Caelum turned an accusing eye on his father. Who is this Faraday?

"You may say now diat you love me, Axis, and that Faraday must share you with me. But in short years she will have you all to herself. Will she accept me?

Why not? She knows she will probably outlive me by hundreds of years. She controls almost as much power as you do. And if I have learned one thing over these past two years, it is that use of such power extends life far beyond what is considered usual in Achar."

A step behind Axis made them all start. Belial squatted by Axis, knowing as he did so that he was intruding. "Axis, Ho'Demi wants to speak with you, as does FarSight. Can you join us? Azhure? We need to speak about tomorrow."

"You go ahead, Axis," Azhure said flatly. "I'll give Caelum to Rivkah and then join you."

Axis caught her hand as she rose. "We'll talk later, Azhure."

"Yes," Azhure said, knowing that there would be no time later. Not this battle eve. "Yes, we'll talk later."

Far to the south, eight massive Corolean transport ships, carrying almost five thousand men, approached the mouth of the Nordra River at Nordmuth.

"From Nordmuth we'll be able to row to Bedwyr Fort by dawn," the first mate of the lead ship remarked to his captain.

"Good," the captain grunted. "Borneheld has promised me a fat bonus if we reach him two hours before dawn. I suggest if you want your slice of it you go down to the oarsmen and make sure that they understand it's certain death for them if they do not put their backs into it."

The first mate chuckled with his master and patted the pilot on the back as he prepared to go below deck. "Make sure you do not run us atop any sandbars, my friend. I have gambling debts that need resolving."

The pilot grimaced. "My eyes shall not leave the waters before us. I have no wish to be stuck atop a sandbar with yourself and your captain for company."

Of course, it might have been helpful if the Corolean transports had posted guards at the stern of the ships as well, for there was more in the dark of the night at their backs than they had bargained for.

The Battle of Bedwyr FortThey stood

around the camp fire in the dark hours before dawn, sipping hot tea sweetened to calm nervous stomachs.

"How do you feel, about to go into battle against your own countrymen?"

FarSight CutSpur asked Belial and Magariz.

"None of us like it, FarSight, but what can we do? Besides," Magariz's dark face relaxed a little, "most of my countrymen stand with Axis, not Borneheld. Of Borneheld's forces, some half, perhaps even more, are Coroleans."

Belial nodded and sipped his tea. "At least. It's some consolation that Borneheld must bolster his forces with foreign troops. Axis, do you know if the remaining cohort of Axe-Wielders fight with Borneheld?"

That was what Belial most feared, coming face to face with a friend on the battle-field.

"They are still at the tower," Axis said. He was dressed, as were all about the camp fire, in light armour over tunic and breeches. The blood-red sun blazed from his chest plate. "The eagle flew over the tower late yesterday evening and the Axe-Wielders were still there then. I doubt Borneheld will use them. No doubt die Brother-Leader will want to hold on to what remains of his Axe-Wielders for his own defence."

He looked about the camp fire. All the major commanders had joined him, and they represented the variety of races and beliefs who had, over the past twenty months, swung behind his standard. Belial and Magariz, his most senior commanders - the men who'd brought him the core of his army. FarSight CutSpur, senior commander of the Icarii Strike Force, with two of his Crest-Leaders, HoverEye BlackWing and Spread-Wing RavenCry. Ho'Demi, looking alien and exotic with his tattooed face, a collection of knives and swords bristling from his leather armour. He had tied his long black braids back today so that an enemy could not use them as a handhold, but they were as full of blue and green glass and chimes as ever. Ho'Demi stood close to Baron Ysgryff, who had abandoned his silks and damasks for the full armour of his force of mounted knights. His helmet was still lying on the ground to one side, but otherwise Ysgryff was fully caparisoned in metal armour, burnished and bright, and bearing the baronial crest of his family. The Baron looked both comfortable and dangerous in his armour.

Azhure stood with a light coat of chain mail over her tunic. Her hair, too, was tightly bound back, and covered with a close leather cap. The Wolven and a quiver of arrows were slung over her back, and at her feet lay Sicarius, the rest of the Alaunt lying a few paces beyond the light of the fire. Even the dogs wore light chain mail. Axis hoped they would be one of his most potent weapons this day. A surprise for Borneheld.

Axis' eyes flickered back to Azhure, trying to catch her eye. They had not found the time to resolve their problems last night. Axis had stayed late talking with senior and unit commanders, and Azhure had been busy with her archers.

When he'd returned to their bedrolls, he'd found her asleep.

Caelum was with Rivkah, safe with the supply wagons far to the rear and with several reserve units to guard them. If the battle went badly, their orders were to take the wagons and flee to the Silent Woman Woods - the Woods would protect the remnants of Axis' family and force against anything Borneheld could throw at them.

Azhure, I love you.

And for how long?

Axis flinched a little. Stay safe today.

And you, Axis. And you.

"Borneheld has his forces grouped about Bedwyr Fort," Axis said to the group. "He will not come to us, but will wait for us to attack him."

"Will Borneheld conduct the battle from the fort?" Ho'Demi asked.

"No," Axis answered. "No, I do not think so. Bedwyr Fort is old and full of holes. It was once vital for the protection of Achar, guarding the approaches to Carlon and Grail Lake, but over the past several generations it has been left to decay. Its main defences and fortifications face the river, not the plains, and it will be vulnerable to Icarii attack. No, I think Borneheld will fight with his men.

My friends ..." Axis paused, and the group about the fire looked at him.

"I have a request. No. An order." He looked up and all could see that his eyes burned strangely. "Borneheld must not die on the battlefield today."

" What?" Ysgryff exclaimed. Axis had told him about Borne-held's promise to the Coroleans and he was appalled. Borneheld meant to give the Corolean Emperor the province of Nor?

"I cannot say much, but I have certain obligations, both towards the Prophecy and towards other...allies...who have given me aid. Borneheld can only die with Faraday present."

Azhure stiffened. Kill Borneheld before Faraday? What could Axis be thinking of?

" cannot say why," Axis said, aware of Azhure's shock. "But believe me when I say it is important. Faraday must still be in Carlon - even Borneheld would not haul her out to the battlefield, so I have no doubt that eventually I must chase Borneheld back to the royal palace in Carlon itself. Understand?"

Axis was clearly ordering, not requesting, and all nodded stiffly.

Belial broke the awkward silence that had descended. "Borneheld has chosen badly to fight about Bedwyr Fort. He will have himself and his army trapped in the triangle of land between the Lake, the river and our army."

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Axis replied. "If extra Corolean transports sail up the river - and I believe that late last night there were some eight approaching Nordmuth - then they can easily disgorge their load behind our lines once we move in to attack Borneheld. We will have to be careful. Watchful. Far-Sight, are your farflight scouts keeping an eye on the river?"

FarSight nodded. "They are already in the air, Strike-Leader."

"Then today we reforge Tencendor. After today, I hope, Gorgrael will be my only enemy."

And WolfStar? he thought. Where are you? What do you plan this day? What surprises will you spring?

FarSight nodded. "Today we fight to restore Tencendor. It will be a great day, Axis. A great day."

Axis stared at the Senior Crest-Leader. "Then perhaps it is time to launch your strike, FarSight. Time to loose the Icarii Strike Force on Borneheld of Achar."

Axis intended to use the Strike Force on Borneheld's army as he had used it in the passes of the Bracken Ranges against Burdel. But Borneheld's army had a large number of soldiers who had seen battle at Jervois Landing - and who had seen the Icarii Strike Force in action against the Skraelings. Watch had been kept for the Icarii Strike Force, and even though they were not spotted until they were virtually upon the army, as soon as the cry went up, "Ware! Above!", men reached for shields in a well-practised manoeuvre and raised them above their heads, creating a ceiling of steel over the tightly grouped ranks of Borneheld's army.

Some were not fast enough and some did not keep their shields close enough together, but overall the Icarii strike did not have the same devastating effect on Borneheld's army as it had had on Burdel's force.

Borneheld had arranged his army in much the same manner as he had his defences at Jervois Landing. Most units were well dug into trenches that would, Borneheld hoped, direct the flow of Axis' army into traps and trenches that would break the legs of their horses and, eventually, the hearts of their riders.

Numerically his army was some five to eight thousand less than Axis' army, but Borneheld knew he had the advantage of being the defender.

Borneheld, relatively safe in a hastily erected command tent (well protected from above with several layers of thick canvas) surveyed the maps of his defences one more time.

"The transports?" he asked Gautier. Both men, as all within the command tent, were heavily armoured and weaponed.

"They sailed through Nordmuth late last night, Sire," Gautier replied instantly. "And they are currently anchored on the Nordra midway between Bedwyr Fort and Nordmuth awaiting your orders."

"And the smaller boats?" Borneheld said"Ready to sail, Sire," Gautier replied.

"Axis will die today, along with his malformed crew."

"I surely hope so," Borneheld began, then stopped and listened, his entire body tense. "What is that?"

A sound like heavy rain permeated the command tent.

Gautier listened. "It is the sound of the Forbidden's arrows raining uselessly down on the shield ceiling covering your troops."

Borneheld clenched his fists and pumped them into the air. "It has begun!"

he shouted, his eyes bright.

All he felt was relief. At last, the end to his rivalry with his brother.

The Battle of Bedwyr Fort began with the Icarii Strike Force attack on Borneheld's army and dragged its bloody way through the day. For hours men —

and women - fought and died until the western Plains of Tare were stained bright with the blood of the dead and the dying.

Axis had been disappointed but not overly surprised by the relative failure of the Icarii Strike Force to cripple Borneheld's army. Borneheld was a far superior commander to Burdel and he also had the benefit of having watched the Icarii Strike Force in action above Jervois Landing. As the Strike Force flew back over Axis' lines - there were no casualties apart from one birdman who had suffered a crippling wing cramp and had fallen to his death among the Corolean soldiers -

Axis began to move his mounted units forward. He already knew about Borneheld's trenches and traps, and was wary of moving his mounted units too deep into the lines of trenches; YsgryfF's mounted knights he kept to the rear to use only if he could tempt Borneheld's soldiers out of their trenches.

It would have to be a combination attack on the front trenches by mounted men, foot soldiers — both spearmen and pikemen - and the Icarii Strike Force.

The entrenched soldiers would not be able to maintain their shield defences against the Icarii and repel a ground attack as well.

In the end Axis did as he had against the Skraelings in the WildDog Plains.

Rather than move against the entire line of trenches, Axis made small, concentrated attacks from both ground and air forces. He chose his sites carefully, surveying the system of trenches from above through the eagle's eyes, and attacking those areas he thought would later provide vulnerable holes in Borneheld's front lines.

At those sites Axis selected, initially some nine, he sent the mounted archers in first, protected by the Strike Force. Both the mounted archers, whether those under Azhure's command or Ravensbund archers, and the Icarii archers let loose their arrows - and up would go the shield defences. As soon as the troops were committed to maintaining their shields above their heads - and the shields were so large and heavy it took two arms to do it — Axis would send in the spearmen and pikemen...and the Alaunt.

The Alaunt had been instructed by Azhure to go for the commanders. At each point of attack three or four Alaunt would spring into the trenches, unerringly leaping for the throats of the two or three senior commanders within the immediate area. They created confusion and sometimes hysteria; not only did they kill the commanders within moments of entering the trenches, but their snarling and snapping confused and terrified the soldiers. Shields dropped as men reached for swords to deal with the hounds, and as shields dropped arrows rained down from above, and spearmen and pikemen closed the gap between their ranks and the trenches and thrust their weapons into the muddle of leaderless soldiers.

Always the Alaunt leapt out of the trenches the instant before the arrows, spears and pikes flashed down. Always they leapt out unharmed.

They had the devil's own luck.

It was a slow and cumbersome method of attack, but by mid-morning Borneheld could clearly see that one by one, the front trenches were collapsing.

It might take a day, even two, but Axis would eventually work his way through the entire trench system.

"We can't defend ourselves from simultaneous attack from above and ground-level," Borneheld growled. "-Why doesn't the damn coward send his entire force to attack us?"

It was clear that Axis was determined to win this battle, and he wasn't going to win it by leading his army into a death trap.

"We have no choice," Borneheld finally said. "If Axis will not come to me, then I will have to go to him. I want this resolved today. Today." He turned to Gautier. "Send the orders, Gautier. Mount up. This battle will be fought one against one across the plains of Tare."

"The Icarii?" Gautier asked, so forgetting himself he gave the Forbidden their correct name.

Borneheld buckled his helmet on. "They will be dangerous only while we ride through the trenches to meet Axis. Once our forces meet and mingle, they will not dare to loose their arrows below. No, Gautier, this will be a one-on-one battle of attrition. The last one left standing wins." Borneheld paused. "And your reserves, Gautier?"

"Ready to go, Sire, as planned."

Borneheld's eyes were cold. "Then perhaps we will win, after all. Send a message to the Corolean transports to start to move a little closer to Bedwyr Fort

— but not too close. I want diem in position to loose their soldiers behind Axis'

lines."

Gautier bowed. "Sire."

It was, as Borneheld predicted, a battle of attrition.

For hours the two armies melded and fought entwined, knights, foot soldiers, spearmen, pikemen, archers, swordsmen. It was the largest battle any present had ever been engaged in; some fifty-five thousand men and women, all determined their side should win the day. All sense of time fled for those engaged in the heat of the battle; it was simply strike, withdraw, take a deep breath, defend, strike, withdraw, take a deep breath, defend, strike - and kill or be killed.

Axis fought in the thick of the battle, Arne always close at his back, his golden standard flying high above the field. Sometimes Axis found himself fighting beside a common soldier whose name he did not know, sometimes beside YsgryfF, sometimes by the side of Ho'Demi, sitting his horse with ease and confidence, sometimes by the side of either Belial or Magariz, both fighting smoothly and efficiently, faces grim with concentration. All, even Axis, took small wounds.

Axis eventually let Belaguez's reins drop, guiding the horse by pressure of knee, by voice, and sometimes by thought. He wielded his sword with two hands, striking to the left and the right, and trusted Arne to cover his back.

Above him Far-Sight had detailed two Wing to watch over Axis exclusively.

Azhure's mounted archers were largely engaged at the edges of the battle, moving quickly to where they were most needed, driving their arrows cleanly to where they would do most damage. Axis could feel her, feel her excitement at battle, and he tried not to worry too much for her. Azhure was perfectly capable of looking after herself.

Sometimes Axis caught a glimpse of Borneheld's standard, but he did not try to fight his way through to it. Their battle would not take place on this field.

It was a relatively evenly matched battle. Axis' army outnumbered Borneheld's, but they were also slightly travel-wearied. For hours they fought backwards and forwards, the tide shifting this way and then that - but always men died or were crippled to lie screaming under hooves steel-edged with terror.

Above and about all stirred thick, choking dust.

By mid-afternoon every muscle in Axis' body ached. How long had they been fighting? He took a quick glance at the sun and almost paid for it with his life as a sword suddenly arced down from his left. It was stopped only inches from the juncture of his neck and shoulder by the quick action of Arne, and Axis heard him grunt in satisfaction as he sliced the Corolean swordsman's arm from his body. The man screamed and fell from his horse.

Axis took a moment to catch his breath. He knew almost nothing except what was happening in the small circle about him, and he desperately needed to know the overall state of battle.

"Arne, watch over me," he muttered, and his eyes drifted out of focus as he looked down over the field through the eagle's eyes.

What he saw appalled him. Countless men lay dead and dying. How many?

Thousands, at the least, and they wore the emblems and uniforms of both Borneheld's men and his. As with men, so with horses. There were thousands of riderless horses, some dying and kicking out their life in great gouts on the ground, others running wild-eyed with fear through the chaos. Suddenly he spotted Azhure, Sicarius running at the heels of Venator, leading a squad of her archers into battle at the northern edge of the mass of seething soldiers. She was unharmed, although she swayed with exhaustion.

Be strong, Azhure, he whispered into her mind, stay safe.

She hesitated as his thought reached her, and Axis cursed himself for a fool.

