Magariz laid a hand on the Sentinel's shoulder. "How long is it since you have seen her?"

A tear escaped and trailed slowly through the rock dust covering Jack's cheek. "Over two thousand years, Magariz. It is a hard thing to be separated from a loved one so long."

"I too have loved and lost and now wait," Magariz said quietly, "although I have not had to wait two thousand years. I hope in a few days' time your waiting, at least, will be over."

Belial regarded Magariz curiously. What did he mean? Belial had always supposed that, like himself, Magariz had been too wedded to his profession to think of a wife as well. But now it appeared Magariz had other, sadder, reasons for remaining unmarried. Yet Magariz was a man of honour and worth, as well as being as handsome a devil as any woman could hope to have warm her bed.

"Stand clear!" shouted Fulbright, the senior of Belial's engineers. "The rocks shift. Stand clear!"

Five men deep within the fissure scrambled to the ropes awaiting them, and teams of men hauled them to the surface as quickly as they could. A rumble deep within the earth confirmed Fulbright's worst fears.

"Haul, damn you!" he screamed at the men pulling the ropes in, and ran to the nearest team, adding his weight and power to theirs. "HauR"

The gods were benign this day, for the water burst forth the instant after all five had been pulled over the edge of the fissure. "Back!" Fulbright screamed again, but the men needed no encouragement. They scrambled to safety as the water shrieked and wailed its way to freedom, carrying with it the final remnants of rubble.

Fulbright's eyes widened as steaming water rushed towards the roof of the cavern in a great spout, then cascaded over the lip of the fissure and down the waterway towards the gully. It was a hot spring.

"Axis save us," he muttered to himself. "We'll all have a hot bath tonight."

Belial and Magariz stood anxiously by the moat as the steaming water surged forwards, destroying the flimsy bridge. Jack stood unperturbed as the broken pieces of the bridge sailed past them. "Peace, gentlemen, and wait."

"Wait for what?" Magariz muttered. "Someone to hand me a piece of soap?

This moat will be good for nothing but bathing if we cannot get into Sigholt."

Jack smiled. These Acharites were so impatient. "Wait for the warmth to penetrate Sigholt's walls, Magariz. Then watch."

For another half an hour they all stood there, Belial and Magariz growing increasingly agitated. There were deep ruby tints in the stream, Belial thought, probably the minerals carried to the surface by the water. Dammit! His temper abruptly broke. What were they waiting for?

"Jack," he began, but stopped as the Sentinel turned to him, his emerald eyes agleam.

"Don't you feel it?" Jack asked, excited. "Sigholt awakes. Watch the water as it flows by the gate."

Belial peered, then he realised there was a...film...between his eyes and the surface of the water. As he watched, it solidified until what appeared to be a solid bridge of greystone curiously marbled with deep ruby-red veins stood before him spanning the moat.

His eyes bulged. "What? How?" He could not get any other words out. At his side Magariz stood similarly astonished. The bridge looked solid and wide enough to support not only mounted men, but heavily laden carts as well.

Jack waved at the bridge. "Cross, Magariz, and see what happens."

Magariz glanced at Belial. Cross? This magical bridge? It might vaporise underneath his feet! He took a deep breath to steady himself then stepped forth to the edge of the bridge. But, just as he prepared to step onto the structure itself, the bridge spoke.

"Are you true?" it asked in a woman's deep melodic voice. Magariz leapt back a full pace, his eyes wide. "What?" "Are you true?" the bridge asked again, patiently. "Answer her, Magariz," Jack said. "She will only ask three times, and after that you may never cross."

"Answer her?" Magariz repeated, -dragging his eyes away from the bridge and turning to stare at Jack. "Answer what?" "Answer with whatever is in your heart, Magariz," Jack snapped, "but answer! Now!"

Magariz stepped up to the bridge again. "Are you true?" the bridge asked for the third time. Magariz hesitated, then answered. "Yes, I am true." "Then cross, my Lord Magariz, and I will see if you speak the truth."

Magariz stepped onto the bridge and paused, obviously expecting to fall straight through. Then he took another step, then another.

"You speak the truth, Magariz," the bridge suddenly said. "Welcome to my heart." And with that he was across.

Magariz noticed all the men watching him, and walked back across, his gait now confident. "The bridge let me cross back unchallenged?" he asked.

"Yes," Jack said. "It is only the first time that the bridge will ask the question. She knows you now. She will greet you, but she will not challenge you again - unless she feels your heart has been corrupted since last you trod her back. Watch."

Jack stepped up to the bridge and placed a foot upon its surface unchallenged. As his weight bore down on the stone the bridge spoke.

"Welcome, Jack," the voice said warmly. "It has been many years since you have trod my back."

"I greet you well, dear heart," Jack replied softly, "and it gladdens my heart to see that once more the waters flow."

"I have been sad," the bridge said, "but now I am happy."

Later, after the bridge had questioned each member of Belial's force, Belial stood with Jack in the courtyard of Sigholt.

"Well? What of Zeherah?"

Jack shook his head sadly. "Perhaps she needs the Lake to refill before she can return."

But as the Lake gradually filled over the next few days, there was no sign of the fifth Sentinel. After six days of watching from the rooftop Jack retired to his private chamber and did not emerge for many days. When he did, his face was creased and haggard with grief. There was nothing else he could do. Zeherah was lost unless he could discover the enchantments that bound her.

'I Will Lead You Back into

Tencendor!"

The Assembly Chamber of Talon Spike was vast, tiered with dozens of rows of golden-veined white marble about a circular floor of translucent and very beautiful golden marble veined with violet. Pale gold and blue cushions lay scattered about the benches. The lower circles of benches were reserved for the Elders, the Enchanters and the family of the Talon. These benches were completely lined with crimson cushions for the Elders, turquoise ones for the Enchanters, and royal violet for those of the House of SunSoar. The very top seventeen rows of benches reserved for the Strike Force were uncushioned, as befitted the hard muscles of warriors.

A spectacular circle of gigantic pillars soared above the tiers and supported the domed roof of the Chamber. Five times life height, the pillars were carved into alternating male and female figures, their arms and wings extended joyously, their eyes open in wonder and mouths open in silent song. They were gilded and enamelled, with real gems in their eyes and in the golden tores about their necks. Each individual hair on their heads and feathers in their wings had been picked out in gold and silver and the muscles in their pale naked bodies were carefully de ned in the ivory tones of flesh. They supported a domed roof completely plated in highly burnished bronze mirrors which, due to the enchantments bonded into their making, gave off a gentle golden light that illuminated the entire Chamber.

The Chamber lay empty, awaiting the Icarii and the man of the Prophecy who would lead them back into Tencendor and back into the lands of myth and legend.

In the circular robing room RavenCrest SunSoar faced the man who demanded to be named his heir.

The Icarii Talon, his violet eyes furious, paced to and fro, his black and speckled-blue wings rustling angrily behind.

"I reserve the right not to name an heir!" he shouted.

Axis understood RavenCrest's reluctance to act. The Talon had not yet accepted FreeFall's death, but Axis had to make him realise that an heir needed to be named while Raven-Crest still lived. These were bad and dangerous times, and if an heir could die so precipitously, then so too could a Talon -and nothing was so threatening to the stability of any realm than uncertainty over the succession.

Tonight Axis would address the full Assembly of the Icarii, and he needed to do that with the authority of an heir. He had to unite the three races — Icarii, Acharite and Avar — in order to weld them into a force that could defeat Gorgrael's Ghostmen. He knew tonight could be his only opportunity to pull the Icarii behind him.

He walked deliberately towards his uncle, wearing the golden tunic Azhure had made for him, the blood-red sun blazing triumphantly across his breast. I bless her for this gift of the blood-red sun, he thought as he held RavenCrest s eyes, for it will be the emblem of what I will become. StarDrifter and MorningStar glanced at each other. Axis stopped not a pace from RavenCrest, his eyes calm before the Talon's temper.

"Your son is dead. Gone. You have no other children. RavenCrest, you have a duty to your people," Axis paused, "and to your blood. You have no choice but to name me your heir. I demand it as my right. You have no choice."

RavenCrest gestured towards StarDrifter. "My brother stands in direct line to the throne."

Axis' mouth curled ironically. "Uncle, if you follow that line of reasoning, then StarDrifter would be followed by his eldest son." He paused, letting the full implications of his statement sink in. "Would you have Gorgrael knock on Talon Spike's door to claim his heritage, RavenCrest? Gorgrael as Talon? If nothing else, I am the lesser of two evils."

RavenCrest said nothing, the muscles in his jaw flickering. "The whole mountain seethes with uncertainty over this issue," Axis snapped. "Name me as your heir, or let your beloved people tear themselves to pieces once you have gone. You have no son or full-blood nephew to follow you, Raven-Crest, and I ant your only choice! You must decide and you must decide now\ Why did you give me control of the Strike Force if you did not intend to give me the throne as well?"

RavenCrest tore his eyes away from his nephew's and looked at his mother.

MorningStar inclined her head. "He is right, RavenCrest. You have no choice.

You must name Axis your heir." Her eldest son did not like what she said. "This has never happened before!" RavenCrest shouted, wheeling away and resuming his agitated pacing. "The Icarii have always had a full-blood Icarii SunSoar as Talon!"

"The whole world is changing and being refashioned beneath our feet, RavenCrest. Nothing will ever be the same again." Not only his voice, but Axis'

entire body stance exuded power and confidence.

RavenCrest looked at his nephew. His whole being yearned for his son, but FreeFall was dead. Despite his grief and his resistance to naming Axis his heir, RavenCrest indeed knew that he would have to do it. StarDrifter would be a hopeless Talon, and, even though Axis was not full-blood Icarii — not even winged — he knew how to lead.

The anger on RavenCrest's face faded, and he gestured to his brother.

"StarDrifter, call our wives and EvenSong. They must be here so that the entire living House of SunSoar will bear witness to this."

At StarDrifter's summons, BrightFeather, RavenCrest's wife, then Rivkah and EvenSong entered the room.

As soon as the door was closed behind them RavenCrest stepped forward and took Axis' face between his hands, then kissed him softly on the mouth.

"As the head of the House of SunSoar and as Icarii Talon, I not only welcome you who was lost into the House of SunSoar, nephew, but also name you in front of these witnesses as my heir and successor to the titles, ranks, privileges and powers of the hereditary office of Talon."

EvenSong's eyes widened in surprise. Rivkah smiled at StarDrifter; their eyes burned with pride.

RavenCrest's eyes were still locked with Axis' and his hands still gripped his nephew's head; he took no notice of the reactions about the room. "Axis. For the past six thousand years the House of SunSoar has been the guardian of the office and person of the Talon. We have been privileged, and have enjoyed the trust and loyalty of the Icarii people."

If not the trust and loyalty of the Acharite people over whom you once ruled, Axis thought a little sourly.

"Respect that tradition of trust and loyalty." RavenCrest paused. "Axis, You will be the twenty-seventh Enchanter-Talon, the first for over fifteen hundred years. You will wield much power, both in your own right and in your position as StarMan. Do you promise to respect your people?" "Always," Axis responded softly, his sourness fading. "Do you promise now, before me and your family, that you will not abuse your power?"

. "I will never do so."

"Will you guide your Icarii people through the Prophecy so that they will drift only into sun-bright clear air and not shadowed turbulence?" "I do so promise."

RavenCrest gently let Axis' head go and kissed each of his nephew's palms before folding them gently over Axis' heart.

"Then accept my blessing and my goodwill, Axis SunSoar. Before the House of SunSoar here gathered I formally name you heir to the Talon throne as I will name you to the Icarii nation in Assembly. Shoulder your responsibilities and fly with them into the future."

"I shall endeavour not to falter, RavenCrest, and I will do my best for our people. I am grateful for your trust and for your belief in me. I will do well." In truth, Axis did not know if he'd ever take the throne of Talon, but this was not the time or place to tell RavenCrest how he intended to structure the new Tencendor. But if he did not become Talon, he would pass it to another of the same blood. The office of Talon would not leave the House of SunSoar.

StarDrifter embraced his son. "Welcome to the House of SunSoar, Axis.

Welcome home to your heritage."

He was followed by MorningStar. "Welcome to the House of SunSoar. You are a powerful Enchanter, Axis, heir to the Throne. I am proud of you. Fly high and soar well."

BrightFeather whispered some cordial words of welcome, then Axis was enveloped into a bear hug by his mother. Hecould feel her cheeks were wet with tears as they brushed his.

"I weep with happiness, my sweet son," she said, "andbecause at least I have witnessed you seize your heritage inboth your hands before I die. Welcome among the SunSoars."

Axis hugged her tightly, tears springing into his own eyes.

He wished he had enjoyed her love and support all his lifeinstead of only the past few months.

Rivkah let him go and stepped back for EvenSong.

EvenSong placed her hands on Axis' shoulders and kissed him gendy. "I have not been very welcoming. Axis," she said softly. "Please accept my sorrow that I did not more fully embrace your return into our family earlier. I have acted badly, and for that I beg your forgiveness. Welcome into the House of SunSoar, brother."

Axis touched her cheek. "There is no need. I know of your grief. EvenSong,"

he hesitated, "FreeFall's last words and thoughts were of you. Have faith in his love for you."

EvenSong leaned back, her face expressionless as she fought back tears.

Even now, after so many months, words of FreeFall were painful.

"There is one more task that must be done before we enter the Assembly,"

said RavenCrest, "and it breaks my heart to do this." He held out his hands.

"Rivkah. StarDrifter."

When they joined him he took each by the hand. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Rivkah nodded. Her mind was made up. "Yes, Raven-Crest. This is what we must do."

StarDrifter was silent.

"Many years ago," RavenCrest began, "it was my privilege to announce and witness the marriage vows and bonds between you. Now, by mutual decision, you have decided to break those vows." He dropped each of their hands, the gesture deliberate and grave. "Your marriage has come to an end, StarDrifter and Rivkah. Use your freedom wisely."

Rivkah and StarDrifter had warned their children and family earlier of their decision; none were truly surprised. The true tragedy, Axis thought, was that this passion, this love that had altered lives and would alter nations, could be ended so simply.

"I loved you, Rivkah," StarDrifter said gently. "Know that."

"And I loved you, StarDrifter, with heart and soul. Know that."

"Rivkah," RavenCrest laid a hand on her shoulder. "You are and will always be SunSoar. Talon Spike is still your home if you wish to call it that. You are not cast out of this family because you have ended your marriage to StarDrifter."

Rivkah nodded. "Thank you, RavenCrest. Those are kind - and welcome —

words." She hesitated. "I will stay until Beltide, celebrate that with you, and then return to Achar for a time. I do not know how long I will stay, or if I will find a home there."

"Come," RavenCrest said to his family. "I can hear the Assembly Chamber filling. It is time for us to robe. Axis must meet his people."

Axis had lived among the Icarii for some three months now and had yet to meet the Icarii people as an assembly. For the first two months he had been so closeted with MorningStar and StarDrifter that he'd hardly seen anyone else, and for the past month his efforts with the Strike Force had kept him relatively isolated.

However, even though the greater proportion of the Icarii had yet to have the chance to make up their minds about Axis SunSoar, rumour and hearsay had spread like wildfire through the Talon Spike complex. If Axis spent two months closeted with MorningStar and StarDrifter it was because he was teaching them, not they teaching him. He'was planning to throw the Strike Force at Gorgrael immediately after Beltide in revenge for theYuletide attack, while a contrary rumour had Axis planning to drive south and capture Achar for the Icarii first.

