Enchanter

by Sara Douglass

  The Skraeling mass had penetrated deep into the WildDog Plains and, for the four days it took Axis to reach the fighting, it had been the command that Azhure had sent into the Plains via the HoldHard Pass which had held the Skraelings back. Now Axis’ command had been fighting virtually non-stop for nearly three weeks, and only slowly driving the Skraelings back towards the central Plains. Sigholt was left with only one squad of archers and one hundred men to protect it. Every single Icarii Strike Force member was with Axis—it had been a baptism of fire as far as the Strike Force had been concerned.

  But they had done well. Gorgrael had only sent one SkraeBold with the Skraelings down the WildDog Plains, and it stayed well behind the Skraeling lines. There were no IceWorms. The Icarii had been left almost unhindered in the air, raining death on the Skraelings. But they still had to be careful. The clouds swung down so far that the Icarii also had to fly low, and the Skraelings were perfectly capable of suddenly leaping from the ground to seize a careless wingtip. Axis grimaced. Over a dozen Icarii had been lost that way.

  The mounted soldiers had not done so well, despite their bravery and skill. The Skraelings had massed down through the WildDog Plains in huge numbers, and without the Icarii Axis knew they would have suffered as badly as at Gorkenfort. But Arne had fought bravely, rallying his men, and after Axis’ thousand had reinforced him, they’d gradually begun to force the Skraelings back.

  Azhure’s mounted archers had been almost as useful as the Icarii. Axis used them wherever the front line was weakest. Each archer could shoot over twelve arrows a minute, proving over two thousand arrows a minute in flight, and all with pinpoint accuracy. Their only handicap had been recovering enough arrows each night to be effective the next day. The SkraeBold got his Skraelings to haul back as many arrows as they could find on the ground whenever they retreated, and sometimes the hand-to-hand fighting was as much over the possession of arrows as about the taking of lives.

  At Gorkenfort the Skraelings had been fearsome, but only if things went to plan. If caught unawares by a tactical manoeuvre, they were likely to retreat in confusion and whispering fear rather than stay and fight. But now they were more resolute, more courageous. Axis feared that, given enough time, Gorgrael could make his creatures unstoppable.

  But they could yet be killed, although Stars knew what Borneheld faced at Jervois Landing if this was, as Axis suspected, only a minor force sent on the off-chance that he could break through into Skarabost via the WildDog Plains.

  Axis tossed the empty bowl back to Belial. They sat in a too-thin tent in a makeshift camp at the foot of the eastern Urqhart Hills, about five leagues above the entrance to HoldHard Pass.

  “I wonder how Gorgrael thought the Skraelings were going to cross the Nordra if they had managed to push that far, Belial,” he said. “Does the SkraeBold carry a purse full of coppers to pay the ferryman?”

  Belial grinned at the thought, but it faded quickly. “The good folk of Smyrton would have abruptly found there were worse things to fear in the night than the Forbidden,” he said quietly. Neither he nor Axis had much time for the stolid villagers of Smyrton. A great number of the refugees making their way to Sigholt travelled via the ferry at Smyrton, and the villagers lost no time in telling as many as they could that only darkness could be found at a place like Sigholt where—so it was rumoured—the Forbidden swarmed in large numbers. For some reason the village of Smyrton remained a stronghold of the Seneschal, and the villagers would have nothing to do with the Prophecy, or those named in the Prophecy. Axis had not gone back there since he had ridden through on his way to Gorkenfort over a year ago.

  So much has happened since then, Axis thought. So much. The engaging girl who stared so rudely at me in the Chamber of the Moons is now Queen. Once…once I thought I loved her, but was it half of what I now feel for Azhure? Oh Stars, what am I going to do…what am I going to say to Faraday when finally I stand before her again?

  Axis forced Faraday to the back of his mind. She was a problem many months away.

  Perhaps now that they were finally holding against the Skraelings he might find an excuse to return to Sigholt briefly. It would be good to hold Azhure, talk to her, let her soothe away his doubts and fears.