She could not afford to be distracted — for any distraction might easily kill her -

but in the next instant an arrow flashed from the Wolven, and Sicarius leaped for the throat of a foot soldier who thought to thrust his spear into her side.

As he gazed across the field Axis thought he could see more of his men left standing than Borneheld's, and Borne-held's standard looked like it was being forced, step by step, back towards the trenches.

Is the day mine? he wondered. Will another hour or two see this bloody and senseless civil war finished once and for all?

But then the eagle drifted a little further out over the battlefield and Axis saw something that appalled him.

Eight massive Corolean transports were moving inexorably towards Bedwyr Fort. How many men did they carry, Axis wondered desperately, how many?

Four or five thousand, at the least, and four or five thousand fresh men would swing the battle Borneheld's way. They had been fighting now since the break of dawn — nine hours — and many of his men were succumbing through exhaustion rather than lack of skill or lack of will to fight on. Five thousand fresh men?

"Stars save us," Axis muttered, and Arne glanced at him, worried.

Another movement caught Axis' eyes. As well as the transport ships, smaller barges, packed with Corolean soldiers, were moving along the southern edges of the Grail Lake and the Nordra above Bedwyr Fort, moving to outflank Axis' army, attack from the rear. There were perhaps fifteen, containing some two and a half thousand men - enough to prop up those areas where Borneheld's force was beginning to fail.

Azhure! Ho'Demi! Those two were the only commanders who Axis knew he could reach with his mind. Look to the waters to the north! Stop those men before they can join thejray!

Axis watched as gradually Azhure and Ho'Demi rallied their units, and directed them to the shoreline where the barges were disgorging their loads.

Axis desperately looked about for the Strike Force. They had been hovering over the battlefield all day, doing what they could. Finally he spotted FarSight and sent the eagle reeling in his direction.

"Ware to the north!" the eagle screamed as it flashed past FarSight, and FarSight sent five Crest of Icarii winging to Azhure and Ho'Demis aid.

That should stop the barges, Axis thought desperately, but what about the transports? If they manage to land their soldiers then I am finished!

Even though the battle had closed about him again, Axis continued to watch through the eagle s eyes, relying on Arne to protect him. He had to watch - for those transports meant the death of his hopes and the death of the Prophecy.

Bleeding from numerous small wounds, his sword hanging limp from his hand, Borneheld also watched the ships with worried eyes. What were they doing this close to Bedwyr Fort? He had sent clear instructions that they were to disgorge their soldiers much further south so that, together with the barges to the north, Borneheld could attack both flanks of the battlefield with fresh soldiers.

"By Artor!" Borneheld swore, "you'd think they were intent on attacking us rather than Axis."

An awful premonition gripped him, and his voice dropped to a horrified whisper. "Is this more infernal treachery? Has the Corolean Emperor forsaken our agreement and turned against me?"

Almost as one the Corolean transports dropped anchor by the banks of the Nordra and dropped their landing ramps. Each began to disgorge hundreds of men, hundreds and hundreds of them, running screaming with delight and battle-lust straight towards Borneheld's standard.

Every last one of them a dark-skinned, brightly scarved, gleaming-toothed, scimitar-waving pirate.

"Foul treachery!" Borneheld croaked, then leaped in surprise as Gautier's hand fell on his shoulder.

"Sire!" he gasped. "Treachery! Your safety is compromised. have a barge waiting - we must seek refuge in Carlon."

"What?" Borneheld yelled. "Leave the field?"

"We. have lost the day," Jorge shouted hoarsely, riding to join Borneheld. "If you wish to save yourself, then do so now. I will continue to lead your forces on this bloodied field - to the death if you so order."

Borneheld stared at Jorge and Gautier. The gleeful screams of the pirates were getting uncomfortably close. The next instant he dug his spurs deep into his horse's sides and was galloping towards safety.

All this Axis saw through the eyes of the eagle.

Azhure, Ho'Demi, he called, Borneheld rides for one of the barges and for escape into Carlon. LET HIM GO! I need him in Carlon. It is VITAL that he escapes to Carlon!

At the same time that Axis felt the agreement of their minds, the eagle screamed the same order to the Icarii Crests above the northern part of the battlefield: "Let Borneheld escape! It is vital that he escapes!"

As the pirates streamed down into the fray Axis turned to see Baron Ysgryff, helmetless now, grinning at him.

"Did you like my surprise, Axis SunSoar?"

Laughing with joy, Axis booted Belaguez next to YsgryfFs horse and, leaning over, seized the man by the top of his tunic as it peeked above the chest plate of his armour.

"I will make you a Prince for this!" he grinned, then, letting Ysgryff go, turned to the men still struggling about him.

"The day is mine!" he screamed, waving his sword in an arc about his head.

"Tencendor is mine!"

In an hour it was over. Demoralised by Borneheld's desertion, his army slowly ground to a halt and, as the sun set over the Nordra, Axis took the army's surrender from Jorge, the most senior commander left on the field.

Jorge glanced about the battlefield and noticed as if for the first time the thousands of bodies and the reddened soil. A pointless waste of life, Jorge thought bleakly. Could it have been avoided if Roland and I had found the courage to follow Axis after Gorkenfort? Would our departure have weakened Borneheld to the extent that he would not have had the resources of command experience left to wield an army against Axis?

"He would still have fought," said Axis, and Jorge slowly raised his eyes.

The man's earlier excitement had died, and Jorge could see that exhaustion and sad-heartedness hung heavily over him.

"Jorge," Axis said softly, stepping forward and placing his hand on the man's shoulder. Jorge's eyes filled with tears at the gesture of support. "Jorge, where does Borneheld hold your family?"

Jorge named a small town to the north of Carlon and Axis beckoned to FarSight. "FarSight, can you detail the two Wings you held in reserve to fly to free Jorge's family?"

FarSight nodded and turned away.

Axis turned and stared at Jorge. "Welcome to Tencendor, Jorge."

Jorge nodded wearily. He did not expect to hold a place of high honour within the new order.

The Aftermath

The following hours were confusion and chaos. After accepting the surrender of both Borneheld's army and Borneheld's kingdom, Axis' first priority was to fill the eight Corolean transports with as many of the remaining Coroleans as he could and get them home as quickly as possible. He had no intention of holding thousands of Coroleans prisoner. Let their Emperor take care of them.

"Tell your Emperor, or your Ambassador, or the first whore you come across in Coroleas for all I care," Axis said tiredly to the most senior Corolean he could find, "that I repudiate the treaty Borneheld made with your Empire and that I repudiate all conditions, payments and other varied promises Borneheld may have foolishly made. Go home. I bear you no personal ill will, but I will not stand for your continued presence in my realm."

It was a startling word, "realm"; Axis was mildly surprised at how easily it had slipped past his lips.

The Corolean captain gave a short bow. "May I inform my Emperor that you will be willing to receive his Ambassador at a future date when all," he looked briefly at the darkening carnage about him, "has settled down?"

"As long as he realises that I refuse to pay any of Borneheld's debts."

"I will be sure to tell him," the captain said shortly, then he sketched a salute and wheeled about, walking stiffly up the loading ramp into the nearest transport and wishing he were home already. Too many of his men had died in a cause not their own.

"Belial." Axis turned and leaned briefly on Belial's shoulder. "Belial, can I leave you in charge of the burial pits?" A thankless task, but it needed to be done and it needed to be done fast.

Axis snapped his fingers at the boy holding Belaguez and mounted the stallion when the boy led him over. He rode slowly across the battlefield, stopping now and again to speak to a group of soldiers, or to lend a word of support to one of the wounded being carried towards the physicians' tents. He saw Arne in the distance, detailing guards to watch over the remaining prisoners of Borneheld's army — and there seemed to be thousands of them. What was he going to do with them? Axis thought wearily. They are all Acharites, and all mostly good men who simply found themselves on the wrong side through no fault of their own.

Axis' depression deepened as he rode east across the field of battle. Soldiers were slowly starting to pile the dead - and the piles were both numerous and large. How many thousands had died?

And where was Azhure? Axis' mind was so tired that he could not feel her anywhere, and the eagle had roosted for the night. The darkness closed in about him as he rode, but he continued to peer through the gloom, asking all he came across if they had seen her. Each time a head shook wearily Axis pushed Belaguez further east, searching, until he reached the site where his army had camped the previous night.

He found Rivkah at his personal camp site, Caelum asleep in her arms.

"Azhure?" he asked anxiously, slipping from Belaguez's saddle.

Rivkah nodded towards a blanket-wrapped bundle at her feet and Axis fell to his knees and pulled the blanket back from Azhure's face. She was asleep, her face white, great circles of weariness under her eyes.

"Is she all right?" Axis asked his mother, his hand stroking back the tangled hair from Azhure's forehead.

Rivkah considered a moment. Should she tell him about Azhure's pregnancy?

The woman had ridden into the camp an hour before and had simply collapsed in an exhausted heap at Rivkah's feet. It had taken the combined strength of Rivkah and a passing soldier to pull her chain mail off and wrap her in this blanket and Azhure had not stirred once during the procedure. Rivkah knew Azhure was finding this pregnancy a difficult one, and she feared that Azhure was so drained the baby would simply slip from her.

Rivkah finally shrugged. "She is exhausted, but she has no wounds. Perhaps sleep is all she needs."

Axis sat down and took Caelum from his mother's arms.

"He has been awake all day, Axis," Rivkah said quietly, "fretting and crying.

He knew that both his parents were in battle, and he seemed to know how desperate the fighting was. He refused to eat or to be comforted until Azhure stumbled back into camp."

She paused. Dare she ask? "And Magariz? Is he well?"

"I have not heard if he is alive or dead, Rivkah," Axis said flatly after a long pause, "as I have not heard about most of my commanders or soldiers. With that you will have to be content."

A servant stepped forward and helped Axis unbuckle his armour. Axis passed the baby back to Rivkah and gratefully let the servant cart the armour away. He literally tore his sweat- and blood-stained tunic from his torso and threw it to one side.

Rivkah noted the wounds across his chest and back, but said nothing. They were not life-threatening and would heal quickly. "Sleep Axis. I will watch over you. You will be able to do nothing until you get some sleep."

Axis wrapped himself in the blanket and lay down beside Azhure. "Two hours, no more," he mumbled. "Wake me after two hours."

Both within and without the palace, Carlon was in confusion. Most of the city folk learnt the outcome of the battle, and many had stood in silence as Borneheld, Gautier and perhaps two dozen men had run through the city gates, ordering them locked and barred.

Two dozen men and one King to defend them? the Carlonese wondered.

Carlon, as Achar, is lost.

Courtiers abandoned the palace for discrete townhouses hidden deep within Carlon's twisting streets. Borneheld's court was no place to stay a-visiting now.

What would Axis' court be like? Would he find a place for them? Undoubtedly, most consoled themselves. Every King, new, usurped or borrowed, needed a court to keep him wrapped in happy flatteries.

In the streets eyes turned once again to the battlefield, where torches burned as soldiers carried on with the grim task of digging and filling the burial trenches. Of those watching from the city walls, many had lost sons, fathers or husbands — on both sides of the battle, for as many men from Carlon had fought for Axis as had fought for Borneheld.

All in all, the mood along the streets of Carlon was one of sadness and acceptance rather than anger or fright. Like Axis, most regretted that the battle had been fought at all - surely the brothers could have come to some compromise? Now it looked as if Borneheld had lost it all - for Carlon was not designed to withstand siege. It had walls, but virtually no militia to repel an attack or stores to withstand a siege. Carlon was normally a city of fun and laughter, money-making enterprises and sins, not a city destined for the grim realities of battle that now surrounded it.

If the good people of Carlon were resigned to Borneheld's defeat, then Jayme was close to hysteria.

"You have lost the kingdom and you have lost the Seneschal!" he screamed at Borneheld, his habit stained and dirty.

Borneheld sat on his throne in the Chamber of the Moons, drunk. All his dreams? Ambitions? Come to this end? What had gone wrong? A flagon of red hung empty and useless from one hand as it dangled over the armrest of the throne - the next moment it was flying through the air towards Jayme's head.

The Brother-Leader managed to duck the flagon and it smashed on the floor behind him.

"All gone," he whispered, appalled at the consequences of the day. "The work of a thousand years gone in one day!"

"I hear you lost, Borneheld," a light voice said from the doorway, and Faraday walked into the Chamber. Borneheld looked away from Jayme and towards his wife. She was resplendent in a deep-emerald velvet gown, her hair piled elegantly on top of her head, diamonds and pearls at her ears and throat.

"You look unwell, Borneheld. Should I call the physician? Perhaps you are suffering from whatever ailed Priam."

Borneheld curled his lip; it was the best he could do. "Axis has won through treachery. It is his way. If my kingdom falls apart before me it is simply because I have been betrayed once too often. Nothing remains."

"If your kingdom falls apart around you, husband," Faraday retorted, feeling nothing but scorn for this man who sat before her, "it is because you were never meant to hold it. How long before Axis sits that throne, Borneheld? How long?"

Borneheld lurched forward on the throne, almost falling, he was so drunk.

"Whore! How much of this treachery do I owe to you? How many men have you taken to your bed and turned against me? How many times have you betrayed me with Axis?"

Faraday's face twisted in contempt. "/ have remained true to our vows, husband. Unlike you."

Without giving him the time to reply Faraday swung around and stared at Jayme. "You are a pitiful old man, Jayme. You have lost as much as Borneheld has out there on the battlefield today, you and your god. Do you know, Jayme, that once I believed in Artor fervently? Then I fell under the thrall of the Prophecy and I was introduced to new gods, new powers. Artor means as much to me' as does my husband, Jayme. And that is not very much at all."

She turned on her heel and strode from the room.

Jayme trembled. He looked about uselessly for Moryson. But both Moryson and Gilbert had disappeared the moment they realised Borneheld had lost the day.

"Moryson?" Jayme muttered weakly, peering into the shadows. "Moryson?"

Oh Artor, why wasn't his friend here now? "What are we going to do," he whispered. We? Me. Me, alone. I am alone, save for this drunken mule sitting on the throne of Achar.

Borneheld smiled at him. "What are we going to do, Jayme? Why, have another drink, Brother-Leader. I think you will find a flagon in the cabinet in the far wall."

Out in the corridor Faraday's show of bravado faltered and died.

Faraday knew well what would happen. Somehow, and Faraday did not care about the details for they were unimportant, Axis would appear to challenge Borneheld in the Chamber of the Moons. And when he appeared Faraday knew that the dreadful, apocalyptic vision that the trees of the Silent Woman Woods had given her two years previously would be played out in real life.

Even though Faraday believed, desperately wished to believe, that Axis would win — that the trees had shown her only shattered and jumbled images —

she clutched at the front of her gown, feeling again Axis' warm blood running down between her breasts.

"Win, Axis, win}" she whispered.

As the night passed Rivkah anxiously sat guard over Axis, Azhure and Caelum. Several hours before dawn her fears were finally allayed when Magariz walked into the circle of firelight. Rivkah stood and held him close, tears streaming silently from her eyes.

As tired and as sick at heart as Axis had been, Magariz sank down by the fire, Rivkah gendy unbuckling his armour, and, his words stumbling through his exhaustion, he told Rivkah the story of the battle until he fell asleep mid-sentence. Rivkah lowered him gendy to the ground and covered him with a blanket.

As she rose from Magariz's side Rivkah noticed a tall, dark Nors girl standing at the edge of the firelight, her bright red dress covered with a tightly clutched cloak. "Belial?" she whispered, her voice hoarse with fear, her blue eyes dark and enormous in the shadows.

Rivkah shook her head. "I have not heard," she said gendy.

"Ah," the girl murmured, and turned away. Rivkah stared after her a long time, sorrowing.

As she sat by the fire to watch over the sleepers, heavy with weariness, Rivkah pondered the way of battle and the way of the world. Men fight, and women wait and weep. Rivkah was very, very tired of not having what she wanted. She quietly vowed not to let life or love escape from her again. She would spend the last half of her life in happier circumstances than the first half.

