He reached the edge of the camp, walked about ten paces toward the juit birds, then sat down, bowing his head as he did so.
Isaiah may have had his powers as river god restored, but the juit birds were so magical as to be barely of this world. They deserved his respect.
The birds turned to regard him with their bright black eyes, then one walked forward and, a pace away from Isaiah, fluffed out its feathers and sank to the ground.
You have returned to us, Mighty One, said the bird. We thought to have lost you forever.
I thought to have lost myself, Isaiah said. Tell me, what brings you here?
A great transference of power. Something came down from this land to the glass obscenity —
Isaiah had to restrain a smile at the bird’s description of the pyramid. — and in return, here we are. There was a balance required.
Isaiah nodded, understanding. It was the Lord of Elcho Falling who came to the pyramid?
We do not know who it was.
It must have been Maximilian, likely with Ishbel, Isaiah thought, and then did smile, thinking that they were working very hard to avoid him!
What can you tell me, bright-feathered one?
That the mass of grey wraiths approach, Isaiah. They are, perhaps, but three hours away. Are you ready?
Eleanon and Bingaleal sat on a mountain top several hours’ flight from Elcho Falling.
They had flown there this very morning in the space of just three breaths. For a long time they sat in silence, revelling in the growth of their potential, in their union with Infinity which had brought them so much power — ever-increasing — and at the sight of Elcho Falling in the far distance which they could just pick out in the darkness.
As they cast their gaze about, both Lealfast men could see as far as Escator to the west, to Elcho Falling in the east and to the foothills of the FarReach Mountains in the south.
They did not cast their eyes northward. They never wanted to see the frozen wastes again. It had been a prison for too long.
“Interesting times,” Bingaleal said eventually, and his brother sighed and stretched his arms.
Frost crackled and fell from his skin, which gleamed a soft ivory in the morning light.
“DarkGlass Mountain is no more,” Bingaleal said.
Eleanon shrugged, now rubbing the last of the frost from his biceps. “It was an aberration,” he said, “whichever way you look at it. I am surprised it lasted this long.”
“Ishbel did it.”
Eleanon bared his teeth, just a little. “She thinks to be so clever. One day she will be unwound.”
“And the One .?”
Now Eleanon smiled genuinely. “Ah, the One. They have no idea. Likely they celebrate, thinking him gone.”
“Will he be a trouble to us where he is?”
Eleanon thought a little. “I doubt it. I think he has almost forgotten us. After what has happened at DarkGlass Mountain, his attention will be entirely and absolutely on Ishbel and Maximilian. For the One, Elcho Falling can wait. This is personal for him, now.”
“He hasn’t been in touch.”
Eleanon chuckled. “Would you? With all that has happened this night? No, of course he has not thought to speak with us. He would not, in any case, as it might well reveal his presence to those inside Elcho Falling. So we will be careful, Bingaleal. We shall continue on with our plan. Everything we do appears to be in his favour, too. The One shall not trouble us.”
“I like the idea very much that it is the StarMan from whom we must wrest Elcho Falling,” Bingaleal said. “Maximilian was never the real enemy. Never a challenging enemy. Axis is. StarMan” He said that last with a curl of his lip.
“I felt his fear and frustration when we attacked.”
They both sighed, remembering, revelling.
“We must be careful,” Eleanon said after a moment.
“Inardle. We can no longer trust her.”
Eleanon looked at Bingaleal. “Did you ever? You must have known that the instant she went to Axis’ bed she was compromised. She was useful for only a short while.” He shrugged.
“She could be dangerous.”
“Then we must fix that.”
“She knows a little too much, Eleanon.”
“Then we will fix that, too.”
Bingaleal nodded, then changed the subject. “The Dark Spire?”
“It continues to grow. It waits. For Ravenna. Once she enters Elcho Falling, then it will become what we need.”
“Do you have any idea how you will get her inside?”
