clear, of the risk about Ishbel.
But what to do about it?
Ravenna had no friends, no allies. Once she could have counted on her mother, but now
even Venetia was set against her.
I do not understand you, Venetia had said to Ravenna over and over during these past
days and nights. Why cling to Maximilian? Why cling to a man?
In vain would Ravenna try to explain that it was not so much the man as everything he
represented that she fought for. She could not just leave and walk home to the marshes.
But Venetia would only shake her head and turn away.
Ravenna sighed, looking about, feeling lost and unsure. Maximilian had called a great
meeting at a hill to the north. The rapidly growing emptiness of the camp was starting to unnerve
her, and Ravenna thought she might as well follow the last of the columns winding north. Just as
she was about to turn and do so, she caught a glimpse of Axis running through the tent lines.
Ravenna stopped, her heart pounding at the look on Axis” face.
He was heading toward Maximilian”s command tent.
Quickly Ravenna moved through the tent lines. She masked herself in darkness, so that
neither Axis, nor Serge or Doyle standing guard outside the tent, could see her approach, and
reached the tent just as Axis pushed his way through the flap.
Ravenna positioned herself directly behind the tent, leaning against the canvas as close as
she dared, listening.
“The generals have gone,” Axis said to Maximilian, who Ravenna could hear rising to his
feet. “They”ve likely been gone since the first night after you took control. I haven”t seen them, and no one else has either.”
“All the generals?” Ravenna heard Maximilian say.
“Ezekiel remains,” Axis said, “but Kezial, Lamiah, and Armat have gone. They have at
least two days” start on us, Maximilian.”
Ravenna heard Maximilian breathe in sharply. For a moment he didn”t say anything, and
Ravenna leaned both her body and senses closer to the canvas. She wanted to use a little of her
power to actually see inside, but was worried that Maximilian might detect it.
She would use her ears only.
Inside the tent, Maximilian put a finger to his lips, and leaned his head close to Axis”.
“Ravenna is outside,” he murmured in Axis” ear. “Take your lead from what I say.”
Axis” eyes darted to the canvas wall of the tent, then he gave a tight nod.
“Gone,” Maximilian said. “This is ill luck, indeed. How is it you did not realize they were
gone, Axis? Gods, they have the power to utterly undo me!”
“I”m sorry, Maxel,” Axis said.
Maximilian gave a grunt, as if reluctantly accepting the apology. “If you were them,” he
said, “what would you do, Axis? Where would you go? How would you eventually move against
me?”
Again Axis” eyes shifted briefly to the tent wall. “Isaiah has left half his army scattered
about the eastern and southern Outlands. I”d be making for those units—stars, Maxel, that”s at
least two hundred thousand men. That”s not counting all the settlers who came with the
army—another half a million people scattering about the southern Outlands. The generals may
well garner more fighting men from them.”
“And once the generals have their two hundred thousand, at least?” Maximilian said.
“They have two choices. They head back south through the Salamaan Pass into
Isembaard. But that”s only if they”re feeling particularly suicidal, and I think they”re anything but
that. Or they may come after you. You have some pretty magics, Maxel, but those generals, once
they have a substantial force behind them, could defeat you easily…particularly as you have not
yet cemented your hold over the army you have here.”
There was another silence, and Ravenna leaned so close to the canvas her ear now rested
against it.
“They have perhaps three days” start on us, Axis. Can we catch them? Can you catch
them if I send you after them?”
“Perhaps. With the Lealfast, almost certainly. Their magic and their wings can do what a
thousand men on horseback could not. Maxel, this is my fault. I should have had them placed
under guard. I should have watched them closer.”
The Lealfast. Ravenna had heard of them from her mother, who had been told of them by
StarDrifter.
Axis sighed. “There”s something else. I did go to check on them two days ago—but I was
called away before I managed to get too close. But I saw their men about, washing the general”s
clothes, carrying empty dishes out of one of their tents…Maxel, their men were disguising the
fact the generals had gone. We can”t ignore the fact that many already know the generals have
fled and are likely to be rallying a force against you to the east or south, and we can”t ignore the
fact that soldiers among what is now your army conspired to hide the fact they had gone. What
you need to do today, my friend, is to buy yourself enough time that I can catch the generals
before too great a damage is done.”
Maximilian paced about with short, angry steps. “I can”t send you now,” he said. “We
will need to wait until after the Lealfast have arrived, until after I have addressed the army. Then
I can send you, and the Lealfast, after the generals.”
“I pray the Lealfast are everything you hope,” Axis said softly.
“As do I,” said Maximilian, “for if they cannot catch those generals then I am lost.”
Ravenna drew back from the tent, moving quickly through the close-struck tents until she
was far enough away from Maximilian that she could risk her power.
She was shaking, knowing that she had been handed a golden opportunity.
Those generals could save Elcho Falling for her.
But should she dare it? Should she?
“Oh, Maxel,” she whispered, “if only you had chosen to believe me.”
Then she moved.
She had, she thought, some two hours to accomplish what she needed.
The One paused in his continuing task of restoring the glass of the Infinity Chamber. He
looked closely into one newly refurbished piece of golden glass, and saw Ravenna walk away
from her eavesdropping.
He smiled, then returned to his work.
So malleable. So predictable. And who knew, she might even prove useful.
Maximilian stilled, every sense trained on the back wall of the tent.
Then he relaxed slightly. “She”s gone,” he said.
“How much of that was theater,” Axis said, “and how much truth?”
“Some theater and a little truth. But…I knew they”d gone, Axis. Doyle told me last
night.”
Axis wished the earth would open up and swallow him. He slumped down into a chair.
“Oh stars, Maxel. I am sorry. I am useless to you.”
Maximilian shrugged and walked away, fussing with some gear on a folding table to one
side. “They have gone…and to some extent that suits my purpose. Once Isaiah and half of the
Lealfast fighters have departed for Isembaard, I will be sending you and the other half on a hunt
for the generals.”
“Then we will find them for you.”
Maximilian turned back to look at Axis, a half smile on his face at the determination in
Axis” voice. “Maybe, maybe not, but at the least it will give you a chance to test out these
Lealfast, and see just how good, or not, they are.”
“Why do you say the generals” betrayal suits your purpose?” Axis said.
“You know I have worried about this army, how I can keep it together.”
“Yes.”
“Ishbel said something to me yesterday that made me think. She said that sometimes a
group needs to fracture apart before it can ever solidify into a unified force.”
Axis leaned forward, frowning. “And so…you are going to let this force just tear
asunder? Maxel, are you sure that is a good idea?”
Maximilian gave a short laugh. “I am not so sure it is a good idea, Axis, but I do know
that to try artificial means—whether promises or fear—to keep this eclectic combination of
forces together is a far worse mistake. I could perhaps hold it together for a few months…and
then what? Have it fall apart just when I need it most? Have one among it stab me in the back
just when I thought I had his true loyalty?”
Maximilian sat down in a chair opposite Axis. “I want to know just who is loyal to me,
Axis, and I think I am going to find that out within the next few weeks. I am not going to fight to
keep this army together or under my control. If it wants to fracture, then so be it. I would rather enter Elcho Falling with a tiny fraction of what I have now if it means that fraction is utterly
loyal. Tell me, Axis, you welded once-enemies together under the single banner of Tencendor.
How did that fare?”