Axis pulled his horse up, signaling to Georgdi and Zeboath to do the same. “The Strike
Force are overhead,” he said.
“The what?” said Zeboath.
“Tencendor”s legendary Icarii military force,” said Georgdi, watching Axis keenly.
“Axis, how many are there?”
“Wait,” Axis murmured, concentrating as he looked upward into the night.
StarMan, StarHeaven said.
Yes?
BroadWing understands. We will aim only for the horses.
Good. How many are you, StarHeaven?
Five hundred, StarMan.
Axis grinned. Five hundred! Then tell your Strike Leader not to hesitate, StarHeaven. He
felt her agreement, then he turned his horse slightly so that he faced the direction of the pursuing
force.
StarHeaven, he said, let me see through your eyes.
Vision flooded Axis” mind. BroadWing led the Strike Force in a classic nighttime
maneuver spiraling down toward their target from a great height, sliding silently through the air.
Armat”s men would never hear them coming.
Axis could see them now—almost one hundred weaponed horsemen following a trail
through the snow.
They had no idea of what approached.
StarHeaven, Axis said, tell BroadWing to whisper to the men during the attack that their
lives are spared through the goodwill of the StarMan, who bears them no grudge.
I will tell him, StarHeaven replied.
Axis continued to watch through StarHeaven”s eyes as the Strike Force continued their
descent. Suddenly the leading wave of Icarii bowmen—at least fifty paces above the
horsemen—let fly their arrows, immediately veering away and upward again. Then the next
wave let fly their arrows, and veered away, and then the next wave.
Horses crumpled to the ground, throwing their riders several paces with the force and
speed of their impact.
Two more waves followed, and then it was all over. Not a single horse was left alive, and
men lay winded and moaning across the cold earth.
They would have had no idea what had hit them.
StarMan, StarHeaven said, BroadWing says he will be with you in moments.
Thank you, StarHeaven, Axis said, and finally allowed himself to relax.
“We”ve company,” he said to his companions, and grinned.
[ Part Four ]
CHAPTER ONE
The Central Outlands
Axis dismounted, made sure that Inardle could balance herself, then handed the reins to
Georgdi and walked a pace or two into the night.
BroadWing landed before him in a rush of wings and with a broad grin.
“By the stars!” BroadWing said. “That felt good!”
Axis laughed, embracing the birdman in a fierce hug. “We thank you, my friend. Without
you…”
“Without me you would have been forced to some grand heroic action,” BroadWing said.
“I am sorry I stole your moment.”
Axis couldn”t keep the grin off his face. “I give you full permission to do so again,
anytime you want, Strike Leader. Did my father send you?”
“Yes, but at Maximilian”s instigation. And there”s more good news, Axis. About five or
six hours” ride to the north you will come across a contingent of the Emerald Guard, complete
with supplies, food, medical equipment, and Garth Baxtor. You have heard of him? Yes? Well,
Maximilian thought you might need the aid.”
Axis gripped BroadWing”s shoulder. “BroadWing, you are indeed the bearer of much
good news. The Isembaardians?”
“Picking themselves up and brushing off the dirt,” BroadWing said. “Before I left they”d
started to trudge back to the encampment. It will take them several hours at least. I gave them
your message, StarMan. I”ve stationed Icarii high above you. We”ll keep watch while you ride to
meet Garth and the Emerald Guard. No one will surprise you.”
“Where”s Maximilian?”
“Riding hard for Elcho Falling. Depending on how hard you want to travel, he will be
four to six days ahead of you.”
Axis glanced at Inardle. “More like six days, I think.”
BroadWing looked at her as well. “One of the Lealfast?”
Axis nodded, and indicated to BroadWing to come with him. He led him over to Inardle,
who sat on the horse watching BroadWing warily.
“This is Inardle,” Axis said. “One of the nobility among the Lealfast. Inardle, this is
Strike Leader BroadWing EvenBeat.”
Axis wondered if BroadWing would say anything about the Lealfast debacle which had
led to this rescue, but the birdman chose tact ahead of point scoring.
“My Lady Inardle,” he said, and inclined his head. “You are injured.”
