Enchanter (32 page)

Thrust a little more meaning into the Dark Music as we folded and directed it to our purpose. Gorgrael, the Gryphon is female. Feel her belly."

Gorgrael slid his clawed hands either side of the Gryphon's body and felt her belly. He frowned.

"My friend. The Gryphon draws close to birthing nine pups, exact replicas of herself. In a day or so, perhaps less, you will have ten of the creatures. In a few months, as they grow and mature, you will have a pack to rival no other. And the nine will breed as well, Gorgrael. All will be born female - and all will be born pregnant."

The Dark Man thought he had done well. He thought he had woven the music of the Gryphon's making so that the breeding would stop when the nine whelped. Unfortunately, he was wrong.

"She will be a good creature. Obedient, like the best hound," the Dear Man said, stepping back. "But deadlier, far deadlier."

Gorgrael stroked the Gryphon for a moment longer, then abruptly strode over to his chair by the fire. "Come," he said, and snapped his fingers.

The Gryphon rose obediently and padded over to the chair, sinking down at Gorgrael's feet. Gorgrael looked back to the Dear Man with shining eyes. "Will you sit with me a moment?" he inquired, indicating the empty chair across the other side of the hearth.

"A moment only, Gorgrael. I am required elsewhere shortly." The Dark Man sat in the empty chair, and waved his hand impatiently at the fire so that it flared bright.

Where else shortly? Gorgrael thought to himself. He had never discovered where the Dark Man lived, how he lived, in what form he lived, once he left Gorgrael's presence. Perhaps he simply faded into nothingness until he was required again.

The Dark Man grunted in amusement. "Oh, I live elsewhere, Gorgrael. I have work to do, tasks to perform, music to sing."

"Have you heard of Axis lately, Dear Man?" Gorgrael asked. "How goes my brother?"

"I have not seen him, heard of him, for some time," the Dark Man finally said. "It is as if he has disappeared from creation." He grinned underneath his hood.

"Dead?" Gorgrael asked, although the thought caused him disappointment.

He looked forward to tearing his brother into shreds.

The Dark Man laughed. "No, not dead, Gorgrael. Very much alive — his death I would have felt... as would you. But I do have news of Borneheld...and Faraday."

Gorgrael sat up. "What?"

"Borneheld is now King," the Dark Man said reflectively. "It is said that Priam died a crazed death. And if Borneheld is King in Carlon, then Faraday sits by his side as Queen. A tastier morsel than ever now, Gorgrael, a much tastier morsel."

"Tastier," Gorgrael echoed, his thoughts on the woman so far to the south.

Queen. Faraday.

The Strike Force LandsThe last of the Icarii

hound for Sigholt left Talon Spike on the third to last day of DeadLeaf-month.

The Crests and Wings of the Strike Force had been gone some ten days and the last of them would have arrived in Sigholt. Small groups of Enchanters had left each day since.

The final group included MorningStar and StarDrifter. RavenCrest was reluctant to leave the security of Talon Spike for an unknown world; until Axis had won Tencendor back the majority of the Icarii would stay in Talon Spike. As he stood on the flight balcony watching his mother and brother disappear over the southern Icescarp Alps, RavenCrest had to fight a wave of depression from swamping him. The fate of the Icarii had been taken from his hands. Was this the beginning of their long-hoped-for pilgrimage back to their homelands or a journey towards the death of all their dreams? "By the Stars, Axis," said RavenCrest, the wind ruffling his black neck feathers, "do not squander the hopes of the Icarii in your battles with Borneheld and Gorgrael. You promised to lead us back into Tencendor. Make sure you do it."

No-one who had just left Talon Spike missed the significance of their flight south. For the first time in a thousand years the Icarii flew for Tencendor rather than just winging their way about the Icescarp Alps or the Avarinheim. None thought
the path would be easy, and all understood that some would die in the attempt. But Icarii spirit had been rekindled. They were finally taking active steps

to regain their heritage.

