Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 3 – StarMan

She was cut off by a nervous bray.

“Mother!” Faraday exclaimed, “I’ve forgotten all about the donkeys!”

She turned away from Azhure and Shra and looked into the forest. Trotting towards her were the two donkeys, one burdened with its saddlebags, the other still pulling the blue cart behind it.

“Oh, you poor things,” Faraday murmured, stroking them and pulling their ears. “You have worked so well for me, carried me through so much, and I have forgotten you. Here …”

She pulled the halter off the first donkey, paused to catch her breath, then undid the girth about its belly,

“Gracious heavens,” Azhure grumbled, pushing her to one side as she quickly divested both donkeys of their tack. “You are in no condition to be playing stableboy, Faraday.”

Faraday grinned and continued to stroke one of the donkey’s noses. “And you’re not concerned about your bright red horse, Azhure, and your ghost-pale hounds?”

“Oh, Stars!” Azhure breathed, her face paling.

“Well, no matter,” Faraday laughed, “for here they come,

too.”

And indeed they did, horse and hounds looking slightly bemused by the events of the past hour, but unharmed. Azhure sighed in relief as she patted Venator’s nose, then bent down to murmur a greeting to Sicarius.

“At least you didn’t decide to hunt the Stag, dog. The Forest is out of bounds for you and your horde. You may only ever hunt on the plains. Remember that.”

The hound gave a brief grunt in reply, then nosed Faraday’s hand and wagged his tail at Shra.

Faraday smiled, then gave the donkey an abrupt shove. “Go!” she cried, upset to lose them but knowing she would not be able to take them with her. “Go! Run with your magical brethren through the forest! Go/”

The donkey tossed its head and tried to edge closer to Faraday. “Go!” she yelled, her voice breaking, and Azhure took a half-step towards her. “Go/”

The donkeys finally broke loose and cantered away, their heads high and to the side so that they could look at Faraday as long as possible.

“Go!” Faraday whispered as they disappeared into the gloom of the forest. “Go.”

Azhure felt like crying. She’d travelled with the donkeys and Ogden and Veremund, too, and she realised it was not just the donkeys that Faraday was farewelling and chasing out of her life.

“Go,” Faraday murmured one last time, then she gave a great cry and doubled over, slowly sinking to the ground.

“Faraday!” Azhure was by her side instantly. “Are you…?”

One look from Faraday’s great pain-filled green eyes was all the answer she needed.

Then angry hands were about Azhure’s shoulders and she felt herself shoved to one side.

“She is in our care now,” Barsarbe spat, her eyes furious. “We will take care of her!”

Faraday reached up with one hand and seized the front of Barsarbe’s robe. “No! I am in Azhure’s care, Bane! I told you that once I had planted the trees all that I did afterwards I would do for love of Axis and Azhure. Barsarbe, you are not welcome on this path!”

Barsarbe recoiled, stunned. “Faraday!”

“Go back to your people, Barsarbe. I will rejoin you for Fire-Night in the groves.”

“Faraday! I’m sorry. I… I didn’t mean …”

But Faraday had twisted her head away and was looking at the little girl. Shra? I will be back, I shall have to be. Will you wait for me?

Yes.

Shra, I worry about Barsarbe. I should not have been so short with her . . . but. . .

Yes, I know. I understand.

I fear that she will turn the Avar against Axis.

Faraday, concentrate only on your own struggle now. I will see you at Fire-Night . . . and the Avar will be ready to stand behind Axis. To help him.

Shra, I wish you and yours only the best.

And I you, Faraday. Go now, Azhure will look after you.

But Faraday was not quite finished. Shra? Shra? Thank you for liking Azhure. Thank you for accepting her.

It was my honour, Faraday. Go now.

Faraday grabbed Azhure’s hand, her face white.

“Believe me,” Azhure said, masking her worry. “I know.” Then, before Barsarbe’s horrified gaze and Shra’s understanding one, both vanished.

“We need peace and space,” Azhure said as the silver pelt stepped up to her.

