Part 42 (1/2)

Then, he found it. A single gossamer strand, a filament so thin and nebulous it almost did not exist, but nevertheless it was there.

The hand the One held slightly extended from his body twitched then grasped, and the One's eyes flew open.

They were black, wide, staring, and stars revolved within their depths.

Slowly the One drew his hand toward his belly until it connected with the slight depression that pa.s.sed for a navel in his gla.s.sy flesh.

A moment pa.s.sed, then the One laughed, soft and triumphant, as the strand connecting him to the Dark Spire materialised as a silvery umbilical cord stretching from the One's belly and out the window of the Twisted Tower until it vanished in the vast emptiness of s.p.a.ce and Infinity beyond.

The One felt the soft touch of the existence of the Dark Spire within his flesh. Oh, it was so far away, so far, but the gossamer thread was real enough, and the connection strong enough, for what he needed.

A smile suddenly appearing on his face, the One grasped the gossamer thread between his hands and, without hesitation, stepped through the window of the Twisted Tower into the void.

StarDancer slept peacefully in his mother's bed. His parents, StarDrifter and Salome, had kept him largely s.h.i.+elded from the events and worries of the rest of Elcho Falling and StarDancer spent his nights and days in gentle contemplation of the intricacies of the Star Dance, and little else. It might have seemed strange that the baby could sleep so solidly through the battle and tempest that raged outside, but, despite his extraordinary Enchanter abilities, StarDancer did sleep solidly for he was still a baby and sleep could conquer most babies, even under extreme circ.u.mstances.

StarDancer rarely dreamed in his sleep or, if he did, it was of pleasant things, such as his father's enchanted singing or the soft comfort of his mother's breast.

But in this sleep, something reached out and grazed StarDancer's mind . . . as though something had brushed past him in the midst of his unconsciousness.

He stirred in his sleep, unnoticed by Salome, who stood at the window of the chamber, staring at the events unfolding below.

He dreamed of a man, climbing up a rope arm over arm, body twisting beneath him as he climbed.

Below the man, darkness bulged and bubbled as if it were reaching for the man, or perhaps as if it was angry the man had escaped.

StarDancer felt unceasing threat from this man and, worse, he thought the man had realised his presence. He fought to free himself from the dream, but for long moments could not and in those long moments felt the man's eyes move about and settle slowly on him.

He awoke, suddenly, as someone who has had cold water dashed in their face. For a long moment he lay still, shaken by his dream vision and the threat that had emanated from the man, then he moved his head and saw his mother turn about in awareness of his wakefulness.

Salome came over, picked him up and cuddled him close, and in his delight at her love, StarDancer pushed to one side the fading memory of the dream. He was safe, now.

Chapter 12.

Elcho Falling.

Isaiah thought that if there was one thing he'd change in his long existence, it would have been not to have made that foolhardy decision to create the mayhem. Maybe it had worked some good, but mostly it drew havoc down on the people he had least intended -- his own army.

About three-quarters of the army finally made their way inside Elcho Falling after hours of tempest. The other quarter were dead or blown away. Isaiah was the last to enter the citadel, clinging to one side of the entrance arch, peering back into the catastrophic storm, trying to see if there was anyone left alive still to come in.

He couldn't see a thing apart from the blanket of pink juit birds swelling up and down on the lake's surface. They, at least, looked intact, and Isaiah hoped that Axis, too, was safe in their midst. For a moment he thought about calling out for Axis, suggesting that he abandon his plan and head inside Elcho Falling for safety, but Isaiah doubted he could make either his physical voice or his mental one strong enough to penetrate the mayhem.

He felt something tug on the sleeve of his jerkin and he turned his head.

Georgdi was there, gesturing frantically.

Isaiah sighed and stepped inside Elcho Falling.

Georgdi had the gates shut the instant Isaiah was in.

The sudden silence was astonis.h.i.+ng. Isaiah had to stand, blinking, trying to make sense of the absence of the screaming of the wind or the driving of the rain. The initial chamber of Elcho Falling, the columned ground floor, was full of men wet to the bone, dripping both blood and water, and sitting slumped against columns or standing about in dispirited groups.

”We are taking them to their quarters as fast as we are able,” Georgdi said to one side, ”and feeding them once they are there. Elcho Falling has provided clothes and warmth for them.”

Isaiah nodded, unable for the moment to speak.

”What happened to those who didn't make it?” Georgdi said, and Isaiah gave the man a bleak look.

Stupid question.

”Isaiah,” Georgdi said quietly, ”what happened with Josia the other day? What was going on?”

”Josia was the One,” Isaiah said. ”Maximilian needed him distracted while he isolated him within the Twisted Tower. Maximilian --”

”Axis?” a voice called. ”Axis?”

”Oh G.o.ds,” Isaiah murmured as StarDrifter came striding over.

”Where is my son?” StarDrifter said, glaring at Isaiah as if Isaiah had left him outside intentionally.

”Did no one tell you?” Isaiah said. ”Oh, well, Axis decided to stay outside. He thought it better that --”

”Outside in that?” StarDrifter said.

”Yes, outside in that,” Isaiah responded, trying to remember if he had ever liked Axis' father or not. It was all so long ago, and far too wearying to stretch his mind back. ”He is safe enough, StarDrifter.”

”I'll take you to your chamber,” Georgdi said to Isaiah. ”Rest a while, eat. Then we can talk.”

”I --” Isaiah began.

”And I suppose that witch woman has stayed out there with him,” StarDrifter said.

It took a long moment for Isaiah to work out what StarDrifter meant. ”Inardle? She isn't in Elcho Falling?”

”No one has seen her,” Georgdi said. ”Only men have come in.”

”There was another woman,” Isaiah said. ”Hereward. Thin, dark hair .”

Georgdi shook his head.

”Shetzah,” Isaiah muttered. Had they both been lost?

”Come,” Georgdi said, and Isaiah allowed the man to lead him away, leaving StarDrifter standing glaring at the closed gates.