Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 2 – Enchanter

Ho’Demi’s horse floundered a little in the mud, and Ho’Demi leaned forward and gave him a reassuring pat on the neck. After a moment the horse found his footing again and staggered wearily on.

Ho’Demi could dimly hear the sound of battle going on some five hundred paces behind him, but he was now so tired he simply did not care. The battle to defend Jervois Landing – and thus Achar – from the forces of Gorgrael had now been going on continuously for some six weeks. The Skraeling wraiths, massing in southern Ichtar since autumn, had finally begun their push south during Snow-month, but their efforts and determination had increased dramatically in the past three weeks. Ho’Demi’s men spent their waking hours pushing swords, pikes, daggers and even sharpened cooking irons into the eyes of Skraelings that scuttled and whispered their way into the trenches.

The Skraelings had grown and changed since their attack on Gorkenfort a year ago. They were far more solid, their torsos showing hard flesh and muscles, their heads and limbs swathed in more bone-like armour. As their flesh grew more solid, so did their courage, their resolve and their cunning.

Ho’Demi hoped Inari would be able to keep his section of the defence lines clear of the IceWorms. A week ago the IceWorms, which the veterans of Gorkenfort regarded with horror, had writhed their cumbersome way out of the mists of southern Ichtar, the wraiths making way for their massive and obscenely bulging bodies. Having been the crucial factor in the collapse of Gorkentown, vomiting their loads of Skraeling wraiths over the fortified walls, the Ice Worms were again proving devastating here in Jervois Landing. The IceWorms floated, despite their loads, and they were not overly afraid of water. They writhed through the canals as efficiently as they writhed across land.

And the IceWorms were far, far harder to kill. They were huge, rearing fifty, sixty paces above a man, their twisted, horse-like, tooth-crowded heads too far above the defenders to attack with sword or pike. The defenders needed skilled archers to stop the IceWorms, for the only way to kill them was to shoot an arrow through one of their silvery eyes. But Borneheld’s archers died as easily as did his swordsmen or his pikemen, and there were not enough archers to spread along the lines to counter an IceWbrm attack on any one section.

Ho’Demi knew that the defences of Jervois Landing would eventually collapse. The defences rested on the system of canals siphoning the Skraelings into narrow areas where the wraiths could be more easily attacked and killed than if men had been forced to fight them in open spaces. But the IceWorms simply bore straight across the canals, often creeping silently behind Borneheld’s lines and vomiting forth their wraiths before the men knew they were there.

And every day more and more of the IceWorms lurched their way out of the northern mists.

Borneheld had his men so thinly spread along the system of canals that a break through anywhere could well prove fatal for the entire system. Ho’Demi knew that Borneheld fought as gallantly and as long as any of his soldiers. But Borneheld had given orders that men could only be relieved one day in five. What would happen when the men were so tired they simply slept where they stood, leaning on their staves and pikes?

At least most of the Ravensbund women and children had been sent to Sigholt. They had left secretly at night, when all attention was on the battles for the canals. If he and his men died, then at least the children had been saved. Ho’Demi had also sent small units of his fighters northwards to Sigholt. All he thought he could spare from the front lines – although that was precious little. Ho’Demi was desperate to join Axis, but knew that to pull his entire army out now would mean disaster, not only for Borneheld, but ultimately for Axis. So he sent small numbers east and north to Sigholt, and hoped for the day when he could strike camp completely and ride for the StarMan.

High above a snow eagle circled, almost invisible against the low clouds, watching the lone horseman approach the Ravensbund camp. As the rider’s shoulders slumped, the eagle folded its wings and hurtled towards the man.

Ho’Demi! Wake up! Your arm, extend your arm!

Ho’Demi sat up straight so fast he almost fell off his horse. Your arml the voice sounded again in his mind, and unthinkingly Ho’Demi extended his left arm. Almost instantly a large snow eagle dropped out of the sky and onto Ho’Demi’s arm, the sudden weight so upsetting the exhausted Ravens-bundman he had to fight to keep his balance.

“I could have been a Gryphon, Ho’Demi,” the eagle said with Axis’ voice. “You should not ride alone and so vulnerable.”

Ho’Demi shifted in the saddle, trying to adjust to the eagle’s not inconsiderable weight on his arm. “Had a Gryphon snatched me from my horse this past moment, my Lord Axis, then he would have had a tired and tough meal. Besides, Gorgrael does not like to risk them to the arrows of the daylight.”

