"Do not fear," MorningStar said. "I merely wanted to ..."

She got no further. At Azhure's cry, a huge hound leapt from the shadows of the doorwell and seized MorningStar by the wrist, breaking her skin but not crushing the bone.

"The Stars save me!': she cried, "it is an Alaunt!"

A savage growl rumbling deep in his throat, Sicarius twisted his head a little and MorningStar whimpered in pain and sank to her knees.

"Azhurer StarDrifter shouted. "Call the Alaunt offl"

Azhure hesitated, then motioned with her hand. Sicarius dropped MorningStar's wrist and backed off to stand by Azhure's side. He continued to snarl at both MorningStar and StarDrifter, his hackles stiff and aggressive.

"No-one harms my baby," Azhure said into the shocked silence of the rooftop. "No-one."

"I did not mean to harm your baby," MorningStar grated, clutching her bloody wrist to her breast. "Not only is that your baby, but it is a SunSoar, possibly an Enchanter, and it is my great-grandchild\ I would not harm it!"

StarDrifter helped his mother to her feet, but his eyes were on Azhure.

"Neither MorningStar nor myself wish the baby harm. On the contrary."

Azhure nodded stiffly. "MorningStar, I apologise for Sicarius' actions." Both MorningStar and StarDrifter winced at the naming of the hound. "He only wanted to protect me." She stepped forward and took MorningStar's wrist. "Come below and I will wash and bind it for you. These marks will scab in a day and be gone in a week."

As she led MorningStar and StarDrifter below, Magariz and the other Icarii on the rooftop let loose a collective sigh of relief. FarSight raised his eyebrows at Magariz. "A poor welcome for MorningStar."

"If you knew how much Azhure wants that baby then you would only be surprised she did not set Sicarius to Morning-Star's throat," Magariz said quietly.

Azhure washed and bandaged MorningStar's wrist as Star-Drifter sat on the side of the bed. His eyes lingered on Azhure's belly. He had no doubts she

carried an Enchanter. Who would sing to the unborn baby if Axis didn't get here in time? His fingers twitched.

At their feet Sicarius stirred, and StarDrifter blinked.

"Where did the Alaunt come from, Azhure?" he asked.

Azhure paused in her bandaging. "The Alaunt? When Ogden, Veremund, Rivkah and I crossed the WildDog Plains they surrounded us one night. We thought they would attack, but instead they bound themselves to me. They have proved good companions."

MorningStar and StarDrifter glanced at each other. WolfStar's hounds? To the woman who carried his bow?

MorningStar also knew the attraction Azhure had for both StarDrifter and Axis, and wondered further.

The GateKeeper

f f -|^ -yo-one returns from the dead!" cried Orr. "WolfStar did!" Axis retorted. "Will you help me with this or not?"

"You could kill yourself if you attempt to do this," Orr said, regaining composure. "You do not know the ways."

" can read the ring," Axis said quietly. "The ring will show me the way. I have a purpose. It will show me the Song."

Orr shook his head. "There is not a Song for every purpose, I told you that.

You said you promised FreeFall you would bring him back. When? Under what circumstances?"

Axis related how FreeFall had died on the rooftop of the Keep at Gorkenfort, killed by Borneheld's traitorous sword. "As he collapsed in my arms, FreeFall told me to seek out StarDrifter. Then he said something strange. He said, 'The Ferryman owes you, Axis. Learn the secrets and the mysteries of the waterways and bring me home! I will wait at the Gate. Bring me home to EvenSong!

Promise!' "

"EvenSong?" Orr queried.

"FreeFall's cousin and lover. And my sister. They were to have married."

Orr repressed a smile. "Ah yes, I had forgotten the SunSoar attraction each to the other. And you promised to do this?"

Axis nodded. "He was dying, and he was dying on my account."

"Did you know to what he referred?" "No. I had not met my father then, and I was only groping at the very edges of my powers. I had no idea what the Gate was, or the waterways." He paused. "Even now I do not quite know what FreeFall meant by 'the Gate'. Did he mean the Star Gate here?"

Axis and Orr stood close to one of the archways of the Chamber of the Star Gate, near where they had originally entered.

Orr folded his arms inside his cloak and stood deep in thought for long minutes. Just as Axis was about to speak again, Orr raised his head. His violet eyes were almost completely drained of colour and were now dead, soulless.

"FreeFall should not have known of the Gate. No Icarii, Enchanter or not, knows of the Gate. No-one. Explain, Axis, how FreeFall could have known about it." His voice was as cold and colourless as his eyes.

Axis was unsure what to say. Why was Orr so upset? "FreeFall spoke those words with his last breath, Orr." Axis' own voice slowed and he returned the Ferryman's stare without blinking. "Perhaps his soul already stood before this

'Gate'. If you want an explanation then that is the only one I can give you.

FreeFall knew what the Gate was because he already stood before it."

Orr nodded. "It is the only explanation." He sighed, and the violet slowly started to filter back into his eyes. "And you promised, not knowing what it was you promised. Axis," Orr took Axis' arm, and led him through the archway and down the dim corridor towards the boat. "The Gate is one of the deepest mysteries that the Charonites know of, if not the deepest. If I take you there, you must promise never, never" he almost spat the word, "to tell another living soul, not even family."

Axis steadied the boat as Orr stepped in. "I promise," he said, and climbed in behind Orr, settling himself in the prow of the boat.

"Hmm." The Ferryman raised his hood, something Axis had never seen him do. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes."

Orr arranged his cloak neatly. "Well, I can take you to the Gate, Axis SunSoar, and well might FreeFall wait there for you. But you will have to convince the GateKeeper. She is the only one who can free a soul back to life —

and I have never known her to do it yet. Now, speak only when I tell you to, and touch nothing."

The boat slowly started to move, and for a while they passed along normal waterways. The stars sparkled within the green water, and the smooth tunnel walls alternated with great grey caverns as they floated along. But suddenly, so suddenly he was not aware of the transition, Axis realised that they were moving across a vast expanse of dull black water -no stars shone within its depths. There were no walls, no roof at all that Axis could see. They just drifted through a vast sea of blackness, above and below, only the sound of the boat skimming through the water reassuring Axis that they still sailed rather than flew.

A strange pale shape off one side of the boat caught Axis' eye. It was a weeping young woman, carrying a tiny baby. Both the woman and the baby were mist-like, insubstantial, gliding only a handspan above the water. Behind the woman came another shape, but Axis could not see whether it was male or female.

"We travel the River of Death," Orr said. "If you touch the water, you will die."

Startled, Axis placed his hands firmly in his lap. He looked again at the woman and baby.

"She died in birth," Orr said, "and she cries for the life that was denied her and her baby." He paused. "On the night Gorkentown fell and Yuletide was attacked, the river was crowded with souls - Icarii, Avar, and Acharites."

Axis raised his eyes in unspoken query.

"Yes, Axis. All travel the River of Death, even Skraelings. Death makes brothers and comrades of all."

Orr's eyes brightened, and he leaned forward. "Look behind you, Axis SunSoar. We approach the Gate."

Axis swivelled on his seat. They were rapidly approaching what appeared to be a large island, slightly raised towards its centre. On the top of the rise was a large rectangle of pure light, slightly wider than a normal door and twice as tall.

The next moment the boat rasped across the gravel of the shore and came to a complete halt. Beside them the woman and baby continued to glide towards the rectangle of pure light. "You must go on alone, Axis. By the Gate you will find the GateKeeper. Ask of her what you wish, but do not ask what lies through the Gate. If you do - alive or not - you will be forced through."

"Thank you, Orr. Will you wait here for me?"

"If you come back," Orr said comfortingly, "then I will be here for you."

The surface of the island was covered with loose grey gravel, and Axis had to fight to keep from losing his footing. The air was thick and heavy about him, but all he could see was the rectangle of light atop the hill, throbbing with a hypnotic power. Ahead of him the woman and baby reached the rectangle, paused briefly, then stepped through. The light pulsed for an instant, then was calm again — but still it seemed to call, hungry for more.

As he neared the crest of the hill Axis saw that a thin, dark figure sat at a table to one side of the Gate. As he drew closer the figure lifted its head from its contemplation of two shallow bowls, a faint glow emanating from each, and spoke.

"I hear footsteps."

Axis crunched to within five paces of the table and stopped. In the reflected light from the Gate he saw it was a woman who sat there, gaunt, with pale luminous skin, great black eyes sunk into her skull, and black hair left free to flow down her back. White hands rested on the table before her. She reminded Axis of Veremund.

"I ..." Axis' voice faltered and he had to clear his throat. It was very hard to speak in this place and before this woman. She did not look very pleased to see him. "I seek the GateKeeper," he finally managed, relieved that his voice emerged calm and steady despite his inner turmoil.

She considered him with her great unblinking eyes. Another soul drifted up to the Gate, paused as it looked at the woman, then passed through. As the Gate pulsed the woman lifted a small metallic ball from one of the bowls and dropped it into the other bowl. It made a soft clink as it fell. "I am the GateKeeper," the woman replied, her voice toneless. "I keep tally. Have you come to be counted? Why? You are yet alive." She smiled, and Axis wished she hadn't. Her smile had the appeal of a four-day dead corpse and the malevolence of a nightmare. "I have come with a request."

Another soul drifted into the Gate and the GateKeeper dropped another metal ball from one bowl to the other. She looked up at him again. "Yes? A request? How unusual. Rarely am I asked for requests."

Before Axis could answer, a stream of souls approached. The GateKeeper slowly and deliberately transferred the balls from one bowl to the other as each soul passed through the Gate. The continual and deliberate clicking of the balls as they dropped into the second bowl began to irritate Axis intensely. He tried to stop himself from shuffling.

Finally the stream of souls subsided and the GateKeeper looked up again. "A tavern fire," she explained listlessly. "Thirty-four dead."

"Do all who approach pass through?" Axis asked, wondering what she would do if one of the souls refused to pass through.

The GateKeeper pursed her lips. "No," she finally said, and waved at a small pile of some fifty dull black balls that lay on the extreme right side of the table.

"These refuse to go through."

Axis glanced at them, about to ask if FreeFall was among them, then he noticed that there were two other, smaller, piles of balls on the table. One pile of seven balls, sparkling like the stars, lay at the front centre, while a larger pile of some thirty or forty softly glowing golden balls, lay to the extreme left of the table. He pointed at the two extra piles. "And those?"

"Those?" The GateKeeper raised her eyebrows, and in that moment Axis realised she was the most impossibly beautiful woman he had ever seen. "You see those?"

"Yes," Axis replied. "Both piles glow, perhaps with the reflected light of the Gate. Are these souls who also refuse to go through?"

"No. These," she pointed at the pile of seven sparkling balls, "are the Greater, and they have no need of me or my Gate." She pursed her lips. "They are incomplete. They await Song and Moon."

Axis frowned, then his face relaxed as he remembered Orr's words. "The Star Gods."

"Yes. You are good. And these ..." The GateKeeper pointed at the larger pile of golden balls, then waved at the Ferryman waiting in his boat far below them.

"These," she said with a hint of amusement in her voice, "are the Lesser. They also do not have to go through my Gate."

Axis frowned. The Lesser? What did she mean? He opened his mouth to ask, but the GateKeeper forestalled him. "Why are you here?" she asked, calm and inscrutable again. All appearance of beauty had vanished.

"I have come to bring FreeFall SunSoar back from the dead," Axis said, realising how ridiculous it sounded. "He said he would wait at the Gate.

Perhaps," he indicated the small pile of balls that represented those who would not go through, "he waits among those."

"How amusing that you should think you could bring someone back. No-one ever comes back from the dead-"

"WolfStar has!"

The woman took a harsh intake of breath, but retained her composure almost instantly.

"WolfStar left through a different Gate," she said, reverting to her expressionless tone. "And thus he would have come back through a different Gate. No-one comes back through this Gate. This is my Gate."

Axis glanced at the Gate, curious about what lay on the other side of Death -

the greatest mystery of all, and the opportunity to solve it lay only paces away.

If WolfStar could come back through the Star Gate then perhaps he could somehow come back through this Gate if he walked through.

"If you wish, you can walk through, Axis SunSoar," the woman said, and Axis noticed a ball in her hand. "But you will never come back. Never." Her hand hovered over the second bowl.

"No." Axis swung her hand away from the bowl. To his surprise her flesh was warm and soft. Was that his life she held in his hand? "I do not wish to go through."

"Well," the GateKeeper smiled and replaced the ball in the first bowl, "as you will. Now, tell me. Why do you think you can return this soul to life?"

Axis told her the story of FreeFall's murder, of the promise the birdman had extracted from Axis as he lay dying. "FreeFall must wait among those souls who refuse to go through. Release him to me."

"Ah," the GateKeeper sighed melodramatically, her face softening into beauty once again, "it is a touching story you tell." Her face hardened. "But no.

No. No. No. No-one goes back once they are dead. Now, go away and leave me.

FreeFall SunSoar will not return to the land of the living."

"Damn you!" Axis gave in to his anger and disappointment. "Don't you understand anything? FreeFall died well before his time. Murdered. I promised*.

He believed me and now he waits for me! I cannot go back on my promise!"

Far below the Ferryman stirred resdessly.

"No," the GateKeeper said again.

Axis tried one last time. "I was unable to save him from Borneheld, GateKeeper, please give me the chance to save him now!"

The GateKeeper's lips formed the word "No", then stopped at the last moment as the name Axis had mentioned sank in. "Borneheld? Is this Borneheld the one who is also Duke of Ichtar?" she inquired placidly, but Axis could see that her fingers trembled on the table.

"Yes, he is the Duke of Ichtar."

"Ah," the GateKeeper breathed. "I do not like the Dukes of Ichtar."

Now her agitation was evident. She sat silently, deep in the memory of some wrong the Dukes of Ichtar had done her, her fingers shuffling up and down the table like wary spiders. Finally she spoke again, but now her voice quivered with repressed excitement.

"You have it in your power to right an injustice," she said.

"As do you. Release FreeFall."

"And you will help me to right the injustice done to me and mine?" the GateKeeper asked.

"What is it you want me to do?"

"Promise first."

Axis hesitated, then nodded. "I agree. What is it I have to do to bring FreeFall back?"

The GateKeeper's face collapsed in on itself until she resembled nothing more than a skull covered with a thin parchment of skin and a wig of stiff horsehair. "Listen," she rasped.

Axis listened.

When she was done, Axis looked almost as cadaverous as she did. "Even Borneheld does not deserve that," he whispered. "That is horrific. Barbarous."

"You promised," she hissed, "and even now I can exterminate FreeFall's soul so that he will never know the existence that waits for him on the other side of the Gate."

Axis had no choice. "Then you have a bargain, Gate-Keeper."

"Remember, the conditions of the contract must be met within a year and a day of your returning to the OverWorld."

"Yes, I remember. GateKeeper ..."

"Yes?"

"Why do you request such a bargain?"

"It is required," she said, calm once more.

Axis took a deep breath. "And FreeFall?"

"As I promised, StarMan, but you must keep your bargain, or the transformation will not complete itself and FreeFall will wither and die again."

Suddenly Axis wanted to escape these worlds beneath the surface of the earth into warmth and life again.

"Well," he finally said, "until we meet again, GateKeeper," and he sketched a salute and marched back down the gravel-coated hill towards the Ferryman.

"Oh," the GateKeeper smiled to herself, her face that of a beautiful young girl. "And that will be far sooner than you wish, StarMan."

Her thoughts drifted as she tallied the never-ending shuffle of souls through the Gate. She hated and loathed the Dukes of Ichtar even more than Sigholt did.

Zeherah was her daughter.

CaeluinM zhure twisted over to her side in the bed, hoping she Z-\

had not woken Rivkah. She desperately needed her JL _*~sleep for she had trained her archers hard today and was tired and sore, but no matter what she did she could not drift off. And tonight the baby lay heavy and uncomfortable in her womb. Despite the reassurances from EvenSong, Rivkah and MorningStar, Azhure still worried that for a six-months babe, the child was small and rarely moved.

Azhure sighed and eased herself out of the bed carefully, then padded silently across the floor to the door. She hesitated as she considered whether or not to take a wrap with her, but the Sigholt nights were so temperate that the linen of her nightgown would keep her warm enough. Sicarius rose and followed his mistress out the door. Leaving the silent corridors behind her, Azhure climbed the narrow staircase to the roof. A few minutes in the night air usually calmed her.

