Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 2 – Enchanter

Perhaps it was her virginity, perhaps it was Beltide night, perhaps it was the wine they had both consumed. Axis did not know. Perhaps it was because this was the first time he had coupled with a woman since coming into his full powers as an Enchanter.

Slowly his touch grew firmer, and his hand moved further down her arm. How long, Axis wondered, did his body need to recover before he could make love to her again? His hand drifted to her back, and his touch softened. He remembered holding her as he lost himself among the surging waves of the Star Dance, feeling the terrible ridged scars that ran the length of her back. Only the single smooth strip of skin over her spine had escaped the cruel hand that had inflicted these scars. Why? What spirit of cruelty had driven Hagen to inflict this pain on Azhure?

“Azhure,” he whispered, wishing the circle of his arms could protect her from any further hurt. He leaned his body towards her, stroking her gently awake.

She woke slowly, opening her smoky eyes into his pale ones. “Axis? Did we …” She hesitated.

“Did we celebrate Beltide together, my lady? Do you not remember?”

Azhure laughed a little, her cheeks colouring. “Yes. I remember.”

Axis smiled, and kissed her very slowly, refreshing her memory. His hand moved down over her hips.

“And tell me, Azhure, did you ever think, when you were a small child growing up in Smyrton, that you would lose your virginity to an Icarii Enchanter on the hard ground of the Avarinheim forest?”

Azhure did not hesitate in her reply. “I swore that I would never give myself to anyone less than a hero, Axis SunSoar. That I should love him so deeply makes this night the more sweet.”

Axis’ hand stilled. “Azhure,” he stumbled. “Do not love me. I cannot, I…Faraday …” His voice trailed off. It was the first time he had thought about Faraday this night, and the guilt struck deep.

Azhure flinched at the expression on his face. “I know, Axis,” she whispered. “I know. I did not expect to be loved in return.”

Now Axis winced. Who had he betrayed here tonight? Faraday — or. Azhure? He leaned down and kissed Azhure again, shifting his body against hers, allowing his desire to swamp him. The night was yet young, and Faraday was very far away.

Neither knew that somewhere, sitting in front of his lonely fire, the Prophet laughed at the man and woman entwined beneath the ferns. He was pleased. Well pleased. Azhure had served the Prophecy well this night.

A Parting of WaysAzhure, dressed in her Avar tunic and leggings, packed the crimson robe carefully into the base of her pack. Last night seemed a dream. But every aching muscle in her body told her otherwise.

“Rivkah, where will you be going from here?” she asked.

“Back to Achar, Azhure. Do you think to join me? Why not go back to Talon Spike with the Icarii?”

Azhure hesitated. “I —”

“I know what happened last night,” Rivkah said gently. “I saw both StarDrifter and Axis follow you into the forest, and I saw StarDrifter return alone.”

Azhure busied herself thrusting the last of her belongings into the pack. “It would be hard to go back to Talon Spike, Rivkah. StarDrifter would be…well -”

“Impossible,” Rivkah said. “Yes, Azhure, I understand that. Do you want to follow Axis?”

“That would be impossible, Rivkah. No, I thought I might follow you. I am heartily sick of this Prophecy, and I do not want to get in Axis’ way. It would be best if I left whatever we had last night here. As quickly as possible.”

Rivkah nodded. She understood that Azhure wanted to walk away from Axis before he had the chance to tear her soul apart as StarDrifter had torn Rivkah’s. Mortal women had no place beside Icarii Enchanters.

Axis stood conferring with several of the Crest-Leaders. Those of the Icarii who had not indulged too freely in the wine of Beltide were making preparations to return to Talon Spike. The groves about him were filled with the rush of feathers and shouted goodbyes.

“We have further reports of Sigholt, Strike-Leader,” FarSight said.

Axis glanced his way sharply. He had sent three different patrols on long-range missions over Ichtar and the Urqhart Hills – he desperately awaited news of both Belial and Borneheld. “Well?” he snapped.

FarSight raised a black eyebrow. For a man who had, according to common gossip, thoroughly enjoyed his first Beltide, Axis had a ferocious temper this morning.

