“Yes. What sites can pull me to them?”
“Sites with enough inherent magic to act as beacons, as it were, for the Song of Movement. The magical Keeps -Sigholt, the Silent Woman Keep, Spiredore -”
“Spiredore?”
“What you know as the Tower of the Seneschal. Yes,” Orr said wryly, noting the stunned look on Axis’ face, “the Seneschal has taken up residence in one of the ancient and certainly the most magical of the Keeps of Tencendor. But be wary of trying to use that as a base for travel, Axis, because Spiredore’s magic currently lies slumbering under the weight of the Seneschal’s lies. Until it is awakened, like Sigholt has recently been, then you cannot use it.”
“I understand. Are there any other sites?”
“Yes. The Earth Tree now that she sings. The Star Gate -”
“I have heard of the Star Gate,” Axis broke in, “but I have not seen it.”
“Be patient,” Orr snapped. “I will take you there eventually. The Island of Mist and Memory is another, but, like Spiredore, its Temple needs to be relit before you can use it.”
“So, when you have finished teaching me, all I have to do to travel to Sigholt is to think of the Keep, note the pattern of stars on my ring, and sing the melody it depicts?”
Orr nodded. “Yes. That is all. But remember, Axis, only those sites that I have mentioned – and only those among them that are currently awake – are strong enough to pull you towards them. Try the Song of Movement with any other site and you will die.”
Sobered, Axis studied his ring. In only a few minutes he had learned more from the Ferryman than he had learned in months from StarDrifter.
Orr stared at the water, a strange urge building in him. He had been waiting a very long time for this. So this was the man? He trailed his fingers in the violet water, then abruptly snatched something from beneath the water’s surface.
Axis jumped. “What?” he began, then the Ferryman held his dripping hand palm up for Axis’ inspection.
Lying in the very centre of Orr’s palm was the most exquisite ring Axis had ever seen. It was an Enchanter’s ring, he could see that at once, but unlike his or any other. The entire ring appeared to be crafted from sapphire, although the deep blue was far more translucent than any sapphire Axis had ever seen. On Axis’ ring, as on the others he had seen, the stars were represented by tiny diamond chips embedded into the ring’s surface. But, as he picked this ring up, Axis saw that golden stars actually danced and weaved from within this ring. It was a tiny ring, obviously crafted for a woman’s finger.
“It is very beautiful,” he whispered.
“Yes,” Orr replied. “It is. Axis, this is the original ring from which all other Enchanter rings were, copied. It first appeared in the custody of the original Enchantress, the common ancestor and mother of both the Icarii and Charonite races who first discovered how to use the power of the Stars. She lived some fifteen thousand years ago. A very long time.” He paused. “I do not know how she came by it.”
“She did not make it herself?” Axis asked, unable to tear his eyes away from the beauty of the ring.
“No. She was merely its custodian. The ring seeks its true owner. It will come home, but only when the Circle is complete.”
Axis glanced up. “The Circle?”
The Ferryman’s face closed over, and Axis understood that this was one mystery he was not yet prepared to divulge.
“And you have kept it since she died?” tried Axis.
“No. When the Enchantress died, she passed custody of the ring to the Icarii. They kept it and revered it for many thousands of years. It was their most precious relic.”
“Then how did you come to get it?”
“It was brought to us by one of the Enchanter-Talons, some four thousand years ago, just before he died. His name was WolfStar SunSoar.”
WolfStar’s name again. “Why did he give it to you?”
“He said that patterns were altering. WolfStar was powerful, and promised far more great power. He died an untimely death — which in itself was not too unfortunate. I believe that he would have led the Icarii to disaster with his strange ideas and experiments. But that is neither here nor there. WolfStar handed it to me for safe-keeping. He told me that I would know to whom to pass it. I feel that person is you.”
“What am I supposed to do with it? Can I use it?”
“No. You cannot. The Enchantress’ ring does not work in the same manner as the ring you now wear — not even the Enchantress understood its full mysteries. All WolfStar told me was that I would know who to give it to, and that when I handed it over, I was to tell that person the same thing.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“That you, in time, will also know who to hand the ring to. Believe me in this, Axis. The feeling will be overwhelming. You will know when and to whom the Enchantress’ ring must be handed. Until then you must keep the ring safe. Do not show it to anyone. Understand?”
“Yes. I understand. I will keep it safe,” Axis reluctantly slid the ring into a small pocket, “and I will show it to no-one.”
Who would the Enchantress” Ring pick? Who would complete this mysterious circle?
The PatrolYif f “^ -w”o\a squads do well, Azhure,” Belial remarked, standing at the window of the map-room and watching the bands of mounted archers at practice. “You have done remarkable work with them.”
Azhure accepted the compliment. Belial had given her a farther two squads to train four weeks previously and Azhure had turned her three squads of mounted archers into a mobile and deadly force that would complement any army. Although none of the archers came close to demonstrating Azhure’s level of ability, they had all increased their skill twofold. There was not an archer in Achar who could better them now, Belial mused, as he watched them practise hitting moving targets while at the gallop.
His eyes met Azhure’s and they moved back to where Magariz and Arne sat at the table in the centre of the room. In the five, weeks since Azhure had told Belial of her pregnancy they had overcome their initial awkwardness and established an easy, friendly relationship of mutual respect. Belial buried his feelings for Azhure as deep as he could.
All four in the room were garbed similarly in simple grey tunics over white breeches, each with the blazing blood-red sun on their left breasts. Azhure had argued persistently that the force in Sigholt would have to wear a common uniform, emblemised so that all would know for whom they fought.
“We are ready to fight, Belial,” Azhure said as they sat down. “/ am ready to fight. Do not think that I’m going to stay at home and knit. Use me, use my command.”
Belial caught Magariz’s eye. Azhure had a familiar determined tone in her voice, but neither man felt comfortable using a woman in battle. Arne studied the flecks on the ceiling of the chamber. If the woman could fight, then he saw no reason why she shouldn’t be allowed to do so.
“When the Icarii Strike Force arrives,” Azhure pointed out, “you will see that they allow their women to fight. Axis has no qualms about using me.”
“That was before you, ah, um …” Belial’s voice drifted into an awkward silence.
Azhure laughed. All in the room knew she was pregnant and that Axis was the father. “Before I fell pregnant? Well, maybe so. But my pregnancy has not stopped me thus far, has it? My sickness has gone now and I feel fitter, stronger than I ever have before. And see,” she pressed her hands against her belly. “Still flat. Rivkah says that Icarii babes are small, that I won’t grow too large. So, the fact is, I refuse to stay home. Until I grow too cumbersome to ride, I will be there, leading my command. Why give me three squads of archers? Do you want me to command them from my couch?”
Belial laughed and raised his hands in surrender, “All right, Azhure, if there is action and I think your command would be useful then it — and you — will be used. But,” his tone and eyes became serious, “I will not allow you to ride if I think you will prove a risk to yourself, to your baby, or to your command. Do I make myself clear?”
Azhure wiped the smile from her face. “Perfectly, Commander.”
“Well then,” Belial said briskly. “Shall we get down to business? Magariz. What news of the Skraelings?”
“Not enough to ease my mind, Belial.” Magariz looked tired and drawn, and the scar on his cheek was even moreprominent than usual. “We know the Skraelings run through most of Ichtar and that they are slowly moving south — our patrols are now encountering small numbers of them in the hills below Sigholt. But how many all told? And where do they gather? I don’t know. All I do know is that we’re only weeks away from autumn and Gorgrael has had months in which to build his forces. He must surely be massing for an attack…somewhere.”