She sighed happily as she reached the deserted roof. A warm breeze blew off the Lake, and Azhure unbound her hair and shook it out. She gazed at the Lake of Life - a long soak in the steaming waters would be the perfect relaxant.

But she could not be bothered with the walk. A stroll around the roof should do.

Sicarius settled down by the doorway; there was little danger on the roof of Sigholt.

Azhure leaned over the waist-high wall and surveyed the sleeping camps.

Around the northern shore of the Lake stretched the tents of the Skarabost refugees, now numbering several thousand. Azhure sighed as her eyes drifted over the faint lights of the camps. Vegetable gardens, although they helped, would not be enough if Sigholt were forced to live off its own resources.

She took a deep breath and held it. The wild gorse was flowering across the hills; already the HoldHard Pass was blossoming with new life as both plant and animal life crept along its length.

"Sigholt will prove the heart of the new Tencendor," she whispered, closing her eyes. "I am so glad that I am a part of this reawakening."

Still with her eyes closed, Azhure turned and leaned her back against the waist-high wall. When she finally opened her eyes Axis was standing in the centre of the roof, staring at her.

He had said his goodbyes to Orr in the centre of the violet lake of the crystal cave as they bobbed gently in the flat-bottomed boat and then he'd transferred almost immediately, feeling the surge of the Star Dance through his body, revelling in its power. What would it be like to one day manipulate the entire Star Dance rather than the minute portion needed for this Song? Axis forced his thoughts back to Sigholt. How long had he been gone? Was all well?

He felt himself being drawn across a vast distance as if by an unseen hand.

The closer he got to Sigholt, the faster he travelled, and Axis feared he would be slammed into its roof with such force that his bones would be crushed.

But just as that horrifying thought crossed his mind, his stomach lurched and he found himself standing on Sigholt's roof, surrounded by darkness, the stars wheeling in their perpetual dance in the heavens above his head.

Confused, Axis thought he must have somehow transferred back in time to the vision he had seen of Rivkah, young, lovely and pregnant.

But the woman who turned to him was Azhure, not his mother. But like Rivkah, her waist was thickened with midterm pregnancy.

She opened her eyes, and they widened as she caught sight of him.

Axis opened his mouth, unsure what to say, when a deep and musical voice boomed about him. "Are you true?"

"Yes, dammit!" Axis snapped without thinking, and the bridge, offended, muttered grumpily to herself.

"Azhure? Azhure?" He took one step forward, then just stood and held out his hand.

Azhure stood motionless, still too shocked to move or speak. Somehow she had always thought Axis would stride in across the bridge, and Azhure would meet him serenely, invulnerable behind her uniform and her position as commander in his army. They would talk about the baby sensibly, adults discussing the unexpected outcome of their Beltide excess. They would come to a civilised and utterly mature arrangement whereby Axis would still love and teach his child but neither it nor Azhure would stand between him and Faraday.

Indeed, Azhure could tell him about Belial's proposal, which would solve all their problems, and Axis would be comforted that Belial could relieve him of this small embarrassment.

. But here she stood, her hair down, barefoot and only a thin nightgown between her and Axis. There he stood, his face looking tired and strained, his entire body slumping with weariness, but holding his hand out to her as he had on Beltide night, and, oh, curse him! she could feel her blood surge as strongly as it had that night. All she wanted to do was to run light-footed across the space between them and let him hold her and comfort her and tell her that he loved her.

But he did not love her, and that thought alone managed to keep Azhure at a reasonably safe distance.

"Axis," she said in a voice considerably calmer than she felt. "Welcome to Sigholt."

Axis stood there, his hand extended, then strode the distance between them and hugged her tight.

Sicarius, watching from the door, sat up, but otherwise made no move towards the pair. He could feel the pull of their blood each to the other.

"Azhure," Axis whispered. "What have I done to you?" His hand, trembling, gently passed over her rounded abdomen, feeling the tug of the baby's blood.

"What any man will do to any woman when he lies with her at the right moment," she said, too lightly.

"Azhure," Axis asked, "what's wrong?"

"Oh, Axis." Azhure's voice was artificially cheerful as she disentangled herself. "I am sorry that I have presented you with this complication. I can assure you that I won't try to tie you down. Perhaps," Azhure's voice broke a little under the strain, "we can talk about this slight embarrassment in the morning, when you are rested."

Complication? Embarrassment? Axis couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Did she think she was any of these things? But he could see her discomfort, and was scared that she would dart away any moment.

"You're right, Azhure. It would be better if we could talk about this in more congenial surroundings. Do you know if there are quarters prepared for me?"

Azhure relaxed. "Yes, of course. Belial has kept the main apartment complex prepared, awaiting you. Axis, you cannot know how pleased all will be at your return. And there is so much to teD you!"

"Then show me these quarters, Azhure. I am sure that Belial will keep me busy in the morning. And I, as well, have news to share."

Azhure led him down the stairs, Axis raising his eyebrows at the huge hound which clattered after them, but making no other comment. Azhure chatted brightly, telling Axis some of what had been going on in the Keep in his absence.

Axis answered in monosyllables, his eyes drifting every few steps to her thickened body. She was going to make him a father! Axis felt light-headed — no other woman had ever done this for him. A father. The thought sobered him. He would not fail this child. This child would know its father. It would have no cause for doubts. No cause for nightmares.

The corridors were quiet, deserted at this time of the night, and no-one was there to see Azhure let Axis into the main apartment complex.

"Come in, Azhure," Axis said easily, "and help me light the lamps. Besides, there is something I have to say to you."

The main apartment suite consisted of several chambers grouped about a central one, where Axis and Azhure now stood. It was richly furnished with warm, mellowed woods and draped and cushioned in yellow and crimson damask. To one side a door to an equally opulent bedchamber stood ajar. The hound settled quietly by the door, his golden eyes on his mistress. "Azhure?"

She turned from the lamp she was lighting and smiled. "Yes?"

"How long have I been gone? Or should I," he grinned, "hazard a guess from the roundness of your belly?"

Azhure coloured. "It is the first week of Bone-month, Axis."

He sighed and turned away, rubbing his face tiredly. "Late. I had not thought to be gone so long. There is so much to be done."

"You will need your rest," Azhure said, putting down the lamp she was carrying and starting to edge for the door. The sooner she was gone from here the better.

Axis toyed with the fringe of a lampshade. "Azhure, there is one more thing I would ask of you," he said. "Yes?"

Axis raised his pale eyes. "Stay with me. Be my lover." Her whole body stiffened. "No, I cannot," she whispered. Why had she let herself be caught like this?

Axis walked over, his eyes locked in Azhure's. She went rigid as he approached, but he walked straight past her, his arm brushing hers, closed the door, and turned back. "And why is that? Why can you not stay?"

Azhure had spent months putting her arguments together for this moment.

Where were they now? Increasingly desperate, she blurted, "Because I am a simple peasant girl and you are an Icarii Enchanter."

Axis took a step closer to Azhure. "The simple peasant girl stayed behind in Smyrton," he said, "and before me is the woman who has mastered the Wolven."

And the woman who sent me reeling among the Stars at Beltide. Would he feel the Star Dance through her body again when he lay with her? "Stay with me.

Dance with me."

Azhure swallowed. "I am mortal, short-lived, and you will live for hundreds of years. You have seen how StarDrifter and Rivkah's marriage foundered on this. There is no hope for us. No hope."

Axis stepped yet closer. "I may be dead in a year or less, Azhure. What does a five-hundred-year lifespan count for when events of such magnitude threaten to envelop us all? And we are not StarDrifter and Rivkah. Stay with me." He smoothed a tendril of hair back from her cheek.

Azhure took a deep breath and closed her eyes, balling her hands into fists as she tried to ignore the soft stroking of his fingers. "Faraday," she said tightly.

Axis kissed the tender spot at the junction of her jaw and neck. "Faraday is many months and marry leagues away. Stay with me."

"Faraday loves you!" She felt his teeth against her skin, and it brought memories and desires flooding back.

"Faraday's love for me does not stop her sharing her bed with Borneheld.

Stay with me."

"Faraday loves you, and you her!"

Axis laughed softly and untied the laces of her nightgown. "What is love, Azhure? Can you tell me? Stay with me. Dance with me."

He tilted Azhure s head and kissed her mouth. "It is too late to be talking of remaining true when you stand here heavy with my child. Besides, Faraday is a noblewoman, a lady of court. She accepted my previous lover and she will accept you. Stay with me."

"Axis, do not ask this of me!"

"Azhure." He leaned back slightly, his hands slowly pulling the nightgown down over her shoulders and breasts, his fingers stroking. "What reason is there for you to go? You are my friend and my helpmeet, my ally. You fill my eyes and my thoughts. You carry my child. And you love me - you cannot deny that.

Would you deny me my child, deny the child its father? What reason is there to go? Stay with me. Feel the power of the Star Dance through my fingers, through my hands, through my body. Be my lover."

Azhure could not resist. She had fought as best she could. Axis was right, Faraday was far away, and Azhure would deal with it when she had to.

"Yes," she whispered, and in his darkened corner of existence the Prophet laughed loud and merrily.

They lay still and quiet on the bed, both awake, both unwilling to slip into sleep and waste the night in unconsciousness. After a while Azhure felt Axis'

hand caress her belly again, and she finally spoke.

"Axis, the baby hardly moves. They say that you must sing to it, awaken it, teach it."

Axis kissed her cheek. "Our child is a boy. I can feel it."

"You can? A boy?" Azhure laughed, and her own hand stole down to her belly. "A son."

Axis smiled at her excitement. "What would you like to call him? If I am to sing to him, awaken him, we should really grace him with his name."

Azhure rolled over a little so that she faced Axis. "You would let me name him? Don't you want to name him yourself?"

Axis gendy ran his hand around her back, slowly stroking her skin, feeling the ridged scars. She had endured so much pain already in life, so much rejection, so much uncertainty. And now she had carried his child for over six months without any support from him. "Tell me what you would like to name him."

Azhure did not have to think about it. "Caelum."

"Why Caelum?"

"When I was a small girl, after my mother had left me," Azhure said, "there was a blacksmith who would come to Smyrton every two weeks to ply his trade.

A big man. Dark. He called himself Alayne and he was kind to me. He told me stories, and for many years he was the only friend I had. Caelum...Caelum was the hero of his favourite story. The name is appropriate, surely. It means,"

"Stars in heaven, Azhure, I know what it means," Axis murmured. He had thought he'd led a lonely life, but his loneliness was nothing compared to the misery of Azhure's childhood. He had enjoyed the love and support of so many Brothers within the Seneschal, not the least Jaytne himself. All Azhure had were the fortnightly visits of a blacksmith who was occasionally kind to her and who told her stories of mythical heroes.

"Caelum is a fine name," he said finally.

"Axis," Azhure suddenly said. "Promise me you will never steal this baby to give to Faraday to raise!"

Axis sat up on his elbow, appalled. How could she think that he would do such a thing? Unbidden, StarDrifter's words from many months ago in Talon Spike echoed through his mind, "In ages gone past Icarii birdmen simply took the babies of human—Icarii unions and never spared a thought for the women who had struggled to birth their children." Did Azhure fear he would do that to her?

"Listen to me," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I will never take our son from you. Both of us have suffered because our parents were torn from us.

Do you think that I would perpetuate the same pain on our son? Azhure, hear me, I swear on everything I hold dear that I will never, never, take our son from you. Believe me!"

Azhure finally let go of her fears. She reached up and cupped Axis' face in her hands. "Then awaken our son, Axis, and tell him that his parents love him dearly and will never desert him!"

Axis sat up and pulled Azhure against him. He put his arms around her and placed his splayed hands over her belly. "Awake, Caelum," he said clearly, and began to sing. Azhure closed her eyes and let his Song envelop her, feeling their baby - Caelum - stir to wakefulness in her womb. He twisted and turned so his entire body pressed against the outer wall of her womb, as close to Axis' hands as possible. The sensation was so exquisite it went way beyond the description of words.

How could she ever have considered Belial's proposal? Azhure wondered.

How could she ever have believed she could walk away from Axis? Beltide had been a point beyond which there was no turning back. No longer would she attempt to deny her love for this Enchanter who held her now.

Rivkah had told Azhure that it was a tragedy for a human woman to love an Icarii Enchanter, to be entrapped in a love which would cause only pain, but Azhure hoped these months with Axis and their son in Sigholt would somehow store up enough love and happiness to see her through the inevitable suffering.

Azhure's body relaxed completely against Axis', letting the rhythm of the Song he was singing wash through her, feeling her baby respond to his father.

After a long while Axis stopped, and he smiled and whispered into Azhure's ear. "You have grown a wonderful son within your body, Azhure. Speak to him.

Speak to your son. He loves you and would hear your voice."

"Me? But I thought it was only the Icarii father who could speak to babes still in the womb. Me? Why would he want to listen to me?"

"He loves you," Axis repeated, smiling against her ear. "You are his hero. He will hear you. He is awake."

Azhure slid her hands down over her belly, and Axis' covered hers. What would she say? Slowly, hesitantly, then with more confidence and joy, Azhure spoke to her son.

"Let Fly the Standard!'

w^v ivkah hurried along the corridors of Sigholt, i_^ increasingly fretful. She had woken early to find JL. ^^.Azhure gone, her side of the bed stone cold. Her clothes were still lying draped casually across the chair -Azhure was still in her nightgown. Had she gone for a midnight stroll through Sigholt and suffered some mishap - a fall perhaps? Was Azhure now lying injured some place?

Rivkah turned down the main corridor and hurried towards the stairwell that led to the roof. She halted by the door to the main apartment. The door was closed and nothing seemed amiss. But there was something...different.

Rivkah suddenly realised what it was as the faint odour of lamp oil registered. Had Azhure gone in there? Was she now asleep — injured, perhaps -

on the floor? Rivkah gripped the door handle and stepped into the central chamber.

Lamps had indeed been lit, but had now burned down. Rivkah glanced about the chamber and took a deep breath. She had not been in these apartments since returning to Sigholt, and they brought back a flood of memories. Searlas is long dead, she told herself firmly, and stepped further into the room — and saw Azhure's nightgown lying in a pale puddle in the centre of the floor. She turned her head towards the open door to the bedchamber, then walked slowly over and stepped through.

Azhure and Axis lay asleep on the bed, Axis' arms wrapped protectively around Azhure. Well, thought Rivkah, a curious stillness in her mind, you did not run far enough or fast enough, did you Azhure?

Axis opened his eyes and stared at Rivkah standing just inside the doorway.

He gently disentangled himself from Azhure; who murmured a little as he left the bed. He paused to pull the sheets over her before he hugged his mother.

"Welcome home to Sigholt," Rivkah whispered, holding her son tightly to her. "Did the Ferryman teach you well? Did you learn his secrets?"

"The Ferryman still plies his boat along the waterways, Rivkah. He is well."

Axis brushed some stray silver wisps of hair back from his mother's forehead.

"Does anyone else know I am here?" he asked.

"No." Rivkah paused and glanced at Azhure, still asleep.

"She carries a beautiful son, Rivkah."

"She was very worried. Have you sung to him?"

"Yes," Axis replied sofdy, remembering.

"Rivkah?" Azhure murmured sleepily behind them. "Is that you?"

Rivkah let her son go and sat down on the bed beside Azhure, stroking her hair.

Azhure knew exactly what she was thinking. "I will be happy, Rivkah. Do not fret for me."

Rivkah's face hardened. They were both so young and both so sure that life would work out exactly as they hoped. Well, already plans and vows lay shattered across the floor. Could they not see that?

"Azhure, it grows late, and Belial has called a meeting of his commanders in the map-room. You must dress. I'll bring your clothes here.

"Axis," Rivkah turned to him, "Belial would be more than pleased to see you.

He has long fretted about your absence."

Axis nodded. "Then shall we surprise him, Azhure? Let me see what Belial has done with my command over the past eight months."

"And while you are in conference I will tell StarDrifter and MorningStar you have arrived," Rivkah said, rising from the bed.

"They are here?" Axis asked sharply.

"Yes. They arrived some time ago."

"Good," he nodded, "for I must talk with them."

Belial paced about the map-room. Where was she? Magariz, Arne, FarSight and two of his Crest-Leaders had been here almost a quarter of an hour, chatting about inconsequential matters. Well, Belial fumed, if her pregnancy was going to make her sleep in during the mornings, then perhaps... The door opened and Azhure stepped into the room. "You're late," Belial snapped. "I ..."

