“Then it would be best for the Strike Force to return to Talon Spike for the moment,” Axis said, thinking aloud. “Continue training there until Belial has established a supply route strong enough to feed both his men and the Strike Force. Once supplies are guaranteed, you can move the Strike Force south to Sigholt. Whatever happens, they must be there by early autumn to ensure enough time to prepare for the winter campaigns. Gorgrael will use the summer to regroup, and he will strike again with the first of the northerly winds of Bone-month, if not earlier. Ideally, I’d want you to start moving down to Sigholt in no less than twelve weeks’ time, by DeadLeaf-month. That would give you time not only to settle in before the winter campaigns, but also to train intensively with Belial’s forces. I want you welded into one force.”
“And who will command that one force?” FarSight asked.
“I will, FarSight,” Axis said, “when I arrive in Sigholt. You will command the Strike Force in Talon Spike until you arrive in Sigholt. Then Belial commands until I return. Perhaps,” he said carefully, “it is best that I send this message with two groups of messengers.”
“You have no need to fear, Strike-Leader,” said FarSight. “The Strike Force is yours to dispose of as you will. If you think Belial is best to command until you return then I will obey.” He paused. “Do you think you will be gone months?”
“I truly do not know, FarSight,” replied Axis. “Ogden and Veremund tell me that time passes in strange ways in the waterways. Perhaps I will be gone only days, perhaps months. Whatever the case, I need to learn what secrets the Charonites can teach me…and I have a promise to fulfil while I drift the waterways.”
Ogden and Veremund wandered off, discussing the reflooding of the Lake of Life in excited whispers. Had Jack found Zeherah? They gripped hands, their eyes bright with barely suppressed excitement—oh, to see Zeherah again!
“Gentlemen?”
Startled, they whirled around at the sound of Rivkah’s voice. Both Rivkah and Azhure approached.
“My dear,” Ogden said, pleased to see Rivkah. The Sentinels treasured Rivkah for her role as Axis’ mother. Azhure…well, Azhure was a puzzle which both Ogden and Veremund were determined to solve, especially after StarDrifter and Axis had, according to gossip, vied over her last night.
“Ogden, Veremund. I could not help but overhear your conversation with Axis and the Crest-Leaders. Are you travelling to Sigholt?”
Ogden nodded. “As soon as we can, Rivkah. Why? Would you like to join us?”
Rivkah relaxed. “Azhure and I would both like to travel with you. And we would be no trouble.”
“We would be honoured,” Veremund said. “It will be a trip into your past, will it not Rivkah, to see Sigholt again?”
“In more ways than one,” Rivkah remarked. “Will we travel down through the Avarinheim to where the Nordra escapes the Fortress Ranges?”
Azhure visibly tensed. That meant they would have to pass very close to Smyrton—and Azhure would be loathe to get that close to her old village again.
Veremund patted Azhure reassuringly on the arm as he answered Rivkah. “No, my dear, we will not travel that way.”
“Then which way?” Rivkah asked, confused. It would surely be the most direct route.
Ogden and Veremund smiled conspiratorially. “No,” Ogden said. “We would prefer one of the lesser-known paths. We will travel through the Avarinheim for a few days, certainly, but we will strike west towards the Fortress Ranges immediately.”
“But I thought they were impossible to cross,” Azhure said. “Isn’t the only route through the Forbidden Valley?”
“No, sweet lady,” said Veremund. “There are other ways, and it will be our pleasure to show you one of them. But once through we will have to travel south through the WildDog Plains to HoldHard Pass. It is a long and lonely trip, so Ogden and I are relieved that we will have such charming company to keep us amused.”
Rivkah smiled at them. “When will we leave?”
“This afternoon, Rivkah. Soon.” Ogden paused. “If you have goodbyes to say then say them now.”
The light died in Rivkah’s face. For weeks she had talked about leaving the Icarii, but now that her departure was imminent the reality of leaving a marriage and a people with whom she had spent the majority of the past thirty years struck. She looked at the flights of Icarii lifting off from the groves, tears glinting in her eyes. Was she doing the right thing?
