Pilgrim by Sara Douglas

yet reach it.

―Ah,‖ he‘d said, as Zenith had told her news, ―Drago‘s Sanctuary. Why am I not

surprised to hear, that while it does exist, it can‘t be approached?‖

Zenith had rounded on him, furious. ―It will serve to save you and yours, as well as the

Icarii and Acharite,‖ she‘d snapped.

―The Avar will move nowhere,‖ Isfrael had retorted, his tone very quiet. ―The trees

protect us.‖

―For now,‖ Zenith had said, and turned her back on him.

Dubious, frightened, their cold and hunger the only reason to even consider exile, let

alone attempt it, the Icarii had at last listened to Zenith‘s and FreeFall‘s arguments and threats.

Now they stretched in long, murmuring lines that wound under the sheltering trees of

Minstrelsea, rose up the slopes towards the crater that cradled Fernbrake Lake, and then spilled

over the ridge and down to the edge of the Lake itself, the line stopping at the edge of the trees.

And so they stood, while Zenith, FreeFall, EvenSong and Isfrael waited in the domed

chamber at the doors of Sanctuary.

―He will return soon,‖ Zenith said. ―StarDrifter was certain they could quickly locate

Drago—‖

―Even if he did,‖ Isfrael said, his arms crossed over his bare chest, and his curls in angry

disarray about his horns, ―will Drago return with StarDrifter?

―And…‖ he lifted one hand to wave it languidly at the silvery trace-work of the bridge

spanning the chasm into Sanctuary, ―will he have any idea of how to convince this bridge to let

the Icarii past?‖

―You should have more faith in your brother,‖ a woman‘s voice said behind them, and

they turned to see Faraday walk down the stairs into the chamber. She was holding the hand of

the small girl who walked with her.

Behind her came StarDrifter and Drago, then WingRidge, SpikeFeather and, Zenith was

astounded to note, the Alaunt hounds, together with the feathered lizard (which she could see

was now much larger) and a line of cats. Zenith stood, transfixed, and then she laughed in sheer

exuberance and stepped forward to embrace Faraday fiercely.

―I have missed you,‖ she whispered, and Faraday murmured something back before

Zenith extracted herself, smiled at the girl, and then stepped into Drago‘s arms.

―What have you brought us,‖ Zenith said as she leaned back. ―The Alaunt. The Wolven!

What? Have you divested mother of all her trappings?‖

―Both Alaunt and Wolven have their own minds and their own choices,‖ Drago said,

―and for the moment it appears that they have chosen to walk with me.‖

―Along with half the cats of Tencendor,‖ StarDrifter muttered, but his eyes crinkled with

amusement, and he smiled as Zenith stepped over to him. She hesitated, then leaned forward and

gave him a stiff hug and peck on the cheek.

The brightness in StarDrifter‘s eyes faded, and Faraday frowned as she looked between

the two of them.

―The Icarii wait above,‖ FreeFall said, after he‘d greeted Drago and his companions.

―Drago? Will you…can you…?‖

Even with the accoutrements of power that Drago carried with him, FreeFall‘s doubt was

evident in his voice. Drago nodded, but he did not speak. He stared across the bridge into

Sanctuary, transfixed by its beauty. Would anyone ever want to leave?

Brushing past Isfrael, Drago walked slowly through the door, pausing for a moment as

his eyes scanned the symbols carved about its frame, then approached the bridge.

It was sister to Sigholt‘s bridge, he realised. The silvertracery web to match her sister‘s

many-legged skills.

Drago put a foot on the bridge, and then the other.

―Are you true?‖ she asked.

―Yes,‖ Drago replied. ―I am true.‖ He took another step, running his right hand lightly

along one fragile handrail.

―But,‖ the bridge said in a voice almost a whisper, ―are you he who is true?‖

―Yes, I am he who is true.‖

Silence, then the bridge spoke again. ―Show me.‖

Drago‘s mind spoke the request, and the staff vibrated slightly in his hand, and almost as

soon as his eyes traced the pattern appearing on the wood, so he lifted his right hand and

translated the pattern into symbol.

―Yes,‖ the bridge said. ―You are he who is true. Welcome to my heart, DragonStar

SunSoar…and welcome home after so long away.‖

―I thank you, bridge,‖ Drago said. ―May I lead my friends across your back?‖

―With pleasure,‖ she assented, ―although I must question each and every one of them.‖

Drago‘s mouth twisted wryly—Tencendor would take months to evacuate if she paused to ask

everyone of their truth.

