Enchanter (21 page)

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

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

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

Azhure hesitated. "I —"

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

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

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

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

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

Mortal women had no place beside Icarii Enchanters.

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

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

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

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

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

"But Sigholt itself is secure?"

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

None dare approach the waters —'

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

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

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

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

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

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

"We'll go, Axis!"

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

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

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

Axis nodded.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Gentlemen?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We travel for Sigholt."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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