it is, we might as well all fall on our swords now, because you&
- 39 'No. And I still don't.' She grabbed at his belt and the b.u.t.ton of his fly, and while she hauled his trousers down over his hips, Denser pulled his s.h.i.+rt over his head. Together, they added his trousers to the pile of discarded cloth
- 40 'I'm afraid your timings might be slightly awry.' Styliann's smile was laced with contempt. 'The two members of The Raven you are talking about witnessed the kidnap from their position outside the walls.''While they plot
- 41 'They've hit him, the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. They've hurt him.' Denser took a deep breath and pushed his wings beyond the safe limits of their speed. Behind him, without knowing exactly how, The Unknown did the same.The Familiar was weakening
- 42 She climbed the wall of the flat building and ran to the chimney stack at the Parve end, the Wesmen less than one hundred yards from her. Across the street, half a dozen Wesmen clambered on to a roof and spread themselves, arms outstretched. For a moment,
- 43 Understone's fateful morning broke dry, but heavy cloud was blowing over the Blackthorne Mountains towards them. At first light, Darrick's cavalry mounted up and began the move to the pa.s.s. In front of the slowly advancing column walked thirty
- 44 The debate trailed away to silence, and soon the clatter of hoofs and the sounds of the water far below were dominant once more.There was twilight in the outside world before the four-College cavalry found the first and only pitiful resistance, right at t
- 45 Blackthorne watched from the Crown, gazing out over his town, its walls and on to the Wesmen-covered gra.s.slands beyond. Gresse, once again by his side, flexed his fingers nervously, seeing the force a.s.semble its ranks and lines. For more than three ho
- 46 'There will be enough Shamen able to make educated guesses about the spell once they've heard information about it,' said Erienne.'And consider this,' said Ilkar. 'There's probably only one spell written that is more pow
- 47 To Hirad's left, The Unknown tapped the point of his sword on the ground. It was time.'Almost on us,' said Thraun. 'Hirad, you have two, axes raised, upper guard. Denser, you have one, Unknown, two. They're all going to swing in u
- 48 The situation was clear to him. While the defence of the east was his charge, the real battle was about to fought in the west by The Raven and, it seemed, by Styliann. Darrick looked about him. He'd a.s.sembled the most capable staff he could think o
- 49 'You'll have to ask The Unknown about that,' said Ilkar.'There's not a lot to say that you'll understand,' said The Unknown. 'I just knew Styliann's power over them was less than that of the bond between them a
- 50 'Was that really necessary?' asked one of his mages.'No,' said Darrick. 'But I'll tell you something, it was b.l.o.o.d.y good fun.'And all about them, the smiles returned to the faces of his warriors.Barras stood in the
- 51 'I know you may want to shout, but the enemy are not far behind and we need the element of surprise. That and a miracle. Remember the faces of those either side of you. One of them could be your saviour this morning just as you might be theirs. Look
- 52 An explosion sounded to the right of the square. Blue light flashed briefly. The Acolytes outside froze briefly in surprise and ran left. Styliann had arrived in the square.Darrick roared his men on as he dashed the skull of a Shaman with his blade, the S
- 53 For Denser, it was the completion of a life's dream. The casting of Dawnthief and all its multi-layered complexities had been every bit as thrilling as he'd dared hope. At one with mana, truly a part of its random life, he had struggled with tem
- 54 'And we have no armies,' said Ilkar.'I wonder if there'll be anything left to return to?' mused The Unknown.'A Communion would help to clarify a few things,' agreed Denser.'Thanks for your input, Denser,' said
- 55 And as it moved closer to the ground, its form became clearer, its size dreadfully apparent. Ilkar took it all in with an a.n.a.lytical eye, ignoring the shaking of his body, the pounding of his heart; the urge to run, fall, fight, hide, anything.The drag
- 56 'Isn't it obvious?' Kerus wore his slightly smug expression once more. 'They carried with them the means to destroy your Masters. It is also obvious that they succeeded. My Lord.'Tessaya wasn't sure the probable destruction o
- 57 'Our College is at risk from invasion. The enemy must not breach our walls. We require a Shroud to encircle the walls, protecting those inside and taking everyone who dares touch it. The Shroud must encompa.s.s the princ.i.p.al mana flow of the Colle
- 58 'Now that's a good question,' said Darrick.'Ilkar?' asked Hirad. 'This was where I got a little shaky in my understanding.''Unknown, help me out if I get too vague.' Ilkar rubbed his face while he thought.