This time no-one, not even her son, would keep her from die man she loved.

Finally Rivkah shook Axis awake as instructed, but he was so exhausted he fell straight back into a deep slumber again and she decided to let him sleep through to the dawn. There was nodiing that could be done in the middle of die night.

In die cold hour after dawn Axis, Azhure and Magariz sat in silence about the fire, all still with great circles pf weariness under their eyes, but all looking infinitely better than they had. Rivkah watched Azhure feed her son. The new baby was still safe, but Rivkah did not know what would have happened if Azhure had been forced to fight any longer.

Axis shared his mother's concern for Azhure. "You will stay in camp today, Azhure," he said quiedy. "Tired as you are you will be no use to anyone, least of all your son, if you don't get more sleep."

It was a measure of Azhure's weariness, and her own concerns for her growing baby, diat she nodded and cuddled Caelum a litde closer. She had wondered, at critical moments during yesterday's battle, if she would ever see Caelum again and she was not yet ready to leave him now.

Magariz raised his head from his hand. "Axis? Where do we start?"

Axis grimaced. "Where do we start, Magariz? We simply stand up from this camp fire and we start walking...and dien we start where we can. Come."

Axis stood and pulled Magariz to his feet. "Rivkah was worried for you last night," Axis said quiedy. "I am glad, not only for her sake, but for mine also, that you are still alive."

It was a simple statement, but deep with meaning. Magariz managed a wan grin. "I am glad for my sake that I am still alive," he said, and Axis laughed.

"Come on," he said, pulling Magariz away from the women. "Let us see what sort of a victory we have won."

Somewhat of a hollow one, Axis thought two hours later as he finished receiving reports from his commanders. They had won, but at enormous cost.

The Icarii Strike Force had fared best of all, with only minor casualties to stray arrows and three dead to sheer misfortune. Ho'Demi, his face white behind its blue lines, reported that almost fifteen hundred of his Ravensbundmen had lost their lives.

Ysgryff, out of his armour but still dressed for war, was similarly sombre. "A thousand," he said simply when Axis looked at him. "A thousand of my knights, and over three thousand of their horses."

"And the pirates?"

"None," YsgryfF grunted. "Pirates are protected by the gods, it seems, Axis.

Besides, they came late into the fray, when their opponents were exhausted."

"Where are they now?"

Ysgryff waved vaguely towards the Nordra. "Waiting for ships to take them home, Axis."

"I cannot thank you enough for those pirates. If they had been Coroleans

..." Axis shuddered, unable to go on.

"Then we would be counting our dead while awaiting death ourselves, Axis,"

Ysgryff said quietly. "The pirates will also fight for the Prophecy when it demands it of them, as will most of the people of Nor."

Axis lifted his head and stared at the trampled Plains of Tare. All of the bodies had been buried during the night, but the earth still retained a pinkish tinge. "The Prophecy has friends where I least expect to find them," Axis said slowly. "Nor and the pirates have proved among the greatest."

He sighed and dropped his eyes. Belial, his body stiff with weariness, had joined the group.

"Have you managed any sleep, Belial?"

Belial shrugged. "Two, perhaps three hours. Enough, Axis."

"And our dead?"

Belial knew what Axis meant. How many of the ordinary mounted soldiers had they lost? "Around eleven hundred, Axis. Mostly the inexperienced soldiers who joined us at Sigholt. Some of the militia from Arcen, and some of our own men. Some of our oldest friends among them."

Axis turned away.

"Axis," Belial continued. "Our total losses come to well under four thousand men; Borneheld lost twice that number, Coroleans and Acharites. And Axis, remember, we lost close to...what? Seven thousand at Gorkentown? We will recover from this."

"Oh, yes," Axis said, turning back. "We will recover. But what a senseless, useless loss, Belial, and I grieve for every one of the Acharites who lost their lives for Borneheld's cause as I grieve for those men who lost their lives for ours."

"These men fight for you knowing that you care for them," Belial said fiercely. "And I believe we have replacements from a somewhat unexpected source."

Axis frowned. "What do you mean?"

Belial beckoned a man forward. He wore the tattered and blood-stained uniform of Borneheld's army and he walked with a slight limp.

"Lieutenant Bradoke, my Lord," he said, his voice firm but respectful. "I am the most senior of the prisoners. My Lord, we fought for Borneheld because he was the King and because our oaths bound us to him. But none of us liked to see him flee the field yesterday afternoon, and many of us have been discussing the Prophecy around the privacy of our camp fires for weeks now. Last night we talked again. Great Lord, we are at your mercy, but we plead to be allowed to decide our own fate."

"And that is?" Axis asked.

Bradoke took a deep breath. "We would fight for the Prophecy too, Lord. We would join your force. Great Lord," he carried on as he saw Axis about to object.

"I have stood to one side and watched you grieve for each and every man who died for you. Borneheld would never have done that for us. We want, / want, to be given the chance to fight for you."

Axis glanced at Belial and Belial nodded. Axis looked back at the lieutenant.

He seemed sincere, but should Axis trust him? What else can I do, thought Axis, but trust him? I cannot afford the men to guard them and I desperately need forces to throw against Gorgrael. He sighed and nodded wearily. "Work out the details with Belial. How many men do you command, Bradoke?"

"Seven thousand, Great Lord."

"By the Stars," Axis said. "How are we going to feed you all?"

"Cheer up, Axis." Ysgryff slapped him heartily on the back. "Carlon will be ours soon, and I'm sure that Carlon can feed us all. Besides, I have supply ships sailing up the Nordra now."

"By the gods, Ysgryff," Axis said weakly, "I might as well just hand the kingdom over to you."

Ysgryff winked. "My ugly head would look ridiculous with a crown on top of it, Axis. Besides, like Ho'Demi, I am committed to the StarMan."

Apart from feeding and resting the troops, then moving his main camp site to the banks of Grail Lake, there was only one other thing that Axis wanted to do that day.

Late in the afternoon he rode with a small escort to the Tower of the Seneschal - Spiredore.

It had been two years since he last saw this tower, but it seemed like yesterday. For thirty years it had been his home and the home of the man he had regarded as his father, Jayme. For thirty years he had believed in the Seneschal and everything it had stood for and for thirty years he had believed that the Tower had stood as the outward manifestation of Artor s love and of the Seneschal's care for the people of Achar.

Now Axis saw the beautiful white tower differently. It was a shining example of the lies and the deceptions that the Seneschal had forced on the people of Achar, and of the cruelty that the Seneschal had plotted and conducted against the people of the Horn and the Wing - the Avar and the Icarii. Once, Axis knew, the Tower of the Seneschal had been Spiredore, one of the magical Keeps of Tencendor, one of the most powerful places in the ancient land.

Now Axis intended to rid the Spiredore of its jailers once and for all.

It rose, as it always had, pristine and white, soaring some one hundred paces into the air, its seven sides gleaming softly in the late afternoon sun. To one side the silver-blue waters of Grail Lake - one of the sacred lakes - twinkled merrily, as if it knew that its friend and companion of so many thousands of years would shortly be released.

What do you hide? Axis asked himself as he rode closer to the tower. What secrets do you have buried within you? What will I find when I throw the Seneschal out?

But of more immediate importance was what the cohort of Axe-Wielders ranged in neat formation before the tower meant to do. Axis waved his escort to a halt and reined Belaguez back to a walk, pulling him to a stop some ten paces from where Kenricke, the commander of this, the final cohort of the Axe-Wielders, sat his horse.

He was a greying man, tall and spare, and his face was unreadable. For a moment Axis' eyes flickered to the twin crossed axes on the man's tunic. How long had he worn that emblem with pride? Now he was dressed in his fawn tunic with the blazing sun. A different world, a different man.

"Kenricke," he said, by way of greeting. "It has been a long time."

Kenricke stared at Axis for a moment then, suddenly, shockingly, he saluted Axis in the manner of the Axe-Wielders, fist across the twin axes on his breast, bowing sharply and crisply from his waist. "Axis," he began, then paused, embarrassed. "I do not know by what title to honour you now."

"Just call me Axis. It is still my name," Axis said.

"Axis. Why are you here? For what purpose have you ridden back to the Tower of the Seneschal?"

"I intend to recreate the world that the Seneschal sought so long to destroy, Kenricke. The tower of Spiredore is an integral part of that world. I come here today to release Spiredore from the Seneschal."

"Many words for a simple purpose, Axis. You intend to throw the Seneschal out," Kenricke replied.

"You always did have a brutal way with words, Kenricke. Will you stand against me?"

Kenricke sat his horse a long time in silence, gazing at Axis, then abruptly he booted his horse forward, drawing his axe out of his belt. Axis tensed a little, but he did not move. Kenricke had been his first master of arms when he had joined the Axe-Wielders as a teenage boy - and he did not think the man would attempt to strike him down.

As his horse drew level with Axis, Kenricke hefted the axe in his hand so that he held it by the blade and presented it to Axis haft first. "I surrender my blade and my command into your hands, Axis. Since you left us we have been simply a sad memory waiting for our commander to return. Take my axe, Axis, and take my loyalty with it."

The significance of the moment was not lost on Axis. Kenricke was effectively ending over a thousand years of proud military history.

"I accept both axe and surrender, Kenricke, and welcome you to my force.

Belial waits back in camp," Axis tilted his head towards the camp along the shores of the Lake, "and will redeploy you. But, Kenricke, you will all have to surrender your axes. In this new land there will be no place for them."

Kenricke nodded. "I understand."

Axis turned his eyes to Spiredore. "Jayme?"

Kenricke grinned sourly. "The Brother-Leader, his advisers and most of the senior Brothers fled to Carlon days past, Axis. The Tower of...Spiredore is inhabited by a few old men and young novices. They ask only that you leave them their lives."

Axis thought about it for a moment. "Can I speak to the most senior of them?"

Kenricke nodded and waved at one of the Axe-Wielders in the rear of the formation. The Axe-Wielder tapped on the white door set into the centre of the nearest side of the tower, and after a moment it opened, an elderly Brother scurrying out.

"Brother Boroleas," Axis said, recognising the man. As Kenricke had taught him skill in arms, Boroleas had largely taught him his letters. "I have come to reclaim Spiredore."

"I have come to plead with you for our lives," Boroleas said stiffly.

"You shall have them," Axis replied.

"And our freedom?" Boroleas asked.

"You shall have an escort of twenty armed men to Nord-muth, Boroleas, where you will board a ship for Coroleas."

"And our books?" Boroleas pressed, hardly daring to hope.

Axis killed the hope immediately. "I have granted you your lives, Boroleas.

Do not ask for your books as well. You leave now, and you leave everything behind you. Kenricke, will you supervise the Brothers' evacuation?"

Kenricke nodded, and Axis turned back to Spiredore. It was his.

MorningStar

Three days after the Battle of Bedwyr Fort Axis' camp had spread along the eastern shore of Grail Lake. Tents, gaily pennoned with the standards of the individual commanders within Axis' combined force, or, increasingly, with miniature versions of Axis' personal golden standard, spread along virtually the entire shore. Men rested and recovered in the early autumn sunshine. Carlon was left alone as Axis' army concentrated on recovering its strength after the battle. Ships from Nor had resupplied the force, and the Carlonese, running out of fresh supplies, had to put up with watching Axis' men feast on new breads and freshly-picked fruits. They also watched the Ravensbundmen play a rough and sometimes deadly game of football from horseback, and the Icarii drift about the skies and camp in a flurry of wings.

MorningStar and StarDrifter shared a tent in the northern part of the camp, and on this third day Axis stood with them, going over some of the books the Icarii had recovered from Spiredore. All of the Brotherhood's works Axis and StarDrifter had ordered burned, but StarDrifter and MorningStar, to their delight, had discovered hundreds of ancient Icarii texts secreted away in locked cupboards and chests.

"What did the Seneschal do with them?" MorningStar muttered, her head bent over one of the latest finds. "Not read them, surely?"

Axis shrugged. "I have no idea why they kept them. Perhaps they simply did not understand what they had found. Perhaps when they moved into Spiredore they packed these books up, or stuffed them into back bookcases, and completely forgot they were there."

StarDrifter shared his mother's excitement. "Axis! So many of these texts we thought completely lost! And now to have recovered them! See, mother!" he pointed to a small book he had just unpacked from a crate, "The History of the Lakes - I thought this book was only legend!"

MorningStar gasped in astonishment and picked the book up. "The History of the Lakes," she breathed. "Oh, Axis, thank you for all you have done for the Icarii!"

Axis smiled. Now, with most of the sacred sites of the Icarii opened to her and her brethren, Axis was seeing a side of his grandmother he had not known existed. Only this morning Axis had seen her laughing and chatting with Azhure as she took Caelum for a walk in the morning sunshine. Apparently MorningStar had put her deep suspicion of Azhure to one side.

MorningStar reluctantly put down the book. There would be plenty of time to read these at her leisure. "Is there anything left in Spiredore?"

StarDrifter shook his head. "No. We have removed everything that belonged to the Seneschal - burned most of it. Underneath the wooden panelling on the walls we have found the original carvings in the white stone - very much like the carvings that encircled the well leading down to the UnderWorld, Axis."

Axis nodded, recalling the beautiful carvings of women and children dancing hand in hand in the UnderWorld. He could not wait to see what those in Spiredore looked like restored.

"When will you be able to reconsecrate Spiredore?" he asked his father.

"Tomorrow night, Axis. The moon will be full - Spire-dore shares a special harmony with the moon."

"Oh," MorningStar muttered. "What is that girl doing?"

Axis and StarDrifter stared at her, but MorningStar was gazing out the open tent flap. "Imibe is supposed to be watching Caelum as he has his afternoon nap. Now, here she is running off to watch her husband at his horse games again. I'd better go and watch over the boy — Azhure is visiting some of the wounded in the physician's tents this afternoon."

"I'll go, MorningStar," Axis offered. "I know how much you want to examine these books, and you know how much I enjoy spending time with my son."

"But StarDrifter needs to talk with you about tomorrow night's ceremony, and I have many years ahead of me to enjoy these texts. And, Axis," she grinned, "/ enjoy spending time with Caelum as much as you do."

Axis gave in without further argument. Later his decision would return to haunt his dreams. What would have happened if he had walked into his tent that fine afternoon to check on his son?

MorningStar smiled at her son and grandson - and walked out of the tent and into Prophecy.

MorningStar knew something was badly wrong the instant she walked into the tent that Axis shared with Azhure and Caelum. Caelum s cot was in the far corner, lost in shadows, and a darkly cloaked figure was bent over the cot, reaching down to the baby.

"Who are you?" MorningStar began, her voice hard, and the figure whipped about.

"Oh," MorningStar whispered, her hand creeping to her throat in horror, feeling the dark power seep across the space between them and encircle her.

Dark power. Dark Music. MorningStar could do nothing against it.

"WolfStar," she murmured. "I had always wondered what disguise you wore."

"MorningStar," WolfStar said, moving towards her, a hard smile across the face he wore. Then his disguise faltered and faded, and MorningStar saw the real person beneath.

WolfStar was incredibly beautiful underneath the hood of his black cloak. He had the violet eyes of so many of the Sun-Soars, but dark coppery hair. His entire face was alive with power, strange power that MorningStar assumed he had brought back from the universe beyond. How would Axis deal with this, she thought frantically as WolfStar stepped close to her and took her chin in his hand, how mil Axis deal with this?

"Axis will deal with me when he finds me, my sweet," WolfStar said softly.

"But I do not intend that he should find me yet. I still have much work to do in my current disguise."

"I will not tell," MorningStar whispered.

"Sweet MorningStar SunSoar. How could you not tell? Your knowledge will shine out of your eyes, and either Axis or StarDrifter will eventually force the knowledge from you. My sweet, you have seen me in my everyday disguise, and for that you must pay."

MorningStar whimpered.

"Ah," WolfStar said, "you are afraid." He wrapped both his hands about her head and pulled her to him, kissing her gently, kissing her goodbye.

MorningStar moaned, her hands and power hanging limp by her side.