StarDrifter stepped up from nowhere and placed a hand on Rivkah’s waist. “You look upset, Rivkah. What is it?”
Rivkah forced a smile to her lips. She wished that StarDrifter had not touched her, not when he really wanted the woman who stood beside her. “I am leaving this afternoon with Ogden and Veremund. And Azhure comes with us. We travel for Sigholt.”
StarDrifter looked stunned. Azhure was leaving for Sigholt? He’d thought she would return to Talon Spike. StarDrifter had hoped that with Axis out of the way, Azhure might reconsider her choice. But now she would be escaping even further away and he might not see her for months.
The tension among the group deepened as Axis joined them. He had seen StarDrifter approach the group and had quickly made his excuses to the Crest-Leaders and hurried over. His eyes were all for Azhure. She had left his side sometime during the early hours of the morning and had been avoiding him ever since. It was too much that StarDrifter should have the chance to speak with her, and not himself.
“Rivkah,” he smiled, kissing his mother, then turned to kiss Azhure. It was a provocative action, meant to irritate StarDrifter.
Azhure quickly side-stepped, leaving Axis hanging awkwardly in the air. StarDrifter smiled, and Azhure caught his look of satisfaction. By the heavens, what wedge had she driven between these two men? she thought frantically. More than ever, Azhure knew she had to leave as soon as possible. The Prophecy could not afford to have Axis and StarDrifter torn apart by their jealousy over her. What had possessed her last night? Why couldn’t she have walked away from both of them?
Rivkah linked her arm comfortably through Azhure’s. “Azhure and I travel to Sigholt with Ogden and Veremund,” she said. “Both of us have had quite enough of the complications that Enchanters cause in our lives.”
StarDrifter recovered first and leaned forward to kiss Rivkah. “Undoubtedly I will see you there again,” he said softly. “Watch for me from the roof.”
“Are you sure it is me you want to watch from the roof, StarDrifter?” she replied.
StarDrifter’s smile faded fractionally, then he turned to Azhure, who offered him her hand before he could kiss her mouth. “Until we meet again, Azhure.”
Azhure nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She did not want to alienate StarDrifter by ill-considered words now.
StarDrifter dropped her hand and turned to Axis. “Beltide sometimes brings out hidden desires and dreams, Axis. Unfortunately we’ve both discovered that we are more alike than we hitherto realised.” His eyes sparkled. “I have never before had to compete with a son who has, apparently, inherited all of my charms and more. Azhure made her choice last night, and she has made her choice today. I harbour no grudges and I bear no ill will. I don’t want this to come between us.”
Axis hesitated, then embraced his father as Azhure and Rivkah watched with more than a little cynicism.
Once Azhure and Rivkah said their goodbyes to both Icarii and Avar, they waited at the edge of one of the lesser groves for the Sentinels.
“It is going to be a hard journey,” Rivkah sighed. “And I am no longer such a young woman.”
Azhure fingered her pack. Axis had given her the golden tunic to take down to Sigholt, and it was stowed, together with her crimson robe, at the bottom of the pack.
She raised her head. “Here they come now. I can hear them arguing about something.”
Ogden and Veremund stepped into the grove, each leading a fat white donkey loaded with well-stuffed packs.
“I’ve heard about these two donkeys,”
Azhure said. “Where on earth did they find them this time?”
“What?” Veremund said as they drew level with the two women. “What? Find them? Why, they were in camp, weren’t they, Ogden?”
“Yes, indeed,” Ogden replied cheerfully. “Waiting for us. Veremund must have put them there.”
“Oh no,” Veremund disagreed, his face darkening. “You must have put them there. I had nothing to do with it.”
“Well,” Rivkah said, “at least we’ll have something to sit on when we get too footsore.”
As the Sentinels continued to squabble about who had procured the donkeys, Rivkah began to laugh. It would be all right. Leaving for Sigholt was the best decision that either she or Azhure could have made. For the first time in many, many years, Rivkah began to feel positive about the future.
In one of the northern groves Axis gave last instructions to FarSight. “As soon as Belial has established supplies then join him. I will join you in Sigholt as soon as I have learned what I can from the Charonites. Tell Belial that he must do what is right, but that above all he should consolidate.”
