Faraday did not know what to say, and for a minute there was silence between them.
Axis eventually looked back at her. ―I have discussed the Prophecy with Ogden and
Veremund, but they profess ignorance. Belial…well, Belial is as bewildered as I. The first verse
is so straightforward, but the second and third frighten me. I am the StarMan, Faraday. I try to
accept that. But the second verse tells me that I must wait until all its riddles are fulfilled before I can wield my power against Gorgrael, otherwise it will kill me. Faraday,‖ he laughed dryly, ―the
prophecies of the second verse are so enigmatic I would not recognise most of them if they solved themselves before my very eyes. And the third verse…the third verse tells me I have a
traitor in my camp who will betray me. Who? Who?‖
―I have not heard the third verse.‖ A traitor, she thought. Mother, protect him!
―No. No-one knows it except I.‖ And what else does that cursed third verse tell me, he
wondered. My Lover‘s pain could destroy me. Are you my Lover, Faraday? Will your pain so
distract me that Gorgrael can strike the killer blow? For an instant a picture of Faraday lying
broken and bleeding sprang to his mind.
He forced his mind away from the terrible image and regarded Faraday. He remembered
how she had treated his parentage with respect and dignity when so many sneered at his birth.
―But if the Prophecy confuses me, Faraday, then some of the mystery surrounding my father has
been solved. Look,‖ he said, pulling the glove from his right hand, the ring gleaming from his
middle finger. ―This was my father‘s. He gave it to Rivkah as a token of his love.‖
Faraday stepped over and took his hand to examine the ring more closely. Its
workmanship was marvellous. Axis‘ eyes darkened as she ran her gentle fingers over his hand.
―What kind of man was he to own such a ring as this?‖ she asked finally, looking up.
―My father is an Icarii Enchanter, my love. His name is StarDrifter. One day I will find
him.‖ He lifted his hand from hers and caressed her cheek. For a moment Faraday rested her
cheek in the palm of his hand, feeling the Enchanter‘s ring cool against her skin. He had called
her love, he did love her! Ah, Mother, to have the love of such a man to support her.
―The son of an Icarii Enchanter,‖ she whispered. ―No wonder you bound my soul with
enchantments the moment I first saw you.‖
Axis stepped closer and cupped her chin in his hand, bending his head down to hers, but
the instant before their lips met Faraday turned her head to one side. ―I cannot, Axis, I cannot,‖
she said tightly. ―I have vowed to be true to Borneheld. I cannot break those vows.‖
And curse the Prophecy, she thought, that forced those vows upon me. She turned her
eyes away, unable to bear his expression.
Axis‘ fingers tightened about her chin. ―Is your damned sense of obligation and duty
going to keep us apart for a lifetime, Faraday? Does what we feel for each other mean nothing to
you?‖
―I vowed to him, Axis. If I leave him now, then he will track you down and kill you. If I
break my vows then my punishment will be your death! Whatever gods now walk this land will
see to that. A vow is a vow, whichever god it is made before, Axis.‖
Axis suppressed a curse. Here she stood, almost touching him, yet determined to remain
true to Borneheld. Axis had thought her loss at the Ancient Barrows was a torment, but this was
even worse.
He released her chin and let his hands rest lightly around her waist, unsure if he could
resist the temptation to pull her against him despite her determination. He had never wanted a
woman like he now wanted Faraday. He should have never let her go at the Barrows. Now
Borneheld had her.
Axis‘ hands tightened slightly. The nights were the worst. At night he lay sleepless,
imagining, wondering, wanting.
―Does he treat you well?‖
She shrugged. ―He tries. He says he loves me and wants what is best for me. He can be
tiresome at times and I wish he would laugh more.‖ She paused. ―He means well.‖
Axis‘ entire body tensed as she spoke. He wanted to hear Faraday say that Borneheld beat
her and abused her. He wanted an excuse to challenge Borneheld to fight to the death now, but she would not give it to him.
He breathed deep. She said that Borneheld loved her. How did she feel? Jealousy gripped
Axis in tight claws. Did she enjoy the touch of Borneheld‘s hands?
Faraday understood what he was thinking. ―He does not make me feel the way you made
me feel under the stars. You are the StarMan, he is simply the man I married.‖
―Yet you will not break your vows.‖ Axis was not comforted by her words.
―No,‖ she said, her eyes steady. ―No, I will not.‖
Anger began to replace Axis‘ jealousy. ―Then listen to my vow, Faraday. What lies
between Borneheld and myself will one day lead to the death of one of us. I vow that…‖
―No!‖ Faraday cried. ―No!‖ She tried to twist away, her hands on his arms, but Axis held
her firm.
―Listen to me,‖ Axis said savagely. ―I will make this vow to you and may whatever gods
the Icarii Enchanters pray to witness it for me. The day that Borneheld dies, that blessed day I
run my sword through his body, Faraday, I will ask you to be my wife. Do you hear me?‖
Faraday stared at him, horrified. All she could think of if Axis challenged Borneheld was
the vision the trees had given her, the blood dripping through Axis‘ hair and over his body, Axis
dead instead of Borneheld, the blood dripping between her breasts, the torn body at her feet, its
spirit rising slowly behind it. ―No!‖
―You made your vows, now you can listen to mine!‖ Axis was furious, and it showed in
his face and voice. ―One day, Faraday, when Borneheld lies dead at our feet, I pledge that I will
ask you to stand by my side as my wife. And what will you say, then, my sweet child? How will
you answer?‖
―You must not challenge him, Axis! Not here, not now!‖ Oh Mother, Faraday thought
frantically, was I wrong to come here?
―One day I will have to, Faraday. No, hear me. You know the hatred that we hold for
each other will eventually end in bloodshed, but doesn‘t the Prophecy predict my victory?‖
―What do you mean?‖
Axis smiled grimly. ―A wife will hold in joy at night the slayer of her husband, Faraday.
Who else can that refer to but you and me? Our marriage is prophesied, Faraday. When
Borneheld is dead, will you marry me? Will you hold me in joy?‖
His impassioned arguments gave Faraday hope, but she knew that he still had to survive
Gorkenfort. ―Axis,‖ she said very softly. ―Promise me this. Promise me that you will stay your
hand until after Gorkenfort is either won or lost. And promise me that if you do challenge
Borneheld, you have just reason for it. I do not want you to murder him.‖ Nor do I want his
murder on my conscience, she thought, clinging to the belief that all the Sentinels wanted her to
do was to keep Borneheld from Axis until after Gorkenfort. Only until then.
―I will not murder him, Faraday, for I am certain that one day Borneheld will give me just
reason to challenge him. And you are right, Gorkenfort will need every commander it has to
survive Gorgrael‘s inevitable attack.‖ And if the fort falls and I die, he thought bleakly, then you
will need him to save you.
Faraday breathed a sigh of relief and caressed his face. All might not be lost, after all, and
she might yet have the man she loved. ―When I am freed from my vows to Borneheld I will
willingly stand by your side for the rest of my life,‖ she whispered, ―for then there will be no
barrier between us. I swear it by the Mother and by the Enchanter‘s ring you wear on your hand.‖
She tapped his ring gently with her fingertip. ―Let the ring bear witness. My vow binds me to
you. On the day that I am freed from my vows to Borneheld I will come to you!”
Axis released her quickly before he lost control. ―You vow before ‗the Mother‘, Faraday?
One day, when we have our lives to ourselves, we will have to explain each to the other what we
have done, what we have seen, while we have been out of each other‘s sight. I have become the