Crusader. Novel by Sara Douglass

Underworld?

Why?

In Sanctuary, SpikeFeather had spent much of his time with Adamon and his wife, Xanon, and the

other Star Gods. He’d wanted to see if, somehow, they might give him a direction, even a clue, but he’d

learned nothing from them. Without exception (and apart from Axis and Azhure), the once-gods

were colourless and apathetic, unable to come to terms with the destruction of Tencendor and with

their exile — as mere mortals! — in Sanctuary.

They’d been kind, and patient, but SpikeFeather had learned nothing of himself from them. And

now, they’d disappeared, undoubtedly off on their own well-intentioned purpose, but that did not help

SpikeFeather in his current despair.

“Gods!” SpikeFeather muttered, with no rancour, only desperate wishing. “What is my

purpose? What am I to do?”

If only Orr hadn’t died so precipitously in the chamber of the Star Gate. Perhaps if he sought out

DragonStar …

But SpikeFeather sighed, and let his eyes linger on the immobile ice pillars before him.

Urbeth’s daughters apparently knew exactly who they were and what was expected of them.

Meanwhile, here he sat, not knowing what to do or how to help.

Suddenly, both pillars melted back into the forms of women, and they stared into the storm that

raged beyond the avenue.

One of them hissed, and she swung around, stopping with a jerk as she saw SpikeFeather.

“You!” she cried.

Axis was startled out of his conversation with the Ravensbund chief, Sa’Domai, by a shout from the head

of the convoy.

He leaped onto Sal’s back and galloped forward to find Urbeth transforming back into her womanly

self, and DragonStar — DragonStar! — emerging from the storm on his white stallion, the Alaunt milling

at Belaguez’s feet.

The expression on DragonStar’s face said it all.

“Trouble,” Axis stated.

“Oh, aye,” DragonStar said, and halted Belaguez by Sal. His eyes widened very slightly at the sight

of Axis’ brown mare, but he made no remark about her.

Not when disaster threatened.

“The Demons are not far behind me,” DragonStar said. He looked in wonder at the avenue

of trees, then looked in query at Urbeth.

Ur, she told him in the mind voice, her thoughts carrying more images than spoken words.

Skraelings. Souls of trees. An army.

DragonStar nodded, accepting. “Urbeth, can you hold here for the moment? I must —”

“Yes. Go.”

DragonStar nodded, then reached across and let his hand rest momentarily on Axis’ arm. “I

must see to Azhure’s and Katie’s safety,” he said.

“How can we fight against the Demons?” Axis said, grabbing at DragonStar’s own arm as his son

pulled back.

Again DragonStar glanced at Urbeth. “Support Urbeth and her daughters, and support the

trees,” he said. “Even I can do no more.”

Axis nodded, and let him go.

DragonStar rode Belaguez deep into the column until he found Azhure, Katie and StarDrifter. They

were standing by a collection of Ravensbund tents, and looked up in stunned surprise as DragonStar

rode up.

For the moment DragonStar ignored Azhure and StarDrifter, sliding off Belaguez’s back to lift Katie

into his arms.

She smiled and snuggled in close to him.

The Demons are about to attack.

I know, DragonStar.

You must stay safe.

At that Katie smiled bitterly. For the moment.

DragonStar’s arms tightened about her, and he could not help the sudden dampness in his eyes. You

have a way to travel before you, my girl. This is not the place.

DragonStar felt her nod, and he let her down.

“A/hure?” he said. “Katie must be protected at all costs. Whatever happens, whoever else dies in

this attack, Katie must be protected.”

Azhure did not speak, merely wrapping her own arms about Katie and nodding, her eyes

determined.

“The Ravensbund will prove as good a guard as any,” DragonStar said. “Stay inside their tents,

away from what prying eyes might penetrate these trees.”

Again Azhure nodded, then she leaned forward, briefly kissed DragonStar’s cheek, and ducked

inside one of the tents, Katie still locked in her arms.

Several Ravensbund warriors quietly surrounded the tent, and DragonStar spoke softly to them.

Then he turned to go, but was halted by StarDrifter.

“I know this is not the time,” StarDrifter said hurriedly, “but Zenith is in danger.”