WolfStar lifted his head. "Goodbye, my lovely," he whispered, then his hands abruptly tightened about her head, crushing it as easily as a child would an egg it held in its hands.

As WolfStar carefully lowered MorningStar's body to the ground, Caelum began to scream in terror.

Only at that point did the five Alaunt who had been resting quietly in the tent, and who had shown no signs of distress as WolfStar murdered MorningStar, rise to their feet and encircle the cot protectively.

"How strange," StarDrifter said, raising his head from the text he was showing Axis. "I feel a loss, an emptiness, but of what I cannot tell."

Axis looked at him, but after a moment StarDrifter shook himself and continued to explain the text to Axis.

WolfStar hurried through the ranks of tents, upset to have been discovered -

and even a little upset that he had been forced to dispose of MorningStar. She was a SunSoar woman, and WolfStar had not liked to kill her.

WolfStar was so upset that for a crucial minute he forgot to recloak himself in his usual disguise.

Not even thinking to look where he was going, disturbed by Caelum's screams so close behind him, WolfStar turned a corner and walked straight into Jack.

Jack took a step back, stunned. "Master!" he whispered.

WolfStar placed a calming hand on Jack's shoulder. "Jack, listen to me.

There has been some unpleasantness. Do not mention that you have seen me."

Jack stared at WolfStar a moment, then lowered his head in submission. "As you wish, Master."

The next instant WolfStar had gone.

"See here," StarDrifter said a few minutes later, pointing to an illustration in the book he held, "this is a representation of the fourth order of the ..."

"Axis!"

Both StarDrifter and Axis' heads shot up. It was Azhure's voice, and she was screaming in terror.

"Axis! Axis!"

Both Enchanters dropped the books they were holding and ran outside.

Azhure ran through the tents towards them, Caelum screaming in her arms, five of the Alaunt hugging her heels.

"Axis!" She was so terrified that her breath came in great heaving sobs, unable to speak. All Axis could get from Caelum was a pure wail of terror.

"Azhure?" he demanded, seizing her shoulders. "What is it? What is if?"

"MorningStar," StarDrifter whispered, his eyes on Axis' tent some three or four away from where they were standing.

Azhure did not answer, but simply burst into tears.

Axis shared one frantic look with his father, then they were both racing as fast as they could for the tent.

Both Axis and StarDrifter stopped, horrified beyond words or emotion, a pace inside the tent. MorningStar's body lay just beyond the centre of the tent.

Her arms were neatly arranged by her side, as if someone had taken care to lay her out neatly, but her head had disappeared in a disgusting mess of blood, bone fragments and brain tissue. It had been completely crushed. Even Axis, used to the wounds of the battlefield, felt physically sickened by the scene.

Azhure stumbled into the tent behind them, shielding Caelum's head from the sight of MorningStar's body. Slowly words started to fall out of her between sobs. "I was on my way back to our tent... then I heard Caelum start to scream...I hurried...ran...and found...I didn't know what to do...what could I do?...I grabbed Caelum and ran..."

Axis leaned back and put his arm about her just as Belial, Magariz, Rivkah, YsgryfF and Embeth all rushed into the tent. All stopped abruptly, their faces appalled at the sight of MorningStar's death.

His face hard and emotionless, Axis lifted Caelum from Azhure's arms. He cuddled the baby, soothing him both with Song and with power, reassuring him.

Gradually the baby's screams began to lessen.

Caelurn was the only witness.

My son. Shush. You are safe. Safe, safe, safe. Who did this to MomingStar?

For a moment he received nothing from his son.

A dark man.

Do you know his name?

Axis could feel his son's hesitation. MomingStar called him WolfStar.

Caelutn. Did you see his face?

No. His cloak was drawn tight about his face.

"WolfStar?" StarDrifter said. "WolfStar did this?"

He touched me with his mind, Caelum thought reflectively. Such a gentle touch. He said that he loved me.

When StarDrifter finally returned, grief-stricken, to the tent he had shared with his mother, he found that The History of the Lakes had vanished. No matter how hard he or any others looked over the next weeks, they never found it again.

Much, much later, when the moon had risen and MorningStar's body had been removed and the tent cleared, Axis and StarDrifter sat together on the sandy shores of Grail Lake. Axis had given Caelum and Azhure a calming enchantment, and now both slept deeply in Rivkah's tent - the one she now openly shared with Magariz. Axis ordered his own tent burned; he could never use it again now.

For a long time both father and son sat in silence, watching the drift of the moon over the dark waters of the Lake.

Axis heard his father take a deep breath, and he reached over and took StarDrifter's hand. "I know how close to MomingStar you were," he said softly, hoping to get Star-Drifter to talk. StarDrifter and MomingStar had often argued, their temperaments and personalities were so similar, but there was a deep bond between them that both encompassed and went beyond love.

"I cannot believe she could have died like that," Star-Drifter whispered, his eyes on the small waves lapping at their feet. "She was always the one most concerned about WolfStar, always the one fretting about who he was, in what body he hid...perhaps she had a premonition that she would die by his hand."

"WolfStar," Axis did not want to think about him - or about MorningStar's thoughts on who WolfStar might be. Not Azhure.

"Not Azhure," StarDrifter said. "It could not be her."

"No," Axis replied. "She had no opportunity to teach me as a child, did she?

She was born and raised in Smyrton while I grew in Carlon."

Both Enchanters clung to that, both so deeply in love with the woman that they would cling to any excuse not to consider her as WolfStar.

"Rivkah, Magariz, Belial, Ysgryff, Embeth," Axis said slowly, thinking aloud.

"All were in the tent within moments of us. All must have been close."

"No," StarDrifter said. "Not Rivkah. She never had the opportunity to teach you as a child."

"Perhaps she did, StarDrifter. All those months and years she spent away from Talon Spike. How do you know that they were spent with the Avar?"

"Axis, you can't be serious," StarDrifter said. "Not Rivkah."

Axis sighed. "Not Azhure, not Rivkah."

"The others?" StarDrifter asked.

"The others. All older than me. All had access to me as a child. I lived with Embeth and Ganelon as a child from the age of eleven, and she would have seen me at an earlier age at court. Magariz has admitted himself that he knew me as a baby in Carlon when he was a member of the palace guard, and later its captain. He also possibly has had access to Gorgrael via Gorkenfort. Belial? Eight years older than I, and who knows if he ever saw me at an age earlier than fifteen or sixteen when I joined the Axe-Wielders and he was commander of my unit?"

"Ysgryft?" StarDrifter said quietly.

"Ysgryff," Axis mused. "Perhaps the perfect disguise. Over the past few weeks we have learned, to our mutual surprise, that the baronial family of Nor has kept the Temple of the Stars protected for the past thousand years. YsgryfF

himself constantly refers to small parts of Icarii culture that should be unknown to any save the Icarii, and he knew that Raum was transforming."

"He did?" StarDrifter asked.

"I came across Ysgryff one night just before we reached the Silent Woman Woods, offering the Bane comfort. He knew what he was going through."

"What better place to hide yourself for thousands of years," StarDrifter said slowly, his eyes back on the water again, "but among the baronial family of Nor.

Access to most of the holy sites, and especially the Island of Mist and Memory.

You must admit, Axis, that YsgryfF is far more than he seems."

Axis gave a short laugh. "Listen to us, StarDrifter. All we know is that WolfStar is not me and he is not you. We both provide each others alibi.

Otherwise we have a smorgasbord of suspects. Most have had the opportunity, and who knows what motive WolfStar has for returning? And what was he doing with Caelum? \Vhy my son?"

StarDrifter expelled a short breath in frustration. "Axis, you have never told me the third verse of the Prophecy."

"It was meant for my ears only. Anyone else who hears it simply forgets it within a moment or two."

"Tell me," StarDrifter urged. "Perhaps I will remember it. Perhaps there is some understanding I can cast upon it."

Axis raised his eyebrows, but he recited the third verse for his father.

StarMan, listen, for I know That you can wield the sceptre To bring Gorgrael to his knees And break the ice asunder. But even with the power in hand Your pathway is not sure: A Traitor from within your camp Will seek and plot to harm you; Let not your Lover's pain distract For this will mean your death; Destroyer's might lies in his hate Yet you must never follow; Forgiveness is the thing assured To save Tencendor's soul.

StarDrifter frowned. Already the words were warping themselves in his mind.

"I cannot ..." he muttered, perplexed.

"The third verse tells me what I must do to defeat Gorgrael," Axis explained patiently. "But that is no of import to anyone save myself. But the verse also warns me that there is someone who pretends love for my cause, but who will eventually betray me to Gorgrael."

"WolfStar."

"It must be. But who is it? Which disguise does WolfStar wear? StarDrifter."

Axis' voice almost broke with his frustration. "It could have been anyone within the camp, or even anyone from Carlon who had crept out during the night. How many suspects do we have within the immediate vicinity? Seventy thousand?

Eighty? More?"

But what was he doing with Caelum? What? Did MorningStar die so that my son could live? Or was WolfStar simply visiting?

StarDrifter put his arm about Axis' shoulders. "We must trust only each other," he whispered. "Who else can we trust?"

"That is a terrible way to live, StarDrifter."

"MorningStar died a terrible death, Axis. Never forget it."

One Nors Woman Wins, Another

LosesFaraday stood with her husband on the parapets of the palace in Carlon and stared across Grail Lake, Timozel lurking dark and brooding in the shadows behind them. Since Borneheld's loss at Bedwyr Fort Timozel had hardly spoken. His respect for Borneheld had been severely tested by the batde loss, and sometimes Faraday heard him muttering of strange visions and promises under his breath. His skin had begun to take on an unhealthy sheen, almost as if he had a slow-burning fever inside him. Bags of skin hung heavy under his eyes.

Poor Timozel, Faraday thought briefly, you are not looking forward to seeing Axis again, are you?

Faraday did not know that Timozel hardly dared sleep now, lest Gorgrael appear to him, laughing and beckoning with his hand. Timozel no longer screamed, but he always woke wide-eyed with fear and horror, clutching at the sheets.

Faraday closed her eyes and leaned her face to the autumn sun, feeling its warmth. It would be soon, now, and both she and Borneheld knew it. They stood only two paces apart, but the gulf between them was immeasurable. If Axis died during the brothers' duel in the Chamber of the Moons, then Faraday would not wish to live. Darkness would close from the north as the Prophecy shattered, and Faraday had no intention of living in a world of ice and darkness that did not hold Axis.

She took a deep breath, savouring the faint scent of the final autumn flowers, and opened her eyes. The distant shore of Grail Lake was only just visible, but Faraday could see the rising height of the white tower that Yr had told her was rightfully called Spiredore. (What had the Icarii done inside Spiredore to make it glow as it had last night?) Axis' victorious army had been encamped about the Lake for almost a week now, recovering its strength after the dreadful battle about Bedwyr Fort, and it had not escaped Faraday's attention, as it had not escaped the attention of most of the people in Carlon, that those of Borneheld's army he had left to die as he fled the field had happily joined the ranks of the force they had fought against. Axis had taken no prisoners, only welcomed comrades.

Faraday leaned a little closer to the stone parapets, wishing she had a glass so that she might see the more clearly. Last night she had stood here and watched the great fire that had been lit on the eastern shore of the Lake. It had been a funeral pyre, Yr told her later, a funeral pyre for a great and loved Icarii, for only the best were farewelled in so lavish a manner.

But while the pyre blazed, Faraday had only seen the flames leaping high into the sky and the shadowy figures of thousands gathered about it - not only Icarii, but Acharite and Ravensbund men and women too. Had Axis been there?

What about his father StarDrifter and mother Rivkah? Borneheld had told Faraday that a woman claiming to be Rivkah had talked to him before the Battle of Bedwyr Fort, and, despite Borneheld's disclaimers, Faraday had no doubts that it was indeed Rivkah, and she smiled for Axis' happiness.

As the flames had leapt for the stars torch-bearing Icarii had taken flight, spiralling higher and higher above the flames to slowly disappear into the night-sky, the flaming torches they carried fading to star-like pin-pricks of light in the

blackness above. They had been escorting the released soul on its journey to the stars. It had been a sight so beautiful, so moving, that Faraday had wept and wondered who was being farewelled with such honour and ceremony.

Later, as the funeral pyre died down, the attention of the thousands across the Lake (as indeed, all the thousands within Carlon who watched) turned to Spiredore. Curious music, Song, had drifted across the Lake towards Carlon, and Faraday had glimpsed a silver and white figure atop the roof of the tower.

StarDrifter she thought, sometimes on his feet, sometimes slowly spiralling into the air. After some time Spiredore itself had begun to glow as if a beacon, a gentle white light pulsing out from its walls, growing in strength until the entire structure seemed to throb. Faraday had been entranced by the sight of the pulsating white tower, and she had stood watching for hours. She andYr had lain awake until dawn stained the sky, talking of the evening's events.

Now, only just risen from her bed, Faraday felt refreshed, alive. Even Borneheld's presence couldn't dampen her spirits. She could almost feel Axis'

presence. Soon, she thought. Soon.

Footsteps sounded from behind her, and Faraday turned slightly.

Gautier approached, dressed in light armour, his sword rattling, and stepped to Borneheld's side, and both men stared silently at the far side of the Lake. Both had recovered some of their spirit, some of their bravado, in the past few days.

"When?" Gautier asked softly.

Borneheld paused, then answered just as softly. "Soon."

"What will you do, Sire?"

"Nothing," Borneheld answered, his eyes fixed on a tiny scarlet and gold figure across the Lake. "Axis will come to me. He must. We both want to end it.

Just he and I. That is all it was ever meant to be."

Borneheld turned from the parapets. His face was shadowed with red beard; he had not shaved or washed in days.

"Our rivalry started the instant he was conceived," Borneheld said to Faraday. "And we have fought ever since he arrived as a baby in Carlon, one way or another. Do not deceive yourself, Faraday, that he will come across the waters of Grail Lake for love of you alone. Will he love you once I am gone?" He paused and eyed her coldly. "No. I doubt it. There will be no reason to, you see, once I am gone."

And with that he turned and walked away, Gautier at his side. The slap of their boots on the stone flagging sounded like dark bells tolling a death knell.

Faraday watched her husband go, a cold fear in her heart. Borneheld had simply assumed that he would lose, as if he had always known that he was fated to die at Axis' hands. Knowing that, it gave what he said about Axis' love for her, or lack of it, the fatal ring of prophecy.

Axis watched with his Enchanter's vision as first Borneheld then, after a long pause, Faraday turned and left the parapets of the castle.

"When?" Belial asked.

"Tonight. I have waited long enough. It will be tonight."

Belial nodded. "How?"

"Rivkah knows a way in. A secret way. We will approach across Grail Lake."

"Who?" Belial asked.

"Me. You, Ho'Demi and Magariz. Jorge. Rivkah."

"Rivkah?" Belial was stunned.

Axis' eyes were as cold as the water. "She must come. She must witness.

One of her sons will die tonight. She must be there."

Belial shivered. "Who else?"

"The Sentinels. They will need to be there."

"To witness?"

Axis shook his head, his eyes far away. "They can serve to witness, yes, but they will be there primarily to wait."

Belial frowned. Axis was in a strange mood, very strange. "Wait? Wait for what?"

"A lost love, Belial. A lost love."

"And that is all you will take?"

Again Axis shook his head. "StarDrifter, I think, although he may get in the way. But he wants to come. EvenSong. She must come too. To wait, like the Sentinels. Arne, and perhaps some five or six men-at-arms. Ravensbundmen, I think."

"You'll need a merchant ship to carry that lot across," Belial muttered.

Axis clapped Belial on the back. "Seventeen, perhaps eighteen, my friend. A good rowboat will get us there."

"You're not going to take Azhure?"

Axis' face hardened. "Someone will need to stay in command of this camp, and I hardly think she will want to come."

"Axis," Belial hesitated. "Be careful you do not treat Azhure too badly in this.

She loves you too deeply to be able to watch you sail across that Lake tonight with a calm and understanding heart."

Axis took a deep breath, fighting to control his temper.

