Axis stood on a large balcony that faced west. It jutted out from Elcho Falling’s outer walls about a third of the way up the citadel: high enough to give him a good view, but not so high that he lost detail. He was tired and irritable. He’d barely slept last night, staying up late to ensure that everyone was settled (and making sure he knew where everyone was), talking with Georgdi, Egalion, and BroadWing, and then spending time with Inardle until dawn. That time with Inardle had not been all talk, but had also included an hourlong soak in the huge hot pool they’d found in one of the chambers of their suite.
Suite—not chamber. Elcho Falling’s servants had led Axis and Inardle to a seven-chambered suite which catered to their every whim. Every one of the chambers was massive—ten to fifteen paces high with domed ceilings, and with vast glossy stone floors which reminded Axis of the beautiful floor of Isaiah’s Sun Chamber at the palace of Aqhat. Both he and Inardle had stood and stared at the final chamber which contained a large circular steaming pool. They simply looked at it, then at each other, then stripped off their clothes and sank beneath the water. It had done wonders for Inardle’s wing, although she still appeared tense. Axis had asked her what was wrong, but she’d just smiled and kissed him and said everything about Elcho Falling was so overwhelming.
She was with him now, along with BroadWing, Eleanon, Georgdi, Ezekiel, and Egalion. Behind them was a large commodious chamber that would serve well as a command center for the citadel. It had everything that Axis or any of the other commanders could need, including maps and charts in drawers set either under the tables or in chests stacked against the walls. There were even bedchambers opening off the main chamber, for when an officer could not bear to be too far away from his command.
So far as Axis could work out, Elcho Falling somehow provided whatever was needed.
“They arrived some two or three hours after midnight,” BroadWing said. “Since then they have been busy establishing camp, with a few small scouting parties circling the land around the edge of Elcho Falling’s lake.”
“Looking for a bridge, no doubt,” said Eleanon.
Axis glanced at him. The Lealfast man had lost a great deal of his edginess since Maximilian had raised Elcho Falling, and he and BroadWing were standing together in a manner that was almost companionable. When Axis and Inardle had arrived in the chamber this morning they’d been perched on the balcony balustrading, discussing some of the Strike Force’s tactics with only a minimum of tension.
It was not just Eleanon and BroadWing. Everyone appeared much more at ease with the others. Even Ezekiel, who had kept his distance from the other commanders previously, was clearly a member of the group rather than an orbiting and distant moon.
Whatever Maximilian had done with the Goblet of the Frogs besides raise Elcho Falling, it had been one of the more remarkable pieces of sorcery that Axis had ever seen worked.
He talked with BroadWing for a few more minutes, then looked up when there was a movement above him.
StarDrifter.
“How is my brother?” Axis said once StarDrifter had landed and greeted everyone.
StarDrifter grinned. “Axis, I swear I do not know how I can bear to wait until he is grown. He is going to be a magnificent son.”
Axis managed a smile, just, then everyone turned as Maximilian and Ishbel entered the room behind them.
Axis looked instantly to Ishbel’s left hand, but she had it hidden in the drapery of her skirts, and he couldn’t see if she wore the ring or not. He tried to catch her eye, but she avoided it as she and Maximilian walked over to the balustrade.
“What do you know?” Maximilian said to Axis.
Axis sent one more glance Ishbel’s way, but her left hand was still out of sight. “As you can see, Armat has established camp. He has supply lines stretching south and east. Georgdi told me last night that Kezial is a few days away, moving north from Margalit with between eighty to one hundred thousand men—he left some thirty thousand guarding Margalit. BroadWing reports this morning that they are even closer than Georgdi thought, perhaps thirty-six hours away.”
“And Armat’s army?” Maximilian said.
Axis hesitated, wondering what Maximilian wanted to know. “The camp is well established and ordered. There is no sign of internal insubordination.”
“Do you know where Insharah has his quarters?” Maximilian said.
Axis looked at BroadWing, who stepped forward.
