Crusader. Novel by Sara Douglass

They’d slipped through Qeteb’s fingers for the moment, but he knew they had not slipped far. Qeteb

knew where the five had gone and, knowing, he could afford to wait. They would be going

nowhere — and could accomplish nothing.

In the meantime he and his could grow stronger. Invincible.

Sanctuary.

Once Sanctuary was gone — and those within it, as their power consumed — there was

nothing that could stop the Demons. They were six again, they controlled the power of the Enemy,

and DragonStar and the five would be crushed like delicate spring flowers within Qeteb’s fist.

Qeteb had, for the moment, forgotten the virulence of that lily.

He laughed and strutted as he looked over the pile of debris that had once been Spiredore, his fists

opening and closing with infinite patience as he moved, the mail of his armour creaking very slightly as his

joints flexed.

Then Qeteb raised his head and gazed about. Behind him rose the Maze — the dark, glorious

Maze, both his prison and his heaven — while to the north, west and south lay only the

devastation of drifting ash and dead earth under the hopeless night sky.

And those eager to please.

There was one thing Qeteb could do to keep DragonStar’s witches out of mischief until he could

give them his full attention.

He began to whisper, and about him the air filled with howls and screams as the demonic gibbered

their approval.

There was little peace in Sanctuary. Urbeth was here, and while Urbeth said she could help them

escape, Urbeth remained completely silent on the “how’s” and “wherefore’s”, and spent much of her

time snapping and growling and making sarcastic comments about everyone’s state of readiness.

Axis spent as much time snapping back at her. The entire land — all that had survived

Qeteb’s resurrection — was hidden here. Sanctuary throbbed with life, but it was life that lay only a

moment away from total annihilation, and all that stood between them and that moment was

Urbeth’s damned reticent aid and Axis’ need to get everyone and everything organised.

There may have been little peace, but what stunned Axis was the fact that there was utter calm. He’d

always believed that peace and calm went hand in hand, but apparently not. Everyone within Sanctuary

was now aware of the imminent danger, and everyone was aware that an escape was being planned —

although not everyone was aware that, apparently, Urbeth meant to dump them (how? how? how?) in

the frozen wastes of the northern tundra.

It was not only the Icarii, Acharites, Ravensbund and Avar who were aware of some of these things.

The animal, bird and insect life also seemed apprised of not only the threat, but of the plans for escape.

And of everyone, the exiled fauna of Tencendor seemed the calmest and the most organised.

Striding about Sanctuary supervising the loading of supplies that would continue through the

night, Axis came across population after population of beetle, or millipede or butterfly, patiently

clinging or clumping to baskets and panniers: none of the packhorses or mules seemed to mind carrying a

load of insects or even birds. Axis stood open-mouthed with astonishment at the sight of one

draughthorse standing, so covered with bats, that only his drooping head appeared from the shifting,

squeaking (but not complaining) mass of grey and brown fur that had buried its myriad claws into his

thick winter coat.

Several hundred carts were filled with dozing seals: cats, dogs and poultry snuggled with no hint

of squabbling or rancour between the seals’ warm, gently heaving sides. Oxen, cows, mules and

horses stood waiting yoked or collared to the carts, many with birds clinging to spines or manes.

Elsewhere grouped herds of livestock or of wild creatures, each herd ignoring nearby animals

even though under more normal circumstances they might be natural competitors or even

enemies.

Ravensbundmen and women moved about among the animals, checking and adjusting

the gear of those creatures yoked or collared to carts, murmuring and soothing any creature

that appeared nervous and jittery. Axis had seen Urbeth talk to Sa’Domai earlier: undoubtedly the

Ravensbundmen were the best adapted to working in the conditions that faced them, but they

also appeared to be particularly suited to working and empathising with animals. Was it because

they were hunters and used to the ways of wild creatures, Axis wondered, or simply

because the Ravensbundmen were more than half-wild themselves?