"Be careful, Axis," Belial said, knowing that he was going too far, "Azhure is held in high regard by many within this camp. Hurt her, and you will hurt many."

"Including you?" Axis did not care if Belial 'saw his temper now. "How much do you love her, Belial?"

Belial held Axis' furious stare without flinching. "I will not deny that I loved her once. But there was no point feeding a love and a desire when Azhure could see none but you. It would have destroyed me, and I was not yet ready to die.

But I still care for her, as does Magariz, and Rivkah, and Arne, and a thousand others I could name. Axis," Belial's voice was low, but steady. "We all care too much for her to watch her slowly die of wretchedness when you marry Faraday.

Either let her go, or let Faraday go. You will destroy both of them if you continue in your desire to have them both."

"I will let neither go!" Axis seethed. "There is no need. They will both accept the other. It has been done before."

"But not with such women!" Belial's voice rose now. "Both are wondrous in their own right, but both will fade and die if forced to share you!"

"I hardly think ..." Axis began, but both men were distracted by a shout from the line of tents.

YsgryfF, his face livid with fury, strode towards Axis and Belial as they stood on the shore of the Lake, dragging a slight Nors girl with him.

"Oh gods, no," Belial whispered. "Cazna!" YsgryfFs handsome face was so twisted with anger that it was almost unrecognisable, while the girl, dressed in a bright red wool dress, was wearing an expression of sulky rebellion. Ysgryff drew to a halt some four or five paces away from Axis and Belial, and started to shout at Belial.

"Do you realise what you have done, you low-born oaf? Did you not stop to think what you did when you ravaged my daughter's virtue?'

"Daughter?" Belial said. Cazna wasYsgryff's daughter? "Daughter!" YsgryfF

shouted. "Daughter! Did you think her some camp whore? Did she act like some camp whore? Did you not stop to consider what you did when you dragged her into your bed?"

"I —" Belial began but YsgryfF did not give him the chance to explain.

"Of what value is she now? None! What sort of marriage can I arrange for her now? None! Some hurried and secretive affair with a ploughman who has been paid to overlook her swollen belly?"

Again Belial tried to interrupt, appalled at the inference that he had got Cazna pregnant, but Cazna overrode her father.

"Father," she said, low but firm. Axis noticed that she had inherited her fathers striking looks to the full. "Belial did not seduce me. I seduced him. The night of the treaty-signing in the Ancient Barrows I went to his tent and lay waiting for him in his bedroll."

Belial smiled slightly. Will I ever forget what I felt when I entered my tent that night and saw her lying there, waiting for me?

Ysgryff stared at his daughter in horror. "What did I raise," he said, "that she should treat me like this?"

Belial stepped forward and took Cazna's hand. "Ysgryff, there has been little harm done." He hurried on as Ysgryff opened his mouth in horror yet again.

Little harm done? "I have already asked - your daughter - to marry me."

Axis raised his eyebrow. Belial had thought to castigate him over his treatment of Azhure when all the time he had been busily violating the Baron of Nor's daughter?

"Marriage? Do you think that will heal the hurt and the shame you have dealt my family?" Ysgryff shouted, although he was having a great deal of trouble maintaining the facade of his temper. If he played the part of the enraged father well enough, he would be able to get Belial to accept Cazna without a single gold piece as dowry.

"I have accepted," Cazna said, watching her father carefully. She already had her suspicions about her father's display of righteous rage. Her hand tightened about Belial's.

"Well," Ysgryff said, pretending to be slightly mollified. "How do I know that he means it? Was it just a ploy to bring you to his bed?"

"I hardly think you have behaved well, Belial," Axis said, speaking for the first time since Ysgryff had dragged his daughter forth to accuse Belial. "I think that perhaps you have treated Cazna rather badly, don't you?"

Belial glared at Axis. He knew perfectly well that Axis was referring to their previous conversation with that remark.

"Then find me two more witnesses, Axis," he retorted. "And I will wed Cazna here and now. / am not afraid to grace the woman I love with vows of lifelong love, partnership and honour."

Axis stared at Belial, standing calm and straight with the Nors girl close to him, then he spun on his heel and strode off.

"I cannot take you with me, so I will leave you in command of the camp and the army," Axis said carefully. "FarSight Cut-Spur will be your second-in-command."

"I understand," Azhure said, folding her cloak for the third time, then shaking it out and starting all over again.

They were in the tent that they now shared with Rivkah and Magariz, and this was the first time Axis had found a chance to talk with Azhure alone for many days. Caelum had gone with Rivkah for an evening stroll by the waters.

"Damn it," Axis swore softly, and strode over to Azhure, tearing the cloak from her hands and throwing it to the ground. "What is wrong, Azhure? What has came between us these past months?" How long since he had touched her, kissed her, lain with her? Not since the night he had signed the treaty with Ysgryff and Greville at the Ancient Barrows, and how many weeks was that?

"What has come between us? She sits in her pink and gold palace across the Lake. Faraday."

"Azhure," Axis said, taking her chin gently in his fingers and forcing her to meet his eyes. "Azhure, I love you, you know that. You will always be a part of my life."

She twisted away. "It is a hard thing you ask of me, Axis."

"What? To stay with me? To be my Lover? You love me, you can do no less."

"I wish I could have found the courage to walk away from you before this,"

she said.

"Walk away from me? Who to? Belial?"

Azhure whipped her head back, her eyes wide.

Axis seized her chin again. "If you try to leave me, I will track you down.

Believe it! No-one will take you from me!"

Azhure stared at him. How could a man who could show so much compassion to strangers show such a face of cruelty to her?

"Azhure," Axis moderated his tone as he watched the effect his words had on her. "Do you love me?"

"Yes," she whispered, unable to deny it.

"Then you would be miserable away from me. Azhure, listen to me. Marriage to Borneheld's widow will further cement my claim to the throne of Achar.

Besides, the Prophecy binds me to Faraday, and I need Faraday to bring the Avar and the trees to my cause. I cannot abandon her, Azhure, and I will not.

Not when she has done so much for me, and will do so much more. But my heart belongs to you. Never belittle yourself, or your effect on me, Azhure. "

He bent down and kissed her lips softly. "If I was not already bound by vow to Faraday then I would not hesitate to marry you, Azhure. Believe it."

"Yes." Azhure believed it.

"Azhure, I will not hesitate to acknowledge you, my love for you, or your role in my success thus far. I love you, and your son will be my heir. Walk tall and proud."

"Go," Azhure whispered, "go to Faraday. I cannot fight the Prophecy."

After Axis had left her, and walked down to the shore of Grail Lake and the boat that waited to take him to Faraday, Azhure walked out of the tent, took Caelum from Rivkah, and wandered through the camp, pausing to chat now and then with a member of her command. She wore a cool, confident smile on her face and didn't let a single ray of her grief shine through. Sicarius trotted at her side, his eyes golden and seeing. Once she had inspected the camp and made sure all was in order Azhure shared a meal with Cazna, and envied the young woman that she had captured her husband's heart intact.

The Chamber of the Moons» s twilight

deepened into dark, people started to fileL\ into the Chamber of the Moons.

Servants, guards-/- Ajnen, courtiers, kitchen maids, stableboys - all weredriven by the presentiment that something strange would takeplace this night in the Chamber of the Moons.

They moved silently, none speaking, none feeling the need to. As the night drew on perhaps two hundred stood, still and noiseless, circling the Chamber, leaving its centre free.

Borneheld sat on his throne atop the dais, his face expressionless, sword drawn and resting on his knees. On the stone edge of the dais sat Faraday, green skirts spread about her, shoulders square, face serene, hands folded smoothly in her lap. Like her husband, Faraday stared straight ahead. Waiting.

In a group of four to the left of the dais stood Timozel, morbid; Gautier, a thin sheen of sweat across his face betraying his inner fears; Jayme, pale; andYr, as serene as her mistress, feeling the presence of the Prophecy strongly in the night.

The only light in the Chamber was an inadequate ring of blazing torches round the pillars. They threw more shadows than light, and those shadows provided the only movement.

Everyone waited.

On Grail Lake the boat moved through the smooth waters. All on board were absorbed in their own thoughts.

Axis thought of Azhure one moment, Faraday the next. He thought of Borneheld, and the end they would make of it tonight. He thought of FreeFall and of Zeherah, and of the bargain with the GateKeeper.

Belial thought of the duel ahead and of his wife. He had wed Cazna there on the shores of Grail Lake this afternoon, and the pledges he made had tasted right in his mouth. He thought of the life they would make together when this Prophecy had ground itself to a close. Would they settle in his home province of Romsdale? Or in one of the three manors Cazna had had bestowed upon her?

Belial's thoughts saddened. He prayed Cazna could be all he hoped.

Rivkah and Magariz thought of Axis, and of the duel that they would witness tonight. Rivkah had not wanted to be there, but knew that she had to be. 'She had brought both men into this world, and she would witness one of them out of it tonight. She hoped it would be Borneheld. She was glad she had Magariz with her tonight, glad that they no longer needed to hide their love for each other.

As the boat slid through the darkness Rivkah looked into the water. She snatched at Magariz's hand and indicated with her eyes. Far into the depths of the Lake a line of double lights glowed as if marking a road. The boat glided directly above. Every now and then the row of glowing lamps would diversify into circles and arrows, reminding Rivkah vaguely of the swirls and lines on the faces of the Ravensbund people. They glowed welcomingly, and Rivkah fought the urge to slip into the water and swim down to meet them. She had often sailed these waters at night when she was a girl, but she had never seen lights such as these before.

Jack, Ogden andVeremund had seen the lights as well, but none were puzzled. There it lies, thought Jack, and Ogden andVeremund silently agreed with him. Our fate.

All three knew what they would soon witness, and they hoped that tonight would provide the final stroke for the war between Axis and Borneheld, for the war which had riven Achar apart.

But why, thought Veremund, why go through with this, when the fifth is still lost? Ogden squeezed his brother's hand, and Jack placed his own hands on the shoulders of the two Sentinels. Trust, he thought, it is all we can do. Trust.

Arne thought of Axis and he thought of traitors. He thought of backs, and he thought of Axis' back. Sometimes when he looked at Axis he thought he could see a knife emerging from between his shoulder blades. Sometimes he thought he could see Axis' hands covered in blood, but he could not tell whose. Arne's eyes darted about the boat. Where the traitor s hand? Where? Who?

At the very stern of the boat sat StarDrifter and Even-Song, both a little uncomfortable, both trailing their wings slightly in the cool waters. StarDrifter thought of his mother, of her excitement at finding The History of the Lakes, of her death before she could read it. He thought of MorningStar's crushed head and of WolfStar who lurked somewhere among them. Who?

EvenSong thought of FreeFall. She had fought to put him out of her mind this past year, even to the extent of seducing Belial one night in Sigholt and again this Beltide night past. But nothing had worked, not even Belial's ardent love-making, and tonight the memories of FreeFall seemed closer than ever before. FreeFall, she thought, leave me to live the rest of my life without you.

Let go my heart. Soar back to the stars where you belong.

Jorge sat shoulder to shoulder with the impassive Ravens-bund chief and the six Ravensbundmen who accompanied Axis. Over the past months Jorge had grown to respect the Ravensbund people where once he had only loathed them as savages. Nevertheless, Axis had picked a peculiar force to invade with, a strange one indeed. Magic and enchantments and alien vows with unseen faces have more to do with the selection for this mission than fighting skill. And why me? Why me? I am too old for this. Too tired.

The boat came to a small and forgotten postern door set low in Carlon's walls. It was a little-known gate that Rivkah remembered from her childhood.

Once, many generations ago, it had been used for courtiers who wished to enter and leave the palace as secretly as they might. Rivkah had discovered it as a child, and had sometimes come down here late in summer evenings to sit with her feet dangling in the cool waters of Grail Lake. Was the gate.still here, unblocked, unlocked? It opened into a stairwell and narrow corridor which eventually led to the main hallways of the palace. Perhaps, Rivkah pondered, it had been built hundreds of years ago for the very purposes of this Prophecy.

Axis lifted his head to the night sky and whistled softly. A sudden rush of wings signalled the arrival of the snow eagle on Axis' outstretched arm.

The boat rocked gently as it bumped against the stone wall and Arne crept forward and worked the latch on the gate.

It swung silently open, revealing a rectangle of darkness. Axis was suddenly, vividly reminded of the rectangle of light that sat behind the GateKeeper, and he pondered the similarities. This was a Gate into the Prophecy as surely as that golden Gate in the UnderWorld was a doorway into the world beyond.

Arne tied the boat to a ring to one side of the gate and disappeared into the darkness for some minutes. Everyone sat quietly, waiting. Axis gently stroked the eagle s feathers, calming it and himself. Earlier Belial had apologised to him for his ill-considered words about Azhure and they had grasped hands, friends once more. Axis had complimented Belial on his new bride. Both men were relieved that their friendship had been restored on this, the most critical of nights.

Arne reappeared. "The place is deserted," he said. "I scouted well ahead.

Nothing. No-one."

"No guards?" Belial queried.

"They will all be in the Chamber of the Moons," said Axis quietly, and although he was not sure why he said it, he knew it to be true. "Waiting. Come."

They moved quickly and quietly through the lower corridors of the palace.

The eagle was becoming more and more restless the further they moved into the palace, and Axis soothed and stroked it. StarDrifter and EvenSong, as nervous about being trapped where they could not fly as the eagle, were grateful the instant they moved out of the tight and narrow lower passageways; their wings had scraped painfully in places against cold and damp stone.

As they moved further and higher into the palace the group passed small numbers of servants. As soon as the servants saw the party was headed by the golden man with the eagle, they slunk back against the walls, their eyes great and solemn. One or two bowed slightly as Axis, his eyes fixed straight ahead, passed them without comment or recognition. There were no guards. No fighting. Borneheld was willing now that it should come down to the duel.

They reached corridors which were wide and spacious, decorated with bright lamps, silken banners and intermittent tapestries showing scenes from Achar's glorious past. Not a few depicted triumphant battles from the Wars of the Axe, which caused StarDrifter to grimace.

Axis finally came to the part of the palace he knew so well. How many times had he trod this very corridor, striding to an audience with Priam in the Chamber of the Moons? And how many times had he walked, not at the head of a party as he did now, but three paces behind the figure of the Brother-Leader Jayme?

Walking as Jayme's right arm, his sword arm, the support of the Seneschal?

Well, now he walked towards the Prophecy, and when he crossed swords with Borneheld he would be fighting the power of the Seneschal as much as the power of his brother.

"Wait," he called suddenly, holding out his free hand as they turned a corner. The others stopped behind him, looking down the straight and wide corridor. At the end, perhaps some fifty paces away, double doors stood wide.

Beyond was a darkened chamber, lit only by the leaping light of torches.

"The Chamber of the Moons," Jack said, moving forward to step next to Axis.

"Yr is there. I can feel her."

"And Faraday," Axis said, relieved. He could feel the slight tug of her power as well. "And Faraday."

He turned to look at those behind him, smiling as if realising for the first time what a strange group he had brought with him. Sentinels, Ravensbundmen, nobles, a Princess, a friend, a father and a sister.

"Let us go and strike the final blow for Tencendor," he said quiedy. "Let us go and finish this."

When Axis strode into the Chamber of the Moons, the eagle hopping in agitation on his arm, the torchlight caught at his golden tunic and hair, making all who looked at him blink -some in wonder, some in fear, and at least one in love.

He is so different, so changed, so much more powerful than when I first saw him enter this Chamber, Faraday thought, rising to her feet as Axis stared across the Chamber of the Moons at her. He strides through the doors like a golden god and yet still he has my heart as helpless as that first night I saw him so long ago.

Her eyes travelled over the golden tunic with its blood-red blazing sun and matching red breeches. And blinked.

A bloodied sun hanging over a golden field.

For an instant her hand hovered about her throat as the vision threatened to overwhelm her again. She managed to regain control, and dropped her hand, her eyes calm.

