lead them toward Gorkenfort. Perhaps Gorgrael thought it worthwhile to risk an attack while you
were still far from the icy north.‖
Axis accepted the answer. He would think about any further implications of Veremund‘s
words later, when his heart did not burn with such fierce sorrow that he thought he could not
bear it.
Both Ogden and Veremund knew what was going through his mind. They had also seen
what had happened to Faraday, yet they, unlike Axis, knew that she was probably still alive.
Neither were unkind creatures, but they knew it would be disastrous for Tencendor if Axis were
diverted from the path of the Prophecy.
―And what happens when this Gorgrael, or his image, returns, old men? What then?‖ said
Axis.
Ogden glanced at Veremund. They had discussed this earlier, and concurred in thinking
that Gorgrael had risked this attack only because so many of the Sentinels, as well as Axis and
Faraday, had been in one spot. Now that they were split, Gorgrael might well hang back. They
suspected—hoped—that Gorgrael had seriously weakened himself in trying to attack this far
south. Ogden turned back to Axis. ―We hope he will not adventure so far south again. Axis, think
a moment. The storm was vicious and deadly, but it lasted a few scant minutes once it reached
the Axe-Wielders. If you were Gorgrael, would you have stopped with only a few hundred
men?‖ Axis winced, but conceded the point. ―Gorgrael could not press the attack home. Perhaps
he has overreached himself with this effort. Hopefully we will be safe for the moment, and, who
knows, perhaps we have even bought Gorkenfort time.‖
―Brothers, why has he appeared in my dreams?‖ Axis asked quietly, looking into the low
flames of the fire.
―Gorgrael is a creature who thrives on hate, hate is his very existence, it drives his heart,‖
said Veremund.
―Yes,‖ Axis looked up from the flames. ―I have felt that.‖
―And he hates most of all those who will stand before him, stand to deny him what he
craves—the complete destruction of all lands below the line of year-long ice and snow‖
―Why?‖ Axis interrupted. ―Why would he want to do that?‖
Ogden shrugged. ―He simply hates, Axis. That is enough.‖
Axis nodded. He understood.
―Gorgrael will try everything in his power to drive uncertainty and fear into the hearts of
those who oppose him, Axis. If it means invading your dreams to do so, then Gorgrael is
perfectly capable of doing that.‖
There was a long pause. Ogden and Veremund both knew what Axis would ask next.
―What did I sing, Brothers? What did I sing out there?‖ His voice was barely above a
whisper.
―Axis, you sang an ancient ward—‖
―Sorcery!‖ Axis broke in, his voice horrified. Axis had absorbed the Seneschal‘s fear and
hatred of things magical at an early age.
―No, no,‖ Veremund hastened. ―Although some might consider it an enchantment, it is
simply a ward against evil. No-one can sing it, ward themselves against evil, unless it has been
taught to them in the womb. Axis, your father sang that to you. He loved you so much that he
gave you the gift of that song.‖
Axis passed a trembling hand across his eyes, turning his head slightly away from the two
Brothers. Veremund caught a glint of tears. ―Never doubt that you were loved and wanted, Axis.
If your father has never claimed you then it is because circumstances greater than his love for
you have kept him away.‖
Axis nodded his head curtly, acknowledging Veremund‘s words. Finally he looked back
at Ogden and Veremund. Tears trailed down his cheeks despite his best efforts to hold them
back. ―Who was my father? What was my father?‖ he whispered.
Both of the older men rose and moved quietly around the fire, sitting either side of Axis.
Veremund laid his hand on Axis‘ shoulder, but it was Ogden who spoke. ―Axis, neither of us
know exactly who he was.‖ Neither felt the time was right to tell Axis that his father was almost
certainly an Icarii Enchanter. ―But if you find him then a great many questions will be
answered.‖
―Ogden, when I read that Prophecy from the book in the Keep, I felt as though a dark,
deep dungeon that had been locked all my life had been thrown open and flooded with light.
