Enchanter (22 page)

"If anyone will know, they will," StarDrifter said.

Axis watched the worry carve lines into his father's face. "I will find out what I can from the Charonites, StarDrifter, but somehow I think that this rogue Enchanter will keep himself well hidden until he wants to reveal himself."

"And what," MorningStar said in a toneless voice, "if he is someone you already know, Axis? What if he is someone close to you? An Enchanter this powerful could choose any disguise he - or she - wanted to."

Axis picked his way down the path that StarDrifter had directed him to, pushing through the overgrown oldenberry bushes to the mouth of the cavern. It was just as StarDrifter had described. Hesitating only slightly, Axis walked down to the back of the cavern and squatted by the wall, remembering the Song that StarDrifter had told him to use. He hummed it underneath his breath, tapping the wall gently with his fingers. Unlike StarDrifter, Axis was gentle with the Song and, after only a few moments, a small portion of the grey rock splintered and slid gently to the floor of the cavern, revealing a gleaming bronze door. Axis pushed it open and began the journey into the UnderWorld.

Hours later, when he reached the cavern far beneath, he found the Ferryman waiting for him. Great violet eyes, stunningly youthful among the Ferryman's otherwise cadaverous features, regarded Axis serenely. Behind the Ferryman bobbed his flat-bottomed boat.

Axis stopped two paces away and the Ferryman bowed. "Greetings, Axis SunSoar, StarMan," he said in his deep voice. "Welcome to the UnderWorld.

What is it you desire?"

"Greetings, Ferryman," Axis said. "I understand that my mother won a boon from you."

The Ferryman inclined his head. "She did."

"That you would grant me assistance, in whatever manner I asked?"

Again the Ferryman inclined his head.

"Then teach me," Axis said softly. "Teach me the secrets of the waterways.

Teach me the secrets you have unravelled over the ages."

The Ferryman's eyes were steady. "It is all I have ever wanted to do and it is why I have lived so long winding these waterways," he said finally. "Only to teach."

The AudienceShe saw Borneheld, stepping down from the

throne, Axis stepping to meet him. The two men circled, swords drawn, their faces twisted into snarling masks of rage fed by long-held hatreds. They fought until both were bleeding and stumbling with weariness. About them the Chamber rang with shouted accusations of murder and treachery. Blood. Why was there so much blood? A scream - hers. "No!"

The vision faded, but Faraday's stomach sickened and turned over. She closed her eyes momentarily, trying to regain her equilibrium. Ever since she had stepped into the Chamber of the Moons half an hour ago she had slid in and out of the vision the trees had given her so long ago outside the Silent Woman Woods. She was glad Priam had only addressed her briefly before turning his full attention to her husband.

They had arrived in Carlon four days ago, and Priam had made Borneheld wait until this morning before granting him an audience. Borneheld had fumed, but there was nothing he could do.

Now he stood before the royal dais, his body so tense it was almost quivering.

About him the packed Chamber was breathless with shock. Scribes scribbled furiously, nobles locked stunned eyes, servants crowded doorways, andjayme, Moryson and Gilbert, standing to the left of the dais, were ashen and sweating.

The only relaxed person in the Chamber was Priam, sitting nonchalantly on his throne, his fingers tapping his royal displeasure.

Faraday blinked, trying to concentrate. She did not know Priam very well, but she had heard enough to realise that this hard-voiced, flint-eyed man was showing more backbone than he'd ever done previously.

"I made you WarLord," Priam snapped, "and for that you lost me Ichtar. No doubt these Destroyer-driven wraiths now mass to eat the rest of my realm while you lounge about my court!"

Borneheld's face flushed an even deeper red, and Faraday bit her lip, worried.

Borneheld restrained himself. "I was betrayed," he began, but Priam did not let him finish.

"I hear tell you escaped only through Axis' bravery."

Faraday could see the massive effort it took Borneheld to stay calm. His fists clenched by his sides, only very gradually relaxing.

"He has allied himself with the Forbidden, Majesty. 'Tis no wonder we lost Ichtar against such an unholy alliance."

"I hear tell," Priam said very deliberately, his eyes locked with Borneheld's,

"that my nephew believes we should contract an alliance with the, ah, Icarii and Avar."

