Part 69 (1/2)
How many Isembaardians and Escatorians would be streaming out off Elcho Falling within the next day or two?
Axis' sadness deepened. How many other goodbyes would he need to say over the next few days?
And where, oh stars, would he go?
Georgdi looked down at Axis' face. He rested a hand on Axis' shoulder, caught his eyes, gave a nod, then kicked his horse forward.
There was no need to say more.
Georgdi had a deep sense that this was not the last he would see of Axis SunSoar.
Axis stood back and watched in silence as the Outlanders rode past. They took a full hour to ride out of Elcho Falling, and when they were done Axis trudged inside the citadel.
He'd expected there to be someone inside to meet him, but there was not, and so Axis climbed the ladder to the first usable landing on the great staircase, then climbed ever upward.
He went first to his father and Salome's chamber.
StarDrifter was half sitting up and looking cheerful, if not much better physically.
Axis sat on the bed, taking his father's hand.
”You have won another great battle,” StarDrifter said. ”A new feather for your legend.”
”It was hardly a battle,” Axis replied. ”A sickening rout more like.”
He looked over to Salome, cradling StarDancer. ”My brother was the one who truly won the day. If he hadn't realised what could be done about the One .”
Axis drifted off, feeling exhausted physically and emotionally after the events of the day.
”We can rebuild the Icarii race, now,” StarDrifter said. ”We have peace, and a home within this lovely citadel . . . and we can rebuild the Icarii.”
Axis had nothing to say. There were so few Icarii left, a handful of thousands perhaps, and so much lost. What to rebuild, and into what?
”You will stay, and help me,” StarDrifter said.
Again Axis had nothing to say. He knew he couldn't stay. He and his father loved each other, but they made bad companions, and Axis knew the tension would see him leave sooner rather than later.
”Of course,” he said, and bent and kissed his father's brow.
From his father's rooms, Axis went to the chamber he had once shared with Inardle. How long had it been since he'd slept in here? The past few weeks had been spent everywhere but at Elcho Falling, and when here, Axis had virtually lived in the command chamber.
It was, nonetheless, no surprise to find Inardle waiting for him.
Axis looked at her as she stood watching him, so beautiful, and felt nothing but sadness, too. He stepped forward, folded her in his arms, and held her close, rocking her a little.
”Eleanon is dead,” he said softly.
”I know,” she said.
”I'm sorry.”
”I know that, too.”
”Everything has gone for you, Inardle.”
”And for you, too.”
They paused, awkwardly. This was the moment where one or both of them should say, But, together, we can forge a new life.
Instead they allowed the moment to draw out, then Axis leaned back, feeling uncomfortable.
”Don't say it,” Inardle said, resting a finger briefly on his lips.
”What will you do, Inardle? You have no one left.”
No one, she thought. Not even you, Axis, ”I loved you, Axis,” she said, and again he took her in his arms.
”I know,” he whispered.
They stood a long while, saying nothing, just holding each other, then Axis turned and left her.
”It has been a hard journey up to see me,” Maximilian said to Axis when the StarMan emerged into the topmost chamber of Elcho Falling. Above them the roof lay open to the sky, Icarii tumbling through the revolving rings of the citadel's golden crown, the sun s.h.i.+ning, the sky deepest blue.
Ishbel stood to one side, looking lovely in a gown of silver and rose. Axis went to her first, taking her hands and kissing her hard on the mouth.
”I always wanted to do that,” he said.
She smiled. ”I always wanted you to.”
He leaned back, regarding her thoughtfully, still holding her hands. ”You're pregnant,” he said. ”It is why you needed to transfer out of Elcho Falling with myself and my men.”
Ishbel nodded. ”I had only just realised in the past day. The child has barely been conceived.”
She shared a look with Maximilian, and both smiled. ”It is another daughter, and this one we hope will be born safely and live her life in peace.”
”What does this do to the succession of Elcho Falling?” Axis said.
”We have not had the time and s.p.a.ce to talk this through properly,” Maximilian said, ”but . . . it is possible that the succession of Elcho Falling can carry through the female line. Probably will, in fact, as Ishbel enjoys her own rights as Lady of Elcho Falling.”
Axis' brow furrowed slightly in thought. ”So there could be two lines of succession? One, the male line from you, Maxel, trapped in the Land of Nightmares and slowly being corrupted by both Nightmare and the trapped power of Infinity, and now a female line from Ishbel.”
Maximilian gave a small shrug. ”It appears so.”