Five Icarii solemnly swore they'd personally seen the letter of surrender that Gorgrael had sent to Axis, addressed to Talon Spike, while another seven claimed to have seen a similar letter announcing that Gorgrael had been assassinated by a band of Ravensbundmen. Several Icarii women claimed that Axis had proposed marriage to them. One woman claimed to be bearing his child. Others still tried to determine which of the conditions of the Prophecy had been fulfilled and which still waited. Many wondered if RavenCrest had finally made up his mind regarding the succession. If not Axis, then who? A few talked of Azhure and her mastery of the Wolven, and one or two privately wondered if she were one of the Star Gods wearing mortal disguise, returned to play among the Icarii.

Raum sat with Azhure, talking quietly on a tier several rows below those the Strike Force would take. Azhure had hardly seen the Avar Bane in recent months; he had been so busy with his study in the Icarii library and his teaching of the Icarii children.

"What do you think will happen tonight?" Azhure whispered, her eyes on the fidgeting Icarii population squeezed into the benches of the Chamber. She wore a vivid crimson gown, draped low over her shoulders and sashed with deep emerald, her hair loose down her back, making her normally exotic appearance even more striking than usual. Many Icarii eyes had followed her entrance into the Chamber.

Raum smiled at her, his liquid brown eyes gentle. "Who knows, Azhure.

Tonight Axis must either win the Icarii or lose them. He will have no other chance."

"Raum!" Azhure exclaimed. "They cannot refuse him! Can they?"

Raum squeezed her hand reassuringly. "No-one can ever tell what the Icarii will do in Assembly, Azhure. They are a flighty lot and can stampede in entirely the wrong direction."

"But Raum, in the Assembly after Yuletide, didn't the Icarii vote to accept Axis as the one to lead them through the battles ahead?"

Raum smiled wryly. "That's not the exact thing they voted on, Azhure. That was discussed, yes, and many agreed to it, but the actual vote was taken on whether or not to open negotiations with Axis in Gorkenfort. The Icarii love to meet and argue, but they are very bad at actually making decisions."

Azhure muttered something about the Icarii under her breath as Raum continued. "But it helps that Axis has already gained control of the Strike Force, Azhure. The Icarii will respect that. At the least he will address them as Strike-Leader." Raum's eyes flickered up to the empty benches of the Strike Force. He smoothed down his dark-green robe. Where were they? Were they not going to support Axis?

As if in answer to his thought there was a rustle of movement, and the various Wings of the Strike Force began to emerge from each of the archways, filing their way silently into their places.

Their appearance stunned the Icarii who crammed the benches below. As necks craned, mouths dropped open.

"What?" Raum gasped. "What is that they wear?"

Azhure s eyes gleamed in satisfaction.

Not only had the entire Strike Force dyed their wings in the ebony of war, but now all wore ebony uniforms of sum-fitting wool as well.

"Axis said he wanted to turn the Strike Force from birds of paradise into hawks," Azhure said, her eyes fixed on the Strike Force. "At least now they look the part."

But it was not their dark and imposing presence, stunning as it was, that made the real impact. Every member of the Strike Force wore a blazing blood-red sun embroidered into the chest of his or her uniform. Wing-Leaders were distinguished by a tracery of gold outlining the blazing sun, Crest-Leaders by a smaller circle of golden stars.

"The blazing sun is the symbol of the House of SunSoar," Azhure explained,

"and the blood-red sun is Axis' own."

"You devised it for him?"

Azhure nodded. "And he accepted it, although he does not yet know that the Strike Force now wear it. I approached FarSight with the idea."

And he obviously agreed, thought Raum. If nothing else this will indicate to the Icarii population that the Strike Force stands totally united behind Axis. Again he looked at the woman beside him, her face serene as she gazed at the Strike Force. Did the Prophecy place her in Smyrton for a purpose? Raum wondered.

Was it simple coincidence that in Smyrton I should find a woman who would save myself and Shra from death, a woman who would later show the way to save many of the Icarii and Avar from slaughter at Yuletide, a woman who could master the Wolven when in four thousand years only one of the Icarii could, a woman who could plan this stunning show of support for Axis? Coincidence?

Hardly. There were so many small things about Azhure that didn't add up. He remembered how, during the last Assembly, Azhure had understood the ancient Icarii tongue that StarDrifter had sung in, a language that Raum had mastered only after many years of hard study.

Who are you, Azhure? Raum wondered. What are you?

Five rows below him sat the two Sentinels, Ogden and Veremund. Both had discarded their dirty habits and were dressed in slightly more becoming robes, and both were looking at Azhure with exactly the same amount of speculation as Raum. The sense of deep familiarity they experienced whenever they met the woman puzzled them. It was as if they had known her most of their lives. And the Sentinels had lived very, very long lives. This was no simple peasant girl from Smyrton, caught up in events that were spinning her out of control. No, they thought not. Who was this woman who walked so effortlessly through prophecy?

Contemplations were cut short by the entrance of the Elders and Enchanters who took their seats on the lower tiers.

The Assembly held its collective breath, all eyes on the small door that led to the robing room. No-one spoke, not a feather was ruffled to destroy the silence.

The SunSoar women came out finally and took their seats; BrightFeather first, as befitted the wife of the Talon, then MorningStar, Rivkah and EvenSong who, through virtue of her connection with the royal House of SunSoar, sat with them tonight rather than the Strike Force. All the women wore various combinations of the royal violet, intertwined with gold and ivory. The colour combination looked particularly striking on EvenSong with her violet eyes and golden underwings.

There was a movement in the doorway and seventy thousand eyes shifted as one towards the figure who now entered.

It was StarDrifter, looking his magnificent and powerful best in a crimson toga with a pale gold sun across his chest. He did not sit on the benches but moved to stand in the centre of the golden floor that was the heart of the Chamber. There he dropped his eyes and watched the door.

RavenCrest entered - slowly, proudly, his violet toga edged with gold, the jewelled golden tore about his neck proclaiming his position as Talon, leader of all Icarii. He walked to stand with StarDrifter, pausing as he joined him. Then, as one, they saluted the Assembly, bowing low in the traditional Icarii greeting, their arms and wings swept low in a gesture both of respect and of abasement, both swinging in a slow full circle so that all were included in their greeting.

Azhure remembered how incredibly beautiful and graceful she had thought StarDrifter when he had bowed in greeting to the Assembly the last time it met, but the effect of both brothers saluting the Assembly in this manner was staggering in its exquisite beauty and simplicity.

It was very unusual for both to open the Assembly as equals. Normally, either one or the other did it - StarDrifter, in his capacity as the most powerful Enchanter, or Raven-Crest in his capacity as Talon.

Azhure turned to Raum with the question in her eyes.

Ill"It indicates, I think, that who is to follow is even more powerful than either of them," he whispered in Azhure's ear. "This entrance and gesture by RavenCrest and StarDrifter is also intended to show the Icarii that they stand together in their support of who is to follow. It will make opposition to Axis very hard. Especially as the Strike Force so obviously stand united behind Axis."

RavenCrest stepped forward to speak, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of the Strike Force. "There is one more to enter the Chamber, my people. I need not tell you who he is. He is the StarMan. Axis SunSoar, son of the Princess Rivkah of Achar and of my brother, StarDrifter SunSoar, Enchanter. And he is the one whom I name heir to the Talon throne," he said into the utter silence of the Chamber.

"A very formal introduction," Raum explained, "and one that clearly tells the Icarii that this man demands respect, not only through his identity as StarMan, and not only through his breeding and relationship to two royal families, but also as the one named heir to the Talon throne."

"He is my son," said StarDrifter directly, "and he is our saviour." Both he and RavenCrest now turned to the doorway.

Axis walked out from the dark of the hallway into the golden light of the Assembly Chamber, feeling the immense solemnity and magnitude of the moment.

As one, the Strike Force stood and saluted their Strike-Leader with fists clenched over their hearts.

Their movement and the rustling of their wings as they stood far above him caught Axis' attention. For a heartbeat he hesitated as his eyes drank in their ebony uniforms with the blood-red blazing suns and their gesture of support and respect. In that instant Axis realised the full power of his destiny. Confidence and pride surged through him.

He walked into the centre of the golden floor, his uncle and father stepping back to make way for him.

As RavenCrest and StarDrifter had saluted the Assembly, so too did Axis, bowing with his hand clenched over the blazing sun, circling the Chamber to include all in his salute. As he rose from his bow his eyes caught Azhure's, and she felt a strong sense of the emotion that Axis was experiencing at this moment. You do me honour again, Azhure, and I slip yet further into your debt, his voice whispered in her head. Her hand clenched the material of her gown as she felt his Enchanter powers wrap around her. For an instant they lingered, caressing, then Axis withdrew them and stood straight and proud to address the Assembly.

Unlike his father and uncle, who wore the togas that Icarii wore on all formal occasions, Axis was dressed as a man of war in the tunic Azhure had made for him over fawn breeches and leather riding boots.

"You are my people," he said, his eyes shining, "and I have escaped the lies that bound me to lead you back into Tencendor."

The Chamber erupted. Many thousands of Icarii leapt to their feet. Some shouted, others shrilled warcries, others yet burst into spontaneous song.

Feathers flew, fists punched the air, and cushions were ripped apart in excitement. If any of the Elders still harboured doubts that the younger generation would leave the comforts of Talon Spike for the rigours of reclaiming Tencendor, then those doubts were now lost.

Axis simply stood and watched the ruckus. Again his eyes met Azhure's, and again she felt the soft touch of his power as he shared with her the emotions surging through him. It was at that moment Azhure admitted to herself that she loved him. All her life she had dreamed of a hero. Was there any greater than this man who now stood before this Assembly? She smiled dreamily, a crimson island of stillness in the excitement about her.

As Axis withdrew his power from Azhure he turned his eyes to survey the emotion which swept the Assembly. He had thought long and hard about what to say to them and had finally fallen back on a maxim that Jayme, Brother-Leader of the Seneschal, of all people, had once taught him. "Learn to seize the hearts of your audience with your first words, for those hearts will always remain the most loyal. If someone needs to be persuaded with hours of arguments, then he will forever remain a potential traitor in your camp."

Finally Axis held up a hand for quiet. The Icarii only very gradually subsided into their seats and into silence. When he had the complete attention of the Assembly Axis spoke again.

"I will lead you back into Tencendor, but it will not be easy, nor will it be all that you expect. It may be years before you can reclaim what you lost." This was the dangerous moment. Axis knew - when the Icarii would have to realise that their dreams would not be accomplished overnight. "You know that the Prophecy walks and that I am the StarMan. Even as I speak two of the Sentinels sit among you."

Heads craned and Ogden and Veremund gave small embarrassed waves.

"Whatever I do, wherever I lead you, it must be as the Prophecy dictates, my people. If Tencendor will rise again to defeat Gorgrael, then we must all heal the rift within. Icarii, Avar and Acharite must reunite into one nation. If we cannot find the bridge to understanding, then will Gorgrael earn his name and bring destruction hither," Axis said, quoting the Prophecy to them. "My first task and, I think, my hardest, will be to unite the three races and recreate Tencendor.

I face deadly opposition in doing this."

"The Acharites," a voice hissed.

"No, not the people of Achar." Axis paused and stared at the Icarii for a moment. "Not the people of Achar, whom I think will accept both you and the concept of Tencendor again, but it will be the Brotherhood of the Seneschal and the Duke of Ichtar who will oppose me...us. Was it not the Seneschal who persuaded the Acharites to drive you from Tencendor during the Wars of the Axe? The Seneschal will oppose us and they will use Borneheld and his army to do it."

"And Priam?" someone asked.

"Priam cannot oppose both the Seneschal and Borneheld. No, my friends, there are two battles ahead of us. One to reunite the three races against the opposition of the Seneschal and Duke Borneheld. The second to throw the combined weight of the united races against Gorgrael."

Again Axis paused and gave the Icarii the chance for speech, but they all sat silent, absorbing his words.

"If you want Tencendor," he continued, "then you will have to fight for it.

This summer the Icarii can start to move south again. I already have waiting for us an arrny of Acharites who are committed to me as StarMan. FarSight CutSpur?" Axis turned and addressed the Crest-Leader where he sat high above the rest of the Icarii. "Have your farflight scouts brought word of Belial's force?"

FarSight stood, the combination of his ebony wings and uniform with his black hair and eyes and swarthy complexion giving him the appearance of a bird of prey. He saluted Axis crisply, then spoke.

"My fellow Icarii. This morning five of our farflight scouts, who have been on a long and dangerous mission to the Urqhart Hills, brought astounding news.

Axis' army, commanded at the moment by his loyal lieutenants Belial and Magariz ..."

Far below, Rjvkah s face went ashen with shock.

"... has taken possession of the ancient Keep of Sigholt. Sigholt lives, and it waits for us. Our first step back into Tencendor has been taken."

Again cheering broke out, but Axis did not let it go on so long this time.

"My people," he shouted, "listen to me! It is from Sigholt that we will reunite Tencendor, from Sigholt that we will bring the Seneschal and Borneheld to their knees."

Ah, Azhure thought to herself. So that is what he meant when he said my first target in war may not be Skraelings. Well, it will hardly grieve me to take part in the destruction of the Seneschal.

"It is from Sigholt that we will create the momentum which will win us Tencendor and drive Gorgrael from this land!"

Axis stood proud and tall in the centre of the golden floor, his tunic glowing, the blood-red sun blazing on his chest. He raised his hands in appeal to the assembled Icarii.

"I am the StarMan and I will lead you back into Tencendor. I promise you this. Icarii, will you come home with me?"

There was no doubt about the response. Every Icarii in the Chamber surged to his or her feet, screaming Axis' name.

His family, sitting to one side, regarded Axis with mixed emotions. Rivkah and StarDrifter watched with soaring pride that they had created this man.

MorningStar watched him and felt regret at the passing of an era. Life for the Icarii would never be the same again. EvenSong watched him and thought of FreeFall. Axis had, to all intents and purposes, usurped FreeFall's position, but could FreeFall ever have united the notoriously divisive Icarii like this?

RavenCrest, like his mother, sat and watched the passing of an age. Tonight he had witnessed the eclipse of his own power. Talon he still might be, but Axis now wielded true authority in the Icarii nation. Already he had grasped power.

RavenCrest's shoulders and wings slumped a little. Like EvenSong, he too thought of FreeFall.

Again Axis held his hands up for silence. "Peace, my people. I thank you for your support."

"When will we return to Tencendor?" a voice called from high up in the Chamber.

"When will we mass to fight the Seneschal and Borne-held?" cried a member of the Strike Force.

"We will return and we will fight," Axis said. "But we will do neither tomorrow. The Strike Force still needs training, and especially training with those who await them in Sigholt. In two weeks we go to Beltide celebrations with the Avar, and following Beltide and over the next few months the Strike Force will begin to move down to Sigholt. And I, too, need more training."

"No!" cried one overly excited Icarii. "You are already the most powerful Enchanter we have seen in generations. More training? I think not!" He was supported by a surge of cheers.

Axis grinned. "I will be more powerful with the training I have in mind.

Rivkah, my mother," he turned and gave her a small bow and she smiled and inclined her head, "has won for me the right to ask the Charonites for assistance.

The assistance I shall ask for will be their secrets."

His words surprised the majority of the Icarii, for not many knew the Charonites still existed. StarDrifter allowed a small flicker of pride to show. His son would learn the secrets that the Charonites had guarded for so many thousands of years.

"I shall be gone from you for some time following Beltide," Axis continued,

"but I will return. And when I return, then will I lead you out into Tencendor. I will take you home."

The cheering broke out anew. The Icarii had waited a long time for this and they were not going to quibble about a small delay now.

Dinner at the Tired

SeagullTimozel sat wrapped in his own peculiar stillness, as if the others seated at the dining table did not exist. The visions came more often now, and far, far more vividly.

He rode a great beast — not a horse, something different — that dipped and soared. He fought for a great Lord, and in the name of that Lord he commanded a mighty army which undulated for leagues in every direction. Hundreds of thousands screamed his name and hurried to fulfil his every wish.

