Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 2 – Enchanter

These last thirty-odd years had been the most frustrating of all. She had been on the finger of the previous Duchess of Ichtar when the Icarii Enchanter had spiralled out of the sky and got the StarMan on her. She had been on the finger of the previous Duchess of Ichtar when she had carried the prophesied babe and when she had gone into labour with him. But Searlas, most damned of men, had wrenched her from Rivkah’s finger when she was in the throes of labour, and she had not known whether the babe had been born alive or dead.

For many years she had lain in a cold stone vault somewhere deep in the husk that had once been die extraordinary Sigholt. Wondering, weeping with frustration that the Prophecy walked and she knew nothing of it, she could not move from her ruby-red prison. Where were Ogden and Veremund andYr? Were they walking now, too? Where was Jack? Jack! Zeherah could not feel any of her companions, but it was the feather-light touch of Jacks mind that she missed the most. Would she ever see him again?

Then one day Borneheld’s hand had reached into the vault and grasped her. He had carried her to Carlon and placed her on the finger of the next Duchess. Zeherah had travelled with Faraday through all her adventures, painful and delightful, over the past two years, and with Faraday had watched the Prophecy unfold about her. She had seen the other four Sentinels through Faraday’s eyes, but had not been able to communicate with them. She had watched as Faraday fell deeper and deeper in love with the StarMan – Axis, what an unusual name! She had endured Faraday’s marriage to Borne-held and watched the fall of Gorkentown. She had aided Faraday in her determination not to fall pregnant to Borne-held – Mother knew she could not wait to see the end of the line of the Dukes who had cursed her. She had travelled with Faraday through the Sacred Grove and the Enchanted Wood. And tonight Zeherah had watched the death of Borneheld both through Faraday’s eyes and through the imprisoning walls of the ruby. And when the StarMan had seized the ruby Zeherah had screamed with delight. When Borneheld s warm

blood had closed over the ruby, Zeherah could feel the knots of the curse finally unravel. The death of the last cursed Duke of Ichtar would give her back her life.

He tumbled, puzzled, out of the sun. Where had he been? What had gone wrong? Why was he so confused? There was a tremendous heat about him, and he fell further and further, trying to escape the fire of the sun, but never succeeding. It surrounded him, burned him, seared him, blinded him, and his mind unravelled with the pain and terror. Forgetting to even try to control his headlong fall through the sky he raised his hands to his face, trying to protect his eyes, and screamed.

The heat burst through the Chamber of the Moons in a massive blast that caused all present to throw hands and arms over their faces and turn away. All heard the eagle scream, a sound of pure terror, and those closest to Borneheld’s corpse saw a searing red light burn through his body. Axis pulled Faraday to him, protecting her from the worst of the heat and light. When Faraday’s vision cleared, she realised it was Axis who held her and Borneheld’s bloody corpse that lay at her feet, a golden and white form slowly rising behind it. “Axis!” she cried and buried her head against his chest.

When the light and the heat faded, people turned back to the heart of the Chamber. Where the eagle had been now crouched a naked Icarii male, white and silver wings, golden hair and violet eyes that stared wonderingly about him.

“FreeFall!” EvenSong cried. She pushed past her stunned father and rushed towards him.

“EvenSong,” FreeFall said. “Where are we? What is going on? Who are all these people?”

EvenSong took his hand and raised her violet eyes to Axis, standing with Faraday clutched in his arms. “Thank you,” she whispered, “thank you,” then she turned back to FreeFall and

wrapped arms and wings about him, cradling him gently, crooning with her voice, telling him how much she loved him.

Axis’ attention was commanded by the woman who now stood before him. As naked as FreeFall, but with infinitely more presence and power. This must be Zeherah, the lost Sentinel. She was tall and slim, not beautiful but handsome, with her mother’s black eyes and deep red hair, as red as the Ichtar ruby, that tumbled down her back.

“Thank you,” she said as simply as EvenSong. “Thank you.”

