now? RavenCrest SunSoar, before you go any further, there is something you must know. The
Prophecy of the Destroyer walks the earth.‖
RavenCrest rocked on his feet, horror sweeping his beautiful strong face, and all the Icarii
present looked deeply shocked. ―Ah, no,‖ StarDrifter whispered, and rested his head briefly in
his hands. This as well as the news of his son.
Raum quickly described what he had learned from the Sentinels at Fernbrake Lake and
his contact with the Tree Friend. Then, with a glance at StarDrifter, who stared at the ground,
Raum told them about meeting with the BattleAxe of the Seneschal, and how, incredibly, he
carried the soul of an awesomely powerful Icarii Enchanter—powerful enough to sing the Song
of Recreation as though he were humming a simple ballad. As that news sank in, and as those
Icarii elders and Enchanters who were present turned to whisper to each other, Raum paused and
looked pityingly at StarDrifter. ―Perhaps now StarDrifter must tell you something,‖ he said softly.
Slowly StarDrifter raised his face and looked about the assembled group before his eyes
locked into those of his brother‘s. ―RavenCrest, my brother, the BattleAxe is my son.
GoldFeather‘s child, stolen from her at birth by the man who has become the Brother-Leader of
the Seneschal. I have only just found out myself.‖
―What is going on here?‖ RavenCrest exclaimed, confusion turning his temper towards
anger. ―How can an Icarii Enchanter be raised among the Seneschal filth?‖
Raum stepped forward, holding his hand up for quiet among the hubbub of noise. ―There
is one more thing I must say. The Prophecy walks and Gorgrael gathers his forces to strike south.
The Sentinels walk abroad, as does Tree Friend. An Icarii Enchanter lives in the ghastly clothes
of the BattleAxe of the Seneschal. My friends, why should four of the Sentinels and Tree Friend
all be gathered, at one time or the other, about the person of the BattleAxe? Who carries Icarii
blood and has the makings of the greatest Enchanter that has ever lived? We all know the
Prophecy. Gorgrael is of mingled Avar and Icarii blood. The StarMan is related to him, a
half-brother who shares the same father with Gorgrael.‖
―No,‖ StarDrifter whispered to himself, his hands clenching by his sides in horror as the
implications of what Raum was saying struck home with dreadful force. ―No, no, no, no!‖
―My friends,‖ Raum continued, his eyes half on StarDrifter. ―Must I spell it out for you?
Who else can the StarMan be but the BattleAxe, the Icarii Enchanter lost in the lies of the
Seneschal that bind him tight? And if that is so, as I believe it must be, then, StarDrifter, have
you also fathered Gorgrael?‖
StarDrifter lifted his head back and screamed, a primeval sound of pure anguish, and
leapt to his feet. He stared wildly at Raum, his wings raised and outstretched as if he would leap
into flight, then Crest-Leader FarSight grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground, their wings
thrashing together as they struggled. Both Icarii and Avar stumbled out of the way. RavenCrest
flapped his wings in a single powerful movement and landed beside his brother, seizing his
golden hair in his hand and forcing StarDrifter to look him in the eye. ―We need to know,‖
RavenCrest ground out between locked jaws. ―Is it possible?‖
―Before I met GoldFeather anything is possible,‖ StarDrifter whispered, his entire body
slumping. ―You know as well as I that during Beltide unions between Icarii and Avar often
occur.‖
RavenCrest turned back to the Avar present, his hand still buried in his brother‘s hair.
―Do any of you know of a child born to one of your women from a Beltide coupling?‖ he asked
fiercely. Now the Avar looked shamed as they considered the unthinkable. Had one of their
women not aborted a Beltide babe?
―StarDrifter,‖ Raum said softly, his eyes sorrowing for his people. ―Tell us. Which of the
Avar could you have fathered Gorgrael on?‖
StarDrifter‘s wings drooped. He had no more resistance to deny the obvious truth. ―The
Beltide night before I flew down to Sigholt,‖ he whispered, ―there was an Avar woman.