Axis stepped into the room behind Azhure. "I am afraid that was my fault, Belial."

Belial gaped at Axis, then he strode across the chamber and enveloped his friend in a great hug. "Axis!

"Eight months' absence is too long, my friend," Belial said, finally stepping back. "I am glad to have you back."

Axis turned to Magariz. "Magariz!" They,gripped hands. Axis' warmth for this man who had abandoned lifelong loyalties to follow his cause was only slightly less than for Belial. Without Belial and Magariz Axis' cause would be almost hopeless. Axis touched the blood-red blazing sun on Magariz's chest. "Azhure has been wrapping you in her designs, I see."

Axis greeted Arne, then FarSight and the two other Crest-Leaders. Their black uniforms, although similarly emblazoned with the blood-red blazing sun, made them look forbidding and dangerous and Axis wondered how their training was going.

After all the greetings were done, Axis gestured to the others to take their places about the table; it was clear that Axis had assumed full command the instant he'd walked into the chamber.

Axis placed his hands on the table, stared about the table, then said quietly to Belial, "Tell me."

Talking in confident tones, Belial informed Axis of the status of Sigholt and of his command, now a combined one of Acharites and Icarii, ground and air combatants.

Axis nodded occasionally, raised his eyebrows in silent query at other times.

Belial had worked wonders, and Axis was impressed — and grateful. The Icarii were doing well, learning the skills they would need in battle. The Lake had awakened both Keep and hills. When Belial described Azhure's work with the archers, her abilities as a fighter and as a commander, Axis was not surprised. As Axis and Azhure shared a look, Belial quickly moved on to the growing number of refugees who flocked to Sigholt. Word of the Prophecy was spreading, and proving potent.

"I could not have asked for a more capable or a more courageous group of commanders than the seven of you," Axis said. "I thank you with all my heart for what you have done here in Sigholt and for what you have done for me personally. If I emerge victorious then it will be your victory as much as mine.

Belial." He looked at his friend. "To you I owe the greatest debt. You accepted me for what I was when I was consumed with self-doubt about my heritage. You saved my life from Borneheld and engineered not only my escape from Gorkenfort, but the escape of an army as well. You took that force and built me a base here in Sigholt which nothing my enemies enjoy can rival. Belial, my friend," he reached across the table and gripped Belial's hand, "I thank you.

"Now." Axis leaned back and spoke to the rest of the group. "What do we control? What is the state of the Skraelings? Borneheld's men? What do you know?"

Magariz lifted a map from the rack behind him and unrolled it across the table. His hand swept over the Urqhart Hills in an arc from north to south. "We control most of the Urqhart Hills, except the extreme north and north-west, which the Skraelings occupy. We also dare not approach too close to Hsingard, which the Skraelings have destroyed. The HoldHard Pass is ours, as is the territory spreading south from the Pass to the Nordra. Below the Nordra we can move fairly easily in the northernmost parts of Skarabost, but we do occasionally skirmish with the outer patrols from Jervois Landing in the north-western parts of the Seagrass Plains. We have supply routes stretching into Skarabost, which should remain open unless our access to the Nordra is cut off." "A good start,"

said Axis. "And the rest?" "We face problems from both Gorgrael and Borneheld,"

Magariz said slowly. "Intelligence from the farflight scouts shows that Gorgrael builds his forces. We hurt them badly above Gorkenfort, and for months the Skraeling masses were scattered all over Ichtar, too disorganised to push further south. But now Gorgrael has regained control and rebuilt his forces. Skraelings, under firm direction now, mass below Hsingard in an effort to break through Borneheld's defences at Jervois Landing. A smaller force also builds in the northern WildDog Plains. Gorgrael obviously plans a two-pronged attack into Achar this winter. Not only past Jervois Landing, but also through the WildDog Plains. I only hope Borneheld can hold them at Jervois Landing, because I suspect most of our efforts this winter will be directed at keeping the Skraelings from pushing south through the WildDog Plains." This was bitter news for Axis.

He had hoped to move his own forces into southern Achar during the winter while Borneheld was occupied at Jervois Landing. But now it appeared that if Borneheld was going to be occupied with the Skraelings, so was he. Axis knew he could not let Gorgrael succeed in his push through the WildDog Plains.

But his agreement with the GateKeeper would last only a year and a day before it lapsed and FreeFall would never be reborn. He had to be in Carlon before then.

"And Borneheld?" he asked. "What has he done at Jervois Landing? How has he equipped his forces? What is his strength?"

"Axis, Borneheld now commands over twenty thousand men in Jervois Landing, and...he controls the force as King. Priam died some months ago."

Axis went rigid with shock. "King?" He took a deep breath. "I can just imagine how Borneheld seized the throne," he muttered bleakly. Now Borneheld would be immeasurably more dangerous. "But how did he manage to find a force of twenty thousand? How?"

Magariz explained about the Ravensbundmen and the extra forces that Borneheld had scavenged from about Achar. Then, as Axis' shoulders slumped, he briefly explained about the system of canals Borneheld had ordered built between the Nordra and Azle rivers.

There was silence about the table. After a moment Axis shook his head.

"Well, FarSight, your Strike Force should be worth five men each. At least Borneheld has not taken to the air yet - unless there is still more bad news, Magariz?"

Magariz laughed, relieving some of the tension in the room. "No, Axis, Borneheld is still ground-bound. The Strike Force will go far towards evening out our chances."

Axis nodded. "Then I had better announce my arrival. Shall I stand from atop Sigholt and shout it for all to hear?"

"No," Azhure said softly. "I have a better way."

Axis met StarDrifter and MorningStar outside the map-room. As Azhure brushed past, StarDrifter raised his eyebrows.

"A son," Axis said. "And an Enchanter."

StarDrifter's eyes glinted. "I knew she would breed powerful Enchanters, Axis."

"I do not think of her as a brood mare, StarDrifter," Axis snapped. "She is Azhure, and I value her as much in her own right as I do for being the mother of my son." He wheeled away and followed Azhure down the corridor.

StarDrifter watched them go, still bitter and resentful that Azhure had chosen Axis that night, then hurried after them.

As the SunSoars and a group of commanders gathered on the roof of the Keep, Rivkah handed a bundle to Azhure.

"Axis," Azhure said, "over the past months Rivkah and myself have worked on this whenever we had time. Arne?"

Arne, obviously forewarned, took the bundle from Azhure and walked over to the empty flagpole.

"Now you are here in residence," Azhure said, "let all know it," and she turned to Arne.

Axis watched Arne unfold the deep gold material, then his eyes caught Azhure's. "Thank you," he whispered.

As Arne raised Axis SunSoar's standard, the breeze caught the fabric and it unfurled in a shimmer of light. As the golden tunic Azhure had wrought for Axis, so his standard -the deep gold field with the blood-red sun blazing in the centre.

All stood and watched it whip and crack in the sun.

"The command is yours, Axis," Belial said formally. "I have done my best.

Now it is yours to do your best with."

Trying to control his emotions, Axis strode to the wall and gazed over the valley. He could hardly reconcile what he saw there with the Sigholt of before.

The Lake of Life had truly lived up to her name, and now new life bloomed all about the Lake and Keep. Late summer roses were even starting to crawl up the silvery walls of the Keep. Sigholt was truly alive.

He looked closely at the camps spreading around the edge of the Lake, then at the practice fields where units were engaged in their mid-morning combat training. Eventually, more and more of them noticed the standard high above their heads, and eventually they fell still. Axis raised a hand, and a faint cheer reached his ears.

"I cannot wait to begin, my friends, but there is one more thing I must do before I rejoin my command." Axis gave a single sharp whistle, and stared into the sun.

"What are you doing?" asked StarDrifter.

"I await my wings," Axis replied, motioning for silence.

All eyes turned to the sun.

Very slowly - and the Icarii with their extraordinary vision were the first to see it - a black spot spiralled out of the sun.

He spiralled down out of the sun, escaping its blazing fury. He was alive and he rejoiced in that life, although he had no memory of the state of death or of his previous life. He simply rejoiced in the freedom of the unlimited sky and the heat of the sun on his wingbacks as he plummeted further and further down to the green and blue earth below him.

Gradually he realised he had to go somewhere, meet someone. He pulled himself out of his crazy dive and scanned the earth below. The glint of the Lake and silver grey of the Keep caught his eye, and he soared in a gigantic loop above them. An exultant scream left his throat.

All below heard the eagle's cry and watched as it tipped its wings and drifted towards Axis. He laughed in sheer delight and extended his left arm, whistling once more.

In a flurry of white and silver feathers the eagle landed on his arm, both fighting for a moment to keep their balance.

StarDrifter stared in amazement. No-one had ever tamed a snow eagle previously. And this was half as large again as most snow eagles, though coloured like all its kind with white and silver feathers, and black eyes, beak and talons.

"Axis?" MorningStar finally managed to ask.

"He is my eyes in the sky, my wings, my voice as I need a voice," said Axis, explaining nothing at all. "He is a gift from the UnderWorld."

Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

WolfStar's Story» s the eagle preened itself on the

parapet wall, Axis JLA asked for time to speak to MorningStar and his JL

JLparents privately. He touched Azhure's cheek as she turned to go; the gesture was lost on none.

"Gather the unit and Wing commanders in the courtyard after noon," Axis told Belial, "and I will address them there. Arne. A word?"

Arne paused, listened to Axis, and nodded briefly.

Soon the rooftop was empty save for the three Icarii Enchanters and Rivkah.

"And what secrets did you learn from the Ferryman?" StarDrifter asked eagerly.

"Many secrets, StarDrifter, and most I have promised not to reveal."

StarDrifter s mouth hardened into a thin line. "Are they so terrible?"

"No. They are quite simple. But I vowed not to reveal them, and I will not.

However," Axis paused and scratched the eagle under its beak, "what I can tell you is terrible enough."

MorningStar walked over to her grandson. "What?"

Axis sighed, and all noted how tight and tense the skin was under his eyes.

"In Talon Spike, MorningStar, you theorised that there was another SunSoar Enchanter, an Enchanter who, for his or her own purposes, had taught both myself and Gorgrael."

MorningStar nodded. "Yes?"

"I can now tell you who it is."

Both StarDrifter and his mother visibly tensed. Who?

"It is WolfStar SunSoar, come back through the Star Gate."

StarDrifter and MorningStar paled in shock, unable to say anything. Rivkah shook her head. Of all Enchanter-Talons to step back through the Star Gate, it had to be WolfStar. What had the Icarii done to deserve this?

Steps sounded in the stairwell and MorningStar and StarDrifter jumped nervously.

"I asked Arne to send the Sentinels up," Axis explained. "Perhaps they can help explain what WolfStar might want, why he came back."

"Axis? What is it?" Ogden asked, noting the tension.

Briefly Axis told the Sentinels about WolfStar's return.

"WolfStar!" Veremund muttered. "But Axis, why are you so sure?"

Axis related how he had discovered the illusion of WolfStar's statue in the Chamber of the Star Gate, and how the Ferryman - Axis did not give them his name — had realised WolfStar had come back through the Star Gate. He paused and looked around. "It is more than time you told me WolfStar's story, and explained why you fear WolfStar so much. I need to know why he has come back."

"It would sicken me to tell the entire tale," MorningStar said. "Veremund?

Will you speak of WolfStar?"

Veremund nodded. "WolfStar's story belongs to a lost world, Axis, a world of four thousand years ago. WolfStar was a remarkable Icarii Enchanter who, at the extraordinary age of only ninety-one, succeeded as Talon of Tencendor."

"There was always rumour about his succession at such an early age,"

Ogden interrupted. "His father was young and fit, only some two hundred years old, and should have lived hundreds more years. But..."

"He fell out of the sky one fine afternoon," MorningStar finished for him.

"And no-one claimed the arrow that feathered from his chest."

"Murder, or accident?" Veremund mused. "Who knows? WolfStar had an alibi

- he was in council with several of the Crest-Leaders at the time - but it was rumoured and is now generally believed that he planned, if not executed, the murder of his own father."

"He wanted the throne. Badly," Jack said, gazing out across the Urqhart Hills so none could see his face.

"Yes. He wanted the throne badly, Jack." Veremund sounded annoyed at the constant interruptions. "WolfStar, ever since he was a flightless child, had been fascinated by the Star Gate. Access to the Star Gate was much more open then, although only a Talon and his heir were allowed completely free use of it.

WolfStar would spend hours, sometimes days, simply staring into the Gate. He was consumed with the idea that the universe contained other worlds."

Axis looked up in surprise. Other worlds? The thought had never occurred to him, but now he felt a tug of curiosity.

"Other worlds," Veremund repeated. "WolfStar surmised that each sun was paired with a world, perhaps like ours, that circled it, as ours does. He looked at the multitude of stars in the universe, and surmised that a multitude of worlds also existed."

"Crazy," StarDrifter muttered.

"For years WolfStar had lived with his obsession, and then, suddenly, he was Talon. Now he felt he could do something about it. The Icarii had long talked about the possibility that someone could step through the Star Gate, and survive to step back through it." Veremund laughed quietly. "But who would be the first to try? One day WolfStar approached the Assembly and asked permission to send an Icarii child, one with Enchanter talent, through the Gate. He claimed it was better to waste the life of a child, if waste it would be, than the life of a fully trained Enchanter."

There was horrified silence around the rooftop, as there had been in the Icarii Assembly that long-distant day.

"The Assembly, as you might expect, refused WolfStar permission to so sacrifice one of their children." Now Veremund was almost whispering. "But WolfStar s obsession was consuming him, and perhaps now he was slightly mad.

He was determined to step through the Star Gate and explore other worlds, but he also wanted to be able to step back into this one. And he needed to know he could step back. One day a young Icarii child, only fourteen years, went out flying and never returned. He was mourned; it was believed that perhaps he had suffered a fatal wing cramp while flying. But then, a few weeks later, another child disappeared, and then another. Then someone realised that all three had possessed Enchanter powers. And then someone accused WolfStar of child murder."

Veremund paused for breath. "WolfStar, defiant and very sure of his own powers, said that it was not murder, but necessary experiment. The secrets of the Star Gate must be solved. He asked what would happen if one day a race from another world wanted to invade our world through the Star Gate? What would happen if someone else, something else, discovered the secrets of the Star Gate, and Gates like it, before he did?"

Axis rocked on his feet at the idea. WolfStar's methods may have been appalling, but were his concerns so crazy as the others seemed to think? He started to speak, but Veremund continued.

"WolfStar claimed it would only be a matter of time before one did come back. Dear ones, WolfStar was an Enchanter-Talon, and he was very powerful.

Far from feeling remorse for the three children he had murdered to this point, NWolfStar produced a roster of children, all with Enchanterpowers, whom he proposed to send through the Star Gate one by one until he found one who could come back."

Bile rose in Axis' throat as he thought of his own son growing safe in Azhure's womb. How would he have felt, sitting among the Icarii, listening to his child's name read out by WolfStar as the fifth, or sixth, or twenty-sixth child to be sacrificed to the Enchanter-Talon's mad obsession?

"As I said, WolfStar was powerful, very powerful, and by now none dared challenge him. All, I suppose, hoped that a child before theirs would be the one to come back."

"I don't believe it," Axis whispered. "They let their children be murdered?

How could they? How many?"

"He sent a further two hundred and seven children tumbling to their deaths in the Star Gate, Axis," said Veremund. "Some only as old as three or four, the oldest about sixteen. He sent his own niece, daughter of his younger brother. He sent," and Veremund almost did not say this, knowing how much it would pain those listening, "he toppled his own wife, heavy with child, through the Gate."

Axis went as white as the snow eagle. "Why?" "Because WolfStar thought his wife's body might serve as some protection for the child within. WolfStar knew his wife carried an extraordinarily talented child, and he hoped the unborn child might be able to succeed where other children had failed. It was a procession of death, Axis. The Icarii parents wept and grieved and lamented, but still they brought their children to the Star Gate as WolfStar demanded."

"Part of the reason why the Icarii are so sensitive about WolfStar,"

MorningStar explained brokenly, "was that our ancestors did not try to stop him.

Virtually an entire generation of Enchanters was lost."

