Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 2 – Enchanter

“And I for you.” She blinked back her tears and noticed FarSight had just arrived on the roof. “I am glad this will be the last flight for a while,” Rivkah said brightly, “for I do not know where we would have put any more. As it is, we shall have to share apartments.”

FarSight’s perceptive black eyes picked up Rivkah’s discomposure, but assumed it was because StarDrifter was arriving. It must be hard for them, he surmised, to be constantly thrown together this way before they have learned to rebuild their lives apart.

As the approaching Icarii closed, the bridge threw out her challenge. All of the Acharites had been stunned to learn that the bridge not only challenged those on foot, but also those who approached Sigholt from the air. “What would she do if one of the approaching Icarii failed the test?” Belial had asked Veremund when he heard the bridge challenge the first Icarii flight. “Well, Belial,” Veremund had answered, “if any fail the test then I guess we will find out, won’t we?”

But none had ever failed the test, and none failed now. StarDrifter, his mother and the other Icarii with them landed on the roof of Sigholt, all obviously excited by the Lake and the change in the Keep.

“It’s wondrous!” MorningStar cried, as she kissed Rivkah in welcome. “It is so beautiful!” Indeed, in the months since the Lake had refilled, the greenery had spread over all the hills closest to Sigholt, and the Keep and its environs were like an oasis. Now tree ferns as tall as a man grew down most of the closest slopes, and flowers, creeping shrubs, wild roses and gorse bushes covered the hills further away. Sigholt was turning into a garden.

“One day all Tencendor will reawaken like this,” said StarDrifter, his eyes on Rivkah. As they kissed briefly, dispassionately, both could not help but remember those days when it seemed as if the world were theirs.

Magariz’s mouth twisted as he watched StarDrifter greet Rivkah, then he stepped forward to formally welcome the Icarii. So this was the Icarii Enchanter who had stolen Rivkah from Searlas, and now, so carelessly, had let go. Well, you ageing fool, he thought, you let her go thirty-two years ago. Do not think to criticise StarDrifter for failings you are guilty of yourself.

Magariz’s courtly greeting and gracious manners impressed the Icarii, and StarDrifter wondered – as so many others had – how this man had come to serve Borneheld for so long.

As Rivkah started to explain the increasingly crowded living arrangements in Sigholt, EvenSong burst through the staircase doorway, dragging Azhure with her.

“Father!” she cried, delighted, and StarDrifter stepped forward to hug her. EvenSong looked happier than he had seen her at any time since FreeFall’s death. “Greet your grandmother,” he said, his eyes hunting Azhure. He had not ceased thinking about her in the months they had been apart. The instant he saw her the world stilled about him.

“Welcome, StarDrifter,” Azhure said awkwardly, aware of StarDrifter’s face as he stared at her rounded stomach.

Rivkah stepped forward and took StarDrifter by the elbow. “Look, StarDrifter, isn’t it wonderful?” she exclaimed, a little too artificially. “Azhure and Axis are going to make us grandparents.”

MorningStar brushed past them. “Well,” she said, her voice studiously casual, “a Beltide baby, StarDrifter. What do you make of that?”

She reached out for Azhure s arm, but Azhure took several rapid steps backwards. She knew the ancient tradition of both Icarii and Avar peoples — a baby conceived of Wing and Horn at Beltide should never be carried to term. One year an Avar woman had ignored that ancient tradition, and the baby she had conceived with StarDrifter was Gorgrael.

“I am not Avar!” Azhure said, determined to fight for her baby’s life if she had to. “Do not try to take this baby from me!”

“Do not fear,” MorningStar said. “I merely wanted to …”

She got no further. At Azhure’s cry, a huge hound leapt from the shadows of the doorwell and seized MorningStar by the wrist, breaking her skin but not crushing the bone.

“The Stars save me!’: she cried, “it is an Alaunt!”

A savage growl rumbling deep in his throat, Sicarius twisted his head a little and MorningStar whimpered in pain and sank to her knees.

“Azhurer StarDrifter shouted. “Call the Alaunt offl”

Azhure hesitated, then motioned with her hand. Sicarius dropped MorningStar’s wrist and backed off to stand by Azhure’s side. He continued to snarl at both MorningStar and StarDrifter, his hackles stiff and aggressive.