Ogden,‖ he looked Ogden deep in the eye, ―I am not sure that I like what I can now see in that
unlocked chamber. I am starting to wonder if it might have been better had it remained locked
the rest of my life.‖
Axis held Ogden‘s eyes for a moment longer, then he shrugged off Veremund‘s hand and
stood up with the same fluid grace with which he had sat down. ―Brothers, sleep well tonight, for
tomorrow we ride for Arcen, where we will reprovision, then ride for Smyrton with full haste. I
will not let Gorgrael deflect me from riding north.‖ He paused. ―I will send riders with the
injured back to Tare and then to Carlon with news of what has happened here this day.‖ His
voice hardened. ―And to that purpose I must now write to the Lady of Tare telling her that her
beloved eldest son is dead under a mountain of mud and rock. Would that I could tell her myself
rather than entrust such news to a messenger.‖
23
THE STAR GATE
―We are in the tomb of the ninth of twenty-six Icarii Talons to be buried here, Timozel,‖
said Jack.
Faraday and Timozel looked about them. Although obviously built by skilled masons, for
the tomb of a King it seemed remarkably bare. Apart from the central stone block there was
nothing else in the chamber. The four stone walls, relieved from outright starkness by false
pillars, showed no sign of any opening.
―How do we get out?‖ asked Faraday.
Yr turned to Jack. ―Jack, you know this place better than any of us. Do you know the way
below?‖
Jack turned to the stone block and laid a reverential hand upon it. ―These Barrows were
built for only twenty six of the Icarii Talons, Kings over all Tencendor. The Talons ruled
Tencendor for over five thousand years, yet only twenty-six were laid to rest here. Thirty-one lie
in more mundane surroundings.‖
Timozel stirred restlessly, but Jack raised his hand. ―Be still, lad. You must know this.
Only twenty-six. Under half the total number of Talons. The twenty-six who were not only
Talons, but also of the line of Enchanters. These Barrows are very enchanted places.‖
―Enchanters?‖ Timozel‘s voice was stiff. ―What do you mean?‖
Jack looked at the boy. ―Those of the Icarii who could cast enchantments, Timozel.‖
Timozel‘s eyes widened and he invoked the sign of the Plough against evil, shifting back
a little towards the wall of the tomb. He did not like this talk of Enchanters and enchanted places.
Faraday moved to stand beside Jack at the stone block. ―Is the Talon entombed beneath
this block?‖ she asked, about to rest her hand on the stone, but thinking better of it.
―No.‖ Jack paused, reflecting. ―The Enchanter-Talon was laid out on this block when he
died. But he has long since gone. And where he has gone, so must we.‖
―The Star Gate.‖ Yr took a deep breath. ―I have never seen it—but I yearn to. I have
heard so much…so much.‖
Jack nodded. ―Only I among the Sentinels has laid eyes on the Star Gate. And no-one for
the past thousand years has walked the paths of the StarFarers down to the Star Gate.‖
―Why do you call them StarFarers, Jack?‖ said Faraday.
―It is what the most powerful of the Icarii Enchanter-Talons were known as, although all
Enchanters bear the word ‗star‘ somewhere in their name. They honour the stars and the
movements of the heavens. Much of their magic comes from the stars, or so it is said.‖
All this talk of magic was making Timozel uneasy. ―Enough of that. Where are you
taking us? What is this Star Gate?‖
Jack hid his annoyance behind a bland smile. ―What it is concerns you not, Timozel. If I
thought I could get us out of here without passing by the Star Gate then I surely would. But all
paths lead down to the Star Gate, and to find another path to the surface we will have to walk
past the Star Gate.‖
―Is it dangerous?‖ Faraday asked.
Yr laughed. ―Not unless you walk through, sweet child.‖ She paused and regarded Jack a
moment. ―Jack has not explained well enough, I think. These Barrows are not actually tombs, for
they hold not the bodies of the Enchanter-Talons. Each Barrow is instead an entrance-way. A
gate before the real gate, if you like. Whenever one of the twenty-six died their people would
build for them a Barrow, with this chamber below it. Below the chamber they built a long