axes,‖ Axis absently tapped the crossed axes on the breast of his tunic with his fingers, ―when all
the Icarii hated them as much as the Avar did. And when we were before the Shadowsward,
when I had Raum at the point of my sword, a woman stepped forth from the trees.‖
Ogden and Veremund leaned forward. They still did not know what had happened earlier
this morning. ―What happened? What woman?‖ Veremund asked.
Axis briefly told them of his chase of Azhure and the Avar man across the fields and
through the Forbidden Valley. ―As for the woman, I do not know. Of our…well, of Acharite
extraction. She was not Avar. I asked her if she knew the Icarii, and she said yes. I asked her if
they sang. And she told me that they sang magically, that the Icarii had music coursing through
their blood. And then I remembered my own skill at music…which has improved immeasurably
since you have kept me company, gentlemen.‖
Ogden sat back in his chair. ―We knew that you must be of Icarii blood when you read
the Prophecy. The Prophet wrote it in the sacred tongue of the Icarii, rather than the common
tongue of Tencendor. No-one else but an Icarii could have read his words.‖
Axis rose and stood before the fire, staring into the flames for a long time. ―Why else did
you have me read the Prophecy, gentlemen?‖ he asked softly, not lifting his eyes from the
flames. ―Why not test Timozel, or Arne, or Gilbert? And why follow me all the way around
Arcen and Skarabost? Why?‖
Veremund hesitated. ―Because we think that you are the One, Axis Rivkahson.‖
―The One?‖
―The StarMan.‖ It was Belial who answered. ―The one who will unite the three races of
Tencendor. The only one who can stop the Destroyer Gorgrael.‖
Ogden and Veremund nodded. Again Belial had surprised them. He would prove a
valuable ally for Axis in the coming months. Briefly Veremund considered some of the deeper
riddles of the Prophecy and wondered if any of them concerned Belial.
―I do not want this!‖ Axis suddenly hissed from the fireplace. His eyes flickered between
Belial and the two Sentinels. ― I do not want this! ‖
―Axis,‖ Ogden began, but Axis broke in, turning and striking the stone wall of the
fireplace with his tightly clenched fist in anger and confusion. ―How can I be the one to unite this
supposed realm of Tencendor? I am the BattleAxe! I serve the Seneschal, and the Seneschal
is…is…‖
―Is opposed to everything that you are, Axis!‖ Ogden leapt to his feet, his cheeks red and
his grey eyes bright. ―The Seneschal, driven by their devotion to Artor, spread lies among the Acharites to incite hatred of the Icarii and Avar. They drove them from this land and left it
vulnerable to Gorgrael. Damn it, Axis! You know the Prophecy. The three races must unite again
to defeat him and,‖ he took an angry breath, ― you are the One. You are a war leader, and you can lead Tencendor against whatever forces Gorgrael might throw against us. You carry the blood of
Achar‘s royal line in you—and Priam should recognise that he has two heirs, not just one. You
have compassion, as you have shown me time and time again, and you will need compassion
before all else if you are to unite the races and destroy Gorgrael. And last, but not least, you have
within you the makings of one of the most powerful Icarii Enchanters that ever lived—if you
would only embrace it instead of fighting it!‖
Axis‘ face worked with emotion. ―You lie, old man. I cannot combat the sorcery of
Gorgrael! I could not stop the storm that killed so many of my men!‖
―No!‖ Ogden all but shouted, waving his plump fists about in the air. ―At the moment
you cannot! You need to find your father—because without the teaching of your father, and he is
the only one that can teach you, you will never be strong enough to face Gorgrael. And we need your father, Axis, because he must also be the father of Gorgrael, and without the father we
cannot find or know Gorgrael!‖
There was silence. Ogden‘s passion slowly faded and he sank into his chair. Belial, with
great effort, swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat there, fighting the dizziness that
swept over him. Axis turned back to the fire. Veremund looked a little helplessly between them
all, opening and shutting his mouth.
―What did I do to that Avar girl?‖ Axis eventually asked, turning his head so that he
could see the Sentinels.
―You sang what is known as the Song of Recreation, Axis,‖ Veremund answered. ―The
child was almost dead. But when you held her in your arms, from somewhere, I know not where,
you recalled the Song of Recreation. How you could sing that without being taught it by your
father, I do not know—it is hardly something he would sing to you while still in the womb. The
Song of Recreation is a very beautiful song, very haunting, because it recreates life itself. It takes
as its music the intertwined breath of the person who is dying and the breath of the person who is
singing and it uses the power of the Stars themselves to infuse the dying with life. No Icarii
Enchanter has been able to sing that song so well for over three thousand years. None alive today
could have saved that child as you did. Ogden and I,‖ Veremund turned to smile at his
companion, ―well, we wept. We could not help ourselves. Raum was shocked. He is a Bane, one
of the Avar who well understands the practice of enchantments, and he recognised the Song for
what it was. He also knew how much power it took to sing it. No wonder he asked what you
were doing inside that black uniform, dear one.‖
―But if,‖ Belial‘s voice was weak and he had to clear his throat and start again. ―But if
Axis could recreate life in the Avar girl, and none can do that now, then why is he not powerful
enough to meet Gorgrael and defeat him?‖
Axis answered himself, his voice weary with resignation. ―Because I do not know how I
do it, Belial. I cannot help myself. I cannot stand here now and call on…on this ‗talent‘ within
me to perform some enchantment whenever I need it. I don‘t know where this power comes
from. I cannot stand before Gorgrael, or even a three-legged mouse for that matter, and hope that
some snatch of the appropriate song occurs to me before Gorgrael strikes.‖ Axis hesitated. ―Belle
my Wife might rally my men from a mist-induced fugue, but I doubt it will drive Gorgrael
screaming from my sight. Unless,‖ he managed a wan grin, ―Belial is there to accompany me on
the harp. Your skill is so dismal, my friend, even the Destroyer would flee your dark music.‖
Belial grinned, but Ogden was not to be distracted. ―You need your father to teach you,‖
he repeated. ―The Icarii Enchanters usually pass on knowledge from parent to son or daughter, as
the case may be. No-one can teach a new Enchanter except another Enchanter from their family,
and usually it is the closest blood relative—the Enchanter parent.‖
Axis‘ amusement was replaced by irritation. ―And where, old man, am I going to be able
to find my father to teach me those things I need to know?‖
Ogden spread his hands, his face assuming a cherubic expression. ―Who knows how the
Prophecy will work itself out, dear one?‖
―So what, oh-creature-of-the-Prophecy, do I do now?‖ Axis ground out, irritation in turn
being replaced by anger.
Veremund shrugged. ―You do as you were doing, Axis. On to Sigholt, and then to
Gorkenfort. Both places, I might add, where you might find clues to your father‘s identity. At
one you were conceived, and at one you were born. Who knows what marks of your father‘s
existence remain there?‖
Axis turned to Belial. ―My friend, what should I do? How can I continue as BattleAxe of
the Axe-Wielders, knowing what I know?‖
Belial did not hesitate. ―You have command of over three thousand men committed to
defending Gorkenfort against the raids of Gorgrael. How does that compromise the purpose of
either BattleAxe or Enchanter‘s son? You simply go on as you would have done. As I see it, now
you go equipped with more knowledge, perhaps more weapons, than previously.‖
―He speaks well,‖ said Veremund.
―Yes,‖ Axis agreed, sighing again. He paused. ―Veremund, Ogden, there is one more
thing I have to tell you. When I let Raum go he told me that, as he owed me two lives, he was
giving one back. He told me that Faraday lived. How would he know that?‖
Ogden and Veremund were genuinely shocked. While they had been sure that Jack and