Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 2 – Enchanter

But what was he doing with Caelum? What? Did MorningStar die so that my son could live? Or was WolfStar simply visiting?

StarDrifter put his arm about Axis’ shoulders. “We must trust only each other,” he whispered. “Who else can we trust?”

“That is a terrible way to live, StarDrifter.”

“MorningStar died a terrible death, Axis. Never forget it.”

One Nors Woman Wins, Another LosesFaraday stood with her husband on the parapets of the palace in Carlon and stared across Grail Lake, Timozel lurking dark and brooding in the shadows behind them. Since Borneheld’s loss at Bedwyr Fort Timozel had hardly spoken. His respect for Borneheld had been severely tested by the batde loss, and sometimes Faraday heard him muttering of strange visions and promises under his breath. His skin had begun to take on an unhealthy sheen, almost as if he had a slow-burning fever inside him. Bags of skin hung heavy under his eyes. Poor Timozel, Faraday thought briefly, you are not looking forward to seeing Axis again, are you?

Faraday did not know that Timozel hardly dared sleep now, lest Gorgrael appear to him, laughing and beckoning with his hand. Timozel no longer screamed, but he always woke wide-eyed with fear and horror, clutching at the sheets.

Faraday closed her eyes and leaned her face to the autumn sun, feeling its warmth. It would be soon, now, and both she and Borneheld knew it. They stood only two paces apart, but the gulf between them was immeasurable. If Axis died during the brothers’ duel in the Chamber of the Moons, then Faraday would not wish to live. Darkness would close from the north as the Prophecy shattered, and Faraday had no intention of living in a world of ice and darkness that did not hold Axis.

She took a deep breath, savouring the faint scent of the final autumn flowers, and opened her eyes. The distant shore of Grail Lake was only just visible, but Faraday could see the rising height of the white tower that Yr had told her was rightfully called Spiredore. (What had the Icarii done inside Spiredore to make it glow as it had last night?) Axis’ victorious army had been encamped about the Lake for almost a week now, recovering its strength after the dreadful battle about Bedwyr Fort, and it had not escaped Faraday’s attention, as it had not escaped the attention of most of the people in Carlon, that those of Borneheld’s army he had left to die as he fled the field had happily joined the ranks of the force they had fought against. Axis had taken no prisoners, only welcomed comrades.

Faraday leaned a little closer to the stone parapets, wishing she had a glass so that she might see the more clearly. Last night she had stood here and watched the great fire that had been lit on the eastern shore of the Lake. It had been a funeral pyre, Yr told her later, a funeral pyre for a great and loved Icarii, for only the best were farewelled in so lavish a manner.

But while the pyre blazed, Faraday had only seen the flames leaping high into the sky and the shadowy figures of thousands gathered about it – not only Icarii, but Acharite and Ravensbund men and women too. Had Axis been there? What about his father StarDrifter and mother Rivkah? Borneheld had told Faraday that a woman claiming to be Rivkah had talked to him before the Battle of Bedwyr Fort, and, despite Borneheld’s disclaimers, Faraday had no doubts that it was indeed Rivkah, and she smiled for Axis’ happiness.

As the flames had leapt for the stars torch-bearing Icarii had taken flight, spiralling higher and higher above the flames to slowly disappear into the night-sky, the flaming torches they carried fading to star-like pin-pricks of light in the blackness above. They had been escorting the released soul on its journey to the stars. It had been a sight so beautiful, so moving, that Faraday had wept and wondered who was being farewelled with such honour and ceremony.

Later, as the funeral pyre died down, the attention of the thousands across the Lake (as indeed, all the thousands within Carlon who watched) turned to Spiredore. Curious music, Song, had drifted across the Lake towards Carlon, and Faraday had glimpsed a silver and white figure atop the roof of the tower. StarDrifter she thought, sometimes on his feet, sometimes slowly spiralling into the air. After some time Spiredore itself had begun to glow as if a beacon, a gentle white light pulsing out from its walls, growing in strength until the entire structure seemed to throb. Faraday had been entranced by the sight of the pulsating white tower, and she had stood watching for hours. She andYr had lain awake until dawn stained the sky, talking of the evening’s events.