“Do not be gone too long. Both Belial and I will need you there by late autumn,” FarSight said, then saluted and lifted into the air.
Axis turned to his father, and they embraced again. “Thank you,” he murmured, and StarDrifter knew it was for far more than the training he had given his son.
“Axis,” MorningStar said, giving her grandson a quick peck on the cheek. Beltide had not turned out quite the way she had hoped, and StarDrifter was not the only SunSoar regretting Axis’ choice of Beltide partner. “Learn well from the Charonites. And ask them if they have any idea about…”
She hesitated to put her thoughts into words, but Axis knew what she meant. Since their discussion many weeks earlier about the possibility—reality, really—that both Gorgrael and Axis had been trained by an unknown SunSoar Enchanter, powerful enough to use the Dark Music of the Stars, no-one had wanted to discuss it again. Nevertheless, the worry about who and where the Enchanter was marred their unguarded moments.
“If anyone will know, they will,” StarDrifter said.
Axis watched the worry carve lines into his father’s face. “I will find out what I can from the Charonites, StarDrifter, but somehow I think that this rogue Enchanter will keep himself well hidden until he wants to reveal himself.”
“And what,” MorningStar said in a toneless voice, “if he is someone you already know, Axis? What if he is someone close to you? An Enchanter this powerful could choose any disguise he—or she—wanted to.”
Axis picked his way down the path that StarDrifter had directed him to, pushing through the overgrown oldenberry bushes to the mouth of the cavern. It was just as StarDrifter had described. Hesitating only slightly, Axis walked down to the back of the cavern and squatted by the wall, remembering the Song that StarDrifter had told him to use. He hummed it underneath his breath, tapping the wall gently with his fingers. Unlike StarDrifter, Axis was gentle with the Song and, after only a few moments, a small portion of the grey rock splintered and slid gently to the floor of the cavern, revealing a gleaming bronze door. Axis pushed it open and began the journey into the UnderWorld.
Hours later, when he reached the cavern far beneath, he found the Ferryman waiting for him. Great violet eyes, stunningly youthful among the Ferryman’s otherwise cadaverous features, regarded Axis serenely. Behind the Ferryman bobbed his flat-bottomed boat.
Axis stopped two paces away and the Ferryman bowed. “Greetings, Axis SunSoar, StarMan,” he said in his deep voice. “Welcome to the UnderWorld. What is it you desire?”
“Greetings, Ferryman,” Axis said. “I understand that my mother won a boon from you.”
The Ferryman inclined his head. “She did.”
“That you would grant me assistance, in whatever manner I asked?”
Again the Ferryman inclined his head.
“Then teach me,” Axis said softly. “Teach me the secrets of the waterways. Teach me the secrets you have unravelled over the ages.”
The Ferryman’s eyes were steady. “It is all I have ever wanted to do and it is why I have lived so long winding these waterways,” he said finally. “Only to teach.”
17
THE AUDIENCE
She saw Borneheld, stepping down from the throne, Axis stepping to meet him. The two men circled, swords drawn, their faces twisted into snarling masks of rage fed by long-held hatreds. They fought until both were bleeding and stumbling with weariness. About them the Chamber rang with shouted accusations of murder and treachery. Blood. Why was there so much blood? A scream—hers. “No!”
The vision faded, but Faraday’s stomach sickened and turned over. She closed her eyes momentarily, trying to regain her equilibrium. Ever since she had stepped into the Chamber of the Moons half an hour ago she had slid in and out of the vision the trees had given her so long ago outside the Silent Woman Woods. She was glad Priam had only addressed her briefly before turning his full attention to her husband.
They had arrived in Carlon four days ago, and Priam had made Borneheld wait until this morning before granting him an audience. Borneheld had fumed, but there was nothing he could do.
Now he stood before the royal dais, his body so tense it was almost quivering.
