themselves in it, and eventually sink into despair in their efforts to battle free. This is the first of Elcho Falling”s defenses.”
“It is big enough to take all of our army,” said Axis.
“It is always big enough to take whatever is needed,” Maximilian said. Then he nodded
ahead. “Look.”
A wide staircase had come into view. It curved upward and upward in a spiral that
reminded Axis of the spirals of water that had initially risen from the water after the destruction
of Serpent”s Nest.
Light glimmered under each stair rise—not enough to distract, but just enough to light the
way.
Maxel reined in his horse and dismounted, then moved to help Ishbel to dismount.
“Where do we go?” said Axis. “Where shall we stable the horses? What—”
He stopped.
From each column stepped forth men—at least that was Axis” first impression, although
his second thought was that he was not sure what they were. They looked like tall, slim men clad in simple breeches and jerkins, but on closer inspection they were somehow…not.
“They are Elcho Falling”s servants,” Maximilian said, “and they will show all, men and
beasts, to their quarters. Spend tonight exploring Elcho Falling, Axis, and discovering its
wonders. Speak with me tomorrow.”
Axis turned to say something to Maximilian.
But he and Ishbel were gone.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Elcho Falling
They rose higher and higher into Elcho Falling, first via the main staircase, then via
alternate secondary stairwells. Maximilian led the way, holding Ishbel”s hand. They did not
speak, but occasionally Maximilian would turn his head and give Ishbel such a look that she
began to wish, fairly desperately, that they would arrive at their destination shortly.
“Maxel?” she eventually said, pulling his hand so that they stopped halfway up one
stairwell that had as its outer barrier a virtually translucent wall of stone. Beyond was the sky,
and the occasional flash of a wing as either an Icarii or Lealfast tumbled by.
The sound of the slowly turning crown was far louder here, and Ishbel could hear it
thrumming through her entire body.
“It isn”t far,” Maximilian said. “Come, Ishbel, see what kind of marriage chamber I have
created for you. It is my gift. I asked Josia not to show you this trick during your lessons.”
“Are we going to climb all the way to the top?” Ishbel said, and Maximilian smiled at the
tone of her voice.
“In a manner of speaking,” he said. “Come now, it isn”t far.”
He tugged at her hand, and they ascended another three or four twists of the stairwell
until, quite suddenly, they came to a blank wall of apparently solid, cream-colored stone.
Maximilian pulled Ishbel close to him, their linked hands raised to chest height so that
they were the only things that separated their bodies. Once again he pressed the back of his hand
against Ishbel”s sternum. “All of my strength,” he said softly, “in the beat of your heart.”
Then he moved their hands against the stone of the wall.
“My name is Maximilian Persimius,” he said, “Lord of Elcho Falling. This is my lady,
Ishbel Brunelle Persimius. Allow us entry, if you will.”
And suddenly the wall was no more, and there was another staircase rising before them.
“This one will not take long,” said Maximilian, pulling Ishbel close enough that he could
kiss her briefly but with some considerable passion. He led her toward the stairs, and as soon as
they were past the space where the wall had been, Ishbel heard a soft sound and she looked back.
The wall had once more returned into place.
“It will always move for us,” Maximilian said, “but for no one else. Where this stairwell
leads, Ishbel, is for you and me only.”
He led her up the stairs, still holding her hand, and within moments they emerged into a
circular chamber that brought Ishbel to a complete halt.
“Don”t fear,” Maximilian said, then he gave a soft laugh. “It is spectacular, though, isn”t
it?”
They were at the very top of Elcho Falling in a circular chamber that appeared to have no
roof or walls at all. It was as if they stood on a platform high in the sky. It was dusk now— how
long had they been climbing? Ishbel wondered—and outside, amid the early stars in the violet
sky, she could see Lealfast and Icarii continuing their tumble of joy through the air and between
the great bands of the crown, still in their slow, sweeping dance through the sky.