Veremund was glad the tale was almost at its end. "WolfStar almost crippled the Icarii race with his obsession. So many died, and those left were emotionally and mentally

scarred. Many parents who had lost children threw themselves from high rocks in their grief, dashing themselves to death on the hard earth."

. "And did WolfStar discover the secret, Veremund? Was all this sacrifice worth it?" Axis asked, his voice hoarse with emotion. He was descended of such mad blood?

"No. None ever came back. WolfStar would stand on the lip of the Star Gate and scream abuse at the children who had gone through, scream at them to take their courage in their hands and make the effort to come back."

"Why didn't someone push the murderer through the Star Gate himself?"

Axis demanded.

"It took WolfStar's younger brother, CloudBurst SunSoar, who had watched his own daughter scream as WolfStar hurled her into the Star Gate, to put an end to his brother's murderous ways," said Veremund. "One day in Assembly, CloudBurst simply walked up behind his brother, and stabbed him. Just once, but it was a fatal blow."

"That was the only way the SunSoars managed to salvage their self-respect, Axis," MorningStar said. Her face was pale and lined. "CloudBurst managed to save both the SunSoars and the Icarii people. He took the Talon throne and stopped the murders, but the scars remain."

"We so rarely speak of WolfStar," StarDrifter explained, "because of our deep shame."

MorningStar's mouth twisted. "The murder of so many children was not WolfStar's only crime. He was guilty of many other crimes against the Icarii People ..."

"He stole the Enchantress' ring," interrupted StarDrifter, and Axis jumped a little guiltily. He fingered the pocket where he'd secreted the ring.

"... but the children's murder was one that the Icarii have never, never forgotten," MorningStar finished. "What is an ancient ring, even one so precious, when compared to so many wasted lives?"

"And now WolfStar is back," Axis mused. No wonder the Ferryman had reacted with such horror. "He learned the secrets of the Star Gate, and now he has stepped back through. All right. Why? Jack? Do you have any idea why WolfStar has come back?"

Jack had been very quiet as the horrific tale unfolded. Now he faced Axis, composed, his green eyes tranquil and steady. "No. I have no idea."

Axis looked inquiringly at the other two Sentinels, and then to his father and grandmother. "Anyone?!' All shook their heads.

Axis studied the blank faces carefully. Why did he feel as though someone on this rooftop knew precisely why WolfStar had come back through the Star Gate?

"Well then, if we cannot know precisely the reason why WolfStar has come back, does anyone know how long he has been back?"

Again everyone shook their heads. Axis gestured with impatience. Someone must know something "If WolfStar has been back some time, he would have to protect himself against discovery. He would not want people to know. And yet the Icarii, as others, perhaps," he glanced at Jack, "were still using the Star Gate until a thousand years ago. MorningStar, Veremund, how long has the tradition of not touching any of the statues been around?"

It was Jack who answered. "Three thousand years."

Axis took a horrified step backwards. "Three thousand years? He has been back three thousand years? What mischief could WolfStar have got up to in three thousand years?"

"Surely," StarDrifter said irritably, "the more pertinent point is, where is WolfStar now? And what disguise does he wear?"

"What disguise does WolfStar wear?" Axis said. "I don't know. I know / am not WolfStar, but any of you here could be. How can I know? WolfStar must be a master of disguise."

Eyes and mouths opened in horror and indignation. "Us?" Ogden spluttered.

"But we are the Sentinels! It cannot be us}"

Ogden's indignation was nothing to MorningStar's and StarDrifter's angry and resentful denials. Harsh words were shouted. "Peace!" Axis said, holding up his hands. "Do you think if I seriously thought any of you might be WolfStar I would have actually approached you with what I know? But I cannot know for sure. It could be anyone, and," he stumbled, "and the third verse of the Prophecy warns me that I have a traitor within my camp, someone who will betray me to Gorgrael. Who else could that be except WolfStar? Where is he?

Where?"

"I fear I might know," MorningStar said very, very quietly, almost too afraid to speak.

Axis whipped around. "Who?"

"Too much of WolfStar is resurfacing, Axis, and it is resurfacing about one person. Azhure."

"No!" Axis and StarDrifter exclaimed together, and Rivkah cried out softly in denial as well. "No! It cannot be!"

"Thinkl" MorningStar hissed. "The scars on her back, as if someone has ripped out Icarii wings."

"No," StarDrifter said. "If WolfStar assumed the form of a woman - and a woman who can fall pregnant - then he would be able to assume the form of a smooth-backed woman. Mother, be sensible."

"WolfStar's bow, and WolfStar's hounds," MorningStar continued. "Both came to Azhure. Would Sicarius answer to anyone but WolfStar?"

Jack watched MorningStar very, very carefully.

"You cannot be right, MorningStar. You cannot" Axis insisted.

"Of course," said MorningStar. "I am not surprised that both you and your father defend her. If she was WolfStar then she would be of SunSoar blood, and both of you lust after her as if she were SunSoar bred and blooded."

Axis and StarDrifter stared at each other. Both remembered how their blood had sung for her.

"No!" Axis cried. MorningStar must be wrong. "If she were SunSoar, MorningStar, you would feel it too. Am I right?"

"Not necessarily, Axis. The sexual tug is always the strongest." She arched an eyebrow. "And perhaps WolfStar did not want to conceal it."

By the Stars! Axis thought, trying to control his anger. "MorningStar," he said, "WolfStar is going to extraordinary lengths of disguise if he assumes the form of a woman who can fall pregnant. That extreme is surely not necessary.

Besides, Azhure cannot sing, as Rivkah, Ogden and Veremund can vouch," the three nodded vigorously, "and, most important, she grew up in Smyrton, younger than me. What opportunity did she have to creep into Carlon to teach me as a baby? What?"

"Axis is right," Rivkah said evenly. MorningStar was a cold-hearted bitch on occasion. "You forget that I have known Azhure since she was about fourteen. I have watched her grow. Azhure may be a mystery but I stand with Axis and StarDrifter in denying that she is WolfStar SunSoar."

"Nevertheless, Axis," said MorningStar, not ready to concede. "It might be a good idea to send for word to Smyrton. Make sure that people remember her being born, remember her growing from a small child."

Axis nodded curdy. "If that will ease your mind, MorningStar. But I am already convinced." He stepped forward and caught MorningStar's chin between his fingers, and his voice took on the menace of threat. "Do not think to attack her again, MorningStar, or move against her in any way. I value Azhure more than most about me. Do I make myself clear?"

Rjvkah smiled to herself. She had waited thirty years to see MorningStar finally put in her place.

"Above all," Axis said, stepping back from MorningStar and looking about him, "there is one thing that convinces me beyond doubt that Azhure cannot be WolfStar. No compassionate man, whatever the cause, could send hundreds of children as well as his own pregnant wife to the deaths that he did. But Azhure overruns with compassion and love - for me, for her child, and indeed, for all those who she calls her friends. All this despite nearly a lifetime of rejection.

That alone convinces me that she cannot be WolfStar. Leave her alone."

He stared unblinking at the silent group watching him, then turned on his heel and stalked down the stairwell.

Winter ApproachesWinter approached, and with the

arrival of Frost-month swarmed a dark, writhing mass of Skraelings above Jervois Landing. Gautier had stopped sending patrols northwards over the past few weeks -patrols had become a pointless waste of life. Gorgrael did not even bother to disguise his intention of storming into Achar through the defences of Jervois Landing.

On the third day of Frost-month, Borneheld's determination to hold Jervois Landing and redeem his performance at Gorkenfort was almost fanatical. He had returned from Carlon the previous evening, leaving behind a grateful Faraday (and a furious Timozel to guard her), and was now gathered with most of his commanders in the Tired Seagull.

"And," Nevelon stuttered, painfully aware qf Borneheld's expression,

"Magariz said,, and I quote, 'Tell Borneheld that if he does not ally himself with the cause of the StarMan he will die. Tell him that only Axis can lead Achar to victory. Tell him that if he persists in denying the Prophecy then the Prophecy will tear him apart. If he has won a kingdom, then he will not long enjoy it. Tell him Axis comes, and he comes with the power of the Prophecy behind him.'"

Nevelon stopped, awaiting the inevitable outburst.

Yet Borneheld did not explode instantly into fury. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Nevelon, his lips thinning.

What could Roland have been thinking of to pick this man as his second-in-command? Borneheld looked at Gautier. "Well?" he barked.

"Axis must be alive, Sire," Gautier said finally. "Magariz's words, foolish and demented as they are, are full of confidence. He must know Axis is alive."

Borneheld grunted. He'd hoped that Axis had died amid a gnashing of Skraeling teeth above Gorkenfort, but deep down he wasn't surprised to discover his traitorous brother had managed to survive. "And?"

"And," Gautier said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "he must have a force somewhere. Who knows how many of the three thousand who fled with him lived? Some must have died. Perhaps a thousand. Even the best commander, and Axis is not the best," he hastened to add for Borneheld's benefit, "would have lost a significant number to the Skraeling host which followed them out of Gorkenfort."

Borneheld stared back at Nevelon. "Well fed and uniformed, you say?" he snapped.

"Yes, Sire, at least the two I saw were. Both were fit, and their uniforms clean and well made."

"And the emblem of the blood-red blazing sun," Gautier murmured. "Axis has found a new mark, it seems."

Borneheld frowned. Where was his bastard brother? Over the past two months the men Gautier had sent into the southern Urqhart Hills had met with increasing resistance from patrols of a well-trained and well-supplied force. All wore the blazing sun emblem and one or two were led, it appeared, by this same woman who had struck Nevelon. It was now unsafe for Borneheld's men to ride anywhere close to the Urqhart Hills, and even the eastern reaches of the Nordra were becoming dangerous. Not only did Axis have a force somewhere, it was growing stronger and extending its influence.

"Where are they?" Borneheld asked.

Nevelon cleared his throat nervously. "Uh, Sire, I've been thinking about this. It must be Sigholt. The garrison there deserted when they heard the Skraelings were moving eastwards. It has to be where Axis has based his force."

Borneheld jerked up, shocked, sending a goblet of wine spinning to the floor.

"Sigholt!" he cried". Curse the commander who had panicked and abandoned one of the best garrisons in the country!

"If Axis has a rebel force based in Sigholt, then he has the power to hurt you," said Earl Jorge. Though he and Roland were sadly out of favour with the King, it would not stop Jorge speaking his mind when he felt it was needed. "And there are rumours that many of the peasants from Skarabost are moving north of the Nordra river to join him."

Borneheld swore, his temper smouldering dangerously. " Why?" he seethed.

"Why do they move to join one who has allied himself with the Forbidden?"

Roland considered Borneheld warily. "Axis still has a powerful reputation in Achar, Sire. As BattleAxe he was revered. That is what draws them."

Roland had lost considerable weight since the fall of Gorkenfort - his skin now hung in great folds from his cheeks and neck where the fat had dissolved.

In past months he'd felt his mortality keenly, and without thinking he rubbed the spot on his abdomen where he could feel the great hard canker deep in his belly.

Borneheld battled to hold his temper. Would he never be free of his hated half-brother? Why did so many rally to Axis' name and not to his? Why revere Axis' name and not his? Borneheld could not understand it. "We must stop him,"

he muttered finally. "Attack Sigholt."

Everyone present, from Gautier and Roland to the anonymous guards, started in horror. Attack the rebels in Sigholt? Now? When the Skraelings could attack Jervois Landing any day? Madness!

"Sire," Gautier said carefully. "The Skraeling host masses to our north.

Obviously they plan to attack soon. And Sigholt is an easily defensible fort. It would be, ah," Gautier hesitated, "inadvisable to split our forces right now."

"So we leave him free to take Skarabost?" Borneheld spat.

Gautier glanced at Jorge and Roland. "Majesty, Axis will face the same problems from the Skraelings as we do. Doubtless Gorgrael will attack through the WildDog Plains as well. Neither we, nor Axis, are going to be able to move very far from where we are encamped this winter. Axis must only have a small force, a few thousand at most. As we cannot move, neither can he." He paused, summoning his courage. "Sire, we must seek a truce with them for this winter."

"Whatl" Borneheld exploded out of his chair.

"Think of how we could use this to our advantage, Majesty," Gautier said urgently, desperate to deflect Borne-held's anger. "First of all, Axis is as keen as you are not to let the Skraelings further south into Achar. Whatever our differences, Axis hates the Skraelings as much as us. If he is at Sigholt, then his forces can do much of the work - and dying — to keep our north-western flank covered. And if we arrange a formal truce, we can get some idea of what force Axis commands. What do we know now? Magariz, some dark-haired woman who can use a bow, and a pack of vicious hounds!"

"He is right," said Jorge, his voice low and intense. "Not only do we not have the forces spare to attack Axis, we do not have the forces spare to defend Skarabost from the Skraelings if they come down through the WildDog Plains.

Let Axis' force do the work and the dying in defending our north-western flank. A truce would keep Skarabost free from both Skraelings and Axis."

Borneheld abhorred the idea of a truce with Axis, but he knew he couldn't afford to fight on two fronts over the winter. He sat down again, deep in thought. He was desperately aware of just how important this coming winter campaign would be. If he lost Jervois Landing, then he would lose all. Hate Axis he might, but Borneheld knew when to compromise. He could not afford to move against him this winter, and if he could not afford to, then best he make sure that Axis was tied by his word to Sigholt. Axis' death would have to be delayed until spring next year.

He nodded curtly. "Very well. Gautier, can you make some initial contact with Axis' force?"

Gautier's face relaxed. "If I send a patrol into the southern Urqhart Hills, then yes, I believe so. When do we want to meet them? Where?"

Borneheld looked at Jorge. "What do you think?"

Jorge thought quickly, surprised to have been asked. "We must have this arranged before Snow-month commences, Sire. That is only three and a half weeks away. Time? Last week in Frost-month at the latest. Where? On the Nordra south of the Urqhart Hills - perhaps Gundealga Ford. We do not want to be trapped within the Urqhart Hills, and if we state the Nordra, then that will draw Axis out of wherever he is based. He will have to come with a significant force to protect himself, and we will gain some idea of his strength."

"Good," Borneheld said brusquely. "If I can't flush Axis from Sigholt before next spring, then at least I can do something about these weak-minded fools who rush to join him from the backward villages of Skarabost, and cut off some of his supply routes as well. Nevelon! Fetch me pen and parchment. I must write to Earl Burdel in Arcness. I have a task for him. One he will enjoy."

He turned to Jorge, Roland and Gautier. "If I am to meet Axis then I need him to know what he faces. Contact Brother-Leader Jayme as well, and tell him that I want a senior member of the Seneschal present when I face this evil-bred brother of mine. Perhaps one of his advisers. Surely he could spare one from his side."

Borneheld sat back in his chair, a smirk spreading over his face. "I think I will enjoy meeting my brother over the treaty table, gentlemen. I want to see if he has grown any lizard features."

Absent from the deliberations, the Ravensbund Chief sat in his tent in the camp outside Jervois Landing. His wife, Sa'Kuya, prepared him a pot of Tekawai, the traditional tea of the Ravensbund people. The ritual was almost as old as the Ravensbund race, and the pot and cups Sa'Kuya used had been handed down over countless generations.

Picking up a tiny cup, she handed it to Ho'Demi, carefully turning it so that the design emblazoned on the side of the vessel faced him.

It was the blood-red blazing sun.

Unsmiling now, for this was a serious ritual, Ho'Demi took the cup from his wife, bowing slightly as she handed it to him, then took a tiny sip.

Sa'Kuya served the other four men in the circle about the brazier, then she bowed gracefully and retreated to the shadows further back in the tent. Ho'Demi glanced at his four fellow Ravensbundmen. Ho'Demi had been grateful to be left out of Borneheld's discussion tonight because he wanted to speak again with the two Ravensbundmen who had accompanied Nevelon on patrol. He inclined his head at the two other Ravensbundmen present, elders whose advice Ho'Demi respected, but spoke to the two warriors.

"Izanagi, Inari, I am grateful that you consented to sip Tekawai with me on such short notice."

Izanagi and Inari, both highly regarded warriors within the Ravensbund force

— though Gautier had yet to acknowledge their value — lowered their eyes in reply and bowed slightly. It was always an honour to sit in Ho'Demi's tent.

For some time the five men sipped their tea in silence, their movements slow and graceful, contemplating the complications that night raid on Nevelon's patrol had wrought among the Ravensbundmen.