Several hours after they left Talon Spike the group found a thermal which lifted them high into the atmosphere, and for more than an hour they spiralled upwards, only very slowly moving south. The view was stunning. Far below, the Icescarp Alps ridged and plunged their way south towards the Icescarp Barren and east towards the Avarinheim forest. To the east the Widowmaker Sea glinted in sunlight. As she tilted a little in the thermal MorningStar caught a glimpse of the Nordra, silver from this height, as it wound its serpentine way through the Avarinheim. The river was a life-giver, both to the Avarinheim and to the bare plains of Achar, and the Avar worshipped the Nordra almost as fervently as the sacred Earth Tree. MorningStar smiled a little as she half closed her eyes against the glare of the sun. How fortunate that Gorgrael's clouds did not cover the Avarinheim. The forest canopy waved green and black, almost like a sea itself, and Morning-Star hoped that she would live long enough to see the first trees replanted in the plains beyond the Fortress Ranges.

Above her, StarDrifter waved the group further east. The flight would take three or four days and they would rest each night within the Avarinheim. The Avar had established three camps just inside the protecting walls of the Fortress Ranges, keeping the Icarii who used them supplied with food and fire at night.

Willing enough to help the Icarii, the Avar waited for Faraday before they would actively move to help Axis.

As they flew further south, MorningStar remembered her mother speaking of the sacred sites lost to the Icarii. Would she live to see Fernbrake Lake, the Mother, and the Island of Mist and Memory? She let herself dream a little, hope a little.

Azhure approached the circle of Icarii and Acharite warriors quietly, so as not to disturb them, especially those who

fought in the centre. The majority of the Icarii Strike Force had been here almost three weeks now, and their intensive combat training with Belial s soldiers continued apace.

FarSight CutSpur, true to his word to Axis, had surrendered the Strike Force to Belial's overall control. He had no regrets in doing so. Any decision Belial took regarding the Icarii he made sure to discuss with FarSight and his Crest-Leaders.

Indeed, FarSight and his two senior Crest-Leaders — HoverEye Black Wing and SpreadWing RavenCry - had been included in Belial s inner circle on an equal footing with Magariz, Arne and Azhure. FarSight respected Belial greatly. He was a good man, and a capable commander; Axis had chosen well in his second-in-command.

The Icarii had been dismayed by their lack of combat skills when compared to the Groundwalkers, despite Axis' earlier warning. Over the past three weeks they had done almost nothing but work on their hand-to-hand skills with Belial's soldiers. To begin with, the Groundwalkers had been able to best the Icarii easily, and many an Icarii Strike Force member had spent long hours of the night rubbing soothing salve into abrasions and bruises or soaking in the rejuvenating hot waters of the Lake of Life. But, driven by their deep-seated pride, the Icarii had learned quickly. In fact, so determined were they to put a stop to their embarrassing losses, that over the past few days a growing number of Icarii had come out victorious from their combat bouts with Belial's men. SpikeFeather, in particular, had earned their respect.

Azhure crept around the edge of the circle of watching warriors until a gap appeared in the tightly packed bodies. She shouldered her way through.

EvenSong was battling with a soldier from Arne's unit, a brawny, ginger-haired, experienced campaigner from Aldeni called Edowes. The Acharite soldiers had quickly learned that the female members of the Icarii Strike Force were just as determined as the male. Now, as the two grappled in the
centre of the circle, it was obvious that Edowes was giving no quarter.

Ever since SpikeFeather had shamed her in front of Azhure and the other members of her Wing, EvenSong had put all her efforts into becoming an asset to the Strike Force. Today was the first time she felt she had a good chance of besting her practice partner, but the actual "kill" was proving frustratingly difficult.

Azhure glanced about the circle. Arne stood to one side, his arms folded, his posture relaxed, his emotions hidden behind his usual expressionless mask. Only the jerky movements of the twig he was chewing showed he felt any concern about the outcome of this bout. A few paces from him stood SpikeFeather TrueSong, commander of Even-Song's Wing. His wings were held tense and tight against his back, and his fingers convulsively flexed at his side, as if he wanted to leap into the ring and help EvenSong.

