nation—and what Axis said did not sit well with me. He was, however, right, and it was only my
pride and arrogance which refused to allow me to accept that.”
StarDrifter took a deep breath, then slid off the stool to kneel on one knee before Inardle.
He bowed his head, then swept his wings out behind him in the traditional Icarii gesture of
deference and respect.
Axis” mouth dropped open. A Talon, and particularly one as proud as StarDrifter, never
bowed before anyone!
“Inardle,” StarDrifter said, now raising his face to look directly at her, “what BroadWing
and I did to you yesterday cannot be condoned. We were angry at Axis, yet it was you who felt
the sting of our ill temper. That was inexcusable, and I have no right to ask you for forgiveness.
Nothing I can say can ever take away the horror of what we did, and what you may have to
suffer for it. Inardle Lealfast, you are an extraordinary woman, and one of great courage.” He
gave a little smile. “There are very few people who can bring an Icarii Talon to his knees before
them—and this was not something Axis asked me to do.”
He had to tell her that, Axis thought with an inward smile. He had to let her know that
this was his idea.
“Inardle,” StarDrifter continued, “you have an Icarii Talon at your feet, and while I
cannot undo the damage I have done to you, I can say that the stars will fall from the sky and
crumble into dust before I allow any harm to come to you again. I am your servant, Inardle
Lealfast.”
And with that he rose, sent a single glance toward his son, and left the tent.
Axis and Inardle looked at each other.
“I think I might wear the sling after all,” said Inardle, and Axis laughed, walked over, and
kissed her forehead.
“There are many things that I love about you, Inardle,” he said, “but your magnificent
diffidence rates among the highest.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
The Salamaan Pass
Hereward and Isaiah had been in the Salamaan Pass a week. They were tired, hungry,
dirty, and almost out of water.
The Skraelings had remained in Isembaard, and they”d needed to rely exclusively on
what they carried with them. There were no leftovers from the creatures” hunting.
Neither had spoken to the other for at least three days. This was due in part to their
fatigue, but also due to their mutual despondency. What they had seen at Hairekeep continued to
eat away at their souls. Even the horse seemed to wallow in dejection, and walked along with his
head drooping.
It was midafternoon, and both were half dozing atop the ambling horse. Hereward jerked
awake as she almost toppled off the horse, then shaded her eyes and looked ahead.
“Isaiah?” Hereward said.
He paid no attention.
“Isaiah?” she said again, a little more loudly, and gave him a prod in the ribs.
He jumped. “What?”
“Look ahead, Isaiah. Look ahead.”
Isaiah pulled the horse to a halt and shaded his eyes as Hereward had done.
His own mouth sagged.
Lamiah simply could not believe what he was seeing. One of his scouts had ridden up,
gasping out the news that the Tyrant was riding a white stallion toward them from out of
Isembaard, a woman with him.
None of that made any sense to Lamiah. Isaiah was far behind him, somewhere in the
northern Outlands.
So Lamiah had ridden forward, a small unit to escort him, and then had pulled up his
horse in astonishment.
There sat Isaiah atop a somewhat bedraggled but otherwise handsome white stallion, a
dark-haired woman sitting behind him and clinging to his shoulders
Both were dirty—Lamiah had not ever seen Isaiah in a state anything close to this—and
looked drained and exhausted.
Very slowly Lamiah pushed his horse forward, waving at his escort to stay where they
were.
“Isaiah?” he said, bringing his horse to a halt a few paces away from Isaiah”s stallion.
“The very same,” Isaiah said. “And why is it I find General Lamiah, having deserted his
command, leading a column of soldiers back into Isembaard?”
“Someone has to save our people,” Lamiah said.
“There is no one left to save,” Isaiah said. “Hereward and myself and this horse are all
that is left, Lamiah, and if you continue in the direction you are currently headed, then you will
lead your men into a death so terrible that the thought of what I might do to you for your
treachery will seem as naught.”
Lamiah stared at him, then laughed in genuine amusement. “You look as though you
need some food, Isaiah, and a drink if your hoarseness of voice is anything to go by. We will rest
here for the night, and I will permit you to tell me your story.”
Lamiah leaned back in his chair and stared at Isaiah. The story he”d just heard
was…extraordinary.
And so infuriating that Lamiah did not think he could maintain his composure for much
longer.
“Lamiah,” Isaiah said, looking better now that he”d had an opportunity to wash off some
of his grime and had eaten a meal, “what I need you to do is—”
“How dare you tell me what you need me to do!” Lamiah said. “You never once thought
to mention to anyone that Isembaard was facing certain destruction? We could have evacuated
the entire—”
“That is nonsense, Lamiah, and well you know it,” Isaiah said. “If I had come out with
any of this while we were still in Isembaard then we both know you and the other generals would
have murdered me within twelve hours. I saved what I could, and I am now pleading with you to
save what is left. You cannot continue into Isembaard!”
Lamiah did not respond. He looked past Isaiah to where the woman Hereward sat. She”d
been quiet all afternoon and evening as first they”d shared a meal and then Isaiah had told his
story. She was all that was left?
“Where are Kezial and Armat?” Isaiah asked.
“Waging war on Maximilian,” Lamiah responded automatically, trying to think through
what he should do.
Isaiah muttered a curse, and Lamiah looked at him at that.
“Did you honestly think we would support Maximilian?” Lamiah said.
“He”s all that can save you now.”
Lamiah grunted.
“Lamiah,” said Isaiah, “you need to believe me. Maximilian is the only one who can—”
“Save us against what you have described? Why should I believe that? Is the One afraid
of Maximilian?” Lamiah said.
“Yes.”
Lamiah raised his eyes and looked at Isaiah. “What in the name of all gods are we going
to do, Isaiah?”
[ Part Five ]
CHAPTER ONE
Serpent’s Nest
Aziel drew the crimson hood of his robe over his head so that it shadowed his face, then
picked up the reins and urged his horse forward.
The gelding managed to break into a slow amble, but Aziel didn”t have the heart to push
it to any greater exertion.
Besides, it would allow him to savor his remaining few minutes at Serpent”s Nest.
The horse strolled through the open gates and down the road that sloped down to the
plain. It was early morning, only an hour or so after dawn, and the low light illuminated the
surrounding countryside in a soft, rosy glow.
It caught at the spears and shields and stirrup irons of the army spread out on the plains
below Serpent”s Nest. The army was arrayed in columns and units, each clearly defined and well
ordered, everyone horsed and weaponed. High above circled units of the Icarii Strike Force.
It was, Aziel thought as the horse made its unhurried way down the road, a salutary
lesson in the unpredictability of life and the foolishness of mortals who thought to influence it. It
was almost two years now since he had farewelled Ishbel for her marriage to Maximilian, King
of Escator. Now, here she was again, probably one of the as yet tiny figures sitting their horses in
a group just ahead of the first units of the army. There was a winged man standing slightly to one
side of those three—his wings glinting gold now and again as he moved in the sunlight—and
Aziel supposed he commanded the Icarii in the sky.
It was ironic, he thought. He”d sent Ishbel to marry this man, Maximilian, in the hope that
it would prevent disaster befalling the Coil and Serpent”s Nest. He”d promised her she would
return, and that all would be well.
Ishbel had indeed returned, but Aziel doubted very much that all would be well. The Coil
was disbanded, fallen into irrelevancy as their Serpent god revealed his true self and abandoned
them, and Serpent”s Nest was now to fall to Maximilian, no longer of Escator, but of Elcho
Falling.
Ishbel had returned, but she”d brought the destruction of Aziel”s life with her.
But, oh, he could not wait to see her face again. Aziel had sent a repressed, uncertain