and miserable inside a voluminous cloak and again damned her husband‘s insistence that they
ride with the Axe-Wielders. Even Faraday‘s spirits were dampened by the weather. Occasionally
Timozel rode beside them, trying to cheer them up with amusing stories, but Merlion and
Faraday would only smile politely, and eventually he‘d gallop back to his unit.
Once or twice Axis tried to speak with Faraday. He thought he ought to say something,
even though Embeth had told him she‘d explained everything. On the one occasion he‘d
managed to find Faraday without her mother attached to her side like a limpet, she had smiled,
apologised graciously for interrupting Embeth and himself, and turned on her heel and walked
away without another word. Axis shrugged. Well, she had to grow up sooner or later. Better
sooner, before Borneheld got his hands on her.
On the evening of the fifth day, for once blessedly clear of rain although the clouds still
hung low, the dark line of the Silent Woman Woods appeared on the horizon, spreading as far as
the eye could see.
Belial rode up to Axis where he sat motionless on Belaguez, surveying the line of trees
ahead. ―It is enough to make an Artor-fearing man reach for his axe, is it not, BattleAxe?‖
Axis nodded his head absently. He had only seen the Silent Woman Woods once before
in his life, and had been glad to pass leagues to the south of them. Now, however, he would have
to enter.
―We‘ll make camp another two hours‘ ride closer, Belial. Any closer and we‘ll all suffer
nightmares. In the morning…in the morning we‘ll ride in.‖
Belial understood his commander‘s hesitation. The Woods were a frightening sight, and
he dreaded to think what they would look like at a lesser distance. Let alone what they would
look like while they were riding through them.
―All of us, BattleAxe?‖
Axis laughed sympathetically at his lieutenant‘s question. ―No, Belial. Only a few of us.
Myself, Gilbert, and one or two others. Timozel, perhaps, and Arne,‖ he said naming one of the
cohort commanders. ―You had better stay and assume command of the Axe-Wielders until I
return, Belial.‖
Belial tried, unsuccessfully, to hide his relief. ―As you wish, BattleAxe.‖
The Silent Woman Woods were even more unnerving from the vantage point of the
campsite. The trees, dark, thick and gnarled, grew tight and close together. Their tops reared
upwards for what seemed a hundred paces and stretched outwards so far that their boughs
intermingled one with the other ensuring that little sunlight ever reached the forest floor. Eyes
seemed to gaze out at those who watched. A constant undertone of strange whispers and crackles issued forth for anyone who cared to listen. The men were silent as they made camp, and most
kept their backs to the Woods as much as possible. More men than usual made a prominent
display of weapon practice with their axes as the cooks hurried to prepare the evening meal.
Faraday, her cloak held tightly about her, strolled up to Axis and Gilbert as they stood
surveying the Woods. ―It‘s frightening,‖ she said quietly as she reached them, her eyes wide and
apprehensive. ―It‘s so wild, so untamed, so uncivilised. What could live in there but demons?‖
Gilbert tried to reassure her. ―The Seneschal have the Silent Woman Woods well under
control, Lady Faraday. Do not fear, Artor is with us.‖
―Now and forever,‖ whispered Faraday in automatic response. She turned towards Axis.
―And you have to ride in there tomorrow?‖
Axis did not move his eyes from the dark Woods. ―There is no other choice. Although
how the brothers could live in there, Artor only knows.‖
Faraday turned back to Gilbert. ―Why are they called the Silent Woman Woods?‖
―Because they do not ask as many questions as most women!‖ Axis snapped at her before
Gilbert could reply.
―I‘m sorry if I disturbed you, BattleAxe,‖ she said quietly, and turned and walked back to
camp. The white cat wound about her heels. Axis glared at it.
It was a bad night for many in the camp that evening. Those that did drift off to sleep
often woke sweating a few minutes later, frightened by unidentifiable fears. After tossing and
turning for what seemed like hours, the nightmare claimed Axis.