“Belial is well and has settled comfortably into Sigholt, Axis. Sigholt is secure and Belial is establishing supply routes into northern Ichtar. They currently have enough supplies for several months. Before we join him, Belial still wants to secure the area surrounding Sigholt, as well as the WildDog Plains.”

“But Sigholt itself is secure?”

“Yes, Strike-Leader. The threat from the Skraelings is almost non-existent. None dare approach the waters —’

“The waters?” Axis broke in. “What waters?” To one side Ogden and Veremund, hovering about trying to look inconspicuous, gave up all pretence of indifference and stepped closer.

“Belial has somehow managed to reflood the lake and Sigholt not only has the waters of the lake to protect it, but is also surrounded by a deep and wide moat. Skraelings do not like water.”

“Especially magic water!” Ogden cried, his white hair standing even more on end than usual. “It is a sacred Lake, Axis. One of the four magic sacred Lakes. I wonder how Belial managed it?”

“Jack!” Veremund whispered, tugging on Ogden’s sleeve. “It must be Jack!”

“Well,” Axis said, “Sigholt seems to be a good site for a base in more ways than one. I must get word to Belial.”

“We can send more farflight scouts, Axis,” FarSight began, but Ogden and Veremund broke in, speaking as one.

“We’ll go, Axis!”

Axis laughed. “What? You expect me to entrust a message to two such rascals? Even if I did, would Belial believe a word that came out of your mouths?”

Ogden’s and Veremund’s faces fell and Axis relented. “I will entrust messages to both farflight scouts and to you two gentlemen,” he said, then turned back to FarSight. “And Borneheld? What news of Borneheld?”

“Not much, Axis. Borneheld has encamped at Jervois Landing, where you expected.”

Axis nodded.

FarSight continued. “Jervois Landing is too far for the farflight scouts to fly – and too dangerous. West of Sigholt Ichtar seethes with Skraelings, and Borneheld’s archers would as soon shoot at Icarii as they would at the Skraelings. Belial intends to send human scouts on foot, disguised as peasants, to scout Borneheld and his encampment and learn what they can. At the moment, however, Belial knows little and we know even less.”

“Then it would be best for the Strike Force to return to Talon Spike for the moment,” Axis said, thinking aloud. “Continue training there until Belial has established a supply route strong enough to feed both his men and the Strike Force. Once supplies are guaranteed, you can move the Strike Force south to Sigholt. Whatever happens, they must be there by early autumn to ensure enough time to prepare for the winter campaigns. Gorgrael will use the summer to regroup, and he will strike again with the first of the northerly winds of Bone-month, if not earlier. Ideally, I’d want you to start moving down to Sigholt in no less than twelve weeks’ time, by DeadLeaf-month. That would give you time not only to settle in before the winter campaigns, but also to train intensively with Belial’s forces. I want you welded into one force.”

“And who will command that one force?” FarSight asked.

“I will, FarSight,” Axis said, “when I arrive in Sigholt. You will command the Strike Force in Talon Spike until you arrive in Sigholt. Then Belial commands until I return. Perhaps,” he said carefully, “it is best that I send this message with two groups of messengers.”

“You have no need to fear, Strike-Leader,” said FarSight. “The Strike Force is yours to dispose of as you will. If you think Belial is best to command until you return then I will obey.” He paused. “Do you think you will be gone months?”

“I truly do not know, FarSight,” replied Axis. “Ogden and Veremund tell me that time passes in strange ways in the waterways. Perhaps I will be gone only days, perhaps months. Whatever the case, need to learn what secrets the Charonites can teach me…and I have a promise to fulfil while I drift the waterways.”

Ogden and Veremund wandered off, discussing the reflooding of the Lake of Life in excited whispers. Had Jack found Zeherah? They gripped hands, their eyes bright with barely suppressed excitement – oh, to see Zeherah again!

“Gentlemen?”

Startled, they whirled around at the sound of Rivkah’s voice. Both Rivkah and Azhure approached.

“My dear,” Ogden said, pleased to see Rivkah. The Sentinels treasured Rivkah for her role as Axis’ mother. Azhure…well, Azhure was a puzzle which both Ogden and Veremund were determined to solve, especially after StarDrifter and Axis had, according to gossip, vied over her last night.