Before him another army, his pitiful enemy, lay quavering in terror. They could not counter his brilliance. Their commander lay abed, unable to summon the courage to meet Timozel in just combat.

In the name of his Lord he would clear Achar of the invadingfilth.

"Yes," he mumbled, and Borneheld shot him an irritated glance.

A great and glorious battle and the enemy's positions were overrun - to the man (and others stranger that fought shoulder to shoulder with them) the enemy died. Timozel lost not one soldier.

Another day, another battle. The enemy used foul magic, and Timozel's forces were grievously hurt...but Timozel still won the field, and the enemy and their commander retreated before him.

Another day. Timozel sat before the leaping fire with his Lord, Faraday at their side. All was well. Timozel had found the light and his destiny.

Hi's name would live in legend forever.

All was well.

The vision dimmed and Timozel heard Borneheld chastise Faraday yet again.

"You are worthless to me!" Borneheld hissed. Faraday stiffened. Her husband's words were clearly audible to all those seated at the table.

"Worthless!" Borneheld said. "How many months have we been married?

Four? Five? Your belly should be swollen with my son by now."

Faraday focused on a distant point of the room, refusing to let her cheeks stain red. The Mother had answered her prayers and continued to bless her with barrenness, and she was not going to force false promises past her lips. The line of Dukes of Ichtar would end in her empty womb.

Her calm expression intensified Borneheld's fury. "Your barrenness is not for want of trying on my part, Faraday," he said, louder now. "Perhaps I should summon a physician to mix you a herbal."

To his left Gautier grinned, but Duke Roland, sitting on Faraday's other side, looked extremely embarrassed.

Faraday powered her eyes to her plate of food, hoping her lack of responsiveness would lead to Borneheld tiring of the topic. Yr sat silently in a shadowy corner of the room and Faraday could feel her silent sympathy and support.

If Faraday had managed previously to tolerate her marriage to Borneheld in Gorkenfort, now she could barely keep her distaste for the man safely hidden.

She no longer sought to please or humour him in their bed, nor pretended to love him or desire his company.

Borneheld now realised her feelings for Axis and suspected she had lied to him in Gorkenfort. Yet he could tolerate all of this — if only she provided him with an heir.

And yet Faraday remained barren despite his most strenuous exertions.

Borneheld had never been charming or courtly, but in Gorkenfort he'd made an effort to treat Faraday with respect. Now that he had been forced to abandon Gorkenfort and Ichtar, Borneheld slipped into almost perpetual surliness, not hesitating to humiliate Faraday in public. Something dark and sinister had taken root in his mind since the fall of Gorkenfort, and daily Faraday watched it grow.

Borneheld abruptly turned aside and began to discuss with Gautier and Timozel the continuing efforts to construct a viable defence system around Jervois Landing.

Faraday let her breath out in relief and looked about the room. Borneheld and the immediate members of his command had taken over the Tired Seagull, the very same inn that she, Yr and Timozel had stayed at on their way to Gorkenfort. The men who had escaped Gorkenfort with them were either quartered about the town, or camped in the massive tent city that had sprung up about Jervois Landing.

Faraday caught the eye of the Ravensbund chief, Ho'Demi. She almost looked away, sure the man would be as embarrassed and uncomfortable as most others in the room, but Ho'Demi smiled at her warmly. There was nothing but sympathy and respect in his dark eyes. Faraday straightened her back a little, and Ho'Demi inclined his head in approval.

Faraday had never had a chance to speak to the man, as Borneheld did his best to keep her sequestered from anyone save Yr and Timozel. But Ho'Demi had such a natural aristocratic bearing for one whose appearance was so savage and frightening that Faraday found him fascinating. Indeed, she was intrigued by the entire Ravensbund population camped about Jervois Landing. On the few occasions Borneheld had allowed her out of their quarters (with a suitable guard), Faraday had seen their multicoloured tents spreading for what seemed like leagues about the town, the air around them filled with the sound of the soft chimes which they threaded through their hair and the manes of their horses, and which hung from every available space in their tents. All of them were tattooed to some degree, the different designs denoting different tribal groups, but all of them, no matter their tribe, had that peculiarly naked circle in the centre of their foreheads where no line crossed.

Little did Faraday know that Ho'Demi was equally interested in her. All Ravensbund people knew the Prophecy. They lived to serve both it and the StarMan, and Ho'Demi instinctively knew that this woman was one of those named in the Prophecy. But he could get near neither she nor her Sentinel maid, so closely watched were they by Borneheld's men. One day. One day. Meantime, why did Borneheld humiliate one so obviously Prophecy-born? He did not understand it.

Faraday turned her eyes away from Ho'Demi, lest her attention draw Borneheld's suspicion on the man's head, and saw Timozel watching her.

There was no sympathy or support in his eyes at all. Over the past months Timozel had, tragically, become Borneheld's man. Timozel was still her Champion, supposedly devoted to her welfare and interests, but he seemed to have decided that the best way he could serve Faraday's interests was by serving her husband. Timozel admired and respected Borneheld, and Faraday found that very hard to understand.

Timozel had not thought to share his visions with her as he had with her husband.

Faraday averted her eyes. If she had known Timozel would turn into this dark, brooding, frightening man, she would have refused his request to be her Champion. Now Timozel stared at her, having sided with Borneheld on the issue of the child.

In her shadowy corner Yr watched Faraday's shoulders straighten as she recognised the sympathy and support in Ho'Demi's eyes, watched them slump again as she saw the accusation in Timozel's. Yr seriously wondered whether she and the other three Sentinels had done the right thing in so forcibly persuading Faraday to deny her love for Axis and marry Borneheld. We thought it might help to keep Axis alive, Yr thought bitterly. So we persuaded the darling girl, so full of sweetness and love, to give herself to Borneheld. Why did we find it so necessary for the Prophecy that we force her into this boorish man's bed?

I hope she will eventually find love and peace with Axis, Yr prayed. That Axis loved Faraday Yr had no doubt -everyone had seen that at Gorkenfort. And that Axis would fight through Achar to rescue Faraday from Borneheld's side, Yr also did not doubt. She could not doubt it. She didn't want to think that Faraday's heartache would be for nothing.

And, as Faraday had done, Yr also glanced at Timozel. She and he had once been lovers, but Timozel's tastes had become too dark forYr's liking and she'd ended the affair. As far asYr was concerned, she and Faraday would have to stand together to survive this dreadful situation.

Pray Axis come quickly, she thought, pray that he come and rescue us both from this.

"My man," Brother Gilbert said, "I represent the Brother-Leader of the Seneschal himself. I demand entrance to Duke Borneheld's quarters immediately*."

The guard sniffed and looked this pimply, skinny Brother up and down. If /

were the Brother-Leader, thought the guard, I would find myself a more imposing representative.

"I have papers! Proof of my identity," Gilbert shouted, losing patience. Both this dullard's parents must have been riddled with the pox to have birthed a child so grossly under-witted! It had been a hard, fast and dreadfully cold journey up the Nordra from Carlon to reach Jervois Landing, and the sooner Gilbert saw a fire — preferably with Duke Borneheld standing in front of it - the better. Gilbert was just about to shout at him again when a figure loomed in the darkened corridor behind the guard.

The guard snapped to attention, which puzzled Gilbert when he saw who the newcomer was - one of those savages from the northern wastes, a Ravensbundman, with even more lines scribbled across his face than normal.

"Chief Ho'Demi," the guard saluted. "This underfed scrawling claims to be on a mission from the Brother-Leader."

"I have papers," Gilbert said, indignant. Him? An underfed scrawling? He had always thought himself a rather attractive man.

The savage snapped his fingers at Gilbert. "Well? Show them to me!"

Gilbert pulled a sheaf of papers out of the lining of his cloak and handed them to the savage. So, he was going to pretend he could read, was he?

"You have news for Borneheld regarding Priam, Brother Gilbert?" the savage finally asked, looking up from the papers.

Gilbert stopped himself from gawping only through a supreme effort. So the savage had managed to read Priam's name. He would have guessed the rest.

"Yes," he finally got out. "Important news regarding Priam and the situation in Carlon. Important news," Gilbert repeated slowly in case the savage had not understood him the first time.

Ho'Demi folded the papers and slipped them inside his furred waistcoat, ignoring Gilbert's yelp of disapproval. "I will take him through, Eavan. You have done well."

Gilbert sneered as he pushed past the guard. Done well, indeed. He hurried after Ho'Demi, almost tripping over a broom that some careless slut had left by a door, then stumbled up a similarly darkened stairwell.

"Little fuel about for lamps," Ho'Demi explained as he heard Gilbert trip over the hem of his robe.

At the head of the stairs there was a large door, securely closed, with another two guards before it. Both snapped to attention as Ho'Demi brushed past them into the room, beckoning Gilbert after him.

Gilbert blinked as he accustomed himself to the light in the bright room, then stepped out of the way as two women hurried towards the door.

"Wait up, Faraday," he heard Borneheld call. "Perhaps I will get my son on you tonight."

Harsh laughter followed as Faraday slipped by Gilbert and out the door. It had been some six months since he had seen Faraday. Then she had been a vibrant girl, now the person who brushed past him looked wearied by the sadnesses of theworld.

"Well?" Borneheld's voice snapped. "Who's this?"

Ho'Demi turned over the papers he had taken from Gilbert. Borneheld skimmed through them quickly. "Ah," he said. "It seems Brother Gilbert might have some interesting news indeed. Gilbert?"

Well, thought Gilbert, here at least is a man worthy of my regard. Borneheld stood before the fire, a little scruffier than when Gilbert had last seen him, with his auburn hair shaved so short it appeared he had a badly bruised but utterly bald scalp, yet Gilbert still thought he looked the noblest man in the room. He deserves our protection and support, he thought as he stepped up to Borneheld and bowed.

"My Lord Duke," he said respectfully. He did not add "of Ichtar", because that would be insulting in the present circumstances, and Gilbert had strict instructions from Jayme not to offend Borneheld in any way.

"What news?" Borneheld asked, "that the Brother-Leader should send one of his advisers to speak to me personally?"

"My Lord," Gilbert said ingratiatingly. "Brother-Leader Jayme instructed me that my news should be for your ears only."

Borneheld's eyes narrowed. Either the man carried important news or he was an assassin, and these days Borneheld trusted few people. But eventually he turned from Gilbert. "Roland, Ho'Demi, you may leave. Report to me with Jorge at dawn tomorrow. We need to go over the plans for the final flooding of the canals."

Both men bowed and left silently, Gilbert noticing that Roland had lost much weight recendy.

"My Lord?" Gilbert whispered, gesturing towards Gautier and Timozel.

"They stay with me," Borneheld said sharply. "I trust them with my life, and they will not hesitate to take yours should you threaten mine."

"I am your servant, Lord," Gilbert grovelled, "not your murderer."

"Well, then, sit down at the table and help yourself to some wine. You look as if you need some refreshment."

Borneheld sat down opposite Gilbert, but Gautier and Timozel remained standing, ready to leap to Borneheld's defence should he require it. Both men looked equally dangerous, and Gilbert wondered what had turned the boyish Timozel into this frightening man who had, quite obviously, transferred his loyalties from Axis to Borneheld.

"My Lord Duke," Gilbert began, "Brother-Leader Jayme has read your reports and listened to the news from the north of Achar with growing alarm."

"I have done my best," Borneheld said, "but..."

"But you were betrayed, my Lord, we understand that. Axis and Magariz betrayed you, and they have betrayed the Seneschal as well with their damned pact with the Forbidden."

"YesT Borneheld said. "I was betrayed from within! There is no-one I can trust! No-one! Except," he hastened, "Gautier and Timozel. No-one else."

To one side both Gautier and Timozel bowed slightly.

"And you are right to fear treachery, my Lord," Gilbert continued smoothly.

This was going far better than he had anticipated. "For I bring grievous news."

"By the Blessed Artor!" Borneheld said, rising so quickly that the chair he'd been sitting on fell to the floor with a crash. "Who now?"

Gilbert assumed an expression of deep sorrow. "It grieves me to say this, my Lord —"

"Then bloody say it!" Borneheld shouted, and leaned across the table to seize Gilbert by his habit.

"Priam," Gilbert stammered, frightened by the madness in Borneheld's eyes.

"Priam."

Borneheld let Gilbert go. "Priam? Priam betrays me?

How?"

"Priam is frightened and alone," Gilbert whispered. "He does not have your resolve or your courage. He listens to the Prophecy of the Destroyer."

Borneheld swore, and Gilbert hurried on. "He wonders if Axis is still alive and, if so, whether he should consider an alliance with the Forbidden."

"He what?" Borneheld said. "How can he consider such a thing? Artor himself must be screaming at the thought."

"Yes," Gilbert said. "Your reaction mirrors Jayme's."

"How many know that Priam thinks this way?" Borneheld asked.

"Jayme, Moryson, the four of us in this room, and one or two others, my informants in the palace at Carlon."

"This is something that should not be bruted about," Borneheld said.

"Jayme would entirely agree with that. My Lord, I cannot stress how anxious Jayme is about this development. If Priam were to ally himself with Axis and his ungodly hordes, then the Forbidden could invade Achar and all would be lost."

He took a careful pause. "My Lord. Jayme has instructed me to tell you that you have his, nay, the Seneschal's, entire support in whatever course of action you choose to take in this matter."

Borneheld turned towards the fire so that none could see his face. "And what does 'Jayme's entire support' mean, Gilbert? Has not Axis efficiently destroyed your military power base? Where are your vaunted Axe-Wielders now?"

"We control the hearts and souls of the Acharites, my Lord Duke. We are the mediators between their souls and the rewards of the AfterLife in the care of Artor, or, should they refuse to listen to our message, in the pits of fire where worms will gnaw at their entrails for eternity. My Lord Duke, they listen to us.

Should we say, 'Borneheld is your man', then they will listen."

Gilbert took a deep breath, and when he spoke again his voice was heavy with meaning. "If you fight against Axis and the Forbidden, Borneheld, then Jayme and the Seneschal will support you in whatever course of action you decide to take."

Borneheld's eyes glinted strangely. "And what does the Brother-Leader advise me to do, Brother Gilbert?"

"Brother-Leader Jayme advises that you return to Carlon, my Lord, should the situation here in Jervois Landing be stable enough. Once back in Carlon you can shore up Priam's resolve, or —"

"Or?"

"Or perhaps you can decide to take some other course of action."

"And what 'course of action' do you advise me to take, Brother Gilbert?"

"I would advise that you are only one step away from the throne, my Lord Duke Borneheld. Priam is childless, and you are the heir," Gilbert said very softly, his eyes steady on Borneheld's. "I would advise that you take that one step closer. We need, Achar needs, a King whose loyalties and resolve are uncompromised, who can lead us to victory against the Forbidden."

There was complete and utter silence in the room as Borneheld stared at Gilbert.

At dawn Borneheld met with his senior commanders; Duke Roland of Aldeni, Earl Jorge of Avonsdale, and the savage Ho'Demi who, by virtue of commanding eleven thousand men, sat at Borneheld's table with Gautier and Timozel.

They reviewed the system of canals which the majority of Borneheld's men were digging. Borneheld knew that a battle fought against the Skraelings on their terms was virtually unwinnable. Now he would fight the Skraelings on his terms. He and his commanders had planned a massive series of deep canals between the rivers Azle and Nordra that they would flood when finished. The Skraelings hated water and avoided it whenever possible. If they attacked in force Borneheld hoped they would be driven by the twisting system of canals into small pockets and envelopes where Borneheld's men could pick them off relatively safely.

It was a bold move, but one that all agreed might just work. Especially since the Skraelings had spread themselves so thinly over Ichtar that it would take Gorgrael months to build up a force strong enough to try to push further south.

