Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 3 – StarMan

When they emerged from the Lake, their eyes shining feverishly, their lips trembling, Yr stepped forward and hugged them. “Welcome,” she said. “Welcome to the final journey.”

The Temple of the Stars « A Si XJLCome zhure?”

Azhure opened her eyes. “I’m awake, StarDrifter. in.”

StarDrifter stepped quietly into Azhure’s chamber. She was struggling to get out of bed and the Enchanter hurried to lend her his support. His eyes were shadowed with concern, but he said nothing. Azhure did not like any fuss made over her.

She had grown weaker by the day in the month since they had arrived on Temple Mount, as the babies within her sapped her strength and vitality. StarDrifter wondered why, when Azhure had carried Caelum with so little fuss and so much energy, these two should drain her so. Perhaps it was just that there were two, he thought. And perhaps not.

She caught his worried look and smiled reassuringly. “I have rested well, StarDrifter. Truly. Is everything ready?”

“Yes. I have wakened you in plenty of time. Come, you’ll need something to eat beforehand. It will be a long night.”

She let him lead her to a small table. Once she had sat down StarDrifter peeled some fruits for her, placing them before her in small portions, one by one.

“Eat,” he said. “Eat.”

Azhure placed a piece of fruit in her mouth to please him and chewed it unenthusiastically. She did not want to disappoint StarDrifter, or concern him any more than she had to, for tonight would be as hard on him – perhaps harder – than it

would be on her. If nothing else, the trip to the Island of Mist and Memory would be worth it for the friendship which had finally deepened and matured between her and StarDrifter. Before his desire for her had always come between them, making her uncomfortable, although, she smiled to herself, doubtless even StarDrifter’s persistent desire had faded before her present bulk.

But it was more than that. Since the night when Azhure, distraught over her mother’s letter, had come to StarDrifter for comfort, the Enchanter had been almost continually by her side, offering unconditional love and support. The relighting of the Temple of the Stars had been delayed for over ten days because StarDrifter spent so much time with her.

She swallowed and took another piece of fruit. StarDrifter had done nothing but what she asked that night, just holding her and telling her how much he loved her. She had gone to sleep eventually, wrapped in his arms and wings, still weeping slightly, and when she had woken in the morning he had gently kissed her brow and her cheek and let her go.

StarDrifter had comforted her, but he had also done something far more important – he had gained her utter trust, and with it, her friendship.

“Have you thought about what I asked earlier?” StarDrifter said, breaking into her thoughts.

She nodded slightly, and put down a third piece of fruit untasted. “I have thought about it, StarDrifter, but…oh, I don’t know. It would be different if Axis were here …”

Tears threatened and Azhure took a deep breath before she continued. “I…we …” She shrugged and pushed the fruit about her plate. “We are not so close to these children as we were to Caelum,” she finished on a whisper, her eyes downcast, her cheeks staining red. It was a shameful thing to admit that you did not love your children.

Despite her fears, StarDrifter could understand how she felt. Every day he spent time teaching the unborn twins some of their Enchanter skills, and though they responded well to him, he knew they spared their mother nothing but indifference and hostility.

If he had to carry such antagonism about day and night, StarDrifter knew he would find it hard to love the babies as well. He did not know why the boy and the girl regarded their parents with such coldness and yet liked him, especially when he had been as guilty as Axis in treating Azhure so badly. And why hate their mother only for loving and forgiving their father?

“Azhure, the babies need names. It is hard for me to teach them at this late stage and yet not address them by name.”

Azhure finally looked up. “Then you name them.”

“Me? Azhure, it is the parents’ privilege to -”

“You name them,” Azhure insisted. “They would accept no name from me.”

“And you will accept what I name them?”

She nodded.

“Well, then …” StarDrifter knew the babies well, and he knew what would suit them. “Azhure, both will be powerful Enchanters and their names should reflect such power, but their names must also reflect their personalities.” He took a deep breath, and told Azhure his choice.

Azhure sat back, shocked by the name he’d picked for the boy. “But that is such a powerful name,” she whispered, her hand involuntarily on her belly, “even for a male Enchanter. Are you sure?”

He nodded and, after a moment, Azhure bowed her head in acceptance. No wonder she felt uncomfortable with these babies.

There was no formality in the procession to the Temple, everyone just walked quietly along the Avenue until a crowd of some eight or nine thousand stood on the grassy slopes surrounding the dull marble circle. Many from Pirates’ Town

had come, as had five boatloads of people, both nobles and commoners, from Nor and several hundred Icarii who had flown down over the past weeks.

Azhure stood with Caelum in her arms in the centre of the circle of the Temple. She was dressed only in a light lavender gown, for the air was balmy even this high up and this late in the year.

She had no idea what was going to happen. She and Caelum were alone; StarDrifter was conversing with another Enchanter in low tones to one side of the circle, and FreeFall and EvenSong waited in the front ranks of those who watched from outside the circle. As non-Enchanters they would play no role in the re-lighting.

And so why am I here? Azhure thought. I am hardly an Enchanter, for I can use none of my powers voluntarily. She had used her power the night she talked to the First, but Azhure had no idea how she had done it beyond the fact that her anger and distress had somehow called it forth.

Azhure tilted her head and looked at the firmament above, her arms tightening about Caelum. She would have to wait for the birth of the twins before she would learn more. She knew that. WolfStar had said so but, more importantly, Azhure could feel the block they somehow created by their very presence. She needed to be alone. Totally alone. “Mama?”

She dropped her gaze and smiled. Caelum was wide-eyed with curiosity and twisted his head from side to side as he watched the crowd grow. “What will happen tonight?’

“I do not know, Caelum. StarDrifter would tell me nothing. But,” she kissed the crown of his head, “I am sure that it will be something wondrous.”

“I wish Papa were here.” “So do I, Caelum,” she said. “So do I.” At some deep, emotional level Azhure could feel Axis, feel his life-force, feel the faint tug of his breathing, but she could do

nothing more than that. Reports from the north remained maddeningly vague, and five days ago a scout had brought her a month-old letter from her husband, but it had said little apart from the fact that he loved her and missed her and thought of her every day. It told her little of where he was, nothing about where the Skraeling army was, and nothing about whether he had found the power within himself to repel them.

“Live,” Azhure whispered as she did every time she thought of Axis. “Live.”

StarDrifter, Caelum said in her mind, and Azhure turned her head.

StarDrifter strode across the circle towards them, enthusiasm springing his steps and his eyes shining with excitement. He was dressed only in golden breeches; like Azhure, his feet were bare. Behind him his wings were extended, catching the soft light of the stars.

“StarDrifter,” Azhure said as he reached them, “I am not sure what Caelum and I do here. What can we do?”

What can I do?

StarDrifter seized her shoulders and kissed her quickly, bending his head to kiss Caelum as well. “You can experience, Azhure. And that ring gives you the right to stand in the centre of the circle. Caelum has every right to share with you as his parents’ heir. Now,” his tone turned business-like, although his excitement was still patent, “is everyone in place?”

He slowly scanned the extremities of the circle. Among the arriving Icarii had been several dozen Enchanters, and now they stood at the very edge of the circle, spaced evenly, facing inwards.

“The Nine?” Azhure asked, looking about for the Priestesses of the Order of the Stars.