Axis stood a moment, glancing about the Chamber, his eyes finally coming to rest on Faraday standing tall and beautiful before the dais, Borneheld sitting motionless behind her. With a movement so abrupt it brought gasps from all who witnessed, Axis threw the eagle into the air. Eyes followed the silver and white bird as it soared into the dome of the Chamber, coming to rest on a ledge far above.

Faraday's eyes fluttered to the eagle. Feathers?

Feathers! She felt as if she were choking on feathers!

She took a deep breadi, and dropped her eyes.

All eyes were now on the golden man standing in the centre of the Chamber before them.

"The traitors," Borneheld said calmly, evenly, by way of introduction. He had not risen from the throne. "Here they are, Jayme, all together in one room. All walking with their treachery open for all to see. Open for all to note."

Jayme stood some eight or nine paces behind the throne, virtually lost in the shadows. He looked gaunt and grey, and a palsy rippling rhythmically across his cheek gave him a slight air of insanity.

His eyes caught with Axis', and if Jayme had thought that Axis might still retain some measure of compassion, perhaps even love, for him, then Jayme quickly realised that all Axis now felt for him was loathing and contempt.

Jayme was so lost in Axis' eyes that he did not see Rivkah move quietly into the Chamber behind her son. For the first time in thirty-four years the Princess Rivkah had returned to the home of her youth. She took a deep breath, looked between her sons, then gazed about the Chamber. Prophecy. Her life and those of her sons had been manipulated by the Prophecy. Every time she thought she was free of its grips, she realised it continued to manipulate and use her as it willed.

Those entering with Axis moved quietly to join the watchers about the pillars of the Chamber, and even Faraday moved away from the dais so that the brothers could face each other. She gave Axis a smile, but his eyes only flickered quickly over her. His entire attention was reserved for his brother.

The Chamber rang unth shouted accusations of murder and treachery.

"The traitor sits the throne," Axis' voice cried out. "Borne-held, I accuse you of FreeFall SunSoars murder. I accuse you of our uncle's murder. I accuse you of ordering the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Skarabost. You have murdered your last, Borneheld, and now it is time to let the gods pass judgement on your crimes."

Borneheld rose to his feet. "A fight, brother? Is that what you want?" he cried. "And yet you come to me surrounded with your tricks and your enchantments. I am an Artor-fearing man, Axis. A plain soldier. How can I compete with your enchantments? Your sorcery?"

"I stand before you as your brother, Borneheld. Tonight I will not be an Icarii Enchanter. I will come to you only with my sword. We will stand evenly matched for gods and for prophecies to choose which has the right to live, and which the right to die." With an abrupt motion Axis twisted the Enchanter's ring from his right hand and tossed it across the Chamber to StarDrifter.

When Faraday saw the ring glint through the air she cried out, her composure finally breaking. "No!" The thought that Axis would face Borneheld only with his sword appalled her - and again Faraday saw the blood dripping from Axis' hair and felt the soft trickle of blood down her breasts. She moved as if to run to Axis, but a strong arm caught her about the waist. Jorge.

"Let him be," he said. "Borneheld and Axis must end this. Here. Finally."

"No," Faraday wailed again, twisting against Jorge's arm. The vision of the trees overwhelmed her, and now she was afraid, dreadfully afraid, that what they had shown her (were showing her) had been (was) the truth. Axis would die here tonight, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. "No," she whispered, as Axis glanced her way. "Axis, no." She saw Borneheld, stepping down from the throne. Borneheld took a step away from his throne, his sword raised before him.

Slowly Axis unbuttoned the golden tunic and threw it to Belial. It was a beautiful tunic, and he did not want it rent, or stained with blood. He rolled up the sleeves of his white linen shirt above his elbow, then, in a quick movement so fluid most could hardly follow it, drew his sword from the scabbard at his side.

"Borneheld," he said, and his brother leaped from the dais towards him and into fate and vision.

Time passed, and its passage was marked only by the ringing of steel through the Chamber of the Moons.

Dreadfully, inexorably, caught by fate, Axis and Borneheld fought as the vision of the Silent Woman Woods had foretold and Faraday's face crumpled in despair. Although she strained against Jorge's arms to be free, reaching into the centre of the Chamber, he was too strong for her. She wept, terrified by what she saw unfolding before her. In the centre of the Chamber the two men circled, each bloodied with small stinging wounds, swords drawn, faces twisted into snarling masks of rage fed by long-held hatreds. How long had they been fighting? How many blows had they traded? How many times had one slipped, the other lunging for the kill, only for the other to roll aside just in time to escape the sword thrust? Faraday did not realise that she whispered Axis' name over and over as she continued to struggle feebly against Jorge's arm. Her slim fingers twisted the Ichtar ruby around the knuckle of her heart finger until the skin broke and bled.

Apart from Faraday's movements and whispers, there was no other movement or sound in the Chamber of the Moons save those of the men fighting. Magariz stood behind Rivkah, his hands on her shoulders, lending her support as she witnessed the death struggle between her two sons. No matter how much Rivkah had disowned Borneheld, no matter how much she claimed to despise him, Magariz knew that she would not be able to watch his death without pain.

Rivkah's attention was caught by the scene in front of her. Both her sons had grown to be skilful warriors. Borneheld fought with muscles and tactics honed by battle, Axis with the grace and fluidity bequeathed him by his Icarii father. Borneheld s size and the gold circlet about his brow lent him authority, Axis' white and scarlet-clad form imbued him with an almost ethereal beauty.

StarDrifter realised that the sound of the swords clashing and scraping along each other, the sounds of the men's heavy breathing and of their boots scuffing across the green marble floor, made a music unlike any he had ever heard before. It was a strange music, dark and foreboding, and StarDrifter's eyes widened as he realised he was listening to an echo of the Dance of Death, of the Dark Music of the Stars. Had this duel been choreographed by WolfStar? Was he here, watching? StarDrifter's eyes ran anxiously about the Chamber, but could see nothing beyond the dim figures of those who encircled the Chamber. Did WolfStar watch with the eyes of that courtier? Or perhaps the stableboy beyond?

StarDrifter returned his eyes to Borneheld and Axis. That they fought to the sounds of the Dark Music worried him more than anything else - why was the Prophecy using Dark Music to work its will? Was there no place for the Star Dance tonight?

Time passed, and its passage was marked only by the ringing of steel and the scuff of the combatants' boots on the marble floor. Unknowingly, StarDrifter had begun to sway from side to side rhythmically, to sway from side to side with the beat of the Dance of Death.

Both Axis and Borneheld weaved with weariness now, and both began to slip every third or fourth step. Their breath was laboured, their faces and torsos wet with perspiration, while their arms looked as though they had invisible lead weights attached to them. Both men had sustained wounds, but Axis was bleeding a little more heavily than Borneheld. Borneheld was dressed in a thick leather jerkin and trousers, and the leather protected his skin more than Axis'

thin linen shirt protected his.

At no point did either man drop his eyes from those of his opponent. They had waited all their lives for this, and every stroke, every thrust, was powered by long yean of resentment and hate.

Everything that Faraday saw was shadowed by the vision the trees had shown her. It was as if there were four men out there; every time Axis raised his sword a ghost-like figure beside him raised his, every time Borneheld lunged so a ghost-like figure lunged with him.

Time passed, and the music danced on.

Axis staggered with weariness. How long had he been fighting? Borneheld allowed him no quarter, no time in which to catch his breath, no time in which to position himself to drive home a series of blows and thrusts that might serve to push Borneheld to his knees. His brother seemed to have the strength of a bull, fighting without pause, his eyes gleaming with madness.

In the end it was the eagle who proved Borneheld's undoing. Throughout the fight the bird had clung to its high ledge, bored yet distracted by the fighting going on so far below it.

Finally it began to preen itself, twisting its head to and fro among its feathers as it sought to clean itself of some imagined stain.

It tore a small downy feather from among its chest feathers and spat it out, irritated, then turned back to comb the flight feathers of its left wing.

The white feather slowly floated, this way and that, now rising, now falling, now wafting this way, now that. But always it drifted lower and lower until it began to jerk and sway as it was caught by the laboured breathing of the combatants just beneath it.

It almost lodged in Axis' hair, and Axis flicked his head, irritated by the feathery touch along his forehead, distracted enough that he only just managed to parry a blow close to his chest.

The feather, dislodged from Axis' hair, spiralled upwards a handspan or two, then, caught in a down draught, sank towards the floor. Borneheld had not noticed it, and Axis had forgotten it, as the brothers began a particularly bitter exchange, fighting so close now that they traded blows virtually on the hilts of their swords, taking the strain on their wrists, both their faces reddened and damp from effort and weariness and determination and hate.

The feather settled on the marble floor.

Axis suddenly lunged forward. Momentarily surprised, and caught slightly offguard, Borneheld took a single step backwards and...lost his balance as his boot heel slipped on the feather.

It was all Axis needed. As Borneheld swayed, a look of almost comical surprise on his face, Axis hooked his own foot about the inside of Borneheld's knee and pulled his leg out from under him.

Borneheld crashed to the floor, the sword slipping from his grasp, and Axis kicked it across the Chamber. Fear twisting his face, Borneheld scrabbled backwards, seeking space in which to rise. He risked a glance behind him - not two paces away Faraday stood held in Jorge's tight grasp, a look of utter horror on her face. Borneheld stared briefly at his wife, knowing it was all over, knowing he had lost, then he turned his face back towards Axis, wanting to see the blow that would kill him.

All Faraday could see was what the vision let her. Real figures were obscured by the ghostly, and Faraday was certain, certain, that it was Axis who had tripped, exhausted, and now lay waiting for death at her feet.

Axis placed his booted foot squarely in the centre of Borneheld's chest, raising his sword, but instead of bringing the blade down to sever the arteries of Borneheld's neck he twisted the sword in his hand and struck Borneheld a stunning blow to his skull with its haft, leaving the man writhing weakly, semiconscious. Then Axis threw the sword away.

Every eye in the Chamber watched, bewildered, as Axis' sword spun across the floor of the Chamber. What was he doing? Why did he not finish Borneheld with a quick, clean blow?

Axis sank to his knees, straddling Borneheld, and drew a knife from his boot.

Then he tore open Borneheld's leather jerkin, pushing the flaps to one side, and slid the knife deep and long into the man's chest.

He used both hands wrapped about the haft of the knife to get enough leverage to split Borneheld's sternum in two and crack open his rib cage, grunting with the effort.

The sound of bone splitting open was horrifying. Rivkah, directly across the Chamber, doubled over and gagged at the sound, and Magariz seized her in his arms and held her tight against his chest.

Borneheld's eyes rolled back in his head, and his hands clenched by his sides. His entire body spasmed as Axis threw the knife to one side and took hold of Borneheld's exposed rib cage with both hands and tore it apart.

Under the pressure of Axis' fingers, Borneheld's aorta split asunder. A massive gout of his blood arced out of his chest and splattered across Faraday's neck and chest, running down between her breasts in warm rivulets. Driven to madness by the feel of the warm blood trickling down her body, Faraday screamed and screamed, twisting in Jorge's arms.

But no matter how much she writhed, Faraday could not escape Borneheld's dying stare. Or was it Axis' eyes she saw? Faraday still could not distinguish the real figures from the ghostly. Who was dying at her feet? Whose eyes stared into hers in mute appeal? Was it Axis? Oh Mother, pray that it was not Axis who lay on the floor dying!

His arms bloodied to the elbow, his entire shirt-front warm with his brother's heart blood, Axis reached into Borneheld's open chest cavity and seized his brother's frantically beating heart with his bare hands. Then he tore it out, spraying blood over all those within the immediate vicinity.

"FreeFall\" he screamed, leaning back from Borneheld's body and staring into the dome of the Chamber. "FreeFa//!"

The eagle launched itself from its ledge, its shriek mingling with Axis'

scream, and plummeted for the floor of the Chamber.

As the eagle dived. Axis threw Borneheld's still uselessly beating heart as high as he could, black blood spattering in great drops in his golden hair and across the floor of the Chamber. As the heart reached the peak of its arc, the eagle seized it in its talons and crashed to the floor in a tangle of wings, talons and beak, feeding frenziedly on the sweet meat offered it.

Everyone was so horrified by the sight of the eagle tearing Borneheld's heart apart in the centre of the Chamber floor that they were literally incapable of movement. Even Rivkah, held close against Magariz's chest, was mesmerised by the sight of the snow eagle feeding on her eldest son's heart.

Axis leapt to his feet, slipping slightly in the pool of blood about Borneheld's body.

Faraday stared at him, appalled. He was covered in blood - it dripped from his body, it hung in congealing strings through his hair and beard. He reached out a hand ...

... and seized Faraday. Jorge let her go, sickened by the sight of the gore that dripped from both Faraday and Axis. Faraday twisted feebly as Axis seized her left wrist, frightened by the look in his eyes, gasping in pain as his warm and slippery fingers closed so tightly about the delicate bones of her wrist that they began to grind against each other.

Borneheld's blood trickled yet further between her breasts, and she gagged.

Everywhere, the blood. She could feel it, smell it, taste it.

Axis wrenched the Ichtar ruby from her heart finger and half turned back to Borneheld's body. He still kept Faraday caught in his vice-like grip.

"/ have fulfilled my part of the bargain, GateKeeperl" he screamed,

"Nowfulfil yoursl"

He tossed the Ichtar ruby into Borneheld's chest cavity where it glinted momentarily before sinking beneath the pool of coagulating blood where Borneheld's heart had once been.

TransformationsFor two thousand years she had been

trapped in the hated ruby, trapped on the fingers of countless Duchesses of Ichtar. For two thousand years she had been trapped, listening to countless conversations, watching countless lives drift past through a ruby haze, weeping with the coundess women forced to wear the ring and endure the cursed Dukes of Ichtar.

It had been the damming of the spring two thousand years ago which had bound Zeherah into this ruby, although what other dark enchantments had been used to trap her, she did not know. Which Duke had it been, so frustrated by the bridge's refusal to let him pass that he had decided to dam the spring and drain the Lake of Life? Zeherah could not remember and, in the end, it did not matter very much. All that mattered was that as the waters had dried up so Zeherah felt herself start to fade. As the sun dried the last muddied puddle in the moat, and the bridge sighed and disappeared, the watching Duke on the far bank had pointed into the moat and cried out at the magnificent ruby lying there in the mud. So Zeherah, the fifth Sentinel, had been condemned to eons trapped in this hated gem.

These last thirty-odd years had been the most frustrating of all. She had been on the finger of the previous Duchess of Ichtar when the Icarii Enchanter had spiralled out of the sky and got the StarMan on her. She had been on the finger of the previous Duchess of Ichtar when she had carried the prophesied babe and when she had gone into labour with him. But Searlas, most damned of men, had wrenched her from Rivkah's finger when she was in the throes of labour, and she had not known whether the babe had been born alive or dead.

For many years she had lain in a cold stone vault somewhere deep in the husk that had once been die extraordinary Sigholt. Wondering, weeping with frustration that the Prophecy walked and she knew nothing of it, she could not move from her ruby-red prison. Where were Ogden and Veremund andYr? Were they walking now, too? Where was Jack? Jack! Zeherah could not feel any of her companions, but it was the feather-light touch of Jacks mind that she missed the most. Would she ever see him again?

Then one day Borneheld's hand had reached into the vault and grasped her.

He had carried her to Carlon and placed her on the finger of the next Duchess.

Zeherah had travelled with Faraday through all her adventures, painful and delightful, over the past two years, and with Faraday had watched the Prophecy unfold about her. She had seen the other four Sentinels through Faraday's eyes, but had not been able to communicate with them. She had watched as Faraday fell deeper and deeper in love with the StarMan - Axis, what an unusual name!

She had endured Faraday's marriage to Borne-held and watched the fall of Gorkentown. She had aided Faraday in her determination not to fall pregnant to Borne-held - Mother knew she could not wait to see the end of the line of the Dukes who had cursed her. She had travelled with Faraday through the Sacred Grove and the Enchanted Wood. And tonight Zeherah had watched the death of Borneheld both through Faraday's eyes and through the imprisoning walls of the ruby. And when the StarMan had seized the ruby Zeherah had screamed with delight. When Borneheld s warm

blood had closed over the ruby, Zeherah could feel the knots of the curse finally unravel. The death of the last cursed Duke of Ichtar would give her back her life.