“Not yet. But when the chance arrives, I will seize it.”
“And Ravenna?”
“She needs a little . . . work,” Eleanon said. “I need to alter Ishbel’s curse. But there is no rush. No need for us to show our hand just yet.”
He paused, thinking, then resumed speaking. “Isaiah is coming. The Skraelings are coming — I can just see them, in the far distance, the revolting little sprites. Axis will want to save Isaiah from the Skraelings and from us . . . and Inardle may well suggest the way. Bingaleal . . . I suggest it might be foolish to try and stop them just yet. It might be best to allow —”
“Axis and Inardle to escape. To actually save Isaiah?”
“Yes”
Both grinned simultaneously.
“Axis will not be able to resist the saving of Isaiah,” said Eleanon. “And it will be the death of him, and of Elcho Falling.”
“And of, finally, every last remaining Icarii. It is time they were wiped from the face of this world and from all memory, brother. Time, indeed.”
The two Lealfast sat on that mountain top until late morning, in silent accord, rejoicing in the certainty that soon they would be masters of the world.
Chapter 2
Elcho Falling
Axis received the summons from Josia just as he was running down the stairs to find Georgdi, who was currently reviewing security in the lower reaches of Elcho Falling.
Axis moved to the nearest window. “Josia?”
Josia sat there in his window a few paces away, hovering in the clear air, as he had been the last time he had talked to Axis.
“Good news, Axis. Maximilian and Ishbel have succeeded. DarkGlass Mountain is destroyed. Gone. No more.”
“Ah, thank the stars!” Axis felt relief flood through him. Finally, good news! “They are well?”
“Yes. Both are well.”
Axis grinned, the day suddenly bright. “And the One?” “Gone. Dead, they say.”
“Is that possible? He drew on the power of Infinity itself.”
Josia shrugged disinterestedly. “It is what Maximilian told me to tell you.”
“Well, then, if Maxel said it was so, then it is so. I thank you, Josia. This is blessed news indeed. Are Maxel and Ishbel on their way home now?”
“Where else?”
Axis ran lightly down the stairs, whistling under his breath, all his other troubles forgotten in the face of this bright news. He saw Georgdi in the spacious foyer of Elcho Falling and stopped for a brief chat.
“DarkGlass Mountain is gone?” Georgdi said.
Axis was still grinning. “Aye, and Ishbel and Maxel safe. Georgdi, we need to send a boat to them. Do you have any means of contacting any boatmen, or ships? It should be such an easy thing, yet we are bottled up here in Elcho Falling with no means of communication with the outside world.”
“Not quite no means,” Georgdi said. “I have men roaming the Outlands. Give me a day or two and I can pass a message to a band of them and —”
“How?”
Georgdi gave a small shrug. “The sun. A small mirror. It can be done. They can contact a boatman in Margalit or one of the smaller ports south. Someone will be able to sail to pick them up.”
“Good.” Axis clapped Georgdi on the shoulder. They talked a few more minutes about security issues then Axis continued his way down the stairs.
He wanted to see what was happening with the Dark Spire now that DarkGlass Mountain was gone and the One with it.
With any luck the spire would have withered into the size and threat of a sausage left for eight weeks in the sun.
He reached a chamber just above the lowest basement which contained the Dark Spire. StarDrifter was there, conferring in close whispers with several other Enchanters.
StarDrifter turned and Axis was surprised to see deep worry in his face.
“Good news, StarDrifter,” Axis said. “DarkGlass Mountain is destroyed. The One with it. Maximilian and Ishbel are on their way home. How .” he paused, wondering why there was no expression of relief or joy on StarDrifter’s face. “How goes the Dark Spire?”
“Badly, Axis,” StarDrifter said. “In the past hour it has grown remarkably. None of us can enter the lowest basement level now, for the spire’s dark tentacles reach everywhere.”
He stepped aside, and indicated the floor. “Look. This happened just before you arrived.”