For ten weeks every soldier, plus thousands of ordinary Acharites who were within reasonable distance, had been out digging the canals. Each would be twenty paces wide and more than ten deep, and the entire system of canals would provide a watery barrier almost fifteen leagues wide.

"It is looking good, gentlemen," Borneheld said cheerfully. "Jorge, you have been in charge of the western series of canals. When will they be ready to flood?"

"In two days, WarLord."

"Good!" Borneheld slapped Jorge on the back. "And Roland, your canals are already flooded?"

Roland nodded. What could have happened to put Borneheld in such a good mood?

"Ho'Demi." Borneheld turned to the Ravensbundman. "What do your scouts report?"

Ho'Demi shrugged a little and his hair gently chimed with the slight movement. "Very little activity within two leagues north of here, Lord Duke, though above that distance Skraelings scurry about in small bands. But they seem disorganised. I doubt they will have the strength to attack for some time yet."

"And they will certainly not attack through the warmer months," Borneheld said. "In a week spring will be upon us. Gentlemen! I feel more positive than I have for months! I think we will not only be able to hold the Skraelings with this watery line of defences, but start our reconquest of Ichtar within only a few months."

He beamed at the surrounding men, ignoring the bemused expressions on Roland's, Jorge's and Ho'Demi's faces.

"So!" Borneheld rubbed his hands together. "This is the perfect time for me to make a quick journey down the Nordra, to confer with Priam. Besides, Faraday seems...ill...not herself. Perhaps it would be best if she could see the physicians at the court of Carlon. We will be leaving this afternoon."

"Borneheld!" Roland said. "You can't just leave Jervois Landing like this!"

Jorge concurred. "You are needed more here than in Carlon, WarLord!"

"My dear comrades," Borneheld replied, "with such competent men already in Jervois Landing you can well afford to lose me for a few weeks. Timozel, you will travel with Faraday and myself. Pick a small contingent of men to travel with us and organise some river transport. I want to leave by dusk. Gautier, my good friend, I leave you in charge of Jervois Landing. Roland, Jorge and Ho'Demi will give you their full support as they would give it to me."

He looked carefully at the three men, each of whom fought to restrain their shock. Gautier?

Finally all three inclined their heads. "As you wish, WarLord," Jorge said quietly.

"As I wish," Borneheld said menacingly. "Always as I wish. I will not countenance treachery. Timozel? You have much work to do before we can leave this evening. Get to it."

Timozel's face was pale, and uncharacteristically he stood his ground, ignoring Borneheld's orders. "Great Lord," he began. "Surely / would be better left to command the troops here in Jervois Landing?"

"What?" Borneheld glared at him. "Do you think to contradict me, stripling?"

Timozel swallowed, but his eyes were bright, fanatical. "Lord, you know what I have seen —"

"I know what now / see!" Borneheld shouted. "I need you in Carlon, Timozel! Your place is at my side...and Faraday's, of course," he added, as an afterthought. His voice regained its strength. "And if you demonstrate that you are incapable of following orders then the only command you will receive is of a blanket in a cell. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Lord," Timozel mumbled. When would Borneheld pass command over to him? He suppressed a niggling doubt. All would be well. It would.

Through the Mountain Passesi/ f -

W- is a sadness to see your parents go their separate ways after so many years."

MorningStar sighed.."But historically it was entirely expected."

Axis looked at his grandmother, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Axis. We SunSoars are a peculiar family. Our blood calls to each other so strongly that if we marry out of the family then we generally marry badly."

Axis frowned. Today he, Rivkah, Azhure, Raum and the two Sentinels were starting their trek down through the mountain passes to the Avar groves to celebrate Beltide. "You marry each other, MorningStar? How can that be?"

MorningStar shrugged. "SunSoars are only happy when they marry each other, Axis. No, don't look so horrified. None of us has gone mad yet. Well, not very many of us," she muttered, half to herself. "Generally every second generation SunSoar cousins will marry each other. RushCloud, my husband, was also my first cousin. FreeFall and EvenSong, both first cousins, would have married. This pattern of marriages has kept our blood strong over the years."

"And the generation that marries outside the family -their marriages...?"

"Are generally passable at best, but often miserably unhappy. RavenCrest is SunSoar, but BrightFeather is not.

They respect each other, but they share no passion. While RushCloud and I,"

MorningStar smiled slowly, "lived our lives among the stars-. Like FreeFall and EvenSong, we became lovers at thirteen."

"Lovers at thirteen?" Axis was appalled. His sister? And FreeFall?

MorningStar raised a well-groomed eyebrow. "WeD, why not? Thirteen is not young. Whether Icarii, Avar or human, at thirteen one begins to put away childish things and consider more mature pastimes. At what age did you first take a woman to bed?"

Axis reddened, and MorningStar laughed with delight before tipping her lovely silvery head on one side and regarding Axis thoughtfully. "We are both SunSoar and our blood sings strongly, Axis. Do not pretend you cannot hear it.

Have you chosen your Beltide companion yet? Shall we let our blood sing together that night?"

Axis took a defensive step backwards, shocked.

"Ah," she said seductively. "I am your grandmother, you say. Well, Axis, it has been done before, and I have no doubt it will be done again." She smiled.

"But not this Beltide, I think. Your Acharite reservation holds you back. A pity."

She sat on a stool behind her. "I started to tell you why StarDrifter and Rivkah's marriage ended in unhappiness. She is not SunSoar. They had a passion and a love, but StarDrifter's blood constantly sings, looking for another whose blood sings back to him with the same Song. But," MorningStar sighed, "there are no other SunSoar women for either him or you to marry. No," she said tardy, watching Axis' face, "SunSoars never marry or couple with first blood. It is Unclean. EvenSong is out of bounds to her brother and her father. Father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister — there we draw the line, but only there. All else is freedom."

"I will marry Faraday," Axis said firmly, "when she is free."

"And is she SunSoar?" MorningStar inquired archly.

"You know she is not."

"Then you will have an unhappy marriage. Your blood, like StarDrifter's, like EvenSong's, will constantly crave another SunSoar. Perhaps your children will marry Even-Song's. I hope that will be the case. They, at least, will know happiness."

Angry, Axis turned away.

The journey through the alps was exhilarating. Rivkah had only come down these mountain passes on her own previously, had never shared the grandeur of the Icescarp Alps with anyone else. Now that she had such good companionship, she found herself enjoying the journey as never before. Since the night of the Assembly Rivkah's manner had become more and more light-hearted, and Axis supposed that being freed from the strain of her increasingly unhappy marriage had cast her into a happier frame of mind.

The trails down the Icescarp Alps wound slowly through narrow ravines and valleys, past icefalls and, occasionally, behind them. Sometimes the gradient was steep, sometimes mild, but the view was always breathtaking. On either side of the trails great cliff faces of glassy black rock plunged into fern-bracketed glacier-fed rivers thousands of paces below them. In the afternoons, as the light began to fail and the mists thicken, Rivkah would lead them to small caves she'd discovered in her years of travelling up and down these trails. Here they would slip their cumbersome backpacks from their shoulders, laughing and complaining in the same breath, and set up camp for the night.

Before, Rivkah had always had to carry enough fuel, food, and blankets to keep her alive over the week or more it took her to traverse the trails. There was no vegetation this high in the alps to provide firewood, and no game to trap or kill.

Then the journey had been risky, but she had never travelled the mountain passes with an Enchanter before - and such an Enchanter! Axis' powers kept the paths dry where before Rivkah had slipped and skidded dangerously, swept the shirting winds to one side where before they had often threatened to blow Rivkah from the narrow paths, and kept the cold at bay, surrounding the small party with balmy air. In the evenings he conjured up fires of green and red and purple, and provided them all with feather-soft mattresses of warm air.

Apart from the considerable difference Axis' powers made, Rivkah enjoyed having her son virtually to herself. Previously StarDrifter had commanded so much of his attention Rivkah had found little time to talk with Axis. Now they chatted about his likes and dislikes, his life with die Seneschal, his life as BattleAxe, the good times and the bad times, as they walked side by side.

The evenings, when Rivkah shared Axis with their companions, were just as wonderful.

After they'd chosen a cave for the night, eased packs from aching shoulders and cleared the cave floor of debris, Axis would provide a roaring fire that warmed the entire party. Then he would sing to the cave walk, caressing them with his hands, and, as fast-gathering gloom descended outside, the rock gave off a gende glow dial intensified with die night.

Even their food was magical, but Axis had nothing to do with diat. As he conjured fire and light each evening, Ogden and Veremund would slip off the light packs they carried, open the top flaps, rusde around mumbling and complaining for a few moments, and then draw out parcel after parcel of beautifully wrapped and packaged food. Honeyed hams, crisp-roasted poultry, peppered joints of beef and sundry other marinated delicacies ready to be warmed at the fire, fresh and dried fruits, a variety of breads and pastries, platters of vegetables, exotic cheeses, bowls of almonds and raisins and gourds of spiced wines — every evening the Sentinels unpacked a veritable feast.

"Ogden always sees to the packing," Veremund said the first evening. "I have no idea how he does it."

Ogden gaped at Veremund. "What? I packed not a crumb of this! I thought you did!" Then he frowned into his pack. "Where did you put the napkins?"

Axis, rising from the fire laughing, had told them to stop arguing and advised the others to simply enjoy the food and not push the Sentinels on where it came from. "They will just argue with each other," he said to Azhure and Raum, "to keep from answering you."

Each evening after they had eaten, Axis entertained with his wonderful voice and his skill on the harp. He sang Icarii melodies for the first part of the evening, but as the night deepened Axis' mood changed and he sang ballads and songs of Acharite extraction, making Rivkah and Azhure smile and tap their fingers in pleasure. He far surpassed any court bard Rivkah had ever heard.

Axis often asked the others to sing with him, or to sing their own songs.

Rivkah and Raum both sang well, Ogden and Veremund enthusiastically, but Azhure had one of the most dreadful voices anyone had ever heard, and after one attempt at joining them in song, she had laughed and promised not to sing again.

But they did not simply sing the evenings away. For long hours into each night they talked, Axis walking sbft melodies up and down the strings of his harp as he listened. Sometimes they talked of the Icarii or Avar myths and legends, sometimes of the Star Gods. Occasionally Rivkah recalled her early life amid the intrigue of the Carlon court. Ogden and Veremund, rascals that they were, told tales of the exploits of some of the early Icarii, tales of when the Icarii had first learned to fly and had sometimes fallen from the sky in tangled and embarrassing wreckages.

Late one night, early in their trek, Axis stretched out comfortably, his legs extended towards the fire, hands behind his head, his eyes on Azhure as she finished plaiting her raven hair for the night.

Azhure smiled a little uncertainly at him, then spoke to Raum. "Raum, may I ask about the Horned Ones? Are they Avar?"

Raum seemed not to mind answering Azhure s question. "Yes. The Horned Ones were once Avar Banes. But only the strongest of the male Banes are allowed to complete the transformation to Horned Ones. It is the responsibility of die Horned Ones to act as the guardians of the Sacred Grove."

"How do you change?" Axis asked, remembering the frightening beast of his nightmare outside the Silent Woman Woods. How could someone so apparently gentle as Raum metamorphose into such a frightening, angry creature?

Raum's dark face was now unreadable. "There are some mysteries that I will not even tell you, Axis SunSoar. We simply...change. The change picks us, we do not pick it. When we feel the change begin, we wander the ways of the Avarinheim alone, for we no longer desire the companionship of our friends and family."

"And no female Banes ever become Horned Ones?" Azhure asked, her thick plait hanging over her shoulder.

"No, Azhure. We do not know why. But no females walk the Sacred Groves as Horned Ones." Raum frowned. "I think female Banes transform, but they guard their mysteries closely, and I do not know into what they transform, or where they go when they do. We each have our mysteries, Azhure, and we do not pry too deeply into them."

As Raum spoke, Axis had sunk deeper into the memory of his dream of the Sacred Groves. "The Horned Ones haunt the trees that line the Sacred Grove, watching," he whispered. "They drift with the power that lives among the trees."

"How do you know that, Axis?" Raum asked. "I travelled to the Sacred Grove once. Bane Raum, in a dream."

To one side Ogden andVeremund nodded. They had felt this when they tested Axis in the Silent Woman Keep. The Horned Ones would not welcome the intrusion of a hated BattleAxe into their mysterious realms. "You have?" Raum said. "How?"

"It started with a nightmare," Axis began, sitting up again, and he told them of the night outside the Silent Woman Woods when his old nightmare had claimed him, but had turned instead into a dream of the Grove. He had stood on the cool grass, feeling the power and the eyes that moved among the encircling trees, watching with horror as the man with the magnificent, but terrifying, head of a horned stag approached. When challenged for his identity Axis had said that he was Axis Rivkahson, BattleAxe of the Seneschal, and the puzzlement that he had originally felt from the eyes in the trees turned to rage. As the Horned One neared, swinging his head from side to side with hate, Axis had screamed and woken from the dream.

"Your old nightmare?" Rivkah said after Raum had finished questioning Axis about his dream. "What do you mean?" she asked, thinking of her son, lost and alone without either of his parents and in the grip of nightmare.

Axis had never spoken of the nightmare that had haunted so much of his life to anyone, not even when his long-time lover, Embeth, Lady of Tare, had pressed him about it. Yet now he was telling this group without hesitation about the nightmare entity that had come to him throughout most of his life, the entity that claimed to be his unknown father. The dreams had stopped only after Axis escaped the fury of the head in the clouds outside the Ancient Barrows — when he'd realised that, whoever he might be, his father had loved him and could not have been the hateful voice of his nightmare.

"It was Gorgrael who came to you," Veremund said. "Trying to break your heart and your spirit with lies about your father."

Axis' face flinched with the memory. "He said that my mother died giving birth to me, died cursing me for taking her life. I believed him. I had no choice, none to tell me differently."

Appalled, Rivkah reached out and seized Axis' hand. She finally understood what a lonely childhood he had led, thinking his mother had died hating him, not knowing who his father was. For a time both mother and son sat, holding hands, lending each other comfort.

Then Axis sighed and turned to Azhure, letting his mother's hand go. "Azhure," he said gently, "it is good to let go of old nightmares. Will you tell us how your back came to be so horribly scarred?"

Azhure's reaction caused the only dark moment of the trip. Her whole body went rigid and she stared at Axis, her eyes dark and frightened. For a moment she said nothing, her mouth trembling, then she whimpered.

"No." It was the whimper of a terrified little girl.

"No!" she shouted, her voice edging towards hysteria. "No! Stay away!"

Rivkah quickly shifted over to her, wrapping her arms about the terrified woman.

"No!" Azhure shouted again, louder, twisting against Rivkah's hands. "Stay away! Please! Pleasel I will not do it again!" She took a deep, shuddering breath. "I promise!" she screamed.

Axis leant forward, thinking to add support to that of his mother's, but Azhure almost wrenched herself out of Rivkah's arms in the effort to twist away from him. "No!" she screamed, patently terrified by Axis'

approach. "Forgive me!"

Veremund hastily placed bis hand on Azhure's shoulder. She stopped twisting immediately, but only very slowly did she relax.

Veremund exchanged a worried glance with Ogden before looking at Axis.

"Withdraw the question," said Veremund. "She doesn't want to talk about it.

The memory is too much for her."

"I am sorry I have caused you pain with my question, Azhure," Axis said, touching her cheek gently with his fingertips. "Please forgive my intrusion. I retrieve my words."

A gentle melody spun through the air and Axis sat back as Rivkah let Azhure go.

"What is it?" Azhure asked, puzzled as she looked about to see everyone in the cave staring at her. "What did I say?"

Veremund caught Axis' eye and nodded, pleased. Axis had learnt well from StarDrifter and MorningStar. Still, more lessons had been learned. One - never ask Azhure about her back. Two — find out what did happen, because that knowledge could well unlock some of Azhure s secrets. But Veremund had the dreadful intuition that to unlock that particular secret without proper precautions could well cost either Azhure her life, or that of the person who tried too insistently to make her answer.