―Don‘t you think you could do it in groups, bridge? The need is somewhat…urgent.‖

She thought about it. ―Well…‖

―I would not ask were it not important.‖

―Oh, very well. Groups. No more than seventy-seven per group.‖

―Thank you, bridge,‖ Drago said with considerable relief and then lifted his head.

―Will you come, Faraday?‖ he asked.

She hesitated a moment before stepping forward, staring at the man on the bridge holding

out his hand to her, fighting down the emotions that outstretched hand ignited in her. Damn him!

Then, finding some refuge in humour (would he never give up?), she led the girl forward.

―Are you true?‖ the bridge asked.

―Yes,‖ Faraday said.

―You speak the truth, Faraday,‖ the bridge responded. ―Welcome to my heart.‖

Then the bridge spoke to the girl.

―Are you true?‖

The girl replied without any hesitation. ―I am truth.‖

―Yes,‖ the bridge said. ―You are truth. Do well, Katie.‖

Katie inclined her head, and she and Faraday joined Drago on the far bank.

―You ‗are‘ truth?‖ Drago questioned the girl, and when Katie remained silent he looked

at Faraday, but Faraday shrugged her shoulders.

―All will spin to a conclusion eventually,‖ she said, and with that Drago supposed he had

to be content.

Sanctuary was not quite what Drago expected.

He walked slowly across the grassy plains towards the entrance to the valley. A gentle

warm breeze billowed the grass and the blue-and-white star-shaped flowers into spreading

ripples before them. By Drago‘s side walked Faraday and Katie, and StarDrifter and Zenith.

Isfrael walked behind StarDrifter. He and Faraday had nodded to each other, but had exchanged

no words. Now his face was carefully set in a neutral expression, although his current distaste

had little to do with his mother. Isfrael did not like the idea of being underground, even though

the sky yawned apparently limitless above, and the verdant valley and snow-capped mountains

stretched infinitely before him.

WingRidge and SpikeFeather had remained behind at the bridge and stairwell,

supervising the evacuation of the Icarii nation into Sanctuary.

As successive groups of Icarii successfully negotiated both the silver tracery of the bridge

and her questioning and took to flight, the leading group was overtaken by the birdmen and

women. By the time Drago approached the valley mouth, Sanctuary had already been

well-peopled with Icarii.

―How strange,‖ Faraday murmured as they walked between the twin towers of rock that

guarded the entrance. ―I could have sworn that there was at least a half-league to travel between

bridge and valley, yet here we are as if we have but just walked fifty paces.‖

―The grass ripples with enchantment as well as flowers,‖ StarDrifter said. ―Oh, look! It is

an orchard.‖

All, except Drago, exclaimed at the beauty of Sanctuary. Before them stretched a valley

that appeared to be almost entirely taken up with an orchard of astounding beauty. Thousands of

trees grew well-spaced along mown lawns, their branches so laden with fruit they almost touched

the ground. They could see the glint of ponds and streams here and there, and tasselled linen

hammocks swung between trees above scattered silken pillows and cushions below.

Katie broke free from Faraday and ran to the nearest tree, taking a piece of fruit from a

low-slung branch and sinking her teeth into it.

―Beautiful!‖ she cried, juice running down her chin, and Faraday walked over to her, and

wiped it away with a smile.

―This place seems well enough,‖ Isfrael said, ―if you like ordered orchards before the

wild beauty of the forests.‖ He had his arms crossed and his legs placed apart. He looked like a

judge about to deliver an execution penalty.

―There are palaces further in!‖ a voice above them cried, and a youthful Icarii called

MurmurWing dropped down before them. ―Filled with dormitories and fountains and

well-fattened storerooms!‖

He looked at the faces before him and, disconcerted by Isfrael‘s stiff stance and Drago‘s

carefully bland face, stumbled out a few more words, and equally awkwardly rose into the air

and flew back into Sanctuary.

―Drago?‖ Faraday said. ―What‘s wrong? You look like a goat has stuck his hoof down

your throat.‖

Drago jerked out of his reverie, and made a bad attempt at a smile. ―Wrong? Nothing‘s

wrong. I‘m…I‘m sure that all will be comfortable here…if we can ever get them past the bridge

in time to enjoy it! Come,‖ he held out his hand for Zenith, ―let‘s explore this magical land a