Besides, none wanted to linger amid the scent of death. The Icarii and the Avar had cremated
their dead the previous evening. It was a dreadful ceremony, watching so many comrades,
friends and family members given up to the flames. Now the pyres were mere grey stains of
shifting ash.
About the Earth Tree Grove lay some eighteen Icarii, StarDrifter among them, too badly
injured to make the long journey home through the air. None of them would be fit to fly for days,
perhaps weeks, and RavenCrest had to talk to StarDrifter about how they would get home. He
watched StarDrifter, leaning against one of the stone uprights of the sacred circle, GoldFeather
by his side. StarDrifter had insisted on leading the funeral rites the previous day, yet even after a
day‘s rest RavenCrest could see how much the effort had cost his brother. EvenSong was leaning
forward to kiss her mother and father goodbye, FreeFall at her shoulder. The two had already
said their farewells to RavenCrest. He watched them, considering. They had been close for many
years now and RavenCrest wondered idly if they would formalise their union after both had
served their time in the Strike Force. It was not unusual for Icarii cousins to marry, and it would be good for both of them. He stretched his wings slowly, as the two turned and lifted off, waving
as they flew overhead. Yes, it would be a good marriage. Perhaps EvenSong might be able to
control his son‘s sometimes good-hearted impetuousness.
He walked over to StarDrifter and gently touched his shoulder, trying to avoid his injured
wings. ―Brother, how long will it be before you can fly home?‖
StarDrifter glanced at GoldFeather before replying. ―Too long. Many will not be able to
make the journey for weeks, but I am reluctant to stay that long. All of us will be needed back at
Talon Spike and, as you know, I want the chance to address the Assembly.‖
RavenCrest frowned, wondering at the look that passed between StarDrifter and
GoldFeather. He knew that when GoldFeather left Talon Spike to wander with the Avar she
followed the pathways of the Nordra from its birth place at the foot of Talon Spike through the
Alps into the Avarinheim. The steep icy paths were passable only if extreme care was taken, and
would kill many of the Icarii lying wounded here, and StarDrifter was certainly in no condition
to travel them. Besides, travel along those paths took many, many days, and it would simply be
safer and more sensible to wait until they could fly.
But sometimes StarDrifter was not entirely sensible. One only had to look at GoldFeather
to know that.
StarDrifter knew his brother very well, and knew exactly what he was thinking. ―I am not
thinking of walking the icy paths, RavenCrest. There is a far simpler, quicker and more amenable
route home to Talon Spike.‖
RavenCrest‘s frown deepened.
―We will seek the assistance of the Charonites,‖ StarDrifter said quietly, his eyes steady
on those of his brother.
RavenCrest took a step back, speechless. No-one had heard from the Charonites for many
thousands of years. He only knew of them because both his mother and his brother were
Enchanters and had spoken of them to him. Few, if any, other Icarii would have known of what
StarDrifter spoke.
―It is time that they knew that the Prophecy has awakened, brother. They have their own
interests in what happens. And they can aid us and transport us to Talon Spike.‖
―Are you sure they still exist, StarDrifter? Stars knows, we can ill afford to lose you
wandering about some cavern in the Alps. And what if they refuse?‖
StarDrifter was prepared for his brother‘s objections. He had already talked it through
with Raum earlier in the day. ―Leave us a Wing of your Strike Force, RavenCrest. If we should
fail, then they can see us safely back to the groves and fly on to Talon Spike to let you know our
revised plans. But I think, with Raum‘s help, I can find them.‖
Raum had stepped out from behind the stone support to lend his own weight to
StarDrifter‘s arguments. ―Among the Avar Banes there is a belief that the Charonites still come
out to drift along the Nordra on hot summer nights, Talon. Occasionally, once every hundred
years or so, we think that they come out to gaze at the reflections of the stars in the night water.
Perhaps they have not completely lost their taste for the OverWorld. There must be an entrance
close by.‖
RavenCrest did not think this a very powerful argument in favour of trekking off to look
for these semi-mythical Charonites, but he could see that his brother was determined on his
course of action. ―You will go with StarDrifter?‖ he asked Raum. Raum nodded, and RavenCrest
looked puzzled. ―But you are needed here, Raum. With Mirbolt dead, you are now the senior
Bane. Shouldn‘t you stay with your people?‖
―My people will reform into their Clans and drift back into the Avarinheim. Barsarbe can
fill my place while I am gone. Besides, I may need to speak to your Assembly. I am one of the
few here who have met Axis and spoken with him. You may need my advice.‖
RavenCrest was clearly unhappy with the situation, but finally he nodded, reluctantly. ―I
will send a Wing of the Strike Force with you, brother. I cannot afford to lose you. There is not another Enchanter among us strong enough to take your place.‖
―You will not hold the Assembly until I arrive?‖ StarDrifter asked anxiously.
RavenCrest paused, his face grim. ―I will wait a week. A week only. And if you are not
there to address them, then I do not know how they will vote.‖ He paused as FarSight strode
across the clearing towards him. ―I must go now. When will you leave?‖
―Tomorrow morning.‖
They assembled in the hour before dawn. StarDrifter and GoldFeather, Raum, the other
wounded Icarii, supported by members of the Strike Force Wing assigned to them—and Azhure.
Azhure had slept better last night than she had in months, and was now clearly excited at the
prospect of travelling to Talon Spike. StarDrifter eyed her with some amusement, pleased he‘d
thought to ask her to accompany them home. Along with Raum and GoldFeather she was one of
the few who had seen and spoken to Axis. She was a link to his son.
Barsarbe rose to farewell them, relieved to see Azhure leave despite her words of the
previous day. She repressed a shudder. It wasn‘t only Azhure‘s ready use of violence that made
Barsarbe dislike the woman. There was something else about her. Something that made Barsarbe
vaguely jealous and resentful of her.
But for now it was simply enough that Azhure was leaving the Avar. The Avar did not
need her, and who knows, thought Barsarbe, perhaps the Icarii could find a use for her. After
Barsarbe said goodbye to the group she gave Azhure bags of herbs as well as instructions on how
to use them for the Icarii wounds she would attend on their journey through the UnderWorld.
Barsarbe prayed she would never have to see the human woman again.
StarDrifter gathered the group together, and set off. Though he‘d spoken confidently to
RavenCrest yesterday, he was still doubtful about the success of his plan. What if they couldn’t
find the entrance to the UnderWorld? And even if they did, what if the Charonites refused to help
them? Even before they had lost complete contact with the Charonites, relations between the two
races had been cool. By the Stars, I hope I have not committed us to a foolish course of action,
StarDrifter thought as he led the group slowly northwards along the Nordra.
All wore warm clothing, but only Raum and Azhure carried packs. The members of the
Wing spaced themselves along the line, their bows at the ready, their eyes continually scanning
the sky. As they moved onto the paths that ran directly by the water‘s edge Raum and StarDrifter
exchanged worried glances. The Nordra was at its lowest point for many years. The previous
spring thaw had been a weak affair in the northern lands, and little new ice water trickled into the
Nordra from the Talon Spike glacier. Now that winter tightened about the snowfields north of the
Avarinheim and throughout the Icescarp Alps, water froze into ice rather than flowing into the
streams that fed the Nordra. The Avar depended on the Nordra for much of their food, and fish
stocks would run low if the water level dropped any further.
StarDrifter‘s thoughts quickly slipped from the water level to his pain. He ached from a
dozen of his wounds, the deeper ones sending spears of fire through his chest as he breathed in
the colder air by the river. GoldFeather spent the greater part of her time walking by his side, lending him her support, wincing whenever he cried out when she tightened her grip about his