It was Ho'Demi, as was his right, who eventually spoke again. "Both the Wolven and the Alaunt hounds walk the night," he sighed. "And they walk with those who wear the emblem of the bloodied sun."

"Both the Wolven and the Alaunt walk with the black-haired woman," Inari said. "She who would be so beautiful if only her face were not so naked."

As the Ravensbundmen had passed on the Prophecy for thousands of years, so too had they passed on the story of WolfStar. The Icarii might think that none but they knew of WolfStar's story, but the Ravensbundmen had heard of WolfStar many, many generations ago. And they knew enough to recognise WolfStar's bow and his hounds.

"I wish Borneheld's wife, Faraday, and her companion, the SentinelYr, were here to discuss this with us," said Ho'Demi. "But they are far away in Carlon, and this is a decision that I must make on my own."

"Must we make a decision so soon?" asked Tanabata, one of the elders, inclining his head in deference to Ho'Demi. His face was so aged and wrinkled that the swirling blue lines on his face had lost their symmetry.

"I cannot ignore the signs, Elder Tanabata. Both this man, Magariz?"

Ho'Demi raised his eyebrows at the two warriors for confirmation of the name, and they nodded. "And the woman, Azhure, wore the badge of the bloodied sun."

All present glanced at the designs emblazoned on their cups as Ho'Demi spoke.

"The woman carries WolfStar's bow, and his hounds trot by her side. Magariz spoke the name of the StarMan as if he were this Axis. 'Axis comes with the power of the Prophecy behind him'," Ho'Demi recited, repeating Magariz's message for Borneheld. He looked at the others. "Is he the one who will forge the alliance to defeat Gorgrael?"

Ho'Demi was worried. He had committed his people to fight for Borneheld -

the Ravensbundmen hated Gorgrael and his Skraelings and, if Borneheld was committed to fighting the Skraelings, the Ravensbundmen would help him. But they owed their first allegiance to the Prophecy - and thus to the StarMan. But what were the marks of WolfStar doing marching with the StarMan? Ho'Demi did not understand it, and it made him reluctant to act. Where best did his people belong? With Borneheld, or with this unknown Axis?

For an hour, their cups empty and cold in their hands, the Ravensbundmen debated back and forth what they should do. Ho'Demi hesitated to commit himself to Axis, not only because of the Wolven and the Alaunt, but also because none had seen Axis or his army. The patrols of the force Gautier's men had engaged within the southern Urqhart Hills had been small...but they had also been highly skilled and disciplined.

"It is not an easy age in which to make decisions," Ho'Demi finally said, feeling his uncertainty keenly.

"The decision should not be rushed, Ho'Demi," the other elder present, Hamori, reassured. "You cannot hurry what may be the last remnants of your people into the unknown."

Ho'Demi, about to speak, was interrupted by a cough at the tent flap.

"Come," he called.

One of the Ravensbund warriors entered. He bowed deeply, then knelt. "My Chief. A message from Gautier. You are to meet with him in the morning. The King intends to meet with the rebel force and their commander in three weeks'

time to offer a truce for the winter while we battle the Skraelings. You are to attend."

Ho'Demi glanced at the other four men, his eyes gleaming. "The gods have heard my prayers, rny people. My questions may be answered after all."

Forgotten VowsAxis stared into the fire, letting the

crackling flames and the soft melody of the Star Dance relax him. He was still tired from the patrol he had led home last night. Driven by one of Gorgrael's SkraeBolds, small bands of Skraelings were drifting south through the WildDog Plains, testing Axis' strength. If the bands of Skraelings were relatively small, the wraiths were vicious and the fighting bitter, and his patrol had come home smaller than it had left. Soon he would have to move a sizeable force into the Plains. Damn it! All he wanted to do was lead his army south...south to wrest control of Achar away from Borneheld.

"King!" Axis snorted, and took a sip of wine from the goblet he held. "I cannot imagine that Borneheld would make an impressive King."

Rivkah looked up from her embroidery. One son King, the other longed to be King. She shivered and blamed the cool air. Even by the steaming waters of the Lake of Life, winter chills were starting to penetrate Sigholt, especially once the sun went down. She looked about the rest of the group sitting before the fire in the Great Hall of Sigholt. Previously no-one had felt comfortable sitting in the vast Hall. Now, with Axis here, it somehow felt right.

Axis had worked tirelessly over the past five weeks and Sigholt had rapidly been turned from a slightly disorganised rebel base composed of disparate elements, into the seeds of a unified kingdom. And at the heart of that kingdom strode Axis and over its head flew the blood-red blazing sun. Rivkah wished this magical time would never, never end. Icarii and Acharite worked as one for the first time in a thousand years and they all worked for Axis.

Rivkah's eyes drifted about the group. MorningStar and StarDrifter were absent, visiting friends among the Strike Force. Ogden andVeremund sat, exclaiming over a book they had discovered underneath a flour bucket in the kitchens. Beside them Reinald snored softly, asleep even though he was sitting ramrod-straight in his chair. Whatever Veremund and Ogden found so exciting in the book had sent him into a deep slumber. It was probably Reinald who had found the book boring enough to shove it under a wobbly flour bucket in the first instance. Jack was nowhere to be seen. Probably off on one of his silent wanders through the corridors of Sigholt. Still looking for Zeherah, still hoping to snatch a trace of her scent or a lingering of her passing.

Rivkah's eyes softened as she watched Azhure sitting cross-legged at Axis'

feet. The woman's pregnancy was now well advanced, but still she rode and trained, although on a quieter nag now that Axis had reclaimed Belaguez.

Tonight she spent her leisure hours cleaning the Wolven and her arrows — rags and a small bowl of wax lay to one side. Every so often Axis' hand would steal down and touch her hair. If Axis ever worried about her continuing to work with her archers, he never showed it. The only concession to her pregnancy he'd forced her to make was to stop riding out on patrol these last few weeks; Axis did not want her giving birth under a bush somewhere in the Urqhart Hills.

Azhure had been indignant, and the two had fought, but eventually Axis had prevailed.

Five of the Alaunt hounds were stretched out in front of Azhure, soaking up the warmth of the fire. The Alaunt followed Azhure about like silent shadows; there were always a few close by, and the others not far away. When Azhure had still been riding patrol the entire pack had run with her, capable of killing as silendy and efEciendy as Azhure's arrows. Rivkah shook her head. If Azhure had always had a latent talent for violence, as the Avar had accused, then it had found a suitable oudet in fighting for Axis.

In a chair the other side of the hearth Belial sat slumped, his shadowed eyes on both Axis and Azhure. Rivkah had watched him wilt slighdy since Azhure had moved into Axis' quarters. He had a sense of deep sadness about him that he never quite shook, even in more light-hearted moments.

Above Rivkah heard a rusde of feathers. The snow eagle spent the nights perched in the rafters of the Great Hall, but in the days it soared far above the Urqhart Hills, catching mice and rabbits, sometimes winging south and west on strange errands for Axis. Axis had consistently refused to answer any questions about the bird, but on many an occasion Rivkah had watched him talking soft and low to the eagle as it perched on his arm. There was a bond there, but Rivkah did not know what it was.

In a chair close by her side sat the man Rivkah had consciously avoided looking at all evening. Magariz. Now she spoke, although her grey eyes remained on her stitching. "My Lord Magariz." "Princess. What can I do for you?"

"My Lord Magariz, when I first arrived here you promised that you would talk to me of my eldest, Borneheld. Will you do so now?"

Axis turned his gaze from the fire to Magariz's face, his blue eyes cold.

Azhure laid down her bow and Belial also watched Magariz carefully. Even Ogden and Veremund ceased their chattering.

Magariz, uncertain, glanced at Axis, but Axis waved his hand languidly. "You do not have to hold your tongue on my account."

"Princess," Magariz sighed, hesitating. How to talk about Borneheld?

"After I served my time with the palace guard, Priam sent me to serve with Borneheld soon after he became Duke. Borneheld gave me the command of Gorkenfort, a lonely and wearying place, some ten years ago —"

"You were in the palace guard at Carlon?" Axis interrupted.

Magariz laughed. "And led it the last two years I was in Carlon, Axis. Why?

Do you find me familiar?"

Axis only just managed to resist swearing in surprise. Magariz must have been in Carlon when Axis was a child growing up in the Seneschal. Axis had often played in the back corridors of the palace when Jayme was there. Magariz must have had access to him as a child! Could he be the traitor in his camp?

Could he be WolfStar? Axis took a hasty mouthful of wine. The thought was almost as unsettling as the notion that it might be Azhure.

Magariz smiled at Axis, misunderstanding the reasons for his stare. "You were a mischievous child, Axis. I once found you in the stable, tying all the horses' legs together with a long ball of twine."

Axis forced a light-hearted grin to his face. If Magariz was WolfStar, then he would possibly have had access to the northern wastes above Gorkenfort. Access to the northern wastes and to Gorgrael. No! He had to stop this! Had to stop staring every friend in the face, trying to see the traitor lying beneath.

Magariz, still unaware of Axis' inner turmoil, touched Rivkah gently on the arm. "Rivkah, I am sorry. You wanted to know about Borneheld. Well, he is a complex man. Though often harsh, he does try to be fair. He is organised, disciplined, and has a strong sense of right and wrong. When I knew him he always tried to do what he thought was right, always. He is too narrow-minded, but that is the way he wasbrought up. He does not know how to love, but that is because he was never loved."

Rivkah put her embroidery down, her face blank. "He is crazed in his jealousy of Axis, true, and for several reasons. Rivkah, you loved Axis' father, not his, and he believes you abandoned him for StarDrifter." Rivkah opened her mouth to deny that, but Magariz forged on. "As far as Borneheld is concerned, your death while giving birth to your unknown lover's child constituted abandonment."

Blinded by the tears in her eyes, Rivkah winced and cried out softly as a pin stuck deep into her thumb. Was Magariz talking of Borneheld...or of himself?

"Borneheld is also jealous of Axis because Axis has the charm that Borneheld never had and will never have, and Borneheld has always been aware of his sad lack of charisma." Magariz paused. "And Borneheld suspects that Axis is the better war leader than he is - and fighting is the one thing Borneheld feels he is reasonably good at. At Gorkenfort Borneheld watched Axis daily earn the adulation of his soldiers, and that cut deep, very, very deep. Now Borneheld is probably consumed with jealousy that Axis, his hated half-brother, is the fabled StarMan, the one who is prophesied to save Achar."

Aware of the emotions he had already sparked, Magariz wondered if he should go on. "And then there is Faraday," he said very, very quietly. Both Axis and Azhure stilled. "Does Borneheld realise that Faraday loves Axis? If so, then it will deepen Borneheld's anger and jealousy...perhaps beyond reason." Magariz hastily drained his wine glass, wishing he'd kept quiet.

"If Borneheld has one serious flaw, Magariz, one thing we might exploit, what would you say that to be?" asked Belial.

"Besides his consuming resentment of Axis? Borneheld's major fault is that he is too set in his ways, too rigid. He will not, cannot, change his attitudes. The Forbidden will always remain the Forbidden, never potential allies. He is a sad man and will feel abandoned by a world that changes about him." "A sad man, Magariz?" Axis' voice was harsh. "Misunderstood? Tell that to FreeFall SunSoar who felt Borneheld's sword slice open his heart. You witnessed that murder, and by your own confession it was what decided you to turn to my cause. Borneheld is marked by death, do not try to turn him into a martyr to a lost world now!"

"Enough!" Rivkah cried, and abruptly stood from her chair, the silks and material tumbling from her lap in a bright flood to the floor. "Enough! I wish I had never asked about Borneheld!"

She turned on her heel and hurried towards the door. Both Axis and Azhure made as if to go after her, but Magariz waved them back. "It was my fault," he said quietly, and limped after Rivkah.

He caught her just outside the door and took her hands. "Rivkah, I am sorry.

I did not think too carefully on what I said. If I appeared judgemental, then I did not mean to be. These past years were —"

"I am such an inconstant woman, and such a bad woman," Rivkah whispered, distraught. "You were right to speak of abandonment to me. I deserved no less." "Rivkah -"

"I never loved Searlas, you know that." "Yes, I know it." "I never wanted to marry him." "Yes, I know that, but —"

"I was not untrue to Searlas at all when StarDrifter landed on that roof, was I, Magariz?" He was silent, his eyes dark.

"I was untrue to you. You have never remarried, Magariz, and yet I have betrayed you twice, once with Searlas and once with StarDrifter. The two sons and the daughter I bore should have been yours."

"Rivkah. You know that I would not have expected you to remain true to our vows. Not after what happened."

Rivkah blinked the tears from her eyes. Too late to cry now about the mistakes of over thirty years ago.

"I wonder how people would react, Magariz, if they knew that you are my legal husband, not Searlas, not StarDrifter." There. The words were said.

For the first time in many years Magariz let his mind drift back to that long-ago night in Carlon. Rivkah was an impetuous fifteen year old, and he an equally impetuous seventeen. Rivkah had rushed down to his room, furious that her father, King Karel, had just promised her to Searlas, Duke of Ichtar. Determined to defy her father and Searlas, Rivkah had whispered her plan to her friend.

They had fled via poorly lit passageways and unguarded doors to a small Worship Hall in the seamier quarter of Carlon. There a Brother, old and careless, had accepted the gold Rivkah thrust into his hand and married them. Magariz remembered how he'd taken Rivkah back to his bare room in the lower regions of the palace where, awkward and shy, they had both lost their virginity.

But the next day Karel had unexpectedly spirited Rivkah northwards and forced her into marriage with Searlas. What to do? If Magariz spoke out he could endanger both their lives and if he kept quiet he would lose Rivkah forever. So young, Magariz could do nothing but grieve for the brief love he had lost. Two years later, when Rivkah had died in childbed of her second son, Magariz had taken to his room and wept, swearing that his single night with Rivkah would last him a lifetime. When her foundling bastard son had arrived in Carlon under the care of Jayme, Magariz had taken every opportunity he could to play with the child. And he had always wondered, until he had actually set eyes on Borneheld, whether her eldest son was his or not. But Borneheld was the image of Searlas, and Magariz was grateful that he did not have the guilt of Borneheld on his conscience as well.

Rivkah pulled her hands from his, interrupting the memories. "We can never recapture the past, Magariz, or strive for what might have been. We cannot prove our marriage — if indeed we would want to now after so many years. But there is always the future, and," she smiled, "there is always the fact that since Azhure moved to Axis' bed, I have lain cold and lonely at night. No-one, in this crowded Keep, has come to share my quarters. My chamber lies in an isolated corridor, my Lord Magariz, and should you decide to wander down it one night, I doubt that you shall find the door to my chamber locked."

Then she was gone.

ParleyThey stood in the central map-room of the Keep of Sigholt —

Axis, his senior commanders and his father and grandmother. All stared at Arne, standing grey and haggard after riding for three days for Sigholt.

Four days ago a band of eight soldiers from Jervois Landing had made contact with Arne's patrol in the southern Urqhart Hills. They'd been led by Nevelon, and Roland's lieutenant had a message for Axis that had astounded Arne. "A parley? What do you think?" Axis asked Belial. "He thinks to use us,"

Belial surmised. "He is weak on his north-eastern front, and hopes we'll keep the Skraelings back in the WildDog Plains."

Axis grimaced. "As do I, my friend. As do I. Daily those wraiths increase their nibbles at our patrols." The "fear that the Skraelings might cut off HoldHard Pass and his supply routes south gave Axis nightmares.

Forcing the problem of the WildDog Plains from his mind, Axis turned to Magariz. "You know Borneheld better than any of us. What do you think?"

"That he is doing the sensible thing," Magariz said without hesitation. "I would do the same in his position. Neither of you can afford to fight on two fronts, Axis. Better that we effect a truce this winter than fight each other and let Gorgrael slip south through our ranks."

"I had wanted to move south this winter," Axis muttered, though he had always known a move south into Achar before next spring would be all but impossible. "And I do not want to speak to Borneheld without having the opportunity of running him through with my sword." He glanced at the snow eagle on the windowsill. How long would he have to wait? How long? The days were turning and fading, and the GateKeeper was counting.

Axis strode to the window and stared out. A thin layer of grey clouds skimmed across Sigholt despite the Lake of Life's warmth. Axis chewed his lip, thinking, thankful that none in the map-room could see his worried face. Could he avoid a lengthy and damaging civil war by defeating Borneheld in single combat when he met him at the Nordra? But Axis could not challenge Borneheld without Faraday present. Borneheld could not die without Faraday there as witness.