Azhure had been the only one to sleep well that night, and Axis had lain awake for many hours, watching her gently breathing. Wondering.

Four days out from Talon Spike Axis abruptly stopped on the path, his face tight with concentration. Then he smiled, laughed, and called ahead to Raum.

"Raum! I hear her! I hear her! She sings beautifully!" Raum turned back to Axis and smiled. Although he could not hear what Axis did, he knew what it must be. Earth Tree. Earth Tree singing her Song, the Song that had destroyed the Skraeling attack on the Earth Tree Grove at Yuletide, the Song that now protected the entire northern Avarinheim against Gorgrael. If it had not been for StarDrifter and Faraday, Earth Tree might still be asleep and the Skraelings might well have eaten their way through the Avarinheim by now.

Two days later Raum began to catch the first faint strains of Earth Tree's Song himself, and two days later yet, Rivkah and Azhure started to pick it up.

Ogden andVeremund had begun to hear it about the same time as Axis.

The night before they reached the foot of the Icescarp Alps, the group ate a splendid meal of roast partridge stuffed with breadcrumbs, cheese, raisins and almonds, and relaxed about the magical fire.

"Tell me of how you bonded Faraday to the Mother," Axis asked Raum, reluctantly lifting his eyes from the firelight glinting through Azhure's hair. "There is so little I know about her. So much I want to comprehend."

Faraday's connection with the Mother, with the power of the earth and of nature, was one of the deeper mysteries that Axis did not yet understand. There had been so little time or opportunity at Gorkenfort for Faraday and Axis to talk.

And Axis needed someone to speak of her, to remind him how much he loved her. Once her image had been so vivid in his mind, now he had to struggle to recall the exact shade of her hair and the timbre of her laughter.

Raum hesitated a little, then began by explaining the significance of the groves to the Avar people and how those Avar children who had the potential to become Banes had to be presented and bonded to the Mother. Fernbrake Lake, one of the four magical lakes in Achar, lay deep in the Bracken Ranges far to the south of the Avarinheim, and the Avar people had to travel secretly through the hostile Skarabost Plains to reach the lake they called the Mother.

"And Rivkah helped you in this?" Axis asked, smiling at his mother.

"Yes," Raum said. "For many years now she has spent the summer months with us, often helping to take a child or two through to the Bracken Ranges."

"And yet none in Achar knew that the Princess Rivkah walked among them,"

Axis said, his eyes on the flames. "Did you never want to return to your home, Rivkah?"

"I thought my life dead, Axis. I thought you dead. Had I known you lived I would have kept walking until I reached the Tower of the Seneschal and its BatdeAxe."

For a while there was silence, then Azhure prompted Raum to return to the story of the night he had bonded Faraday to the Mother. Ever since Azhure had seen the vision of Faraday awakening the Earth Tree on the night of the Yuletide attack, she had been fascinated by Faraday.

Raum told the story as if every moment of that night was seared into his memory. How he had tested Faraday at Jack andYr's insistence and, to his shock, had found she talked to the trees as easily as if she had been Avar-born.

He told them how Faraday had bonded instantly to the Mother, how the Mother herself had wakened the lake and how he, Faraday and the child Shra had walked into and through the lake, to the Sacred Grove.

All listened intently, astounded by Raum's tale.

"You walked through emerald light into the grove?" Azhure asked, her blue eyes wide. This was magic beyond anything she had yet seen.

Raum told them of how the Horned Ones had greeted Faraday, and how the most ancient and sacred of them all, the silver pelt, had given Faraday the bowl of enchanted wood.

"The bowl is a way for her not only to reach out and touch the Mother,"

Raum explained, "but also to reach the Sacred Grove whenever she feels the need."

"She has been blessed," Azhure said, admiration and wonder evident in her voice.

Raum let his hand rest on Azhure s shoulder. He had become very attached to this lonely woman and wished that the Avar had accepted her. She had saved his life, but Raum's regard for Azhure went much deeper than gratefulness. "Yes, Azhure, she has truly been blessed."

Axis' eyes lingered on Raum's hand. He raised his gaze to the Bane's face slowly. "Is Faraday's only role in Prophecy that of Tree Friend, Bane?"

"She has many things to do, Axis," Veremund answered for Raum. "As do you. Concentrate on your own path, and let others find theirs as the Prophecy guides them."

Axis nodded. "Has Faraday used the enchanted bowl, Raum? Has she stepped back into the Groves?"

"Yes," Raum answered. "Yes, she has. Several times. Each time Faraday uses the bowl I can...feel it."

Ogden and Veremund both studied the Bane closely. You can feel it?

wondered Ogden. And I would wager that you can feel it changing you, can't you, Bane Raum? How long before you, too, feel the urge to wander the paths of the Avarinheim all by yourself, wander until the pain in your body and your skull drives you mad? Until you are transformed? Do you feel it yet, Bane? Do you know?

Azhure sighed and sat back. She envied Faraday greatly. Not only did she have Axis' love, but she had a major role to play in the Prophecy, a role that would one day see her walk at Axis' side. Azhure might love Axis herself, but she knew her love would not be returned. Axis would never be her lover. Faraday and Axis were both heroes, and they would walk together into legend and immortality. She was only a human woman, scarred in mind and body, doomed to drift without a true home or a lifetime lover.

The next day the party walked down from the mountains and into Beltide.

The pigs abandoned Sigholt five days before Beltide.

Saddened, Jack stood and watched as the fifteen who had kept him company for the last three thousand years rolled and grunted their way across the bridge. He had always known they would go one day, always known they would pick the day. What better time to choose than these days when the Prophecy walked?

But Jack was excited as well as saddened. The pigs would only leave him to seek the Blood.

For three days the pigs trotted resolutely along the HoldHard Pass, stopping only to rest or nose around the rocks for whatever they could find to eat. But they did not waste much time foraging for food. Soon there would be better eating than stiff weather-worn grass, so aged and wizened it took true hunger to make it palatable.

On the fourth day the pigs emerged from the HoldHard Pass and turned north-east. For another day and night they trotted.

On Beltide, as the day darkened towards dusk, the pigs began to change.

Their limbs lengthened, their bodies became sleeker, their coats lighter. Their teeth began to glint and their mouths began to grin.

As the moon emerged they began to lope, but they made no sound. They would not begin to bay until they had caught the scent they had waited so long for.

Above, the moon gleamed and lit their way before them.

BeltideAs they closed the distance between the last of the alps and the Avar groves, Axis drew closer to Azhure. "Azhure, what do you think of the Avar?" he asked.

Azhure thought for a moment. "They are a reserved people, Axis, and they do not accept strangers easily. They are very peaceable and reject those who embrace violence."

Axis nodded. If the Avar had rejected Azhure because of her involvement in her violent father's death, then how would they feel about a former BattleAxe of the Axe-Wielders?

"They are reserved," Azhure repeated. "Shy. They have learned over centuries of persecution to fear the Plains Dwellers, as they call ..." She almost said "us", "the Acharites. They protest to loathe violence, but ..." Her voice trailed off.

"But they have an aura of violence about them?"

Azhure glanced at Axis, startled. "Yes. I had not thought of it that way before. But...yes. They put their children through a frightening test to see if they have the ability to become Banes — a test that kills many of them. And sometimes the Banes themselves can threaten violence. When I was a girl in Smyrton and stumbled upon Rivkah and a Bane taking two children past the village, the Bane was so angry that I think Rivkah only just managed to prevent him.

from killing me. Yes," she paused, "they protest violence, but they exude it."

"When I walked into the Sacred Grove in my dream," Axis said, "the feeling of hatred and inherent violence was overwhelming - of course," he laughed humourlessly, "I was BattleAxe, then."

"Do you still fear the reaction of the Avar, Axis? You do not walk into their groves as BattleAxe but as the StarMan."

"Perhaps, but they still have reason enough to distrust me. They will not be easy to win over."

"They are ashamed that it was their blood which birthed Gorgrael but not you," Azhure said softly so Raum, walking just ahead, would not hear. "The Icarii and the Acharites have accepted and will accept you because you have been born of their blood. But to the Avar you will not only be foreign, but also frightening." She paused. "Axis, don't be too confident. The Avar will not be as ready to follow you as the Icarii were."

Axis was taken aback once again by her perceptivity, but did not say anything. Like Ogden andVeremund, more and more he found himself wondering if Azhure was the peasant woman she first appeared to be. An odd memory resurfaced. Strangely, the few times Azhure had discussed Hagen, she had never referred to him as her father.

"Azhure," he said, hesitant.

"Yes?" Azhure replied, her face open and uncomplicated.

"Was Hagen your father? Your real father?"

"What a thing to ask! Of course," she said, but her voice sounded forced.

"Who eke?"

Axis began to say something, but Azhure broke in. "Look, Axis! We're almost there. How I'm looking forward to seeing Fleat and Shra again!"

The sacred groves and surrounding forest were a confusion of Icarii and Avar as the small party finally arrived in the early afternoon of Beltide. The bulk of the Icarii had arrived an hour earlier -and were now laughing and exchanging greetings with the Avar. As they pushed through the crowds, StarDrifter hailed them. "Axis! Rivkah! Azhure!"

Smiling hugely, StarDrifter embraced Axis and then gave Rivkah a warm kiss on the cheek. "I am glad to see that you arrived well and in time for Beltide," he said, giving Azhure a light and blameless kiss on the cheek as well. "Did you travel without incident?"

Raum nodded and grasped StarDrifter's arm. "You look cheerful, StarDrifter.

Should I assume that... ?" He let the question hang in the air between them.

Both Icarii Enchanters and Avar Banes had been worried about the arrival of spring. The SkraeBold attack on Yuletide had disrupted the rites before they were completed and many feared the sun would not regain the strength it needed to break through the grip of Gorgraels unnatural winter. What if spring did not arrive? Was there any point in holding Beltide if there was no spring to celebrate?

"Raum," StarDrifter said, stepping closer to the Bane so he could be heard above the din. "Gorgrael's power is strong and winter has a grasp on the northern regions, but Earth Tree sings, and even though we could not finish the Yuletide rites, the sun has strengthened enough to allow the earth to reawaken.

Spring has begun. It will be weak and many areas will experience a cold summer, especially Ichtar, but the Banes tell me that the sun will shine strongly over the Avarinheim. Your people will be well."

"And Achar?" Axis broke in. His plans would have to be drastically altered if Achar remained in the grip of ice. "Will winter break in Achar?"

"Yes, Axis," StarDrifter replied. "It will be a cool summer and the crops may not flourish as well as hoped, but it will be a summer. Gorgrael's power has not spread as far south as we had feared."

Axis relaxed visibly. "Good."

StarDrifter looked at his son carefully. Apart from informing the Assembly of his intention to seek further training with the Charonites, Axis had not talked to anyone about his plans after Beltide. All knew that he meant to unite the Icarii and Acharite nations, but to do that he would have to face Borneheld. When?

How?

"Strike-Leader!" FarSight CutSpur's voice cut across Star-Drifter's thoughts.

"You have arrived. Good."

Axis turned and conferred with the Crest-Leader. He did not want the Strike Force to leave the Beltide rites as exposed as they had at Yuletide, and he confirmed with FarSight the plans they had made in Talon Spike for both air and ground patrols of the northern Avarinheim.

As Axis and FarSight talked, Azhure frowned and peered through the throngs of Avar and Icarii.

"There," Raum pointed. "The GhostTree Clan usually pitches its tents under that stand of trees. Remember?"

"Do you think I should...?" she started, nervous.

Raum smiled reassuringly. "They will be pleased to see you, Azhure.

Especially Fleat and Shra. Go on, now."

Azhure took a deep breath and headed in the direction Raum had pointed.

Fleat and Shra might welcome her, but what about Grindle? And Barsarbe, if she was with them?

Rivkah hurried after her. The GhostTree Clan had been Rivkah's surrogate family for years now, and she always looked forward to seeing them. Besides, Azhure looked as though she might need some support.

As Azhure and Rivkah disappeared into the crowd, Raum touched Axis' arm.

"Axis."

Axis glanced at Raum and brought his conversation with FarSight to a close.

"You have done well, Crest-Leader. Speak with me in the hour before dusk, well before the Beltide rites begin."

FarSight nodded, saluted, then left.

Axis turned. "Bane Raum?"

"Axis, it is time that I introduced you to the Avar Banes, the Clan Leaders, and the Earth Tree. Are you ready?"

Axis nodded, briefly touching the blood-red sun on his fawn tunic for reassurance.

As Axis approached the great circle of stone that surrounded and protected the Earth Tree with his father and Raum, he grew more and more tense. Of all the races, Axis knew the Avar would be the most difficult to win to his cause. A thousand years previously the Axe-Wielders, under the direction of their BattleAxe and the Seneschal, had slaughtered hundreds of thousands of trees, decimating the great forests of Tencendor.

And Azhure was probably right in surmising that the Avar would deeply resent the fact that the StarMan had been born of the Icarii and the Acharite races, not of the Avar. Their blood ran in Gorgrael, the Destroyer, but not in Axis, their saviour.

Axis dearly needed Faraday to help win the Avar to his cause. He would not be able to do it on his own.

The Avar Banes and Clan Leaders waited for Axis inside the stone circle. Axis felt their eyes on him as he walked towards the centre of the Earth Tree Grove.

His eyes drifted in awe towards the Earth Tree as she soared above the encircling protective stone. Her Song hung in the air, not loud enough to stifle or inhibit conversation, but sufficiently to drift through the thoughts of everyone within the northern Avarinheim, and to keep back Gorgrael and his Skraelings.

While the Earth Tree was far more sacred to the Avar than to the Icarii, both races revered it deeply. It was the living symbol of the harmony that existed between the earth and nature; if that harmony was disrupted, the Earth Tree sickened. But the Earth Tree could also act. On the night of Yuletide, StarDrifter and Faraday, Tree Friend, had woken the Earth Tree from the slumber in which she had spent several millennia. Earth Tree had immediately realised that her grove was under attack from the creatures of Gorgrael and had responded with her Song. The Skraelings had died as one mass, breaking apart under the force of her anger. Now, awake and aware, Earth Tree continued to sing, protecting the entire northern Avarinheim from the incursions of Gorgrael and his creatures.

Now she waited for the StarMan, as did the Banes and the Clan Leaders of her people.

Each branch of the Earth Tree was covered with densely packed waxy olive-green leaves, and the ends of her branches drooped with fat trumpet-shaped flowers, some gold, some emerald, some sapphire and some ruby in hue. The Earth Tree, thought Axis, is as colourful as a rainbow. And as mysterious.

StarDrifter had told Axis that not even the Avar knew the full extent of the Earth Tree's power or of her purpose. They simply revered her and protected her. All the most sacred rites of both Icarii and Avar were conducted under her spreading branches.

"Who built the circle of stone?" Axis whispered to his father as they drew closer. It was massive, each stone ten paces in height and three in width, with similar sized stones laid across their tops to form a series of archways.

"No-one knows," said StarDrifter. "Some say the Star Gods built the circle during a night ringed with fire, some say that the circle was constructed by a long-forgotten race of giants. Now, go ahead with Raum. I will wait for you here."

As they stepped through an archway Axis was struck by the feeling of sanctity within the circle - that this was a holy place no-one could doubt. A group of Banes waited by the Tree, and Axis felt both their nervousness and hostility.

The Sentinels, Ogden andVeremund, waited to one side of the Avar.

Somehow, no-one ever rejected the Sentinels.

Raum motioned Axis to a halt and stepped forward to greet the gathered Avar.

A small woman, of dark and delicate form with a garland of flowers and leaves about her forehead and wearing a long loose robe of light rose wool, stepped forward and kissed Raum on both cheeks.

