Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 2 – Enchanter

Rivkah walked her horse over to Borneheld and slowly reached out and touched his cheek. Her face was impassive.

“Mother?” Borneheld whispered. Now she was closer he did not doubt that this was his mother. She had Priam’s eyes, and her face was an older version of the portrait of her he had in his apartments. Her memory was almost as important to him as was his devotion to Artor. And now here she sat before him, her fingers running gently down his cheek, her face expressionless, her grey eyes cool.

“Borneheld,” Rivkah said. “I had wondered what my eldest had made of himself. Now here he sits before me.” He was the image of Searlas, she thought, and abruptly she shivered.

As Rivkah remembered how much she loathed his father, her fingers, once gentle, now pinched Borneheld’s cheek sharply, and he pulled away in shock. Rivkah’s eyes had hardened and narrowed so that her gaze was now flinty and angry.

“You murdered my brother, Borneheld!”

“You abandoned me to a cruel and heartless childhood, Mother,” he retorted, trying to turn the accusations against her. “How could you have done that?”

“Easily,” Rivkah said. “/ was the one trapped in cruelty and heartlessness. I never cared for you or your father and I revelled in the chance to make a life for myself, a new family, among others.”

“Then be not surprised that I have turned out to be the man I am,” Borneheld said, gaunt and shadowed. “Be not surprised that I have done the things I have done.”

Everyone listening stiffened in shock. Was this an admission of guilt regarding Priam’s death?

“If you do not like what you see before me, then blame yourself. was not the one who ran away to let me grow unrestrained and unloved in a cold household.”

“I did not abandon you in quite the way you seem to think, Borneheld,” Rivkah said finally. “I was forced from your side to give birth to Axis in a cold and cheerless room. Then my newborn son was hurried from my side and my ears filled with the lie that he was dead. I was dragged, desperate and bleeding, to die on the slopes of the Icescarp mountains. Borneheld, why don’t you ask Jayme and Moryson how I got there? And Borneheld, please pass on to them my wish that we soon meet. There is a small matter of attempted murder that must surely weigh heavily on their minds. Perhaps, before they die, they might wish to confess to both me and their god.” Her face was cold.

“No,” Borneheld whispered. He did not want to be forced to believe the lie that Axis had told him at Gundealga Ford. He did not want to believe that Jayme and Moryson were guilty of trying to murder his mother. But they had planned other murders with ease, had they not?

“I have no doubt that they are men easy with murder, Borneheld,” Axis said. “Are you safe from their plots?”

Borneheld gave a wordless cry and wrenched the head of his horse about. “You ask if it is war, brother? It has always been war between us, and I long for the moment when your death puts an end to our rivalry and hatred!”

For a long agonising moment he stared at Rivkah, then he booted his horse and galloped back towards his army.

Gautier turned after him, but Jorge hesitated.

“Princess Rivkah,” he said, bowing slightly in his saddle. “I am well pleased to see that you survive and look so well.” He turned back to Axis and spoke but one word. “Roland?”

“Roland is as well as can be expected. He rests easily at Sigholt.”

“Ah,” Jorge said, his eyes far away, then they refocused on Axis. “Axis, if I do not survive this battle, will you tell him that I have valued his friendship above all else during the past few years?”

Axis stared at the Earl of Avonsdale. “Jorge, why don’t you join me? You have heard Borneheld. The man is either mad or a murderer, and quite probably both.”

Jorge thought of his family, his daughters and son and their children. If he spurred his horse to join Axis they would all be dead by morning.

“Ah,” Axis said. “Does Borneheld now have to take hostages to ensure the support of his commanders?”

Jorge’s eyes filled with tears. “I wish you well, Axis. That is a strange thing to say to the commander of an opposing force, is it not? But I do wish you well, Axis.”

“And I you, Jorge,” Axis said. “And I you.”