"Arne? Did Nevelon say anything about Faraday? Do you know if she is still in Jervois Landing?"

There was a stunned silence in the room and Azhure turned away, her eyes downcast. Did Faraday fill his thoughts? When they lay curled together at night, edging towards sleep, did he imagine that it was Faraday his arms encircled?

When he caressed her, did his hands feel another woman's body?

Her baby, Caelum, shifted in sympathy as he caught some of his mother's misery.

Arne frowned. "Nevelon said nothing, but she is Queen, my Lord Axis. She would hardly be in Jervois Landing."

"Yes, you are right. Well, never mind." Axis looked at Far-Sight, Belial and Magariz. "So, my friends. Borneheld wants to meet with us at the border of the Urqhart Hills and the Nordra, a halfway point between Sigholt and Jervois Landing. Should we go? Should we parley? Should-I smell a trap?"

Magariz shrugged. "We have the advantage, Axis, with the Strike Force. We will be able to scout for a trap long before he could spring it. And we also have the advantage of approaching through the hills. He must approach through flat plains. What trap could he spring?"

"While Borneheld engages Axis in parley far south of Sigholt, Magariz, a force from Jervois Landing could swing north and attack the Keep." Azhure's voice was flat, and MorningStar eyed her speculatively. She still deeply distrusted Azhure — what better disguise could WolfStar adopt than one who would ensnare every male SunSoar Enchanter within lusting distance?

Axis ignored Azhure s tone. "No. I don't think Borneheld would be able to get a large force close to Sigholt. There are so many Skraelings packed into the ruins of Hsingard now that any force riding by would be eaten before they had time to spur their horses into a gallop. All other approaches to Sigholt through the Urqhart Hills are commanded by my men, and patrolled by both air and ground forces. Sigholt will remain safe for the time being, I think. No," he said slowly, "I think I will attend this little parley my brother asks for. As he undoubtedly wants to survey my forces, so I wish to survey his."

He smiled suddenly, illuminating the entire room. "Somehow, my friends, do not think that Borneheld's commanders will stand as strong behind his back as I know mine will behind me. Azhure?"

She looked up. "Yes?"

"I will leave you in charge of Sigholt and the main part of my army. I —" He halted at the flare of anger across her face.

"Axis! I do not want to stay here!" Azhure began, but then stopped equally abruptly. Her pregnancy was too far advanced for her to ride south...and she knew if she protested against Axis' orders he would reprimand her without hesitation and as severely as any other commander who dared argue with him —

even if he did share his bed with this one. Anyway, Azhure thought bitterly, all he can think about is Faraday.

"Yes, my Lord Axis," she replied very formally. "As you wish." She relaxed slightly. "But I will cede you my pack of Alaunt for the venture. Take them...please."

Axis smiled. "I will take four couples, Azhure. The others I will leave for your own company."

Azhure felt the gossamer touch of his power. And to keep you and our son safe and warm at night, Azhure, while I am away.

"Magariz, Belial," Axis' tone was now brisk as he spoke to his two most senior commanders. "We need to discuss who we will take with us, which route to take and, most important, what terms we will demand. Perhaps we can yet twist this to our advantage.

"MorningStar, StarDrifter? You may be interested to know," he said off-handedly, "that my messengers have come back from Smyrton. Their report has confirmed what I already knew. Do you understand?"

Both MorningStar and StarDrifter knew exactly to what Axis referred. Axis had sent to Smyrton for confirmation that Azhure had indeed been born and spent her childhood in the northern Skarabost village.

StarDrifter smiled at his son, relieved, but MorningStar's expression did not change, and Axis knew that the news had done nothing to ease her suspicions.

If I come home from meeting with Borneheld and find Azhure dead at the foot ofSigholt's main staircase, MorningStar, I swear that you, too, will die.

MorningStar's face blanched. No-one threatened her like that! But Axis held her eyes with his, and kept her wrapped in his power, and eventually MorningStar was forced to concede with a curt nod.

Axis looked at Sicarius, sitting attentively at Azhure s side. Make sure that no harm comes to her while I am gone. Sicarius whined, and shifted slightly. Azhure looked about the room, bemused. Why was Axis interested in Smyrton?

Carlon and BeyondFaraday opened her eyes to the

early morning light. Since Borneheld had returned to Jervois Landing she had recovered much of her zest for life. "Pleasant dreams, dear one?"

Faraday rolled over and smiled atYr, sitting scrubbed and dressed for the day on the silken edge of the Queen's mammoth bed. "I dreamed of Axis, Yr. I dreamed he was here with me...loving me."

Yr pretended genteel distaste. "Does the Queen dream of a lover?"

"Every night, Yr, every night." Faraday propped herself up on an elbow.

"Does he lie in his bed and dream of me? Does he hunger for me as much as I for him?"

She laughed shortly and sat up, trying to dismiss Axis from her mind. "So tell me, Principal Maid, what duties do I have to look forward to today?"

Faraday's life as Queen was not one of idle indolence. Most days she had to receive guests, flatter diplomats, listen to endless trade missions, attend lengthy and stupefyingly boring ceremonies celebrating obscure alliances and treaties, and listen to either Jayme or Moryson as they detailed their future plans for the Seneschal and the Way of the Plough. The last she hated especially, and she would sit, her face expressionless and her eyes veiled, thinking of the Mother and of the beauty and serenity of the Sacred Grove. Occasionally she amused herself by wondering what Jayme would look like with a pair of antlers sprouting from his forehead.

And Faraday had to sit through all these onerous duties and obligations swathed in jewel-encrusted gowns, scarves, bracelets, crowns, necklets and shoes that together weighed as much as she did and that made sweat trickle down her back. Yr grinned. She knew how much Faraday hated her duties, and yet she also knew that Faraday carried them out scrupulously. As Queen, Faraday had a job to do, and regardless of what eventually happened, she was determined to serve the people of Achar properly. The entire part of northern Achar might be a battle zone, but here in Carlon ritual and tradition went on as if nothing had changed.

"You have a remarkably free morning, my sweet. The Ambassador for the Barrow Islands has come down with stomach cramps and cannot leave his privy closet. He sends his apologies. At least that is what I think he mumbled through the door."

Faraday laughed, and inched her way towards the far sideof the bed.

"The Baroness of Tarantaise, Fleurian, has a pimple on her chin and is so embarrassed she has declined your kind invitation to share breakfast. Finally, to conclude this list of woes, the Master of the Butcher's Guild, who had an appointment to meet with you in the hour before lunch, last night sliced off his thumb into the lamb chop casserole he was preparing for his wife's dinner." Yr grinned. "The apprentice who brought me his Master's apologies assured me the casserole was served regardless."

Faraday could not believe it. Ever since she had becomeQueen it felt as if each moment of each day was accountedfor. Now, finally, she had a free morning.

"What would your majesty like to do with her sparehours? Read? Sleep?

Chew sweetmeats? Have one of the lesser nobles demonstrate that the touch of a man's hand can be a wondrous thing?"

"Do not even jest about it. You know I hate sweetmeats." Yr laughed delightedly. Faraday had not joked in months. "The morning is yours, pretty woman. Use it as you wish."

"Yr," Faraday said. "I think I feel stomach cramps approaching. I think it would be best if you told the court that I am indisposed this morning and will not make an appearance before lunch." Her face darkened. "And tell Timozel as well."

When Borneheld had told Timozel that, as Faraday's Champion, he must remain in Carlon with her, Timozel had lost his temper and shouted at Borneheld.

"I care not what your visions show you!" Borneheld's eyes were bright with anger. "Your place is with Faraday."

Despite his obvious frustration at being left in Carlon, Timozel had taken note of Borneheld's orders and guarded Faraday every waking moment. In fact, it was as much as she could do to keep him from standing guard by her pillow as she slept. Faraday knew Borneheld had left orders that her every movement was to be watched and reported on. No doubt he had his own fears about the ambitious intentions of some of the more handsome courtiers. Whatever his motive, Borneheld's orders or the twisted devotion of his Championship, Timozel's dark and brooding presence shadowed her shoulder virtually every hour of the day. "The Sacred Grove?" Yr whispered. "Yes," Faraday said. "The Sacred Grove. I need to be renewed, infused once more with peace and joy."

The emerald light bathed her and power pulsed through her body. Faraday tipped her head back and shook her long hair loose, skipping through the light towards the Sacred Grove. It had been months, many months, since she had managed to find her way here, and she had forgotten how good it felt to let the power flood through her, let the love and the peace and the serenity wash away her doubts and fears. The light changed about her, resolving into shapes and shadows, and she stepped onto the grassy paths that led to the Sacred Grove.

The trees formed about her and above her head the stars whirled in their god-driven interstellar dance. Faraday never wanted to leave this place. Exultation filled her.

She stepped into the Sacred Grove. Whispers of wind cradled her body as she walked. Shapes shifted and slipped through the deep shadows behind the trees. She felt no fear at the power of the Grove or the eyes that watched her from the shadows. They did not mean harm, but only wished her strength so that she could find harmony in her troubled life.

Five Sacred Horned Ones stepped forth. The silver pelt who had greeted Faraday on her previous journeys to the Sacred Grove rested his hands gently on her shoulders, and he leaned his stag's head forward to nuzzle her cheek lovingly.

"Faraday, Tree Friend. We have been so worried. We have seen the pain you suffer, and we suffer with you."

Emotion almost overwhelmed Faraday. Simply to know that someone besides Yr watched over her filled her with comfort. "Thank you," she said, and stepped forward to greet the other Horned Ones.

She turned back to the silver pelt. "Have you seen Axis in your visions, Sacred One?"

The silver pelt threw back his head and shook his antlers slightly, his stance noticeably stiffening. Faraday was afraid she had offended him. The other four Horned Ones muttered quickly, then fell silent.

"I have seen him only as he has touched the Avarinheim," the Horned One said eventually, "for I have not sought him out deliberately."

"He is well?" Faraday asked.

"He is well," the Horned One confirmed. "He celebrated Beltide in the Earth Tree Grove with the Icarii and the Avar."

He hesitated. "He has come into his powers as an Icarii Enchanter, Tree Friend. He asked the Avar to pledge to his cause, as the Icarii already have, but the Avar refused him." "Oh!" Faraday cried, her eyes wide with shock. "They wait for you," the Horned One said softly. "They will not move without you, Faraday Tree Friend. You will be the only one who can lead them to Axis SunSoar's cause. If you wish to."

What a silly thing to say, Faraday thought, of course she wished to lead the Avar to Axis' cause. "Does he think of me?" she asked, hating to ask, but desperate to know.."He thinks of you daily, and speaks of you to his friends."

And betrays you with his body, and perhaps even with his heart, the fairy creature thought. Should I tell you that he has given another woman the heir which should have been yours by right, Faraday Tree Friend? No, how can I?

"Thank you. Sacred One ..." Faraday hesitated, and the creature stepped forward and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Never hesitate to ask for anything from me, Tree Friend. If I can grant it, I will."

"Sacred One, you exist in a magical and enchanted world. Does it extend beyond this Grove and these trees here?"

One of the younger Horned Ones stepped forward. "It extends as far as your world does, Faraday Tree Friend, and contains as many, if not more, wonders."

His voice was low and musical, but resonated with power and mystery. Faraday's eyes widened.

The silver pelt stepped back and waved. "It is all free to you, Tree Friend.

Wander as you will. When you wish to return home, just think of this Grove and you will return. From here you can find your way back to your own world." With that he and the other four Horned Ones vanished. For a long time Faraday stood in the Grove. The stars spun overhead, reminding her of Axis. He had regained his heritage. And he still thought of her! She extended her arms, and danced about the Grove, wishing that he were here with her now. Soon, perhaps, he would share her bed in reality rather than dream.

After some time, Faraday wandered among the trees — and halted in wonder. From the Grove the trees looked dense and closely packed, but once beneath their sheltering branches, she saw that the trees were widely spaced, their branches so high that the trunks looked like the smooth pillars of some sacred hall, lifting the eye to a green-vaulted canopy so distant that it almost became a sky in itself. Her reaction to this enchanted forest was much the same as Azhure's when she had first wandered into the Avarinheim - she was overcome with the space and the light and the music around her.

Faraday finally dropped her eyes and gazed about her. Small shrubs of exquisite beauty flowered about the feet of the great trees, and between the trees wandered some of the strangest creatures Faraday could ever have imagined in her most fevered dreams. Hedgehogs with horns? Horses with wings? Bulls of pure gold and diamond-eyed birds? Small multi-coloured dragons gambolled along the lowest of the branches and a family of blue and orange-splotched panthers disported themselves in a nearby stream. Dryads and sprites drifted shyly between trees and silver-finned fish flashed beneath the crystal waters of the stream.

As Faraday wandered the sights shimmered and changed, but never became less wondrous. Glades and mountain ranges, oceans and gardens, caves and rolling dunes, this world contained them all. And at the next step always the forest, holding and loving her.

"What can I do for you?" she eventually whispered. "What is it I must do for you?"

The light shimmered about her and Faraday found herself entering a small glade. In the centre of the glade was an immensely cheerful hut, white-walled, golden-thatched and red-doored. Completely surrounding the hut was a spreading garden, enclosed by a white picket fence. There was something a little strange about the garden, but before Faraday could turn her mind to the problem the red door of the hut opened and an incredibly ancient woman emerged.

She wore a cloak as red as the door, but had thrown back the hood to reveal her bald cadaverous head, the papery skin was drawn tight over her cheek and skull bones splotched here and there with wisdom and experience. The woman's face was saved from outright ugliness by her eyes. They were immense pools of violet, almost childlike in their expression.

She stretched out a wavering hand. "Welcome, child of the trees. Welcome to my garden. Will you stay awhile?"

Faraday started to say yes, but suddenly the light around her darkened into emerald, and before Faraday could say or do anything she had spiralled out of the enchanted world and back into the painful one of the palace court of Carlon.

"I'm sorry I had to summon you back, Faraday," Yr said brusquely, "but it is gone noon, and the Queen is needed."

As the power faded from Faraday, Raum whimpered and slowly uncurled from the foetal position he had been rolled into for the past five or six hours.

The two Sentinels had been right about Faraday's power touching him, but Raum had never felt it this strongly before. Each step she had taken into the forests beyond the Grove had increased the pain within Raum until the forest about him reverberated with his screams.

He knew what was happening to him. But it should not be this powerful, not this painful.

And he was so young, so young to be transforming now. So much to do here. So much.

"Faraday," he whispered. "Faraday. Where are you? What do you do? Where do you go? Faraday?"

Gundealga FordThey were to meet on the last day of

Frost-month at Gundealga Ford on the Nordra. Once it surged out of the Forbidden Valley the Nordra widened and slowed, and by the time it approached Tailem Bend it was shallow enough to be forded by a man on horseback.

Axis camped his force just inside the southern Urqhart Hills, about half a league from Gundealga Ford. He had some thousand mounted soldiers with him, swordsmen as well as three of Azhure's squads of archers, and two Crest of the Icarii Strike Force. The majority of his command remained behind in Sigholt, although several units currently patrolled the HoldHard Pass and Urqhart Hills.

Axis had brought only enough soldiers to convince Borneheld he would be a formidable opponent without giving away his true strength. The sight of his mounted force plus several hundred Icarii wheeling about the sky should be enough to convince Borneheld to think twice about his own strengths. The parley would be as much a mental game as a verbal one.

Axis glanced up as Belial approached through the gloom. "Borneheld must be close now. How do you feel?" "As though I have an appointment with a toothdrawer," Axis grimaced. " do not look forward to meeting with my brother over the parley table. I don't think I can cope with the social niceties."

Belial laughed. He knew Axis would rather face Borneheld with a sword in his hand, and he knew few polite phrases would be traded tomorrow.

"The Icarii scouts have returned," he said.

Axis' head jerked up. "And?" His voice was tense.

"Borneheld's force has camped about the same distance south of Gundealga Ford as we have camped north. If we both leave at dawn tomorrow we should meet at the Ford mid-morning."

"I do not want the travel details!" Axis snapped. "What force does Borneheld bring with him?"

"About five thousand," Belial replied quickly. "Mounted men, mostly swordsmen, although the scouts could see a few units of archers among them."

"Were the Icarii scouts spotted?"

