Her eyes filled with tears and she reached out and touched the thread about his arm for an
instant. ―Mother be with you,‖ she whispered, ―and with me. I will strive to live, Axis, and hope that you will live for me.‖ She no longer cared if Borneheld realised her true feelings for Axis. It
no longer mattered. She had done her duty and kept Borneheld from killing Axis.
Borneheld looked between the two of them and frowned.
―Borneheld,‖ Axis said lightly, ―I have just realised that I have not claimed my brotherly
kiss from your new bride. I apologise for being so tardy. I cannot think what could have come
over me to forget my courtly manners so.‖ Without giving Borneheld a chance to reply he leaned
forward, seized Faraday by the shoulders, and kissed her hard on the mouth, once, and then once
again.
He released her and stood back. ―My Lady Faraday, Duchess of Ichtar, accept what will
probably be my last salute as BattleAxe of the Axe-Wielders.‖ He clenched his fist over the
golden axes on his black tunic coat and bowed jerkily from the waist. ―And remember your
vows. Every last one of them.‖ He turned away without waiting for a reply, brushed past
Borneheld, who was still looking stupefied at Faraday, and mounted Belaguez.
―Axe-Wielders, are you ready?‖ he cried in a clear voice.
―Wait!‖ A dark figure rode forth on a black stallion, a burning brand in his hand. Lord
Magariz. ―I ride with the StarMan,‖ he cried to all those assembled in the courtyard, ignoring
Borneheld‘s furious shout of denial. ―Who will ride with me?‖
―We will!‖ the cry rang out behind him, and a long column of men who had been waiting
behind the stable blocks now rode out to join Magariz. There were well over fifteen hundred of
them, all wielding flaming brands, and each with a thread tied about his arm.
―You will die for this betrayal, Magariz!‖ Borneheld screamed in fury. ―Ride with my
unnatural brother now, but never think to receive any mercy from me when you crawl back
begging for my favour! I will hunt you down and kill you for what you do here this day!‖
Magariz reined his stallion to a halt in front of his former lord. ―‘Ware, Borneheld,‖ he
said softly, ―of the death penalty already hanging over your own head for the murder of FreeFall
SunSoar. With that stroke you cut the ties that bound me to you. My own honesty compels me to
ride with the man who commands my respect, not the man who has lost it.‖ He wheeled his
stallion over to Axis. ―Will you accept my oath of loyalty and service, Axis SunSoar?‖
Axis reached out and gripped his hand. ―Gladly, Magariz, gladly. You and yours are
welcome at my side.‖ The man‘s support touched him deeply; Magariz and his men were risking
ostracism, possible death, by joining him. He glanced at Belial, mounted and waiting behind
him, and thanked whatever gods were listening that he had men like Belial and Magariz at his
back.
He opened his mouth again to call to the Axe-Wielders, but he realised that he could not
use that name. ―My friends,‖ he called simply, ―do you stand ready?‖
―We follow your voice and we are ready, SunSoar!‖ they cried as one, and emotion
briefly threatened to overwhelm Axis.
He stared at Borneheld for a moment, still standing furious and disbelieving at Magariz‘s
treachery. ―I go now to claim my heritage, brother,‖ he said softly, ―and when I return, ‘ware!‖
Axis wheeled Belaguez around and the gates began to swing open, admitting the excited
whispering of the Skraelings. ―Then let us ride!‖ he cried, seizing a flaming brand from a guard
standing close by. ―Let us ride!‖ He brandished the fiery torch and spurred the dappled grey
stallion forward through the gates.
SunSoar‘s command rode and fought as if possessed, as indeed they were, fighting for
and with the Mother. Belial and Magariz had instructed them carefully and now that they had the
StarMan at their head, how could they lose? The three thousand rode together in tight formation, their flaming torches held in front and to the side, burning their way through the mass of
Skraelings in front of them. The grey mass writhed and screamed, falling back from the flames,
weeping and wailing and whispering in horror at the nasty, horrid brights that the manlings thrust
their way. The SkraeBolds screamed at their wraiths, for they had taught them not to fear fire,
but these were no ordinary flames—they glowed emerald at their tips. Every so often a wraith
was not quick enough to duck out of range, and as the flame touched the unlucky Skraeling it
would flare into a bright pillar of emerald fire, then fizzle out of existence in the snow.