Now, only just risen from her bed, Faraday felt refreshed, alive. Even Borneheld’s presence couldn’t dampen her spirits. She could almost feel Axis’ presence. Soon, she thought. Soon.

Footsteps sounded from behind her, and Faraday turned slightly.

Gautier approached, dressed in light armour, his sword rattling, and stepped to Borneheld’s side, and both men stared silently at the far side of the Lake. Both had recovered some of their spirit, some of their bravado, in the past few days.

“When?” Gautier asked softly.

Borneheld paused, then answered just as softly. “Soon.”

“What will you do, Sire?”

“Nothing,” Borneheld answered, his eyes fixed on a tiny scarlet and gold figure across the Lake. “Axis will come to me. He must. We both want to end it. Just he and I. That is all it was ever meant to be.”

Borneheld turned from the parapets. His face was shadowed with red beard; he had not shaved or washed in days.

“Our rivalry started the instant he was conceived,” Borneheld said to Faraday. “And we have fought ever since he arrived as a baby in Carlon, one way or another. Do not deceive yourself, Faraday, that he will come across the waters of Grail Lake for love of you alone. Will he love you once I am gone?” He paused and eyed her coldly. “No. I doubt it. There will be no reason to, you see, once I am gone.”

And with that he turned and walked away, Gautier at his side. The slap of their boots on the stone flagging sounded like dark bells tolling a death knell.

Faraday watched her husband go, a cold fear in her heart. Borneheld had simply assumed that he would lose, as if he had always known that he was fated to die at Axis’ hands. Knowing that, it gave what he said about Axis’ love for her, or lack of it, the fatal ring of prophecy.

Axis watched with his Enchanter’s vision as first Borneheld then, after a long pause, Faraday turned and left the parapets of the castle.

“When?” Belial asked.

“Tonight. I have waited long enough. It will be tonight.”

Belial nodded. “How?”

“Rivkah knows a way in. A secret way. We will approach across Grail Lake.”

“Who?” Belial asked.

“Me. You, Ho’Demi and Magariz. Jorge. Rivkah.”

“Rivkah?” Belial was stunned.

Axis’ eyes were as cold as the water. “She must come. She must witness. One of her sons will die tonight. She must be there.”

Belial shivered. “Who else?”

“The Sentinels. They will need to be there.”

“To witness?”

Axis shook his head, his eyes far away. “They can serve to witness, yes, but they will be there primarily to wait.”

Belial frowned. Axis was in a strange mood, very strange. “Wait? Wait for what?”

“A lost love, Belial. A lost love.”

“And that is all you will take?”

Again Axis shook his head. “StarDrifter, I think, although he may get in the way. But he wants to come. EvenSong. She must come too. To wait, like the Sentinels. Arne, and perhaps some five or six men-at-arms. Ravensbundmen, I think.”

“You’ll need a merchant ship to carry that lot across,” Belial muttered.

Axis clapped Belial on the back. “Seventeen, perhaps eighteen, my friend. A good rowboat will get us there.”

“You’re not going to take Azhure?”

Axis’ face hardened. “Someone will need to stay in command of this camp, and I hardly think she will want to come.”

“Axis,” Belial hesitated. “Be careful you do not treat Azhure too badly in this. She loves you too deeply to be able to watch you sail across that Lake tonight with a calm and understanding heart.”

Axis took a deep breath, fighting to control his temper.

“Be careful, Axis,” Belial said, knowing that he was going too far, “Azhure is held in high regard by many within this camp. Hurt her, and you will hurt many.”

“Including you?” Axis did not care if Belial ‘saw his temper now. “How much do you love her, Belial?”

Belial held Axis’ furious stare without flinching. “I will not deny that I loved her once. But there was no point feeding a love and a desire when Azhure could see none but you. It would have destroyed me, and I was not yet ready to die. But I still care for her, as does Magariz, and Rivkah, and Arne, and a thousand others I could name. Axis,” Belial’s voice was low, but steady. “We all care too much for her to watch her slowly die of wretchedness when you marry Faraday. Either let her go, or let Faraday go. You will destroy both of them if you continue in your desire to have them both.”