“No-one harms my baby,” Azhure said into the shocked silence of the rooftop. “No-one.”

“I did not mean to harm your baby,” MorningStar grated, clutching her bloody wrist to her breast. “Not only is that your baby, but it is a SunSoar, possibly an Enchanter, and it is my great-grandchild\ I would not harm it!”

StarDrifter helped his mother to her feet, but his eyes were on Azhure. “Neither MorningStar nor myself wish the baby harm. On the contrary.”

Azhure nodded stiffly. “MorningStar, I apologise for Sicarius’ actions.” Both MorningStar and StarDrifter winced at the naming of the hound. “He only wanted to protect me.” She stepped forward and took MorningStar’s wrist. “Come below and I will wash and bind it for you. These marks will scab in a day and be gone in a week.”

As she led MorningStar and StarDrifter below, Magariz and the other Icarii on the rooftop let loose a collective sigh of relief. FarSight raised his eyebrows at Magariz. “A poor welcome for MorningStar.”

“If you knew how much Azhure wants that baby then you would only be surprised she did not set Sicarius to Morning-Star’s throat,” Magariz said quietly.

Azhure washed and bandaged MorningStar’s wrist as Star-Drifter sat on the side of the bed. His eyes lingered on Azhure’s belly. He had no doubts she carried an Enchanter. Who would sing to the unborn baby if Axis didn’t get here in time? His fingers twitched.

At their feet Sicarius stirred, and StarDrifter blinked.

“Where did the Alaunt come from, Azhure?” he asked.

Azhure paused in her bandaging. “The Alaunt? When Ogden, Veremund, Rivkah and I crossed the WildDog Plains they surrounded us one night. We thought they would attack, but instead they bound themselves to me. They have proved good companions.”

MorningStar and StarDrifter glanced at each other. WolfStar’s hounds? To the woman who carried his bow?

MorningStar also knew the attraction Azhure had for both StarDrifter and Axis, and wondered further.

The GateKeeper

f f -|^ -yo-one returns from the dead!” cried Orr. “WolfStar did!” Axis retorted. “Will you help me with this or not?”

“You could kill yourself if you attempt to do this,” Orr said, regaining composure. “You do not know the ways.”

” can read the ring,” Axis said quietly. “The ring will show me the way. I have a purpose. It will show me the Song.”

Orr shook his head. “There is not a Song for every purpose, I told you that. You said you promised FreeFall you would bring him back. When? Under what circumstances?”

Axis related how FreeFall had died on the rooftop of the Keep at Gorkenfort, killed by Borneheld’s traitorous sword. “As he collapsed in my arms, FreeFall told me to seek out StarDrifter. Then he said something strange. He said, ‘The Ferryman owes you, Axis. Learn the secrets and the mysteries of the waterways and bring me home! I will wait at the Gate. Bring me home to EvenSong! Promise!’ ”

“EvenSong?” Orr queried.

“FreeFall’s cousin and lover. And my sister. They were to have married.”

Orr repressed a smile. “Ah yes, I had forgotten the SunSoar attraction each to the other. And you promised to do this?”

Axis nodded. “He was dying, and he was dying on my account.”

“Did you know to what he referred?” “No. I had not met my father then, and I was only groping at the very edges of my powers. I had no idea what the Gate was, or the waterways.” He paused. “Even now I do not quite know what FreeFall meant by ‘the Gate’. Did he mean the Star Gate here?”

Axis and Orr stood close to one of the archways of the Chamber of the Star Gate, near where they had originally entered.

Orr folded his arms inside his cloak and stood deep in thought for long minutes. Just as Axis was about to speak again, Orr raised his head. His violet eyes were almost completely drained of colour and were now dead, soulless. “FreeFall should not have known of the Gate. No Icarii, Enchanter or not, knows of the Gate. No-one. Explain, Axis, how FreeFall could have known about it.” His voice was as cold and colourless as his eyes.

Axis was unsure what to say. Why was Orr so upset? “FreeFall spoke those words with his last breath, Orr.” Axis’ own voice slowed and he returned the Ferryman’s stare without blinking. “Perhaps his soul already stood before this ‘Gate’. If you want an explanation then that is the only one I can give you. FreeFall knew what the Gate was because he already stood before it.”