"No, Axis. They are almost impossible to spot at night, with their black uniforms and wings. Their presence will still come as a surprise."

As if to confirm Belial's words, FarSight CutSpur suddenly dropped down out of the darkened sky and smiled at the surprise on both men's faces. That Axis was as startled as Belial was an indication of just how preoccupied he was about his meeting with Borneheld.

"Strike-Leader." FarSight saluted formally. "Azhure has sent two farflight scouts down with messages from Sigholt. They await at your tent."

Azhure? Axis glanced at Belial. Both men turned and hurried back to Axis'

tent.

Axis, lifted the flap of his tent back and ushered the two scouts inside.

"Well?" he demanded.

"Strike-Leader," Wing-Leader FeatherFlight BrightWing saluted, her face hollow and exhausted. "I bring two pieces of news, neither good. Six days after you left one of the patrols returned from the eastern Urqhart Hills. Strike-Leader, the

mass of Skraelings at the top of the WildDog Plains have begun to drift south. Azhure has sent six Crest of the Strike Force and a large mounted force through the HoldHard Pass to meet them."

Axis' worried eyes met with those of Belial and FarSight. "Azhure has not gone herself?" he asked FeatherFlight.

"No, Strike-Leader. Azhure knows she is too far gone in her pregnancy to go a-fighting. She sent Arne in her place."

Axis sighed, relieved. But the news was grim, and it tied his hands regarding the negotiations. Now he needed the truce as much as Borneheld. Both were going to be facing such threats from Skraelings this winter that neither would want to be fighting on a second front. Well, best he know this now than find out after he had met with Borneheld.

Magariz entered, breathless, and Belial quickly informed him of the news.

"Should one of us go to meet Arne in the HoldHard Pass?" Magariz asked, turning back to face* Axis. "The fighting will be bloody."

Axis hesitated. "Arne has sufficient subcommand to support him — any one of the Crest-Leaders I left in Sigholt will do well. Once we are free of this place I'D lead this force east to meet up with Arne's command, and FarSight can fly his two Crest there within only a day or so." He turned back to FeatherFlight. "And the other news?"

"Another band of peasants from upper Skarabost arrived just before I left, dirty, tired and scared. They had fled north, terrified about rumours sweeping Skarabost that an Earl...Burdel?"

"Yes, yes," Axis said. "Burdel is the Earl of Arcness."

"Well, this Earl Burdel is apparently sweeping through southern Skarabost with a large force. He is putting to the stake or the cross any whom he finds repeating the Prophecy of the Destroyer. He is supposed to have put an entire village and its inhabitants to the torch where he found the Prophecy to be particularly entrenched. Anyone who mentions your name dies. Anyone who mentions the 'Forbidden'," her face twisted in distaste at the name, "with any sense of goodwill also dies. Any that Burdel finds fleeing northwards to join your cause at Sigholt dies. Fear and death sweep Skarabost, Strike-Leader."

Axis paled. Burdel would not be doing this on his own; it must be on Borneheld's orders and with the encouragement of the Seneschal. "Damn them!"

he whispered.

"What can we do, Axis?" asked Belial.

"Nothing," Axis muttered wretchedly. "Nothing. We are tied to Sigholt, Belial, by the Skraelings moving south through the WildDog Plains. And I fear that Borneheld and Burdel know it. Damn them!"

Axis forced his face to relax, and addressed FeatherFlight again. "And Azhure is well?"

Since he'd left Sigholt, Axis found he missed Azhure so badly that even the melody of the Star Dance seemed tarnished without her.

Borneheld sat his glossy bay stallion and shaded his eyes against the glare.

They had ridden out from their camp before dawn, and now sat their horses some one hundred paces from Gundealga Ford itself. Where was Axis? Was he still alive? Where was this rebel force?

Five horsemen formed a line immediately behind Borneheld, then, in ordered units, sat the five thousand horsemen Borneheld had brought with him.

Of the five leading horsemen, only Ho'Demi and Brother Moryson appeared unperturbed and relaxed. Gilbert sat his horse with ill-disguised bad temper, Gautier was tense and anxious, and Duke Roland of Aldeni shifted uncomfortably, trying to ease the canker in his belly.

A shout from behind caused everyone to jump, and Borneheld wheeled his horse about irritably. "What...?" he began, then looked up to where one of the men in the first rank of soldiers was pointing frantically. Borneheld cursed the glare in the high layer of light grey clouds, then stilled as he saw what his man had been pointing at.

Far, far above them, circled hundreds of flying creatures, as black as Borneheld's darkest nightmares. He knew what they were - more of those cursed creatures who had parleyed with his traitorous brother Axis on the root of Gorkenfort.

Now everyone craned their heads skyward. Ho'Demi's eyes narrowed. He knew the creatures were Icarii - though he had never met one of them and had only occasionally seen them as they soared above the plains of Ravensbund near the Icescarp Alps. The Icarii soared with this Axis? Ho'Demi dropped his eyes and caught those of Inari and Izanagi, sitting their horses in the first rank of soldiers.

Axis was powerful indeed if he had the backing of the Icarii. Ho'Demi felt a small knot of excitement harden in his belly. Perhaps this man was the StarMan.

Beside Ho'Demi, Gilbert muttered under his breath. The Forbidden flew over Achar once more! May Artor himself condemn Axis to the worm-ridden pits of the After Life, Gilbert prayed, for he deserves eternal torment for his cursed alliance with these filth. And we...we should have moved sooner. Who knew what damage Priam's wretched obsession with the Prophecy had caused?

Moryson was as riveted by the sight of the Icarii as anyone else, but his thoughts were hidden behind a bland mask.

Finally Ho'Demi looked ahead, and his mouth dropped open as his eyes swung across the Nordra. A force of about a thousand men were fanned out across the plains some fifty paces from the opposite bank of the Nordra. From the centre of the line of men rose a magnificent standard, a deep golden field with the blazing blood-red sun in its centre. "Borneheld!" he croaked.

Borneheld followed Ho'Demi's shocked eyes, then barked an order to his troops.

Two men were now almost halfway across the river, the water splashing about their horses' chests.

Borneheld squinted, trying to identify them before they reached him. Both were dressed in black, both rode black horses side by side. As suits such evil men, thought Borneheld grimly, keeping his hand from his sword only with a supreme effort. Behind him he could hear his men drawing their weapons. He pushed his horse forward a little to meet the two horsemen, waving the five behind him to follow.

As the two men rode their horses out of the Nordra, Borneheld finally recognised them, and his lip curled. So, both Axis' lieutenants had survived the battle above Gorkenfort. But where was Axis?

Magariz and Belial reined their horses to a halt some ten paces from where Borneheld sat his horse. Both were uniformed identically in black, their chests emblazoned with the blood-red blazing sun outlined by a tracery of gold and a circle of small golden stars.

"Borneheld," Belial said flady. "We received your message and here we are.

What do you want?"

"Where is he?" Borneheld demanded. "Where is my misbegotten brother? Or did he die above Gorkenfort?" He shifted his gaze to Magariz. "I am glad to see you survived, Magariz. I shall take pleasure in killing you myself."

"I would return the compliment," Magariz replied, "except that another has already claimed your life." Far above them a lone eagle screamed.

"Enough, Borneheld," Belial said. "Do you wish to parley or not? The longer you sit here the longer the Skraelings can nibble at your defences in Jervois Landing. I doubt you can afford to lose as many as you lost at Gorkenfort."

Borneheld snarled. The number of men he had lost? All the men lost were due to the treachery of Axis and the betrayal of these two men before him. "If Axis lives I will parley with him alone. Not any of his minions."

plan no treachery here," Belial responded. "Why do your 'men have their weapons drawn?" He waved at himself and Magariz, neither carried any weapons. "Borneheld, I understand you feel so vulnerable that you must have five thousand armed men to face two unarmed men, but I ask you to summon your courage. I do not intend to leap on you and force you into a wrestling match on this damp turf."

Borneheld's face reddened at this slur on his courage. "Gautier," he snapped,

"order the men sheathe their weapons and retreat two hundred paces. Perhaps that will make my lizard-begotten brother feel safer."

Borneheld waved at the Icarii circling far above as Gautier wheeled his horse away. "But what of your flying lizards above? If I am so courteous as to pull my men back, then please do me the same honour."

Belial signalled to the Icarii and they began to tilt and wheel away towards the closest hill. Two, however, spiralled down to the small group left on the flat ground by the ford.

"What?" Borneheld growled, his fingers fidgeting nervously about the reins of his horse.

"I am only evening numbers," Belial said mildly. "And another will join us from beyond the river. See?"

Indeed, a pale silver creature had lifted from behind the line of mounted men and was winging its way towards them. Within moments Belial and Magariz were joined by two black-uniformed Icarii, one female, one wearing the same markings on his chest as Belial and Magariz, and the silver-winged male from beyond the river.

Before Borneheld could say anything, Gautier had returned to his side.

"Sire," he whispered urgendy, "look!"

Borneheld looked back to the force across the river. It had opened in its centre where the golden standard flew, and a man rode forth on a silvery-grey horse. He wore a tunic as golden as the field of the banner, and Borneheld could

irTAxis.

Axis spurred Belaguez into a gallop, two great hounds racing after him. As the stallion plunged into the river both horse and rider were lost in a plume of water. A heartbeat later they reappeared out of the spray, the horse surging through the river. One day, thought Borneheld, I will seize that horse for my own.

Behind Axis the hounds bounded through the water with as much ease as Belaguez. Overhead a lone snow eagle dipped and soared.

Ho'Demi watched them come, and his heart gladdened. The man who now crossed the river was a King, of that he had no doubt. The Alaunt served, as did the eagle which flew overhead. The Icarii had donned their ebony of war for him, and the man flew the banner of the bloodied sun above his force. He could be none other than the StarMan.

Axis slowed Belaguez to a walk. "Borneheld," he said tonelessly, finally reining Belaguez to a head-tossing halt. "Have you come to ally yourself to my cause as the Prophecy demands? I see you wear the coronet of King of Achar. It is within your power, then, to save Achar from unnecessary bloodshed. Will you fight under my banner to drive Gorgrael back and proclaim Tencendor once more?"

Borneheld snarled, intimidated. Axis had the presence of a burning sun and the aura of power to match. am King! Borneheld seethed to himself, legitimate and rightful born! / hold all power here, not this pitiful refugee from justice. But even as he tried to bolster his own courage and respect, his hate and resentment grew. Why had Artor favoured Axis with so much, when it was Borneheld who had the birthright?

Before Borneheld could speak, Axis nudged Belaguez past him to the five men who sat their horses behind their King.

"Gautier." Axis briefly acknowledged Borneheld's lieutenant, then rode straight past.

"Duke Roland." Axis could not keep the shock out of his voice. He had always liked and respected Roland, and was appalled by this ashen and haggard man sitting his horse before him. He leaned forward to offer Roland his hand.

Behind him Borneheld swung his horse around.

"Forgive me, Axis," Roland said, "but I cannot."

Axis dropped his hand. "I hope you find peace, my friend," he said softly, then he nudged Belaguez forward.

"Gilbert." Axis' voice was now hard. "I'd have thought all this riding about the countryside in the fresh air would have cleared your complexion. I can only assume it is the foulness of your thoughts that reflect in the pattern of your skin."

Gilbert's scarred face mottled in embarrassment, and Axis rode on.

The next man Axis did not know. He was a Ravensbund-man, and a chieftain by the markings on his face. Axis reached out to him with his power rather than his voice.

Who are you?

"Ho'Demi," the Ravensbundman replied. "Chief of the Ravensbundmen."

You ride with Borneheld?

This time, shockingly, Ho'Demi replied in kind. I, as my people, live to serve the Prophecy. You are the StarMan?

Stunned, Axis only stared at him. Yes. I am the StarMan. But, if you serve the Prophecy, then why do you ride with Borneheld?

Until now I- we- did not know where you were, who you were. Now I know.

I will return tojervois Landing and lead my people to you.

Axis' eyes blazed. Be careful. Very, very careful. If he suspects that you are going to ride to my cause.

Ho'Demi's eyes crinkled. / know. I will be careful.

Then welcome, Ho'Demi.

The rest watched Axis and Ho'Demi stare at each other, confused. Then, seemingly put out by the inscrutable savage's stare, Axis dropped his eyes and kicked Belaguez to the last man in line.

"Moryson." Axis hesitated. Next to Jayme, here sat the man who Axis had once loved more than any other. Now he loathed them both and feared their tricks.

Moryson spoke, his eyes calm. "Axis. I have a message from the Brother-Leader for you."

Axis raised his eyebrows. He doubted it would be a message of love and support.

"Axis, Brother-Leader Jayme bids me tell you that you are cast out of Artor's House and out of His care. The Seneschal declares you excommunicate, and informs you that your soul is doomed to wander through darkness eternally unless you recant your sins. Forswear your dark alliance with the Forbidden now, Axis, and Artor may yet be prepared to forgive you."

"Artor is a god of lies and deception, Moryson," Axis replied, "and the Seneschal takes those lies and deceptions and magnifies them a hundredfold in order to control the hearts and minds of the poor folk of Achar." He paused. "Tell Jayme that Rivkah lives. Tell Jayme that one day I will give him — and you — to Rivkah to do with as she amuses. Your murder did not succeed, Moryson. She livesl"

"She lives?" Borneheld cried. "My mother lives? Moryson, what does Axis mean? What did you do?" Murder? What did Axis mean?

"He lies!" Moryson hissed. "Do not listen to him, Borneheld. Your mother died screaming as she gave birth to this bastard. Do not listen to his lies."

Axis turned his horse to face Borneheld again. "She lived, Borneheld, and lived to give birth again. Behold, your sister EvenSong."

Borneheld, appalled, looked at the creature Axis indicated. Sister? The creature had great violet eyes, narrow features like the other two of her kind, and massive black wings.

Borneheld forced a derisive smile to his face. "You are not my sister."

"Believe me," the creature snapped, "I would that were so. You murdered my lover, Borneheld, and for that my brother," her eyes flickered towards Axis,

"says he will kill you. It will not be soon enough for my liking."

"She has the Icarii temper and lust for revenge," said Axis. "If I am not quick about your murder, then I fear EvenSong might slip into your chamber late one night. I hope you have guards posted who look into the night sky as well as the shadows hovering at the edges of corridors and chambers.

"And this," Axis indicated the black male, "is FarSight CutSpur, commander of the Icarii Strike Force under my control. They were the ones, Borneheld, who greeted you on your arrival this morning."

Borneheld felt the meeting slipping entirely from his control. "Axis —" he began belligerently.

But Axis went on as if he had not spoken. "Belial you know, as you do Magariz — although I feel bound to point out that you did not know Magariz as well as you might have thought. He has a far deeper sense of honour and justice than you ever gave him credit for.

"And," now Axis indicated the final flying creature, watching Borneheld's face as he spoke, "this is my father, StarDrifter. You might remember him, perhaps.

You were there, StarDrifter tells me, when he seduced Rivkah atop Sigholt, although you were only a babe at the time."

Borneheld almost gagged in disgust. His mother had let herself be seduced by one such as this? It must have been rape, for how could his mother have allowed such as this to touch her so intimately?

"You were a tiresome baby," the creature said conversationally, and Borneheld realised with horror that Axis had its eyes and features, "and it does not surprise me to find that you have grown into such a tiresome man. Axis, I have had. enough of this. I will talk with you later." Abrupdy he spread his wings and lifted out of the group.

"I, too, am growing tired," Axis said. "Brother. I understand that you face threats from the Skraelings diis winter and would prefer that I did not complete your humiliation until next summer."

Axis' taunting words pushed Borneheld over the edge into fury. "I have more than enough men to burn you and yours to the ground with Sigholt and break the Skraeling attack!" he shouted, shaking a clenched fist at Axis.

Alarmed, both Roland and Belial pulled the brothers back, speaking to them urgendy.

Unconcerned by the ruckus, Moryson's eyes flickered over the two hounds which had accompanied Axis. Both sat well back from the fray, and both were staring fixedly at him.

Axis cursed himself as Belial reminded him that Sigholt, nay, Achar, could not survive if both brothers went to war against each other while the Skraeling threat was so bad. What had he been thinking of? But, face to face with his hated brother, Axis had not been able to resist taunting him. Roland, and then Gautier, spoke as urgendy to Borneheld, reinforcing that he could not attack Sigholt without leaving Jervois Landing fatally crippled.

