Enchanter (79 page)

Ho'Demi's voice rang out clear and true as he pledged his loyalty and that of his people to the StarMan and to the new nation of Tencendor.

Now Axis held out his hand to Ysgryff and the Baron joined him on the dais.

YsgryfF's pact with the pirates that had sealed Borneheld's defeat in the Battle of Bedwyr Fort had reached almost legendary status, and none was surprised to see Ysgryff thus honoured.

"Ysgryff," Axis smiled, taking the man's hands as he knelt before him. "You have done much for not only myself and
Tencendor, but for the Icarii people as well. You saved the day when I battled against Borneheld, and for that alone I would honour you. But your work, and that of your family over the past thousand years, in preserving and protecting the Temple of the Stars on the Island of Mist and Memory places the Icarii forever in your debt. Ysgryff, you have already been well rewarded for your concessions to the Icarii and the Avar, but I now raise your family to the first five, and grant to you the title, privileges and rank of Prince of Nor. YsgryfF, will you accept this honour and grant me homage and fealty?"

YsgryfF grinned. What splendid theatre all this was. "I accept with honour, StarMan, and I do swear homage and fealty to you."

As YsgryfF stepped down, Ogden and Veremund again nodded to themselves. In his creation of the first five families Axis had included Icarii, Ravensbund and Acharite -symbolic of the united force that stood behind Axis and of the newly united nation of Tencendor. Of the Avar there was no mention, but then the Avar had refused to fight for Tencendor.

"But what of the eastern territories?" Veremund whispered to his brother.

"What of the lands to the east of the Nordra? Will Axis govern those personally?"

Axis turned back to the crowd.

"There is one more acknowledgment I must make," he said softly, although his voice carried magically to every ear, "and one more grant that I must effect.

It is the eastern lands of Tencendor that will be most affected by the return of the Avar and the Icarii. Guardianship of these lands will be a sensitive issue —

although most of the territorial claims of all three races have been settled, no doubt there will be smaller day-to-day issues that will cause disagreement among the three peoples as they learn to live together once more."

Faraday nodded. Sensitive indeed. Faraday looked forward to the day when she could begin to transfer the seedlings
from the Enchanted Wood to the eastern lands of Tencendor — already she had some twelve thousand names memorised and friendships cemented. But who would she have to work with?

"A sensitive issue and a sensitive guardianship," Axis repeated, "but the choice of Guardian of the East is easy. I would give it to the one among us who has lived among all three races and understands the problems of all three peoples."

Rivkah? Faraday thought, looking over to Axis' mother.

"Azhure." Axis smiled, and held out his hand.

Azhure blanched and stared at Axis. His smile widened, and his fingers waggled a little impatiently.

The crowd cheered approvingly. Of all stories about Axis' rise to power, of his battles with the Skraelings and with Borneheld, one of the best known and loved stories was of the raven-haired woman who rode at his side, who wielded the magic bow of the Icarii and who commanded the pack of enchanted hounds that ran behind her.

"Azhure?" Faraday whispered to Ogden beside her. "Azhure? Is she not this commander I have heard something of?"

"Ah, indeed," muttered Ogden uncomfortably. "Azhure commands the Acharite archers in Axis' army - and currently holds command of the army while Axis, Belial and Magariz reside in Carlon."

"But control of the East?" Faraday asked. "Surely / would have been better for that? I am the one who has been bonded with the Mother, am I not?"

Ogden's face reddened. "As Axis said, Faraday, Azhure has spent a great deal of time among all three races and she is already an accepted and respected commander within his army. She is a good choice, Faraday."

Faraday sat back in her chair, frowning, as the woman, obviously shocked, handed her baby to StarDrifter and slowly stood up. As she smoothed her dress down Faraday noticed that she was pregnant.

Axis noticed Azhure's pregnancy at the same moment as Faraday, and his eyes flew to Azhure's, stunned. Why? Why hadn't she told him?

Azhure stepped gracefully onto the dais, her eyes locked into Axis', and took his hand.

"Why?" he whispered.

"I did not want to hold you back from what you had to do, Axis. I thought that if you knew I was pregnant again ..." her eyes flickered towards Faraday,

"... you would hesitate in doing that which the Prophecy demanded you do."

