Sinner (45 page)

“Go on, Zenith,” Faraday said.

She spoke slowly, emphasising each word. “The approach of these Demons is not only stripping the Icarii Enchanters of their powers, but also the Star Gods. By the time the Demons break through, all Enchanters, as Star Gods, will have lost their powers completely.”

There was utter silence.

It was Leagh who finally answered. “But that would be…” she frowned, trying to come to terms with the concept. “Unthinkable. Tencendor with no magic?”

“Some will remain,” Faraday said. “In the trees and forests, although we cannot know how the Demons will affect them in the long term. And within…several other creatures. But nothing will compensate Tencendor for the loss of the Enchanters’ power, nor that of the Star Gods.”

All the men present glanced between themselves. They were all loyal to Zared, and to the concept of a reborn Achar, but they were also men who had lived most if not all their lives within close proximity to the Icarii and to the magic and rites of the birdpeople. Many of them had travelled to the forests, and had felt the power there. They might have been only mortal, but they knew and recognised the worth of enchantment.

“Zared, gentlemen, listen.” Zenith leaned forward now, her voice sharp, demanding to be believed. “When the Star Dance fades completely, then there will be
nothing
that can prevent those Demons coming through. Nothing.”

“Then…” Zared’s voice trailed off.

“Then you are all riding to certain death!” Leagh cried, and grasped Zared’s hand yet harder. “Is that what you’re saying, Zenith?”

“Yes. I am afraid so.”

The commanders present exchanged fearful glances and shared murmured words.

“We can’t ride on,” Zared said.

Faraday shook her head very slowly and deliberately.

“Damn it!” Zared whispered, trying to think.

“Zared, is there any way you can persuade Caelum to turn about?”

Zared looked at Faraday. “I doubt it. He is convinced that Axis needs us at the Star Gate.”

“Lady Faraday,” Theod said. “What can we do? Are you saying that
nothing
can ever be done about these Demons? That our land is to be condemned to…what?”

Faraday and Zenith had a fair idea to what Tencendor would be doomed when the Demons broke through, but they had no intention of telling these men that. They had to leave them some hope.

“We cannot know,” Faraday said gently. “But we fear very much. We may not have answers, but we have advice, and we beg you to listen to it.”

“And that is?” Herme asked.

“You are currently about four or five leagues due north of the Silent Woman Woods. My friends, I think that for the moment the trees will provide your best cover. We think the Demons will leave the trees well enough alone for the time being.”

We
hope
, she thought.

“And our families?” Gustus asked, his voice tight and angry, although his ire was not directed at these two
women. Damn Caelum to a worm-ridden AfterLife! The majority of the men still didn’t even have the vaguest idea about the danger threatening the Star Gate, let alone
this
horror!

“On our way north,” Zenith said, “Faraday and I met with several groups of merchants moving north, some to Carlon, some to other centres. We gave them what advice we could without unduly frightening them. The last thing we wanted to do was to create panic.”

“And that advice is…?” Killingrew asked. He had a wife and two young children awaiting him in Carlon. Right now he felt like abandoning everything and rushing home to see to their safety.

“There will be certain times of the day when it will be horrific to go outside,” Zenith said. “More than dangerous. Dawn and dusk, all through the night. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon. And, eventually perhaps, midday.”

If we cannot succeed, Faraday thought. If we do not succeed, then midday will be the most terrible time of all.

“But if people stay indoors during those bad times, if they shutter windows and doors, then they will survive.”

“But what sort of life is that?” Zared said angrily. “There will be only a few hours each day when people can go outside, when fields can be tilled, when –”

“It will be a
life
,” Faraday said. “During those times we have said, the Demons will roam.”

“But what can we do?” Herme threw up his hands in despair. “Can we battle these fiends with sword and steel?”

“No,” Faraday said. “I do not think so – but, hush! I do think I can find a way. I am sure of it.”

“What?” Zared asked. Both his hands were wrapped about Leagh’s now.

“Zared, forgive us if I do not explain now,” Faraday said. “I am still unsure of my path, and there are unexplainables I cannot foresee.

“What I ask of you,” she continued, “what I
beg
of you, Zared, is to save as many of these men as you can. Get them to the Silent Woman Woods as
fast
as you can, because that is the nearest shelter for a body this size. I think there is less than a day remaining before the Demons attempt to break through. Once there, wait for us. But, hark me true,
do not go near the Cauldron Lake!
”

“Why?”

“Because I fear the Demons may visit. Zared, they come into Tencendor for what lies at the bottom of the Sacred Lakes. And Cauldron Lake is so close to the Barrows.”

Zared was too depressed to ask any more questions.

“Wait for us in the northern Silent Woman Woods,” Zenith said quietly. “We will return to you there. Believe in us.”

