‘What we really need is a deck of cards,’ said Hirad. ‘You know, something to while away the centuries when we run out of things to talk about.’

‘Don’t be stupid, Hirad,’ said Ilkar.

‘Why, don’t you like cards?’

‘No,’ said Sol. ‘It isn’t that. It’s just that there’ll never be a time when you don’t have something to say.’

‘You have a point,’ conceded Hirad.

‘And anyway, time is meaningless here,’ said Sirendor.

‘So?’

‘So, dear barbarian soul, we cannot count the boring centuries, nor the exciting ones. We’ll only know the moments when we are called to defend the door,’ said Erienne.

‘You aren’t making our eternal task sound all that exciting,’ said Darrick.

‘I’m with you, General,’ said Hirad. ‘We should have gone to the halls of the ancients and left Auum here to see the place safe.’

‘Or back to the bliss of the dead with the Protectors,’ said Darrick.

‘Neither of you means that, do you?’ said Sol.

Hirad smiled. ‘I never was one for having nothing to look forward to.’

‘It really is very dull, this place, isn’t it?’ said Ilkar.

‘It could do with a lick of paint of some other colour than ivory,’ said Erienne.

‘Hey, Ilks, maybe you could whistle up some more mountains, squeeze a few more Garonin and eke out some red for us.’

‘Maybe if I cut out your tongue we’d get both a lovely red and a bit of peace and quiet.’

Hirad took a long look about him. The ivory expanse of Ulandeneth surrounded them endlessly. The door to the new dimensional cluster was hidden now but souls travelled it nonetheless. The threat of the Garonin would never fade though, and so the decision to remain had been an easy one.

The Raven were seated for the time being on the Ulandeneth side of the door. Their place of rest was within. Timeless sleep until the footfall of the enemy summoned them to fight.

‘This must be the perfect eternity for you, mustn’t it?’ said Thraun, back in human form. ‘Knowing The Raven will go on forever.’

‘You know what,’ said Hirad. ‘It is.’

‘While for us the thought of being saddled with you in perpetuity is nothing short of a living hell,’ said Ilkar.

‘Ah, but you love me really,’ said Hirad.

‘That is occasionally true,’ said Erienne.

‘When you’re asleep, mostly,’ said Sirendor.

‘Speaking of which, come on, Raven, TaiGethen.’ Sol clapped his hands together. ‘Time to sleep. Hanging around out here will only garner us unwanted attention.’

Hirad stood. ‘Fitting, don’t you think? The Raven? Guardians of the new world?’

‘Yes,’ said Ilkar. ‘They must all sleep so soundly knowing they are defended by a dead barbarian. The door kept closed against the Garonin by the sheer weight of your ego.’

Hirad’s laughter echoed away into the vastness of Ulandeneth. One by one, they faded to grey specks and disappeared inside to enjoy comfort and rest as one. The Raven, together again. And, as Hirad attested as they slipped into blissful sleep, as it was always destined to be.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Simon Spanton for wanting to see The Raven ride just one more time; to Lizzy Hill for providing insight and help every step of the way; to Robert Kirby and Howard Morhaim for their unflinching support and friendship; and to my wife, Clare, for always being there for me.

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