This time, however, Maximilian met up with the person who had summoned him hither.
Josia.
Maximilian stopped dead, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
“It is I,” Josia said.
Maximilian said nothing.
“Really” Josia said.
“I have come to vouch for him,” said another voice, and Maxel looked.
There stood Boaz.
“Your father?” Maximilian said.
“He has moved further into the Otherworld to see his wife, my mother,” Boaz said. “Do not fret for him, Maxel. He is content.”
“This is Josia?” Maximilian said.
Boaz grinned. “Yes. This is Josia. Thank the gods you escaped, Maxel, although we had to cancel the welcome party we’d arranged for you and Ishbel.”
Maximilian allowed himself to relax a little. “Josia, forgive me for —”
Josia raised his hands. “I cannot fault you for your doubt. I tried to warn you, Maxel, but I couldn’t get through. I am sorry about what has happened. I had no idea I was so vulnerable to the One. I feel ill at the thought of him within the Twisted Tower.”
“Yes,” said Maximilian, “I need to talk to you about this.” He outlined to Josia and Boaz what he thought to do — isolate the One within the Twisted Tower. “Is this possible? Can the One then reconstruct some connection to the mortal world from the window?”
“Taking that first stepping stone will cut him off effectively,” said Josia. “Can he rebuild a connection from the window?” Josia blew out his cheeks, thinking. “I don’t know. Maybe. But for now . . . if you can take that stone and isolate him it would help. You need someone to distract him from the upper window, don’t you?”
“Indeed,” said Maximilian. “Even if just for a moment. He will need to physically race down ninety levels to get to the front door and open it before he can do me any harm, and that should give me enough time to upend that stone.”
“Ha!” Josia said. “Given that the Lords of Elcho Falling have been trampling on it for thousands of years, that may be harder than you think. But yes . . . you need someone to lure him to that window. Someone he won’t suspect. Someone from Elcho Falling. Georgdi is the one he currently speaks to from time to time, I believe.”
“Georgdi. Yes. Can you reach him? Can you co-ordinate the timing?”
“No,” said Josia, “I can’t reach Georgdi. He will not be receptive either to me or the Otherworld. It was hard enough to drag you here. The only person I can contact effectively will be someone who already has intimate knowledge of the Otherworld.”
Maximilian grinned. “Axis.”
Axis tossed, drifting in and out of sleep. Isaiah was pushing his army hard as they travelled north, and they no longer even took the time to establish their tents at night. Instead, everyone rolled up in blankets on the ground, and this night Axis seemed to have found himself a particularly stony patch.
It made sleeping uncomfortable, but that didn’t stop Axis, just before dawn, from drifting into a deep slumber.
In the morning, Axis sought out Isaiah and took him to one side so they could converse privately. In as few words as possible, Axis outlined what Josia had told him.
Isaiah stared at Axis, appalled. “Josia is the One?”
“Well, not the Josia now in the Otherworld, no, but the Josia in the Twisted Tower —”
“Yes, yes, I understand.” Isaiah took a moment to rub his forehead, momentarily closing his eyes. “Thank the heavens Maxel and Ishbel survived. Now Maxel wants us . . . someone . . . to distract the One while Maximilian attempts to isolate him within the Tower. I don’t like that, Axis. It is hugely dangerous, both for whoever tries to distract the One, and for Maxel.”
“It has to be done, Isaiah.”
Isaiah sighed, and nodded. “When can you contact the Enchanters within Elcho Falling, Axis?”
“Not this far out. It is too risky. We need to be closer.”
“And I actually want to be in Elcho Falling when this happens, Axis.”
“No,” Axis said. “That will be too risky as well. If the One knows you are in Elcho Falling he is unlikely to come to the window. He will fear that you will recognise him. Currently he doesn’t realise we — you and I — know who he is. He wouldn’t have been able to overhear the conversations that took place in the Otherworld. Besides, we’d have a better chance at achieving what we need at Elcho Falling if the One is confined useless within the Twisted Tower. It needs to happen before we enter, Isaiah.”
