StarMan (72 page)

No-one spoke. The Ravensbundmen were either too tense or too awe-struck, and the Acharites were so dumbfounded at what they were doing they could not find the words to discuss it.

Azhure kept the Alaunt slinking in a well-controlled pack behind Venator; she had little doubt that if they tried to play with Urbeth, she would give as good as she got.

Urbeth led them north-west all that day until the dark shapes of the DeadWood Forest loomed on the horizon. Then she sat down, yawned, and curled into a ball to sleep. She had not said a word the entire way.

Men sat in quiet groups huddled about fires that night, and not a few glances were sent towards the great pale shape snoring in the distance.

"Who is she?" Axis asked. "Urbeth," Ho'Demi replied tersely. "Wfear is she, Ho'Demi?"

Sa'Kuya answered for her husband. "Urbeth is more than a bear, Axis, but we do not know how much more. She has hunted these packs through all the time that the Ravensbund have lived here, and occasionally she has come out to talk with us. We worship her for fear, because we fear that if we did not then she would hunt us instead of the seals."

"I doubt that, Sa'Kuya," Azhure said. "I think Urbeth talks to you because she likes you. I think," and her eyes drifted towards the bear asleep twenty paces away, "Urbeth sometimes gets lonely for companionship and good conversation, so she seeks out one or two of the Ravensbund to chat with.

Perhaps she would be pleased if you treated her as an equal, not as a god."

The bear burped violently in her sleep, and Axis laughed at the startled expressions on Ho'Demi's and Sa'Kuya's faces. "I think you should listen to my wife, my friends, for I wager that bear would have many tales to keep you amused through your long months on the ice."

Ho'Demi put his tea mug down. "If she leads me to my people, StarMan, then I shall invite her to be godmother at the naming of my next grandchild."

Azhure leaned over and patted Ho'Demi's knee. "I think Urbeth would like that very much, Ho'Demi."

The bear woke with the sun. She rose and stretched, her grunts waking the entire camp, and ambled towards the forest.

"Tell your men to remain on their feet, Ho'Demi," she called over her shoulder, "for there is no need to disturb the horses."

Ho'Demi muttered as he flung his cloak about his shoulders, his eyes shadowed through lack of sleep.

About him the Ravensbund men rose and followed the bear, the chimes tangled in their hair tinkling sweetly in the morning air.

Azhure bundled Caelum in a blanket and held him close, giving him a piece of bread to keep him quiet, then joined Axis as they walked with the others following the bear.

It took them an hour to approach DeadWood Forest, and as soon as they were close a murmur arose among the Ravensbundmen.

"What disturbs them?" Azhure asked.

"The trees," Sa'Kuya answered. "They are alive."

Azhure wondered why the fact that the trees were alive bothered the Ravensbund people. The forest, stretching southwest as far as the eye could see, was of normal conifers, although Azhure could see the blackened trunks of dead trees among the live growth. The trees were a trifle stunted, perhaps, but Azhure was not surprised that they did not grow very tall this far north. That they grew at all was surprise enough.

"Oh," she suddenly said, and Sa'Kuya glanced at her.

"Yes, Enchantress. Dead Wood Forest. For as long as Ravensbund memory stretches, these trees have been dead. A - frozen forest at the edge of the icecap. And never this thick."

"Oh," Azhure said again, but now her tone was full of understanding.

Urbeth sat down about twenty paces from the first of the trees, her face bored as she waited for the men behind to catch up. Finally, she barked to clear her throat, then spoke.

"Your people lived for almost eighteen months on the ice pack, Ho'Demi. But it was hard on them.

Many died. A growing number, convinced that the end of the world was nigh, refused food or drink, courting death. Many prayed that you would return and lead them back into their homelands, but most felt that you and those who escaped with you had been eaten by the Skraelings who had massed along the shoreline and then seethed south. They debated among themselves about what to do and finally, after many weeks of discussion, they called to me to eat them, and thus end their misery."

Urbeth rolled her eyes. "Their cries annoyed me and woke my cubs. The seals darted away and I lacked food. Although I tried to be patient with their misery, eventually I grew dark with anger. I decided I could not live with them any longer. And finally I
did
answer their calls. I
did
eat them. I swallowed them whole until I could swallow no more, and so I spat them out. Then I ate some more, and eventually spat those out as well. I ate and spat until the dreadful cries were silenced. And where I spat, so grew trees."