After their initial, horrific attack when they had carried off Nevelon as well as some lower-ranked soldiers, every man along the Jervois Landing defence line had kept as wary an eye on the sky as on the trenches and canals before him. Especially at night. Especially then. Although the Gryphon did not attack often, they attacked well, reserving their cruelly taloned attentions for obvious commanders.

“The defences are holding?” Axis’ voice asked. The eagle flapped its wings a little as Ho’Demi’s horse stumbled slightly again, and Ho’Demi had to lean back to avoid being hit in the face.

“Only just,” Ho’Demi said. “The IceWorms now appear, and they threaten to break through in a dozen places. They float, my Lord, and they vomit.”

“You need not tell me of their abilities, Ho’Demi.” Axis’ voice was harsh. “I know them well.”

“Does Gorgrael attack Sigholt as well?” asked Ho’Demi. “No. Gorgrael sent a Skraeling force through the Wild-Dog Plains, but we managed to beat it back and destroy its SkraeBold. Sigholt is well, and most of the Urqhart Hills peaceful, although the Gryphon decimated an Icarii Wing.”

“They took Nevelon,” Ho’Demi said, pulling his horse back to a slow walk as they approached the camp.

“Ah.” Axis’ voice was sad. “I liked Nevelon. We spent many fine hours together before these current troubles began.” The eagle closed its beak, and tilted its head to one side, eyeing Ho’Demi. “Ho’Demi, how many Coroleans does Borneheld have fighting for him now?”

“Some six thousand, my Lord. More wait in Nordmuth for river transports north.”

“Mercenaries? Or does the Corolean Emperor now officially extend military aid to Borneheld?”

“Mercenaries still. Borneheld pushes for a military alliance – his ambassadors wait upon the Corolean Emperor at this moment, but the Emperor still hesitates.”

“Yet even with these six thousand the defences of Jervois Landing falter? Borneheld must have a force nearing thirty thousand now.”

“The defences are long, Lord Axis, and the Skraelings seemingly unending. However many we kill, they simply keep on massing and pushing south.”

The eagle was silent as Ho’Demi rode through the outskirts of the camp. The soft chimes of bells hung from poles and cooking tripods drifted from most tents, but few people were about.

“I speak with you for a reason,” the eagle finally resumed. “I will send aid, aid for Achar rather than for Borneheld.”

Ho’Demi smiled cynically. Axis was splitting hairs here, but at least he was not going to let his hatred of, and rivalry with, Borneheld prevent him from aiding Jervois Landing.

“I will not send mounted men. I do not trust Borneheld enough to send units that would be many days from the protection of Sigholt. Besides, whatever I could send in terms of mounted men or foot soldiers would not make an appreciable difference to the saving of Jervois Landing.”

“You will send the Icarii,” Ho’Demi said. It was the only thing Axis could do.

“Yes. I will send the Strike Force. But I will concentrate their attacks well behind the Skraeling lines in southern Ichtar – for two reasons.”

Ho’Demi reined his horse in at his tent and dismounted -carefully, lest he dislodge the eagle. “I can guess at least one, my Lord. You do not trust Borneheld to stay the order to shoot them if they fly over the defences of Jervois Landing.” “Do misjudge my brother?”

“No.” Ho’Demi stood sheltered from wind and prying eyes between his tent and the protecting body of his horse. “No, you do not misjudge him. Borneheld somehow thinks that all flying creatures fly in league. He is incapable of telling the difference between Gorgrael’s Gryphon and SkraeBolds and the Icarii. They are all targets. All evil.”

“There is an added reason I will direct them behind Skraeling lines, Ho’Demi. I can do more for you if I can stem the tide of Skraelings and IceWorms before they actually reach Jervois Landing’s defences. The Strike Force is good. They were winning the battle in the WildDog Plains for me and I hope that they can turn the tide of wraiths at Jervois Landing.” The voice paused. “The Icarii will arrive soon. Persevere. Tell all who will listen that the Icarii Strike Force will arrive to fight for Achar, as it once did thousands of years ago. Let people know that only a united effort will save Achar from Gorgrael. Spread word of the Prophecy. Serve the Prophecy, Ho’Demi, as you tell me you are bound to do.”