A number of clear hisses drifted down from the Assembly. After StarDrifter had so
clearly and wondrously reminded them exactly what they had lost to the cold steel of the axe,
how could they accept the BattleAxe of the Axe-Wielders among them?
RavenCrest took no notice of the hisses. ―But first we must hear the news of Gorkenfort.
Crest-Leader FarSight CutSpur, your farflight scouts have now returned from reconnaissance
around Gorkenfort. What news?‖
FarSight stood up from his bench at the very top of the Chamber. He was a forbidding
sight, his already swarthy appearance enhanced by his ebony-dyed wings.
―Talon, I bring grave news. Gorkenfort is under siege from an army of Skraelings
twenty-fold larger than the force which struck us in Earth Tree Grove. The town is lost and a
shambles, all the Groundwalkers who survive are in the fort.‖ He paused. ―The battle for the
town must have been fierce and desperate. We lost many hundreds in the Earth Tree Grove, they
lost many thousands. The dead are still piled high, the Skraelings so glutted they cannot feast any
more. Four SkraeBolds now lead the siege, tens of thousands of Skraelings mass in a grey mist
about the town. Comrades, I am at a loss to describe the horror that must face those
Groundwalkers whenever they peer over the battlements of their fort.‖
―Will it hold?‖ someone called from halfway up the tiers.
FarSight took a deep breath and considered. ―No. I do not think so. In the end the cold
and the lack of food—I suspect the fort is crowded with too many men—or perhaps simply the
fear will mean the fort will fall. Gorgrael‘s army is too large. They cannot stop it from marching
south. Gorgrael has the cream of Achar‘s army, or what is left of it, bottled up in Gorkenfort.‖
―And he has my son bottled up there, too,‖ said StarDrifter quietly.
―Yes,‖ FarSight said, ―he has your son in there. The scouts have seen him, StarDrifter
SunSoar. Walking the walls in the black of the BattleAxe. He has been injured in the fighting,
StarDrifter, the farflight scouts say that even from the height they have been circling they can see
that he has the ashen face of one who is only just managing to recover from massive blood loss.‖
StarDrifter moaned, and this time he did take Rivkah‘s hand; both looked stricken.
―The question,‖ FreeFall strode into the circle of the floor to stand by his father, ―is
whether or not we go to Gorkenfort‘s aid. I say we must— can we let the StarMan, the one who can lead us to victory against Gorgrael, die on the walls of Gorkenfort for want of our help?‖
―Peace,‖ RavenCrest muttered, annoyed that his son should have entered the debate so
precipitously. But FreeFall shook off his father‘s cautionary hand. He was hot for action, and his
violet eyes flared at the Assembly, challenging them to disagree with him.
―I say we have no choice!‖
His words sent the Assembly into an uproar. Relatively quiet until this point, now the
Icarii turned to their neighbours beside, above and below them on the benches and argued back
and forth. Feathers started to drift down along with the words and shouts.
―We always have a choice, that is what this Assembly is all about!‖
―This is not a matter to be decided so lightly or quickly, we must think on this for days!‖
―Would we do any good against the might of the Skraelings? Would we not be better
simply to bolster the defences of Talon Spike?‖
―Perhaps all Gorgrael wants is Achar, perhaps we should let him have it.‖
―Help the Groundwalkers? You must be demented, boy! Where is the Icarii pride?‖
―Burned with the bones and the flesh of our dead in Earth Tree Grove!‖ FreeFall
screamed into the roar of voices, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his wings raised
behind him as if he would lift any moment.
RavenCrest grabbed FreeFall‘s arm with one hand and raised the other to silence the
Assembly. It didn‘t work, the Icarii were in uproar. RavenCrest‘s lips twitched in anger a
moment, then he screamed, ―Silence!‖
His voice penetrated to the very bronze mirrors, echoing back down through the
Chamber. Everyone stopped talking at once.
