Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 2 – Enchanter

YsgryfF grinned. What splendid theatre all this was. “I accept with honour, StarMan, and I do swear homage and fealty to you.”

As YsgryfF stepped down, Ogden and Veremund again nodded to themselves. In his creation of the first five families Axis had included Icarii, Ravensbund and Acharite -symbolic of the united force that stood behind Axis and of the newly united nation of Tencendor. Of the Avar there was no mention, but then the Avar had refused to fight for Tencendor.

“But what of the eastern territories?” Veremund whispered to his brother. “What of the lands to the east of the Nordra? Will Axis govern those personally?”

Axis turned back to the crowd.

“There is one more acknowledgment I must make,” he said softly, although his voice carried magically to every ear, “and one more grant that I must effect. It is the eastern lands of Tencendor that will be most affected by the return of the Avar and the Icarii. Guardianship of these lands will be a sensitive issue — although most of the territorial claims of all three races have been settled, no doubt there will be smaller day-to-day issues that will cause disagreement among the three peoples as they learn to live together once more.”

Faraday nodded. Sensitive indeed. Faraday looked forward to the day when she could begin to transfer the seedlings from the Enchanted Wood to the eastern lands of Tencendor — already she had some twelve thousand names memorised and friendships cemented. But who would she have to work with?

“A sensitive issue and a sensitive guardianship,” Axis repeated, “but the choice of Guardian of the East is easy. I would give it to the one among us who has lived among all three races and understands the problems of all three peoples.”

Rivkah? Faraday thought, looking over to Axis’ mother.

“Azhure.” Axis smiled, and held out his hand.

Azhure blanched and stared at Axis. His smile widened, and his fingers waggled a little impatiently.

The crowd cheered approvingly. Of all stories about Axis’ rise to power, of his battles with the Skraelings and with Borneheld, one of the best known and loved stories was of the raven-haired woman who rode at his side, who wielded the magic bow of the Icarii and who commanded the pack of enchanted hounds that ran behind her.

“Azhure?” Faraday whispered to Ogden beside her. “Azhure? Is she not this commander I have heard something of?”

“Ah, indeed,” muttered Ogden uncomfortably. “Azhure commands the Acharite archers in Axis’ army – and currently holds command of the army while Axis, Belial and Magariz reside in Carlon.”

“But control of the East?” Faraday asked. “Surely / would have been better for that? I am the one who has been bonded with the Mother, am I not?”

Ogden’s face reddened. “As Axis said, Faraday, Azhure has spent a great deal of time among all three races and she is already an accepted and respected commander within his army. She is a good choice, Faraday.”

Faraday sat back in her chair, frowning, as the woman, obviously shocked, handed her baby to StarDrifter and slowly stood up. As she smoothed her dress down Faraday noticed that she was pregnant.

Axis noticed Azhure’s pregnancy at the same moment as Faraday, and his eyes flew to Azhure’s, stunned. Why? Why hadn’t she told him?

Azhure stepped gracefully onto the dais, her eyes locked into Axis’, and took his hand.

“Why?” he whispered.

“I did not want to hold you back from what you had to do, Axis. I thought that if you knew I was pregnant again …” her eyes flickered towards Faraday, “… you would hesitate in doing that which the Prophecy demanded you do.”

Axis’ eyes ran over her belly once more, confused. Even if she’d managed to conceal her thickening body from him, how was it he’d not felt the tug of the baby’s blood? Caelum’s tug had been so distinct, so strong.

Axis realised he was staring. “Azhure. I owe so much to you. You have given me such great friendship and support over the past nineteen months that I think I can never adequately repay you. You have given me my emblem, the blood-red blazing sun and you have fought courageously among my other commanders. Azhure, you have also lived among both Icarii and Avar. You know their problems and you know the problems that many of the Acharites will have in accepting the Icarii and Avar among them again. The position of Guardian of the East is one of great importance, and I would that you accept it. Azhure, will you shoulder this onerous load for me?”

“Gladly, StarMan.”

Ysgryff, as Belial, Magariz and a number of others, stared a little. Not at the tide and responsibility that Axis had given Azhure – all believed that she would do well as Guardian of the East – but that Axis had not asked her to swear homage and fealty to him. It almost implied…well, it almost implied that Azhure was of equal status to him. And yet Axis had demanded that FreeFall, as heir to the Talon throne, pay him homage and fealty.

Faraday, as politically astute as anyone else present, also noticed the oversight and realised the implications. Why would Axis not want this woman to swear homage and fealty to him?

“Azhure, Guardian of the East, you have no home, no lands. I will cede you no lands, but I will grant you a home that you may enjoy for the rest of your life but which will revert to me once you die. Azhure, I grant you Spiredore to do with as you will.”

“Oh, Axis,” Azhure breathed, and the look in her eyes was all the thanks that Axis needed.

Faraday simply stared at her. I must get to know this woman better, she thought, if I must work with her to restore the ancient forests to Tencendor.

Azhure moved to sit down again, more than a little awed by her new responsibilities. This tangible evidence of Axis’ trust and belief in her abilities, before all these people, had moved her deeply.

StarDrifter stared at Axis. Axis had hardly gone far enough! On impulse, he gave a single powerful flap of his wings and landed on the dais beside his son.

StarDrifter held out his hands and began to speak, his voice nearly as magical and as beautiful as Axis’. “I am StarDrifter SunSoar,” he announced, “father to Axis SunSoar StarMan. Today is a great day. We have witnessed the reforg-ing of Tencendor, a united Tencendor that will be strong enough to defeat Gorgrael and strong enough to move into the future. But my friends, there are still many trials ahead of us. Great battles to be fought as we endeavour to break the Destroyer’s grip on the north. Axis will lead Tencendor into those battles. My friends and comrades, I do not want to inject a note of sorrow or despair into these joyful proceedings, but realities must be faced. What if Axis were injured, or, greatest sadness of all, killed?” StarDrifter turned to Axis and held out his hand in melodramatic appeal. “Axis SunSoar StarMan, will you name your heir today, before all present, so that there may be no doubts in anyone’s mind?”

Axis glared at his father. Did you think I had forgotten, StarDrifter? I was opening my mouth to do just that when you leaped so precipitously onto the dais.

Ogden, as Veremund and Jack, stared straight ahead, completely unable to look at Faraday now. Yr’s eyes widened in distress. This is what she had feared for a very long time. Had she and the other Sentinels done the wrong thing in forcing Faraday into an action which had kept her separated from Axis for almost two years?

“Sit down, StarDrifter,” Axis said quietly, and again held out his hand for Azhure.

She stood as if she would simply hand Caelum to him, but Axis seized her wrist and pulled both her and their son onto the dais with him.

Faraday took a great, ragged breath and held it. She realised instantly who had bequeathed the black-haired boy his Icarii features. “Oh, Mother, what has he done to me?”

Yr leaned forward and placed a soothing hand on Faraday’s shoulder.

Axis smiled and took Caelum from Azhure s arms, holding the laughing baby high above his head.

“I name my son, Caelum Azhurson SunSoar StarSon, as my heir to the House of the Stars and to the Throne of the Stars and to all ranks and privileges those titles hold. Welcome to my heart and to my House, Caelum StarSon.”

Faraday’s and Azhure’s eyes met; Azhure looked away almost instantly, unable to bear the pain she saw reflected back at her.

The crowd roared. All they could see was the golden figure of Axis SunSoar StarMan, the beautiful woman beside him, and the son who Axis lifted high into the air.