Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 3 – StarMan

“Magic,” she whispered, pirouetting before her reflection. “I am magic.”

And then the tug of the waves caught at her, and her eyes, sliding to the window, darkened.

In the heart of the Temple, StarDrifter opened his eyes to find himself face-to-face with Narcis, the God of the Sun. He floated only a pace away from StarDrifter, and when the god extended his hand, so too did StarDrifter, and their fingers touched in the very centre of the beacon.

You have done well, StarDrifter, and I thank you.

“Narcis?” StarDrifter whispered.

The circles burn in an arc around Tencendor, StarDrifter, and the Destroyer’s grip loosens.

StarDrifter’s fingertips burned where they touched the god’s, but the sensation was not unpleasant.

/ have been resurrected and I will float over the world tomorrow, StarDrifter.

“I have done my best.” And my best has oftentimes been inadequate, the Enchanter thought, but it has been all I have had to offer.

Your best has been more than we could have asked. For the circles of fire, for the Temple, for your fatherhood of Axis and

for your care of and love for Azhure, I…we…thank you, StarDrifter.

For some time they hovered, arms extended, fingertips touching, eyes locked, bodies floating gently among the stars.

Your life will be blessed, StarDrifter.

And with that he was gone, and StarDrifter was left alone among the stars.

The rites were complete and the Avar and those Icarii massed in the Earth Tree Grove relaxed. All the Enchanters present, and some of the Banes, could feel the success of the rites at the Temple of the Stars, and now most drifted away into the tree line.

RavenCrest SunSoar, Talon of the Icarii, bowed reverentially towards the Earth Tree, then stepped away from the circle of stone, its flames now flickering and dying.

A scout stepped out of the tree line and RavenCrest stopped in his tracks. The birdman’s face was lined and exhausted, his wings drooping, his eyes strained yet brilliant with purpos’e.

“Talon!” The scout saluted smartly, although RavenCrest could see he was ready to drop.

“Yes? What is it?” RavenCrest had learned to dread the arrival of exhausted farflight scouts.

“Talon, I bring a message from the Enchantress.”

“Yes?”

“Talon, the Enchantress sends urgent word from Temple Mount. She says it is imperative that you evacuate Talon Spike. Those who can’t fly south must not go via the icy paths by the Nordra. She says, They will have to go down to the waterways and beg, bribe or coerce the Ferryman to take them south.’ ”

“What? Has she gone mad? Evacuate Talon Spike? Who is she to give me these orders?”

“Talon, the Enchantress was desperate that this message reach you. She fears a strike by Gorgrael.”

“Bah! Gorgrael has his Skraeling host many leagues to the west. He would not -”

“Talon!” The farflight scout’s tone was now urgent. “She fears Gryphon. Thousands upon thousands of them. I hear tell they have devastated the StarMan’s force to the west. The Strike Force most of all,” he finished quietly. “Listen.”

RavenCrest paled as he listened.

Boots and gloves of matching material waited on the bed and Azhure slipped them on. She could feel the wind calling her name as it whispered beyond the mist, and she could feel the tug of the tides as they lapped the continent of Tencendor, but she swallowed her impatience to be gone . . .

Axis’.

… for goodbyes needed to be said. She strode towards the door to the central chamber, seizing the Wolven and swinging the quiver of blue-fletched arrows over her shoulder as she went.

She took no cloak, for she would not need it.

And she left her hair free, for she would not need to bind it again.

As she strode, silent shapes rose from behind chairs and by walls and before the fireplace and clung to her heels.

It was time to run. To hunt.

She passed through the central chamber and entered the room where the children slept. Imibe lay asleep, the twins in cribs beside her bed. Azhure ignored them, walking directly to Caelum’s cot. He was awake, as she felt sure he would be.

Caelum. Do you know what night this is?

It is Yuletide. The night I was born.

Azhure smiled and gently stroked his face, wishing she could take him with her. Do you remember that night, Caelum?

He hesitated. Yes…yes, I do. I caused you great pain.

No. You caused and cause me great joy, my son. She paused. I must go, Caelum.

/ know it. Will you bring Papa home? If I can.

