Sara Douglass – The Axis Trilogy 3 – StarMan

Azhure lifted her head and considered him. “Then make sure you tell her that, Axis, when you have the chance.”

They held each other quietly, wrapped in their own thoughts. “When will you leave?” Axis asked eventually.

“Tomorrow. For the past two or three days I have felt a growing urge to go to her…this afternoon it became almost unbearable. I must leave in the morning.”

“Azhure…”

“I will be there for you,” she said. “I will get to you in time!”

Imibe stood on the roof of Sigholt, the baby girl in her arms, watching with a careful eye as the other nurse played ball with

Caelum. She liked to bring her charges up here every morning and afternoon so they could bask in the sun and breathe in the gentle breeze wafting off the Lake.

The stairwell door opened and the StarMan and the Enchantress stepped out. Imibe straightened. The Enchantress had told her earlier diat she would be leaving for a week or more. Axis smiled at her, but there were lines of tension about his eyes.

Azhure took the baby girl from Imibe. At three and a half months she was growing ever more beautiful, her hair darkening into a deep corn-gold, her eyes such a dark violet they sometimes appealed almost black.

“RiverStar,” Azhure murmured. Since the girl had been separated from DragonStar, Azhure could feel her antagonism lessening with each day; although there was as yet little warmth between them Azhure hoped that one day they could learn to love and trust each other. She felt Axis at her shoulder and turned to smile at him.

“Isn’t she beautiful, Axis? She has the SunSoar colouring, this one.”

He touched the girl gently on her cheek. He’d been spending an increasing amount of time with his daughter. Although he had not been able to train her while in the womb, now she seemed prepared to accept his teaching.

Caelum clambered over to Axis and clung to his legs. Smiling, Axis swung him into his arms. “And how do you like your sister, Caelum?”

Caelum regarded RiverStar solemnly. “Better when she can run and play.”

Axis’ smile broadened and the lines about his eyes relaxed. “Small babies are not fun playmates, are they, Caelum? I have no doubt I shall have ample cause to reprimand both of you for your mischief-making when you have grown a little.”

A step in the doorway made all turn. Cazna stood there, her cheeks flushing when she realised that Axis and Azhure had joined their children.

She was holding DragonStar.

Caelum twisted and whimpered softly in Axis’ arms, as if DragonStar were close enough to pinch his flesh.

“I asked that he be kept apart from my children!” Axis barked, and Cazna’s flush deepened. She hurriedly turned and handed the baby to the nurse who followed her, whispering urgently, and the nurse hastened back down the stairs.

Cazna walked over to Axis and Azhure. “I’m sorry, Axis,” she said. “I had no idea that either you or your children would be here this morning.”

And is DragonStar not “your child” as well? she wondered. Both Cazna and Belial had hoped that Axis’ dislike for his son would fade over the weeks, but it seemed as strong as ever. Cazna could not understand it. Drago, as she called the baby (who could look at such a beautiful, cuddly baby and call him ‘DragonStar’?), was well behaved and easy to care for. He had learned to laugh early, and Cazna had become addicted to his joyful gurgle whenever she picked him up. Why couldn’t Axis and Azhure love him as well? Although Belial wanted to hand Drago back to Axis eventually, Cazna found herself secretly hoping that she could keep him, and she was sure that when her own children came along Drago would accept them easily and joyfully.

And as for Axis’ demand that Drago be kept apart from his other children . . . well, Cazna thought that was plain ridiculous.

“I want him kept away from Caelum and RiverStar, Cazna. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, Axis, I hear you. There is no need to repeat yourself nor to speak so harshly.”

Azhure glanced at Axis worriedly. His face had hardened at Cazna’s tone.

“If you cannot obey me in this, Cazna, then I will have to ask you to leave Sigholt.”

“Axis!” Azhure swiftly handed RiverStar back to Imibe and took Axis’ arm. She glanced at Cazna; the woman’s cheeks were

still coloured, but with anger rather than awkwardness. “Axis, this was a simple misunderstanding. Please, leave it.”