"Bane Raum," she said. "It has been so long. We have missed you greatly.

Be well and welcomed back among us. And do not leave us again so quickly."

"Bane Barsarbe," Raum replied, "I am well and am heartened to find you well yourself." He smiled, stepped back and gestured to Axis.

"You know whom I bring," he said clearly. "Axis SunSoar. StarMan and son of StarDrifter SunSoar and Princess Rivkah of Achar. Welcome him."

Barsarbe hesitated, then stepped forward and kissed Axis on both cheeks.

"Be well and welcomed among us, Axis SunSoar, StarMan," she said. "We are pleased that you have torn yourself from the lies that bound you and have found both your parents and your heritage."

"Thank you, Bane Barsarbe," Axis replied. "I hope that I will be able to fulfil both your people's and the Prophecy's expectations of me."

There was an awkward silence until one of the Clan Leaders stepped forward. He was a tall man, as dark and swarthy as Raum, but much more heavily muscled. "Erode, of the SilentWalk Clan," he said, his stare hostile. "We understand your wish is that the people of the Horn, Wing and Plough unite to drive Gorgrael from these lands?"

"It is the only way," Axis said. "It is the way the Prophecy describes. It is my task to build the bridge of understanding that will bind the three races as one."

Again, silence from the Avar. Above them the Earth Tree sang her Song, strong and joyous, unperturbed by the tense meeting underneath her branches.

"It is strange," another Avar finally said, a Bane by the look of her, "that the Prophecy should ask us to follow one who once wielded the axe."

Axis kept his voice even. "But I stand before you now as the StarMan, not as the BattleAxe."

"A warrior." This from a Bane almost as forbidding as Erode.

"Yes," Axis said. "Can you think of one better trained to face Gorgrael? The StarMan needs to be a warrior."

"Violence," said Barsarbe. "All warriors breed violence."

Axis remembered that Barsarbe had been particularly cool towards Azhure, even after her efforts had saved countless Avar atYuletide. "Gorgrael will not come at you with words," Axis snapped, his tone harsh. "Already he has murdered your people. Would you spend the rest of your lives fleeing, or hiding under the pretty leaves of the Earth Tree?"

Barsarbe's eyes flashed furiously and she opened her mouth to speak, but Axis had not finished. "I promised the Icarii I would lead them back into Tencendor. I promise you the same. Do you want to replant your trees across the barren plains of Skarabost? Would you like to walk in shade all the way to the Mother? Or would you prefer to seek comfort in the legends and memories of the past, and condemn future generations of the Avar to skulking at night in order to reach the Mother? Do you want to regain your heritage, or have you lost your heart for such an adventure?"

Axis had not meant to be so forthright or so challenging, but he found the Avar's studied aversion to violence intensely irritating. How did they think they were going to rid themselves of the threat of Gorgrael? Throw flowers? Shout

"Peace!"?

"We wait for Tree Friend," Raum said gently. "We have always believed that Tree Friend will lead us back into our homelands rather than the StarMan. It is Faraday who must lead us to you."

Axis forced himself to relax. Anger would get him nowhere.

"It is our understanding," Barsarbe said, "that you intend to war against the Acharites before you turn against Gorgrael."

"There are those among the Acharites, principally Duke Borneheld and the Seneschal itself, who will oppose any moves to unite the three races against Gorgrael. I must...persuade...them, by any means I find necessary, that such an attitude is foolish. If that means war, as I believe, then so be it."

Barsarbe glanced at Raum, then turned and looked at the Avar. "We will not help you in your war against Borneheld," she said, turning back to Axis.

"Damn it!" Axis snapped, "Faraday Tree Friend is with Borneheld. Don't you want to free her?"

"Why didn't you bring her out of Gorkenfort?" Erode shouted, stepping forward aggressively. "Why is she not here with you now?"

"We had to battle our way out of Gorkenfort," Axis said, fighting to keep his voice steady. "I judged her chances to be better if she remained with Borneheld.

And there was no way I could seize her from Borneheld without risking her life."

"The fact remains," Barsarbe said, tilting her chin to look Axis in the eye,

"that we will wait for her. Tree Friend will lead us home, not the StarMan. If she says we will unite with the Icarii and the Acharites, then we will do it. But only then."

Anger made a muscle in Axis' cheek fucker. The Avar had decided this well before he'd stepped inside the circle of stone.

"Axis," Raum stepped up and addressed him directly. "You must understand the Avar. We are a reclusive people. We understand the Prophecy and we understand the threat of Gorgrael. We understand who you are and what your role is. But we are a people deeply scarred by the violence meted out to us during the Wars of the Axe. We are a people decimated by loss. We are not numerous, and we are not warlike. How could we fight for you? We have no Strike Force like our friends the Icarii. We have no weapons. So we wait for Tree Friend, and when she comes, then we will follow her. Faraday is a woman of gendeness and she is a woman bonded to the Mother. You are a warrior and you follow the way of the Stars. We mean you no disrespect nor do we mean to anger you, but we prefer to wait for Faraday."

"I understand, my friend," Axis said, placing a hand on Raum's shoulder. He turned to the assembled Avar. "I apologise if my words have caused you hurt.

Sometimes I am too impatient. I understand your reluctance to act and I will accept your decision to wait for Tree Friend — Faraday. It will make my desire to reach her even deeper."

The entire assemblage of Avar visibly relaxed. None had been too sure how he would react to their decision. They knew that the Prophecy walked among them, but they would wait for the one who had been promised them. Faraday.

"Then we welcome you to Beltide, Axis SunSoar, Star-Man," Barsarbe smiled.

"Beltide is the most joyous time of the year for us, a night when we put to one side all that troubles us, when we celebrate love and life and birth and renewal.

Share with us that joy."

Whereas theYuletide rites were closely tied to the sun and the sun god Narcis, and the Icarii male Enchanters and Avar Banes dominated, Beltide celebrated the rebirth of the earth after the death of winter, and, in rites that celebrated renewal, the females had long dominated. Tonight Barsarbe, assisted by MorningStar, would lead the rites. StarDrifter, as all other male Enchanters and Banes, was relegated to the audience.

None of them minded a bit. This was a night when the audience had as much fun as those leading the rites.

Azhure gathered with the Avar and Icarii as dusk fell. She had spent the afternoon with Fleat and Shra of the Ghost-Tree Clan. Shra had squealed with delight when she saw Azhure, throwing herself into the woman's arms, and Fleat had smiled with genuine pleasure, inviting Azhure and Rivkah to sit at the GhostTree fire for the afternoon. They had caught up on news and renewed their friendship. Azhure was relieved to find that neither Fleat nor her husband Grindle laid any blame at Azhure's feet for Pease's death.

"Pease would not have wanted you to grieve overlong," Fleat had said. "And tonight is Beltide, when wounds will be healed and new bonds will be forged.

Tonight will be a joyous affair. We should not spoil Beltide with sorrowing for the dead. Pease would not want it."

Now Rivkah and Azhure threaded their way through the growing crowds of Icarii and Avar in the Earth Tree Grove.

"Where are we going?" Azhure asked.

"We will sit with the SunSoars, Azhure. At least, we will start the night with them. Who knows with whom we will finish the night," Rivkah replied, concentrating on finding her way through the throng of people.

Azhure was more than a little nervous about the Beltide celebrations. Over the past months there had been so many hints dropped about the excesses of a night when the normal ties and promises of unions were forgotten, a night when adventures could be explored without risk. When Avar and Icarii indulged curiosities and appetites otherwise forbidden.

And what would be offered her tonight? Azhure remembered the feel of StarDrifter's arms about her in the training chamber, the taste of his mouth. She wondered if she would be able to deny StarDrifter a second time, now that he and Rivkah had parted. Would she let him sate her curiosity tonight?

The SunSoars sat at the foot of the black cliff face that bordered the western edge of the grove. To one side of them the Avarinheim forest stood dark and wrapped in shadows. RavenCrest sat a little to one side, reserved and aloof, his wife several paces away, a dreamy expression on her face. Were they both planning their Beltide games? Azhure wondered. Did even the Talon and his wife indulge their desires as they pleased?

"Where's EvenSong?" she asked Axis as she sank down beside him, smoothing out her crimson robe. Her hair tumbled loose about her shoulders and down her back.

"She offered to serve with the patrols tonight," Axis explained. "She said that without FreeFall she had no interest in Beltide."

"Are we safe?" Azhure asked.

"We are safe," Axis said, his eyes on the circle of stone. "The Strike Force has a strong presence in the sky and in the surrounding forest. There is not a Skraeling within fifty leagues."

Several paces away StarDrifter sat in the shadow of a slight cleft in the cliff face. Tonight he was determined to have Azhure. Over the past months his desire for her had grown to the point where it dominated his every waking thought and drove him to dream of her constandy. He had never wanted another woman - Icarii, Acharite or Avar - like this. On the night before they had flown out to the Avarinheim he had dreamt that they were both tumbling entwined through the sky, their wings tangled and useless as they fell towards the ground, their thoughts only on assuaging their savage needs. In that dream Azhure had the wings and the features of an Icarii.

Tonight he would take her. Possess her, finally. He had told Axis that Azhure would bear powerful Enchanters, and tonight he meant to get one on her. But the night was long, and it was not yet time.

Avar Banes stepped through the crowds, quiet now as the rites neared. They carried deep bowls of dark liquid which glinted ruby red whenever a stray moonbeam caught them.

The young Bane who served their section stepped in front of RavenCrest first, murmured to him, then offered him the bowl. RavenCrest drank, then the Bane turned to Bright-Feather, then to Rivkah. He stepped carefully through the rocks and offered StarDrifter the blessed wine, then he turned to Axis.

"Drink well and deep, Axis SunSoar, and may the sacred wine of Beltide remind you of the joy and the steps of the Star Dance as you celebrate the renewal of life tonight."

Axis took the bowl in both hands and drank the wine deeply. He raised his head only with reluctance and Azhure, watching him, noticed that the wine clung in heavy, red drops to his beard. Two of the drops ran together, trickling down through the short golden hairs. She stared at them, fascinated. The wine was so thick and heavy it reminded her of blood.

The Bane paused briefly before Azhure, then bowed his head in regret. "You have not been accepted among us, Azhure. I am afraid that I cannot offer you the -"

He stopped, shocked, as Axis stood and took the bowl from his hands. "I take the responsibility," Axis said. "The wine is almost gone and you are needed before the circle of stone. I will take responsibility for what remains of the sacred wine."

After a moment the Bane bowed stiffly. "The bowl and its contents are your responsibility, Axis SunSoar," he said, then turned and marched away, every step stiff with displeasure.

Axis turned to Azhure.

"Stand, Azhure," he said, and Azhure slowly stood, her eyes on his face.

"Drink well and deep, Azhure," Axis said softly. "And may the sacred wine of Beltide remind you of the joy and the steps of the Star Dance as you celebrate the renewal of life tonight. Celebrate."

Azhure hesitated, aware that every eye within twenty paces' radius was on her.

"Drink," Axis repeated, his voice insistent.

Azhure reached for the bowl. As her hands wrapped themselves about the bowl, Axis, instead of dropping his own hands, slid them around the bowl to cover hers.

"Drink," he whispered.

The moment the warm, viscous liquid filled her mouth Azhure understood why all those she'd watched had been reluctant to relinquish the bowl. The wine felt alive and seemed to speak to her, sing to her as it filled her mouth. It tasted of earth and salt, birth and death, wisdom and sadness beyond knowing. As the warm, coppery liquid slid down her throat and warmed her belly, Azhure thought she could hear music. Wild music, as if the stars themselves were reeling naked and crazed with lust through the night sky.

Azhure took another great mouthful. There was not much left.

"Thank you, Axis," she said from the depths of her heart. "Thank you for making me a part of this night. I would that you drink the last mouthful."

Their hands still locked together about the bowl, Axis raised it to his lips and drained it. Now the trail of wine through his beard looked more like blood than ever and Azhure was vividly reminded of the magnificent Stag sacrificed in this grove at Yuletide.

"His life, his blood, he gave to us to celebrate tonight," Axis said, and placed the bowl carefully to one side of a boulder. Azhure wondered how he knew what she'd been thinking. As she turned she found every SunSoar eye riveted on her.

Let them think what they like, she told herself, and sat down in one graceful movement. Already Azhure could feel the effects of the wine racing through her blood.

A light flared behind the torch-lit stone archways and all eyes turned away from Azhure and towards the circle.

Azhure blinked, her vision blurring, but her eyes cleared and she stared at the circle.

Figures dimly moved behind the archways, and wild music erupted violently into the night. This music was nothing like that Azhure had heard at Yuletide, or in Talon Spike. The Icarii generally sang unaccompanied, or used harps to make their music. But this music was the music of wild pipes. Avar music as Azhure had never heard it before.

The music reeled through the night and twisted down among the crowds until groups of the watchers stood to dance, gyrating wildly. Azhure longed to be with them, but, just as she was about to leap up, the music abruptly stopped.

Azhure's blood throbbed in her ears and her heart beat madly. Was it the music or the fermented stag's blood?

Someone nudged her elbow. It was Rivkah, smiling a little secretively as she held out a gourd of wine. "It is not as good as that you have just drunk, Azhure, but it is good nevertheless. Drink, and pass it on."

Azhure took the wine and drank deeply, then handed the gourd to Axis. His face was intense. Perhaps he waits for the music to begin again, thought Azhure, and as she passed the wine over she touched the blood where it still lingered within his beard and at the corner of his mouth.

A movement at the edge of Azhure's vision caught her attention, and she looked back to the circle.

A figure walked through one of the archways, and a murmur ran through the watching crowd. It was Barsarbe, small, delicate, and completely, utterly naked.

She had painted spiral designs over her body, emphasising her breasts and her belly, although what paint she had used Azhure could not see.

"It is what remains of the stag's blood," said Axis quietly at her side. "Can you not see its redness? Smell its warmth?"

"I have not the senses of an Enchanter," Azhure muttered, unable to drag her eyes away from Barsarbe.

Another woman walked through the archways. It was MorningStar, similarly naked, similarly painted, although this time the paint was some golden substance that highlighted the beautiful pale sheen of her skin.

By Azhure's side Axis stirred uncomfortably.

Both women started to dance. The pipe music had begun again, but it was sorter this time, less insistent, and there was an accompaniment of drums that mirrored the beating of Azhure s heart.

The beat made her think, momentarily, of the insistent tug of the waves against a distant shoreline, and of the dip and sway of the moon.

As StarDrifter used his voice to speak and persuade, to relive memories and to tell stories, so the slow, sensuous dance of these two women spoke of many things to the watching eyes. They spoke of the gradual reawakening of the earth under the soft and sensual touch of the sun; of the seeds of life that lay buried under cover of darkness for long months but were now stimulated into life; of the green shoots that burst through the soil and grew to feed the mouths of man and beast. They spoke of the continual renewal of life, whether in the earth or in the belly of a doe or a woman; of the joy that was granted each time a child drew breath for the first time; and they spoke of love, its delights, its place in the continual renewal of the earth and of life.

Barsarbe danced with passion, but it was MorningStar who stirred Azhure the most. She not only used her long limbs and lithe body, but also her wings, using them one moment to hide and tantalise, the next to invite and demand.

The dance of the two women was building to its zenith, their movements slower but more intense. A man stood to dance with MorningStar, and with a start Azhure saw that it was Grindle, leader of the GhostTree Clan. MorningStar orientated her dance to Grindle alone, while another man now rose and danced with Barsarbe. Azhure swallowed as their movements became more intense, more intimate. Many Avar and Icarii were now engaged in their own private dances, while inside the stone circle, dimly visible frantic figures were writhing in pairs on the ground. Azhure did not need an Enchanter's vision to know what they were doing.

The wine sang through her blood.