Beautiful.‖
―StarDrifter!‖ RavenCrest hissed again, impatient, his hand giving StarDrifter‘s head a
slight shake. ― Who?‖
―Ameld,‖ StarDrifter whispered so quietly that the others could barely hear. ―Her name
was Ameld.‖
Mirbolt gave a horrified cry and RavenCrest turned his piercing eyes on her. ―What do
you know, Mirbolt?‖
―My sister Ameld disappeared some five months after Beltide that many years ago,‖ she
said, her hands to her face. Her sister had given birth to Gorgrael? ―My sister, my poor beautiful
Ameld! How did she die?‖
Raum watched the group for a few minutes before squatting down by StarDrifter,
wincing as his ankle flared in pain as he shifted his weight, and put a hand on the Enchanter‘s
shoulder in comfort and friendship.
―My friend, there is no blame to be apportioned here. The Prophecy has chosen its time to
awaken, and you are merely one of its instruments. Think not of the horror of siring Gorgrael,
but the joy and wonder of siring the StarMan, joy and wonder that GoldFeather can share with
you. Remember, the StarMan must unite all three races of Tencendor, and your son carries
within him the royal blood lines of both Icarii and Acharite people. He has been well-bred.‖ He
stood again and turned his eyes to the others. ―We can only grow strong from the knowledge that
this afternoon has given us. We know something of Gorgrael, we know he wields powers similar,
if greater, to an Icarii Enchanter. We know who the StarMan is. And we know where he is.‖
StarDrifter looked up suddenly, his face losing a little of its grey horror. ―Where?‖
―Gorkenfort. He is in Gorkenfort with Tree Friend.‖
49
YULETIDE
Axis and Belial, swathed in heavy cloaks, walked down one of the narrow alleyways that
separated the town walls from the outer blocks of houses. The storm raged overhead, but the
walls on either side of the men protected them from the worst of Gorgrael‘s wind. Sentries stood
shadowed in the eerie twilight, and Axis stepped close to one man to speak with him.
―Higginson,‖ he said, recognising the soldier as one of the regular troops helping the
Axe-Wielders reinforce the wall, ―a cold afternoon. Have you been on duty long?‖
Higginson nodded at the BattleAxe, impressed he had remembered his name. ―Some
hours, BattleAxe. But I have this doorway to shelter me, and Gorgrael‘s storm does not concern
me.‖
―Good man,‖ Axis said, seeing the glint of fear in his eyes, but clapping him on the
shoulder. ―Make sure you get some warm food in you once you stand down.‖
As they strode further down the alleyway Axis turned to Belial, shouting from underneath
the hood of his cloak. ―This storm saps our strength, Belial, yet I fear its cessation almost as
much as I fear its fury.‖
Belial could only just catch his words amid the howling from the rooftops. He nodded,
then indicated a doorway some paces further down the alley. There was little point in them trying
to inspect the defences at this stage.
After Borneheld and his commanders struggled back to the fort via houses and sheltered
alleyways, Axis and Belial spent hours inspecting walls and talking to men. Men were positioned
in the battlements, ready to man the walls once—if—the storm abated, while other units
sheltered in the houses adjacent to the walls. All had orders to keep as warm as they could, but
no orders that Axis gave could stop the fear that grew with each passing hour.
Grateful to be out of the frigid air, Axis and Belial hurried through the door, slamming it
behind them. The room, once a cobbler‘s workshop, was now set up as a kitchen, and a small fire
burned in one corner, a pot hanging from a tripod above it. Pulling off his cloak and gloves Axis sat on a small stool before the fire and motioned Belial to do the same. The unit‘s cook took one
look at them, ladled out bowls of gruel, then retreated to a storeroom in the back of the building.
―I‘m afraid,‖ Axis admitted quietly as he finished the gruel.
―There is no shame in that.‖ Belial threw the few remaining lumps of coal onto the fire
and sat back, rubbing his hands. ―All are afraid.‖
―None can escape the venomous intent of this storm, Belial.‖ Axis paused, listening to
the fury of the wind. ―Even Belle wouldn‘t insist her husband venture outside to save Cow
Crumbocke. Not unless she truly desired a widowed old-age.‖
Belial tried to smile reassuringly at Axis, but it didn‘t work.
Axis sighed. ―What will Gorgrael throw at us, Belial? What tricks does he have waiting
for us beyond the walls?‖
Earlier both men had tried to peer through one of the arrow slits, but could see nothing.