Intermingling with everything and everybody were the fey creatures that had once populated the

forests. Shifting shapes and colours, winking jewel-like eyes and horns, with strange, soft cries and gentle

touches, the fey creatures slipped in and out of every pack and herd, spreading calm and even, Axis

suspected, some sense of hope.

But, strangest of all the creatures that Axis saw, were the huddled creatures from Bogle

Marsh. They were grouped so closely that Axis could not tell them apart. They simply formed one

massive lump of grey, steaming flesh that extended some thirty paces into the air and spread some

sixty or seventy paces wide.

The entire pile was gently humming to itself: some strange, marshland melody that rose and fell

in gentle, if gigantic, undulations over the other creatures about them.

Axis could feel it vibrating up through his feet, and was strangely soothed by its touch.

“Axis?”

He turned. It was Zared, looking cross and tired.

“Urbeth,” Zared said with more than a trace of aspersion, “has just had a new thought.”

Axis repressed a smile. He did not think it had helped Zared’s temper.

“She wants us,” Zared continued, “to pack some four or five hundred large, shallow bowls, as well

three hundred barrels of potent malmsbury wine.”

Axis remained silent, although he let the question flood his face.

“I have no idea why!” Zared said, and gestured aside impatiently.

“Undoubtedly Urbeth has her reasons,” Axis said gently. “Zared … Zared, I know there is

little I can say to help you. I know how you must be feeling with Leagh —”

“Do you?” Zared said, his eyes hard. “Do you?”

“Aye,” Axis said, “I do. Azhure and I fought apart much of our time, and I spent much of that

time in agony wondering whether or not I would ever see her again. Do not blame me for the fact

that currently I know she is safe.”

Zared visibly forced himself to relax. “I’m sorry. But … none of us are ‘safe’, are we? Azhure

perhaps stands in as much danger as does Leagh.”

“As do you and I.”

“Yes,” Zared sighed. “As do you and I.” He swept his eyes about the scene before him, letting them

linger briefly on the pile of humming Bogle Marsh creatures. “As does every creature in this

gods-forsaken place.”

“I assume that Sanctuary has supplied the bowls and malmsbury?”

Zared sighed again, managing a rueful smile as he did so. “Oh, aye. The best quality

malmsbury wine I have ever seen. I think you and I, brother, should broach a cask before

morning.”

Axis grinned. “I look forward to it. I doubt overmuch if Urbeth will notice a glass or two

gone.”

Once Zared had left, Axis continued his wander through the hordes slowly gathering for the exodus.

He had a vague, very slightly uncomfortable feeling, almost as if he was looking for something, but not

knowing what.

So he walked through the half twilight that, in Sanctuary, passed for night. As people approached

him and asked questions, so Axis answered as best he could, but he did not seek out conversation. He

knew that Azhure and StarDrifter awaited him back in their apartments — StarDrifter in particular had

appeared anxious to discuss something with him — but Axis’ need to find something drove him

deeper into Sanctuary and the milling hordes of peoples and creatures awaiting escape.

How many millions bad DragonStar made him responsible for?

Axis felt an immense burden of responsibility literally weigh down on his shoulders and he had to

force them back to stand straight. Even with Urbeth’s uncertain aid, could he pull this off?

And how did he feel about the Skraelings? Gods, he had never thought to have to face

them again!

Then Axis stopped, stunned out of his thoughts.

What he’d been searching for so vaguely and uncertainly stood in front of him — as nervous and

unsure as he was.

She was plain and brown and with the skittishness of the very young. She lifted her head and caught

sight of Axis. She stilled.

Axis smiled, and held out a hand, moving very slowly towards her.

She did not move, although her black eyes rolled with her inner uncertainty.

Axis smiled, and touched her cheek.

She trembled, and he ran his hand down her neck.

A fine, brown, but very young mare of only three or four years.

Axis’ smile broadened. “You’re not quite Belaguez, but somehow I think you will do just as well.”