Caelum noticed her hesitancy. Come home, Mama. Azhure’s eyes filled with tears. As soon as I can, Caelum. As soon as I can.

Then she bent and kissed him and was gone.

Rivkah awoke suddenly, knowing someone was in the room. She stiffened, expecting assassins.

“You remember your early years at Carlon’s court too well, Rivkah.”

Rivkah relaxed in relief. “Azhure?” She strained her eyes in the dark. “What are you doing here?”

Azhure stepped forward into the dim glow of the fireplace embers and Rivkah gasped and jerked into a half-sitting position. “Azhure! What… what is that you wear?”

Azhure was clad in a suit so well-fitting it scarcely crinkled as she moved; indeed, Rivkah could not see a seam or a join anywhere. At first she thought it was of solid deep-blue colouring, but as Azhure walked forward another step Rivkah saw the dark shadows of moons, some quarter, some half, some full, chase each other across her body. “It’s beautiful!” she whispered.

“Xanon gave it to me,” Azhure said matter-of-factly, and Rivkah’s eyes flew to her face. There was a wildness there she’d never seen before.

Azhure sat on the edge of the bed, taking Rivkah’s hand. “Do not worry, Rivkah. I am still Azhure. Still the girl you befriended so long ago outside Smyrton.”

Rivkah nodded. “I have never regretted your friendship, Azhure. I sometimes think that you have been more my daughter than EvenSong.”

Azhure squeezed Rivkah’s hand. “I am starting my journey to Axis tonight. And towards …” Her voice trailed off.

“Azhure? What’s wrong?”

Azhure shook herself. “Nothing. Will you watch over Caelum for me? He will fret while I am away, and worry about his father.”

“We will all fret and worry over both you and Axis,” Rivkah said. “Be careful, whatever you do…wherever you go.”

Azhure nodded, then leaned forward and kissed Rivkah on the mouth.

Outside the mist the wind howled, and at the edges of the continent the tides tangled with the drifting seaweed.

Azhure! Azhure! Azhure!

The circle of bracken had burned now, and clouds had moved in to obscure the stars, but Faraday could feel that the night had been a success.

“This is the year we will break Gorgrael’s ice,” she said. “It will be the final year of subjection and invasion.”

“Faraday.” Barsarbe moved to Tree Friend’s side. “I am sorry that I spoke so harshly about your friend Azhure.”

You are sorry only that she is my friend, not that you spoke of her harshly, she thought, but nodded anyway. By her side the Goodwife watched Barsarbe carefully; again the Goodwife had Shra’s hand bonded tight in hers.

“Barsarbe.” Faraday caught the Bane’s eyes and held them. “You are the senior Bane among your people, and thus you have a fearsome duty. Do not let your personal feelings interfere in your responsibility to your people. Do not let your personal hatreds colour any advice you may give them.” And by the Mother, she thought, I wish Raum were in your place.

Barsarbe opened her mouth to speak, but Faraday continued, her voice harder. “I have responsibilities, Barsarbe, and they are not only to your people. I do not belong to you. Bane Barsarbe, listen well. I will plant the trees to the Avarinheim, and do it with gladness. But all that I do after I will do for love of Axis and for love of Azhure, and not through any obligation to your people.”

Barsarbe stared at Faraday, unsure what to say or how to say it; how could she have mishandled her first meeting with Tree Friend so badly? But then, who would have thought that Azhure could have worried her way so deep into Tree Friend’s heart? “You will not lead us into our new home?”

“Let us wait for the outcome of the Prophecy, Barsarbe. If I am free, then I will be glad to do so. But whatever happens, you will have your leader.”

Faraday wanted to explain further, though she felt sure that Barsarbe – as all the other Avar present – knew of what she spoke, hut just then she felt a small hand clutch her own and she glanced down. Shra now stood beside her, her young eyes fixed firmly on Barsarbe.

“Accepted,” she said clearly. “I accepted Azhure, Bane Barsarbe, on behalf on the Avar. The Horned Ones have accepted her, too. Faraday?” She lifted her eyes and Faraday smiled at her. “Faraday, do not grieve or fear. The Avar will help Axis. I give you my word.”