- 59 The Unknown put a hand on Hirad's shoulder and turned him away from the onlooking Will and Thraun.'That's one thing. What else?' Hirad stared at the big warrior. 'Come on, Hirad. I've known you ten years. Don't pretend t
- 60 'My Lord?''Yes.' Blackthorne picked himself to his feet and dusted himself down.'We are in readiness. We await your orders to march.''Excellent,' said Blackthorne. 'Gresse, can you ride?''I sit on my
- 61 'No, it's more than inter-College mistrust. He tried to kill us at the Wrethsires' Temple and let's not forget why. He wanted Dawnthief so he could use it to a.s.sume power over the Colleges, and as a threat to the Wytch Lords and Wesm
- 62 The Unknown Warrior detailed The Raven's concerns and plans while Hirad watched Darrick for reaction. He shouldn't have bothered. Throughout the big man's speech, the General betrayed no emotion whatsoever. Nodding occasionally, he took eve
- 63 'In all probability, my old friend. But delegation is one of the few joys I have left.'Barras composed himself and took three measured paces towards the open gate and the Shroud, its innate evil sending s.h.i.+vers through his body, his skin cra
- 64 'We will be walking out to our deaths,' said Seldane. 'You know the Wesmen feeling for magic.' There was a murmur of agreement around the table.'And if no help arrives in four weeks?' asked Torvis, his eyes recovering a littl
- 65 'So you don't need me.''Ah but we do.' Sha-Kaan moved closer, relaxing his torso and leaning forward, his shadow covering Septern. 'Because to leave our dimension without the knowledge of where we will finish is a risk none b
- 66 Septern nodded. 'It would be an honour. One more question, though. You talked about it being important to protect the fabric of melde-dimensions. What did you mean?'Sha-Kaan's exhalation played over Septern's face. Feelings of warmth a
- 67 The same was true of all the lecture rooms, the old Gathering Hall, the princ.i.p.al auditorium, and the Mana Bowl where fledgling mages hoped to discover their acceptance of mana and feared the consequences for their sanity if they did not. Only the Libr
- 68 The Wesman inclined his head slightly.'Your use of my language earns you some small respect,' he said. 'My name is Riasu. I would have yours.''I am Styliann, Lord of Xetesk.' He saw no reason to correct the slight inaccuracy.
- 69 As agreed, Ilkar took the lead with Denser right behind him, one finger hooked in his belt. The CloakedWalks wreathed their bodies in invisibility but did not m.u.f.fle their sound and Ilkar kept to bare earth, being careful to skirt the waist-high plains
- 70 The Wesmen had lost their appet.i.te for the fight. Thraun ran at small groups who scattered, keeping them away from the beach. Hirad and The Unknown moved backwards across the sand. More lightning from the fingers of Denser, more Wesmen fell, faces black
- 71 The High Mage led the weeping Barras from the ramparts.Chapter 14.Tessaya had to know he was coming but it was both the price he was willing to pay and the risk he had to take. In truth, Styliann hadn't expected to talk his way past Riasu but the ner
- 72 With his left hand brus.h.i.+ng the wall, he moved forward again, carefully, the light down and to his right, illuminating a slight incline in the pa.s.sageway. A couple of paces further on, he stepped in a patch of stickiness that slicked across the floo
- 73 Jayash strolled around the perimeter of the marked area as the shadow moved across the ground, a monstrous blot on the earth that sent s.h.i.+vers through his body and cooled the fledgling warmth of the day.Turning in the area, he walked along one line an
- 74 'I know.'Chapter 16.With Ilkar, Denser, Erienne and The Unknown reaching the flatter land above the cove, The Raven made headway to the Tri River valley, Thraun shadowing their progress. The landscape in front of them was beautiful, even in the
- 75 'So be it,' he said. 'So be it.' He stretched full length across the warm wet floor of Wingspread and opened his mind to search for his new Dragonene.It was an hour after noon on a day that had chilled as the sun fled west over the Bla
- 76 'It's easy to be pessimistic,' replied Blackthorne. 'Just look at the mess they've made of this beautiful port.'The two men straightened and looked down the hill towards the Southern Ocean. The whole port was laid out before
- 77 'They have shown us no mercy. You must do the same. Kill them or they will kill you. I want this encampment burned to the ground and the charred earth left as memorial and warning. The East shall not bend the knee to the West. The Colleges shall thri
- 78 'I do not feel we need them, do you?'Sha-Kaan inclined his head.'Your trust is welcome and is reciprocated.''Speak, Sha-Kaan, though I think I know your subject.''I will speak plainly. It is my belief that you have allie
- 79 'And you so young,' she said. 'I might have expected such an utterance from Torvis, but not you. I am pleased you seek so fervently to uphold our traditions and laws.''Though this is not the time to do so,' added Torvis.'