Battle Evef f lies, Borneheld,” Jayme said soothingly. “All/JX lies. Axis probably now wields sorcerer’s powers, JL JLcertainly if he now reads minds as easily as yousuggest. How much effort would it take for him to conjure avision and attach it to some strange woman’s face? Now, now, Borneheld. Be calm. Think rationally.”

Jayme looked over at Moryson standing patiently across the room. Both men, as the larger number of the Brotherhood, had taken permanent refuge in the palace in Carlon. That Jayme had been forced to virtually abandon the Tower of the Seneschal to Axis’ army appalled him. The remaining cohort of Axe-Wielders surrounded the Tower, but Jayme doubted they could hold out for long against the forces arrayed before them.

But that was not Jayme s current concern. Borneheld had come back from his foolish meeting with Axis in a dither about some woman who claimed to be Rivkah.

Jayme squared his shoulders and stared at Borneheld. The man had succumbed to an attack of conscience. Artor damn him! Jayme thought savagely. Why develop a conscience at this late stage of his life?

“Majesty,” Moryson said, stepping forward from his corner. “I can only echo what Jayme has said. Why believe a man who is undoubtedly in league with demons? What has he done for you to trust him? Betray you at Gorkenfort? Send his flying monstrosities to worry you at Jervois Landing? Seduce away some of your most senior — if unreliable -commanders? Why trust a man like that?”

Borneheld looked at Moryson, desperate to believe him. Moryson’s open face and clear blue eyes, his habitually mild expression and soft voice reassured him a little.

“Always before the dawn is the darkest hour,” Moryson continued. “Now is your darkest hour, Borneheld. Artor waits to see if you are capable of leading Achar and the Seneschal through it. Borneheld.” Moryson stepped close now and laid a calming hand on the King’s shoulder. “I bless the luck which brought you to our aid at this moment. Who else could lead us through?”

Well, Borneheld, Jayme thought as he watched Moryson pat the man soothingly on the shoulder, you only live because we cannot find the man to replace you. As yet, my King, we still need you, although I fear that we made a grave mistake in elevating you to such a powerful position. Oh Artor, perhaps we should simply have continued with Priam? The man was a fool, but generally manageable.

A feeling of peace and tranquillity flooded through Borneheld. Yes, Moryson and Jayme were right. How could he have listened to Axis? The man was evil to the core.

Gautier, silent while Moryson and Jayme had reasoned with Borneheld, now stepped forward. “Sire. I have some thoughts regarding our plan of action on the morrow.”

“Yes?” Borneheld asked. It was late, but he did not want to go to sleep. “A plan?”

“Let me explain …” Gautier began.

In another corner of the palace Faraday sat silent while Yr brushed out her hair.

“I can feel Jack, Ogden and Veremund,” Yr said. “They are close. Soon we will be reunited.” She put the brush down.

“Although what the four of us can do I do not know. With Zeherah absent, lost, the Prophecy will undoubtedly fail.”

Faraday stood and walked over to the window overlooking Grail Lake. Far away, so far distant that she could almost not see it, she could discern the flickering points of light which marked the first ranks of Axis’ camp.

Since she returned from the Grove Faraday had been consumed with worry about Axis’ feelings for her. He had hesitated when she’d asked if he still loved her. Even then he had really only said he desired her. Faraday’s eyes filled with tears. Borneheld had desired her, and that desire had brought only pain and hate. She wanted to be loved before anything else.

“I thought he loved me,” she said, her eyes on the camp.

Yr put a comforting hand on Faraday’s bare shoulder. “Faraday, sweet heart,” Yr began softly. “He has been away a long time. You have both grown in different directions. Axis has become an Icarii Enchanter – no longer is lie the Battle-Axe you fell in love with. And no longer are you the girl who stared at him so innocently in the Chamber of the Moons. I have no doubt Axis was astounded to find you so changed. Sweeting, perhaps all you both need is a little peace to get to know each other again. After all, what time have you ever managed to spend alone? What time have you had to get to know each other? Fear not, Faraday. Your time awaits you.”