Thrum.
Thrum.
Thrum.
Ishbel could not hear the movement so much as feel it. The bands were very close, just
beyond the edge of the large platform, and she thought their movement and vibration might have
been disturbing…but, no. That deep, gentle thrumming was as comforting as a heartbeat.
She looked up again. An Icarii had tumbled very close to their chamber.
“They cannot see us,” said Maximilian, “and I can, if you wish, close off our view of
them.” He paused, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. “I”m sure they”ll get tired, or
hungry, and go to roost soon.”
He gave a gentle tug on her hand, and Ishbel walked a little further into the chamber. It
was simply but elegantly furnished—luxuriously upholstered daybeds and chairs, low tables and
gleaming sideboards and chests, and a bed, modestly made with cream linens in the very heart of
the chamber.
He saw her eyes light on the bed and pulled her very close. “Do you want me to close off
the view of the night sky?” he murmured.
“No. Leave it.”
They kissed, moving slowly against each other in the initial steps of a long, loving dance.
Maximilian slid his hands into her hair, and shook out all the pins of pearls and diamonds,
allowing the waves of her fair hair to cascade over her shoulders and back.
She pulled back a little from him. “You have a ring of mine, I believe.”
“Are you sure you want it back? I remember how terrified you were of it that first time I
slid it on your finger.”
“I want it back, Maxel.”
“Shall I make you beg?”
She laughed, sliding her hands inside his jacket, unbuttoning his shirt. “Shall I look for it
myself?”
“That could be amusing.”
They kissed again, far more fervently, moving ever closer to the bed.
Then Maximilian took a step back, laughing a little shakily. “The ring, Ishbel.” He
removed the ruby and emerald ring from the inner pocket of his jacket, then, completely sober,
he took Ishbel”s right hand, interlacing their fingers, the ring sandwiched between their palms.
Hello, Ishbel, the ring said. There is a decision that needs to be made.
“Maxel?” Ishbel said.
“Ishbel, I need to tell you now what Isaiah has told me.”
“You choose your moments very carefully, don”t you, Maxel?”
“When Isaiah was with the One, in his presence the One made a curse. Before the One
stripped Isaiah of his power, he allowed Isaiah to see that the curse was a reality—not a threat,
not a maybe, but a reality. It exists, and needs only two simple actions to become unbreakable.
Because of the blood link from our daughter to the One, he is closely linked to us, and that is
what gave him the power to create this—”
“What curse, Maxel?”
Maximilian squeezed his hand slightly, pressing the ring deeper into Ishbel”s palm. “The
One has cursed this ring, Ishbel, and you and I and Elcho Falling with it. If I slip this ring on
your finger, wedding you to me, if we sleep together, thus consummating the marriage, then so
also I marry the One to Elcho Falling. Its fate is his fate. Destroy him, and I destroy Elcho
Falling. It also means that should the One come marching up to the front arch of Elcho Falling,
then Elcho Falling will surrender itself to him.”
Ishbel”s eyes widened. “It is the vision that Ravenna saw!”
She tried to lean away and pull her hand from Maximilian”s, but he held her tight against
him, and gripped her hand with his.
“Don”t,” he said. “Please, please, hear me out. Trust me.”
“This curse cannot be undone?”
“No.”
“And Isaiah is certain it is a reality? It has been made?”
“Yes.”
“Maxel, we can”t marry if—”
“Listen to me, Ishbel. Do you think we stand a chance with all that confronts us if we stay
apart? ” He took a deep breath. “Ishbel, I think the One fears us—”
“Thus he has so neatly cursed us.” She gave a short, humorless laugh. “How can he fear
us now? We can do nothing against him—at least not if you slip that ring on my finger, Maxel.”
“The One constructed the curse in Isaiah”s presence to torment him and, eventually, us.
He wanted to crow his victory. He wanted us to weep, knowing he had won. He stripped Isaiah