So much of what she had told Axis had been lies. The Lealfast were much more skilled
fighters than she (and Eleanon) had led Axis to believe. They hadn”t merely practiced on snow
rabbits, but had trained extensively over the centuries with the Vilanders who lived close to the
frozen wastes.
That was a lie Axis was sure to discover if ever he met any of the Vilander bowmen.
The Lealfast commanded much more power than what Inardle had told Axis. Their
command of the Star Dance was much stronger, plus they had developed the learning and power
the Magi had taught them so many millennia ago.
Many of the senior Lealfast were skilled in the power of the One. How in all the gods’
names could she ever confess that to Axis now?
Yet the worst sin, and that which gave Inardle the most anxiety, was how coldly she had
maneuvered herself into Axis” bed.
She could so easily have escaped Risdon and Armat.
But she hadn”t. She allowed Armat to cripple her, and then Risdon to rape her, in order to
make Axis feel responsible for her and to tie him the more closely to her.
Yes, Inardle had suffered in the doing, but she had chosen that suffering—and all in order
to entrap Axis.
What would he do when he found out? Inardle couldn”t bear the thought.
She would be the enemy. Not his lover. His enemy.
That made her feel cold inside, and desperate.
But what else was she now, save the enemy? If Eleanon and Bingaleal had committed
themselves and the Lealfast Nation to the One, then she could be nothing else.
Inardle had the terrible feeling that Eleanon and Bingaleal had chosen the wrong way.
Axis had told her that Maximilian was regaining the lost knowledge of the Twisted Tower. What
if Maximilian Persimius could be what the Lealfast needed?
What if the One was nothing but danger?
Inardle didn”t know what to do. She was not as committed to the way of the One in any
case, for the One despised women for their ability to breed and thus to subdivide the One. No
woman ever became a full Magi. She might command some of the Magi power, but no woman
was ever initiated into the full mysteries.
But was there any purpose now to yearn for what might have been had she not committed
herself to the path of deception? She could not even confess to Axis, for he would not believe a
word she said to him once he discovered that everything she had told him was founded on lies.
She could not bear the thought that he would hate her.
Inardle began to cry, silently, and her weeping only grew stronger when Axis, concerned,
came to her side and wrapped her in his arms.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
On the Road to Serpent’s Nest
They stood under the stars, a pace apart, wrapped in cloaks. They did not look at each
other, but instead both cast their eyes eastwards.
Toward Elcho Falling.
“There is trouble tonight about Inardle,” Ishbel said.
“I think today StarDrifter and BroadWing overreached themselves,” Maximilian said.
“She is a strange woman.”
“No stranger than you, when first we met.”
“She is very beautiful,” Ishbel said. “Very ethereal. Very unknowable. I am not surprised
Axis has taken her so close.”
“He didn”t win her any friends with the announcement that he was making her his
lieutenant.”
“Axis is isolating her. Inardle will never be a full part of the Lealfast again, nor of any
other people. She has only one tribe now, and that tribe is Axis SunSoar.”
“Then he is going to a great deal of trouble over her,” Maximilian said. “She does not
seem to be much like Azhure. Axis has talked to me of Azhure occasionally.”
“I think the fact that she isn’t anything like Azhure is the attraction, Maxel.” Ishbel
paused a little. “I will be more friendly to her. Perhaps ride with her during the day.”
“I think Axis would like that, Ishbel. Thank you. I think you may find that you and
Inardle are very much alike in some ways. You”ve each had a difficult journey at times.”
“I was appalled to hear how Lister turned his back on her.”
“Yes, I was, too.”
They remained unspeaking for a little while, still not looking at each other, avoiding the
two topics they needed to talk about: their marriage and Elcho Falling.
“How long,” said Ishbel eventually, “before we arrive at the mountain?”
Maximilian turned his head to look at her directly. “Four or five days. We”re moving
faster than I”d hoped.”
“Are you scared?”
Again he laughed softly. “Yes, but excited, too. You?”
“You have no idea, Maxel. It shall be so strange to see Aziel again, as all my old friends
from the Coil. Maxel…do they know we”re coming?”
“Yes. I sent two Icarii east a week or more ago.”
Ishbel”s mouth curved in a small smile. “Aziel will have been surprised to meet them,
and yet somehow not. I think he knew, Maxel, that change was upon him. Would the Icarii have
told him about Lister?”
“Yes.”
Ishbel sighed. “Then he will be upset. What will he do, now that the Coil has no reason
for its existence?”
“Move forward, as you have done. You are doing well in the Twisted Tower.”
“Yes. I manage a different level each night now. Maxel, why did you want me to learn?”
“Because it doesn”t hurt to have someone else know—”
“Maxel, please, why did you want me to learn?”
He turned to face her. “Because I wanted to share it with you, not only the Twisted
Tower, but everything Elcho Falling is and can be.”
Ishbel looked at him, feeling certain that there was a deeper reason, but she did not push
him. Instead she smiled, and removed one hand from under her cloak.
In it she held a small bunch of wildflowers. “My payment, my lord, for traversing your
territory.”
He reached out his hand, enclosing hers within it, and pulled her closer. He leaned
forward, and they kissed, very gently.
Then Ishbel pulled back, smiling a little, and walked away into the night.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
On the Road to Serpent’s Nest
Inardle, you will need to use a sling.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, using her right arm to clutch her left to her chest, and
ignoring Yysell, who was trying to offer her an early morning cup of tea. Axis had been arguing
with her for close to an hour, firstly about the fact that she wanted to ride a horse today and not
rest in a wagon, and secondly about her refusal to wear the sling that Garth had left the previous
night.
“You will do more damage to your shoulder and wing tendons if you let that damn arm
dangle!”
She flashed Axis a sharp look at that. “I will not allow it to „dangle.””
“You don”t have the strength to do anything else,” Axis snapped. He sat in a chair and
pulled on his boots, angry and concerned. Inardle had hardly slept last night. She”d woken crying
after Axis had returned to the tent, and not gone back to sleep despite the analgesic Axis had
virtually forced her to swallow. Her wing and upper left arm and shoulder were still swollen and
thick with contusions, and her left forearm was bruised and scabbed where the string of the bow
had snapped and scraped the skin and flesh. She looked exhausted, and her reluctance to stand
meant she”d barely be able to sit a horse.
“At least drink the tea Yysell has made,” Axis said. “He rose early to make that for you.”
“Thank you,” Inardle said to Yysell, and managed a smile for him as she finally took the
mug. She winced as her left arm drooped, unsupported, and Axis managed to bite his tongue
only just in time.
Stars, he was going to spend all day worrying about her.
“Inardle,” he began, then stopped as StarDrifter drew back the doorflap and entered the
tent.
Everyone inside—Axis, Inardle, and Yysell—stared.
Then Axis caught Yysell”s eye, and tipped his head toward the door.
Yysell took the hint and left, edging his way about StarDrifter.
StarDrifter glanced at Axis, then picked up a stool that was sitting against the tent wall,
walked over to Inardle, and sat down just before her.
Axis tensed, standing up from his chair, watchful.
“Inardle,” StarDrifter said, looking directly at her. She met his eyes, but Axis could see
that she was very, very wary.
“Axis talked to me last night,” StarDrifter said, and now Inardle flashed a look of sheer
anger at Axis.
“He said to me that on that archery field yesterday,” StarDrifter continued, “there was
only one person who demonstrated any courage and leadership, and that was you. Inardle, I am
an arrogant man, a powerful Enchanter, an Icarii prince, and I am Talon over the Icarii