Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 3 – StarMan

He glanced at Rivkah, and Azhure realised he was reluctant to speak in front of her.

“It is all right, BlueWing,” she said. “We must all know eventually . . . and I have some idea of what you are about to relate.”

BlueWing nodded. He told of the destruction of Aldeni and, in particular, of Jervois Landing; and Rivkah and Cazna paled when he described Jorge’s death. He related the course of the battle at the Azle River, and then even Azhure lost her colour, for WolfStar had not told her of the full extent and viciousness of the encounter. BlueWing described how Axis had caused the frozen Azle to splinter asunder, drowning many of the Skraelings and trapping the main part of the force on the northern bank of the Azle.

“We now know who leads the force,” he said. “Timozel, once Axe-Wielder and Champion to the Lady Faraday.”

Timozel? Azhure frowned, trying to place the name. Ah. Embeth’s son. She nodded. “Timozel. Well, at least now we know who it is. Go on.”

“We rejoiced,” BlueWing continued, “as the Azle broke asunder, because we thought we had survived the day. But then the Gryphon attacked from nowhere, and all seemed lost.”

As he described the horror of the Gryphon attack, leaving nothing out, Cazna cried out softly but then composed herself with noticeable effort; Rivkah put one arm about her, her eyes steady on BlueWing, already knowing there was worse to come.

In a much softer voice now, BlueWing described Axis’ use of so much of the Star Dance. “The results for him personally were devastating,” he whispered.

“Go on,” Azhure said, her own voice tight, as BlueWing paused. “Tell us.”

BlueWing took a deep breath and looked at a distant point over their heads as he continued. “He should have died. Even now no-one knows why he yet lives.”

Rivkah’s free hand flew to her mouth, her eyes enormous.

“Enchantress.” BlueWing looked directly at Azhure, his eyes wide and compassionate. “Axis yet breathes, but his soul lives in what can only be described as a corpse. It is as tattered and burned as a rag doll that has been thrown into a fire by a careless child. When it falls apart, I do not know what will happen.”

Azhure had expected something of this, but she was not prepared for the horror of hearing it put into such frank words. For an instant she remembered Niah’s blackened corpse twisting and crackling on the hearth, and she shuddered. When she spoke she was relieved, yet astounded, to hear how steady her voice was. “And Belial? Magariz?”

BlueWing spoke quickly, grateful for the change in topic. He bowed slightly to Rivkah and Cazna. “They live, and are well, my Ladies. Enchantress,” his eyes slipped back to Azhure, “Belial sends you this message. ‘Axis needs you. I need you.

When you are well, join us. Bring your bow and your hounds and your horse and come.’ That’s it.”

For some time there was silence. Azhure sat, close to tears, thinking of Axis’ agony, and of Belial’s agony watching him suffer.

“And that is what I fully intend to do,” she whispered eventually. “Join them as soon as I can.”

Cazna raised her pale face. “And did Belial send me word?” she asked, her mouth trembling.

BlueWing shook his head regretfully. “Princess, there was time only for the shortest words. All were desperate. But I’m sure he thinks of you daily.”

“And Magariz is well?” Rivkah asked. She was not surprised that BlueWing carried no personal messages for them, but she ached for Cazna. The deaths on the battlefield were sometimes not the cruellest wounds of war.

BlueWing smiled briefly. “Yes, Princess Rivkah. He has the devil’s own luck on the battlefield.”

Rivkah relaxed, grateful for BlueWing’s smile; it told her more than words could have.

“And casualties?” Ysgryff asked. All this talk of husbands was trying when there were more desperate things to be discussed.

“Dreadful,” BlueWing replied, and told them just how dreadful. Then he explained Timozel’s puzzling withdrawal to the north, and the equally inexplicable cessation of the storm after three days.

“Gorgrael constantly surprises us with his inconsistency,” Azhure said. “Perhaps it is the advice he receives. Thank you, BlueWing. Have something to eat, and I shall talk further with you once you have rested. Hesketh?”

Hesketh stepped forward from his position by the door as BlueWing left the chamber.

“Hesketh. I sent a farflight scout northwards to Axis…or Belial. Do you know if he passed through here?”