  Axis had not managed to use his powers as well as he’d hoped against the Skraeling mass. The ring could show him Songs that could kill or maim, but most were so potent and required so much power of the Star Dance that their use threatened to cripple Axis. Orr had warned him that some Songs were still too dangerous for Axis to use—he would have to grow in power and experience before he could handle them well enough to avoid being killed himself. Now Axis knew what he meant. The effort for a Song that killed some forty or fifty Skraelings left him so drained he could do nothing for hours afterwards. Stars help him, he had thought one day, if ever I am forced to use more power than I do now against Gorgrael’s creatures.

  In the end, Axis used his powers only sparingly. In times of crisis, when a push by a section of the Skraeling line threatened his own lines, or when some of his own command pushed too far and were in danger of being cut off.

  “Will our line hold, Belial?” Axis asked. He sat on the makeshift bed, watching his second-in-command clean and oil his sword. The sight reassured Axis. During the first week of fighting there had been no time to clean anything.

  Belial shrugged, not looking up from his task. “Probably. I don’t think Gorgrael is sending any more Skraelings down through the Icescarp Barren. This was only ever a secondary attack anyway. If it succeeded, well and good. If not, well, I don’t think Gorgrael will worry too much. His main attack will be on Jervois Landing. If no more Skraelings appear, then I think we can hold with what we have here.”

  There was silence as Axis contemplated Gorgrael and the attack on Jervois Landing and Belial contemplated the bed, wondering how he could ease Axis off it.

  “Do you think Gorgrael knows I am here?” Axis asked, his thoughts obviously far away.

  “Undoubtedly, Axis, since you have been using some of your Enchanter powers on his pet creatures. If nothing else, I’m sure the SkraeBold has reported your presence.”

  Axis wondered if there was any implied criticism in the man’s comments about his Enchanter powers. He was sensitive to the fact that his powers were relatively useless against the Skraelings.

  Belial, noting the sudden interest in Axis’ face, but mistaking the reason for it, continued. “If Gorgrael does know you’re here, I doubt he has much interest in the knowledge.”

  “What do you mean?” Why shouldn’t Gorgrael take an active interest in his activities? Wasn’t Axis the StarMan, the one the Prophecy said would destroy Gorgrael?

  “Axis.” Belial’s voice was tired, and all he could do now was stare at the bed that Axis continued obstinately to sit on. “If you were a real threat to Gorgrael at the moment you would be beating down the front door to whatever fortress Gorgrael has secreted himself in. All Gorgrael wants right now is to overrun Achar before you have a chance to unite the country behind you. He knows he doesn’t have much to fear from you at present.”

  “I am never in danger of falling into complacency and self-congratulation about you, am I, Belial? You always manage to remind me where I am and who I am.”

  “Well,” Belial said, “can I remind you that you are still on that bed, yet it is my turn to sleep? Perhaps you could—”

  He was cut off by a sudden, agonised groan from Axis, who clutched at his head. “StarDrifter,” he muttered. “I hear you! I hear you! Calm down!”

  Belial started and watched Axis carefully as he communicated with his father. StarDrifter had returned to Sigholt after Gundealga Ford, so…what was wrong at Sigholt? Was the Keep under attack? Was it…oh Mother, was it something wrong with Azhure? Belial sat forward on his stool, anxiety etching deep lines into his face.

  “Stars!” Axis leapt to his feet, his face paling underneath its layer of grime. “Belial, the bed is yours. Can you hold this line agains
t the Skraelings if I leave you?”

  “What is it, Axis?” asked Belial, grabbing Axis by the arms. “What’s wrong at Sigholt?”

  “It’s Azhure. She’s gone into labour.”

  Belial’s face went grey. “But it’s too early. She’s only just into her eighth month.”

  “I know.” Axis’ face was, if anything, even more anxious than Belial’s. “I know. Belial, can you hold this line if I leave you? You have Magariz, and Arne, as well as FarSight and the Strike Force.”

  “Yes, Yes,” Belial muttered impatiently, dropping Axis’ arms. “Yes, I can hold. But it’s going to take you days, even if you ride at a flat-out gallop. You can’t possibly get there before—”

  “I have a faster means. Look after Belaguez.”

  A hint of music brushed the air, and then suddenly, shockingly, Axis wasn’t there any more. Belial stared at the space where Axis had been standing, astonished.