About him the packed Chamber was breathless with shock. Scribes scribbled furiously, nobles locked stunned eyes, servants crowded doorways, and Jayme, Moryson and Gilbert, standing to the left of the dais, were ashen and sweating. The only relaxed person in the Chamber was Priam, sitting nonchalantly on his throne, his fingers tapping his royal displeasure.
Faraday blinked, trying to concentrate. She did not know Priam very well, but she had heard enough to realise that this hard-voiced, flint-eyed man was showing more backbone than he’d ever done previously.
“I made you WarLord,” Priam snapped, “and for that you lost me Ichtar. No doubt these Destroyer-driven wraiths now mass to eat the rest of my realm while you lounge about my court!”
Borneheld’s face flushed an even deeper red, and Faraday bit her lip, worried.
Borneheld restrained himself. “I was betrayed,” he began, but Priam did not let him finish.
“I hear tell you escaped only through Axis’ bravery.”
Faraday could see the massive effort it took Borneheld to stay calm. His fists clenched by his sides, only very gradually relaxing.
“He has allied himself with the Forbidden, Majesty. ‘Tis no wonder we lost Ichtar against such an unholy alliance.”
“I hear tell,” Priam said very deliberately, his eyes locked with Borneheld’s, “that my nephew believes we should contract an alliance with the, ah, Icarii and Avar.”
Faraday, as everyone else in the room, took a huge, incredulous breath. Priam had never publicly acknowledged Axis as his nephew previously!
“This prophecy I have heard,” Priam continued, ignoring the reactions about him, “states that an alliance with those we once feared is vital to defeat this Gorgrael.”
Faraday averted her eyes, terrified that Borneheld would see their sudden leap of joy. She took another breath, but this time one of sheer hope. An alliance with Axis would bring him down from his icy mountain and back to her. Oh Mother! she thought, please let Priam have the courage to embrace the truth! Bring Axis home to me!
A movement to one side caught her attention. Gilbert, whispering frantically behind a hand to his Brother-Leader. Well may you whisper, thought Faraday contemptuously. A thousand years ago your beloved Seneschal orchestrated the Wars of the Axe to drive the Icarii and Avar from their homelands. And for a thousand years your Brotherhood has equated only evil and darkness with the so-called Forbidden. Now a King of Achar plans to ally himself with them. Faraday could not stop a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth. Do you wonder, Jayme, if the moment the Forbidden set foot in this land again the lies of the past thousand years will be exposed? Can you see your beloved Seneschal losing its insidious control ov
er the Acharites as the Mother and the Star Gods once more spread their joy over this wondrous land?
Priam took a studied sip of water from the begemmed chalice by his side. “I am wondering,” he said very softly but very clearly, “if I made the wrong choice in WarLord.”
The gasp about the Chamber was audible this time. Scribes scribbled even more furiously. Faraday closed her eyes briefly again. Priam would ally himself with Axis. Civil war would be averted, Gorgrael defeated, and her love kept safe. Her vision was a lie, after all.
Jayme was now openly agitated, but restrained from speaking by Moryson’s grip on his sleeve.
No-one held back Borneheld. “By Artor!” he shouted, taking an ill-considered step forward, “have you gone mad?”
He got no further. Furious himself, Priam leapt to his feet. “You are dismissed, Duke of nothing!” he seethed. “I will speak no more with you! I have made up my mind on this issue, and if you remain stubbornly persistent in your refusal to accept the obvious then I will have to reconsider my choice of both WarLord and heir!”
The Chamber took one gigantic breath and held it; the scribes could not believe what their pens recorded.
Borneheld visibly reeled. “I—”
“You have proved useless to me,” Priam continued, his voice even once more as he sat down. “Get out of my sight, Borneheld.”
Borneheld’s face was pale now, but his grey eyes burned furiously. He did not move.
“Out,” Priam repeated, then turned to chat quietly with his wife, Judith, sitting serenely by his side.
Ignored by his King, but aware that every other person in the room watched him, Borneheld only just remembered to offer Faraday his arm as he stalked from the Chamber. As they reached the doorway, Priam called after them.
“Duchess, the Queen has talked kindly of you. Perhaps you would join her for her midday meal on the morrow.”
Enchanter Page 17