And then Jack was by her side.

Axis finally took a deep breath and kissed Faraday briefly.

“It seems I need a wife,” he smiled, “and it has just occurred to me that you are now widowed. Will you marry me, Faraday?”

“Yes!” she said fiercely, hugging him tighdy, unmindful of the fact that they were both covered in blood. “Yes!”

Jorge stared at them, still appalled by the way Borneheld had died.

“You did not murder to protect your world,” Axis said softly, and Jorge started, realising that Axis had raised his eyes to stare at him over the top of Faraday’s head. “Remember FreeFall’s murder, Jorge. Remember Priam sickening and dying after he publicly announced that he would seek an alliance with me. Think of the thousands of people crucified and murdered in Skarabost because their hearts led them to follow the new way when Borneheld could not relinquish the old.”

Jorge lowered his eyes and bowed his head.

“Think of the new life that Borneheld’s death has wrought,” Axis continued, determined to see that Jorge understood why Borneheld’s death had been necessary. “FreeFall, brought back from the halls of the UnderWorld.

Brought back into the life he should never have been thrust from so violently. And Zeherah, trapped in her ruby for thousands of years by the line of the Dukes of Ichtar. Freed finally to take her place with the other Sentinels.”

“I accept, Axis.” Jorge’s eyes flickered over what was left of Borneheld. “This new order demands to be accepted, does it not?”

“I will do whatever I have to,” Axis said, “in order to see that it is.”

Jorge stared at Axis a moment, then turned away. Axis squeezed Faraday’s shoulders then let her go. “Yr, take her away from this. Wash her, and see that she gets some sleep.”

Around the Chamber people were finally starting to move, murmur, talk. StarDrifter, bending down by FreeFall and EvenSong’s side, looked up at his son and grinned.

“Your enchantments have proved powerful tonight, my son.” He tossed Axis’ ring towards him, and Axis caught it and slid it back onto his finger.

“I had help, StarDrifter. But will tell you about it later. FreeFall?”

FreeFall looked up from the floor where he still sat bewildered, EvenSong weeping gently by his side. “Axis? What has been going on? Where am I?”

“You have been away, FreeFall, but now you are home. Rest tonight with EvenSong, and I will tell you of your adventures when we have a quieter moment.”

“Tonight?” StarDrifter laughed. “Look, Axis, the dawn begins to lighten the Chamber!”

Axis looked up, startled, and stared at the tiny windows set into the domed roof. StarDrifter was right; the sky was pink with dawn. “Stars,” he whispered, “how long did Borneheld and I battle?”

“Most of the night, my friend,” Belial said behind him. “Most of the night. I do not know how you have the energy to even stand.”

Axis embraced his friend, and took the sword that Belial handed him, sliding it into the empty scabbard at his side. “Belial. Is the captain of the palace guard here?”

Belial nodded and indicated a tall dark man. The captain of the guard looked distinctly nervous.

“What is your name, Captain?” Axis did not recognise him from when he had been in Carlon two years earlier. “Hesketh, ah …” Hesketh’s voice trailed off”. “Sire.” “Hesketh, I am now taking control of Carlon as I have taken control of Achar. Does that trouble you?”

“No, Sire.” Hesketh glanced across at Yr, just about to step out of the Chamber with Faraday, and she nodded at her lover before disappearing through the doorway.

“Good,” Axis said briskly. “You and your guard will now go with Belial and secure the palace. Once you have done that, you may inarch yourself down to the city gates and open them. Everyone within and without Carlon is free to come and go as they want. There will be no reprisals on my part to the palace guard, or to any remaining soldiers of Borneheld’s army within Carlon. All I ask is your loyalty.”

“Yes, Sire.” Hesketh’s voice was a little brisker. “You have it.” Axis had fought for the crown of Achar with his brother in this Chamber and won it in fair fight. If all that Axis accused Borneheld of were true, then the gods themselves had judged Borneheld in trial by battle.