“I know,” the ancient Horned One replied, “but Enchantress, there is something I must tell you.”

“Can’t it wait? Can’t you see that -”

“Yes, yes,” he snapped, and hearing his impatience, Azhure and Faraday paused and stared at him.

“Enchantress, the Destroyer has seized your son.”

“What!”

The Horned One grabbed her shoulders. “Gorgrael has Caelum!”

“No,” Azhure whispered. “No.” She suddenly recalled her vague feeling of horror as Faraday had planted out the last seedling, then the vivid premonition of disaster she’d experienced when the great forest had burst into Song. Had that been Caelum calling to her? Was he even now screaming for her, wondering why his Mama had not come? Oh Stars!

Faraday gave her a half-hearted shove. “Go.”

But Azhure was not as easy to get rid of as the donkeys. “And who will tend you, Faraday? The Horned Ones?”

“The Mother will —”

“No/” Azhure abruptly hissed. No . . . she owed Faraday too much to leave her now . . . but Caelum? What was Gorgrael doing to him? A low wail escaped her.

Now Faraday had her arms about Azhure, trying to give her comfort. “Azhure, go to him.”

“No.” Azhure had her expression under perfect control now. “Who knows, it may be a trick designed to trap me or Axis. Probably is, in fact. So, no more arguments, Faraday. I will stay.”

“Azhure.” Now it was the Horned One. “He -”

“I don’t want to know!” she hissed. “Can’t you see? Faraday needs me now. / can’t leave her!”

The Horned One took a deep breath and looked at Faraday as if for the first time, then he turned back to Azhure and bowed his head. “When it is finished, Enchantress, then fly. Fly home to Sigholt, and then rescue that boy!”

About the Camp Fire Axis wheeled Belaguez about and reined him in. Stretched out in a column almost half a league long behind him, the army glinted and sparkled in the late afternoon sun. Far above, two Crest of the Strike Force wheeled; apart from several farflight scouts to the north the remainder of the Strike Force waited a league to their west, at the site chosen to camp that night.

They had made good time in the ten days since leaving Sigholt – no snow and ice lay over the ground to slow their progress now. The soil was wet, even sodden in places, and the sky still cloudy this far north, but the Icarii scouted out the best route each morning. Men and horses had found the going easy, and the only complaint was that the northerly night-wind was still bitter enough to frost the blankets. Tonight they would camp at the extreme western edge of the Urqhart Hills; tomorrow they would swing for the north . . . and Gorkenfort.

Gorkenfort. Axis’ face tensed. This would have to be the final battle with these damned Skraelings because Axis did not think he could bear yet another indecisive outcome. Though he doubted that this outcome would be indecisive. Either one or the other would have their power broken. And the odds were in GorgraePs favour.

Before Axis waited a Skraeling host of some three hundred thousand; more, if they had bred in the months since the Azle. The snow and ice still clung to Gorkenfort and Gorken Pass;

that would aid the Skraelings and hinder Axis’ force. Gorgrael, and Timozel, would have the aid of the seven thousand Gryphon. Axis shivered.

And to meet them Axis had a force of some twenty-six thousand, including the Strike Force.

And Azhure. If she got here in time.

Damn you, Azhure, Axis cursed silently, why aren’t you here with me? Why does Faraday need you so badly? Could we not have let Artor run free with his damned Plough for a few more weeks yet?

His twenty-six thousand would die if Azhure did not join him in time. They were good men all, but they would be decimated in half an hour.

“Lady Moon,” he whispered, seeing the just-risen disc through a break in the clouds, “be there for me.”

But if Azhure hadn’t left Smyrton by now, would she be able to catch him in time? Even with her talents, could she move fast enough through either time or space to help him?

And the trees…without the trees, Axis knew the Skraeling force would overwhelm him whatever happened with the Gryphon. Azhure might be able to deal with those flying obscenities but she could do little against the Skraelings. For them Axis would need the trees.

Damn those two women! Where were they? What were they doing?