  “Why do I always get to look after the horse?” he muttered, then sat down on the bed, his face in his hands, suddenly too worried to sleep.

  Would Azhure be all right?

  The first contractions had caught Azhure while, of all things, she was returning from an early morning walk. She had gasped and clutched her protruding belly as she neared the Keep, and the bridge, alarmed, had halloed so loudly that everyone in the garrison had been awakened and had hastened out, half dressed, clutching swords and bows, expecting to find Sigholt under attack.

  Azhure, grim-faced with embarrassment, had marched back to her apartments with as much dignity as she could muster, half the Keep flustering at her heels.

  Now Rivkah sat quietly in a chair while Azhure, still in the early stages of labour, paced nearby, Sicarius shadowing her every step. The rest of the Alaunt had been relegated to the kitchens while both MorningStar and StarDrifter fretted outside in the corridor.

  The early onset of labour in itself was not a trouble. First children were often early. The problem was that Axis was not here, and Icarii children needed at least one Icarii parent there to talk them through the birth.

  Icarii children were always far more aware than human babies were, and high-strung as well. Labour, the feel of the womb relentlessly contracting about them, usually frightened and confused them, and any sense that the mother was in pain or frightened only increased the child’s terror. They needed an Icarii to talk to them, reassure them, convince them not to fight the birth, but to flow with it. If the Icarii parent wasn’t there, then the child, struggling for life, often panicked and twisted, fighting against the pressure of the womb. Rivkah repressed a shudder. Axis’ birth had gone so terribly wrong because StarDrifter had not been there to reassure Axis. Terrified by his mother’s pain, Axis had twisted himself so badly that she’d almost died in giving him birth.

  Rivkah did not want Azhure to go through that. How long would it take Axis to get here? Would Azhure have to undergo days of agony, days when the life drained from her, as she waited for him to arrive?

  Theoretically, either MorningStar or StarDrifter could talk to the child, try to reassure him, but since Azhure had let neither of them talk to Caelum before this, he would not trust them, and would, in all likelihood, be so terrified by the time Azhure let either of the Enchanters near her that it would be too late anyway.

  Rivkah bit her lip, watching Azhure pace slowly backwards and forwards in her loose linen nightgown, her hands kneading at the small of her back. She was in discomfort now, and Caelum surely was, but it would be nothing compared to what would come. But the last time Rivkah had mentioned either MorningStar or StarDrifter’s name in front of her Azhure had snapped at Rivkah to keep them out.

  Suddenly the door burst open and Axis strode in.

  “Azhure!” Axis took three huge strides over to Azhure and wrapped her in his arms. Both laughed and cried at the same time and Rivkah gave in to her relief and let some tears slide down her cheeks. She wiped them away with the backs of her hands, standing to embrace Axis herself, patting him on the back and pushing his too-long hair out of his eyes.

  Axis leaned back from Azhure, his face creased in some puzzlement. “I heard you were in labour, but—” He looked at Rivkah, as if she could explain why Azhure wasn’t writhing about on a bed working with every breath she had to birth her child.

  Both women laughed at his expression. “Labour takes some time, Axis,” Rivkah explained, “and Azhure is still only in the early stages.”

  Then her smile died as she took a deep breath and started to explain to her son about Icarii births.

  Eleven hours later in the dark hour before dawn, the time for levity had long passed. Azhure lay on the bed in a half-sitting position, leaning against Axis. Her eyes closed, her hair clinging to her forehead, she waited for the next contraction to rack her body. Axis whispered encouragement in her ear, his hand resting on her belly, feeling Caelum’s fear and anxiety. Mother and child were now deeply frightened, and it was all Axis could do to reassure both of them.

  He kissed Azhure’s cheek again and whispered to her, then turned his mind to the child.

  Caelum, I know you are frightened, but you must not fight your mother. Soon you will be born, and you will have escaped from this pain and this fright.

  Afraid. Hurt. It was all Axis could sense from the baby; just the two emotions, fear and pain.

  He lifted his eyes and met those of Rivkah. She tried to smile reassuringly at him. “It is going well, Axis, truly. The baby is in a good position and Azhure is bearing up well.”