Faraday, as everyone else in the room, took a huge, incredulous breath.

Priam had never publicly acknowledged Axis as his nephew previously!

"This prophecy I have heard," Priam continued, ignoring the reactions about him, "states that an alliance with those we once feared is vital to defeat this Gorgrael."

Faraday averted her eyes, terrified that Borneheld would see their sudden leap of joy. She took another breath, but this time one of sheer hope. An alliance with Axis would bring him down from his icy mountain and back to her. Oh Mother! she thought, please let Priam have the courage to embrace the truth!

Bring Axis home to me!

A movement to one side caught her attention. Gilbert, whispering frantically behind a hand to his Brother-Leader. Well may you whisper, thought Faraday contemptuously. A thousand years ago your beloved Seneschal orchestrated the Wars of the Axe to drive the Icarii and Avar from their homelands. And for a thousand years your Brotherhood has equated only evil and darkness with the so-called Forbidden. Now a King of Achar plans to ally himself with them.

Faraday could not stop a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth. Do you wonder, Jayme, if the moment the Forbidden set foot in this land again the lies of the past thousand years will be exposed? Can you see your beloved Seneschal losing its insidious control over the Acharites as the Mother and the Star Gods once more spread their joy over this wondrous land?

Priam took a studied sip of water from the begemmed chalice by his side. "I am wondering," he said very softly but very clearly, "if I made the wrong choice in WarLord."

The gasp about the Chamber was audible this time. Scribes scribbled even more furiously. Faraday closed her eyes briefly again. Priam would ally himself with Axis. Civil war would be averted, Gorgrael defeated, and her love kept safe.

Her vision was a lie, after all.

Jayme was now openly agitated, but restrained from speaking by Moryson's grip on his sleeve.

No-one held back Borneheld. "By Artor!" he shouted, taking an ill-considered step forward, "have you gone mad?"

He got no further. Furious himself, Priam leapt to his feet. "You are dismissed, Duke of nothing!" he seethed. "I will speak no more with you! I have made up my mind on this issue, and if you remain stubbornly persistent in your refusal to accept the obvious then / will have to reconsider my choice of both WarLord and heir!"

The Chamber took one gigantic breath and held it; the scribes could not believe what their pens recorded.

Borneheld visibly reeled. "I —"

"You have proved useless to me," Priam continued, his voice even once more as he sat down. "Get out of my sight, Borneheld."

Borneheld's face was pale now, but his grey eyes burned furiously. He did not move.

"Out," Priam repeated, then turned to chat quietly with his wife, Judith, sitting serenely by his side.

Ignored by his King, but aware that every other person in the room watched him, Borneheld only just remembered to offer Faraday his arm as he stalked from the Chamber. As they reached the doorway, Priam called after them.

"Duchess, the Queen has talked kindly of you. Perhaps you would join her for her midday meal on the morrow."

Faraday inclined her head graciously, feeling happier than she had for many months.

Borneheld's temper erupted the moment their apartment doors closed behind them. "He is mad! Crazed!" he hissed, his face flushed and perspiring.

"He thinks only of saving his people, husband," Faraday said, moving to sit at a small table by the window.

"Curse you, Faraday!" Borneheld took a threatening step towards her. "No doubt you revelled in my humiliation!"

Faraday raised her eyes, not in the least intimidated. "I, like Priam, care only for this land, Borneheld. Not for tides, nor for wealth, nor for the power you crave."

Borneheld flung himself away before he gave into his growing desire to hit her as she deserved. "Does not the chance to sit by my side as Queen tempt you, my sweet?"

Faraday's gaze was direct and truthful. "Neither the title nor the place by your side tempt me, husband." There, the words were said.

"Nevertheless, you sanctimonious bitch, you are tied to both, no matter what Priam says and no matter how much you lust after my brother! I —"

He was cut off by a knock at the door. It opened before either Borneheld or Faraday could say anything.

Gilbert stepped through the door. He smirked at the obvious tension in the room, then half bowed to Borneheld. "My Lord, the Brother-Leader requests an audience."

"An audience, Gilbert?"

"He, ah, thinks it best if we further discussed those possibilities I raised in Jervois Landing, Lord."