Axis' eyes ran over her belly once more, confused. Even if she'd managed to conceal her thickening body from him, how was it he'd not felt the tug of the baby's blood? Caelum's tug had been so distinct, so strong.

Axis realised he was staring. "Azhure. I owe so much to you. You have given me such great friendship and support over the past nineteen months that I think I can never adequately repay you. You have given me my emblem, the blood-red blazing sun and you have fought courageously among my other commanders.

Azhure, you have also lived among both Icarii and Avar. You know their problems and you know the problems that many of the Acharites will have in accepting the Icarii and Avar among them again. The position of Guardian of the East is one of great importance, and I would that you accept it. Azhure, will you shoulder this onerous load for me?"

"Gladly, StarMan."

Ysgryff, as Belial, Magariz and a number of others, stared a little. Not at the tide and responsibility that Axis had given Azhure - all believed that she would do well as Guardian of the East - but that Axis had not asked her to swear homage and fealty to him. It almost implied...well, it almost implied that Azhure was of equal status to him. And yet Axis
had demanded that FreeFall, as heir to the Talon throne, pay him homage and fealty.

Faraday, as politically astute as anyone else present, also noticed the oversight and realised the implications. Why would Axis not want this woman to swear homage and fealty to him?

"Azhure, Guardian of the East, you have no home, no lands. I will cede you no lands, but I will grant you a home that you may enjoy for the rest of your life but which will revert to me once you die. Azhure, I grant you Spiredore to do with as you will."

"Oh, Axis," Azhure breathed, and the look in her eyes was all the thanks that Axis needed.

Faraday simply stared at her. I must get to know this woman better, she thought, if I must work with her to restore the ancient forests to Tencendor.

Azhure moved to sit down again, more than a little awed by her new responsibilities. This tangible evidence of Axis' trust and belief in her abilities, before all these people, had moved her deeply.

StarDrifter stared at Axis. Axis had hardly gone far enough! On impulse, he gave a single powerful flap of his wings and landed on the dais beside his son.

StarDrifter held out his hands and began to speak, his voice nearly as magical and as beautiful as Axis'. "I am StarDrifter SunSoar," he announced,

"father to Axis SunSoar StarMan. Today is a great day. We have witnessed the reforg-ing of Tencendor, a united Tencendor that will be strong enough to defeat Gorgrael and strong enough to move into the future. But my friends, there are still many trials ahead of us. Great battles to be fought as we endeavour to break the Destroyer's grip on the north. Axis will lead Tencendor into those battles. My friends and comrades, I do not want to inject a note of sorrow or despair into these joyful proceedings, but realities must be faced. What if Axis were
injured, or, greatest sadness of all, killed?" StarDrifter turned to Axis and held out his hand in melodramatic appeal. "Axis SunSoar StarMan, will you name your heir today, before all present, so that there may be no doubts in anyone's mind?"

Axis glared at his father. Did you think I had forgotten, StarDrifter? I was opening my mouth to do just that when you leaped so precipitously onto the dais.

Ogden, as Veremund and Jack, stared straight ahead, completely unable to look at Faraday now. Yr's eyes widened in distress. This is what she had feared for a very long time. Had she and the other Sentinels done the wrong thing in forcing Faraday into an action which had kept her separated from Axis for almost two years?

"Sit down, StarDrifter," Axis said quietly, and again held out his hand for Azhure.

She stood as if she would simply hand Caelum to him, but Axis seized her wrist and pulled both her and their son onto the dais with him.

Faraday took a great, ragged breath and held it. She realised instantly who had bequeathed the black-haired boy his Icarii features. "Oh, Mother, what has he done to me?"

Yr leaned forward and placed a soothing hand on Faraday's shoulder.

Axis smiled and took Caelum from Azhure s arms, holding the laughing baby high above his head.

"I name my son, Caelum Azhurson SunSoar StarSon, as my heir to the House of the Stars and to the Throne of the Stars and to all ranks and privileges those titles hold. Welcome to my heart and to my House, Caelum StarSon."