“Several days ago, Enchantress, but I do not know how fa! he has got. If there was a storm above the Western Ranges thei he may have been delayed.”

Azhure bit her lip, wondering about her messengers to Taloi Spike. But it was too early for them to have reached the mountaii home of the Icarii, and far too early for confirmation of thei success. “Thank you, Hesketh. Will you ask the kitchen servant to prepare us a meal? To serve it, perhaps, in an hour or two.”

He bowed and turned away but, just as he reached th door, Azhure stopped him with a soft question. “Have yoi heard from Yr, Hesketh?”

He stiffened, and Azhure had her answer. She nodded, ani he left the chamber.

“I am going north,” Azhure said after they had sat in silence fo some time. “North to Axis.”

“I’m coming too,” Rivkah said calmly.

“And me!” Cazna cried.

“Oh, by the Stars!” Azhure said, “I cannot be burdene with the two of you. You will stay here.”

“Azhure -” Rivkah began, her eyes steely, when she wa interrupted by a slight knock at the door. It was Imibe, and sh carried Caelum.

“Excuse me, Enchantress,” she said, “but Caelum ws fretting and wanted to join you. Would you prefer that I ke| him away for the time being?”

“No,” Azhure said, holding out her arms for her son. “N< he may stay with us. Thank you, Imibe.”

She cuddled Caelum close, waiting until Imibe had left tl chamber, then stared at Rivkah, her eyes as hard and ; determined as Rivkah’s own. “Rivkah, I will not take you. Ye are needed here.”

“Nonsense,” Rivkah said, shushing Cazna as the girl tri< to speak. “Ysgryff is here,” she inclined her head to the Prim of Nor, who, amused, inclined his equally as gracefully in h direction, “and can look after the interests of Carlon and whatever of Tencendor remains free of Gorgrael. I am coming with you.”

“Mama? Where are you going?”

Azhure almost bit her tongue in annoyance. “To Papa, dear. But I must go alone.”

“Azhure!” Cazna leaned forward, her eyes bright, ignoring Rivkah’s continued attempts to shush her. “We have waited here for months, waited for word . . . and none of us are court-sheltered butterflies who wilt at the first touch of a snow-flake. Do you yearn to join your husband? Well, so do we!”

“We were within a day of riding for the north anyway, Azhure,” Rivkah said. “Now that you are here, and intend joining Axis, why, you may ride with us,” she finished graciously, lowering her eyes to hood their amused gleam.

“Mama, I want to come too. I want Papa.”

Azhure fought to keep her temper under control. “The ride is hard, dangerous. It is too much to risk all of us.”

“Damn you, Azhure!” Rivkah suddenly seethed. “I am not going to be left behind any longer! My son and my husband are in the north and I damn well will be too! If you refuse to let me ride with you then I will follow an hour behind. I rode with Axis’ army through eastern Tencendor for months, and there’s no reason why I can’t ride with it again!”

Now Cazna stared defiantly at her as well and Azhure suppressed a curse. She would have to lock these two up if she wanted to leave them behind. “Ysgryff?” she said. “Ysgryff, I will leave you in charge of Carlon.”

He inclined his head. “As you wish.”

Rivkah looked triumphantly at Cazna, but Azhure was not yet finished. “You will go north, but not directly to Axis and the army. And in this you will obey me!”

Both women blinked at the command and power in her voice. Rivkah had noticed Azhure’s added assurance as she stepped ashore, but had thought it only a result of regaining her

health after’birthing the babies. But this was different. “Where then?” she asked.

“Sigholt. If this Timozel is leading his army north, then Axis will have to follow him eventually. And if so many of the army are hurt then they will need the Lake of Life and the comfort of Sigholt. You will see your husbands soon enough.”

“But Azhure,” Cazna said, “if we are going to ride north to Sigholt then we will undoubtedly meet with the army in Aldeni anyway.”

Azhure smiled and stroked Caelum’s curls. “But we are not going to ride, Cazna. And,” she bent and kissed the crown of Caelum’s head, her ill temper now completely gone, “if we go to Sigholt then I may as well take you and the twins, sweetheart.” She sighed. “And I suppose Imibe and the nurses shall also have to come along. We shall be quite a party.”