- 80 Hirad climbed to his feet, glancing around. Will was staring wide-eyed at the light, with the remainder of The Raven all stirring, sleep interrupted by an unknown quant.i.ty that bled unease over their resting minds.'Don't be scared, Will, it�
- 81 Sha-Kaan looked at Hirad, neck in a 'u' to face him, head and muzzle alone almost as tall as the barbarian.'Well?' he asked.Hirad grinned. 'Take it as a yes, Great Kaan.''Excellent.' The head withdrew. 'Strike
- 82 A second jolt, followed by a long rumbling through the stone of the corridor, shook dust into the air.'Prepare yourselves,' said Sha-Kaan.Hirad and The Unknown exchanged glances. Inside the Big Man's eyes was an unease Hirad had never seen
- 83 'Sha-Kaan!' shouted Hirad over the tumult in the Cold Room. 'We have to get out. Now!''A little longer,' said the dragon, his voice choked and distant somehow. 'We can win this. We have to.'But Hirad felt them at hi
- 84 'Well?' asked The Unknown. The mage turned to him, moving aside to let two of the town's women a.s.signed to the infirmary make Will comfortable. She was a tall woman, graceful, with long fingers and bobbed grey hair, her face wrinkled by a
- 85 Unless his reading of the situation was completely c.o.c.k-eyed, General Darrick, Baron Blackthorne and The Raven were all still alive and fighting. And now, unless they could catch him, Styliann would return to Xetesk as a standard for the mages. Tessaya
- 86 'Erienne?' asked Hirad.'We're in trouble,' she said. 'The main force of Wesmen from the west of the city has changed direction and are heading this way. Denser thinks they are under the control of the commander and he's
- 87 's.h.i.+eld down,' said Ilkar almost immediately. 'Wait. This is no good; they'll overwhelm us if they charge, we need to keep them further back. We need static ForceCones covering every exit to the square. Any mage that can cast, do i
- 88 'I just felt it needed saying,' said Denser with a shrug.'It makes no difference what people expect,' said Hirad. 'The Raven do what The Raven have to do. And what we have to do now is rest. I don't want to see any of us on t
- 89 Ilkar shrugged. 'To be honest, I don't see we have much choice. And I'm sure Hirad and The Unknown will see it that way. We have to close the rip first and worry about Styliann's motives later.'Denser nodded. 'In that case, a
- 90 Hirad turned to The Unknown as catapult rounds whistled overhead to smash into buildings and the deserted courtyard, warranting hardly a backward glance. The big warrior was staring impa.s.sively out over the sea of Wesmen, calculating their likely chance
- 91 The mist was just as Hirad remembered it. Like dust across the sun but this time on a day plagued by showers and a cold wind. The dreary light merely added to the sense of wrong that the ma.s.s of static mana Septern's ailing rip generated.But the we
- 92 'Perhaps the dragons are painted on the ceiling, or something.''You really are hilarious, Coldheart,' snapped Denser. 'I know what I saw.''Then,' said Styliann, the quiet authority of his voice cutting through the s
- 93 The floor of the cave was covered in dried leaves. Stacks of wood, metal bowls and plates and four big water b.u.t.ts stood to the left. Woven dried-gra.s.s matting was pulled from its position to the right and spread across the floor to provide comfort f
- 94 The travellers' formation was altered from the day before. While Jatha and his people still led the way, The Raven mages had fallen back to keep talking with Styliann, leaving the Protectors to guard the rear, and Hirad, The Unknown and Thraun lookin
- 95 Behind him a dog barked and a harsh voice silenced it. At least there was part of the answer. He dropped the message in the fire and summoned his Captains to issue battle orders.In the light of late afternoon, General Darrick sat around a hastily erected
- 96 Aeb struck without looking, feeling his sword bite into a Destrana midriff. The thought had come as he sensed the animal, it was merely direction but it was all he needed. He pulled his axe clear to hammer it through the jaw of a third dog while his sword
- 97 'The Skies go with you, Sha-Kaan,' said Tanis-Veret, his tone enigmatic, thoughtful. 'I will respond to the call from the Naik as I must. But that is all I must do.''As you wish, Tanis-Veret.' He unfurled his wings, barked a
- 98 He responded automatically, feeling the axe clash against a Wesman weapon. Placing his sword to block forward he turned his gaze on the wide-eyed enemy who couldn't hope to match his speed. He leaned in, smashed his elbow into the man's face and
- 99 The a.s.sa.s.sin nodded. 'We will prepare immediately.' He gestured his companion to follow him from the tent.Darrick turned back to find the eyes of the Barons and his surviving centile Captains wide on him. He shrugged.'What choice do we
- 100 'So what can you do?' asked Hirad.'We can trigger a collapse,' said Ilkar.'Excellent, so no problem!' Hirad clapped his hands together but his confidence drained when he saw Erienne shake her head. 'What?''We c