Without conscious thought, Azhure stood and walked through the boulders into the surrounding forest.

Azhure walked until she no longer heard the music of the pipes or the drums. The grass was soft and cool under her feet, and the Earth Tree sang soft and seductive over her head. The night mist thickened around her, until it seemed that she was moving through a drifting sea of soft silver. Azhure had no sense of confinement, for the silvery mist created an atmosphere of light and space.

The wine sang through her blood, and somewhere, deep within her, she thought she could feel the faint pull of an answering Song. She slowed her steps.

Her hands drifted to the emerald sash that bound her crimson robe, and she undid it, letting it fall gently to the ground, rejoicing in the feel of the material floating free to wrap and fold itself against her body in the soft, damp air of the Avarinheim.

The Earth Tree sang sweet and gentle, and Azhure closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the Avarinheim wrap her in its loveliness, giving herself completely to the Song surging through her blood.

The sense that another answered it was stronger now, more insistent, and Azhure opened her eyes.

StarDrifter stood some ten or fifteen paces away, holding out his hand and smiling. Slowly his fingers curled, beckoning, once, twice, a third time, and Azhure rocked as the Song roared through her blood in response.

A twig cracked behind her.

Azhure turned her head. The Song of her blood was now almost deafening; she could no longer hear the Earth Tree.

Distant, still distant, another figure was walking through the mist towards her. Axis.

"Azhure!" StarDrifter's voice cracked across her consciousness and Azhure blinked, tears springing to her eyes at the anger and tension in his voice.

"Azhure! To me! Your blood calls to me, for me. Answer it. N<w!"

But now a deep, gentle Song surged through her, intermingling with her own blood, and this Song she knew was Axis calling to her.

She moaned, her hands clenching by her side, knowing that her blood demanded of her that she choose, hating herself, knowing that she could not walk away.

The mist clung thick and loving to both forms, so that both StarDrifter and Axis, equal distances from her now, seemed ethereal, wraithlike, in the forest.

Each now beckoned, demanding.

Without conscious thought or decision, Azhure turned to StarDrifter. His eyes widened in triumph and his fingers flared towards her.

"Sorry," she whispered, then walked towards Axis.

Behind her StarDrifter screamed.

Axis had thought his heart would tear itself apart with victory and craving when Azhure turned to walk towards him, her eyes downcast. His entire body had vibrated with every beat of his heart, his blood as wild and as febrile as the pulse of the feral pipe music.

"Dance with me," he'd whispered, and Azhure had raised her eyes to his.

Neither had cared if StarDrifter still watched.

Now she rested, heavy and warm along the length of his body, sleeping.

They lay underneath a stand of giant feather-back ferns, encased in green tracery, warm and safe.

Axis shifted slightly, tensing a little as Azhure mumbled in her sleep, then relaxing with her as she slipped deeper intoher dreams.

Did she dream of him? He knew he would dream of her for many long nights to come. No other had ever made him feel this way. She had sent him reeling among the stars, until his entire vision had been filled with the myriad blur of the stars as they rushed by, seizing him up in their mad dance through the heavens, until he could feel his very soul tear itself loose from its moorings and crash free about the firmament itself. Wonder and madness, exultation and pain, all had consumed him. He had withheld nothing, could withhold nothing, from this woman.

Perhaps it was her virginity, perhaps it was Beltide night, perhaps it was the wine they had both consumed. Axis did not know. Perhaps it was because this was the first time he had coupled with a woman since coming into his full powers as an Enchanter.

Slowly his touch grew firmer, and his hand moved further down her arm.

How long, Axis wondered, did his body need to recover before he could make love to her again? His hand drifted to her back, and his touch softened. He remembered holding her as he lost himself among the surging waves of the Star Dance, feeling the terrible ridged scars that ran the length of her back. Only the single smooth strip of skin over her spine had escaped the cruel hand that had inflicted these scars. Why? What spirit of cruelty had driven Hagen to inflict this pain on Azhure?

"Azhure," he whispered, wishing the circle of his arms could protect her from any further hurt. He leaned his body towards her, stroking her gently awake.

She woke slowly, opening her smoky eyes into his pale ones. "Axis? Did we

..." She hesitated.

"Did we celebrate Beltide together, my lady? Do you not remember?"

Azhure laughed a little, her cheeks colouring. "Yes. I remember."

Axis smiled, and kissed her very slowly, refreshing her memory. His hand moved down over her hips.

"And tell me, Azhure, did you ever think, when you were a small child growing up in Smyrton, that you would lose your virginity to an Icarii Enchanter on the hard ground of the Avarinheim forest?"

Azhure did not hesitate in her reply. "I swore that I would never give myself to anyone less than a hero, Axis SunSoar. That I should love him so deeply makes this night the more sweet."

Axis' hand stilled. "Azhure," he stumbled. "Do not love me. I cannot, I...Faraday ..." His voice trailed off. It was the first time he had thought about Faraday this night, and the guilt struck deep.

Azhure flinched at the expression on his face. "I know, Axis," she whispered.

"I know. I did not expect to be loved in return."

Now Axis winced. Who had he betrayed here tonight? Faraday — or.

Azhure? He leaned down and kissed Azhure again, shifting his body against hers, allowing his desire to swamp him. The night was yet young, and Faraday was very far away.

Neither knew that somewhere, sitting in front of his lonely fire, the Prophet laughed at the man and woman entwined beneath the ferns. He was pleased.

Well pleased. Azhure had served the Prophecy well this night.

A Parting of WaysAzhure, dressed in her Avar tunic

and leggings, packed the crimson robe carefully into the base of her pack. Last night seemed a dream. But every aching muscle in her body told her otherwise.

"Rivkah, where will you be going from here?" she asked.

"Back to Achar, Azhure. Do you think to join me? Why not go back to Talon Spike with the Icarii?"

Azhure hesitated. "I —"

"I know what happened last night," Rivkah said gently. "I saw both StarDrifter and Axis follow you into the forest, and I saw StarDrifter return alone."

Azhure busied herself thrusting the last of her belongings into the pack. "It would be hard to go back to Talon Spike, Rivkah. StarDrifter would be...well -"

"Impossible," Rivkah said. "Yes, Azhure, I understand that. Do you want to follow Axis?"

"That would be impossible, Rivkah. No, I thought I might follow you. I am heartily sick of this Prophecy, and I do not want to get in Axis' way. It would be best if I left whatever we had last night here. As quickly as possible."

Rivkah nodded. She understood that Azhure wanted to walk away from Axis before he had the chance to tear her soul apart as StarDrifter had torn Rivkah's.

Mortal women had no place beside Icarii Enchanters.

Axis stood conferring with several of the Crest-Leaders. Those of the Icarii who had not indulged too freely in the wine of Beltide were making preparations to return to Talon Spike. The groves about him were filled with the rush of feathers and shouted goodbyes.

"We have further reports of Sigholt, Strike-Leader," FarSight said.

Axis glanced his way sharply. He had sent three different patrols on long-range missions over Ichtar and the Urqhart Hills - he desperately awaited news of both Belial and Borneheld. "Well?" he snapped.

FarSight raised a black eyebrow. For a man who had, according to common gossip, thoroughly enjoyed his first Beltide, Axis had a ferocious temper this morning.

"Belial is well and has settled comfortably into Sigholt, Axis. Sigholt is secure and Belial is establishing supply routes into northern Ichtar. They currently have enough supplies for several months. Before we join him, Belial still wants to secure the area surrounding Sigholt, as well as the WildDog Plains."

"But Sigholt itself is secure?"

"Yes, Strike-Leader. The threat from the Skraelings is almost non-existent.

None dare approach the waters —'

"The waters?" Axis broke in. "What waters?" To one side Ogden and Veremund, hovering about trying to look inconspicuous, gave up all pretence of indifference and stepped closer.

"Belial has somehow managed to reflood the lake and Sigholt not only has the waters of the lake to protect it, but is also surrounded by a deep and wide moat. Skraelings do not like water."

"Especially magic water!" Ogden cried, his white hair standing even more on end than usual. "It is a sacred Lake, Axis. One of the four magic sacred Lakes. I wonder how Belial managed it?"

"Jack!" Veremund whispered, tugging on Ogden's sleeve. "It must be Jack!"

"Well," Axis said, "Sigholt seems to be a good site for a base in more ways than one. I must get word to Belial."

"We can send more farflight scouts, Axis," FarSight began, but Ogden and Veremund broke in, speaking as one.

"We'll go, Axis!"

Axis laughed. "What? You expect me to entrust a message to two such rascals? Even if I did, would Belial believe a word that came out of your mouths?"

Ogden's and Veremund's faces fell and Axis relented. "I will entrust messages to both farflight scouts and to you two gentlemen," he said, then turned back to FarSight. "And Borneheld? What news of Borneheld?"

"Not much, Axis. Borneheld has encamped at Jervois Landing, where you expected."

Axis nodded.

FarSight continued. "Jervois Landing is too far for the farflight scouts to fly -

and too dangerous. West of Sigholt Ichtar seethes with Skraelings, and Borneheld's archers would as soon shoot at Icarii as they would at the Skraelings. Belial intends to send human scouts on foot, disguised as peasants, to scout Borneheld and his encampment and learn what they can. At the moment, however, Belial knows little and we know even less."

"Then it would be best for the Strike Force to return to Talon Spike for the moment," Axis said, thinking aloud. "Continue training there until Belial has established a supply route strong enough to feed both his men and the Strike Force. Once supplies are guaranteed, you can move the Strike Force south to Sigholt. Whatever happens, they must be there by early autumn to ensure enough time to prepare for the winter campaigns. Gorgrael will use the summer to regroup, and he will strike again with the first of the northerly winds of Bone-month, if not earlier. Ideally, I'd want you to start moving down to Sigholt in no less than twelve weeks' time, by DeadLeaf-month. That would give you time not only to settle in before the winter campaigns, but also to train intensively with Belial's forces. I want you welded into one force."

"And who will command that one force?" FarSight asked.

"I will, FarSight," Axis said, "when I arrive in Sigholt. You will command the Strike Force in Talon Spike until you arrive in Sigholt. Then Belial commands until I return. Perhaps," he said carefully, "it is best that I send this message with two groups of messengers."

"You have no need to fear, Strike-Leader," said FarSight. "The Strike Force is yours to dispose of as you will. If you think Belial is best to command until you return then I will obey." He paused. "Do you think you will be gone months?"

"I truly do not know, FarSight," replied Axis. "Ogden and Veremund tell me that time passes in strange ways in the waterways. Perhaps I will be gone only days, perhaps months. Whatever the case, need to learn what secrets the Charonites can teach me...and I have a promise to fulfil while I drift the waterways."

Ogden and Veremund wandered off, discussing the reflooding of the Lake of Life in excited whispers. Had Jack found Zeherah? They gripped hands, their eyes bright with barely suppressed excitement - oh, to see Zeherah again!

"Gentlemen?"

Startled, they whirled around at the sound of Rivkah's voice. Both Rivkah and Azhure approached.

"My dear," Ogden said, pleased to see Rivkah. The Sentinels treasured Rivkah for her role as Axis' mother. Azhure...well, Azhure was a puzzle which both Ogden and Veremund were determined to solve, especially after StarDrifter and Axis had, according to gossip, vied over her last night.

"Ogden, Veremund. I rould not help but overhear your conversation with Axis and the Crest-Leaders. Are you travelling to Sigholt?"

Ogden nodded. "As soon as we can, Rivkah. Why? Would you like to join us?"

Rivkah relaxed. "Azhure and I would both like to travel with you. And we would be no trouble."

"We would be honoured," Veremund said. "It will be a trip into your past, will it not Rivkah, to see Sigholt again?"

"In more ways than one," Rivkah remarked. "Will we travel down through the Avarinheim to where the Nordra escapes the Fortress Ranges?"

Azhure visibly tensed. That meant they would have to pass very close to Smyrton — and Azhure would be loathe to get that close to her old village again.

Veremund patted Azhure reassuringly on the arm as he answered Rivkah.

"No, my dear, we will not travel that way."

"Then which way?" Rivkah asked, confused. It would surely be the most direct route.

Ogden and Veremund smiled conspiratorialry. "No," Ogden said. "We would prefer one of the lesser-known paths. We will travel through the Avarinheim for a few days, certainly, but we will strike west towards the Fortress Ranges immediately."

"But I thought they were impossible to cross," Azhure said. "Isn't the only route through the Forbidden Valley?"

"No, sweet lady," said Veremund. "There are other ways, and it will be our pleasure to show you one of them. But once through we will have to travel south through the WildDog Plains to HoldHard Pass. It is a long and lonely trip, so Ogden and I are relieved that we will have such charming company to keep us amused."

Rivkah smiled at them. "When will we leave?"

"This afternoon, Rivkah. Soon." Ogden paused. "If you have goodbyes to say then say them now."

The light died in Rivkah's face. For weeks she had talked about leaving the Icarii, but now that her departure was imminent the reality of leaving a marriage and a people with whom she had spent the majority of the past thirty years struck. She looked at the flights of Icarii lifting off from the groves, tears glinting in her eyes. Was she doing the right thing?

StarDrifter stepped up from nowhere and placed a hand on Rivkah s waist.

"You look upset, Rivkah. What is it?"

Rivkah forced a smile to her lips. She wished that StarDrifter had not touched her, not when he really wanted the woman who stood beside her. "I am leaving this afternoon with Ogden and Veremund. And Azhure comes with us.

We travel for Sigholt."

StarDrifter looked stunned. Azhure was leaving for Sigholfi He'd thought she would return to Talon Spike. StarDrifter had hoped that with Axis out of the way, Azhure might reconsider her choice. But now she would be escaping even further away and he might not see her for months.

The tension among the group deepened as Axis joined them. He had seen StarDrifter approach the group and had quickly made his excuses to the Crest-Leaders and hurried over. His eyes were all for Azhure. She had left his side sometime during the early hours of the morning and had been avoiding him ever since. It was too much that Star-Drifter should have the chance to speak with her, and not himself.

"Rivkah?" he smiled, kissing his mother, then turned to kiss Azhure. It was a provocative action, meant to irritate StarDrifter.

Azhure quickly side-stepped, leaving Axis hanging awkwardly in the air.

StarDrifter smiled, and Azhure caught his look of satisfaction. By the heavens, what wedge had she driven between these two men? she thought frantically.

More than ever, Azhure knew she had to leave as soon as possible.

The Prophecy could not afford to have Axis and StarDrifter torn apart by their jealousy over her. What had possessed her last night? Why couldn't she have walked away from both of them?

Rivkah linked her arm comfortably through Azhure's. "Azhure and I travel to Sigholt with Ogden andVeremund," she said. "Both of us have had quite enough of the complications that Enchanters cause in our lives."

StarDrifter recovered first and leaned forward to kiss Rivkah. "Undoubtedly I will see you there again," he said softly. "Watch for me from the roof."

"Are you sure it is me you want to watch from the roof, StarDrifter?" she replied.

StarDrifter s smile faded fractionally, then he turned to Azhure, who offered him her hand before he could kiss her mouth. "Until we meet again, Azhure."

Azhure nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She did not want to alienate StarDrifter by ill-considered words now.

StarDrifter dropped her hand and turned to Axis. "Beltide sometimes brings out hidden desires and dreams, Axis. Unfortunately we've both discovered that we are more alike than we hitherto realised." His eyes sparkled. "I have never before had to compete with a son who has, apparently, inherited all of my charms and more. Azhure made her choice last night, and she has made her choice today. I harbour no grudges and I bear no ill will. I don't want this to come between us."

Axis hesitated, then embraced his father as Azhure and Rivkah watched with more than a little cynicism.

Once Azhure and Rivkah said their goodbyes to both Icarii and Avar, they waited at the edge of one of the lesser groves for the Sentinels.