Faraday looked about the circle of light. “Believe in us, all of you, for at the moment we are all that you have left to believe in.”

No-one spoke for many minutes. Zared rested his face in his hands, Leagh holding his shoulders, trying to give him some comfort.

Zared’s misery was mirrored by most of his commanders. They could comprehend none of this, and yet they believed and trusted these two women without exception.

“Where do
you
go now?” Zared finally asked of Faraday and Zenith, raising his head from his hands.

“Us?” Faraday said. “Why, we go to the Star Gate, of course. There is someone we have to meet there.”

S
tarDrifter stood in the chamber of the Star Gate and mourned. He leaned against one of the carved pillars, one wing wrapped about it for support, and grieved for the fading of the Dance. His whole life had been lived to its beat, all his laughter attuned to its merriment, his entire purpose bent to its tune.

Now, slowly, surely, inevitably, it faded.

He did not look into the Star Gate itself, because he knew what he would see.

Swirling bleakness, consuming their vision of the universe.

Black doom, streaked with shrieks of lightning that was itself blighted and cancerous.

Demonic voices, laughing at the dwindling of the Star Dance.

Whispers.

We’re coming for you, WolfStar.

He looked across the chamber. WolfStar stood there, just beyond the huddled Circle of the Star Gods. His face was grey, his breath too rapid for calmness.

We’re coming for you, WolfStar.

And the worst thing of it was that their coming was inevitable.

StarDrifter looked back to the wards above the Star Gate. How bright and powerful they had once seemed! Now the wards were fading and warping. Greyness slunk over them, a reflection of the blackness seeping closer through the stars, but also a reflection of the fading powers of the Enchanters and Star Gods.

StarDrifter had never imagined what it would feel like to be…human. No power of any sort. No joy in touching with the Star Dance. But StarDrifter had a truly dreadful feeling that he would know
exactly
what it was like all too shortly.

A human with wings. That is all he would be.

StarDrifter lowered his head and wept.

We won’t be able to stay here, thought WolfStar. He was wrapped in misery at the loss of both the Star music and the death of the woman he loved.

How could Zenith have done that?

We won’t be able to stay, he thought.
He
wouldn’t be able to stay. Too dangerous – the children, StarLaughter (and, by the Stars! what kind of revenge would
she
seek?), the Demons. He knew he must run far and fast if he was to have any hope. If Niah was to have any hope.

But for now, he thought, I shall just stand and witness the final hours of Icarii Enchantment.

It deserves that honour, at least.

Zared, Leagh and the commanders farewelled Faraday and Zenith as starlight faded into daylight.

The two women had left the pair of white donkeys tied to a gorse bush beyond camp. Now they untied them, climbed into the small blue cart, and waved as the donkeys cheerfully trundled their way east towards the distant dark line of Minstrelsea and the Barrows.

“Those donkeys,” Herme murmured. “It couldn’t be. It
couldn’t
!” He shook his head. It just couldn’t.

“Herme?”

Zared’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Yes, sire?”

“Caelum has ordered the pull-out. So mount up the men and, as soon as the order is given to ride out, do so. I will ride back to Caelum, try to persuade him. Herme, once you see that I have reached him, give the order for the men to turn their horses due south. And ride. I want you within the Silent Woman Woods by afternoon.”

“But you’ll –” Herme began, but was cut short by a wail from Leagh.

“Zared, no! He’ll not let you go!”

Zared took her shoulders and held her gently for a minute. “Leagh. Go with Herme. Take that wonderful mare of yours and ride like the wind.”

“I’ll not leave –”

“Yes, you
will!
Leagh, I will join you. I promise. I’m not ready to die yet, not out here on this open plain like a dog.” He grinned wanly. “Trust me.”

She leaned her forehead into his chest briefly, feeling his heartbeat.

“Yes, I trust you,” she said, smiling through her tears. “And this time I’ll do as you say.”

“Good girl. Herme?”

“As you order, sire. But you follow us, damn it. You hear?”

Zared laughed. “As
you
order, Earl of Avonsdale! Now, get those men mounted. Inform them…inform them that once they’re safe within the Silent Woman Woods, I’ll tell them what’s going on.”

Herme saluted. “Aye, sire.”

Zared looked about, nodded at the other commanders, kissed Leagh briefly, then turned to his horse.

“What’s he up to?” Caelum muttered as Zared rode straight for him, his horse at a flat-out gallop. Behind him his men had mounted up and were moving out.

Caelum checked the skies. Most of the Strike Force were aloft, their myriad black specks circling far above.

A month ago he would have been able to pick out the buttons on their uniforms.

He squinted, then waved at who he hoped was DareWing.

The speck circled lower.

Zared reined in his horse. “Caelum! I must speak to you.”

“What do you here? Your place is at the head of your men.”

“I have heard disturbing news about what it is we meet at the Star Gate, Caelum.”

