CHAPTER TWELVE

Narbon, Escator

M aximilian gave it two days before he left Venetia’s hut. Partly this was because his shoulder ached more than he’d thought, and he simply didn’t want to ride. Partly it was because the horses themselves were tired and needed the rest (one had mildly injured a fetlock during its panic in the storm and needed time for it to strengthen). Partly it was because the weather had turned poor: the storm itself may have passed, but low clouds and icy rain set in, which made travel particularly unappealing. Partly it was because Maximilian wanted to reestablish contact with BroadWing and the other Icarii before they recommenced their journey—he had not heard from them since the day of the storm and he didn’t want to leave without knowing their fate.

And partly it was because he had to arrange for three additional horses.

As he had thought the first night, Venetia, Ravenna, and StarDrifter would be joining his troupe.

Venetia and Ravenna he was glad of, and StarDrifter had brought the Weeper to him.

StarDrifter was also Axis’ father, and Ishbel was now with Axis.

Maximilian felt very strongly that somehow they were being pulled together. He also believed this somehow necessary. The threads were being gathered: Elcho Falling was being rewoven, and for the moment Maximilian had no intention of trying to fight it. He could not stop what was about to happen.

He could, in the end, only do his best.

On the morning of the third day after the storm, Venetia told Maximilian she’d had word at dawn that four Icarii awaited him in Narbon.

Maximilian did not ask how she’d known, but just nodded his head.

“Then we ride within the hour,” he said, and he picked up the Weeper, and settled it into the pack he slung on his back.

StarDrifter was happy to be on his way. Additionally, he was relieved to be out of Coroleas once and for all, he was happy to be rid of Ba’al’uz, and he was ecstatic at the idea of finally seeing Axis again.

He was far less enchanted with having to ride a horse. For his entire life, at least until five years ago, StarDrifter had never ridden a horse—why, when he could fly and soar into the heavens?

Now the necessity of depending on a horse for transport emphasized the loss of his wings. StarDrifter was actually a very good rider. His natural grace and strength, as well as an empathy with the animal, meant that the first time he’d had to ride a horse he’d done so with the apparent ease of one with forty years’ horsemanship behind him, but that did nothing to quell his resentment.

Venetia had acquired the three extra horses, and the one she’d given StarDrifter was a lovely animal. A big horse, fully seventeen hands, with the strong build that suggested he’d been bred for hunting; he had a huge white blaze down his face and one startlingly blue eye that, surrounded by the blaze, gave him a perpetually crazed look.

StarDrifter mounted the horse and gave its neck a soothing pat as it skittered a little under his weight.

Narbon was a mere two hours ride south of Venetia’s hut, and StarDrifter had assumed that the Icarii whom Maximilian had talked of would remain in the city for the king to arrive. He was somewhat taken aback when, a few miles out of the city, one of Maximilian’s guardsmen, Doyle, gave a soft exclamation and pointed into the sky.

StarDrifter looked up.

Four Icarii were spiraling down from the clearing sky.

StarDrifter felt his stomach clench. He wasn’t looking forward to meeting these Icarii. He’d avoided other Icarii assiduously while living in Coroleas, hating to be reminded of the loss not only of his wings, but of everything and everyone who had perished along with Tencendor.

He hoped it wasn’t anyone he knew personally.

Unfortunately, within a few hundred feet of their approach (StarDrifter still had his excellent birdman’s vision) he knew he was out of luck.

BroadWing EvenBeat had once been a member of the Strike Force under Axis’ command, and subsequently had been a regular member of Caelum’s court. StarDrifter did not know him well, but he knew him nonetheless, and he saw startled recognition in BroadWing’s eyes as well.

The Icarii landed, and BroadWing greeted Maximilian. They spoke briefly, reassuring themselves that no one had been badly injured in the storm, then Maximilian turned slightly in his saddle and indicated StarDrifter and the two marsh women.

“We have new company,” he said. He introduced Venetia and Ravenna, then looked to StarDrifter.

“You might remember—” Maximilian began, then stopped in amazement as BroadWing stepped near to StarDrifter’s horse and dropped on one knee, his head bowed deeply, his wings spread out behind him on the ground in the traditional Icarii gesture of deep respect.

“Talon,” BroadWing said, giving StarDrifter the title of the king of the Icarii. “I greet you well. I am yours, as are all under my command.”

Maximilian’s mouth dropped open, then he turned to StarDrifter.

The birdman looked as if he’d been hit with an ax. His face was bloodless, his eyes wide with shock, and his mouth opened, then closed, as he fought to find something to say.

“No,” StarDrifter managed, finally. “I am not your Talon.”

“Yes,” BroadWing said, “you are. You are the rightful heir.”

Everyone was now staring at StarDrifter.

“Axis is alive,” StarDrifter said, his voice still hoarse with shock. “He should be the—”

“Axis was never Talon, and has never claimed the title,” said BroadWing. “His bloodline was that of the StarSon over all Tencendor, not Talon over the Icarii. FreeFall is dead. You are his closest living male relative, his uncle.”

The three other Icarii knelt behind BroadWing, offering StarDrifter their respect and loyalty as well.

“I don’t want it,” StarDrifter said, his voice tight.

“Nonetheless,” BroadWing said, now rising to his feet, “the Icarii survive, and we need a Talon.” His voice firmed. “You.”

“I can’t…”

BroadWing said nothing, holding StarDrifter’s eyes in his cool, steady gaze.

“I am not worthy,” said StarDrifter. “Not at all.”

BroadWing smiled, very slightly. “Then you shall need to develop worthiness, StarDrifter. You are a SunSoar. I have no doubt you will manage it.”

There was a long silence, broken eventually by Serge.

“Well, fancy,” he said. “Now I find myself riding in the company of two kings.”

Three days after Maximilian and his company had passed through Narbon, a woman alighted from a Corolean trading vessel at the city’s wharves.

She was particularly striking, if a little gaunt and pale, but the expression on her face and the hardness in her eyes told anyone who looked upon her that she’d endured much adversity, and that recently.

The woman wasted no time in hiring a small escort and fast horses, and within two hours of her arrival in Narbon she had left the city, traveling west toward Deepend.

[ Part Seven ]