“Nevertheless.” Axis took a deep breath and made an obvious effort to clamp his temper. “Cazna, I appreciate what you and Belial have done. Not many newly married couples would be so generous as to take in someone’s else’s baby. Cazna …” he hesitated, not sure how to say this, “Cazna, DragonStar will not be able to stay with you. Certainly not once your own children come along.” How to explain to her that he thought DragonStar dangerous? That what Cazna thought was a beautiful baby could well harm other children if he thought them intruders?

Cazna’s colour had faded, but her eyes were still hard, and Axis knew she did not understand, and perhaps did not want to understand. A dreadful thought occurred to him – could DragonStar manipulate Cazna’s mind and emotions without her realising it?

Azhure, when we come home we shall have to do something about DragonStar.

He could feel her agreement. There is not much he can do at the moment, Axis. Perhaps once he is weaned we can send him to StarDrifter. He likes StarDrifter.

Axis’ face relaxed completely, and Cazna looked at him carefully. What was going on? Belial had told her that Axis and Azhure, as many Icarii Enchanters, could communicate silently with their minds, and watching them now Cazna believed him for the first time.

“Yes,” he said, “that might be best. Cazna, I am sorry for my harsh words, but know that we understand DragonStar in a manner that you cannot. Please respect our wishes regarding him.”

Cazna nodded and smiled politely.

Axis stood under the fortified gateway of Sigholt and watched Azhure ride across the bridge, the Alaunt already well ahead of her and beginning their run down HoldHard Pass. Back to Smyrton, he thought, back to Smyrton. What will the villagers think, my love, when they see you ride back into their midst dressed like that and with such wildness shining from your eyes?

She swivelled in the saddle and gave him a brief wave, letting her love wash through him, and Axis smiled.

“She can look after herself, Axis.”

His mother stood by his side, well into her seventh month of pregnancy, and Axis looked at her briefly, awkwardly.

“You should be resting, Rivkah.”

“I am not an orchard bloom ready to wilt in the first breeze,” she said tartly. “Axis,” her tone softened, “Axis, we must talk about this baby.”

“What is there to say, Rivkah? The baby is your and Magariz’s concern.”

“The baby is your brother!” she snapped.

“And I wish he were not!” Axis retorted. “If I had known that you were still capable of bearing a child then I would …”

“You would have done what, Axis?”

He hesitated, a muscle working in his cheek. “What have you done with the circlet and ring of Achar’s royal office, Rivkah?”

“Must you see treachery and black dealing in every shadow, Axis? Must you see this baby as a threat?”

Without another word she brushed past him, her skirts rustling angrily, and Axis leaned against the warm stone of Sigholt and wondered if Rivkah’s pregnancy was Faraday’s revenge.

On the roof, Imibe held Caelum so that he could watch his mother ride off.

“Such a lucky baby,” she whispered in his ear, “to have such a magical mother.”

Caelum laughed in agreement and sent his mother a final message of love. Even at this distance she felt it and sent him love in return. / will be borne soon, Caelum. Wait for me.

Far below in Cazna and Belial’s chambers, DragonStar smiled. Soon both his parents would be gone, and with them, any chance of stopping him.

He would be heir. He wouldl The Lake of Life They sat on the peak of one of the surrounding hills, cloaked by mist and magic from curious eyes, and watched the exodus of Axis’ army. It took the entire day to pass.

“He looked well,” Yr remarked, her voice slightly hoarse. About her the kind evening light hid the worst of her sores.

“They all do,” Jack replied. Both his hands were wrapped about the staff, the knuckles white. “The Lake has done them good.”

Zeherah had eyes only for the Lake. She had not seen it this beautiful for over two thousand years. “It is time to move.”

“Will anyone see us?” Veremund asked, his voice thin with pain. The sacrifice had been hardest of all on the two old brothers; the rejuvenating power of the Mother given at Fernbrake Lake was now dissipating.