She cocked her head and regarded the trees. "I don't like them," she said. "Their greenery disturbs the harmony of snow and ice and grey tides. I think you ought to take them away."

Utter silence greeted her words. Everyone stared at the trees, then at the bear, then back to the trees.

"Urbeth," Ho'Demi said eventually, "there are many of my people in the southern lands who are now wending their way

north. Among them is my daughter, In'Mari, married to Izanagi who stands among us now. She is great with child, and when her child is born I would ask that you stand as her godmother."

"Godmother? What is that?"

"Each child born among us has a godmother and godfather bonded to them. They act as spiritual guardians to the child through his or her life. To protect them from demons and to show them the way of the ice."

Urbeth's eyes gleamed. "Oh, I'd like that, Ho'Demi! You are very gracious."

Ho'Demi waited patiently.

"Oh, very well," Urbeth snapped. "Take your people and go. But on one condition."

"And what is that?"

"That you never leave them to drift lonely and sad on the pack ice for so long again. I prefer to sleep soundly at night."

"Done, great Urbeth."

"Done," she muttered, heaved a great sigh, and rose to her feet. She padded over to the nearest tree, considered it an instant, then gave it a great swipe with one of her massive paws.

The tree swayed, then a great crack rent the air. The tree toppled and, as it fell, its upper branches caught those of its neighbour and brought that crashing to the ground as well. As its neighbour crashed to the ground, so it enmeshed
its
neighbour, and the destruction spread among the trees. Soon the sound of cracking timber and the smell of pine resin filled the morning, and pine needles floated thick through the air, causing everyone, even Urbeth, to turn aside and cough and wipe at their eyes.

"A nuisance," she was heard to mutter, "from start to finish."

Gradually people rose from the great tangle of branches and pine needles, in groups of ones and twos to begin with, then in greater numbers. All looked bewildered, all were thin with drawn faces and haunted expressions, but all were alive. As they

. at the bear and the warriors beyond her, their eyes filled
^^/Av tenetched out their arms,
calling softly.

"I would suggest, Ho'Demi," Urbeth said, "that your warriors would be better put to fishing and sealing than standing about with their mouths open. These sleepers will be hungry."

Then, with the utmost dignity, she padded her way towards the sea.

"Urbeth," Ho'Demi cried, "I thank you!"

"Accepted," the bear called over her shoulder, then she paused. "It was a great joke, Ho'Demi, because the Skraelings knew where your people were. They stood about in whispering hordes before this forest for weeks, but they would not approach. Anyone would think they did not like trees."

Then she was gone, plunging into the grey waters and paddling her way towards the ice pack.

The Cruel WorldAxis and Azhure stayed one more day, then informed Ho'Demi they would travel on to Talon Spike. "There is nothing for us to do here," Axis said. "As much as I would like to stay and explore the wonders of The Necklet or learn the mysteries of hunting the seal from the back of the pack ice, I must travel eastwards."

"I understand, StarMan. Gorgrael still waits. You will prevail."

Axis laughed harshly, and looked away. "I must say that, and I must believe it," Ho'Demi said, "for if I do not, then there is no hope, and Urbeth will have saved my people for nothing."

"Well then, I must not let Urbeth down. She would be cross if she thought all her effort had been wasted."

"One day you will return, StarMan, and I will teach you to hunt seals."

"Perhaps I will bring my son," Axis grinned, his good mood returning, "and we shall stumble about the pack ice together."

Azhure smiled also, and leaned forward and kissed Ho'Demi gently on the cheek. "And I shall come back, Ho'Demi, and talk some more with Urbeth. She must have great mysteries to explain."

Sa'Kuya stepped forward and gave Axis a package of Tekawai tea; now they had reached the Icebear Coast the Ravensbund people could replenish their stocks. "You will be travelling still further north, I think, StarMan. Take this tea with our blessing, and when you drink it think of the Ravensbund people whose thoughts will always be with you."

"I thank you, Sa'Kuya." Axis stowed the package in the packs that hung behind Belaguez's saddle.