“So you will need to converse with one of the Enchanters outside Elcho Falling. The One might not hear that?”
“He might,” said Axis, “but, remember, he doesn’t know that I know who he is. All I need do is to ask StarHeaven — I have an easy communication with her — to ask Georgdi to speak to Josia at a specified time before we engage in battle with Eleanon and the Lealfast. He should ask Josia if he has any information . . . whether about Maxel or the Lealfast, I don’t care. It would be a natural thing for me to do. Georgdi won’t know the real reason I am asking him to call to Josia.”
“It is risky. Georgdi might not do it — it would be close to battle, he could be distracted .”
“Than I will need to impress on him the importance of asking and of asking at the precise time.”
“It could all fall apart so easily .” Isaiah said.
“I know,” Axis said, “but what choice do we have?”
Chapter 5
The Outlands
They rode north-westward until Isaiah and Axis estimated they were no more than two or three days from Elcho Falling.
The Skraelings had not returned, and none of Isaiah’s scouts could find them. Axis fretted about it, as he suspected Isaiah did also, but little was said.
Whatever happened with the Skraelings, happened, and there was little they could do save prepare as best they could for any eventuality.
They did not see a Lealfast, either, although Inardle said they were above, flying invisible.
That worried Axis as much as the continued absence of the Skraelings.
Two days from Elcho Falling Isaiah ordered the army to camp. He wasn’t riding any closer until he had a clearer idea of what he faced.
Isaiah and Axis stood apart from the camp, staring into the distance where they could see Elcho Falling.
“Do you have news from the Enchanters inside Elcho Falling?” Isaiah asked.
“The Lealfast Nation continues to stay in Armat’s former camp.” Axis briefly described the layout for Isaiah. “Kezial and his army are camped about the northern part of the lake.”
Isaiah grunted. “Eleanon is keeping them as distant from us as he can, lest Kezial change his mind.”
“Is Kezial likely to do that? Lamiah did, after all.”
Isaiah chewed his cheek, thinking. “I’d always had great hopes for Kezial. I was disappointed when he’d decided to join with Armat, although I can understand why. Eleanon obviously does not trust him.”
“It is something to keep in mind.”
“Yes. Axis, what of those inside Elcho Falling?”
“They are well. StarHeaven said Georgdi and Insharah are mightily relieved to see us and are preparing the welcome party for our arrival.”
“And, um, have they heard from Josia?”
“Indeed. Georgdi told me happily enough that Josia told them Maxel and Ishbel are still deep inside Isembaard, travelling slowly.”
Isaiah grunted. “When does Maxel need us to —”
“Tempt the One to the window of his tall, tall tower?” Axis took a deep breath. “Dawn tomorrow. I do not think I will sleep tonight for worry.”
“Neither will I.” Isaiah stood a little while in silence, thinking of what Maximilian would attempt in the morning, and trying not to think of what would happen if he failed. Eventually, he forced his mind to other matters. “Has Georgdi any news of the ship he sent south?”
“Yes,” Axis replied. “Georgdi said he has received a signal that the ship is waiting for Maxel and Ishbel on the east coast. Maxel and Ishbel cannot be too far from it now. Josia, the true Josia, told me that they are moving fast for the coast.”
Isaiah gave a nod and steered the conversation away from Maximilian and Ishbel. At the moment he simply did not want the worry to distract him. “I wish I could see what is happening . . . how Eleanon and his forces have arrayed themselves. They are above us. Why haven’t they attacked? I would have probed at an approaching army’s defences, to discover their mettle. But he hasn’t.”
“Who knows the maddened ways of Eleanon?” Axis said, then he smiled. “But a bird’s-eye view I can give you, my friend.”
“The eagle is here?” Isaiah cast his gaze upward as Axis nodded toward a speck in the sky.