―Do you think I come lightly before you to raise this issue?‖ he snarled. ―Do you think
that I have not twisted at night with the horrors that face us if we do not agree to help the
Groundwalkers, and twisted with the horrors that we face if we do? Do you think that I have not
considered the legacy of hatred that exists between the Groundwalkers and the Icarii? Well, think
again. I want reasoned discussion on this issue, then I want a quick and painless decision.
StarDrifter, you are more personally involved than any other Icarii present and you are far more
knowledgeable. Speak to us.‖
RavenCrest stepped backwards, dragging FreeFall with him.
StarDrifter let Rivkah‘s hand go and stepped forward. ―I speak both as a father and an
Enchanter,‖ he said, raising his face to the Assembly. ―Gorgrael has moved, and so must we.
Inaction will result in our ruin, and the ruin of all we hold dear. There is only one who can save
us—Axis, BattleAxe of the Seneschal. The Prophecy speaks thus, and I know thus. He has
grown to manhood without my support and has learned to view the world without my
explanations.‖ StarDrifter shrugged, a small smile twitching across his lips. ―Perhaps that is as
well. But I know my son from what I learned of him in the womb. Icarii fathers! You all sing to
your children as they grow in the womb. But how many sing back?‖
His last few words had stunned the Assembly, and StarDrifter waited for the whispers to
die down. ―My son sang his own Song of Creation. He created himself. Perhaps it was my seed
that planted him, and perhaps it was Rivkah‘s womb that nurtured him, but my son took of us
both what he wanted and made himself.‖
No-one could speak for long minutes. This was unbelievable.
―Think on the power hidden in this man that waits for release,‖ StarDrifter finally said. ―I
beg of you, do not let him die in Gorkenfort. He is all that can save us.‖
Murmurings arose from the Icarii—many were still not convinced. Perhaps he did have
the makings of an Enchanter only dreamed about in legend. But could they trust this half-Icarii,
half-Groundwalker? A BattleAxe?
Above them all Raum stood forth, pulling Azhure with him. ―Hear me!‖ he called and
heads turned and craned to see who spoke.
―I have two things to say,‖ Raum said, slightly unnerved by the many thousands of faces
turned his way. ―First, we should not forget that Gorkenfort contains others besides Axis
BattleAxe. Within those walls also stand at least three of the Sentinels. I need not remind those
familiar with the Prophecy that the loss of any one of those Sentinels, let alone three of them,
would be disastrous itself. Also within those walls stands Tree Friend, Faraday, probably
Duchess of Ichtar by now.‖
Far below Rivkah‘s hand crept to her throat. Again the faint memory of Raum turning to
Axis outside the Avarinheim and calling something about Faraday back to her son niggled at her
mind. What was it he had said?
―Can we afford to lose her as well? StarDrifter needed her to wake the Earth Tree, and
without her the Avarinheim will never march forth to face Gorgrael. My friends, Gorkenfort
virtually is the Prophecy at the moment with so many named by the Prophecy trapped within it.
On these grounds alone you should assist Gorkenfort in whatever manner you are able. But there
is another argument for aiding the Groundwalkers. My friends, please do not take what I am
about to say amiss. I judge my own people as well as yours in this.‖ Raum paused. ―Both the
Avar and the Icarii need a war leader. We need the StarMan to lead us against Gorgrael. I have
seen Axis, albeit briefly. I have seen his command and the manner in which his men respond to
him—he controls probably the best fighting force in Tencendor at this moment. I have seen his
compassion—I am alive because of it. His name has become legendary within Achar in only the
five years that he has led the Axe-Wielders. Azhure,‖ he turned to the woman at his side. ―Tell
the Icarii what you know of Axis BattleAxe.‖
Azhure took a deep breath and looked down, her voice steady. ―Our youths flock to the
Axe-Wielders to train under his command. Toddlers seize twigs from firewood and wield them
like swords, invoking Axis‘ name. Grown men speak his name both with approval and envy over
their pots of ale. Women,‖ she smiled slightly, ―dream of spending the night in his arms.‖
StarDrifter smiled also. His son had apparently inherited more than enchantments from him. Had