Borneheld took a sharp breath. "Of course, Brother Gilbert," he said smoothly. "My dear, if you will excuse us."

Faraday frowned at the door as it closed behind him. Why had Borneheld's mood changed so abruptly?

No matter. She stood and looked out the window, gazing sightlessly at the crowds in the streets below. Priam had done what she never thought he would

— publicly allied himself with Axis, and publicly considered him as heir to the throne.

Faraday's eyes filled with tears, but they were tears of hope, not despair.

Through the Fortress RangesFor two

days Ogden andVeremund led Rivkah and Azhure south-west through the Avarinheim. The paths were narrow and overgrown in this part of the forest -the Avar tended to stay away from the range of mountains dividing their homelands from Achar. "They prefer to have a healthy buffer of forest between them and the Acharites," Veremund explained to Azhure.

But even overgrown as they were, the trails were beautiful. The lofty forest canopy sheltered them from the northern winds and let in a delicate soft golden light. As they walked the forest spoke to them in endless music - the secretive sounds of the wind as it moved through the trees and bushes, the soft drip of moisture from leaves, the cascades of streams as they rushed towards the Nordra River and the ever changing song of the forest birds. And weaving its way through both light and music came the wondrous sound of the Earth Tree Song, binding all under her mystery.

Veremund and Ogden enjoyed the two women's company. They were serene and restful companions, and walking with them through the Avarinheim over the past two days had proved a gentle joy. It had been some two thousand years since either Sentinel had walked the forest paths, and then the Avarinheim had stretched over most of the lands east of the Nordra River. Now, only the forest protected by the Fortress
Ranges remained inviolate — from either Seneschal or Gorgrael.

"Veremund?" Rivkah caught up to Veremund and Azhure. "Ogden has a problem with his donkey. Her off fore foot has a small stone in it and Ogden wants you to hold her head while he removes it."

Veremund nodded his thanks and turned back.

Rivkah took Azhure's arm as the two women drew away from the Sentinels.

About them the filtered light was alive with butterflies and birdsong.

"Azhure," Rivkah said. "I am glad we finally have a chance to speak." She could feel Azhure tense a little under her hand. "I am not speaking of wrong or right, Azhure, only of what you feel. After all," she smiled wryly, "I am the last to apportion blame to women who find themselves the target of an Enchanter's attentions."

"I did not intend to do it," Azhure said, her tone slightly defiant. "I do not mean to get in the way."

Rivkah let her arm go and gave Azhure a brief hug. "Azhure, it is very hard to love an Enchanter. That is all I want to say. If ever you need to talk, then I will be here."

"I know, Rivkah." Azhure paused. "Axis loves Faraday. I know that, and I can accept it. But..."

"But...?" Rivkah thought she knew what Azhure would ask.

"But, noble or not, Faraday is a woman like me. Wouldn't she and Axis have the same problems as you and StarDrifter did? As Axis and I would? Wouldn't she age and die well before he?"

"Azhure." Rivkah's tone was very gentle. "From what we have heard of Faraday and the Mother, she is no longer quite as human as either you or I.

Perhaps she will live as long as Axis. Perhaps she will be able to hold him, to satisfy him where a human woman could not."

"It was one night. Do not fear for me. I can walk away."

"I hope you can, Azhure," Rivkah said. "Axis has his father's blood coursing through his veins. He is a powerful Icarii Enchanter. He will be back one day -

can you walk far enough before then?"

Behind them Ogden and Veremund bent over the patient donkey's foot, finally letting the unblemished hoof drop to the ground.

"He spent Beltide night with her," Ogden said quietly.

"He has spent nights with many women," Veremund replied.

"This was different. She is different."

"Yes," Veremund finally, grudgingly, said. "Yes, she is. What does this mean for the Prophecy?"

Ogden sighed and gazed up the forest path where the women walked. "Who knows, dear one? Who knows? There is so much we don't know. So much the Prophet left unsaid."

"She is a complication."

"Yes," Ogden agreed.

"But I like her, Ogden. I like her."

"Yes," Ogden agreed again. He knew what Veremund meant. Neither could help liking Azhure because both felt intuitively that she was already an old friend.

But how?

"She has a power about her, dear one," Veremund said. "But it is covered with a thick blanket of fear."