“Insharah has his encampment in that quarter,” BroadWing said, pointing. “You might just be able to see his pennant, the blue one there, with the red tip.”
“I can see it,” Maximilian said. He smiled as Ishbel came close, pointing out the tent to her. “It is distant from Armat’s tent.”
“Don’t read too much into it,” said Axis. “If Insharah was going to make a move, I would have expected it by now.”
“Perhaps,” said Maximilian.
Axis leaned against the balustrading, folded his arms, and looked at Maximilian. “What now? What do you want me to do about Armat?”
Maximilian looked out over Armat’s encampment, thinking. “We have the advantage,” he said after a moment or two. “Armat cannot enter Elcho Falling, and his siege engines can do little damage to the citadel. We have the advantage of a flighted army as well as a horsed one. Elcho Falling will never run short of food, or supplies. A siege will do little to damage us, save force us to rely on our own skills for entertainment.”
“And the One?” said Axis.
“I want to wait for Isaiah,” said Maximilian. “How long before he can join us?”
“He’ll never get through Armat,” said Axis. “He has a quarter of the men of Kezial and Armat combined.”
“If Kezial and Armat combine,” Maximilian said.
“You are relying a great deal on the hope that the Isembaardians will shatter due to their internal rivalries,” Axis said quietly.
“I am relying on history,” Maximilian said, a little sharply. “Axis, can you contact Isaiah through StarHeaven again? Find out where he is, how long it will take him to reach Elcho Falling. Also station members of the Strike Force as well as Lealfast down south. I want to know if, when, something follows Isaiah through the Salamaan Pass.”
At that moment the wind caught at Ishbel’s hair, and she lifted her hand to brush it out of her eyes.
Axis went cold at the sight of the ring on her finger, and he looked back at Maximilian.
“I pray to the stars you know what you are doing,” Axis said, then turned on his heel and walked away.
“Axis!” Maximilian said.
Axis came to a halt, but did not turn around.
“A word, if you please,” Maximilian said, catching the eye of the others present and tilting his head.
A moment later the balcony was deserted save for Maximilian, Ishbel, and Axis.
“I know what I do,” Maximilian said, and Axis turned round.
“What is worth risking—” he began.
“It is worth everything,” Maximilian said, “but yes, I agree it is a risk.”
“And you agreed?” Axis said to Ishbel.
She gave a small smile. “Not at first, but Maxel was very persuasive.”
“This,” Maximilian said, lifting Ishbel’s hand so that the ring glinted in the sun, “is what the One did not want me to do. Yes, it binds him to Elcho Falling. I believe what Isaiah says about the curse. I believe in its reality. The One is bound to Elcho Falling. Elcho Falling will grant him entry the moment he walks up to its front archway. But…somewhere in all of this is something that the One fears greatly: Ishbel and I, united in marriage.”
Maximilian told Axis what he’d told Ishbel the night before: that he believed the One had carefully staged Isaiah’s miraculous achievement in getting the message to Maximilian in time to prevent the ring going on Ishbel’s finger.
“And yet you have no idea how to prevent the One becoming Lord of Elcho Falling,” Axis said. “If he takes this citadel, if he takes you, then—”
“Then I need to do all I can to prevent it,” Maximilian said. “Axis, I think the answer to all this lies back in Isembaard. It lies somewhere close to DarkGlass Mountain itself. I need to talk to Isaiah, very badly, because I think he has the key. I need, like Ishbel, to finish my training within the Twisted Tower. I—”
“Ishbel is learning the Twisted Tower?” Axis said.
“She is not who we need to fear,” Maximilian said, “no matter what you have been told.”
Axis shook his head, looking away for a few minutes as he thought.
“I’ll say it again, Maxel,” he said eventually, “I pray to the stars you know what you are doing.”
“Are you still with me, Axis?”
Axis again gave a small shake of his head. “You don’t make it easy for me.”
Maximilian smiled. “But…”
“But I suppose someone has to look after you.”
“Thank you, Axis,” Ishbel said softly.