"Ho'Demi, I leave you my three thousand men. Use them if you want, or send them home."

"I shall not keep them overlong, StarMan," Ho'Demi said, bowing slightly in recognition of the gift.

"The Skraelings have all gone from the Ravensbund and we live in tents, so there is no rebuilding to do.

Perhaps for a few weeks they can help us build up our stocks of seal and fish, but I think they will be longing for their own lands and families. I shall send them back to Carlon."

Axis nodded. "Well, Azhure? Are you ready for Talon Spike?"

She smiled at him. Both were looking forward to the week it would take them to travel to Talon Spike; they had rarely had much time alone in past months. "I'm -" she was interrupted by an anxious voice behind them.

"StarMan! You're not leaving me?" Arne stood there, his face stubborn.

"Arne," Axis said, "I have no further use for an army where I go. After Talon Spike I must travel alone, for what I must do can only be done by me."

Azhure hoped Arne would not make a fuss.

But Arne had every intention of making a fuss. For three years he had been driven by the Veremund-inspired impulse to protect Axis. He had ridden at Axis' back through battlefield and market-place and snow-field. He had constantly watched for hands reaching to daggers or eyes sliding towards assassins. Every stranger had been a potential traitor, every smile a potential dupe, every mouthful potential poison. The only time that Arne had been away from Axis had been during the months Axis spent in Talon Spike and the UnderWorld, and those months had left him feeling empty and directionless. He had no intent of suffering through such again, not when Axis walked to face his worst threat yet. "I
am
coming with you," he said stonily.

"Arne. I
must
go alone."

But Azhure saw advantages in Arne's presence. "Axis," she said, her voice gentle, persuasive. "What does it hurt if Arne travels with us to Talon Spike and then perhaps even to the Earth Tree Grove with you. And then . . . why, he may not help you in your battle with Gorgrael, but he will ,prove true company on the way."

Arne shot her a grateful glance.

Axis shot her a glance too, but his was speculative. "Stars above, Azhure, next you'll be saying that you want to come along as well."

There was truly nothing that Azhure
would
have liked more to do, but she knew her presence would mean his death. So she shrugged, and spoke with a light voice. "I would not risk taking Caelum with me, my love, and I will not risk him alone again. Not until Gorgrael lies dead at your feet. Besides, I promised Rivkah I would be there for the birth of her son."

"So while I face the threat of Gorgrael alone, Azhure, you would midwive the birth of yet another brother?"

She flinched at his tone, but she kept her voice steady. "Axis, I cannot come. You know this."

Axis sighed. Yes, he knew it.

Sometime during this conversation Arne realised that his presence with Axis had been tacitly agreed to. "Thank you, Lord," he said, and a smile lit his normally dark and impassive face.

"Well, get to your horse then, dammit," Axis snapped, and Azhure turned away as well, and mounted silently.

Ho'Demi and Sa'Kuya, flanked by several dozen of the Ravensbund people, stood and watched them ride off. "He will come back one day," she said.

"Yes," her husband said, "I think that he will.

"Now," he turned and kissed Sa'Kuya. "I have a vow to fulfil. Keep watch for me, wife, and brew the Tekawai when you see me return."

And with that he turned and stomped off to the beach. There were four twin-hulled canoes pulled up on the pebbles, the rest were out with hunters chasing seal. Ho'Demi selected one and dragged it out to the incoming tide, and set off for the ice pack.

But he did not paddle directly for the pack. Instead he sent the canoe sliding through the choppy waters to the south, the bleak landscape on his right, the yellowed ice rearing to his left. Ho'Demi wanted solitude for what he was about to do. The ice, he thought, would never be quite the same again, and he hoped that Urbeth would not mind.

After several hours paddling he finally manoeuvred his craft into a stable rift in the ice and moored it solidly. From there he clambered up the steep sides of the ice pack until he reached the top, then he stood, and stared.

"Home," he breathed.

The ice pack stretched before him for leagues, grunting and rolling and whispering as the ice constantly shifted and lifted, only to sink again. In some areas birds hopped across, seeking fish that had been trapped in small inlets as the pack shifted, in other areas icebears - Urbeth's smaller cousins -