"It is going to be a hard journey," Rivkah sighed. "And I am no longer such a young woman."

Azhure fingered her pack. Axis had given her the golden tunic to take down to Sigholt, and it was stowed, together with her crimson robe, at the bottom of the pack.

She raised her head. "Here they come now. I can hear them arguing about something."

Ogden andVeremund stepped into the grove, each leading a fat white donkey loaded with well-stuffed packs.

"I've heard about these two donkeys," Azhure said. "Where on earth did they find them this time?"

"What?" Veremund said as they drew level with the two women. "What?

Find them? Why, they were in camp, weren't they, Ogden?"

"Yes, indeed," Ogden replied cheerfully. "Waiting for us. Veremund must have put them there."

"Oh no," Veremund disagreed, his face darkening. " You must have put them there. / had nothing to do with it."

"Well," Rivkah said, "at least we'll have something to sit on when we get too footsore."

As the Sentinels continued to squabble about who had procured the donkeys, Rivkah began to laugh. It would be all right. Leaving for Sigholt was the best decision that either she or Azhure could have made. For the first time in many, many years, Rivkah began to feel positive about the future.

In one of the northern groves Axis gave last instructions to FarSight. "As soon as Belial has established supplies then join him. I will join you in Sigholt as soon as I have learned what I can from the Charonites. Tell Belial that he must do what is right, but that above all he should consolidate."

"Do not be gone too long. Both Belial and I will need you there by late autumn," FarSight said, then saluted and lifted into the air.

Axis turned to his father, and they embraced again. "Thank you," he murmured, and StarDrifter knew it was for far more than the training he had given his son.

"Axis," MorningStar said, giving her grandson a quick peck on the cheek.

Beltide had not turned out quite the way-she had hoped, and StarDrifter was not the only SunSoar regretting Axis' choice of Beltide partner. "Learn well from the Charonites. And ask them if they have any idea about..."

She hesitated to put her thoughts into words, but Axis knew what she meant. Since their discussion many weeks earlier about the possibility - reality, really - that both Gorgrael and Axis had been trained by an unknown SunSoar Enchanter, powerful enough to use the Dark Music of the Stars, no-one had wanted to discuss it again. Nevertheless, the worry about who and where the Enchanter was marred their unguarded moments.

"If anyone will know, they will," StarDrifter said.

Axis watched the worry carve lines into his father's face. "I will find out what I can from the Charonites, StarDrifter, but somehow I think that this rogue Enchanter will keep himself well hidden until he wants to reveal himself."

"And what," MorningStar said in a toneless voice, "if he is someone you already know, Axis? What if he is someone close to you? An Enchanter this powerful could choose any disguise he - or she - wanted to."

Axis picked his way down the path that StarDrifter had directed him to, pushing through the overgrown oldenberry bushes to the mouth of the cavern. It was just as StarDrifter had described. Hesitating only slightly, Axis walked down to the back of the cavern and squatted by the wall, remembering the Song that StarDrifter had told him to use. He hummed it underneath his breath, tapping the wall gently with his fingers. Unlike StarDrifter, Axis was gentle with the Song and, after only a few moments, a small portion of the grey rock splintered and slid gently to the floor of the cavern, revealing a gleaming bronze door. Axis pushed it open and began the journey into the UnderWorld.

Hours later, when he reached the cavern far beneath, he found the Ferryman waiting for him. Great violet eyes, stunningly youthful among the Ferryman's otherwise cadaverous features, regarded Axis serenely. Behind the Ferryman bobbed his flat-bottomed boat.

Axis stopped two paces away and the Ferryman bowed. "Greetings, Axis SunSoar, StarMan," he said in his deep voice. "Welcome to the UnderWorld.

What is it you desire?"

"Greetings, Ferryman," Axis said. "I understand that my mother won a boon from you."

The Ferryman inclined his head. "She did."

"That you would grant me assistance, in whatever manner I asked?"

Again the Ferryman inclined his head.

"Then teach me," Axis said softly. "Teach me the secrets of the waterways.

Teach me the secrets you have unravelled over the ages."

The Ferryman's eyes were steady. "It is all I have ever wanted to do and it is why I have lived so long winding these waterways," he said finally. "Only to teach."

The AudienceShe saw Borneheld, stepping down from the

throne, Axis stepping to meet him. The two men circled, swords drawn, their faces twisted into snarling masks of rage fed by long-held hatreds. They fought until both were bleeding and stumbling with weariness. About them the Chamber rang with shouted accusations of murder and treachery. Blood. Why was there so much blood? A scream - hers. "No!"

The vision faded, but Faraday's stomach sickened and turned over. She closed her eyes momentarily, trying to regain her equilibrium. Ever since she had stepped into the Chamber of the Moons half an hour ago she had slid in and out of the vision the trees had given her so long ago outside the Silent Woman Woods. She was glad Priam had only addressed her briefly before turning his full attention to her husband.

They had arrived in Carlon four days ago, and Priam had made Borneheld wait until this morning before granting him an audience. Borneheld had fumed, but there was nothing he could do.

Now he stood before the royal dais, his body so tense it was almost quivering.

About him the packed Chamber was breathless with shock. Scribes scribbled furiously, nobles locked stunned eyes, servants crowded doorways, andjayme, Moryson and Gilbert, standing to the left of the dais, were ashen and sweating.

The only relaxed person in the Chamber was Priam, sitting nonchalantly on his throne, his fingers tapping his royal displeasure.

Faraday blinked, trying to concentrate. She did not know Priam very well, but she had heard enough to realise that this hard-voiced, flint-eyed man was showing more backbone than he'd ever done previously.

"I made you WarLord," Priam snapped, "and for that you lost me Ichtar. No doubt these Destroyer-driven wraiths now mass to eat the rest of my realm while you lounge about my court!"

Borneheld's face flushed an even deeper red, and Faraday bit her lip, worried.

Borneheld restrained himself. "I was betrayed," he began, but Priam did not let him finish.

"I hear tell you escaped only through Axis' bravery."

Faraday could see the massive effort it took Borneheld to stay calm. His fists clenched by his sides, only very gradually relaxing.

"He has allied himself with the Forbidden, Majesty. 'Tis no wonder we lost Ichtar against such an unholy alliance."

"I hear tell," Priam said very deliberately, his eyes locked with Borneheld's,

"that my nephew believes we should contract an alliance with the, ah, Icarii and Avar."

Faraday, as everyone else in the room, took a huge, incredulous breath.

Priam had never publicly acknowledged Axis as his nephew previously!

"This prophecy I have heard," Priam continued, ignoring the reactions about him, "states that an alliance with those we once feared is vital to defeat this Gorgrael."

Faraday averted her eyes, terrified that Borneheld would see their sudden leap of joy. She took another breath, but this time one of sheer hope. An alliance with Axis would bring him down from his icy mountain and back to her. Oh Mother! she thought, please let Priam have the courage to embrace the truth!

Bring Axis home to me!

A movement to one side caught her attention. Gilbert, whispering frantically behind a hand to his Brother-Leader. Well may you whisper, thought Faraday contemptuously. A thousand years ago your beloved Seneschal orchestrated the Wars of the Axe to drive the Icarii and Avar from their homelands. And for a thousand years your Brotherhood has equated only evil and darkness with the so-called Forbidden. Now a King of Achar plans to ally himself with them.

Faraday could not stop a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth. Do you wonder, Jayme, if the moment the Forbidden set foot in this land again the lies of the past thousand years will be exposed? Can you see your beloved Seneschal losing its insidious control over the Acharites as the Mother and the Star Gods once more spread their joy over this wondrous land?

Priam took a studied sip of water from the begemmed chalice by his side. "I am wondering," he said very softly but very clearly, "if I made the wrong choice in WarLord."

The gasp about the Chamber was audible this time. Scribes scribbled even more furiously. Faraday closed her eyes briefly again. Priam would ally himself with Axis. Civil war would be averted, Gorgrael defeated, and her love kept safe.

Her vision was a lie, after all.

Jayme was now openly agitated, but restrained from speaking by Moryson's grip on his sleeve.

No-one held back Borneheld. "By Artor!" he shouted, taking an ill-considered step forward, "have you gone mad?"

He got no further. Furious himself, Priam leapt to his feet. "You are dismissed, Duke of nothing!" he seethed. "I will speak no more with you! I have made up my mind on this issue, and if you remain stubbornly persistent in your refusal to accept the obvious then / will have to reconsider my choice of both WarLord and heir!"

The Chamber took one gigantic breath and held it; the scribes could not believe what their pens recorded.

Borneheld visibly reeled. "I —"

"You have proved useless to me," Priam continued, his voice even once more as he sat down. "Get out of my sight, Borneheld."

Borneheld's face was pale now, but his grey eyes burned furiously. He did not move.

"Out," Priam repeated, then turned to chat quietly with his wife, Judith, sitting serenely by his side.

Ignored by his King, but aware that every other person in the room watched him, Borneheld only just remembered to offer Faraday his arm as he stalked from the Chamber. As they reached the doorway, Priam called after them.

"Duchess, the Queen has talked kindly of you. Perhaps you would join her for her midday meal on the morrow."

Faraday inclined her head graciously, feeling happier than she had for many months.

Borneheld's temper erupted the moment their apartment doors closed behind them. "He is mad! Crazed!" he hissed, his face flushed and perspiring.

"He thinks only of saving his people, husband," Faraday said, moving to sit at a small table by the window.

"Curse you, Faraday!" Borneheld took a threatening step towards her. "No doubt you revelled in my humiliation!"

Faraday raised her eyes, not in the least intimidated. "I, like Priam, care only for this land, Borneheld. Not for tides, nor for wealth, nor for the power you crave."

Borneheld flung himself away before he gave into his growing desire to hit her as she deserved. "Does not the chance to sit by my side as Queen tempt you, my sweet?"

Faraday's gaze was direct and truthful. "Neither the title nor the place by your side tempt me, husband." There, the words were said.

"Nevertheless, you sanctimonious bitch, you are tied to both, no matter what Priam says and no matter how much you lust after my brother! I —"

He was cut off by a knock at the door. It opened before either Borneheld or Faraday could say anything.

Gilbert stepped through the door. He smirked at the obvious tension in the room, then half bowed to Borneheld. "My Lord, the Brother-Leader requests an audience."

"An audience, Gilbert?"

"He, ah, thinks it best if we further discussed those possibilities I raised in Jervois Landing, Lord."

Borneheld took a sharp breath. "Of course, Brother Gilbert," he said smoothly. "My dear, if you will excuse us."

Faraday frowned at the door as it closed behind him. Why had Borneheld's mood changed so abruptly?

No matter. She stood and looked out the window, gazing sightlessly at the crowds in the streets below. Priam had done what she never thought he would

— publicly allied himself with Axis, and publicly considered him as heir to the throne.

Faraday's eyes filled with tears, but they were tears of hope, not despair.

Through the Fortress RangesFor two

days Ogden andVeremund led Rivkah and Azhure south-west through the Avarinheim. The paths were narrow and overgrown in this part of the forest -the Avar tended to stay away from the range of mountains dividing their homelands from Achar. "They prefer to have a healthy buffer of forest between them and the Acharites," Veremund explained to Azhure.

But even overgrown as they were, the trails were beautiful. The lofty forest canopy sheltered them from the northern winds and let in a delicate soft golden light. As they walked the forest spoke to them in endless music - the secretive sounds of the wind as it moved through the trees and bushes, the soft drip of moisture from leaves, the cascades of streams as they rushed towards the Nordra River and the ever changing song of the forest birds. And weaving its way through both light and music came the wondrous sound of the Earth Tree Song, binding all under her mystery.

Veremund and Ogden enjoyed the two women's company. They were serene and restful companions, and walking with them through the Avarinheim over the past two days had proved a gentle joy. It had been some two thousand years since either Sentinel had walked the forest paths, and then the Avarinheim had stretched over most of the lands east of the Nordra River. Now, only the forest protected by the Fortress Ranges remained inviolate — from either Seneschal or Gorgrael.

"Veremund?" Rivkah caught up to Veremund and Azhure. "Ogden has a problem with his donkey. Her off fore foot has a small stone in it and Ogden wants you to hold her head while he removes it."

Veremund nodded his thanks and turned back.

Rivkah took Azhure's arm as the two women drew away from the Sentinels.

About them the filtered light was alive with butterflies and birdsong.

"Azhure," Rivkah said. "I am glad we finally have a chance to speak." She could feel Azhure tense a little under her hand. "I am not speaking of wrong or right, Azhure, only of what you feel. After all," she smiled wryly, "I am the last to apportion blame to women who find themselves the target of an Enchanter's attentions."

"I did not intend to do it," Azhure said, her tone slightly defiant. "I do not mean to get in the way."

Rivkah let her arm go and gave Azhure a brief hug. "Azhure, it is very hard to love an Enchanter. That is all I want to say. If ever you need to talk, then I will be here."

"I know, Rivkah." Azhure paused. "Axis loves Faraday. I know that, and I can accept it. But..."

"But...?" Rivkah thought she knew what Azhure would ask.

"But, noble or not, Faraday is a woman like me. Wouldn't she and Axis have the same problems as you and StarDrifter did? As Axis and I would? Wouldn't she age and die well before he?"

"Azhure." Rivkah's tone was very gentle. "From what we have heard of Faraday and the Mother, she is no longer quite as human as either you or I.

Perhaps she will live as long as Axis. Perhaps she will be able to hold him, to satisfy him where a human woman could not."

"It was one night. Do not fear for me. I can walk away."

"I hope you can, Azhure," Rivkah said. "Axis has his father's blood coursing through his veins. He is a powerful Icarii Enchanter. He will be back one day -

can you walk far enough before then?"

Behind them Ogden and Veremund bent over the patient donkey's foot, finally letting the unblemished hoof drop to the ground.

"He spent Beltide night with her," Ogden said quietly.

"He has spent nights with many women," Veremund replied.

"This was different. She is different."

"Yes," Veremund finally, grudgingly, said. "Yes, she is. What does this mean for the Prophecy?"

Ogden sighed and gazed up the forest path where the women walked. "Who knows, dear one? Who knows? There is so much we don't know. So much the Prophet left unsaid."

"She is a complication."

"Yes," Ogden agreed.

"But I like her, Ogden. I like her."

"Yes," Ogden agreed again. He knew what Veremund meant. Neither could help liking Azhure because both felt intuitively that she was already an old friend.

But how?

"She has a power about her, dear one," Veremund said. "But it is covered with a thick blanket of fear."

Ogden looked at his brother sharply. "You are very perceptive, Veremund. I had not noticed that, but now that you mention it... Yes, you are right. Is she a danger?"

"A danger? I had not thought of her that way. A danger? Perhaps, but I do not know who to."

"What do we do?" Veremund said eventually. "I do not know what to do about her."

Ogden clucked to his donkey. "What do we do? We do nothing, dear one, but watch. Wait. Serve, in whatever manner presents itself."

"She has the qualities of a hero, dear one," Veremund murmured. "One day she will overcome that blanket of fear and step forward to demand her birthright."

Both remained silent and introspective until they had caught up with Rivkah and Azhure. Then, smiling mischievously, Ogden started to tell the two women of a tale he had once heard of two shepherds, a goat and a saucepan.

The next morning they came to the foot of the Fortress Ranges.

"Well?" Rivkah demanded. "Where is this secret way of yours, Ogden?

Veremund?"

"A little way from here. But it will take most of the morning to climb down into the tunnel."

"Tunnel?" Azhure echoed doubtfully, but the two Sentinels had already started down a barely marked trail.

The Sentinels led the two women into a citvice at the base of the nearest of the hills. For two or three hours they scrambled down, descending deeper and deeper into the gloom. After some time the soft light of the Avarinheim forest disappeared altogether, and Ogden produced a small oil lamp from his donkey's pack.