“His title is StarSon,” Askam corrected.

Zared flicked Askam a scathing glance, wishing for the first time that the blast at Kastaleon had done a better job.

“Nephew StarSon,” he said dryly, “I am concerned about the situation at the Star Gate.”

“Your task is not to be concerned, Zared,” Caelum said. “You vowed that you would accept my orders. Zared…please…Axis needs us there.”

I did not
quite
get around to that vow, thought Zared, for the conversation was deflected. But now was not the time to quibble over such delicacies. “I have heard news that makes me question the decision, whether yours or Axis’, to ride pell-mell for the Star Gate, Caelum.”

Caelum raised his eyebrows. He hoped DareWing would land swiftly.

As if in answer to his thought, a shadow swept over them and DareWing FullHeart alighted to stand by Caelum’s horse. “StarSon, what is it?”

Caelum inclined his head at Zared. “Zared has heard disturbing news, it seems.”

Several other of Caelum’s commanders had drifted closer. One of them shaded his hand, looked into the distance, and cried, “StarSon! Zared’s force is wheeling to the south!”

“Stars in Heaven!” Caelum shouted. “What other treacheries do you have for me, Zared? DareWing, set the Strike Force –”

“Wait!” Zared yelled. “DareWing, commanders,
listen to what I have to say to you!
”

“Then say it
fast
!” DareWing growled, his wings tensed for flight, “before I set my birdmen’s arrows to your men’s backs.”

Zared locked eyes with Caelum. “All the damned Enchanters in this realm, all the Star Gods as well, have all but lost their powers. DareWing, there
is
no Icarii enchantment to protect us at the Star Gate! The Demons will break through with the ease of a babe clutching at a fistful of jelly!
If we ride to the Star Gate we will all die!
They,” he flung a hand in Caelum’s direction, “
will not be able to save us!
”

“You lie!” Askam shouted. “Seditious words to mask your own cowardice! DareWing, set your Strike Force to –”

“Demons?” muttered one of Caelum’s junior commanders.

“Then prove you still have your powers, StarSon Caelum SunSoar.
Prove
to me and to all your men here that you
still have your powers!
” Zared yelled.

DareWing turned slightly and looked Caelum full in the face.

“I am only trying to protect my men, Caelum,” Zared continued more moderately. “I am a commander who will flee if it means that the majority of my command will
survive to fight the next day.
I
do not make rash judgments and mistakes.”

Caelum recoiled, but said nothing.

“Enough!” DareWing snapped as Askam reached for his sword. “StarSon, does Zared speak truth?”

Still Caelum said nothing, staring at Zared.

“As the Demons approach,” Zared said quietly, “their darkness clouds the Star Gate, blocking off the sound of the Star Dance. DareWing,
you
know what that means. Without the Star Dance…”

DareWing looked more intently at Caelum. There had been more to the crisis at the Star Gate than he’d been told. He’d felt it with every instinct he’d gained as a member of the Strike Force for over sixty years. He’d battled Skraelings, Gryphon and humans, and he’d learned enough to trust his instincts. “StarSon?”

Caelum suddenly slumped in his saddle. “He speaks truth, DareWing.”

A muttering rose behind him, but Caelum paid it no attention. “Zared, where did you hear this?”

“From the Lady Faraday and from the Princess Zenith. Zenith confirmed the almost absolute loss of her powers.”

“Faraday!” DareWing exclaimed. He had met her on many occasions when she had been Queen of Achar, and her role in the replanting of the forests, as her willingness to die for Axis, gave her almost godlike status in DareWing’s eyes, and in those of so many other Icarii.

“My father asked us to ride for the Star Gate,” Caelum said slowly, but without any conviction. Faraday had returned? And
Zenith?

“Axis was distraught, and had not thought it through,” Zared said. “He was acting on battle instinct alone. Caelum, DareWing, there is nothing we can do at Star Gate save witness our own deaths.”

“Damn you!” Askam cried, fumbling with his sword. Curse his one-handed embarrassment! “Does no-one have the courage to ride to the Star Gate’s aid?”

Zared wheeled his horse out of the way. “There is nothing stopping
you,
Askam.”

Askam looked at Zared, looked at the now almost deserted expanse of plain before them, then looked at Caelum. “Can’t you save us?”

“No, Askam,” Caelum said slowly, looking at Zared rather than Askam. “No, I cannot, and mayhap the Star Gods cannot either. Zared speaks wisely. My friend, I should have listened to you last night. DareWing, set the Strike Force after Zared’s men –”

Zared straightened in alarm.

“– to escort them to shelter.” Caelum rose in his stirrups and waved to his commanders. “Turn your men for the Silent Woman Woods. Now! Then ride…
ride!
”

His commanders were shouting orders as soon as the word “Silent” had left Caelum’s lips.