DragonStar sent a rushed glance back towards the head of the convoy, but let StarDrifter hold him

back.

“Danger?”

StarDrifter took a deep breath, and DragonStar was horrified to see the emotion in his grandfather’s

eyes. “WolfStar has her,” he said.

DragonStar opened his mouth, but for the moment could not answer.

“WolfStar has captured Zenith’s soul,” StarDrifter hurried on. “Stolen her will! Dammit, DragonStar!

WolfStar has convinced Zenith that she has no future apart from him!”

“But… how …” DragonStar said.

StarDrifter threw up his hands in despair. “DragonStar, if you have the time … help her, please …”

“I’ll —” DragonStar began, then got no further, for the sounds of a frightful battle crashed

down through the trees.

That the helpless millions who’d escaped Sanctuary had somehow found a source of

enchantment to protect them had not surprised Qeteb.

After all, the heart still beat.

As he and his approached the column from high overhead, they’d observed the tens of

thousands of trees lining and protecting the people and animals inside.

“Enchantment,” Sheol had murmured, and Qeteb was pleased to hear no anger or

amazement in her voice.

“I smell that old woman about this,” Qeteb had said, and the others had silently agreed with him.

Below, the trees waved their branches, lifting leaved tentacles high into the sky as if to grab the

Demons down into their twigged depths.

None of the Demons needed to be told that that might be somewhat inadvisable.

“When DragonStar is dead,” Qeteb said, “the trees will become useless. I can wait.”

“And so …?” Raspu said. All of the Demons circled some hundred paces above the highest of the

tentacles waving above the avenue, Qeteb very slightly above the others.

They had now assumed different forms: wingless, although they managed to remain aloft easily.

Muscled forms, and garbed in heavy checked-cloth jackets with thick leather belts and trousers.

All, save Sheol and Roxiah, sported thick heads of hair and beards, and even the two female

Demons had their femininity almost completely hidden behind their outward facade of resolute

determination and muscled strength.

The Demons had taken on the forms of woodsmen, and in their hands they gripped shiny metal axes.

They might not mean to battle the trees here and now, but they did mean to give them a scare. And

there were three other targets in mind.

Whittle down DragonStar’s support one by one, Qeteb whispered through their minds.

First…

First the three who taunted and then trapped us, said Sheol.

Oh yes, Qeteb agreed. First those three …

But his mind was wandering elsewhere. He could sense DragonStar down there, and, more, he

could sense that there was the sixth — a child! a girl! — that he wanted to protect.

Qeteb smiled. The sixth was a girl. A child!

Knowledge was power, and power was victory.

Urbeth and her daughters had regained some strength during their few hours of rest, but they

were still abysmally tired. In particular, Urbeth had seriously depleted her strength, first by creating the rip

in Sanctuary that had enabled the peoples and animals hidden there to escape and, second,

leading her daughters in the mad dash to draw the Demons away from the still vulnerable convoy.

Now, all three found themselves attacked by murderously calm and determined Demons who had

split into two groups to target both ends of the avenue.

At the front of the avenue, Urbeth turned in the snow to find two woodsmen walking towards her.

Both had grins splitting their faces, both had axes raised.

Urbeth growled, and tried to transform into her bear persona, but found her power so seriously

exhausted that she could not manage it.

Yet she had to defend her end of the avenue, for otherwise the Demons could walk right in!

Behind her people scrambled further back into the avenue, terrified by the sense of evil emanating

from the two strutting woodsmen, Qeteb and Barzula.

They were within five paces of Urbeth.

“Go back,” she said, and drew herself up straight and imperious. On her finger the Circle of

Stars flared … and then died.

One of the woodsmen laughed, and Urbeth knew it was Qeteb.

“You are a sorry bitch,” he said in an amiable tone, “to stand guard at the head of this pitiful

column. Why don’t you run, pretty rabbit? Why don’t you run?”

And he laughed again, low and nasty. He and Barzula took three small, rapid steps forward, and

they now swung their axes back and forth in sweeping, whistling arcs.

There was a slight movement behind Urbeth.

“I am with you,” Axis said, and Urbeth heard the hoof-fall of his brown mare.

“Go back,” she said, without turning to look at him, “for you can do nothing.”