Azhure remembered how incredibly beautiful and graceful she had thought StarDrifter when he had bowed in greeting to the Assembly the last time it met, but the effect of both brothers saluting the Assembly in this manner was staggering in its exquisite beauty and simplicity.
It was very unusual for both to open the Assembly as equals. Normally, either one or the other did it – StarDrifter, in his capacity as the most powerful Enchanter, or Raven-Crest in his capacity as Talon.
Azhure turned to Raum with the question in her eyes.
Ill”It indicates, I think, that who is to follow is even more powerful than either of them,” he whispered in Azhure’s ear. “This entrance and gesture by RavenCrest and StarDrifter is also intended to show the Icarii that they stand together in their support of who is to follow. It will make opposition to Axis very hard. Especially as the Strike Force so obviously stand united behind Axis.”
RavenCrest stepped forward to speak, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of the Strike Force. “There is one more to enter the Chamber, my people. I need not tell you who he is. He is the StarMan. Axis SunSoar, son of the Princess Rivkah of Achar and of my brother, StarDrifter SunSoar, Enchanter. And he is the one whom I name heir to the Talon throne,” he said into the utter silence of the Chamber.
“A very formal introduction,” Raum explained, “and one that clearly tells the Icarii that this man demands respect, not only through his identity as StarMan, and not only through his breeding and relationship to two royal families, but also as the one named heir to the Talon throne.”
“He is my son,” said StarDrifter directly, “and he is our saviour.” Both he and RavenCrest now turned to the doorway.
Axis walked out from the dark of the hallway into the golden light of the Assembly Chamber, feeling the immense solemnity and magnitude of the moment.
As one, the Strike Force stood and saluted their Strike-Leader with fists clenched over their hearts.
Their movement and the rustling of their wings as they stood far above him caught Axis’ attention. For a heartbeat he hesitated as his eyes drank in their ebony uniforms with the blood-red blazing suns and their gesture of support and respect. In that instant Axis realised the full power of his destiny. Confidence and pride surged through him.
He walked into the centre of the golden floor, his uncle and father stepping back to make way for him.
As RavenCrest and StarDrifter had saluted the Assembly, so too did Axis, bowing with his hand clenched over the blazing sun, circling the Chamber to include all in his salute. As he rose from his bow his eyes caught Azhure’s, and she felt a strong sense of the emotion that Axis was experiencing at this moment. You do me honour again, Azhure, and I slip yet further into your debt, his voice whispered in her head. Her hand clenched the material of her gown as she felt his Enchanter powers wrap around her. For an instant they lingered, caressing, then Axis withdrew them and stood straight and proud to address the Assembly.
Unlike his father and uncle, who wore the togas that Icarii wore on all formal occasions, Axis was dressed as a man of war in the tunic Azhure had made for him over fawn breeches and leather riding boots.
“You are my people,” he said, his eyes shining, “and I have escaped the lies that bound me to lead you back into Tencendor.”
The Chamber erupted. Many thousands of Icarii leapt to their feet. Some shouted, others shrilled warcries, others yet burst into spontaneous song. Feathers flew, fists punched the air, and cushions were ripped apart in excitement. If any of the Elders still harboured doubts that the younger generation would leave the comforts of Talon Spike for the rigours of reclaiming Tencendor, then those doubts were now lost.
Axis simply stood and watched the ruckus. Again his eyes met Azhure’s, and again she felt the soft touch of his power as he shared with her the emotions surging through him. It was at that moment Azhure admitted to herself that she loved him. All her life she had dreamed of a hero. Was there any greater than this man who now stood before this Assembly? She smiled dreamily, a crimson island of stillness in the excitement about her.
As Axis withdrew his power from Azhure he turned his eyes to survey the emotion which swept the Assembly. He had thought long and hard about what to say to them and had finally fallen back on a maxim that Jayme, Brother-Leader of the Seneschal, of all people, had once taught him. “Learn to seize the hearts of your audience with your first words, for those hearts will always remain the most loyal. If someone needs to be persuaded with hours of arguments, then he will forever remain a potential traitor in your camp.”
Finally Axis held up a hand for quiet. The Icarii only very gradually subsided into their seats and into silence. When he had the complete attention of the Assembly Axis spoke again.
“I will lead you back into Tencendor, but it will not be easy, nor will it be all that you expect. It may be years before you can reclaim what you lost.” This was the dangerous moment. Axis knew – when the Icarii would have to realise that their dreams would not be accomplished overnight. “You know that the Prophecy walks and that I am the StarMan. Even as I speak two of the Sentinels sit among you.”
Heads craned and Ogden and Veremund gave small embarrassed waves.
“Whatever I do, wherever I lead you, it must be as the Prophecy dictates, my people. If Tencendor will rise again to defeat Gorgrael, then we must all heal the rift within. Icarii, Avar and Acharite must reunite into one nation. If we cannot find the bridge to understanding, then will Gorgrael earn his name and bring destruction hither,” Axis said, quoting the Prophecy to them. “My first task and, I think, my hardest, will be to unite the three races and recreate Tencendor. I face deadly opposition in doing this.”
“The Acharites,” a voice hissed.
“No, not the people of Achar.” Axis paused and stared at the Icarii for a moment. “Not the people of Achar, whom I think will accept both you and the concept of Tencendor again, but it will be the Brotherhood of the Seneschal and the Duke of Ichtar who will oppose me…us. Was it not the Seneschal who persuaded the Acharites to drive you from Tencendor during the Wars of the Axe? The Seneschal will oppose us and they will use Borneheld and his army to do it.”
“And Priam?” someone asked.
“Priam cannot oppose both the Seneschal and Borneheld. No, my friends, there are two battles ahead of us. One to reunite the three races against the opposition of the Seneschal and Duke Borneheld. The second to throw the combined weight of the united races against Gorgrael.”
Again Axis paused and gave the Icarii the chance for speech, but they all sat silent, absorbing his words.
“If you want Tencendor,” he continued, “then you will have to fight for it. This summer the Icarii can start to move south again. I already have waiting for us an arrny of Acharites who are committed to me as StarMan. FarSight CutSpur?” Axis turned and addressed the Crest-Leader where he sat high above the rest of the Icarii. “Have your farflight scouts brought word of Belial’s force?”
FarSight stood, the combination of his ebony wings and uniform with his black hair and eyes and swarthy complexion giving him the appearance of a bird of prey. He saluted Axis crisply, then spoke.
“My fellow Icarii. This morning five of our farflight scouts, who have been on a long and dangerous mission to the Urqhart Hills, brought astounding news. Axis’ army, commanded at the moment by his loyal lieutenants Belial and Magariz …”
Far below, Rjvkah s face went ashen with shock.
“… has taken possession of the ancient Keep of Sigholt. Sigholt lives, and it waits for us. Our first step back into Tencendor has been taken.”
Again cheering broke out, but Axis did not let it go on so long this time.
“My people,” he shouted, “listen to me! It is from Sigholt that we will reunite Tencendor, from Sigholt that we will bring the Seneschal and Borneheld to their knees.”
Ah, Azhure thought to herself. So that is what he meant when he said my first target in war may not be Skraelings. Well, it will hardly grieve me to take part in the destruction of the Seneschal.
“It is from Sigholt that we will create the momentum which will win us Tencendor and drive Gorgrael from this land!”
Axis stood proud and tall in the centre of the golden floor, his tunic glowing, the blood-red sun blazing on his chest. He raised his hands in appeal to the assembled Icarii.