Faraday's and Azhure's eyes met; Azhure looked away almost instantly, unable to bear the pain she saw reflected back at her.

The crowd roared. All they could see was the golden figure of Axis SunSoar StarMan, the beautiful woman beside him, and the son who Axis lifted high into the air.

"Hear me!" Axis shouted above the roar. "No other child born to me will supplant Caelum as my heir. He is my firstborn, and as bastardy has left no stain on my soul or on my claim to found the Throne of the Stars, then it leaves no stain on his soul or on his claim as my heir!"

Faraday sat, weaving back and forth through her own personal nightmare.

Not only had Axis disported himself with another woman to the extent that he had got a son on her - and another on the way! - he had honoured the woman with great titles, great responsibilities, and had named her son as his heir, disinheriting any child Faraday would bear him.

She suddenly realised the full extent of the betrayal. Not only Axis', but all those about her. Everyone must have known of this! Everyone! Yet no-one had told her. Why? Why? Why had they let her believe the lie that Axis still loved her, still wanted her?

Borneheld's final words to her on the parapets of the palace in Carlon came back to Faraday. Axis did not truly love her at all. If he did, then he could not have done this to her.

Betrayal Confronted"W:

need to speak, Faraday," Axis said, and Faraday turned to stare at him, her green eyes blazing with pain and betrayal.

"Yes," she said bitterly, "we do need to talk. But I hardly think this is the place for it, do you?"

And so they were rowed back in silence to the palace, where they climbed staircases and walked corridors in silence until Axis closed the door to their chamber behind them.

"We should be present at the celebrations," Axis said.

" We should be at the celebrations, StarMan? I hardly think there is any place there for me, do you?"

Axis flinched inwardly, although he kept his face impassive. Why hadn't he told Faraday about Azhure earlier? How do you tell the woman who has waited and suffered for you through two long years that you had fallen so deeply in love with another that you couldn't give her up?

"Faraday," he said again, and stepped forward and took her shoulders gently in his hands.

"Let go of me!" Faraday hissed, twisting her body away from him.

"Faraday, let me explain."

"No," she said, and Axis could feel her rage. "/ shall explain to you. Axis, I can understand that for virtually two years we have been torn apart one way or another. That we
have gone our separate ways for much of those two years. I can understand that perhaps you dallied with other women. Mother knows, Axis, I can understand that — especially after I married Borneheld. But what I cannot understand, Axis, and what I find so hard to forgive, is how you treated me today."

"Faraday," Axis tried to soothe, reaching out for her but halting his hand at the last moment. "You will be my wife. I promised to marry you, and I will."

"Being your wife means nothing]" Faraday screamed, her face twisting into ugly lines, "when that woman across the Lake is your wife in everything but name!"

She took a deep breath and worked to bring her temper under control.

"Wife. What does that mean, Axis, when that woman across the Lake is Queen in everything but name! Over the past year at least, and longer by the look of that baby, she has shared your life, shared your adventures, shared your bed. Now you have given her the power, the recognition," she laughed a little, "even Spiredore, and you have given her your son. Again she is pregnant with your child. Do not try to tell me that she does not continue to share your bed and your heart, Axis."

Axis looked down at the floor. There was nothing he could say.

Faraday stared at him, a muscle leaping in her throat.

"She was the one to stand on the dais with you, Axis, not me. She was the one who took the cheers of the nation with you. Not me. Marry me, Axis? What a joke! Even as your wife, / would be the mistress, not her. She has everything. I have nothing. You humiliated me today, Axis. Can't you see what you did?"

Axis raised his head and looked at her. "I did not think to betray you, Faraday. Azhure was a friend when I needed one badly. She understood that I loved you ..."

"You talked about me to her?" Faraday whispered. What other cruelties did this man have to deal her?

"... and she fought to resist me. Faraday, do not blame her in this. I am the one at fault."

Faraday's eyes brimmed with tears. That Axis sought to protect Azhure and not himself told Faraday how deeply he loved her. "Strangely, Axis, I do not. I know how easy it is for a woman to fall in love with you. If I seek to apportion blame, then I must blame you." She turned away.

Axis stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms about her, gently rocking her. This time she did not throw him off.