It was, eventually, Axis who spoke. "Borneheld. Our ill tempers will have to wait until spring of next year."

He paused, and finally, grudgingly, Borneheld replied. "The winter advantage belongs to Gorgrael. We both want the same thing, Axis. Achar. And neither of us wants Gorgrael to have it. Very well. I will not destroy you until spring. You have winter to prepare."

Axis remained calm. "We agree on a truce for winter, brother, while we both fight back these Skraelings?"

Borneheld nodded. "Until Thaw-month. I should have defeated Gorgrael by spring, Axis, and then I will come after you."

Both men rode forward and gripped the other's hand, both tightening their grip until they could feel the other's bones shift. Neither let a spasm of discomfort cross his face. "A truce until Thaw-month, Borneheld. My word on it."

"A truce until Thaw-month, Axis. My word on it." "Burdel burns and pillages his way across southern Skarabost," Axis said, his hand still gripped by Borneheld's.

"Call him off."

Borneheld smiled coldly. "I am King, Axis. Not you. And Burdel merely keeps order in a disorderly province. What he does in Skarabost is none of your concern." He let Axis' hand go.

"It concerns me that Burdel kills innocent people," Axis insisted. "Perhaps you might like to inform Burdel that I will eventually hold him responsible for each life lost, for each home burned, for each chicken carried away. Oh, and as for being King, Borneheld, I was surprised to hear of your sudden elevation to the crown. Priam was so well when last I saw him."

A shadow briefly flared behind Borneheld's eyes. So, Axis thought, there is something amiss here. Well, it will wait, and for all of your murders, Borneheld, you will pay.

"Until spring, brother." Axis sketched a salute, then turned to those behind Borneheld. "Roland." This time the salute was more formal. "Moryson, Gilbert, as I come for Borneheld in the spring, so I will also come for the Seneschal." Gilbert managed a sneer, but Moryson simply looked bored. Axis stared at Ho'Demi. /

hope I will not have to wait until spring to see you and yours, Ravensbundntan.

Ho'Demi held his eyes. Wtien the winter snows arrive, watchfor us.

Axis reined Belaguez back and whistled for the hounds. "Gentlemen," he said, then spurred his mount back across the Nordra, Belial and Magariz close behind him as FarSight and EvenSong lifted into the sky.

YuletideStill as tired and cold and dirty as he'd been when he'd lain down to sleep, Axis struggled up from the makeshift bed. He sat on its edge and took the bowl of vegetable broth Belial handed him. It seemed as if he'd been campaigning, fighting, these cursed wraiths for an eternity.

Mindful of Azhure's warning, Axis had not returned to Sigholt from Gundealga Ford. Instead, he had led the thousand mounted men and the two Crest of Icarii Strike Force through the south-eastern corner of the Urqhart Hills into the WildDog Plains and into hell.

The Skraeling mass had penetrated deep into the WildDog Plains and, for the four days it took Axis to reach the fighting, it had been the command that Azhure had sent into the Plains via the HoldHard Pass which had held the Skraelings back. Now Axis' command had been fighting virtually nonstop for nearly three weeks, and only slowly driving the Skraelings back towards the central Plains. Sigholt was left with only one squad of archers and one hundred men to protect it. Every single Icarii Strike Force member was with Axis - it had been a baptism of fire as far as the Strike Force had been concerned.

But they had done well. Gorgrael had only sent one SkraeBold with the Skraelings down the WildDog Plains, and it stayed well behind the Skraeling lines. There were no Ice Worms. The Icarii had been left almost unhindered in the air, raining death on the Skraelings. But they still had to be careful. The clouds swung down so far that the Icarii also had to fly low, and the Skraelings were perfectly capable of suddenly leaping from the ground to seize a careless wingtip. Axis grimaced. Over a dozen Icarii had been lost that way.

The mounted soldiers had not done so well, despite their bravery and skill.

The Skraelings had massed down through the WildDog Plains in huge numbers, and without the Icarii Axis knew they would have suffered as badly as at Gorkenfort. But Arne had fought bravely, rallying his men, and after Axis'

thousand had reinforced him, they'd gradually begun to force the Skraelings back.

Azhure's mounted archers had been almost as useful as the Icarii. Axis used them wherever the front line was weakest. Each archer could shoot over twelve arrows a minute, proving over two thousand arrows a minute in flight, and all with pinpoint accuracy. Their only handicap had been recovering enough arrows each night to be effective the next day. The SkraeBold got his Skraelings to haul back as many arrows as they could find on the ground whenever they retreated, and sometimes the hand-to-hand fighting was as much over the possession of arrows as about the taking of lives.

At Gorkenfort the Skraelings had been fearsome, but only if things went to plan. If caught unawares by a tactical manoeuvre, they were likely to retreat in confusion and whispering fear rather than stay and fight. But now they were more resolute, more courageous. Axis feared that, given enough time, Gorgrael could make his creatures unstoppable. But they could yet be killed, although Stars knew what Borneheld faced at Jervois Landing if this was, as Axis suspected, only a minor force sent on the off-chance that he could break through into Skarabost via the WildDog Plains.

Axis tossed the empty bowl back to Belial. They sat in a too-thin tent in a makeshift camp at the foot of the eastern Urqhart Hills, about five leagues above the entrance to HoldHard Pass.

"I wonder how Gorgrael thought the Skraelings were going to cross the Nordra if they had managed to push that far, Belial," he said. "Does the SkraeBold carry a purse full of coppers to pay the ferryman?"

Belial grinned at the thought, but it faded quickly. "The good folk of Smyrton would have abruptly found there were worse things to fear in the night than the Forbidden," he said quietly. Neither he nor Axis had much time for the stolid villagers of Smyrton. A great number of the refugees making their way to Sigholt travelled via the ferry at Smyrton, and the villagers lost no time in telling as many as they could that only darkness could be found at a place like Sigholt where -so it was rumoured - the Forbidden swarmed in large numbers. For some reason the village of Smyrton remained a stronghold of the Seneschal, and the villagers would have nothing to do with the Prophecy, or those named in the Prophecy. Axis had not gone back there since he had ridden through on his way to Gorkenfort over a year ago.

So much has happened since then, Axis thought. So. much. The engaging girl who stared so rudely at me in the Chamber of the Moons is now Queen.

Once...once I thought I loved her, but was it half of what I now feel for Azhure?

Oh Stars, what am I going to do..<. what am I going to say to Faraday when finally I stand before her again? Axis forced Faraday to the back of his mind. She was a problem many months away.

Perhaps now that they were finally holding against the Skraelings he might find an excuse to return to Sigholt briefly. It would be good to hold Azhure, talk to her, let her soothe away his doubts and fears.

Axis had not managed to use his powers as well as he'd hoped against the Skraeling mass. The ring could show him Songs that could kill or maim, but most were so potent and required so much power of the Star Dance that their use threatened to cripple Axis. Orr had warned him that some Songs were still too dangerous for Axis to use — he would have to grow in power and experience before he could handle them well enough to avoid being killed himself. Now Axis knew what he meant. The effort for a Song that killed some forty or fifty Skraelings left him so drained he could do nothing for hours afterwards. Stars help him, he had thought one day, if ever I am forced to use more power than I do now against Gorgrael's creatures.

In the end, Axis used his powers only sparingly. In times of crisis, when a push by a section of the Skraeling line threatened his own lines, or when some of his own command pushed too far and were in danger of being cut off.

"Will our line hold, Belial?" Axis asked. He sat on the makeshift bed, watching his second-in-command clean and oil his sword. The sight reassured Axis. During die first week of fighting there had been no time to clean anything.

Belial shrugged, not looking up from his task. "Probably. I don't think Gorgrael is sending any more Skraelings down through the Icescarp Barren. This was only ever a secondary attack anyway. If it succeeded, well and good. If not, well, I don't think Gorgrael will worry too much. His main attack will be on Jervois Landing. If no more Skraelings appear, then I think we can hold with what we have here."

There was silence as Axis contemplated Gorgrael and the attack on Jervois Landing and Belial contemplated the bed, wondering how he could ease Axis off it.

"Do you think Gorgrael knows I am here?" Axis asked, his thoughts obviously far away.

"Undoubtedly, Axis, since you have been using some of your Enchanter powers on his pet creatures. If nothing else, I'm sure the SkraeBold has reported your presence."

Axis wondered if there was any implied criticism in the man's comments about his Enchanter powers. He was sensitive to the fact that his powers were relatively useless against the Skraelings.

Belial, noting the sudden interest in Axis' face, but mistaking the reason for it, continued. "If Gorgrael does know you're here, I doubt he has much interest in the knowledge." "What do you mean?" Why shouldn't Gorgrael take an active interest in his activities? Wasn't Axis the StarMan, the one the Prophecy said would destroy Gorgrael?

"Axis." Belial's voice was tired, and all he could do now was stare at the bed that Axis continued obstinately to sit on. "If you were a real threat to Gorgrael at the moment you would be beating down the front door to whatever fortress Gorgrael has secreted himself in. All Gorgrael wants right now is to overrun Achar before you have a chance to unite the country behind you. He knows he doesn't have much to fear from you at present."

"I am never in danger of falling into complacency and self-congratulation about you, am I, Belial? You always manage to remind me where I am and who I am."

"Well," Belial said, "can I remind you that you are still on that bed, yet it is my turn to sleep? Perhaps you could —"

He was cut off by a sudden, agonised groan from Axis, who clutched at his head. "StarDrifter," he muttered. "I hear you! I hearyoul Calm down!"

Belial started and watched Axis carefully as he communicated with his father. StarDrifter had returned to Sigholt after Gundealga Ford, so...what was wrong at Sigholt? Was the Keep under attack? Was it... oh Mother, was it something wrong with Azhure? Belial sat forward on his stool, anxiety etching deep lines into his face.

"Stars!" Axis leapt to his feet, his face paling underneath its layer of grime.

"Belial, the bed is yours. Can you hold -this line against the Skraelings if I leave you?"

"What is it, Axis?" asked Belial, grabbing Axis by the arms. "What's wrong at Sigholt?"

"It's Azhure. She's gone into labour."

Belial's face went grey. "But it's too early. She's only just into her eighth month."

"I know." Axis' face was, if anything, even more anxious than Belial's. "I know. Belial, can you hold this line if I leave you? You have Magariz, and Arne, as well as FarSight and the Strike Force."

"Yes, yes," Belial muttered impatiently, dropping Axis' arms. "Yes, I can hold.

But it's going to take you days, even if you ride at a flat-out gallop. You can't possibly get there before —"

"I have a faster means. Look after Belaguez."

A hint of music brushed the air, and then suddenly, shockingly, Axis wasn't there any more. Belial stared at the space where Axis had been standing, astonished.

"Why do I always get to look after the horse?" he muttered, then sat down on the bed, his face in his hands, suddenly too worried to sleep.

Would Azhure be all right?

The first contractions had caught Azhure while, of all things, she was returning from an early morning walk. She had gasped and clutched her protruding belly as she neared the Keep, and the bridge, alarmed, had halloed so loudly that everyone in the garrison had been awakened and had hastened out, half dressed, clutching swords and bows, expecting to find Sigholt under attack.

Azhure, grim-faced with embarrassment, had marched back to her apartments with as much dignity as she could muster, half the Keep flustering at her heels.

Now Rivkah sat quietly in a: chair while Azhure, still in the early stages of labour, paced nearby, Sicarius shadowing her every step. The rest of the Alaunt had been relegated to the kitchens while both MorningStar and StarDrifter fretted outside in the corridor.

The early onset of labour in itself was not a trouble. First children were often early. The problem was that Axis was not here, and Icarii children needed at least one Icarii parent there to talk them through the birth.

Icarii children were always far more aware than human babies were, and high-strung as well. Labour, the feel of the womb relentlessly contracting about them, usually frightened and confused them, and any sense that the mother was in pain or frightened only increased the child's terror. They needed an Icarii to talk to them, reassure them, convince them not to fight the birth, but to flow with it. If the Icarii parent wasn't there, then the child, struggling for life, often panicked and twisted, fighting against the pressure of the womb. Rivkah repressed a shudder. Axis' birth had gone so terribly wrong because StarDrifter had not been there to reassure Axis. Terrified by his mother's pain, Axis had twisted himself so badly that she'd almost died in giving him birth.

Rivkah did not want Azhure to go through that. How long would it take Axis to get here? Would Azhure have to undergo days of agony, days when the life drained from her, as she waited for him to arrive?

Theoretically, either MorningStar or StarDrifter could talk to the child, try to reassure him, but since Azhure had let neither of them talk to Caelum before this, he would not trust them, and would, in all likelihood, be so terrified by the time Azhure let either of the Enchanters near her that it would be too late anyway.

Rivkah bit her lip, watching Azhure pace slowly backwards and forwards in her loose linen nightgown, her hands kneading at the small of her back. She was in discomfort now, and Caelum surely was, but it would be nothing compared to what would come. But the last time Rivkah had mentioned either MorningStar or StarDrifter's name in front of her Azhure had snapped at Rivkah to keep them out. Suddenly the door burst open and Axis strode in.

"Azhure!" Axis took three huge strides over to Azhure and wrapped her in his arms. Both laughed and cried at the same time and Rivkah gave in to her relief and let some tears slide down her cheeks. She wiped them away with the backs of her hands, standing to embrace Axis herself, patting him on the back and pushing his too-long hair out of his eyes.

Axis leaned back from Azhure, his face creased in some puzzlement. "I heard you were in labour, but —" He looked at Rivkah, as if she could explain why Azhure wasn't writhing about on a bed working with every breath she had to birth her child.

Both women laughed at his expression. "Labour takes some time, Axis,"

Rivkah explained, "and Azhure is still only in the early stages."

Then her smile died as she took a deep breath and started to explain to her son about Icarii births.

Eleven hours later in the dark hour before dawn, the time for levity had long passed. Azhure lay on the bed in a half-sitting position, leaning against Axis. Her eyes closed, her hair clinging to her forehead, she waited for the next contraction to rack her body. Axis whispered encouragement in her ear, his hand resting on her belly, feeling Caelum's fear and anxiety. Mother and child were now deeply frightened, and it was all Axis could do to reassure both of them.

He kissed Azhure's cheek again and whispered to her, then turned his mind to the child.

Caelum, I know you are frightened, but you must not fight your mother.

Soon you will be born, and you will have escaped from this pain and this fright.

Afraid. Hurt. It was all Axis could sense from the baby; just the two emotions, fear and pain.

He lifted his eyes and met those of Rivkah. She tried to smile reassuringly at him. "It is going well, Axis, truly. The baby is in a good position and Azhure is bearing up well."

MorningStar had finally worked her way into the birthing chamber. Azhure no longer had the strength to complain, and Rivkah was glad. She needed the help, and MorningStar was an experienced Icarii midwife.

"Azhure is doing well, Axis, and you are doing well with the baby,"

MorningStar agreed.

"He's frightened," Axis muttered, remembering how Rivkah had suffered in his birth. Had he felt like Caelum? He must have.

Azhure grunted as another contraction twisted her body, and Axis winced as he heard the baby wail in fear.

Axis stroked Azhure's belly again. Somehow, Caelum could feel it and the touch of his father's hand reassured him.

Caelum, you must not fight what is happening. You are being born and your mother struggles for you. Go where she tells you. Trust.

Trust. Caelum's thoughts picked up that word and kept repeating it. Trust.

"Trust," Azhure whispered and groped for Axis' hand, then cried out again as another contraction seized her.

Rivkah rubbed the woman's leg. "He conies, Azhure. Now is the time to start to push with your pains. Now!"

The baby was silent now, and Axis grabbed both of Azhure's hands in his own. Surely, he thought frantically, there must be a better way than this! His ring could show him no Songs to relieve Azhure's suffering and now, as Azhure hung on to his hands as if her life depended on it, Axis remembered the times that men in the Axe-Wielders had appeared haggard-faced at his door, asking for some days off to arrange both the funeral of a wife who died in childbed and the futures of their motherless children.

No, he thought, don't let Azhure die now, not like this.

"Again," Rivkah grunted, "push," and Azhure's body again twisted next to his.

Axis heard MorningStar say something, but it sounded as if she were a thousand leagues away. All he could see was Azhure's face below his, her smoky eyes opening wide in pain and astonishment as she felt the baby move within and through her.