―I think we will not have to wait very much longer to find that out,‖ a voice said behind
them, and Axis and Belial swung about in surprise to see Ogden and Veremund hurrying through
the door.
Belial frowned. ―What are you two doing here? Return to the fort where you will be
safer.‖
But Axis moved his stool to one side to make room for the Sentinels by the fire. ―Have
you come to tell me how to use my powers, old men? Have you come to tell me how to save
these walls and my men?‖
Belial did not like the tone in Axis‘ voice. ―You will do as you have always done, Axis.
You will fight to the best of your ability and lead your command to the best of your ability. It is
all you can do.‖
―Damn it!‖ Axis said intensely, staring at the flames. ―If I am the StarMan, I should be
able to do more than what I have simply done before. Ogden, Veremund,‖ he lifted his eyes to
the Sentinels, ―can you help me?‖
Ogden spread his hands, apologetic. ―We are only servants, Axis, and as the Prophecy
unfolds we can only stand and watch. We have no powers to save this town and fort. We cannot
teach you how to use your power.‖
―Then what are you doing here?‖ Axis said harshly. ―Why did you come?‖ His deep
sense of helplessness in the face of the horror that waited beyond the storm found release in
anger.
―We have to witness, dear one,‖ Veremund said gently. ―And we must do our best to
make sure that you live through this. The Prophecy must grow at its own pace. If it had wanted
you at your full power for Gorkenfort then it would have moved sooner.‖
Axis stared at Veremund for a moment, then gestured towards the door in an abrupt,
angry movement. ―And tell me, Sentinel, will you and your Prophecy make sure that these
fourteen thousand live through this as well?‖
Veremund held Axis‘ stare, his face impassive. ―Who lives and dies is not my decision. I
only know that you must live.‖
Axis dropped his eyes. ―Is my father close, Veremund? Ogden? Will he tell me what to
sing to drive these wraiths back?‖
―I cannot say, dear one,‖ Veremund replied. ―We cannot know that.‖
For long minutes Axis stared into the fire. Would the BattleAxe be enough to save this
town? Or did he need the powers of the StarMan? StarDrifter, he thought, where are you? Where
are you?
Belial leaned across and rested his hand on Axis‘ arm. ―You will do your best, Axis. It is
all you can do.‖
Axis took a deep breath and looked at the Sentinels. ―Perhaps it were best if you returned
to the fort, my friends. If you stay around here any longer you may be required to perform the
Service of the Dead more times than you might wish.‖
―And we must…‖ Belial began, rising to his feet, then stopped. ―What?‖ he said,
bewildered.
As Axis stood up, his face towards the door, the Sentinels looked at each other. It was
time.
―The storm has broken,‖ Axis whispered, his face white. ―Gorgrael is ready to strike!‖
Without another word Axis and Belial grabbed their cloaks and gloves and rushed for the
door.
The sacred and ancient rituals of Yuletide began as the first stars glittered through the
gaps in the cloudy sky. The combined council had debated fiercely whether or not to conduct the
rites given the recent ominous news, but had finally agreed that it was essential. If Gorgrael
disrupted the rites of Yuletide the winter might never lift and his creatures of ice and cloud
would drift unhindered ever lower into the lands of Tencendor.
The damnable thing was, Yuletide was the ideal time for Gorgrael to strike since many of
the Icarii and most of the Avar were gathered in one spot, together with their Enchanters and
Banes. Recognising the danger, the Icarii and Avar took what precautions they could.
Crest-Leaders posted sentries about the forest and the cliffs to give advance warning of any
attack, while all Avar children under the age of twelve years were taken as far down the paths
into the southern Avarinheim as they could in the time available; the Icarii never brought their
children to the groves. No people could survive if their helpless children were slaughtered.
As dark fell the rites began. Azhure, watching from the very fringe of the assembly
gathered in the Earth Tree Grove with GoldFeather, her daughter EvenSong and Pease by her
side, felt and saw the Avar and Icarii relax a little as the familiar and ancient words of the ritual
began. The Icarii Enchanters, StarDrifter prominent among them, gathered with the Avar Banes
in a circle about the stones surrounding the Earth Tree. Enchanters and Banes were both dressed
in crimson, the Icarii with half-length robes that fell from their waists, even the women leaving
their breasts bared, the Banes with full-length robes draped gracefully from their shoulders.
Bearing the image of a blazing sun suspended across his chest, StarDrifter stepped forward from
the circle and lifted an unlit brand from one of the stone pillars. For a moment he stood, head
bowed in thought or prayer, then he passed one of his hands over the brand and it burst into
flames. He held it forward to the assembly, walking slowly about the circle of stone so that all
could see. He stopped in front of a young female Bane who held a harp in her lap, smiled a little,
then as she struck the first chord on the instrument he opened his mouth and began to sing.
He sang in an ancient language that Azhure had never heard before, but after a moment‘s
puzzlement she found she could understand what he was singing. StarDrifter sang of the glory of
the sun, of the life it gave to those who lived in its light, of its yearly death and resurrection on
the night of the winter solstice. He paused briefly, then sang of the dependence of the Earth Tree,
as the earth itself and all life it contained, on the continued health and well-being of the sun. He
sang of the mysteries of the sun and of the song it hummed to itself as it danced through the
heavens, of the stars themselves, of the myriad suns that all swayed and dipped to the notes of the Star Dance which itself remained one of the Seven Great Mysteries. The voices of his fellow
Enchanters and Banes rose beneath his voice in supporting harmony, leaving StarDrifter‘s voice
clear to soar strong through the hearts of all those listening and surge above their heads to drift
with the stars themselves.
Azhure wept. His voice touched the very sinews of her soul and she could feel her blood
vibrate to the music that he made.
Finally StarDrifter‘s voice faded and he turned to his fellow Enchanters and Banes.
―What can we give the sun to encourage it to live again in the morning?‖ he asked.
The Enchanters and Banes replied as one. ―We can give to the sun the strength to rise in
the morning.‖
―We can,‖ StarDrifter whispered, although his whisper reached all ears. ―We can give the
sun the strength to rise in the morning. We can give it blood.‖ Azhure‘s eyes were caught by a
sudden movement at the edge of the grove, the spot where the Avarinheim met the Icescarp Alps.
Slowly, but with incredible dignity and grace, a huge Stag appeared. He was in the prime of his
life, his pelt glowing dark reddish brown on his back, fading to creamy yellow on his underbelly.
Massive twelve-point antlers swayed from his head. He paused slightly at the edge of the
assembly, his huge dark eyes knowing, then he began to pick his way through the assembled
Avar and Icarii towards the stone circle.
As the Stag neared the Enchanters and Banes they sang a song of love and support, of
compassion and gratitude, their voices humble before the sacrifice of the Stag.
The Stag walked into the clearing below the stone circle, then through the Banes and
Enchanters, stopping only when he reached StarDrifter. StarDrifter reached out a hand and
touched the Stag briefly on the forehead in blessing. Then he turned to one side and Raum
hobbled forward, a long knife in his hands. The Stag dropped to his knees and offered his throat,
closing his magnificent eyes so that he would not have to witness the arc of the knife as it swung.
StarDrifter began to sing again, this time a song of wonder that the Stag should choose to
offer its life in order to give the sun strength. As his voice died Raum placed one hand on the
Stag‘s forehead and with the other placed the knife against its quivering throat. ―Thank you for