  MorningStar had finally worked her way into the birthing chamber. Azhure no longer had the strength to complain, and Rivkah was glad. She needed the help, and MorningStar was an experienced Icarii midwife.

  “Azhure is doing well, Axis, and you are doing well with the baby,” MorningStar agreed.

  “He’s frightened,” Axis muttered, remembering how Rivkah had suffered in his birth. Had he felt like Caelum? He must have.

  Azhure grunted as another contraction twisted her body, and Axis winced as he heard the baby wail in fear.

  Axis stroked Azhure’s belly again. Somehow, Caelum could feel it and the touch of his father’s hand reassured him.

  Caelum, you must not fight what is happening. You are being born and your mother struggles for you. Go where she tells you. Trust.

  Trust. Caelum’s thoughts picked up that word and kept repeating it. Trust.

  “Trust,” Azhure whispered and groped for Axis’ hand, then cried out again as another contraction seized her.

  Rivkah rubbed the woman’s leg. “He comes, Azhure. Now is the time to start to push with your pains. Now!”

  The baby was silent now, and Axis grabbed both of Azhure’s hands in his own. Surely, he thought frantically, there must be a better way than this! His ring could show him no Songs to relieve Azhure’s suffering and now, as Azhure hung on to his hands as if her life depended on it, Axis remembered the times that men in the Axe-Wielders had appeared haggard-faced at his door, asking for some days off to arrange both the funeral of a wife who died in childbed and the futures of their motherless children.

  No, he thought, don’t let Azhure die now, not like this.

  “Again,” Rivkah grunted, “push,” and Azhure’s body again twisted next to his.

  Axis heard MorningStar say something, but it sounded as if she were a thousand leagues away. All he could see was Azhure’s face below his, her smoky eyes opening wide in pain and astonishment as she felt the baby move within and through her.

  “Push!” Rivkah’s voice commanded from somewhere.

  Axis pulled Azhure as close to his own body as he dared. “Azhure,” he whispered, “stay with me. Stay with me. Do not leave me. What would I do without you? Stay with me.”

  Rivkah looked at her son, then glanced down again. “His head comes. Your son is almost born. Two more contractions, three at the most, and you will have your son in your arms.”

  “Hear her, Azhure. You have almost finished. Your struggle
is almost done.” If possible, Axis held Azhure even tighter.

  Azhure struggled once, twice, then gave a great gasp of relief. “Rivkah?” she asked feebly, scrabbling to sit up. Axis slipped an arm about her and lifted her, supporting her against his chest. He peered as anxiously as Azhure did.

  A ray of light, the first of the day, glittered across the chamber and struck Azhure’s face. She blinked in its radiance.

  Rivkah wiped the baby’s face with a towel, clearing his mouth and nose, then, smiling broadly, hoisted the baby onto Azhure’s belly. Still attached to his mother by his umbilical cord, the baby squirmed weakly, his eyes blinking open, his tiny mouth in a round “O” of astonishment.

  “Look what a beautiful son we have made,” Axis whispered. “Thank you, Azhure, for this baby.” He turned and kissed her gently on the forehead, and then on the cheek.

  “I enjoyed the making more than the birthing,” Azhure replied, but she smiled and her eyes were soft as she gazed at her son wriggling gently on her body. “He’s so tiny.”

  Rivkah bound and cut the cord, then gently pulled MorningStar back from the bed. “Give them these few minutes together, MorningStar,” she whispered. “You will see your great-grandson soon enough.”

  Azhure lifted the baby to her breast, and now she laughed delightedly as the baby began to suckle.

  “Do you still think she is WolfStar?” whispered Rivkah.

  MorningStar was silent for a time, watching Axis and Azhure absorbed in their new son. “She is not what she seems,” she said finally.

  Later Axis sat on the bed cradling the baby as Azhure, tired but determined not to slip into sleep yet, watched proudly. He had held Caelum and sung to him as Rivkah and MorningStar washed and attended to Azhure. Now Azhure lay clean and comfortable, although desperately tired, and StarDrifter had finally been allowed in.

  “You must stay awake for this,” Rivkah whispered. “It is rare, rare indeed, that three generations of Icarii Enchanters get to welcome a fourth generation into their family.”