The soldiers screamed Axis‘ new name, SunSoar. Belial and Magariz had told them of
the meeting atop the Keep roof, of Axis‘ heritage, and of his claim to be the StarMan. The One
who would lead them to victory against Gorgrael. Few of the Axe-Wielders had any reason to
doubt what they said, they had known and fought under Axis for years and they already knew
that he was the man to die for, none other. The men who followed Magariz in his d isloyalty to
Borneheld were among the many regular soldiers who had no trouble believing it either. Many of
them had ridden on patrol with Axis and had seen first hand how he could lead to victory against
the Skraelings; their admiration of his leadership had spread.
As they rode through the town, the Skraelings leaping out of their way, Axis stood high
in his stirrups and brandished his fire torch high. ―SkraeBolds! Can you hear me?‖ he screamed.
―Will you let me go so easy? Do you give up the chase so easy? Shall I tell Gorgrael how
untrustworthy, how cowardly, his lieutenants are? Don‘t you want the chance to bring Gorgrael
my head?‖
The SkraeBolds heard and Axis‘ words inflamed them. They redoubled their efforts,
driving the Skraelings before them to follow Axis and his company. The watchers in Gorkenfort
could see the Skraeling mass turning to chase the riders.
Jorge, watching atop the walls, clutched the stone battlements in excitement. ―By Artor!‖
he bellowed, not caring who heard his elation. ―They‘re following him out of the town. See!
Even now he swings north.‖ At this distance Axis‘ command was simply an indistinct mass of
light, but that was enough. That was enough. ―We are saved!‖ He turned to Roland, gasping in
breathless excitement beside him. ―Axis has saved us!‖
They rode until they could feel the horses tire beneath them, then they turned to fight the
Skraeling host which had seethed out of the town after them.
―Shall we give Borneheld and Achar some breathing room, my friends?‖ Axis cried to
Belial and Magariz, a grin of sheer excitement lighting his eyes. ―Shall we make our stand here?‖
Horses and riders milled about them and Belial shouted orders, getting the excited men in
formation behind Axis. All wanted to stand and fight. They had been running before the
Skraelings too long. Before them rode Axis SunSoar, StarMan. They knew he would lead them
to victory, who could doubt it?
The Skraelings, emboldened both by the SkraeBolds‘ urgings and the sight of the riders
running before them for two hours, did not wait. They could see that many of the burning brands
had gone out. They could see the manlings‘ horses stumble as they tired. They knew that they
outnumbered the men some fifty to one and they knew that there was some good eating awaiting
them. They did not stop to think of the danger.
Axis waited until they were close, very close, waited until he could see the silvery orbs
glistening in anticipation and the jaws working and slavering in the front ranks of the Skraelings.
He waited until their frantic whispers filled his ears, then he stood high in his stirrups, graceful and easy even though Belaguez skittered excitedly underneath him.
―In the name of the Mother,‖ he called, his voice clear and powerful, ―and of the Stars
that watch above, lend aid to me and mine now.‖
Then he spun the brand high into the sky. Just as it reached the pinnacle of its arc, just
before it started to spin down towards the Skraeling host, the brand exploded into an emerald ball
of fire. As it fell it expanded and threw off smaller balls of spitting, hissing green fire.
The SkraeBolds, winging their way above and behind the leading ranks of the Skraelings,
screamed in fear and frustration. They paused just long enough to hurl an order for dispersal at
the Skraelings and then, as the emerald fire hurtled down towards them, they faded from sight.
The instant the fire hit the Skraeling mass it expanded and strengthened, feeding upon