and the Avar beyond the Fortress Ranges during the Wars of the Axe.‖
Axis turned back to stare at the Barrows, his face set like stone. ―Well,‖ he said grimly,
―tonight the Icarii graves will provide shelter for mankind. They should be high enough to keep
us from this Artor-cursed wind.‖
They camped in the sheltered crescent of the Barrows, grateful for the relief they gave
them from the bitterly cruel northern wind. By now word of the prophecy had spread among
most of the Axemen, and there were low discussions around most campfires that night about the
meaning of the ancient riddle. More than one set of eyes was turned northwards towards the
origins of the cruel wind and upwards towards the thick black clouds blanketing the sky. The
rain and hail that had troubled them across the plains of Tare had mercifully abated, but the
clouds had thickened, as if they bore within them a surfeit of ice and hatred, waiting for the
moment when it could be unleashed upon the column of Axemen.
That evening Faraday picked at her meal at the campfire she and Merlion shared with
Axis, Belial, and the two Brothers, then she excused herself and wandered off to sit alone in the
night. Axis watched her. She had been acting very strangely since he had returned from the
Silent Woman Woods.
Axis hoped it had been nothing of his doing. Faraday had earned his grudging respect
over the past three weeks or so. Both she and her mother had kept up with the pace with no
complaints or petty requests for consideration because of their womanhood. They had caused his
Axe-Wielders virtually no trouble at all; indeed, Axis smiled to himself, the Lady Merlion had
kept a firm eye over their remaining two maids as well, to the disappointment of not a few of the
Axe-Wielders who‘d hoped to have some extra warmth in their bedrolls at night.
Axis had been surprised when he heard of Borneheld‘s betrothal to the youngest daughter
of Earl Isend of Skarabost. Borneheld had evaded the ties of matrimony for the past ten years or
so, preferring to keep a succession of blowzy mistresses either at Sigholt or Gorkenfort when he
was in the north, or in the palace in Carlon when he was at court. Axis had thought that
Borneheld would finally accept the offer of one of the richer lords—even with her grandfather‘s
estates Faraday was not the richest heiress in Achar. Surprised, that is, until the night Faraday
had smiled across the campfire at him. Pretty now, she would be an extraordinary beauty one
day, and was both graceful and perceptive.
Well, Axis thought as he put his empty mug down at his side, it was no concern of his. A
shame, however, that Isend had picked Borneheld. Borneheld did not deserve a woman like
Faraday—and certainly would not know how to treat her. Faraday was a lively and intelligent
woman, and she would be miserable in the wilds of Ichtar; from what Axis had gleaned from
palace whispers his mother had hated her life in the province. He hoped that life with Borneheld
would not rob Faraday of her honesty and directness. Glancing about the fire he saw that while
he‘d been lost in thought the others had engaged themselves in an energetic debate about
whether or not Baron Ysgryff of Nor had actually spent some of his youth as a pirate on Pirate‘s
Nest. Smiling to himself Axis stood up and left the campfire, walking in the same direction that
Faraday had taken.
He found her sitting on a low boulder just beyond the perimeter of the camp, her back to
him as he approached, staring at the silhouette of the Barrows against the dark night sky.
―Faraday,‖ he said quietly, and she jumped to her feet at the sound of his voice, turning to
face him. She had been crying.
―Excuse me,‖ Faraday muttered, and tried to walk past him back into camp, but Axis
caught her arm as she drew level with him.
―Faraday, what is it? What have I done to upset you?‖
Faraday tilted her face up at him, her eyes gleaming with tears. ―It‘s nothing you‘ve done,
Axis,‖ she whispered. ―Please, let me go.‖ A tear escaped her eyes and trickled slowly down her
cheek.
―Faraday,‖ he said again. ―Why do you cry?‖ With his free hand he gently reached up
and wiped the tear from her cheek with the back of his fingers. Without thinking he let his
fingertips trail down her cheek and underneath her chin.
Faraday tried to smile. ―Because life plays such cruel tricks, and…‖ and oh, she should
not say this, but Axis was so close and his fingers were so gentle on her skin that she could not
help herself, ―because I am betrothed to Borneheld when it is his brother that I want more than
life itself.‖
―Faraday!‖ What was this girl saying? She was too young, too dangerous, and the timing
was all wrong. He slipped his hand from her arm and into the small of her back, pressing her
against his body. ―Faraday,‖ he whispered again, and then he leant down and kissed her.
His touch was so light, so gentle, that Faraday found herself straining on her toes to
maintain the contact. Slowly the kiss deepened, and for long moments they held each other, then
Faraday finally broke the embrace, pushing her hands against his chest and drawing back with a
small shaky laugh. ―Forgive me, BattleAxe,‖ she said a little unsteadily. ―I‘m not sure what came
over me.‖
Axis let her go reluctantly. He gazed down at her left hand, where Borneheld‘s ring
glinted in what little light there was. ―Why?‖ he asked, softly.
Faraday followed his eyes and twisted the ruby out of sight, closing her fingers about it.
―Because it is what my father wanted, and because the alliance will be good for my family. I
freely gave my consent, Axis.‖
―But it is not what you want.‖ Axis‘ eyes caught her own, forcing her to tell the truth.
―No,‖ she said very softly, ―it is not what I want, but in the needs of a nation one girl‘s
wants are a very small thing. I will go ahead with the marriage, Axis. I have to. My honour binds
me.‖
Axis‘ temper broke. ―It is not the needs of a nation that want this, but the greed of your
father and the lust of Borneheld. And you are young and innocent if you think that honour has
anything to do with this marriage. Faraday, there are long months ahead before the marriage has to take place. Think about whether you want to marry Borneheld, or whether you might be
prepared to risk spending your life with someone you could learn to love instead.‖
Then he turned on his heel and stalked back into camp, his shoulders stiff with anger and
frustration.
Faraday held her breath for a moment. Then a step distracted her and she turned towards
the sound. Veremund, the white cat curled in his arms, stepped out of the darkness. ―Dear one,
we have to talk,‖ he said quietly. ―We cannot allow this to go any further.‖ His eyes were golden
in the night.
18
THE SENTINELS SPEAK
Faraday took a step backwards, almost tripping over the low boulder she had been sitting
on when Axis had disturbed her. What was wrong with his eyes? All the tales about the evil
aspects of the Forbidden she had heard as a child came rushing back to her.
Veremund held out his hand to her. ―Do not be afraid, dear one. We do not mean to hurt
you. Come, take my hand.‖
Faraday, her heart beating wildly, stood looking at him.
―Please, dear one, take my hand.‖
His tone was soft and gentle, and Faraday found herself reaching her own trembling hand
forth. The moment his fingers touched Faraday a feeling of tranquillity flooded over her.
―Will you walk with us a while, dear one? The others are waiting to talk to you as well.‖
He began to lead her towards the nearest Barrow.
―The others? Which others? What do you want to talk about?‖ Faraday suddenly realised
that Veremund had witnessed her talk with Axis. ―Oh, Veremund, please! What happened
between Axis and myself just then was simply foolishness. It meant nothing! You won‘t tell
Mother, will you?‖
Veremund paused a moment to let Yr down, then turned back to Faraday. ―No, child, I
won‘t tell your mother. But what happened between you and the BattleAxe hardly meant
nothing.‖
―Then it has nothing to do with you, Veremund! What happens between Axis and myself
is our own business.‖
Veremund shook his head. ―I think not, dear one. Neither you nor Axis will have very
private lives in the future. Now, we have to climb a little. Save your breath for the slope.‖
Veremund still held onto her hand, and as they climbed the steep side of the Ancient