EvenSong and Edowes both wore light armour, but both had collected more than their fair share of bruises during the bout. Suddenly EvenSong grunted and fell to her knees, caught by a particularly heavy blow to the ribs by Edowes, her stave slipping from her fingers. Azhure s stomach twisted, and she only just managed to stop herself from leaping forward and pulling Edowes back.

Edowes raised his stave to shoulder height for the final blow. But he had badly misjudged his opponent. EvenSong's fingers tightened and shifted on the stave and, her face twisting with determination, she brought the stave upwards with all her might. Straight between Edowes' legs.

Every male within the circle of watchers whimpered in sympathy as they heard the sickening crunch. Edowes howled, dropping his stave and falling to the ground, clutching at his abused manhood.

Azhure clapped to her mouth to hide her grin, and her eyes met those of a jubilant EvenSong. The Icarii wqman's eyes glittered with pride, and she did not look the least bit sorry that she had destroyed Edowes' hopes of enjoying the young Skarabost woman he had been courting for several weeks to come.

SpikeFeather slapped EvenSong on the back before offering her his hand. "I am heartily glad you never thought of that manoeuvre while practising with me, EvenSong," he laughed. He turned to Arne. "You owe me a jug of Reinalds spiced wine, I believe, Arne. I look forward to enjoying it with my evening meal."

As the watchers gradually dissipated, Azhure and Even-Song walked slowly across the practice field bordering the Lake of Life. The Keep glistened silvery grey in the sun, for the warmth of the Lake of Life kept Sigholt and its immediate environs free of Gorgrael's clouds.

"Well done," Azhure congratulated EvenSong. "Did you notice how all the men blanched as you struck home?"

EvenSong laughed breathlessly, still winded after her exertions. "I hope I have not wounded him permanently."

"Oh, I am sure he will recover to father his share of children," Azhure said lightly. Azhure was now well into her pregnancy and her abdomen protruded gently beneath her tunic. Belial had forbidden her to take part in hand-to-hand combat sessions, although Azhure still trained with her archers - six squads now, over two hundred men - and occasionally went out on patrol. She had returned only last night from leading a four-day patrol into the northern Urqhart Hills.

Azhure was well respected among both Icarii and Acharites, and only rarely was her womanhood or her pregnancy commented upon.

As Azhure lapsed into silence, EvenSong sensed there was something troubling her and slid her arm about Azhure's shoulders. "What is it?" she asked.

Azhure took a deep and shaky breath, placing both her hands over her belly.

"The baby has hardly moved, EvenSong.

Sometimes I lie a-bed at night and all I feel is this weight in my belly, and I wonder if the baby is still alive. I should have felt it move weeks ago."

"You are a silly!" EvenSong laughed, relieved. "If you had asked either Rivkah or myself we could have told you what the problem is."

Azhure stopped. "You know what's wrong?"

"Azhure. The child you carry is part Icarii. All Icarii babes sleep in the womb until their father awakens them. Azhure, your baby is perfectly all right - awake or not, it will grow and develop normally. Once Axis arrives he can awaken it.

Apparently it is the most exquisite feeling, to feel the babe awaken at the sound of its father's voice."

Azhure s shoulders relaxed under EvenSong's arm. "I was so worried," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I thought that perhaps I had harmed it."

A frown creased her forehead again. "But already I am five months pregnant.

When should Icarii fathers sing to their children? Is it too late? And what if Axis doesn't arrive before it is born?"

"Azhure, calm down," EvenSong said. "It is best that Axis be here for the baby's birth. But it has been known for a baby to be born without being awakened by its father, and even then, the baby was perfectly normal."

Azhure's shoulders relaxed totally and she dropped her hands from her belly.

Embarrassed by her show of vulnerability, she turned the conversation to combat and commands. "How are the Icarii coping with their quarters?" No-one had been too sure what the Icarii - used to the luxury of Talon Spike - would think of the tents they were housed in.