“Badly,” said Axis. “And Georgdi, Zeboath, and I worse the wear for our experiences. I
think we will continue our ride, BroadWing. Inardle particularly can do with the comfort the
Emerald Guard brings.”
BroadWing turned away at that, but Inardle called softly to him. “BroadWing. Thank
you.”
BroadWing paused, nodded at Inardle in acknowledgment, then lifted into the sky.
“We ride,” said Axis, and vaulted up behind Inardle once more.
It took them until dawn to meet the Emerald Guard. Inardle was almost insensible by that
time, and the other three desperately weary. None of them had eaten for three days, all had been
subject to deprivation, and Inardle to sustained torment and abuse.
Axis” shoulders sagged in relief when he saw the riders ahead of him on the lightening
horizon. One of the Emerald Guardsmen called his column to a halt, then rode out to meet the
four exhausted people.
“Greetings, StarMan,” he said to Axis, who found the energy to wonder that now
everyone, stranger as well as friend, was using that title. “My name is Clements, and I lead this
contingent of the Emerald Guard. I have ordered them to make camp and set food to cook.
BroadWing has sent word that you are not being pursued for the moment, so I suggest we wait
out this day here, so that you may rest and receive what treatment you need.”
“Thank you, Clements,” Axis said. He nodded at the young man who had ridden after
Clements and who was now pulling his horse to a halt. “Garth Baxtor, I assume.”
“Indeed, StarMan,” Clements said. He introduced Garth to Axis, then Axis introduced his
own companions.
“And this is Zeboath,” Axis said finally, “an Isembaardian physician of fine skill. He has
been a valued companion of mine this past year.”
Axis well knew Garth”s reputation as a highly skilled physician who commanded the
almost magical Touch, and he wanted Garth to know that Axis valued Zeboath as highly, if not
more, than Garth”s reputation.
Garth clearly took the hint. He smiled at Zeboath. “I have heard of the skill of the
Isembaardian physicians,” he said. “I am most pleased to meet you, physician Zeboath, and once
you are rested and fed, look forward to picking your brains for new knowledge.”
Zeboath grinned. “All I heard amid those words of welcome, Garth, were the words
„rested” and „fed.” I am afraid my mind has clung to them exclusively.” The humor died from his
face. “Garth Baxtor, we have with us a most grievously injured woman. She needs your aid, as
soon as you might.”
Garth looked at Inardle, slumped in Axis” arms, noting the bruises and contusions, and
the blood seeping down one leg from a wound on her abdomen. He pushed his horse forward and laid a very gentle hand on her cheek for a moment.
“Then I may need your assistance, Zeboath,” he said, “before you have time for food and
rest. I am sorry.”
The Emerald Guard, comprising some forty men, had five wagons of equipment and
supplies with them. Axis thought that Maximilian must have instructed them to prepare for any
contingency.
But, oh stars, he was grateful to Maximilian for his forethought and care.
The guardsmen had fires started and food set out to cook by the time Axis and his group
rode up. By the time they”d dismounted, and Axis had lifted Inardle down, Garth”s medical bags
were in evidence, a blanket was provided to cover Inardle”s nakedness, and everyone was given
a cup of ale to keep them going.
Axis couldn”t believe their efficiency.
“Your cheek has been badly gashed,” Garth said, tipping Axis” head to one side so he
could see more clearly.
“It just needs a clean,” Axis said.
“And perhaps some stitches,” Garth said. “It will leave a scar, I am afraid.”
Axis remembered once, long, long ago, someone had remarked to him that despite all the
wars and battles he”d endured, and all the injuries, he”d never scarred. It was one of those times
when he”d truly realized the depth of his gifts.
“It won”t scar,” Axis said. “Stitch it later, after you”ve seen to Inardle.”
“What happened to her?” Garth said as they walked over to where one of the guardsmen
had settled Inardle by a fire. Zeboath was kneeling by her, persuading her to drink something.
“The wound on her flank was caused by an Isembaardian sword, her broken wing by
Armat”s booted foot, and her various other contusions and bruises by Risdon, who—”
“I know,” Garth said softly. “I felt it earlier, when I laid a hand to her cheek.”
Axis halted just before they reached Inardle, putting a hand on Garth”s arm and making