He tumbled, puzzled, out of the sun. Where had he been? What had gone wrong? Why was he so confused? There was a tremendous heat about him, and he fell further and further, trying to escape the fire of the sun, but never succeeding. It surrounded him, burned him, seared him, blinded him, and his mind unravelled with the pain and terror. Forgetting to even try to control his headlong fall through the sky he raised his hands to his face, trying to protect his eyes, and screamed.

The heat burst through the Chamber of the Moons in a massive blast that caused all present to throw hands and arms over their faces and turn away. All heard the eagle scream, a sound of pure terror, and those closest to Borneheld's corpse saw a searing red light burn through his body. Axis pulled Faraday to him, protecting her from the worst of the heat and light. When Faraday's vision cleared, she realised it was Axis who held her and Borneheld's bloody corpse that lay at her feet, a golden and white form slowly rising behind it. "Axis!" she cried and buried her head against his chest.

When the light and the heat faded, people turned back to the heart of the Chamber. Where the eagle had been now crouched a naked Icarii male, white and silver wings, golden hair and violet eyes that stared wonderingly about him.

"FreeFall!" EvenSong cried. She pushed past her stunned father and rushed towards him.

"EvenSong," FreeFall said. "Where are we? What is going on? Who are all these people?"

EvenSong took his hand and raised her violet eyes to Axis, standing with Faraday clutched in his arms. "Thank you," she whispered, "thank you," then she turned back to FreeFall and

wrapped arms and wings about him, cradling him gently, crooning with her voice, telling him how much she loved him.

Axis' attention was commanded by the woman who now stood before him.

As naked as FreeFall, but with infinitely more presence and power. This must be Zeherah, the lost Sentinel. She was tall and slim, not beautiful but handsome, with her mother's black eyes and deep red hair, as red as the Ichtar ruby, that tumbled down her back.

"Thank you," she said as simply as EvenSong. "Thank you."

And then Jack was by her side.

Axis finally took a deep breath and kissed Faraday briefly.

"It seems I need a wife," he smiled, "and it has just occurred to me that you are now widowed. Will you marry me, Faraday?"

"Yes!" she said fiercely, hugging him tighdy, unmindful of the fact that they were both covered in blood. "Yes!"

Jorge stared at them, still appalled by the way Borneheld had died.

"You did not murder to protect your world," Axis said softly, and Jorge started, realising that Axis had raised his eyes to stare at him over the top of Faraday's head. "Remember FreeFall's murder, Jorge. Remember Priam sickening and dying after he publicly announced that he would seek an alliance with me.

Think of the thousands of people crucified and murdered in Skarabost because their hearts led them to follow the new way when Borneheld could not relinquish the old."

Jorge lowered his eyes and bowed his head.

"Think of the new life that Borneheld's death has wrought," Axis continued, determined to see that Jorge understood why Borneheld's death had been necessary. "FreeFall, brought back from the halls of the UnderWorld.

Brought back into the life he should never have been thrust from so violently. And Zeherah, trapped in her ruby for thousands of years by the line of the Dukes of Ichtar. Freed finally to take her place with the other Sentinels."

"I accept, Axis." Jorge's eyes flickered over what was left of Borneheld. "This new order demands to be accepted, does it not?"

"I will do whatever I have to," Axis said, "in order to see that it is."

Jorge stared at Axis a moment, then turned away. Axis squeezed Faraday's shoulders then let her go. "Yr, take her away from this. Wash her, and see that she gets some sleep."

Around the Chamber people were finally starting to move, murmur, talk.

StarDrifter, bending down by FreeFall and EvenSong's side, looked up at his son and grinned.

"Your enchantments have proved powerful tonight, my son." He tossed Axis'

ring towards him, and Axis caught it and slid it back onto his finger.

"I had help, StarDrifter. But will tell you about it later. FreeFall?"

FreeFall looked up from the floor where he still sat bewildered, EvenSong weeping gently by his side. "Axis? What has been going on? Where am I?"

"You have been away, FreeFall, but now you are home. Rest tonight with EvenSong, and I will tell you of your adventures when we have a quieter moment."

"Tonight?" StarDrifter laughed. "Look, Axis, the dawn begins to lighten the Chamber!"

Axis looked up, startled, and stared at the tiny windows set into the domed roof. StarDrifter was right; the sky was pink with dawn. "Stars," he whispered,

"how long did Borneheld and I battle?"

"Most of the night, my friend," Belial said behind him. "Most of the night. I do not know how you have the energy to even stand."

Axis embraced his friend, and took the sword that Belial handed him, sliding it into the empty scabbard at his side. "Belial. Is the captain of the palace guard here?"

Belial nodded and indicated a tall dark man. The captain of the guard looked distinctly nervous.

"What is your name, Captain?" Axis did not recognise him from when he had been in Carlon two years earlier. "Hesketh, ah ..." Hesketh's voice trailed off".

"Sire." "Hesketh, I am now taking control of Carlon as I have taken control of Achar. Does that trouble you?"

"No, Sire." Hesketh glanced across at Yr, just about to step out of the Chamber with Faraday, and she nodded at her lover before disappearing through the doorway.

"Good," Axis said briskly. "You and your guard will now go with Belial and secure the palace. Once you have done that, you may inarch yourself down to the city gates and open them. Everyone within and without Carlon is free to come and go as they want. There will be no reprisals on my part to the palace guard, or to any remaining soldiers of Borneheld's army within Carlon. All I ask is your loyalty."

"Yes, Sire." Hesketh's voice was a little brisker. "You have it." Axis had fought for the crown of Achar with his brother in this Chamber and won it in fair fight. If all that Axis accused Borneheld of were true, then the gods themselves had judged Borneheld in trial by battle.

"Good," Axis repeated. "Belial? Go with Hesketh. Make sure the palace is secure. Take two of the Ravensbundmen with you - I'll need the other four."

Belial saluted and strode away.

Axis turned and looked for Gautier, Timozel and Jayme. All three were standing to one side, guarded closely by Ho'Demi and his remaining four men.

"Timozel," Axis said, walking over to the group. He honestly did not know what to say to this man. His once light-hearted and good-natured features were now overlain with a dark, brooding manner. His eyes gleamed, almost burned, with fanaticism. "Timozel. Do your vows to Faraday still stand?"

Timozel stared at Axis. He had watched the battle and its outcome with horror. Now Borneheld lay dead on the floor before him and his visions appeared about to crumble into lies. Where were the armies that undulated in leagues in every direction? Where were the tens of thousands who screamed his name?

The victories? Where? Where? Where?

And what about Faraday? Her husband lies dead and butchered on the cold and unforgiving floor. Will she let Axis seize her?

"Yes. I am still Faraday's Champion. And I can see that she will need my advice and guidance more than ever, Axis, in case she should be tempted to make decisions she will ever regret."

Axis fought to keep his face expressionless. "Don't forget that you are bound to protect her and support her, Timozel, in whatever decisions she makes. You are not her lord."

"And I swear by whatever gods are listening, Axis, that I will do my utmost to make sure that you will not be her lord either!" Timozel hissed, then abruptly brushed past Axis and strode from the room.

"Let him go," Axis said as Ho'Demi made to follow. "None of us can do much to stop him. And he is Faraday's Champion; I will not harm him."

"He is dangerous," Ho'Demi observed. Something dark had taken possession of that young man's soul.

Axis ignored Ho'Demi and turned to Gautier. The man's face was gaunt and tired.

"You followed Borneheld too easily, Gautier," Axis said. "I cannot forget that.

But," Axis paused and his eyes caught briefly with Ho'Demi's, "it is not I who has best reason to stand and accuse you, Gautier. You are a man hated by your own troops for your cruelties. How many men have you ordered slaughtered, because they could not crawl another step? Because they could not give any more of their strength than they had already given? But your worst crime, Gautier? Your worst crime? You crucified three brave Ravensbundmen, men whose only transgression was to speak well of me. Ho'Demi," Axis turned to address the Ravensbund chief. ''He is yours to do with as you wish. All that I ask," Axis glanced at the high windows, "is that he be dead by nightfall."

"No!" Gautier shrieked, horrified, struggling as two grinning Ravensbundmen seized him by the arms. "Kill me now! A quick sword thrust, Axis, I beg you!

Don't hand me over to those savages!"

Axis looked back at Ho'Demi. "Dead by nightfall, Ho'Demi. Throw his body on the refuse heaps outside the city for all to see."

"What is left of it," Ho'Demi said smoothly. "Leave me two of your four soldiers, Ho'Demi," Axis said, watching Gautier crumple with fear. "I doubt you will need an entire unit to keep Gautier under control."

Ho'Demi saluted. "I thank you for this gift, Great Lord," he said, then signalled to the two Ravensbundmen who held Gautier to follow him, and strode out of the Chamber.

"Well, Jayme," Axis said, turning to the Brother-Leader of the Seneschal.

"You seem to have presided over the virtual downfall of the Seneschal, have you not? The 'Forbidden'," and Axis almost snarled the word, "are coming home.

Moving back to the hills and plains that the Seneschal has so long denied them."

He stopped speaking and stared at Jayme, almost unable to believe the change that had come over the man. As long as Axis could remember, Jayme had been strong and full of vitality. He had always been a man to take pride in his accomplishments and in his appearance.

Yet this man who now cowered before Axis looked like a broken-down ploughman, crippled by years of back-breaking labour and deadening poverty.

He cringed under Axis' level stare, his clothes torn and stained, his hair dishevelled, pieces of food and spittle clinging to his white beard.

"Moryson? Gilbert?" Axis asked.

"Gone," Jayme muttered.

"Take him to a secure room," Axis instructed the two remaining Ravensbundmen. He could not send this cowering old man to the dungeons.

"And lock him inside. Make sure the window is bolted so that he cannot throw himself from its ledge. I will talk to him later."

Axis turned and saw Rivkah, still supported by Magariz, staring at Borneheld's body.

Rivkah. Axis started to walk towards her. What could he say? He paused by Borneheld's body and glanced down. Borneheld's grey eyes, dull and blood-spattered now, stared sightlessly at the gold and silver moons that chased each other among the bright stars of the enamelled blue dome high above. Axis leaned down and closed them, catching the glint of gold among Borneheld's blood-encrusted hair. His gold circlet. The circlet of the Kings of Achar. Axis hesitated, then lifted the heavy circlet of gold from Borneheld's dead head and pulled the amethyst ring of office from his finger. Standing upright, he wiped them clean of blood and stared at them as they rested in his hands. His, Axis supposed. Both represented the entire authority of the throne of Achar.

Axis did not intend to take the throne of Achar. He did not want it, and he intended to make it redundant in the new Tencendor. Then what to do with these now-useless badges of office? Still considering, Axis walked slowly towards Rivkah.

Her eyes were riveted to his blood-stained face. So much blood smeared across her son, so much splattered about this Chamber. It made her think of the bloody births which had brought her sons into the world. How else could it have ended? How else?

"Rivkah," Axis said gently. He held the golden circlet and the ring uncomfortably in his hands, not knowing what to do with them.

Rivkah reached out a trembling hand to Axis. His torso had several deep wounds in it. Not serious, but they were still bleeding, and Rivkah could see the glint of a rib bone through one.

"You're hurt," she whispered and her fingers traced feather-light across his chest.

"These wounds will heal well enough once I visit the surgeon's tent and let him stitch me back together again," Axis replied.

Rivkah nodded and dropped her eyes. "I think it was hardest on me, Axis, watching you and Borneheld fight last night. I have never loved Borneheld, and I think I almost hated him for what he did to Priam...but...but ..." Her eyes filled with tears and she could not finish.

Axis leaned forward and embraced her a little awkwardly.

"It is hard," she whispered against his chest, "to watch your two sons battle each other to the death."

On impulse Axis handed her the circlet of gold and the amethyst ring. "Here.

Take the circlet and the ring. I will not use them. And you are the last of your line, Rivkah. Wear them, melt them down, break them up and sell them, I care not."

Rivkah sniffed and took the circlet and the ring. Her father had worn these, and her brother, as had so many Kings of Achar before them.

Axis looked at Magariz, dark and solemn behind Rivkah. "As soon as you can find some spare soldiers, Magariz, or perhaps use some of the servants still standing gaggling about here, take Borneheld's corpse and throw it on the refuse heaps outside the city walls. He belongs to the crows now."

Rivkah flinched, and her fingers tightened about the ring and the circlet.

It was not until late that night that Axis, his wounds itching and sore from the attentions of the surgeons, managed to find a quiet moment to himself. The palace had been subdued easily - there was no resistance. Belial and his men combed the palace from its gold-plated minarets to its shit-stained dungeons.

They found mostly servants eager to please and courtiers eager to flatter. The servants Belial sent about their duties, the courtiers he sent back to their townhouses - time enough for flatteries later. Towards the end of their search they found a dozen Brothers of the Seneschal, as well as Earl Isend and an over-rouged woman cowering together in a room. Axis, who had experienced enough death this past day to last him many, many months, had ordered that they be shipped south to Coroleas.

Once the palace was secure, Axis spent the day in and about Carlon.

Talking, soothing, taking charge of the city. The Carlonese had simply shrugged their shoulders and accepted that Axis had replaced Borneheld. They were far more enthralled by Princess Rivkah's return. Rivkah had spent part of the day in the streets, talking to the mayor and several of the Masters of the Guilds, as also to some of the ordinary citizens who hung shyly about, hoping to be noticed.

Faraday accompanied her, and the widowed Queen and the resurrected Princess did much to calm people's fears about what the previous night had wrought.

Several of the Icarii accompanied them, and the citizens' worries about the flying creatures were allayed by Rivkah and Faraday's assurances. The mayor was so enthralled by SpikeFeather he invited him home for dinner that night.

Belial cast open the gates of the city, as Axis had requested, and slowly the people of Carlon began to mingle with members of Axis' force. News, food, girts and laughter were exchanged and mothers, wives and sweethearts learned word of who had and hadn't survived. By late afternoon there was a slow procession of women and children walking on the freshly turned graves of the fields beyond Bedwyr Fort, carrying flowers and last gifts, to say a final and quiet farewell.

Finally alone in one of the palaces guestrooms, Axis closed his eyes and let the warmth of the fire soothe his wounds. He was tired. So tired. Within a few days he would proclaim Tencendor, then move north to confront Gorgrael. Perhaps, he thought vaguely, his mind starting to drift off", it would be best to start sending troops north soon. Tomorrow morning. Who knew when Gorgrael would choose to attack. He must know of the troubles in southern Achar - Tencendorl This would be the perfect time to strike.

Faraday slipped into the room, wearing a deep blue cloak. Her hair was loose and her eyes shone. She smiled with love at Axis, asleep in the arm chair by the fire. He had washed and changed out of his blood-stained breeches during the day, but he still bore the marks of his fight with Borneheld. His chest and upper arms were bruised and marked in several places with the bristling cat-gut stitching of the surgeons. The joints of his sword hand were swollen with the effort of gripping the sword for so long.

"Axis," she said softly. She had waited so long for this. So long. Faraday had no intention of waiting any longer.

Axis opened his eyes, blinking slightly as he focused on her. "Faraday?"

She fiddled with the tassels holding the cloak at her throat, then suddenly it was free and fallen to the floor. She was completely naked underneath.

Axis stared at her. Stars, didn't she know how tired he was? He had not slept in almost two days - and had spent the last night grappling to the death with her husband. His entire body ached, and the freshly stitched wounds hurt more than he had been prepared to admit to the concerned surgeon.

But Faraday was a beautiful woman, and Axis slowly sat up, staring at her.

She smiled and knelt down at his feet, pulling his boots off, running her hand teasingly up the inside of his thigh. Then she leaned forward on her knees and kissed his breast, again teasing, and Axis physically jerked as his body began to respond to her touch.