He was in the dark place, naked and bound by invisible bonds to the floor. He strained
every muscle, every ligament, trying to break free, knowing as he did so that he should be saving
his energy for the fight that lay ahead. Sweat broke out from every pore on his body. His
breathing grew heavy and laboured as his fear deepened.
Suddenly he could feel the presence, surrounding him, so powerful it might crush him.
―No,‖ he whispered, ―you are not my father!‖
The presence grew strange. It did not speak. There was not the hatred that he could
usually feel. It felt…puzzled.
―Who are you?‖ Axis whispered. ―Who are you?‖
―Who are you?‖ an echo whispered back at him, strangely hoarse and distorted by the
darkness. ―Who are you?‖
It felt strange—just as frightening and threatening, but different. The bonds holding his
arms and legs disappeared and Axis leapt to his feet, trying desperately to discern shape or
movement in the darkness that surrounded him. The ground felt cool and damp beneath his feet.
―We do not know who he is,‖ a voice whispered behind him, and Axis whirled in the
dark, almost losing his balance. ―Where has he come from? What is he doing here? How did his
feet find the paths? Who guided his feet to the paths?‖
―Who are you?‖ Axis whispered fiercely, looking around for his sword or his axe.
There was a moment‘s silence. Axis could still feel the puzzlement surrounding him.
―We are who we are and we have always been here. Who are you?‖
―I am Axis Rivkahson,‖ he said. ―BattleAxe of the Axe-Wielders.‖
Instantly he could feel the change about him. Puzzlement vanished in an instant as fury
and hate surrounded him in palpable waves. Whoever, whatever, was out there began to hiss and
moan in equal amounts. Axis could feel himself being buffeted by the malevolence surrounding
him. He clenched his fists and crouched, as ready as he could be for attack.
To one side a bright light bloomed and Axis twisted in that direction, squinting as the
light hurt his eyes. There seemed to be a vague shape behind it.
―Go away Axis Rivkahson, BattleAxe of the Axe-Wielders!‖ a thousand voices suddenly
boomed, surrounding him from every direction. Axis whimpered as the full force of their fury hit
him. ―Get you gone from this place! You are not welcome!‖
The shape that held the light stepped forward and became more distinct. The light itself
spread and grew stronger and Axis started to distinguish his surroundings. He was in a large
grove in the middle of a forest, black trees pressed close about the edges of the circle of light.
There were shapes, however, many shapes, moving restlessly among the trees. Axis was glad the
light was not strong enough for him to see them properly. The creature holding the light was
standing slightly to one side of the centre of the grove, and as Axis focused on it he almost cried
out in horror. Although it had the trunk and limbs of a muscular man, clad only in a brief
loincloth, the creature had the head of a full-grown stag. Massive antlers branched out from its
forehead and its eyes were red with hate. It wove its head threateningly from side to side as it
strode towards him, baring its broad yellow-stained teeth. ―Leave!‖ it screamed, and Axis
screamed with it.
He sat bolt upright in his bedroll, still terrified. At first he thought that he had screamed
aloud, but the other men about the campfire paid him no heed, trapped as they were in their own
ill dreams. Axis leaned forward and put his face in his hands. Would it never end? He felt a
warm shape bump into his side. His heart leapt in fear, before he realised it was only the cat.
Axis pulled it up to his chest as he lay down and tried to get a few more hours‘ sleep before
dawn. He slept soundly and dreamlessly until Belial awakened him just as the sun was staining
the eastern horizon.
13
THE CAULDRON LAKE
An hour after dawn the small group breakfasted and took their horses not fifty paces from
the Silent Woman Woods. A biting wind blew over the land and they all shivered inside their
cloaks. The horses shifted uneasily, the nervousness of their riders transmitting itself to them.
Belial stared at the path leading into the Woods.
―It won‘t be wide enough for two of you to ride abreast, sir.‖
Axis sat still and silent, then said, ―How far in is the Keep, Gilbert?‖
Gilbert looked discomforted. ―I‘m not completely sure, BattleAxe.‖