Oh Azhure! he thought, carefully shielding his mind. It has been so long since you let me touch you, and you knew that it would come to this.

But as Faraday's hands moved more firmly over his body and her mouth grew insistent, Axis' internal turmoil grew. One moment he wondered, consumed with jealousy, if Borneheld had taught Faraday these tricks — these were not the actions of the young virgin he had kissed beneath the stars of the Ancient Barrows - and the next he writhed with guilt that his body should betray Azhure in this way.

Faraday laughed when Axis finally seized her, but as he made love to her on the hearth rug before the fire Faraday did not know that his ardour was driven by his desperate need to bury as deep as he could the guilt he felt over his betrayal of his Lover. It took all of Axis' self-control not to call out Azhure's name in his desire. And when it was over, and Axis had finally relaxed by her side, Faraday thought he cried for love of her, not for the love he had betrayed.

No-one, not Belial, not Rivkah, not even the Sentinels, had yet told Faraday about Azhure or about Caelum. And when the betrayal did come, Faraday would always resent very keenly that none had warned her. That none had thought to tell her.

As Faraday held the secret for the success of the Prophecy, so she also held the seeds of Axis' destruction in her power.

Shattered VowsTimozel spent the night looking for

Faraday, his mouth tight as he strode the corridors of the palace in Carlon.

Borneheld had been good. Good. Brave. A true knight. To die like that had only underscored his goodness in Timozel's eyes.

He forgot that Borneheld had not wanted to listen to vision; had refused to grant Timozel command of his armies. Occasionally as he wandered the corridors Timozel would have to flatten himself against a stone wall to avoid one of the Forbidden wandering through the palace. Filth! his mind whispered. Filth! They were already infiltrating the palace and before much longer they would take control of Achar. By winter all that the Seneschal had achieved would undoubtedly be lost. Before the year was out the Forbidden would have enslaved the good people of Achar again.

All was ruined. All was lost with Borneheld's death. The light had gone from Timozel's world.

He needed to speak with Faraday. Needed to remind her of her duty to her dead husband's memory, to tell her that the only suitable life for her now was one of serene contemplation in a quiet Retreat far from the excitement of Carlon.

Faraday could not be trusted to control her own weaknesses. Especially regarding Axis.

He found Yr eventually - the slut was wandering back from the barracks in the early morning light - and asked her where Faraday was.

Yr raised an eyebrow knowingly. "Why, with Axis, no doubt," she said. "Last night was a night when lost loves were reunited. EvenSong and FreeFall. Jack and Zeherah. And Axis and ..."

"No!" Timozel interjected, so angry he was tempted to strike her, butYr's blue eyes blazed with such power that Timozel took a step back.

"Think not to strike me!" she hissed, and Timozel took another step backwards. "Now that we are five, now that we are whole, our power has increased dramatically. We will provide the weapon that Axis will use to best Gorgrael! Think not to touch me now!"

Gorgrael! Timozel's face darkened with fear, and then he turned and bolted inside the palace.

Yr looked after him, a puzzled expression over her pretty face.

Still Timozel roamed the corridors of the palace. He had checked most of the main apartments, startling many a sleepy occupant with his sudden entrances and then equally sudden departures. Timozel was sickened to discover noblewomen of court disporting themselves with the flying filth that Axis had brought into the palace in three separate apartments.

Where was Faraday? How could she have succumbed to Axis' seductions not twenty-four hours after her husband had been torn apart at her feet?

He found them eventually, in one of the lesser apartments normally reserved for visiting diplomats. They were curled asleep together, naked before the glowing coals of a fire.

"Faraday," Timozel whispered, aghast.

Faraday's eyes flew open. "Tim!" she gasped and sat up, her face red, her eyes hurriedly searching for her cloak.

Axis had been heavily asleep, his body desperate for rest after his duel with Borneheld, and his mind was so fogged with sleep that he did not realise immediately what was going on.

"You whore!" Timozel shouted, stepping forward and raising his fist threateningly. "Your husband has been dead less than twenty-four hours and you allow his murderer to crawl onto your body. You have violated his memory with your disgusting lust!"

Axis leapt to his feet, fully awake now. "Timozel," he grunted, reaching for the sword that hung in its scabbard by the fire.

"Stop it!" Faraday cried, reaching for Axis.

Axis turned before he was halfway to the sword and stepped back to grasp Timozel by his upraised fist. "What Faraday does is none of your business," he hissed. "Get out!"

"You have as much control as a rutting tom-cat, don't you Axis?" Timozel sneered. "Have you enjoyed the Queen, then? Have you impregnated her with whatever filthy diseases you have picked up from the whores you've slept with in the past?"

"Timozel!" Faraday cried again, but Timozel and Axis were now staring each other in the eye, almost totally unaware of her presence.

"I have heard of the licentious behaviour of the Icarii," Timozel grunted, his face only inches from Axis' now. "Heard of their filthy rutting ways. Have seen them assaulting fair women in apartments of this palace. Have you impregnated Faraday with disease of human whore, Axis, or Icarii?"

Axis' face twisted with rage and he literally growled, reaching for Timozel's throat with his other hand.

"Stopl" Faraday screamed, certain that one would kill the other before she had time to draw the next breath. "Stop}"

Both men paused, neither wanting to be the first to drop his eyes from the other's stare.

"Timozel," Faraday said more quietly, although her voice was still strained.

"Timozel, look at me!"

Grudgingly, Timozel looked away from Axis and towards Faraday. What he saw made him step back from Axis in shock.

"Faraday, no!" he whispered in horror.

Faraday, standing straight and tall, held a large earthenware pot in her hands, and she was staring into Timozel's eyes unflinchingly. The time had come to end this charade of Championship.

"No," Timozel whispered again and took a step towards her.

"Stay back," Faraday said, her voice firm. Axis stepped back himself, his eyes swinging between Timozel and Faraday. What was happening between them?

The power almost blazed out of Faraday's green eyes, while Timozel was abnormally ashen.

"I accepted your oath of Championship two years ago," Faraday said calmly,

"when I was young and friendless and going into a marriage that I knew I would loathe. I thought that you would be a friend, a support, a pillar of strength who I could lean on through difficult times. You have proved anything but, Timozel.

You supported Borneheld against me, you derided me when I needed love, you lectured me on my behaviour when I needed sympathy."

"No." Timozel reached out his hand to her. "No, Faraday. I have only ever done what was best for you. I have only told you what you needed to hear. You have been wayward, sometimes, and a Champion's duty is to return his Lady's steps to the correct path."

"I pity you, Timozel, and I grieve for you," Faraday said slowly. "I grieve for the bright-eyed, tousle-headed boy who I met riding across the Plains of Tare.

Where did you go? What happened to you? Why this brooding hulk before me now? You are no Champion of Brightness, Timozel, but a Champion of Shadow.

You will wander strange borderlands until you lose your way and your soul completely." Faraday's eyes had glazed over until it appeared she was dreaming

-even her words had the singsong quality of seer-saying.

"I have done with you, Timozel. If ever you find your way into the Light again, then wander my way, for I shall be glad to see once again the friend I have lost. Timozel. As this pot shatters," she said very, very quietly, "so then will the ties that bind us shatter."

She let go the pot and Timozel made a desperate dive for it. He almost made it, almost caught it, felt his fingertips graze its smooth surface the instant before it shattered into a thousand pieces across the stone floor.

"M>!" he screamed, a'nd both Faraday and Axis recoiled a little at the sound of his despair.

"So shatter the vows that bind us, Timozel. You are my Champion no longer.

Begone."

In his ice castle so far to the north Gorgrael leaned his face to the wind and screamed in pure joy. Timozel! He was his! His!

Darkness swirled about the room and threatened to overwhelm Timozel. As the pot shattered across the floor he had felt the last vestiges of the boy he'd once been shatter and disappear. No-one mourned the loss of that carefree boy more than Timozel himself. And no-one hated more than he the man he had become.

But he was unable to resist the slow darkening of his soul. Thoughts that were not his crowded his head until he felt he would shriek in despair. Memories that were not his were taking over his life. Once, once...oh, once, Timozel had woken to find himself standing at the very lip of a well, listening to the screams of the young girl he had just flung down to drown in the waters far below.

That experience had virtually driven Timozel mad.

What had he become?

What forces were trying to take over his life?

Now, as Timozel raised his tear-stained face to Faraday, he knew that he need wonder no longer. She had shattered the vows that bound him to her, and she had freed him to Gorgraels service.

"Get out," Faraday said flatly, stepping back. "Get out of my life."

Timozel slowly raised himself to his feet, staring at Faraday as she clutched the blue cloak around her nakedness. Had he treated her badly? Timozel had only tried to do what he thought was right.

"I'm sorry," he said vaguely, and he was not sure if he addressed the apology to Faraday or to Axis, or to both of them.

"I'm sorry," he said again, and then turned on his heel and walked out of the chamber, closing the door quietly behind him.

He walked down to the courtyard, mounted the first saddled horse he could find, then rode through Carlon, tears streaking his face.

All who saw him stood back and let him pass.

Once he was past the gates of Carlon, Timozel turned his horse's head north, for already he could feel Gorgrael's grip tightening.

Neither Axis nor Faraday would see Timozel again for a very, very long time.

Tencendor on the Shores of Grail

LakeEight days after killing Borneheld, Axis proclaimed Tencendor in a grand and emotionally charged ceremony on the shores of Grail Lake. It was later than Axis had wanted, but he had underestimated the time that he — that everyone — would need to heal after the war between himself and Borneheld.

Virtually the entire population of Carlon moved to the fields that abutted the eastern shores of the Lake for the ceremony and the celebrations. Mingling with the people of Carlon (and the thousands of other Acharites who had journeyed to the city to see for themselves) were the individual members of Axis' army: Ravensbund men and women, Acharites and Icarii. Most of the Carlonese, never strong followers of the Seneschal, had accepted the presence of the Icarii with little trouble; indeed, they had welcomed the birdmen and women into their markets. Other Acharites - especially those from the rural areas - hung back, unsure, some even sullen, but overall there was surprisingly little fuss made about the presence of the Icarii.

Embeth, feeling slightly lost and overwhelmed by the events surrounding her, and missing Judith (who had elected to remain behind in Tare), had succumbed to StarDrifter's eyes

and insistence and now shared an apartment in the palace with him. Embeth knew their affair would fade and die in the days or weeks ahead, but she desperately needed something, someone, to cling to. Soon, perhaps, she would move back to Tare. There was nothing left for her here. Her two youngest children were now married and lived far to the west; and Timozel... Timozel had vanished. Embeth turned her back on the excited crowd and slowly began to walk back to Carlon.

On the night of the duel, Azhure spent the entire time pacing the eastern shore of Grail Lake, watching the dawn gather, waiting, waiting, waiting. When the golden standard was finally run up the flagpole above the palace, Azhure had broken down and wept, both with relief and with wretchedness, because she knew she had finally lost Axis to Faraday.

Azhure was more than a little bit nervous about today's ceremony. She had not seen Axis since he had rowed off into the night to face Borneheld, although she had heard most of what had happened from Belial. Today she would see him

-and Faraday. She had heard that the woman had spent the past eight days laughing with joy - and why shouldn't she? She had spent those eight days with Axis.

And the problem of her pregnancy increased Azhure's nervousness. Axis had sent word that he wanted Azhure richly dressed today — and in a gown he'd had made for her. Azhure was now moving into her fifth month of pregnancy, and even though Icarii babies were small, this one bulged more than Caelum had at the same stage. Well, Azhure smiled a little bitterly, a gown it would be. She would no longer hide her growing pregnancy behind the armour of tunic and mail.

The rich, dark red material of the gown set off Azhure's pale complexion and blue eyes perfectly, and Imibe threaded tiny seed pearls through Azhure s hair to match the pearls that had been stitched into the gown. It was a noblewoman's gown, and Azhure stared at her reflection for a long time once Imibe had finished dressing her hair.

She heard a step, and a rose- and gold-brocaded Ysgryff entered to escort Azhure to the ceremony. Over the past eight days no-one had spent more time with Azhure than YsgryfT. He had spent his evenings with her, making her laugh, despite her sad-heartedness, with his stories of life among the Nors capital of Ysbadd and his early years spent sailing with the pirate ships of Pirates' Nest. In those hours when he sensed that Azhure simply needed companionship, Ysgryff would sit quietly, watching the fire crackle, perhaps scratching the head of one of the Alaunt.

Ysgryff complimented Azhure on her appearance, then stared at her belly for a long moment. "If you need anything, Azhure, anything, then ask me," he said, taking her elbow. "Axis is a fool ten-times over that he does not take you for his wife."

"Faraday is so powerful, so magical," Azhure began, but Ysgryff took her by the shoulders and shook her slightly. "There is no-one who can compare to you, Azhure! Axis risks losing his soul if he lets you fade away!"

It was a very strange thing for Ysgryff to say, and Azhure stared at him until Ysgryff's handsome face relaxed into a smile, and he patted her cheek playfully.

"Come, lovely lady," he said lightly. "Great happenings await us at Spiredore."

It was a twenty-minute walk to Spiredore, and Azhure, Caelum in her arms, moved slowly through the throng, Baron Ysgryff at her side. Axis had reserved seats for them at the very front of the crowd. People smiled and ducked their heads as Ysgryff and Azhure moved past them. Both were richly dressed and obviously noble, and the child in the woman's arms radiated such an aura of greatness that many gasped in wonder.

A dais had been erected at the foot of the tower of Spiredore and to its right a group of chairs were set up. Belial, Cazna, Magariz and Rivkah were already there, and they rose to greet Azhure andYsgryff as they approached.

"You look splendid," Rivkah whispered in Azhure s ear.

"I look pregnant," she grumbled back quietly.

Belial kissed her cheek softly in greeting and glanced at her stomach, saying nothing, yet Azhure saw the flash of pain in his eyes.

Ho'Demi and Sa'Kuya arrived, both wrapped in snow-white icebear furs, the very tips of the fur tinted sky blue. Their hair was freshly plaited and greased, and more chips of blue and green glass and bright brass chimes hung among their braids than ever before. They looked splendidly savage with their blue tattooed faces and blood-red suns blazing at all from the centre of their foreheads and they kissed their friends and comrades enthusiastically. All the Ravensbund people had been looking forward to this day for a very long time.

The Sentinels, five now and content, sat to the left of the dais. Jack sat very close to Zeherah, and, although no-one had ever seen them touch, few had any doubts that their relationship was closer than that shared by any of the other Sentinels.

"My friends," called a voice slightly, and then StarDrifter alighted on the grass, followed immediately by EvenSong, FreeFall and FarSight CutSpur. Azhure had heard the tale of how FreeFall had been brought back from the dead in the Chamber of the Moons. EvenSong, shy but obviously excited, had brought FreeFall to talk with Azhure one evening, and Azhure had delighted in the birdman's company. He had been quiet and amusing, and had carried with him an air of such haunting beauty that most who found themselves in his company simply wanted to sit and watch him. Azhure had been no exception.

FreeFall had been so altered by death and reincarnation that the air of mysticism which most Icarii wore was strengthened tenfold in him. He remembered nothing of his time in the Halls of the Dead, and had only the vaguest memory of flying as an eagle. Axis, apparently, had refused to tell anyone of the mysteries he had concluded in the UnderWorld that had seen both FreeFall and Zeherah restored to the living world.

RavenCrest, still in Talon Spike, had received the joyous news of his son's return from the dead several days ago. He had not been able to fly south for the ceremonies to reforge Tencendor, but Azhure hoped that RavenCrest would re-meet his son again as soon as possible.

Azhure turned from regarding FreeFall and EvenSong and looked straight into StarDrifter's level eyes. She stilled at what she saw there. He stepped forward and embraced her, but with a shock Azhure felt his hand suddenly press hard against her belly and felt the light touch of power throb through her for an instant. She drew back silently; this was not the time or the place to make a fuss. And Azhure did not want for a moment to admit to herself the slight thrill of pleasure that both his touch and his power had given her.